The Hostess: A gripping new psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming for 2026

by Courtney Psak

"This book was utterly gripping - I couldn't put it down! Just when you think you've got it figured it out - bam, the story hits you with something you didn't see coming!" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"A deliciously dark story of secrets!! Wow! What a wild ride!" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don't miss Courtney Psak's next unputdownable thriller, available to pre-order now!

Natalie and her husband decide to escape the city for a much-needed break. After suffering from a terrible accident, Natalie needs some time and space to recover. So when they find a gorgeous rental home on an estate in the Hamptons available at the last minute, it seems too good to be true.

The owner of the estate, Sadie, is beautiful, elegant and wealthy, and Natalie is immediately drawn to her.

But as the women begin to bond, Natalie can't shake the feeling that Sadie is hiding something beneath her polished exterior.

When Natalie discovers that the previous guest disappeared without a trace, dark questions Who exactly is the hostess? What are her secrets? And can Natalie uncover the truth, before it's too late?

Praise for Courtney Psak and The Hostess:
"Will keep you turning the pages until the final, killer twist" Lisa Unger

"This book was so good. Layered with so much tension and drama, it was hard to put it down... The ending was a "didn't see that coming" one that was perfect" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Twisting, propulsive, and unsettling" Carter Wilson

"From the starting page I was drawn in and hooked in, this book is full of suspense, tension, secrets and lies and murder, all the things that make up a great thriller" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Had me riveted to my seat the whole time" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I did not see the ending coming, and I enjoyed this book very much" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 15, 2026

About the author

Courtney Psak is a New Jersey native who grew up with a passion for reading and writing.
After traveling the world, she settled into New York City where she earned her Masters in Publishing.
She is a member of the National Writers Association and the Women's Fiction Writers Association.
She currently resides in Hoboken with her husband.
She spends her weekends seeking adventure through hiking, skiing and traveling.

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Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

From the first chapter, The Hostess lured me in with elegance and unease. What begins as a peaceful Hamptons escape quickly turns into a chilling exploration of trust, envy, and the secrets people hide behind perfect smiles. After a devastating accident, Natalie and her husband retreat to a luxurious rental to start over—but their charming hostess isn’t who she seems. When Natalie discovers a previous guest vanished, their dream getaway spirals into a nightmare of obsession and danger.

This was my first time reading a Courtney Psak psychological thriller. It was an engaging one! Despite the trope having been done with at least ten books I’ve read before, Psak’s The Hostess stood out. What made it different for me was how Psak leaned into the psychological tension rather than relying on cheap thrills. Instead of the typical “creepy house and unhinged host” setup, she built a slow, uneasy sense of trust and fascination between Natalie and Sadie that felt both believable and unnerving. Natalie’s vulnerability after her accident added real emotional weight to the suspense, making her choices feel grounded and human. I also liked how the Hamptons setting wasn’t just for show—it became a reflection of privilege, envy, and the glossy facades people hide behind. My only hang-up was that I figured out who the antagonist was pretty early, but that didn’t lessen how invested I was. Psak’s storytelling is sharp enough to keep you turning the pages anyway.

All in all, The Hostess is a smart, twist-filled psychological thriller that proves even familiar tropes can feel fresh in the right hands. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven suspense with luxurious settings and a steady undercurrent of unease.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the opening page, Courtney Psak's The Hostess raises a nagging question: what actually goes on behind a flawless smile? This isn't simply another psychological thriller; it transports you to a world where nothing is what it appears, and the border between safe and dangerous is razor-thin. Imagine a stunning Hamptons mansion with glistening windows and manicured grass. Natalie arrives, still reeling from a tragic event, and immediately becomes entangled with Sadie, the estate's bright, wealthy owner who is both secretive and attractive.

I won’t spoil anything, but the plot kicks off when Natalie moves in and starts bonding with Sadie. There’s something magnetic about her, but also something off. Then Natalie hears about a guest who vanished, and suddenly every glance and whispered conversation feels loaded. Who can she really trust? What’s Sadie hiding under that flawless exterior? Psak heightens the suspense by raising concerns about identity, trust, and how far people will go to safeguard their secrets. The estate itself is almost a character, glamorous, a little cold, and definitely hiding shadows in every corner.

At its core, this novel is about vulnerability, hidden truths, and the messy aspect of human interactions. Natalie is the ideal lens for this world; she is tough, curious, and still a little raw from what she has been through. And Sadie? She's unforgettable. It's the way she draws you in without allowing you to get too near. The tension between them is palpable on every page, keeping you guessing about what happens next. Psak knows how to play with appearances and secrets, demonstrating how even the most beautiful places may conceal something sinister.

Psak’s writing is sharp and inviting, with just the right pace to keep your heart pounding without leaving you lost. She balances elegance with a slow, creeping sense of dread, the kind that makes you glance over your shoulder while you read. Her dialogue feels real, and her eye for detail pulls you right into each scene. Sure, a few twists might feel familiar if you’ve read a lot of thrillers, but honestly, the atmosphere and the characters make up for it.

If you like your mysteries served with a side of luxury and unease, The Hostess is for you. It’s perfect for anyone who likes stories where secrets simmer just beneath the surface and strong, complex women take the lead. By the end, you’ll be racing to piece together the puzzle with Natalie, unwilling to step away until you find out what’s really hiding behind that perfect smile.

[Jamie Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder, and Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC read.

I really enjoyed this fast paced psychological thriller titled the Hostess by Courtney Psak.

The book is a story that mostly takes place in the guest house of Sadie and Tom Wilson in the Hamptons. Tom has a past and seems to be struggling. Whole Tom is away for a few days Sadie decides to rent out thier guest house.

Luke and Natalie are the lucky applicants that rent out a guest house in the Hamptoms. The house is placed in a prefect location with a pool and beach within walking distance.

Natalie has not been the same since her accident. She is slowly getting back to work but has alot of unresolved trauma from the accident and her past. Luke thinks this place will be the best place for her to really heal. He doesn't know everything though.

As they are living in the Hamptoms, Luke is working in the city during the week Natalie is left to try and work on herself and ends up making a friend of the house owner. They have so many things in common its almost too god to be true.

One day Natalie finds a image of a woman that looks almost identical to her. What is this woman's story and why is her picture in the guess house? Small things then start to happen after this woman's image is found. Natalie starts to hallucinate with images of her little brother Danny. Someone keeps giving her messages that are not so welcoming. She can't tell her husband or doctor because they think she is doing so well. Is she really having these or is someone trying to mess with her head?

Lots of secrets are kept in the big house and the guest house seems to be the key yo solve and connect it all. Natalie will soon find out that some people have the best of intentions. It's when intentions go too far that can destroy that perfect image you have worked so hard to keep.

Great read with lots of twists and turns.

I would love this book 4.5 🌟!

[Anna Christodoulou-Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤📚 ARC Review: The Hostess by Courtney Psak

This book was utterly gripping the kind you swear you’ll read “just one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. 😮‍💨🔥 Just when you think you’ve figured it out… BAM 💥 Courtney Psak pulls the rug out from under you with twists you absolutely did not see coming.
Natalie and her husband escape the city for a much needed reset 🏙️➡️🌿 after a devastating accident. Enter: a gorgeous last-minute rental in the Hamptons 🏡✨ too perfect, too polished, and way too good to be true.
Then there’s Sadie 😌💎beautiful, elegant, wealthy, and magnetic. Natalie is instantly drawn to her… but something feels off. That creeping unease builds fast 🕯️😬, especially when Natalie learns a previous guest vanished without a trace 👀❓
From there? Buckle up.

🔒 Dark secrets
🕶️ Hidden motives
⏳ Mounting tension
🔪 A final twist that hits HARD

This is a deliciously dark, unputdownable thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. Fans of twisty psychological suspense this one is a MUST-READ 🖤📖

✨ Will keep you turning pages until the final, killer twist and honestly? That praise is spot on.
🔥 Highly recommend & counting down to Courtney Psak’s next release!

[A Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

New to me, author Courtney Psak blew me right out of the water with her chilling domestic suspense, The Hostess. Not knowing what to expect, I went in with an open mind and was immediately sucked in. What awaited me was a story full of secrets, betrayal, lies, and murder.

Natalie and Luke plan a month long getaway after a serious accident left Natalie shaken and unable to get past the trauma. They're hoping the fresh sea air and relaxing atmosphere away from the city will be just what she needs to get over the hurdle. On day one, they meet their hostess, Sadie, and Natalie feels a strong bond with her, even though she senses something isn't quite right with Sadie. As the days progress, strange happenings keep Natalie on edge, and she wonders if this was really a good idea.

This book was so good. Layered with so much tension and drama, it was hard to put it down. The characters were all intriguing and well depicted. It was hard to guess who the guilty party was. The ending was a "didn't see that coming" one that was perfect. I will be checking out more of Courtney's other books.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced copy

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A last-minute escape to the Hamptons. A beautiful estate. A hostess who seems too perfect. From the very first page, The Hostess invites you into a world where luxury masks unease, and every detail hums with quiet tension.

Natalie, recovering from a traumatic accident, hopes for rest and renewal. Instead, she finds herself drawn into a seductive friendship with Sadie—the estate’s enigmatic owner. Psak’s storytelling is sleek and unsettling, with just the right amount of glamour and grit. The mystery unfolds like a whispered warning: what happens when the person offering sanctuary might be the one you need to escape?

This is a thriller that doesn’t rely on loud shocks—it’s all about the slow, elegant unraveling. Perfect for readers who love their suspense with a touch of sophistication and a twist they won’t see coming.

With thanks to Courtney Psak, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much needed and greatly-anticipated break in the Hamptons goes terribly wrong for a couple when their last minute stroke of luck in scoring a beautiful rental turns out to be anything but.

Recovering from an accident, the last thing Natalie needs is to discover that the previous occupant of the rental disappeared under mysterious circumstances! And what, if anything, might the elegant and friendly landlady know about that?

