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The Dream Home
The perfect house. The perfect husband. The perfect lie.
Ashlyn thinks all her dreams have come true when she moves into her beautiful new home, designed by her talented architect husband, Mason.
But her perfect world is about to come crashing down…
Several women go missing - all of whom bear a striking resemblance to Ashlyn and her sister, Karina. Ashlyn’s concern turns to outright alarm when she becomes convinced that a van is following her every time she goes to the city.
Mason dismisses her fears – you’re imagining things, it’s just a coincidence. But then Karina disappears.
As the search for her sister intensifies, Ashlyn’s relationship with Mason becomes more and more strained. He spends almost all his time either at work or locked away in his basement. What is he doing down there? Is it possible he is connected to these abductions?
When Ashlyn goes looking for answers, she discovers the truth is more shocking, more horrifying than anything she could ever have imagined…
The Dream Home – the chilling psychological thriller by the best-selling author of The Stepfather and The Scorned Wife.
Ashlyn thinks all her dreams have come true when she moves into her beautiful new home, designed by her talented architect husband, Mason.
But her perfect world is about to come crashing down…
Several women go missing - all of whom bear a striking resemblance to Ashlyn and her sister, Karina. Ashlyn’s concern turns to outright alarm when she becomes convinced that a van is following her every time she goes to the city.
Mason dismisses her fears – you’re imagining things, it’s just a coincidence. But then Karina disappears.
As the search for her sister intensifies, Ashlyn’s relationship with Mason becomes more and more strained. He spends almost all his time either at work or locked away in his basement. What is he doing down there? Is it possible he is connected to these abductions?
When Ashlyn goes looking for answers, she discovers the truth is more shocking, more horrifying than anything she could ever have imagined…
The Dream Home – the chilling psychological thriller by the best-selling author of The Stepfather and The Scorned Wife.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2024
875 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 15, 2024
This is the fifth book I have read by this author and unfortunately also my least favorite. On the positive side, it's a quick read with enough suspense to maintain interest. It also was able to generate emotions as the plot unfolded. I was extremely frustrated with the protagonist and many of her questionable decisions. There was one character who enraged me with their backward thinking and views. I increased my rating from two to three stars based on that reason. I was hoping for more twists at the end but was satisfied with most of the events that led to the conclusion. Thank you Booksprout and Inkubator Books for my copy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 4, 2024
Trigger warning: We hear about multiple rapes and abuse, but don't read about the rapes specifically, but we do read about other abuse. We also do have a scene of sexual assault that we do read about though.
Look I'm all for bonkers thrillers. But this one was all over the place and just didn't make sense. And I don't think there was a twist. I hate when authors have that run on title and I'm like I wanted addicted psychological thriller with a shocking twist and I got none of that. Anyway full review to come.
Full review: Ugh. I dislike this more in the morning. I just don't get what was happening in this book. The main character was naïve to the point of exhaustion. And I guess the "twist" about [redacted] but it made zero sense at all that [redacted] kept things to themselves. I just kept going there are too many plot holes, make it stop.
"The Dream House" follows Ashlyn and her husband Mason. Married for 5 years, Ashlyn and Mason are finally ready to move into their newly renovated home. Mason designed the entire house (he's an architect) and Ashlyn who wants to get into interior design, selected furniture, paint, rug, etc. Of course after the move in, things start to go south with Ashlyn feeling like she's constantly being watched and her husband seems to be focused on her staying inside their home and never leaving it.
Look, Ashlyn is TSTL. The first "meet cute" of her and Mason screamed red flags and she keeps ignoring things to the point you are like, well if she dies, she dies because the insanity of her actions after everything just did my head in. Mason is not a developed character, and neither is anyone else we meet.
The bad guy[s] (no spoilers) reasoning behind this whole thing made zero sense. It just....I can't talk about it without revealing things, but I was left confused.
The plot was interesting (I picked it up to read because it was giving me a potential horror vibe mixed with a thriller) but the execution was deeply flawed. And I kept finding things that are revealed that I don't recall reading. Something is revealed about a character and I went back several chapters to make sure I didn't skip that part, I just scratched my head. The flow was pretty bad too.
The book ends and I still went...okay shocking twist?
Look I'm all for bonkers thrillers. But this one was all over the place and just didn't make sense. And I don't think there was a twist. I hate when authors have that run on title and I'm like I wanted addicted psychological thriller with a shocking twist and I got none of that. Anyway full review to come.
Full review: Ugh. I dislike this more in the morning. I just don't get what was happening in this book. The main character was naïve to the point of exhaustion. And I guess the "twist" about [redacted] but it made zero sense at all that [redacted] kept things to themselves. I just kept going there are too many plot holes, make it stop.
"The Dream House" follows Ashlyn and her husband Mason. Married for 5 years, Ashlyn and Mason are finally ready to move into their newly renovated home. Mason designed the entire house (he's an architect) and Ashlyn who wants to get into interior design, selected furniture, paint, rug, etc. Of course after the move in, things start to go south with Ashlyn feeling like she's constantly being watched and her husband seems to be focused on her staying inside their home and never leaving it.
Look, Ashlyn is TSTL. The first "meet cute" of her and Mason screamed red flags and she keeps ignoring things to the point you are like, well if she dies, she dies because the insanity of her actions after everything just did my head in. Mason is not a developed character, and neither is anyone else we meet.
The bad guy[s] (no spoilers) reasoning behind this whole thing made zero sense. It just....I can't talk about it without revealing things, but I was left confused.
