Grady Hendrix, has such an imagination. He’s definitely not for everyone, but I for one love his weird mix of humor, horror, & uncomfortable things. He’s newest release How to Sell a Haunted House, was one of my most anticipated for winter 2023 and I was beyond excited when Berkley Publishing sent me an ARC.
Louise is headed back to her childhood home, after the unexpected death of her parents. Louise and her brother Mark have never gotten along, they’re just different people, but the one thing they agree on is that both of them need to get their childhood home on the market asap. The house has been in their family for generations and while it once felt like home, now it feels ‘off’. As the two siblings try to pack up the house, strange things start to happen, and the two are convinced that there was more to their parent’s death.
I do not watch horror movies, I can’t. My imagination runs away from me and then I can’t sleep. I do however enjoy reading horror stories and don’t normally find them near as scary as movies. Grady’s books, and this one is no different, also tend to dive more into the ‘creepy’ realm than pure horror, which is something to note when picking his books up.
Now onto the story!
I hate puppets as a general rule, and without spoiling anything know that THERE ARE PUPPETS. I personally would avoid the audio, but if you like creepy puppet voices in your headphones, I hear the audio was well done.
As a whole, this story is wild. I have no idea if I love it or hated it and Hendrix’s books always make me slightly uncomfortable, but honestly that’s one of my favorite things about Hendrix’s writing. I love the way he layers humor with horror and while the stories are always a bit outlandish, the underlying themes can resonate with just about every reader; you just have to peel the layers back a bit. So while How to Sell a Haunted House is a dark comedy, it is more about dysfunctional families and their secrets. And if you know me, you know I love a good dysfunctional family story!
Speaking of dysfunctional families, Louise and Mark are both terrible people. Though I don’t particular ‘like’ them, they’re extremely well crafted. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two and the way their relationship builds throughout the story was executed excellently.
How to Sell a Haunted House is perfect for readers who are looking for something creepier versus straight horror. While this isn’t my favorite Grady book, his mix of weirdness, humor, and vivid storytelling completely sucks me into his stories and leave an impression. If you like ‘weird’ things and want Toy Story ruined for you (IYKYK), then I 1000% recommend picking this on up!
Check out my other Grady Hendrix Reviews:
The Final Girls Support Group Review
The Southern Bookclub’s Guide to VAmpire Slaying Review
How to Sell a Haunted House comes out January 17, 2023. Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.
