This was a book I could not finish. I was not a fan of the setting being during the pandemic- didn’t we get enough of that? I also thought Kelly’s character was ridiculous. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, but I anticipated a thriller and this did not deliver.

The summary of this book reminded me of some other similar books that I've read and enjoyed. Overall this book was a good read and I'd recommend it to others!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"The Spare Room" was the 3rd book that I have read by Andrea Bartz.
I found it to be edgy, twisty & addictive.
I can't wait to read what she decides to write next.

Set during the peak of the lockdown caused by the COVID pandemic, The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz is a riveting thriller that pushes boundaries and explores relationships. With its tension-filled narrative, unexpected twists, and complex characters, this novel takes readers on a suspenseful journey filled with dark secrets and dangerous desires.

The story centers around Kelly, whose life in Philadelphia has taken a nightmarish turn. Jobless, friendless, and trapped in a small apartment with her now-canceled wedding looming over her, she seizes the opportunity to escape when her childhood friend Sabrina and her high-profile politician husband Nathan offer her the spare room in their remote Virginia mansion. Kelly's newfound friendship with Sabrina reignites, but as she becomes more entangled in their lives, she finds herself drawn to both hosts in a way she never expected. A wild and unexpected threesome leads to the couple opening their marriage for her, plunging Kelly into a risqué world she initially embraces. However, when she discovers that the previous woman invited into their marriage is missing, she begins to question the true nature of her hosts and the dangers that may surround her.

Andrea Bartz skillfully creates tension and suspense throughout the novel and expertly navigates the complexities of relationships and the darker sides of human desires and motivations. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Kelly's past engagement and subsequent breakup with ex-fiance Mike contribute significantly to her vulnerability. Kelly is not only looking for a physical escape. She craves validation, connection, and attention, and these desires shape her interactions with Sabrina, Nathan, and others. Through her perspectives and actions, we witness the desperation and longing that drive her choices.

The dynamics between Kelly and the other characters in the story are fraught with tension and manipulation. As Kelly becomes entangled in Sabrina and Nathan's lives, her neediness leads her to seek validation through their attention and affection. The interactions between these characters are emotionally charged, and the author effectively captures the complexities and power dynamics at play. Things get even more complicated when Kelly finds out that Nathan and Sabrina's former partner has gone missing and the couple has been hiding details about the disappearance. Kelly unravels after finding out what really happened to Beth.

Bartz's writing style is engaging, with prose that delves into the intricacies of human emotions and desires. She paints a vivid picture of Kelly's internal struggles, allowing readers to empathize with her vulnerabilities and yearnings while acknowledging her desperation. However, while the portrayal of Kelly's need for validation is compelling, it occasionally dominates the narrative, overshadowing other aspects of the story. The focus on her desires may leave some readers craving more development in other areas of the plot and character dynamics.

While The Spare Room is an enthralling thriller, it is important to note that the novel contains mature themes and explores unconventional relationships. Some readers may find certain aspects of the storyline uncomfortable or unsettling. Additionally, the pacing occasionally feels uneven, with moments of slow build-up followed by sudden bursts of action.

The Spare Room
3.o stars
I would like to thank Ballantine Books and #NetGalley for the eArc of The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz. This book is hard to rate for me. When I was reading, I felt engrossed in the story and would keep reading to see where all this drama was going. But the next time I would pick up my Kindle, I wouldn't even remember what was happening in this novel. It did keep my attention, but just in my short term memory. I didn’t really see the twist that came at the end, but I think I just didn't care at that point. Somewhat interesting concept, but poor execution.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

⭐️⭐️

I’m so disappointed that I didn’t like this book. I love the cover, and I was super excited to get an advance copy (even though I didn’t read it until after it came out 😬), but this book and I just didn’t jive.

Kelly and her fiancé, Mike, are struggling through the pandemic, and Mike wants to put off rescheduling their wedding. Kelly decides to give him some space, so she goes to Virginia to stay with a high school friend, Sabrina, and her husband, Nathan. The entire first half of the book is focused on Kelly’s budding romantic relationship with both Sabrina and Nathan. Kelly is so insecure and annoying, and I just didn’t enjoy reading about the polyamorous trio for almost 200 pages of a 350 page book. It’s supposed to be a thriller, but took so long to get to the suspense that I didn’t even care by that point.

I've enjoyed other Andrea Bartz books, and was so excited to get my hands on The Spare Room early! I really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. Nothing really happened until the last ~25% of the story, and Kelly was an incredibly frustrating (and annoying!) narrator. I sped through the book because I had to know what happened, but I just didn't love or connect with any of the characters. It was a decent, quick read though and I'd definitely be interested to see what the author puts out next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I was really not a fan of this book. It took me a long time to read because I was just not motivated to pick it up. It is a thriller, but it didn’t start getting thrilling until the 70% mark. I was looking for clues that didn’t amount to anything and there were some scenes that I felt were totally unnecessary (i.e. hot tub). I didn’t like the main character, Kelly, at all, and I don’t think that was the author’s intention. Overall, I thought it was really a 2 star book, but I added a half star for the twist.

