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The Housewarming
In a haunting novel of psychological suspense, a summer getaway gone wrong rips apart a group of lifelong friends, thrusting their story into the true crime spotlight—and potentially their secrets, too.
For five friends vacationing on Block Island, it was a summer to remember. How could they forget it when only four made it back to the mainland?
Now, half a decade after Zoe Gilbert’s unsolved disappearance, Callie Sutter invites estranged friends Meg, Tess, and Lindsey—the last to see Zoe on that fateful trip—to reunite on the anniversary of the mystery that tore them apart. Back on Block Island, Callie reasons, they can come together again, memorialize Zoe, allay old resentments and recriminations, and put the past to rest. But it won’t be so easy. Patricia Adele, a true crime podcaster who once made a name for herself by casting suspicion on Zoe’s surviving friends all those years ago, is most eager for the reunion. She’s resurfaced with a book proposal claiming to expose them all as cold-blooded liars and conspirators in a crime once and for all.
Driven by self-preservation, the women must reckon with their long-held secrets and shared history if they’re to find out what really happened to Zoe on that hot August day. But will the truth set them free or condemn them all? No one is prepared to find out.
For five friends vacationing on Block Island, it was a summer to remember. How could they forget it when only four made it back to the mainland?
Now, half a decade after Zoe Gilbert’s unsolved disappearance, Callie Sutter invites estranged friends Meg, Tess, and Lindsey—the last to see Zoe on that fateful trip—to reunite on the anniversary of the mystery that tore them apart. Back on Block Island, Callie reasons, they can come together again, memorialize Zoe, allay old resentments and recriminations, and put the past to rest. But it won’t be so easy. Patricia Adele, a true crime podcaster who once made a name for herself by casting suspicion on Zoe’s surviving friends all those years ago, is most eager for the reunion. She’s resurfaced with a book proposal claiming to expose them all as cold-blooded liars and conspirators in a crime once and for all.
Driven by self-preservation, the women must reckon with their long-held secrets and shared history if they’re to find out what really happened to Zoe on that hot August day. But will the truth set them free or condemn them all? No one is prepared to find out.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2025
6172 people are currently reading
13895 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 688 reviews
July 5, 2025
This one started off good, the premise was exciting. However, it was not executed properly. A girl disappeared on a trip with her friends years ago and they are all suspects. Flash forward and they are all living their lives when the past comes back to haunt them.
This book would have been good if it focused on what actually happened on that trip, but instead it was just pages and pages describing the friends’ new lives since her disappearance. There was a reporter who was trying to write a book that would make them look guilty again and could ruin their lives, so the entire focus was on that instead of actually focusing on what happened to the disappeared friend, it was just pointless. I would not call this a thriller in any way.
Even the ending, we think we are finally getting to the truth of what happened in the very ending after like 250 pointless pages and it leaves off just allowing the reader to guess what happened… wtf was the point of that. I am sorry this one really did not sit well with me and was not what I expected at all. I hate to be that person as I believe this was the author’s debut novel, but I think this should have been formatted quite differently. More flashbacks to the past, more suspense.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for this free copy.
This book would have been good if it focused on what actually happened on that trip, but instead it was just pages and pages describing the friends’ new lives since her disappearance. There was a reporter who was trying to write a book that would make them look guilty again and could ruin their lives, so the entire focus was on that instead of actually focusing on what happened to the disappeared friend, it was just pointless. I would not call this a thriller in any way.
Even the ending, we think we are finally getting to the truth of what happened in the very ending after like 250 pointless pages and it leaves off just allowing the reader to guess what happened… wtf was the point of that. I am sorry this one really did not sit well with me and was not what I expected at all. I hate to be that person as I believe this was the author’s debut novel, but I think this should have been formatted quite differently. More flashbacks to the past, more suspense.
Thank you to Amazon First Reads for this free copy.
July 7, 2025
Amazon Prime First Read July 2025
Callie and Nathan purchase a gorgeous property on Block Island and are to hold a housewarming on 10th August. This is a significant date for her and friends Tess, Meg and Lindsey as it’s the fifth anniversary of Zoe’s disappearance, also on Block Island. It’s told from their povs.
So much of this makes little sense to me. Why on earth would you buy a property somewhere that holds such awful memories and where the girl’s reputations are in tatters principally because of their pursuit by reporter Patricia. As for her character- over step much? TBH she’s a stalker and in real life would have been dealt with accordingly. She pops up everywhere, literally everywhere and it ends up getting on my nerves 😂
My main issue is the pace. Sometimes when we say a slow burner it’s a compliment but on this occasion it’s not. It’s so slow it’s yawnsville. It’s slow without any burn. Or suspense and tension come to that.
As for the ending. What? I have no clue. It fizzles out but that’s suggesting there’s fizz. Or it runs out of steam but again there isn’t much steam to start with.
It’s rare I’m so negative about a book and I do feel bad because it’s a debut but I can’t pretend to like a book when I’ve been bored to tears. Sorry but I cannot recommend this at all.
Callie and Nathan purchase a gorgeous property on Block Island and are to hold a housewarming on 10th August. This is a significant date for her and friends Tess, Meg and Lindsey as it’s the fifth anniversary of Zoe’s disappearance, also on Block Island. It’s told from their povs.
