Alyssa is the big loser in life. Being placed in a position in society after marrying a millionaire businessman, she realizes she's accepted only because of that. When husband tires of her, Alyssa is left lonely in a big empty house, fearful of her soon-to-be ex-husband, and of being penniless again. A chance meeting with Bree who seemingly has no one or nothing either is the god-send Alyssa thinks she needs. Inviting Bree to live in her guest house, the two quickly become best friends before things start getting weird.

I like this author and other books she has written, but I struggled getting through this one. It dragged and seemed to not move forward in many places. I couldn't figure out if Alyssa was a very smart girl from the wrong side of the tracks who navigated her way up the social ladder, or if she was hopelessly naive and stumbled into a wealthy man's path. There were times she played the victim and seemed completely helpless, but then other times it felt like she was manipulating the situation and very much in control of what was happening. Jumping back and forth between those vastly different opinions of the main character made me start wondering if she was really the psychopath and engineering the whole situation. I sadly trudged through this book to the end because I kept waiting for that moment when the excitement would trigger and I would get engaged. I'm not done with this author - she is great in this genre. I just couldn't "click" with this one. I'll be ready for the next title!

This book had everything- the luxury, the scandal, the deciet, the suspense... I loved the characters even when they were unlovable and I enjoyed every second of this domestic thriller!!

Alyssa has been dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. She is terrified by what is ahead of her. She is certain that her ex is trying to discredit her and leave her with nothing. After the FBI shows up at her door, she becomes desperate to find a friend to help and support her. She finds such a friend who is involved in a dangerous relationship of her own. Alyssa is relieved, hoping they can share their fears and solve their problems together.
However, nothing is that easy and be careful what you wish for. The entire book left be on the edge of my seat and the twists and turns made it impossible to put down. There was a point that I thought I had things figured out but the ending was the twist that proved me wrong and left me with another enjoyable read.
Hank is one of the best thriller writers out there and I am always anxiously awaiting the next one.

I ended up DNFing this one. I could not get past the first 3 chapters where it felt like they were never leaving the bar. I just wasn’t jiving with it.

“Rule number one of finance, deny everything. And rule number two, deny everything.” -The House Guest

"The House Guest" by Hank Phillippi Ryan left me disengaged, struggling to sustain my interest as my thoughts frequently drifted elsewhere. The plot's foundation, built on the premise of welcoming a complete stranger into one's home, struck me as implausible, let alone a stranger actually accepting the invite, challenging the boundaries of believability.

The unconventional choice of a fake dog as an alarm system added a quirky element, but its effectiveness might be met with skepticism. The narrative's departure from realism in certain aspects contributed to a sense of disconnect.

Surprisingly, the last 10% of the book proved to be a silver lining, offering a more captivating conclusion. However, this redeeming quality couldn't fully offset the challenges faced in the earlier portions of the novel, resulting in a two-star rating.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and the author.

I wanted to like this book but I could not finish. I guess I'm not into psychological fiction There was nothing wrong with it nor the characters but this book was not for me but probably for other readers who like this type of book.

I’ve tried to read this book more than once, but I just can’t make myself get through the first couple chapters.

Thank you NG and Forge Books for an eARC of The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan. This was my first read by this author!

When one spouse gets all the friends in a divorce, what does the other get? A trip from the FBI, in Alyssa's case, and a seductive new friend, Bree. Can they solve each other's problems?

I love reads that keep me guessing - who's the cat and mouse in the story - and this one did. Twisted friendships and relationships galore!

Full disclosure: I received this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

Professional reviewers have given Ryan a standing ovation: "tantalizing," "a thrill-lovers treat", "masterful" and from Publisher's Weekly (the bible for reviewing) Ryan is a master of suspense."

Yes, Ryan improves with each work. I have read every novel, and most of her short stories. Noted for her cliff hanging chapters, and ambiguous endings, the House Guest is strengthened by Ryan's crystal clear description of her settings. The reader enters a universe, looks around and sees, and can hear and smell the place. I feel like I have lived in this world.

A thriller can take many forms. The House Guest is a cat and mouse game. Who is the perp? who is the victim? In the opening, we meet Alyssa Maccallan in a day darkened hotel bar. Hiding from the world, is Alyssa, terrified that she will lose everything in a nasty, nasty divorce. She loved him, was she no more than eye candy? Another woman, a stranger joins her; they begin chatting. She, too, is running from a perilous situation. One thing leads to another, Alyssa invites Bree into her home, just for the night, just to continue to share. The game begins.

Following the trope of 'strangers on a train', perhaps their problems might be solved if they switched with each other. Perhaps, Ryan leads us into a fast paced adventure, with Alyssa never quite sure who to trust. Is what is being said matching what is being done? Ryan knows and she is cagey. Oh my, this reader read. No dishes were washed, no laundry done, until the House Guest came to a very satisfying conclusion. Put down the dish cloth and pick up The House Guest.

