Room 706

by Ellie Levenson

Trapped in a London hotel room with her lover, a woman must contend with her life and her marriage in this exhilarating debut.

“Room 706 is as tender as it is surprising, a gripping interrogation of womanhood—before and after marriage and children change our identities. I’m sure I won’t be the only one nodding my head throughout. I adored this brilliant novel.” —Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP Lit 

When asked what matters to her the most, Kate would, of course, say her children and her husband. Because she loves her life. Even when it involves making a costume late into the night, scouring the supermarket for the only bread rolls her children will eat, and working during any spare moment in between. And she has found the way to hang onto her sanity in the Hours stolen away, once every few months, to have sex with another man.

Until one such rendezvous when Kate turns on the television to discover that the very London hotel they’re in has been taken under siege. And with that, she knows that nothing will ever be the same.

In the confines of a room with everything at stake, Kate is left to contemplate what has led her here, in hiding with a man who is not her husband while her beloved family waits at home. An exploration of marriage, identity, and desire, Room 706 traces the complicated story of one woman’s life as she faces what her future might hold—if she even makes it through the day.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Literary Fiction, Romance, Psychological Thriller

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 20, 2026

Reviews

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

SELF REFLECTION

The story opens with a typical harried domestic scene, with what appears to be a loving husband (Vic) and his wife (Kate) juggling the demands of breakfast and two young children who need to get to school.

But, soon after it’s 1 PM, and Kate is in Room 706 with her lover, James. A terrorist group has just taken over the upscale hotel in the heart of London-the perfect place for this act of violence as it will impact visitors from across the globe and attract the attention of many major cities because of that fact.

All of a sudden the reality of what she has been doing-for years-becomes crystal clear for the first time-as Kate wonders whether or not she will leave the hotel alive.

What should she say to Vic to explain her whereabouts? Should she spare him the truth and compound her actions with more lies?

As the hours go by, Kate reflects on both of these relationships over the years, while she and James must remain silent and locked in their room, hoping to remain undiscovered and survive physically unscathed.

The terrorist situation rings true and I could easily imagine being in that room along with Kate and James, but unfortunately the pace of the middle of the book dragged with TOO MUCH self reflection and not enough of the hostage situation to balance things out.

The ending is AMBIGUOUS allowing YOU to decide how this story ends-which won’t work for everyone-but I LOVED IT-and it gave me CHILLS!

As a self proclaimed goody two shoes-I enjoy reading about morally ambiguous characters. Kate wasn’t a bad person even though she was definitely doing something unacceptable and it can be interesting to explore how people justify their behavior.

3.5 stars ⭐️ rounding down (slightly above average read) because of the pace.

AVAILABLE January 20, 2026

Thank You to Review Publishing for providing a gifted ARC through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 3 out of 5]

✦ My Review & Rating ✦

This novel was an emotional one, that came with a great premise. It gave me mysterious, dark and thriller vibes. It made me feel sad and had a lot of psychological suspense. This book is more character driven than plot driven, as it focuses on the flaws of the characters as the main focus. The female protagonist named Kate in this story was extremely unlikable. I could not connect with her or any of the characters in this story. One character that I did like was Kate’s Husband, named Vic. Out of all the characters in the book, James was the least likable. This book involves infidelity, which is what ultimately made it lose stars. This book came with dual timelines, a first person point of view and a terrorist attack. The ending was unfortunately not satisfying, as it ended abruptly.

What I did enjoy about the book was the suspense, how the power of choices leads to consequences and the emotional depth that this book came with. I also enjoyed the slow pacing, as this goes back and forth between the present and flashbacks of the past. It did feel like the characters were realistic, even though I could not connect with them. I did find the themes in this book thought provoking. It also encourages people to discuss human ethics and the emotional contemplation surrounding them. Overall, I give this book 2.5 (rounding up to 3 stars) out of 5. Be sure to read the content warnings and who I think would love reading this book below! Even though this book was really not for me, there are a lot of people that would absolutely love this book!

✦ Content Warnings & Who I think would Enjoy This Book ✦

Content warnings are subjective and include infidelity, grief, a terrorist attack, violence and death of a parent. I think readers of “The People Next Door” by Kate Braithwaite and the movie “Unfaithful” would really enjoy this book!

✦ Genre ✦

This book “Room 706” is in the Literary Fiction, Mystery, Thriller and Women's Fiction genres!

