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The Housemate
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Expected 13 Apr 27A cozy horror following a young woman on the heels of a major breakup who finds the perfect flatshare—only to discover there’s an unwanted tenant haunting the building who will stop at nothing to reclaim the house for herself.
Becks had forgotten how much she hated apartment-hunting. After years of living with her picture-perfect girlfriend in their picture-perfect flat, Becks is single again and far too old for the couch-surfing of her early twenties. The flatshare in the Peckham Victorian on Windrush Avenue seems perfect; it’s basically in her budget, and, most importantly, it’s a room of her own free from her ex’s disapproving gaze. Plus, her new flatmates seem nice: Cress is the sort of glamorous straight girl Becks would have had a crisis over in middle school, and Niall buys Becks a pint on FIFA nights. And then there’s Jamie—shockingly nice, charming Jamie—with his long, black hair and taut, muscular forearms.
The new apartment offers Becks the fresh start she’s been craving, but she can’t help but feel as though there’s something…off about her new digs. She chalks up her pre-sleep paralysis to late-onset night terrors, but it’s harder to explain away the frigid cold and the weird, scratching noises that seem to be coming from the boarded-up fireplace in her bedroom. And then, there are the splotches of black mold on the wall that look an awful lot like handprints…
Turns out, there’s a bit of a problem with the previous tenants. Broke and dealing with an unsympathetic landlord, Becks and Jamie must push aside their fears—and their growing feelings for each other—to take down the vengeful spirit haunting their apartment before it’s too late.
Swoony and scary in equal measure, The Housemate is a page-turning, spine-tingling read, where the only thing scarier than a cursed apartment is the looming deadline of next month’s rent.
Becks had forgotten how much she hated apartment-hunting. After years of living with her picture-perfect girlfriend in their picture-perfect flat, Becks is single again and far too old for the couch-surfing of her early twenties. The flatshare in the Peckham Victorian on Windrush Avenue seems perfect; it’s basically in her budget, and, most importantly, it’s a room of her own free from her ex’s disapproving gaze. Plus, her new flatmates seem nice: Cress is the sort of glamorous straight girl Becks would have had a crisis over in middle school, and Niall buys Becks a pint on FIFA nights. And then there’s Jamie—shockingly nice, charming Jamie—with his long, black hair and taut, muscular forearms.
The new apartment offers Becks the fresh start she’s been craving, but she can’t help but feel as though there’s something…off about her new digs. She chalks up her pre-sleep paralysis to late-onset night terrors, but it’s harder to explain away the frigid cold and the weird, scratching noises that seem to be coming from the boarded-up fireplace in her bedroom. And then, there are the splotches of black mold on the wall that look an awful lot like handprints…
Turns out, there’s a bit of a problem with the previous tenants. Broke and dealing with an unsympathetic landlord, Becks and Jamie must push aside their fears—and their growing feelings for each other—to take down the vengeful spirit haunting their apartment before it’s too late.
Swoony and scary in equal measure, The Housemate is a page-turning, spine-tingling read, where the only thing scarier than a cursed apartment is the looming deadline of next month’s rent.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 13, 2027
About the author
J.J.A. Harwood
5 books346 followersJJA Harwood is the Sunday Times bestselling author of three novels: A Steep and
Savage Path, The Thorns Remain and The Shadow in the Glass, which was also a
Barnes & Noble Speculative Fiction Pick of the Month. You can also find her on the
silly and sweary D&D podcast, Lads on Tour.
Savage Path, The Thorns Remain and The Shadow in the Glass, which was also a
Barnes & Noble Speculative Fiction Pick of the Month. You can also find her on the
silly and sweary D&D podcast, Lads on Tour.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 21, 2026
Cozy, light horror that unfortunately went on for about 200 pages too long. The eerie stuff started happening immediately, so there was barely any buildup or suspense.
And yes, we get it, Becks needs a haircut and has an ex. In case you forgot… don’t worry, the book will remind you. Repeatedly.
Not terrible, but not nearly good enough to justify how bloody long it was.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
And yes, we get it, Becks needs a haircut and has an ex. In case you forgot… don’t worry, the book will remind you. Repeatedly.
Not terrible, but not nearly good enough to justify how bloody long it was.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a good beginning of autumn read. This is a cozy haunted house story. It had great atmosphere and great characters. I think the characters were a huge part of what made this story feel so cozy and a bit more lighthearted. Although this book had creepy elements to it, I personally didn't find the story to be too scary. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I thought it was worth mentioning! I think if you're looking for a haunted house story that won't completely terrorize you, then this is perfect.
The story itself was just lovely to read. I appreciated how the FMC left her toxic relationship and decided to have a fresh start for herself. We got to see her new relationship develop and become something completely different from her prior one. I liked the edition of the landlord as well, because that whole inclusion felt incredibly true to life (lol). They had the landlord special in this book.
I enjoyed the writing and the pace in this book. It was engaging and was the perfect mix between spooky and cozy. I'd love to pick up any horror books that this author releases in the future. I only wish I had read this book when the weather was more appropriate.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The story itself was just lovely to read. I appreciated how the FMC left her toxic relationship and decided to have a fresh start for herself. We got to see her new relationship develop and become something completely different from her prior one. I liked the edition of the landlord as well, because that whole inclusion felt incredibly true to life (lol). They had the landlord special in this book.
I enjoyed the writing and the pace in this book. It was engaging and was the perfect mix between spooky and cozy. I'd love to pick up any horror books that this author releases in the future. I only wish I had read this book when the weather was more appropriate.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~thank you to NetGalley , the publisher and the author for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review ~
I loved this!! A great haunted house read. Pretty creepy at times. Hooked me in from the very beginning and every chapter as well. Not one slow part at all. Fast paced , good characters, suspenseful atmosphere. I really enjoyed this. 👻 perfect read for the spooky season.
I loved this!! A great haunted house read. Pretty creepy at times. Hooked me in from the very beginning and every chapter as well. Not one slow part at all. Fast paced , good characters, suspenseful atmosphere. I really enjoyed this. 👻 perfect read for the spooky season.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Housemate by J.J.A. Harwood follows Becks, a young woman who moves into an apartment with three flatmates following a recent breakup. Upon moving in, she becomes increasingly unsettled by strange happenings, and she and her flatmates must reckon with the haunting of their new home.
Right off the bat, readers should know this novel leans far more YA despite the adult genre shelving. The characters seem perpetually caught in an identity crisis, navigating intense inner turmoil and second guessing themselves at every turn (including in their romantic feelings that mimic the self-consciousness of first teenage love).
Similarly, there is a tonal whiplash that didn’t work for me; one minute, the haunting has everyone experiencing panic attacks and afraid to sleep alone, and the next our protagonist is wondering if she has condoms and talking about downloading dating apps. The novel seemed to want to squeeze a rom-com style romance into a story about people fearing for their lives and I felt the two trajectories were deeply at odds with one another. It had me asking, “Girl, why are you having an identity crisis over whether someone likes you when you are being haunted and choked out nightly?” The emotional immaturity might have worked in a coming-of-age story, but it felt far too out of place in this one. The romance added very little to the story throughout, save for some tip-toeing around one another and a few awkward moments.
I also struggled with the pacing. The same ominous sound haunts Becks for roughly the first half of the book, with little to no escalation, leaving the atmosphere feeling flat. The narrative leans so heavily on repetition and the shoehorned romance that it forgets to establish a genuine sense of dread. There were also far too many plot points involving cell phones and group texts, which repeatedly pulled me out of the story and undercut the sinister atmosphere I was hoping for. Maybe I prefer my horror by candlelight and telegrams, but this felt far too tethered to modern life to invoke any fear.
