In the present, It’s time to make a change in Stella’s life so she decides to use the inheritance from her parents to purchase Westhill House and remodel it into her dream home with her boyfriend Jack. Stella spends all her time at the house in a construction zone with the contractor, Alan while Jack is working all day. One night as Stella and Jack are enjoying a dinner and some time alone, there is a knock at the door and a woman, Lori is standing there beaten, bloody and frightened. She states that she was give. this address by a helpline and was told that she would be welcome at any time. Westhill House was a women's’ shelter and was shut down a few years ago. Determined to make amends for the sins of her past and make her deceased parents proud, she vows to take Lori in and protect and care for her, much to the dismay of Jack who doesn't trust Lori and wants her out.
Another point of view in the story based in the past, in the 70s is told from Kay who was a teenage mother who survived domestic violence. She walks us through her life and the moment when she decided to leave.
These stories become intertwined and the transition is done beautifully. This story was interesting and kept me engrossed from the beginning.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

A story of domestic abuse and its ongoing repercussions is at the center of this story set in an old ramshackle home on the coast in England. Told in two different timelines, two separate stories of struggling women, which as every thriller reader knows, will converge into one in the last third of the novel. I thought I had some parts figured out but some were still surprising when they happen. I rushed through the last third as I had to know the ending. The characters are well written and we root for the women as their lives unravel. I recommend this book, not just as a thriller, but as a general warning never to underestimate or excuse the first time someone raises their fist, ever.

Stretched the imagination a bit, but overall, a good read. Interesting read and kept me guessing until the end

This was quite the mystery thrill ride! Many secrets, twists and turns keep this story move along at a fast and thrilling pace!

I really enjoyed this - slightly far fetched but not enough to put me off!
Told by 2 sides - Stella and Kay - past and present keeps you guessing the whole time.
Using her inheritance Stella buys a run down fixer upper that was once a women’s refuge. Late one night a battered woman knocks on her door seeking shelter!
Who is Lori? Who is Kay?
Really upsetting at times, like books about domestic violence are - but it is dealt with empathetically and with respect.
I really love Jess Ryder - so it was another big ✔️ for me. Can’t wait for her next one.

Just brilliant, loved every page, every twist and turn and I was gripped from the very first chapter. The style of writing I really enjoyed, especially how the story weaves from 1970 to the present day.

Overall this was a gripping psychological thriller with great characters and a satisfactory ending and I have no hesitation in recommending this addictive page turner.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I look forward to reading more from Jess Ryder in the future.

The Dream House relies on its character development and relationships to move the story forward. It is told in two timelines, one in present day through Stella's perspective and the other in the 1970s through Kay's perspective. It does a nice job of transitioning between the two timelines and merging them at exactly the right moment. I thought it was a good story with some thriller elements. 4 stars.

I loved The Dream House and it’s definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.
I read all new psychological thrillers and this one really stands out. I kept thinking that I had guessed the plot and it then threw something else at me. It’s one that I would strongly recommend to anyone and is worthy of 5 stars.

A very interesting, sad, thrilling tale. The author tells a story that is set in present day but reaches back into the 70s. Stella owns a home that used to be a halfway home for victims of abuse. One night, a woman knocks on the door, seeking help, not realizing that it's no longer a women's shelter.

Stella takes her in, much to the annoyance of Stella's boyfriend, and in doing so, sets about a whole chain of events leading back 40 years. What a difficult subject to write about. Yet handled so well.

Thank you to the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

I love love loved this story! I am usually good about predicting the twists and I was SURE I had this one figured out but man was I wrong. This story threw me for 100 loops. Super well done by the author. I truly enjoyed it and couldn’t read it fast enough!

For a most brilliant read I recommend The Dream House by Jess Ryder.

NOW: Stella lives with her partner, Jack. With her inheritance, Stella has purchased a former women's refuge house that begs for a lot of work to be done. Stella's goal is to have this become a large family house for her and Jack and any children that they may someday have. One night, a bruised and bloody woman, Lori, arrives at their door and they take her in (at Stella's insistence) for a night. Lori is a victim of domestic abuse, says Stella - Jack is not as compassionate. The timeline stretches out a bit...

THEN (1970's) Kay is living at her parent's house with her 4 year old daughter, Abigail. Abigail was conceived during a holiday in Spain when Kay was 15. Unmarried, and now with her child in school, Kay's parents think it's time for Kay to get a job. She does - at a stationary/card shop. While working there, she meets Alan: charming, considerate, handsome and gift-giving. Kay knows he is the one for her. She is hoping they can be a family...

Twisty roads take us through an intertwining story that perfectly melds both stories together. Without confusion, this story makes up for a great read ! Lots of unexpected turns ! All of the characters are well developed and they create plenty of suspense. I could not put this one down !!!

Superb read!!!

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a wonderful read.

I loved The Dream House (new title is much better as well!).