So much of this makes little sense to me. Why on earth would you buy a property somewhere that holds such awful memories and where the girl’s reputations are in tatters principally because of their pursuit by reporter Patricia. As for her character- over step much? TBH she’s a stalker and in real life would have been dealt with accordingly. She pops up everywhere, literally everywhere and it ends up getting on my nerves 😂
My main issue is the pace. Sometimes when we say a slow burner it’s a compliment but on this occasion it’s not. It’s so slow it’s yawnsville. It’s slow without any burn. Or suspense and tension come to that.
As for the ending. What? I have no clue. It fizzles out but that’s suggesting there’s fizz. Or it runs out of steam but again there isn’t much steam to start with.
It’s rare I’m so negative about a book and I do feel bad because it’s a debut but I can’t pretend to like a book when I’ve been bored to tears. Sorry but I cannot recommend this at all.
August 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐
Does the truth really set you free?
Callie is determined to find out, so she invites her childhood friends Meg, Lindsey and Tess, over to her new home to reunite on the anniversary of their friend Zoe’s death.
I really wanted to wish Callie success in rewriting her relationship with Block Island so that it could truly feel like home. I wanted to whisk Patricia off the island for commodifying their loss and being so intrusive while they were grieving. I also had isolation/deprivation experiences in mind for a few of the men in their lives! These strong emotions show you that Offiler crafted incredible characters.
This book drives home the idea that no matter how much time passes, there are some things that can never be forgotten.
I’m still processing the ending and would love a pacier narrative by this author!
I was gifted this debut novel and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Does the truth really set you free?
Callie is determined to find out, so she invites her childhood friends Meg, Lindsey and Tess, over to her new home to reunite on the anniversary of their friend Zoe’s death.
I really wanted to wish Callie success in rewriting her relationship with Block Island so that it could truly feel like home. I wanted to whisk Patricia off the island for commodifying their loss and being so intrusive while they were grieving. I also had isolation/deprivation experiences in mind for a few of the men in their lives! These strong emotions show you that Offiler crafted incredible characters.
This book drives home the idea that no matter how much time passes, there are some things that can never be forgotten.
I’m still processing the ending and would love a pacier narrative by this author!
I was gifted this debut novel and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 11, 2025
Right off the bat we are thrown into the mystery that surrounds a group of friends who meet every year for a week on Block Island. I was immediately intrigued, and hooked to read more.
Offiler does an amazing job delving into the characters on not one, not two, but FOUR POVs. You get to know each character, and what makes them.. them.
Learn each character’s secrets, and lies, and see if you can solve the mystery… I sure didn’t. Overall, a great thriller and I’m looking forward to more from this author!
Offiler does an amazing job delving into the characters on not one, not two, but FOUR POVs. You get to know each character, and what makes them.. them.
Learn each character’s secrets, and lies, and see if you can solve the mystery… I sure didn’t. Overall, a great thriller and I’m looking forward to more from this author!
July 2, 2025
Found this a bit of a slow burner and didn’t find it that exciting!
Read
July 12, 2025DNF at 30% - I’m so bored and I don’t care about any of the characters.
August 6, 2025
If you’re looking for a summer read that includes island vibes, a friend group filled with messy drama, and thrills and chills then this is a good choice!
Callie is determined to find the truth about her friends death so she invites her friends to block island. Something unimaginable happened and their friendship group has never been the same, Callie wishes she could return things back to normal and hopes reuniting her friends will be the key to doing that, unfortunately as you can guess this is not the case.
With four alternating POV you get to deeply know the characters whilst trying to unwrap this mystery. I enjoyed each POV and I was especially rooting for everything to go well for Callie. I liked the themes of female friendships and the fact that secrets never stay buried for long despite the lengths people will go to try to keep them hidden.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and Kristin Offiler for the netgalley gifted copy!
Callie is determined to find the truth about her friends death so she invites her friends to block island. Something unimaginable happened and their friendship group has never been the same, Callie wishes she could return things back to normal and hopes reuniting her friends will be the key to doing that, unfortunately as you can guess this is not the case.
With four alternating POV you get to deeply know the characters whilst trying to unwrap this mystery. I enjoyed each POV and I was especially rooting for everything to go well for Callie. I liked the themes of female friendships and the fact that secrets never stay buried for long despite the lengths people will go to try to keep them hidden.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and Kristin Offiler for the netgalley gifted copy!
July 11, 2025
2.5 Stars
I wanted to like this book but there was just too much I couldn’t get past. What was the plot? This book took me so long to read because it was boring, 4 POV’s and yet nothing really happening. Time was super drawn out and it just was way too slow for me. A group of five women just felt a little much, I’m not saying that 5 women can’t be friends but as tight knit as they were described I just can’t see those relationships forming. 4 different POV’s also felt like a lot. Have any of these women heard of a restraining order before? The ending also felt super unfinished, yes technically the mystery was solved but there was no aftermath wrap up for any of the characters and I think it was necessary with how many things were left hazy. The mystery itself was anticlimactic to be honest. The writing style just also wasn’t my favorite. There were a lot of cliches and scenes where everything was described in detail but it really didn’t feel necessary. It would have been better if there were scenes from the past mixed in with the present. I don’t think I would consider it a thriller. Thanks to Amazon First reads so I was able to read this book.
