The Astrology House

Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been interested in astrology, and I’m always excited to read books that incorporate it somehow. This is what first drew me to The Astrology House, the debut novel by Carinn Jade. This psychological thriller follows a group of friends in their late 30s as they spend a weekend at an astrologically themed retreat. But they can’t know what forces are at play, how the past will come back to bite them, and the shocking turn of events in store.

Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Review

The Astrology House first captured my interest by its name alone: I’ve loved astrology for many years and always enjoy seeing it used in novels. It’s a theme in some new romance releases this summer, but this is my first time seeing it used in a thriller. Here, we follow a group of friends (four married couples) who go on a vacation together each year; this time, they’ve booked a weekend at an astrology-themed retreat. Each will get their own astrology reading, a couple compatibility reading, and other fun, zodiac-related activities. But the planets are at work to bring out long-buried secrets, put new actions in motion, and change the course of their lives.

I love the premise of The Astrology House and how it weaves in astrological themes, especially early on. Each character is introduced with a page outlining their three major signs (Sun, Moon, and Rising), their relationships with the other guests, and pertinent information about their upcoming transformation, from an astrologer’s perspective. With my 20 years of astrological knowledge, I enjoyed seeing these snapshots of the characters’ zodiac-based personalities.

For most of the novel, we move between several POV characters: Margot, her brother Adam, his wife Aimee, Aimee’s best friend Farrah, and the Astrology House’s hostess, Rini. They’re easy to keep track of, each with their own personalities and motives. Bit by bit, the characters reveal not only where they’re at, mentally, during this weekend retreat, but also layers of their own pasts. Secrets they’ve kept, regrets they have, worries for their future…

In contrast to many thrillers I’ve read, The Astrology House doesn’t raise the stakes early on. There are no flash forward scenes teasing murder and mayhem. There isn’t a drastically increasing sense of dread and danger throughout. Rather, it unravels slowly, like a domestic drama with themes of motherhood and fertility, infidelity, and family trauma. It’s more psychological, but still has some exciting twists and action towards the end. Who here is bad? Who’s even worse?

Final Thoughts

The Astrology House is an intricate and dramatic psychological thriller, built more on domestic suspense than heart-racing action. I would have liked to see astrology play a bigger role in the ending sequence, but nonetheless, I enjoyed the whole book. – Reviewer: Amanda: Gemini Sun, Cancer Moon, Taurus Rising

Get the Book

You can buy The Astrology House here – it’s available as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

The Astrology House by Carinn Jade
Audience	Adult
Genre	Psychological Thriller
Setting	New York
Number of Pages	320
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	July 16, 2024
Publisher	Atria

Official Summary

A group of wealthy Manhattanites escape to an astrology-themed retreat, where simmering resentments and long-held secrets lead to a shocking death in this fresh, twisty, and suspenseful debut in the vein of Liane Moriarty and Katy Hays.

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.