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When Ghosts Call Us Home
Haunting of Hill House meets found-footage horror in this edge-of-your-seat thriller that explores the power of family ties and the trauma that lurks there.
When Sophia Galich was twelve, she starred in her older sister Layla's amateur horror movie Vermillion, which recorded raw footage of her very real reactions to scenes her sister concocted in their old Californian house on the coast--Cashore House.
In the years after the film's release, Sophia's relationship with her sister became more strained, while her memories of the now-infamous house fueled her nightmares. Vermillion amassed an army of fanatical fans who speculated about the film's hidden messages, and it was rumored that Layla made a pact with the devil--her soul in exchange for fame and arcane knowledge. Sophia dismissed this as gossip...until Layla disappeared.
Now, Sophia must study the trail of clues Layla has left behind, returning to the very place where it all began. As she gets closer and closer to Cashore House's haunted heart, she must once again confront the ghosts of her childhood. But the house won't reveal its secrets without a fight.
When Sophia Galich was twelve, she starred in her older sister Layla's amateur horror movie Vermillion, which recorded raw footage of her very real reactions to scenes her sister concocted in their old Californian house on the coast--Cashore House.
In the years after the film's release, Sophia's relationship with her sister became more strained, while her memories of the now-infamous house fueled her nightmares. Vermillion amassed an army of fanatical fans who speculated about the film's hidden messages, and it was rumored that Layla made a pact with the devil--her soul in exchange for fame and arcane knowledge. Sophia dismissed this as gossip...until Layla disappeared.
Now, Sophia must study the trail of clues Layla has left behind, returning to the very place where it all began. As she gets closer and closer to Cashore House's haunted heart, she must once again confront the ghosts of her childhood. But the house won't reveal its secrets without a fight.
Unknown Binding
First published October 3, 2023
93 people are currently reading
13743 people want to read
About the author
Katya de Becerra
17 books286 followersKatya de Becerra was born in Russia, studied in California, lived in Peru, and then stayed in Australia long enough to become a local. She was going to be an Egyptologist when she grew up, but instead she earned a PhD in Anthropology. She is the critically acclaimed, Aurealis winning, Kirkus and Booklist-starred and Shadows nominated author of horror-thrillers When Ghosts Call Us Home, What The Woods Keep, Oasis, and the forthcoming They Watch From Below.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
March 29, 2024
I need to find whoever designed this cover and give em a kiss.
Read
February 15, 2023i have definitely read this book over and over...!
fav quote?
"Some believe the house was haunted. Who I am to say otherwise? I was just a girl with a camera."
fav quote?
"Some believe the house was haunted. Who I am to say otherwise? I was just a girl with a camera."
October 31, 2023
The middle of this novel spent some time in stagnant waters where I waited for more to happen--there was some dragging. But the beginning and end of the story were great, and I really enjoyed the premise and the idea behind the plot.
October 24, 2023
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: toxic relationship, manipulation
3
There are some interesting thoughts in this, but mostly it didn’t hold my attention.
The idea of The Path is kind of cool, and the atmosphere is creepy with a bit off interesting lore. I can see some of this really working for younger readers, particularly the film aspect.
A lot of this, though, felt unexplained. The whole idea of this cult classic movie being made by a 17 year old with crazy effects didn’t make any sense, and so didn’t lead to a real reveal, and the way the main character was described consistently made her sound like a 6 year old instead of a 12 year old.
The majority of this book was incredibly slow, and then the end is abrupt. There’s also so much repetition that it feels like nothing is ever really happening.
TW: toxic relationship, manipulation
3
There are some interesting thoughts in this, but mostly it didn’t hold my attention.
The idea of The Path is kind of cool, and the atmosphere is creepy with a bit off interesting lore. I can see some of this really working for younger readers, particularly the film aspect.
A lot of this, though, felt unexplained. The whole idea of this cult classic movie being made by a 17 year old with crazy effects didn’t make any sense, and so didn’t lead to a real reveal, and the way the main character was described consistently made her sound like a 6 year old instead of a 12 year old.
The majority of this book was incredibly slow, and then the end is abrupt. There’s also so much repetition that it feels like nothing is ever really happening.
March 17, 2025
I think there was a lot of potential here, and some stuff I enjoyed a lot, but ultimately, this one left me a little wanting. I wanted more of Sophia and Layla’s relationship. I get that Layla is this big mystery to the world, and Sophia’s memories aren’t clear, but like…. her sister should have a better grasp on her, a little? I found the teen hetero romance annoying and unnecessary—in general, part of why I read a bit less ya now, besides being way older than the target demographic, is that there seems to ALWAYS be a romance chucked in there just because—I signed up for haunted houses and sisters! I want THAT story. There was just more focus on Sophia and Arthur, and it felt like the middle dragged because of that, for me. Otherwise, it was an interesting story that I had a decent time with.
July 20, 2024
I loved this ya horror! This book had me completely captivated and I had a really hard time putting this one down. When Ghosts Call Us Home was such a delightful, spooky, and atmospheric read that I thoroughly enjoyed. This book was so well written and had a super intriguing plot!
