I don't usually go in a book with expectations, and a lot of the time don't even read the blurb, but in this case, I really feel like the cover, blurb and title all portrayed a creepy cabin in the woods where sinister things have happened. However, that's not exactly what this is.

Maya has been self-medicating for years to cope with the sudden and inexplicable death of her best friend 7 years ago. She is convinced her ex-boyfriend Frank was somehow responsible, despite never having laid a hand on her. When a video goes viral depicting another girl literally dropping dead in front of Frank in the same manner, Maya decides to return to her childhood home to confront Frank and uncover the truth about her friend's death and the missing pockets of time from those few weeks they spent together.

The House in the Pines is more of a slow-burn physiological suspense than the dark and sinister cabin vibes I had anticipated it to be. The story is told through dual timelines of past and present, however, the abrupt flipping back and forth somewhat fizzled the pent-up suspense for me.

The story really ramps up in the last 100 pages as everything comes together and though the reveal was something I had put together early on, the concept was super intriguing and engaging enough to keep reading.

*Thank you to @hachette for sending me a copy of The House in the Pines.