#the house across the lake

[haveamagicalday]

My top ten reads of 2022

10. Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

This is a unique retelling of The Little Mermaid. Here the mermaids are switched out with deadly forest sirens who harvest the soul’s of those they lure into the witch’s wood. Owen lives at the edge of the wood and one day he is shockingly saved by one of the sirens instead of killed by her. Owen and the siren grow close as an enchanted war threatens to boil over. I really enjoyed this dark fairy tale and loved the forest sirens lore.

9. Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

After surviving an attack by a strange creature, Rory finds herself transforming in a frightening way and what follows is a journey of self discovery. This comedically dark love story is full of fun werewolf goodness!

8. House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Marion lives in a world where the wealthy consume human blood. In order to do so, they employ bloodmaids, esteemed servants who are treated with respect and given a hefty sum after their service ends. Marion jumps at the chance to become a bloodmaid for the House of Hunger and finds herself entranced with her employer, the beautiful countess Lisavet. But something sinister is happening within the house and Marion may be in danger. Creepy and gothic, this book was a perfect halloween read. I also thought it was interesting that Henderson didn’t go down the vampire route but created a strange world with another motive for drinking blood.

7. The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

Sager has quickly become one of my favorite thriller authors. This book starts off with a tired trope; a widowed woman copes by drinking and secluding herself in her family’s lake house. Casey spends her days spying on her neighbors through binoculars. The couple across the lake seems perfect until Casey sees something she thinks she shouldn’t and shortly after, the wife vanishes. We’ve seen this before but Sager flips things upside down and takes it in a direction that hasn’t been seen before. It almost seems like he was trying to parody the trope in a way but it is not goofy or anything. This book was thrilling and fun with plenty of twists.

6. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

When Chloe was 12, girls started disappearing in her town and her father was arrested for it. Now an adult, Chloe works as a therapist and engaged to a wonderful man. Finally Chloe feels as if she has moved on from her past but then girls around her start to disappear again. This was a solid debut novel with a pretty surprising twist at the end.

5. Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

Friends is my favorite show and Chandler my favorite character so I was stoked when this book was announced. Of course, Friends is not the focus of this book, Matthew’s history of addiction is. I’ve always admired his honesty when talking about his addiction in the past but wow was I not prepared for how much he went, and continues, to go through. Matthew is still in recovery for his addiction. He almost died in 2021 and started writing shortly after. This is not a look back on addiction and his triumphant recovery. This book IS his recovery. You can feel it through his words. This book was painful and bleak but also hopeful with a dry sense of humor sprinkled throughout. 

4. When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill 

This book is not for everybody but it was for me! This book follows the life of two friends, spoiled Marie and devilish Sadie, during the late 1800s. While Marie grows to inherit her father’s sugar empire, Sadie disappears into the gritty underworld of Montreal and within the working class a revolution is brewing. This is written with a strange whimsy that makes some of the darker aspects in it feel dreamlike. TW: Rape 

3. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

I’m the same age as Jeanette and was in high school when icarly first aired. I never considered myself a fan but looking back, I watched a lot of it and it was a genuinely funny show. McCurdy’s memoir is a honest, funny but also heartbreaking look into the world of a child actor that never wanted to be one. What she went through was horrible and her ability to write this book with such wit and grace is incredible. She’s a very talented writer and I’m glad she finally got to tell her story and pursue what I think is her real passion: writing,

2. Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid

This was marketed as a Juniper Tree retelling but it really has nothing to do with the fairy tale. Marlinchen and her two older sisters live with their wizard father in a world where magic is a thing of the past as industry booms. As witches, the three sisters are used as a tourist trap to earn money. They are rarely allowed to leave their home and one night they sneak out to the ballet and Marlinchen falls in love with the talented leading hero. Marlinchen continues to disobey her father as dead bodies around town suddenly start to turn up. This book was eerie and wholly original. It was dark but in some of the best ways. TW: Gore and Sexual Assault

1. Nocturne by Alyssa Wees

This book as being marketed as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I think it needs to be looked at as its own story. I'd say it's more of a Beauty and the Beast inspired story than a true retelling. The writing style is gorgeous. The imagery it conjures is both dreamlike and haunting. Our main character Grace has lived a tragic but fascinating life. The flashbacks of a childhood during the Great Depression mixed into a strange fairytale setting was one of my favorite aspects of the book. The combination of fantasy and historical is always a genre I like and I thought this was very well done. As for the plot, I don't want to give too much away but one thing that really resonating with me was the theme of death throughout. It comes up in many different and unsuspecting ways. I can't say too much but the outlook on death was a refreshing one that we don't see to often in media and it really made me think about life and morality. This book is for readers who enjoy dark fantasies and enchanting prose. And for any ballerinas out there as well!

[in-dire-read]

The House Across The Lake (Book Review)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 Stars)

Information

Author: Riley Sager

Genre: Thriller

Length: 349 pages

Series: N/A

Summary

Casey Fletcher, a widowed actress seeking refuge at her family’s lake house in Vermont, spends her days watching her wealthy neighbours, Tom and Katherine Royce, across the lake. After saving Katherine from drowning, the two women form a friendship, but Casey soon realizes their seemingly perfect marriage is hiding dark secrets. When Katherine suddenly disappears, Casey becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, leading to a chilling story of voyeurism, guilt, and deception.

