There's Someone Inside Your House

Ooof. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that romance writer Perkins created a make out/(consensual)sex heavy book that also happened to feature really gruesome slasher scenes. Unfortunately, the tension was low and the mystery wasn't interesting...or really a mystery. The characters checked diversity boxes (sort of, she did dead-name the trans character...nope) without being developed or engaging. The only non-boring parts were the slasher scenes, and that's only because they were Scream-syle detailed, yet the rest of the plot didn't get that level of attention. Have booktalked and will again, curious to see if there's an audience of teen interest for this.

This book has below average ratings and some scathing reviews for “not being scary enough.” Now, I don't generally read gore or horror so maybe it's just my lack of perspective, but I was chilled by this book. But more so, I think it's because none of these people have been gaslighted. Maybe they're too desensitized by overindulging in horror lit. Idk.

As someone who has been stalked and gaslighted before, this book was a chilling reminder of how horrifying it is. Before every kill, the murderer gaslights their victims by opening and closing drawers, leaving items in odd places, moving furniture, etc. They do just enough to scare them, make them wonder if they did it themselves. I know from experience how unsettling it is and how scary it is to wonder if someone is in your house watching you. This was the most frightening part to me, the emotional tension. The murders themselves weren't terribly gory, but I don't think that's necessary to be scary at all. I think a balanced amount of blood was written in.

Now, folks, this is YA. So yes, of course there's a romance element. And from the time I realized this, I wanted to hate that aspect. But in a fun surprise for all of us, I didn't! Makani and Ollie are well written characters and their romance felt legit, complete with teen angst, family problems, and sexual tension. It didn't feel cheesy, insta, or forced so I actually enjoyed reading about it. They seemed like friends.

As for background characters, wth with Makani's parents??? They are absolute garbage monsters. Which makes me upset but unfortunately, it's reality for many people today. And I HATED the “townsfolk” who thought a serial killer would apparently never be able to hurt anyone they knew and kept leaving their children alone day after day and the people who used it for fun scares on Halloween. I was like “people cannot possibly be that dumb.” But then I remembered the state of the world right now during COVID-19 where people are seeing the danger and running right to it. So I guess that part actually cannot be discounted as unbelievable.

2.75

wasn't expecting this to be as gruesome as it was... Tip: dont read this at midnight. You won't sleep.

wasnt expecting all that death either

anyways the first half of the story was sooo boring and the second half was so fast paced and addictive.

Its 1:30am and I know I'm not sleeping tonight, thank u Stephanie Perkins