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A House at the Bottom of a Lake

Josh Malerman (Goodreads Author)

3.26 · Rating details · 8,644 ratings · 1,918 reviews

Both seventeen. Both afraid. But both saying yes.

It sounded like the perfect first date: canoeing across a chain of lakes, sandwiches and beer in the cooler. But teenagers Amelia and James discover something below the water’s surface that changes their lives forever.

It’s got two stories.

It’s got a garden.

And the front door is open.

It’s a house at the bottom of a lake.

For t ...more

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Kindle Edition, 118 pages

Published October 31st 2016 by This Is Horror

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Average rating 3.26 ·

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· 8,644 ratings · 1,918 reviews

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Aug 28, 2020 Kat rated it it was ok

i...what...huh?? wtf was that ending? who decided to market this as horror? did i like it? wHAT???

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May 08, 2017 Lala BooksandLala rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller-mystery, favourites

This is NOT a book for everyone. Please keep that in mind when seeing my 5 star rating and proceed at your own risk.

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Jan 04, 2017 Chelsea Humphrey rated it liked it

Well, I kind of enjoyed this? I'm not 100% sure what I just read, but I feel like it's been marketed unfairly. I wouldn't consider this horror; it might be stretching things to call it suspense. I was slightly bored throughout the entire novella but did find bits and pieces interesting, especially toward the end. If I had to narrow it down I feel as though this would fit well under a YA/Magical Realism. A quick read and I did feel the ending was strong, so I decided to bump the initial 2 up to a ...more

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Dec 01, 2016 Karl rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-11-books-bought

Two and one half stars rounded up to three.

My thoughts on this novella are that “A House at the Bottom of a Lake” is incorrectly marketed. One is led to believe that this is a horror novella. Wrong. While marketed by “This Is Horror” there is no evidence that any essence of horror has been exposed to this work. Even if one hired the world’s best consulting detective, horror could not be discovered within these pages.

In the first sixty or seventy pages of the book, the author Josh Malerman, pres ...more

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Nov 13, 2016 Carol rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, published-2016, novella, horror, kindle, magical-realism, read-2016

"We found a dangerously magic place. A place to fall in love."

Two adventurous teens on a first date happen across a dark tunnel just barely wide enough to squeeze through in "the green canoe with the brown trim."

And, beyond the tunnel, they are shocked to discover A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE.....a creepy house they must investigate, a mysterious house full of the bizarre, a house they must keep a secret as the presence begins to consume their every thought, a house where they must be careful

...more

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Jan 21, 2019 Sadie Hartmann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Sweet.
Magical.
Eerie.
Beautiful.
This novella is an English teacher's dream! I wish I was 17 again and in Mr. Emmett's English class. The students could read this and discuss all the metaphors and symbolism while Mr. Emmett nods his head with approval and then blows all our minds with his thoughts on this book. He would LOVE this book!
James and Amelia go on a first date--but not your typical first date for two 17 year olds. They venture out on a lake in a canoe-James cursing the fact that he chose ...more

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Feb 23, 2017 karen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Just because a house is empty, doesn’t mean nobody’s home.

this is the perfect tagline for a horror story. and between the ominous promise of that line and my having enjoyed malerman’s full-length books, Bird Box and Black Mad Wheel, well - it did not take me long to whip out eleven of my dollars for what i thought would be a sweet little nightmare.

and while i have a shelf for “titles that lie,” i do not have a shelf for “publisher names who lie,” but i gotta say, if you are a publisher calling ...more

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Nov 10, 2020 Debra rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

2.5 stars rounded up

What did I just read? I am not sure. Plus, the ending, I do not even know what to say about that.

Two teenagers go on a date, go to a lake, through a tunnel to another lake. What? Only to find a house at the bottom of the lake. I like to think that I am a good swimmer, but I don't think I could hold my breath that long or see so well under water......Nor, do I feel I would do so well with diving equipment with no experience using it. But I am not seventeen, on my first date, i 2.5 stars rounded up

What did I just read? I am not sure. Plus, the ending, I do not even know what to say about that.

Two teenagers go on a date, go to a lake, through a tunnel to another lake. What? Only to find a house at the bottom of the lake. I like to think that I am a good swimmer, but I don't think I could hold my breath that long or see so well under water......Nor, do I feel I would do so well with diving equipment with no experience using it. But I am not seventeen, on my first date, in a canoe, on a lake...

