A quick read! I enjoyed it for the most part. El is not super likable, but I did want to keep reading on to see how her story unfolded. I wanted to discover more about the motives and was satisfied by the end. Thankful for the ARC!

I sort of enjoyed it and hated it at the same time. .
First and foremost, EL. I didn't like her, but in a weird way that made the story all that much better. I could almost relate to her not letting go of some of her insecurities from when she was younger which of course affects the way she forms relationship present day.
EL was so determined to be something she's not , she lost sight of somethings, even though she never really had a real relationship in her life. Which of course leads her to be an ideal prey for someone with not so good intentions.

I would give this a solid 3.5 stars, but its rounded up to 4

The Good Life presents an intriguing premise but ultimately falls short in execution. The story follows El, a failed actress who drifts through life without direction or ambition. After attending a private school on financial aid, El clings to the hope that her future stardom will earn her the admiration of her wealthy peers. However, that dream never materializes, and by the time she approaches her 30th birthday, she finds herself at a party surrounded by elites, where she meets Bryce, a wealthy man who quickly becomes infatuated with her.

Despite not being particularly attracted to Bryce, El is drawn into his lavish world. He offers to take care of her financially, and though there are obvious red flags, El ignores them, hoping the comfort and luxury will make up for any moral compromises. However, when Bryce’s true nature is revealed, El faces a moral dilemma about whether to continue her life of privilege or walk away.

Though the plot sounds promising, the execution is lackluster. El's character is uninspiring, and her lack of passion or direction makes it hard to invest in her journey. The supporting characters are equally one-dimensional, embodying shallow, entitled stereotypes. The narrative feels tedious, with little emotional depth or meaningful growth. The ending, intended to be impactful, falls flat, and the resolution does little to engage the reader.

Ultimately, The Good Life feels like an exploration of superficial wealth and privilege, but it lacks the insight or emotional resonance to truly captivate. While the story may resonate with some readers, for me, it was a forgettable experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Man's Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle!

This was my first time reading Alana B. Lytle, and I received Man's Best Friend as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents a captivating narrative that blends suspense with social commentary. The plot is engaging, with a slow-burning tension that keeps the reader hooked. The complex relationships between the characters are a highlight of the book. El's interactions with Bryce are particularly intriguing, showcasing a dynamic that is both alluring and toxic. The author does a great job of exploring El's internal struggles and her gradual realization of the dark realities of her new life. The secondary characters, though not as deeply developed, add layers to the story and help to flesh out the world El inhabits. The ending is both surprising and thought-provoking, leaving readers with much to ponder about the nature of ambition, dependency, and self-discovery. While the pacing can be uneven at times, the overall narrative is compelling and well-crafted. Overall, Man's Best Friend is a strong debut that offers a fresh take on the rags-to-riches narrative. Alana B. Lytle's writing shows promise, and I look forward to seeing how her storytelling evolves in future works. #netgalley #man'sbestfriend

This book is a disappointing read, with flat characters and a predictable plot. The writing lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the story or its themes. The pacing is slow, and the narrative never quite captures your attention. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver anything truly memorable.

3 stars.*

This book was a bit of a conundrum for me. I really wanted to like it. But it seemed like two books in one and I could not for the life of me figure out why they were in the same jacket.

Part of the story was about dogs leaving their humans.

The other part is about a young, directionless woman who essentially gives up her life for a rich, soulless partner. She has many opportunities to make good decisions but she chooses his money and a lifestyle, even without friends and a connection to her family. It was just weird for me.

*with thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

A true page turner for me I was drawn in from the first pages.Looking forward to reading more by the author.

Man’s Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle is a gripping debut that delves into the complexities of desire and the price of luxury. The story follows El, a struggling actress who becomes entangled with Bryce, a wealthy trust-fund grad. As El surrenders her life for the allure of wealth, she uncovers unsettling truths about Bryce and herself. Lytle skillfully combines suspense and surreal elements, creating a thought-provoking narrative that will keep readers hooked. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that explore identity and ambition, this book is a must-read!

I really wanted to like this but it read like a trashy magazine to me and I couldn't connect with the characters.