The characters are well drawn, but the pacing of the story is a bit all over the place. Recommended for patient readers who don't necessarily expect a thriller book to be extremely eventful throughout.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple move into a beautiful house in the Hampton at short notice and at a price too good to be true. The hostess Sadie seems welcoming but is hiding something concerning her relationship with husband Tom.

And it is swiftly evident that all is not as it seems in the house. Is someone living there? What is gardener Riley up to? And what has happened to Sadie’s friend Cassie and her son Owen who right up until the new folk arrive had been living in the house.

A reasonably compelling story though there are a lot of these split personality books written from alternative perspectives. Setting is well described and conclusion ultimately satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a free copy in exchange for a fair review

[Laura Bloomfield Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hostess tells a thrilling story about Natalie and Luke. After Natalie suffers a terrible accident, her and Luke look to take some time out in the Hamptons, luckily for them, a short-term rental has just come on the market at an unbelievably reasonable price. Too good to be true, Natalie knew deep down that this was the case. As she begins getting to know the house and the people around it, putting mysterious scenarios down to hallucinations since the accident. Natalie gets to know their perfect hostess Sadie, and she learns not all is as it seems.
This was a great read and kept me gripped from start to finish. My first Courtney Psak read and I would definitely reach for another.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a young woman recovering from a nasty accident and not knowing what she wants from her life going forward. Her boyfriend surprises her with a month in a luxury house her fears and worries are starting to take over and when she meets the new groundskeeper she starts to fear there is more danger here. When they meet the owner in the house she realises life may finally be turning around as she finds a new friend in the owner of the main house but something is not right here and as things take a dark turn she starts to see that maybe she shouldn’t trust those closest to her. A great dark thriller!

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say this was one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s an excellent psychological thriller with a gripping plot and an atmospheric setting in the upmarket Hamptons. The characters are exceptionally well developed, especially Natalie. Still recovering mentally after a traumatic accident, she remains strong and compelling throughout the story, and I loved following her journey.

The book keeps you guessing right up until the final twist, which completely took me by surprise.
Courtney Psak’s writing is sharp, immersive, and full of tension. I enjoyed this so much that I’m already looking for more of her books.

An excellent read—highly recommended.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of suspense.
Natalie and her husband Luke rent a luxury lodge in the grounds of a mansion for a month after Natalie is recovering from a tragic accident but you don't find out what the accident was till half way through the book.
The hostess Sadie invites them to dinner, Tom her husband is missing it and suggests he's in a mental hospital but not why, again keeping you in suspense.
Natalie suspects something is wrong but her husband thinks she is too vulnerable and is seeing things.
A page turner that keeps you guessing till the end with a twist at the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review

[Susan Ingraffea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I don't think the title really fits the book. Sadie is more of a landlord than a hostess, and the book has equal or more chapters about Natalie than Sadie anyway.

This was more domestic suspense than psychological thriller. I didn't figure out what was happening, which is always a point in favor. However, I did feel it was a bit slow with long sections of not much happening. And I also think none of the characters were quite fully developed. I did enjoy the setting of the luxurious Hamptons.

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hostess was a fun, quick read! I couldn't put it down!

It drew me in from the beginning with the premise, the writing, and the setting. The characters were relatable and real to me with all of their different fears and traumas.

I did predict what happened, but it was satisfying to see how it all played out and didn't ruin anything for me.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a chilling domestic thriller.

A big thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

In all honesty I was somewhat disappointed with this novel. From the premise it sounded great - billed as a gripping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming. But in reality I felt the book was building up to something that never really materialised. It was more suspense than thriller and large parts of the novel seemed way off pace with not much happening. However, I was compelled to finish the book so would rate it 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.

[Hasina Begum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hostess by Courtney Psak was my first time reading one of her books. I was invited to read it and, I have to admit, I went in feeling a little apprehensive but that feeling disappeared very quickly.

From the beginning, I genuinely wasn’t sure where the story was going to lead. I had a few ideas in my head, but Courtney was careful not to give too much away, which made the experience even more enjoyable. She keeps the tension simmering and reveals just enough to keep you turning the pages, constantly second guessing what you think you know.

I really enjoyed the way the storyline unfolded. The sense of mystery and uncertainty kept me fully engaged, and I found myself wanting to read “just one more chapter” far more often than I planned to. This was a compelling, well paced read that completely won me over, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from Courtney Psak in the future.

[Jemma Roe · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the starting page I was drawn in and hooked in, this book is full of Suspense, tension, secerts and lies and murder all the things that make up a great thriller. First book from this author and if all her work is as fantastic as this I'm going to binge them all lol. Lots of drama and ending I'd never of guessed
Fabulous read
This is the kind of book I'd recommend to people

[Jessica Chiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Solid read. The author does a great job of drawing you in and building on that momentum but feeding pieces of the back story. The doubt created by the MFC did a great job of adding suspense. The ending lost a little bit if the thread for me.

[Hayley Eisner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was honestly quite boring in my opinion. I just didn’t feel like much was happening throughout the book until the last 10% or so.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and Hodder Paperbacks for the ARC