Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. Make Yourself at Home by Wendy Clarke is a compelling psychological thriller that explores themes of trust, family, and secrets. The story centers around a woman who invites a stranger into her home, only to find herself caught in a web of lies and danger. Clarke’s writing is engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that keep the reader hooked. The twists in the plot are unexpected, making for an unpredictable and thrilling read. Overall, Make Yourself at Home is an enjoyable choice for those who enjoy psychological suspense with a dark edge.

Make Yourself at Home by Wendy Clarke is a pacey thriller that was a bit slow to pull me in, but when it did there was no turning back and I was completely drawn in.

Catherine and her husband Gary have a strong marriage, but things change when Gary's half-sister Lisa turns up out of the blue needing a place to stay. Suddenly Gary is cagey with his wife, and Catherine becomes even more unsettled when Lisa tells her that the husband she knows and loves is not to be trusted.

Everyone has secrets in this taut domestic drama, and Ms Clarke expertly teases them out over the course of a truly captivating whodunit.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

3.5 stars ⭐

I found myself engaged and intrigued from the onset of this story. The fact that as a reader you didn't know who you could trust or what secrets everyone was keeping was captivating.

There were a few different times when I thought I knew what would happen but the twists came and were not as I predicted - which I really liked.

However, I do feel the ending of the story was lacking a little. Without giving anything away, I would have liked to see more resolve to some elements within storyline and more details around particular questions we're left with - I really feel this would have helped make the ending more impactful.

Overall, this was a solid thriller and one that I would recommend. Thanks to #netgalley and #bookouture for the advanced copy of this book.

As soon aa you think you know what's going to happen...you don't. As soon as you think you know the good and bad guys...you don't. And that is the sign of a great book. And the twists and changing of alliances towards the characters wasn't forced or felt just done for the "sake of it" or shock factors. It just played out in really great storytelling. And also how is actually so often, there is not always downright evil bad guys and lots of people have there history. It just what you did. Or what you do now that meets your end. And these characters all had a part to play in events that unfold.
The mystery surrounding Gary's Sister and their relationship had me thinking and over thinking. And also how could Catherine not just shout "what's going on!?
Then there was Catherine's own past. And what actually happened there.
Oh this was a full blown addictive thrill. Really really enjoyed it and the writing was terrific. Totally gets lost and het up as the pages turn

This starts off seemingly quiet but wow, it certainly punches you in the face! I loved the twists, especially when I thought I had the whole thing figured out! A great read, I devoured it!

This is one of those books I couldn’t stop reading until I’d finished. It was a little bit of a slow start but soon I was engrossed in the story. Catherine ‘Cath’ is an English teacher running a Year 11 class in a tough school and hoping to be appointed Head of English. She is married to Gary and they live a comfortable life together.

Briefly, when Lisa, a young English teacher joins the school Cath is asked to mentor her. Discovering Lisa sleeping in the school one day she invites her to stay in their house. However a shock occurs when she says she is Gary’s sister. Cath, reeling from this, finds herself under pressure by both some very unpleasant events at school, by a new unruly student who reminds her of her own brother, who died in a school fire some years earlier and by the strange behaviour of Gary who seems determined to avoid his sister.

Matters spiral downwards very quickly and it is clear most everyone is hiding secrets, and lies are the norm amongst everyone, including Cath. You work out what is happening very quickly, read the twists, read the red herrings, and then realise at the end you were hopelessly wrong! This is full of tension and it’s hard to know who to trust, if anyone. Thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller.

What an emotional roller coaster of a book. I absolutely loved the thrill from reading. Very hard to put down!

It is described as a fast paced thriller that kept you interested from page one, unfortunately it did not work that way for me. It was an extremely slow start, and I spent the first quarter waiting for it to drag me in. It finally hit and that's when I couldn't put it down. The gaslighting, the fear, the suspense, it really was an amazing read when it came down to it. The ending was unpredictable but amazing and honestly well deserved... You will get it, once you read it. Which I do suggest you do, just power through it is worth it.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

I found it a slow starter, however there was a lot of twists and turns within the book and as it got going I found myself looking forward to being able to get into bed and read it. Without any spoilers, the author definitely managed to make you think that one character was the enemy and one was the good guy but that might not be the truth! I also enjoyed that the ending wasn't as I thought it would be.
I would recommend this book to my friends and family once it is released.

What? That was mind blowing. I had a feeling who was behind the fire and texts, but was way off about motive. I loved the twists they were unexpected. Fast paced book that you are not going to want to put down.

Make Yourself at Home is a fast paced thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat! Once you think you have the ending figured out, something happens and completely changes your mind! I would recommend this book to all the thriller loving readers out there!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! It is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish. With its well-crafted suspense and unexpected twists, the story constantly keeps you guessing!

The plot twist caught me off guard, I was adamant I knew how this was going to end but I was very wrong 😂

The characters are complex and the pacing is strong, although there are moments where the tension could have been heightened further.

I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of a psychological, gripping thriller.

Publication date is 5th March 2025 and this will be available on kindle unlimited.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars.

This was a GREAT story to read to! Great main characters. The plot was easy to find. The story was engaging and easy to follow. Will be purchasing this book. Shout out to Netgalley and publishing for allowing me to listen and review this story.

4 STARS!

Make yourself at Home by Wendy Clarke kept me wanting to read further to figure out was what going on, I did figure out part of the twist a little more than half way through the book but not completely, there was more to it than I’d expected. I would recommend this book to fellow thriller lovers.

Gripping, chilling and very, very satisfying
Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars. Blindingly excellent ... This book should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Make Yourself at Home by Wendy Clarke is a psychological thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful and unpredictable ride.

The story follows a woman whose seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel when her sister-in-law, Lisa arrives, setting off a chain of events that exposes dark secrets and forces the protagonist to confront her own past. The author did a great job of building tension, dropping hints and red herrings at every turn. The pacing is great, and the character development makes it hard to predict who you can truly trust.

Fans of psychological thrillers like Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena will enjoy this book. This was an enjoyable suspenseful read that kept me hooked!

I liked Make Yourself at Home - the book will definitely keep readers' attention and is fast paced. The half-sister who turned up on your doorstep may not be all that she seems!

Make Yourself at Home* is a captivating psychological thriller that follows a successful teacher whose seemingly perfect life unravels when she befriends a young, inexperienced colleague. The narrative grips you from the start, filled with twists that keep you guessing.

As the protagonist navigates ambition and friendship, the story delves into themes of jealousy and hidden secrets. The dynamic between the characters raises intriguing questions about trust and deception.

Overall, this masterfully crafted thriller is a must-read for fans of the genre, as it reveals that everyone has secrets—some darker than you might expect.

Fresh take on a teacher story for me! It did manage to keep my attention, however I felt like it dragged a bit. Too much back and forth about the husband not being there for his wife emotionally or physically…. And then the story spirals more because more characters come into their lives and agh…. But in the end the husband gets what he deserves! I just don’t quite understand why he drinks so much…. Hmm

Took me several chapters to get into the story, but all-in-all an easy read with lots of twists. People are lying, but who is lying about what? It is a horrible situation when you don't know whom to trust. This is a fast and easy read that keeps your mind occupied, and you feel for the main character, who is trying to do what is right, but since other people are not, there is only so much one can do. The story creeps up on you, and the reader can feel the uncomfortable moments the characters are getting themselves into.