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The Ghost in the House
What if you found out that there was a ghost haunting your home? What if you found out that you were the ghost?
In the middle of her life, Fay wakes up on the top of her piano with a strong intuition that something is not right. To all appearances everything is married to a man she loves, living in the house she dreamt of as a child, her life is full of possibility. Except--for reasons not immediately clear to Fay--she is now haunting her own once-happy home.
Everything that should be familiar is suddenly altered. But furniture in the wrong places and walls the wrong colour are nothing compared to the fact that there is another woman in the house. A woman who is sharing Fay's husband's bed. There is also a strange, wan girl roaming the house and claiming that she has "brought Fay back."
Somehow her husband has moved on and made a new life without her and now he finds himself in the unenviable position of sharing a house with two wives, one of whom harbours thoughts of revenge.
As Fay begins to come to terms with the reality of her situation, she must confront all of the choices she has made, as well as those she hasn't--and now never will.
This glimmering and darkly comedic novel explores both the domestic and the existential, delving into the dark heart of marriage and the meaning of a life.
The Ghost in the House strips away all that seems less than essential, leaving behind a story that is raw and polished and as close to true as fiction can be.
In the middle of her life, Fay wakes up on the top of her piano with a strong intuition that something is not right. To all appearances everything is married to a man she loves, living in the house she dreamt of as a child, her life is full of possibility. Except--for reasons not immediately clear to Fay--she is now haunting her own once-happy home.
Everything that should be familiar is suddenly altered. But furniture in the wrong places and walls the wrong colour are nothing compared to the fact that there is another woman in the house. A woman who is sharing Fay's husband's bed. There is also a strange, wan girl roaming the house and claiming that she has "brought Fay back."
Somehow her husband has moved on and made a new life without her and now he finds himself in the unenviable position of sharing a house with two wives, one of whom harbours thoughts of revenge.
As Fay begins to come to terms with the reality of her situation, she must confront all of the choices she has made, as well as those she hasn't--and now never will.
This glimmering and darkly comedic novel explores both the domestic and the existential, delving into the dark heart of marriage and the meaning of a life.
The Ghost in the House strips away all that seems less than essential, leaving behind a story that is raw and polished and as close to true as fiction can be.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2020
4 people are currently reading
2458 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 25, 2020
It is difficult to fit The Ghost in the House by Sara O’Leary into one particular genre. This is the story of Fay. Her life is where she always hoped it would be: her husband is the love of her life, her house is the home of her dreams, her career is very satisfying. Until, without knowing why, she realizes that everything in her life has changed. A teenager is living in her house, her husband is married to an unknown woman, her house has been re-decorated and so on. What could have gone wrong? Who are these people? What happened to her picture-perfect life? Why did her husband abandon her? This is a beautiful novel well-worth spending time with. Highly recommended. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2020
Original and quirky. I enjoyed it.
Let’s face it, we all wonder whether there is life after death. If not ‘life‘ then we wonder just what does happen after we die. The author uses dark humor and pathos to imagine coming back to your home after you die. Original and oddly compelling.
The entire time I was reading of Fay’s foray back to her marital home, I was wondering what would become of her. This kept me turning pages. Ironic because she was already dead.
I loved how one of the things she regretted is that she never got to finish her Denise Mina novel (and I know just the one). Fay’s love of literature was palpable.
I enjoyed the writing, the pacing, and the humour. I did feel a profound sympathy for Fay and wondered how her death came about at the tender age of thirty-seven. I could easily imagine how torn her husband was. Also, I could feel Fay’s frustration at being able to witness events, see things and people, yet not be able to touch – hug – or feel…
This novel was an original examination of all things existential. Of leaving a life you loved – much too soon. Of how regret, grief, memories, love and loss shape our lives, and of selfishness vs. selflessness. Sure it was imaginative, and ‘out there‘ to a great extent, but I really enjoyed sharing in Fay’s journey. This was a fast and enjoyable read.
Let’s face it, we all wonder whether there is life after death. If not ‘life‘ then we wonder just what does happen after we die. The author uses dark humor and pathos to imagine coming back to your home after you die. Original and oddly compelling.
The entire time I was reading of Fay’s foray back to her marital home, I was wondering what would become of her. This kept me turning pages. Ironic because she was already dead.
I loved how one of the things she regretted is that she never got to finish her Denise Mina novel (and I know just the one). Fay’s love of literature was palpable.
I enjoyed the writing, the pacing, and the humour. I did feel a profound sympathy for Fay and wondered how her death came about at the tender age of thirty-seven. I could easily imagine how torn her husband was. Also, I could feel Fay’s frustration at being able to witness events, see things and people, yet not be able to touch – hug – or feel…
This novel was an original examination of all things existential. Of leaving a life you loved – much too soon. Of how regret, grief, memories, love and loss shape our lives, and of selfishness vs. selflessness. Sure it was imaginative, and ‘out there‘ to a great extent, but I really enjoyed sharing in Fay’s journey. This was a fast and enjoyable read.