Very highly recommended for lovers of thrillers and folks who enjoy New England settings.

I absolutely love Hank Phillippi Ryan. When I first read one of her books, I binged read her entire back list within a week. These books are easy to read and they hook you! This one is no different. I absolutely loved this one as well and can't wait to read more of her books!

While it took me a long time to finally read this one, I'm glad I finally did. It was good. I enjoyed the plot, characters and story line. It was truly full of twists and turns. I didn’t see the end coming, and was SO happy with the ending.

I definitely recommend this one!

Hank has created a likable, albeit naive character in Alyssa Macallan.

When her rich and devious husband dumps her, she finds herself adrift in a sea of uncertainty. His scheme to leave her penniless and socially isolated has her obsessed that she is being watched.

If you’ve ever ended a long term relationship, you know that “new” friends often help mold your new identity. This can be a great support as you gingerly forge that path. As long as you choose the right friends. Is Alyssa’s loneliness clouding her judgement?

Alyssa meets Bree at a bar. Also lonely, running away from an abusive relationship, and hiding out in a cheap hotel, she is a perfect project for Alyssa to save. She offers Bree the shelter of her guest house, and they quickly become trusted allies.

Suddenly, more people are showing up in the circle. An FBI agent, whose building a case against Alyssa’s husband, is threatening to file charges against Alyssa even though she has no clue that her husband is anything but a legitimate businessman. Bree bravely gets the courage to look at her ancestry results and discovers she has a brother named Dez. He quickly joins their group and offers to help both women.

There is the FBI agent. Bree is getting mysterious phone calls. There is an obvious connection between Bree and Dez. Things in her house seem out of place. Alyssa becomes unsure of everyone and everything.

This story builds up slowly, and simmers for a while. Once it starts going, there are many twists and turns; every time I had an idea who the “bad guy” is, I was wrong.

If you are a fan of @hankpryan and have not read this one, I highly recommend it. If you aren’t a fan yet, here is a good start!
Thank you! @hankpryan @netgalley @forgereads
#NetGalley #hankpryan #forgereads #thehouseguest

With divorce comes lots of changes, something that Alyssa is becoming quickly aware of. Her life with her soon to be ex-husband was one of wealth, privilege, and power, but Bill is determined to take from Alyssa as much of that as he can, and he isn't opposed to tricks and mind games to accomplish just that. Seems the FBI wants to take it all away as well, seeing as Bill may have come into his money by shady, and illegal, means. Alyssa has no one to turn to and is in need of a friend, one that isn’t part of their country club social circle. Going to a bar she doesn’t frequent, Alyssa soon finds herself sitting next to Bree, a woman trying to get out of a dangerous relationship. Not knowing what prompts her to do so, Alyssa offers Bree a place to stay–her guest house–but when Bree makes an offer of her own Alyssa isn’t sure how to react, or what to do.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

The House Guest was just ok to me. It took too long to get to the meat and potatoes of the story, and when it finally did it seemed like it went in so many different directions that it bordered on impossible, even for a novel. I found Alyssa to be almost boring and weak, even when I took into consideration her lifestyle. This one just didn’t do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this DRC.
Complicated and shocking, soon to be divorced Alyssa invites a woman she meets in a bar to stay in her guest house. Sounds crazy but in only gets more involved after that! Hank Phillippi Ryan led me through the maze of this book, to a fantastic and unexpected ending.

#TheHouseGuest #NetGalley

Ms. Ryan has written a thriller, with interesting characters and page-turning plot.
The House Guest questions the bonds of loyalty and friendship — who can be trusted and ultimately betrayal, This is a fast-paced, intriguing read
I kept turning the pages and it had me guessing right up to the end.

I think I liked the cover and blurb more than the book. I had high expectations because of those two things and my expectations just weren't met. The story was alright just nothing great.

This novel follows the life of a woman who is on the brink of divorce, and she doesn't know why. She meets a new friend who is down on her luck at a bar, and invites her to stay in her guest house rather than at the hotel. She figures it is a nice gesture that will be distracting.

Her friend soon gets unexpected news which plunges the women into a mystery that gets stranger and stranger. There are multiple twists and turns, and at the end, just when you think the mystery is over, something new happens.

I enjoyed the novel, but I felt that it seemed to drag on a bit near the end. It's over...but oh wait, there's one more thing....

Thank you NetGalley and TOR Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This psychological thriller kept me guessing all the way to the end! I binged it! Once I started I couldn’t put it down. This is my second book by this author that I have read. I am looking forward to going through her back list!

If you love a good plot with a lot of suspense and interesting characters then The House Guest is a great read. Lots of twists and turns, I really liked the attention to detail, Once I started reading I could not stop!

I didn't enjoy this one too much, sorry to say. I have a hard time with characters that make ridiculous decisions. The friendship didn't quite make sense to me. I wouldn't be revealing all my secrets to someone I only know for a few days. The story jumped around at times and I had to flip back to see if I missed something. The ending felt too predictable.