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A Good House for Children
Once upon a time Orla was: a woman, a painter, a lover. Now she is a mother and a wife, and when her husband Nick suggests that their city apartment has grown too small for their lives, she agrees, in part because she does agree, and in part because she is too tired to think about what she really does want. She agrees again when Nick announces with pride that he has found an antiquated Georgian house on the Dorset cliffs—a good house for children, he says, tons of space and gorgeous grounds.
But as the family settles into the mansion—Nick absent all week, commuting to the city for work—Orla finds herself unsettled. She hears voices when no one is around; doors open and close on their own; and her son Sam, who has not spoken in six months, seems to have made an imaginary friend whose motives Orla does not trust.
Four decades earlier, Lydia moves into the same house as a live-in nanny to a grieving family. Lydia, too, becomes aware of intangible presences in the large house, and she, like Orla four decades later, becomes increasingly fearful for the safety of the children in her care. But no one in either woman’s life believes the stories that seem fanciful, the stuff of magic and mayhem, sprung from the imaginations of hysterical women who spend too much time in the company of children.
Are both families careening towards tragedy? Are Orla and Lydia seeing things that aren’t there? What secrets is the house hiding?
A feminist gothic tale perfectly suited for the current moment, A Good House for Children combines an atmospheric mystery with resonant themes of motherhood, madness, and the value of a woman’s work.
But as the family settles into the mansion—Nick absent all week, commuting to the city for work—Orla finds herself unsettled. She hears voices when no one is around; doors open and close on their own; and her son Sam, who has not spoken in six months, seems to have made an imaginary friend whose motives Orla does not trust.
Four decades earlier, Lydia moves into the same house as a live-in nanny to a grieving family. Lydia, too, becomes aware of intangible presences in the large house, and she, like Orla four decades later, becomes increasingly fearful for the safety of the children in her care. But no one in either woman’s life believes the stories that seem fanciful, the stuff of magic and mayhem, sprung from the imaginations of hysterical women who spend too much time in the company of children.
Are both families careening towards tragedy? Are Orla and Lydia seeing things that aren’t there? What secrets is the house hiding?
A feminist gothic tale perfectly suited for the current moment, A Good House for Children combines an atmospheric mystery with resonant themes of motherhood, madness, and the value of a woman’s work.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2023
About the author
Kate Collins
1 book171 followersKate Collins was born in Cork, Ireland and has spent her career in trade and academic publishing. She studied literature and medieval history at Lancaster University and stayed there to complete a Master's degree in contemporary literary theory.
She now lives and works in Oxfordshire, in a falling-down old house that is, sadly, not haunted (despite her best efforts).
She now lives and works in Oxfordshire, in a falling-down old house that is, sadly, not haunted (despite her best efforts).
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June 14, 2023
“The Reeve was different; it was like an infection in the blood – hot and quick and hidden, and it took you by surprise every moment.”
A Good House for Children is a slow-burn atmospheric gothic fiction novel. Told in two timelines in 1976 by Lydia and in 2017 by Orla, the women detail their similar experiences living in an old dilapidated mansion in Dorset called The Reeve.
They soon see people who should not be there and witness terrible accidents on the property. Something is not right with the house and it seems to want something from them. Is it safe for the children to live there?
This spooky read will give you the creeps and leave you very unsettled. It is claustrophobic, anxiety provoking, and a great example of gothic fiction. The house even becomes a breathing character. Collins also explores themes of loneliness, isolation, and motherhood. Her use of creepy imagery is superb, but I was left with so many unanswered questions in the end.
Why is Sam’s mutism a major focus of the book?
What is the purpose of the necklace since it doesn’t seem to work?
Why does the house want something from its inhabitants?
These plot points don’t lead anywhere and ultimately become loose ends, leading to a predicable and unsatisfying conclusion.
A Good House for Children is a decent debut, but please take note that it is not really a mystery or a thriller as labeled.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 7/4/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC of A Good House for Children in exchange for an honest review.
A Good House for Children is a slow-burn atmospheric gothic fiction novel. Told in two timelines in 1976 by Lydia and in 2017 by Orla, the women detail their similar experiences living in an old dilapidated mansion in Dorset called The Reeve.
They soon see people who should not be there and witness terrible accidents on the property. Something is not right with the house and it seems to want something from them. Is it safe for the children to live there?
This spooky read will give you the creeps and leave you very unsettled. It is claustrophobic, anxiety provoking, and a great example of gothic fiction. The house even becomes a breathing character. Collins also explores themes of loneliness, isolation, and motherhood. Her use of creepy imagery is superb, but I was left with so many unanswered questions in the end.
Why is Sam’s mutism a major focus of the book?
What is the purpose of the necklace since it doesn’t seem to work?
Why does the house want something from its inhabitants?
These plot points don’t lead anywhere and ultimately become loose ends, leading to a predicable and unsatisfying conclusion.
A Good House for Children is a decent debut, but please take note that it is not really a mystery or a thriller as labeled.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 7/4/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC of A Good House for Children in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
2017
Orla and Nick along with their mute son, Sam, and their toddler daughter, Bridie, decide to make the move from the city to Dorset. Nick has found them a perfect place. A huge Victorian home on a cliff over looking the sea with nothing around for miles. The Reeve is what the locals call it. This will be just what Sam needs to come out of his shell. A good house for children.
Orla is more hesitant. The house is so large, so imposing and it makes her uncomfortable but Nick assures her all will be okay. She'll warm up to it.
Easy for him to say when he leaves for work in the city and only comes home on the weekends leaving Orla and the kids to fend for themselves five days a week with no car and little communication with the outside world.
Orla is certain that something with the house isn't right. And why is it she can hear Sam speaking in his room to someone? He has never spoken but she's certain she can hear him.
Nick believes she's losing her mind from insomnia.
1976
Lydia is a live-in nanny to a grieving widow, Sara. Sara has decided to move her little family from the city to a cliff side home close to the sea, The Reeve. Here they will heal over the next year. A holiday of sorts for the children. Lydia finds the place unsettling to say the least and as of late she's started seeing shadows and hearing things. Sara doesn't believe her but Sara has been acting strangely herself.
