Once again Hank Phillippi Ryan, outdone herself with this twisty-turning book~ She just keeps on getting better and better, highly recommend it.

Alyssa is a very wealthy woman (because she is married to a very wealthy man) but that man has just left her. Alone and wondering what her future holds, she ends up meeting a woman at a bar, and like she’s a lost puppy, takes her home.

Bree is running from an abusive relationship, so the chance to live in Alyssa’s guesthouse ended up working out well for her. Soon though, Alyssa is wondering if it was smart to let a stranger she met at a bar live with her, but what’s done is done.

That’s when things just got weird. A man named Dez soon enters the picture, a couple of bank accounts worth millions of dollars pop up, and Alyssa has Bree and Dez offering to kill her soon-to-be ex-husband. To say this book has twists really isn’t the right word; these are more like turns, and they didn’t always make sense.

I’ve seen a lot of four and five star reviews for this book, but to me it was just average. The beginning was pretty good, the ending was decent for what needed to be wrapped up, but the rest of the story was rather generic. This was a very slow read, and it was hard to be compelled by any of the characters, because they all seemed so one-dimensional. Three stars for a story that wasn’t awful, but just didn’t do it for me.

(Thank you to the Tor Publishing Group, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be published on February 7, 2023.)

Thank you NetGalley, Forge Books, and Hank Phillippi Ryan for the advanced copy of The House Guest in exchange for my honest review.

I'll keep this brief and just say this book unfortunately was just not for me. I felt it was pretty obvious what was happening the whole book, and I had a hard time with the various friendships and conversations that occurred. Everything felt just a little forced.

I will still not hesitate to read anything by this author in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Tor/Forge, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Hank Phillippi Ryan and wonderfully narrated by Stephanie Willing - 5 twisty stars!

Alyssa Macallan is feeling depressed - her wealthy husband has left her and she fears that he is plotting against her in the divorce proceedings. She stops in at a random hotel bar for a drink where she meets Bree, also in fear of a man; in this case, an abusive ex-boyfriend. The two commiserate and Alyssa invites Bree to stay in her guest house. Alyssa finally feels less alone and has someone to confide in. Then the FBI show up at the door and everything changes.

This is the ultimate cat-and-mouse thriller - my head was spinning with all the twists and trying to decide who was trustworthy and who wasn't. While reading and listening to this book, I did plenty of eye rolling, questioning Alyssa's behavior; however, it was a fast-paced, well-written book that checked all the boxes for me for pure entertainment. Don't miss this one!

When Alyssa meets Bree at a hotel bar, both of their lives start to change. Is it coincidence or is something else going on? Super-rich Alyssa is dealing with an emotionally abusive soon-to-be ex husband and is eager to help down-on-her luck, Bree. But is Bree who she says she is? There are too many unanswered questions and coincidences to make the reader wonder: “What is really going on here?” Lots of twists and turns. Enjoyable read. Recommended.

I found the House Guest to start off a little slow but it moved and moved and just took off. A rich trophy wife who has it all who out of no where her husband leaves her.. when Alyssa makes. New friend in Bree she lets her stay on her guest house. There’s so many twists. And then a major WHOA ending . Also a Huge thanks to Hank and the first chapter fun.

This was the first read by Hank Phillippi Ryan and overall I enjoyed the book. It was a very slow build but once it started moving I wanted to find out more. There were so many lies, deceit, gas lighting and manipulation that ultimately lead to a decent plot. I could not get over how naïve Alyssa was inviting a perfect stranger into her house and having blind trust in that person. That naivety carried on through the book and it thought it was a little unrealistic. Nothing is as it seems and the ending was nice.

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator, Stephanie Willing did a good job!

***** Many thanks to Tor/Forge Books, Macmillan Audio, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and NetGalley for the gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.

I really liked this book!! At first it was a bit slow and I was wondering what was going to happen but it became really good. I didn’t guess the twists at the end at all or the double twist! This was a good thriller and well written. Loved the ending

Hank Phillippi Ryan continues to bring it with yet another amazing 5-star read. Alyssa Macallen's privileged life is falling apart when she befriends a young woman in a suburban hotel bar. Alyssa invites Bree to stay at her Weston guest house and tries to help her move forward. Then an unexpected huge financial windfall changes Bree's life. Manipulative mind games occur between Alyssa, her estranged husband Bill, house guest Bree and financial advisor Dez. It is not clear who is watching who, who is setting a trap, and who is telling the truth.
Twists, turns and a phenomenal ending, Hank Phillippi Ryan never disappoints!