The story is neither suspenseful or compelling; this is not a mystery or thriller. The narrative was boring, tedious, filled with unlikable characters

This twisty thriller was one I couldn't put down! Perfect weekend read and will have you remembering to be careful what you wish for. Everything has a price...

Man's Best Friend was an eerie, slow-burn thriller that pulled me in with its surreal blend of suspense and the unsettling dynamics between main characters El and Bryce. From the start, I was intrigued by El’s desperation (and sadly related to it)- her longing to recapture the feeling of being “chosen,” even if it meant overlooking some pretty disturbing red flags. I found El’s character fascinating in how she rationalized and accepted Bryce’s increasingly bizarre behavior. The blurb mentioned this was similar to a favorite of mine, Nightbitch, and it did remind me a bit of that with its themes of identity and obsession, though it also had a strange, almost fantastical edge, especially as Bryce’s darkness unravels. There’s something unnerving about how easily El slips into her new life, letting go of herself for the sake of wealth and security, and watching her navigate those choices had me hooked.

While it’s not a fast-paced thriller like I usually go for, the slow, creeping suspense paid off for me. It’s one of those books that made me think about how far someone might go to feel wanted and how easily that can turn into something dangerous. I really enjoyed how strongly character driven this was and I felt it was well worth the read!

This is a really solid thriller! it's not doing anything super new, which is the big tipping point for thriller with me between a 3 star read (enjoyable), to a 4-5 star read (i will remember and think about this book after i finish it).

While this book intrigued me, based on the description, it didn't quite work for me. I didn't connect with the story, which is more a me problem than a problem with the book, so you can take my review with a grain of salt.

One of the most striking features is its metaphor about a dog and its master, which reflects El’s relationship with Bryce. However, this metaphor feels overused and heavy-handed, making the theme of control less subtle than it could be. The constant comparison takes away from the emotional depth the story could have had.

Also, the narrative lacks cohesion. While the plot promises suspense and psychological drama, some elements feel underdeveloped. Character motivations and backstories aren’t explored as deeply as they could be, leaving certain parts of the story feeling rushed or disconnected. This lack of development makes it difficult to fully invest in El’s transformation or the darker aspects of her relationship with Bryce.

Despite these shortcomings, it does have its captivating moments and offers a unique take on toxic relationships. It’s a decent read for those looking for a light psychological drama, but it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential.

I wanted to love this so badly but it was lacking in so many areas that are hard to ignore.

I don’t mind an unlikeable protagonist but El was severely bland, annoying, making poor decisions & generally void of personality which I think was the point but made for a very rough reading experience. Bryce was exactly the same; he had no personality. He was not charming, not funny, not romantic. He was a complete creep from the beginning so when the “twist” happened I was not shocked in the slightest.

The first 80% was meant as build up for the twist but absolutely nothing of even a little interest happened. There was no tension building so when the ending happened I genuinely just felt relief. I don’t mind a book with no plot but you HAVE to have compelling well written characters and this book didn’t have that.

I will say the writing was decent and very easy to read. I just wish the story was better.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher.

This was a pretty quick read but I had mixed feelings about it. Bryce really didn’t seem that bad and a lot of El’s responses to his behavior didn’t seem to fit the situation. El isn’t really a likable character but you also don’t hate her. She’s just a little bit boring. Her personality felt confusing - she was supposed to be the sad single 30 year old who gave up her dream of being an actor but was also described as confident and independent. It felt contradictory. The introduction of her 2 sets of friends from college and middle school didn’t really flow and felt clunky. The parts about her dreams weren’t necessary and the ending gave you nothing.

The depth of this book was leaps and bounds above any phycological thriller that I've read in quite some time. We have a young women's journey to get what she feels she deserves (wealth and all that comes with the lifestyle). It's filled with dark humor. I will say that it's a slow burn, but stick with it. You won't be disappointed. The canine perspective was well done and the story in a whole is thought provoking.

The story is unremarkable but serviceable, what didn't work was the sad, nearly cartoonish attempt to make a canine adjacent leitmotif. That effort reads like a high-school composition essay gone terribly awry.