The plot was interesting (I picked it up to read because it was giving me a potential horror vibe mixed with a thriller) but the execution was deeply flawed. And I kept finding things that are revealed that I don't recall reading. Something is revealed about a character and I went back several chapters to make sure I didn't skip that part, I just scratched my head. The flow was pretty bad too.
The book ends and I still went...okay shocking twist?
September 10, 2024
lol, don’t do it
August 17, 2024
3.5 stars
Ashlyn believes she has the perfect life with her architect husband and dream home, but it all starts to unravel when women who resemble her and her sister go missing. As Ashlyn becomes convinced, she is being followed, her sister disappears, and she suspects her husband may be involved. As she delves deeper, she uncovers shocking truths that challenge everything she thought she knew.
This is my initial experience with a book by this particular author. Personally, I found it to be a slow-burning narrative that gradually unfolded. While my interest was piqued from the start, I found myself 70% through the book before fully grasping the plot. Despite this, I remained engaged and intrigued throughout, even though the storyline remained somewhat elusive. The author's unique writing style featured a gradual buildup leading to a sudden, rapid conclusion.
The main character, while not particularly endearing, came across as somewhat whiny in my opinion. The ending proved to be unexpected, with several surprising twists. Overall, this book provided a low-key yet fast-paced read.
Thank you Booksprout and Inkubator Books for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review volunteraly.
Ashlyn believes she has the perfect life with her architect husband and dream home, but it all starts to unravel when women who resemble her and her sister go missing. As Ashlyn becomes convinced, she is being followed, her sister disappears, and she suspects her husband may be involved. As she delves deeper, she uncovers shocking truths that challenge everything she thought she knew.
This is my initial experience with a book by this particular author. Personally, I found it to be a slow-burning narrative that gradually unfolded. While my interest was piqued from the start, I found myself 70% through the book before fully grasping the plot. Despite this, I remained engaged and intrigued throughout, even though the storyline remained somewhat elusive. The author's unique writing style featured a gradual buildup leading to a sudden, rapid conclusion.
The main character, while not particularly endearing, came across as somewhat whiny in my opinion. The ending proved to be unexpected, with several surprising twists. Overall, this book provided a low-key yet fast-paced read.
Thank you Booksprout and Inkubator Books for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review volunteraly.
October 28, 2024
This was a dark one from Theo. When you read the prologue it sends chills and you know it will be a wild ride. Then you are lured into a false sense of security as the story focuses on Ashlyn and her marriage to Mason and his odd behaviour.
Straight off the bat, I was like yes I know what's going on, I was shouting at the characters and I "knew" what was going to happen. I can tell you now, the game Theo played I was so wrong! I got it wrong, even when we were told who / what etc I was still telling the book it was wrong and I was right. It was mental.
A few things didn't quite make sense to me, and hopefully, I might find out why. But overall, this was such a wild ride with kiss-the-girls vibes and I was completely wrong, which made it more fun!
Very dark, entertaining and just a little messed up, to be honest, but an easy read to get so absorbed into!!!
Straight off the bat, I was like yes I know what's going on, I was shouting at the characters and I "knew" what was going to happen. I can tell you now, the game Theo played I was so wrong! I got it wrong, even when we were told who / what etc I was still telling the book it was wrong and I was right. It was mental.
A few things didn't quite make sense to me, and hopefully, I might find out why. But overall, this was such a wild ride with kiss-the-girls vibes and I was completely wrong, which made it more fun!
Very dark, entertaining and just a little messed up, to be honest, but an easy read to get so absorbed into!!!
August 30, 2024
It’s the house of Ashlyn’s dreams. She has a husband she loves, and a new business that is exciting.
However, there is someone out there kidnapping women who look like her- red hair, green eyes, her age, and Ashlyn has fears.
The more she worries, the farther apart she and her husband become. Ashlyn has nightmares that she herself will be abducted. She even begins to suspect her husband!
This book had some interesting plot development, but it took nearly 65% of the book to come together. I found myself wondering when was Ashlyn going to look in the basement!!! (That’s not a spoiler, but was a frustrating point of development. )
Overall, the story let me down and finished with disappointment. The first half didn’t really match the second half.
I’m giving it 3 stars for effort.
I’ve read much better books by Theo Baxter.
However, there is someone out there kidnapping women who look like her- red hair, green eyes, her age, and Ashlyn has fears.
The more she worries, the farther apart she and her husband become. Ashlyn has nightmares that she herself will be abducted. She even begins to suspect her husband!
This book had some interesting plot development, but it took nearly 65% of the book to come together. I found myself wondering when was Ashlyn going to look in the basement!!! (That’s not a spoiler, but was a frustrating point of development. )
Overall, the story let me down and finished with disappointment. The first half didn’t really match the second half.
I’m giving it 3 stars for effort.
I’ve read much better books by Theo Baxter.
August 13, 2024
The Dream Home was a quick read. Theo Baxter has a detective series now that I found to be very good. I am hit or miss with his stand alone books. This one felt so been there done that, that it was a chore for me to finish the book. Early on in the book, I figured out what was going on. I do like the writing style and character development. I cannot find this book anywhere on Goodreds so I'm only putting my review here. Thriller readers will like it and it deserves a fair shot. I had an issue liking the characters and the book seemed to drag on for me. However, others seem to enjoy it, so I do recommend it. Thank you to Inkubator books and Nergalley for the ARC.
September 5, 2024
I could not wait for this book to be done. It just seemed to drag on forever and ever. It was so repetitive. It was slow and there was no action until late in the book and when there was it was very vague. The title didn’t really go with the story either.
December 5, 2024
Very confused at how this book is advertised as having a shocking twist, when I’m not even convinced there’s a twist at all?