July 24, 2020
The Ghost In The House, by Sara O'Leary, is a very moving story!
Fay's life is perfect. She is married to the man she loves, lives in her dream home and is planning her career as an artist. Then something goes wrong. Everything has changed. Everything has ended except for how she feels.
Not a scary ghost story, but a story of love, loss, grief and acceptance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Fay's life is perfect. She is married to the man she loves, lives in her dream home and is planning her career as an artist. Then something goes wrong. Everything has changed. Everything has ended except for how she feels.
Not a scary ghost story, but a story of love, loss, grief and acceptance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2020
Engaging, compelling & unputdownable!
I absolutely could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. There is some dark humour here but a story that is so touchingly profound. I don’t think I will ever forget this story!
I received an electronic ARC through NetGalley.
I absolutely could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. There is some dark humour here but a story that is so touchingly profound. I don’t think I will ever forget this story!
I received an electronic ARC through NetGalley.
September 13, 2020
This short novel had such an interesting premise and it delivered. It was such a heartbreaking story, but so well done. Fay wakes up in her house, but something is very different. At first, she thinks that she is being haunted by a ghost, but then she realizes that she is the one who is lingering in her old space. We experience her coming to terms with the end of her life and her husband's new life. The story felt somewhat like experiencing the long break-up of a doomed romance.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Penguin House Canada for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Penguin House Canada for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2021
Feeling like a light read? This one should put you to sleep just fine lol Because that's what I used it for and it worked like a charm XD
It was different in the POV of a ghost though, kinda neat, got old fast though.
There's not much of a story here, just about a ghost reminiscing and contemplating her past.
It was different in the POV of a ghost though, kinda neat, got old fast though.
There's not much of a story here, just about a ghost reminiscing and contemplating her past.
August 6, 2020
Thanks to Doubleday Canada, Penguin Random House Canada Limited, and NetGalley for a temporary digital ARC of The Ghost in the House by Sara O'Leary, which enabled me to read it and write an unbiased review. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
The intriguing story in this short book is told from the ghost's point of view.
Fay had a great life living in her dream house with her loving husband and planning her career as an artist. But something went awry.
This is not a scary ghost story, but a
heartbreaking story of love, loss, grief, regrets, and letting go. The unexpected humour was appreciated.
This is my first book written by Sara O'Leary, and I hope to read more by this talented Canadian author.
Content Warning: Self-harm/cutting
#TheGhostInTheHouse
#NetGalley
Posted on GoodReads, NetGalley, Savvy Reader and Twitter
The intriguing story in this short book is told from the ghost's point of view.
Fay had a great life living in her dream house with her loving husband and planning her career as an artist. But something went awry.
This is not a scary ghost story, but a
heartbreaking story of love, loss, grief, regrets, and letting go. The unexpected humour was appreciated.
This is my first book written by Sara O'Leary, and I hope to read more by this talented Canadian author.
Content Warning: Self-harm/cutting
#TheGhostInTheHouse
#NetGalley
Posted on GoodReads, NetGalley, Savvy Reader and Twitter
June 9, 2020
Awww I'm disappointed... this book had SO MUCH POTENTIAL!!! UGGH.
First things first I would like to stress that Sara O'Leary's writing style is VERY enjoyable. I flew threw the book and it was a very smooth read. She has a talent for story telling and it's clear as day that she is a very talented writer. The book however fell short for me. There was a lack of descriptive imagery and most of the time I was hoping the story would expand more on certain feelings, scenarios and would give more of a background to Alec and Fay's life together. Even when it came to the parts of the story with Dee in it. I think that relationship could have been far more intriguing and developed. Janet's side of things would have been nice to explore and hear more about. I could keep going on and on and on but really what this book needed was MORE DETAIL!!! The relationships could have been far deeper and more elaborate which would have made the book so much more interesting. It was just so blah and there was too much missing for me.
It really sucks because this book had a HUGE potential to be great: the storyline was intriguing and the characters were likeable - it just fell short of making me feel much of anything. It's nice that the book is short and I feel like if there was another 50 pages or so it could turn into something great.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
First things first I would like to stress that Sara O'Leary's writing style is VERY enjoyable. I flew threw the book and it was a very smooth read. She has a talent for story telling and it's clear as day that she is a very talented writer. The book however fell short for me. There was a lack of descriptive imagery and most of the time I was hoping the story would expand more on certain feelings, scenarios and would give more of a background to Alec and Fay's life together. Even when it came to the parts of the story with Dee in it. I think that relationship could have been far more intriguing and developed. Janet's side of things would have been nice to explore and hear more about. I could keep going on and on and on but really what this book needed was MORE DETAIL!!! The relationships could have been far deeper and more elaborate which would have made the book so much more interesting. It was just so blah and there was too much missing for me.