Jeepers. This was original. I cannot think of anything like it. But it was also strange yet compulsively readable. I was not quite sure what was going on and yet I had to keep reading to find out, only to have THAT ending and I am still not sure what I read. Especially the ending. I am not even going to mention that as I cannot form a coherent thought on that.

Bizarre, original, strange, interesting, slow. Ugh! I was all over the place reading this novella. One can read this in one sitting. It was a quick read for me. I still do not know what to make of this. I enjoy magical realism but cannot quite figure this one out...and yet.... I could not stop reading it. It's like driving past an car accident. You don't want to look, you know you should not but you can't help it and slow down, do some rubber necking to see the gruesome sight. That pretty much sums up how I feel about this book.

If you read reviews, they are at both sides of the spectrum. You will either really appreciate this one, not like it or be somewhere in the middle with me. You got to hand it to Malerman, he does have original ideas. What goes on in that mind of his? He's creative and has a big imagination.

I think fans of fantasy will enjoy this more, especially YA readers. I'm hit or miss with fantasy but I do appreciate his creativity. The descriptions of the house and their time exploring/experiencing it were my favorite parts of the book.

I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing - Ballantine Del Rey and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more

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Nov 11, 2016 Paul O'Neill rated it it was amazing

WTF!?!??

A hauntingly beautiful, enchanting novella by Josh Malerman, who probably gets my author of 2016 award! His writing is just so good in this and in Bird Box. Apologies, you've probably seen me mention Bird Box at every opportunity but it's just that good! And this story proves that Josh isn't a one hit wonder. It's a shame he hasn't got many books released as I'd dive straight in if he did.

My favourite thing about Malermans writing? It's quite old school. It's subtle and he lets you com ...more

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Apr 03, 2019 Gabby rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars
Holy crap I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. I was hesitant going in because of so many negative reviews on goodreads, but this book was everything. I buddy read this one with my friend Jacqueline and I feel like this was a perfect buddy read because there was so much discussion!

This is a very creepy and short novella about these two teenagers who go out canoeing on a lake for their first date and they discover a house at the bottom of the lake. I've only read Bird Box 4.5 stars
Holy crap I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would. I was hesitant going in because of so many negative reviews on goodreads, but this book was everything. I buddy read this one with my friend Jacqueline and I feel like this was a perfect buddy read because there was so much discussion!

This is a very creepy and short novella about these two teenagers who go out canoeing on a lake for their first date and they discover a house at the bottom of the lake. I've only read Bird Box from Josh Malerman so far and I freaking loved Bird Box so I've been wanting to read more form him and this book is so short it seemed like the perfect choice. This book works great as a short story and I'm not sure if I would've like this story if it were a full length novel, but it makes for a great short story. There are so many things I love about it, the main one being the atmosphere. This book is written in a way that creates this eerie, creepy feeling that I love experiencing when I read horror. I guess some people are claiming this book isn't horror but I definitely think it is because some scenes gave me fucking chills and I was genuinely creeped-out and terrified for the main characters. It is very atmospheric and disturbing the entire book, which I absolutely loved.

I also love the fact that these teenagers behave like teenagers. They're kind of shy but curious and naive and they just feel so real to me. They are kind of reckless and scared to fall in love and want to explore this scary place together but they don't want to ask any questions about it because they are afraid to know the answer.

I started theorizing what this book was about after 50 pages in, and I'm not sure if I was right or not in the end but I think I have a decent understanding of what this book is about, or what it's trying to say. I am someone who loves and appreciates a good ambiguous ending. I love books that don't spoon-feed me answers to every single question I have and make me think about it for hours afterwards and have good discussions about theories and things like that. It's my favorite type of shit to read, but I also get why a lot of people hate ambiguous endings which is probably why this book has such lo ratings. I felt the same way about this ending as I felt about The Cabin at the End of the World where I absolutely loved the ending and I feel like a lot of people hated it, which is why that book also probably has a lot of bad reviews but I think it's fucking great. I have such a big fear of deep water and this book definitely played on that fear of mine. It also felt so claustrophobic at times and made me so anxious and just aksljdlajksda I love when horror novels actually make me feel creeped out because they are doing their job.