Are Orla and Lydia experiencing the same thing or are both women unhinged from the isolation? You'll have to read this to find out!
For a debut this gothic ghost story is quite impressive. Kate Collins descriptive prose really brings the atmosphere to life. Both Orla and Lydia are likeable characters and I found both the past and the present chapters equally compelling. While this book isn't scary at all it has an air of spookiness about it that I personally found delightful. The ending is where this stumbles a bit. It's not terrible by any means but it wasn't as satisfying as I was hoping. With that being said I will gladly read future books by this author. I have a feeling she's only going to get better and better. 4 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Mariner Books for my complimentary copy.
Orla and Nick along with their mute son, Sam, and their toddler daughter, Bridie, decide to make the move from the city to Dorset. Nick has found them a perfect place. A huge Victorian home on a cliff over looking the sea with nothing around for miles. The Reeve is what the locals call it. This will be just what Sam needs to come out of his shell. A good house for children.
Orla is more hesitant. The house is so large, so imposing and it makes her uncomfortable but Nick assures her all will be okay. She'll warm up to it.
Easy for him to say when he leaves for work in the city and only comes home on the weekends leaving Orla and the kids to fend for themselves five days a week with no car and little communication with the outside world.
Orla is certain that something with the house isn't right. And why is it she can hear Sam speaking in his room to someone? He has never spoken but she's certain she can hear him.
Nick believes she's losing her mind from insomnia.
1976
Lydia is a live-in nanny to a grieving widow, Sara. Sara has decided to move her little family from the city to a cliff side home close to the sea, The Reeve. Here they will heal over the next year. A holiday of sorts for the children. Lydia finds the place unsettling to say the least and as of late she's started seeing shadows and hearing things. Sara doesn't believe her but Sara has been acting strangely herself.
Are Orla and Lydia experiencing the same thing or are both women unhinged from the isolation? You'll have to read this to find out!
For a debut this gothic ghost story is quite impressive. Kate Collins descriptive prose really brings the atmosphere to life. Both Orla and Lydia are likeable characters and I found both the past and the present chapters equally compelling. While this book isn't scary at all it has an air of spookiness about it that I personally found delightful. The ending is where this stumbles a bit. It's not terrible by any means but it wasn't as satisfying as I was hoping. With that being said I will gladly read future books by this author. I have a feeling she's only going to get better and better. 4 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Mariner Books for my complimentary copy.
November 25, 2023
5 quiet but powerful stars!
Gothic
Moody
Haunting
Mysterious
Atmospheric
Thought-provoking
Two timelines, two struggling mothers, decades apart.
I loved this book! Any story revolving around motherhood and all the expectations that go along with it is always appealing to me. This story was dark and uncomfortable, but so very realistic and powerful. I connected with both timelines and was fully invested in the main characters lives.
This novel explores the unpretty aspects of motherhood, with a focus on the unending demands and isolation of mothering young children. The physical isolation of this setting adds to the entire theme of longing and loneliness in these women’s lives, yet isolation can be felt even when people are surrounding you.
Another theme explored is the sense of a woman losing her identity within the never-ending intricate daily tasks of caring for her children. Women need to fight to keep (or find) a sense of self when their familial needs seem to outweigh the personal dreams and longings.
The Reeve is the crumbling seaside mansion tucked miles away from the town that these characters become a part of. The house was an unforgettably powerful character in itself. It created a heavy sense of unease, darkness and tension.
Overall, this was a surprisingly fantastic book that I loved everything about and highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.
Gothic
Moody
Haunting
Mysterious
Atmospheric
Thought-provoking
Two timelines, two struggling mothers, decades apart.
I loved this book! Any story revolving around motherhood and all the expectations that go along with it is always appealing to me. This story was dark and uncomfortable, but so very realistic and powerful. I connected with both timelines and was fully invested in the main characters lives.
This novel explores the unpretty aspects of motherhood, with a focus on the unending demands and isolation of mothering young children. The physical isolation of this setting adds to the entire theme of longing and loneliness in these women’s lives, yet isolation can be felt even when people are surrounding you.
Another theme explored is the sense of a woman losing her identity within the never-ending intricate daily tasks of caring for her children. Women need to fight to keep (or find) a sense of self when their familial needs seem to outweigh the personal dreams and longings.
The Reeve is the crumbling seaside mansion tucked miles away from the town that these characters become a part of. The house was an unforgettably powerful character in itself. It created a heavy sense of unease, darkness and tension.
Overall, this was a surprisingly fantastic book that I loved everything about and highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.
April 6, 2023
A towering home and two women decades apart set the stage in this Gothic book which touches on motherhood, tragedy, and imaginary friends.
Orla's husband, Nick, decides that their small apartment in the city is now too small for them and purchases a Georgian house, The Reeve, on the Dorset cliffs. It is a good place to raise children, he says. It is HUGE, sits high and is away from the village. It needs work, lots of work but he knows they can make it work. But Nick will be spending the week in the city working, while Orla and their two children will live full-time in the home where she doesn't feel comfortable. Orla is seeing and hearing things and her son Sam has an imaginary friend.
Lydia was a live-in nanny for a mother mourning the loss of her husband. The family moved into the grand Georgian house, The Reeve, on the Dorset cliffs decades before Orla and her family. Soon Lydia became concerned about the safety of the children in her care. She feels a presence in the home and the children seem to have imaginary friends.
No one believes either Lydia or Orla when the women report what they are experiencing. Both are considered tired and overworked women caring for young children. But those in the village know that something isn't quite right in the home. There has been talk, but....
This was a great Gothic mystery about a grand home with a history. This book is told through the past and the present time as readers get to see what is occurring in both times and what each woman is facing. Is the house haunted? Just what is going on?