I wanted to like this book but there was just too much I couldn’t get past. What was the plot? This book took me so long to read because it was boring, 4 POV’s and yet nothing really happening. Time was super drawn out and it just was way too slow for me. A group of five women just felt a little much, I’m not saying that 5 women can’t be friends but as tight knit as they were described I just can’t see those relationships forming. 4 different POV’s also felt like a lot. Have any of these women heard of a restraining order before? The ending also felt super unfinished, yes technically the mystery was solved but there was no aftermath wrap up for any of the characters and I think it was necessary with how many things were left hazy. The mystery itself was anticlimactic to be honest. The writing style just also wasn’t my favorite. There were a lot of cliches and scenes where everything was described in detail but it really didn’t feel necessary. It would have been better if there were scenes from the past mixed in with the present. I don’t think I would consider it a thriller. Thanks to Amazon First reads so I was able to read this book.
September 2, 2025
See my full review on www.mysteryandsuspense.com
The Housewarming is a suspenseful summer read, full of secrets, lies, and island vibes!
Five women celebrate their friendship yearly with a “girls’” stay on Block Island, enjoying the sunshine and the joy of being together. But everything changed when, one year, five women embarked and only four friends returned.
For five years, the surviving friends—now estranged—have tried to put everything behind them and move on with their lives. But there are members of the community who claim the women were responsible for the disappearance, and the rising popularity of a podcast helmed by a stranger who was there that night has others pointing fingers. After all that, one of the women decides to return to the island where everything changed and convinces her former friends to join her to talk about their missing friend and reconnect. The community, with the podcaster at its center, hasn’t forgotten, however, and it isn’t long before the secrets they kept about that night are out in the open.
Kristin Offiler’s debut novel, The Housewarming, is a psychological suspense story about female friendships and how far we will go to protect the ones we love.
Each woman—Callie, Meg, Tess, and Lindsay—takes her turn narrating the story as the protagonist, now five years removed from the vacation on Block Island when their friend, Zoe, disappeared. All the women have been changed in different ways, and all are keeping secrets. But is any one of them responsible for Zoe’s disappearance? Offiler keeps readers guessing until the final pages, when the truth is revealed in a delicious and unexpected twist.
The Housewarming is a sharp and well-written novel, with realistic and likable characters and a page-turning plot. There are numerous characters in this locked-room-type mystery, which adds to the subject pool, but what actually happened is not easy to guess. The ending completely took me by surprise, but it was also believable and provided closure to the plot’s suspenseful twists and turns.
Patricia, the podcaster who continues to impede on the women’s lives and privacy, is a character readers will dislike right alongside the protagonists. Pushy, judgmental, and suffering from boundary issues, Patricia becomes the thorn in the women’s side—but she is also the reason they reconnect, bonding over their shared dislike of her. Each of the other protagonists has a charming side, and they are distinct enough that readers will find at least one to root for.
With pages full of suspenseful twists and a smooth, flowing plot, Offiler’s debut is well-developed and engaging, and I look forward to what she brings us next.
The Housewarming is a suspenseful summer read, full of secrets, lies, and island vibes!
Five women celebrate their friendship yearly with a “girls’” stay on Block Island, enjoying the sunshine and the joy of being together. But everything changed when, one year, five women embarked and only four friends returned.
For five years, the surviving friends—now estranged—have tried to put everything behind them and move on with their lives. But there are members of the community who claim the women were responsible for the disappearance, and the rising popularity of a podcast helmed by a stranger who was there that night has others pointing fingers. After all that, one of the women decides to return to the island where everything changed and convinces her former friends to join her to talk about their missing friend and reconnect. The community, with the podcaster at its center, hasn’t forgotten, however, and it isn’t long before the secrets they kept about that night are out in the open.
Kristin Offiler’s debut novel, The Housewarming, is a psychological suspense story about female friendships and how far we will go to protect the ones we love.
Each woman—Callie, Meg, Tess, and Lindsay—takes her turn narrating the story as the protagonist, now five years removed from the vacation on Block Island when their friend, Zoe, disappeared. All the women have been changed in different ways, and all are keeping secrets. But is any one of them responsible for Zoe’s disappearance? Offiler keeps readers guessing until the final pages, when the truth is revealed in a delicious and unexpected twist.
The Housewarming is a sharp and well-written novel, with realistic and likable characters and a page-turning plot. There are numerous characters in this locked-room-type mystery, which adds to the subject pool, but what actually happened is not easy to guess. The ending completely took me by surprise, but it was also believable and provided closure to the plot’s suspenseful twists and turns.
Patricia, the podcaster who continues to impede on the women’s lives and privacy, is a character readers will dislike right alongside the protagonists. Pushy, judgmental, and suffering from boundary issues, Patricia becomes the thorn in the women’s side—but she is also the reason they reconnect, bonding over their shared dislike of her. Each of the other protagonists has a charming side, and they are distinct enough that readers will find at least one to root for.
With pages full of suspenseful twists and a smooth, flowing plot, Offiler’s debut is well-developed and engaging, and I look forward to what she brings us next.