I just have a lot of thoughts about this book and even though I know this book isn't perfect, I still fucking loved it and I love thought provoking shit and this book had plenty of that. ...more

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Aug 02, 2020 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley

My thanks to the Publisher, Mr. Malerman and Netgalley.
I'm giving this novella a 4 star. Although, the ending was much less so!
This story gave me the wee willikens! That means the serious creeps! Something about towns or houses left underwater. That makes my skin crawl!
Unfortunately, about the 63% mark is where this story became less weird.
I rule. Start weird. End weird.
The House disappearing then showing up again? Lame. Was it the author's doing, or something his editor came up with? An open ...more

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Mar 12, 2018 mark monday rated it really liked it

Shelves: romantica, teenworld, new-dimensions

An exploration of a first and perhaps enduring love, conveyed in often microscopic detail. Malerman is a superb writer and his teen lovers are endearing creations. I was consistently impressed by their complete realism in terms of personality, inner monologue, affect, and dialogue. Surprisingly enough, I was reminded of a benevolent Robert Aickman when reading this surreal novella: like Aickman's many strange mansions and landscapes, the house at the bottom of a lake makes no rational sense; it ...more

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Sep 06, 2020 Char rated it liked it

Shelves: dark-fiction, coming-of-age, arc, magical

3.5/5 stars!

A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE is a great story, but it's not a horror story.

These two teens awkwardly make their first date for a canoe ride. Both are nervous and shaky, but end up having a great time, especially after they decided to squeeze themselves through a narrow tunnel into a connected but smaller lake. As they paddle around, they can see the roof of a house from above. Each takes a turn diving down to take a closer look and they were right. It is a house. Under a lake. Of ...more

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Mar 09, 2021 megs_bookrack rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021-mt-tbr-challenge

**3.5-stars**

During the summer they are seventeen, James and Amelia, go on their first date. They are both nervous, but decide to take a risk.

They canoe out on a local lake with some sandwiches and beer; planning to make a day of it. James knows the busy lake well and also knows a passageway to a connecting lake that sees less traffic; a place for them to be alone.

It's romantic, it's adventurous and the young pair really hit if off.

As they are exploring the second lake they come across another w ...more

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Sep 10, 2020 Zoeytron rated it it was ok

Shelves: new-fangled-e-reader, net-galley

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

There's nothing like falling in love for the very first time. Unusual to discover a house under a lake on your first date. I cannot label this horror by any stretch of the imagination. One reviewer suggested it might fit better in a YA/magical realism slot, and I would agree with that assessment. Loved this author's Bird Box and Unbury Carol, but I wasn't able to wrap my arms around this one. ...more

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Jul 27, 2019 Shannara rated it it was amazing

2020
So this was a reread for me, which I don’t often do. But I remember really enjoying the creepiness of this one a lot. As for the second time around, I’m just as creeped out.

I feel like I would have taken one look at the roof and been like, NOPE!! Not going in there!! But I assume there’s a pull like moths to a flame, which freaks me out. As if there was no other choice than to go inside. To be scared and have to proceed anyway.

James and Amelia are almost sickeningly cute together. I guess 2020
So this was a reread for me, which I don’t often do. But I remember really enjoying the creepiness of this one a lot. As for the second time around, I’m just as creeped out.

I feel like I would have taken one look at the roof and been like, NOPE!! Not going in there!! But I assume there’s a pull like moths to a flame, which freaks me out. As if there was no other choice than to go inside. To be scared and have to proceed anyway.

James and Amelia are almost sickeningly cute together. I guess when you’re experiencing that sort of thing together, it changes your relationship and brings you closer together, but damn... (view spoiler) Hence the hell no!!!

I’m sure many people aren’t scared by this book and I wouldn’t say I was scared, but freaked out. I kept shaking my head and telling them not to go on. I do love a book that can give me chills and pull me in as much as Josh Malerman’s books can. I recommend this as suspense, not horror and I’m eager to read some more of Malerman’s works!!

2019
This book was intense, mysterious, sensual, and fantastic all in rapid succession. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but know from reading Bird Box that Josh Malerman can really draw a reader into a different world. (view spoiler) Once again, Josh Malerman has written a great book, I could hardly put it down. ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Jonathan Janz rated it it was amazing

I went into this not knowing what to expect. I know Josh, I know he's a fabulous writer, but this one sounded...different.

