Description
Max has always been close to his grandfather. He spent his summers at Gramps’ estate, learning most of what he knows from him.
When Gramps suddenly passes away after being ill for a short time, he leaves the estate, a beloved train set in the attic that Max and he built together, and a massive fortune to Max and his wife, Courtney.
When Max and Courtney move into the mansion, Max quickly starts seeing and hearing something upstairs. The staff and Max’s estranged father tell him he’s crazy and that his grandfather was unwell. They tell him there is no monster. But Max knows what he’s seeing. He knows something isn’t right upstairs.
Upstairs is a chilling tale of how Max tries to convince everyone he’s not crazy, even as he sees visions of his deceased grandfather and fights to stop a monster from killing him or the people he loves.
Upstairs blends family drama and psychological terror in a way you likely haven’t experienced before.
Wadifa (verified owner) –
I usually give books a maximum of ten pages to hook me, or I’m out. This one had me committed in just two. I also loved the title. it’s one of those that says, “Read me.” The moment when the max sat in his grandpa’s empty house brought me right back to when I was sitting in my own grandpa’s empty home trying to absorb every part of it before closing it up.
I felt a strong need to have a talk with the storyteller’s father like, a full-on therapy session talk. Oh no, wait, I changed my decision… I want to have a fight with him. During the scenes at the grandpa’s house, I was lost in the book and totally hooked. My inner monologue was just: “Eh? Aha… Oh… What?… No, what? Let’s go back a page because what just happened?… Umm… okay then… Hahaha! There you go, girl you sleep, priorities set.
Two things I absolutely love First, no fancy words. English is my second language, and I could read this smoothly without guessing meanings or re-reading sentences because they were too wordy or complex. Second, no sexual details where they were not needed. I want to personally thank the writer for this. I have been sick of reading sexual scenes in books that would have suffered no change without them.
I want reader to know this is horror book but it’s a good horror book. I want to say some days you want a horror book but a lighter one and one in which not every line is horror and and sweet lady with her sleeping passion make you chuckle in between. This is a book that will hook you from start to end. I promise the ending will satisfy you. Reading it is like listening to the most interesting gossip your friend is telling and it gets so good that you forget you’re waiting for the bus. Then the bus comes and reminds you that you need to board and go home, and you’re almost annoyed at the interruption. (I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this voluntarily). (This book is so good whenever I plan to buy a hardcopy whenever I possibly can)
Lindsay –
Thank you to M. Jandreau and BookSirens for the ARC – I am happily leaving this review voluntarily. I was immediately connected to this book as someone who had a very close relationship with their wonderful, kind and caring grandfather. The want to reconnect after they are gone can be so deep and in our MC Maxwells case, unhealthy. This story weaves in haunted houses, monsters, family trauma and more into a binge worthy package. ‘Upstairs’ had me flabbergasted in the last few chapters and provided an excellent ending – a thrilling (and heartbreaking) ride to the very end! I loved the pop culture references throughout too, made the characters relatable.
Christine Choptovy –
This is a fantastic and believable horror story. Max is very fond of his Gramps; he spends more time with him than he did with his parents as a child. Max and his wife Courtney visit Gramps for dinner every Sunday, so Max is shocked when he gets a call advising him that Gramps has passed away. His grandfather was extremely wealthy, earning his money from programming for the government and inventing video games. Max and Courtney are stunned when the lawyer tells them that they’ve inherited the mansion and everything on the grounds. Max’s father is absolutely furious that he will only inherit $2 million dollars but Max gets the bulk of the estate. Max and Courtney move into the house but have been advised not to go upstairs after dark and to never open the bedroom door at night-no matter what they may hear. Thus starts Max’s descent into a hellish existence. The only reason for the 4* rating is that Max’s Gramps was quite ill for the last several years of his life but somehow, Max was unaware of this. I received an ARC and this review is my personal opinion.