It really sucks because this book had a HUGE potential to be great: the storyline was intriguing and the characters were likeable - it just fell short of making me feel much of anything. It's nice that the book is short and I feel like if there was another 50 pages or so it could turn into something great.
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2020
I absolutely loved this book !
I didn't expect to like it as much as I do. Its partly because my husband died very suddenly in November and I too didn't have a chance to say goodbye.
I laughed at Fay, I sympathized with her and loved her outlook as she learns that its just not her who things have changed for !
Fay has a lot of wisdom and a few faults that will make you smile if not laugh!
My favourite quote " I hadn't thought of this. Of him being left with with everything and nothing all at once"
A great read no matter what, this is one book I could re read !
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for a great read !
I didn't expect to like it as much as I do. Its partly because my husband died very suddenly in November and I too didn't have a chance to say goodbye.
I laughed at Fay, I sympathized with her and loved her outlook as she learns that its just not her who things have changed for !
Fay has a lot of wisdom and a few faults that will make you smile if not laugh!
My favourite quote " I hadn't thought of this. Of him being left with with everything and nothing all at once"
A great read no matter what, this is one book I could re read !
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for a great read !
October 3, 2022
halooo policija, ovo je bilo 20 puta tužnije nego što sam očekivala 💔
June 25, 2020
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the e-ARC of this book.
As someone who married a widower, this novel rang very close to home. O'Leary does a fantastic job of navigating the nuances of this experience. The number of times I have imagined the return of a ghost happened exactly as was described in this novel.
The tone of the novel was spot on, and the writing was compelling enough to keep me reading well past my bedtime. A great Canadian voice that I am very happy to have discovered!
As someone who married a widower, this novel rang very close to home. O'Leary does a fantastic job of navigating the nuances of this experience. The number of times I have imagined the return of a ghost happened exactly as was described in this novel.
The tone of the novel was spot on, and the writing was compelling enough to keep me reading well past my bedtime. A great Canadian voice that I am very happy to have discovered!
June 5, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy!
Sweet simple story. A chance to see how the world moved on after you pass away. How your loved ones moved on. A lesson that perhaps seeing them isn’t what you wished for. A story of living your life to the fullest as regrets, even in death, will follow you.
Sweet simple story. A chance to see how the world moved on after you pass away. How your loved ones moved on. A lesson that perhaps seeing them isn’t what you wished for. A story of living your life to the fullest as regrets, even in death, will follow you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2020
Fay’s life was flawless - living in her dream home, married to her soulmate, working happily as an artist - until the moment she noticed everything was wrong. Fay doesn’t understand where time has gone, why is her house redecorated and who is the girl that resides in her studio? As Fay uncovers the answers, she learns more about the true meaning of love and life.
I INHALED this book. It was a simple story that was brilliantly executed. I expected it to be a spooky book, similar vibes to the movie The Others, but instead it was a contemporary, philosophical book, which will make you reflect on your own life and experiences. It reminded me of the movie A Ghost Story with Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, but so much better (I honestly did not enjoy that movie at all and after reading this book I feel THIS is how it should’ve been like). The author made you feel for the characters, as you can easily fit you and your loved ones in their place, which is very moving and heartbreaking given the plot of the novel. The climax of the book wasn’t grand, which I absolutely didn’t mind given the pace and context of the story.
Overall, the story was both sweet and heartbreaking, and I would highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a simple, touching story.
I INHALED this book. It was a simple story that was brilliantly executed. I expected it to be a spooky book, similar vibes to the movie The Others, but instead it was a contemporary, philosophical book, which will make you reflect on your own life and experiences. It reminded me of the movie A Ghost Story with Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, but so much better (I honestly did not enjoy that movie at all and after reading this book I feel THIS is how it should’ve been like). The author made you feel for the characters, as you can easily fit you and your loved ones in their place, which is very moving and heartbreaking given the plot of the novel. The climax of the book wasn’t grand, which I absolutely didn’t mind given the pace and context of the story.
Overall, the story was both sweet and heartbreaking, and I would highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a simple, touching story.
July 15, 2020
I received a free advance copy of this book from Netgalley in return for a review.
If anyone you have deeply loved has died this book may resonate. The idea of what happens after death and whether or not the dead can visit us are questions most of us have asked at one time or another. After my mother died aged 59, I would have given anything to have her 'visit' me especially to see my children - both born after her death, but as Sara O'Leary's novel shows such 'visits' are, at the very least problematic for the living and the dead.
I really wanted to like this novel especially as I have often, as mentioned, pondered on the themes in it, but the best I can say is that it is 'nice'. It didn't go far enough for me. Why, several years after her death, the MC returns to the earthly world is never properly resolved nor is there a sense that she has contributed to or received any great wisdom by doing so. I finished the novel wanting more. I even wondered in the last few pages whether there would be a huge 'Bobby Ewing a la Dallas' (ages me) plot twist at the end, but there wasn't.
The description of grief was solid. The aching hole you carry around, sometimes for years, is clearly articulated, but beyond that I felt a bit dissatisfied with the whole experience.
