Parenting
The parenting style exhibited by Louise's parents is sarcastic. Instead of the parents showing their children love equally, they do it selectively. Louise's parents are secretive towards her and intentionally deny her whatever she asks for. On the contrary, Louise's brother, Mark, is loved and given anything he wants. Therefore, Louise grows up hating her parents and her brother, and she decides to live away from them when she becomes an adult.
Sibling rivalry
Sibling rivalry is another irony in Hendrix's novel How to Sell a Haunted House. Louise and Mark are the only siblings, but their relationship is ironic. To Louise, Mark is a deadbeat brother, and throughout their adult life, they do not communicate, except when their parents die. The reader expects the relationship between a brother and sister to be cordial, but that is not the case for Louise and Mark.
Inheritance
The paradox involving inheritance is that Mark takes everything of value and leaves his only sister with nothing. Mark is a greedy person, but going to the extent of denying his sister, any party of their parents' property is unexpected. Louise travels from San Francisco to help with burial arrangements and get part of her inheritance, but the contrary happens when it comes to inheritance.