✦ Thank You ✦

Thank you to NetGalley, author Ellie Levenson and Zando | SJP Lit for this digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

✦ Publication Date ✦

This book is expected to be published on January 20, 2026! (publishing dates can change at any time.)

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

This wasn’t the book that I expected it to be. I would class this more as women’s fiction than thriller. Yes the idea of the overall story is thrilling, but the guts of the story is of a reflection on a life lived when faced with dying. It is a slow burn that I felt dragged a bit in the middle. I enjoyed it, but was hoping for more thrills, more on the terrorists and their plans.

Kate finds herself caught up in the biggest terror attack to happen in London, all because she met her lover in a hotel that day. They can’t leave the room. They have to stay quiet and hope that they are not discovered.the guilt of why she is there hits Kate, who loves her husband and kids, but needs her times with James for her sanity. She spends her time locked in room 706 thinking about her life and what has brought her be there in this situation.

It is an emotional story, with Kate remembering the people she has loved and lost. I really could not find anything about her to like. She claimed to be a good person, a good mother, and yet she was in a hotel room with another man. James was awful, I really didn’t see the attraction there either.

There was not much really about the terror attack that they were in the middle of. Discussions on who they might be, but no chapters from their perspective or interactions. It was all about Kate and what she was thinking, what she had done.that might be enough for some readers, but for me I just wanted more. The ending was ambiguous and leaves it to the reader to decide what happened.. it will be a talking point. I can see this being a good choice for a book club, plenty to discuss.

Thanks to Hachette Australia for sending me this book for my honest thoughts. Published on January 13th.

[Joanna Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even start with this amazing debut?!
This book is about *so many things* but the utterly brilliant premise is Kate and James, a married couple (married to other people that is), have met for one of their occasional hook-ups in a hotel ... except Kate switches on the TV afterwards, only to see on the news that gunmen have taken over the hotel they are currently in and it's now under siege. No one knows they're there. No one knows why they're there. Now all they can do is hide out in their room, and wait to discover their fate.
This story is told from Kate's viewpoint, and it switches between the hotel room, how she met (and married) her husband Vic, and how (and why) she began a relationship with James. These three timelines are woven together so beautifully, which is no mean feat for any writer - let alone a debut - and the pacing of this novel is *immaculate*.
Is it a thriller? It's most definitely thrilling, it's heart-mouth writing, and there were times when I actually covered the next page with my hand because I was so swept up in the story I didn't trust myself not to glance ahead!
It is, however, so poignant, so heartbreaking and (I agree with Sarah Jessica Parker) utterly human. It explores what makes us who we are, why we make the choices we do, and what might have happened if we didn't. You see that shoutline on the front cover? You will receive the very best answer to that question ... and the ending is PERFECT.
I am in awe of Ellie Levenson's beautiful writing (and her beautiful heart). I would also, incidentally, marry Vic in the blink of an eye if he's available lol.
This book is out in January and I strongly advise a preorder. Preorders help writers (and bookshops, and especially debut authors) so much and you are planning a future gift for yourself, so it's genuinely a win-win.
A massive thank you to Louise Swannell and Headline for sending this advance copy to me. It truly is nothing short of a masterpiece and I loved every second of it.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Room 706, by Ellie Levenson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not care for this book or its characters at all. The ending sucked too. Im sick of books with people with no morals at all.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good gimmick... and absolutely nothing else. Kate is cheating on her husband when the hotel she's in is the target of a terrorist attack. This is the thing that's good, and it's already on the jacket summary. I'm not sure the book is really worth reading after that!

This isn't a thriller. Despite the gimmick, the terrorist attack itself is there only to loom over its characters, it almost never becomes something involving actual action. And looming is, well, dull. The only thing I liked about this book was the way Kate became obsessed with minor administrative tasks when confronted with death, which is a very modern wife and mother thing to do. But while that may be one of those truths that makes you take notice, it gets boring quite fast because none of us actually care about the passwords to the home alarm system or the phone number of the babysitter.

Instead what this book mostly is is flashbacks. Kate and her husband. Kate and her lover. I am not sure what the point of all these flashbacks are. Kate loves her husband. They seem decently matched and happy enough. Kate has chemistry with her lover and there isn't much more to it. The question of why people cheat or take this kind of risk is also not all that interesting, and the book doesn't really seem to try to answer it. Kate is a rather dull character, she's defined almost entirely by what she's lost.