If anyone you have deeply loved has died this book may resonate. The idea of what happens after death and whether or not the dead can visit us are questions most of us have asked at one time or another. After my mother died aged 59, I would have given anything to have her 'visit' me especially to see my children - both born after her death, but as Sara O'Leary's novel shows such 'visits' are, at the very least problematic for the living and the dead.
I really wanted to like this novel especially as I have often, as mentioned, pondered on the themes in it, but the best I can say is that it is 'nice'. It didn't go far enough for me. Why, several years after her death, the MC returns to the earthly world is never properly resolved nor is there a sense that she has contributed to or received any great wisdom by doing so. I finished the novel wanting more. I even wondered in the last few pages whether there would be a huge 'Bobby Ewing a la Dallas' (ages me) plot twist at the end, but there wasn't.
The description of grief was solid. The aching hole you carry around, sometimes for years, is clearly articulated, but beyond that I felt a bit dissatisfied with the whole experience.
July 19, 2020
This was disorienting in the beginning. I think it was meant to be that way, but it was hard to get through the first bit. I wasn't sure what was going on and some of the things Fay said were hard to make sense of. Sometimes it was hard to differentiate what really happened from her wistful "what could have been" thoughts. This was only in the beginning though. Things started to take form when she met Dee.
The story improved and I had a hard time figuring out how to feel. I understood her frustration at seeing her husband with another family, I understood her husbands need to move on, and I felt bad for Janet who just had no idea what was going on and didn't deserve the confusion. Death is hard. And our lack of understanding of the afterlife makes it so much harder to process. No one had it easy.
3/5 stars
The story improved and I had a hard time figuring out how to feel. I understood her frustration at seeing her husband with another family, I understood her husbands need to move on, and I felt bad for Janet who just had no idea what was going on and didn't deserve the confusion. Death is hard. And our lack of understanding of the afterlife makes it so much harder to process. No one had it easy.
3/5 stars
January 3, 2022
2.5/5
Short but moving story. Got me thinking about the things in our everday lives that we take for granted.
It did leave me a little disappointed though.. This book had so much potential!! Kinda wish more depth was given to the plot and characters.
Short but moving story. Got me thinking about the things in our everday lives that we take for granted.
It did leave me a little disappointed though.. This book had so much potential!! Kinda wish more depth was given to the plot and characters.
February 7, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this, although it got a bit off track at the end, which was disappointing.
But apart from that, it really hit me hard. Fey is such an interesting character. She is so relatable, yet so dislikeble at times because I am not dead. I don't know what it will feel like to be alone and feel forgotten. To see my husband has moved on.
However, the parts where I felt she was talking directly to me really affected me. I'm sure we can all relate to Fey and have the what ifs and the should haves etc. It's very heartbreaking, isn't it? To wake up one day and realize you're dead and your loved ones have versions of you in their lives but not the whole you. I felt so heartbroken at times when Fey would envision what life would've been like if she were still alive.
I think Sara O'Leary is a very good writer, very engaging way of telling stories and I really enjoyed that.
But I just felt I needed more from this. More in-depth conversations or thoughts. A deeper look into Fey's old life. And that's why I'm giving it 3 stars. I definitely recommend this, but it's difficult as it's such a sensitive topic. I don't want to recommend this to someone who recently lost someone. So that's a trigger warning.
But apart from that, it really hit me hard. Fey is such an interesting character. She is so relatable, yet so dislikeble at times because I am not dead. I don't know what it will feel like to be alone and feel forgotten. To see my husband has moved on.
However, the parts where I felt she was talking directly to me really affected me. I'm sure we can all relate to Fey and have the what ifs and the should haves etc. It's very heartbreaking, isn't it? To wake up one day and realize you're dead and your loved ones have versions of you in their lives but not the whole you. I felt so heartbroken at times when Fey would envision what life would've been like if she were still alive.
I think Sara O'Leary is a very good writer, very engaging way of telling stories and I really enjoyed that.
But I just felt I needed more from this. More in-depth conversations or thoughts. A deeper look into Fey's old life. And that's why I'm giving it 3 stars. I definitely recommend this, but it's difficult as it's such a sensitive topic. I don't want to recommend this to someone who recently lost someone. So that's a trigger warning.
April 18, 2022
this book broke my already broken heart.
Fey finds herself as a ghost in her old house with a re-married husband who was the love of her life. I felt her grief stages over a whole life she could've had if death didn't choose her, the anger the denial all of the stages. I liked this book a lot, it will hold my heart in its pages always!
"when I lost you—it was like I was handed this heavy stone. And I had to carry it everywhere I went. And the stone doesn’t diminish over time. It never gets lighter. It just gets to feel normal to be carrying it with you everywhere you go."
I felt that being the one who was left.
Fey finds herself as a ghost in her old house with a re-married husband who was the love of her life. I felt her grief stages over a whole life she could've had if death didn't choose her, the anger the denial all of the stages. I liked this book a lot, it will hold my heart in its pages always!
