Wealthy Woman’s Deceptive House Guest

The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a psychological thriller that delves into themes of deception and trust. The story follows Alyssa Macallan, who is left devastated and isolated after her wealthy and powerful husband unexpectedly leaves her. Alyssa's life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Bree Lorrance, a woman running from a dangerous relationship. The two women become confidantes, and Alyssa offers Bree the safety of her guest house. However, as their relationship deepens, Alyssa starts to suspect that Bree might not be who she claims to be.

The House Guest excels as a psychological thriller, offering a gripping and immersive reading experience. Ryan's ability to weave a tale of suspense, combined with her nuanced character portrayals, makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre. Its strengths lie in its compelling plot and the intricate psychological dynamics between the characters. While some twists may seem foreseeable, the journey toward the climax is filled with enough surprises to keep readers engaged. Overall, The House Guest is a powerful exploration of trust, deception, and resilience, cementing Hank Phillippi Ryan's reputation as a master of suspense.

That's right my rating system doesn't take into account this rating. Well think of it like this. Some parts were a 4 and some were a 3. The pace went up and down the plot was far fetched BUT it had some great twists and turns I didn't see coming at all and I really enjoyed the ending. I can't have much empathy for rich people and everyone except one character is in this one which just didn't mesh well with me. It definitely was well written and it does leave me wanting to read something else by this author.

This was a fun one! I loved the character development and the interesting friendship between Alyssa and Bree. I feel like I didn’t know who to trust and who was genuine. This kept me invested in the story and when the twists came, I was shocked! I’m excited to read more from these authors!

From the first chapter, I was suspicious of everyone and as I kept reading, I wasn’t sure who to trust. It definitely kept my attention because I needed to know how it was going to end.
The ending was very satisfying because everything came to a head and wrapped up nicely.

I liked the idea, but the execution didn't do it for me. I'm way too introverted to be able to imagine chatting someone up in a bar, let alone inviting them to come stay in my house without knowing anything about them. I spent the first 80% of the book questioning all of Alyssa's actions, especially once she invited Bree and Dez to her beach house.

The author practically slapped the reader in the face with the red herring. I like my clues to be a bit more subtle! In the end the reveal was good, but felt a bit over the top and unfeasible. No spoilers here, but I'll go into it on my blog.

I'd give this author another shot in the future, but this one wasn't my favorite.

This book was just okay for me. It started off well and ended decent but the entire bulk of the story was monotonous and kind of boring. The dialogue was repetitive and there were even a few times when I had to double check that I hadn't already listened to the part that I was on because it sounded so similar to previous dialogue. Everything happened so fast and all at once at the end that it left the entire book -minus the very end- feeling lackluster.

As for the audiobook, the narrator was great and there were no issues there.

Love this suspense and the narration! Definitely a good listen! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC.

Few authors do glamorous thrillers better than Hank Phillippi Ryan. I did suspect the appearance of an ally when main character Alyssa needed one most was a little too convenient. But there were plenty of twists to keep the pages turning, including the big twist at the end that caught me off guard. Hank’s characters are well drawn, even the fluffy ones. Her books are always entertaining, and I read this one in two sittings. I highly recommend escaping into this book for a while.

"The House Guest" by Hank Phillippi Ryan, in its audiobook form, is an exhilarating listening experience that keeps you riveted from start to finish. This gripping thriller is skillfully narrated, enhancing the storytelling to create a dynamic and engaging audiobook.

The narrator's performance is a standout feature of this audiobook. Her voice is both expressive and evocative, capturing the nuances of the characters' emotions and delivering a powerful rendition of the story. The use of different voices for various characters adds depth and authenticity to the audiobook, making it easy to distinguish the diverse cast.

Hank Phillippi Ryan's intricate plot, with its multiple perspectives and layers of suspense, is masterfully brought to life through the narration. The audiobook allows listeners to experience the story from different characters' viewpoints, which intensifies the sense of intrigue and complexity.

The characters, brought to life by the narrator, are richly developed and multi-dimensional, making them feel like real people with their own motivations, secrets, and vulnerabilities. Their moral dilemmas and the intricacies of their relationships are expertly conveyed through the narration, adding depth to the narrative.

The audiobook's pacing is perfectly executed, maintaining a constant sense of anticipation and suspense. As the story unfolds and secrets unravel, the audiobook's narration keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth.

Overall, "The House Guest" in audiobook form is a thrilling and immersive experience. It's an excellent choice for those who enjoy psychological suspense and are looking for an audiobook that combines an intricate plot with compelling characters. Hank Phillippi Ryan's storytelling prowess, combined with the skilled narration, makes this audiobook a must-listen for anyone seeking a gripping and thought-provoking thriller.

