I love an unlikable protagonist done well, which I feel is a rarity in the thriller genre. El is an unlikable protagonist done well. I winced at her inner thoughts, bitchy and jealous and scheming, but I still wanted her to come out on top.

Man’s Best Friend follows El, an unsuccessful actress, as she infiltrates the world of her ultra-rich childhood friends via a relationship with Bryce, a middling, boorish stalker who seems to worship her. How far would you go to give yourself security? It’s a question many women have asked themselves in one uncomfortable relationship or another, and El’s answer is - far.

This novel is a slow build but worth it. Unlike other thrillers I’ve read this year, the ending felt earned. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

A book full of unlikeable people and a somewhat predictable plot keep this at a 3 stars for me. If I think about it too much longer, this might drop to 2 stars though. So I'll leave it at what I felt by the very end.

Also, the dog thing??

Man’s Best Friend, despite showcasing incredibly unlikeable characters and a narrative that sometimes felt rushed and disjointed, manages to be a captivating thriller deserving of praise.

From page one, I did not want to put this book down. The main characters, El and Bryce, (and pretty much every other character in the book) were about as self-centered and toxic as they could possibly be. But that somehow only seemed to make them more realistic and fun to read. El’s inability form a true, intimate relationship as a friend, daughter, or partner resonates with insecurities of not being good enough and adds a unique layer to the tension throughout the novel. Bryce, managing to be both charming and horribly icky, adds a feeling of discomfort that keeps the reader rooting for El even when they’d rather not.

There are also several plot points centered around dogs in this book. I found that some of these moments were distracting to the central story, but I absolutely loved the scene at the very start of the novel. I wish that the others would have been more similar to that. I really liked the dog/owner relationship parallel; I just wish some of it had been done a little differently.

Overall, I felt that the story progressed in a very predictable way. However, the author’s writing style is very lovely to read and I enjoyed every page of this book. I will definitely be recommending this to friends when it officially releases.

*Huge thanks to Alana B. Lytle, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in e-book format*

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

the story follows El, a misguided, bitchy, and lonely 29-year. after her father left and she and her mother moved to new york, she was introduced to how lower and high class people live different lives at a young age. an emotionally absent mom, self absorbed and toxic friends, El has a warped view on the world to the point that she falls for people too quickly and stays with them even if she's aware of how horrible of people they are while ridding herself of friends who actually wanted to stay with her.

El is deeply unlikeable, but in a way that made me want to continue reading. she doesn't try to make meaningful friendships or relationships, which many of her friends realized towards the end of the story. she's almost good enough. there were times i thought she was going to be a "good person" instead of this hurtful "bad person."

overall, the plot and writing was great. i didn't enjoy the dog references. i understood what Lytle was trying to do, but wasn't a fan as if felt too on the nose and like she was telling me instead of showing.

thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group and PUTNUM, and Alana B. Lytle for allowing me to read an ARC of 'Man's Best Friend'.

El is befriended by wealthy Anna and Julia when the girls are in eighth grade and El, enamored with their lives, works to keep the friendships going as the women move on to separate high schools, colleges and into adult life. At a birthday party for Julia in the Hamptons as the woman reach their late twenties El meets Bryce through a chance encounter. He contacts her when they return to the city and as El has recently given up her dreams of making it as an actor she is at loose ends; she immediately becomes deeply involved with Bryce. But is this relationship good for her?

Overall decent book but I have to admit that I don’t get the thing about the dogs. Maybe I’m just slow.

After being blown away by the subtle strangeness and complex morality of Absolute Best, Alana B. Lytle’s fabulous short story published in Guernica, and the explosive weirdness of Tadpole Smoothie, her contribution to the Netflix mini-series Brand New Cherry Flavor, Man’s Best Friend left this fan pretty disappointed. It’s not tense or suspenseful enough to be thrilling. The prose isn’t poetic or engaging enough to be considered literary. There are hints towards the surreal, towards a present that not quite like our own, but it never goes far enough to be categorized as speculative. While it might find its place on your shelf as an exercise in breezy escapism, it doesn’t have the stakes of a good thriller or the ambition of a literary work.