If we had some full characters here, if there was some kind of story moving things forward, if anything actually happened, if there seemed to be a real understanding of the potential fallout, maybe this book would be worthwhile. But none of those things exist, sadly.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if, fresh from an encounter with your lover, the hotel you are in is taken over by terrorists? How do you survive? How do you keep the secret from your husband when the event is everywhere?

I loved the idea for this novel and I quickly became engrossed in it. The narration was crisp and effective and really helped me to be drawn into the book. I loved the tension of the chapters set in present as well as the informative chapters set in the past. Then, towards the end of the novel, it became a little repetitive. There is a brief moment of in room tension which I wish had been expanded on for increased thrills for the reader. Then the ending was SO frustrating. I felt like I had been in the siege with the main character for hours, only for her to yell “just kidding!” and shove me out the door. I needed an epilogue so badly.

Up until 75% through, this was a 5 star read for me. The ending didn’t work for me at all, so I am going to rate it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

If you like your thrillers a little different, which lots of character development and a cliff hanger than will keep you pondering for weeks, this is the book for you.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A married woman having an affair with a CEO is having a tryst in an upscale hotel, when she learns it's been taken over by terrorists. The authorities, as usual, are useless. The two spend time in the hotel room waiting for something to happen, and her life flashes before her eyes.

It's like a disaster movie, only there we get at least three or four character studies, broken up occasionally. This is just one that goes on and on.

[Janie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is a taut psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of infidelity, identity, and the choices that define our lives. Set against the backdrop of a hotel siege, the story follows Kate, a mother of two, who finds herself trapped in a hotel room with her lover, James, just as terrorists take control of the building. As they are forced into hiding, Kate reflects on her life, her marriage to Vic, and the secrets she has kept hidden.

The book intertwines suspense with emotional depth, creating a narrative that is both gripping and introspective. The confined setting amplifies the tension, while Kate's internal monologue offers a poignant exploration of regret, desire, and the human condition. The book also poses the question about the consequences of our actions and the paths we choose, making it a thought- provoking read.

Emotional, Thrilling, and, Whirlwind Suspense! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 1/15/26

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-eight-year-old married mother, Kate continues to meet her lover, James (51) in the same hotel every week. They'd met in Italy 16 years earlier and although both are married, they cant stay away from each other. But this day, unknown gunmen take over the hotel and no one is sure what the motive is or whether anyone will survive. Lots of introspection on both their parts and it tossed my emotions all over the place!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A completely original novel to look forward to in 2026.i loved the premise, and it had me conjuring up all sorts of situations that must be uncovered during horrific times.

The dual timeline didn’t quite work well enough for me to round up any higher, I enjoyed Vic’s early chapters and could so easily see why he was husband material for Kate. James’ chapters I didn’t enjoy, but equally I didn’t like anything about James so perhaps that’s actually excellent writing. I felt for Kate but I was also really frustrated by her actions……..In the current chapters Kate and James are holed up in room 706 together as it’s the location of their monthly sex session. It’s also in a hotel that is currently under siege by terrorists, making it world wide news. Where the book excels is entirely within Kate’s mind during the hours of the siege.

The ending is open, sometimes this works for me, it didn’t for this title I needed to know the outcome.

Great narration.

Huge thanks to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Levenson is an impressive debut author and Room 706 had me utterly gripped. I nearly read the entire novel in one sitting as I just could not put it down. I was completely invested in Kate, her current predicament, the love story between Kate and Vic, and the mundanity of life that led Kate to James.

Room 706 is part locked-room thriller, part love story, and part life. Kate is married to Vic - a wonderful but flawed man - and they have two children together. Their life is beautiful, Kate loves her family and her husband and her career, but she's also unfulfilled. When James - an older, successful businessman - shows an interest and fate keeps putting them together, Kate is unable to resist. Now, years later, they are meeting for their quarterly rendezvous when the unthinkable happens. The hotel where they are spending the elicit afternoon is under siege.

I'm typically not a fan of locked-room thrillers. I find them tedious and formulaic. Room 706 is neither of these things. It was poetic how Levenson wove the past with the present and I was enthralled with Kate's entire story. She was so human and relatable even though her choices would not be my own. Levenson's descriptions of marriage, motherhood, and the mental load were spot on and I suspect countless women will relate to some (if not all) aspects of Kate's day-to-day grind and fantasies of alone time.

