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There are currently 43 member reviews
for Our House
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Mary H. (Ocala, FL)
Loved It!
This excellent psychological thriller takes us into the lives of Fiona (Fi) and Abraham (Bram) Lawson and their two children. They seem to have an ideal life until their marriage is shattered due to Bram's latest infidelity. Although separated, they work out an arrangement for child custody with as little disruption as possible in their boys' lives. This works well for several months until Fi returns one day to find Bram has sold their home, removed all their belongings, canceled his cell phone and disappeared. How it got to this point is then revealed through Fi's story via a podcast called "The Victim" and Bram's through a Word document.
The alternating stories show us how little Fi knows about Bram's issues with anger management, his conviction for assault and his numerous speeding violations--resulting in losing his driver's license. While Bram is caught in a web of lies,Fi is also flawed in that she is too trusting and questions very little, even when Bram's excuses don't add up. Bram's deceptions have tragic consequences for himself and his entire family. In telling their story, Louise Candlish takes the reader on a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns, culminating in a stunning ending. She has woven a superb cautionary tale that brings to mind Sir Walter Scott's famous quote, "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."
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Jane E. (Port Republic, MD)
A Page Turner!
It took me a few chapters to realize I was not going to want to put this book down. The story is told alternately by Fiona, who is telling it on a true crime show, and Bram, her husband, from a Word document he's writing. Fiona arrives home early to find strangers moving into the house she shares with her two young sons. While that sounds outlandish, the events that lead up to it are plausible. If you like twists and turns and a surprising ending, you'll love this novel.
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Amy E. (Delaware, OH)
Our House - A House of Cards
WOW! What a well crafted tale of fear and deception and their consequences. The house, while it seems perfect, is indeed constructed of cards and when it starts to
fall no one is safe. I found the comments at the ends of several of Fi's sections a bit distracting and soon found myself just skipping them.
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Randi H. (Bronx, NY)
Our House, by Louise Candlish
Wow, what a book! Our House is a suspenseful read, full of twists and turns that I, for one, did not see coming. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something new happened to keep me on edge. Right up to the very end, which has to be one of the most unforgettable endings I've read in a very long time. It's been a few days now since I finished the book and I still cannot get the end out of my mind.
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Sydna M. (Austin, TX)
Dark & Twisty Thriller
Thank you to Bookbrowse for the opportunity to read and review Our House before it goes on sale! Candlish's novel has a unique premise and setup, which develop beautifully throughout the story. Told in alternating voices and time frames, this dark and twisty thriller delivers. I loved the flow of the book and her use of various narrators to unveil and unravel the mystery. If you loved Gone Girl. Then She Was Gone and other psychological thrillers, you'll love Our House.
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Joan V. (Miller Place, NY)
A House of Secrets
You never know what is happening behind your neighbors' doors and sometimes you don't know what is happening in your own house. I just finished this book and can't wait to share it with someone because I really need to discuss it. That is how you KNOW a good book when you read one.
Fiona and Bram Lawson seem to have a perfect life in a perfect house in a perfect neighborhood….but they don't. There are cracks in their marriage and lots of secrets. When Fi comes home from a weekend away and finds another couple moving into her beloved house everything starts to unravel for her.
The story is told in the present with flashbacks and a podcast transcript that Fi does, as well as text messages. The story flows smoothly between the time sequences and it's easy to follow the plot. This is a fast read because you just have to see what happens next, a rainy weekend made this the perfect companion.
I think it would be a good pick for a book club because you feel the need to discuss it. There are also interesting topics such as - how far would you go to protect you marriage and your family. How past secrets can affect a marriage and what happens to ordinary people when something goes terribly wrong.
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Rosanne S. (Franklin Square, NY)
Our House
Our House was a thrill to read in every sense of the word. To be honest, even though I had requested the book to review when it arrived I had forgotten what it was about. So as I started to read it and get involved I really didn't know where it was headed. I was shocked when the plot became obvious. I really hadn't seen it coming.
It was at this point in the story that I couldn't and wouldn't put the book down. The author did an amazing job in weaving together a thrilling, suspenseful, amazing story that is riveted with surprises right to the very last page.
I highly recommend this novel and predict we will see it in the movies one day too. I will be the first one buying a ticket.