I loved this thriller because it had enough aspects of a regular fiction story while also capturing me in the mystery. Not to spoil but my favorite part was the end because who’s really the antagonist now? (Insert my own laugh just like El’s to Julia’s reaction at Anna’s memorial).

I was not able to finish. It was complex and difficult to stay connected to, nor did I want to.
Just not my cup of tea, unfortunately
Great cover tho!

I enjoyed certain parts of this book and then other parts were just okay. I found El’s character to be be a little unlikeable at times. The premise itself was interesting so I definitely was invested in the story to see what was going to happen at the end.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm not sure how I feel about this novel. It was intriguing and the characters were complex but I just didn't feel much.

I struggled to get into this book. It's such a slow book and El was just someone I cared enough to want to know more about.

The book continues on as you're introduced to new characters and I again didn't care.

The writing fell flat for me. It just seemed to ramble too. I was confused how the beginning jumped into a dogs pov and then I blinked and that was over.

I was really confused by the start of this book when it took on the perspective of a dog. I even came back to the book summary page to see if I had misunderstood the premise of this book or maybe even dowloaded the incorrect book (none of which checked out). As I finished, it abruptly switched perspectives and dove into the main part of the book which kind of dragged on. El annoyed me immensely and I honestly wanted to throw away this book as a waste but something kept me glued and before I knew it I was fully immersed in El's journey. It's this weird path that meanders but it ensnares you completely. I was very satisfied with how El was able to come out a victor in the end and emerge seemingly as a new woman. Great read despite the slow start!

I loved the way this book was written, but felt it was a little predictable. The main character didn’t feel flushed out enough and not in a “she doesn’t know herself so I don’t know her” way, more a not a complete thought way. I also wish the connection between the dogs / man’s best friend was made a little clearer. It didn’t completely fit the narrative. I enjoyed the book and finished it quickly but wouldn’t reach for it again!

Poor El! A character with a sad life and not many prospects or positivity in life. I think the authors purpose was to dislike El. The character development was underwhelming. The story line was okay. For a book with a title referencing dogs, I wish there was more dog content.

It was good, but I still wanted to like it more. I found the story to be rather mediocre and predictable. The characters, however, were interesting enough to keep me reading. Writing an unlikeable protagonist isn't easy, but the author pulled it off perfectly.

3.5 stars for this one.
El is a 29yo directionless, hurt, and...just bithcy lady, dealing with certain self realizations about life and relationships. Failed friendships, an icky relationship, abandoned father, barely there mother all have made El into a sad lost girl.
I loved the writing and the character development of most characters. I really enjoyed disliking El. The decisions she makes, her calculated actions fueled by her failed acting skills, her impulsive thought process all make her the toxic being of her circle. Her boyfriend, Bryce, being just as bad, gave me the major ick!!!
The reason I didn't rate this higher is because the story itself was kind of meh. Even tho there was even a murder thrown in there. Meh.
I didn't understand the sprinkled in dog references to appease the title...? Maybe it went over my head.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.

Not bad for a first novel. I will admit I got a little confused at certain point of the book. But eventually it all came together is a good way. I will definitely being following this author.

Great Read, with the right amount of twist to keep you guessing!

A well written debt, but one with an unfortunately middling middle and anticlimactic ending.

El isn't a likeable character but she's a compelling one.

I found the ending so underwhelming that it definitely detracted from the novel for me.

I finished this while wanting more from it - more of a fleshed out plot and characters, more of an ending, more questions answered, more ends tied up, just more.

However, I enjoyed the writing and do plan on checking out future work by this author.



Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the DRC

Wow, this book was a roller coaster. I can't believe this was a debut novel! As someone with a family member similar to El, this book hurt me. I think anyone who can relate will understand. This book confused me at times but I think I was the issue. This was one of those books where all the characters are so unlikable that it kind of works. I will definitely be reading more books by Alana B. Lytle.