It is.

A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE is magical, mysterious, creepy, and...well, beautiful. I loved it. I especially loved the ending, which I didn't see coming at all.

Highly recommended. ...more

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Jul 16, 2018 Matt rated it really liked it

Having read one of his recent psychological thrillers, I was eager to plunge into this novella by Josh Malerman. James has had his eye on Amelia for a while and has wanted to ask her out but lacked the courage. When the moment arises and they both agree to spend time together, their first date seems cemented. Wanting to try something different, James uses his uncle’s canoe and takes Amelia out on the lake. They paddle together, traversing through a tunnel and into a second connected body of wate Having read one of his recent psychological thrillers, I was eager to plunge into this novella by Josh Malerman. James has had his eye on Amelia for a while and has wanted to ask her out but lacked the courage. When the moment arises and they both agree to spend time together, their first date seems cemented. Wanting to try something different, James uses his uncle’s canoe and takes Amelia out on the lake. They paddle together, traversing through a tunnel and into a second connected body of water. This area is much quieter and away from the speedboat traffic. As they drift along, James notices something at the bottom of the lake, pointing it out to Amelia. Could it be a roof... atop an entire house? As they both take the time to peer into the water, James and Amelia learn that the house seems firmly grounded to the lakebed, but cannot fathom what might have brought it there. Taking turns diving down, James and Amelia soon discover that the house is fully furnished and everything is stuck in place—defying any forces of gravity— as if it were meant to be underwater. Planning future dates that focus around more exploration of the house, James and Amelia discover that a love affair is brewing, both between one another and with the house. Other mysteries await the curious reader in this well-developed novella that is distinctly Malerman. Recommended for those who like something a little supernatural and full of symbolism.

I thoroughly enjoyed the single novel I have read by Malerman, but have read some blurbs about others that may surely make their way onto my To Be Read list soon. In this novella, Malerman offers the reader some interesting insight into young love that soon turns into something supernatural. James and Amelia are inseparable throughout much of the piece, making their character development one in the same. Young and still uncertain about life, they share stories about dating and personal struggles before the house takes over all their conversations. Their connection, both physical and mental, gets stronger as the chapters pass, but there is also a struggle that seems to surface, which both pushes them apart and makes their bond even stronger. The house takes on its own persona, becoming more complex and alluring as the story moves forward. Its presence is the crux of the early narrative and soon becomes part of the psychological thrill of the entire novella. The story was decent enough, morphing from a teenage crush into something that envelopes them both and takes over their lives. Obsession, but not of the typical teenager variety. My father, who was an English teacher, would surely rage, as I choose not to delve into the many instances of symbolism throughout the piece. The attentive reader who enjoys finding these instances will be buoyed by the story’s strength on many levels. Malerman offers the reader with some spine tingles akin to some of the great psychological thriller writers of the time, proving that he is not an author to be dismissed. This shorter piece is easily digested in a single day, though the reader may want to take a break when things get a little intense. Perfect for vacation reading, though some may not want to take it to the beach.

Kudos, Mr. Malerman, for another wonderful piece that will keep me thinking. I needed something short, but the memory of the writing lingers!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
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May 01, 2019 Bren rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-and-reviewed, fantasy, better-or-worse-than-expected, enthralling, novella

“What was dark but the absence of light?”
― Josh Malerman, A House at the Bottom of a Lake

I am rating this a five even though there is so much about it that I do not understand. But it is soo readable. And just plain spell binding.

I have always been fascinated by the ocean. And what lies beneath the waves. I remember a dream I had where there was a whole world under water..with human beings living there. Not fish no r mermaids. People.

So this book..reading it..made the fantasy come true for a bit ...more

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Mar 28, 2018 JV (semi-hiatus) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, 2018, mystery-thriller

Nope. This is not horror at all! However, this one is rather hard to classify. It's an amalgamation of mystery, thriller, dark fantasy, and romance. It's a coming-of-age novella filled with awkward dialogues and exploration of young love. As Amelia and James paddle and navigate through the pristine waters, we see how their relationship blooms. Moreso, when they find that mysterious house at the bottom of the lake. Diving into the very depths, everything in the house seemed unfettered by water, d ...more

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Feb 17, 2021 Kay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, fiction, young-adult, libby, library-p, novella

I love the concept of this one. This could have been a very good horror, but it wasn't. ...more

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Dec 18, 2016 Maxine (Booklover Catlady) rated it really liked it

Well! I am a fan of Josh Malerman so was excited to read this novella. To be honest I went into it with an open mind and was glad I did as this was something quite different.

