The Astrology House by Carinn Jade Book Review

About the Book:

Margot needs a minute. She’s been working eighty-hour weeks as a newly minted partner at her law firm. She’s disconnected from her brother, the only family she has left. And she’s still not pregnant after years of trying.

Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat promises rest, relaxation, and wisdom for Margot and her friends. With Instagram-worthy views and nightly astrology readings in an impeccably restored waterfront Victorian house, this getaway should be nothing but idyllic fun.

For Margot’s brother, Adam, it’s the perfect opportunity to rekindle the romance that fuels his writing. But his wife, Aimee, hides the darkness of her past with a beautiful social media feed. Their friend, Farah, is a successful doctor who cannot admit that she’s losing control.

Yet no one holds a greater secret than their astrologer host, Rini. She has a plan for all of her guests, and one of them won’t be leaving Stars Harbor alive.

My Review:

I really struggled with this novel, especially when I got half way through and nothing really interesting had happened yet. I am not interested in astrology so all the interviews Rini did were not captivating. I did like the over arching issue in the book exploring fate and free choice. It is in the locked room style where each person is hiding secrets.

The aspect of the novel that I found quite disconcerting was the structure of the narrative. There are many characters and we see activities from each of them in first person. While the character was identified at the beginning of the chapter, it was difficult to remember from whose viewpoint I was experiencing the action. Multiple POVs it is not a narrative structure I like at all. I did not find of the characters really engaging either.

This is a novel for readers who like astrology a great deal as well as lots character thought and backstory on each of them and don't mind waiting for something exciting to happen until way past half the book.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

About the Author:

Carinn Jade is a lawyer, writer, and cohost of the Pop Fiction Women podcast. Her essays have been published in The New York Times, DailyWorth, and Motherwell. She has attended the GrubStreet Novel Generator, Yale Writers’ Conference, and the Northern California Writers’ Retreat. Carinn grew up on the North Fork of Long Island and lives with her family in New York City. The Astrology House is her first novel.

Atria Books, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)