A nice quick read , good short chapters that all seem to end on a banger. Loads of twists and jaw dropping moments and the ending was just mind blowing.

This is a twisty physiological thriller that has so much twists and turns, it’s addictive and easily readable in one sitting. Catherine is an English teacher and she lets her sister in law Lisa move into her home after she’s sleeping rough in the classroom. She has a happy marriage with Gary, but things are changing. Her brother died in a classroom years before and she still feels guilty, but when her car gets burnt out in the school car park she wonders who’s after her. A fast paced thriller that’s engaging and eventful. A brillant 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I had a hard time getting into this one. I kept thinking something dramatic was going to happen to hook me, but it didn't. I love this author's books and this won't stop me from reading more in the future, this one just wasn't for me.

“Make Yourself at Home” by Wendy Clarke had me hooked from start to finish. It was a true page-turner, and I loved how unpredictable the plot was—I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next or who was behind it all. The suspense kept building, and just when I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist. The characters were well-written, and the eerie atmosphere added to the tension. The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is that I wish some parts had been a bit more developed, but overall, it was a fantastic read. If you love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, this one is definitely worth picking up!

I have love all of Wendy Clarke’s books and wow this was no exception I absolutely devoured it in a day I just couldn’t put it down. I loved everything about it the suspense the writing style and the many twists and turns. It was a fast paced psychological thriller which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I loved how well the characters were writing I really liked the main character Catherine and was hoping she would get a happy ending. I will definitely be recommending this fantastic book to everyone and can’t wait to read this authors next book they just get better and better. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book.

All I can say is wow! If you're a fan of "who done it" style books with twists and no spoilers then this is the book for you! "Make Yourself At Home" is a book about an English Teacher called Cath, who's past catches up with her but also her husbands too! I will not say more than that as you really do have to read it to be as blown away as I was. Nothing gave the story away and I loved that

Make yourself at home is a short chapters, thrilling quick read!
Secrets, lies, betrayal. This book will grab your attention from page one. It will have you staying up to finish it in one sitting. If you think you have the ending figured out, you’re wrong.
Cath is a teacher and when her sister in law, Lisa, gets a job at the same school Cath quickly learns her happy marriage is filled with dark secrets from the past. This page turning psychological thriller will have you guessing until the very end!

Make Yourself at Home | ARC review 📖

Book overview:

‘You don’t really know your husband,’ my sister-in-law whispers, and a chill runs down my spine. ‘Can you really trust the man you married?’

Gary and I have always been happy. Our fridge is covered in the love notes I leave him every morning, we always start the day on the doorstep with a goodbye kiss, and I make sure we never, ever fight. But since Gary’s sister Lisa moved in, things have been different…

The day Lisa arrived at the school where I work, asking for help, I knew we had to welcome her into our home. Gary hasn’t spoken to his parents in years, and his childhood was far from perfect. But now every time Lisa enters a room, I watch him sneak out the door. He’s no longer home for dinners, spending longer hours at the office. It’s me who’s chatting to Lisa all night as we cook. Learning more and more about the family Gary told me nothing about.

And then I spot them through the front window on my way home from work. Arguing. Shouting. Gary thrusts an envelope into Lisa’s hand. He looks nothing like the man I love. Lisa won’t tell me what’s going on, but she whispers to me that I shouldn’t trust the man I married.

When I met Gary, I thought I was finally safe. But Lisa’s arrival in Victoria Avenue is forcing my husband’s secrets to surface. She thinks I’m innocent, that my own past is picture-perfect, but she has no idea how far I’ll go to protect the ones I love.

My 💭

This was a good, fast-paced read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick and entertaining book! Every character had secrets, and it was interesting to watch them all be revealed. I did guess one plot twist about halfway through (being a Freida McFadden reader will do that to you). Overall, this was a solid thriller.

3.5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read and review this ahead of time!

Releases March 5, 2025📚

This book was what they call a “slow burn”. The title of the book really had me intrigued. The writing and story telling is well done. I wish the author had done a little bit better with character development for the main characters. The twist was really good but left me feeling very confused and a lot of loose ends left at the end. However, I did find myself quickly turning pages to see what was going to happen next! Definitely a book to check out!
Thank you NetGalley and Wendy Clarke for allowing me to read this book!

