Lock Every Door ~ Riley Sagar

 

Lock Every Door     Riley Sager     2019     Gothic Thriller

A Buddy Read

My Rating: 4                His Rating: 4.5              Goodreads: 3.9

 

What I thought:

The likes: The setting this took place in was awesome. A spooky historic building with gargoyles and a long tragic history. The rich connected people living within it. The set up of the book was also great with an offer to get paid to live in luxory and possible get a second chance at setting up your life. Also living near a famous writer who you look up too. Who would not want to take them up on that even with some strict rules thrown in. I loved the description of some of the characters and of the views and central park. In the first part of the book I loved the point of view of the main character. I could relate to her so well. I found myself saying yes! and I know just how you feel. However later I found myself saying who is this girl and what is her deal.

The dislikes: I feel the author wrote the word “the Bartholomew” so many times it made me ill. I wished she had used other words. Maybe it is just me or maybe it was because I was reading this book aloud with someone else but, I absolutely hated how many times I had to say it. Strange I know. I also am not fond of how Sager tends to lead her readers in many directions that are dead ends and don’t really have to do with what really is going on in the story to throw them off what will happen in the plot. I know that is opposite of what alot of her fans like. It frustrates me. I felt a couple of the characters also fell flat or were just not needed.

What my buddy thought: 

likes: He also loved the setting and the rules. He liked how the book felt like a mystery to him something for him to figure out what would happen before it happened. He liked the docter character and the little mean jabs that the writer would say. He found the symbol in the book interesting too. He liked the commentary the main character would kind of say about life or others though I felt he wanted her to be more opitimistic. He also would laugh when he thought there was gonna be a love interest saying “oh watch out women”. lol. He liked the tension and drama of it. He liked how his predictions would come true.

 

Dislikes: The main character’s self esteem at times seemed to bother him and her obsession on the book “heart of a dreamer”. He hated how the character’s would throw away or leave behind weapons. It would sometimes throw him for a second when they would jump around in time but, I think that had more to do with us reading it aloud.

*Overall we both enjoyed it. I felt this book was more fun reading it together and guessing what was going on together.*

 

 

Opinion of another reviewer:

Lock Every Door: Sager Strikes Again

Home before dark ~ Riley Sager

Home before dark   Riley Sager  horror/thriller  2020

Releases to the public on 06/30/2020

Rally Rating: 4       Goodreads: 4.3

description: Twenty-five years ago, Maggie Holt and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism. Now Maggie goes back reflecting on it and her life.

What I thought: I felt the story was easy to read and went at a good pace. Two stories are being told in the book. What Maggie is experiencing is one. The other is the book her dad wrote about their time in the house. I have to admit I wanted a scary ghost story so i liked the dads story better. I loved the spooky elements. As i started the story I immediately felt a happy nastalgia as it reminded me of every haunted house movie i have watched. That made me giggle. I did feel a little let down by feeling it is more of a thriller than a horror book as you try to sort what is truth from fiction. I also did not like the back and forth later in the book when you are trying to figure out the mystery. I felt it was to much in an attempt to throw you off what happens. However the ending i was satisfied with. I felt it was an entertaining read and i so loved the cover of the book with its slight glow in the dark effect. Yes. I liked it.

What was my favorite: I think my favorite part was the use of the paintings in the house to help describe characters and the story. I loved that made it feel interesting and spooky. I also loved the poisonious plants. I was interested alot in the parts where they talked about the kids and how they got scared with the spooky wardrobe. 

**special note:  I bought this book through book of the month club. See tab subscriptions to learn more about the book subscription.

(I am not a rep for them nor do i recieve free boxes).

https://www.mybotm.com/xejlklz6g7?show_box=true

 

Every heart a doorway

Fiction

Every heart a doorway ~ Seanan McGuire

rating: 2.5 (did not like)   goodreads rating: 3.8

description: Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else.
But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.
Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.
But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.
No matter the cost

What I thought: I thought the idea of it was very interesting but where the story went with it I did not really enjoy. I found it to be too dark for my taste. The mystery solved just felt flat to me. The crude adult talk did not seem nessecary. I don’t know I just did not enjoy it so below is someone who did love it.

What another thought: