Sign in with Facebook
Indieflower's Reviews > Just Like Home
Just Like Home
by
by
My first thought on finishing this book was "crikey, that was a hot mess" 😬, but it's lonely on outlier island so I gave myself a week to think it over and nope, it's still a hot mess. I wanted to love it - oh that gorgeous cover, that tantalizing premise - but no, it was not to be. I did like the theme that there can be different kinds of monster, some more obvious than others, but sadly I felt nothing for the characters except frustration. The stifling atmosphere was nicely done but I never fully bought into the creepy bits, I felt sort of detached. I also found the story incredibly slow, filled with sooo much of the main character's dark musings (don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely here for the dark musings - endless, repetitive ones not so much), pointless uninteresting filler - at one point Vera deliberately drives 1½ hours to a bar, takes an instant dislike to the barman, and the minute her drink arrives leaves and drives home again. And as for the bonkers ending, what the hell was all that about? 😶 I'm a massive fan of supernatural stories and know they require great suspension of disbelief, but this was really stretching it, absurd even for a story of this kind, comedic almost. I previously read The Echo Wife by the same author and felt similarly underwhelmed. Oddly I did love the acknowledgements, kind of different and moving. Take my review with a pinch of salt however, don't let it put you off, I'm thinking I must've read it wrong as just about every other reviewer loved it, I only wish I felt the same. Perhaps Sarah Gailey just isn't for me 🤷♀️, a regretful 2 stars.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Just Like Home.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
February 18, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 18, 2022
– Shelved
August 1, 2022
–
Started Reading
August 11, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-36 of 36 (36 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Alexis ₍ᐢ._.ᐢ₎♡ ༘
(new)
Aug 11, 2022 08:41AM
That's why I'm staying away from the massively reviewed books that everyone seems to love for now haha, I also had my fair share of underwhelming experiences to know how frustrating it can be 🤠 thanks for sharing your thoughts, I will take a huuuge side step on this one!
reply
|
flag
This made my day… "crikey, that was a hot mess"
Great review, Indie!
Great review, Indie!
Alexis wrote: "That's why I'm staying away from the massively reviewed books that everyone seems to love for now haha, I also had my fair share of underwhelming experiences to know how frustrating it can be 🤠 tha..."It's always a risk but they're just too tempting! 😭
Patcee (on hiatus) wrote: "This made my day… "crikey, that was a hot mess" Great review, Indie!"
Thanks Patcee! 💕☺️
GirlWithThePinkSkiMask wrote: "LOL NOT CRIKEY!!! Thanks for the laughs. Great review!"😂😂😂 Thanks Pink! ☺️💕
Next one will be better. In the meantime, this was a fun review, Indie.
Your review explains it all, and with that terrific humor of yours. Good review and don't worry about paying a visit to outlier island, cause we've all been there a time or two!
Zoeytron wrote: "Next one will be better. In the meantime, this was a fun review, Indie."My new read is going well 👏, thanks Zoey! ☺️
Ron wrote: "Your review explains it all, and with that terrific humor of yours. Good review and don't worry about paying a visit to outlier island, cause we've all been there a time or two!"Aw, bless you Ron, thank you for your kind words! I'm happy to report that I've left outlier island and struck out for the mainland, my current read is so much better ☺️
Oh no, I am so sorry that this one was a miss for you! I have this on my tbr pile so I will lower my expectations a little! I struggle to enjoy a book when I don't like the characters but it's even worse when they are frustrating! Wonderful review! 🧡
Crikey? Haven't heard that one before but I like it!
Just finished it and feel similarly (also about being outliers, ha!) I was really engaged and wanting to stick it through until that third act reveal, which was just…not what I expected.
Ellie wrote: "Oh no, I am so sorry that this one was a miss for you! I have this on my tbr pile so I will lower my expectations a little! I struggle to enjoy a book when I don't like the characters but it's even..."Thanks Ellie, I'm in the minority so fingers crossed you'll like it more than I did! 🤞☺️
Jonathan wrote: "Crikey? Haven't heard that one before but I like it!"Very common expression here in the UK 😄
e.d. wrote: "Just finished it and feel similarly (also about being outliers, ha!) I was really engaged and wanting to stick it through until that third act reveal, which was just…not what I expected."I found it hard to engage with it at all, but absolutely, that reveal was a slow blink moment for sure 😶😬😂
Lol totally agree!