I was also utterly gripped by how mundane even our final "moments" could be. Trapped in the hotel room for hours upon hours with nothing to do but plan for our own end would leave most women thinking about the grocery list, upcoming appointments, and passwords for household applications. Because beyond the sheer terror that must have been utterly gripping, Kate knew she was still a mother and a wife and there were things that lived in her brain that her family would need. Levenson truly conveyed this all perfectly and while unimaginable, it was also entirely believable.

This novel had me totally absorbed and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. The intermingling of the past and present were flawlessly executed and the ending left me breathless. Without giving anything away, I can see the ending being a pain point for many readers, but for me, it was exactly what I needed.

Levenson is a powerful new voice and I look forward to reading her next novel! Thank you to SJP Lit for the copy. You don't want to miss this one!

[Claire - TheBookendReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens with what feels like a normal, slightly chaotic family morning — Kate and her husband Vic juggling breakfast, school bags, and two kids who need to get out the door. But by 1pm, Kate is in Room 706 of a London hotel with her lover, James… and everything changes. A terrorist group storms the building, taking over the hotel and trapping guests inside. Suddenly, Kate’s years of secrecy and deception collide with the very real possibility that she may not make it out alive.

Told entirely from Kate’s perspective, the story weaves together three timelines — her marriage to Vic, her affair with James, and the terrifying hours inside the hotel room — and the structure works beautifully. It’s a tense, emotional, and at times claustrophobic read, with so much heart running underneath the fear.

The hostage situation feels scarily believable; I could almost feel myself trapped in that room with them. But I will say the middle section dragged a little for me — a touch too much introspection and not quite enough tension to balance it.

Still, the ending completely made up for it. It’s ambiguous (which I know won’t be everyone’s cup of tea), but I loved it — it gave me absolute chills.

This is a debut that feels anything but — beautifully written, deeply human, and packed with emotion. It’s part thriller, part relationship drama, and all heart. Preorder it. You’ll thank yourself later.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate is happily married to Vic with 2 beloved young children, despite this picture of marriage bliss, she still meets lover James 4 times a year in a hotel room for no strings attached sex.
As they prepare to leave the room after one such session, they discover that Terrorists have stormed the hotel and everyone inside is taken hostage.
During the hours that follow, Kate has plenty of opportunity to contemplate on her life. She reflects back to her meeting with Vic, their courtship and subsequent marriage. She also reminisces about her affair with James
Despite the book being set only in a hotel room, I found this a thrilling tense read, my nerves were with Kate as reports were coming in about the Terrorists, would she make it out alive and have chance to hug Vic and her children again.
I loved her anecdotes with Vic, their age game was lovely.
This is such a powerful book it's hard to believe it's a debut novel. It deserves all the praise and would make a great movie

[Dr. Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about relationships and love within a hostage plot. Overall I enjoyed this. Less of a thriller and more of a literary story. thank you Zando for sending this to me 3.5/5.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is a 30-something mum of two that has been cheating on her husband for 6 years only to find herself in a hostage situation with her lover.
We read from 3 different time lines. The first being the current day, in the hotel room with James and dealing with the siege of the hotel. The second is 16 years ago when she met and fell in love with her husband Vic in Italy. And the third is from 6 years ago when she first started her affair.
Having 3 different points of view from different points in Kate’s life was really fun to read and almost made it difficult to justify the affair when also reading about how she fell in love with her now husband.
This was a really fun and easy read that I will be recommending to friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Angela Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a situation to be in, which is exacerbated by the
fact that no one else knows you’re there and why, most especially your husband. I truly felt like I was there with Kate, physically, emotionally, mentally, all of it. The conversations she had with herself, the rambling thoughts, the emotional turmoil, it was all so visceral and real. The way the story alternates between the past and present is done so seamlessly that it just built on itself so well. It’s sad and heartbreaking, compelling and thought-provoking. I, however, wanted more from the ending. What is one left to do when faced with a possible end?

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the eARC!

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. I could not put this book down! I loved the flashback timeline which helped explain the history of the characters and develop them even more. I felt my heart racing for the main character as everything unfolded. Many emotions hit me as I read. What a great read and one I will surely read again and again.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette for an early copy of Room 706!

