This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC of 'Something I Keep Upstairs' by J.D. Barker.

This book is from the point of view of Billy Hasler and Sheriff Whaley (primarily Billy). The multiple POV and the writing style ensure that this book sucks you in from the start and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. The authors note that is at the end is a must-read and made this book even more mind-blowing. My first J.D. Barker book was the 4MK series, which will more than likely be my favorite thriller series for the rest of my life. I have now also read We Don't Talk About Emma, and Something I Keep Upstairs. J.D. Barker's writing is phenomenal.

Billy's best friend, David Spivey (referred to as Spivey), inherits an island called Wood Island, located off the coast of New Castle, a small town in New Hampshire, after his grandmother passes away. As part of his grandmothers Last Will and Testament, there is a long list of rules for the house and the island. A few of those rules are as follows: Keith and Pam Spivey (Spivey's parents) are not to set foot on the island, anyone on the island at sundown must stay until sunset, you must feed Emerson.

Little do they know, the house has a dark history. They believe it will be the perfect place to escape the adults in their lives and party their summer away before moving onto college, adult life, and responsibilities. But when they invite their friends out to the island, they start to realize they're in over their heads, and Emerson must be fed.

The house on Wood Island cycles, in one cycle, the house is pristine, everything is new in the house, there is a basement, and the pictures on the walls can change. In the other cycle, the house is falling apart from years of neglect, there is no basement, and everything is still and quiet. Is it all in their heads? Was it ever truly the clean house they remember with all new appliances, TV's, radios, etc? Or was it always falling apart and a mass hallucination? What happens when Emerson isn't fed? And will the teenagers survive to tell the story?

I just finished reading "Something I Keep Upstairs" by J.D. Barker, and it was an absolutely thrilling experience. The story revolves around a mysterious attic and the dark secrets hidden within it. From the very first page, I was hooked by the eerie atmosphere and the suspenseful plot.

Barker's writing is incredibly vivid, making it easy to visualize the creepy setting and feel the tension. The main character's journey to uncover the truth is filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I also appreciated how Barker delved into the psychological aspects of fear and curiosity, adding depth to the narrative.

Overall, "Something I Keep Upstairs" is a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller with a touch of horror. It’s a book that I couldn’t put down and will definitely be recommending to my friends.

I love J.D’s books so much.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster this ARC! When Billy’s best friend, Spivey’s, estranged grandma dies he inherits a house on the remote Wood Island. At first it is a fun place for teenagers to go and party and enjoy the summer, albeit with some strange rules that Spivey’s grandma has written into her will. They all don’t know what evil they are awakening, and it quickly turns into a nightmare.

I have loved every book I’ve read by J. D. Barker, and this one is no exception! Although I did feel that it went on a little longer than necessary. I felt connected to the main character, Billy, and his friendship with Spivey was well written. His love for his friend pulled me in. I also loved Kira, though she did make me mad at times. The other kids were ok, but they all brought something important to the story. I found myself feeling really bad for Whaley, the sheriff. He was pulled into it by his job. I didn’t really care for his POV chapters until later in the book, but they were definitely important to the story.

The creepy island and the house were like characters themselves, and the atmosphere was appropriately terrifying. The house itself had its own story to tell, and what a story it was! Although hard to follow and confusing at times, it was still scary. I haven’t felt that creeped out by a book in awhile.

I also loved the author’s note at the end where he tells us his inspiration for the book. That was really cool, and I learned a few things. I’m giving it 4 stars because it kept me hooked!

This book was just not it, it was so hard to finish reading, it dragged out, was not interesting in the slightest and was just overall not what I had imagined it to be. I do not recommend this book to family and friends

I’m usually a fan of this author’s books, but I just don’t enjoy books that deal with the supernatural. If you like this sort of scary book that delves into the supernatural world, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Something I Keep Upstairs | ARC review✨

Blurb:
For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.

In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler’s life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.

As they dig into the island’s dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.

My 💭
This one left me feeling uneasy the whole book. I didn’t really identify with any of the characters, but as a whole, I think this was a solid storyline with good creepy elements. The house itself was basically a character in the story, which I found to be a unique aspect that really made the book creepier.

I read this because I loved JD Barker’s The Fourth Monkey series. This was different from that but still quite good!

Four stars from me⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read and review this ahead of time!