August 22, 2024
Ashlyn and Mason are newlyweds, but things get complicated when they move into their dream house. Mason is never home or always in his man cave, but suddenly, the worst happens. Women who look like Ashlyn start disappearing. When Ashlyn's sister Karina disappears suddenly, Ashleyn must get to the bottom of it to save your marriage and, more importantly, her sister. Does Mason have something to hide? Will Ashlyn save her sister? Will truths be revealed? I have nothing but amazing things to say about this book, but my one criticism is that the beginning was a little slow. Once the plot hit, I could not turn away. I also felt like I connected with the characters.
My favorite quote- “you have nothing to worry about. Nothing will hurt you here.” By Mason
I want to thank NetGalley for giving me this to review this book
My favorite quote- “you have nothing to worry about. Nothing will hurt you here.” By Mason
I want to thank NetGalley for giving me this to review this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2024
The perfect life with the perfect husband, what more could you want? Ashlyn, pretty much has it made! However, it all comes crumbling down when women start to go missing, and she starts to suspect her perfect husband of not only kidnapping but also cheating! Fast-paced read with a twist you won't see coming! I thought I had it figured out, but I was so wrong! This was my first Theo Baxter book, and judging on this one, I'll definitely be reading more!
Thank you Inkubator Books, Theo Baxter and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
Thank you Inkubator Books, Theo Baxter and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
March 11, 2025
This is a psychological thriller which is my favorite.
When Ashlyn’s husband Mason builds them a new home they are excited. Shortly Ashlyn’s life changes with her husband being cold.
Women in the city are being murdered. Ashlyn thinks she knows who the killer is!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Inkubator Books.
September 8, 2024
Reads quickly! The protagonist can’t figure out why her husband has become so cold after moving into a large home an hour from the city! She wonders what secrets he holds. We also have a serial kidnapper in the city and the girls look just like the protagonist and her sister. So, a lot is going on in this fast paced story!
September 23, 2024
I don’t normally write reviews (In fact, this may be my very first one. I was compelled-It truly was that bad.) and do not like to be negative. I also respect the fact that the author took great pride in the accomplishment of writing and publishing a book. All of that being said, this has to be one of THE single worst books I have ever read. Yes, I could have chosen to go the DNF route, but I never do, to a fault.
Very, VERY poorly written. VERY. Incorrect tenses & grammar, many references to abuse, trauma, strife, etc. without details or evidence. Ashley went from thinking her husband was incredible to thinking he was cheating and subsequently a kidnapper very quickly and without much to go on. Suddenly, without a real plot twist, the title of villain slides over to a character who had merely been labeled & mentioned as something along the lines of the “ex bad boyfriend” of her sister. We have no connections to this character, other than a random reference or two. The characters have NO personal connections, either. And then there’s the just plain stupidity: “This house is old. Maybe there’s a landline…oh look, there’s a landline!”. Too many examples to mention. An overdone theme paired with juvenile writing. Do yourself a favor (especially if you are unable to DNF, like me!) and give it a hard pass.
Very, VERY poorly written. VERY. Incorrect tenses & grammar, many references to abuse, trauma, strife, etc. without details or evidence. Ashley went from thinking her husband was incredible to thinking he was cheating and subsequently a kidnapper very quickly and without much to go on. Suddenly, without a real plot twist, the title of villain slides over to a character who had merely been labeled & mentioned as something along the lines of the “ex bad boyfriend” of her sister. We have no connections to this character, other than a random reference or two. The characters have NO personal connections, either. And then there’s the just plain stupidity: “This house is old. Maybe there’s a landline…oh look, there’s a landline!”. Too many examples to mention. An overdone theme paired with juvenile writing. Do yourself a favor (especially if you are unable to DNF, like me!) and give it a hard pass.
August 19, 2024
Thanks to netgalley for this ebook arc
I really wanted to like this book- good twist good story line but it just draaagged on. Started off super slow and was unnecessarily descriptive of EVERYTHING.
I really wanted to like this book- good twist good story line but it just draaagged on. Started off super slow and was unnecessarily descriptive of EVERYTHING.
February 19, 2025
This book was a sleeper
I love a good mystery/thriller with suspense and good twists. However this story fell so flat and was quite disappointing.
The main character Ashlynn is married to Mason who is a successful architect who owns his own firm. They reside in Lake Tahoe. Mason has quite a few red flags. He’s quite a bit older than Ashlynn. They met and were married quickly. Throughout majority of the book Ashlynn is the most naive and flat out clueless woman you just want to reach through the book and smack her upside her head to wake up!! Her husband builds them a dream house in the middle of the woods. It’s huge and lonely as Mason is either working at his firm, in his home office or “playing video games” in his man cave - that’s always locked. Soon his personality begins to change and he grows more distant and is very condescending and disrespectful and controlling toward his wife. There is talk about starting a family. Afterall they’ve been married for 5 years and Mason is already 40. Ashlynn is only 28 but still, she’s lonely and wants to be nurturing but Mason is just not that interested, even though he seems to love her in his own way. But while the author brings up the couple wanting to start a family, it seems to get dropped in the storyline. They have enough intimacy why would she not get pregnant if they were trying?
