The Perfect Housemate by Lorna Dounaeva was an interesting thriller/suspense novel. It most certainly had all the basic requirements for a thriller. Suspense, mystery, drama, and even a murder.. but for some reason, it just didn’t tick the boxes of a psychological thriller, at least for me.

June and her roommates Kimmy, Flick, and Tamsin decide they need to bring in a 5th roommate to help cover expenses. Poppy, sees their add, and comes to the house. She decides to move in and at first everything seems okay. But soon, Poppy seems to have it out for June, and a rivalry ensues. Just how far does Poppy and June take their pettiness and need for revenge against on another? You’ll have to read to find out.

There is a pretty cool twist at the end of the novel, I definitely didn’t see it coming. However, the ending just didn’t do it for me. Without giving any spoilers, I’ll just say I don’t understand the ending and it had an incredibly subtle end. The only way I think it could make sense is if the author is planning to make a sequel?

All in all, it’s still worth a read, it’s just not “psychologically thrilling” in my opinion.

within reading the prolouge i thought this was going to be one of those books were you immediately were able to guess what would happen. i was thankfully mistaken. i loved the background, random yet meaningful twists, and subtle hints throughout the book. it was really well done and gave me one of those aha moments i always strive for in thrillers.

This was a roller coaster! Never a boring moment.

It all starts when some roommates decide to make room for one more. That’s when everything starts to go downhill for June.

We find out some juicy information about the roommates as we navigate chapters, so the reader is always wondering, “Who is doing all of this crazy stuff?”

I liked the dynamic of having several people in one house so it wasn’t easily guessable (at least at first). I liked the quirkiness of June’s character, and her not-so-innocent backstory.

Once some key information is revealed, that’s when I knew who was behind everything. It was pretty obvious, but it was also a little shocking as to what was REALLY going on, as well.

I did not enjoy the last few pages. It seemed weird and unnecessary with everything else (so, so much) that went on in the book.

I will post this review on my Instagram account for the blog tour on March 31.

From the minute I saw this book I knew it would be good and let me tell you it did not let me down it was absolutely superb. The pace is fast and it is full of suspense which really makes you hooked. It is full of twists and turns you will literally gasp at some of them. A really brilliant bunch if characters. Will definitely be reading more from this author in the future as they definitely know how to write a best seller.

The Perfect Housemate by Lorna Dounaeva was a solid read. I like a lighter suspense novel in between heavier reads or to get out of a reading slump and this was perfect for that kind of mood. It kept me engaged from start to finish and I always appreciate a roommate situation gone wrong. This was a fast-paced, quick read!

Synopsis:

You let her in. You shouldn’t have…

I was so nervous about someone new joining our house share; after everything that happened with my parents, my friends are like my family. Our imperfect but well-loved house is the only place where I can be myself. But when Poppy knocks on our door, blonde hair, wide eyes and a friendly smile, we all agree she’s a perfect fit. I just wish I could shake the feeling that I’ve seen her before…

At first, everything runs smoothly. But one day, Poppy arrives home with my housemates in tow. She says she ‘forgot’ to invite me to the movie. My stomach drops. As she sidles up to my friends, I’m gripped by a familiar panic. If Poppy is from my past, will she turn my friends against me? Will she tell them the secret I’ve so carefully buried?

I feel like Poppy’s watching my every move. My home used to be the place where I felt most comfortable. But as she places a delicious home-cooked meal in front of me, I don’t even feel safe eating here.

I have to find out who she really is, and what she wants.

And when I do, will she realize too late which one of us is truly dangerous?



Out on March 28

Wow! This book was so good! As I was reading the book, I wasn’t a fan of Kimmy. June didn’t trust Kimmy. We end up learning that June knew Kimmy and Kimmy knew Junes secret. Who can be trusted? Who’s messing with June? I can’t believe how good this book was. I really believed Kimmy was terrible, until the end. I can’t wait to read more books by Lorna! You won’t want to put this book down. I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you Lorna, NetGalley and Bookouture for ARC!

I thought this was a great book. It was full of suspense and surprises with each turn of the page. I enjoyed the progression of June's past and the long term friendship between June and Kimmy. I also really enjoyed the development of the storyline with Poppy and her moving into the house as their new roommate. I loved how the book would switch from past to present to get the full background of all the characters. I would love to read more books by this author and would
recommend this book to all of my friends.

Fast-paced thriller! The group of roommates needs more money to pay the bills so they take on another roommate. She is invasive and you won't see the twists coming! This was a great read that kept me guessing!
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for access to this e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Perfect Housemate by Lorna Dounaeva due to be published March 28, 2024.
I had previously read The Wife’s Mistake and loved it so was excited to read this one!
Flick, June, Tamsin, and Kimmy are strapped for funds and are desperate for a new housemate to share the cost. They ready their basement and place an ad. When Poppy answers the ad they agree she is perfect, but June has a feeling she has seen her before. When she starts to “steal” June’s friends from her she really gets suspicious. Is she a friend or an enemy? Is June safe in her own apartment?
This one had me hooked from the beginning – I couldn’t wait to see how the housemate situation turned out. There were lots of twists I didn’t see coming – ending with a shock!
I loved it – highly recommend this one!

