The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

Welcome to the How to Sell a Haunted House Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on November 13th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 11/13
Nov 13: Section 1-3
Nov 14: Section 4-6
Nov 15: Section 7-9
Nov 16: Section 10-12
Nov 17: Section 13-15

Week of 11/18
Nov 18: Section 16-18
Nov 19: Section 19-21
Nov 20: Section 22-24
Nov 21: Section 25-27
Nov 22: Section 28-30

PARTICIPANTS
~ Jen K
~ LiteraryCryptid
~ Sophie

Chapters 1-3

I’m hooked right from the start. I can’t wait to explore the dynamic between Louise and Mark. I am hoping for some flashbacks. The dolls are super creepy, I wouldn’t be shocked if they came to life lmao.

Exciting to hear! I'm trying to finish a expired library book before turning back on my Kindle wireless to download this one so I may be a day or so late but I will catch up quickly.

Chapters 1-6

Agree that it is a super fun start. I really like Louse and the dolls are beyond creepy!!!! They are scaring me already and the fact that every time the tv goes on, it describes another creepy doll. Eeekk!

Mark is so horrible. How did he think it was okay to decide everything without any consultation?

Weirded out by how Poppy is reacting too. Is the haunted house going to affect her somehow?

I should be caught up by the end of the day.

Up to the end of chapter 12

Wow do I really feel for Louise. Louise and Mark perfectly represent oldest and youngest child characters. There is a small part of me that now thinks that Louise is the unhinged one, possibly problematic due to the squirrel scene; people would typically run away after that, not commit murder.

Freud may have hit the nail on the head with his whole mother-son theory……

Surely Mark must have some sort of condition/personality disorder though? Like he doesn’t behave like your average person.

Through Chapter 12

OMG the squirrels! Worst nightmare!

Louise was being so petty with the art. The situation sucks and doesn't seem fair but she wasn't helping anyone and only hurting herself and her daughter.

Mark is definitely not normal either. The competition is deep between them. They should get therapy together.

They are cringe worthy oldest and youngest. I'm the oldest with one younger brother and I can feel the rivalry (though my brother and I have a very good relationship now). The angst. She should just give up the money and go home.

Through Chapter 15

Louise is frustrating me. Even Mark gets that the home is messed up and better left alone at the moment. She could go back in a year and help with the paperwork. It doesn't need to be now.

Through chapter 18

Maybe Louise is the one with the mental health issues??? Is the puppet really evil and animated or is it her?

To the end of chapter 18

I honestly think they’re both a little crazy. When it came back to real time after the memory had been recalled I swear Louise heard Pumpkin again. One or both of them must have some sort of personality disorder.

This is such a freaky but interesting book. I can't believe that halfway through I'm not sure if the villain is Louise, Mark or Pupkin? They are all slightly deranged.

Up to the end of chapter 21

I honestly have no idea where this story is going to go and I love that. I love books that are unpredictable and throw me off guard.

You really can't trust anyone. Mark now supposedly joined some sort of puppet club in college, which was also apparently his reason for dropping out and that is very suspicious.

To go back to earlier on in the book, their cousin (I can't remember her name) was kinda weird for not selling the house because she thought it was haunted. This woman is a realtor for goodness sake. I'm definitely going to keep a close eye on her if she pops back up.

Through the end of Chapter 21

Chapter 19 freaked me out. I'm glad that Mark came back and seriously, Waffle House was the best course of action. I'm so intrigued by his story. How did the radical puppets do him in?

The cousin is Mercy, good point, maybe she can make money if others think it is haunted?

Also have no idea how this will turn out. I worry for Poppy.

Also noting that my book goes through chapter 38, not 30... I will try to finish those last 8 chapters over the weekend.

Up to the end of chapter 27

I didn't even realise that there were more chapters, I'll also try and double my reading to get it done.

Wow that was action packed. Ok so maybe Mark and Louise aren't crazy at all. It was the possessed puppet. Reading about Mark's time at college kind of solidified that for me with Clark becoming enthralled and following the whims and wants of Pumpkin.

It's endearing watching Louise and Mark's bond form and them then becoming sibling more than they ever have. It was interesting to note what could have been prevented and how their mother was probably a big part of the problem.

Lol there is no chance that Pumpkin is truly gone, there is like 100 pages left so God knows what is going to go down.

I ended up finishing early last night, so I'll drop my final thoughts below :)

Final Thoughts

(view spoiler)[3.25 stars ✨

I was really intrigued by the concept of the story, but I unfortunately feel as though it wasn’t executed very well. In the beginning it was just far too slow, and whilst it became more suspenseful as the story progressed, it should’ve been engaging from start to finish.

It was nice to watch Louise and Mark’s relationship grow and repair throughout the story, although I did feel that there was minimal character development of them as individuals, which made them slightly unlikable and I didn’t find myself caring about what happened to them.

I was surprised by the plot change (kind of) in the last 100 pages , but I didn’t mind it. It was a lot more intense and suspenseful. (hide spoiler)]

I'm so sorry, yesterday went sideways at work and I forgot to post and didn't even manage to read.

Through Chapter 27, those were insane chapters. The college drama was bonkers. Agree that it was really nice to see them finally listen to each other and communicate properly. I seriously can't wait to finish. Should be done tonight or tomorrow!

Just finished and I agree with much of your final thoughts. While I appreciate the author trying to throw curves in changing the initial Louise is good and Mark is bad to the opposite, it just made them confusing and not entirely whole people. As you say, minimal character development though I also appreciated some progress in their relationship with each other.

It was freaky and while I saw the Poppy twist coming, it was awkward and had gaps to feel complete.

It was an interesting book and an interesting concept. I don't think that I will every put a puppet on my hand again.