We have a young couple, a first date, a lake, a boat and one hell of a discovery. Not one I'd like to have made personally. A house with a garden underwater! Yes, it's true. The book gradually pulls you in until you are literally hanging to see what is going to happen next. It's haunting and special.

I will say the book wasn ...more

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May 14, 2020 Kelsey rated it liked it

At 116 pages, it was pretty easy to get through this in one sitting. But as I'm sat here now, attempting a review, I'm not totally sure how I feel about it. It was definitely intriguing, no doubt about that. There was just something about the whole read that felt... unresolved? As if the story never really went anywhere? ...more

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Nov 04, 2016 Marvin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: horror

Josh Malerman is quickly cementing his reputation as one of the best and most original horror writers on the scene. His first novel, Bird Box constructed almost literally a horror out of nothing and gave a new meaning to the term "see no evil" as its protagonists' fear of seeing created a haunting agoraphobia. In his new novella, A House at the Bottom of a Lake, we have a even quieter but still original horror tale that somehow serves as a setting for one of the most non-horror themes you can fi Josh Malerman is quickly cementing his reputation as one of the best and most original horror writers on the scene. His first novel, Bird Box constructed almost literally a horror out of nothing and gave a new meaning to the term "see no evil" as its protagonists' fear of seeing created a haunting agoraphobia. In his new novella, A House at the Bottom of a Lake, we have a even quieter but still original horror tale that somehow serves as a setting for one of the most non-horror themes you can find. First love.

Shy and awkward teenagers Amelia and James are going on their first date. It's an inspired idea of James to take her canoeing on an secluded lake. While canoeing, they discover there is a path to another lake that is even more secluded. At the bottom of this lake is a intact two story house. What begins as a novelty to the two teens become an obsession but one that is welcomed as they swim down to the house to explore. Each visit bonds one to the other as well as to the eeriness of the house.

And that is what makes this tale so brilliant. This house at the bottom of a lake, at least the house as Malerman described it, is an impossible thing. We know that good rarely comes out of something so unusual and sudden. In other words, it is probably a lot like our first love. At the beginning our two protagonists, when they decide to return to explore the house via scuba gear, agree not to question the "why" and "how" of such a house lest it loses its wonder. Does that sound like a good rule for something else? The novella feels a bit like an analogy to me but what the analogy means is slightly elusive, the way I believe the author wants it to be. Perhaps the author also doesn't want us to question the hows and whys either and, when we inevitably do, he throws a twist at the end that makes us rethink it all.

So what is the house all about? What is the horror part of this novel? That is the part that needs to remain unsaid unless the readers loses the wonder of the reading before they even start. Malerman has a distinct poetic feel that works well in this story. The two teenagers are well rounded enough to feel familiar to us. The first love scenario is one of those baits that brings out the dreamer in us and maybe a bit of nostalgia. When the fear hits, we are already invested in the characters. Both Bird Box and this one works so well because they are character driven horrors. The real terror remains elusive but what it does to the imagination is where it is really at.

You are probably not surprised when I say I recommend this novella...highly. It is a fast and easy read but it deceptively complex and even hopeful perhaps. In fact, it would be a great horror book for those who claim they don't like horror. It is certainly destined for my list of top ten books of the year.

...more

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May 05, 2019 Kimberly rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: novella, night_worms, fantasy, books-i-own, weird, physchological-thriller

A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE, by Josh Malerman , is published by This Is Horror Publication. I need to start out by stating that I think this book was marketed in the wrong genre. Personally, I didn't find anything in this "horrific", so much as "fantasy"--perhaps bordering on "thriller" towards the end.

That being said, this story is beautifully written, and the pangs of a "first-love" are quickly brought back to the reader as the story unfolds. The characters were endearing, and in another A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE, by Josh Malerman , is published by This Is Horror Publication. I need to start out by stating that I think this book was marketed in the wrong genre. Personally, I didn't find anything in this "horrific", so much as "fantasy"--perhaps bordering on "thriller" towards the end.

