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The Dream House
It’s everything she’s ever wanted …
When I first set eyes on Westhill House with its breath-taking views of the sea I knew Jack and I could make this our forever home.
It may be falling apart with an overgrown garden, but with some tender loving care, we can repair this beautiful building and perhaps our relationship too …
But the more time I spend renovating our new house, the more time Jack is spending at work.
At least Lori is here to keep me company.
She has her own troubles yet she always listens to mine.
She’s helping to restore the house, uncovering its secrets one by one.
Like the children’s drawings under the wallpaper in the back bedroom.
The hidden papers underneath the floorboards in the turret room.
And the fact that Westhill House is a place women used to go to feel safe …
Lori seems to know a lot about Westhill House.
The question is, why?
A gripping, spine-chilling read brimming with secrets and lies. If you loved The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us or The Woman in the Window then this dark, twisting psychological thriller from Amazon chart bestseller Jess Ryder is guaranteed to have you gripped.
Previously titled THE GUEST.
When I first set eyes on Westhill House with its breath-taking views of the sea I knew Jack and I could make this our forever home.
It may be falling apart with an overgrown garden, but with some tender loving care, we can repair this beautiful building and perhaps our relationship too …
But the more time I spend renovating our new house, the more time Jack is spending at work.
At least Lori is here to keep me company.
She has her own troubles yet she always listens to mine.
She’s helping to restore the house, uncovering its secrets one by one.
Like the children’s drawings under the wallpaper in the back bedroom.
The hidden papers underneath the floorboards in the turret room.
And the fact that Westhill House is a place women used to go to feel safe …
Lori seems to know a lot about Westhill House.
The question is, why?
A gripping, spine-chilling read brimming with secrets and lies. If you loved The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us or The Woman in the Window then this dark, twisting psychological thriller from Amazon chart bestseller Jess Ryder is guaranteed to have you gripped.
Previously titled THE GUEST.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2019
1204 people are currently reading
1499 people want to read
About the author
Jess Ryder
19 books361 followersJess Ryder is a pseudonym of novelist/screenwriter/television producer, Jan Page
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
June 26, 2019
What happens when your dream house turns into a nightmare! Jess Ryder has cleverly constructed an addictive domestic thriller. Stella has just moved to her dream house with her boyfriend Jack. The house is in need of a lot of work, but Stella can see its potential and has fallen head over heels in love with this home. Then one night there is a knock at the door, Who can possibly be at the door in the middle of the night? It is a strange woman Lori, battered and beaten and in need of a safe place. Lori tell Stella and Jack that she was told this house was a refuge for battered women. Stella is sympathetic and wants to help a girl out... Jack is suspicious. 40 years earlier teen mom Kay thinks she has found her knight in shining armor. But after a while the Knight’s armor starts to tarnish. So much that Kay and her daughter Abby‘s lives might be in danger. Two women living four decades apart, what ties them together?
I am such a sucker for a dual timeline story! I love trying to puzzle together how two seemingly separate Narratives are connected. Both Stella and Kay were likable sympathetic characters. The men in their lives, not so much. I was completely engaged by both stories, although I think I was a little more invested in Stella. The house renovating and this uninvited guest. The story was puzzle together at a perfect pace. I did see a few things coming, but certainly not all. And there was such an obvious connection that I completely missed! Another compelling read from Jess Ryder.
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
I am such a sucker for a dual timeline story! I love trying to puzzle together how two seemingly separate Narratives are connected. Both Stella and Kay were likable sympathetic characters. The men in their lives, not so much. I was completely engaged by both stories, although I think I was a little more invested in Stella. The house renovating and this uninvited guest. The story was puzzle together at a perfect pace. I did see a few things coming, but certainly not all. And there was such an obvious connection that I completely missed! Another compelling read from Jess Ryder.
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
May 23, 2021
The Dream House by Jess Ryder is a domestic thriller. The story in this one is told is told in an alternating timeline format taking turns telling the story from the past and the present with two different narratives.
In the present Stella has just moved into her dream home with her boyfriend Jack. One night there is a knock upon the door and a woman who has been abused tells Stella that the home used to be a safe house for battered women. Then forty years earlier readers meet Kay who believes that she and her daughter may be in danger.
The Dream House is not the first book that I’ve read by this author but looking back it seems that they have each gotten better. This one was easy to follow along with both timelines and was a book that I just didn’t want to put down while reading. Both characters were sympathetic and drew me in as I tried to figure out the connection on the very twisty journey.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In the present Stella has just moved into her dream home with her boyfriend Jack. One night there is a knock upon the door and a woman who has been abused tells Stella that the home used to be a safe house for battered women. Then forty years earlier readers meet Kay who believes that she and her daughter may be in danger.
The Dream House is not the first book that I’ve read by this author but looking back it seems that they have each gotten better. This one was easy to follow along with both timelines and was a book that I just didn’t want to put down while reading. Both characters were sympathetic and drew me in as I tried to figure out the connection on the very twisty journey.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 28, 2019
Dream House by Jess Ryder is a psychological thriller that kept me engaged.
After Stella's parents are killed in an accident she decides to use her inheritance to buy a ramshackle house near the sea and renovate it to make her dream house.
One evening a woman knocks on the door asking for help. Stella takes her in. This act of kindness results in a web of secrets and lies and turns Stella's life upside down.
I enjoyed this book and all the twist and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e- copy in exchange for an honest review.
After Stella's parents are killed in an accident she decides to use her inheritance to buy a ramshackle house near the sea and renovate it to make her dream house.
One evening a woman knocks on the door asking for help. Stella takes her in. This act of kindness results in a web of secrets and lies and turns Stella's life upside down.
I enjoyed this book and all the twist and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e- copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2019
Westhill House was supposed to be their dream home,a sprawling mansion on the top of a hill,the house had a small corner turret perched on top of it and stunning views of the sea.Ok,it needed to be totally refurbished but the agents has told them that it had unlimited potential to be transformed into a stunning family home. Stella loved the house at first sight but her partner Jack wasn't as enthusiastic and once they had moved in,the more time they spent in the house,the more cracks began to appear in their relationship.
The atmosphere is strained,Jack is spending more and more time at work and Stella is beginning to wonder if she made the correct decision when she bought the house. Then one night,Lori arrives on their doorstep,she is battered,bruised and terrified,and insisting that she is on the run from her violent husband.
Disregarding Jack's concerns Stella tells Lori that has can stay with them for the night and the next day they will hopeful find Lori a place in a woman's refuge. Only once Lori is over the threshold,she refuses to leave the house.
Who is Lori? How does she know so much about Westhill House? Are Jack's suspicions correct that by letting Lori into their home,Stella had endangered her own life.
I could fully understand Jack's reaction to Stella allowing a complete stranger into their home,someone they knew absolutely nothing about. That's not saying that his actions later on in the story were excusable but I found it difficult not to feel a little bit of sympathy for the poor bloke. Stella wasn't the most likeable character at times and obviously had a very bad case of saviour complex. Could her behaviour be attributed to her upbringing,guilt because of events in her past or just plain stubbornness. I can't say I liked Lori very much either,she was very secretive and manipulative but was that just the author's clever ploy,making her character appear to be something that she wasn't? Interspersed throughout the story were chapters that introduced us to Kay and her young daughter Abigail. At the beginning of their story,Kay is working in a card shop and she and Abigail are living with Kay's mum and dad. But then Kay meets charming,romantic,attentive Micky Foxton,it's love at first sight and just over a year later they get married. It is only on their wedding day that Kay discovers that she has made a dreadful mistake. Micky is a violent,abusive bully and Kay finds herself torn between her own happiness and keeping Abigail safe from harm.
As the story unfolds,the author has cleverly inserted clues and hints that observant readers will realise are connections between the two timelines. But how are the two stories connected? To find out,you are just going to have to read this clever and intreguing tale for yourself.
I love Jess Ryder's thrillers,they are always incredibly well written,compelling reads and The Dream House is no exception. The character's are well rounded,vivid and realistic. Domestic abuse is a distressing and emotive subject and Jess Ryder has written those parts of the story with understanding and sensitivity. Another amazing book,written by a very talented author.Very,very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Noelle Holten and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this enthralling thriller and take part in the Blog tour
The atmosphere is strained,Jack is spending more and more time at work and Stella is beginning to wonder if she made the correct decision when she bought the house. Then one night,Lori arrives on their doorstep,she is battered,bruised and terrified,and insisting that she is on the run from her violent husband.
Disregarding Jack's concerns Stella tells Lori that has can stay with them for the night and the next day they will hopeful find Lori a place in a woman's refuge. Only once Lori is over the threshold,she refuses to leave the house.
