What a page-turner. It was so hard to put this book down. From the first introduction to the final “goodbye”, there were so many twists and turns.

Bonding over shared experiences and the hurtful disastrous relationships with men, as only two women can. Exploring the hows and whys of how they ended up where they meet at that place at that time……..

Reality vs fiction? Who can say? One minute you think you know what’s going on and who is who, only to find out that you have no clue.

I do have one regret that I will share, dear readers……..This story does come to an end; a rather shocking end.

In the meantime, happy reading!

More, more, Hank.

The first half of this book left me confused and frankly finding the storyline and the characters ridiculous, and I kept putting the book down. But because I love the author, I picked it back up and kept reading. And then it got interesting. The twists and turns kept coming, and when I thought I had figured it all out…surprise! I’m giving this book 4 stars v 3 because of the second half of the book. I couldn’t stop reading. A bit of a roller coaster overall, a little slow when it starts but a wild ride when you’re done.

The House Guest kept me guessing until the very end. I was drawn into Alyssa's world and her life that had you wondering what was going on with her and the strangers she met that became her house guests. A very good read that is reminds we of some of the thrillers of Hitchock.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

THE HOUSE GUEST by HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN

When a dream life, too good to be true, becomes a nightmare, whom does one trust? How much is another’s fault, “all Bill’s fault,” and how much is one’s own responsibility as an adult making one’s own choices?
This book kept me guessing, trying to decide who's good and who's not. They were so devious that it was hard to like anyone in this book until almost the very end.
I've become very cautious about inviting guests, and it appears my instincts may be good ones. Reading about them is fun though, because “it’s always safe inside a book,” and life lessons are easier when presented in fiction.

As stated in Hanks own words… A mix of Thelma and Louise and Gaslight.
I agree wholeheartedly and add in a pinch of Strangers on the train and a twist of Dial M for Murder. I can see this being a movie directed by Hitchcock starring Barbara Stanwyck, Grace Kelly, Jimmy Stewart and Ray Milland.

The House Guest is the prime example why Hank Phillippi Ryan is my favorite author. She pulls you in and gives you characters that you feel for and makes you love them and then hate them and question them and love them again. This was a whirlwind of a whodunnit and you’ll never guess!

Thank you Hank!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillen/Tor Forge forbthe opportunity to read Hank Phillippi Ryan's The Housr Guest. Brilliant! I loved the interplay and patter between characters. Swept away by those twists!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!
Once again, Hank Phillippi Ryan has penned a superlative, fast-paced, hang-on-to your-seat-ride, that leaves you guessing from the first page to the last. What will happen to Alyssa, Bree, Dez or even Bill? Will Alyssa recover from the heartache and misery she has suffered? Guess as you will, follow the twists and turns, you won't know until the very end. Pub Date is 07 Feb 2023. Get this book preordered - you won't regret it!

A simple twisty story of a few characters, The House Guest features Alyssa Macallan, a once very wealthy woman who is being left by her husband of 8 years. She is befriended at her local bar and against her best instincts, invites the woman to stay in her palatial home. Is Bre there to help her, or does she have her own secrets to hide. If you like domestics thrillers, this one is for you! .#macmillan #Tor #forge

Having looked forward to Hank Phillippi Ryan's book for ages, I couldn't wait to finally read it. This was rather a cautionary tale. The author did a marvelous job describing the rich and beautiful, privileged people and the homes they lived in. But as it turns out, having lots of money doesn't really make anyone special at all. The wife, Alyssa, whose husband walked out on her for no reason at all, came across as rather naive. Or is that what she wanted us to think? Her husband, Bill, who I kept thinking should have had a different name, was so familiar. Who was he reminding me of?

I want to thank NetGalley and Hank Phillippi Ryan for giving me an early opportunity to read The House Guest, a title was definitely appropriate on many levels. I don't want to say more without giving anything away. It will come to me in a bit, just who that husband reminded me of.

From the very beginning of the author's latest thriller, I felt the pervading tension. As the plot unfolded, I was always thinking . . . Is this character really what s/he purports to be . . . will there be physical violence . . . how can she be so naïve? The undercurrent of "something's very wrong here" sucked me in quickly.

Alyssa comes from a poor background and an unsupportive family but has become accustomed to the high life through her wealthy husband. So when Bill casts her aside suddenly and threatens to ruin her financially, she doesn't know where to turn. An encounter with a woman in a bar who seems to be experiencing an even more difficult situation leads to a quick friendship and an invitation for Bree to stay in Alyssa's guest house. Will the plot parallel "Strangers on a Train," or will it go in another, unexpected, direction?

Most of the twists happen toward the end of the book, but they are quite entertaining. I would have liked a little more back story about Alyssa and Bill, but if you enjoy thrillers with at least one character to loathe and some meaty twists, this book is for you.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hank Phillippi Ryan for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I loved this book. You don’t know who to REALLY trust and believe until the final page and THAT is what makes a great story and excellent book. Hank has become a constant in the mystery/thriller world. She always has great storylines and plot twists. I have been a fan from her very first book and this one might just be my favorite book so far. I can’t wait for the next one. Thank you for the entertainment Hank!

I love author Hank Phillippi Ryan’s writing style. Very well written book. She takes you right in from the first page and holds you to the last page. This book had it all intrigue, trials, friendships, betrayal, suspense. I love the characters and how well defined each of them were. Allyssa is so innocent to the ways of her world. This is a must read.
I was gifted an advanced reader copy by NetGalley and I am freely leaving my review.

I am so happy I had a couple days off to read this book! I started it before bed and then read all afternoon the following day. There are more twists in this book than a figure 8 and its spine tingling. I legit thought I had it figured out and I was SO wrong. After that it was just twist after twist that completely blew my mind. Hank's books always make me forget about my household chores and before I know it the afternoon is gone. I can already say this will be one of my favorites of 2023 that i will reccommend to everyone!

