Close the Door

by Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar

Natalie, a single mom, can’t afford medical treatment for the unexplained pain in her foot, so she tries to improve it on her own by quitting running and turning to yoga. During the meditation component of class one day, she follows the instructor’s prompt and envisions opening a door to a better future.

Instead, she unlocks something far more a portal to another realm.

After she begins experiencing frequent blackouts, Natalie fears she will lose herself completely to the force controlling her body. Someone—something—has been waiting for this opportunity, and it won’t give up without a fight.

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2025

Reviews

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Close the Door” by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar is a wild horror story!

Single mother Natalie starts practicing yoga and visualizes opening a door in her meditative practice. She’s hoping this will manifest good fortune and opportunity, but instead an entity has now gained access to her body. Starting to black out and lose time, she tries to fight back for the sake of her son and her soul.

This story was so on point for me to be reading right now. I’m recovering from an ankle injury and have had to switch from spin/pilates to yoga for a few months. Many of these classes include periods of meditation- and now I will for sure NOT be visualizing a door opening!

The whole time tale kept me anxious and on my toes- I felt sick reading about Natalie’s loss of control. I dreaded the episodes escalating.
The ending had me spinning!😵‍💫🤯

I can’t wait to read more from this fantastic author!

[Melissa Widener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close the Door by Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar
4.1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.1/5
Cursing: little
Format/Source: ebook from Amazon
Genres/Tropes: Mystery
Audience: Adult
Setting: PA
Quotes:
Characters: Natalie, Caleb, Keely, Bianca, Ms. Delfino, Mother
👍 short chapters, medical rep, mystery, twist, fast and easy read, little cursing
👎 wanted more
Description:
Natalie, a single mom, can’t afford medical treatment for the unexplained pain in her foot, so she tries to improve it on her own by quitting running and turning to yoga. During the meditation component of class one day, she follows the instructor’s prompt and envisions opening a door to a better future.
After she begins experiencing frequent blackouts, Natalie fears she will lose herself completely to the force controlling her body. Someone—something—has been waiting for this opportunity, and it won’t give up without a fight.
My opinion:
Cassandra pens a fast-paced mystery novel with some interesting "supernatural" elements. The short chapters make for a quick reading. I always love reading a story with character(s) who have medical issues, and Close the Door does not disappoint. The twists are different and unexpected, adding to the pleasure of this book. I absolutely adore that there is very little cursing in this tale. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mystery with some added supernatural aspects.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #mysterybooks #booktok #march2025adoptanauthor

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close the Door
by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is an amazing psychological & supernatural horror/thriller story!
I love the storyline and the writing is fantastic!
Natalie, a single mom, lives a peaceful life with her son and tries not to overspend, as funds are tight. One day, she notices that she’s been “losing time” at work and isn’t sure if something is physically or mentally wrong with her. These blackout type episodes begin to increase and Natalie ends up spending money and doing things that she normally wouldn’t do, without her remembering any of it. Even her son is noticing a difference with his mom during these episodes. Natalie goes through different medical avenues to try and figure out what is going on. Each appointment she goes to seems to lead her on a different journey in search of answers.

For being a novella, this book is surprisingly packed with emotion, suspense, intensity and twists! This is a really fun and engaging read!! I didn’t want to put it down! I really enjoyed this story!!

*A definite must read!! Check it out now!!*
🚪🧘🏼‍♀️🚪🧘🏼‍♀️🚪🧘🏼‍♀️🚪🧘🏼‍♀️🚪🧘🏼‍♀️🚪🧘🏼‍♀️🚪

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a satisfying and thrilling story of a possession. The character development was outstanding. When our MC Natalie starts experiencing blackouts, she believes it to be a medical issue. But oh, she was so wrong. And that little twist at the end.... I need more. Thank you, Cassandra, for letting me read your amazing book.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily a 5-stars, one-sitting read for me! There's a great number of moving parts to this novella, filled with drama and action, though it's not action packed. The trip is mostly emotional and psychological: it figures centrally Natalie, divorced, mom of a young boy and struggling to be the person she thinks she ought to be, several times filling her mind with self-doubt and undermining her own self-confidence. A sudden but persisting foot pain disturbs her running schedule and makes her to turn to yoga for relief. Unfortunately, a yoga exercise prompts her to visualize opening a door, not realizing that something is waiting for her right behind.

I liked the way the characters, and especially Natalie, felt so relatable, even though I myself would have acted entirely differently in her place. In fact, I felt Nataiie's story was a woman's story through and through: male presence in the novella is virtually nil, not counting of course Natalie's son, who seems to have his own issues, or her boss, whose input in the story is practically zero. (Even Natalie's one-night stand never gets the chance to utter a single word lol). The scenes of female friendship are very well done and the author really brings Natalie's world to life through compelling portrayals of the dilemmas a single mom is facing.

