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The House Guest: A Novel
An aspiring chef finds she has bitten off more than she can chew when her gig as a private cook to a bestselling author turns deadly in this propulsive, whip-smart suspense novel.
Brett Novak is a young upstart chef, with real, raw talent—if only she could catch a break. After getting dumped by her married girlfriend and losing the perfect job offer, Brett accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson Smart, who resides in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod.
Carson immediately seduces her, but things get complicated when Carson's wife, Vera, arrives home from her trip, and the love/hate relationship between the two spouses erupts, leaving Brett caught in the middle. Brett, starved for attention, craves Carson's affection and yet is oddly drawn to Vera's seductive and destructive charms.
As Brett becomes an unwitting pawn and weapon, she questions how far husband and wife will go to wound the other. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to stay—even as her hold on reality begins to slip. Can she survive her employers’ dark appetites?
Brett Novak is a young upstart chef, with real, raw talent—if only she could catch a break. After getting dumped by her married girlfriend and losing the perfect job offer, Brett accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson Smart, who resides in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod.
Carson immediately seduces her, but things get complicated when Carson's wife, Vera, arrives home from her trip, and the love/hate relationship between the two spouses erupts, leaving Brett caught in the middle. Brett, starved for attention, craves Carson's affection and yet is oddly drawn to Vera's seductive and destructive charms.
As Brett becomes an unwitting pawn and weapon, she questions how far husband and wife will go to wound the other. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to stay—even as her hold on reality begins to slip. Can she survive her employers’ dark appetites?
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Published July 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
July 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley is the kind of thriller I love most—one that keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I genuinely had no idea where this story was headed, and every time I thought I had it figured out, it managed to surprise me.
The novel follows a woman named Brett Novak who by taking a job as a private chef unexpectedly finds herself inserted into the lives of a troubled couple, setting off a chain of events filled with deception, secrets, shifting loyalties, and buried truths. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to know who to trust, making for an addictive and unpredictable read.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was its' characters. All three of the central characters are incredibly dysfunctional, unreliable, and, most of all, thoroughly unlikable. I know that can be a deal breaker for some readers, but for me, unlikable characters don't diminish a thriller—in fact, they often make it even more compelling. That's not to say I didn't get frustrated with the sheer stupidity of Brett on numerous occasions - because trust me, I definitely did! Watching these flawed people manipulate one another and unravel throughout the story was endlessly entertaining!
The twists genuinely caught me off guard, and I had an absolute blast trying to piece everything together. My only small criticism is that the ending felt a bit abrupt, and I would have loved just a little more time with the aftermath. I would have also enjoyed some more detail into Brett's past - I was desperate for some more answers about her childhood! Even so, it wasn't enough to take away from what was otherwise an excellent reading experience.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with unreliable narrators, morally gray characters, and twists that keep you constantly second-guessing yourself, I highly recommend The House Guest. The fact that this was a debut novel made this one that much more impressive - this was an easy 5-star read for me, and it's one you definitely do not want to miss!
The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley is the kind of thriller I love most—one that keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I genuinely had no idea where this story was headed, and every time I thought I had it figured out, it managed to surprise me.
The novel follows a woman named Brett Novak who by taking a job as a private chef unexpectedly finds herself inserted into the lives of a troubled couple, setting off a chain of events filled with deception, secrets, shifting loyalties, and buried truths. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to know who to trust, making for an addictive and unpredictable read.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was its' characters. All three of the central characters are incredibly dysfunctional, unreliable, and, most of all, thoroughly unlikable. I know that can be a deal breaker for some readers, but for me, unlikable characters don't diminish a thriller—in fact, they often make it even more compelling. That's not to say I didn't get frustrated with the sheer stupidity of Brett on numerous occasions - because trust me, I definitely did! Watching these flawed people manipulate one another and unravel throughout the story was endlessly entertaining!
The twists genuinely caught me off guard, and I had an absolute blast trying to piece everything together. My only small criticism is that the ending felt a bit abrupt, and I would have loved just a little more time with the aftermath. I would have also enjoyed some more detail into Brett's past - I was desperate for some more answers about her childhood! Even so, it wasn't enough to take away from what was otherwise an excellent reading experience.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with unreliable narrators, morally gray characters, and twists that keep you constantly second-guessing yourself, I highly recommend The House Guest. The fact that this was a debut novel made this one that much more impressive - this was an easy 5-star read for me, and it's one you definitely do not want to miss!
June 28, 2026
This was dark, messy, unsettling, and completely captivating. Brett is an absolute disaster of a main character, but somehow I couldn’t help rooting for her. She’s flawed, impulsive, desperate for connection, and repeatedly makes questionable decisions, yet she always felt believable. I was invested in every terrible choice she made.
The dynamic between Brett, Carson, and Vera is where this novel really shines. Brett becomes an unwilling pawn in their manipulative, toxic marriage, and their constantly shifting alliances kept me guessing. Every interaction felt loaded with tension, making it nearly impossible to predict where things were headed. Although the novel isn’t technically a locked room mystery, the isolated mansion creates that same suffocating atmosphere. The house itself becomes almost another character, amplifying the sense that Brett is trapped in a situation she can’t escape.
Beyond the suspense, Jennifer Pashley weaves in thoughtful commentary about class, wealth, gender, power, and misogyny. Those themes add surprising depth without ever slowing the story down, making this much more than a standard domestic thriller. If you enjoy morally gray characters, toxic relationships, and psychological suspense that leaves you feeling deeply unsettled, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Morally gray, deeply flawed characters
* Toxic relationship dynamics
* Unpredictable psychological suspense
* Claustrophobic, isolated settings
* Social commentary woven into thrillers
* Slow burning tension with messy emotional drama
The dynamic between Brett, Carson, and Vera is where this novel really shines. Brett becomes an unwilling pawn in their manipulative, toxic marriage, and their constantly shifting alliances kept me guessing. Every interaction felt loaded with tension, making it nearly impossible to predict where things were headed. Although the novel isn’t technically a locked room mystery, the isolated mansion creates that same suffocating atmosphere. The house itself becomes almost another character, amplifying the sense that Brett is trapped in a situation she can’t escape.
Beyond the suspense, Jennifer Pashley weaves in thoughtful commentary about class, wealth, gender, power, and misogyny. Those themes add surprising depth without ever slowing the story down, making this much more than a standard domestic thriller. If you enjoy morally gray characters, toxic relationships, and psychological suspense that leaves you feeling deeply unsettled, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Morally gray, deeply flawed characters
* Toxic relationship dynamics
* Unpredictable psychological suspense
* Claustrophobic, isolated settings
* Social commentary woven into thrillers
* Slow burning tension with messy emotional drama
July 8, 2026
Brett Novak really said, “What if I fix my entire life by moving into a stranger’s mansion and cooking for him,” and I just need us to acknowledge how bold and immediately concerning that is. Like, girl… we have options. Maybe not good ones, but definitely safer than this emotionally haunted beach house.
She’s fresh off a breakup with her married girlfriend, her career is in shambles, and she is one minor inconvenience away from screaming into a walk-in fridge. So when Carson Smart, reclusive author with big “I am going to ruin your life in a silk robe” energy, offers her a live-in chef job in Cape Cod, she jumps. And within approximately five minutes, he jumps her. Subtlety is not this man’s brand.
Then enters Vera. The wife. The menace. The human equivalent of lighting a match in a room full of gasoline.
And suddenly this book turns into a deeply toxic love triangle where no one is in love, everyone is manipulating each other, and Brett is just standing there like, “I think I live here now???” while her grip on reality starts doing a soft little spiral. The Carson and Vera dynamic is absolutely unhinged in that very specific “we hate each other but also cannot exist apart” way, and they use Brett like she’s a chess piece in their ongoing emotional war. It’s messy. It’s mean. It’s weirdly intimate in a way that made me want to both look away and lean closer.