This was an absorbing read and I loved the creepiness of it. It is not scary but does have that chilling, spooky feel. I could see this book playing out like a movie in my mind. Great gothic feel. I could feel the isolation and the tension and mounting unease in each time period.
A great Gothic mystery.
*Traveling friends buddy read.
#AGoodHouseforChildren #NetGalley #MarinerBooks
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Orla's husband, Nick, decides that their small apartment in the city is now too small for them and purchases a Georgian house, The Reeve, on the Dorset cliffs. It is a good place to raise children, he says. It is HUGE, sits high and is away from the village. It needs work, lots of work but he knows they can make it work. But Nick will be spending the week in the city working, while Orla and their two children will live full-time in the home where she doesn't feel comfortable. Orla is seeing and hearing things and her son Sam has an imaginary friend.
Lydia was a live-in nanny for a mother mourning the loss of her husband. The family moved into the grand Georgian house, The Reeve, on the Dorset cliffs decades before Orla and her family. Soon Lydia became concerned about the safety of the children in her care. She feels a presence in the home and the children seem to have imaginary friends.
No one believes either Lydia or Orla when the women report what they are experiencing. Both are considered tired and overworked women caring for young children. But those in the village know that something isn't quite right in the home. There has been talk, but....
This was a great Gothic mystery about a grand home with a history. This book is told through the past and the present time as readers get to see what is occurring in both times and what each woman is facing. Is the house haunted? Just what is going on?
This was an absorbing read and I loved the creepiness of it. It is not scary but does have that chilling, spooky feel. I could see this book playing out like a movie in my mind. Great gothic feel. I could feel the isolation and the tension and mounting unease in each time period.
A great Gothic mystery.
*Traveling friends buddy read.
#AGoodHouseforChildren #NetGalley #MarinerBooks
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 18, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Horror
This is a gothic horror book that is set in dual timelines and tells the story of Orla and Lydia, who have each lived in the Reeve. The Reeve is a house that is known to be haunted, but it is also a place where the lines between various periods and realities may get blurred. Orla's husband is adamant that this house will serve as an excellent environment for the development of their two children, despite the wife's reservations. The past timeline is told from Lydia's perspective. Lydia finds work as a nanny for a family that is dealing with the loss of their dad. She quickly begins to hear and feel things that are frightening, but her devastated boss, Sara, does not listen to Lydia when she tells her that something really wrong is going on. There is something about the house.
The story is quite entertaining. The main aspect that, in my opinion, provided the biggest entertainment value here is the atmospheric mystery of the story. A haunted house is one of my favorite tropes in the horror genre. I think the author did a fantastic job with the gothic setting. Although I found the characters to be intriguing, I did not feel that I was able to connect with them due to the structure of the story.
In the two different time periods, I liked both families. The author made both of them fairly engaging, but the constant switching between them has made it harder for me to concentrate, and it has also lessened the enjoyment that I get out of it. I liked the open ending. I know some readers don’t enjoy that, but I feel that with horror books and movies, an open ending is quite effective. If you enjoy stories that are told in dual timelines, you might like this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book.
Genre: Horror
This is a gothic horror book that is set in dual timelines and tells the story of Orla and Lydia, who have each lived in the Reeve. The Reeve is a house that is known to be haunted, but it is also a place where the lines between various periods and realities may get blurred. Orla's husband is adamant that this house will serve as an excellent environment for the development of their two children, despite the wife's reservations. The past timeline is told from Lydia's perspective. Lydia finds work as a nanny for a family that is dealing with the loss of their dad. She quickly begins to hear and feel things that are frightening, but her devastated boss, Sara, does not listen to Lydia when she tells her that something really wrong is going on. There is something about the house.
The story is quite entertaining. The main aspect that, in my opinion, provided the biggest entertainment value here is the atmospheric mystery of the story. A haunted house is one of my favorite tropes in the horror genre. I think the author did a fantastic job with the gothic setting. Although I found the characters to be intriguing, I did not feel that I was able to connect with them due to the structure of the story.
In the two different time periods, I liked both families. The author made both of them fairly engaging, but the constant switching between them has made it harder for me to concentrate, and it has also lessened the enjoyment that I get out of it. I liked the open ending. I know some readers don’t enjoy that, but I feel that with horror books and movies, an open ending is quite effective. If you enjoy stories that are told in dual timelines, you might like this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book.
November 27, 2023
After finishing a group (re)read of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House with Ruth Franklin (Jackson’s biographer) leading, Franklin mentioned this novel as one she’d started reading and how immersive it was. It seemed to share themes with the Jackson and was immediately available from the library, so I started reading it too.
The debt to The Haunting of Hill House seems obvious, though never derivative. In many ways it’s scarier, spookier, than the Jackson, perhaps less psychological, though that element also exists. I don’t remember the title-phrase being mentioned explicitly by any of the inhabitants of Reeve House, but the “excuse” of the house as a good one for children to grow up in is certainly in the minds of its successive owners. More than anything, though, I think the title is ironic in relation to the mothers—they are the ones (mostly?) in danger; they are the ones abandoned and/or “consumed.”
My only quibbles are the inclusion of a “high five” as a bit too early for the time period it’s used in (I know I’m being pedantic, but the anachronism took me out of the story); and that I wish I knew the background story of the woman in jeans. But the writing is very good and the story appealed to me as “feminist gothic” (the phrase Franklin says was used in a NYT review of the book). It’s a haunted-house story in a similar way to the Jackson, but with an emphasis on women’s roles as mothers (or mother-substitutes); “housekeepers”; financial providers; and artists. Shirley Jackson could relate.
The debt to The Haunting of Hill House seems obvious, though never derivative. In many ways it’s scarier, spookier, than the Jackson, perhaps less psychological, though that element also exists. I don’t remember the title-phrase being mentioned explicitly by any of the inhabitants of Reeve House, but the “excuse” of the house as a good one for children to grow up in is certainly in the minds of its successive owners. More than anything, though, I think the title is ironic in relation to the mothers—they are the ones (mostly?) in danger; they are the ones abandoned and/or “consumed.”