I eagerly recommend this one. And I haven't even mentioned the unsettling ending! Giving it 5 stars was a no-brainer!

[Brandon Reviews Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Close the Door by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar is a creepy tale of hopelessness, love, and family drama. What would you do if you had blank spaces in your memory? When your son says he doesn’t like it when you go away, even though you haven’t gone anywhere?

When Natalie gets a foot injury, she has to slow down a little bit. Instead of her normal running, she started doing yoga. After her first lesson, she started having time blackouts. She would be at work and the next thing Natalie knows, she is clocking out with praise from her boss about how well she did that day. The blackouts become more frequent, and she is doing increasingly reckless things during these blank spaces. It even got to the point where her son says he doesn’t like it when “other mommy” starts coming out.

With a creepy atmosphere and some genuinely haunting scenes, Close the Door was a book that really drew me in from the beginning. Some parts actually had my heart racing, which is rare for a book to do. I enjoyed the premise of the book because it is one that I haven’t read a whole lot on. It was well-written and extremely enjoyable.

One minor issue with the book was its complete and utter nihilism. I feel like Natalie’s life was depressing from the get-go, and it was just one bad thing after another. I understand that this was a horror book, and things like this tend to happen, but I just kept waiting for a small thread of light to appear. But that twist at the end… it was good. I’ll admit that I saw it coming, but that didn’t really take away from the impact that it had on the story.

[Jamie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie is pushing 40 as a single mom and although life isn’t perfect, she’s doing everything she can and life isn’t too bad. She doesn’t make a lot of money so when she starts to get some major foot pain, she can’t be bothered to go to a doctor without insurance. The foot pain eventually is manageable but then she starts to get nasty headaches. And the worst happens next - she starts to have blackouts. She continues to lose more and more time, ends up in places where she is not acting like herself and spending money she doesn’t have. And worst of all her son Caleb is noticing… and he doesn’t like when “other mom” is around.

Does she have a brain tumor? Early onset dementia? Is she crazy? Maybe she needs to be rid of something much more sinister…

I had a great time with this book! Although I figured out what was going on early in the story (lucky guess!) it was still a fun ride reading and having it all come together. There are a couple parts that were majorly creepy, gave me the heebie jeebies! The writing is great and flows well and the author knows how to capture you with a page turner. I was left wanting a little more but overall this book was original and done well and I especially love the authors note at the end of the book and how the inspiration of the story came about.

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC. This book comes out TODAY! Have fun, pick it up and happy reading!

[Bobbi Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar delivers a gripping and atmospheric horror novella in Close the Door, a story that blends psychological suspense with supernatural intrigue. The narrative centers on Natalie, a single mother whose attempt to heal a physical ailment through meditation inadvertently opens a portal to something far more sinister. As she battles blackouts and a mysterious force that threatens to consume her, readers are drawn into a taut, unsettling journey that explores identity, motherhood, and resilience.

Sachar’s prose is crisp and immersive, with short chapters that propel the story forward at a relentless pace. Her depiction of Natalie’s maternal devotion adds emotional depth, grounding the horror in a relatable human struggle. The supernatural elements are handled with nuance, avoiding clichés and instead offering a fresh take on possession and inner turmoil.

What sets Close the Door apart is its ability to maintain suspense while weaving in literary undertones. The story’s structure and pacing make it ideal for both casual readers and those who appreciate layered storytelling. Sachar’s background as an English professor shines through in her thoughtful character development and thematic cohesion.

In sum, Close the Door is a compelling read that balances eerie tension with emotional authenticity. It’s a standout addition to contemporary horror fiction and a testament to Sachar’s skill as both a storyteller and stylist.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie is a single mother, just trying to make a living and raise her young son, Caleb. When she starts having pain in her foot, she gives up running and turns to yoga. At one of her yoga sessions, the instructor directs the class to open the door in their mind to possibilities.

Soon afterward, Natalie starts experiencing "blackouts" where she loses time and doesn't remember what she did. Waking up in a stranger's bed, finding receipts from expensive restaurants, and being in places she doesn't remember going to make her wonder if she is losing her mind.

A neurologist rules out a medical problem, so she resorts to more alternative methods. However, a psychic healer recommends that she seek an exorcist! She also learns that she had an older sister who was never born. Her son, Caleb, seems to be the only one who thinks anything is different about his Mom and says he doesn't like the "other Mommy".

This was a well-written and engaging short read. I finished it in one session and was thoroughly caught up in Natalie's dilemma. I think that we have all had times when we wonder if we are going crazy or if we have lost control of our own lives. This story plays on that fear and brings it to life in a terrifying way. And, the twist at the end was totally unexpected!

