THE HOUSE IN THE PINES

3.5 stars out of 5

Overall, this is far from a bad book; problem is, I never quite got "into" it nor felt much of a connection with any of the characters. More often than not, I was a little confused as to the current time period - chapters flip back and forth between main character Maya's past and present lives - and being a bit annoyed with her unending paranoia and rationalizing why she can't share her experiences with her boyfriend or mother. The ending was pretty much what I'd expected, although the details were rather intriguing.

When Maya was a senior in high school, she was expecting to head for college when she met Frank, with whom she instantly formed a relationship that made her want to stay put. Her bonds with her best friend, Aubrey, are loosening somewhat when Aubrey dies abruptly and in front of Frank. It's a trauma from which Maya has trouble escaping, although she manages to go on to college, with help from an addictive drug prescribed by her therapist. Now, she's living in Boston, has a boyfriend (with whom she hasn't been totally honest) and is trying to kick the drug habit.

In between, she keeps consulting an unfinished book written in Guatemala by a father she never knew; can it somehow help her deal with what she experienced with Frank, even though she has no idea what that really was? In the end, it's a tale of manipulation and head games that many readers will find very appealing. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes (Dutton, January 2023); 330 pp.