I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

*The Dream House* by Jess Ryder is a captivating psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. From the outset, the novel draws you in with an intriguing opening, setting the stage for a tense, unpredictable story. The plot is filled with dramatic peaks, each event escalating the suspense and deepening the mystery. However, what makes this book stand out is its exploration of the profound psychological damage caused by domestic violence. Ryder skillfully delves into the ways that a dark past can shape the lives of those affected, leaving emotional scars that last long after the physical wounds have healed. The characters are vivid and complex, each one intricately linked to the trauma that haunts them. This deep psychological layer adds a compelling richness to the story, making it more than just a thriller but a poignant examination of the long-lasting effects of abuse. Fans of tense, character-driven narratives will not be disappointed.

This book is well written and contains the obligatory twists and turns required in a thriller. The ‘dream house’ is a former refuge for victims ( or survivors ) of Domestic Violence. Now owned by Stella and Jack. However, what follows is a series of events, somewhat unbelievable, which get more ridiculous as we near the conclusion. I am always wary when a book suggests I will like it, if I like Girl On A Train etc, but this comes nowhere close.

Beware of the stranger knocking at your door. After recently moving into her fixer-upper dream home, Stella opens the door to the beaten and broken stranger one evening. Little does she know she's also opened the Pandora's box of her life. A gripping thriller

Omg......... this book was amazing I flew threw the pages with Olympic speed I was hooked from the very first page. I found it full of twists and turns threw out and it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way threw  I would defiantly recommend this book if you like a good book to keep you reading threw the night hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did

Thoroughly enjoyable read, I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles by this author! Highly recommended!

I received a digital arc of this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this. It instantly had me hooked and I wanted to know who Lori was, what her story was and why she showed up and Westhill house. I had guessed a few alternatives along the way, but each one was wrong. I was totally shocked by the big reveal when it came, but it was a good and fitting revelation and ending. I would recommend this book.

The Dream House by Jess Ryder is a domestic thriller. The story in this one is told is told in an alternating timeline format taking turns telling the story from the past and the present with two different narratives.

In the present Stella has just moved into her dream home with her boyfriend Jack. One night there is a knock upon the door and a woman who has been abused tells Stella that the home used to be a safe house for battered women. Then forty years earlier readers meet Kay who believes that she and her daughter may be in danger.

The Dream House is not the first book that I’ve read by this author but looking back it seems that they have each gotten better. This one was easy to follow along with both timelines and was a book that I just didn’t want to put down while reading. Both characters were sympathetic and drew me in as I tried to figure out the connection on the very twisty journey.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you so much @Bookouture & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 18 June 2019)

SYNOPSIS | Stella & her boyfriend Jack have bought a large 8 bedroom fixer upper mansion overlooking the sea with the money that Stella inherited from her parents. One night, there is a banging on the door from Lori who arrives beaten & bloody and claims to be on the run from her abusive husband.

WHAT I LIKED:
- alternate timelines worked well to provide history & context

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- there was quite a number of plot points that just felt unresolved & ultimately irrelevant
- Stella's relationship with Jack felt extremely toxic and since the physical & psychological effects of abuse is a common theme of this story I am sad to see that this wasn't addressed
- Stella as a main character is naive, questionable & infuriating to read from
- that Stella has no concept of money or tracking expenditure (not really a qualm with the story but that's just a really terrible character trait for someone who is renovating a mansion)

Couldn't put this book down. I couldn't wait to find out who Lori really was and how the past chapters tied into the present day story. Plenty of twists and turns but I didn't expect the key twist. Very clever!

This book was disappointing for me. I loved Jess Ryder other books and even given them 5 stars. I just couldnt connect with the characters and the story. I really didnt get into it until the last 1/4 of the book which is really strange for me.Lots of other people loved this book but I didnt.

This is one intense, twisted, dark and addictive novel! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Compulsive, gripping and horrifying! Will keep you on the edge of your seat!

The Dream House (originally titled The Guest) was a book that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. From the first page it had me engrossed and kept my interest the whole way through. My only criticism was that some of the things that happened were a bit far fetched but it didn’t take away from my liking of this book.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I found the opening intriguing. The storyline was tense and had exciting peaks where dramatic events occur. This book teaches you about trust and whether gut instinct is right to be trusted, cohesive relationships and consequences at staying with an abusive partner. Sensitive themes were written well and a fabulous twist!
I will definitely be reading more by this author!