"when I lost you—it was like I was handed this heavy stone. And I had to carry it everywhere I went. And the stone doesn’t diminish over time. It never gets lighter. It just gets to feel normal to be carrying it with you everywhere you go."
I felt that being the one who was left.
October 1, 2023
4.5 Stars.
I could not put this book down. It is really a beautiful story that I haven't read one like it for such a long time. Just let me tell you that this book made me feel a lot of things but the most important one is to live and to say yes to a lot of things in my life for it's so precious and it could end at any moment, so just CARPE DIEM!
This story made me cry and if you're not human you won't cry while reading it.
I could not put this book down. It is really a beautiful story that I haven't read one like it for such a long time. Just let me tell you that this book made me feel a lot of things but the most important one is to live and to say yes to a lot of things in my life for it's so precious and it could end at any moment, so just CARPE DIEM!
This story made me cry and if you're not human you won't cry while reading it.
January 15, 2021
Un libro diferente, corto y que se lee muy fácilmente. Con humor, sentimientos por la muerte, personajes que a pesar de la poca descripción, se sienten reales. No es fácil expresar como me sentí mientras lo leía. Te pones en el lugar de Fey, y con el susto que puede darte la muerte, pensar en verte como un fantasma y ver lo que ha pasado con las personas de tu familia debe ser algo muy difícil de manejar. Igual te pone a pensar en cómo quieres vivir mientras estes y cómo y por qué te gustaría que te recordaran.
August 26, 2020
Maybe 4.5
I found this very short novel engrossing and hard to put down. It's a rather quirky and moving (at least to me) ghost story that's also really about some basic existential issues we all share.
I found this very short novel engrossing and hard to put down. It's a rather quirky and moving (at least to me) ghost story that's also really about some basic existential issues we all share.
August 2, 2020
"Now I think what if death had been waiting for me here and I was somewhere else? What if Alec and I had stayed in Montreal and lived a completely different other life? Where would I be now? Would we be together still? Would we have a family? Could I still go back? Could I have that life?"
•
Thoughts~
Fay is 37, married to the love of her life, living in her dream house, planning her dream life but she suddenly and unexpectedly dies and then comes back as a ghost. Time has moved on without her, her husband has remarried, is a step father but remained in their house and still longs for Fay. Throughout this short but moving book we see Fay go through the motions of realizing her life is over, all the things she will never experience, and a look back on the life she lived and her decision to stay or let it all go.
•
This book reads like a dream state. An interesting concept for sure! I loved the vignette style O'Leary wrote this in and the dark humor and curiosity if it all. Beautiful and touching. I felt for Fay and her husband, their sorrow of their life together cut short, their love even after death. Fay's emotional state throughout the book was relatable and understandable. Watching another woman be the wife to her husband, living in her home. This was such a touching examination of letting go, the stages of grief and living and loving in life.
•
O'Leary is an excellent story teller, imaginative and thoughtful. She writes adult and children's fiction and I have yet to read something of hers I didn't enjoy!
•
Thank You to the publisher for sending me this book opinions are my own.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
•
Thoughts~
Fay is 37, married to the love of her life, living in her dream house, planning her dream life but she suddenly and unexpectedly dies and then comes back as a ghost. Time has moved on without her, her husband has remarried, is a step father but remained in their house and still longs for Fay. Throughout this short but moving book we see Fay go through the motions of realizing her life is over, all the things she will never experience, and a look back on the life she lived and her decision to stay or let it all go.
•
This book reads like a dream state. An interesting concept for sure! I loved the vignette style O'Leary wrote this in and the dark humor and curiosity if it all. Beautiful and touching. I felt for Fay and her husband, their sorrow of their life together cut short, their love even after death. Fay's emotional state throughout the book was relatable and understandable. Watching another woman be the wife to her husband, living in her home. This was such a touching examination of letting go, the stages of grief and living and loving in life.
•
O'Leary is an excellent story teller, imaginative and thoughtful. She writes adult and children's fiction and I have yet to read something of hers I didn't enjoy!
•
Thank You to the publisher for sending me this book opinions are my own.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
July 12, 2020
If you died and came back as a ghost to haunt your beloved home, which is now occupied by your husband and his new wife, how would you behave? Would you be a benevolent, maybe even helpful spirit or would you be a terrible, raging poltergeist attempting to scare off the new wife? The ghost of Fay is our narrator and this unlikely scenario is her afterlife. Fay does a bit of both but when she finds that her husband can see and hear her everything changes. Does she take this chance to find eternal peace or does she cling to her past and refuse to move on?
Being dead, Fay is not always connected to time or space like a living person. This gives everything a hazy, dreamlike quality where very little is definite or defined. It is difficult to distinguish between her present situation and her memories of her former life. At first she is confused about pretty well everything and we learn alongside her what happened to her and why she came back. While I was expecting this to be a sad story it actually had a lot of humour. It was sad but never depressing or bleak and there was always an element of hope and peace. This book is quite short and yet it managed to make me care about the characters rather quickly. In the end I was satisfied and pleased. I admit I got a little teary at the ending. If only everyone could have such a chance to say goodbye!