I’m very much a show-don’t-tell reader, and this book often does the opposite. Emotions and events are overexplained, details are reiterated, and the reader is rarely trusted to draw their own conclusions. Rather than letting the haunting build through uncertainty and the things left unsaid, the narrative spells everything out while the tension struggles to develop. The supporting characters also feel underwritten, with little depth or purpose beyond their place in the immediate story.
The ending was another disappointment. After so much time spent circling the same scares, the resolution arrives puzzlingly, quickly, and wraps everything up far too neatly to feel earned.
Perhaps I’m too unfamiliar with the cozy horror genre to appreciate this type of storytelling, but the execution on this one under delivered.
The Housemate by J.J.A. Harwood follows Becks, a young woman who moves into an apartment with three flatmates following a recent breakup. Upon moving in, she becomes increasingly unsettled by strange happenings, and she and her flatmates must reckon with the haunting of their new home.
Right off the bat, readers should know this novel leans far more YA despite the adult genre shelving. The characters seem perpetually caught in an identity crisis, navigating intense inner turmoil and second guessing themselves at every turn (including in their romantic feelings that mimic the self-consciousness of first teenage love).
Similarly, there is a tonal whiplash that didn’t work for me; one minute, the haunting has everyone experiencing panic attacks and afraid to sleep alone, and the next our protagonist is wondering if she has condoms and talking about downloading dating apps. The novel seemed to want to squeeze a rom-com style romance into a story about people fearing for their lives and I felt the two trajectories were deeply at odds with one another. It had me asking, “Girl, why are you having an identity crisis over whether someone likes you when you are being haunted and choked out nightly?” The emotional immaturity might have worked in a coming-of-age story, but it felt far too out of place in this one. The romance added very little to the story throughout, save for some tip-toeing around one another and a few awkward moments.
I also struggled with the pacing. The same ominous sound haunts Becks for roughly the first half of the book, with little to no escalation, leaving the atmosphere feeling flat. The narrative leans so heavily on repetition and the shoehorned romance that it forgets to establish a genuine sense of dread. There were also far too many plot points involving cell phones and group texts, which repeatedly pulled me out of the story and undercut the sinister atmosphere I was hoping for. Maybe I prefer my horror by candlelight and telegrams, but this felt far too tethered to modern life to invoke any fear.
I’m very much a show-don’t-tell reader, and this book often does the opposite. Emotions and events are overexplained, details are reiterated, and the reader is rarely trusted to draw their own conclusions. Rather than letting the haunting build through uncertainty and the things left unsaid, the narrative spells everything out while the tension struggles to develop. The supporting characters also feel underwritten, with little depth or purpose beyond their place in the immediate story.
The ending was another disappointment. After so much time spent circling the same scares, the resolution arrives puzzlingly, quickly, and wraps everything up far too neatly to feel earned.
Perhaps I’m too unfamiliar with the cozy horror genre to appreciate this type of storytelling, but the execution on this one under delivered.
September 8, 2026
📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial, and Harper Paperbacks for the ARC of *The Housemate*.
Synopsis: "A cozy horror following a young woman on the heels of a major breakup who finds the perfect flatshare—only to discover there's an unwanted tenant haunting the building who will stop at nothing to reclaim the house for herself."
I found myself Googling quite a bit while reading this book. Questions like, "Does London have a slug problem?" and "What's a hob?" came up more than once. That's more a "me" problem as an American reader unfamiliar with everyday London life, but it did pull me out of the story on several occasions.
Beyond that, the horror elements were well written. I was fully immersed in Beck's increasingly unsettling experiences, and the mystery unfolded at a satisfying pace. J.J.A. Harwood has a real talent for creating vivid, unsettling imagery that lingers long after you've finished a chapter.
One aspect that didn't quite work for me was the "major breakup" described in the synopsis. Beck didn't seem particularly emotionally affected by the end of the relationship. Instead, it felt more like the catalyst for a major life change, i.e., finding a new place to live and adjusting to a new reality where her girlfriend isn't paying for everything.
I also found myself struggling with some of the book's commentary on religion. While I understand the themes the author was exploring, the messaging didn't resonate with me personally.
Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and horror elements, but the story wasn't one I connected with enough to recommend personally.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial, and Harper Paperbacks for the ARC of *The Housemate*.
Synopsis: "A cozy horror following a young woman on the heels of a major breakup who finds the perfect flatshare—only to discover there's an unwanted tenant haunting the building who will stop at nothing to reclaim the house for herself."
I found myself Googling quite a bit while reading this book. Questions like, "Does London have a slug problem?" and "What's a hob?" came up more than once. That's more a "me" problem as an American reader unfamiliar with everyday London life, but it did pull me out of the story on several occasions.
Beyond that, the horror elements were well written. I was fully immersed in Beck's increasingly unsettling experiences, and the mystery unfolded at a satisfying pace. J.J.A. Harwood has a real talent for creating vivid, unsettling imagery that lingers long after you've finished a chapter.
One aspect that didn't quite work for me was the "major breakup" described in the synopsis. Beck didn't seem particularly emotionally affected by the end of the relationship. Instead, it felt more like the catalyst for a major life change, i.e., finding a new place to live and adjusting to a new reality where her girlfriend isn't paying for everything.
I also found myself struggling with some of the book's commentary on religion. While I understand the themes the author was exploring, the messaging didn't resonate with me personally.
Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and horror elements, but the story wasn't one I connected with enough to recommend personally.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found Bex to be such a relatable character and the poor girl is trying so hard to make ends meet, live on her own and when she finds a flat that she is given the most spectacular view of she is excited for the first time in a long time. As the 3 other flatmates begin moving in, Bexs is feeling a deep foreboding anxiety about the noises she’s experiencing that sound as if they’re behind her fireplace wall. Her flatmate she has bonded best with is right on her floor across from her and they share a bathroom.
She begins asking about the noises and then one night they’re so vulnerably scared they agree to share his room as strictly platonic flatmates. One by one mates are leaving and the two that are stuck there to see out their lease agreement is of course Bex and Jamie. Their landlord Danny is well aware of the supernatural and terrifying things happening in the home yet will not be humane about their predicament or situation.
As things go from truly terrifying to life threatening, something happens and the answers that Bex Jamie and their friends sought were being slowly revealed and when Danny their landlord does show up to walk the property with the town and village authorities who were complaining about the state of it, things will go from unbelievably wild to awe strikingly surreal.
Well done! #TheHousemate #JJAHarwood to #NetgalleyARCS AND TO #HarperPerrenialandPaperbacks
She begins asking about the noises and then one night they’re so vulnerably scared they agree to share his room as strictly platonic flatmates. One by one mates are leaving and the two that are stuck there to see out their lease agreement is of course Bex and Jamie. Their landlord Danny is well aware of the supernatural and terrifying things happening in the home yet will not be humane about their predicament or situation.
As things go from truly terrifying to life threatening, something happens and the answers that Bex Jamie and their friends sought were being slowly revealed and when Danny their landlord does show up to walk the property with the town and village authorities who were complaining about the state of it, things will go from unbelievably wild to awe strikingly surreal.
Well done! #TheHousemate #JJAHarwood to #NetgalleyARCS AND TO #HarperPerrenialandPaperbacks
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a wild ride!
A cozy horror following a young woman on the heels of a major breakup who finds the perfect flatshare—only to discover there’s an unwanted tenant haunting the building who will stop at nothing to reclaim the house for herself.
The adventure we went on throughout the entire book was so terrifyingly fun. There were times reading at night alone I had to put the book down and turn on all the lights just to go to the bathroom. This amazing book will have you on the edge of your couch waiting to see what is going to happen next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley - All reviews of this book are my own
A cozy horror following a young woman on the heels of a major breakup who finds the perfect flatshare—only to discover there’s an unwanted tenant haunting the building who will stop at nothing to reclaim the house for herself.