My only quibbles are the inclusion of a “high five” as a bit too early for the time period it’s used in (I know I’m being pedantic, but the anachronism took me out of the story); and that I wish I knew the background story of the woman in jeans. But the writing is very good and the story appealed to me as “feminist gothic” (the phrase Franklin says was used in a NYT review of the book). It’s a haunted-house story in a similar way to the Jackson, but with an emphasis on women’s roles as mothers (or mother-substitutes); “housekeepers”; financial providers; and artists. Shirley Jackson could relate.
December 2, 2022
The Reeve is a grand house with oversized sash windows and a grand staircase, overlooking Dorset's cliffs and wild sea. Old and a bit shabby, windswept, secluded with a big garden, but most importantly with a mind of her own. She is the home to two families with small children. The first one is set in the 1970's: Sarah moves in with her four children and Lydia, the nanny. They are fleeing London after the death of the children's father, and at first, they find solace within its walls, some private time to grieve the overwhelming event. The second family moves in in our time: Orla, a painter, with her peculiar silent son Sam, her little toddler Bridie and her mostly absent husband.
The first half is all about character development, nothing happens but it is setting the scene. If you are looking for a twisty horror ride, then stay well away, because it is atmospheric and creepy as hell but in a quiet voice and extremely slow pace. The second half is where things go bump in the night and where both families start to unravel and dislocate from reality. I loved the descriptions of the children and the interactions they have with either mother or nanny, and it was so well done that the death of one of the little kids is truly heartbreaking. But of course, the main character is the house, and it so well depicted, I feel like I have lived there for some time.
I savored the prose, it is very well written and I will look out for any book this author will write in the future. If you are looking for a classic haunted house tale, about its complicated inhabitants trying to cope with all their grief and loneliness, then this impressive debut is highly recommended.
A sincere and heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Serpent's Tail and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first half is all about character development, nothing happens but it is setting the scene. If you are looking for a twisty horror ride, then stay well away, because it is atmospheric and creepy as hell but in a quiet voice and extremely slow pace. The second half is where things go bump in the night and where both families start to unravel and dislocate from reality. I loved the descriptions of the children and the interactions they have with either mother or nanny, and it was so well done that the death of one of the little kids is truly heartbreaking. But of course, the main character is the house, and it so well depicted, I feel like I have lived there for some time.
I savored the prose, it is very well written and I will look out for any book this author will write in the future. If you are looking for a classic haunted house tale, about its complicated inhabitants trying to cope with all their grief and loneliness, then this impressive debut is highly recommended.
A sincere and heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, Serpent's Tail and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2023
A Good House for Children is a standard haunted crumbling mansion isolated by the sea tale told in two separate timelines, one in present day (2017-18) and the other in 1976.
The MCs from both time periods are boring and irritatingly passive, with nothing to distinguish them from each other except that one is a frustrated artist and the other is a nanny. The book would have been more interesting if Dot, the local help in the 1976 timeline, was a main character. None of the children in either timeline left much of an impression on this reader, not even a creepy one despite the book throwing in a set of twins, wailing infants, and a child who refuses to speak.
I found the book's ruminations on the demands and sacrifices of motherhood derivative - been there, done that - and less compelling than what it reveals about the effect isolation can have on a fragile psyche.
Two stars for the writing, which is good, but this was a slog for me without any payoff in the end. I kept expecting something interesting to happen after 300 pages of buildup, but it really didn't go anywhere that you couldn't see coming from the first few chapters.
The MCs from both time periods are boring and irritatingly passive, with nothing to distinguish them from each other except that one is a frustrated artist and the other is a nanny. The book would have been more interesting if Dot, the local help in the 1976 timeline, was a main character. None of the children in either timeline left much of an impression on this reader, not even a creepy one despite the book throwing in a set of twins, wailing infants, and a child who refuses to speak.
I found the book's ruminations on the demands and sacrifices of motherhood derivative - been there, done that - and less compelling than what it reveals about the effect isolation can have on a fragile psyche.
Two stars for the writing, which is good, but this was a slog for me without any payoff in the end. I kept expecting something interesting to happen after 300 pages of buildup, but it really didn't go anywhere that you couldn't see coming from the first few chapters.
February 11, 2023
I went into this book blind and omg what a read!!!! A ghostly story that had me reading late into the night. Told in two time periods with the experiences of two different families. It was confusing at times but I just had to keep on reading. A haunted house that doesn't want someone to leave but who is it??? Loved it from the first to the last page!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 3, 2023
Ooh this was a good one, a real slow burner, atmospheric, creepy, gothic, all the things I love. I liked the two timelines, one set in the present day and one in 1976, I remember that boiling hot summer of '76 and I could really feel it here. The writing captured me, as did the characters, the house is so well described it's almost a character in itself. The story touched a lot on motherhood and isolation, and the frustration, anxiety and loneliness that can come with that. I would've perhaps liked a little more about some of the characters at the end, but nevertheless an immersive read, one I'd recommend. 4.5 stars rounded up, I'm looking forward to more from this author.
August 23, 2023
**ARC of this book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
It is not a horror, it's a story with severe identity crisis. Was it supposed to be spooky? Was it supposed to be an exploration of the dark side of motherhood? Was it supposed to craft an eerie aesthetics and provide you with poetic mood read? Because there are pieces of all of those things mixed haphazardly together creating a book that feels like it's not sure what it tries to accomplish.
The story focuses on two women in two different timelines: Lydia in 1976 and Orla in 2017/2018. They don't have anything in common outside of living in the same house. Lydia is a babysitter to 4 kids observing unravelling of the children's mother and Orla is an artist, mother of 2, slowly falling apart herself. The house they are living in is haunted but it's really hard to tell what it is haunted by. There are bits of local folklore (yay!) but there are never given much space (boo!), there are personal traumas (yay!) but they are showing up only as an excuse for certain actions and never are explored fully (boo!). It's like one of those horror movies where the monster stalking the family is only a personification of the inner turmoil of the main character but without satisfaction of diving into MC psyche. In the end it feels a bit like a waste of time.