Thoughts

There were several elements I absolutely loved. One of the standout revelations was that Len was the one behind the disappearances of the local missing girls—a dark and gripping twist that kept me on the edge of my seat. I also appreciated Boone, the handyman next door, who immediately dove into investigating what happened to Katherine with an admirable sense of urgency. 

The twist of Katherine being possessed by Len was a surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed, adding an eerie layer to the story. The reveal of the truth behind Len’s accidental drowning tied the plot together in a chilling way. However, there was one element I didn’t quite connect with. While I understand that the main character’s excessive drinking was a coping mechanism to forget her trauma, it seemed like a lot for one person to block out—though I’m no expert in psychology, so I could be wrong there. 

These highs and lows made for an intense and memorable reading experience.

[marypickfords]

The House Across the Lake (Ken Hughes, 1954)

[jessread-s]

✩🏘️🛶Review:

“The House Across the Lake” is a wild ride from start to finish!

Sager is the master of misdirection. Several times throughout the book I thought I had solved the mystery only for the rug to be pulled out right from under me. The breadcrumbs I followed that I thought led to the murderer’s true identity in reality led to nowhere, Sager cleverly throwing me off track.

Additionally, I appreciated Sager’s organization of the novel’s timeline. The reader jumps back and forth between the “before” and the “now,” thrown off guard by the jaw-dropping revelations about Casey’s past and the cliffhangers that deepened the mystery. 

Though “The House Across the Lake” is primarily a mystery, its paranormal elements make it unique. At the same time, those elements made it a bit difficult for me to remain immersed in the storyline. In general, I have trouble embracing the absurd, but I appreciate “The House Across the Lake” for pushing me outside my comfort zone. It is for that reason that I look forward to reading more of Sager’s backlist to get my mystery-thriller fix!

➤ 4 stars

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[anonwritersposts]

“Maybe. I still prefer honesty. And in this case, the truth is that Tom needs me too much to agree to a divorce. He’d kill me before letting me leave.”

A sign of abuse is often an admission by the victim of not being able to leave the abuser for fear of retaliation or safety, and it can be nonchalantly dismissed especially if it’s said in a “joking” manner.

Follow your gut instinct and always remember that abusers thrive off the victim’s dependency, and support them if they ever mention this so casually.

Heartbreaking for Katherine to be in such a terrible situation. 😭

[nordinor]

Book Review: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

I’ve heard a lot of opinions about Riley Sager. Some people love his writing. Other think he has a hard time writing women. Even as I picked up this novel in Barnes and Noble, a fellow reader told me she just finished this and it was great. So I read my first Riley Sager novel. I wasn’t disappointed. The story follows Casey, a grieving actress who is drinking herself into oblivion at a remote…

[cataatr]

The House Across the Lake, Riley Sager

[sheisanimposter]

Thoughts on "The House Across the Lake" by Riley Sager

1/4 through the book: This is a fun engaging story, pretty sure I already predicted how it's going to end, but a good journey nonetheless

3/4 through the book: I'm sorry WHAT? WHO?

4/5 ⭐ would definitely recommend to a friend, would be an especially good fall or vacation/lake read.

[oiforfoxsake]

July Wrap up

Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

The throne of fire by rick riordan

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

Sins of Kings by Emma Slate

Birth of a Queen by Emma Slate

Hooked by Emily Mcintire

[hydrangeawolfreads]

October 2024 Reads

It takes a lot of my pride to close a book. 

Not closing in the sense of “I can’t read this right now” but to close the possibilities of the book. Almost as if I’m Susan Pensive, trying desperately for the wardrobe to open back in Narnia. 

What I’m trying to say is, it takes a lot of pride and energy out of me to DNF. Which is hilarious because the vibes need Goldilocks just right, for me to get really into something. 

Like Amazon subscriptions I put on hold, I delay getting into books until I’m in the correct headspace, vibe and craving. 

Maybe that’s why I’m finally using this side-blog. Because in the last few weeks, I’ve devoured three novels (well 2 ½ at the time of writing this) and I’m happy. So here’s my recent recap.

When I realized that Vincent Tirado was coming to the Boston Book Festival, the speed I clicked on the panel details could’ve rivaled the Flash’s. Then the shock when I learned they wrote a new book I haven’t gotten my hands on was deep. 

I ran out to get it and finished it in 2 and half days so I could properly explain why Tirado is an immediate buy to all. But to realize they had taken one of my favorite IPs and crafted an eerie thriller that danced on the line of “Is it Supernatural or just Anxiety/Paranoia?”  

Going off that last question brings me to “The House Across the Lake”. Riley Sager is that author I read when I need to read an “adult” novel. I try to stay within YA/NA or anywhere that my curiosity takes me. I still remember being hunched over my phone, reading “Home Before Dark” which was my first Sager novel. 

There were countless twists, each one kept getting me closer to the edge of my seat and one that had scooting back. But this definitely made my October spooky. 