Who is Lori? How does she know so much about Westhill House? Are Jack's suspicions correct that by letting Lori into their home,Stella had endangered her own life.
I could fully understand Jack's reaction to Stella allowing a complete stranger into their home,someone they knew absolutely nothing about. That's not saying that his actions later on in the story were excusable but I found it difficult not to feel a little bit of sympathy for the poor bloke. Stella wasn't the most likeable character at times and obviously had a very bad case of saviour complex. Could her behaviour be attributed to her upbringing,guilt because of events in her past or just plain stubbornness. I can't say I liked Lori very much either,she was very secretive and manipulative but was that just the author's clever ploy,making her character appear to be something that she wasn't? Interspersed throughout the story were chapters that introduced us to Kay and her young daughter Abigail. At the beginning of their story,Kay is working in a card shop and she and Abigail are living with Kay's mum and dad. But then Kay meets charming,romantic,attentive Micky Foxton,it's love at first sight and just over a year later they get married. It is only on their wedding day that Kay discovers that she has made a dreadful mistake. Micky is a violent,abusive bully and Kay finds herself torn between her own happiness and keeping Abigail safe from harm.
As the story unfolds,the author has cleverly inserted clues and hints that observant readers will realise are connections between the two timelines. But how are the two stories connected? To find out,you are just going to have to read this clever and intreguing tale for yourself.
I love Jess Ryder's thrillers,they are always incredibly well written,compelling reads and The Dream House is no exception. The character's are well rounded,vivid and realistic. Domestic abuse is a distressing and emotive subject and Jess Ryder has written those parts of the story with understanding and sensitivity. Another amazing book,written by a very talented author.Very,very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Noelle Holten and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this enthralling thriller and take part in the Blog tour
June 20, 2019
The Dream House, previously entitled The Guest, is a psychological thriller worth devouring and was just the read I needed to get back into reading after a few days of illness. It has plenty of thrills and nail-biting creepiness but doesn't require too much brain power to get through. Sadly, it's becoming much rarer these days to see me recommend a domestic thriller as they have not only become boring but poorly executed too, but this is a superb example with a great rounded plot, excellent characterisation and a plot filled with mystery and intrigue.
The plot revolves around what was once a women's refuge and links two stories together, those of Stella and Kay, who both have ties to Westhill House. Told in the past by Kay and present by Stella, Ms Ryder approaches and explores the issue of domestic abuse in a compassionate and sensitive manner. The ending was both shocking and intensely satisfying as the two interconnected strands of the plot come together in an explosive fashion. Could letting a seemingly innocuous stranger who pleaded for help into her home really lead to a hellish situation for Stella?
It's a really cleverly plotted tale and an accurate portrayal of domestic violence which held my interest right from the start. This is certainly one of most compelling and accomplished domestic thrillers of late. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
The plot revolves around what was once a women's refuge and links two stories together, those of Stella and Kay, who both have ties to Westhill House. Told in the past by Kay and present by Stella, Ms Ryder approaches and explores the issue of domestic abuse in a compassionate and sensitive manner. The ending was both shocking and intensely satisfying as the two interconnected strands of the plot come together in an explosive fashion. Could letting a seemingly innocuous stranger who pleaded for help into her home really lead to a hellish situation for Stella?
It's a really cleverly plotted tale and an accurate portrayal of domestic violence which held my interest right from the start. This is certainly one of most compelling and accomplished domestic thrillers of late. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
June 18, 2019
This is a great psychological thriller that definitely had my mind occupied trying to work out what was really going on.
Stella has bought her dream house and her and Jack are slowly doing it up. They are living in a building site though and cracks are starting to appear in their relationship.
One night there’s frantic knocking at the door and when Stella opens it she’s faced with a woman struggling to stand as she’s been beaten up. She invites her to stay, much to Jack’s disgust.
Lori says she was told the address was a women’s refuge and just needs help so Stella takes her in.
Jack grows more and more suspicious and soon him and Stella have a decision to make.
There’s so much more to this story but I can’t explain without spoiling it for you so please take my word for it and have a read.
This is a gripping psychological thriller which is a real rollercoaster of a read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Stella has bought her dream house and her and Jack are slowly doing it up. They are living in a building site though and cracks are starting to appear in their relationship.
One night there’s frantic knocking at the door and when Stella opens it she’s faced with a woman struggling to stand as she’s been beaten up. She invites her to stay, much to Jack’s disgust.
Lori says she was told the address was a women’s refuge and just needs help so Stella takes her in.
Jack grows more and more suspicious and soon him and Stella have a decision to make.
There’s so much more to this story but I can’t explain without spoiling it for you so please take my word for it and have a read.
This is a gripping psychological thriller which is a real rollercoaster of a read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 27, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
The Dream House (formally The Guest) by Jess Ryder is a compelling and heartbreaking look at domestic abuse.
What it's about: Stella finds Westhill House and decides that after a rehab, it will be the perfect place to build a future with her boyfriend Jack. But one day, not far into the rehab, a stranger shows up in the middle of the night claiming to be a victim of domestic abuse and hiding from her husband. The thing is, Westhill House used to be a refuge for battered women, and the stranger, Lori, was told she could go there day or night and be taken in no questions asked. Stella's parents were foster carers, so she is determined to help Lori by letting her stay, even if that means tension with Jack. But as everyone's demons start to rise to the surface, Stella begins to wonder if Westhill House is really her perfect home. . .
The Dream House is definitely a character driven novel that places most of its attention on the stories of Stella and a woman named Kay. The stories are told in dual timelines and was something that I really loved. I really enjoy when stories switch between past and present, and it really worked for this book. I fell hard for the female characters and ended up loathing most of the male characters.
As I said right away, this is a book that focuses on domestic abuse so there are bound to be triggers. But I loved the way Ryder took this serious topic and really brought it to light without being incredibly descriptive. It was enough to break my heart, but not too much that I was unable to read the book.
I'm not sure I really love the title change for this novel, but both are still fitting. There were a couple of twists to The Dream House that I didn't see coming at all and they really surprised me. There were also spots that made me burst out in laughter which brought some much-needed lightness to the story.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Bathroom Sink by Miranda Lambert
Final Thought: While I don't think this book was particularly fast paced, it was definitely gripping and one that I read pretty quickly (anything under 5 hours for me is pretty quick). This was also the second domestic abuse novel that I read in a row so the fact that I liked this book so much has got to mean something. I was a little worried that I wouldn't like The Dream House as much as Dear Wife, but I ended up loving Ryder's writing style, and she can really tell a story. I highly recommend The Dream House to fans of compelling fiction that aren't afraid of the abuse theme.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
The Dream House (formally The Guest) by Jess Ryder is a compelling and heartbreaking look at domestic abuse.
What it's about: Stella finds Westhill House and decides that after a rehab, it will be the perfect place to build a future with her boyfriend Jack. But one day, not far into the rehab, a stranger shows up in the middle of the night claiming to be a victim of domestic abuse and hiding from her husband. The thing is, Westhill House used to be a refuge for battered women, and the stranger, Lori, was told she could go there day or night and be taken in no questions asked. Stella's parents were foster carers, so she is determined to help Lori by letting her stay, even if that means tension with Jack. But as everyone's demons start to rise to the surface, Stella begins to wonder if Westhill House is really her perfect home. . .
The Dream House is definitely a character driven novel that places most of its attention on the stories of Stella and a woman named Kay. The stories are told in dual timelines and was something that I really loved. I really enjoy when stories switch between past and present, and it really worked for this book. I fell hard for the female characters and ended up loathing most of the male characters.
As I said right away, this is a book that focuses on domestic abuse so there are bound to be triggers. But I loved the way Ryder took this serious topic and really brought it to light without being incredibly descriptive. It was enough to break my heart, but not too much that I was unable to read the book.
I'm not sure I really love the title change for this novel, but both are still fitting. There were a couple of twists to The Dream House that I didn't see coming at all and they really surprised me. There were also spots that made me burst out in laughter which brought some much-needed lightness to the story.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Bathroom Sink by Miranda Lambert
Final Thought: While I don't think this book was particularly fast paced, it was definitely gripping and one that I read pretty quickly (anything under 5 hours for me is pretty quick). This was also the second domestic abuse novel that I read in a row so the fact that I liked this book so much has got to mean something. I was a little worried that I wouldn't like The Dream House as much as Dear Wife, but I ended up loving Ryder's writing style, and she can really tell a story. I highly recommend The Dream House to fans of compelling fiction that aren't afraid of the abuse theme.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
June 28, 2019
THE DREAM HOUSE (also titled as THE GUEST) is the second book by Jess Ryder I've read. The first one I was a little disappointed in and though this one rated better, I still found it somewhat lacklustre. I'm not sure how or why, but something is missing to pack it with that punch. It was still enjoyable...just not fantabulous.
Told from two perspectives in dual timelines, THE DREAM HOUSE begins with Stella in the present day, with Kay's story from 1978 interwoven throughout.
Having bought a completely run down fixer-upper in the seaside town of Nevansey away from the hustle and bustle of London, Stella is looking forward to putting down roots and building a life together with her boyfriend Jack. The sprawling house is massive and the task of renovating it is even bigger, but with the inheritance money from her parents' estate Stella feels that she could do something to make them proud of her. That, and the fact that it may help assuage her guilt for a terrible secret from her past.
Late one night they hear the frantic knocking on their front door and wondered who would be doing so this late? Their builder, Alan, has his own key to come and go as needed, but he wouldn't turn up this late, surely! When they open the door, a beaten and battered woman is standing there looking scared and begging for help. Is this Westhill House, she asks, insisting the helpline told her they'd take her in, no questions asked. Wanting to help protect Lori from her abusive husband Stella doesn't hesitate to offer her refuge and ushers her in quickly, but Jack isn't so sure. Something about Lori doesn't add up and he believes she isn't being truthful, citing Stella as being too naive for her own good. But Stella is adamant. Her parents were foster carers to numerous children when she was growing up, and this act of kindness is something she believes would make them proud of her...something for which she craves. When it is revealed that Westhill House was a refuge for battered women for forty years, Stella finds a new purpose in fulfilling the house's past objective in helping Lori with determination.
But the longer Lori occupies the attic bedroom, the more suspicious Jack becomes. He believes Lori is hiding something...more than an abusive husband. And one night, after Stella has gone to sleep, he follows her and sees her climbing into a car. Who was she meeting, Jack wonders. But when he poses the question to Stella, she refuses to believe him. Lori needs their help, not their suspicions.
Dismayed that Jack doesn't share her concerns, Stella feels torn between wanting to help Lori and her love for Jack. She wants to respect his wishes but doesn't know how to do so and help Lori at the same time. Then she comes up with an idea to please both...but the plan backfires and she is left wondering who she can trust.
Then when a second woman appears at the door, Stella wonders just what is going on and what has she let herself in for? Was Jack right? Is Lori hiding something and not all that she appears?
In the alternating narrative, we meet Kay who became pregnant at 15 much to her parents' disgust. To them she was soiled goods, useless to anyone. But then she meets the handsome and charming Alan Foxton - "Foxy" to his friends - and her parents think the world of him, telling her to make sure she hangs on to him because not everyone would take on another man's child. Despite the fact Foxy never acknowledged little Abigail's existence or even spoke to her, Kay was forced to push that aside and think of this as a new beginning for her and her daughter. But all dreams must come to an end, and Kay's certainly did as soon as the wedding was over. First came the accusations and the taunts quickly followed by the fists. Kay knew it was her fault. She provoked him by talking back or not having the house clean or his shirts ironed or speaking to other men. Her latest transgression was to fall pregnant.
One night, Abigail was at the other end of his tirade as Kay locked herself in the bathroom. From behind the locked door, she heard her daughter screams as Foxy yelled at her to do as she was told. Then she heard her husband cry out and she opened the door to find Abigail tearing down the stairs and out the door. Foxy didn't care that she could be run over. All he was concerned about was that "the little bitch bit me"! Then all at once there were blue lights strobing in through their windows. The police? Kay was suddenly scared her daughter had been in an accident, but Foxy gripped her tightly whispering "Say anything against me and your daughter's dead!" The police informed them a 999 call had come in from their daughter claiming "Foxy's killing my mummy!" But whilst he was all sweetness and light to the police, declaring they had been having trouble with Abigail who had taken to answering back and not doing as she was told, he continued to hold a tight grip on Kay almost daring her to contradict him. Foxy's story appeased the police and they left them with Abigail who had sought refuge with a neighbour. That night, as Kay lay in bed, she knew it would never get any better. She and Abigail had to leave.
The next morning after Foxy had left for work, Kay hurriedly packed a suitcase for her and Abigail and fled to the refuge Abigail's teacher had told her about in Nevansey. Westhill House. She had told her they will take you in, no questions asked, and keep you safe. Westhill House was more like a squat with many women and children to each room, but it didn't matter. At Westhill House Kay knew she was safe and after just a few weeks of being there, she had never felt happier.
All the way through, we know both stories will collide but the how or why, or even when, eludes us. And as the tension builds we just know it will be with a deadly force. Then comes the twist, the revelations and as Stella finds herself hanging on by a thread, she wonders where she is and how she got here.
While the both stories are well told, complete with tension and intrigue, the book as a whole still didn't fill me with excitement. I don't know what it was, or wasn't, I just felt it was lacking somewhere...though Ryder has told both stories well and woven them together with such ease. I want to like it more, but I really don't know why I can't. I guess maybe it wasn't as gritty or as shocking. While THE DREAM HOUSE did have me puzzling and pondering, it didn't surprise me...or shock me, for that matter.
I applaud Ryder's note at the end with reference to the domestic abuse, giving numbers in the UK for those that seek help and are unsure how. Having explained she tried not to go into graphic detail as far as the abuse was concerned, although it was necessary for parts of the story, anyone who has suffered at the hands of such abuse would find even the remotest reference to it triggering. I know I did. But I applaud her for being sensitive and respectful, despite this.
As well as domestic abuse, the story also touches on mental illness and, although not highlighted, is completely understandable.
Stella, Jack, Lori and Kay are the main characters across both stories. I found the former three in the present day to be unlikable in many ways and it was Kay I connected with the most, probably due to my own experience in the past. Stella made some really stupid choices and to be honest, I would have listened to Jack. After all, she knew him and not Lori - so why trust her and not him? And Lori? Well, like Jack I knew she was hiding something. She couldn't be in a story like this without having secrets, could she? I just wasn't sure what her story really was or how she was being untruthful.
With everything handled expertly and tied up at the end, THE DREAM HOUSE is an enthralling read that will keep you guessing and turning the pages. I give it 3 stars because while I did like, I didn't LOVE it. But it is still a great read.
I would like to thank #JessRyder, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDreamHouse also known as #TheGuest in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Told from two perspectives in dual timelines, THE DREAM HOUSE begins with Stella in the present day, with Kay's story from 1978 interwoven throughout.
Having bought a completely run down fixer-upper in the seaside town of Nevansey away from the hustle and bustle of London, Stella is looking forward to putting down roots and building a life together with her boyfriend Jack. The sprawling house is massive and the task of renovating it is even bigger, but with the inheritance money from her parents' estate Stella feels that she could do something to make them proud of her. That, and the fact that it may help assuage her guilt for a terrible secret from her past.
Late one night they hear the frantic knocking on their front door and wondered who would be doing so this late? Their builder, Alan, has his own key to come and go as needed, but he wouldn't turn up this late, surely! When they open the door, a beaten and battered woman is standing there looking scared and begging for help. Is this Westhill House, she asks, insisting the helpline told her they'd take her in, no questions asked. Wanting to help protect Lori from her abusive husband Stella doesn't hesitate to offer her refuge and ushers her in quickly, but Jack isn't so sure. Something about Lori doesn't add up and he believes she isn't being truthful, citing Stella as being too naive for her own good. But Stella is adamant. Her parents were foster carers to numerous children when she was growing up, and this act of kindness is something she believes would make them proud of her...something for which she craves. When it is revealed that Westhill House was a refuge for battered women for forty years, Stella finds a new purpose in fulfilling the house's past objective in helping Lori with determination.
But the longer Lori occupies the attic bedroom, the more suspicious Jack becomes. He believes Lori is hiding something...more than an abusive husband. And one night, after Stella has gone to sleep, he follows her and sees her climbing into a car. Who was she meeting, Jack wonders. But when he poses the question to Stella, she refuses to believe him. Lori needs their help, not their suspicions.
Dismayed that Jack doesn't share her concerns, Stella feels torn between wanting to help Lori and her love for Jack. She wants to respect his wishes but doesn't know how to do so and help Lori at the same time. Then she comes up with an idea to please both...but the plan backfires and she is left wondering who she can trust.
Then when a second woman appears at the door, Stella wonders just what is going on and what has she let herself in for? Was Jack right? Is Lori hiding something and not all that she appears?
In the alternating narrative, we meet Kay who became pregnant at 15 much to her parents' disgust. To them she was soiled goods, useless to anyone. But then she meets the handsome and charming Alan Foxton - "Foxy" to his friends - and her parents think the world of him, telling her to make sure she hangs on to him because not everyone would take on another man's child. Despite the fact Foxy never acknowledged little Abigail's existence or even spoke to her, Kay was forced to push that aside and think of this as a new beginning for her and her daughter. But all dreams must come to an end, and Kay's certainly did as soon as the wedding was over. First came the accusations and the taunts quickly followed by the fists. Kay knew it was her fault. She provoked him by talking back or not having the house clean or his shirts ironed or speaking to other men. Her latest transgression was to fall pregnant.
One night, Abigail was at the other end of his tirade as Kay locked herself in the bathroom. From behind the locked door, she heard her daughter screams as Foxy yelled at her to do as she was told. Then she heard her husband cry out and she opened the door to find Abigail tearing down the stairs and out the door. Foxy didn't care that she could be run over. All he was concerned about was that "the little bitch bit me"! Then all at once there were blue lights strobing in through their windows. The police? Kay was suddenly scared her daughter had been in an accident, but Foxy gripped her tightly whispering "Say anything against me and your daughter's dead!" The police informed them a 999 call had come in from their daughter claiming "Foxy's killing my mummy!" But whilst he was all sweetness and light to the police, declaring they had been having trouble with Abigail who had taken to answering back and not doing as she was told, he continued to hold a tight grip on Kay almost daring her to contradict him. Foxy's story appeased the police and they left them with Abigail who had sought refuge with a neighbour. That night, as Kay lay in bed, she knew it would never get any better. She and Abigail had to leave.
The next morning after Foxy had left for work, Kay hurriedly packed a suitcase for her and Abigail and fled to the refuge Abigail's teacher had told her about in Nevansey. Westhill House. She had told her they will take you in, no questions asked, and keep you safe. Westhill House was more like a squat with many women and children to each room, but it didn't matter. At Westhill House Kay knew she was safe and after just a few weeks of being there, she had never felt happier.
All the way through, we know both stories will collide but the how or why, or even when, eludes us. And as the tension builds we just know it will be with a deadly force. Then comes the twist, the revelations and as Stella finds herself hanging on by a thread, she wonders where she is and how she got here.
While the both stories are well told, complete with tension and intrigue, the book as a whole still didn't fill me with excitement. I don't know what it was, or wasn't, I just felt it was lacking somewhere...though Ryder has told both stories well and woven them together with such ease. I want to like it more, but I really don't know why I can't. I guess maybe it wasn't as gritty or as shocking. While THE DREAM HOUSE did have me puzzling and pondering, it didn't surprise me...or shock me, for that matter.
I applaud Ryder's note at the end with reference to the domestic abuse, giving numbers in the UK for those that seek help and are unsure how. Having explained she tried not to go into graphic detail as far as the abuse was concerned, although it was necessary for parts of the story, anyone who has suffered at the hands of such abuse would find even the remotest reference to it triggering. I know I did. But I applaud her for being sensitive and respectful, despite this.
As well as domestic abuse, the story also touches on mental illness and, although not highlighted, is completely understandable.
Stella, Jack, Lori and Kay are the main characters across both stories. I found the former three in the present day to be unlikable in many ways and it was Kay I connected with the most, probably due to my own experience in the past. Stella made some really stupid choices and to be honest, I would have listened to Jack. After all, she knew him and not Lori - so why trust her and not him? And Lori? Well, like Jack I knew she was hiding something. She couldn't be in a story like this without having secrets, could she? I just wasn't sure what her story really was or how she was being untruthful.
With everything handled expertly and tied up at the end, THE DREAM HOUSE is an enthralling read that will keep you guessing and turning the pages. I give it 3 stars because while I did like, I didn't LOVE it. But it is still a great read.
I would like to thank #JessRyder, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDreamHouse also known as #TheGuest in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 4, 2019
The Dream House (originally titled The Guest) follows Stella and her partner Jack who have recently bought a house with Stella’s inheritance. Her parents were both killed in a hit and run accident and she is still grieving for her loss.
Moving from London to the seaside is having an impact on Stella and Jack’s relationship. Not only are they far away from their friends, they are coping with major building works disrupting their lives. Just when they think things can’t get any worse, a woman bangs on their front door in the middle of the night, covered in blood and bruises and begging for them to take her in. Stella can’t turn her away but Jack thinks there is more to their guest than meets the eye.
I really enjoyed this book. So much so I’m about to go buy the rest of Jess Ryder’s book as soon as I’m done with this review.
This book built up tension in a fantastic way. I love how it flitted between present day Stella and past day Kay. I didn’t really know what was going on in the book - I felt uneasy throughout and really wasn’t sure how Kay fitted in to Stella’s story. I was surprised by little twists and turns and saw others coming. But the main thing for me was the way that the abused woman stories were handled. I liked Kay’s character a lot and thought she was represented with a lot of honesty. I understand why Lori and other characters were shown the way they were, although I wasn’t a fan of their attitudes. Stella did some really dumb stuff but still she was a positive character mostly.
Great for fans of The Woman in the Window.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinions of this book.
Moving from London to the seaside is having an impact on Stella and Jack’s relationship. Not only are they far away from their friends, they are coping with major building works disrupting their lives. Just when they think things can’t get any worse, a woman bangs on their front door in the middle of the night, covered in blood and bruises and begging for them to take her in. Stella can’t turn her away but Jack thinks there is more to their guest than meets the eye.
I really enjoyed this book. So much so I’m about to go buy the rest of Jess Ryder’s book as soon as I’m done with this review.
This book built up tension in a fantastic way. I love how it flitted between present day Stella and past day Kay. I didn’t really know what was going on in the book - I felt uneasy throughout and really wasn’t sure how Kay fitted in to Stella’s story. I was surprised by little twists and turns and saw others coming. But the main thing for me was the way that the abused woman stories were handled. I liked Kay’s character a lot and thought she was represented with a lot of honesty. I understand why Lori and other characters were shown the way they were, although I wasn’t a fan of their attitudes. Stella did some really dumb stuff but still she was a positive character mostly.
Great for fans of The Woman in the Window.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinions of this book.
July 22, 2019
4 devilish 😈😈😈😈 disturbing stars! How far would you go to be a Good Samaritan? What line, if any, would you be willing to cross?
Jess Ryder has written a clever psychological thriller with lies, betrayals and murder all surrounding Stella’s dream home—Westhill House.
Be careful what you wish for. THIS DREAM HOUSE IS ANYTHING BUT for Stella and Jason.
Once a shelter for abused women and their children, it’s been vacant for years, the property deteriorating when Stella excited for their future in it, buys it up and moves in with her boyfriend Jack. They’re in the process of refurbishing it when their lives take a strange turn after a badly beaten woman (Lori) shows up on their doorstep late one night. She tells Stella she was told that it’s a women’s shelter, and then pleads to let her stay one night as a safe place to hide from her husband. Of course Stella can’t turn her into the street where she could be hurt further. She stays.. then stays even longer to the point Stella’s hiding it from Jack that Lori’s still in the house which he soon discovers.. turning Stella’s life chaotic, especially between herself and Jack (who thinks the woman’s lying and wants her GONE.) This sets off a chain of events dating back 40 years.
Two main characters—Stella and Kay with dual storylines—now and then. The unreliable characters made this quite a puzzler for me. I was questioning who to trust, who merits compassion? The Dream House kept me guessing wrong to the end.
Jess Ryder has written a clever psychological thriller with lies, betrayals and murder all surrounding Stella’s dream home—Westhill House.
Be careful what you wish for. THIS DREAM HOUSE IS ANYTHING BUT for Stella and Jason.
Once a shelter for abused women and their children, it’s been vacant for years, the property deteriorating when Stella excited for their future in it, buys it up and moves in with her boyfriend Jack. They’re in the process of refurbishing it when their lives take a strange turn after a badly beaten woman (Lori) shows up on their doorstep late one night. She tells Stella she was told that it’s a women’s shelter, and then pleads to let her stay one night as a safe place to hide from her husband. Of course Stella can’t turn her into the street where she could be hurt further. She stays.. then stays even longer to the point Stella’s hiding it from Jack that Lori’s still in the house which he soon discovers.. turning Stella’s life chaotic, especially between herself and Jack (who thinks the woman’s lying and wants her GONE.) This sets off a chain of events dating back 40 years.
Two main characters—Stella and Kay with dual storylines—now and then. The unreliable characters made this quite a puzzler for me. I was questioning who to trust, who merits compassion? The Dream House kept me guessing wrong to the end.
June 25, 2019
A quandary of a review!!!