The adventure we went on throughout the entire book was so terrifyingly fun. There were times reading at night alone I had to put the book down and turn on all the lights just to go to the bathroom. This amazing book will have you on the edge of your couch waiting to see what is going to happen next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley - All reviews of this book are my own
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you love haunted house books then this one's for you. Ialso I appreciated the diverse cast of characters. This one gave me 'The Ring" vibes for sure, with the physical aspect of the horror. As I was reading, I wasn't sure which way the author was going to take it, and without spoiling anything, I'll just say that I was completely satisfied with the ending.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not impact my rating or review.
I honestly loved this entire book. Becks and Jamie were great. The ending was great and it had me wondering what would other people do in the situation that they got themselves into there. A very good haunted house horror novel.
The Housemate follows Becks who is a young and queer woman who breaks up with her long-term girlfriend at the start of this book. Becks is sleeping on a mutual friend (well mostly her ex's friend's) couch and realizes she's eventually going to have to leave to find something else since she's not being allowed to move on the way that she wants to from her ex. When Becks finds a shared house listing that fits her budget and is open and airy she thinks there must be a catch. But after moving in and meeting her new housemates, Cress, Niall, and Jamie, she starts to wonder if things can work out. But when she starts to hear noises in the night, gets sleep paralysis, and then neverending handprints keep appearing, Becks worries that her new home is haunted. And quickly she and her housemates realize they are going to have to do something before they all end up dead.
I really enjoyed Becks. Her dealing with just being really broke and having no other choice but to stick it out in a haunted house was a lot. I also loved that Harwood didn't shy away from the fact that Becks was also dealing with some straight up PTSD from her terrible relationship and she really doesn't want to be forced back into a situation that she just escaped. I also liked that everyone was like yeah your house is haunted and didn't blink an eye. Harwood also did a great job with developing Jamie, Niall, and Cress. They all felt real and their reactions to things felt very real too. And heck, even the crushing disappointment that Becks got when she was failed again and again by people as well as organizations that weren't helping was real too.
The flow of the book was really good, no slow parts, just a nice steady pace. And the setting of the house that had a name change and dark history was great. I wish that we had delved into it a bit more honestly, but I get why Harwood gave us just enough to know how and why this place was haunted. What I really enjoyed though is that there did not seem to be a neat solution to the whole problem that seemed readily available.
I also really enjoyed how Harwood chose to end things. It was not expected, but I was definitely wanting some more pages to follow all of the characters a year plus later.
I honestly loved this entire book. Becks and Jamie were great. The ending was great and it had me wondering what would other people do in the situation that they got themselves into there. A very good haunted house horror novel.
The Housemate follows Becks who is a young and queer woman who breaks up with her long-term girlfriend at the start of this book. Becks is sleeping on a mutual friend (well mostly her ex's friend's) couch and realizes she's eventually going to have to leave to find something else since she's not being allowed to move on the way that she wants to from her ex. When Becks finds a shared house listing that fits her budget and is open and airy she thinks there must be a catch. But after moving in and meeting her new housemates, Cress, Niall, and Jamie, she starts to wonder if things can work out. But when she starts to hear noises in the night, gets sleep paralysis, and then neverending handprints keep appearing, Becks worries that her new home is haunted. And quickly she and her housemates realize they are going to have to do something before they all end up dead.
I really enjoyed Becks. Her dealing with just being really broke and having no other choice but to stick it out in a haunted house was a lot. I also loved that Harwood didn't shy away from the fact that Becks was also dealing with some straight up PTSD from her terrible relationship and she really doesn't want to be forced back into a situation that she just escaped. I also liked that everyone was like yeah your house is haunted and didn't blink an eye. Harwood also did a great job with developing Jamie, Niall, and Cress. They all felt real and their reactions to things felt very real too. And heck, even the crushing disappointment that Becks got when she was failed again and again by people as well as organizations that weren't helping was real too.
The flow of the book was really good, no slow parts, just a nice steady pace. And the setting of the house that had a name change and dark history was great. I wish that we had delved into it a bit more honestly, but I get why Harwood gave us just enough to know how and why this place was haunted. What I really enjoyed though is that there did not seem to be a neat solution to the whole problem that seemed readily available.
I also really enjoyed how Harwood chose to end things. It was not expected, but I was definitely wanting some more pages to follow all of the characters a year plus later.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Perennial for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Housemate is described as a cozy horror story. I guess I’m finally coming out from under a rock because I’m not familiar with the term “cozy horror.” I like my horror stories dark with high-stakes life altering decisions. I don’t mind a little gore or unhappy endings either.😱 Cozy horror books are said to be more lighthearted and character focused than traditional horror books. The scares are milder and the reader feels more entertained than spooked- think “The Addams Family” and “Beetlejuice.” With that said, The Housemate teeters a bit over the line. I had a chill run through me reading this one!
The Housemate features a haunted house with a vengeful, twisted, and broken ghost who is sick of people living in its damn house. So, when new housemates Becks, Cress, Jamie, and Niall move in, the ghost is not having it! Becks moves in after ghosting her five-year relationship and is carrying some serious family estrangement baggage. Jamie is an Australian immigrant working a new job, the wealthy and glamorous Cress is rebounding from a bad housemates’ experience, and budget conscious Niall is a FIFA and pint loving friend to everyone. The ghost is a character as well and the way it haunts the house is eerie. Oh, and the way it stops Becks from cleaning a room- chilling! 😳 In addition to the ghost being a villain, Danny (the landlord) is quite a piece of work too.
Suspense and tension build slowly with a budding romance in the mix. Honestly, how can you think about finding your love match in the middle of a haunted house? 🤷🏾♀️ I enjoyed the exploration of the housemates’ relationships but I am disappointed they did not all reach the final scene together. The reactions of each housemate to the haunting could have been more pages.
The ending is a bit predictable, but still fun. The pacing in the middle is a unsteady, but still held my attention. I definitely experienced some laughs through the book too. I screamed into the book during the first half for “someone to search the damn address.” 🤣 And when they did, an unexpected twist is added to the story. I definitely recommend and feel this book deserves to be on your list of “haunted house stories.” I’d read it again too! 🥰
The Housemate is described as a cozy horror story. I guess I’m finally coming out from under a rock because I’m not familiar with the term “cozy horror.” I like my horror stories dark with high-stakes life altering decisions. I don’t mind a little gore or unhappy endings either.😱 Cozy horror books are said to be more lighthearted and character focused than traditional horror books. The scares are milder and the reader feels more entertained than spooked- think “The Addams Family” and “Beetlejuice.” With that said, The Housemate teeters a bit over the line. I had a chill run through me reading this one!
The Housemate features a haunted house with a vengeful, twisted, and broken ghost who is sick of people living in its damn house. So, when new housemates Becks, Cress, Jamie, and Niall move in, the ghost is not having it! Becks moves in after ghosting her five-year relationship and is carrying some serious family estrangement baggage. Jamie is an Australian immigrant working a new job, the wealthy and glamorous Cress is rebounding from a bad housemates’ experience, and budget conscious Niall is a FIFA and pint loving friend to everyone. The ghost is a character as well and the way it haunts the house is eerie. Oh, and the way it stops Becks from cleaning a room- chilling! 😳 In addition to the ghost being a villain, Danny (the landlord) is quite a piece of work too.
Suspense and tension build slowly with a budding romance in the mix. Honestly, how can you think about finding your love match in the middle of a haunted house? 🤷🏾♀️ I enjoyed the exploration of the housemates’ relationships but I am disappointed they did not all reach the final scene together. The reactions of each housemate to the haunting could have been more pages.