Read this if you like:
🏚️ Haunted Houses
🏚️ Unreliable Narrators
🏚️ Psychological Horror
🏚️ Atmospheric Reads
I highly recommend picking this book up for the spooky season!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Read this if you like:
🏚️ Haunted Houses
🏚️ Unreliable Narrators
🏚️ Psychological Horror
🏚️ Atmospheric Reads
I highly recommend picking this book up for the spooky season!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
September 19, 2023
4.5 stars- loved it.
I read this in two sitting because I could not put it down, I would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to go to work LOL. It was captivating, atmospheric, super eerie but also cozy in many ways, kept me on the edge of my seat. Written beautifully and so easy to read, I think this would make for a great movie adaptation.
This would have been a 5 star read but there were a few things that didn't quite make sense to me, like the website and how it operated. Some of the "path levels" were a little confusing and and I just couldn't see how it tied in together. Overall, a wonderful read that I think I would recommend to everyone.
Read this if you enjoy: haunted houses, sister bonds, ya books, psychological horror, paranormal, horror movies, found footage movies, mystery and twists.
Thanks to netgalley and Page Street Publishing, Page Street YA for sharing a digital copy for me to read and review, as always, opinions are my own 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻
I read this in two sitting because I could not put it down, I would have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to go to work LOL. It was captivating, atmospheric, super eerie but also cozy in many ways, kept me on the edge of my seat. Written beautifully and so easy to read, I think this would make for a great movie adaptation.
This would have been a 5 star read but there were a few things that didn't quite make sense to me, like the website and how it operated. Some of the "path levels" were a little confusing and and I just couldn't see how it tied in together. Overall, a wonderful read that I think I would recommend to everyone.
Read this if you enjoy: haunted houses, sister bonds, ya books, psychological horror, paranormal, horror movies, found footage movies, mystery and twists.
Thanks to netgalley and Page Street Publishing, Page Street YA for sharing a digital copy for me to read and review, as always, opinions are my own 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻
June 24, 2024
I feel like the premise had more potential. I read a lot of this at night so at times I did give me a scary feel but overall the characters and storyline aren’t anything crazy.
I’d say it might be worth it for the vibes but not for the plot as such. I almost dnf’d this but ended not to because I was too curious.
I’d say it might be worth it for the vibes but not for the plot as such. I almost dnf’d this but ended not to because I was too curious.
January 11, 2025
Definitely eerie and dream-like, but the pacing was super weird and the exposition was awkward more often than not.
January 10, 2024
this book would have worked better if it wasn't a horror novel
besides the fact that it was dull for like 80% of it, i found the two main characters veryyyyyy uninspiring. sophia is especially uninteresting, and since the whole book is told in first person, the narrative suffers greatly from her being so meh. i also did not find the romance that bloomed between her and arthur at all real or compelling, and i wish it hadn't been included at all. the crew characters were sooo flat and might as well have not been named for as little as they did for the story. i mean, there's a point where sophia what happened to that? why wasn't that expanded upon?
the path was also very. um. cringe. like don't get me wrong, i like that the movie had a cult following, and i like that there was this whole ~thing~ to it. but the moment that like i get that sophia had to do something besides film the documentary so that the book Went Somewhere, but i wish something different had happened.
the last few chapters of the novel saved it from being a total dud, but the whole thing w vermillion should Not have been the way it was.
ultimately, i don't think i was the correct audience for this one, but even if i was i wouldn't give it anything above three stars.
besides the fact that it was dull for like 80% of it, i found the two main characters veryyyyyy uninspiring. sophia is especially uninteresting, and since the whole book is told in first person, the narrative suffers greatly from her being so meh. i also did not find the romance that bloomed between her and arthur at all real or compelling, and i wish it hadn't been included at all. the crew characters were sooo flat and might as well have not been named for as little as they did for the story. i mean, there's a point where sophia what happened to that? why wasn't that expanded upon?
the path was also very. um. cringe. like don't get me wrong, i like that the movie had a cult following, and i like that there was this whole ~thing~ to it. but the moment that like i get that sophia had to do something besides film the documentary so that the book Went Somewhere, but i wish something different had happened.
the last few chapters of the novel saved it from being a total dud, but the whole thing w vermillion should Not have been the way it was.
ultimately, i don't think i was the correct audience for this one, but even if i was i wouldn't give it anything above three stars.
February 26, 2023
This gave me a chill-a-minute and read like a house afire. The setting of the coastal mansion was very well depicted and the characters (for the most part) were appealing and sympathetic. Being compared to Shirley Jackson's masterpiece of psychological horror, The Haunting of Hill House was apt and I hope this book leads teens to read Jackson's book. In my opinion, this was a little intense for younger teens--heck, even I, an adult, garnered a few nightmares after reading it just before going to sleep, but mid to older teens will gobble this up when released next October 2023.
I think readers of Stephen King will like this and since the next two titles involve sisters, perhaps The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas and House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig. If anyone has other suggestions or thinks my comparisons aren't good, let me know in the comments below.
Thanks to the publisher for the very advanced e-galley from Edelweiss.
I think readers of Stephen King will like this and since the next two titles involve sisters, perhaps The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas and House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig. If anyone has other suggestions or thinks my comparisons aren't good, let me know in the comments below.
Thanks to the publisher for the very advanced e-galley from Edelweiss.
January 12, 2024
Such a fun read!! This story was captivating, exciting, and definitely worth the read. Especially if you're a fan of The Haunting Of Hill House!
