4.5 stars.

As an introvert, I LOATHE Pip and Sofie with every molecule of my being. I hate villains, I mean, I hate Voldemort. But these two? I hate these two bitches more than Voldemort. I’m not just uncomfortable, they made my skin crawl, my stomach turn, my blood boil. I had to put the book down every few pages just to breathe, just to recover from their absolute gall. For real. The level of audacity here? Uncharted territory. Emily, you foolish, foolish girl, honestly, I feel you. I’m right there with you! I’m the kind of person who avoids confrontation and conflict like it’s radioactive. I have boundaries so high and fortified that they’re practically made of stone. But Pip and Sofie? Oh. My. God. These two are like a walking horror show of shamelessness. I hate them, absolutely despise them, they are the definition of skin-crawling.

Pip is that nosy, invasive aunt who sidles up at family gatherings, with that disgustingly fake smile plastered on, leaning in to ask, “Why haven’t you had children yet? After all these years… something wrong?” Just vile. People like her? They drain my soul. The absolute worst. People with no concept of boundaries? They are my nightmare, and Pip and Sofie are walking, talking versions of that nightmare.

This book? An emotional endurance test. These situations are my Achilles’ heel, my personal hellscape. I can read dark, disturbing content and barely blink, but this? This level of interpersonal horror, this brazen disregard for personal space, made me so angry, so uncomfortable I wanted to scream.

But honestly? The book is good. So good. That plot twist? It spun hard and fast right at the end. This, right here, is what I call a thriller.

This was a quick and engaging read, perfect for getting out of a reading slump. The synopsis instantly lured me in and I was not disappointed. I don't know much about squatters right, but I think it's insane how they are protected. Emily and her decisions sometimes stressed me out, but I honestly believe she didn't know any better. I felt so bad because she was blindsided by a master manipulator, but I wish she stood up for herself more or had someone she could trust to confide in. I definitely didn't see the ending coming, and I thought it made the story even more interesting. I would love a bonus chapter, to see the aftermath of that final chapter. I would definitely recommend if you enjoy thrillers.

Ooooh, there were times in this book I could literally feel my blood pressure shooting up, let me tell you. I had such empathy for Emily- and so much disgust with Pip and Sophie. At times, I really felt like some of Emily's actions were not real-world-likely; however, when I stopped and actually considered those actions, I don't think they were terribly far off from what I also would have done, start to finish. It's easy to judge a character in a book, you know? I loved that this book actually got a physical reaction from me- that's not something that happens often, no matter how great a book is written. I definitely enjoyed this one, and couldn't wait to see if/how Emily got things straightened out. I will absolutely be recommending this one, come February!

3.5 stars
This was a great thriller in the sense that I didn’t predict the plot twist! As much as I hates Pip, I did not expect for this story to go the way it did. The entire book was jarring and increasingly frustrating to read, mainly because of Emily’s naïveté. That’s my only real criticism, the lack of thinking on her part. I know people make mistakes but every time she found out that Pip was lying, she forgave her or made an excuse and that drove me insane. The plot was original though and I did enjoy my time reading, despite the slightly annoying main character.

This author is very talented! I'm not much of a thriller reader but this book is great and definitely had me thrilled. Even within the first few chapters, before the story really takes off, the seemingly mundane premise already had me intrigued. It's a quick and gripping read which quite possibly pulled me back from the precipice of a reading slump. While I had doubts about the writing style in the first few chapters, it quickly improved.

The majority of the book is written in first person from the perspective of the protagonist but the 20th chapter randomly takes on an omniscient perspective focusing on one of the other central characters. Following this, a few other chapters also switch out of the first-person perspective. While this eventually ended up coming together, it was a bit jarring at first.

I did accurately predict the plot twist, albeit only a chapter or so before it actually happened which is quite good for a book of this type. Some of the tertiary characters didn't blend into the story as neatly as I would have liked. There were more mentions of San Francisco than necessary, the cost of living seemed to be the only identifying characteristic of the setting but it really could have been in a big city anywhere in the world.