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Alyssa Macallan contemplates the dissolution of her marriage, remembering how she changed everything for Bill, including her name. She was Alice; he preferred Alyssa. She acquiesced, becoming what pleased him. She’d done all the expected wifely things to support her husband, a professional fundraiser; now she worries that his power will mean her ruin.

The news of their split seems to have traveled quickly; Bill walked away and all of their “friends” sided with Bill, moving away from her, leaving her bereft and alone. Who was she, if she wasn’t Bill’s wife?

Sitting at the bar, nursing her martini, she meets Bree Lorrance; they strike up a conversation and Bree tells her she’s hiding from her abusive ex-boyfriend. When Alyssa offers to let Bree stay in her guest house, the two are well on their way to becoming confidantes and Alyssa finds herself thinking of Bree as her younger sister.

As Alyssa navigates her way through life without Bill, an agent from the FBI shows up at her front door. Suddenly nothing is as she’d always believed it to be . . . and Alyssa must find a way to deal with another of Bill’s betrayals.

=========

With its strong, well-defined characters, its twisty, unpredictable plot, and its strong sense of place, this intriguing cat-and-mouse tale is sure to keep readers guessing. As friendships and loyalties are tested, readers will root for Alyssa, who has subjugated herself to her soon-to-be ex-husband's expectations, to discover her own self-worth.

The clever story is both captivating and complex; readers will find themselves pulled into the unputdownable, intriguing drama from the outset. With nothing as it seems, readers will find it difficult to know who to believe as the enigmatic tale continually offers new and unexpected revelations.

The question of Bill’s whereabouts creates an undercurrent of uneasiness that runs throughout the narrative. While readers wonder if Alyssa has misplaced her trust, Bree’s motives are also questionable, leaving readers with more questions than answers. The unfolding plot reveals its secrets slowly, offering unexpected surprises as readers find it impossible to set this book aside before turning the final page of this binge-worthy novel.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from the author and from Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Forge Books and NetGalley
#TheHouseGuest #NetGalley

Hank never disappoints, another stellar addition! A twisty tale. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, I did not! It was an awesome read, that I finished in two nights. can’t wait to read the next twisty tale that Hank will come up with.

I've previously read two other of this author's books and enjoyed the twists and thrills, and this new book is no exception.
From the very beginning each chapter brings more questions: is Alyssa and Bree's meeting a coincidence or something more sinister? Who all has ulterior motives? Is Agent Parker legit? Every time I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, some little twist was thrown in. What a wild ride! The author knows just how to lead you to a theory and then change it up.

I would like to know more about what attracted Alyssa to Bill in the first place. We only hear the bad, which made me question whether she really did marry him for the money. I was surprised she wasn't angrier at him with everything going on. It took quite awhile for her to get past her own doubt and longing for the past. My favorite character was actually Mickey. I liked and trusted her from the start.

I really enjoyed the ending- seeing how it all wrapped up and tied together, and I liked that everything worked out for the right people.

I just finished The House Guest in a marathon reading. I started it late yesterday and found it impossible to put down. Highlights are an impending divorce, loss of friends, new friends, and then along comes the FBI. Hank Phillippi Ryan will keep you guessing who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until the very end. This was a new author or me and I will certainly read more of her work.
Thanks to NetGalley I was allowed to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would definitely do it again!

Alyssa Macallen's world has just collapsed. Her wealthy husband Bill has inexplicably filed for divorce and disappeared, leaving Alyssa confused. Her snobby, so-called friends at her club seem to delight in her situation and she, herself, is left alone in her ostentatious home. Seeking solace and anonymity Alyssa heads to a suburban hotel bar where she is sure none of her social circle will find her. Soon a young woman, visibly upset, joins her at the bar. Before long Alyssa feels a sisterly connection after they chat a bit. Impulsively Alyssa invites Bree to stay in her pool house hoping to help a fellow woman in distress and to also reduce her own loneliness.

Plot twists, turns and surprising revelations abound as the story progresses. The closer the reader gets to the end, the more breathless the pace. And just when you think you know what will happen next, Ms Ryan inserts another unexpected twist and surprises you again. Despite all the twists, however, the resolution and explanation at the end of the book are plausible and satisfying. I read this book in a day and I think other readers might do the same.

Thanks to Hank Phillippi Ryan and NetGalley for the chance to be an early reader!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

This is my second book of Ryan’s and not my absolute favourite. While the concept is interesting there’s a certain level of suspending your disbelief required that is beyond the usual required for a thriller in order for me to understand why the main character would do any of this so naively.

I spent most of the book kind of seeing where it was going but also there WERE a few good twists at the end where I was like “ alright you’ve got me here, didn’t see this coming”.

Overall a middle of the road thriller that I definitely still enjoyed :)

Alyssa’s fairytale life is smashing around her. Bill, her husband of eight years, has walked out. Not only is she devastated emotionally, but his power-grabbing is now directed at her. When Bree sits next to Alyssa in a hotel bar, this stranger’s life seems even more of a mess than Alyssa’s. Impulsively Alyssa, afraid Bill is gaslighting her, invites Bree to use the guest house. But how much does Alyssa know about Bree -or Bill? Ryan weaves a tale of money and trust in this standalone novel. The reader isn’t any more sure of who is being truthful than is Alyssa, but making a mistake won’t put us in danger. I enjoyed watching Alyssa grow, but found myself wanting to turn to the end of the book to see if I was correct in guessing the ending. The pacing was a bit slow for me, but this is still a good, convoluted tale. Recommended.