August 6, 2025
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler emerges as a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that transforms a simple reunion story into a complex exploration of how trauma, media sensationalism, and long-buried secrets can destroy the bonds between lifelong friends. Offiler's debut novel demonstrates remarkable maturity in its handling of contemporary true crime culture while delivering the page-turning suspense that mystery readers crave.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Block Island, the story follows Callie Sutter as she attempts to reunite her estranged friends five years after their companion Zoe Gilbert mysteriously vanished during their final vacation together. What begins as a housewarming party becomes a reckoning with the past when true crime podcaster Patricia Adele resurfaces with renewed determination to expose what she believes are their lies.
Character Development: Flawed but Compelling
Offiler excels at creating multidimensional characters whose individual perspectives reveal different facets of the central mystery. Callie, wrestling with guilt over her disastrous television interview that fractured their friendship, emerges as a complex protagonist whose wealth cannot shield her from the consequences of past mistakes. Her friends—Meg, Tess, and Lindsey—each carry their own burdens of survivor's guilt and resentment, creating a tense dynamic that feels authentically strained.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler particularly shines in its portrayal of how trauma affects people differently. Tess's struggles with new motherhood while carrying the weight of her final argument with Zoe provide some of the novel's most emotionally resonant moments. Meg's professional crisis when Patricia enters her workplace adds another layer of complexity to how the past refuses to remain buried.
Patricia Adele stands out as a particularly well-crafted antagonist—neither purely evil nor entirely sympathetic. Offiler skillfully captures the modern true crime phenomenon through Patricia's character, showing how genuine desire for justice can become twisted by personal ambition and social media influence.
Atmospheric Writing and Pacing
The author's prose style mirrors the psychological tension of the narrative, with short, punchy chapters that shift between different character perspectives, maintaining momentum while gradually revealing crucial information. Offiler's description of Block Island creates an almost claustrophobic atmosphere despite the open ocean setting, perfectly capturing how the past can make even familiar places feel threatening.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler demonstrates Offiler's keen understanding of pacing in psychological thrillers. The author skillfully weaves together multiple timelines, moving between the friends' current reunion and flashbacks to both their final trip with Zoe and the aftermath of her disappearance. This structure allows readers to gradually piece together the truth while maintaining suspense.
Contemporary Relevance and Social Commentary
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its timely critique of true crime culture and social media vigilantism. Through Patricia's character and her online following, Offiler explores how the entertainment value of real tragedies can overshadow genuine investigation and cause additional harm to those already suffering. The book serves as a cautionary tale about the power of narrative and how easily public opinion can be manipulated.
The exploration of female friendship under extreme pressure feels particularly authentic. Offiler avoids the tired trope of women turning on each other at the first sign of trouble, instead showing how genuine love between friends can be poisoned by external forces and internal guilt.
Areas for Improvement
While The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler succeeds on multiple levels, some aspects could have been strengthened. The revelation about Ben Sutter's involvement, while shocking, feels somewhat rushed in its execution. More groundwork establishing his character beyond Callie's father might have made the twist more impactful.
Additionally, certain plot threads—particularly Lindsey's relationship with Fred and its connection to Zoe's past—occasionally feel tangential to the main narrative. While these elements add complexity, they sometimes detract from the central mystery's momentum.
The book's handling of the final revelation, while emotionally satisfying, relies heavily on convenient timing and character positioning that stretches believability slightly.
Themes and Deeper Meaning
Beyond its thriller elements, the novel grapples with profound questions about loyalty, truth, and the price of silence. The friends' decision to protect each other—and their subsequent suffering when that protection backfires—speaks to the complex moral choices people face when those they love are threatened.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler also examines how secrets can become more damaging than the truths they're meant to conceal. Each character's hidden pain and guilt demonstrates how isolation, even from close friends, can compound trauma rather than heal it.
Technical Craft and Style
Offiler's background in creative writing shows in her careful attention to structure and voice. Each character's chapters feel distinct, with subtle differences in language and perspective that help readers navigate the multiple viewpoints. The author's ability to maintain tension while slowly doling out information demonstrates solid understanding of thriller mechanics.
The dialogue feels natural and serves multiple purposes—advancing plot, revealing character, and building atmosphere. Particularly effective are the conversations between the friends, which capture the complex dynamic of people who know each other intimately but have grown apart.
Final Verdict
Despite minor pacing issues and some convenient plotting, The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler delivers a compelling and emotionally resonant thriller that will satisfy fans of psychological suspense. The author's exploration of friendship, guilt, and media manipulation feels both timely and timeless, while the Block Island setting provides an atmospheric backdrop for the unfolding drama.
Offiler demonstrates considerable promise as a thriller writer, combining social commentary with page-turning suspense in a way that elevates the genre. The book succeeds in creating genuine emotional stakes that extend beyond the central mystery, making readers care about these flawed but sympathetic characters.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler is a solid debut that should appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with contemporary relevance. While it may not revolutionize the genre, it provides the kind of thoughtful, well-crafted entertainment that keeps psychological thriller enthusiasts engaged from first page to last.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Block Island, the story follows Callie Sutter as she attempts to reunite her estranged friends five years after their companion Zoe Gilbert mysteriously vanished during their final vacation together. What begins as a housewarming party becomes a reckoning with the past when true crime podcaster Patricia Adele resurfaces with renewed determination to expose what she believes are their lies.