There are few poignant passages that really resonated with me and a handful of really well crafted scenes so I'll probably read another book by this author but lack of good payoff makes this position difficult to recommend.
It is not a horror, it's a story with severe identity crisis. Was it supposed to be spooky? Was it supposed to be an exploration of the dark side of motherhood? Was it supposed to craft an eerie aesthetics and provide you with poetic mood read? Because there are pieces of all of those things mixed haphazardly together creating a book that feels like it's not sure what it tries to accomplish.
The story focuses on two women in two different timelines: Lydia in 1976 and Orla in 2017/2018. They don't have anything in common outside of living in the same house. Lydia is a babysitter to 4 kids observing unravelling of the children's mother and Orla is an artist, mother of 2, slowly falling apart herself. The house they are living in is haunted but it's really hard to tell what it is haunted by. There are bits of local folklore (yay!) but there are never given much space (boo!), there are personal traumas (yay!) but they are showing up only as an excuse for certain actions and never are explored fully (boo!). It's like one of those horror movies where the monster stalking the family is only a personification of the inner turmoil of the main character but without satisfaction of diving into MC psyche. In the end it feels a bit like a waste of time.
There are few poignant passages that really resonated with me and a handful of really well crafted scenes so I'll probably read another book by this author but lack of good payoff makes this position difficult to recommend.
July 6, 2023
Wow! A brilliantly rendered gothic tale which was thought-provoking and creepily ghostly in equal measure.
More than just your standard ghost story, this novel seemed to have more heft. The space/time continuum has always given me fodder for thought and this book addresses that subject well. It speaks to time as being able to fold back upon itself like a pleated skirt. What is now? What is then? Why do ghost stories always seem to harken back to an earlier time? What if they spoke to a future time? A parallel time? What is time anyway?
“…time felt slightly wrong inside the house – either later or earlier than it really was. Likely something to do with how the light came in, distorted by all those enormous windows.”
This book also speaks eloquently about motherhood, parental love, and parental grief. It explores how social isolation while caring for very young children can impact the psyche. The summer heat and lethargy was so adeptly written that it made the reader uncomfortable and claustrophobic. In addition, the vast windows of The Reeve seemed to attract birds which repeatedly flew into them like suicide bombers.
The soundtrack for this eerie novel would no doubt include Debussy’s ‘Feuilles Mortes‘, which is mentioned several times throughout the book.
The story is told via the viewpoints of two different women who lived in an old house called the Reeve. With only about forty years between the two time-lines, it makes the narrative more relatable somehow. And the house – the Reeve – what a place! Both Orla and Lydia find it to have unique and unsettling properties. The hallways, the rooms, and the garden, seem to alter in size… Both women see other children in addition to the ones they live with… they hear small feet running down the vast corridors…
“The Reeve was different; it was like an infection in the blood – hot and quick and hidden, and it took you by surprise every moment.”
2018 – Orla, with her two children, is alone most of the time in the rambling and sinister old house. Bridie is just a baby and needs Orla’s rapt attention. Sam is four years old and is mute. His silence seems to amplify the silence and isolation of the house.
1977 – Lydia is a live in nanny. Her employer, Sara, is a recent widow. Sara has four children. Seven year old Philip, five year old twins Clover and Tabitha, and a baby boy, Owen. Lydia loves the children as if they were her own – more in fact than their mother seems to… Philip is Lydia’s favourite. He is an ‘old soul’ who is very serious and precocious for his tender years.
Guilt, responsibility, selflessness, selfishness, self deception, superstition, sorrow and regret. The death of children – and solitary souls. Yes, all of these topics are forefront in this novel.
This is quite possibly the best ghost story I have ever read. It astounds me that it is a debut novel as it was so skilfully and eloquently written. Whatever this author writes next will be an automatic buy for me. Highly, highly, recommended!
More than just your standard ghost story, this novel seemed to have more heft. The space/time continuum has always given me fodder for thought and this book addresses that subject well. It speaks to time as being able to fold back upon itself like a pleated skirt. What is now? What is then? Why do ghost stories always seem to harken back to an earlier time? What if they spoke to a future time? A parallel time? What is time anyway?
“…time felt slightly wrong inside the house – either later or earlier than it really was. Likely something to do with how the light came in, distorted by all those enormous windows.”
This book also speaks eloquently about motherhood, parental love, and parental grief. It explores how social isolation while caring for very young children can impact the psyche. The summer heat and lethargy was so adeptly written that it made the reader uncomfortable and claustrophobic. In addition, the vast windows of The Reeve seemed to attract birds which repeatedly flew into them like suicide bombers.
The soundtrack for this eerie novel would no doubt include Debussy’s ‘Feuilles Mortes‘, which is mentioned several times throughout the book.
The story is told via the viewpoints of two different women who lived in an old house called the Reeve. With only about forty years between the two time-lines, it makes the narrative more relatable somehow. And the house – the Reeve – what a place! Both Orla and Lydia find it to have unique and unsettling properties. The hallways, the rooms, and the garden, seem to alter in size… Both women see other children in addition to the ones they live with… they hear small feet running down the vast corridors…
“The Reeve was different; it was like an infection in the blood – hot and quick and hidden, and it took you by surprise every moment.”
2018 – Orla, with her two children, is alone most of the time in the rambling and sinister old house. Bridie is just a baby and needs Orla’s rapt attention. Sam is four years old and is mute. His silence seems to amplify the silence and isolation of the house.
1977 – Lydia is a live in nanny. Her employer, Sara, is a recent widow. Sara has four children. Seven year old Philip, five year old twins Clover and Tabitha, and a baby boy, Owen. Lydia loves the children as if they were her own – more in fact than their mother seems to… Philip is Lydia’s favourite. He is an ‘old soul’ who is very serious and precocious for his tender years.
Guilt, responsibility, selflessness, selfishness, self deception, superstition, sorrow and regret. The death of children – and solitary souls. Yes, all of these topics are forefront in this novel.