This releases May 13, 2025📖

Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker. A chilling, haunted house ghost story filled with dread and supernatural elements. Slowing building with ever increasing terror this mystery is good read for horror fans. Who or What is Emerson Author's notes at the end offers a new dimension to the story.
Thank you to the author, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

A house on an island in New Hampshire, a group of teenagers, a creepy lawyer, and horror/supernatural elements.
I felt that certain descriptions in this book around a specific character reminded me of Joe Hill’s NOS4A2- which I really liked!
But… this kind of dragged on and on.
I felt like this could have been so much better if it wasn’t so long- the last 25% off the book took me forever to finish reading.
I did appreciate the author’s note regarding his inspiration for the characters/setting.
I rated ⭐️⭐️⭐️ -but do plan to read another book by this author. I did enjoy the atmospheric writing style and would like to see what else this author has to offer.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book creeped me out in the best way! From the start, Something I Keep Upstairs pulls you into that classic “one last summer” vibe—freedom, adventure, no responsibilities…until things take a seriously dark turn.

Billy and David’s friendship felt so real and relatable, which made their descent into horror even more intense. The island setting was eerie and atmospheric, almost like a character itself. The way the author built suspense had me constantly on edge, flipping pages way past bedtime.

The only reason I’m giving this four stars instead of five is that some moments dragged just a little, and I wanted even more answers about the island’s history. But overall, this is the kind of haunted house story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. A must-read for horror fans who love slow-building dread and deep, unsettling mysteries.

Couldn’t finish this one. Tried my best to finish since I love Most J.D Barker books but this one was not it for me. There was a lot going on and a lot of fluff throughout the entire book really dragging it out. About halfway I thought The book was picking up but it became more supernatural which just is not for me.

I was intrigued by J.D. Barker’s Something I Keep Upstairs, However sadly it was not to my liking. I found it a long and hard read, with a lot of characters, of which I couldn't connect with. In it's defence I'm not normally into the supernatural, so this may have some basis for my opinion.

Whilst there were some good twists and turns, it really wasn't a page turner for me.

Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book and I apologise for not being more thorough on my review of the storyline - I don't think I could give it a just overview.

This is my first book from JD Barker and WOW!!!! IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! kept me guessing with a hint of creepy vibes, but nothing too scary. Five stars!! What a great read!

Oh my gosh I loved this book and couldn't put it down! What a good mystery thriller that kept me guessing till the end. The characters were engaging and I just really enjoyed the book. Didn't see the ending coming. Would love to go and stay at the house!

I was beyond thrilled to get my hands on this as an ARC read, and JD Barker completely blew me away with this one! I went in expecting a solid haunted house story, but what I got was so much more. This book isn’t just a haunted house story; that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The deeper you go, the more twisted, mind-bending, and absolutely gripping it becomes.

Barker’s writing is nothing short of phenomenal. He knows exactly how to hook you from the start and doesn’t let go, weaving together spine-chilling horror with the kind of thriller elements that keep you on edge the entire time. The twists, the turns... this book kept me guessing until the very last page.

I already knew Barker was a brilliant thriller writer from The Fourth Monkey, but after reading this? I think horror might just be where he shines the brightest. I truly hope he continues down this path because I need more of this from him. Without a doubt, this book has earned a spot in my top 10, and I can’t wait to see what he does next!

My first read by J.D Barker and Wow! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more!

What would you do for anything you could dream of?

Something I keep upstairs is definitely something that will keep you up! It was the perfect blend of YA and horror! I loved the sprinkling of actual real history in the story.

The switch between narrators kept you on the edge of your seat but then you’d be so hooked you didn’t want to switch back. There were twists and turns, some of which I never saw coming,

Overall I would say perfect gothic atmosphere, compelling storyline to keep you up, and moral dilemmas that made you question what would you do?

Overall I would give this a 4/5, with some parts being abit more slow and quite confusing until it’s all wrapped up.

Don’t forget to feed Emerson

I requested this book not realizing that it was a supernatural type of book. People who read these type of books may enjoy it more than I had.
The plot of the book wasn’t all that bad and the twists were definitely interesting. I do feel that it was a little drawn out.

Something I keep upstairs was a lot different then any other novel I have read by JD Barker, and I have read most of them. This book is YA which is not my favorite so I will start with that. I am used to his books being fast paced and a lot of action this was a slow burn, but did have intrigue that kept me reading. There were parts that I found myself skimming and wanting to get to the next part. This book did had an interesting paranormal aspect, overall it was good, just not as great as his other novels.

This haunting exploration delves deep into the complexities of friendship and sacrifice, revealing the darkness that often lurks beneath the surface.
Barker masterfully crafts a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, drawing you into a world where loyalty is tested and shadows threaten to consume the light. The characters are richly developed, making their struggles and triumphs feel personal and relatable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with emotional depth. Don’t miss out on this chilling journey

This is a really spine-chilling read with such classic elements of horror stories as a haunted house, the occult and local gossips about a house's past. It really is rather scary, even for a horror story buff like me.