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The Lodger
They were childhood friends, so sharing a house will be fun, won’t it?
When Gina advertises for a lodger, she never expects her childhood best friend to turn up at her door. What could be better, she reasons, than having a lodger who she already knows instead of a total stranger.
As they rekindle their friendship, Gina recalls the long ago summer when they spent every day together. Gina believed then that they’d be best friends forever.
But Lissa thought differently.
With the benefit of hindsight, Gina now realises that Lissa unfriended her in the most brutal way possible. With a growing awareness that Lissa might not be the perfect person she always believed her to be, she’s beginning to wonder if she can even trust her.
Because what Lissa wants, Lissa gets.
Has she made a mistake by asking Lissa to move in? She thinks that maybe she has, but Lissa makes no secret of the fact that she has no intention of going anywhere....
When Gina advertises for a lodger, she never expects her childhood best friend to turn up at her door. What could be better, she reasons, than having a lodger who she already knows instead of a total stranger.
As they rekindle their friendship, Gina recalls the long ago summer when they spent every day together. Gina believed then that they’d be best friends forever.
But Lissa thought differently.
With the benefit of hindsight, Gina now realises that Lissa unfriended her in the most brutal way possible. With a growing awareness that Lissa might not be the perfect person she always believed her to be, she’s beginning to wonder if she can even trust her.
Because what Lissa wants, Lissa gets.
Has she made a mistake by asking Lissa to move in? She thinks that maybe she has, but Lissa makes no secret of the fact that she has no intention of going anywhere....
Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2022
542 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Ryan
19 books158 followersJoanne Ryan lives in the south of England and has always loved writing. Her novels concentrate on the darker, secret side of life of seemingly ordinary people.
She also writes under the pen name of Marina Johnson https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
She also writes under the pen name of Marina Johnson https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 22, 2022
I read this fourth book by Joanne Ryan really quickly because I couldn't put it down. The storyline is gripping and the character development is involving and fascinating. This is definitely as twisted as the other Joanne Ryan books, maybe even more so. I loved the ending too. Definitely a five star read and I recommend to anyone who enjoys a twisted and unpredictable story. More please.
January 27, 2022
Wow! I loved this book! Neither Gina nor Lissa are particularly likeable - but they won me over, (although not enough to share a house with either of them). This book is an entertaining look at why people act the way they do. I loved how Joanne Ryan showed this with not one, but two first-person accounts, one of which lied to me - but that was absolutely fine with me!
July 25, 2024
2 stars rounded up ⭐️
I liked the ending, I’m not gonna lie, for some reason I was not expecting that plot twist.
Perhaps it’s because of the length of the book, but I would have liked to see more development in the early chapters about Gina and a bit more backstory, or a little bit more insight, on Lisa and her friendship in the past.
There’s definitely potential, so I’m going to give it three stars. I wasn’t bored, but this wasn’t really a transcendental book, if I may say. My first book from Ryan was Don’t Let Her In, and between this, that one and The Double, which I read right after this one, even though those last ones weren’t exactly my favourites, I’m actually thankful I read them and don’t see my time as “wasted.” I can see her growth as an author and her writing getting better and better, more polished, and flowing more.
I liked the ending, I’m not gonna lie, for some reason I was not expecting that plot twist.
Perhaps it’s because of the length of the book, but I would have liked to see more development in the early chapters about Gina and a bit more backstory, or a little bit more insight, on Lisa and her friendship in the past.
There’s definitely potential, so I’m going to give it three stars. I wasn’t bored, but this wasn’t really a transcendental book, if I may say. My first book from Ryan was Don’t Let Her In, and between this, that one and The Double, which I read right after this one, even though those last ones weren’t exactly my favourites, I’m actually thankful I read them and don’t see my time as “wasted.” I can see her growth as an author and her writing getting better and better, more polished, and flowing more.
March 14, 2023
A Very Compelling Book!
This book was kind of confusing until things started coming together and then Wow!! So many twists and turns that would have you believing one thing and then find out it was totally the opposite. The ending was mind blowing and so unexpected!!
This book was kind of confusing until things started coming together and then Wow!! So many twists and turns that would have you believing one thing and then find out it was totally the opposite. The ending was mind blowing and so unexpected!!