Thank you to Doubleday Canada for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
Being dead, Fay is not always connected to time or space like a living person. This gives everything a hazy, dreamlike quality where very little is definite or defined. It is difficult to distinguish between her present situation and her memories of her former life. At first she is confused about pretty well everything and we learn alongside her what happened to her and why she came back. While I was expecting this to be a sad story it actually had a lot of humour. It was sad but never depressing or bleak and there was always an element of hope and peace. This book is quite short and yet it managed to make me care about the characters rather quickly. In the end I was satisfied and pleased. I admit I got a little teary at the ending. If only everyone could have such a chance to say goodbye!
Thank you to Doubleday Canada for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
July 4, 2020
The Ghost in The House by Sara O’Leary
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
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Description from NetGalley...
“What if there was a ghost haunting your house? What if you were the ghost?
Everything in Fay’s life is perfect—living in the house she dreamed of as a child, married to a man she loves, and planning her life as an artist, her life seems full of possibility. Then, late one night, Fay realizes that something has gone wrong.
Things have altered in the house and somehow time has gone on without her. Fay—who thought her life was on the verge of beginning—finds it has abruptly ended. There is a child in the house and her husband, who always said she was his one and only, has found someone new. And Fay comes to learn that sometimes the life you grieve may be your own.”
Thank you to @NetGalley @penguinrandomhouseca @doubledayca for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
My thoughts...
This is my first book from O’ Leary, a Canadian author, who has written a sorrowful, dark-comedy of a book. It was a slow start and you pretty much could figure out what was going on from the first few pages. But, I don’t think the author meant it to be a surprised. The theme has been something I’ve thought about and this book has articulated my personal thoughts on what it may feel like to lose someone you love. And because of that I was able to connect with the characters and the theme of the story. Could there have been more details on the other characters? Maybe. Could there have been more specifics on the ethereal side of things? Possibly. But, overall, this is quite a moving take on loss, grief and acceptance. A story of love, that made me look at my husband quite often as I read this book, and then after, making sure to appreciate him more and tell him so. It’s not your typical ghost story. It’s not scary. It’s a poignant story.
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
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Description from NetGalley...
“What if there was a ghost haunting your house? What if you were the ghost?
Everything in Fay’s life is perfect—living in the house she dreamed of as a child, married to a man she loves, and planning her life as an artist, her life seems full of possibility. Then, late one night, Fay realizes that something has gone wrong.
Things have altered in the house and somehow time has gone on without her. Fay—who thought her life was on the verge of beginning—finds it has abruptly ended. There is a child in the house and her husband, who always said she was his one and only, has found someone new. And Fay comes to learn that sometimes the life you grieve may be your own.”
Thank you to @NetGalley @penguinrandomhouseca @doubledayca for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
My thoughts...
This is my first book from O’ Leary, a Canadian author, who has written a sorrowful, dark-comedy of a book. It was a slow start and you pretty much could figure out what was going on from the first few pages. But, I don’t think the author meant it to be a surprised. The theme has been something I’ve thought about and this book has articulated my personal thoughts on what it may feel like to lose someone you love. And because of that I was able to connect with the characters and the theme of the story. Could there have been more details on the other characters? Maybe. Could there have been more specifics on the ethereal side of things? Possibly. But, overall, this is quite a moving take on loss, grief and acceptance. A story of love, that made me look at my husband quite often as I read this book, and then after, making sure to appreciate him more and tell him so. It’s not your typical ghost story. It’s not scary. It’s a poignant story.
June 14, 2020
This is a very short book. I personally would consider it a novella. I was intrigued by the concept, but the treatment was a lot lighter than I hoped for. I kept reading because Sara O’Leary is definitely a good storyteller. I did find my throat tighten in sadness when she comes to terms with having to let go, but I think that was more in reaction to memories of having to let go of loved ones in my own life, than to the characters in the story. I just wish she had dropped a level deeper into the characters. I can see that the challenge is that the story is told from the Ghost’s point of view and the ghost is naturally somewhat outside the world she returned to and to be fair, this was the first thing I read after reading the incredible novel, Reproduction by Ian Williams, so my expectations bar was pretty darn high.
June 2, 2021
What if there was a ghost haunting your house? What if you were the ghost?
A very short but yet so heartbreaking. I have a bad history of not being able to say goodbye to the people I loved most, so this book struck a big nerve. I loved the idea of Fay getting that chance and making peace with all that had happend after her untimely demise. I do wish there was more, sometimes things seemed very random, mostly concering Janet as a character, but then again I do understand this is Fay's story.
Sara O'Leary's writing is beautiful and very enjoyable to read, so I highy recommend this book!