W.O.W ! I didnt want this to end., it was hard to put down.. it had me on the edge of my seat, twists a plenty, and alot of the story I didnt expect to happen or see coming Cath & Gary live a quiet life.. Cath is a teacher, but holds alot of secrets, but what? Gary wants her to leave teaching like he did, but Cath loves it.
Their lives are turned upside down when Lisa turns up at school for her new job. Cath finds out she is sleeping in her classroom as she has been kicked out of her home.. cath invites her to stay with them in their spare room although Gary isn't over joyed.. why? Lisa tells cath that Gary is her half brother!! BUT IS HE? . secrets here there and everywhere, will they truth come out? Great read! Definitely recommend

Make Yourself At Home is a dark, deeply disturbing psychological suspense story. Wendy Clarke knows how to make her characters come to life as they are written with so much depth and believable traits.

Catherine and her husband, Gary have a seemingly happy marriage after many years, but that soon changes when Lisa, Gary's half sister moves in with them. Soon after strange and dangerous things start occurring, causing both of them to point fingers at Lisa. But all is not what it seems with those closest to them and soon Catherine realizes she can't trust anyone.
But does this include her own husband?

This is a fast paced, addictive thriller, that is well written and easy to fly through. The surprises will have you quickly turning the pages to find out what happens. I was sucked in from the start and really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

This is another fabulous domestic thriller by Wendy Clarke. The writing is fast paced, the plot is engaging and the book comes with plenty of twists. The ending was unexpected but brought the book together.

The book was a bit hard to get into but stick it out it is worth it! I enjoyed reading this book and will definitely be reading more by this author!

Such a great book! So many twists and turns! Could not put the book down! Definitely will be reading more from this author, this book met my expectations and more! Must read for 2025!

I personally found this book a little difficult to get into and I couldn't fully immerse myself in it. The storyline was good, Minimal character building.

This was filled with suspense and many interesting twist. I loved how each person was hiding things from each other and how the secrets unraveled. I also loved how suspenseful the ending was.

Minus two stars because :
- I feel like it was kind of obvious early on who the person targeting Catherine was due to the way they acted and certain things they’d say.
- I struggled to like any of the characters besides Lisa.
- It took me a while to get interested in the story.
- At times the story felt flat.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Make Yourself at Home by Wendy Clarke due to be published March 5, 2025.
Catherine invites her husband’s sister, Lisa, into her house, but she tells her she probably can’t trust him. Catherine is hiding so many secrets – her brother’s death being the biggest. What is really going on with Lisa and her husband, Gary? Where does his best friend, Ross, fit in with all this?
I finished this one in one day – it got my attention from the beginning, and I couldn’t wait to see how all the characters played out with each other – who was telling the truth and who was lying. It was a great thriller, and kept my attention until the shocking end!
This is my first book by Wendy Clarke – I will definitely look forward to reading more of her books!
#NetGalley #WendyClarke #Bookouture #MakeYourselfAtHome

I loved everything about this book. It was full of tension and suspense, the pacing was perfect and it was so atmospheric, which was helped along by the characters being so unreliable I didn't know who to believe or what to think

Name :- Make Yourself At Home
Author :- Wendy Clarke
Plot :- Wendy Clarke delivers another gripping domestic thriller with Make Yourself at Home, a novel that explores the dark secrets hidden behind closed doors. With an unsettling sense of paranoia, family drama, and shocking twists, this book keeps readers questioning every character’s true motives. LHappily married to Gary, the protagonist believes she has built a perfect life. Love notes on the fridge, affectionate kisses, and a home filled with warmth—until her sister-in-law, Lisa, moves in. Lisa’s presence changes everything. Gary becomes distant, spending more time away, and Lisa begins to reveal things about his past that don’t add up. When she sees them arguing and an envelope being exchanged, doubts creep in. Then Lisa whispers a chilling warning: You don’t really know your husband. But Lisa isn’t the only one with secrets. The protagonist has a past of her own—one she’s willing to protect at any cost.
Likes and Dislikes:-
Likes:-
1 Atmospheric Suspense – Clarke masterfully builds tension, making every interaction feel loaded with unspoken meaning.
2 Unreliable Characters – No one is who they seem, keeping the mystery alive until the final reveal.
3 Compelling Family Drama – The tangled relationships add depth and make the stakes feel even higher.
4 Fast-Paced & Addictive – Short chapters and twists at every turn make this a page-turner.
Overall :- Make Yourself at Home is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers second-guessing until the final pages. With themes of trust, deception, and the lengths people go to protect their secrets, it’s a must-read for fans of Gone Girl and The Last Mrs. Parrish.
My Rating :- 5/5

Loved this book! I haven’t read any of this authors books before but the writing style was so enjoyable. It kept me guessing! I devoured this in one setting!