Then somewhere around half the book, the news comes on and Ashlynn realizes that women who look similar to her and her sister are going missing without a trace. Mason becomes more distant and Ashlynn begins to wonder why her marriage is crumbling. She suspects he’s cheating. This woman always dismisses his odd behavior and feels guilty for all the massive red flags. Then at one point they get back from a vacation only to discover their home has been broken into and the house is ransacked. Mason gets cut by the attacker -that Ashlynn never sees - and is taken to the hospital. This is the point in the story that as a reader you’d expect something big to happen since the police go to investigate the home and find any clues. Yet nothing. The story continues with the repeated premise of Ashlynn upset about her marriage and trying to communicate with her aloof evasive husband. The story takes an odd turn. The author dropped the ball on this book . It had all the ingredients to be the perfect confection but the cake fell. I don’t understand how it has so many positive reviews; however what intrigues one person certainly isn’t going to intrigue everyone. Other readers who are familiar with this author said this was their least favorite book of his. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, I may try another one of his just to see if there is a better execution of a good thriller. Until then….
I love a good mystery/thriller with suspense and good twists. However this story fell so flat and was quite disappointing.
The main character Ashlynn is married to Mason who is a successful architect who owns his own firm. They reside in Lake Tahoe. Mason has quite a few red flags. He’s quite a bit older than Ashlynn. They met and were married quickly. Throughout majority of the book Ashlynn is the most naive and flat out clueless woman you just want to reach through the book and smack her upside her head to wake up!! Her husband builds them a dream house in the middle of the woods. It’s huge and lonely as Mason is either working at his firm, in his home office or “playing video games” in his man cave - that’s always locked. Soon his personality begins to change and he grows more distant and is very condescending and disrespectful and controlling toward his wife. There is talk about starting a family. Afterall they’ve been married for 5 years and Mason is already 40. Ashlynn is only 28 but still, she’s lonely and wants to be nurturing but Mason is just not that interested, even though he seems to love her in his own way. But while the author brings up the couple wanting to start a family, it seems to get dropped in the storyline. They have enough intimacy why would she not get pregnant if they were trying?
Then somewhere around half the book, the news comes on and Ashlynn realizes that women who look similar to her and her sister are going missing without a trace. Mason becomes more distant and Ashlynn begins to wonder why her marriage is crumbling. She suspects he’s cheating. This woman always dismisses his odd behavior and feels guilty for all the massive red flags. Then at one point they get back from a vacation only to discover their home has been broken into and the house is ransacked. Mason gets cut by the attacker -that Ashlynn never sees - and is taken to the hospital. This is the point in the story that as a reader you’d expect something big to happen since the police go to investigate the home and find any clues. Yet nothing. The story continues with the repeated premise of Ashlynn upset about her marriage and trying to communicate with her aloof evasive husband. The story takes an odd turn. The author dropped the ball on this book . It had all the ingredients to be the perfect confection but the cake fell. I don’t understand how it has so many positive reviews; however what intrigues one person certainly isn’t going to intrigue everyone. Other readers who are familiar with this author said this was their least favorite book of his. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, I may try another one of his just to see if there is a better execution of a good thriller. Until then….
January 27, 2025
The Dream Home just hits differently, now that I'm old enough to really understand the horror of domestic uncertainty. You know that feeling when you've invested years in a relationship, bought the dream house, and then start noticing things just slightly... off? Yeah, this book taps right into those midlife anxieties.
Fair warning before you dive in - Baxter doesn't pull punches with the dark content. There's violence, abuse, and other heavy themes that feel more impactful when you've got some life experience under your belt. This isn't your typical "young woman in peril" story; it's a deeper exploration of trust, long-term relationships, and the secrets we keep from those closest to us.
The protagonist, Ashlyn, thinks she's finally "made it" with her perfect house and successful husband Mason. But when women who look like her and her sister start disappearing, and her husband's behaviour becomes increasingly suspicious... well, let's just say it makes you think about how well you really know your partner after all these years.
The pacing is methodical - maybe a bit too methodical at times. But honestly, at this stage in life, I appreciate a thriller that takes its time building tension rather than rushing from one shock to the next. It's like a good wine - you want to savour the complexity rather than just chug it down.
What really got me was how the story explores themes that resonate more deeply as you age: the vulnerability of starting over, the weight of major investments (both emotional and financial), and the terrifying possibility that you've built your life's foundation on shifting sand. Mason's mysterious basement activities will have you side-eyeing your own partner's "hobby room" or home office, trust me.
The ending packs several genuine surprises that feel earned rather than gimmicky. Baxter proves once again that they understand how to craft suspense that appeals to readers who've been around the block a few times.
Four solid stars - would've been five if some of the middle sections moved a bit faster, but the psychological depth and that knockout ending nearly make up for it. Perfect for reading on a quiet evening when the kids are finally asleep and you can properly appreciate a good psychological thriller.
Fair warning before you dive in - Baxter doesn't pull punches with the dark content. There's violence, abuse, and other heavy themes that feel more impactful when you've got some life experience under your belt. This isn't your typical "young woman in peril" story; it's a deeper exploration of trust, long-term relationships, and the secrets we keep from those closest to us.
The protagonist, Ashlyn, thinks she's finally "made it" with her perfect house and successful husband Mason. But when women who look like her and her sister start disappearing, and her husband's behaviour becomes increasingly suspicious... well, let's just say it makes you think about how well you really know your partner after all these years.
The pacing is methodical - maybe a bit too methodical at times. But honestly, at this stage in life, I appreciate a thriller that takes its time building tension rather than rushing from one shock to the next. It's like a good wine - you want to savour the complexity rather than just chug it down.
What really got me was how the story explores themes that resonate more deeply as you age: the vulnerability of starting over, the weight of major investments (both emotional and financial), and the terrifying possibility that you've built your life's foundation on shifting sand. Mason's mysterious basement activities will have you side-eyeing your own partner's "hobby room" or home office, trust me.
