A great example would be The Overlook Hotel in The Shining where the place is as impactful as any of the characters. I always love when the sense of place is this thick in a story. This house, oh my word, make no mistake, the house has soul, the house has energy.

I want to feel it, smell it, taste it and generally, be unsettled by it. I need a strong atmosphere to truly be swept up into a story. One of the most important aspects for me in any story is atmosphere. And then there was the whole dynamic between the mother and father, which was equally as interesting. An assumption may be that because he was a killer, he would be a harsh and dominating force in her life, but that’s not quite the case.Īdditionally, to see the tension between her and her mother, it almost seemed upside-down from what you would expect. Most interesting to me was the relationship that Vera had with her father. In some ways it felt like a simple story, like the way it unfolded, but when you take the time to think about it, there are so many layers. I loved being in Vera’s head as she reflected on her life and the past timeline was so gripping to watch play out. There’s a lot of balls in the air, as the Reader you are learning so much in every moment. The way Gailey weaved this story together was so good. There’s not a lot to be happy about in this situation, but it was absolutely captivating in its quiet intensity. It feels morose, Vera is not necessarily a happy camper. I was drawn in from the very first paragraph. I knew with Sarah Gailey’s impressive writing skills and imagination this would be a memorable story. Just Like Home was a highly anticipated release for me. Through past and present perspectives the Reader is filled in on the truth behind the Crowder house, Vera’s family and unconventional upbringing. She’s remembering things she had forgotten. She feels things in the house, it’s unsettling. Regardless of his annoying presence, being back in the home definitely stirs up a lot of unresolved issues for Vera. Making matters worse is the fact that Vera’s mother has a tenant living on the property, some sort of artist whose interest in the house makes Vera very uncomfortable.

That can happen when your father is an infamous serial killer. In fact, their relationship has been hostile for years, not your typical mother-daughter relationship, but Vera’s whole family history is complicated. Her mother, Daphne, is extremely ill and in her final days she seems to want Vera by her side odd considering she never showed interest in Vera before. As she stands before it, ready to enter for the first time in 12-years, she’s filled with doubts. There’s a lot of hurdles mentally to overcome. Coming back to her childhood home is a very difficult decision for Vera Crowder.

Just like home sarah gailey book review