Character Development: Flawed but Compelling
Offiler excels at creating multidimensional characters whose individual perspectives reveal different facets of the central mystery. Callie, wrestling with guilt over her disastrous television interview that fractured their friendship, emerges as a complex protagonist whose wealth cannot shield her from the consequences of past mistakes. Her friends—Meg, Tess, and Lindsey—each carry their own burdens of survivor's guilt and resentment, creating a tense dynamic that feels authentically strained.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler particularly shines in its portrayal of how trauma affects people differently. Tess's struggles with new motherhood while carrying the weight of her final argument with Zoe provide some of the novel's most emotionally resonant moments. Meg's professional crisis when Patricia enters her workplace adds another layer of complexity to how the past refuses to remain buried.
Patricia Adele stands out as a particularly well-crafted antagonist—neither purely evil nor entirely sympathetic. Offiler skillfully captures the modern true crime phenomenon through Patricia's character, showing how genuine desire for justice can become twisted by personal ambition and social media influence.
Atmospheric Writing and Pacing
The author's prose style mirrors the psychological tension of the narrative, with short, punchy chapters that shift between different character perspectives, maintaining momentum while gradually revealing crucial information. Offiler's description of Block Island creates an almost claustrophobic atmosphere despite the open ocean setting, perfectly capturing how the past can make even familiar places feel threatening.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler demonstrates Offiler's keen understanding of pacing in psychological thrillers. The author skillfully weaves together multiple timelines, moving between the friends' current reunion and flashbacks to both their final trip with Zoe and the aftermath of her disappearance. This structure allows readers to gradually piece together the truth while maintaining suspense.
Contemporary Relevance and Social Commentary
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its timely critique of true crime culture and social media vigilantism. Through Patricia's character and her online following, Offiler explores how the entertainment value of real tragedies can overshadow genuine investigation and cause additional harm to those already suffering. The book serves as a cautionary tale about the power of narrative and how easily public opinion can be manipulated.
The exploration of female friendship under extreme pressure feels particularly authentic. Offiler avoids the tired trope of women turning on each other at the first sign of trouble, instead showing how genuine love between friends can be poisoned by external forces and internal guilt.
Areas for Improvement
While The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler succeeds on multiple levels, some aspects could have been strengthened. The revelation about Ben Sutter's involvement, while shocking, feels somewhat rushed in its execution. More groundwork establishing his character beyond Callie's father might have made the twist more impactful.
Additionally, certain plot threads—particularly Lindsey's relationship with Fred and its connection to Zoe's past—occasionally feel tangential to the main narrative. While these elements add complexity, they sometimes detract from the central mystery's momentum.
The book's handling of the final revelation, while emotionally satisfying, relies heavily on convenient timing and character positioning that stretches believability slightly.
Themes and Deeper Meaning
Beyond its thriller elements, the novel grapples with profound questions about loyalty, truth, and the price of silence. The friends' decision to protect each other—and their subsequent suffering when that protection backfires—speaks to the complex moral choices people face when those they love are threatened.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler also examines how secrets can become more damaging than the truths they're meant to conceal. Each character's hidden pain and guilt demonstrates how isolation, even from close friends, can compound trauma rather than heal it.
Technical Craft and Style
Offiler's background in creative writing shows in her careful attention to structure and voice. Each character's chapters feel distinct, with subtle differences in language and perspective that help readers navigate the multiple viewpoints. The author's ability to maintain tension while slowly doling out information demonstrates solid understanding of thriller mechanics.
The dialogue feels natural and serves multiple purposes—advancing plot, revealing character, and building atmosphere. Particularly effective are the conversations between the friends, which capture the complex dynamic of people who know each other intimately but have grown apart.
Final Verdict
Despite minor pacing issues and some convenient plotting, The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler delivers a compelling and emotionally resonant thriller that will satisfy fans of psychological suspense. The author's exploration of friendship, guilt, and media manipulation feels both timely and timeless, while the Block Island setting provides an atmospheric backdrop for the unfolding drama.
Offiler demonstrates considerable promise as a thriller writer, combining social commentary with page-turning suspense in a way that elevates the genre. The book succeeds in creating genuine emotional stakes that extend beyond the central mystery, making readers care about these flawed but sympathetic characters.
The Housewarming by Kristin Offiler is a solid debut that should appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with contemporary relevance. While it may not revolutionize the genre, it provides the kind of thoughtful, well-crafted entertainment that keeps psychological thriller enthusiasts engaged from first page to last.
June 27, 2025
A terrific debut novel from a rising talent in the thriller world. The author effortlessly draws us into two complicated terrains: summer life in New England’s beachfronts and deep female friendships. On the surface, this is you basic missing person thriller, expertly plotted. But the true beating heart of this novel is its portrayal of the gaps in the people we become and the dreams we have for ourselves when we were younger. In a lesser author’s hands, this might be fodder for a dull mid-life crisis novel, but Offiler transforms it through the power of friendship. The people we love, who love us, who knew us as dreamers, can continue to give our lives support and meaning. And even if walls build up between us, there’s always the possibility of finding our way home. To add to this, Offiler has a sharp subplot cleverly critiquing the often exploitative true crime genre. It’s easy for thrillers to fall into this same exploitative nature, but the three dimensional nature of the characters keeps us from that fate. Highly recommended.