The ending is a bit predictable, but still fun. The pacing in the middle is a unsteady, but still held my attention. I definitely experienced some laughs through the book too. I screamed into the book during the first half for “someone to search the damn address.” 🤣 And when they did, an unexpected twist is added to the story. I definitely recommend and feel this book deserves to be on your list of “haunted house stories.” I’d read it again too! 🥰
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s something so special about a book that can make you feel completely at home while simultaneously making you question every strange noise coming from the other room.
The Housemate was such an unexpectedly fun read. It perfectly balances the cozy with the creepy, giving you a haunting that genuinely keeps you on edge while still leaving plenty of room for a swoony romance and the messy reality of starting over.
I really loved Becks as a protagonist. She’s entering a completely different chapter of her life after a breakup, and watching her navigate that uncertainty while trying to create a new sense of home for herself made her journey feel incredibly relatable. Her new flat is supposed to be a fresh start, but between the strange noises, unexplained cold, and something very clearly lurking within the walls… it quickly becomes anything but peaceful.
The horror elements were one of my favorite parts. There’s an unsettling quality woven throughout the story that made me want to keep turning the pages, but it never overwhelmed the more intimate parts of the book. Instead, the haunting becomes part of a larger story about home, belonging, grief, and what happens when you refuse to let the past dictate your future.
And then there’s Jamie. 🫠 The chemistry between him and Becks added exactly the right amount of warmth to all the spooky moments. Their relationship develops naturally, and I loved watching their growing feelings complicate an already very complicated situation.
What makes The Housemate stand out is how effortlessly it blends genres. It’s spooky without being relentlessly scary, romantic without losing its edge, and cozy without feeling predictable.
If you’re looking for a book that feels like a rainy night, an old Victorian flat, questionable noises behind the walls, and a romance you’ll be rooting for, add this one to your fall TBR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Perfect for readers who love:
👻 Cozy horror
🏠 Haunted houses & creepy old buildings
💕 Slow-burn romance
🔥 Forced proximity
💔 Fresh starts after heartbreak
🫶 Finding home in unexpected places
✨ Spooky atmosphere with plenty of heart
The Housemate was such an unexpectedly fun read. It perfectly balances the cozy with the creepy, giving you a haunting that genuinely keeps you on edge while still leaving plenty of room for a swoony romance and the messy reality of starting over.
I really loved Becks as a protagonist. She’s entering a completely different chapter of her life after a breakup, and watching her navigate that uncertainty while trying to create a new sense of home for herself made her journey feel incredibly relatable. Her new flat is supposed to be a fresh start, but between the strange noises, unexplained cold, and something very clearly lurking within the walls… it quickly becomes anything but peaceful.
The horror elements were one of my favorite parts. There’s an unsettling quality woven throughout the story that made me want to keep turning the pages, but it never overwhelmed the more intimate parts of the book. Instead, the haunting becomes part of a larger story about home, belonging, grief, and what happens when you refuse to let the past dictate your future.
And then there’s Jamie. 🫠 The chemistry between him and Becks added exactly the right amount of warmth to all the spooky moments. Their relationship develops naturally, and I loved watching their growing feelings complicate an already very complicated situation.
What makes The Housemate stand out is how effortlessly it blends genres. It’s spooky without being relentlessly scary, romantic without losing its edge, and cozy without feeling predictable.
If you’re looking for a book that feels like a rainy night, an old Victorian flat, questionable noises behind the walls, and a romance you’ll be rooting for, add this one to your fall TBR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Perfect for readers who love:
👻 Cozy horror
🏠 Haunted houses & creepy old buildings
💕 Slow-burn romance
🔥 Forced proximity
💔 Fresh starts after heartbreak
🫶 Finding home in unexpected places
✨ Spooky atmosphere with plenty of heart
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**Thank you to Harper Perennial for gifting me a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.**
This book had all the ingredients for a perfect ghost story and boy did it deliver!
The prose is descriptive and works perfectly to set the scene of the haunted house (which almost becomes a character in and of itself), the development of the ghost lore is well paced and leaves you eagerly turning pages. And if all this wasn’t enough? This is one of the best endings I’ve read in a long, long time.
You’re hooked in with the promise of a mystery slash ghost story, and somehow delivered all of that plus a cozy found family side plot on a silver platter. To be quite honest, romance plots involving men don’t normally do anything for me, but I didn’t mind the straight presenting (bi for bi) romance at all in this story. The relationship was well developed, justified, and added to the story perfectly. This is a testament to JJA Harwood’s stellar character writing. Each character introduced in this book felt so unique and real and I wanted to be in the flat right along with them (before the ghost shenanigans started). While this portion of the book and the roommate characters really brought the homey, cozy vibes, JJA is also great at developing characters in the unsettling opposite direction. Every time Becks interacted with Tori I felt my skin crawl, Tori’s abusive behavior and gaslighting dialogue was almost more terrifying than the ghostly activity.
The ending, though? JJA, you’ve outdone yourself, I love every bit of this. Absolute perfection.
At risk of inadvertently spoiling the whole book by yammering on about the clever twist ending for too long—it’s the perfect pay off for what is already an incredibly strong book. I absolutely love when shitty men get what’s coming to them. I believe in women’s rights AND wrongs.
What a cool book. JJA Harwood has made a reader out of me forever. Definitely worth a read if you’re a horror fan!
This book had all the ingredients for a perfect ghost story and boy did it deliver!
The prose is descriptive and works perfectly to set the scene of the haunted house (which almost becomes a character in and of itself), the development of the ghost lore is well paced and leaves you eagerly turning pages. And if all this wasn’t enough? This is one of the best endings I’ve read in a long, long time.
You’re hooked in with the promise of a mystery slash ghost story, and somehow delivered all of that plus a cozy found family side plot on a silver platter. To be quite honest, romance plots involving men don’t normally do anything for me, but I didn’t mind the straight presenting (bi for bi) romance at all in this story. The relationship was well developed, justified, and added to the story perfectly. This is a testament to JJA Harwood’s stellar character writing. Each character introduced in this book felt so unique and real and I wanted to be in the flat right along with them (before the ghost shenanigans started). While this portion of the book and the roommate characters really brought the homey, cozy vibes, JJA is also great at developing characters in the unsettling opposite direction. Every time Becks interacted with Tori I felt my skin crawl, Tori’s abusive behavior and gaslighting dialogue was almost more terrifying than the ghostly activity.
The ending, though? JJA, you’ve outdone yourself, I love every bit of this. Absolute perfection.
At risk of inadvertently spoiling the whole book by yammering on about the clever twist ending for too long—it’s the perfect pay off for what is already an incredibly strong book. I absolutely love when shitty men get what’s coming to them. I believe in women’s rights AND wrongs.
What a cool book. JJA Harwood has made a reader out of me forever. Definitely worth a read if you’re a horror fan!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
JJA Harwood’s The Housemate explores grief, reclamation, and the complicated process of moving forward through a feminist lens. Set in the present day, the novel draws its eeriness from the home’s nineteenth-century history, creating a connection between the lives of its contemporary inhabitants and the woman whose story has remained embedded within its walls.
The Housemate offers an intriguing departure from the traditional haunted-house story. The house is not simply a sinister entity that attempts to drive its inhabitants to madness through psychological games. Instead, the spirit haunting the home is a woman who met a tragic end within its walls and is attempting to reclaim what was once hers. Her haunting feels deeply connected to the question of erasure: what happens when a woman is deprived of her life, her agency, and ultimately her claim to the home she called her own? Rather than existing solely to frighten the characters, her presence gives the house a history and a sense of unresolved injustice. Through her writing, Harwood creates a vivid sense of place, allowing the reader to visualize the home, the supernatural events, and its surroundings while maintaining an underlying feeling of unease.
