Book Review: “The House in the Pines” by Ana Reyes

Sep 1

Håfa adai! Welcome to my review of The House in the Pines, by Ana Reyes.

This book review consists of two parts: a spoiler-free plot summary and my thoughts on the story. In the second part, I give my personal rating and break down the setting and worldbuilding, storytelling, cast of characters, and themes. There may be some lightweight spoilers—such as how characters interact with each other and the world around them—but I will not give away any major plot twists or endings. I want to share my opinions of the book and maybe encourage you to purchase a copy of your own.

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Spoiler-Free Plot Summary

Maya’s life is not exactly where she thought it would be by now. She doesn’t write anymore, she is struggling with the effects of Klonopin withdrawal and ongoing alcoholism, and she is doing her best to keep these struggles a secret from the boyfriend she lives with. One of the worse withdrawal effects is the insomnia. In another sleepless night, Maya scrolls through her phone when a viral video catches her attention. A man and woman are sitting at a table in a diner when the woman suddenly collapses and dies without any apparent cause. Maya is shocked. Not by the woman’s sudden death, but by the man sitting across from her.

The diner is one in her home town in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The man in the video is someone she recognizes instantly: Frank, the man she knew for only a few short weeks after graduating high school. The last time Maya saw Frank was seven years ago when he showed up uninvited to her house in Pittsfield. The last time Maya saw Frank, her childhood best friend Aubrey suddenly collapsed and died in front of Frank and her. Two seemingly healthy women have now died suddenly in Frank’s presence. Both of their deaths were classified as tragic unexplainable occurrences. But Maya is convinced otherwise. And she knows Frank has something to do with it.

My Thoughts on The House in the Pines: 4 stars

The House in the Pines is told by a third-person narrator closely following the thoughts and experiences of Maya. As the story moves on, it is split into three separate storylines: the first is Maya’s experience in the present, seeing the viral video and pursuing her amateur investigation of Frank; the second consists of flashbacks to seven years ago leading up to the death of Aubrey; and the third relays the backstory of Maya’s parents, her relationship with her family in Guatemala, and her connection with her father.

Ana Reyes develops the characters in a way that allows you to care for them. I felt frustrated on Maya’s behalf that her suspicions of Frank were written off by others as delusions. That being said, I appreciate the relatively small cast of characters in this book. As we follow Maya’s journey, we meet her childhood best friend Aubrey, her partner Dan, her mom Brenda, and brief post high school fling Frank. We also briefly encounter Dan’s parents, Maya’s father and family in Guatemala, Frank’s father, and a few others.

The most prevalent relationship throughout The House in the Pines is that between Maya and Aubrey. Maya’s memories of Aubrey are sweet and heartbreaking. These girls were more than friends, they were sisters. Like any set of sisters, they had a moment of pettiness, but they prioritized each other over anyone else after all was said and done.

The relationships in the present timeline of the story are that between Maya and her partner as well between Maya and her mother. Maya keeps heavy secrets from her partner Dan and mom Brenda, the two people who love her the most and would do anything to help her. It’s clear that shame is the greatest motivation behind her keeping these secrets from them. She does not want to worry them or disappoint them. So she hides that most vulnerable side of her that needs help.

And then there’s Frank. Frank and Maya briefly dated in the summer after Maya and Aubrey graduated high school. Seven years later, he has resurfaced into Maya’s life after the surveillance video from the diner goes viral. I could not help but wonder if her need—almost obsession—to investigate Frank was an escape from addressing her addictions. She clearly still loves Aubrey and is deeply traumatized by witnessing her mysterious death.

Before I get into what did not sit so well with me in The House in the Pines, I want to talk about what I liked about the story. First, the premise is very intriguing to me. Two women somehow drop dead in front of Frank without him ever touching them. Once is traumatic timing. But twice? That is terrifying. Second, I appreciate that Maya does not necessarily have a “happily ever after”. She kept her addictions a secret from so many people for so long. And that had a real effect on her relationships with the people she cares about. Third, in trusting her instincts and following the clues, Maya gained the assurance that she was not delusional or paranoid. Her suspicions and fears of Frank were valid.

Fourth, I appreciated the multiple story lines of Maya’s relationship with Aubrey, her experience with addiction and amateur investigation of Frank, and her connection to her father and the work he left behind. Her relationship with Aubrey seems to represent her past self; the Maya that was happy and optimistic. The effects of Frank’s presence in her life shapes her present; the Maya that is struggling to escape her reality. And her connection to her father influences her future; the Maya who wants to create and connect to those she loves.

Amidst what I liked about The House in the Pines are a few things that I did not fully appreciate. First, the pacing felt too slow in several scenes. There were times when I had an “okay, get on with it” attitude while reading. Second, the story has an unreliable narrator. This can be a hit or miss with many readers. I did not necessarily dislike that aspect of this book; but I did not exactly like it either.

My overall rating for Ana Reyes’ The House in the Pines is 4 out of 5 stars. I think this is an intriguing debut novel from Ana Reyes. It has a surprising plot twist that I truly did not expect, I cared about the characters and felt frustrated for Maya, and I appreciate the way the story ended. I hope Ana Reyes publishes more work in the future. I would like to see how her writing grows and changes over time.

Dångkulo' na' saina ma'åse'! Thank you so much for reading my review of The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes.

Rating Cheat Sheet

4.75 - 5.00 stars: Everyone should read this book! (If you’re into that sort of thing.)
4.00 - 4.50 stars: I appreciated many aspects of this book. I recommend it!
3.00 - 3.75 stars: I liked some aspects of this book. I won’t revisit it, but someone else might really like it.
2.00 - 2.75 stars: There were some things I appreciated about this book, but I do not recommend it.
0.25 - 1.75 stars: I do not recommend this book. I did not enjoy or appreciate the experience of it.

Post Date: 27 September 2024