From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

How to Sell a Haunted House

Grady Hendrix

Start date: October 1, 2023

Finish date: October 31, 2023

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What Members Thought

Mar 24, 2024 Krissy rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-want-to-stab-her-with-a-spork, audiobook, buddy-read, ovrdr-libby, 2024-challenge, grca-self-challenge

Though I hated every single character in this book I was still efficiently entertained. This one definitely put the gross in engrossing.

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Sep 10, 2025 Jenn Klinger rated it really liked it

Spooky, Horrific, Funny, Intense - This one has it all. The first 100 or so pages had me confused and honestly kind of bored. I went in expecting a creepy horror story, but instead I was getting a lot of focus on the sibling relationship between Louise and her brother Mark. At first, it read more like a domestic family drama than horror, and I wasn’t vibing with it.

But once the story picked up - wow! It went from slow burn to absolute chaos. Louise and Mark are dealing with the loss of their par Spooky, Horrific, Funny, Intense - This one has it all. The first 100 or so pages had me confused and honestly kind of bored. I went in expecting a creepy horror story, but instead I was getting a lot of focus on the sibling relationship between Louise and her brother Mark. At first, it read more like a domestic family drama than horror, and I wasn’t vibing with it.

But once the story picked up - wow! It went from slow burn to absolute chaos. Louise and Mark are dealing with the loss of their parents and fighting over what to do with the family home. What makes this house unique is their mom’s obsession with puppets and dolls (she even performed in a traveling puppet troupe). And at the center of it all is one puppet in particular... enter Pupkin. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say Pupkin has some very sinister energy, and from there the book spirals into a chilling tale of possession and pure nightmare fuel. I was creeped out to the core.

What makes this book stand out is the balance between the horror and the emotional undercurrent. Yes, it’s terrifying, especially the puppet scenes, but it’s also about family, grief, and the messy dynamics between siblings. Hendrix really taps into how clearing out a loved one’s possessions isn’t just a physical task, but an emotional one. That layer gave the book so much more depth.

One of my favorite experiences was switching between the hard copy and the audiobook. The scary moments on audio really made my skin crawl. There is a twist at the end and a resolution, I also enjoyed. I also loved the Southern setting that Hendrix often brings to his books. And the quirky little index at the back? The haunted puppet/doll lore and even the bit about the economics of haunted houses was such a fun addition.

By the time I finished, I went from hating it to loving it and I think that says a lot. Books that can flip my perspective like that always stick with me. Louise wasn’t my favorite character (she grated on me at times), but I will say she grew stronger by the end, which redeemed her a bit.

Final thoughts: if you enjoy horror with haunted dolls and puppets, plus some layered family drama and a big twist, this one is worth picking up. It’s creepy, emotional, and unique. I’d give it a 3.75, but I’ll round up to 4 stars for the experience and the emotional impact. And honestly, I’d love to see this adapted into a movie. ...more

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