I wouldn't go in expecting to be entirely scared, it didn't really have that effect. The story was more suspenseful in the fact of all the mysteries and secrets.
Overall, I really enjoyed it!
I wouldn't go in expecting to be entirely scared, it didn't really have that effect. The story was more suspenseful in the fact of all the mysteries and secrets.
Overall, I really enjoyed it!
September 27, 2023
When Ghosts Call Us Home by Katya deBecerra is a YA Horror novel that is the Haunting-of-Hill-House meets found-footage horror. I can not agree more with that description. The only thing I would change is the horror part. This book is a great representation of paranormal/mystery/thriller, but the horror vibes weren’t as pronounced as they could have been.
This book is about Sophia Galich’s search for her missing sister, Layla. Layla is five years Sophia’s senior, and when Sophia was twelve, Layla single-handedly created, filmed, and produced a found-footage horror movie in the vein of The Blair Witch Project. Basically, Layla filmed her younger sister terrified out of her mind and formed it into a movie. Why did Layla do this you ask? That’s a good question. I asked the same thing as I read about how much Sophia missed her sister and how frantic she was to find her. But, that’s love isn’t it? It makes you do things you wouldn’t normally do because love makes you irrational. All of that aside, Sophia’s undying love and respect for her sister leads her back to Cashore house, the place where Layla filmed her. It’s also the place where Sophia developed mental and emotional problems and where Layla went missing two years before the start of the book.
I’m aware that I'm trash-talking Layla, but it’s easy to do when the only version of her that the reader sees is the one that a now seventeen year-old Sophia gives through her point of view. Either we see the Layla from when Sophia was twelve, the enigmatic and strong older sister, or we see her as Sophia remembers her before she went missing two years prior. Therefore, assumptions were easily formed about Layla. But, Sophia, being our earnest and loving MC, pushes for her sister so much that eventually the reader is compelled to give Layla the benefit of the doubt.
So, the plot of this book. How exactly does Layla plan on finding her sister? Where does she look? First of all, Layla went missing at Cashore House from her college dormitory. This is a haunted house novel after all. But, how does a seventeen year-old get back to the house that her parents renovated over 5 years prior? She takes part in a reenactment put on by a director trying to reignite his career. Or, is he? Before the start of this so-called tribute, Sophia is uncomfortable and everyone is suspect. Oh, did I mention that Sophia doesn’t actually believe in the supernatural? But, love. So, Sophia participates in reenacting scenes from her sister’s famous movie in order to figure out what happened to her sister. At first, she believes that she’s doing this to jog her memories, but then that twists into a cult mission/adventure straight out of The Ring meets Scooby Doo. She has to look for those clues in order to unveil that ghost.
Naturally, there is a romance, and naturally I could've done without it. It felt a little shallow and rushed. But, honestly, that wasn’t the love interest’s fault. A Lot of the characters, especially the side characters felt underdeveloped. I felt like I could read the book without ever knowing most of their names.
The main problem that I had with this book was the disjointedness of the plot as well as the lack of supernatural/paranormal horror vibes. I think this was due to the constant interruptions of the plot where Sophia would explain and explain and explain again about either Layla’s movie or the concept of found-footage horror. It made it difficult to remain fully immersed in the plot and the story.
Looking at this review, it seems so negative. But, we’re going to blame the book I read before this one. It was a total mood-killer and sent me into a mini reading slump. I’m going to give it 3 stars for now. Might change that later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing/Page Street YA for the arc. All opinions are my own, and I leave this review voluntarily.
This book is about Sophia Galich’s search for her missing sister, Layla. Layla is five years Sophia’s senior, and when Sophia was twelve, Layla single-handedly created, filmed, and produced a found-footage horror movie in the vein of The Blair Witch Project. Basically, Layla filmed her younger sister terrified out of her mind and formed it into a movie. Why did Layla do this you ask? That’s a good question. I asked the same thing as I read about how much Sophia missed her sister and how frantic she was to find her. But, that’s love isn’t it? It makes you do things you wouldn’t normally do because love makes you irrational. All of that aside, Sophia’s undying love and respect for her sister leads her back to Cashore house, the place where Layla filmed her. It’s also the place where Sophia developed mental and emotional problems and where Layla went missing two years before the start of the book.
I’m aware that I'm trash-talking Layla, but it’s easy to do when the only version of her that the reader sees is the one that a now seventeen year-old Sophia gives through her point of view. Either we see the Layla from when Sophia was twelve, the enigmatic and strong older sister, or we see her as Sophia remembers her before she went missing two years prior. Therefore, assumptions were easily formed about Layla. But, Sophia, being our earnest and loving MC, pushes for her sister so much that eventually the reader is compelled to give Layla the benefit of the doubt.
So, the plot of this book. How exactly does Layla plan on finding her sister? Where does she look? First of all, Layla went missing at Cashore House from her college dormitory. This is a haunted house novel after all. But, how does a seventeen year-old get back to the house that her parents renovated over 5 years prior? She takes part in a reenactment put on by a director trying to reignite his career. Or, is he? Before the start of this so-called tribute, Sophia is uncomfortable and everyone is suspect. Oh, did I mention that Sophia doesn’t actually believe in the supernatural? But, love. So, Sophia participates in reenacting scenes from her sister’s famous movie in order to figure out what happened to her sister. At first, she believes that she’s doing this to jog her memories, but then that twists into a cult mission/adventure straight out of The Ring meets Scooby Doo. She has to look for those clues in order to unveil that ghost.