A surprisingly sexy closed-door mystery effectively using the pandemic backdrop to advance the story. What would normally feel far-fetched felt plausible in those strange lockdown times... I enjoyed the pacing and the characters, and the author was very successful in creating a likeability and mistrust of all of them. I figured the end would have one final twist, but I didn't see that one coming! This is my first book by Andrea Bartz and it makes me want to look at the rest of her titles, she certainly knows how to spin a tale!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars- I was really intrigued by the premise, but I’m afraid this just wasn’t for me. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.

soooo, this one was quite literally a dumpster fire…but I enjoy train wrecks so i just had to see how this one would play out. the author attempted to make this a “sexy” or “erotic” thriller (closed door) but everything felt cringy. the pandemic also played a role in this book but that timeline became confusing. the ending felt very messy and all in all the book was not for me. this book was NOT sexy and also NOT very thrilling.

This novel was pure chaos and I absolutely loved it.

Pros:
- Fast paced plot, easy to read, engaging characters, and you just want to know what happens next. Where is it all going???
- The layers here are really great, and lots of twists and turns that you don't necessarily see coming.
- Bartz provides a great general setting.
- I was here for the spice! Also, I really liked Nathan a lot, which I wasn't expecting.

Other Thoughts:
- The pandemic as a plot device kind of made me think this would be eventually pretty dated, however, it works at the moment.

*Note to publisher: I did post this review online on my Instagram Stories (@bookslibrariestea) and will post a static post to my grid at a later date.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Spare Room is not at all what I was expecting. I truly don’t know how to elaborate on this without giving too much away.

It is set during the earlier days of the pandemic. Kelly is going through some tough times with her fiancé Mike and their wedding has been indefinitely postponed. Kelly goes to stay with an old high school friend and her husband during lockdown after they reconnected via social media.

Things get weird. The relationship amongst the three of them changes. They may or may not be responsible for a young woman’s disappearance. Kelly makes several poor choices. You’ll question everyone and everything. It is very difficult to know who to root for, if anyone.

To give credit where credit is due, this is absolutely a page turner, and there’s a nice FYI at the beginning that nothing happens to the cat. I also appreciate the departure from the “unreliable female narrator” that’s so overdone in thrillers.

3 stars, I liked it.

Read from March 12-14, 2023.

Wow! This novel is a wild ride; it’s been a while since a book made me gasp quite like this one. I don’t think I was able to relax once during the entire story, and I loved it! The characters and story line are unique and will immediately pull you in; make sure you set aside time for this one, once you stop you won’t be able to stop.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the e-galley!

It's hard to describe my reaction to this novel.

The novel kept my attention--I read it in two days--but I can't say I'd recommend it. The protagonist was a major ditz, and by age 35, you'd think she'd know more. Moving in with strangers (she knew Sabrina in high school) during a pandemic? O-kay..... we all have our quirks.

The main characters are all drop-dead gorgeous but empty-headed. Not my favorite type of characters. The polyamory theme was fine, but never really developed other than showing the sex scenes. It would have worked better if the characters had had some depth.

I liked her last book, We Were Never Here, and looked forward to the this one and am sorry I didn't like it. I did love Virgo, the cat--my favorite character.

I debated over rating it. Is it three stars, or two, or two point five? Authors work hard and for that they deserve three stars at least. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

(posted on my Goodreads page)

This book was wild! I enjoyed the unique storyline and the questionable characters/unreliable narrator. It was very much a “can’t trust anyone” storyline. I wanted more thrill as I was reading- many parts were a bit for me. Still, it is not a story that I will soon forget!

I gave this book a few tries to get into, but unfortunately, it just didn't click with me. I've enjoyed other books by this author before, so I had my hopes up. Overall, I wasn't really feeling the storyline. I was expecting a true thriller, but instead it turned out to be a bit of a weird romance from the start, which didn't quite vibe with me. On top of that, the writing felt a bit confusing and choppy at times, making it hard for me to get into the flow. I'm sure there's an audience out there who would love this book, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Oh man this book was firey. The last quarter was absolutely wild. I see some reviews say the start was slow, and I totally disagree -- it was different, but interesting.

Kelly is totally unmoored after getting dumped in a new city during COVID. She reconnects with an old friend on Instagram and is soon living at her fancy house with her husband. The three start a relationship but Kelly can tell something is off, and she isn't sure who she can trust.

I thought the characters were interesting and the premise was fun. I will say -- I'm still just not enjoying when a book is set during pre-vaccine COVID. It's too soon! Or maybe I'll never be ready.

The Spare Room is a fun, quick, refreshing read perfect for the beach or by the pool. The mystery was just twisted enough, adult themed enough to set it apart from other books in this genre. Readers who enjoy mysteries will a little spice will really like this. Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the eARC - I enjoyed it! 3.5/5 stars.

This book was full of twist and turns. It constantly made me think I knew what was going on and then I was proved wrong. It was a little wild at times but I didn’t want to stop reading. Very unique storyline!