[Hayley Rader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close The Door by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar
Genre: Psychological Horror Novella
Triggers: Some violent scenes, mild sexual references, profanity.
5/5
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live like someone else? What obstacles do you think you would face? Could you match that person’s mannerisms?

Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar’s novella Close the Door, explores what it feels like when you think you are losing yourself to something you can’t control. The author does a great job with keeping the story moving along at a fast pace and makes it hard to put down.
The main female character, Natalie is easy to connect with. A single mom, working hard to take care of her son. Natalie would do nothing to give him a better life. However, when something nefarious starts to mess with the life that Natalie has tried so hard to protect she has to make a choice. Will Natalie survive or will she lose herself along the way?
This was a fast-paced, quick read. Would recommend to all who enjoy a psychological horror. I continue to enjoy this author with each book I read.
#bookloungereviewteam

[William Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A STRONG CONTENDER FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR.

Okay, it’s only January and most of what I’ve read this year has been HP Lovecraft stories, which alternate between being awesome and super racist, but wow, this was awesome.

I went in mostly blind and based on the title and cover, I expected something to the effect of a home invasion story. What I got was surprising. I won’t spoil anything here, but Sachar has crafted something rich and full of life that was reminiscent of the energy of “THE SUBSTANCE,” one of my favorite flicks of 2024.

Meet the main character: Natalie, a single mother with a young son named Caleb. One day after experiencing some foot pain, she begins to have “time-lapses” or blackouts where she’ll lose time. At first, it happens at work, where she seems to lose control of herself and isn’t able to remember anything, then it gets more odd, turning into crazy benders, one night stands, etc.

It goes to some pretty wild places especially in terms of a narrative about generational trauma and divorced parents, but wow. Incredible. Pick it up

[S.E. Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Close the Door,” Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar introduces us to Natalie, a woman struggling (as many of us do) to find a a balance between all of life’s physical and emotional demands. She’s a single mother barely able to make financial ends meet, who tries desperately to maintain a brave and independent facade for friends and family. Her relationship with a mentally ill ex has left her filled with insecurity and self-doubt. She doesn’t invest much in herself or her own needs, but when she starts to suffer from blackout spells, blocks of time during which she indulges in reckless activities she has no memory of in the aftermath, she begins to fear that life’s pressures are driving her crazy. The truth, as it turns out, is a whole lot worse.

Sachar’s compelling narrative and relatable, sympathetic characters help drive this unsettling story to a dark, surprising conclusion. You may never look at a yoga class the same again.

[VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all! Close The Door is a novella about what happens when everyday mom-life takes a hard left into horror town—and I loved the ride.

We meet Natalie, a single mom just trying to fix her foot and keep her life together (relatable, right?). Instead of meds or rest, she turns to yoga. Peaceful. Grounding. Stretchy. Except… that innocent “envision a better future” meditation? Yeah, it literally opens a door. And not the Pinterest-worthy kind. Think dark portal to creepy-ville with a side of possession.

The writing is vivid—like, feel the chill on the back of your neck vivid. You can practically hear the creak of that door, the whisper just behind your ear, the growing dread that something is definitely not okay inside your own body.

Natalie’s blackouts get more intense, and just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going on—nope. New layer. New chill. It’s clever, creepy, and sneakily emotional, too.

I tore through this one like a demon was chasing me. Maybe it was.

[Hillary Specksgoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Cassandra for the ARC!

Natalie a single mom who works hard for everything she has, develops a pain in her foot. The pain brings on changes that she never could have imagined. Follow Natalie as she battles losing time and being the best mom she can be under the circumstances.

This was a great read for me. I absolutely loved the story telling. I just kept going page after page. I was captivated to learn what was happening to Natalie and Caleb. This book was terrifying to me as a mom who suffers from absent seizures. This is a great quick read.

You'll definitely want to grab this on on 1/17 when it releases!

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book confirms this author as one of my favourites, both in terms of writing style and for storytelling. It’s a very intimate and psychological horror where the author manages to perfectly mix dread and deep emotions, leaving the reader numbed.

I found the character of Natalie very believable and quite loveable, struggling as a single mum to provide for her son. At the same time as she starts experiencing pain in her foot, she also starts losing time. Although this righteously scares her, she quickly realises that she is able to highly function and work and live normally when she loses time. But the thought of not only not being in control of herself, plus not knowing if she could endanger her son pushes her to find the cause.

This is where things get weird and sad and creepy! I won’t say anymore, because the journey is worth going into blind, but I’d say that I loved the story and Natalie’s character and I felt so much anxiety reading this book! I hate not being in control of myself and the idea of losing time without any apparent physical cause is very scary, but even more so after finding out what the cause was!!

The ending left me jaw dropped and I’ll be waiting impatiently for the author’s next book!

Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella and could not put it down. I absolutely loved the ending.