The ending packs several genuine surprises that feel earned rather than gimmicky. Baxter proves once again that they understand how to craft suspense that appeals to readers who've been around the block a few times.
Four solid stars - would've been five if some of the middle sections moved a bit faster, but the psychological depth and that knockout ending nearly make up for it. Perfect for reading on a quiet evening when the kids are finally asleep and you can properly appreciate a good psychological thriller.
August 13, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Theo Baxter’s The Dream Home is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends suspense with a deep dive into the complexities of trust and deception. This novel is a testament to Baxter’s ability to explore the darker facets of human nature while keeping readers engaged.
Ashlyn believes she has found her dream life when she moves into a stunning new home designed by her architect husband, Mason. However, her idyllic existence begins to unravel as a series of unsettling events unfold. Several women who resemble Ashlyn and her sister, Karina, go missing, and Ashlyn becomes increasingly paranoid, convinced that a van is following her. Mason dismisses her fears as mere coincidences, but when Karina disappears, Ashlyn’s world is thrown into chaos.
Baxter excels in creating complex, multi-dimensional characters. Ashlyn’s transformation from a contented wife to a desperate woman seeking the truth is compelling and relatable.
Mason’s mysterious nature keeps us guessing about his true intentions, while Karina’s disappearance adds a layer of urgency and emotional depth to the narrative. The supporting characters, including the mysterious figures who Ashlyn encounters, enrich the story with their own secrets and motivations.
The author’s writing is taut and evocative, perfectly capturing the tension and unease that permeate the story. Baxter’s use of vivid descriptions and psychological insight creates an immersive reading experience. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of intense suspense interspersed with quieter, reflective passages that allow readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
The Dream Home explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the facade of perfection. It delves into the idea that what appears to be a dream can quickly turn into a nightmare, and that the people we trust the most can sometimes be the ones most easily capable of deceiving us. The novel examines the psychological impact of fear and paranoia, and how they can distort our perception of reality.
Theo Baxter’s The Dream Home is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends suspense with a deep dive into the complexities of trust and deception. This novel is a testament to Baxter’s ability to explore the darker facets of human nature while keeping readers engaged.
Ashlyn believes she has found her dream life when she moves into a stunning new home designed by her architect husband, Mason. However, her idyllic existence begins to unravel as a series of unsettling events unfold. Several women who resemble Ashlyn and her sister, Karina, go missing, and Ashlyn becomes increasingly paranoid, convinced that a van is following her. Mason dismisses her fears as mere coincidences, but when Karina disappears, Ashlyn’s world is thrown into chaos.
Baxter excels in creating complex, multi-dimensional characters. Ashlyn’s transformation from a contented wife to a desperate woman seeking the truth is compelling and relatable.
Mason’s mysterious nature keeps us guessing about his true intentions, while Karina’s disappearance adds a layer of urgency and emotional depth to the narrative. The supporting characters, including the mysterious figures who Ashlyn encounters, enrich the story with their own secrets and motivations.
The author’s writing is taut and evocative, perfectly capturing the tension and unease that permeate the story. Baxter’s use of vivid descriptions and psychological insight creates an immersive reading experience. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of intense suspense interspersed with quieter, reflective passages that allow readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
The Dream Home explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the facade of perfection. It delves into the idea that what appears to be a dream can quickly turn into a nightmare, and that the people we trust the most can sometimes be the ones most easily capable of deceiving us. The novel examines the psychological impact of fear and paranoia, and how they can distort our perception of reality.
October 29, 2024
Ashlyn and Mason are finally moving into their dream home. Mason, an architect, has been working on building them the perfect house and although Ashlyn hasn't been allowed to see the progress, she has picked out everything for the interiors. Now that the house is finally done she is so excited to move in and hopefully start planning for children. The house is far from town and her family, which Ashlyn isn't too keen about, but she trusts Mason and knows he only does what is best for them. Unfortunately, once moved in, nothing seems to be going right. Ashlyn and Mason's relationship is on the rocks and she wonders if she ever truly knew her husband of 5 years. To make matters worse, someone is kidnapping women who look eerily like Ashlyn, and she constantly feels as if she's being followed. Mason scoffs at her concerns and frequently disappears to his man cave for hours at night. When Ashlyn's sister disappears, she begins to wonder if maybe Mason is behind the kidnappings.
The premise of this book was really good, unfortunately the story just didn't come together well. The first half of the book is a repetition of Ashlyn's thoughts and worries about her relationship with Mason, her family, and being followed. It picks up a bit when she starts to suspect her husband, but still fails to move forward. Then all of a sudden, there's some random twists and then the story is over. All the build up seemed to have really led nowhere relevant. The ending had barely anything to do with what went on in the rest of the book. Ashlyn, our main character, was annoying, I felt like reaching in and shaking her for being stupid. The other characters in the book were pretty useless and not even worth mentioning. I hate to say that I actually liked Mason because at least he had some personality, even if it was bad.
Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The premise of this book was really good, unfortunately the story just didn't come together well. The first half of the book is a repetition of Ashlyn's thoughts and worries about her relationship with Mason, her family, and being followed. It picks up a bit when she starts to suspect her husband, but still fails to move forward. Then all of a sudden, there's some random twists and then the story is over. All the build up seemed to have really led nowhere relevant. The ending had barely anything to do with what went on in the rest of the book. Ashlyn, our main character, was annoying, I felt like reaching in and shaking her for being stupid. The other characters in the book were pretty useless and not even worth mentioning. I hate to say that I actually liked Mason because at least he had some personality, even if it was bad.
Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2024
Ashlyn is living the perfect life. She has the perfect husband, the perfect home, or does she? Ashlyn and Mason have been married for 5 years. Mason is a well-known architect, and he designed and built their dream home to be exactly like they wanted it. Now it is finally time to move from Tahoe to their new house about an hour away out in the country were there new house awaits. The new house is perfect and everything they have dreamed of. When they move in Mason gives her the green light to decorate their entire new home except for his man-cave in the basement, money is no object. Ashlyn being an Interior Designer could not wait to decorate their new home as a show place to help her business.
But her perfect life is about to come crashing down. When they move into the new house Mason seems to become more distant. He works late, spends all of his free time in his man-cave and they seem to fight about everything. She has also noticed the news stories of women that look similar to her and her younger sister are disappearing from the area. Particular women with red hair. And now there is a white van that seems to follow her every time she goes into the city. Mason dismisses her fears and tells her it must just be nerves and her imagination. And now my sister Karina has disappeared.
Ashlyn is a wreck and tries to remain calm for her parents' sake. She spends many hours trying to find Karina, talking to her friends, going places she goes everything she can think of to no avail. And now her relationship with Mason has become even more strained. He spends his time at work or locked in his man-cave. Could he possibly know anything about the abductions? Is he the one taking the women?
I got this book from Book Sprout and will be happy to leave my review.
But her perfect life is about to come crashing down. When they move into the new house Mason seems to become more distant. He works late, spends all of his free time in his man-cave and they seem to fight about everything. She has also noticed the news stories of women that look similar to her and her younger sister are disappearing from the area. Particular women with red hair. And now there is a white van that seems to follow her every time she goes into the city. Mason dismisses her fears and tells her it must just be nerves and her imagination. And now my sister Karina has disappeared.
Ashlyn is a wreck and tries to remain calm for her parents' sake. She spends many hours trying to find Karina, talking to her friends, going places she goes everything she can think of to no avail. And now her relationship with Mason has become even more strained. He spends his time at work or locked in his man-cave. Could he possibly know anything about the abductions? Is he the one taking the women?
I got this book from Book Sprout and will be happy to leave my review.
August 28, 2024
This book was so bad that it encouraged me to reset my password here so I could write a review.
I've read a few of Theo Baxter's books before and from memory I've found them pretty decent, so I don't know what happened here.
The first 70% or so of the book sets up a vaguely interesting story of a controlling husband and a naive wife. We sit through pages of her oscillating between praising him and complaining about him. It seems like we're being set up to think that he could be responsible for the local women going missing - they look like the wife, the husband has a locked 'man cave' that he goes to often, the wife hears some noises at night, the husband goes for long drives in the same place the girls are being taken from, their new home is sound proofed, there's spaces that are unaccounted for in the floorplan. It's intriguing enough to keep reading despite the wife's boring monologues.
Then with less than 1/4 of the book left, we find out it was not him. It was someone else who we haven't met and have barely heard about. Then the husband is killed. Then the girls escape.
I thought maybe we'd have a little twist at the end that the husband built the chamber that the girls were being held in - a little something to tie him back to all the hints we were getting earlier in the book, maybe find out he was okay with the other girls being taken and then when it was his wife he snapped - but no. The wife gets his money and we all live happily ever after.
At least it was a quick read.
I've read a few of Theo Baxter's books before and from memory I've found them pretty decent, so I don't know what happened here.
The first 70% or so of the book sets up a vaguely interesting story of a controlling husband and a naive wife. We sit through pages of her oscillating between praising him and complaining about him. It seems like we're being set up to think that he could be responsible for the local women going missing - they look like the wife, the husband has a locked 'man cave' that he goes to often, the wife hears some noises at night, the husband goes for long drives in the same place the girls are being taken from, their new home is sound proofed, there's spaces that are unaccounted for in the floorplan. It's intriguing enough to keep reading despite the wife's boring monologues.
Then with less than 1/4 of the book left, we find out it was not him. It was someone else who we haven't met and have barely heard about. Then the husband is killed. Then the girls escape.
I thought maybe we'd have a little twist at the end that the husband built the chamber that the girls were being held in - a little something to tie him back to all the hints we were getting earlier in the book, maybe find out he was okay with the other girls being taken and then when it was his wife he snapped - but no. The wife gets his money and we all live happily ever after.
At least it was a quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Dream Home by Theo Baxter is a suspenseful psychological/domestic thriller with some dramatic turns.
What was different that I loved was the recognition of domestic violence. And this was a refreshing way to show this topic. Some heartbreaking parts thankfully weren't so graphic so was easy to get through them with a great part of sadness.
It was a bit hard to understand, why Mason was changing so suddenly as they had been married for 5 years? Mason is a wealthy man who is happily married to Ashlyn.
Was nice to witness how Ashlyn makes a fantastic transformation throughout the book. You can't help but admire her!
Ashlyn comes from a hardworking, traditionally built family (women take care of the house and children but the man brings the bacon home) so she kind of accepts Mason's behaviour to the degree that she can see things are not healthy anymore.
This book felt like two separate storylines, one focusing on Mason and Ashlyn's marital issues and the other on missing women cases. The first felt more like a domestic thriller whereas the other was more a suspenseful psychological thriller.
Thank you, NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this copy!
The Dream Home by Theo Baxter is a suspenseful psychological/domestic thriller with some dramatic turns.
What was different that I loved was the recognition of domestic violence. And this was a refreshing way to show this topic. Some heartbreaking parts thankfully weren't so graphic so was easy to get through them with a great part of sadness.
It was a bit hard to understand, why Mason was changing so suddenly as they had been married for 5 years? Mason is a wealthy man who is happily married to Ashlyn.
