Alyssa never expected to be alone, poor, and afraid again. But when her much wealthier husband suddenly leaves her, she knows the life she has been living and grown accustomed to is going to end. Somehow she spent all of her time catering to her husband Bill’s needs and now she has no friends, no family, not even a pet who loves her.
She meets a young woman, Bree, you might need a friend even more than she does. After inviting her to stay in her guest house, Alyssa finally feels less alone. But her new friend comes with a tangled past and soon Bree might be the person in the position to save Alyssa. Until the FBI shows up that is and a complicated game of cat versus mouse begins. As the plot thickens the answers to the question become less obvious. Who is the cat and who is the mouse?
A twisty tale where the pages just flew by. I made some correct guesses about what was going on but for the most part, the author fooled me yet again. The first book I read after I got home from being in the hospital and it definitely held my attention.

This is another excellent standalone from Hank Phillipi Ryan. It's more of a thriller than a mystery and it works. Alyssa Macallan, who had given up a promising career to marry her wealthy and influential husband, is suddenly dumped by him with no explanation. With her elegant life now in tatters, she works to find her own identity. She stops at an obscure hotel bar for a drink one evening and meets a young woman in need of help. She befriends her and what follows is a series of thrilling twists and intrigues. The ending is very satisfying as is this novel. Highly recommended.

What a stunning cover on this book. This is a tale of love, revenge and betrayal. Alyssa is dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. She knows her friends will chose sides. The the FBI comes to her door and she know she needs a friend and help. Her new friend, Bree is also running away from a dangerous relationship. Alyssa offers Bree the use of her guest house. Maybe they can help each other. But truths emerge and things are not what they seem. This kept me turning pages until the very end.

The House Guest is another diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller from USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan—but which character is the cat, and which character is the mouse?

I really enjoyed this book. I listen to Hank Phillippi Ryan read the 1st chapter of other authors books each week but had not read any of her books. I totally thought I had it all figured out at least twice while reading and was wrong both times.

The book is well written and moves along very well. I will be reading her other books now.

Thank you to Hank Phillippi Ryan for an ARC of this book via NetGalley!

A newly divorced Alyssa meets Brew who claims to be hiding from her abusive boyfriend. A fast friendship develops and Alyssa asks Brew to move into her guest house. But both women have secrets. And while it's clear from the get that Bree's boyfriend is abusive it's slowly revealed that Alyssa's husband is far from innocent or kind.

"Instead of sheep, she counted fears, individual nameless fears. She was afraid to go to sleep."

I was hooked in the first chapter but then things slowed to a crawl and I wavered. Finally, things picked up and I found myself white knuckling my Kindle, eager to find out what happened next. This story had some great twists but Alyssa really annoyed me--her decisions and actions were naive and dumb.

A twisty thriller about a wealthy woman dealing with a divorce. Lonely and distrustful, broken, she quickly takes in two new friends but can she trust them as her life falls apart in new ways. This is a story, as well of a woman learning to own her own power, from a controlled naive wife, grateful for everything she was given to knowing what is important

I really had planned to get a good night sleep. You know, going to bed at a reasonable time. Then I started The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan…Those ideas went out the window. This book had so many twists and turns I just about got whiplash. What a ride! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. If you enjoy a book that keeps you guessing and you love books that have you on the edge of your seat THIS IS THE ONE! Loved it!

Hank Phillippi Ryan is THE Queen of Twists and Turns!

I always grab for Hank Phillippi Ryan's novels. Not only is she one of my favorite authors, her books are twisty, turny delights that will keep you riveted, delighted, and eager for more. The House Guest is a page turner that keeps unfolding one "holy smokes" after another! If you're looking for a book to keep you pinned to the edge of your seat, look no further. This thriller is clever, entertaining, wonderfully written, and worth every second of your time!

📚: The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan (@hankpryan)
⭐️: 3/5

I have to preface this review by first saying that going in, I am a huge Hank Phillippi Ryan fan. Growing up (and now living & raising a family) on the North Shore in Massachusetts, WHDH channel 7 news is a mainstay for my news. I hadn’t read any of Hank Phillippi Ryan’s books and knew of her only as a reporter, and was so excited when I received this ARC to read!

Alyssa finds herself sitting at a hotel bar, alone, struggling through a separation from her incredibly wealthy, arrogant, gaslighting husband, Bill. By chance, over drinks, she meets Bree. They bond over relationship woes, and a (very) fast friendship ensues. But is there more than meets the eye with Bree? Who exactly is she - and honestly, why on earth is Alyssa asking if she’d like to stay in her guest house after knowing her for 5 hours?

This is definitely a slow burn thriller, which at points during the first half dragged for me and felt a little flat. That said, I adored the Massachusetts references, and the final 20% of the book is page turning with twist after twist to the end.

Big thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge via @netgalley for the digital ARC! The House Guest is out on February 7th, 2023. #gifted

This book hooked me at the beginning but as the story went along, I had a hard time setting aside the fact that the main character was so naive when it came to completely trusting someone she only knew for about a week. That being said though, it was a good thriller with an interesting premise. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

The House Guest has so many twists and turns you won't want to put it down to find out what the next twist will be. Alyssa Macallan is devastated that her very wealthy husband has moved out and wants a divorce. Alyssa is drowning her sorrows in a local bar when she meets another woman who has worse problems than her. Alyssa is worried about Brea so she asks her to stay with her in the guest house so she will be safe. They both have secrets but become fast friends. Brea tries to help Alyssa as Alyssa has helped Brea, but what does Brea really want. If you love mysteries and thrillers you will love this read.