Every time I thought I knew what was going on, another twist would come along and throw me for a loop!
Lyssa is lonely and lost after her husband leaves her! Scared and dreading going home alone, she goes to a bar for a drink where she meets Bree and invites her to stay in her guest house! Through unfortunate circumstances that brought them together, they become fast friends. Lyssa takes her under her wing and is determined to help Bree even while going through her own issues! Bree is so appreciative of Lyssa and wants to return the favor! All the events seem crazy as they happen one after another and gets confusing on who the good guys are!
Friendship and Resilience are what really makes this book shine! The twists are crazy albeit some unbelievable, definitely kept me on my toes!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Oh, Hank Philippi Ryan, how I love thee! After meeting her on tour, I discovered she’s not only outstanding at writing, but such a gem in person. This book is fantastic and not to be missed!

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.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

The audiobook was just ok as well. Part of that is due to the material itself–it's such a slow burn–but part of that was due to the narration itself. I just wasn’t gripped by the story and the audiobook didn’t help to draw me into the story. The pace was too slow (but then again I often find that with a majority of audiobooks) and there wasn’t enough inflection used to create any suspense or wonder.

"The House Guest" by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a suspenseful thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The plot revolves around a weekend getaway at a luxurious mansion, where secrets, lies, and hidden agendas lurk beneath the surface. The characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own motives and secrets, making it impossible to trust anyone completely.

Overall, "The House Guest" is a gripping and intricately plotted thriller that will satisfy fans of the genre. Hank Phillippi Ryan's storytelling prowess is evident, making this book a compelling and suspenseful page-turner.

This is a slow burn but entertaining mystery novel. I loved the narrator as she brought the story to life for me. The ending with all the twists will give you whiplash. Thanks NetGalley for the audio eArc.

he House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a cautionary tale of betrayal, friendship and the desires to belong.

Summary -

"....She stared at the pale place on her finger where, for eight years, three months and twenty-seven days, her wedding ring had been. A piece of jewelry the universe prescribes to indicate one is married, and happy, and off-limits. There was no piece of jewelry denoting sorrow, or confusion, or disequilibrium. Or fear. Now her once-welcoming home was empty; and when the nights got dark and long, it terrified her..."

Alyssa Macallan's world is set adrift when her wealthy and influential husband Bill leaves her. But it is not only her husband that has left her, but her status and friends and influence is gone as well. Now Alyssa is afraid that Bill is coming for her home and her money. He is going to leave her alone and with nothing left at all.

So when the FBI show up knocking on her door she knows that she is in deeper than she can imagine and she really is all alone. Alyssa can really use a friend.

Then in walks Bree Lorrance. Alyssa and Bree meet at a bar and over drinks bond in their collective misery. It seems like Bree has her own set of problems. A stalker is hunting her and it seems like her own past is murky. Alyssa decides to have Bree move in to her guest house where they can keep each other company.

But was it really just by chance that Bree and Alyssa met. Or is there something else guiding their friendship forward?

Review -

The House Guest is a slow paced tale that never really catches it stride. It does not really twist and turn or weave about, instead it moves listless on the current. Void of any true direction. The climax is weak, like the last five minutes of a 1970s cop show.

There are alot of stronger mystery novels on the market with female leads. This one is a pass.

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....

I found the narrator to be a bit monotone and sometimes my attention wandered.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review the novel. All opinions are my own.

Whoa!! That ending had so many twists that I think I have whiplash! The final quarter kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea what was true and what were lies.

Alyssa is a scorned woman spiraling downwards. Her wealthy husband Max has left her suddenly without explanation. While in a bar one night, drowning her sorrows, she meets Bree. Bree says she is escaping a toxic relationship. Alyssa feels compassion towards this stranger and immediately the two become fast friends. Alyssa won't hear of Bree going back to her dumpy motel and invites her to stay in her guesthouse. Before long, the two are confiding in one another, with Alyssa helping Bree navigate a potential inheritance, but is anyone actually sincere in their motivations? What if anything is really going on?

This whole story felt like one big rabbit hole. The reader is never quite sure who is the cat and who is the mouse. There are many uncertainties along the way. My biggest challenge was the enormous amount of internal and external dialogue. Too much for me. It sometimes seemed like I was listening to the same information over and over again as the MC replayed her incessant thoughts. This caused the pacing to stall and overall lessened the suspense. I just wanted to fast forward to the end to know what was going on.

The audio was average. Could it have been more animated? Sure, but it was solid.

I received an advanced audiobook from #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio in exchange for an honest review.

In this thriller, you are left at the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns that this one takes. No one is really who they seem - so who do you trust? A great read if you are into thrillers and suspense.

Great thriller 5 star read I was. Hooked from the very start to very end thought I had it figured out but was happily surprised! Most read

3.5 stars!
THE HOUSE GUEST is a cat-and-mouse thriller that had so many twists, and I really enjoyed!

It was the perfect entertainment after reading a few romances, and I really enjoyed the audio format, and thought the performance was great.

*many thanks to Forge/Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy for review