Book Review - This House Isn't Haunted But We Are by Stephen Howard

Well, hello there, dear readers! It's been a hot minute since I posted a book review here on Becca's Books. 

Let's just say that life has been a LOT. The last couple of years have been testing, but alas, I made it through and I'm now thirsty as f*** for fiction. 

So today, I am overjoyed to be reviewing my first novel of 2025, and that novel is This House Isn't Haunted But We Are by Stephen Howard. 

A brilliantly twisted take on the much-loved haunted house trope, this tale was not what I expected it to be, at all. With themes of grief, forgiveness, love and loss, Howard delves deep into the very foundations of what it takes for a grief-stricken couple to build a home.

As you all know, I am particularly drawn to the darker, creepier side of fiction. I love ghost stories, haunted houses, demons and poltergeists, myths and legends, and anything that simply defies logic. It fascinates me, always has, and probably always will. When I saw mention of Howard's upcoming release via Wild Hunt Books, my interest was immediately piqued. If that cover doesn't scream haunted house at you, then I don't know what will. It is incredibly eerie, and has that foggy glow to it that reminds me of the famous streetlight shot in The Poltergeist. 

Firstly, I LOVED the structure of this novel. Each chapter delivers a different viewpoint from our leading characters, Simon and Priya, but then also hands us a completely unique narrative. This third narrative comes from the house itself, although rather than in third person, these parts are written as though someone else is coaxing the house into communicating. These gentle, nurturing moments spent with the house itself were sweet, childlike almost in nature, which contrasted so brilliantly with the eeriness of the situations and scenarios that took place within the walls. I loved being able to see from both Simon and Priya's point of views. Each character was battling their own demons, yet they shared in a tragedy that they could not escape from. It was clear that what they both needed was to heal, and I think that is what Simon hoped the house would achieve for them. That as they slowly repaired the home, their marriage could be healed alongside it.

Howard creates such an overwhelming presence within this story, and within this house, that at first it felt almost impossible to decide whether it is kind or ominous. As the plot progresses, a certain sense of foreboding begins to gradually unfold and the pace begins to pick up. It was excellent, and I can say with certainty that were moments that sent shivers down my spine. 

What Howard achieves beautifully in This House Isn't Haunted But We Are is a version of grief that lives alongside Simon and Priya, watching and waiting, considering how they act towards each other, and discovering where the cracks are most visible. It's such a fascinating look at marriage and loss, in a way that I found to be intriguing, in a slow-burning kind of way. How this tale unfolds was quite remarkable and left me wondering what would happen to Simon and Priya long after I'd finished reading. Would they be okay? Would their marriage go on to survive? 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed This House Isn't Haunted But We Are by Stephen Howard. It had all the usual things I'd love to find within a spooky story, yet took me by surprise completely. Brilliantly executed in such an imaginative way, I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author. 

With thanks to Wild Hunt Books for the opportunity to read and review.