Naturally, there is a romance, and naturally I could've done without it. It felt a little shallow and rushed. But, honestly, that wasn’t the love interest’s fault. A Lot of the characters, especially the side characters felt underdeveloped. I felt like I could read the book without ever knowing most of their names.
The main problem that I had with this book was the disjointedness of the plot as well as the lack of supernatural/paranormal horror vibes. I think this was due to the constant interruptions of the plot where Sophia would explain and explain and explain again about either Layla’s movie or the concept of found-footage horror. It made it difficult to remain fully immersed in the plot and the story.
Looking at this review, it seems so negative. But, we’re going to blame the book I read before this one. It was a total mood-killer and sent me into a mini reading slump. I’m going to give it 3 stars for now. Might change that later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing/Page Street YA for the arc. All opinions are my own, and I leave this review voluntarily.
October 18, 2023
Sophia Galich was twelve when she starred in her older sister Layla’s amateur horror movie 'Vermillion' filmed in the house their parents were renovating. The family were staying in Cashore House, a mansion on the Californian coast which was originally owned by a rich couple who held wild parties & seances until the tragic death of the wife, a former ballerina. The Galich family moved in to renovate it after it stood empty for years &, although Sophia can only remember parts of what happened, her older sister told her that the strange things that happened onscreen were all special effects. The movie gained a cult following online alongside a website which people use to travel 'The Path'. Layla disappeared two years ago & it seems that she was still obsessed with Cashore & Vermillion & the last known sighting of her was at the house. Now seventeen, Sophia agrees to star in a remake being filmed at Cashore in the hope that this will lead her to the truth of what happened to Layla.
This had a slow start but once it got going it was a good read. The narrative is told from Sophia's point of view mostly in the present, although the reader experiences Sophia's returning memories as she starts to film the remake. Suspicious of everyone & their motives, including Arthur the director's son, as they start to film scenes Sophia starts to remember more of what happened five years before & realises her sister wasn't telling her the complete truth. She also realises that she is now travelling The Path - but what or who is at the end? It wasn't terrifying but it was a spooky unsettling read. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Macmillan Children's Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This had a slow start but once it got going it was a good read. The narrative is told from Sophia's point of view mostly in the present, although the reader experiences Sophia's returning memories as she starts to film the remake. Suspicious of everyone & their motives, including Arthur the director's son, as they start to film scenes Sophia starts to remember more of what happened five years before & realises her sister wasn't telling her the complete truth. She also realises that she is now travelling The Path - but what or who is at the end? It wasn't terrifying but it was a spooky unsettling read. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Macmillan Children's Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
November 11, 2025
Firstly I really enjoyed the premise of this book - the eerie, spooky setting and the whole concept of the book. However, I feel like it didn’t fully live up to its potential and I was left feeling like there was something missing BUT I felt as though as I was in a bit of a reading slump with this one so maybe it was just because of this. I think this book needed to be read in long sittings to be immersed in the creepy environment, as the times I did read it in big chunks were definitely more enjoyable and easier to read through! Would still recommend as it is an unusual and different sort of story!
October 3, 2023
It's the perfect time of year for reading a good old-fashioned haunted house story. But the latest young adult horror novel from Katya de Becerra is anything but old-fashioned.
This atmospheric page-turner When Ghosts Call Us Home revolves around Sophia Galich, who has returned to her former home, the mysterious Cashore House, where she filmed the amateur horror movie Vermillion with her sister Layla … and where her sister was last seen. Vermillion garnered cult-like status, and the online fanbase on CrimsonDreadNet has a multitude of theories about Layla's whereabouts. Sophia believes that by participating in a documentary at Cashore featuring recreations of the original film, she will discover what happened to Layla. But her memories are overwhelming and frightening, and she begins to confuse the past with the present.
Ghosts draws comparisons to Shirley Jackson's classic The Haunting of Hill House. The book's found footage element is reminiscent of the Paranormal Activity movie series and The Blair Witch Project (which saw the reinvention of the entire found footage movie genre). This is a winning combination.
The best haunted house stories conjure memories, nightmares, unease, that constant uncomfortable feeling. Sophia is never at ease at Cashore, barely sleeps, and experiences blackouts. There is the threat that Sophia will never see her sister again, and then there is the feeling of entrapment; maybe she won't be able to leave the all-consuming house either. When Ghosts Call Us Home inspired me to rewatch the 1963 classic The Haunting (based on the Shirley Jackson book), it left me with the same feeling. Does Sophia find Layla? Do they make it out? A house like that would surely drive you insane.
Katya also successfully combines a modern concept - a secret online forum where Vermillion fans (V-heads) can connect and follow signs along 'The Path' - with a Gothic location. Cashore is a clifftop mansion with lavishly decorated rooms and an ever-present documentary film crew. One of the greatest appeals of the novel is the making of a movie within the story. This creates psychological distance between Sophia and the director and crew even though she is in her former home. She doesn't know who she can trust; Sophia's disorientation radiates off the pages, making the reader feel the way she does walking down the haunted halls of Cashore (which is arguably a fully fleshed-out character).