Harwood’s exploration of ownership is one of the novel’s most compelling elements. On the surface, ownership is quite literal—the question of who has the right to a house and what it means to inherit or possess a piece of property. Beneath that, however, Harwood expands the idea of ownership into relationships. People can become possessive of one another, attempting to dictate who someone should be, where they belong, or what they owe to the people around them. By placing these ideas alongside the story of a woman whose agency was violently taken from her, the novel invites the reader to consider the many ways women can be denied control over their own lives despite the passing of time.
The Housemate offers an intriguing departure from the traditional haunted-house story. The house is not simply a sinister entity that attempts to drive its inhabitants to madness through psychological games. Instead, the spirit haunting the home is a woman who met a tragic end within its walls and is attempting to reclaim what was once hers. Her haunting feels deeply connected to the question of erasure: what happens when a woman is deprived of her life, her agency, and ultimately her claim to the home she called her own? Rather than existing solely to frighten the characters, her presence gives the house a history and a sense of unresolved injustice. Through her writing, Harwood creates a vivid sense of place, allowing the reader to visualize the home, the supernatural events, and its surroundings while maintaining an underlying feeling of unease.
Harwood’s exploration of ownership is one of the novel’s most compelling elements. On the surface, ownership is quite literal—the question of who has the right to a house and what it means to inherit or possess a piece of property. Beneath that, however, Harwood expands the idea of ownership into relationships. People can become possessive of one another, attempting to dictate who someone should be, where they belong, or what they owe to the people around them. By placing these ideas alongside the story of a woman whose agency was violently taken from her, the novel invites the reader to consider the many ways women can be denied control over their own lives despite the passing of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2026
This book was a solid five stars for me until about halfway through. The story itself? LOVED it. However the plot began to get very repetitive and drawn out, I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over. The writing itself also became very repetitive (I was about to pull my hair out after the 1000th time Becks was about to cry, and if I never see the word “slurry” again it will be too soon), and it felt at times like the romance aspect was forced. I think this would’ve been a slam dunk if the repetitive nature is attended to. The descriptions of Violet’s ghost are hands down some of the best horror writing I’ve encountered, but I was taken out of the story because of the above. In addition, the entire Tori storyline could’ve been completely absent and it wouldn’t have mattered. When Helen tricks Becks into coming over, sidelining her when Tori shows up, we never hear about Tori again. I get she was there to show Becks gaining some independence and claiming herself back, but it just didn’t feel like enough of an impact. We meet her after the break up and she’s already completely over it, and again there’s some repetitiveness in what Tori disliked (her hair, her hair, her hair), and while she finds comfort in Jamie, she’s still relying on him most of the story and constantly being brought to tears.
Overall, I did enjoy the story. And I do recognize this is an ARC (thank you NetGalley!!) But there were definitely some areas that felt a bit weak. The horror aspect was fantastic. I’d absolutely read more by this author. While I think less of the romantic aspect would make the story stronger, I also recognize this is in the cozy horror genre. Maybe it feels like the romance and the horror are far too juxtaposed to actually feel realistic and actually give Becks and Jamie’s relationship even deeper.
TLDR: 3/5 stars for amazing horror writing but repetitive writing and storytelling, would recommend!
Overall, I did enjoy the story. And I do recognize this is an ARC (thank you NetGalley!!) But there were definitely some areas that felt a bit weak. The horror aspect was fantastic. I’d absolutely read more by this author. While I think less of the romantic aspect would make the story stronger, I also recognize this is in the cozy horror genre. Maybe it feels like the romance and the horror are far too juxtaposed to actually feel realistic and actually give Becks and Jamie’s relationship even deeper.
TLDR: 3/5 stars for amazing horror writing but repetitive writing and storytelling, would recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, J.J.A Harwood, and Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, I had such a good time with The Housemate! This was my first book by J.J.A. Harwood, and it absolutely will not be my last.
After a breakup leaves Becky needing somewhere to live, she moves into a house that hasn’t been occupied in decades. A sealed basement, windows painted shut, strange noises coming from inside the walls, mysterious mold that refuses to disappear, and a fireplace hiding something it definitely shouldn’t…Uhmmm yes, please! I was immediately invested.
What I loved most was the atmosphere. The house feels like a character of its own, and as Becky and her housemates begin experiencing the same unexplained noises, odors, cold drafts, and increasingly creepy occurrences, I couldn’t wait to find out what was actually happening. And Danny, the property manager….
There are some genuinely eerie and haunting moments, but I also loved the unexpected humor sprinkled throughout. It gave the story personality without taking away from the creepy atmosphere. The mystery surrounding Violet, the history of the house, and even whether they were living at the address they thought they were living at kept adding new layers to the story.
This was exactly my kind of haunted-house read: creepy, mysterious, atmospheric, a little funny, and filled with enough “WHAT is happening in this house?!” moments to keep me turning the pages. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR if you love a great haunted-house read!
J.J.A. Harwood is a new-to-me author, and after The Housemate, I can’t wait to read more of their work!
Oh, I had such a good time with The Housemate! This was my first book by J.J.A. Harwood, and it absolutely will not be my last.
After a breakup leaves Becky needing somewhere to live, she moves into a house that hasn’t been occupied in decades. A sealed basement, windows painted shut, strange noises coming from inside the walls, mysterious mold that refuses to disappear, and a fireplace hiding something it definitely shouldn’t…Uhmmm yes, please! I was immediately invested.
What I loved most was the atmosphere. The house feels like a character of its own, and as Becky and her housemates begin experiencing the same unexplained noises, odors, cold drafts, and increasingly creepy occurrences, I couldn’t wait to find out what was actually happening. And Danny, the property manager….
There are some genuinely eerie and haunting moments, but I also loved the unexpected humor sprinkled throughout. It gave the story personality without taking away from the creepy atmosphere. The mystery surrounding Violet, the history of the house, and even whether they were living at the address they thought they were living at kept adding new layers to the story.
This was exactly my kind of haunted-house read: creepy, mysterious, atmospheric, a little funny, and filled with enough “WHAT is happening in this house?!” moments to keep me turning the pages. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR if you love a great haunted-house read!
J.J.A. Harwood is a new-to-me author, and after The Housemate, I can’t wait to read more of their work!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this one! I read a lot of horror, but cozy horror isn't something I normally pick up. After reading this though, I would definitely read more of it.
Becks is newly single, needs somewhere affordable to live, and ends up moving into a shared house with three roommates. Everything seems pretty good at first...until it becomes very obvious they aren't the only ones living there.
I loved the whole haunted house aspect. The scratching behind the boarded-up fireplace, the house always being freezing, the creepy handprints showing up on the walls...absolutely not. 😂 I would have been out of there. But they're all basically broke and moving isn't that simple, which honestly made the story even more believable and fun for me.
I really liked Becks and Jamie, and I liked the roommate dynamic in general. There is some romance, but not so much that it took away from the horror. I also liked watching Becks figure out her life after getting out of a controlling relationship.
This wasn't super scary to me, but it was definitely creepy and had a really good atmosphere. It also moved pretty quickly and kept me interested because I wanted to know what was actually going on with this house.
And honestly, dealing with a ghost AND a horrible landlord at the same time might be my actual nightmare.
Overall, this was just a fun spooky read. Creepy house, ghosts, roommates, a little romance and some humor mixed in. A solid 4 stars for me.