A very short but yet so heartbreaking. I have a bad history of not being able to say goodbye to the people I loved most, so this book struck a big nerve. I loved the idea of Fay getting that chance and making peace with all that had happend after her untimely demise. I do wish there was more, sometimes things seemed very random, mostly concering Janet as a character, but then again I do understand this is Fay's story.
Sara O'Leary's writing is beautiful and very enjoyable to read, so I highy recommend this book!
July 13, 2020
I was drawn to this book by the interesting concept of the story. It was a shorter read then I expected but it still made a great impact on me. I enjoyed the flow of the poetic writing and found it full of humor as well. Around the middle of the book I really felt this emotional tug when thinking about how it would feel to be haunting your old life. To see your family and friends move on. To not even know how you died or what was happening. I really felt for the main character and her experience. An enjoyable read overall.
June 22, 2021
Maybe I missed the point of this book, but I found Fay, the ghost, to be a selfish and vain character. I don't understand the point of her returning, other than conceit over the fact that her husband could move on. People have to move on after they lose someone they love, it's a sad reality of life.
August 21, 2020
Imagine my delight when realizing the author of my favourite children’s picture book had penned a novel for adults! I didn’t care what the topic was, whether it was fiction or non-fiction, I wanted to read it right away, and I’m relieved to say I loved it just as much I loved her writing for little ones. The Ghost in the House by Sara O’Leary is an unexpectedly emotional book tinged with just enough humour to make it an enjoyable read, despite the dark subject matter. Life is serious, but our reactions to it don’t have to be!
Plot Summary
Fay wakes up on top of her piano, and she’s wearing only her husband Alec’s white shirt and a string of pearls. As she moves throughout the house, calling to Alec to see where he is, she realizes he can’t hear her. And things seem to be missing, or moved around. And why does Alec have white hair peeking through his sideburns? It doesn’t take long for Fay to realize she’s died, and despite all rational thought, it seems she is now a ghost, haunting her house. To make matters worse, Alec has remarried a tiny blonde woman who seems about half Fay’s age, and this woman has a teenage daughter who’s in desperate need of some motherly intervention. Shifting between touching, grief-tinged moments and hilarious observations about the complications of dying and witnessing your family and friends move on without you, this novel grabbed me right from the beginning. It’s also very short, with some pages including only a single paragraph, abruptly ending and starting again in the future. O’Leary imagines being a ghost in the way you would expect; broken up, time no longer a standard measure but a fluid experience, abilities and senses hindered and exaggerated at random. Her guess is as good as any, yet Fay’s ghostly experience seemed believable, allowing the reader to quickly settle into the ‘new normal’ and enjoy the story as it’s meant to be.
My Thoughts
Author Sara O’Leary
Obviously I’m a little biased, and if you read my review of her children’s book (or listened to me sob about it on the radio, which is an embarrassment I’m sure I’ll never live down) you’ll see why. O’Leary pinpoints both the joy and sorrow of being human here. Our hearts break for Fay because she seemed so happy, her love for Alec so authentic and perfect. It’s a tragedy that she dies in her late thirties, unable to fulfill the many dreams we come to learn about, including the quirky ones like completing doll house kits. And yet we hold out hope for her, because if she’s come back as a ghost to haunt her husband, surely she has some other task to complete before she passes on to the other side? And no, her reason for coming back isn’t to simply terrorize her husband’s new wife (although she’s a cheeky ghost, so she does do a bit of that too, who wouldn’t?).
The self-deprecation that Fay participates in is what steeps this book in humour. Instead of an all-knowing ghost who takes herself too seriously, she realizes early on that she has very little clout in the ‘real world’, except for the very strange fact that Dee, the new stepchild, can see and speak with her. Although childless, Fay feels a motherly pull towards this girl, and wants to help Dee when it’s clear she’s struggling with the new living arrangements. Fay catches Dee cutting herself, and attempts to put a stop to it, ghostly form and all:
She spends several minute examining the cuffs of her shirt as if she’s written answers there to questions she’s still waiting to be asked. I watch her and think how badly we are put together.
“You are never, ever, to do that again,” I say in the firmest voice I can muster. I am absurd. (p. 29)
Dee doesn’t take Fay seriously, and neither does Fay, but that’s what makes this story so appealing to me-the absurdity of it all. Instead of being terrified of this ghost, Dee puts up with it, and Fay puts up with this new stage of her ‘life’ that doesn’t make any rational sense.