You are going through a rough divorce and you meet someone who needs help. You invite them to stay at your house in hopes you can help them. This is Alyssa’s story. She is the soon-to-be ex-wife of a wealthy and powerful man. Bree is running from an abusive boyfriend when Alyssa offers to let her stay at her house. The two do not know each other but will soon become very close.

What I loved most about this book was the never ending twists. I gave up trying to figure out the ending and just enjoyed the book. I had to reread a few sections to make sure I actually read what I thought I did! Alyssa is a kind, down to earth woman who did not come from money. She is reminded through Bree just how much her life has changed since she became wealthy. She wants to protect herself and everyone around her. Alyssa is my favorite character in the book because of her protectiveness.

Be prepared to set aside everything else going on when you open this book. You won’t want to put it down!

I received an early review ARC copy of 'House Guest', from the publishers of Forge Books and Netgallery and I can honestly say that this is a another Great thriller from Hank Phillippi Ryan.

I have been waiting for Ms. Ryan's new release for a while now, I was not at all disappointed. I am a fan of her writing style, she knows how to bring on all the thrills with those unexpected twists and turns. I was drawn right into the book and it's characters. I read the entire novel over less than a weekend, I was so into the story... I just loved the twists! ❤️

Non-stop twists and turns captivate you and keep you riveted…you will find it hard to find a good place to stop to get anything else done besides reading this book! A fast-paced story that will have you second-guessing if there are any underlying motives.
No spoilers, just pick this book up and start reading now. Hank never fails to give the reader what they want…a well-told story filled with intrigue and suspense and an ending that ties everything up well and leaves the reader satisfied. I highly recommend this book; you won’t be disappointed.

Lots of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you've figured it out there's another twist. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happened. It is definitely a quick read with lots of dialog. The beginning was a bit slow but once you get hooked, you're hooked to the end.

Thank you to Hank Phillippi Ryan and Netgalley for an ARC.

Master storyteller Hank Philippines Ryan has done it again! The House Guest is a captivating story with so many twists, turns, and lies that even as I read the final pages, I wasn't sure the story was really finished. Stunning lifestyles infused with incredible details make it easy for the reader to picture each scene. Fantastic characters, that you are afraid to trust, are woven flawlessly into the story in such a way that the reader believes everyone to be exactly as presented. But all of a sudden, nothing is what you thought.

I loved this book and couldn't devour it fast enough. Special thanks to the author, publisher Forge Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced review copy of The House Guest.

Another great book by Hank Ryan - this one will keep you glued to the pages! I did not see the twists coming!

Captivating page turner full of twists and turns! Alyssa Macallan's life is turned upside down when her husband files for divorce. Who knew you could find an unlikely ally in a hotel bar? Alyssa and Bree Lorrance become fast friends and an unstoppable force as they uncover the shocking truth, nothing is as it appears.

First, let me give you some honest advice. Run, don’t walk to get this book! Second piece of advice, don’t believe anything you read until the very end and then you can shake your head in disbelief at how brilliantly everything comes together. This is the most deliciously twisted book that I have read in a long time and so enticingly deceptive. Alyssa Macallen is living alone after her husband Bill left her. He has plenty of money and she is expecting to be poor any day now. When she meets Bree Lorrance, another put upon female who has been wronged by the male in her life, the two of them click and Bree becomes Alyssa’s house guest. Then, the twists and the labyrinth maze that was the plot begin to really get complex and oh so well written! I was drawn into this mesmerizing story so quickly that I was not aware of time passing as I read. This fantastically engrossing novel included characters that were just as deceptive as the plot and so devilishly realistic! I wanted to yell advice through the pages to Alyssa and warn her, but I didn’t know what I was warning her about because the turns in the plot just kept coming. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there was another diabolically clever and unexpected twist. There were clues and red herrings, but they were so well woven into the plot that I could not figure out who was bad and who was good in the story. The only person I continued to trust was Alyssa and I didn’t trust her completely either. The design of the author to trap me in the mousetrap of deceit worked well and thoroughly captivated me. I thought I was on a runaway train, down a mountainous track with switchbacks at every intersection. This book was totally engaging, with characters that popped with credibility and a plot that captured my mind and imagination with awe and wonder about what would happen next. It wasn’t until the end that I was able to take a deep breath and realize the thrill ride that I had been on was from the mind of a talented author who cast a spell and held me there with her characterization, plot and realistic scenarios. As I said before, run to get this book and then settle in for the ride of your life into a tunnel of the unknown.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book is simply amazing! Wow! When you sit down to read this book, make sure you have time to read it all. It is unputdownable and bingeworthy. There's so many twists and turns you'll feel like you've been on an amusement park ride for hours. You'll be saying yikes all of the way through, and just when you think you have it figured out. Bam! You don't. Near the end of the book, I was actually talking out loud to the protagonist - NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Oh, but Hank Phillipi Ryan knows what she is doing. Wow, what a master storyteller. Thank you, Hank!