This was my first book by JJA Harwood, and I would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Becks is newly single, needs somewhere affordable to live, and ends up moving into a shared house with three roommates. Everything seems pretty good at first...until it becomes very obvious they aren't the only ones living there.
I loved the whole haunted house aspect. The scratching behind the boarded-up fireplace, the house always being freezing, the creepy handprints showing up on the walls...absolutely not. 😂 I would have been out of there. But they're all basically broke and moving isn't that simple, which honestly made the story even more believable and fun for me.
I really liked Becks and Jamie, and I liked the roommate dynamic in general. There is some romance, but not so much that it took away from the horror. I also liked watching Becks figure out her life after getting out of a controlling relationship.
This wasn't super scary to me, but it was definitely creepy and had a really good atmosphere. It also moved pretty quickly and kept me interested because I wanted to know what was actually going on with this house.
And honestly, dealing with a ghost AND a horrible landlord at the same time might be my actual nightmare.
Overall, this was just a fun spooky read. Creepy house, ghosts, roommates, a little romance and some humor mixed in. A solid 4 stars for me.
This was my first book by JJA Harwood, and I would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay… this book had me looking at the word “housemate” in a completely different way.
You know that feeling when you move into a place and think, “This is going to be great!”?
Yeah… maybe not.
The Housemate pulled me in quickly and kept me turning those pages with that wonderful little voice in my head saying, “Something is NOT right here…”
I loved the creeping sense of tension throughout the story. There are secrets, suspicious behavior, uncomfortable moments, and plenty of reasons to wonder who can actually be trusted. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story gave me another reason to doubt myself.
And of course, I did what every thriller reader does:
I made a theory.
I became convinced I was right.
I was probably wrong.
The pacing made this such an easy and addictive read. I kept telling myself I’d stop after one more chapter… and we all know that never works. Suddenly, I was still reading and wondering where the evening had gone!
JJA Harwood does a great job creating that uncomfortable atmosphere where ordinary situations start feeling just a little… off. And honestly? Those are my favorite kinds of thrillers.
If you enjoy secrets, twists, tension, suspicious characters, and the feeling that something is lurking just beneath the surface, definitely give The Housemate a spot on your TBR.
Would I want to live with this housemate?
Absolutely not.
Would I recommend reading about it from the safety of my couch?
100% YES!
A fun, twisty, entertaining read that kept me curious and turning pages.
ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You know that feeling when you move into a place and think, “This is going to be great!”?
Yeah… maybe not.
The Housemate pulled me in quickly and kept me turning those pages with that wonderful little voice in my head saying, “Something is NOT right here…”
I loved the creeping sense of tension throughout the story. There are secrets, suspicious behavior, uncomfortable moments, and plenty of reasons to wonder who can actually be trusted. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story gave me another reason to doubt myself.
And of course, I did what every thriller reader does:
I made a theory.
I became convinced I was right.
I was probably wrong.
The pacing made this such an easy and addictive read. I kept telling myself I’d stop after one more chapter… and we all know that never works. Suddenly, I was still reading and wondering where the evening had gone!
JJA Harwood does a great job creating that uncomfortable atmosphere where ordinary situations start feeling just a little… off. And honestly? Those are my favorite kinds of thrillers.
If you enjoy secrets, twists, tension, suspicious characters, and the feeling that something is lurking just beneath the surface, definitely give The Housemate a spot on your TBR.
Would I want to live with this housemate?
Absolutely not.
Would I recommend reading about it from the safety of my couch?
100% YES!
A fun, twisty, entertaining read that kept me curious and turning pages.
ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Housemate was such a fun haunted-house read. I went in expecting a cozy horror story, but there were definitely moments that had me thinking, absolutely not—I would have been out of that house.
Becks moves into a new place after leaving a long-term relationship, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she gets strange noises behind the fireplace, freezing rooms, sleep paralysis, black handprints, and the growing realization that she may not be the only one living there.
I really liked the atmosphere in this one. The house felt like a character all by itself, and I loved the way the unsettling details slowly built. The horror wasn't just about a ghost appearing out of nowhere; there was this constant feeling that something was wrong, and I kept wanting to know what was actually happening inside that house.
I also really enjoyed Becks and the way her story of starting over after a controlling relationship connected with the larger themes of ownership, control, and reclaiming your life. The found-family dynamic with the roommates added a nice balance to the darker parts of the story.
This isn't the kind of horror that is going to completely destroy you, but it is creepy, atmospheric, and has some genuinely unsettling moments. And that ending? I really liked where J.J.A. Harwood took it.
A great choice if you love haunted houses, ghosts, creepy old buildings, found family, and a little romance mixed into your horror.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Becks moves into a new place after leaving a long-term relationship, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she gets strange noises behind the fireplace, freezing rooms, sleep paralysis, black handprints, and the growing realization that she may not be the only one living there.
I really liked the atmosphere in this one. The house felt like a character all by itself, and I loved the way the unsettling details slowly built. The horror wasn't just about a ghost appearing out of nowhere; there was this constant feeling that something was wrong, and I kept wanting to know what was actually happening inside that house.
I also really enjoyed Becks and the way her story of starting over after a controlling relationship connected with the larger themes of ownership, control, and reclaiming your life. The found-family dynamic with the roommates added a nice balance to the darker parts of the story.
This isn't the kind of horror that is going to completely destroy you, but it is creepy, atmospheric, and has some genuinely unsettling moments. And that ending? I really liked where J.J.A. Harwood took it.
A great choice if you love haunted houses, ghosts, creepy old buildings, found family, and a little romance mixed into your horror.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book. It’s not easy to incorporate a romance into a horror, but Harwood does it with elegance. Harwood also has a knack for descriptions and the way they described the paranormal effects on the house was *chefs kiss*.
Becks needs out: of her suffocating relationship, of her financial struggles, and of being forced to be someone she is not. When she finally leaves her ex-girlfriend of six years, she is not only leaving a relationship, but any financial stability she previously had. The little money Beck’s has goes into a flat share with three other roommates in an old, but modernized Victorian house. But quickly things go downhill. There is scratching in the fireplace, a crushing physical presence on her chest when the lights are out, and a rotting odor penetrating the house. And why are there dark hand prints around the fireplace? What is trying to get in?
I had such a good time with this one. I felt so panicked because of Beck’s financial situation. I think this really showed the entrapment one can experience when renting as well the power that landlords can have over tenants. The romance in the novel was not rushed and didn’t overshadow the story at all, but added to it. The writing is so atmospheric and I felt like I was there experiencing the horror.
Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks , for an E-Arc of The Housemate in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Apr 13 2027
Becks needs out: of her suffocating relationship, of her financial struggles, and of being forced to be someone she is not. When she finally leaves her ex-girlfriend of six years, she is not only leaving a relationship, but any financial stability she previously had. The little money Beck’s has goes into a flat share with three other roommates in an old, but modernized Victorian house. But quickly things go downhill. There is scratching in the fireplace, a crushing physical presence on her chest when the lights are out, and a rotting odor penetrating the house. And why are there dark hand prints around the fireplace? What is trying to get in?
I had such a good time with this one. I felt so panicked because of Beck’s financial situation. I think this really showed the entrapment one can experience when renting as well the power that landlords can have over tenants. The romance in the novel was not rushed and didn’t overshadow the story at all, but added to it. The writing is so atmospheric and I felt like I was there experiencing the horror.
Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks , for an E-Arc of The Housemate in exchange for an honest review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Apr 13 2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh this was weird and I liked it.
I grabbed this off Netgalley because of the odd cover, really caught my attention, the colors the weird house the melting, loved it.
Beck is going through a break up and crashing on a friend's couch in the aftermath. This is super temporary but everything is so fresh. However maybe a fresh start with people that aren't from her and her exes circle will help, so she finds a house share type set up for people needing a roommate.