July 12, 2025
Being a Rhode Islander and someone who loves thrillers -I was excited to choose this as my “first read” since it had both.
Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. First, I have spent a lot of time on Block Island and nothing in this book made me feel like I was there.
But besides that…
The premise was intriguing but the story itself bordered on almost too many characters. Maybe 1 less friend to remember would have helped? Maybe Tess was unnecessary?
Most of the book was spent learning about the lives of the friends today - not much about theirs lives 5 years ago when this disappearance happened. The book revived itself briefly a little over half way through when a nice twist was thrown in there by Lindsey finding the picture of Zoe in a very surprising location. I thought we were off the races now… I was wrong.
Back to more of the same. That plot twist was a great swing - but a great miss!
The ending was terrible. I thought for sure my kindle did not complete the download and there were several chapters remaining. There had to be. It wasn’t even the kind of ending where there is room for a sequel!
I feel terrible giving this one of my lowest ratings ever as it is a debut novel, but I hope it is taken as the constructive critique it is meant to be.
Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. First, I have spent a lot of time on Block Island and nothing in this book made me feel like I was there.
But besides that…
The premise was intriguing but the story itself bordered on almost too many characters. Maybe 1 less friend to remember would have helped? Maybe Tess was unnecessary?
Most of the book was spent learning about the lives of the friends today - not much about theirs lives 5 years ago when this disappearance happened. The book revived itself briefly a little over half way through when a nice twist was thrown in there by Lindsey finding the picture of Zoe in a very surprising location. I thought we were off the races now… I was wrong.
Back to more of the same. That plot twist was a great swing - but a great miss!
The ending was terrible. I thought for sure my kindle did not complete the download and there were several chapters remaining. There had to be. It wasn’t even the kind of ending where there is room for a sequel!
I feel terrible giving this one of my lowest ratings ever as it is a debut novel, but I hope it is taken as the constructive critique it is meant to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2025
Offiler’s haunting debut is at once a mystery, examination of female friendships, and cautionary tale about the weight of buried secrets. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Block Island, the story blends a classic missing person mystery with the relentless gaze of contemporary true crime media.
Each character is skillfully developed as we follow their parallel paths of guilt, grief, and reckoning. With sharp prose, an immersive setting, and clever twists, THE HOUSEWARMING is as moving as it is suspenseful.
Each character is skillfully developed as we follow their parallel paths of guilt, grief, and reckoning. With sharp prose, an immersive setting, and clever twists, THE HOUSEWARMING is as moving as it is suspenseful.
August 10, 2025
(2.25) Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I found the premise of this book to be interesting, but I found very little satisfaction after finishing it. The writing was alright, but I found some of the sentences super choppy and in need of some revision. It was interesting to see how each of the friends handled their guilt so many years after the incident, but that seemed to be all there was to this book. Patricia’s obsession with the case was unrealistic, the ‘mystery’ we open the whole plot with BARELY gets solved, and the plot twist was so incredibly random and unsatisfying. Also, we never got a complete conclusion to Patricia’s storyline, which was basically all they talked about the entire time. Like…what was the point of the book then? It wasn’t bad, I could tell that the author wanted to wrap things up quickly, and that unfortunately made it fall flat for me.
November 10, 2025
twist was underwhelming and predictable unfortunately and everyone kinda sucked
July 29, 2025
this book started off really well. but the ending left me confused. I believe I know what happened but it absolutely is not confirmed. maybe that was the point? I wish it had been a more definite.
July 9, 2025
Interesting premise but subpar execution. The characters all bled together & the story dragged on & we got close to no flashbacks & the ending was incredibly anticlimactic:/
September 17, 2025
3 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Pacing: 4 stars
Enjoyment: 4 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Ending: 2 stars
Five friends go on a trip together, and only four come back. Thanks to an amateur true crime blogger, everyone suspects the four friends to be involved in the missing girl’s disappearance. All of the scrutiny effectively dissolves the friendship of the remaining girls. Five years pass, the girls no longer speak to each other, and the case goes unsolved. Then, one of the girls decides it’s time to reunite the group and make amends at her housewarming party on the anniversary of their friend’s disappearance.
This had so much potential, but there was something about the execution that fell a little flat. Instead of focusing on the mystery, we are constantly reminded of how close the girls used to be and how much they aren’t now. Despite this, the story interested me and I still really enjoyed it.
This is a multi-POV book, and I think because of this, some chapters struggled with repetition. Each character had to share their thoughts about an event. However, I was thankful that (for the most part) the story moved forward with either a new clue or development with each switch of POV. Unfortunately, I think four POVs were too many and this made it hard to feel very connected to any particular character.
After all of the build-up, the ending was very disappointing. We don’t get a sufficient resolution to the mystery and we don’t get to know how the girls’ friendships turn out.
Plot: 3 stars
Pacing: 4 stars
Enjoyment: 4 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Ending: 2 stars
Five friends go on a trip together, and only four come back. Thanks to an amateur true crime blogger, everyone suspects the four friends to be involved in the missing girl’s disappearance. All of the scrutiny effectively dissolves the friendship of the remaining girls. Five years pass, the girls no longer speak to each other, and the case goes unsolved. Then, one of the girls decides it’s time to reunite the group and make amends at her housewarming party on the anniversary of their friend’s disappearance.