This is quite possibly the best ghost story I have ever read. It astounds me that it is a debut novel as it was so skilfully and eloquently written. Whatever this author writes next will be an automatic buy for me. Highly, highly, recommended!
October 27, 2023
The Reeve stands silent and empty, high upon the edge of the Dorset cliffs. But not for much longer as Orla and her family are about to move in and make it their home. This is the chance to get away from the city, enjoy the peace and quiet and hopefully encourage their son, who has selective mutism, to speak. Soon though it becomes apparent that this house has history. Doors remain locked, shadows dance along the corridors and whispers undulate throughout the house, hinting of a past and furtive memories.
Rewind to 1976 and another family arrive at the Reeve. Lydia joins them as their nanny. She’s left pretty much to herself to entertain all of the young children who happily race round this vast house and gardens, yet she soon starts to feel uneasy. As she hears gentle singing, odd noises and glimpses of a woman, she starts to realise there is much more to this house than she originally thought.
Just what is this house showing them and what does it want from them? As time passes both Orla and Lydia realise exactly who they need to protect. But are they strong enough to do it?
A beautifully written story, filled with the soft sighs of a house slowly coming to life. It’s a haunting, melodious tale, rich in detail and prose. Words which need to be savoured and absorbed, just like the house begins to absorb the characters.
This isn’t a terrifying read, it’s chilling and atmospheric and a real slow burner (which hugely adds to the sense of unease). You can’t rush this one. You really need to take your time and picture this old mansion unfurling its claws.
If you’re brave enough…
Rewind to 1976 and another family arrive at the Reeve. Lydia joins them as their nanny. She’s left pretty much to herself to entertain all of the young children who happily race round this vast house and gardens, yet she soon starts to feel uneasy. As she hears gentle singing, odd noises and glimpses of a woman, she starts to realise there is much more to this house than she originally thought.
Just what is this house showing them and what does it want from them? As time passes both Orla and Lydia realise exactly who they need to protect. But are they strong enough to do it?
A beautifully written story, filled with the soft sighs of a house slowly coming to life. It’s a haunting, melodious tale, rich in detail and prose. Words which need to be savoured and absorbed, just like the house begins to absorb the characters.
This isn’t a terrifying read, it’s chilling and atmospheric and a real slow burner (which hugely adds to the sense of unease). You can’t rush this one. You really need to take your time and picture this old mansion unfurling its claws.
If you’re brave enough…
April 11, 2024
I found A Good House for Children to be a well written Gothic horror/thriller (?) Beautifully descriptive, very creepy vibes, moments of eerie, spine-tingling suspense. But for me, the suspense never seemed to move into anything greater. As in, every time I’d reach that creep factor moment, the moment would stagnate and vanish and I’d be moved on to another scene in the story. The book is definitely a S-L-O-W burn and I found it difficult to stay engaged. And I guess I longed for a bit more out and outright horror. I can totally see why for some this is a five star read. It just didn’t check all the boxes for me.
May 28, 2023
I can't say I particularly enjoyed this book. It started off great but then just fell apart. The plot stumped along to no final conclusion, no explanation. I feel as if the author was unable to decide if they were writing about a haunting, a time slip, a malevolent wet lady, or a sentient house. Or perhaps Orla was just crazy. Who knows? Not me, because nothing is clear in the book. What part of the plot requires her son to not speak? Pages are written about this issue, but it has no effect on the story. I feel like I read 300 plus pages that had zero point.
August 16, 2023
6 stars. Now this is what a ruddy good ghost story is all about. Wonderful, haunting and unforgettable.
May 5, 2023
Wish the ending had been a little different.
November 19, 2022
Thanks to Net Galley and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books for this ACE.
This book was right up my street! Classed as 'horror' but not in a terrifying way, a creepy way. An excellent ghost story told across different timelines with the idea that time itself is an organic concept that can go against our notion of how time is supposed to work.
With some books, you struggle to link the title to the content, not so with this one. The focus for the main protagonists are the children and how they interact with their care givers and the house. None of the children have a conventional childhood and the house just exacerbates that.
Trigger warning: At times deeply emotional, this story details loss of a child, suicide and mental health issues.
This book was right up my street! Classed as 'horror' but not in a terrifying way, a creepy way. An excellent ghost story told across different timelines with the idea that time itself is an organic concept that can go against our notion of how time is supposed to work.
With some books, you struggle to link the title to the content, not so with this one. The focus for the main protagonists are the children and how they interact with their care givers and the house. None of the children have a conventional childhood and the house just exacerbates that.
Trigger warning: At times deeply emotional, this story details loss of a child, suicide and mental health issues.
June 11, 2023
The Reeve is the quintessential haunted house: a large, twisty, and neglected main character with a sinister agenda communicated through creaks, raps, shadows, whispers, and locked doors. Those who move into it do not heed the advise of the villagers, finding their superstitions quaint. However, no matter what the villagers say, the Reeve is powerful, and wants a broken family ripe for its voracious appetite.
Usually, it’s the absence of men (physically and emotionally) that make children and women
susceptible to the menacing manipulations of a haunted house. They are victimized by the parallel needs and desires of the house and the male figurehead, both of whom use intimidation and fear to get what they want. The house is vigilant, unpredictable, and ubiquitous while the husband/father is inattentive, condescending, and uninvolved.
The book tells the tales of two families—one from 1976, the other from 2017 –-dealing with loss and pressure. Each move to the Reeve with plans of healing their fractured families. Once they are in the house, their experiences are eerily similar; following the classic, haunted house tropes. For example, there is the dominating alpha character. In 2017, it is Nick: a controlling husband who is embarrassed of his nonverbal son, Sam. In 1976, there is a twist: Sara—recently widowed—plays the part of the dismissive and emotionally remote man. They both spend their time away from their families, and resent any requests for help. Also, they do not believe the observations of their families, and are condescending, dismissive and strident in their actions and words.