#NetGalley #LornaDounaeva #Bookouture #ThePerfectHousemate

what a fantastic read - loved the twists and turns. Edge of the seat. i read it in less than a day. EXCELLENT PLOT. highly recommended.

Omg. What did I just read??!!!!!! This was one gripping piece. Such a thrilling ride. Twists and turns. Plots and friendemy…… is that a word? 😂 don’t wait read this now.

A tense and gripping thriller with plenty of twists that will keep you hooked to the end. A great plot line and characters that I could get completely invested in. I found this book impossible to put down and read it in a day. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

Bills are tight for everyone, June and her friends are no exception. When they decide to bring on another roommate to help with the mounting debt, Poppy seems like a logical choice. All of Junes friends are thrilled with the new addition and Poppy soon falls into stride...with everyone except Poppy. As events escalate and the drama thickens June is soon feeling like an outsider in her own home. Is she crazy? Is Poppy seeking to destroy June?

The female "frenemy" toupe is so strong in The Perfect Housemate and I'm here for it. The pacing is fast through most of the book but some character development falls flat at the end. While it is a fun and exciting read I feel like the ending was a bit rushed and on a bit of a cliffhanger. If you're in the mood for a wild, moody, bitch fest to have any semblance of drama in your life (me) this is a book you should pick up!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookature for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

June and her housemates were nervous about bringing in another roommate into their shared house. They were like a small family sharing a place where they could relax and be themselves after a long day at work, but rising expenses necessitated their having to bring in another person to share their living expenses. When Poppy answered the ad and visited the house June was taken by her energy and enthusiasm. She had wide expressive eyes and a smile that suggested she would fit in with the group and be a lot of fun to have around. The group agreed and Poppy moved into their newly renovated basement apartment. Despite her relief that they found a suitable new roommate, there was something familiar about Poppy that June couldn’t place, and it wasn’t a good feeling.
Things went well for a while until Poppy began arranging events with the other housemates, leaving June out. She was constantly watching June’s every move. June felt she was in danger and had to find out who Poppy really was and why she was targeting her.
This book is an absolute page turner with twists and turns you could never imagine and an ending that is both explosive and shocking. So, fasten your seat belt and make sure your lights are on because you are in for an amazing ride.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I love a good thriller and ones that involve friendship and jealousy always pique my interest. Thrillers are quick reads for me, and this one was no different. I look forward to learning more about this author and reading some more by her.

Holy cow!!! What a ride!!!

I loved this book, the writing style, the plot, twists and turns just amazing !

This author is beginning to be a favorite!!! Will recommend this author and book to everyone!

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

* spoiler alert ** I need to say that I like this author. I've read some other books by her and enjoyed them. This was going to get an entire different rating until the end of the book. This is really 2.5 stars but I did round up for the rest of the book.

So, we have June living with her housemates in a house. The girls are reviewing the monthly bills and can no longer afford food etc., so the decision is made to take on another roommate. They find Poppy. June is a very neat and tidy person, and is very vocal on what she thinks is right and wrong. She despises the junk food her housemates eat, so she usually cooks for them. Soon after Poppy moves in things begin to change. June feels like Poppy is trying to turn the other girls against her. Before Poppy joined their group, all the girls had been friends for years, one dating back to childhood. June gets to the point where she avoids Poppy as much as possible.

There is a lot of drama in the book. June wants Poppy gone, the other girls don't agree. They're not having an issue with her. And so we read on and on. I will say it was interesting and one part was a bit suspenseful. I have a big issue with the ending. This could have been a 4 or 5 star book with a different ending. Unless there is a sequel, I felt I read all of that for nothing. I simply didn't understand how the author could leave the book on such a dull note.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I honestly don't know if I'd recommend this book, unless I'm missing something. The way it is, I don't recommend it.

The idea of the trust being broken especially in such a close environment is very scary to me, this definitely added to the suspense and tension plus the twists really surprised me.

When June and her housemates accept a new lodger into their tight group, they have no idea what issues will arise. But these issues are more serious than arguments about the washing up….

I have to admit that I struggled somewhat with how disjointed this book felt. There seemed to be a disconnect between the characters in the different time periods. I was also disappointed by the very last plot twist. It just seemed like overkill and didn’t ring true.

However, this book is a good page-turner and you very quickly get immersed in it. It’s a worthwhile read. Thanks to the author and publisher for granting me access to this ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Perfect Housemate. This was cringeworthy with all that happened to June. I felt very bad for her. My stomach dropped plenty of times that no one believed her. The ending was a shock and in a good way. Very fast read, I truly loved it. Thank you again.