This had so much potential, but there was something about the execution that fell a little flat. Instead of focusing on the mystery, we are constantly reminded of how close the girls used to be and how much they aren’t now. Despite this, the story interested me and I still really enjoyed it.
This is a multi-POV book, and I think because of this, some chapters struggled with repetition. Each character had to share their thoughts about an event. However, I was thankful that (for the most part) the story moved forward with either a new clue or development with each switch of POV. Unfortunately, I think four POVs were too many and this made it hard to feel very connected to any particular character.
After all of the build-up, the ending was very disappointing. We don’t get a sufficient resolution to the mystery and we don’t get to know how the girls’ friendships turn out.
July 20, 2025
I loved the premise of this book and was excited to read it. But, it was truly just mediocre.
This is billed as a thriller, but there’s nothing thrilling about it. There was one red herring twist that surprised me, but it went nowhere. Even the resolution seemed forced and not exciting.
The main characters were all likable and unlikable in equal measure. I hated Patricia, who, honestly felt like she should have been a big character, but was honestly nothing more than a foil to move the plot along.
It certainly wasn’t terrible, and it was entertaining enough, but it was truly just ok.
This is billed as a thriller, but there’s nothing thrilling about it. There was one red herring twist that surprised me, but it went nowhere. Even the resolution seemed forced and not exciting.
The main characters were all likable and unlikable in equal measure. I hated Patricia, who, honestly felt like she should have been a big character, but was honestly nothing more than a foil to move the plot along.
It certainly wasn’t terrible, and it was entertaining enough, but it was truly just ok.
July 8, 2025
This book had me hooked the first 40%. After that I completely lost interest. Literally nothing was happening until the very end. IMO the character of Zoe wasn’t even a character, just a name that we were supposed to be invested in. It needed more action in the last half and better fleshing out of the story. Callie, Tess and Lindsey were decently fleshed out characters. Meg and Zoe were basically nothing.
June 27, 2025
This was an awesome debut novel by Kristin Offiler. The setting was perfect. The storytelling was enthralling. I couldn’t put it down!! I love how the last chapter was from a certain character’s perspective. It was the perfect wrap up. Side note - I think we need a novella from her perspective too! 😀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2025
This started off good and then just became a jumbled mess with too many POVs and random story lines. Like did we really need the wannabe reporter in this story at all?
Also the synopsis of the book is a little misleading. I was thinking it was going to be an isolated setting where secrets are revealed between friends, but they all didn’t even meet up until the very end of the book…
Also the synopsis of the book is a little misleading. I was thinking it was going to be an isolated setting where secrets are revealed between friends, but they all didn’t even meet up until the very end of the book…
July 9, 2025
The book seemed to drag on for awhile and the ending was not it for me.
August 18, 2025
Stop. It. I was ready to give this a solid 2.5 AND THEN IT JUST ENDED FOR NO REASON. For 300 pages we are led through a 4 character POV of the lives of a friend group that falls apart when the fifth friend goes missing, along with the side plot of a horrible true crime blogger, only to have the book END IMMEDIATELY once the mystery is ‘solved’, rendering the character development of the 4 MCs completely irrelevant and the side plot pointless. No epilogue, no finding out if these women healed their individual and group trauma, no justice meted out to the horrible podcaster, no resolution of the escort/potential love interest, no justice for the victim’s family, no consequences for the crime (was there a crime?). I feel hoodwinked, bamboozled, misled. I was so confused that I went back a chapter to see whether I had accidentally fast forwarded through something…twice. It’s as if the author got so bored with these people that she gave up, too. I almost feel sorry for these characters, forever trapped in limbo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2025
soooo difficult to get through for a very disappointing ending.
July 3, 2025
I found Kristin Offiler’s “The Housewarming” to be an absorbing novel of mystery and suspense involving true crime, the blogosphere, and women’s friendships set in two great summer locales: Block Island and Newport, RI.
Lindsey, Tess, Callie, Meg, and Zoe have been friends ever since attending camp together as teens on Block Island. As young adults, they rented a house together on the island for one week every summer—until that awful summer five years ago when Zoe vanished without a trace.
Zoe’s four friends, of course, helped in the island-wide search for her. But the only thing they or anyone else found was a distinctive pair of sunglasses looking exactly like a pair that Zoe had bought. They discovered those glasses washed up on a secluded beach. Budding true crime podcaster Patricia Adele was with them. Taking issue with the way the glasses were handled, Adele began to suspect one or all of the four had something to do with Zoe’s disappearance. Relentless in her drive to solve and report the mystery, she hounded, and then raised suspicions about, all four women, damaging their reputations and destroying their friendship. Shortly after Zoe’s disappearance, her four friends stopped speaking and completely lost touch.
Now, as the fifth anniversary of Zoe’s unsolved disappearance approaches, Callie and her husband buy a home and move permanently onto Block Island. They plan a housewarming party that will also be a memorial to Zoe.