“𝐀𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝟕𝟎𝟔 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝—𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲“

3.5 ⭐️

🔑Thriller
🔑Romance
🔑Mystery
🔑contemporary

Things I would consider as triggers:
🏨Terrorist/s attack / hostage situation within a hotel setting
🏨Cheating FMC
🏨Grief / passing of loved ones
🏨May be more that I could be unaware of but should read at your own pace and your own interpretation

"𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐩 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮."

So I have mixed feelings about this book, not necessarily bad or good..So in a way it's got me questioning everything and trying to see things from a different perspective.

Definitely an intriguing read and I found myself wanting to find out what will happen next, and to know more about the characters (the back and forth between past and present helped!!) Even though it contradicts my own personal beliefs.

And also! That ending?!? Is there another book in the works? Is what happened next up to our own beliefs and theories? I have so many questions!

"𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞, ���𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐭, 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨"

"𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧-𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬. 𝐖𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞"

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Room 706 has a fascinating premise at its heart.

Kate is in a hotel room with her lover, James, when they see on the television that the hotel they are in has been taken over by terrorists. They are told by Police to stay where they are and to remain quiet. But Kate has children to pick up from school and a husband who thinks she is having a meeting elsewhere in London. How can she explain where she is and why she is there without hurting anyone; she might get out of there alive and what will happen to the life she has built then?

The book follows Kate's thoughts as she considers her life - the meeting in a cinema with Vic, the man she would marry, the man sje still adores; the children they have and who Kate loves fiercely; the people she has lost along the way and what will happen if she gets out -- or if she does not.

Room 706 is very cleverly constructed showing Kate's mind flitting from one scene to another and being randomly interrupted with practical thoughts, such as would Vic know where to find all the paperwork he would need? What would they buy Lenny, her son, for Christmas to what items she had missed from the delivery list.

I know I should have been annoyed with her for putting her whole life in jeopardy just for having the affair but I couldn't help but like her and I really fell in love with husband, Vic.

The book is beautifully written with interesting and believable characters. I was thoroughly invested in what happened to Kate by the end.

Excellent. Highly recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Zando Projects for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

*audio

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨(4.5/5)

TW: Cheating / Adultery

“She liked having sex with James. She liked having a secret.”

“You’re only as good as your last f@&k aren’t you, when you have an affair? Otherwise what’s the point!?”

“It’s just sex.”

Thanks to @prhaudio for my #giftedcopy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The audio narrator was a perfect fit for this one. It’s about 2 married cheaters Kate & James, who have been sleeping together for 4-6ish years. One loves their partner (Vic, The Husband) and just “needs” an escape from the monotony of their life. The other, James, just does it because he wants to.

It was a bit all over the place at times and very slow going, things that I usually hate but somehow it worked for this one. There are a lot of time jumps and going back and forth between Kate’s relationships with Vic and James.

Kate feels that she “loves” Vic, yet she won’t stop sleeping with James. It’s something she wants, so she indulges. She likens sex with James to getting her hair done. No feelings, just something she does for herself, her idea of self care.

I think cheating is THE WORST but the author somehow made me wishing the FMC the best throughout the story.

I was surprised not AT the ending persay but at the author’s decision on HOW to end it. These things are not the same. I think as much as I enjoy things tied up nice & neat, the author did the story justice by ending it the way she did.

Overall, I enjoyed this slow burn suspense novel with a love story tied in…I sort of feel like calling it a love story is generous but truly, in its own way it is.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Room 706 by Ellie Levenson

“There will always be unread books”

Kate is married to Vic they have two children. Why is Kate in a hotel room with James? Who is James? They are now trapped inside the hotel room when a gunman strikes! Kate manages to contact the police - she sends messages to her husband Vic - What will she say? Why is she in the hotel? It’s not where she told Vic she would be….

Initial first half of the book was really good, triggering many questions-I was so eager to discover the answers, however for me I became a little lost with the amount of going back to the past which had no real affect on the unimaginable position presented. It was about past emotions, actions and the consequences that come causing possible regret. I personally wanted the thrill and suspense of what was going to happen given the situation and less about past activities you can’t change. These are my personal thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Ellie Levenson for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of #room706 due for release 15th January 2026

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, that was not at all what I was expecting but I loved it. I didn’t usually gravitate to someone’s fiction but with the suspense element introduced I was pulled in and completely engrossed.

I consumed the audiobook which I listened to at 2x speed on a sitting. Usually when I read audiobooks I am multitasking but I was so engaged in the story that I didn’t do anything else. This is the type of book that you really need to look past the surface and really get in touch with the intent and emotions of the book.

[janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a frustrating book for me to review. On one hand, I was completely invested and couldn't put it down, but on the other hand.... the ending! It was so abrupt, with no actual real ending, arrrrggghhh.

Kate is a very happily married woman to Vic and mother to ger two gorgeous children. She leads a relatively 'normal' life. School runs, play dates, dentist appointments.. but in truth, Kate lost a bit of herself when she had children.

Needing something just for her, away from homelife, she finds that in James. A handsome, married colleague who wants exactly the same as her. Pure, unadulterated sex. Nothing more. Especially no feelings.

Two years down the line, meeting a couple of times a year, their next meeting is all arranged at a London hotel where nobody will notice them.

All is fine until before getting ready to head home to the humdrum of family life, Kate turns on the hotel tv to see scenes she does not expect, need, or want. The very hotel they are staying in have been taken over by terrorists.

Kate is now stuck in a room with James, a man she actually doesn't really know anything about, and all she wants to do is get home to Vic and the children.

Whilst the plot is about being held captive by terrorists, the true story is more of self reflection. Realising what is really and truly important and if risks are worth taking if it means losing all you hold dear.

I really wish that there had been more detail and information on the actual siege (it came under crime novel), which, personally, I think would have really added value to the whole story.

Also, as stated above, the ending! It just felt unsatisfactory. There was no ending. I want to know what happened when Kate got home. How did she explain it to Vic?

It was a good, gripping read, which I would have rated higher if a few tweaks had been made.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC.

[Mrs.bookworm_za · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and easy to follow.
It's about a woman who is meeting up with her lover in a hotel that gets held hostage, the story follows her life. Her present and past, and the thoughts she has in what could very well be her final moments.
Some have commented that they did not like the ending. I felt the same way , but the more I thought about it, I felt the ending was fitted to the story. The ending definitely shattered me.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Review for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

This was the first 2026 book I received and I was really intrigued, and so many people had been praising it that I was super excited to read it.

As a reviewer, you try and explain what you thought of a book, why it was good, but sometimes the best thin to say is "it's very good". I didn't think it was perfect, but it was very good.

We have several time lines. The main present day one, the time where Vic and Kate first met, where James and Kate first met, and then various dates between then and present day. I did initially think the whole book was going to be set in the present day and I was impressed that Ellie was going to try and maintain a 400 page book in just one location with just two characters. Which is a tough ask, so I'm kind of glad she branched out a bit.

Now, the following isn't a comment on how well or bad the characters are written.. Their writing is very good. This is a comment on how I found the characters to be themselves, okay?

I didn't particularly like Kate. She is conflicted and feeling bad but she brought it upon her self so I didn't really feel positively towards her. I did like Vic, I felt for him, he was being lied to and the only thing he has wanted to do is love and support his family. James annoyed me. He felt entitled and overbearing and predatory, and I didn't think him and Kate connected at all. Kate and Vic made sense together. Kate and James did not.

I did like how the characters were not morally black or white. They were ambiguous - particularly Kate - and I enjoyed that, I enjoyed thinking what I thought of them, and I tried not to judge them too harshly as you don't know what you'd do in that situation, but that was easier said than done.

Ellie has given us such a clear sense of fear and claustrophobia that you would expect in such a situation.

I did expect a bit more of the actual siege. There's a lot of background scenes, which is interesting and it's all very good, but for a book about a siege, an attack, a hostage situation, I expected more of that. And for that reason, the middle dragged ever, ever so slightly. But overall it is still very interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.

It has a very open-ended ending. I quite like that in some books because it means the reader gets to finish it as they want. But for something like this where I really wanted to know the outcome, I didn't like it. It leaves me in suspense but not in a good way. A thriller, in my opinion, should end with this happening or that happening. It shouldn't be possibly this or potentially that or perhaps this or maybe that. I wanted to know if the goodies survived and if the baddies got their comeuppance. I really wish it had been neatly finished, but I know that's very much a personal opinion.

It's not a perfect book for me, but it's still a very good one and one I would highly recommend. It is tense and feels very real. It's informative, enjoyable, entertaining. I loved getting to know the characters over time...I just wanted a bit more. It's a thriller so I wanted more thrill I suppose.