October 19, 2022
You never know what twist this author has planned. Out of the 3 Joanne Ryan books I’ve read so far, this was a bit far fetched but still made for an interesting plot.
February 17, 2022
Started really strong, but then I felt in the middle it lost it's way and Gina's character became less believable in her reactions to what was going on in her own life. Her absolute acceptance and calmness didn't ring true to me; it felt rushed and not explored enough. Still kept me turning the page and finished it in a day.
February 6, 2022
Definite page turner
Getting a lodger should be really good. Especially if it's someone you already know.....
Not saying any more.
Definitely a page turner. Read it all in one day. Really recommend this book. .
Getting a lodger should be really good. Especially if it's someone you already know.....
Not saying any more.
Definitely a page turner. Read it all in one day. Really recommend this book. .
February 12, 2022
Dialogue is stiff and characters are depicted in a surface way. Multiple typos.
February 9, 2023
Wow this was so deliciously twisted, I loved it. What would you do if your childhood friend Lissa, who dumped you at school, turned up on your doorstep answering your ad for a lodger? Any normal person would move on to the next candidate, not Gina, she invites her to move in. Told in alternating POVs from each FMC, both women are seriously flawed but that's the compelling part of it. They are scarily relatable too. If you like cleverly constructed, suspenseful psychodramas, then definitely read this.
March 20, 2022
Beware of best friends
Did you have a best friend in school that lived beside you and during the summer ya'ok did everything together and then you grow apart - Lissa gets married and you aren't invited to her wedding - you have a successful business and but a big home but take on a refer to help pay the mortgage - Gina fans an ad in the paper and Lissa comes to see the room. Revenge is the only word that Gina wants from her old best friend that dropped her - easy read good story
Did you have a best friend in school that lived beside you and during the summer ya'ok did everything together and then you grow apart - Lissa gets married and you aren't invited to her wedding - you have a successful business and but a big home but take on a refer to help pay the mortgage - Gina fans an ad in the paper and Lissa comes to see the room. Revenge is the only word that Gina wants from her old best friend that dropped her - easy read good story
May 31, 2022
Was this self-published?
I found this overall boring with no real substance.
I noticed a few missing/misplaced apostrophes which makes me wonder who proofread this.
One example was when "Lissa" mentioned her parents house. No apostrophe. Then, not long after, "Gina" said the Bailiff's left.
It was so very obvious who Simon was.
Several repetitious sentences and excessively long paragraphs.
I skipped whole chunks just to get it over with. I don't feel like I missed anything in doing so.
I found this overall boring with no real substance.
I noticed a few missing/misplaced apostrophes which makes me wonder who proofread this.
One example was when "Lissa" mentioned her parents house. No apostrophe. Then, not long after, "Gina" said the Bailiff's left.
It was so very obvious who Simon was.
Several repetitious sentences and excessively long paragraphs.
I skipped whole chunks just to get it over with. I don't feel like I missed anything in doing so.
April 23, 2022
Gripping read
Loved this book! The characters were so well written you were totally drawn in from the first page. The story built up tension and once started was very hard to put down. Definitely well worth reading
Loved this book! The characters were so well written you were totally drawn in from the first page. The story built up tension and once started was very hard to put down. Definitely well worth reading
January 29, 2022
Gripping
This book was amazing had so many twists and turns I literally read it in a day highly recommend it
This book was amazing had so many twists and turns I literally read it in a day highly recommend it
January 29, 2022
Loved it !
February 27, 2022
Was ok
Not the best book I have read, but was alright!
The ending 😩
Well worth a download, and a read
Not the best book I have read, but was alright!
The ending 😩
Well worth a download, and a read
June 1, 2022
Totally creepy
The Lodger is the story that will put you off roommates for good. Mean girls stay mean, and crazy stays crazy. This is a hard book to put down.
The Lodger is the story that will put you off roommates for good. Mean girls stay mean, and crazy stays crazy. This is a hard book to put down.
June 7, 2022
Clever
A very realistic view of trying to have a harmonious time with a renter or housemate. I had to smile because I had a similar experience myself. Enjoy.
