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Friday Night at Humble House
One house. Five tangled lives.
One night, a spirit pounds on fourteen-year-old Becky’s bedroom door, calling her by name and demanding she come out. Having just survived the worst week of her life (spurred by the discovery of her name on a list of “Ugly Freshmen” in a bathroom stall at her high school), all she can do is collapse into the corner and cry, convinced that the dead have conspired with the living to hijack her safety and self-worth.
Becky doesn’t know Barbara, whose husband has been taken prisoner during World War II in the Pacific, or Lester, an unemployed loser who prefers MTV to social interaction, both of whom lived in her house well before she was born. She also doesn’t know Charles, who alienates the family he built the house for at the beginning of the century, or Preston, an unfulfilled civil servant who hosts concerts in the house’s basement, though they know her.
Spanning five points of view and time periods, Friday Night at Humble House tells the story of five wayward individuals and the house that gave them life. As Becky comes face to face with the souls that haunt her house’s past (both alive and deceased), she must summon the courage to reclaim control—of her identity, her dignity, her trajectory—or succumb to the tragedies of those who occupied the house before her.
One night, a spirit pounds on fourteen-year-old Becky’s bedroom door, calling her by name and demanding she come out. Having just survived the worst week of her life (spurred by the discovery of her name on a list of “Ugly Freshmen” in a bathroom stall at her high school), all she can do is collapse into the corner and cry, convinced that the dead have conspired with the living to hijack her safety and self-worth.
Becky doesn’t know Barbara, whose husband has been taken prisoner during World War II in the Pacific, or Lester, an unemployed loser who prefers MTV to social interaction, both of whom lived in her house well before she was born. She also doesn’t know Charles, who alienates the family he built the house for at the beginning of the century, or Preston, an unfulfilled civil servant who hosts concerts in the house’s basement, though they know her.
Spanning five points of view and time periods, Friday Night at Humble House tells the story of five wayward individuals and the house that gave them life. As Becky comes face to face with the souls that haunt her house’s past (both alive and deceased), she must summon the courage to reclaim control—of her identity, her dignity, her trajectory—or succumb to the tragedies of those who occupied the house before her.
384 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2024
About the author
Dane Erbach
4 books21 followersDane Erbach is a writer from Chicago's northwest suburbs, where he lives with his wife and three kids. He teaches English and journalism at a public high school.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 18, 2024
I loved the premise of Friday Night at Humble House. The house itself is almost a character in the book. The story centers around former residents of the house and one of its current residents and how all of their stories intertwine.
There were quite a few characters to keep track of - but Erbach did a good job of starting each chapter with a character name and date so you don't get lost in the story.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the overarching theme of music. I could tell by reading it that the author is a music lover. I could feel the music come off the pages. It was absolutely lovely.
With so many characters in the book, some came across as very well written. Others fell just a little flat for me. I love the fact that some of the characters ended up surprising me.
This was overall an enjoyable read. I feel like the story could use a little polishing, but otherwise, it held my attention well. I'm settling on four stars, mostly because of the music I felt as I read it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were quite a few characters to keep track of - but Erbach did a good job of starting each chapter with a character name and date so you don't get lost in the story.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the overarching theme of music. I could tell by reading it that the author is a music lover. I could feel the music come off the pages. It was absolutely lovely.
With so many characters in the book, some came across as very well written. Others fell just a little flat for me. I love the fact that some of the characters ended up surprising me.
This was overall an enjoyable read. I feel like the story could use a little polishing, but otherwise, it held my attention well. I'm settling on four stars, mostly because of the music I felt as I read it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 17, 2024
I snagged an advance copy of Friday Night at Humble House by Dane Erbach. It’s literary historical fiction, (which isn’t a genre I read often) but also a ghost story (which I can never resist).
The story follows 5 people in different timelines, connected only by the fact that they each lived in a house at different points over 100 years. The most recent is a teen girl named Becky, who gets to interact with the previous residents as ghosts.
As someone who has googled all the previous owners of my house, this really hooked me. I’d love to know more about the person who built it 60 years ago. I’m also fine with haunting the people who own it 60 years from now.
Friday Night at Humble House is a quiet and thoughtful story. The tiniest details weave together to create an immersive setting and realistic characters you want to get to know. Each timeline was a solid story on its own and brought together, they harmonize. It made me nostalgic for the 90s and it’s a great rainy day read.
This book is perfect for fans of Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel.
The story follows 5 people in different timelines, connected only by the fact that they each lived in a house at different points over 100 years. The most recent is a teen girl named Becky, who gets to interact with the previous residents as ghosts.