This book wasn't really my cup of tea, in respect of its horrific story lines dealing with child abuse and domestic violence. Regardless, I found it a very good read, and can't wait to read some more of Ms Ryder!
Recommended.

The Dream House by Jess Ryder
Publisher: Bookouture

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for the ebook ARC of The Dream House by Jess Ryder in exchange for an honest review.

Stella has just moved into her dream house with her boyfriend Jack. The Westhill house needs a lot of work though.
Then one night there is a knock on the door. Who could be at the door in the middle of the night? Its a strange woman, Lori who is bartered and beaten and in need of a safe place.
Lori tells Stella and Jack that Westhill house was a refuge for battered women.
Stella is sympathetic and wants to help Lori out while Jack is suspicous.

The story is told in two parts - Now and Then with two main characters, Stella and Kay. I give the book a rating of 4 stars. It was kind of slow yet still kept me wanting to read to find out how the story ends.
This is a psychological thriller that was previously titled The Guest.

This was a fairly good read.
Alot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming .

I felt something big was unraveling and that kept me reading, however it did seem to take a long time for anything really nerve wracking to happen, and when it did it fell about flat for me.

The overall story line I enjoyed but I expected a bit more from it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The dream house" gripped me practically from page one. It is a pretty well executed psychological thriller set in a location that helps to build the tension throughout the story. With dual storyline, past and present, both main characters are well drawn, but while I could empathize with Kay's character right from the beginning, with Stella was a bit more difficult, as I couldn't understand her fainthearted attitude for most of the novel. It's not till the end, when we get to know her complete backstory, that I could look back and try to make sense to some of her previous actions. While dealing with a very delicate subject, domestic violence, the author writes about it in a very respectful way not offering many graphic details in the abuse scenes.

Gripping thriller that will keep you turning the pages to a very satisfying ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stella and Jack are living in a dilapidated house they hope to fix up into their "Dream House". Stella opens the door late one night to an injured woman, Lori, who is seeking refuge from her abusive husband. Lori’s story doesn't add up and Stella is pushed to the brink of her relationship with Jack and endangers herself in the process.
I enjoyed this book - it was a quick, easy thriller!
Thanks to Jess Ryder, Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

You’ve just moved into your dream home, with the man you hope to spend the rest of your life with, Jack. It’s run down and neglected but you have huge plans to transform into a beautiful forever home. It’s your first night – stormy and wild, and you’re celebrating the rosy looking future with a romantic night camped out in one of the less delapitated rooms, when there’s a knock at the door. A battered and bruised woman falls into your life seeking refuge. What would you do?

That’s the situation facing Stella, and the decision she takes to help Lori will change her life and set in motion a sequence of events that not only puts her in danger but forces her to confront a past she’s been hiding from. Stella is shocked by Lori’s disturbing story of domestic violence and escape, and see’s helping her as a way to put right the mistakes she made and haunt her with guilt. But is lori really what she seems? And what secrets are lurking in the ghosts of Stella’s dream house?

The Dream House is an absolute page turner – a read in one sitting without looking up kind of book. Right from the beginning, Jess Ryder sucks her reader in with a compelling writing style and secrets burning to be unfolded.

The story is set over two timelines, and I was intrigued to know how they would come together. What does connect the stories is the theme of domestic violence, a tough subject tackled with honesty and grit. This is a dark story of manipulation, control and the lasting affects of a violent home on a young person. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I thought the author tackled it extremely well.

I love an old, creepy house with secrets buried in every nook and cranny and Westhill House certainly had those. The British seaside setting in the winter lends a fantastically eerie atmosphere and I could picture this huge old house vividly. Some of the plot seemed a little far fetched – I know I’d never have answered the door in the first place let alone allow a stranger to move into my home – but when I discovered Stella’s past and motivations it kind of made sense why she would do this. However, I was quite able to overlook this and was glued to this book for an entire afternoon. A fast paced, gripping read with a thought provoking theme, this is a perfect cosy afternoon read and I’ll definitely look out for more by the author in the future.

Stella and her boyfriend Jack just bought dream house which is a fixer-upper away from the city . One night, a battered and beaten woman Lori shows up at their door, begging for their help from her abusive husband. Stella offers her refuge for the night but Lori’s stay ends up longer and soon Stella is forced to make a decision between Jack and Lori.

The Dream House by Jess Ryder is a fast moving , domestic thriller.Told in two different timelines it comes together seamlessly at the end . An excellent psychological thriller with lots of secrets it takes you on a roller-coaster ride that does not let up.

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.