TJ Turns Pages –
Upstairs by M. Jandreau follows Max as he navigates life after the loss of the person he cherished most, his grandfather who he lovingly calls Gramps. Gramps leaves Max his entire estate, including a mansion that feels made for a classic haunted tale. He amassed his wealth as an early video game developer, something Max speaks about with real admiration. His parents, however, are a different story. Max views them with a kind of quiet resentment, convinced they coasted on his grandfather’s success without ever building anything for themselves. As the plot unfolds, it leans into everything I enjoy about a spooky house novel. The atmosphere is haunting and the sense of unease lingers from chapter to chapter. It kept me wondering what exactly was happening within the walls of the estate. That said, this book was good rather than unforgettable. The writing style is unique, sometimes in a way that pulled me out of the story. Max frequently breaks the fourth wall to talk to the reader, and while creative, I found it a little unusual. There is also a fair amount of repetition. In the early chapters in particular, the book reminds us again and again that Max’s parents left him at his grandfather’s house, which eventually became distracting. Overall, it is a solid and atmospheric read with a few quirks that kept it from being a perfect fit for me. Still, if you enjoy spooky houses with a slow simmer of tension, this one is worth picking up. Thank you to M. Jandreau and BookSirens for proving this advance review copy do free in exchange for an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily.
Aeroreader –
Upstairs hit two of my favourite themes in books: haunted houses and references to the 90s. With lots of nostalgia for this millennial reader, Upstairs was a quick paced journey with grief horror. I enjoyed discovering the secrets of the house unfold. While not the ending I was expecting, readers were delivered the ending the story needed. It was a bold choice with the writing that paid off. I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Christian Domenicci –
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 “Genuine Chills and a Jaw-Dropping Plot Twist!” First, I want to extend my most sincere thanks to the author, M. Jandreau, and BookSirens for giving me the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC). This is exactly the type of story you read late at night, under the warm glow of a lamp, wrapped up snugly in a blanket. That said, this book blew me away! It instantly makes you question what lurks in the darkness, watching. This read gave me genuine, authentic shivers. As a reader who loves to create the perfect atmosphere to make a story truly immersive, Upstairs delivered completely. If you are one of those people who gets nightmares, or who stays up pondering the horror long after you finish the last page (like I do), then this story is absolutely for you. The characters are very well-built, and the narrative is excellent and genuinely creepy. I definitely did NOT see the plot twist coming—OMG 😱! I am giving this 5 stars without hesitation because I loved this story, and it will undoubtedly make you question many things.
Danette Fowlie –
This book gives you chills and makes you think twice about the noises you hear at night. It is a very eerie and interesting read and I loved every minute of it. Great book to read before bed to make sure you don’t fall asleep! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Samanthasue218 –
No spoilers. Read via kindle (ARC). This book gives you creepy vibes, that if you are a dreamer —you may not want to read prior to bed like me, otherwise you’ll have nightmares. Reading in the dark gave me eerie vibes, but had me at the edge of my seat for the ride. I definitely didn’t see the twist coming, I actually thought it was going to be something completely different, so it was nice surprise to not guess what was gonna happen at the end. This book definitely is a good quick horror easy read, but has depth and heaviness to it. Easily could have binged this book in one day, if I had the time to as it’s good at keeping your attention and wanting to find out how it ends. Would I recommend? Yes if you’re okay with horror books, “modern haunted house” vibes, and heavy topics.
Haly Hoards Books –
3.5☆ Available 20 January 2026 Upstairs starts with Max, the main character, giving a eulogy of his beloved grandfather. It is an interesting way to start this horror story. The writing style is done in a manner that makes the reader feel as if s/he is listening to an old friend tell his story. The prose flows naturally. The way the story unfolds also created a sense of growing tension. It felt like sitting with a friend in a comfortable, sun bathed sitting room. As strange events began to occur the sense of foreboding grew like the onset of the gloaming. Shadows lengthened, the hue of the sunlight darkened and the temperature dropped. As the story reached its horrible climax the darkened night had fully enveloped the reader. I received a free advance review copy for, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens. The ending, what truly haunted Max, was a twist! Did not see it coming! It was a very original ending to a haunting, one I had not experienced before. The author really really needs to learn how to properly use the subjective and objective use of the word, “I.” The use of “I” instead of “me” was done too many times to count. There are also many references to popular movies and television shows. The author mentioned The Office numerous times. I don’t watch television and the references meant nothing to me. Upstairs was a unique experience and because of that I might recommend it.