This book is a disappointing read, with flat characters and a predictable plot. The writing lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the story or its themes. The pacing is slow, and the narrative never quite captures your attention. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver anything truly memorable.

3 stars.*

This book was a bit of a conundrum for me. I really wanted to like it. But it seemed like two books in one and I could not for the life of me figure out why they were in the same jacket.

Part of the story was about dogs leaving their humans.

The other part is about a young, directionless woman who essentially gives up her life for a rich, soulless partner. She has many opportunities to make good decisions but she chooses his money and a lifestyle, even without friends and a connection to her family. It was just weird for me.

*with thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

A true page turner for me I was drawn in from the first pages.Looking forward to reading more by the author.

Man’s Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle is a gripping debut that delves into the complexities of desire and the price of luxury. The story follows El, a struggling actress who becomes entangled with Bryce, a wealthy trust-fund grad. As El surrenders her life for the allure of wealth, she uncovers unsettling truths about Bryce and herself. Lytle skillfully combines suspense and surreal elements, creating a thought-provoking narrative that will keep readers hooked. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that explore identity and ambition, this book is a must-read!

I really wanted to like this but it read like a trashy magazine to me and I couldn't connect with the characters.

The story is neither suspenseful or compelling; this is not a mystery or thriller. The narrative was boring, tedious, filled with unlikable characters

This twisty thriller was one I couldn't put down! Perfect weekend read and will have you remembering to be careful what you wish for. Everything has a price...

Man's Best Friend was an eerie, slow-burn thriller that pulled me in with its surreal blend of suspense and the unsettling dynamics between main characters El and Bryce. From the start, I was intrigued by El’s desperation (and sadly related to it)- her longing to recapture the feeling of being “chosen,” even if it meant overlooking some pretty disturbing red flags. I found El’s character fascinating in how she rationalized and accepted Bryce’s increasingly bizarre behavior. The blurb mentioned this was similar to a favorite of mine, Nightbitch, and it did remind me a bit of that with its themes of identity and obsession, though it also had a strange, almost fantastical edge, especially as Bryce’s darkness unravels. There’s something unnerving about how easily El slips into her new life, letting go of herself for the sake of wealth and security, and watching her navigate those choices had me hooked.

While it’s not a fast-paced thriller like I usually go for, the slow, creeping suspense paid off for me. It’s one of those books that made me think about how far someone might go to feel wanted and how easily that can turn into something dangerous. I really enjoyed how strongly character driven this was and I felt it was well worth the read!

This is a really solid thriller! it's not doing anything super new, which is the big tipping point for thriller with me between a 3 star read (enjoyable), to a 4-5 star read (i will remember and think about this book after i finish it).

While this book intrigued me, based on the description, it didn't quite work for me. I didn't connect with the story, which is more a me problem than a problem with the book, so you can take my review with a grain of salt.

One of the most striking features is its metaphor about a dog and its master, which reflects El’s relationship with Bryce. However, this metaphor feels overused and heavy-handed, making the theme of control less subtle than it could be. The constant comparison takes away from the emotional depth the story could have had.

Also, the narrative lacks cohesion. While the plot promises suspense and psychological drama, some elements feel underdeveloped. Character motivations and backstories aren’t explored as deeply as they could be, leaving certain parts of the story feeling rushed or disconnected. This lack of development makes it difficult to fully invest in El’s transformation or the darker aspects of her relationship with Bryce.

Despite these shortcomings, it does have its captivating moments and offers a unique take on toxic relationships. It’s a decent read for those looking for a light psychological drama, but it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential.

I wanted to love this so badly but it was lacking in so many areas that are hard to ignore.

I don’t mind an unlikeable protagonist but El was severely bland, annoying, making poor decisions & generally void of personality which I think was the point but made for a very rough reading experience. Bryce was exactly the same; he had no personality. He was not charming, not funny, not romantic. He was a complete creep from the beginning so when the “twist” happened I was not shocked in the slightest.

The first 80% was meant as build up for the twist but absolutely nothing of even a little interest happened. There was no tension building so when the ending happened I genuinely just felt relief. I don’t mind a book with no plot but you HAVE to have compelling well written characters and this book didn’t have that.

I will say the writing was decent and very easy to read. I just wish the story was better.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher.

This was a pretty quick read but I had mixed feelings about it. Bryce really didn’t seem that bad and a lot of El’s responses to his behavior didn’t seem to fit the situation. El isn’t really a likable character but you also don’t hate her. She’s just a little bit boring. Her personality felt confusing - she was supposed to be the sad single 30 year old who gave up her dream of being an actor but was also described as confident and independent. It felt contradictory. The introduction of her 2 sets of friends from college and middle school didn’t really flow and felt clunky. The parts about her dreams weren’t necessary and the ending gave you nothing.

The depth of this book was leaps and bounds above any phycological thriller that I've read in quite some time. We have a young women's journey to get what she feels she deserves (wealth and all that comes with the lifestyle). It's filled with dark humor. I will say that it's a slow burn, but stick with it. You won't be disappointed. The canine perspective was well done and the story in a whole is thought provoking.

The story is unremarkable but serviceable, what didn't work was the sad, nearly cartoonish attempt to make a canine adjacent leitmotif. That effort reads like a high-school composition essay gone terribly awry.

I really enjoyed this book. The title didn't make a lot of sense to me, but it was written beautifully and a super interesting story.

Man's Best Friend was a really interesting and engaging read. I appreciated the character exploration and would read more from Lyttle.

Man's Best Friend follows El, a late-20s failed actress living in NYC who abandons her current life for the allure of a luxurious lifestyle with Bryce, a wealthy but mysterious man. As El becomes entrenched in Bryce's world, one that she had only dipped a toe into as a child, she faces unsettling and surreal events that force her to confront the dark truths about him and herself.

I love complicated stories involving complicated women, and I can totally see what this book wanted to do—woman who has always been a doormat to others in her life finds her inner strength, determination, and viciousness to finally take ownership of the world she deserves—but, for me, it missed the mark in almost every way.

I feel in order to make this storyline work there must be depth. Depth to the characters, their motivations, their inner turmoils. Depth to the metaphors introduced (what was up with the first chapter and the dogs throughout?? again, didn't do what it wanted). And depth to how the book connects with the reader. But, El and her journey remained largely superficial throughout.

More so, this book reminded me of why You is so successful. Here, you also have a man obsessed with making/keeping a woman as "his". BUT, Joe Goldberg is wildly attractive, charming, and super intelligent, so we as audience members have to work past his enviable "It guy" qualities to understand none of that matters because he is evil, a murderer, and a psychopath. In Man's Best Friend, Bryce is just a loser. He's rich beyond comprehension, but is unattractive (even to El), desperate, and weak. Major incel vibes. Ew.

Less than positive review aside, I like the premise of the book. With deeper character development and a more nuanced exploration of its themes, Alana B. Lytle has the potential to craft a truly compelling narrative. I hope her future works show more rigor and critical analysis, as I believe she can deliver a story that fully realizes its ambitious goals.

I really enjoyed this book! Interesting premise, beautiful prose, would definitely recommend to friends/family.

This was an interesting read, I don’t really get how the title connected to the story. The main character was obsessed with being a part of the in crowd and having money but meets someone who may or may not be someone who hurts others but she chooses to ignore it.