Kate Collins adds elements of English Folklore, especially the traditions and beliefs of Midsummer. There is imagery of water, fire, sand, and plant life. For example, as the families begin to languish, the house begins to flourish, with plant life taking over the interior; there is death and rebirth. I wish there was more use of this. The Reeve is animistic and anthropomorphic: it is an inanimate object with the human qualities of life, emotions, intentions, and spiritual nature. I would have liked it to be connected to the haunted house aspect of this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Usually, it’s the absence of men (physically and emotionally) that make children and women
susceptible to the menacing manipulations of a haunted house. They are victimized by the parallel needs and desires of the house and the male figurehead, both of whom use intimidation and fear to get what they want. The house is vigilant, unpredictable, and ubiquitous while the husband/father is inattentive, condescending, and uninvolved.
The book tells the tales of two families—one from 1976, the other from 2017 –-dealing with loss and pressure. Each move to the Reeve with plans of healing their fractured families. Once they are in the house, their experiences are eerily similar; following the classic, haunted house tropes. For example, there is the dominating alpha character. In 2017, it is Nick: a controlling husband who is embarrassed of his nonverbal son, Sam. In 1976, there is a twist: Sara—recently widowed—plays the part of the dismissive and emotionally remote man. They both spend their time away from their families, and resent any requests for help. Also, they do not believe the observations of their families, and are condescending, dismissive and strident in their actions and words.
Kate Collins adds elements of English Folklore, especially the traditions and beliefs of Midsummer. There is imagery of water, fire, sand, and plant life. For example, as the families begin to languish, the house begins to flourish, with plant life taking over the interior; there is death and rebirth. I wish there was more use of this. The Reeve is animistic and anthropomorphic: it is an inanimate object with the human qualities of life, emotions, intentions, and spiritual nature. I would have liked it to be connected to the haunted house aspect of this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 16, 2023
I have read many reviews that refer to this book as a slow burn. To me, it was just slow. And depressing. Really, really depressing. Really.
This is listed as feminist Gothic literature. It is Gothic and it is written by a female. But, there's not a thing feminist about this book. There are two mother characters written about 4 decades apart. They read like they were concocted by a misogynistic man. One is WEAK and mousy. I was so disappointed in what a sad little pushover she was. The other is cold, selfish and isolates herself away from her children. It feels like the characterization of mothers by a man who hates women and once they've become mothers, feels they're just not worth anything but disdain. I think perhaps that might be what Ms. Collins thinks of women who have children.
Speaking of such, you really should write what you know. At least do extensive research. Ms. Collins clearly doesn't have any children. There are too many little details to mention, but she doesn't understand the ins and outs of raising small children and her writing showed it.
Anyway, as someone who was a stay at home mother years ago and as someone who works with elementary school children, I found the notion that a woman would be considered so inferior and so miserable simply by being around children quite maddening. Yet, I shouldn't have been surprised. The book blurb on goodreads says that no one believed in the mysterious elements of the house because they were "sprung from the imaginations of hysterical women who spend too much time in the company of children."
Who thinks this way in modern days? I wish Ms. Collins viewed women better. All women - childless, mothers, cat moms - who cares? This felt like it was written in a bygone era that should be left far behind. I think I would have appreciated this more if it was set in the early 1900s and 1950s instead of the 1970s and modern day.
This is listed as feminist Gothic literature. It is Gothic and it is written by a female. But, there's not a thing feminist about this book. There are two mother characters written about 4 decades apart. They read like they were concocted by a misogynistic man. One is WEAK and mousy. I was so disappointed in what a sad little pushover she was. The other is cold, selfish and isolates herself away from her children. It feels like the characterization of mothers by a man who hates women and once they've become mothers, feels they're just not worth anything but disdain. I think perhaps that might be what Ms. Collins thinks of women who have children.
Speaking of such, you really should write what you know. At least do extensive research. Ms. Collins clearly doesn't have any children. There are too many little details to mention, but she doesn't understand the ins and outs of raising small children and her writing showed it.
Anyway, as someone who was a stay at home mother years ago and as someone who works with elementary school children, I found the notion that a woman would be considered so inferior and so miserable simply by being around children quite maddening. Yet, I shouldn't have been surprised. The book blurb on goodreads says that no one believed in the mysterious elements of the house because they were "sprung from the imaginations of hysterical women who spend too much time in the company of children."
Who thinks this way in modern days? I wish Ms. Collins viewed women better. All women - childless, mothers, cat moms - who cares? This felt like it was written in a bygone era that should be left far behind. I think I would have appreciated this more if it was set in the early 1900s and 1950s instead of the 1970s and modern day.
February 21, 2023
This was creepy, haunting, and unsettling, making it a great read for at night. The dual P.O.V's and timelines added so much to the atmosphere with the past P.O.V. really making the story. However, I was left feeling unsatisfied with no real explanation or conclusion. This is one where if you like books that are left to the imagination, it's perfect for you. Unfortunately it wasn't for me. Three Stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for this ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mariner Books for this ARC.
March 20, 2024
A great gothic tale. I appreciated the theme undertone of the unpleasant side of motherhood and all that comes with that. Not a scary book but delightfully eerie. I also enjoyed the dual timeline aspect.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
November 8, 2022
A mixed bag of a review I’m afraid. I did enjoy the story and am a massive fan of a haunted house/ turn of the screw tale, and this story will appeal if you like this genre.
If I had to base this review on the first half, in all honesty I would probably have given up. I spent quite a white rereading bits and trying to follow who the characters were. I only worked out there were 4 kids in the 1970s story at about the 40% mark which isn’t great. I also didn’t warm to any of the characters so genuinely felt any of them could be next!
I realise that this confusion was possibly intentional to add to the claustrophobic atmosphere of the book and the cyclic nature of the story but at first I was rather lost.
Having said that, the second half picks up well. The haunting / incidents are actually quite creepy and the story left me guessing what would happen next. I did enjoy it and read the last 40% in one go.
Read through netgalley for an honest review.