I believe this is Ellie's debut and it is a very promising debut. Ellie clearly has a talent for creating very real characters and putting them in tense situations. A few bits needed tidying up to be a five star read for me but that's really it. And I am really looking forward to seeing what she does next.

[Victoria Fensom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Room 706 by Ellie Levenson is a psychological novel centred around Kate, a woman caught in a tense present-day situation while reflecting on key moments from her past - particularly her relationships with her husband, Vic, and her lover, James. The story moves between timelines, slowly revealing how Kate’s choices and relationships have led her to where she is now.

I really liked the concept of this book and, overall, I did enjoy it. One of its strongest aspects was the use of flashbacks to earlier points in Kate’s life. These scenes added important context and depth, and I found the exploration of her relationships with both Vic and James engaging and effective in building the emotional background of the story.

That said, I felt the present-day timeline dragged in places and at times left me feeling a bit bored. While the pacing wasn’t always successful, I do think the author did a good job of conveying the panic and anxiety that Kate will be experiencing, and those moments were genuinely effective. The book is also an easy read, which made it quick to get through despite the slower sections.

Unfortunately, the ending was where the book really lost me. I completely understand the reasoning behind it and why the author may have chosen to take this approach, but it simply wasn’t for me. It significantly changed my overall impression of the story and overshadowed what had been a fairly positive reading experience up until that point.

Overall, Room 706 had an intriguing premise and some strong elements, and despite my personal opinion on the approach the author took on the ending, I would still recommend the book as I know many people will see this as a positive approach and therefore thoroughly enjoy it.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of two people who have been having an affair. Neither of them loves the other, but it is convenient and adds something to their own lives. They both love their respective partners and families. They are hurting no one; they can walk away. That is, until gunmen take over the hotel they are meeting up in, and they are not able to leave.

The story is told from the perspective of Kate, who is happily married and has two children. Over the course of the book, she thinks of her life growing up, Uni, moving to Italy, and meeting her future husband. All the things that normal people do, but of course, the secret is that she is having an affair, and this is also explained.

This is one of those stories where nothing really happens in the present, I mean, there is the danger, hiding, messages between her and her husband and such. But the focus of the story is on Kate's life and how she ended up in a room that she cannot leave, in the middle of London, on a normal workday. A lot is focused on her mental health and also that of her husband, people seh has lost those who were important to her and how she is mentally preparing for the worst. Getting her life in order as best she can from inside a room.

The book is interesting, and it is very much character-led, learning about the main character and the things she had done up to that point in her life was interesting. A woman with options, a career, a family and a lover.

If you are a fan of slower-paced, family life and contemporary fiction mysteries, then this one may interest you. I would be happy to recommend it.

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve heard a lot of buzz about Room 706, and it’s not due to be published until early 2026. While I found it hard to feel anything other than dislike for Kate and her choices, the actual backstory and elements within its pages were interesting.
Kate is in a hotel, about to shower having just had sex with James with whom she has been having an affair for six years, when she turns on the TV and realises that terrorists have taken over the hotel. They are trapped in the room. Nobody knows she is there, and they have no idea how long this situation will last. The terrorist scenario really is a plot device, and I’m not sure if it was such a big deal as we’re led to believe it is that it would have such little impact on their experience.
We stay with Kate as she reflects on her meeting her husband, Vic, their relationship and the situations and choices that led to her starting and continuing her relationship with James. There is little attempt to show what James offers and Kate herself reaches this conclusion. While I don’t wish harm on people generally, I couldn’t help but feel her family deserved better.
This is definitely a book that will cause split reactions upon its release. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review it before publication.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting and different premise to the usual thriller.
This book takes the idea that mothers just want some time on their own and expands on it to encompass taking a lover, to feel something other than being a wife too, then throws in a hostage situation for good measure.
According to AI, psychological thrillers often explore themes of morality and this is definitely the case here. The morality of cheating on your husband, the morality of a siege situation, even the morality of how far your instinct for survival, to return to your family, outweighs your inherent impulse to help others in need. Add onto this the guilt of mothers generally, and the specific guilt of coming face to face with the fact that your selfishness could mean your family loses you forever, and you have an excellent thriller.
My only complaint, and I’m sure others will feel the same, is the ending. Yes, I can see why the author chose this but it’s still a disappointment, though in fairness I’m not sure how else it could have ended without being a letdown. it ends with someone - police, terrorists. - knocking on the door.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this free book.