The House Where Nothing Hurts

by Ali Fountain

In high school, Leah and her volatile best friend Christian lorded over the volleyball team. They weaponized their friendship in the way only teenage girls can, until an enigmatic new girl named Corrie arrived-a transfer student who was found leaving an empty mansion in town with a bleeding hand and no memory of how she got there.

Sneaking in to that same mansion to celebrate a volleyball victory, the girls found that whatever happened in the house stayed in the house. Wounds magically healed, haircuts grew back once they left. So they kept going back, daring each other further, to hunt one another with scissors, to jump off the balcony at paralyzing heights. But as the games they played got ever more dangerous, Leah remained untouched by the house's magic. Desperate to hide that she was different from the others, Leah begged her twin Laura to impersonate her for one night, knowing that whatever happened to Laura would have no lasting physical consequences. But the house could not be deceived. One girl was lost that night, and another girl already disappeared in a game that went too far.

Now, 20 years later, Leah is pregnant, and convinced she's having twins despite the fact that only one baby shows on the ultrasound. When an estranged friend from Leah's past reaches out with a theory that might change everything they've held true, Leah is thrust back to the house, desperate for answers about her past, her present, and the pregnancy that convinces her yet another girl has been lost-this time, a phantom daughter of her own.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 16, 2027

Reviews

[Chesli]

Were you once a girl with complicated friendships? Are you a fan of the hit tv show Yellowjackets? Have you felt the need to fit in so badly that you would do anything (and I mean ANYTHING) to fit in? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you NEED to read this right now. Ali Fountain has crafted a coming-of-age story where she explores girlhood, sisterhood, and personal identity, with this eerie, mysterious house serving as a link both to unite and also tear apart these girls physically and emotionally. I felt so viscerally seen reading this novel. This horror is one that subtly simmers and makes you feel that there's something or someone just beyond your grasp until it's almost too late. I feel like I've potentially found another comfort horror read to add to my lineup.

(I wish this book would come out this year. The fact that it doesn't get published until 2027 is so unfair, but y'all better pick this book up ASAP when it drops. ALSO, I need a cover real ASAP.)

[Kelly Faulconer]

I recently finished reading Ali Fountain's forthcoming novel, ‘The House Where Nothing Hurts’. This isn't just a book; it's an adventure that plunges deep into the dynamics of sisterhood and of youthful friendships. Fountain crafts a compelling coming-of-age tale, but it's one shadowed by an all-consuming secret that binds a group of young women together, pushing their bonds to a breaking point.

You’re left to question who can be trusted and, ultimately, who possesses the will or the means to kill. The atmosphere evoked by Fountain immediately brought to mind the chilling, female driven intensity found in "Yellowjackets," making it a must read for anyone who appreciates that particular brand of dark, character-driven survival drama.

I wholeheartedly award ‘The House Where Nothing Hurts’ a strong 4 stars for its gripping plot, well-developed characters, and the pervasive sense of dread that kept me turning pages long into the night. While its official release isn't until February 2027, I highly recommend getting ahead of the curve.. pre-orders are already available, and this is one release you absolutely won't want to miss.

[Claire Wisdom]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this upcoming novel, and I absolutely devoured it! The characters are compelling, the writing is exquisite, and I am so excited to read more from this author!