Oppressive and chilling ghosts of Cashore will linger with you long after you read this. If you became a fan of Katya's when she released What the Woods Keep you will relish the latest opportunity to read her beautifully haunting prose. If you're reading Katya's writing for the first time, you're in for a dark, all-absorbing treat.
This atmospheric page-turner When Ghosts Call Us Home revolves around Sophia Galich, who has returned to her former home, the mysterious Cashore House, where she filmed the amateur horror movie Vermillion with her sister Layla … and where her sister was last seen. Vermillion garnered cult-like status, and the online fanbase on CrimsonDreadNet has a multitude of theories about Layla's whereabouts. Sophia believes that by participating in a documentary at Cashore featuring recreations of the original film, she will discover what happened to Layla. But her memories are overwhelming and frightening, and she begins to confuse the past with the present.
Ghosts draws comparisons to Shirley Jackson's classic The Haunting of Hill House. The book's found footage element is reminiscent of the Paranormal Activity movie series and The Blair Witch Project (which saw the reinvention of the entire found footage movie genre). This is a winning combination.
The best haunted house stories conjure memories, nightmares, unease, that constant uncomfortable feeling. Sophia is never at ease at Cashore, barely sleeps, and experiences blackouts. There is the threat that Sophia will never see her sister again, and then there is the feeling of entrapment; maybe she won't be able to leave the all-consuming house either. When Ghosts Call Us Home inspired me to rewatch the 1963 classic The Haunting (based on the Shirley Jackson book), it left me with the same feeling. Does Sophia find Layla? Do they make it out? A house like that would surely drive you insane.
Katya also successfully combines a modern concept - a secret online forum where Vermillion fans (V-heads) can connect and follow signs along 'The Path' - with a Gothic location. Cashore is a clifftop mansion with lavishly decorated rooms and an ever-present documentary film crew. One of the greatest appeals of the novel is the making of a movie within the story. This creates psychological distance between Sophia and the director and crew even though she is in her former home. She doesn't know who she can trust; Sophia's disorientation radiates off the pages, making the reader feel the way she does walking down the haunted halls of Cashore (which is arguably a fully fleshed-out character).
Oppressive and chilling ghosts of Cashore will linger with you long after you read this. If you became a fan of Katya's when she released What the Woods Keep you will relish the latest opportunity to read her beautifully haunting prose. If you're reading Katya's writing for the first time, you're in for a dark, all-absorbing treat.
October 16, 2024
Ich weiß überhaupt nicht, was ich dazu sagen soll, zum Ende hin musste ich mich wirklich quälen und eigentlich habe ich die letzten 30 Seiten auch nicht mehr gelesen.
Die Prämisse war von Anfang unlogisch, würde niemals so passieren. Mir ist klar, dass Geistergeschichten unrealistisch sind, aber zumindest mal der Anfang sollte doch noch Sinn ergeben. Und mit jeder weiteren Info mochte ich das Buch weniger und weniger.
Zusätzlich hatte ich auch wirklich gar kein Interesse an den Charakteren, die hätten sterben können, von dem Geist besessen worden sein oder heiraten können, es ist mir so egal gewesen...
Die Prämisse war von Anfang unlogisch, würde niemals so passieren. Mir ist klar, dass Geistergeschichten unrealistisch sind, aber zumindest mal der Anfang sollte doch noch Sinn ergeben. Und mit jeder weiteren Info mochte ich das Buch weniger und weniger.
Zusätzlich hatte ich auch wirklich gar kein Interesse an den Charakteren, die hätten sterben können, von dem Geist besessen worden sein oder heiraten können, es ist mir so egal gewesen...
November 13, 2023
It had a special way into pulling you into that world, but the final was rushed:/
September 5, 2024
How far would you go for the people you love ?
To start with,this is exactly how goodreads decribes it: Haunting Of Hill House 🫱🏻🫲🏻 Dissaperance themed Horror book and it was FIREEEE🔥.I could surerly say this one was one of the BEST books of the year and my top (yes TOP 🏅)non-Stephen King thriller.
I would definitely suggest reading these on fall🍁 and if you are brave enough on haloween week , trust me it will hit and you will be HOOKED.
As for the story we follow our main girl who wants her sister back.We dive into trauma from childhood and endless siblings' love.
Long story short if you love good thillers and atmospheric books this the one for you.
♾️⭐
To start with,this is exactly how goodreads decribes it: Haunting Of Hill House 🫱🏻🫲🏻 Dissaperance themed Horror book and it was FIREEEE🔥.I could surerly say this one was one of the BEST books of the year and my top (yes TOP 🏅)non-Stephen King thriller.
I would definitely suggest reading these on fall🍁 and if you are brave enough on haloween week , trust me it will hit and you will be HOOKED.
As for the story we follow our main girl who wants her sister back.We dive into trauma from childhood and endless siblings' love.
Long story short if you love good thillers and atmospheric books this the one for you.
♾️⭐
October 14, 2024
I picked this book up when I saw at @carireads recommend in one of her monthly wrap up[sand I’m really glad that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a YA horror that is about Sophie who when she was. 12 years old her older sister, Layla, filmed a horror movie, That was the summer that her parents were renovating Cashore House, a CA mansion that had a dark history.
