It Will Just Be Us: A Novel

Very atmospheric Southern Gothic story about a shape-shifting mansion imprinted with the 'memories' of Wakefield family ancestors. Archaeologist Samantha lives in the crumbling Virginian pile with her alcoholic mother and the flitting ghosts of the past, but when her very pregnant sister Elizabeth returns home, on the run from her violent husband, a disturbing new apparition joins them - from the future. Is Sam going mad, or are they all in danger?

I loved the story, with the eccentric family living in a crumbling old house filled with ghosts and memories, and the mysterious locked room on the third floor, but the pacing is very slow. Most of the book is taken up with setting the scene, which is done very well, and telling King-esque show more backstories about slaves and a witch who lives in the swamp upon which the house is built. I kept reading regardless, but did wonder where the supernatural elements were leading. Only when Liz's husband shows up, and she goes into labour, does the drama really kick up a notch. The faceless boy is terrifying, however!

Slow but spooky - worth persevering with! show less

(4.5)
This was so so close to being a five star read. And it has ultimately turned out to be an all time favorite haunted house story.
This is the kind of haunted house story where the house is almost a character on its own. And probably my favorite character in the book at that. The atmosphere that the house created made this such a dark and creepy read. I also really loved the writing style, which, also added to the atmosphere of the book. It wasn’t flowery writing but almost like lyrical writing and I loved it! This authors work has truly left me at a loss for words...
I’d recommend this for anyone who liked ‘we have always lived in the castle’ by Shirley Jackson as this book has similar aspects and vibes to it. And also to show more anyone who has a love for haunted houses and ghost stories. Please consider picking this one up!
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the Arc! show less

Spooky yet unremarkable. Fraught with familial drama and generic tropes, I found reading this book to be a bit of a chore. I’m always a fan of scary houses and strange histories, but this one was tough to wrap my head around, and the overall dysthymia of the book was more annoying than atmospheric.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

Strange and dreamlike. A very creepy read.

Fabulous! I loved this book.

Der Schreibstil des Buches hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Die Atmosphäre ist dicht, die Geschichte flüssig erzählt, und an einigen Stellen wird es auch richtig spannend.

Trotzdem blieb bei mir ein kleiner Wermutstropfen zurück: Der Gruselfaktor. Gerade weil einige Leser das Buch als extrem unheimlich beschrieben haben, bin ich mit ziemlich hohen Erwartungen hineingegangen. Leider hat sich dieses Gefühl für mich persönlich kaum eingestellt. Die Handlung ist interessant und stellenweise packend, aber die erhoffte Gänsehaut blieb aus.

Insgesamt also ein solides, gut geschriebenes Buch mit einigen starken Momenten – nur der Horror, auf den ich mich besonders gefreut hatte, wollte sich für mich einfach nicht richtig entfalten.