Was nice to witness how Ashlyn makes a fantastic transformation throughout the book. You can't help but admire her!
Ashlyn comes from a hardworking, traditionally built family (women take care of the house and children but the man brings the bacon home) so she kind of accepts Mason's behaviour to the degree that she can see things are not healthy anymore.
This book felt like two separate storylines, one focusing on Mason and Ashlyn's marital issues and the other on missing women cases. The first felt more like a domestic thriller whereas the other was more a suspenseful psychological thriller.
Thank you, NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this copy!
August 19, 2024
I really enjoyed the storyline of this book. However, the characters left a lot to be desired. First you have Ashlyn, who pretty much just fell off a turnip truck. She couldn't see the truth if it came up to her door and introduced itself. Then you have Mason, the misogynistic narcissist. Both characters left me cringing on more than one occasion.
We all have dreams of what we want our future to look like, but at what cost? When is too much too much? That is what Ashlyn must decide. Married to Mason for about five years they are moving into their dream house. It's a house that Mason, as an architect has designed, and Ashlyn, as an interior designer has put all together and made it a home. The euphoria is short lived and Ashlyn starts to see a side of Mason she didn't see before. When her sister and other women who resemble her disappear it's time for her to take the blinders off.
This is a fast paced thriller that held my attention and kept me guessing until the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the advanced copy
We all have dreams of what we want our future to look like, but at what cost? When is too much too much? That is what Ashlyn must decide. Married to Mason for about five years they are moving into their dream house. It's a house that Mason, as an architect has designed, and Ashlyn, as an interior designer has put all together and made it a home. The euphoria is short lived and Ashlyn starts to see a side of Mason she didn't see before. When her sister and other women who resemble her disappear it's time for her to take the blinders off.
This is a fast paced thriller that held my attention and kept me guessing until the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the advanced copy
October 16, 2024
This book had potential, but ultimately couldn't live up to the initial plot.
- Spoilers ahead -
The ground work laid in the first 70% of the book had me thinking obviously Mason was behind something sinister, but that it was just him kidnapping the girls was too obvious. I was power reading through this to figure out what the big reveal was. I have a feeling not even the author knew how to wrap this one up, and honestly reading that it was Paul all along I assumed Mason was still involved somehow - after all he's an architecture, maybe he builds torture bunkers for a living? I full on refused to believe Mason was dead until I got to the very last page. It just didn't seem to fit with anything I read before this. So the plot twist was that there was no plot twist regarding Mason? He really was just an asshole who hid his whole personality for five years? And the disappearances starting at the same time the house foundation would have been complete? And the fact that the book is TITLE ABOUT THE HOUSE? I'm not sure what happened it the writing process, but overall a let down.
- Spoilers ahead -
The ground work laid in the first 70% of the book had me thinking obviously Mason was behind something sinister, but that it was just him kidnapping the girls was too obvious. I was power reading through this to figure out what the big reveal was. I have a feeling not even the author knew how to wrap this one up, and honestly reading that it was Paul all along I assumed Mason was still involved somehow - after all he's an architecture, maybe he builds torture bunkers for a living? I full on refused to believe Mason was dead until I got to the very last page. It just didn't seem to fit with anything I read before this. So the plot twist was that there was no plot twist regarding Mason? He really was just an asshole who hid his whole personality for five years? And the disappearances starting at the same time the house foundation would have been complete? And the fact that the book is TITLE ABOUT THE HOUSE? I'm not sure what happened it the writing process, but overall a let down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2024
Warning: This book is so creepy! Even without going into great detail about what transpires between the kidnapped women and the sicko that kidnapped them…Theo Baxter paints the perfect picture of pure evil and horrific behavior. This is not a story I would recommend reading in the middle of the night. I knew what to expect and still had to put it away until daylight!
The storyline was pure Theo—a definite psychological thriller with plenty of suspense and anguish; the characters were deeply flawed yet amazing in their own right; the plot twists and turns were amazingly well done; and while there is not a HEA, there is excellent closure.
I have mixed feelings about this book…I want to love it like I do most of Theo’s books, but it’s just a tad short of the mark. Even so, it’s well worth your time. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and think you should read it, too.) 💕
The storyline was pure Theo—a definite psychological thriller with plenty of suspense and anguish; the characters were deeply flawed yet amazing in their own right; the plot twists and turns were amazingly well done; and while there is not a HEA, there is excellent closure.
I have mixed feelings about this book…I want to love it like I do most of Theo’s books, but it’s just a tad short of the mark. Even so, it’s well worth your time. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and think you should read it, too.) 💕
September 5, 2024
It always makes me sad when I don’t enjoy a book, especially if it’s from a genre I love. It was a page-turner from the start, but the story felt like playing connect the dots where the dots just wouldn’t connect.
HIT 🎯
✅ The characterization of a manipulative and gaslighting husband was on point. Mason, Ashlyn's husband, really got on my nerves.
✅ I couldn’t put it down, so I stayed up late to finish it—definitely a page-turner.
✅ There were plenty of misleading clues which I loved.
MISS ❌
❎ The book title and the story were the biggest red herrings; they had no connection.
❎ Ashlyn, the female main character, was incredibly frustrating throughout the story. I felt like shaking her or giving her a slap to make her see sense.
❎ Unnecessary repetition of scenes
❎ The twist in the story was anticlimactic, and the ending felt rushed.
Thank you @netgalley and @inkubatorbooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
📚 Actual rating: 1.5/5
HIT 🎯
✅ The characterization of a manipulative and gaslighting husband was on point. Mason, Ashlyn's husband, really got on my nerves.