If I had to base this review on the first half, in all honesty I would probably have given up. I spent quite a white rereading bits and trying to follow who the characters were. I only worked out there were 4 kids in the 1970s story at about the 40% mark which isn’t great. I also didn’t warm to any of the characters so genuinely felt any of them could be next!
I realise that this confusion was possibly intentional to add to the claustrophobic atmosphere of the book and the cyclic nature of the story but at first I was rather lost.
Having said that, the second half picks up well. The haunting / incidents are actually quite creepy and the story left me guessing what would happen next. I did enjoy it and read the last 40% in one go.
Read through netgalley for an honest review.
July 18, 2023
this was like a cross between the haunting of hill house and that movie The Others! Will be Sleeping with the lights on tonight 😍
April 28, 2023
This book had so much potential with a really cool premise, but it just fell flat for me. It felt like not much happened for a lot of the book.
July 29, 2023
A Good House for Children is a very atmospheric, Gothic feeling book that is a slow burn of a ghost story. I found it to be entertaining.
July 31, 2023
Very good debut. Will be looking forward to more from this author.
January 24, 2024
I enjoyed this gothic tale told in dual timelines, with house and setting as a main character…… until I didn’t.
At 12 hours on audio, the main problem I had was it should have ended earlier. 12 hours was too much. The last 3 hours was mostly me checking the percentage icon to see if it was almost done. And speeding up narration to just get it over with. A real shame because the first 7ish hours I felt transported to an old favorite genre and reminded that I haven’t read an Austen or Wharton book in a while.
At 12 hours on audio, the main problem I had was it should have ended earlier. 12 hours was too much. The last 3 hours was mostly me checking the percentage icon to see if it was almost done. And speeding up narration to just get it over with. A real shame because the first 7ish hours I felt transported to an old favorite genre and reminded that I haven’t read an Austen or Wharton book in a while.
August 31, 2023
Exceptional, magical, and unsettling just enough.
This is my favorite book of the year, so far! And oh, how I was happy to read it! I thought I'd never read a book that would keep me up late and leave me wanting to keep starting a new chapter again - this was that book!!
It did a lot really good - the atmosphere of the book was delivered without it being spelled out, the setting was perfectly painted without there being long chunks of text stealing us from the story, and the main characters' moods and thoughts were nicely delivered.
One thing I didn't like about the book was the ending - it felt like a beautiful song was suddenly brought to an end. Like, I understood what happened. But the book was building up to something and I thought at some point one of the main characters would put the puzzle pieces together and do something about the situation, but instead {spoiler-ish ahead} both main characters had unfortunate endings. I don't know. I wanted more for them.
However, that one thing was just a preference issue. I think it made sense for the story, the way it ended. And I liked how we learn that the cycle will continue. How sad, though. I wanted to like the house, but it turned out to be more insidious.
The second thing that I didn't understand but I have a theory for is when {spoilers ahead} Toby supposedly saw the twins in the background... how? Did the house do it on purpose? And why? Maybe it was to show Orla that there's no help for her. And on that same note, how did the twins end up there? In the reports on the house, only a boy and a woman died there. What happened to Lydia and the twins? And Owen? Also, were the kids possessed? By who? By the house, or by children who died there way before records were being kept? Honestly, these questions don't make me dislike the book. They add intrigue and allow room for discussion, which is nice.
10/10 read, and I'll be looking for more books like this!! :D
This is my favorite book of the year, so far! And oh, how I was happy to read it! I thought I'd never read a book that would keep me up late and leave me wanting to keep starting a new chapter again - this was that book!!
It did a lot really good - the atmosphere of the book was delivered without it being spelled out, the setting was perfectly painted without there being long chunks of text stealing us from the story, and the main characters' moods and thoughts were nicely delivered.
One thing I didn't like about the book was the ending - it felt like a beautiful song was suddenly brought to an end. Like, I understood what happened. But the book was building up to something and I thought at some point one of the main characters would put the puzzle pieces together and do something about the situation, but instead {spoiler-ish ahead} both main characters had unfortunate endings. I don't know. I wanted more for them.
However, that one thing was just a preference issue. I think it made sense for the story, the way it ended. And I liked how we learn that the cycle will continue. How sad, though. I wanted to like the house, but it turned out to be more insidious.
The second thing that I didn't understand but I have a theory for is when {spoilers ahead} Toby supposedly saw the twins in the background... how? Did the house do it on purpose? And why? Maybe it was to show Orla that there's no help for her. And on that same note, how did the twins end up there? In the reports on the house, only a boy and a woman died there. What happened to Lydia and the twins? And Owen? Also, were the kids possessed? By who? By the house, or by children who died there way before records were being kept? Honestly, these questions don't make me dislike the book. They add intrigue and allow room for discussion, which is nice.
10/10 read, and I'll be looking for more books like this!! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2023
Spooky, Creepy and spellbinding debut novel about a house that is maybe haunted.
Two timelines present two different families living in an old mansion in Dorset - the 70's and 2017. In both, women feature as overwhelmed and unsupported as they care for their children best they can. The house itself, presents obstacles that loom larger and larger until they cannot be ignored. Is the house haunted? Are the women just losing their sanity?
Collins masterfully connects the women's stories and creates a super spooky book sure to keep you reading well into the night - with the light on. If you like gothic stories, haunted houses and ghosts and spirits, A Good House for Children is for you!
#Marinerbooks #AGoodHouseForChildren #KateCollins
Two timelines present two different families living in an old mansion in Dorset - the 70's and 2017. In both, women feature as overwhelmed and unsupported as they care for their children best they can. The house itself, presents obstacles that loom larger and larger until they cannot be ignored. Is the house haunted? Are the women just losing their sanity?
Collins masterfully connects the women's stories and creates a super spooky book sure to keep you reading well into the night - with the light on. If you like gothic stories, haunted houses and ghosts and spirits, A Good House for Children is for you!
#Marinerbooks #AGoodHouseForChildren #KateCollins
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