This book was really interesting. We follow an English teacher as she navigates her way through some disturbing arguments and events. She tutors a boy that had significant trauma happen to him. The whole time you're left guessing what was going to happen next. This is why I like Bookouture novels. Because not only are the thrillers difficult to predict, the writing is really good and the characters build up the story as you go along.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to read a thriller. I especially recommend Bookouture's novels as well.

Thank you to both the publisher and author for sending me this copy.

Catherine is a well respected teacher in a busy school when the headmistress approaches her to take new teacher Lisa under her wing as her mentee. She quickly embraces the challenge and when she realizes that Lisa has been sleeping at the school she insists that Lisa come and live in her spare room. The warm welcome home is thwarted by Catherine’s husband Gary’s icy reaction. Catherine cannot understand why Gary is so cold to Lisa and when strange things begin happening to Catherine and her school, she wonders if Gary could be to blame.

I had a hard time enjoying this story. The characters were hard to connect to, especially the not so likable protagonist Catherine. The pacing was also off. The first half of the book felt too slow—no real action showed up until last third or so. Not the book for me, 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Make Yourself at Home was an entertaining read that exceeded my initial expectations, I was so sure how the story was going to unfold due to having read many books with the “monster-in-law” trope. What I anticipated to be a predictable and popcorn-ish story turned out to have more depth than expected.

Something I really appreciated about this book was how Clarke used certain characters as storytelling tools to show the emotions and inner turmoil of the main character, Catherine, rather than spoon-feeding us information. Always better to show, not tell!

I did feel that a few story elements could have been resolved more completely. Without giving away any spoilers, there were some lingering threads that I wished had been tied up more definitively. That said, this didn’t significantly take away from my enjoyment, just left me wanting a bit more closure in certain areas.

Overall, Make Yourself at Home is a great, quick read that I’d easily recommend to anyone looking for an engaging story or a palate cleanser between heavier books. A perfect 3.5-star read for me.

A well written drama with twists galore.
Captivating storyline as usual from this talented author.
Interesting and well written characters.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

First, and most importantly, thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my review.

This was my first book by Wendy Clarke and I assure you, it will not be my last. The story unfolds in a way that makes you believe everything is exactly what it is. Except, maybe it's not. This one is a page turner to the very end. The ending was wrapped up neatly with all questions answered despite not knowing you'd have any. I highly recommend this book and author!

This book had my attention from the first page. I was gripped! Finished it so quick and went and added all her other books to my TBR. Clarke's writing style is fantastic, this book has so many twists and turns you wont be able to guess what's going to happen next.

this novel delves deep into the complexities of trust, family secrets, and the unsettling feeling that comes when one's safe haven turns into a web of deceit. It is an utterly unputdownable masterpiece!

It's a must-read for fans of Lisa Jewell or Shari Lapena. Highly recommend 👌


📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Wendy Clarke and Bookouture📚

📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

This was a great thriller of a read about a school teacher Catherine who has a seemingly perfect life, married to a good man and in a job that she loves and hopefully about to be promoted soon. She has worked hard to put the events of her brothers death behind her and try to recover from the trauma. When she meets Lisa and learns her sad story she instantly offers her somewhere to stay but when Lisa meets her husband it turns out she is none other than his half sister who he has had nothing to do with all his life and he is not happy to have her in his house. As odd things start to happen at school Catherine starts to fear the past may be catching up with her and as her job is also threatened can she trust anyone close to her. I won’t spoil this one but it’s not to be missed!!

Alot of going back and forth wondering, suspense, twist I didn't see coming, This was a great book I sailed through reading it it caught my attention from the very beginning.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Way too predictable. I feel like I could have written half of this book. Lisa shows up at Catherine's school. She finds out that Catherine is married to her long lost half-brother. Bad things start happening, so Catherine starts looking into Gary and Lisa's past...and guess what she found out?!! Just an overdone plot and not very interesting to me.

A tense and exciting thriller that keeps you guessing until the shocking conclusion. A brilliant plot with plenty of twists and turns. Fantastic!

This book kept me entertained. It had me turning page after page. Just when you think you have it figured out think again. The twist at the end is the icing on this sweet cake. Enjoy.

You go through a traumatic experience. You feel totally devastated and broken. You don't really see a way out. And then, one day, an angel lands on your path. They pick you up, put you back together again and lift you up. 

Although you went through hell on earth, you suddenly believe in heaven on earth again. :)

Then it seems like you are not longer wanted in heaven and you fall back down, right in the arms of the devil himself... He is wearing a mask though. Are they the one you thought was torturing you or were you as flabbergasted as our main character was?

I had one of the characters on my radar and I was happy to realise I was right in not trusting them. I did not mind at all I had guessed the correct name for once, because I was enjoying myself too much with finding out the what, why and how.

I found this a fantastic book, but then all this author's books are great reads. 5 stars

Thank you

catherine gary ross lisa

Catherine is a teacher, she is married to Gary. She loves her job. She has formed a bond with Ross, who is a colleague, and is Gary's best friend.

Lisa is a new teacher, who Catherine grows close to, and when Catherine finds out that Lisa is homeless, she invites her to stay at her house until things get better. She doesn't realise Lisa has an ulterior motive.

Strange things start to happen, reminding Catherine of her past, and she feels threatened.

Wow, an absolutely absorbing book! So many twists and turns, I had no idea of the culprit who was terrorizing Catherine!

I had a love/hate feeling for a few of the characters, and felt that Catherine trusted everyone far too easily.

I liked the fact that she was a dedicated teacher, and that she had a bond with her students - well, most of them.

All in all, a terrific book which I could not put down. Very enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the DRC.

This. Book. Is. Amazing. I dropped everything and read it in two sittings. It was addictive, twisty and fast- paced!

When you think you've worked out whats going on and nope it became twisty again! Everyone needs to read this.

As an ex- teacher this book really resonated with me but also the character Catherine as it brought back many nostalgic memories of my time in the classroom and not to mention the staffroom gossips!

It absolutely sucked me in, I was totally captivated and couldn't put this one down. It an incredible read... blew my mind.


A massive 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars from me!