Cristy wrote: "Lol totally agree!"Relieved it's not just me! 😂
Totally feel this review. I couldn’t buy into it. I wasn’t creeped out. I felt very eh the whole time and do nooot care for the characters at all
Amanda wrote: "Totally feel this review. I couldn’t buy into it. I wasn’t creeped out. I felt very eh the whole time and do nooot care for the characters at all"Absolutely, it seemed to get more and more ridiculous as it went on, I don't think this author is for me 😕.
Wonderful review Indieflower! I am going to take it off my list.
Beverly wrote: "Wonderful review Indieflower! I am going to take it off my list."Thanks Beverly! ☺️ Yes, good call, I'd say in this case the game definitely isn't worth the candle, so much waffle and the MC's repetitive thoughts, bonkers ending too 😬
Indieflower wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Wonderful review Indieflower! I am going to take it off my list."Thanks Beverly! ☺️ Yes, good call, I'd say in this case the game definitely isn't worth the candle, so much waffle..."
Ugh! A ton of bad stuff all mixed together!
that's exactly how I felt! I also hated the writing style so much... it felt so amateurish and "told" instead of "showing" a lot
ardin wrote: "that's exactly how I felt! I also hated the writing style so much... it felt so amateurish and "told" instead of "showing" a lot"lYes a lot of telling, and I hated the repetitiveness of the main character's thoughts, I thought it was never going to end 😬
I’m 60% of the way through and I could not care less about the rest of the book. I keep seeing people say the ending is worth it but I’m not so sure
Sammie wrote: "I’m 60% of the way through and I could not care less about the rest of the book. I keep seeing people say the ending is worth it but I’m not so sure"I honestly wish I hadn't bothered with this one at all Sammie, I really didn't think the ending was worth it, it was totally nuts, but not in a good way 😆. For me, the best thing about the book is the gorgeous cover.
Omg same wtf so weird
Melissa wrote: "Omg same wtf so weird"Yep, sooo weird 😆
The only way I think I could really appreciate the ending is if it's all in her head. For example, when Brandon said something along the lines of "we both know you had another friend" I took that to mean an imaginary friend (aka the house). I considered maybe she had undiagnosed Dissociative Identity Disorder, too. I have a lot of problems with the logic of "the house" entity. Ugh
You’re not alone I felt the same way!
Felicite Reads wrote: "The only way I think I could really appreciate the ending is if it's all in her head. For example, when Brandon said something along the lines of "we both know you had another friend" I took that t..."Could be, she certainly did a lot of irrational things 😬. It's a shame, I love the idea of a house entity, it's been done so well in other stories but was poorly executed here I think.
Alex wrote: "You’re not alone I felt the same way!"I so wanted to like it! 😩
I really liked Magic for Liars and Echo Wife. I did not like this book. I was mildly interested but the end of this book was awful. I guess it's very Gothic but it was too literal. I did not like this book and agree with your review, but I don't think you should totally disregard the author.
I DNFed this book within 80-100 pages. Glad I'm finding more people disliked this book. I was beyond bored & frustrated lol
Shane wrote: "I DNFed this book within 80-100 pages. Glad I'm finding more people disliked this book. I was beyond bored & frustrated lol"I wish I'd done the same 🫤
Indieflower wrote: "Shane wrote: "I DNFed this book within 80-100 pages. Glad I'm finding more people disliked this book. I was beyond bored & frustrated lol"I wish I'd done the same 🫤"
B wrote: "I really liked Magic for Liars and Echo Wife. I did not like this book. I was mildly interested but the end of this book was awful. I guess it's very Gothic but it was too literal. I did not like t..."
I wasn't keen on The Echo Wife either, as with this one, I loved the premise but disliked the execution, I'd be wary of trying this author again after two strikes, too many books, too little time.