What really got me was how hungry Brett is. Not just for success, but for attention, validation, someone choosing her. And that’s what makes all of her increasingly questionable decisions hit a little too hard. You’re watching her know this situation is bad and still stay, because leaving would mean going back to nothing. It’s that quiet desperation that makes the whole thing feel less like a thriller at times and more like a very pretty emotional collapse.
And the house? Oh, the house is basically a character. Big, isolated, filled with tension and weird energy and those massive dogs that feel like they know something you don’t. It has that slow, creeping dread where nothing is technically happening yet, but you feel like something terrible is just… waiting. Like the walls are holding their breath.
The pacing is very much a slow burn at first, and I was into it… until I wasn’t fully fed at the end. Because once things start to unravel, they unravel fast, and I needed just a little more time to sit in the chaos. Some moments hit, some twists felt more like “wait, hold on, we’re moving on already?” and I definitely closed the book with a couple of lingering questions and a mild identity crisis.
Also, not to be dramatic, but trusting literally anyone in this book feels like a personal attack. Every character is operating on their own strange little moral compass, and none of those compasses point north. Which is fun! Until you realize you’ve been rooting for people who absolutely should not be trusted with a houseplant, let alone another human being.
But here’s the thing, I flew through this. Once the tension tightens, it’s addictive in that “I should go to sleep but instead I will watch this train derail in real time” way. The messy relationships, the psychological push and pull, the constant sense that Brett is one bad decision away from total disaster, it all works, even when it doesn’t fully land.
So yeah, this is a very comfortable 3.5 stars. A little chaotic, a little confusing, very emotionally messy, but undeniably gripping. Like getting pulled into someone else’s relationship drama and realizing too late you’re now part of it.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Side-Eye Every Wealthy Couple With a “Unique Dynamic”
And thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC, truly appreciate being invited into this beautifully toxic nightmare.
She’s fresh off a breakup with her married girlfriend, her career is in shambles, and she is one minor inconvenience away from screaming into a walk-in fridge. So when Carson Smart, reclusive author with big “I am going to ruin your life in a silk robe” energy, offers her a live-in chef job in Cape Cod, she jumps. And within approximately five minutes, he jumps her. Subtlety is not this man’s brand.
Then enters Vera. The wife. The menace. The human equivalent of lighting a match in a room full of gasoline.
And suddenly this book turns into a deeply toxic love triangle where no one is in love, everyone is manipulating each other, and Brett is just standing there like, “I think I live here now???” while her grip on reality starts doing a soft little spiral. The Carson and Vera dynamic is absolutely unhinged in that very specific “we hate each other but also cannot exist apart” way, and they use Brett like she’s a chess piece in their ongoing emotional war. It’s messy. It’s mean. It’s weirdly intimate in a way that made me want to both look away and lean closer.
What really got me was how hungry Brett is. Not just for success, but for attention, validation, someone choosing her. And that’s what makes all of her increasingly questionable decisions hit a little too hard. You’re watching her know this situation is bad and still stay, because leaving would mean going back to nothing. It’s that quiet desperation that makes the whole thing feel less like a thriller at times and more like a very pretty emotional collapse.
And the house? Oh, the house is basically a character. Big, isolated, filled with tension and weird energy and those massive dogs that feel like they know something you don’t. It has that slow, creeping dread where nothing is technically happening yet, but you feel like something terrible is just… waiting. Like the walls are holding their breath.
The pacing is very much a slow burn at first, and I was into it… until I wasn’t fully fed at the end. Because once things start to unravel, they unravel fast, and I needed just a little more time to sit in the chaos. Some moments hit, some twists felt more like “wait, hold on, we’re moving on already?” and I definitely closed the book with a couple of lingering questions and a mild identity crisis.
Also, not to be dramatic, but trusting literally anyone in this book feels like a personal attack. Every character is operating on their own strange little moral compass, and none of those compasses point north. Which is fun! Until you realize you’ve been rooting for people who absolutely should not be trusted with a houseplant, let alone another human being.
But here’s the thing, I flew through this. Once the tension tightens, it’s addictive in that “I should go to sleep but instead I will watch this train derail in real time” way. The messy relationships, the psychological push and pull, the constant sense that Brett is one bad decision away from total disaster, it all works, even when it doesn’t fully land.
So yeah, this is a very comfortable 3.5 stars. A little chaotic, a little confusing, very emotionally messy, but undeniably gripping. Like getting pulled into someone else’s relationship drama and realizing too late you’re now part of it.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Side-Eye Every Wealthy Couple With a “Unique Dynamic”
And thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC, truly appreciate being invited into this beautifully toxic nightmare.
July 20, 2026
What. The. Heck
I have no idea what just happened!
At first, the book seemed like a normal forced proximity domestic drama. Yet somehow around mid book, it turned into an absolutely insane thriller, with one of the most unhinged characters I've read in a while. The strong relationships despite burning hatred between the characters is almost as palpable as its own character. The house becomes like a pretty, rich prison where freedom is only an illusion.
The level of crazy that this couple exhibits is second to none. Our poor FMC grows in my eyes from an irresponsible, poor-decision-making, dumb girl to a victim on multiple levels. I began rooting for her just out.of pure despise to her employer. There were twists galore, and the ending almost gave me whiplash.
Fantastic book, super easy read, couldn't put it down. The ending was a big WTF.
Definitely recommend, for fans of domestic thrillers and unhinged delulu characters. 4.5 syringes!
Thank you, Netgalley and Little Brown and company for the gifted ARC.
I have no idea what just happened!
At first, the book seemed like a normal forced proximity domestic drama. Yet somehow around mid book, it turned into an absolutely insane thriller, with one of the most unhinged characters I've read in a while. The strong relationships despite burning hatred between the characters is almost as palpable as its own character. The house becomes like a pretty, rich prison where freedom is only an illusion.
The level of crazy that this couple exhibits is second to none. Our poor FMC grows in my eyes from an irresponsible, poor-decision-making, dumb girl to a victim on multiple levels. I began rooting for her just out.of pure despise to her employer. There were twists galore, and the ending almost gave me whiplash.
Fantastic book, super easy read, couldn't put it down. The ending was a big WTF.
Definitely recommend, for fans of domestic thrillers and unhinged delulu characters. 4.5 syringes!
Thank you, Netgalley and Little Brown and company for the gifted ARC.
June 30, 2026
How lucky was I to snag an early copy of Jennifer Pashley’s new novel? Extremely lucky, because
—as expected—this cat-and-mouse psychological thriller is sheer perfection. Led by a down-and-out protagonist (Brett Novak is broken, endearing, and unforgettable) and featuring the most twisted couple you’ll ever meet, The Houseguest is cinematic, chilling, and incredibly intense. Fellow fans of Kat Rosenfield and Emma Cline, look no further for your next obsession.
—as expected—this cat-and-mouse psychological thriller is sheer perfection. Led by a down-and-out protagonist (Brett Novak is broken, endearing, and unforgettable) and featuring the most twisted couple you’ll ever meet, The Houseguest is cinematic, chilling, and incredibly intense. Fellow fans of Kat Rosenfield and Emma Cline, look no further for your next obsession.
July 27, 2026
Aspiring chef Brett Novak is fresh off of a painful breakup and desperate for a new start when she accepts a lucrative live in job as the personal chef for best-selling author Carson Smart. His secluded Cape Cod mansion seems like the perfect place to rebuild her life... until Carson begins blurring professional boundaries. When Carson's magnetic but unpredictable wife Vera unexpectedly returns home, Brett is pulled into the couples toxic game of manipulation, seduction and psychological warfare. Trapped in their isolated estate, Brett struggles to figure out who is telling the truth and who is using her as a pawn.
The House Guest is the definition of slow burn psychological thriller! Instead of twist after twist, it quietly builds a sense of unease through an isolated setting and shady characters. The pacing is definitely on the slow side but for the most part it worked for the story. It definitely allowed the suspense to build naturally, making that tension the star of the book. The only thing that held me back a bit was the ending. I'm all for books that are ambiguous and leave the reader with some things to think about, but I wasn't satisfied by the end. I still had a great time reading it and if you love atmospheric character driven thrillers then this one might work out for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Pashley, and Little Brown and Company for both the eARC and physical copy!
The House Guest is the definition of slow burn psychological thriller! Instead of twist after twist, it quietly builds a sense of unease through an isolated setting and shady characters. The pacing is definitely on the slow side but for the most part it worked for the story. It definitely allowed the suspense to build naturally, making that tension the star of the book. The only thing that held me back a bit was the ending. I'm all for books that are ambiguous and leave the reader with some things to think about, but I wasn't satisfied by the end. I still had a great time reading it and if you love atmospheric character driven thrillers then this one might work out for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Pashley, and Little Brown and Company for both the eARC and physical copy!
July 18, 2026
#ad much love for my finished copy @littlebrown + @novelsuspects #partner
The House Guest
< @
Available Now
Thriller | lgbtq+
“If he shoots me, I want it to be a mystery. If I bleed out in their backyard, I want them to have to hash out who the fuck I am. Because she will know.”
Nan has ended the affair - she’s decided that she can’t leave her husband for Brett. Heartbroken, Brett takes a job promotion as a personal chef and sets off in another direction of her life story. But soon the husband and wife she works for catch her in their web. It’ll be a game til the exploding ending.
This book started off SO GOOD! By chapter 3 I was bored and by 6 I was over the book. I’m sure if this book did turn around it would have been great. But ya lost me, I can’t just push through books when I lose interest. So unfortunately it’s a DNF.
Maybe I’m just having a day - maybe I’ll try it again at a later date. Until then here it is.
Also, what bi woman character (or real life person) have you met named Brett? I wanna know because it just felt extra to me. Why do you need a “guys” name. If the book ever explains then I missed that part 😂
The House Guest
< @
Available Now
Thriller | lgbtq+
“If he shoots me, I want it to be a mystery. If I bleed out in their backyard, I want them to have to hash out who the fuck I am. Because she will know.”
Nan has ended the affair - she’s decided that she can’t leave her husband for Brett. Heartbroken, Brett takes a job promotion as a personal chef and sets off in another direction of her life story. But soon the husband and wife she works for catch her in their web. It’ll be a game til the exploding ending.
This book started off SO GOOD! By chapter 3 I was bored and by 6 I was over the book. I’m sure if this book did turn around it would have been great. But ya lost me, I can’t just push through books when I lose interest. So unfortunately it’s a DNF.
Maybe I’m just having a day - maybe I’ll try it again at a later date. Until then here it is.
Also, what bi woman character (or real life person) have you met named Brett? I wanna know because it just felt extra to me. Why do you need a “guys” name. If the book ever explains then I missed that part 😂
July 26, 2026
This was excellent on audio, as Dani Martineck was fantastic at understanding the assignment. Which was to create an atmosphere that moves from slowly from awkward and uncomfortable to highly intense and a train wreck without us being able to look away. And that is exactly how I felt while reading this, and I loved every second of this book. Brett Novak is down on basically everything: luck, life, money, career, and just as she is literally on her last leg, she gets an offer that seems too good to refuse, but she has no choice. So when Brett takes said offer to be a private cook to a bestselling author, oh, it takes a turn as we might expect. But the in-between is where Pashley shines, creating this environment where no one is likable, but are they in fact diabolical? Time will tell.
I had no idea where this was going, who was going to do what, and even with the resolution I was surprised. I was engrossed in this story, high anxiety and all, and loved it from beginning to end. This was my first read of Pashley’s, and I am now going to start working on her backlist.
I had no idea where this was going, who was going to do what, and even with the resolution I was surprised. I was engrossed in this story, high anxiety and all, and loved it from beginning to end. This was my first read of Pashley’s, and I am now going to start working on her backlist.
June 20, 2026
For me, this one did not start off strong, and like everyone else, a strong start to a book is important on whether or not to continue reading on.
I decided to push through and slowly my interest began to grow for the main character. I genuinely became invested in wanting to know more about her; she both intrigued me and bored me, and I found I needed to know more about her.
As the story progressed it grew more disturbing by the minute, and I had no clue what was happening but at this point I was invested.
The positive: I was so interested in the outcome and the writing kept me invested until the very end.
The negative: Unfortunately, I still have no clue what was going on, and I was left with more questions than answers.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this Advanced Reading Copy.
I decided to push through and slowly my interest began to grow for the main character. I genuinely became invested in wanting to know more about her; she both intrigued me and bored me, and I found I needed to know more about her.
As the story progressed it grew more disturbing by the minute, and I had no clue what was happening but at this point I was invested.
The positive: I was so interested in the outcome and the writing kept me invested until the very end.
The negative: Unfortunately, I still have no clue what was going on, and I was left with more questions than answers.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this Advanced Reading Copy.
June 25, 2026
Perfection! And so much fun!
Brett Novak can’t catch a break. A talented chef, she is late to accept a lucrative job opportunity in Cape Cod set up by her best friend, Will. He does know of another job, but it is a couple weeks as a live in private chef for a mystery recluse couple living in the community. Everything about this job is peculiar and covert but Brett is out of money and options. She accepts the position working for Carson Smart and Vera Fitzgerald, but Brett may not survive this two week job because her employers will stop at nothing to make life difficult for each other and for Brett.
This story was so addictive, I could not put it down! Smartly written with sharp and original plot lines, this one has all the makings of a best seller. Don’t miss this one, add it to your summer TBR and enjoy the journey!
Thank you Netgalley, Little, Brown, and Company, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on July 7, 2026
Brett Novak can’t catch a break. A talented chef, she is late to accept a lucrative job opportunity in Cape Cod set up by her best friend, Will. He does know of another job, but it is a couple weeks as a live in private chef for a mystery recluse couple living in the community. Everything about this job is peculiar and covert but Brett is out of money and options. She accepts the position working for Carson Smart and Vera Fitzgerald, but Brett may not survive this two week job because her employers will stop at nothing to make life difficult for each other and for Brett.
This story was so addictive, I could not put it down! Smartly written with sharp and original plot lines, this one has all the makings of a best seller. Don’t miss this one, add it to your summer TBR and enjoy the journey!
Thank you Netgalley, Little, Brown, and Company, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on July 7, 2026
July 6, 2026
Toxic and wildly entertaining...this is a perfect summer thriller!
Brett is an aspiring chef who just can't catch a break. After losing out on a job opportunity and getting dumped by her girlfriend, she accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson and his wife Vera, who reside in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod. Brett finds herself in the middle of their love/hate relationship but she has nowhere else to go. The situation gets complicated really fast...
THE HOUSE GUEST is a deliciously addictive twisted game of rich people behaving the WORST. These characters are effed up. UNHINGED. MESSY. DARK. Carson and Vera have the most dysfunctional marriage I've read in a long time. And Brett was the perfect disaster - desperate, flawed and too starved for attention, good or bad. Short chapters made this a "one more chapter" until you finish kind of book.
Brett is an aspiring chef who just can't catch a break. After losing out on a job opportunity and getting dumped by her girlfriend, she accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson and his wife Vera, who reside in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod. Brett finds herself in the middle of their love/hate relationship but she has nowhere else to go. The situation gets complicated really fast...
THE HOUSE GUEST is a deliciously addictive twisted game of rich people behaving the WORST. These characters are effed up. UNHINGED. MESSY. DARK. Carson and Vera have the most dysfunctional marriage I've read in a long time. And Brett was the perfect disaster - desperate, flawed and too starved for attention, good or bad. Short chapters made this a "one more chapter" until you finish kind of book.
July 29, 2026
Many thanks to @jenniferpashley and @littlebrown for my finished copy! This book has been getting all the buzz and I can see why.
Talk about not knowing who to trust?! The unreliable narrators are definitely unreliable here. Brett is the quintessential flawed main character. Her decisions are questionable and yet, you just feel for her. The rest of the characters are possibly insane and there are dogs! Pitt bulls at that. My heart!
The tension, the awkwardness and the overall dysfunction really set the tone, and the reader feels it all. Everything is high stakes; the writing is propulsive and pacing perfection. I loved the way Pashley plays each one off each other and keeps the readers’ head spinning.
Talk about not knowing who to trust?! The unreliable narrators are definitely unreliable here. Brett is the quintessential flawed main character. Her decisions are questionable and yet, you just feel for her. The rest of the characters are possibly insane and there are dogs! Pitt bulls at that. My heart!
The tension, the awkwardness and the overall dysfunction really set the tone, and the reader feels it all. Everything is high stakes; the writing is propulsive and pacing perfection. I loved the way Pashley plays each one off each other and keeps the readers’ head spinning.
July 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🎧Song Pairing: Bonzo Goes to Bitburg - Ramones
💭Thoughts Before I Jump In:
Oooo pink!!! How many books share this same title, like seriously.
I’m guessing someone comes and never leaves. Always a juicy plot
📖What actually happens:
🔪In house chef job
💵Wealthy entitlement
🤨Odd behaviours
‼️Drugged, assaulted, taken advantage
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
You know that time when you have nothing to lose so you take an in house chef job, get drugged and sleep with the owner then end up the fixation of his wife that is the most entitled and hard to please person imaginable and then of course death happens??? Yeah me neither 😉😂
What a facking ride this was! The entire time this was my face 🤨.
The narrator’s voice for the entitled wife sounded so similar to Christine Baranski that I refuse to picture anyone else! If this becomes a movie she better be the star 🩷
Anywho, I didn’t love it but it still had me going wtf plenty. If you just need some psychotic behaviour to make you feel more stable, she’s for you!
🎧Song Pairing: Bonzo Goes to Bitburg - Ramones
💭Thoughts Before I Jump In:
Oooo pink!!! How many books share this same title, like seriously.
I’m guessing someone comes and never leaves. Always a juicy plot
📖What actually happens:
🔪In house chef job
💵Wealthy entitlement
🤨Odd behaviours
‼️Drugged, assaulted, taken advantage
🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:
You know that time when you have nothing to lose so you take an in house chef job, get drugged and sleep with the owner then end up the fixation of his wife that is the most entitled and hard to please person imaginable and then of course death happens??? Yeah me neither 😉😂
What a facking ride this was! The entire time this was my face 🤨.
The narrator’s voice for the entitled wife sounded so similar to Christine Baranski that I refuse to picture anyone else! If this becomes a movie she better be the star 🩷
Anywho, I didn’t love it but it still had me going wtf plenty. If you just need some psychotic behaviour to make you feel more stable, she’s for you!
August 1, 2026
These people are all UNHINGED and I loved every minute of it!
Food. Sex. Booze. Obsession. Murder.
Rich people behaving badly.
What more could you ask for?
This slow burn psychological thriller is drenched in an ominous sense of unease, with tension simmering beneath every page. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it keeps you constantly questioning what’s lurking around the next corner.
Food. Sex. Booze. Obsession. Murder.
Rich people behaving badly.
What more could you ask for?
This slow burn psychological thriller is drenched in an ominous sense of unease, with tension simmering beneath every page. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, it keeps you constantly questioning what’s lurking around the next corner.
Read
June 28, 2026Not for me, but if you love unhinged erotic thrillers, this one is for you!
Like The Housemaid crossed with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The House Guest has short chapters, and a very slow-building atmosphere of dread.
Brett's had a hard life. When the married woman she's sleeping with decides to stay with her husband and the job offer she thought she had falls through, Brett agrees to take a two week stint as a private chef on Cape Cod. She really needs the money.
(Note: I wasn't getting much of a Cape Cod feel, and didn't know what to make of the fact that Brett uses some British terms (XL Bully for pit bull and "flat" for apartment, which was odd.)
The couple Brett is cooking for, Vera and Carson, are a toxic mess with a 25 year age gap (she's older) and wealth gap (she's richer.) He's a bestselling author and she drinks a lot. They loathe each other, and Brett gets stuck in the middle.
Things are pretty slow up to 65% and then something happens! The last 20% is definitely more entertaining.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Like The Housemaid crossed with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The House Guest has short chapters, and a very slow-building atmosphere of dread.
Brett's had a hard life. When the married woman she's sleeping with decides to stay with her husband and the job offer she thought she had falls through, Brett agrees to take a two week stint as a private chef on Cape Cod. She really needs the money.
(Note: I wasn't getting much of a Cape Cod feel, and didn't know what to make of the fact that Brett uses some British terms (XL Bully for pit bull and "flat" for apartment, which was odd.)
The couple Brett is cooking for, Vera and Carson, are a toxic mess with a 25 year age gap (she's older) and wealth gap (she's richer.) He's a bestselling author and she drinks a lot. They loathe each other, and Brett gets stuck in the middle.
Things are pretty slow up to 65% and then something happens! The last 20% is definitely more entertaining.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
July 30, 2026
Wtf happened? All of a sudden I didn’t know and I still don’t care
April 15, 2026
Huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, I’m so grateful.
This was MESSY in the best way possible. The level of domestic drama? Absolutely wild, the kind that gives you whiplash (and you’ll love every second of it). There was never a dull moment, and I was completely hooked watching everything spiral.
The character development was next level. Layer by layer, their true selves came out in such a compelling, chaotic way that made it impossible to look away. If you’re into drama heavy, character driven stories, this is definitely one to pick up.
This was MESSY in the best way possible. The level of domestic drama? Absolutely wild, the kind that gives you whiplash (and you’ll love every second of it). There was never a dull moment, and I was completely hooked watching everything spiral.
The character development was next level. Layer by layer, their true selves came out in such a compelling, chaotic way that made it impossible to look away. If you’re into drama heavy, character driven stories, this is definitely one to pick up.
April 24, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and Jennifer Pashley for this ARC. This review is honest and voluntary.
I LOVED this book and read it in a single setting. With every page turn, I learned something new about the characters, something that made me question everything I had read before. It kept me hooked until the very end. I didn’t want it to end, I wanted to know what happened to the characters next.
This book is perfect for those who love a fast-paced domestic thriller, and one with morally gray characters. Cannot recommend this book enough.
I LOVED this book and read it in a single setting. With every page turn, I learned something new about the characters, something that made me question everything I had read before. It kept me hooked until the very end. I didn’t want it to end, I wanted to know what happened to the characters next.
This book is perfect for those who love a fast-paced domestic thriller, and one with morally gray characters. Cannot recommend this book enough.
July 26, 2026
I can’t even apologize for all the spoilers I’m dropping. I need someone to confirm that I should be as confused as I am or something. I mean shock and awe. So somehow her ex girlfriend was a detective and INVESTIGATED HER while pretending like they didn’t know each other. That is completely unhinged. Leaving her in the interrogation room for hours and then when she refuses to agree that you’ve never met walking out and leaving her for several more hours. Like bro, recuse yourself and go, wtf.
The way they set up Brett to take the fall was fucked. And the way they ended up pinning it all on Jack was extra fucked. Now the real question is when Vera said Jack “got it all” was he actually nothing more than a pawn as opposed to a more important player? Because the scene in Bali was giving Carson is alive but Jack thought he died and now Jack is dead. What I really wanna know is what’s happening with the new bodies they get for Vera. I’m assuming having Brett grow her hair out is prepping her to Vera 7.0 or whichever iteration she’s on. I mean she was old as hell and Nan said Jack was dead and she was in critical condition. But then she shows up looking different and younger with just a sling on her arm saying a concierge doctor cleared her. Brett didn’t even get shot and was in the hospital like bro bffr.
The ending could’ve been less rushed but I’m guessing Carson and Vera, or Vivian whoever are starting over again with their unhinged routine. Also it was extremely diabolical the way Vera was so good as playing everybody. True sociopath.
It was an extremely well written book. Truly disturbed in its detail but also in its tendency to be vague, leaving you wanting more. Brett was so sad and at times it was hard to root for her. Especially when she decided to go to Bali. Girl, you’ve got 20k, go make a life for yourself in some OTHER other country. I did appreciate that even though she decided to go to Bali she didn’t leave the money or anything for her dad. He didn’t deserve it.
I’m also struggling with thoughts of Nan. I kept thinking how does she love her, she’s a terrible person. Everyone has their own struggles and ways of coping but I’m assuming the sole attention they had for each other when together is what roped Brett. But, my guy, I can’t really say that getting her a motel room makes up for all the shit is directly and indirectly put Brett through. But take all that with a grain of salt because Brett should’ve got the hell out of there on multiple occasions. Hearing Will talking about how maybe she died, the dead raccoon, not remembering the “interview” the locked doors, her car disappearing…
I had many qualms but a riveting thriller none the less. It earned every one of those 4 stars. I just feel like the ending was too abrupt for it to fit with the rest of the story.
The way they set up Brett to take the fall was fucked. And the way they ended up pinning it all on Jack was extra fucked. Now the real question is when Vera said Jack “got it all” was he actually nothing more than a pawn as opposed to a more important player? Because the scene in Bali was giving Carson is alive but Jack thought he died and now Jack is dead. What I really wanna know is what’s happening with the new bodies they get for Vera. I’m assuming having Brett grow her hair out is prepping her to Vera 7.0 or whichever iteration she’s on. I mean she was old as hell and Nan said Jack was dead and she was in critical condition. But then she shows up looking different and younger with just a sling on her arm saying a concierge doctor cleared her. Brett didn’t even get shot and was in the hospital like bro bffr.
The ending could’ve been less rushed but I’m guessing Carson and Vera, or Vivian whoever are starting over again with their unhinged routine. Also it was extremely diabolical the way Vera was so good as playing everybody. True sociopath.
It was an extremely well written book. Truly disturbed in its detail but also in its tendency to be vague, leaving you wanting more. Brett was so sad and at times it was hard to root for her. Especially when she decided to go to Bali. Girl, you’ve got 20k, go make a life for yourself in some OTHER other country. I did appreciate that even though she decided to go to Bali she didn’t leave the money or anything for her dad. He didn’t deserve it.
I’m also struggling with thoughts of Nan. I kept thinking how does she love her, she’s a terrible person. Everyone has their own struggles and ways of coping but I’m assuming the sole attention they had for each other when together is what roped Brett. But, my guy, I can’t really say that getting her a motel room makes up for all the shit is directly and indirectly put Brett through. But take all that with a grain of salt because Brett should’ve got the hell out of there on multiple occasions. Hearing Will talking about how maybe she died, the dead raccoon, not remembering the “interview” the locked doors, her car disappearing…
I had many qualms but a riveting thriller none the less. It earned every one of those 4 stars. I just feel like the ending was too abrupt for it to fit with the rest of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
📚✨ The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for the ARC! 💛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
This book was an absolute train wreck in the best possible way. 🚩🔥😳
If you love toxic relationships, messy people making terrible decisions, and watching everything spiral completely out of control, The House Guest delivers.
Brett is a character who is incredibly easy to root for at first. She's talented, struggling, heartbroken, and desperately looking for a fresh start. Taking a job as a private chef for a famous author in a secluded Cape Cod mansion seems like the perfect opportunity... until it very, very much isn't.
The real star of this book is the dysfunctional relationship between Carson and Vera. Their marriage is a fascinating disaster filled with manipulation, obsession, cruelty, attraction, and emotional warfare. I never knew who was telling the truth, who was in control, or who was playing whom. Watching Brett get pulled deeper and deeper into their orbit felt like watching someone walk into quicksand while insisting everything was fine. 😬
The atmosphere was fantastic. From the moment Brett arrives at the house, something feels wrong. The tension simmers constantly, creating that uncomfortable feeling that something terrible is about to happen. The house itself starts to feel like a trap, and as Brett's grip on reality begins slipping, I found myself questioning everything alongside her.
This is definitely more of a slow-burn psychological thriller than a twist-heavy thriller. The focus is on the characters, their relationships, and the growing sense of unease rather than shocking reveals. Personally, I would have loved a few more surprises and a slightly faster pace, especially near the end.
✨ What I loved:
🖤 Deliciously toxic characters
🖤 Constant tension and unease
🖤 Messy relationship drama
🖤 Beautiful atmospheric writing
🖤 Brett's emotional unraveling
✨ What didn't quite work for me:
⚠️ Slower pacing than I usually prefer
⚠️ A few parts of the ending felt rushed
⚠️ Not a thriller packed with big twists
Overall, The House Guest is a dark, addictive psychological suspense novel filled with obsession, manipulation, and some truly awful people behaving badly. I couldn't look away from the chaos, and honestly, I didn't want to. 🍷🏠🔪
If your favorite books make you constantly mutter "girl, run" while you keep turning pages anyway, this one is for you.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for the ARC! 💛
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
This book was an absolute train wreck in the best possible way. 🚩🔥😳
If you love toxic relationships, messy people making terrible decisions, and watching everything spiral completely out of control, The House Guest delivers.
Brett is a character who is incredibly easy to root for at first. She's talented, struggling, heartbroken, and desperately looking for a fresh start. Taking a job as a private chef for a famous author in a secluded Cape Cod mansion seems like the perfect opportunity... until it very, very much isn't.
The real star of this book is the dysfunctional relationship between Carson and Vera. Their marriage is a fascinating disaster filled with manipulation, obsession, cruelty, attraction, and emotional warfare. I never knew who was telling the truth, who was in control, or who was playing whom. Watching Brett get pulled deeper and deeper into their orbit felt like watching someone walk into quicksand while insisting everything was fine. 😬
The atmosphere was fantastic. From the moment Brett arrives at the house, something feels wrong. The tension simmers constantly, creating that uncomfortable feeling that something terrible is about to happen. The house itself starts to feel like a trap, and as Brett's grip on reality begins slipping, I found myself questioning everything alongside her.
This is definitely more of a slow-burn psychological thriller than a twist-heavy thriller. The focus is on the characters, their relationships, and the growing sense of unease rather than shocking reveals. Personally, I would have loved a few more surprises and a slightly faster pace, especially near the end.
✨ What I loved:
🖤 Deliciously toxic characters
🖤 Constant tension and unease
🖤 Messy relationship drama
🖤 Beautiful atmospheric writing
🖤 Brett's emotional unraveling
✨ What didn't quite work for me:
⚠️ Slower pacing than I usually prefer
⚠️ A few parts of the ending felt rushed
⚠️ Not a thriller packed with big twists
Overall, The House Guest is a dark, addictive psychological suspense novel filled with obsession, manipulation, and some truly awful people behaving badly. I couldn't look away from the chaos, and honestly, I didn't want to. 🍷🏠🔪
If your favorite books make you constantly mutter "girl, run" while you keep turning pages anyway, this one is for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced copy of The House Guest from NetGalley, and this was my first time reading Jennifer Pashley and what an introduction to this phenomenal author. This book hooked me right from the beginning with its mix of ambition, desire, and that creeping sense that something is very, very off beneath the surface. Brett Novak is such an easy character to root for. She’s talented, hungry for a real chance, and just a little bit lost after her personal and professional life implode at the same time. So when she accepts a temporary gig as a private chef for bestselling author Carson Smart in his secluded Cape Cod mansion, you can feel her wanting this fresh start to be the break she’s been waiting for. Of course, it doesn’t take long for things to get messy very quickly! Carson’s immediate seduction of Brett sets the tone, but the real spark hits when his wife, Vera, returns home. The dynamic between Carson and Vera is electric in the most toxic way, love, hate, obsession, manipulation, and Brett gets pulled right into the center of it. I loved how the author wrote Brett’s emotional unraveling: her craving for attention, her confusion, her attraction to both danger and tenderness. It felt raw and very believable to me. As the tension builds in the novel, the house becomes its own kind of trap, and Brett’s grip on reality starts slipping in a way that made me genuinely uneasy. Watching her try to navigate the Smart marriage while also trying to keep herself intact kept me turning pages quickly and deep into the night! The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is that a couple of moments felt a little rushed for my taste, especially toward the end. I wanted just a bit more space to sit with the fallout. But the atmosphere, the psychological tension, and the messy, magnetic characters absolutely delivered for me.#NETGALLEY #THEHOUSEGUEST
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first book by this author but I certainly would like to read others!
Brett has had a troubled background and her life is very messy. She's kind of down on her luck and she thinks she has a new chef's job lined up, but when she gets there, the job has been given to someone else, but Will(her friend) tells her of another job and she sets up an appt for an interview. She ends up taking a job with a famous author. Her job is to be the live-in chef for a couple of weeks, while he is finishing his work. The author has a wife, a much older woman and let's just say the couple ends up being the couple from hell. Brett soon finds herself in the middle of two very unhappy entitled drunk rich married people. They both use Brett, catching her between the two of them constantly and Brett with her own issues has trouble knowing when to draw the line on anything. Both want Brett for themselves, and there are events that happen that I don't want to go into as I am not giving spoilers.
The story caught me within a few chapters and I couldn't quit reading it, it's like a train wreck you can't look away from. At first you are wondering what is going to happen with this but you know somewhere in the back of your mind its going to get ugly at some point. I couldn't help but pull for Brett, she had a rocky childhood, lived for a time in a group home, and doesn't make the best decisions, she just needs something to go right for once. It did have an ending that I didn't expect but maybe I should have known but not going to say anything more than that. Definitely a very interesting read!
Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the complimentary copy of the book.
Brett has had a troubled background and her life is very messy. She's kind of down on her luck and she thinks she has a new chef's job lined up, but when she gets there, the job has been given to someone else, but Will(her friend) tells her of another job and she sets up an appt for an interview. She ends up taking a job with a famous author. Her job is to be the live-in chef for a couple of weeks, while he is finishing his work. The author has a wife, a much older woman and let's just say the couple ends up being the couple from hell. Brett soon finds herself in the middle of two very unhappy entitled drunk rich married people. They both use Brett, catching her between the two of them constantly and Brett with her own issues has trouble knowing when to draw the line on anything. Both want Brett for themselves, and there are events that happen that I don't want to go into as I am not giving spoilers.
The story caught me within a few chapters and I couldn't quit reading it, it's like a train wreck you can't look away from. At first you are wondering what is going to happen with this but you know somewhere in the back of your mind its going to get ugly at some point. I couldn't help but pull for Brett, she had a rocky childhood, lived for a time in a group home, and doesn't make the best decisions, she just needs something to go right for once. It did have an ending that I didn't expect but maybe I should have known but not going to say anything more than that. Definitely a very interesting read!
Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the complimentary copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book deserves a Pulitzer! I would give it 6 or even 10 stars if I could.
Imagine The Housemaid as if written by F. Scott Fitzgerald with subtle hints of Sunset Boulevard. Utterly captivating and deeply satisfying.
The House Guest is so much more than a thriller, though. With its powerful backstory, which at times felt even deeper and way more disturbing than the immediate action, and a single female narration, it reads almost more like women's fiction. Or an explosive book club pick for sure.
It's thought provoking and current, and it speaks about important topics like gender perception and economic inequality and how that affects one's lifestyle choices and future.
This book would make an amazing movie with so many of Hollywood's older generation starlets ready to play someone much younger, just like Vera. Demi Moore or Angelina Jolie could play the role to earn an Oscar no doubt. I'm just not sure what kind of director could pull of both the present and past timelines with equal meaning and poise. Someone avant-garde perhaps.
This is a truly game changing read for all the thriller and film noir fans. And if you do read this, shoot me a message and tell me what the hell happens in the last two pages!! My mind is still on fire...
I am dying to read Jennifer Pashley's next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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Imagine The Housemaid as if written by F. Scott Fitzgerald with subtle hints of Sunset Boulevard. Utterly captivating and deeply satisfying.
The House Guest is so much more than a thriller, though. With its powerful backstory, which at times felt even deeper and way more disturbing than the immediate action, and a single female narration, it reads almost more like women's fiction. Or an explosive book club pick for sure.
It's thought provoking and current, and it speaks about important topics like gender perception and economic inequality and how that affects one's lifestyle choices and future.
This book would make an amazing movie with so many of Hollywood's older generation starlets ready to play someone much younger, just like Vera. Demi Moore or Angelina Jolie could play the role to earn an Oscar no doubt. I'm just not sure what kind of director could pull of both the present and past timelines with equal meaning and poise. Someone avant-garde perhaps.
This is a truly game changing read for all the thriller and film noir fans. And if you do read this, shoot me a message and tell me what the hell happens in the last two pages!! My mind is still on fire...
I am dying to read Jennifer Pashley's next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
----------
Follow for more of my reviews:
TikTok
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Looking for your next unputdownable read?
📚 I’ve got four incredible, wildly different books to add to your TBR today!
Here is my honest, unfiltered breakdown:
🌊 The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager
The Vibe: The Descent meets The Ritual.
The Plot: Academics trapped in a sea cave by an ancient ocean cult must atone for their sins to survive.
My Take: Gritty, claustrophobic, and terrifying. A must-read for horror and survival-thriller junkies.
🔪 The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley
The Vibe: Propulsive psychological suspense with domestic drama.
The Plot: A struggling chef takes a live-in gig for a reclusive author and gets caught in a toxic, seductive marital triangle.
My Take: A dizzying slow-burn full of mind games and messy secrets. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.
🎲 The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman
The Vibe: Succession energy meets high-stakes Sin City mob drama.
The Plot: A brilliant math whiz returns to Vegas to run her late father’s casino empire alongside her fractured siblings.
My Take: Fast-paced and highly entertaining. It’s packed with family rivalry, romance, and corporate espionage.
🦴 The Talking Bone by Rene Denfeld
The Vibe: A deeply emotional, urgent investigative thriller.
The Plot: An exonerator races a two-week clock to save an innocent man on death row, uncovering secrets from her own past.
My Take: Beautiful, haunting, and written with incredible empathy. Bring tissues for this one.
✨️ Thank you, Run For It, Little, Brown and Company, William Morrow, Harper, and the authors for the copies!
📚 I’ve got four incredible, wildly different books to add to your TBR today!
Here is my honest, unfiltered breakdown:
🌊 The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager
The Vibe: The Descent meets The Ritual.
The Plot: Academics trapped in a sea cave by an ancient ocean cult must atone for their sins to survive.
My Take: Gritty, claustrophobic, and terrifying. A must-read for horror and survival-thriller junkies.
🔪 The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley
The Vibe: Propulsive psychological suspense with domestic drama.
The Plot: A struggling chef takes a live-in gig for a reclusive author and gets caught in a toxic, seductive marital triangle.
My Take: A dizzying slow-burn full of mind games and messy secrets. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.
🎲 The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman
The Vibe: Succession energy meets high-stakes Sin City mob drama.
The Plot: A brilliant math whiz returns to Vegas to run her late father’s casino empire alongside her fractured siblings.
My Take: Fast-paced and highly entertaining. It’s packed with family rivalry, romance, and corporate espionage.
🦴 The Talking Bone by Rene Denfeld
The Vibe: A deeply emotional, urgent investigative thriller.
The Plot: An exonerator races a two-week clock to save an innocent man on death row, uncovering secrets from her own past.
My Take: Beautiful, haunting, and written with incredible empathy. Bring tissues for this one.
✨️ Thank you, Run For It, Little, Brown and Company, William Morrow, Harper, and the authors for the copies!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really atmospheric, character-driven thriller packed full of toxic relationships, manipulation and power plays.
From the moment Brett arrives at the house, there’s an underlying sense of unease that never really lets up. Carson and Vera are both fascinatingly dysfunctional characters - unsettling, emotionally destructive and impossible to fully trust. I found myself constantly trying to work out who was really in control, who was being manipulated and whether anyone involved was actually telling the truth.
The dynamics between the three characters were definitely the strongest part of the book for me. Themes of ambition, desire, control and obsession run throughout the story, creating a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere that keeps you turning the pages.
That said, this was slower paced than my usual thriller reads. Rather than relying on shocking twists and dramatic reveals, the story takes its time building tension through the characters and their relationships. It felt a little like watching a horror film where you're bracing yourself for the jump scare that never quite comes - the unease is there throughout, but it's much more of a slow simmer than an explosive payoff.
Personally, I would have loved a little more pace and a few more twists along the way, but that's very much down to my own reading preferences. If you enjoy slow-burn psychological suspense, morally messy characters and stories that focus heavily on atmosphere and relationships, I think there's a lot here to enjoy.
From the moment Brett arrives at the house, there’s an underlying sense of unease that never really lets up. Carson and Vera are both fascinatingly dysfunctional characters - unsettling, emotionally destructive and impossible to fully trust. I found myself constantly trying to work out who was really in control, who was being manipulated and whether anyone involved was actually telling the truth.
The dynamics between the three characters were definitely the strongest part of the book for me. Themes of ambition, desire, control and obsession run throughout the story, creating a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere that keeps you turning the pages.
That said, this was slower paced than my usual thriller reads. Rather than relying on shocking twists and dramatic reveals, the story takes its time building tension through the characters and their relationships. It felt a little like watching a horror film where you're bracing yourself for the jump scare that never quite comes - the unease is there throughout, but it's much more of a slow simmer than an explosive payoff.
Personally, I would have loved a little more pace and a few more twists along the way, but that's very much down to my own reading preferences. If you enjoy slow-burn psychological suspense, morally messy characters and stories that focus heavily on atmosphere and relationships, I think there's a lot here to enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
WHAT ON EARTH DID I JUST READ?! Packed to the very brim with morally gray characters, manipulative mind games, and ever-shifting alliances, The House Guest was a delightfully over-the-top trip into one heck of a toxic marriage. Dysfunctional in the best possible way, I couldn’t get enough of this messy duo and their f***ed-up relationship. With love triangle mischief and chess-like cat-and-mouse antics, their marriage held all of the ingredients for a perfect noir-style domestic thriller. You see, not only was the push-and-pull of their twisted games the epitome of a Liv Constantine-esque storyline, but the deliciously unhinged feel of it all brought a Freida McFadden-meets-Samantha M. Bailey vibe that I loved. Starting off with a slow-burning intensity that spotlighted the characters in the first half, it exploded sky high midway through into a rip-roaring rollercoaster of drama, seduction, violence, and intrigue.
So what was my absolute favorite part of this one-sitting read? Well, that had to be the three unforgettable characters at the center of the action. Between Brett’s flawed, emotionally damaged persona and Carson and Vera’s twisted and destructive game of tit-for-tat, I never knew what was coming around the next turn. And let me tell you, there were definitely a couple of mind-blowing twists towards the end. Were they realistic? Okay…maybe not. That, however, didn’t keep a gigantic grin from taking over my face several times. I mean, how could I not love this untrustworthy cast? Slowly exposed via the short, addictive chapters, this messy love story was utterly all-consuming. So if love rich people behaving badly, toxic relationships, and deep, dark secrets, grab this one now. A whiplash-inducing ride of tricks and cons, you won’t be able to tell the victim from the villain the entire time you’re reading. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Brett Novak is a young upstart chef, with real, raw talent—if only she could catch a break. After getting dumped by her married girlfriend and losing the perfect job offer, Brett accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson Smart, who resides in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod.
Carson immediately seduces her, but things get complicated when Carson's wife, Vera, arrives home from her trip, and the love/hate relationship between the two spouses erupts, leaving Brett caught in the middle. Brett, starved for attention, craves Carson's affection and yet is oddly drawn to Vera's seductive and destructive charms.
As Brett becomes an unwitting pawn and weapon, she questions how far husband and wife will go to wound the other. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to stay—even as her hold on reality begins to slip. Can she survive her employers’ dark appetites?
Thank you Jennifer Pashley and Little, Brown for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 7, 2026
Content warning: infidelity, toxic relationship, animal death, sexual content, drunk driving, drug and alcohol abuse, knife violence, domestic abuse, violence, murder, gaslighting, mention of: rape, child abuse
So what was my absolute favorite part of this one-sitting read? Well, that had to be the three unforgettable characters at the center of the action. Between Brett’s flawed, emotionally damaged persona and Carson and Vera’s twisted and destructive game of tit-for-tat, I never knew what was coming around the next turn. And let me tell you, there were definitely a couple of mind-blowing twists towards the end. Were they realistic? Okay…maybe not. That, however, didn’t keep a gigantic grin from taking over my face several times. I mean, how could I not love this untrustworthy cast? Slowly exposed via the short, addictive chapters, this messy love story was utterly all-consuming. So if love rich people behaving badly, toxic relationships, and deep, dark secrets, grab this one now. A whiplash-inducing ride of tricks and cons, you won’t be able to tell the victim from the villain the entire time you’re reading. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Brett Novak is a young upstart chef, with real, raw talent—if only she could catch a break. After getting dumped by her married girlfriend and losing the perfect job offer, Brett accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson Smart, who resides in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod.
Carson immediately seduces her, but things get complicated when Carson's wife, Vera, arrives home from her trip, and the love/hate relationship between the two spouses erupts, leaving Brett caught in the middle. Brett, starved for attention, craves Carson's affection and yet is oddly drawn to Vera's seductive and destructive charms.
As Brett becomes an unwitting pawn and weapon, she questions how far husband and wife will go to wound the other. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to stay—even as her hold on reality begins to slip. Can she survive her employers’ dark appetites?
Thank you Jennifer Pashley and Little, Brown for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 7, 2026
Content warning: infidelity, toxic relationship, animal death, sexual content, drunk driving, drug and alcohol abuse, knife violence, domestic abuse, violence, murder, gaslighting, mention of: rape, child abuse
July 7, 2026
“I wish I didn’t feel like everyone is plotting against me.”
Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company and Novel Suspects for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The synopsis for this makes it feel like it’s going to be a really juicy, creepy story. All of the pieces are there: mysterious couple, secluded mansion, unclear motives. But something just fell apart for me and it didn’t live up to the potential.
Brett is an intriguing main character with her circumstances and her quest to better her lot on life. Being a chef isn’t easy, and losing out on a job in Cape Cod is discouraging but she’s able to secure a short-term job as a live-in chef for author Caron Smart. The situation immediately feels off, especially when the dynamic between Carson and his wife Vera is introduced.
This was a bit of a struggle to get through because for a good portion it felt like the story didn’t know what it wanted to be. There is Brett with her on struggles and trauma juxtaposed with Carson and Vera with their charmed life where they want for nothing. The differences are interesting, and it comes through with how Vera treats Brett. They are so different and Brett is definitely a fish out of water.
Nothing in this felt particularly shocking and it didn’t give me that edge-of-your-sear feeling. It was a hit obvious where this story was going, and some of the unresolved things were more frustrating than exciting. I wanted a bit more from this and it unfortunately didn’t quite deliver for me.
Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company and Novel Suspects for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The synopsis for this makes it feel like it’s going to be a really juicy, creepy story. All of the pieces are there: mysterious couple, secluded mansion, unclear motives. But something just fell apart for me and it didn’t live up to the potential.
Brett is an intriguing main character with her circumstances and her quest to better her lot on life. Being a chef isn’t easy, and losing out on a job in Cape Cod is discouraging but she’s able to secure a short-term job as a live-in chef for author Caron Smart. The situation immediately feels off, especially when the dynamic between Carson and his wife Vera is introduced.
This was a bit of a struggle to get through because for a good portion it felt like the story didn’t know what it wanted to be. There is Brett with her on struggles and trauma juxtaposed with Carson and Vera with their charmed life where they want for nothing. The differences are interesting, and it comes through with how Vera treats Brett. They are so different and Brett is definitely a fish out of water.
Nothing in this felt particularly shocking and it didn’t give me that edge-of-your-sear feeling. It was a hit obvious where this story was going, and some of the unresolved things were more frustrating than exciting. I wanted a bit more from this and it unfortunately didn’t quite deliver for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📚 REVIEW — The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley 📚🖤
This was such an atmospheric, slow-burn psychological thriller filled with manipulation, obsession, toxic relationships, and constant unease. From the very beginning, there’s this unsettling tension that never truly lets up, and I found myself constantly questioning who was telling the truth and who was really in control. 👀✨
The story follows Brett, an aspiring chef who takes a job cooking for a reclusive author on a secluded beach, only to become tangled in the dangerously dysfunctional relationship between Carson and his wife, Vera. The dynamics between these characters were honestly the strongest part of the book for me — messy, emotionally destructive, seductive, and impossible to fully trust.
Rather than relying on huge shocking twist, this book focuses more on , character tension, and psychological suspense. It felt like watching a horror movie where you’re waiting for the jump scare the entire time — the tension quietly simmers beneath the surface if that’s your twist this book is for you🖤
That being said, this was definitely slower paced than my usual thriller reads. Personally, I would’ve loved a little more action and a few more twists throughout, but that really comes down to my reading preference. If you enjoy slow-burn thrillers with morally gray characters, toxic relationships, dark privilege, manipulation, and an eerie uncomfortable atmosphere, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. ✨📖 overall and good read
This was such an atmospheric, slow-burn psychological thriller filled with manipulation, obsession, toxic relationships, and constant unease. From the very beginning, there’s this unsettling tension that never truly lets up, and I found myself constantly questioning who was telling the truth and who was really in control. 👀✨
The story follows Brett, an aspiring chef who takes a job cooking for a reclusive author on a secluded beach, only to become tangled in the dangerously dysfunctional relationship between Carson and his wife, Vera. The dynamics between these characters were honestly the strongest part of the book for me — messy, emotionally destructive, seductive, and impossible to fully trust.
Rather than relying on huge shocking twist, this book focuses more on , character tension, and psychological suspense. It felt like watching a horror movie where you’re waiting for the jump scare the entire time — the tension quietly simmers beneath the surface if that’s your twist this book is for you🖤
That being said, this was definitely slower paced than my usual thriller reads. Personally, I would’ve loved a little more action and a few more twists throughout, but that really comes down to my reading preference. If you enjoy slow-burn thrillers with morally gray characters, toxic relationships, dark privilege, manipulation, and an eerie uncomfortable atmosphere, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. ✨📖 overall and good read
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rich people with dark secrets and rich people behaving badly are among my favorite thriller/mystery tropes, and this book does them perfectly.
This book drops us immediately into the action from page one. We see how Brett's relationship, which was truly sustaining her, falls apart and she is left floundering without a job or income. Brett is desperate, so naturally she has to take any gig she can. When the opportunity to cook as a private chef for a reclusive famous author and his wife drops into her lap, she doesn't ask many questions--though she definitely should have. But when they offer her $20k for two weeks of work, how could she refuse?
This book is dark, and thrilling. It has a juicy plot, as we see Brett pitted in the middle of Carson's very volatile relationship with his wife, Vera. As the tension climbs, escalating into truly dangerous territory, as a reader I couldn't fly through the pages fast enough.
But in addition to a juicy plot, it explores some very gripping themes that stayed with me long after finishing as well. Brett's low self-worth is heartbreaking, as she allows herself to be used in ways no one should, simply because she needs this family's money to survive.
Pashley's novel has all the best things a thriller should have--action, tension, and surprising depth. A must-read for people who love intelligent thrillers from authors like Lisa Jewell.
This book drops us immediately into the action from page one. We see how Brett's relationship, which was truly sustaining her, falls apart and she is left floundering without a job or income. Brett is desperate, so naturally she has to take any gig she can. When the opportunity to cook as a private chef for a reclusive famous author and his wife drops into her lap, she doesn't ask many questions--though she definitely should have. But when they offer her $20k for two weeks of work, how could she refuse?
This book is dark, and thrilling. It has a juicy plot, as we see Brett pitted in the middle of Carson's very volatile relationship with his wife, Vera. As the tension climbs, escalating into truly dangerous territory, as a reader I couldn't fly through the pages fast enough.
But in addition to a juicy plot, it explores some very gripping themes that stayed with me long after finishing as well. Brett's low self-worth is heartbreaking, as she allows herself to be used in ways no one should, simply because she needs this family's money to survive.
Pashley's novel has all the best things a thriller should have--action, tension, and surprising depth. A must-read for people who love intelligent thrillers from authors like Lisa Jewell.
July 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, author Jennifer Pashley, and Little, Brown, and Company for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
This was a wild read!! I've had a hard time reading this year, and I wanted a juicy thriller to enjoy over the holiday weekend, and this delivered. Very much a shocking erotic thriller, which I was in the mood for after just finishing the tv show, 56 Days. I thought the story of The House Guest was intriguing, as there are many a flawed character. Pashley's descriptions of the house that Brett becomes a live-in chef at are so vivid and help to paint a really unsettling setting. Carson and Vera are both crazy in different ways, and I was hooked in seeing what would happen. Things are definitely a bit dark and uncomfortable at times, but it is similar to other erotic thrillers, so just go in expecting that vs a mystery. I did have issues overall with the pacing of this book; it kind of drops you in the middle of the action without explaining much about any character. Some details and background are revealed throughout the story, but not as many as I would have liked to see. There were certain things I was confused about and other things that didn't end wrapped up, I felt. Other additions, like her friend Will and his partner, felt unnecessary, but there was a twist with Nan I wasn't expecting and enjoyed. The ending was also a little confusing to me, but it was overall juicy and shocking, so I didn't mind!
This was a wild read!! I've had a hard time reading this year, and I wanted a juicy thriller to enjoy over the holiday weekend, and this delivered. Very much a shocking erotic thriller, which I was in the mood for after just finishing the tv show, 56 Days. I thought the story of The House Guest was intriguing, as there are many a flawed character. Pashley's descriptions of the house that Brett becomes a live-in chef at are so vivid and help to paint a really unsettling setting. Carson and Vera are both crazy in different ways, and I was hooked in seeing what would happen. Things are definitely a bit dark and uncomfortable at times, but it is similar to other erotic thrillers, so just go in expecting that vs a mystery. I did have issues overall with the pacing of this book; it kind of drops you in the middle of the action without explaining much about any character. Some details and background are revealed throughout the story, but not as many as I would have liked to see. There were certain things I was confused about and other things that didn't end wrapped up, I felt. Other additions, like her friend Will and his partner, felt unnecessary, but there was a twist with Nan I wasn't expecting and enjoyed. The ending was also a little confusing to me, but it was overall juicy and shocking, so I didn't mind!
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