Overall, this was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a short page-turner.

This book really ended up surprising me (in a good way) and I couldn’t put it down. When homeowner Emily finds herself down and out, she starts her search for a roommate to help her pay for the house she inherited from her beloved aunt. She meets Pip and it seems to be a dream come true. Someone who she instantly likes, and can even find herself becoming friends with. She counts herself lucky to find such a perfect roommate in such a short time. Emily soon finds out, however, some people look perfect on paper…..

This book has you guessing “what’s next” as soon as Pip enters the house. You can feel her frustration, desperation, and emotions with each page turn. Suspenseful with a touch of drama kept me reading “just one more chapter”. My only qualm was the ending kind of sold the book short. I feel the ending could have been a bit more creative, but I would still recommend this read.

Spoilers:


I really wanted to like this because the premise sounded interesting, but that’s pretty much it. The characters are quite shallow from what I’ve read, and I didn’t care about the story all. I couldn’t really feel sympathy for Emily either as she is just so naive and doesn’t really do anything to fix her situation.

I read until a bit over half way, and we’ve only just started this murder mystery storyline. I don’t see how there can be a fully fleshed out plot in under 130 pages. I also just don’t care about the murder? We find out the victim is a man Emily has slept with (twice), and her investment in this man just irritates me. She acts like she was in love with him, while also saying she didn’t know him at all. This just wasn’t the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc!

Fantastic thriller. I loved that it was set in San Francisco Noe Valley where I used to live, so the atmosphere was spot on. Unreliable characters, twisted lies, murder, and a scary roommate situation with an interesting twist that I don't want to spoil.
It made me wonder what I would do in the same situation. Totally fun and scary at the same time. I loved it!

I read this in one sitting and could not put it down until the last page at 3 am. 5 starts!

A truly excellent psychological thriller that left me on the edge of my seating wanting to know more. The narration told from the perspective of Emily really made you feel as the reader, that you were experiencing the horror of her new housemates. You can help but sympathize with Emily from the desperation she felt from the start of the book up until the end coupled with a sense of annoyance for her stupidity to begin with at the start of needing to find a roommate.

I wasn’t expecting the twists and turns to happen and I felt the timing of that was effective in building towards the overall climax.

I can’t believe I finished the book in three hours! It was captivating . The way we see main character’s personal thoughts, the way she sees other people’s actions. It was portrayed very well. Even though it was a little bit predictable it was amazing nonetheless. ( I am not even going to start talking about the twist) I couldn’t put it down. One of the best psychological thriller I have read in a while. Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending me ARC.

It’s a tribute to the writing that this book had me anxious and panicked while reading. I was so stressed the entire time which is very much the point.
Emily, an injured yoga teacher, desperately needs cash. She decides got get a roommate and while on paper Pip sounded too good to be true, in reality she’s a whole other thing.
Stuck in an increasing toxic environment, Emily needs to figure out how to get Pip and her daughter out of her apartment… before someone ends up dead.
I would recommend this as a quick, anxiety inducing thriller if not a little bit predictable.

This book was WILD. I literally started it before bed and stayed up till 4 am to finish it. I could not put it down! This was a twisty ride of a read that will keep you wanting to know what happens..

Emily is in a tough spot after an injury puts her out of work as a yoga instructor. She is desperate not to lose her beloved condo and drowning in debt. Her solution is to find a roommate to help cover her mortgage. Emily thinks she finds the diamond in the rough when she finds, Penelope "Pip" Stone. She is everything Emily is looking for in a roommate. but when move-in date arrives things don’t go as planned. Pip shows up with her 12-year-old daughter that she did not mention to Emily. soon Pip and her 12-year-old daughter, Sophie, are taking over Emily‘s house. Emily feels like a stranger in her own home. If you think that’s bad enough, then a death occurs. Emily's neighbor is found dead and it turns out it's murder. Is Pip more than just an unwanted squatter or she truly a devious murderer as well?