The movie went viral and now five years later, it is considered a cult classic and has a huge fandom and following online. Heartbreakingly Layla disappeared two years ago and Sophie has never been the same. When she is given the opportunity to go back to Cashoree she jumps at the chance because she thinks that it has the key to understanding what happened to her sister. The only way that she can get access to the house if she agrees to be part of a documentary that is going to look into the movie. Once she arrives back weird things begin to happen and along with Sophia we are not 100% sure what is really going on. This was my first book by this author, but it will not be my last and I highly recommended especially for the spooky season.
The movie went viral and now five years later, it is considered a cult classic and has a huge fandom and following online. Heartbreakingly Layla disappeared two years ago and Sophie has never been the same. When she is given the opportunity to go back to Cashoree she jumps at the chance because she thinks that it has the key to understanding what happened to her sister. The only way that she can get access to the house if she agrees to be part of a documentary that is going to look into the movie. Once she arrives back weird things begin to happen and along with Sophia we are not 100% sure what is really going on. This was my first book by this author, but it will not be my last and I highly recommended especially for the spooky season.
November 13, 2025
i think that this book bit off a bit more than it could chew. don’t think the author had the writing skills (based on the … evidence) to pull off so many different plotlines. it also kind of read as a book that i would have thought was very mature and spooky if i was an elementary / middle schooler reading it … but im not! so it didn’t!
tldr don’t waste ur time — just rewatch hill house
tldr don’t waste ur time — just rewatch hill house
October 21, 2024
Wimp approved, this was a great spooky season read. Like I had to get under the covers to protect my feet, but I could read it in an empty house, which to me is the perfect amount of scary.
September 21, 2023
Thank you Eldeweiss for the advanced copy! This book was absolutely fantastic, a prefect start for spooky season. I spent most of my nights the past few days curled up under the blanket jumping at little noise I heard... haven't been this scared by a book in a while!
October 9, 2023
The horror in this book felt more atmospheric than terror to me. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, it sucked me in from the first couple of chapters. Very atmospheric world-building – Cashore House and the beach were very vivid.
“But I do believe in the power memory holds over us; I believe in ghosts as remnants of powerful emotions we have experienced. Over the years, I’ve learned that—for the most part—our ghosts stay silent. But there are times when our busy, exhausting world quiets just enough for the ghosts to emerge.”
I can definitely see the cult following of Layla’s film being a reality. Fans finding and seeking a deeper meaning – especially as the footage is not in the order it was filmed in. Stirring in supposedly hidden messages, demonic rumors and Layla’s disappearance equates to a powerhouse cult film with rabid fans. Vermillion hasn’t done either of the girls any favors and has left them both changed and haunted. I really liked Arthur & his relationship with Sophia, it was a surprising element that was wholesome in the circumstances. His dad on the other hand was a whole different story – not a fan.
The sister dynamic was definitely something I enjoyed and related to – especially being the youngest. The age gap between my sisters and I was wider than that of Layla and Sophia but I definitely felt that little sister modeling and following after the older sisters vibe. I give Sophia a lot of respect for returning to the very place that has haunted her existence for so long to search for her sister.
I would greatly recommend this book for those who love books about haunted houses, ghosts, cult/found footage films, and unreliable narrators. I would love to thank TBR and Beyond Tours for choosing me to participate in this tour, Katya De Becerra & Pagestreet YA for the chance to read this atmospherically haunting book. After reading this book I plan on checking out Katya’s other two books – I’m a fan. All opinions are my own.
“But I do believe in the power memory holds over us; I believe in ghosts as remnants of powerful emotions we have experienced. Over the years, I’ve learned that—for the most part—our ghosts stay silent. But there are times when our busy, exhausting world quiets just enough for the ghosts to emerge.”
I can definitely see the cult following of Layla’s film being a reality. Fans finding and seeking a deeper meaning – especially as the footage is not in the order it was filmed in. Stirring in supposedly hidden messages, demonic rumors and Layla’s disappearance equates to a powerhouse cult film with rabid fans. Vermillion hasn’t done either of the girls any favors and has left them both changed and haunted. I really liked Arthur & his relationship with Sophia, it was a surprising element that was wholesome in the circumstances. His dad on the other hand was a whole different story – not a fan.
The sister dynamic was definitely something I enjoyed and related to – especially being the youngest. The age gap between my sisters and I was wider than that of Layla and Sophia but I definitely felt that little sister modeling and following after the older sisters vibe. I give Sophia a lot of respect for returning to the very place that has haunted her existence for so long to search for her sister.
I would greatly recommend this book for those who love books about haunted houses, ghosts, cult/found footage films, and unreliable narrators. I would love to thank TBR and Beyond Tours for choosing me to participate in this tour, Katya De Becerra & Pagestreet YA for the chance to read this atmospherically haunting book. After reading this book I plan on checking out Katya’s other two books – I’m a fan. All opinions are my own.
March 14, 2024
An interesting read, but one that would have exceeded my expectations if it wasn’t YA. I’ve said it before in other reviews, but YA Horror just hasn’t done it for me since Clown in a Cornfield and its sequel. I think the most glaring issue with YA horror, and even just general Young Adult fiction , is whether or not the scenario and setting make any sense for a teen protagonist. For example , if we look at the main character of Sophia, her story is just not as impactful ( to me ) since she is only 17. We delve into her mysterious past , but it was only 5 years prior. So when Sophia says things like “when I was a kid,” I crack a smirk because , girl, you still are a kid. Your frontal lobe isn’t even fully developed yet.