Thank you to Forge Books and Netgalley for an advance review copy.

I really like this authors style and I've read a few in the past. This one definitely did not disappoint. There was so much back and forth suspicion that it was hard to tell who I could trust. The main character almost seemed a bit too naive and too trusting so I was wary the entire time. I really liked the ending to this and thought the letter half of the book was very exciting. I do wish there was a bit more development between the ladies before Brees attorney got involved because I think that would have made the relationship a bit more believable. Overall though, I enjoyed this and thought it was definitely worth the read. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hank Philippi Ryan always delivers! Her psychological thrillers are always a treat to read and The House Guest certainly kept me on my toes until the very end.

This is a story of 2 women, Alyssa and Bree. They meet in a bar when they are both having a rough time of things. Alyssa takes pity on Bree and invites her to come stay in her guest house until she gets back on her feet. She is happy to help and could use the company after her husband left her, a move that she did not see coming. But both women have their secrets.

There is so much going on with this book… friendship, trust, love, money, lies, deceit, betrayal, and so much more. Thriller lovers will devour this one like I did.

A big thank you to Macmillan Tor for my advanced copy to read from a NetGalley. An absolute page turner

This one sounded really interesting to me and I had never read anything from this author before. The story was well-rounded with good development of the characters, but it just seemed too wordy for me. There was so much fluff that the story became uninteresting and I just wanted it to end.

Alyssa is going thru a divorce and meets a woman at a bar who is having problems with a boyfriend. Alyssa moves her into her guest house. Was it a chance meeting? All is not what it seems. This is a slow moving book until about 3/4in. I ended up skimming parts of the book. There were some twists but it wasn’t my favorite by this author. Thank you tonet galley for an advanced readers copy.

This wasn’t my favorite Hank Phillippi Ryan book ever but it was decent with a lot of unexpected twists and turns that will keep readers surprised.

Absolutely a great suspense book. You never truly know who to trust. 10/10 recommend this book. This one I read In one day. It was great!

A tense story which proved without doubt that money cannot buy everything - especially peace of mind!

I really wanted to love this book. It was on a list of best thriller of the new year. Alyssa meets a girl at a chance meeting at a bar. Is it on purpose or just a coincidence? Alyssa is a soon to be divorced to a rich husband who has some shady dealings. She moves the friend Bree into her guest house. What is to come was slow to be revealed and I found myself wishing that it would end. It just wasnt a satisfying page turner that I had hoped.

My first thought after reading Ryan’s latest psychological thriller was - what a movie this would make! Ryan, a master of twists and turns , has stepped it up another notch. I had to stop counting the number of times I “figured it out”. So many unconnected pieces, until they did connect - but not till the end.
The characters are so real- Alyssa, who has just been thrown unexpectedly aside by her wealthy and influential husband with no explanation. Bree, - a woman also adrift in life that suddenly has left her with no purpose - or place to live .
After chatting at a bar, the two strike up a kinship which leads Alyssa to offer Bree a temporary stay at her
guest house.
With so many secrets between them, Will they become friends? Frenemies ? Adversaries?
So many zig zags that keep readers guessing and guessing..
No surprise that Ryan can spin a compelling story,, but also to me it’s the way she tells it . Her use of language, her descriptions and insights are the true test of a gifted writer. Brava !
Fabulous read - don’t miss this one - and again,, what a movie it would make !

Thanks to NetGalley, Forbes, and Ryan for the opportunity to read and review.8 Thanks

I read and listened to this one!! It is a very compulsive read!! Hank takes the reader on a wild ride!!

Alyssa and Bree meet in a bar. They are both going thru a lot and Alyssa invites Bree to come stay at her house.

This book is full of secrets, twists/turns, and the reader needs to hang on for the thrilling ending!!

Highly recommend this book!!

Hank Phillippi Ryan has done it again! I absolutely loved “The House Guest”. I was hooked from the very beginning until the end. There were lots of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you've figured it out there's another twist. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happened. The characters were complex and well rounded. I immediately become intrigued with the bond Alyssa and Bree were forming. It is definitely a quick read with lots of dialog. The beginning was a bit slow but once you get hooked, you're hooked to the end. Everything ties out quite nicely by the end of the book which I didn't think was going to be possible with all the different scenarios happening. I thought there would be many unanswered questions, but Hank Phillippi Ryan manages to pull everything together. Thank you to Hank Phillippi Ryan, Netgalley and Forge Books for an ARC.