3.0 (1 rating)
How to Sell a Haunted House
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"Wildly entertaining."-The New York Times
"Ingenious."-The Washington Post
New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.
When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.
Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.
But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…
Like his novels The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group, How to Sell a Haunted House is classic Hendrix: equal parts heartfelt and terrifying—a gripping new read from “the horror master” (USA Today).
"Wildly entertaining."-The New York Times
"Ingenious."-The Washington Post
New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.
When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world.
Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market.
But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…
Like his novels The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group, How to Sell a Haunted House is classic Hendrix: equal parts heartfelt and terrifying—a gripping new read from “the horror master” (USA Today).
Pages: 413
ISBN: 9780593201268
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See all editions (19)Reader Reviews
3.0
1 rating
Karen B.
Feb 25, 2026
How to Sell a Haunted House
by Grady Hendrix
As I sit down to write this, I find myself asking: What in the blue blazes did I just read? I’ve never seriously considered DNF’ng a book before - although I have had a couple of close calls - but this one came close to pushing me over the edge. While I admit that it has its strong points, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. That said, I’m fully aware that not every book is for everyone, and I can’t deny that there’s an audience for this one - it just wasn’t me.
When I saw the title and all the 5-star reviews, I jumped into the book expecting a wild ride of hauntings, ghosts, spooky mischief, death, and unexpected twists that would keep me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Unfortunately, I was sorely mistaken. If I had taken the time to read the reviews or even the book’s blurb, I might have had a clearer idea of what I was getting into - but I chanced it and opted for the “go in blind” approach. Let’s just say it didn’t work out in my favor this time.
**The Pros:**
- The premise of the story has tremendous potential. Some parts were undeniably unique, and Hendrix crafted a solid foundation with a strongly built world and colorful, relatable characters.
- The twists and turns throughout the story kept it interesting enough to propel me, even when the pacing slowed to a crawl.
- The relationship between siblings, Mark and Louise, was a beautiful, chaotic mess that felt real and believable. While their relationship was exhaustingly complicated at times, the emotional depth that it added to the story was incomparable.
**The Cons:**
- Parts of the story felt boring and drawn out with moments where I found myself completely distracted from the story. It was as if I was in a dark abyss of nothingness on repeat.
- While the twists and turns kept things intriguing, some felt exaggerated and over-the-top. I’m all for a good plot twist, but some of these were a bit much for my taste.
- The relationship between Mark and Louise, though authentic in many ways, became frustratingly dramatic at times. I found myself wanting to shake both of them more than once, which detracted from my enjoyment of their journey.
Overall, Hendrix gives How to Sell a Haunted House significant potential, but it left me wanting more. With a bit of refinement, I think this could be an exceptionally good read for a wider audience.
Please take the time to read other reviews before deciding whether this book is right for you. Had I taken the time to research it a little more, I might have approached it with a different mindset making it a more enjoyable read.
As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author, present or future, for my review.
by Grady Hendrix
As I sit down to write this, I find myself asking: What in the blue blazes did I just read? I’ve never seriously considered DNF’ng a book before - although I have had a couple of close calls - but this one came close to pushing me over the edge. While I admit that it has its strong points, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. That said, I’m fully aware that not every book is for everyone, and I can’t deny that there’s an audience for this one - it just wasn’t me.
When I saw the title and all the 5-star reviews, I jumped into the book expecting a wild ride of hauntings, ghosts, spooky mischief, death, and unexpected twists that would keep me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Unfortunately, I was sorely mistaken. If I had taken the time to read the reviews or even the book’s blurb, I might have had a clearer idea of what I was getting into - but I chanced it and opted for the “go in blind” approach. Let’s just say it didn’t work out in my favor this time.
**The Pros:**
- The premise of the story has tremendous potential. Some parts were undeniably unique, and Hendrix crafted a solid foundation with a strongly built world and colorful, relatable characters.
- The twists and turns throughout the story kept it interesting enough to propel me, even when the pacing slowed to a crawl.
- The relationship between siblings, Mark and Louise, was a beautiful, chaotic mess that felt real and believable. While their relationship was exhaustingly complicated at times, the emotional depth that it added to the story was incomparable.
**The Cons:**
- Parts of the story felt boring and drawn out with moments where I found myself completely distracted from the story. It was as if I was in a dark abyss of nothingness on repeat.
- While the twists and turns kept things intriguing, some felt exaggerated and over-the-top. I’m all for a good plot twist, but some of these were a bit much for my taste.
- The relationship between Mark and Louise, though authentic in many ways, became frustratingly dramatic at times. I found myself wanting to shake both of them more than once, which detracted from my enjoyment of their journey.
Overall, Hendrix gives How to Sell a Haunted House significant potential, but it left me wanting more. With a bit of refinement, I think this could be an exceptionally good read for a wider audience.
Please take the time to read other reviews before deciding whether this book is right for you. Had I taken the time to research it a little more, I might have approached it with a different mindset making it a more enjoyable read.
As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author, present or future, for my review.