If this were adult horror, she would be in her 30’s and slowly starting to piece together a childhood that she long forgotten and buried. It would just make so much more sense. Other than that, the mystery of “ where’s Layla” was actually very intriguing and you will fly through the pages to piece it together. A pretty fun and chilling ending !
January 8, 2025
I adored this book. It was scary as hell and absolutely grotesque in some parts, but also oddly ethereal and dreamlike. Haunting, I suppose. Some mystery aspects.
I really liked the portrayal of Sophia and Layla's sisterhood. It feels realistic. I also appreciated the casual inclusion and acknowledgement of queerness (it's not a big part of the book but I think that is perfectly fine). The way that internet culture and communication feeds into the plot is cool, and adds to the "found footage" aspects. Over the course of the book, Sophia remembers more of her 12-year-old summer, revealing more creepy details and changing the reader's understanding of events.
I have also read de Becerra's previous book, "What the woods keep", and there were a lot of parallels between the two books: epistolary documents mixed in with narration; big old houses; themes of dreaming, memory, history, and family; and missing family members. In "Ghosts", I'd say the ocean takes the place of the woods in some ways... wild and spooky.
I really liked the portrayal of Sophia and Layla's sisterhood. It feels realistic. I also appreciated the casual inclusion and acknowledgement of queerness (it's not a big part of the book but I think that is perfectly fine). The way that internet culture and communication feeds into the plot is cool, and adds to the "found footage" aspects. Over the course of the book, Sophia remembers more of her 12-year-old summer, revealing more creepy details and changing the reader's understanding of events.
I have also read de Becerra's previous book, "What the woods keep", and there were a lot of parallels between the two books: epistolary documents mixed in with narration; big old houses; themes of dreaming, memory, history, and family; and missing family members. In "Ghosts", I'd say the ocean takes the place of the woods in some ways... wild and spooky.
May 3, 2024
The latest novel by the wonderful Katya de Becerra reads as if A Head Full of Ghosts and The Ring and The House on Haunted Hill and The Blair Witch project made a spooky baby…
This was a creepy and super engaging read just absolutely perfect for spooky season, fall, winter, summer (seriously I read horror anytime of year, don’t you?) 👻 I love the big cinematographic aspect of the story, the way we are made to question the reality of things both physical and ghostly throughout, the revelations unveiled to us as we walk the Path with Sophia Galich, and much more.
I think it’s categorized as YA, but it fit me fine haha. Go for it! And there’s no boomachicawowow, so if you wanna gift this one to a horror lover who doesn’t particularly wanna read about seggs, it surely will fit all tastes, young and old 🤍
This was a creepy and super engaging read just absolutely perfect for spooky season, fall, winter, summer (seriously I read horror anytime of year, don’t you?) 👻 I love the big cinematographic aspect of the story, the way we are made to question the reality of things both physical and ghostly throughout, the revelations unveiled to us as we walk the Path with Sophia Galich, and much more.
I think it’s categorized as YA, but it fit me fine haha. Go for it! And there’s no boomachicawowow, so if you wanna gift this one to a horror lover who doesn’t particularly wanna read about seggs, it surely will fit all tastes, young and old 🤍
October 5, 2023
ARC provided by NetGalley & Page Street Publishing.
Actual Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Occult themes, blood, trauma/PTSD, deaths recounted, grief, panic & anxiety attacks, hallucinations, scene of drowning, loss of a parent (heart attack, in the past), manipulation
I giving this a low four stars. Look, I love a good story about a haunted house especially when the haunted house has multiple layers to the haunting. Top that with a mystery and I'm sold. However, trying to decide on my thoughts and feelings for this book were a lot more difficult than I thought they would. There was so much I loved, but there was a lot that missed the mark for me as a reader and things that felt very predictable, too. Without any further delay, let's dive into my thoughts.
The thing I loved most about this book was the way trauma was looked at in this book. There's so many layers of trauma and grief, but the author shows a lot of the things that come along with the trauma like anger, severe anxiety and panic, grieving for the person you were before the trauma, memory loss, and the biggest thing is the flashbacks. We see so much of the flashbacks and how serious they are from Sophia's perspective and in a way, her whole trip back to Cashore house almost feels like a form of exposure therapy for her trauma. I loved the way Sophia considers herself a haunted house, being haunted by ghosts and I think that was such a beautiful, perfect way to describe what it feels like to live with trauma, at times. I think the way the the author took the trauma and grief was handled really well. I also have a lot of appreciation for the author showing the various emotions and the other elements that come along with suffering from that trauma. One thing I will say though, there were moments where I had some mixed feelings because it felt like certain scenes were forcing the flashbacks to be triggered in Sophia and those few moments really had me feeling some mixed feels.
The other thing I really loved about this book was the atmosphere and the way some of the scenes were described. How eerie and chilling they were. There were some that I wasn't expecting and they caught me off guard so much. The end of chapter 27 and chapter 28 had me stunned. It lives in my brain rent free from now on. There were so many scenes like those chapters that stood out and really made the book for me. There's another scene that's near the end of the book that made me think of Moana, when she is returning the heart of Te Fiti. There was also a moment that reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Ghost Ship that had me my full attention. These moments were written so well and just sucked me in as a reader, and I really loved them.