My current read, “Your Blood, My Bones” is an interesting one. This brings me back to how I opened this post. Andrew’s first novel, “The Whispering Dark” lured me in like a Siren singing. 

However magical realism/spooky sci fi is difficult to get into. I tried, I think four times to get into the book. It broke my heart, as it adores disabled or differently abled MCs. As someone with mild cerebral palsy, I’m done reading novels with Bella Swan copycats. 

I didn’t even realize the author was the same until it arrived. “Your Blood, My Bones” reminded me a lot of “The Raven Cycle” and OTGW which gave me time to shift what I knew and stitch the new to fully visualize the entire novel. 

As a teenager who was obsessed with Sarah Dessen’s novels, I love interweaving worlds. All this, to say I’m gonna give “The Whispering Dark” another go–especially now that I get…some of it. 

It’s funny, I keep picturing the forest as a shadow puppet version. Think of the 2004 credits of A Series of Unfortunate Events film. 

Hopefully this made sense. This is the first kind of actual online presence that I’m attempting.  

I can’t promise I’ll keep this updated but I’ll do my best. Knowning me, this is gonna be a rant/vent blog with reviews sprinkled in. 

(Primarily since everyone else in my immediate life to too busy for me.) 

(c) hydrangeawolfreads

[alley-cat777]

Book Review: The House Across the Lake by: Riley Sager

No matter how much you look, something just beneath the surface will always remain hidden. I should know. I’ve been watching. The House Across the Lake by: Riley Sager Initial Thoughts: At this point, there should be a new sub-genre of mystery-thrillers titled: “women with substance issues who love to spy because they have nothing else to do.” I can think of a few books that fall into this…

[riley1cannon]

Well this one was quite the ride --

If you've read Riley Sager before, then you know his narrators lean strongly into being unreliable, and that there will be more than one twist along the way. He really pulls out the stop on this one. Even when I saw some of the twists coming, there was just that extra pinch added to come as a surprise. Not to mention that the ... soupçon (although it's a bit more than just a trace) ... of the paranormal added a special kick to it all. He's skirted around the supernatural before, but this is the first book of his I've read where he goes all in with it. I can imagine that may have been a bit much for some readers, but I enjoyed it.

One thing I especially liked at the end was that, while I'm muttering, "Hey, but what about the wine glass? Are we just forgetting the wine glass?" Sager ups and delivers that one last twist to satisfying effect.

[libinih28]

the scream I scrumpt when I read THAT chapter

[marypickfords]

The House Across the Lake (Ken Hughes, 1954)

[anonwritersposts]

The House Across the Lake is celebrity Casey Fletcher, returning to her lake vacation home to recover in private after her secret of being an alcoholic was revealed. When her neighbor Katherine Royce nearly drowns with Casey being the one to rescue, the pair start a beautiful friendship. As Casey learns of Katherine’s husband Tom, an uneasiness begins to brew. She begins to observe the house across the lake and quickly finds out- the couple are not at all as they appear. When Katherine vanished without a trace, Casey stops at nothing to seek out the truth even if it will cost her life.

[justmybookthots]

The House Across the Lake

This book was… wow. At the beginning I wasn't very impressed because it felt like it was going down a familiar road so often travelled with thrillers, and then two-thirds in the twist hits me like a wallop and I'm left REELING. 

So, let me back-track for a minute. I'd known of this book a year back (or maybe more), but I originally hadn't wanted to pick it up because I heard it had a paranormal twist, which I'm not a fan of in thrillers. But my reading goal for 2024 is to branch out like I did with fantasies last year, so I decided to step out of my comfy zone again and try this book this year. And I have to say! I did not mind the paranormal twist at all!

Prior to the twist reveal, it was the same old thing: wife goes missing, husband is suspicious, bla bla. I had this little pet theory that the wife was only pretending to be abused and go missing and was in cahoots with the husband to do something, but I was wrong. DEAD WRONG.

And boy am I glad I was wrong. 

So after the twist was introduced, I was doubting it for a long second and feeling like it had to be a charade and that the paranormal aspect was fake?? But it wasn't, and I'm… Damn. The author really went there. Very fascinating, even though I was kind of also hoping for another twist to follow up with this because we were only two thirds into the story, but nope, that was the only memorable twist. But this is all just a minor complaint because Riley really got me. TALK ABOUT DUPED.

I can't give this a perfect rating because the first half was really kind of dull (same pattern of heroine constantly trying to get people to believe her, people not believing her, then rinse and repeat) and I've seen this marital plotline over and over, but the twist is truly what made this book. However, if you're new to thrillers, the first half would be fine for you? I think? I definitely enjoyed the journey of Home Before Dark more, but liked the plot twist of this one better. 

Also, not me checking the reviews of the book, and one of the first ones I see had a complaint like this:

Why are you reading thrillers/mysteries if you feel that way??? T_T

However, I definitely understand complaints about the paranormal part of the twist. It's why I didn't want to read this for so long, after all. Now I'm kind of on a Sager bender and I hope the rest of his books are anywhere as decent.

(Also what is with his weird persistent kink involving a hot handyman with the heroine??? For a male author, that's so... bizarre.)

- 29 January 2024