I hate having roommates so this sounds like hell on its own, but Becks really seems like she needs this and it really does seem perfect, almost too perfect. But decides to take the place anyways.
That's when shit gets weird, forget sleeping, try being awake and not being able to move while weird shit is going on at night, that is horrifying. Hand prints everywhere and noises that shouldn't be happening start to worry her and her roommates ( totally thought they might be like doing it myself but lol)
I actually thought the characters made this story, the background and way they really grew on me as the story went in, I was so suspicious of everyone but got so attached, which is never a good idea in horror.
That ending was so good, really liked it and gave it a whole star on its own.
Looking forward to more by Harwood.
I grabbed this off Netgalley because of the odd cover, really caught my attention, the colors the weird house the melting, loved it.
Beck is going through a break up and crashing on a friend's couch in the aftermath. This is super temporary but everything is so fresh. However maybe a fresh start with people that aren't from her and her exes circle will help, so she finds a house share type set up for people needing a roommate.
I hate having roommates so this sounds like hell on its own, but Becks really seems like she needs this and it really does seem perfect, almost too perfect. But decides to take the place anyways.
That's when shit gets weird, forget sleeping, try being awake and not being able to move while weird shit is going on at night, that is horrifying. Hand prints everywhere and noises that shouldn't be happening start to worry her and her roommates ( totally thought they might be like doing it myself but lol)
I actually thought the characters made this story, the background and way they really grew on me as the story went in, I was so suspicious of everyone but got so attached, which is never a good idea in horror.
That ending was so good, really liked it and gave it a whole star on its own.
Looking forward to more by Harwood.
September 17, 2026
Holy fuck, I never want to go apartment hunting ever again!
Thank you @netgalley and @harperperennial for letting me read The Housemate by JJA Harwood early!
Recently out of a long term relationship with a controlling partner, Becks needs a place to live and it needs to be cheap. Luckily, there’s a room to rent right where she needs it. Moving into a new home with 3 other strangers, something just isn’t right. The door to the coal basement is locked, the fireplaces are all boarded up (there might be mice scratching at it?), and it’s always cold even though the heat is running. As Becks and her housemates start to inhabit the home, they realize there’s something else living here and it wants them OUT.
The Housemate is a perfect slow build haunted house horror novel that keeps you on edge with every turn of a page. I loved the character development of Becks- she chose to leave a long term relationship because she felt trapped and couldn’t make her own decisions. It lead her to opening to up to become her own person and ended up finding her stability and comfort at the end. Between the horrors of trying to survive in their home, there’s a sweet story of love in between. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone needs a heartfelt haunted house story🖤
Thank you @netgalley and @harperperennial for letting me read The Housemate by JJA Harwood early!
Recently out of a long term relationship with a controlling partner, Becks needs a place to live and it needs to be cheap. Luckily, there’s a room to rent right where she needs it. Moving into a new home with 3 other strangers, something just isn’t right. The door to the coal basement is locked, the fireplaces are all boarded up (there might be mice scratching at it?), and it’s always cold even though the heat is running. As Becks and her housemates start to inhabit the home, they realize there’s something else living here and it wants them OUT.
The Housemate is a perfect slow build haunted house horror novel that keeps you on edge with every turn of a page. I loved the character development of Becks- she chose to leave a long term relationship because she felt trapped and couldn’t make her own decisions. It lead her to opening to up to become her own person and ended up finding her stability and comfort at the end. Between the horrors of trying to survive in their home, there’s a sweet story of love in between. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone needs a heartfelt haunted house story🖤
October 21, 2026
Review of advanced copy provided by NetGalley
I want to start off by saying I truly loved the concept of this book and will say the last 20% of the book was great. I enjoyed the details that went into the experience Becks had with Violet and I found myself laughing towards the end. I just truly wish it was like that throughout the book.
While this book did keep my interest, it was only because I was always just waiting for something to happen. I found myself thinking that I was reading the same passages and descriptions over and over again, it was very repetitive and I felt like the first 80% of the book was the same stuff happening over and over again on a loop.
There was also a lot of fluff added to make the story longer which I felt didn’t need to be there (her ex girlfriends story didn’t really bring much to the story in my opinion- other than that’s why she needed a new place to live but we could’ve just left it at that).
All of this to say, this one just wasn’t for me. I love a good ghost haunting and the descriptions of the house, what was happening to them (especially what happened to Becks) was beautifully written but I wanted to see more of the writing that was at the end of the book throughout the book.
I want to start off by saying I truly loved the concept of this book and will say the last 20% of the book was great. I enjoyed the details that went into the experience Becks had with Violet and I found myself laughing towards the end. I just truly wish it was like that throughout the book.
While this book did keep my interest, it was only because I was always just waiting for something to happen. I found myself thinking that I was reading the same passages and descriptions over and over again, it was very repetitive and I felt like the first 80% of the book was the same stuff happening over and over again on a loop.
There was also a lot of fluff added to make the story longer which I felt didn’t need to be there (her ex girlfriends story didn’t really bring much to the story in my opinion- other than that’s why she needed a new place to live but we could’ve just left it at that).
All of this to say, this one just wasn’t for me. I love a good ghost haunting and the descriptions of the house, what was happening to them (especially what happened to Becks) was beautifully written but I wanted to see more of the writing that was at the end of the book throughout the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really went back and forth between a 2 or 3 star for this book. Ultimately, it was right in the middle with a 3 because there were really good elements but a lot of it just didn't work. First, I would classify this as young adult, it seemed simple and geared towards a younger audience. The relationship between Jamie and Becks felt immature and it took up a lot of time but didn't further the plot or add to character development. I thought there were a lot of creepy moments with some great atmosphere, and I enjoyed the idea of bringing in different people to 'cleanse' the home. It didn't seem like this was developed enough, they were going to do a seance but only saged the home. I also think if there had been more focus on Beck doing research into the home and emphasis put into Violet's life it would have been more exciting. I just felt like it was so heavily focused on this boring romantic relationship and not enough on the actual mystery of a ghost in your home! The ending also seemed very rushed, after all that?? Just, that?
October 24, 2026
Big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of “The Housemate” by JJA Harwood.
Breakups suck. Moving sucks. Moving to a new place right after a breakup? Double the suck. That is exactly the situation Becks finds herself in in “The Housemate.” To make matters worse, it’s a house share with complete strangers and a landlord that couldn’t give a shit less about doing his job. Oh, and a ghost that is none too happy that these people have intruded upon its house. What could possibly go wrong?
“The Housemate” is a cozy haunted house story that explores feelings of love, loss, and feeling forgotten. It’s atmospheric with an ever increasing, palpable sense of dread and despair.
I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Becks and Jamie. Danny was the perfect detestable landlord. But most of all, I felt awful for the spirit that hung around.
The ending was nothing like what I thought was going to happen, or at least the way everything was revolved was not what I expected. Solid 4 star read for me.
Breakups suck. Moving sucks. Moving to a new place right after a breakup? Double the suck. That is exactly the situation Becks finds herself in in “The Housemate.” To make matters worse, it’s a house share with complete strangers and a landlord that couldn’t give a shit less about doing his job. Oh, and a ghost that is none too happy that these people have intruded upon its house. What could possibly go wrong?
“The Housemate” is a cozy haunted house story that explores feelings of love, loss, and feeling forgotten. It’s atmospheric with an ever increasing, palpable sense of dread and despair.
I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Becks and Jamie. Danny was the perfect detestable landlord. But most of all, I felt awful for the spirit that hung around.