This book had me flipping through it at a rapid speed. I was so angry for Emily. I felt for her on so many levels and her struggles were even giving me anxiety. I had to know what was going tk happen to Emily and her beloved home. This book was truly a ride of a read. I absolutely LOVED it. I can't wait to share this with my book club. 5 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the digital ARC copy. Oh my goodness what this book put me through. I felt bad for the FMC in the beginning with her financial struggles. When the grifter came into the picture, I was rooting for the FMC to save herself. I am glad in the end they both got the ending they deserved. I am forever a fan of Rebecca Hanover books.

Published: Feb 2025

10/10 no notes. Okay one note. I did not like the potential cancer diagnosis plotline. It just felt a little off. But other than that I ADORED this book. I just got it yesterday and I finished it in less than 24 hours. And I have two kids. Joe, you know that I was listening to this with my earbuds on getting them ready for everything. I honestly thought that it was so well written and the plot twist was, *chef's kiss*.

I didn't see the plot twist coming, but I know that how I read is that I'm not looking for those types of things. But it was great when it happened. The FMC was relatable and well written. At one point I just kept on saying, "oh girl
...nooo." But it was because she was at such a low point in her life that it was so understandable that she was making these dumb choices and decisions. I get it, and I got her.

When you started to read the chapters that it involved the side FC you really started to understand and feel a little bit sorry for her too. Which I didn't want to do. I wanted to 100 % hate her because she was the worst. But you can get her thought process and you get her. I really started to enjoy those chapters to get a little bit more insight into her character.

When you are down on your luck and no other options are available the choices you make are not always logical. That's why I really enjoyed this book. The main character was down on her luck and she made some bad choices that could have ended terrible. And they did end terribly for some of the other characters. What I also liked is that it was so relatable in the way that you hear these types of stories happening. It just really hooked me!

I look forward to reading more from this author.

This had that psychological thriller element that I was looking for and enjoyed the way the characters were used in this story. The plot worked well overall and that it uses the genre perfectly. I was engaged with the characters and how they were written, it was what I wanted and glad I read this. Rebecca Hanover does this genre proud and glad I was able to read this.

I won't like: I struggled with this book. Mainly because of the author's writing. A while ago I tried to read a book by Rebecca Hanover and it didn't work for me, and now the same thing happens again. :(
I may consider giving this book another try in the future, but for now it's a 'miss'.
I'm sorry to the author and to the publisher.
Thanks for the ARC, though.

An excellent psychological thriller, this was a very speedy read for me as I had to keep reading to find out where it went next. The author does a nice job of creating a sense of dread, and the tension is kept on a pretty high level throughout, ramping up towards a dramatic twist - note that this required a mild suspension of disbelief on my part, but nothing dealbreaking. I did empathize with Emily as she finds her sanity and home compromised by a highly devious mother-daughter duo and must call on untapped reserves of ingenuity to gain the upper hand. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for allowing me to enjoy an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a slow burn this was one. Sometimes I vastly enjoy the slow burn because you think you know what’s up and then you realize you had absolutely no idea what was really happening.

There are times that Emily’s behavior is beyond annoying. You may find yourself listening to your own eyes rolling in your head because she’s just so….

Then again, that’s what makes this slow burn so good. You get a nice look into Emily’s insecurities and it does makes her character more real, even if there aren times you’d like to throttle her.

I was not expecting the twist at all. It works and makes the aggravation over some of Emily’s unwise decisions worth sticking around.

this was a good psychological thriller that had lots of twists and turns. it was very well written because I kept feeling anxious and nervous while reading it. I think the premise was great and it kept me entertained and wanting to read on until the ending to see the outcome of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I found this book tricky to read - not because it was badly written but because the whole storyline made me feel anxious and claustrophobic. I felt on the verge of a panic attack the entire time I was reading it.

The book and storyline are well written, the characters feel real and the plot was well paced. I read it quickly and I couldn’t put it down as I needed to know how it ended. The book is good and the writing is great - it just pushed some buttons in my psyche and made me feel so uncomfortable…but maybe that’s what the author intended?