Despite loving so much and taking five whole pages of quotes, there were things that just didn't work for me. The biggest one was the romance. Yup, that's right there's a romance in this book and there's a lot of focus on the romantic development. I just wish the book would have focused more on the mystery instead of throwing the romance element in. Speaking of genres, this definitely shouldn't be marketed as a horror. This is more paranormal mystery than horror or thriller. I was expecting more in terms of horror or at times I was expecting a more aggressive haunting, but we never really see that in this book. It misses the mark even more with how much emphasis was put on the demonic entity. I just expected more in that regard.
My other issue with this book is/would probably be the fact that the book feels like it's missing a lot of details and at times trying to do too much all at once. Don't get me wrong, I love the short chapters, but there were times where it felt like there should have been more details, more explanation, or just more exploration of certain things. I think that's why I kept expecting there to be more in the next chapter and there just wasn't too much, we were moving on to something else. That may be the reason why this almost felt like a middle grade to me, as well.
Overall, I did enjoy the majority of my time reading this book. This book definitely has some really great themes that were done really well and as I mentioned, five whole pages, front to back of quotes. There's a lot of love there for many things this book did. I just wish we had more. I'll definitely be looking into more books from this author in the future. I think many paranormal readers are going to enjoy this book and become obsessed with Vermillion, and Cashore house. Just an all around fun book for the autumnal season!
The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
Actual Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Content/Trigger Warnings: Occult themes, blood, trauma/PTSD, deaths recounted, grief, panic & anxiety attacks, hallucinations, scene of drowning, loss of a parent (heart attack, in the past), manipulation
"Cashore is alive, but it is not life as we know it. It is the life of a building burdened with secrets of both the living and the dead."
I giving this a low four stars. Look, I love a good story about a haunted house especially when the haunted house has multiple layers to the haunting. Top that with a mystery and I'm sold. However, trying to decide on my thoughts and feelings for this book were a lot more difficult than I thought they would. There was so much I loved, but there was a lot that missed the mark for me as a reader and things that felt very predictable, too. Without any further delay, let's dive into my thoughts.
The thing I loved most about this book was the way trauma was looked at in this book. There's so many layers of trauma and grief, but the author shows a lot of the things that come along with the trauma like anger, severe anxiety and panic, grieving for the person you were before the trauma, memory loss, and the biggest thing is the flashbacks. We see so much of the flashbacks and how serious they are from Sophia's perspective and in a way, her whole trip back to Cashore house almost feels like a form of exposure therapy for her trauma. I loved the way Sophia considers herself a haunted house, being haunted by ghosts and I think that was such a beautiful, perfect way to describe what it feels like to live with trauma, at times. I think the way the the author took the trauma and grief was handled really well. I also have a lot of appreciation for the author showing the various emotions and the other elements that come along with suffering from that trauma. One thing I will say though, there were moments where I had some mixed feelings because it felt like certain scenes were forcing the flashbacks to be triggered in Sophia and those few moments really had me feeling some mixed feels.
"Over the years, I've learned that -for the most part- our ghosts stay silent. But there are times when our busy, exhausting world quiets just enough for the ghosts to emerge."
The other thing I really loved about this book was the atmosphere and the way some of the scenes were described. How eerie and chilling they were. There were some that I wasn't expecting and they caught me off guard so much. The end of chapter 27 and chapter 28 had me stunned. It lives in my brain rent free from now on. There were so many scenes like those chapters that stood out and really made the book for me. There's another scene that's near the end of the book that made me think of Moana, when she is returning the heart of Te Fiti. There was also a moment that reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Ghost Ship that had me my full attention. These moments were written so well and just sucked me in as a reader, and I really loved them.
"Was I indeed a living imposter crashing the Midnight Reverie, or did I deserve my own place among the ghosts? I fear I'm about to find out."
Despite loving so much and taking five whole pages of quotes, there were things that just didn't work for me. The biggest one was the romance. Yup, that's right there's a romance in this book and there's a lot of focus on the romantic development. I just wish the book would have focused more on the mystery instead of throwing the romance element in. Speaking of genres, this definitely shouldn't be marketed as a horror. This is more paranormal mystery than horror or thriller. I was expecting more in terms of horror or at times I was expecting a more aggressive haunting, but we never really see that in this book. It misses the mark even more with how much emphasis was put on the demonic entity. I just expected more in that regard.
My other issue with this book is/would probably be the fact that the book feels like it's missing a lot of details and at times trying to do too much all at once. Don't get me wrong, I love the short chapters, but there were times where it felt like there should have been more details, more explanation, or just more exploration of certain things. I think that's why I kept expecting there to be more in the next chapter and there just wasn't too much, we were moving on to something else. That may be the reason why this almost felt like a middle grade to me, as well.
Overall, I did enjoy the majority of my time reading this book. This book definitely has some really great themes that were done really well and as I mentioned, five whole pages, front to back of quotes. There's a lot of love there for many things this book did. I just wish we had more. I'll definitely be looking into more books from this author in the future. I think many paranormal readers are going to enjoy this book and become obsessed with Vermillion, and Cashore house. Just an all around fun book for the autumnal season!
The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
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