Basically, this book is about Natalie, a single mom, who accidentally opens a door in her mind and lets out something supernatural. Something that takes over Natalie's body and mind for hours at a time. That's a great, creepy premise, and you can't help but imagine "what if?"

Natalie was a little bland, but her love for her son gives her some personality and makes you root for her.

I was disappointed when I reached the epilogue and Caleb still hadn't used his pocketknife, and then I was so happy when I read the last line. Nailed it!

[Dreadful Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing like a little psychological horror before bedtime!
After a foot injury causes Natalie, our FMC, to exchange her running routine for some nice relaxing yoga, she begins experiencing "blips" where she loses portions of time. We're along for the ride as she endures a draining bank account, strained relationships, and the stress that comes with suddenly missing hours of her day. When her son tells her he doesn't like "other Mom" she doubles down on finding the cause AND the cure.

Cassandra did an amazing job writing characters that feel real and relatable. The ending certainly wasn't what I was expecting, and it has me begging for more!
5⭐️ for me!

[M.J. Mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close The Door is a story about a single mother recovering from injury and just getting her life back together when she finds herself suffering from time slips. Drawn into a world of past secrets and astonishing revelations, Natalie must fight to retain herself in a world that’s rapidly falling apart. Can she solve the mystery of where she disappears to is these instances of self-loss? Or is her son, Caleb, doomed to suffer at the hands of whoever it is who takes her over in these moments?
This is a fast read with characters that pull at your heart strings and leave you hoping for a positive resolution. Terrifying and suspenseful, this book kept me on the edge of my seat

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

After starting yoga due to an ankle injury, Natalie starts to get headaches and lose track of time. She finds herself in out of character situations and places. Is she losing her mind, or is it something more?

I picked this one up randomly for the upcoming @books_of_horror indie brawl on facebook, and I'm glad I did. I love tales of horror where it's a question of supernatural or mental health. The twist was creative, and the ending was fulfilling. I wish we could see more of the blackout scenes near the end of the book!

[Andrew Najberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close the Door by Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar is a lean mystery with a cool premise: a single mother tries to understand her sudden onset of lapses of awareness. She finds herself in strange places in the middle of doing things she doesn't remember starting, and the things she did while unaware grow more haunting and dangerous - until the book brings us to a dramatic and stark conclusion. I don't want to spoil the mystery or the full plot here, but fans of supernatural mysteries are going to devour this - and the ending will linger with them a good long while.

[Serena Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella from start to finish. The imagery of Sachar’s work really makes you quite uncomfortable so reader beware (in the best way possible). I like the idea of “losing time” and although can’t connect with Natalie on being a single mother, can indeed relate to feeling overworked and mega-stressed and losing time/memory due to the overwhelming and overstimulating nature of it all. Let this tale be a lesson to all to not take on too much and try to ease our stresses! Strongly recommend Close the Door; it was a short but sweet read.

[Rogère Buivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story !!! I was hooked very rapidly even if it’s a short story.
This book is about fighting for who you love and for your own sake.
We follow Nathalie, a single mom, who has some black out. And when she discovered it, it all went south !!
Her son knows something is very wrong with her.
Will she make it?
Will she be able to save herself for her son’s safety?
Will she be able to win the battle in her?
Read this amazing book to find out !!

[Hooterbby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slow burn for me, I started to get worried it wasn't going to excite me much. I'm so glad I kept going. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, once finished. I can appreciate the build up to the end now. I couldn't guess where the story was headed majority of the first half. ghost? demon? mental issues? something else?

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is a crazy and dark story!

Cassandra Sachar knows how to twist a plot around and add some OMG moments! This pulled me in, and I couldn't read it fast enough to get to the conclusion to see what the heck was happening and how it would end.

I was completely blown away by how easy it was to read this and keep me involved. Highly recommend this one for a great weekend getaway.

[Lauren Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book!!!! Such a fun take on a possession story and I feel like the main character Natalie is my new bff. Such well written and real characters. Can’t wait to check out more from this author!

[Sandi Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy little story with a different take on possession. This one didn't take me very long to read. It was well written. It certainly surprised me the whole way through. I couldn't make up my mind which way the story was headed. Killer ending and didn't see that one coming. Good read.

[Garth O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping thriller that's hard to put down without reading in one sitting. Very relatable main character as a parent. A great ride.

[Overlook Hotel · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK read. Ending felt very rushed. A lot of things which happened in the book still don't make sense to me.

[A.M. Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It started with a relatively slow smoldering burn, but each chapter brought new darkness and twists. It's a quick horror read. Highly recommend!

[Tony splatterpunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie is a single mum who is experiencing time lapses after several attempts to find out why she eventually sees a psychic and the truth emerges…
Enjoyable creepy unsettling read.