That being said, this story is beautifully written, and the pangs of a "first-love" are quickly brought back to the reader as the story unfolds. The characters were endearing, and in another setting, I think I may have thought more of their relationship.

"For the first time in their lives, they were falling in love."

Unfortunately, I rarely appreciate romance in books, unless it comes in the midst of supernatural terror, or paranormal investigations. While their discovery was absolutely awe-inspiring and mysterious, I felt that a lot of potential to turn this into a true horror story was wasted as it left the discovery and used it as a background of sorts for their newfound love. Every time one of them thought about "love", I couldn't tell if they were in love with each other, or the house, itself. It was as though the two were really indistinguishable, with the mystery surrounding the house trumping any personal feelings towards the other.

". . . We could have shaped it into anything we wanted it to be."

The place seemed to have a deeper "attraction" for them, coming to each even in their dreams. This is why I felt that their "love" was more about their shared secret, than anything about the other. Also, there was very little stated of their personal lives aside from the internal thoughts that James has about his family's business in the beginning.

"We found a dangerously magic place . . ."

The other parts in the book, involving technical things such as scuba diving, etc., bothered me mainly because it just gave another sense of "impossibility" to the story. Scuba diving takes a while to learn--the idea that two teens just managed to pick it up in a few days so successfully kept mentally nagging at me as implausible. That, admittedly, took a lot of the focus off the tale, itself.

Overall, I think that the idea Malerman has here is spectacular, and I did enjoy the writing. A story like this could have benefited from more of a novel length, perhaps, and the mystery behind it could easily have been made into something more horrifying and sinister in its implications than it was. However, the ending was strong, and left me with the feeling that things were about to get out of control. I can honestly say that I would not classify this as horror--more teen romance/fantasy for the first 3/4 of the book. A great idea, that I hoped would have gone in a more "horrific" direction. ...more

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Aug 26, 2019 Umut Rados rated it it was ok

I think this book would be polarising, some will love it, some will dislike it strongly.
Unfortunately I'm on the latter side. I really enjoyed Malerman's Bird Box, but this wasn't for me.
It's a slice of life kind of little novella. James and Amelia meet and go on their first date canoing in a lake, and they stumble upon a sunk house under the lake. They become obsessed with it and dive in the lake to visit the house, and then weird things start to happen.

If you're keen on atmospheric paranorma ...more

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Sep 21, 2017 Ron rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: novella, horror

I almost called on Grumpy Cat for another review appearance. But Grumps is for special occasions, so I’ll save him for another time. Here’s the thing with this book: It just wasn’t scary. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up at one point, but that may well have been the ceiling fan. Now, if you have fear of the water, especially being under the water – down where it’s dark and creepy, and something may be sidling up close, unbeknownst to you – then it may be a different experience. I ...more

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Jul 30, 2017 Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) rated it it was ok

BooktubeAThon Challenge #7: Read a book with a person on the cover (THEYRE LITTLE AND TINY UP IN THE CORNER BUT THEYRE THERE) - COMPLETE!

This was weird af. I was terrified for a good chunk of this book bc the thought of deep water scares me to no end, but the ending was really dumb and did nothing for me. Meh. Meh. Meh.

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Nov 01, 2016 Ellen Gail rated it really liked it

Recommended to Ellen Gail by: My all consuming love for anything Josh Malerman writes

Shelves: thalassophobia, short-stories-and-novellas, read-in-a-day, horror, kindle, underrated

This is how you write a novella! You come in, bang out some freaky and beautiful shit, and leave me wanting more. Damn you Malerman! Damn you.

There was no sense of being watched, not exactly, it was something much less focused than that. As if all that blackness was one dumb eye, pointed in his direction, capable of simply observing the small teenaged boy at the base of the house, with no brain to transmit the news to. Not watched. But seen.

Lakes are at the top of a list* of shit that freaks ...more

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Nov 02, 2016 Mindi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved this story. This is how you do a novella.

I really enjoyed Malerman's first novel, Bird Box, so I was super excited to discover that he had this little novella coming out. I was going to buy the ebook copy, but I opted for the paperback, since the cover looked intriguing, and I always prefer physical copies over digital ones. I'm so glad I did! The cover is perfect, with beautiful imagery and deep blue coloring that makes you feel as if you are under the lake, looking up at the house.

The c ...more

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