A very realistic view of trying to have a harmonious time with a renter or housemate. I had to smile because I had a similar experience myself. Enjoy.
August 8, 2025
Good Book
This book was a very good read I thought I had it figured out and then I was wrong I really enjoyed it
This book was a very good read I thought I had it figured out and then I was wrong I really enjoyed it
February 8, 2022
Great
So great to read this story. It is an easy to follow story that will keep surprising you right to the end. You will not be disappointed!
So great to read this story. It is an easy to follow story that will keep surprising you right to the end. You will not be disappointed!
May 4, 2022
a dull and predictable story. Bit of a stretch calling it a psychological thriller. Had it worked out a third of the way through and there were no twists or surprises after that. Very poor plot.
May 6, 2022
This was a great variation of the always disturbing housemate theme. Good detail, character portrayal, & story. Never would have seen it coming, the super-selfish villain surpassed by the dillusional & man, how one can speculate on Gina's attachment disorder. It struck me, sadly, too, how very, very strick, superficial, & engrained school caste has become where one couldn't be ok with having friends, even if "studious", but such a dire need to be "popular". Simon's place was highly creative. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the end, but it was fitting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2022
The Lodger
A gripping and compelling psychological thriller? I kept waiting for the story to become a thriller but that never happened poorly written and boring didn't hold my interest but I finished.
Disappointing book
A gripping and compelling psychological thriller? I kept waiting for the story to become a thriller but that never happened poorly written and boring didn't hold my interest but I finished.
Disappointing book
March 29, 2022
Possibly the worst book I have ever read
May 1, 2022
Well written and original
Although we'll written and original, for me it was not gripping or compelling and I worked out the whole storyline(s) very early on. Due to the nature of the story, the characters weren't very likeable.
A good book though.
Spoiler note. ....
The only thing that didn't happen in the plot that I was predicting was a little sub plot about her regular customer actually being her therapist.
Although we'll written and original, for me it was not gripping or compelling and I worked out the whole storyline(s) very early on. Due to the nature of the story, the characters weren't very likeable.
A good book though.
Spoiler note. ....
The only thing that didn't happen in the plot that I was predicting was a little sub plot about her regular customer actually being her therapist.
February 9, 2024
I loved it! Right from the beginning I was sucked in by two perspectives and the fast paced writing. Absolutely nothing turns me off from a book like a slow pace. I would say I was about halfway in when I realized where it was going and what was really going on but I was intrigued enough to keep reading because you never know if there’s going to be a different plot twist near the end. There wasn’t though. Both of the characters are insufferable but not in the way that turns you off from the book, if that makes any sense lol.
Overall, I’d definitely say give it a read if you’re looking for something that’s fast paced and different!
Overall, I’d definitely say give it a read if you’re looking for something that’s fast paced and different!
February 4, 2025
Started really strong, but then I felt in the middle it lost it's way and Gina's character became less believable in her reactions to what was going on in her own life. Her absolute acceptance and calmness didn't ring true to me; it felt rushed and not explored enough. Still kept me turning the page and finished it in a day.
January 28, 2022
I’ve read all four of Joanne Ryan’s books this week and enjoyed every one, I wish there was another to read now that I’ve finished The Lodger. I think if I had to choose I would say The Lost Years was my favourite but it’s a hard choice as I’d recommend all of them.
May 23, 2022
Good book
I enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say it was a psychological thriller because it didn't have a lot of twists and turns. It didn't keep me guessing about anything but it was a short book and enjoyable.
I enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say it was a psychological thriller because it didn't have a lot of twists and turns. It didn't keep me guessing about anything but it was a short book and enjoyable.
July 24, 2022
Definitely compelling, with twists and surprise s
When Gina advertises for a lodger, she is surprised to meet a childhood friend. The two quickly become friends. What could possibly go wrong
When Gina advertises for a lodger, she is surprised to meet a childhood friend. The two quickly become friends. What could possibly go wrong
July 25, 2022
Predictable plot
Fairly good story line and the characters were believable but the plot and ending were very predictable. Could have been better with more twists and turns but it was just ok for me.
Fairly good story line and the characters were believable but the plot and ending were very predictable. Could have been better with more twists and turns but it was just ok for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews