The House in the Pines

Is Literary Thriller a genre? Because that's what this is. Literary themes on humanity/psychology are used all throughout this book without being forced. They include themes and situations I identify heavily with. So sentamentality.. check. Expert writing... check.

I loved this book.

However, I can see why the people who are like “I was promised a thriller!!!!” are upset. Luckily, I just saw this book at the library and picked it up.. and then didn't get on Good Reads to mark it as Currently Reading and accidentally start looking at reviews. And I totally missed the Reese's Book Club sticker on the front. So I guess I accidentally read this for what it is, and it's liberating! (We should all try this.. remember when we were kids and we just read something we wanted to maybe because one friend was reading it or maybe because we saw it, read the book blurb or thought the cover was cute, and wanted to read it? The days.) It's definitely not the same kind of book as other contemporary thrillers. It tiptoes up to the line of some thriller tropes, but doesn't touch the line. And is not even close to crossing the line. Writing like that is fucking expert, if you ask me.

Overall the story is creative and engaging. It switches between time seamlessly, and the pacing is superb. Every part felt purposeful. On a line basis, the sentence structure was short, sometimes with staccatoed phrases. Which I find poetic and relaxing although this is a thriller. I can't imagine it's easy to find that kind of balance in your writing.

5 stars. But not actually because I thought it was perfectly executed. There was one plot point I didn't think was woven in as well as the others, and there was overuse of “as” phrases, which I know has become very popular but it's too passive, especially for fiction and everyday conversation. (This is just my soap box.. I digress.) One of these is my trauma, and the other is so slight that it doesn't detract from how much I. Loved. This. Book. I think I will probably look back on this book as one that I connected with deeply and maybe return to it a few times in my life. At least I hope.. I love those books that are like hugs.

Also, this book dropped some brief (but shocking) history lessons about Guatemala. My mind was blown. So bonus points for teaching us important things in fiction.

Overall, if you're suuuuper into contemporary psychological books, you may have a hard time with comparing and not letting yourself enjoy this one. But if you can go in without expectation and just take it for what it is, I think you would really like it.

(Also, if you want to lament about “as” phrases, I'm ya girl. Holla.)