✅ I couldn’t put it down, so I stayed up late to finish it—definitely a page-turner.
✅ There were plenty of misleading clues which I loved.
MISS ❌
❎ The book title and the story were the biggest red herrings; they had no connection.
❎ Ashlyn, the female main character, was incredibly frustrating throughout the story. I felt like shaking her or giving her a slap to make her see sense.
❎ Unnecessary repetition of scenes
❎ The twist in the story was anticlimactic, and the ending felt rushed.
Thank you @netgalley and @inkubatorbooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
📚 Actual rating: 1.5/5
August 21, 2024
With a heavy heart, I have to say that I was disappointed. The author created a such a whoddunit through 70% of the book for it to just fall flat.
Ashlyn lives with her husband Mason whom she is madly in love with. She gradually starts seeing his true nature and begins doubting him for cheating. At the same time, the kidnapping of women who look like her leaves Ashlyn very uneasy.
The author impressively writes about a narcissistic man who always believes women are beneath him. You really detest Mason as the story progresses.
As we reach the climax of the plot, it felt too convoluted and disturbing. I did however like the Justice served angle. It makes us think of vengeance and it's consequences. I do wish I had enjoyed this one more. I give this book 2 stars.
I thank NetGalley and Inkubator books for this E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ashlyn lives with her husband Mason whom she is madly in love with. She gradually starts seeing his true nature and begins doubting him for cheating. At the same time, the kidnapping of women who look like her leaves Ashlyn very uneasy.
The author impressively writes about a narcissistic man who always believes women are beneath him. You really detest Mason as the story progresses.
As we reach the climax of the plot, it felt too convoluted and disturbing. I did however like the Justice served angle. It makes us think of vengeance and it's consequences. I do wish I had enjoyed this one more. I give this book 2 stars.
I thank NetGalley and Inkubator books for this E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 25, 2024
With an intriguing synopsis, Theo Baxter presents the Dream Home as a domestic thriller, and he definitely delivers on that front.
Ashlyn feels like everything is perfect - until it isn't. Until paranoia stalks her. Until her own sister is taken in the same way despite her husband telling her she's overthinking. Ashlyn's perfect world turns out to be fabrication, and we are along for the ride.
The acknowledgement to domestic violence and how it was portrayed was interesting to see. I do feel like something more could have been added to make the plot a little cohesive. Overall though, this was a good, decent thriller that did the job. I had an inkling about where the plot was going, but I was mostly pleasantly surprised by the end.
Anyone who loves domestic thrillers will surely love this. Thank you to Inkubator books for the arc!
Ashlyn feels like everything is perfect - until it isn't. Until paranoia stalks her. Until her own sister is taken in the same way despite her husband telling her she's overthinking. Ashlyn's perfect world turns out to be fabrication, and we are along for the ride.
The acknowledgement to domestic violence and how it was portrayed was interesting to see. I do feel like something more could have been added to make the plot a little cohesive. Overall though, this was a good, decent thriller that did the job. I had an inkling about where the plot was going, but I was mostly pleasantly surprised by the end.
Anyone who loves domestic thrillers will surely love this. Thank you to Inkubator books for the arc!
August 29, 2024
This Book Was Pointless
—SPOILERS AHEAD —- this book was awful. The writing is well done but the entire first half of the book doesn’t matter. A woman starts suspecting her husband is a kidnapper and it turns out he’s not. The kidnapper is some random guy from the past. The dream house plays no major role in the story. The husband dies so it’s like he never mattered in the first place. You spend 2/3 of the book reading about marital problems thinking the husband is a psycho and it turns out he’s just got a porn fetish and is cheating. Meanwhile some random ex boyfriend of the sisters is the kidnapper and you don’t even learn about him until 2/3 of the way through. Literally most of the book is a waste of time. I don’t recommend this book. Find something else to do with your precious time.
—SPOILERS AHEAD —- this book was awful. The writing is well done but the entire first half of the book doesn’t matter. A woman starts suspecting her husband is a kidnapper and it turns out he’s not. The kidnapper is some random guy from the past. The dream house plays no major role in the story. The husband dies so it’s like he never mattered in the first place. You spend 2/3 of the book reading about marital problems thinking the husband is a psycho and it turns out he’s just got a porn fetish and is cheating. Meanwhile some random ex boyfriend of the sisters is the kidnapper and you don’t even learn about him until 2/3 of the way through. Literally most of the book is a waste of time. I don’t recommend this book. Find something else to do with your precious time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2024
2.5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an advanced copy of The Dream Home.
This story follows Ashlyn and her husband Mason who have just finished building their dream home. They have been married for five years and Ashlyn thinks she has hit the jackpot with Mason. But once they move into there new home he starts to change-he becomes distant, spends his free time in his man cave that he always keeps locked, and they fight all of the time. Ashlyn becomes concerned that women that look like her keep getting abducted in her town. She starts to wonder if she knows her husband as well as she thinks she does?
This was a pretty quick read but I was disappointed with the ending and twist. It just seemed pretty anticlimactic.
This story follows Ashlyn and her husband Mason who have just finished building their dream home. They have been married for five years and Ashlyn thinks she has hit the jackpot with Mason. But once they move into there new home he starts to change-he becomes distant, spends his free time in his man cave that he always keeps locked, and they fight all of the time. Ashlyn becomes concerned that women that look like her keep getting abducted in her town. She starts to wonder if she knows her husband as well as she thinks she does?
This was a pretty quick read but I was disappointed with the ending and twist. It just seemed pretty anticlimactic.
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