I never know quite what I'm going to get inside a Josh Malerman. Honestly, that's one of the draws. Despite the fact that Malerman is like a box of chocolates, I have yet to be disappointed. He is a wealth of creativity and a seemingly bottomless pit of engaging stories.

A House at the Bottom of a Lake introduces us to James and Amelia and lets us tag along in their budding romance. The reader is privy to outward observation as well as inner thoughts, and I was pretty much into these two as a couple from page one.

I'm not going to take you through the synopsis, but I will let you know that your appreciation of what's to come depends a lot on being invested in these kids. At least, that's what I found to be the case. This book operates on so many levels. I found the focus on the type of magic one feels at the beginning of something new, and the exploration of loss of innocence to be exquisitely done.

This is a story that I could spend hours talking about and unpacking with a fellow reader, consider that an open invitation to anyone who feels the same. The ending also leaves the door ajar for reader interpretation, and I had no trouble imagining how things went in my version. This novella has a special place in my heart, and is definitely one of my favorite reads this year.