This author writes great books, this one is really well written,the style easy and welcoming to a reader, all aspects and characters explained,scenes set and theres intrigue, mystery and suspense with the required twists and turns
The ‘dream house’ is a former refuge for victims ( or survivors ) of Domestic Violence and Stella and Jack have now bought it and are doing it up ( Stella has inherited a fortune and Jack intends to carry on commuting the 50 or so miles to London), then as they are having sex ( the first time in forever, although only been together for less than a year!!!!! ) a woman covered in blood knocks on their door, they allow her to stay overnight and well, for me, the story then became unbelievable, we all know as readers we ‘give n take’ a bit with stories sometimes but I honestly dont know anyone who would do what Stella next did nor allow the chain of events that followed to happen, her whole life crashes and she could simply have stopped it by doing what any one of us would have done faced with what was occurring!
I finished the book but it became less and less believable as it carried on
Brilliant style of writing but sadly on this occasion just not an acceptably believable storyline
Writing style 10/10
Story 3/10
So altogether a 5/10 2.5 Stars
June 28, 2019
NO... NO... NO... I can't believe what I have just read.
I was coursing down the the smooth path of a story set in a mystery genre that author Jess Ryder was taking me on where Stella came into some inheritance, after the passing of her parents. She bought the broken down Westhill House and started living there with partner Jack. Lori, a battered woman, came knocking at her door one night, and Stella, bless her heart, gave her shelter. And Lori stayed on and on... Jack was thrown out soon.. So far so good
Jess's writing threw in some suspense moves with secrets twirling in the mists of this house. I was curious. The vibes of the house turned sad with some reveals of its history. I was intrigued. Lori's best friend Abi joined them and stayed on. AND THEN THE BOOK EXPLODED!! At every page, I was awe-struck with secrets so hard-hitting that I barely had time to stay on top of it. But Jess Ryder did not let go of me. She made me turn the pages of my kindle so fast that my head spun. I needed to know the truth. STAT.
And ultimately, I was given the truth I was searching for, but there were so many of these truths bursting out of the pages, you had to read it to believe it. Can open, worms crawling. Omg! It was one roller coaster ride from beginning to finish.
And yeah, I liked the book, couldn't you tell?
I was coursing down the the smooth path of a story set in a mystery genre that author Jess Ryder was taking me on where Stella came into some inheritance, after the passing of her parents. She bought the broken down Westhill House and started living there with partner Jack. Lori, a battered woman, came knocking at her door one night, and Stella, bless her heart, gave her shelter. And Lori stayed on and on... Jack was thrown out soon.. So far so good
Jess's writing threw in some suspense moves with secrets twirling in the mists of this house. I was curious. The vibes of the house turned sad with some reveals of its history. I was intrigued. Lori's best friend Abi joined them and stayed on. AND THEN THE BOOK EXPLODED!! At every page, I was awe-struck with secrets so hard-hitting that I barely had time to stay on top of it. But Jess Ryder did not let go of me. She made me turn the pages of my kindle so fast that my head spun. I needed to know the truth. STAT.
And ultimately, I was given the truth I was searching for, but there were so many of these truths bursting out of the pages, you had to read it to believe it. Can open, worms crawling. Omg! It was one roller coaster ride from beginning to finish.
And yeah, I liked the book, couldn't you tell?
July 15, 2020
Stella and her boyfriend Jack have bought a large house with money Stella inherited from her deceased parents. One night, their lovemaking is interrupted by a banging on the door, and Stella lets in Lori, who is bloody and bruised and claims she is on the run from an abusive husband. She absolutely refuses to let Stella and Jack call the police.
For any person with half a brain, that would be a warning something is not on the up and up. But Stella is your typical psychological thriller white-woman-with-a-secret utter numbskull moron, and lets Lori stay the night against Jack's protests. Lori's stay gets extended, again against Jack's protests, to the point where Stella is keeping Lori's continued presence in an upstairs turret a secret from him.
We also get chapters set in the past (about 40 years ago) featuring young Kay, already with a daughter, Abigail, who is seduced by a handsome man nicknamed Foxy. Once they tie the knot, there is a significant change in their relationship: Foxy is clearly abusive. He hits, slaps, bites and generally assaults Kay, often in front of Abigail.
Hmm, I wonder if these two storylines are somehow connected?
Lol, of course they are!
This was just relentlessly predictable and largely dumb. I'm tired of all these psychological thrillers featuring a protagonist who lets a stranger live with them despite big, large flashing neon lights indicating this person isn't telling the entire truth. Stella demonstrates this idiocy to the nth degree - because she then lets a SECOND suspicious person start living with her!
Every chapter, I was screaming at her, "KICK THEM OUT. CALL THE POLICE." But, no. Otherwise we wouldn't have a book, would we? It's suggested that Stella is trying to atone for her past in providing support to Lori, but come on. Stella is just being aggressively stupid here, keeping a firm grip on the idiot ball from start to finish. She was exasperating.
And what about Stella's past? You guessed it. "I did something terrible in my past." She alludes to this through the novel, although it thankfully isn't hammered home as mercilessly as some other white-woman-with-a-secret psychological thrillers, and at least her act is worthy of being ashamed of (even though no one died, of course.) Stella's bad act is easy to figure out once you learn about the kids her parents always fostered, and the one she hated who himself supposedly committed a horrible act.
The chapters in the past were more effective, because Kay's situation was believable and created suspense and you cared about what happened to her. This did not extend to the chapters set in the present, because Stella's actions were just so unrelentingly blind, naive and stupid, well beyond what any normal, rational person in real life would do.
Things play out exactly as you would expect and doesn't even give us the satisfaction of . All the text in my Kindle edition refers to this book actually being titled The Guest. I don't know why it was changed to its current moniker. Whatever the name, kick this guest out, because it largely stinks.
For any person with half a brain, that would be a warning something is not on the up and up. But Stella is your typical psychological thriller white-woman-with-a-secret utter numbskull moron, and lets Lori stay the night against Jack's protests. Lori's stay gets extended, again against Jack's protests, to the point where Stella is keeping Lori's continued presence in an upstairs turret a secret from him.
We also get chapters set in the past (about 40 years ago) featuring young Kay, already with a daughter, Abigail, who is seduced by a handsome man nicknamed Foxy. Once they tie the knot, there is a significant change in their relationship: Foxy is clearly abusive. He hits, slaps, bites and generally assaults Kay, often in front of Abigail.
Hmm, I wonder if these two storylines are somehow connected?
Lol, of course they are!
This was just relentlessly predictable and largely dumb. I'm tired of all these psychological thrillers featuring a protagonist who lets a stranger live with them despite big, large flashing neon lights indicating this person isn't telling the entire truth. Stella demonstrates this idiocy to the nth degree - because she then lets a SECOND suspicious person start living with her!
Every chapter, I was screaming at her, "KICK THEM OUT. CALL THE POLICE." But, no. Otherwise we wouldn't have a book, would we? It's suggested that Stella is trying to atone for her past in providing support to Lori, but come on. Stella is just being aggressively stupid here, keeping a firm grip on the idiot ball from start to finish. She was exasperating.
And what about Stella's past? You guessed it. "I did something terrible in my past." She alludes to this through the novel, although it thankfully isn't hammered home as mercilessly as some other white-woman-with-a-secret psychological thrillers, and at least her act is worthy of being ashamed of (even though no one died, of course.) Stella's bad act is easy to figure out once you learn about the kids her parents always fostered, and the one she hated who himself supposedly committed a horrible act.
The chapters in the past were more effective, because Kay's situation was believable and created suspense and you cared about what happened to her. This did not extend to the chapters set in the present, because Stella's actions were just so unrelentingly blind, naive and stupid, well beyond what any normal, rational person in real life would do.
Things play out exactly as you would expect and doesn't even give us the satisfaction of . All the text in my Kindle edition refers to this book actually being titled The Guest. I don't know why it was changed to its current moniker. Whatever the name, kick this guest out, because it largely stinks.
September 9, 2019
Stella and her boyfriend Jack just bought dream house which is a fixer-upper away from the city . One night, a battered and beaten woman Lori shows up at their door, begging for their help from her abusive husband. Stella offers her refuge for the night but Lori’s stay ends up longer and soon Stella is forced to make a decision between Jack and Lori.
The Dream House by Jess Ryder is a fast moving , domestic thriller.Told in two different timelines it comes together seamlessly at the end . An excellent psychological thriller with lots of secrets it takes you on a rollercoaster ride that does not let up.
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Dream House by Jess Ryder is a fast moving , domestic thriller.Told in two different timelines it comes together seamlessly at the end . An excellent psychological thriller with lots of secrets it takes you on a rollercoaster ride that does not let up.
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 2, 2019
Now: Stella has just bought a fixer-upper away from the city with her live-in boyfriend, Jack. One night, a battered and beaten woman named Lori shows up at their door, begging for their help. Stella can’t help but want to protect Lori from her abusive husband and offers her refuge for as long as she needs. But Jack believes Lori isn’t being truthful and that Stella is too naive for her own good. So Stella is forced to make a decision between Jack and Lori. With Lori in the house, Stella can’t help but think about her past, the memories that have haunted her for her entire life.
Then: single mom, Kay, feels she’s hit the jackpot when she meets Alan. He doesn’t judge her for being a teen mom and even embraces the idea of them being a little family. Within a year, the two are married and Kay can’t wait to start her new life with Alan and her daughter, Abigail. But after they get married, things start to change. Alan is clearly abusive, controlling every aspect of Kay’s life and beating her within an inch of her life. Kay needs to escape the hell she’s trapped in before Alan takes his beatings too far.
We watch the downward spiral of Stella and Lori’s lives. They both aren’t safe, no matter how much they feel they are. And we’re left wondering how these two woman’s stories over 4 decades apart will intersect. And will either woman be able to escape the consequences of the choices they’ve made?
The Dream House by Jess Ryder is a compulsive, page-turning domestic thriller. I read The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder last year and loved it, so I knew I wanted to pickup her latest release. And I was definitely not disappointed! I love thrillers set in two different timelines—I enjoyed putting together the pieces and figuring out how Stella and Lori’s stories would collide. A definite must-read from Jess Ryder! 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Jess Ryder for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Then: single mom, Kay, feels she’s hit the jackpot when she meets Alan. He doesn’t judge her for being a teen mom and even embraces the idea of them being a little family. Within a year, the two are married and Kay can’t wait to start her new life with Alan and her daughter, Abigail. But after they get married, things start to change. Alan is clearly abusive, controlling every aspect of Kay’s life and beating her within an inch of her life. Kay needs to escape the hell she’s trapped in before Alan takes his beatings too far.
We watch the downward spiral of Stella and Lori’s lives. They both aren’t safe, no matter how much they feel they are. And we’re left wondering how these two woman’s stories over 4 decades apart will intersect. And will either woman be able to escape the consequences of the choices they’ve made?
The Dream House by Jess Ryder is a compulsive, page-turning domestic thriller. I read The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder last year and loved it, so I knew I wanted to pickup her latest release. And I was definitely not disappointed! I love thrillers set in two different timelines—I enjoyed putting together the pieces and figuring out how Stella and Lori’s stories would collide. A definite must-read from Jess Ryder! 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Jess Ryder for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2019
Please buckle up before you start reading this book, because the author takes you on a breathtaking ride. She throws you into the past and hauls you back into the present and again and again …
Someone who takes care of a stranger must be a good person, right? And when you look at that stranger there is no doubt that that person is genuine, right? Of course you can trust and believe your other half, right?
But when push comes to shove you are in for a serious surprise.
This story caught my interest from the beginning and I had to keep on reading. I wanted to know which secrets where going to be unreaveled.
People can be cruel, but some people will always have your back. 4 stars.
Thank you, Jess Ryder, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Someone who takes care of a stranger must be a good person, right? And when you look at that stranger there is no doubt that that person is genuine, right? Of course you can trust and believe your other half, right?
But when push comes to shove you are in for a serious surprise.
This story caught my interest from the beginning and I had to keep on reading. I wanted to know which secrets where going to be unreaveled.
People can be cruel, but some people will always have your back. 4 stars.
Thank you, Jess Ryder, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
July 3, 2019
Stella bought a house based on her inheritance, and she and her boyfriend Jack are determined to turn the former Westhill House into the perfect dwelling. However, Jack is getting frustrated with the renovation. One night a woman comes banging on their door. Her name is Lori and she claims that she is escaping her abusive spouse and that she was told that this house was a safe refuge.
Stella just cannot let the bruised and battered Lori back out into the night, so she allows her to stay, at least until Lori has a place to go. Thing is, Lori stays longer, although Stella is quite wary. Even more so, Jack is not happy and works longer and longer hours to stay away from home.
Things begin to get weird and quite quickly at that. For one thing, it becomes quite unnerving to Stella that Lori seems to know a lot about the house. While Lori stays there she begins working with the handyman and strange things begin happening. One example is that underneath wallpaper are some very dark drawings that Lori unearths and shows Stella. Is Lori who she says she is?
This story is told in dual timelines. We the reader know that at some point things will converge. It is a thrilling journey to see things progress, and we begin to wonder who is reliable in this story. Sadly, remembering what brought Lori to Stella is a bit unsettling. Lori's whole story involves the domestic abuse she tells Stella about. This was indeed difficult to read, especially as the story evolved.
With the twists and turns, and character development, it was definitely an engaging read, one that kept me turning pages right through until the end. Nope, I could not put this book down. I enjoy the writing style of Jess Ryder and look forward to reading more from him in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Stella just cannot let the bruised and battered Lori back out into the night, so she allows her to stay, at least until Lori has a place to go. Thing is, Lori stays longer, although Stella is quite wary. Even more so, Jack is not happy and works longer and longer hours to stay away from home.
Things begin to get weird and quite quickly at that. For one thing, it becomes quite unnerving to Stella that Lori seems to know a lot about the house. While Lori stays there she begins working with the handyman and strange things begin happening. One example is that underneath wallpaper are some very dark drawings that Lori unearths and shows Stella. Is Lori who she says she is?
This story is told in dual timelines. We the reader know that at some point things will converge. It is a thrilling journey to see things progress, and we begin to wonder who is reliable in this story. Sadly, remembering what brought Lori to Stella is a bit unsettling. Lori's whole story involves the domestic abuse she tells Stella about. This was indeed difficult to read, especially as the story evolved.
With the twists and turns, and character development, it was definitely an engaging read, one that kept me turning pages right through until the end. Nope, I could not put this book down. I enjoy the writing style of Jess Ryder and look forward to reading more from him in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 19, 2020
This was a fairly good read.
Alot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming .
I felt something big was unraveling and that kept me reading, however it did seem to take a long time for anything really nerve wracking to happen, and when it did it fell about flat for me.
The overall story line I enjoyed but I expected a bit more from it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Alot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming .
I felt something big was unraveling and that kept me reading, however it did seem to take a long time for anything really nerve wracking to happen, and when it did it fell about flat for me.
The overall story line I enjoyed but I expected a bit more from it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 15, 2020
Recensione in ANTEPRIMA
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Malika - per RFS
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Questo è un libro davvero particolare da leggere, dove l’autrice, fortunatamente, ha deciso di affrontare un tema così delicato come la violenza domestica con un approccio responsabile, cercando di evitare il più possibile la descrizione delle scene di violenza. Ci troviamo di fronte a un argomento, purtroppo, all’ordine del giorno, che affigge la realtà contemporanea in ogni parte del mondo. È un racconto davvero affascinante, drammatico e con personaggi alquanto convincenti in grado di entrarti nel cuore.
I due protagonisti “principali” o che comunque incontriamo per primi sono Stella e Jack, due conviventi che decidono di intraprendere un’avventura più grande di loro: una ristrutturazione che ai più sembra impossibile. Purtroppo il tutto accade per un tragico motivo: i genitori di Stella muoiono in un incidente e lei, ritrovatasi con un’eredità non indifferente, decide di acquistare Westhill House, una villa con vista sul mare, a Nevansey per la precisione, un paesino sperduto sulla costa della Gran Bretagna. Sembra una casa fatiscente e in decadimento, sono molti anni che è disabitata ma tra le sue mura si nascondono terribili segreti. Alan sarà il loro tuttofare, un uomo conosciuto per caso a un chiosco che li aiuterà nella ristrutturazione. La casa si scopre essere un rifugio per donne maltrattate, arrivate a chiedere aiuto dopo continue violenze domestiche o con un passato terribile.
Stella e Jack stanno finalmente degustando una cena perfetta, spaghetti al ragù e un calice di vino rosso, dopo sere passate a mangiare piatti pronti, quando alla loro porta si presenta Lori, una donna piena di lividi sul volto, con le guance tumefatte e sporca di sangue. Ma chi è realmente? Quella che racconta è la sua vera storia? Anche i segreti che la casa cela cominciano a venire fuori poco alla volta. Come i disegni dei bambini, nascosti sotto la carta da parati in camera da letto. O le strane carte che Stella e Lori trovano sotto le assi del pavimento, nella stanza in cima alla torretta. Sembra che le donne del posto usassero rifugiarsi a Westhill House per stare al sicuro. E Lori sembra sapere molto più di quello che dice. Ma perché? Durante la lettura scoprirete ulteriori personaggi, fondamentali alla storia stessa ma che non vi posso svelare a meno che non amiate gli spoiler… cosa che io non amo affatto.
Le ambientazioni sono spettacolari, seppur a volte “clautrofobiche”, i personaggi perfettamente descritti e caratterizzati in ogni loro singola sfaccettatura e la scrittura è fluida e semplice.
Ho letteralmente divorato questo libro!! Me lo portavo in ogni angolo della casa e appena possibile ne riprendevo la lettura. Spesso mi sono trovata a pensare alla storia delle donne e dei personaggi incontrati, ai loro vissuti e alle loro vicissitudini, chiedendomi cosa possa spingere una donna a continuare a subire, subire e subire ancora. La paura forse? Il bene e l’amore per i figli? Il poter pensare di cambiare la persona al loro fianco? Non lo capirò mai credo, ma quello che è certo è che questo libro è travolgente, dinamico, ti lascia senza fiato e ti fa arrivare alla fine con un solo pensiero: come sono arrivata a leggerlo così, tutto d’un fiato, nonostante le forti tematiche trattate?
Leggetelo perché è un romanzo in grado di rapirvi, non ne rimarrete affatto delusi e anzi, io sicuramente leggerò anche l’altro libro di quest’autrice, alquanto meritevole, di cui però non avevo mai sentito parlare.
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Malika - per RFS
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Questo è un libro davvero particolare da leggere, dove l’autrice, fortunatamente, ha deciso di affrontare un tema così delicato come la violenza domestica con un approccio responsabile, cercando di evitare il più possibile la descrizione delle scene di violenza. Ci troviamo di fronte a un argomento, purtroppo, all’ordine del giorno, che affigge la realtà contemporanea in ogni parte del mondo. È un racconto davvero affascinante, drammatico e con personaggi alquanto convincenti in grado di entrarti nel cuore.
I due protagonisti “principali” o che comunque incontriamo per primi sono Stella e Jack, due conviventi che decidono di intraprendere un’avventura più grande di loro: una ristrutturazione che ai più sembra impossibile. Purtroppo il tutto accade per un tragico motivo: i genitori di Stella muoiono in un incidente e lei, ritrovatasi con un’eredità non indifferente, decide di acquistare Westhill House, una villa con vista sul mare, a Nevansey per la precisione, un paesino sperduto sulla costa della Gran Bretagna. Sembra una casa fatiscente e in decadimento, sono molti anni che è disabitata ma tra le sue mura si nascondono terribili segreti. Alan sarà il loro tuttofare, un uomo conosciuto per caso a un chiosco che li aiuterà nella ristrutturazione. La casa si scopre essere un rifugio per donne maltrattate, arrivate a chiedere aiuto dopo continue violenze domestiche o con un passato terribile.
Stella e Jack stanno finalmente degustando una cena perfetta, spaghetti al ragù e un calice di vino rosso, dopo sere passate a mangiare piatti pronti, quando alla loro porta si presenta Lori, una donna piena di lividi sul volto, con le guance tumefatte e sporca di sangue. Ma chi è realmente? Quella che racconta è la sua vera storia? Anche i segreti che la casa cela cominciano a venire fuori poco alla volta. Come i disegni dei bambini, nascosti sotto la carta da parati in camera da letto. O le strane carte che Stella e Lori trovano sotto le assi del pavimento, nella stanza in cima alla torretta. Sembra che le donne del posto usassero rifugiarsi a Westhill House per stare al sicuro. E Lori sembra sapere molto più di quello che dice. Ma perché? Durante la lettura scoprirete ulteriori personaggi, fondamentali alla storia stessa ma che non vi posso svelare a meno che non amiate gli spoiler… cosa che io non amo affatto.
Le ambientazioni sono spettacolari, seppur a volte “clautrofobiche”, i personaggi perfettamente descritti e caratterizzati in ogni loro singola sfaccettatura e la scrittura è fluida e semplice.
Ho letteralmente divorato questo libro!! Me lo portavo in ogni angolo della casa e appena possibile ne riprendevo la lettura. Spesso mi sono trovata a pensare alla storia delle donne e dei personaggi incontrati, ai loro vissuti e alle loro vicissitudini, chiedendomi cosa possa spingere una donna a continuare a subire, subire e subire ancora. La paura forse? Il bene e l’amore per i figli? Il poter pensare di cambiare la persona al loro fianco? Non lo capirò mai credo, ma quello che è certo è che questo libro è travolgente, dinamico, ti lascia senza fiato e ti fa arrivare alla fine con un solo pensiero: come sono arrivata a leggerlo così, tutto d’un fiato, nonostante le forti tematiche trattate?
Leggetelo perché è un romanzo in grado di rapirvi, non ne rimarrete affatto delusi e anzi, io sicuramente leggerò anche l’altro libro di quest’autrice, alquanto meritevole, di cui però non avevo mai sentito parlare.
February 23, 2022
Nie miałam żadnych większych oczekiwań, a otrzymałam naprawdę ciekawą historię. Na drobny minus zakończenie; wzbudziło we mnie lekki niesmak.
Duży szacunek za "przemycenie" problematyki przemocy domowej oraz sposobów na oparcie się wszystkim tym potwornościom.
Duży szacunek za "przemycenie" problematyki przemocy domowej oraz sposobów na oparcie się wszystkim tym potwornościom.
June 21, 2019
In the present, It’s time to make a change in Stella’s life so she decides to use the inheritance from her parents to purchase Westhill House and remodel it into her dream home with her boyfriend Jack. Stella spends all her time at the house in a construction zone with the contractor, Alan while Jack is working all day. One night as Stella and Jack are enjoying a dinner and some time alone, there is a knock at the door and a woman, Lori is standing there beaten, bloody and frightened. She states that she was give. this address by a helpline and was told that she would be welcome at any time. Westhill House was a women's’ shelter and was shut down a few years ago. Determined to make amends for the sins of her past and make her deceased parents proud, she vows to take Lori in and protect and care for her, much to the dismay of Jack who doesn't trust Lori and wants her out.
Another point of view in the story based in the past, in the 70s is told from Kay who was a teenage mother who survived domestic violence. She walks us through her life and the moment when she decided to leave.
These stories become intertwined and the transition is done beautifully. This story was interesting and kept me engrossed from the beginning.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Another point of view in the story based in the past, in the 70s is told from Kay who was a teenage mother who survived domestic violence. She walks us through her life and the moment when she decided to leave.
These stories become intertwined and the transition is done beautifully. This story was interesting and kept me engrossed from the beginning.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
June 10, 2019
Stella uses the inheritance money from her parents' unfortunate death to purchase a dilapidated house that was once a refuge for abused women. She moves in with her boyfriend, Jack, in hopes of fixing it up and turning it into her dream house. One night, an older woman named Lori bangs on the door, begging to be let in. She is battered, and seems to think the house is still a refuge. Stella, to Jack's dismay, lets Lori stay and hide from her abusive husband while they figure out how to find her a safe place to stay. As Stella learns more about Lori and her violent marriage, she also learns more about the house and history...and that something that happened in the past may catch up to Stella in the present.
This was a great read, and I had a hard time setting the book down. Jess Ryder writes an extremely atmospheric tale that blends two different timelines seamlessly. Certain aspects are downright haunting, and her writing makes you 100% invested in the characters and their stories.
The ARC I received was titled THE GUEST. Thank you to author Jess Ryder, Bookouture, and NetGalley.
This was a great read, and I had a hard time setting the book down. Jess Ryder writes an extremely atmospheric tale that blends two different timelines seamlessly. Certain aspects are downright haunting, and her writing makes you 100% invested in the characters and their stories.
The ARC I received was titled THE GUEST. Thank you to author Jess Ryder, Bookouture, and NetGalley.
April 23, 2020
Delikatnie przesadzona fabuła, sporo absurdu i nierealnych wątków... I wiecie co? Uwielbiam tę książkę!
Już sam pomysł na tę powieść jest nieco abstrakcyjny, bo wyobraźcie sobie, że przyjmujecie pod swój dach kompletnie obcą osobę, nic o niej nie wiecie, a mimo to właściwie nie rozważacie innej opcji i decyzję o ulokowaniu nieznajomej w Waszych czterech ścianach podejmujecie wręcz błyskawicznie. Nie wiem, jak tam z Waszą ufnością, ale ja mam w zwyczaju kwestionować wszystko i wszędzie wietrzę podstęp, tak że ten... ;)
Odchodząc od nieco niedorzecznej koncepcji fabularnej - "Zmyślenie" to książka która wciąga jak wir! Czytasz stronę za stroną i nawet nie wiesz, jak to się stało, że tak szybko dotarłaś do końca. Jess Ryder ma talent do zaskakiwania czytelników, wprowadzając do fabuły niespodziewane zwroty akcji i kończąc rozdziały cliffhangerami. Ja takie umiejętności u autorów bardzo mocno szanuję!
Już pierwszą powieść Ryder - "Wszystkie nasze tajemnice" - czytałam z wypiekami na twarzy, w przypadku "Zmyślenia" emocji jest chyba jeszcze więcej. Z niecierpliwością będę wyczekiwać kolejnego thrillera, który wyjdzie spod pióra brytyjskiej pisarki.
Już sam pomysł na tę powieść jest nieco abstrakcyjny, bo wyobraźcie sobie, że przyjmujecie pod swój dach kompletnie obcą osobę, nic o niej nie wiecie, a mimo to właściwie nie rozważacie innej opcji i decyzję o ulokowaniu nieznajomej w Waszych czterech ścianach podejmujecie wręcz błyskawicznie. Nie wiem, jak tam z Waszą ufnością, ale ja mam w zwyczaju kwestionować wszystko i wszędzie wietrzę podstęp, tak że ten... ;)
Odchodząc od nieco niedorzecznej koncepcji fabularnej - "Zmyślenie" to książka która wciąga jak wir! Czytasz stronę za stroną i nawet nie wiesz, jak to się stało, że tak szybko dotarłaś do końca. Jess Ryder ma talent do zaskakiwania czytelników, wprowadzając do fabuły niespodziewane zwroty akcji i kończąc rozdziały cliffhangerami. Ja takie umiejętności u autorów bardzo mocno szanuję!
Już pierwszą powieść Ryder - "Wszystkie nasze tajemnice" - czytałam z wypiekami na twarzy, w przypadku "Zmyślenia" emocji jest chyba jeszcze więcej. Z niecierpliwością będę wyczekiwać kolejnego thrillera, który wyjdzie spod pióra brytyjskiej pisarki.
April 17, 2020
The Dream House (originally titled The Guest) was a book that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. From the first page it had me engrossed and kept my interest the whole way through. My only criticism was that some of the things that happened were a bit far fetched but it didn’t take away from my liking of this book.
June 22, 2019
I was kindly sent this book free of charge from Net galley in exchange for a honest review.
After reading the blurb I was quite excited to read this, it sounded my type of book. However unfortunately on the whole I found it quite boring and I wasn’t excited to pick it up. I struggled to stick with it. I didn’t warm to any of the characters and the storyline didn’t really go anywhere for me. It potentially had the makings of a decent story and I’m sure the domestic violence theme would be relatable to many people but unfortunately the storyline wasn’t strong enough for me.
After reading the blurb I was quite excited to read this, it sounded my type of book. However unfortunately on the whole I found it quite boring and I wasn’t excited to pick it up. I struggled to stick with it. I didn’t warm to any of the characters and the storyline didn’t really go anywhere for me. It potentially had the makings of a decent story and I’m sure the domestic violence theme would be relatable to many people but unfortunately the storyline wasn’t strong enough for me.
June 11, 2019
Stella and her boyfriend Jack moved into a big dilapidated 3-story home that had been used as a safe house for women and children of domestic violence years ago. Stella's parents had died and left her a lot of money so they were in the process of remodeling the home. The story is told in the then and now format with Stella being the now and Kay, a victim of DV, who lived in the home with her daughter years ago after leaving her violent husband, as the then. There are a lot of very interesting characters in this story and a lot of twists and turns that made this a very fast moving and very suspenseful read. I really loved this page-turner and I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an exciting story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this fascinating ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2020
3.5 stelline
September 6, 2021
Thank you so much @Bookouture & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 18 June 2019)
SYNOPSIS | Stella & her boyfriend Jack have bought a large 8 bedroom fixer upper mansion overlooking the sea with the money that Stella inherited from her parents. One night, there is a banging on the door from Lori who arrives beaten & bloody and claims to be on the run from her abusive husband.
WHAT I LIKED:
- alternate timelines worked well to provide history & context
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- there was quite a number of plot points that just felt unresolved & ultimately irrelevant
- Stella's relationship with Jack felt extremely toxic and since the physical & psychological effects of abuse is a common theme of this story I am sad to see that this wasn't addressed
- Stella as a main character is naive, questionable & infuriating to read from
- that Stella has no concept of money or tracking expenditure (not really a qualm with the story but that's just a really terrible character trait for someone who is renovating a mansion)
SYNOPSIS | Stella & her boyfriend Jack have bought a large 8 bedroom fixer upper mansion overlooking the sea with the money that Stella inherited from her parents. One night, there is a banging on the door from Lori who arrives beaten & bloody and claims to be on the run from her abusive husband.
WHAT I LIKED:
- alternate timelines worked well to provide history & context
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- there was quite a number of plot points that just felt unresolved & ultimately irrelevant
- Stella's relationship with Jack felt extremely toxic and since the physical & psychological effects of abuse is a common theme of this story I am sad to see that this wasn't addressed
- Stella as a main character is naive, questionable & infuriating to read from
- that Stella has no concept of money or tracking expenditure (not really a qualm with the story but that's just a really terrible character trait for someone who is renovating a mansion)
July 18, 2019
I may be one of the only.9nes but I HATED this book. I could not stand stella. I literally found myself mentally screaming at her so Many times throughout this book due to her blatant stupidity. Not only does she allow one stranger to walk in off the streets and stay in her house, not just for one night, but it turns into many weeks, but then she let's in another!!! And to ignore all the warning signs! My god I seriously could not handle it. Moron does not even begin to describe her. But ya I really hated this one because I just could not get over her. Also a lot of it was predictable.
December 14, 2020
W sumie nie wiem skąd wziął się tytuł "Zmyślenie", oryginalny brzmi" The dream house" i zdecydowanie lepiej pasuje do powieści - Wymarzony dom.
Taki wymarzony dom znalazła Stella, bohaterka tej historii.
Po tragicznej śmierci rodziców dziewczyna z odziedziczonych pieniędzy kupuje stary dom w małym nadmorskim miasteczku.
Dom wymaga ogromnego nakładu pracy, więc remont całkowicie ją pochłania.
Jack, jej partner nie jest tak entuzjastycznie nastawiony do pomysłów Stelli.
Kiedy w ich progach pojawia się Lori, pobita kobieta uciekająca przed mężem- sadystą, Stella otacza ją opieką. Niestety Jack jest mniej zadowolony z tej sytuacji, uważa, że Lori jest oszustką i ma nieczyste zamiary, a Stella zachowuje się nierozsądnie i naiwnie.
Okazuje się, że ich dom był kiedyś schroniskiem dla ocalałych kobiet i dzieci, które padły ofiarą psychicznej i fizyczne przemocy domowej.
Kim jest Lori i czy faktycznie ma złe zamiary w stosunku do Stelli?
Przemoc domowa to właściwie główny temat, który autorka porusza w tej powieści.
Według mnie "Zmyślenie" to bardziej obyczaj, niż thriller psychologiczny, choć nie zabrakło tu intrygi charakterystycznej dla tego gatunku.
I mimo, że mocno nie straszy, to dość przejmująca jest ta historia. Ja przeczytalam ją z zainteresowaniem i w rezultacie oceniam ją pozytywnie.
Taki wymarzony dom znalazła Stella, bohaterka tej historii.
Po tragicznej śmierci rodziców dziewczyna z odziedziczonych pieniędzy kupuje stary dom w małym nadmorskim miasteczku.
Dom wymaga ogromnego nakładu pracy, więc remont całkowicie ją pochłania.
Jack, jej partner nie jest tak entuzjastycznie nastawiony do pomysłów Stelli.
Kiedy w ich progach pojawia się Lori, pobita kobieta uciekająca przed mężem- sadystą, Stella otacza ją opieką. Niestety Jack jest mniej zadowolony z tej sytuacji, uważa, że Lori jest oszustką i ma nieczyste zamiary, a Stella zachowuje się nierozsądnie i naiwnie.
Okazuje się, że ich dom był kiedyś schroniskiem dla ocalałych kobiet i dzieci, które padły ofiarą psychicznej i fizyczne przemocy domowej.
Kim jest Lori i czy faktycznie ma złe zamiary w stosunku do Stelli?
Przemoc domowa to właściwie główny temat, który autorka porusza w tej powieści.
Według mnie "Zmyślenie" to bardziej obyczaj, niż thriller psychologiczny, choć nie zabrakło tu intrygi charakterystycznej dla tego gatunku.
I mimo, że mocno nie straszy, to dość przejmująca jest ta historia. Ja przeczytalam ją z zainteresowaniem i w rezultacie oceniam ją pozytywnie.
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