In addition to my admiration of Fay, I enjoyed revelling in the portrait painted of her successful marriage to Alec. There’s many flashbacks to her pre-death life, and it’s clear they were desperately in love, respectful of one another, and all together a good match. Although it doesn’t make for spicy reading, it was nice to observe this good, pure thing that their relationship symbolized. And of course, her obvious happiness makes her death that much worse, a gut-punch to not only her husband but the reader as well. The idea that people come back is ghosts is actually a comforting one to me, and I hope others feel the same way when they pick up this book. Although it’s about death and the ensuing grief, The Ghost in the House can offer a sense of optimism in the places you’d least expect it.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
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Plot Summary
Fay wakes up on top of her piano, and she’s wearing only her husband Alec’s white shirt and a string of pearls. As she moves throughout the house, calling to Alec to see where he is, she realizes he can’t hear her. And things seem to be missing, or moved around. And why does Alec have white hair peeking through his sideburns? It doesn’t take long for Fay to realize she’s died, and despite all rational thought, it seems she is now a ghost, haunting her house. To make matters worse, Alec has remarried a tiny blonde woman who seems about half Fay’s age, and this woman has a teenage daughter who’s in desperate need of some motherly intervention. Shifting between touching, grief-tinged moments and hilarious observations about the complications of dying and witnessing your family and friends move on without you, this novel grabbed me right from the beginning. It’s also very short, with some pages including only a single paragraph, abruptly ending and starting again in the future. O’Leary imagines being a ghost in the way you would expect; broken up, time no longer a standard measure but a fluid experience, abilities and senses hindered and exaggerated at random. Her guess is as good as any, yet Fay’s ghostly experience seemed believable, allowing the reader to quickly settle into the ‘new normal’ and enjoy the story as it’s meant to be.
My Thoughts
Author Sara O’Leary
Obviously I’m a little biased, and if you read my review of her children’s book (or listened to me sob about it on the radio, which is an embarrassment I’m sure I’ll never live down) you’ll see why. O’Leary pinpoints both the joy and sorrow of being human here. Our hearts break for Fay because she seemed so happy, her love for Alec so authentic and perfect. It’s a tragedy that she dies in her late thirties, unable to fulfill the many dreams we come to learn about, including the quirky ones like completing doll house kits. And yet we hold out hope for her, because if she’s come back as a ghost to haunt her husband, surely she has some other task to complete before she passes on to the other side? And no, her reason for coming back isn’t to simply terrorize her husband’s new wife (although she’s a cheeky ghost, so she does do a bit of that too, who wouldn’t?).
The self-deprecation that Fay participates in is what steeps this book in humour. Instead of an all-knowing ghost who takes herself too seriously, she realizes early on that she has very little clout in the ‘real world’, except for the very strange fact that Dee, the new stepchild, can see and speak with her. Although childless, Fay feels a motherly pull towards this girl, and wants to help Dee when it’s clear she’s struggling with the new living arrangements. Fay catches Dee cutting herself, and attempts to put a stop to it, ghostly form and all:
She spends several minute examining the cuffs of her shirt as if she’s written answers there to questions she’s still waiting to be asked. I watch her and think how badly we are put together.
“You are never, ever, to do that again,” I say in the firmest voice I can muster. I am absurd. (p. 29)
Dee doesn’t take Fay seriously, and neither does Fay, but that’s what makes this story so appealing to me-the absurdity of it all. Instead of being terrified of this ghost, Dee puts up with it, and Fay puts up with this new stage of her ‘life’ that doesn’t make any rational sense.
In addition to my admiration of Fay, I enjoyed revelling in the portrait painted of her successful marriage to Alec. There’s many flashbacks to her pre-death life, and it’s clear they were desperately in love, respectful of one another, and all together a good match. Although it doesn’t make for spicy reading, it was nice to observe this good, pure thing that their relationship symbolized. And of course, her obvious happiness makes her death that much worse, a gut-punch to not only her husband but the reader as well. The idea that people come back is ghosts is actually a comforting one to me, and I hope others feel the same way when they pick up this book. Although it’s about death and the ensuing grief, The Ghost in the House can offer a sense of optimism in the places you’d least expect it.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis.com/subscribe/
Or follow me on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ivereadthis/
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September 1, 2020
3.5 stars
This is a quick little book coming in at 190 pages.
It’s hard to put into words my thoughts on this one. It’s a unique story, funny at times but also sad. Faye seemed a little confused in the beginning, kinda like myself but it didn’t take long to grasp the storyline and feel her wide range of emotions. That being said I think another 50 pages or so would have been great to get a good handle on the situation, even to hear from Alex would have been a welcome addition, though I understand the direction the author was going for - which was to get Faye's perspective.
This is my first time reading Canadian author Sara O’Leary and I’ll be in the lookout for more.
This book is part of my 2020 Reading off my Shelf challenge
This is a quick little book coming in at 190 pages.
It’s hard to put into words my thoughts on this one. It’s a unique story, funny at times but also sad. Faye seemed a little confused in the beginning, kinda like myself but it didn’t take long to grasp the storyline and feel her wide range of emotions. That being said I think another 50 pages or so would have been great to get a good handle on the situation, even to hear from Alex would have been a welcome addition, though I understand the direction the author was going for - which was to get Faye's perspective.
This is my first time reading Canadian author Sara O’Leary and I’ll be in the lookout for more.
This book is part of my 2020 Reading off my Shelf challenge
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