The ending was nothing like what I thought was going to happen, or at least the way everything was revolved was not what I expected. Solid 4 star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Housemate was incredibly well written! This slow burn, classic haunted house story delivers all the eerie atmosphere of an old-fashioned ghost story with a modern flair and an absolutely astonishing twist.
Beck’s character is incredibly relatable, and that connection carries throughout the entire book. The writing is so immersive that you feel as though you’re experiencing every unsettling moment right alongside the characters.
It’s everything I love about a good, old fashioned, things go bump in the night ghost story. But what makes this book truly exceptional is that once you reach the end and realize what’s actually been happening, the entire story becomes even more sinister. Suddenly, all those little moments take on an entirely new meaning, and the creep factor goes through the roof!
And when I tell you this book gave me nightmares, I mean it!
Absolutely brilliant storytelling, a phenomenal twist, and the perfect October read. Well done!
Beck’s character is incredibly relatable, and that connection carries throughout the entire book. The writing is so immersive that you feel as though you’re experiencing every unsettling moment right alongside the characters.
It’s everything I love about a good, old fashioned, things go bump in the night ghost story. But what makes this book truly exceptional is that once you reach the end and realize what’s actually been happening, the entire story becomes even more sinister. Suddenly, all those little moments take on an entirely new meaning, and the creep factor goes through the roof!
And when I tell you this book gave me nightmares, I mean it!
Absolutely brilliant storytelling, a phenomenal twist, and the perfect October read. Well done!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC!
The Housemate is a haunted house story at every level. It's eerie, visceral and above all, claustrophobic. The claustrophobia, however, comes from the real fear of having nowhere to go. Horror often reflects the fears and challenges of their time, and this is no exception. In the book, 4 people move in and only 2 can afford to move out. The conditions of the home deteriorate, making it unliveable. It's not just a ghost, but mold and rot too, making them sick as well as scared. They have nowhere to go, no money to find a new place or get a hotel. So many of us are one missed paycheck away from losing our housing, and not everyone has the luxury to have somewhere to crash with friends or family long term. The dread of needing to escape but not financially being able to hangs over this story like a noose.
Truly horrifying, really well done!
The Housemate is a haunted house story at every level. It's eerie, visceral and above all, claustrophobic. The claustrophobia, however, comes from the real fear of having nowhere to go. Horror often reflects the fears and challenges of their time, and this is no exception. In the book, 4 people move in and only 2 can afford to move out. The conditions of the home deteriorate, making it unliveable. It's not just a ghost, but mold and rot too, making them sick as well as scared. They have nowhere to go, no money to find a new place or get a hotel. So many of us are one missed paycheck away from losing our housing, and not everyone has the luxury to have somewhere to crash with friends or family long term. The dread of needing to escape but not financially being able to hangs over this story like a noose.
Truly horrifying, really well done!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Housemate is exactly the kind of cozy horror I love. A breakup, a new flat, questionable roommates, a little romance, and oh yeah, a pissed-off ghost living in the walls. What could possibly go wrong?
I loved watching Becks settle into her new life and slowly realize that her fresh start might not be quite as fresh as she thought. The creepy noises, the cold, the sleep paralysis, and those black mold handprints had me side-eyeing the walls.
And Jamie? Okay, I see you. The romance was just the right amount of swoony without taking away from the horror.
It’s spooky, fun, a little weird, and has that cozy haunted-house feeling that makes you want to curl up and keep reading while also thinking maybe I should not be living alone. The Housemate was such a fun read, and honestly, the idea of a cursed apartment is scary enough, but add rent prices and I’m done.
I loved watching Becks settle into her new life and slowly realize that her fresh start might not be quite as fresh as she thought. The creepy noises, the cold, the sleep paralysis, and those black mold handprints had me side-eyeing the walls.
And Jamie? Okay, I see you. The romance was just the right amount of swoony without taking away from the horror.
It’s spooky, fun, a little weird, and has that cozy haunted-house feeling that makes you want to curl up and keep reading while also thinking maybe I should not be living alone. The Housemate was such a fun read, and honestly, the idea of a cursed apartment is scary enough, but add rent prices and I’m done.
September 7, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I loved this novel so much. It hooked me from the start with the eerie feeling of what is going on? I also enjoyed all the roommates and their interactions with one another. Especially between Becks and Jamie!
This book was just the right amount of creepy for me. I’m a sucker for a haunted house trope! I had goosebumps, and could easily imagine everything happening in my head as if it were a movie.
I really need to stop starting horror novels at night because I read 30% of this novel from 11:30pm -1am and had to stop from how freaked out I was.
One thing I will say is that I was thrown off a bit with the British English spelling of certain words. For instance the main character being kicked to the “kerb,” led me on a google spree.
Release Date: April 13th, 2027
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read this eARC for an honest review!
I loved this novel so much. It hooked me from the start with the eerie feeling of what is going on? I also enjoyed all the roommates and their interactions with one another. Especially between Becks and Jamie!
This book was just the right amount of creepy for me. I’m a sucker for a haunted house trope! I had goosebumps, and could easily imagine everything happening in my head as if it were a movie.
I really need to stop starting horror novels at night because I read 30% of this novel from 11:30pm -1am and had to stop from how freaked out I was.
One thing I will say is that I was thrown off a bit with the British English spelling of certain words. For instance the main character being kicked to the “kerb,” led me on a google spree.
Release Date: April 13th, 2027
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read this eARC for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The story is not very new, but the way it is written is so lovely, I could not put this book down. Haunted houses have always been a fun idea, and Harwood does this in a wonderful way. The tension is tight and the pacing is just right. There is occasional humor peppered through the serious, creepy moments that really help diffuse the tension.
I have a fond spot for all the characters, even Cress. They are all trying to do their best with a terrible hand. I really feel for Jamie, Becks is a little bit of a twat throughout the book, but not as annoying and it is easy to get past her selfish moments. Jamie is a complete sweetheart, man can really do no wrong. This book focuses more on the horror than the romance, which is nice. Overall a fun, spooky read.
Thanks to GoodReads Giveaways and Harper Collins publishers for providing me with a copy of this book
I have a fond spot for all the characters, even Cress. They are all trying to do their best with a terrible hand. I really feel for Jamie, Becks is a little bit of a twat throughout the book, but not as annoying and it is easy to get past her selfish moments. Jamie is a complete sweetheart, man can really do no wrong. This book focuses more on the horror than the romance, which is nice. Overall a fun, spooky read.
Thanks to GoodReads Giveaways and Harper Collins publishers for providing me with a copy of this book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read The Housemate by JJA Harwood in exchange for my honest review.
Overall The Housemate by JJA Harwood was an interesting, creepy haunted house book. A little too long and repetitive at times, but the descent into squalor was shown in depth. Once I got into the story I didn't want to stop reading. However, "cozy horror" might not be my genre. I did like the relationship between Becks and Jamie, but the whole book was too much. It reminded me a lot of another book I read recently about a rented house and a horrible landlord. The haunting was creepy and at times a little scary. The ending, while satisfying in a way, was a little predictable and really leaned into the cozy horror part.
I would recommend it to anyone who likes haunted house books, especially with some romance thrown in.
Overall The Housemate by JJA Harwood was an interesting, creepy haunted house book. A little too long and repetitive at times, but the descent into squalor was shown in depth. Once I got into the story I didn't want to stop reading. However, "cozy horror" might not be my genre. I did like the relationship between Becks and Jamie, but the whole book was too much. It reminded me a lot of another book I read recently about a rented house and a horrible landlord. The haunting was creepy and at times a little scary. The ending, while satisfying in a way, was a little predictable and really leaned into the cozy horror part.
I would recommend it to anyone who likes haunted house books, especially with some romance thrown in.
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