Stella has spent her inheritance on a huge run down house with aspirations to make it her dream house. A knock on the door one night and a domestic violence victim on her door step is all it takes to learn the house was previously a women’s refuge. But who is this woman?

Stella was a little naive but she’s a loveable character that I imagine readers will fall in love with and the storytelling is top notch! Some great little twists and I wad left reeling at the end.

A strong 5/5.

Totally gripping book that I couldn't put down. I loved Stella although I could have shaken her at times. Kept me guessing until the end, a real page turner.

This was a great read , I really raced through it searching for how the story from the past and the narrative from now were going to tie together . Stella has bought a house with an inheritance left for her by her parents , she finds out that it was used in the past as a refuge for victims of domestic abuse . One night a battered woman turns up , fleeing from her abusive husband , with , she says no where else to turn but she is not necessarily what she seems . The story in the past is told from Kay a young single mum who meets a charming man and think his her way to being respectable, she is soon brought down to earth with a crash . The domestic violence is not an easy read but essential for the story . Excellent 5 stars from me

This book was GOOD. This is my normal genre so I am always excited to find a book that keeps me guessing and keeps me up late reading! I finished this book in one day because I just had to know what happens. And I could not have predicted it. This is my first book by this author but I am so excited to read more of their work! Would definitely recommend.

I stayed up until 1 a.m. last night reading The Guest by Jess Ryder. This book was so good and I couldn’t go to sleep without knowing the ending!

What would you do if a bruised and battered woman showed up at your home and begged you for help? That’s what happened to Stella and her boyfriend Jack. They have recently moved into a former woman’s shelter and are in the midst of redoing the place. Its a work in progress and a construction zone, basically. Though the house is in disarray, Stella feels she cannot turn this woman away though Jack is immediately distrustful.

Jack keeps warning Stella that this woman, Lori, is probably not who she says she is but Stella wants to believe her and give her the help she needs. As tensions escalate, we start to learn more about Lori and about Stella’s past.

The writing was good, the story was addicting and the end was satisfying. I liked the premise and the setting which was England once again and everyone drinks tea all the time! You will want to make yourself a “cuppa” as you settle in with The Guest!

Order here– its under a different title and I’m assuming the US version is The Guest and the UK version is The Dream House. It’s $3.99 for the Kindle version.

This is a gripping psychological thriller set in the 1970s but its topic still has echoes in our present time.

Stella sets her eyes on her dream home on the beach of Kent. It's an old mansion that needs lots of renovations, and she sets out to fulfill her dream.
Stella's world is about to take a turn for the worse when one night a beaten woman knocks on her door thinking that the house is still the women's shelter it used to be in the past.

Stella let her in and tries to help her, but in doing so and unbeknownst to her, her good deed will unleash past horrors beyond her control.

A gripping albeit an unsettling read which deals with a difficult topic handled in a very sensitive manner.

Thanks Netgalley, Bookouture, and author Jess Ryder for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Gripping thriller set on the Kent coast in an old refuge for women. As Stella struggles to rehab the old manse, her relationship shows cracks and a stranger arrives in need of help. No one is who they seem to be and then the mystery unfolds. Original and well paced.

A really gripping tale. Jess Ryder weaves a story from the 1970's, a very different time for women into the present day, but those events of the 70's have tentacles that reach out to the present.

Stella is the new owner of Westhill House,a grand old house overlooking the beach in Kent. Its her forever home, it needs a lot of work, a whole refurbishment, but as soon as she saw the house she knew it was for her.

Her local builder starts to help with the renovations and Stella's dreams are starting to become a reality, until there is a knock late one night at the door, a young women, beaten and looking for refuge, mistaking Westhill House for the women's refuge it used to be.

Stella takes her in, but in doing so, unleashes the ghosts of the past.

Really enjoyed this book, a difficult subject dealt with respectfully.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book - this is my honest opinion,

When Stella and Jack move to Westhill House, a remote hilltop house on the Kent coast with stunning views of the sea, Stella feels their new home could be their new start.

But when Lori comes to her, desperate to escape her violent husband, everything changes. Stella, vulnerable after losing her parents in a terrible accident, is determined to help and takes Lori in.

Stella doesn’t mind when the night becomes a week, then a month. It’s no bother if Lori needs to borrow her clothes. But Jack wants to know why Lori is so comfortable at Westhill House, why she won’t go to the police about her husband, and he’s adamant she’s been going through their things.

Stella wonders why Jack is so suspicious, so edgy. An old gap seems to be opening between them, just when she’s beginning to agree that something doesn’t add up about Lori’s story.

Stella knows Lori isn’t the only one with secrets, but as she feels compelled to watch her boyfriend and her guest more closely, she finds herself asking: is she safe in her own home?

This was a very edge of your seat book. SO many twist and curves. I enjoyed the book, and would definitely recommend this for others.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy to review.