Will Lindsey, Tess, and Meg attend? Can their friendship be rekindled? If so, how will it be affected by Patricia Adele’s decision to write a book about the mystery in order to enhance her burgeoning podcasting career? And what, in fact, did happen to Zoe? Were any of her four friends—whom the police cleared of any wrongdoing—in any way involved? Will Adele further damage their reputations? These were the questions that kept me reading late into the evening.
Author Kristin Offiler writes well. She has chosen to tell her story through the points of view of all the women involved, which is something of a “high-wire act.” But she does it well, utilizing simple yet realistic and effective prose and dialogue. Her characters may not be all that deep, but they are well-drawn. Each has her own particular cross to bear or demon to struggle with. Each has a lot at stake.
The plot is straightforward and well-structured. There are twists and turns. While I found the resolution of the mystery surprising, it didn’t come out of “left field.” Instead, it was well supported by what had gone before.
Ms. Offiler has some keen observations about true-crime blogging, the internet, mob mentality, and the damage that can be done by those who are irresponsible and more interested in promoting their careers than in finding the truth.
All in all, a very good and entertaining summer read.
Lindsey, Tess, Callie, Meg, and Zoe have been friends ever since attending camp together as teens on Block Island. As young adults, they rented a house together on the island for one week every summer—until that awful summer five years ago when Zoe vanished without a trace.
Zoe’s four friends, of course, helped in the island-wide search for her. But the only thing they or anyone else found was a distinctive pair of sunglasses looking exactly like a pair that Zoe had bought. They discovered those glasses washed up on a secluded beach. Budding true crime podcaster Patricia Adele was with them. Taking issue with the way the glasses were handled, Adele began to suspect one or all of the four had something to do with Zoe’s disappearance. Relentless in her drive to solve and report the mystery, she hounded, and then raised suspicions about, all four women, damaging their reputations and destroying their friendship. Shortly after Zoe’s disappearance, her four friends stopped speaking and completely lost touch.
Now, as the fifth anniversary of Zoe’s unsolved disappearance approaches, Callie and her husband buy a home and move permanently onto Block Island. They plan a housewarming party that will also be a memorial to Zoe.
Will Lindsey, Tess, and Meg attend? Can their friendship be rekindled? If so, how will it be affected by Patricia Adele’s decision to write a book about the mystery in order to enhance her burgeoning podcasting career? And what, in fact, did happen to Zoe? Were any of her four friends—whom the police cleared of any wrongdoing—in any way involved? Will Adele further damage their reputations? These were the questions that kept me reading late into the evening.
Author Kristin Offiler writes well. She has chosen to tell her story through the points of view of all the women involved, which is something of a “high-wire act.” But she does it well, utilizing simple yet realistic and effective prose and dialogue. Her characters may not be all that deep, but they are well-drawn. Each has her own particular cross to bear or demon to struggle with. Each has a lot at stake.
The plot is straightforward and well-structured. There are twists and turns. While I found the resolution of the mystery surprising, it didn’t come out of “left field.” Instead, it was well supported by what had gone before.
Ms. Offiler has some keen observations about true-crime blogging, the internet, mob mentality, and the damage that can be done by those who are irresponsible and more interested in promoting their careers than in finding the truth.
All in all, a very good and entertaining summer read.
September 1, 2025
I enjoyed this book and finished it in less than a day, though I didn’t think the characters were as developed as they could’ve been. It centers on 4 friends named Callie, Lindsay, Meg, and Tess, who are still trying to pick up the pieces after the disappearance of their friend Zoe 5 years ago. To make things worse, an overeager podcaster named Patricia won’t leave them alone, sold on the idea that one or all are hiding something. The POVs rotate between the 4 friends.
I thought the mystery was sound and the author did a good job alluding to the various secrets each character was keeping in order to create some doubt. She also gave us a terrific villain in Patricia, who I couldn’t stand. I did feel that the characters were somewhat underdeveloped, though. We didn’t even get descriptions on what most of them looked like, how old they were, or any kind of backstory prior to when they met Zoe as teens. While their voices were somewhat distinct, it was more because of their circumstances versus true characterization. That being said, the story was not predictable at all and kept me guessing throughout. I thought the big twist was well done and an interesting surprise. The end (deliberately, I think) didn’t tie up all the loose ends end also left me feeling sad, but I think the story will stick with me.
Overall, despite a lack of connection with the characters, I thought this was a good book with a unique twist. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the mystery was sound and the author did a good job alluding to the various secrets each character was keeping in order to create some doubt. She also gave us a terrific villain in Patricia, who I couldn’t stand. I did feel that the characters were somewhat underdeveloped, though. We didn’t even get descriptions on what most of them looked like, how old they were, or any kind of backstory prior to when they met Zoe as teens. While their voices were somewhat distinct, it was more because of their circumstances versus true characterization. That being said, the story was not predictable at all and kept me guessing throughout. I thought the big twist was well done and an interesting surprise. The end (deliberately, I think) didn’t tie up all the loose ends end also left me feeling sad, but I think the story will stick with me.
Overall, despite a lack of connection with the characters, I thought this was a good book with a unique twist. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2025
The first half of the book was just a story leading to the second half when all the secrets came out. The ending was honestly not really an ending. We can speculate what happened though. It was an interesting read but definitely not a thriller.
June 26, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
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