Just Like Home

A Best Horror Novel of All Time (Cosmopolitan) • WINNER of the 2023 British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel • One of the Best Horror Novels of 2022 (Vulture, Paste, NPR, and Teen Vogue) • A Belletrist Book Club pick!

Just Like Home
is a darkly gothic thriller from bestselling author Sarah Gailey, perfect for fans of The Haunting of Hill House as well as true crime masterpiece I'll Be Gone in the Dark.

“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement, in spite of the memories — she's come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there, beneath the house he'd built for his family.

Coming home is hard enough for Vera, and to make things worse, she and her mother aren’t alone. A parasitic artist has moved into the guest house out back and is slowly stripping Vera’s childhood for spare parts. He insists that he isn’t the one leaving notes around the house in her father’s handwriting… but who else could it possibly be?

There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the notorious Crowder House. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes.

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Published May 30, 2023

352 pages

Average rating: 6.08

188 RATINGS

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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Just Like Home* by Sarah Gailey delivers a creeping, atmospheric horror with strong tension and a gripping main character. The book’s use...

ajhughes19
Dec 11, 2022
4/10 stars
This story elicited a lot of intrigue and curiosity initially but seemed not very well executed. It never really gained any sort of fluidity or momentum and notably had ideas that were not followed through with or appeared forced. The story wasn't over all bad it just could have been better written and the conclusion was quite lackluster leaving more questions than answers.
siemelle900
Nov 28, 2025
4/10 stars
I think there is a hidden meaning in some of these books and I’m just not intelligent enough to understand what those meanings are!
VicMor
Oct 26, 2025
7/10 stars
Book club liked read but felt there were so many unanswered questions. Enely: 8/10 bad ending Olga: 8/10 bad ending, unfinished business Nerea: 9/10 bad ending, confused on paranormal being Yaya: 6.5 bad ending, too goosebumps Ashley: 5.5 was engaging but the ending wasn’t expected and disappointing Victoria: 7 bad ending, too many unanswered questions
Allisgator
Jun 09, 2025
10/10 stars
good for her
Ebane1031
May 16, 2025
7/10 stars
No spoilers here. I liked the premise - serial killer father, family secrets, house haunted, daughter returns home. Lots of twists and turns. Didn't like much of the middle. Thought the pacing was slow and didn't find characters believable or relatable. Ending a surprise. Expected more than it delivered.

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