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...

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

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.

interesting...

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

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

(3.5) Two teenagers go on a date on a lake, find a house at the bottom of it and decide to explore it...While I didn't care for the romance (or ending!), I was definitely uncomfortable from beginning to end.Also: (view spoiler)[Girl, holy yeast infection. (hide spoiler)]

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.

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...

i think that this book is very dependent on the reader, this book works for me because i enjoyed the romance and i viewed the ending as a happy ending, i also think that they very clearly escaped something (who knows) in the end but without the romance i would not have the same feelings. Reading other reviews i saw some people didn’t care for the romance but enjoyed the atmosphere of the book. I really enjoyed it and i highly recommend it for a summer read. it’s really quick and it keeps you gue...

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...

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

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...

4.5 starsHoly 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

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

2.5 stars rounded upWhat 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...

**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 the 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. He directs them towards 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 acro...

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...

"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...

2020So 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