As someone who has googled all the previous owners of my house, this really hooked me. I’d love to know more about the person who built it 60 years ago. I’m also fine with haunting the people who own it 60 years from now.
Friday Night at Humble House is a quiet and thoughtful story. The tiniest details weave together to create an immersive setting and realistic characters you want to get to know. Each timeline was a solid story on its own and brought together, they harmonize. It made me nostalgic for the 90s and it’s a great rainy day read.
This book is perfect for fans of Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel.
January 7, 2026
Wonderful story that weaves its way through time and connects five different lives via their connection to Humble House. You can tell the author has a deep connection to each of his characters and a love of the stories that they tell.
I'm a big fan of the little hints of history throughout the book as well as musical and cultural references of each era.
I'm a big fan of the little hints of history throughout the book as well as musical and cultural references of each era.
August 24, 2024
Friday Night at Humble House focuses on 5 people across 100-year time span who all take residence in the same house at different times. They are different phased in their life, have different problems to face, and different ways to overcome them. That is what makes this book unique. No matter who you are, you can relate to more than one character at a time.
I personally was in high school during the same time as Becky, a freshman just like her. I relate strongly to her experiences being bullied, to having that one friend who seems to just not care as much about the friendship as she does, to finding that person who is a true friend and finding her own place in those terrifying high school halls.
I relate to Preston as he struggles with a job he isn't passionate about while trying to explore what he is passionate about. He tries so hard to be a safe place for those in need and tries to find his purpose in life.
I have certainly related to Lester, not knowing what to do with my life or how to find what I am passionate about.
While my circumstances are not the same as Barbara's, I connected to her love of her husband. Loving him for all he is, no matter what, and no matter when.
Charles is one I have not found a connection with yet, but I am sure at some point in my life, I will have an experience that connects me to his struggles.
The book ties all of these unique souls together through music. Each has a unique time period and a unique sound. It's as if this book has a soundtrack. It adds to the story in a way that expresses the mood and feelings of each time period. This is assisted by the descriptive writing style of the book. As I read, I swear I could close my eyes and see the scenes unfold as they happened.
And of course, paranormal activity ties all the decades together as the activity of the house blends each person's experiences into the next and helps them along their own journey.
The story takes a bit to get going, but once it's gets there, it's full of amazing connections, emotions, and a beautiful ending.
I highly recommend picking this up!!
I personally was in high school during the same time as Becky, a freshman just like her. I relate strongly to her experiences being bullied, to having that one friend who seems to just not care as much about the friendship as she does, to finding that person who is a true friend and finding her own place in those terrifying high school halls.
I relate to Preston as he struggles with a job he isn't passionate about while trying to explore what he is passionate about. He tries so hard to be a safe place for those in need and tries to find his purpose in life.
I have certainly related to Lester, not knowing what to do with my life or how to find what I am passionate about.
While my circumstances are not the same as Barbara's, I connected to her love of her husband. Loving him for all he is, no matter what, and no matter when.
Charles is one I have not found a connection with yet, but I am sure at some point in my life, I will have an experience that connects me to his struggles.
The book ties all of these unique souls together through music. Each has a unique time period and a unique sound. It's as if this book has a soundtrack. It adds to the story in a way that expresses the mood and feelings of each time period. This is assisted by the descriptive writing style of the book. As I read, I swear I could close my eyes and see the scenes unfold as they happened.
And of course, paranormal activity ties all the decades together as the activity of the house blends each person's experiences into the next and helps them along their own journey.
The story takes a bit to get going, but once it's gets there, it's full of amazing connections, emotions, and a beautiful ending.
I highly recommend picking this up!!
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March 22, 2026I enjoyed the idea of this book and bringing together the different story lines… but unfortunately the grammar and formatting errors had me distracted.
August 31, 2024
Starts slow, finishes strong
Dane Erbach’s ambitious novel takes a long time to get where it’s going, but when it does, when all the meandering pieces fit together, it leaves a lasting impression.
A little bit of the supernatural, a little bit of historical fiction, a little bit contemporary…the multiple POVs and timelines ultimately fit together and bring forth a compelling portrait of a house and its inhabitants over the years.
I highly recommend this to patient readers who are fans of ambitious literary fiction.
Dane Erbach’s ambitious novel takes a long time to get where it’s going, but when it does, when all the meandering pieces fit together, it leaves a lasting impression.
A little bit of the supernatural, a little bit of historical fiction, a little bit contemporary…the multiple POVs and timelines ultimately fit together and bring forth a compelling portrait of a house and its inhabitants over the years.
I highly recommend this to patient readers who are fans of ambitious literary fiction.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews