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The House Guest
Kate trusts Della, and Della trusts Kate.
Their downfall is each other.
When Kate moves to London after the disappearance of her sister, she’s in need of a friend. A chance meeting leads Kate to Della, a life coach who runs support groups for young women, dubbed by Kate as ‘the Janes.’
Della takes a special interest in Kate, and Kate soon finds herself entangled in Della’s life – her house, her family, and her husband. It’s only when she realises that she’s in too deep that Della’s veneer begins to crumble, and the warnings from ‘the Janes’ begin to come true.
Why is Della so keen to keep Kate by her side? What does Kate have that Della might want? And what really lies beneath the surface of their friendship?
Their downfall is each other.
When Kate moves to London after the disappearance of her sister, she’s in need of a friend. A chance meeting leads Kate to Della, a life coach who runs support groups for young women, dubbed by Kate as ‘the Janes.’
Della takes a special interest in Kate, and Kate soon finds herself entangled in Della’s life – her house, her family, and her husband. It’s only when she realises that she’s in too deep that Della’s veneer begins to crumble, and the warnings from ‘the Janes’ begin to come true.
Why is Della so keen to keep Kate by her side? What does Kate have that Della might want? And what really lies beneath the surface of their friendship?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2021
50 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Northedge
2 books30 followersCharlotte Northedge is joint Head of Books for the Guardian. She has previously written for a range of newspapers and magazines, including the Guardian, Psychologies and Cosmopolitan.
She has an MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature from Birkbeck and is an alumna of the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. The House Guest is her first novel.
She has an MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature from Birkbeck and is an alumna of the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. The House Guest is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
February 2, 2021
When Kate was ten her older sister Scarlett left home and she never saw her again which puts her family’s life on hold. As an adult Kate leaves her parents Cambridge home to work in London and soon comes into the orbit of a well known motivational life coach Della with very unpredictable results.
This is a good psychological thriller with moments of darkness which keep you interested throughout. The characterisation is good from the malleable, naive Kate to Queen Bee, tour de force, powerhouse Della who becomes less and less likeable as the novel progresses. There are a number of intriguing themes that run through the book from obsession and attachment, to control and manipulation and betrayal and abandonment. The latter is especially important as it’s something Kate feels from the point at which Scarlett leaves home and the portrayal of the families life halting in its tracks is extremely well done. Kate is easy to control as it’s been a feature of her life for the bulk of it, it traps and ensnares her. The mystery of Scarlett permeates all and is a puzzle which keeps reappearing throughout and the impact on Kate seems never ending. There is plenty of tension, some good twists, there are scenes that are very unsettling, filling you with unease and the deeper we go into the storyline you anticipate the inevitable ‘car crash’. The ending is very good as some of the fog surrounding Kate clears and she sees pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
Overall, this is a good slow burner thriller which makes for compelling reading.
With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins:Harper Fiction for the arc for an honest review.
This is a good psychological thriller with moments of darkness which keep you interested throughout. The characterisation is good from the malleable, naive Kate to Queen Bee, tour de force, powerhouse Della who becomes less and less likeable as the novel progresses. There are a number of intriguing themes that run through the book from obsession and attachment, to control and manipulation and betrayal and abandonment. The latter is especially important as it’s something Kate feels from the point at which Scarlett leaves home and the portrayal of the families life halting in its tracks is extremely well done. Kate is easy to control as it’s been a feature of her life for the bulk of it, it traps and ensnares her. The mystery of Scarlett permeates all and is a puzzle which keeps reappearing throughout and the impact on Kate seems never ending. There is plenty of tension, some good twists, there are scenes that are very unsettling, filling you with unease and the deeper we go into the storyline you anticipate the inevitable ‘car crash’. The ending is very good as some of the fog surrounding Kate clears and she sees pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
Overall, this is a good slow burner thriller which makes for compelling reading.
With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins:Harper Fiction for the arc for an honest review.
May 9, 2021
Twenty five year old Kate has finally left the cocoon of her home and ventured to London to find her sister, Scarlett, who disappeared 15 years ago. Kate is lonely, overwhelmed with things and lacks confidence so she falls easy prey to Della. Della Hunter is a very sophisticated life coach and invites Kate to join her group of young women who are seeking motivation and confidence to pursue their life goals.
Della is a force of nature, a very compelling woman, with a handsome, successful husband and 2 well behaved and polished young children. Kate can’t help comparing herself to the perfect Della, wanting what she has, wanting her life. But as she gets more sucked in to Della’s orbit you realise this isn’t going to end well. Alarm bells should be ringing for Kate but she is too far down the rabbit hole to hear them. She gets inextricably tied to this family and she doesn’t realise until it’s too late that she has been tricked and manipulated.
I couldn’t really get into this story and definitely couldn’t relate to Kate. I kept wondering if she was really that dumb or just hopelessly naive as she lurched from one bad decision to the next. I know she was stitched up but still, you have to take some responsibility for your actions, you can’t go through life blaming others. In any case, I found the plot quite implausible. I didn’t think any of the characters acted rationally. Why did Kate’s mum hold on to her secrets for so long - in trying to “protect” Kate she only ended up damaging her even more. He father was a cardboard cutout. Liam was sweet but honestly, what guy would hang around for a madwoman like Kate. Della was manipulative and cold and the perfect husband turned out to be less than perfect. But the dubious prize for the most annoying character has to go to Kate. What a miserable drink of water she was! When she finally found some gumption she went and did something stupid. Again!
So no, I didn’t enjoy this book. It seemed awfully long to me and dragged in places and the writing, while good, was not good enough to save the book for me. Having said all that, I am aware that others enjoyed the book more than I did. It just wasn’t a good fit for me at this time. I received an advance review copy for free through Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Della is a force of nature, a very compelling woman, with a handsome, successful husband and 2 well behaved and polished young children. Kate can’t help comparing herself to the perfect Della, wanting what she has, wanting her life. But as she gets more sucked in to Della’s orbit you realise this isn’t going to end well. Alarm bells should be ringing for Kate but she is too far down the rabbit hole to hear them. She gets inextricably tied to this family and she doesn’t realise until it’s too late that she has been tricked and manipulated.
I couldn’t really get into this story and definitely couldn’t relate to Kate. I kept wondering if she was really that dumb or just hopelessly naive as she lurched from one bad decision to the next. I know she was stitched up but still, you have to take some responsibility for your actions, you can’t go through life blaming others. In any case, I found the plot quite implausible. I didn’t think any of the characters acted rationally. Why did Kate’s mum hold on to her secrets for so long - in trying to “protect” Kate she only ended up damaging her even more. He father was a cardboard cutout. Liam was sweet but honestly, what guy would hang around for a madwoman like Kate. Della was manipulative and cold and the perfect husband turned out to be less than perfect. But the dubious prize for the most annoying character has to go to Kate. What a miserable drink of water she was! When she finally found some gumption she went and did something stupid. Again!
So no, I didn’t enjoy this book. It seemed awfully long to me and dragged in places and the writing, while good, was not good enough to save the book for me. Having said all that, I am aware that others enjoyed the book more than I did. It just wasn’t a good fit for me at this time. I received an advance review copy for free through Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 14, 2021
In The House Guest, 25-year old Kate is invited to France for the summer by Della, a charismatic life coach, ostensibly to look after Della’s children. But Kate is also encouraged to see herself as a guest, and the boundaries continue to blur as she becomes embroiled within the family, eventually crossing a line from which there’s no return. In one scene, Kate is expected to serve drinks to the family’s guests before being invited to join them for a casual dinner. In another, she is left to rescue Della’s son from the swimming pool, while Della sits by, preoccupied, on her laptop.
Kate judges Della for her lack of interest in her own children, just as Emira judges Alix. Though at least Emira is allowed to wear her own clothes to the Thanksgiving dinner – usually, as her boyfriend points out, Alix makes her wear “a uniform”. In Alix’s eyes, the embroidered polo shirts she leaves lying around are a handy way for Emira to keep her clothes clean, but he accuses Alix of “hiring black people to raise your children and putting your family crest on them”. A gritty, sinister and deeply compulsive thriller featuring a master manipulator. Highly recommended.
Kate judges Della for her lack of interest in her own children, just as Emira judges Alix. Though at least Emira is allowed to wear her own clothes to the Thanksgiving dinner – usually, as her boyfriend points out, Alix makes her wear “a uniform”. In Alix’s eyes, the embroidered polo shirts she leaves lying around are a handy way for Emira to keep her clothes clean, but he accuses Alix of “hiring black people to raise your children and putting your family crest on them”. A gritty, sinister and deeply compulsive thriller featuring a master manipulator. Highly recommended.
July 31, 2023
Kate has moved to London to find her sister Scarlett who disappeared 15 years ago.
Kate has a chance meeting with life coach Delia who invites her to a coaching session in her home. Kate who is feeling lonely and at a crossroads with her life, accepts the offer.
Kate meets Delia's husband and 2 children she soon becomes jealous of their lifestyle and becomes attached to the children. Delia invites her to France for the summer as her live in nanny. But are they the perfect family and what secrets are they hiding!!
A slow burner to start with but as the tension increases this soon becomes an addictive chilling thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kate has a chance meeting with life coach Delia who invites her to a coaching session in her home. Kate who is feeling lonely and at a crossroads with her life, accepts the offer.
Kate meets Delia's husband and 2 children she soon becomes jealous of their lifestyle and becomes attached to the children. Delia invites her to France for the summer as her live in nanny. But are they the perfect family and what secrets are they hiding!!
A slow burner to start with but as the tension increases this soon becomes an addictive chilling thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2023
Not bad, if you are prepared to forget that characters in books sometimes have to act illogical to actually make a story ( ie if they did as we would in the same situation it would be book over ) then there is a goodish story here……Kate finds herself lulled into a false sense of security with her new ‘friend’ Della and in fact let’s her take over her life…..this is all with the added tale of Kate’s missing sister from years ago as a kind of background story…..Kate cannot see the blatantly obvious nastiness of Della and so Della traps her into what we now say is a life of slavery…..until Kate does something she really regrets and things go from bad to worse
I carried on reading as I wanted to know how it would all end and what would happen to Kate and Della
I have read a review that said the ending was a ‘flat as a pancake’ and nodded in agreement at this, because it was
3 Stars
6/10
I carried on reading as I wanted to know how it would all end and what would happen to Kate and Della
I have read a review that said the ending was a ‘flat as a pancake’ and nodded in agreement at this, because it was
3 Stars
6/10
May 19, 2021
Kate’s elder sister disappeared when she was nine years old. She adored her and she never got over it. Fact is, nobody seems to know what happened to her but everybody thinks she just left and never looked back. Her family never recovered and as a result their parents kept Kate close to them. At twenty-five she still lives at home and her parents monitor her every move. When Kate gets a tip that her sister was seen by somebody at the Camden Market in London, Kate finally manages to get away from home. She lives in a share and works in a shitty café and she hardly makes end meet. One day a woman approaches her while she is at work and seems to sense Kate’s misery. She invites her so join her self-help group. Della, that’s her name, seems to take a special interest in Kate. Kate is flattered and gets more and more involved in Della’s picture perfect family with a handsome husband and two adorable children. Della then invites Kate to join them on their annual eight weeks holiday in their house in France as a nanny. Kate needs the money and she definitely wants to spend more time with Della and her family. But soon it turns out, like always, that not everything is as it seems.
I read some books with really annoying characters lately. Kate surely is among my top three of stupid female protagonists in a book. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a character making one stupid decision after the other. Kate is so naïve, so not prepared for the real life, it is unbelievable. Nothing makes sense in this far-fetched story. I will not get into much detail because it would be full of spoilers then. But seriously, this story makes no sense. Kate’s family, especially her mother kept some secrets and I really don’t know why. At least telling one of them would have helped Kate to understand the disappearance of her sister and therefore with her mental health. I really can’t understand why her mother kept her suffering like that other than to keep her under her wing as long as possible. And that is pathetic. Della stayed a secret for me. She is cold and manipulative and shows clearly signs of being a psychopath. But Kate really is the annoying factor in this book.
The story also dragged a bit and I never found myself captivated by it. It is so unlikely and, I am repeating myself, Kate is so stupid, I never connected to any character. I saw the twists coming and was not surprised by the end. I found it unsatisfying that not all is tied up at the end. There are a lot of loose ends after the last page. What annoyed me as well was, especially in the first half of the book, every chapter ended with some kind of foreboding sentence like “if I knew then what I know now”. That got boring after a while. Also I wondered if Kate was not able to use a mobile phone properly. She uses a laptop for skype but obviously she is not able to make some internet research or stay in contact with family and friends via WhatsApp or text message. She never seems to have heard of Facebook etc. These are such normal things for most people it seems fallen out of time that Kate did not even think about it.
I must say I did not enjoy this book. I found it almost boring, highly unrealistic and predictable. It promised more that it could fulfill at the end.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I read some books with really annoying characters lately. Kate surely is among my top three of stupid female protagonists in a book. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a character making one stupid decision after the other. Kate is so naïve, so not prepared for the real life, it is unbelievable. Nothing makes sense in this far-fetched story. I will not get into much detail because it would be full of spoilers then. But seriously, this story makes no sense. Kate’s family, especially her mother kept some secrets and I really don’t know why. At least telling one of them would have helped Kate to understand the disappearance of her sister and therefore with her mental health. I really can’t understand why her mother kept her suffering like that other than to keep her under her wing as long as possible. And that is pathetic. Della stayed a secret for me. She is cold and manipulative and shows clearly signs of being a psychopath. But Kate really is the annoying factor in this book.
The story also dragged a bit and I never found myself captivated by it. It is so unlikely and, I am repeating myself, Kate is so stupid, I never connected to any character. I saw the twists coming and was not surprised by the end. I found it unsatisfying that not all is tied up at the end. There are a lot of loose ends after the last page. What annoyed me as well was, especially in the first half of the book, every chapter ended with some kind of foreboding sentence like “if I knew then what I know now”. That got boring after a while. Also I wondered if Kate was not able to use a mobile phone properly. She uses a laptop for skype but obviously she is not able to make some internet research or stay in contact with family and friends via WhatsApp or text message. She never seems to have heard of Facebook etc. These are such normal things for most people it seems fallen out of time that Kate did not even think about it.
I must say I did not enjoy this book. I found it almost boring, highly unrealistic and predictable. It promised more that it could fulfill at the end.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 20, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
I was asked to review this book as part of a ARC Netgalley read.
Oh my god!
This book is absolutely amazing!
I love the twists and the turns in this book, with others you sort of expect what is coming next but with this it was a complete surprise!
I love the main character Kate! Della is awful!
This book is a highly recommended read, it kept me hooked throughout and it was so hard to put down!
I look forward to reading more books by author Charlotte Northedge in the future.
Beckie x💛x
@readwith_rjm1988xx
I was asked to review this book as part of a ARC Netgalley read.
Oh my god!
This book is absolutely amazing!
I love the twists and the turns in this book, with others you sort of expect what is coming next but with this it was a complete surprise!
I love the main character Kate! Della is awful!
This book is a highly recommended read, it kept me hooked throughout and it was so hard to put down!
I look forward to reading more books by author Charlotte Northedge in the future.
Beckie x💛x
@readwith_rjm1988xx
February 10, 2025
When Kate arrives in London, she doesn’t know many people. But a chance encounter with Della, a life coach, helps Kate feel more confident about the future. Before long, Kate is embroiled in Della’s life and very much enjoying being her focus - so when an opportunity arises to spend the summer in their family home in France she jumps at it. But as Della’s attention wanes and Kate starts to see a different side to her, she wonders if this trip abroad might just be the biggest mistake of her life…
A really enjoyable fast paced and intriguing thriller. I listened to the audio and the narration was brilliant. So much so that I raced through it in just a few days.
A really enjoyable fast paced and intriguing thriller. I listened to the audio and the narration was brilliant. So much so that I raced through it in just a few days.
November 25, 2021
Suspenseful
June 3, 2021
A long time family secret is proving to become a challenge for Kate. Her sister Scarlett has vanished years ago and she leaves her parent’s house to pursue her dream of living in London and maybe finding out what happened with her sibling.
Soon after, she gets seen by a life coach woman who gets obsessed by Kate and takes her under her wing. Mesmerised by her glamorous life and person, Kate is wishful dreaming that she can one day be like Della, this strong incredible woman that has a perfect life with a perfect husband and children.
As usual, nothing is proving to be what it seems and everything takes a very twisted turn and that’s when the real puzzle comes together.
I felt bad for Kate. I didn’t like her as a dominant character too much because she seemed too childish for me, but she has to go through so much here, alone, scared and especially as a new mother. The ones that should have been more closed to her aren’t helping at all, and that’s her mother. Liam is nice, but I wanted to know a bit more about him and maybe to have them interact more.
Della is the perfect villain here. A very calculated woman, obsessed to the brim and manipulative in every step on the way.
All in all it’s a suspenseful story that many readers will enjoy.
Soon after, she gets seen by a life coach woman who gets obsessed by Kate and takes her under her wing. Mesmerised by her glamorous life and person, Kate is wishful dreaming that she can one day be like Della, this strong incredible woman that has a perfect life with a perfect husband and children.
As usual, nothing is proving to be what it seems and everything takes a very twisted turn and that’s when the real puzzle comes together.
I felt bad for Kate. I didn’t like her as a dominant character too much because she seemed too childish for me, but she has to go through so much here, alone, scared and especially as a new mother. The ones that should have been more closed to her aren’t helping at all, and that’s her mother. Liam is nice, but I wanted to know a bit more about him and maybe to have them interact more.
Della is the perfect villain here. A very calculated woman, obsessed to the brim and manipulative in every step on the way.
All in all it’s a suspenseful story that many readers will enjoy.
May 13, 2021
When Kate moves to London fifteen years after the disappearance of her sister Scarlett, she’s in need of a friend. A chance meeting leads Kate to Della, a life coach who runs support groups for young women, dubbed by Kate as ‘the Janes.’ Della takes a special interest in Kate, and Kate soon finds herself entangled in Della’s life – her house, her family, and her husband. It’s only when she realises that she’s in too deep that Della’s veneer begins to crumble.
A well written debut novel, which I found to be compelling reading, it wasn’t a comfortable read but I was loathe to put it down. The characterisations are good & Della goes from being likeable to well read it to find out but a cat toying with a mouse sprang to mind. There are twists & turns in this engrossing read. An accomplished first novel & I look forward to reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A well written debut novel, which I found to be compelling reading, it wasn’t a comfortable read but I was loathe to put it down. The characterisations are good & Della goes from being likeable to well read it to find out but a cat toying with a mouse sprang to mind. There are twists & turns in this engrossing read. An accomplished first novel & I look forward to reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
June 19, 2021
Thank you harperfictionpr and harperfiction for gifting to me this beautiful book.
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I don't read many psycological thrillers without some form of whodunnit so I wasn't sure what to expect from this one.
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But wow this author knows how to write that intense creepy feeling with lots of foreshadowing. This book has many twists and includes themes of manipulation, revenge and low self esteem. It's not for the feint of heart and the ending left me rather unsettled (so maybe not the best one to read right before trying to sleep 😅)
I can't believe this is a debut. The writing is great. The beginning was a bit of a slow burner bit once it caught its stride the ending was gripping and a lot of clever things came together.
You'll find yourself screaming at the main character, (shes really quite naive). But I was hooked, waiting to see what bad decision she'd make next. I think it would make a great bookclub book as you'd have a lot to talk about!
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I don't read many psycological thrillers without some form of whodunnit so I wasn't sure what to expect from this one.
.
But wow this author knows how to write that intense creepy feeling with lots of foreshadowing. This book has many twists and includes themes of manipulation, revenge and low self esteem. It's not for the feint of heart and the ending left me rather unsettled (so maybe not the best one to read right before trying to sleep 😅)
I can't believe this is a debut. The writing is great. The beginning was a bit of a slow burner bit once it caught its stride the ending was gripping and a lot of clever things came together.
You'll find yourself screaming at the main character, (shes really quite naive). But I was hooked, waiting to see what bad decision she'd make next. I think it would make a great bookclub book as you'd have a lot to talk about!
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November 21, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The House Guest by Charlotte Northedge in exchange for an honest review.
This was a twisted thriller which had me uneasy and on edge throughout the whole novel. I had a sense of impending doom whilst reading and yet I just couldn’t stop till I’d finished it. It was really well written and ominous throughout. And that ending!! I would never have expected that.
This is a dark and disturbing book. It talks of losing a child, trauma with motherhood and having your child taken from you. If this is something you struggle reading out I would be careful before reading.
This was a twisted thriller which had me uneasy and on edge throughout the whole novel. I had a sense of impending doom whilst reading and yet I just couldn’t stop till I’d finished it. It was really well written and ominous throughout. And that ending!! I would never have expected that.
This is a dark and disturbing book. It talks of losing a child, trauma with motherhood and having your child taken from you. If this is something you struggle reading out I would be careful before reading.
July 16, 2024
Maybe 3.5, great story but naff ending :/
April 17, 2021
The House Guest felt like a very typical thriller to start off with. There’s a girl down on her luck, a creepy self-help group run by a mysterious woman and plenty of intrigue and confusion along the way. It’s only told from one perspective and in one timeline which is quite against the grain from the usual thriller books being published at the moment. It’s quite a slow build to start with – the action doesn’t really get going until well over halfway and I couldn’t actually guess where it was going until this point either which was a refreshing change! I didn’t like the fact that most of the chapters finished with an ominous foreshadowing though (eg: ‘if only I knew then what I knew now’ etc). Although this can really help to keep a reader hooked into reading more, it felt very overdone here and it got tiring very quickly.
The twist reveal as to what was happening was shocking and took the book in a very different direction. I couldn’t help thinking how many mistakes Kate made along the way though and I’m not sure this made her completely realistic. One or two bad decisions is fair enough but I don’t think she made a single good decision after she went to France. I also really struggled with Della’s motivations, although the author tries to spell them out towards the end. It just didn’t feel real and I struggled to understand why she did what she did to get something she didn’t really want in the first place (apologies for being vague – I’m trying to remain spoiler free!)
The ending confused me further. There’s a sub-plot running through the book about Kate’s lost sister and we get a bit of a tenuous link and things explained in the climax along with a shock reveal about who Della might be. However, this didn’t really explain anything, in fact it sort of left the book open to a sequel to explain things further. I’m not really sure if this is what the author intended and I don’t really think I’d be too interested in reading another book with the same characters – I just wished more had been explained in this book to make a satisfying ending.
Overall, The House Guest is a creepy thriller but with unrealistic characters and a unsatisfying ending, I was left a little disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK – HarperFiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
The twist reveal as to what was happening was shocking and took the book in a very different direction. I couldn’t help thinking how many mistakes Kate made along the way though and I’m not sure this made her completely realistic. One or two bad decisions is fair enough but I don’t think she made a single good decision after she went to France. I also really struggled with Della’s motivations, although the author tries to spell them out towards the end. It just didn’t feel real and I struggled to understand why she did what she did to get something she didn’t really want in the first place (apologies for being vague – I’m trying to remain spoiler free!)
The ending confused me further. There’s a sub-plot running through the book about Kate’s lost sister and we get a bit of a tenuous link and things explained in the climax along with a shock reveal about who Della might be. However, this didn’t really explain anything, in fact it sort of left the book open to a sequel to explain things further. I’m not really sure if this is what the author intended and I don’t really think I’d be too interested in reading another book with the same characters – I just wished more had been explained in this book to make a satisfying ending.
Overall, The House Guest is a creepy thriller but with unrealistic characters and a unsatisfying ending, I was left a little disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK – HarperFiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
May 8, 2021
Desperately Seeking Scarlett ( my own alternative title for this compulsive psychological thriller!!). Actual rating 4.5 ⭐️
Kate is a woman fixated on the past, the disappearance of her beloved older sister Scarlett when she was ten years old leading to a lifetime of obsessive searching. Taking her from her parents home in Cambridge to London, Scarlett’s last known whereabouts, Kate’s unhealthy obsession and sense of abandonment morphs into a fixation of a different kind. Lured into the inner sanctum of life coach and tv personality Della Hunter by visions of a more hopeful future and an impression of what happy family life should look like, as opposed to her own, Kate takes her first tentative steps on a path from which there is no turning back. Charlotte Northedge has written a dark, compelling thriller, unsettling the reader from the very first page with her acknowledgement of the insecurities and anxieties that afflict the younger generation. Through her characters she’s captured how easy it is to idolise those who project an image of perfection, buying into the fallacy with a haste and a hunger for the unattainable. Wrapped within these notions of perfect lives is also an idealised version of motherhood that doesn’t augur well for the characters here who are either caught in a cycle of perpetuating these myths or susceptible to their power, infiltrating their innermost thoughts.
With a gripping and intriguing prologue that bears the hallmark of a great psychological thriller, this storyline reminded me of the childhood poem The Spider and the Fly, with the author adding a modern day twist to this old cautionary tale. As a deeply unhappy and tormented figure, friendless and alone in a strange city with only housemate Liam and her cafe job to offer temporary distractions from her search, I could understand the allure for Kate of a welcoming, friendly face amongst a sea of strangers. Following a chance meeting, Della invites Kate into her group of equally lost young women all soul searching and looking for their own slice of perfection, instantly recognising Kate’s vulnerability, and fragile mental state. Taking her under her wing in ways that traverse professional boundaries Kate is bombarded and blinded by evidence of Della’s successful and contented life,living with her husband Mark and two children in their beautiful home, suggesting her new friend holds the key to Kate’s own future happiness. As the group’s charismatic mentor, all these women are inspired by and aspire to become the spitting image of Della Hunter and it is this adulation that sparks off a tremor of disquiet , a disturbing sense of dread that deepens exponentially until it reaches its final crescendo.
The pace is seductively slow, gradually building as Della and Kate’s lives become further entangled but I enjoy this type of thriller that creeps up on you so that any twist is more likely to take you by surprise. As the author moves the setting from London to France and back to Cambridge, the intensity of the storyline heats up from a flickering flame to a burning furnace, where emotions run wildly out of control. Tentacles of unease reach out to grab hold of your attention from the very beginning, pulling you into a spiral of obsessive, manipulative, controlling and delusional behaviour from which there seems to be no obvious escape, either for the characters or the reader! A predator is on the prowl and the hunt is wickedly entrancing, potential weaknesses are spotted and capitalised upon so that all thoughts of Scarlett’s disappearance melt into the background but never fade away completely. This is an element that regularly resurfaces, and one to watch out for as the insidious manner in which Della and Kate’s lives entwine takes hold. The idea of entrapment becomes more sinister, the feeling that their situation is preventable diminishing with every lie told and with every secret withheld. I love this aspect of the author’s writing which manages to somehow ‘normalise’ behaviour that is far beyond acceptable so that the only way forward is for the characters to endure whatever is forthcoming and hope that they remain relatively intact by the time all is said and done. I was almost delirious with anticipation when the point finally arrives for an escalation in plot twists which are expertly embedded in the narrative, catching me off guard. I blame the excellent portrayal of the two main characters for my shortsightedness! As the author steers this uncontrollable series of events to a gratifying halt, leaving some questions unanswered which suited me just fine, I have only one further comment to add. READ THIS NOW!
The House Guest is a cleverly written and well executed thriller that really impressed me and I’m quite a harsh critic when it comes to this genre. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Kate is a woman fixated on the past, the disappearance of her beloved older sister Scarlett when she was ten years old leading to a lifetime of obsessive searching. Taking her from her parents home in Cambridge to London, Scarlett’s last known whereabouts, Kate’s unhealthy obsession and sense of abandonment morphs into a fixation of a different kind. Lured into the inner sanctum of life coach and tv personality Della Hunter by visions of a more hopeful future and an impression of what happy family life should look like, as opposed to her own, Kate takes her first tentative steps on a path from which there is no turning back. Charlotte Northedge has written a dark, compelling thriller, unsettling the reader from the very first page with her acknowledgement of the insecurities and anxieties that afflict the younger generation. Through her characters she’s captured how easy it is to idolise those who project an image of perfection, buying into the fallacy with a haste and a hunger for the unattainable. Wrapped within these notions of perfect lives is also an idealised version of motherhood that doesn’t augur well for the characters here who are either caught in a cycle of perpetuating these myths or susceptible to their power, infiltrating their innermost thoughts.
With a gripping and intriguing prologue that bears the hallmark of a great psychological thriller, this storyline reminded me of the childhood poem The Spider and the Fly, with the author adding a modern day twist to this old cautionary tale. As a deeply unhappy and tormented figure, friendless and alone in a strange city with only housemate Liam and her cafe job to offer temporary distractions from her search, I could understand the allure for Kate of a welcoming, friendly face amongst a sea of strangers. Following a chance meeting, Della invites Kate into her group of equally lost young women all soul searching and looking for their own slice of perfection, instantly recognising Kate’s vulnerability, and fragile mental state. Taking her under her wing in ways that traverse professional boundaries Kate is bombarded and blinded by evidence of Della’s successful and contented life,living with her husband Mark and two children in their beautiful home, suggesting her new friend holds the key to Kate’s own future happiness. As the group’s charismatic mentor, all these women are inspired by and aspire to become the spitting image of Della Hunter and it is this adulation that sparks off a tremor of disquiet , a disturbing sense of dread that deepens exponentially until it reaches its final crescendo.
The pace is seductively slow, gradually building as Della and Kate’s lives become further entangled but I enjoy this type of thriller that creeps up on you so that any twist is more likely to take you by surprise. As the author moves the setting from London to France and back to Cambridge, the intensity of the storyline heats up from a flickering flame to a burning furnace, where emotions run wildly out of control. Tentacles of unease reach out to grab hold of your attention from the very beginning, pulling you into a spiral of obsessive, manipulative, controlling and delusional behaviour from which there seems to be no obvious escape, either for the characters or the reader! A predator is on the prowl and the hunt is wickedly entrancing, potential weaknesses are spotted and capitalised upon so that all thoughts of Scarlett’s disappearance melt into the background but never fade away completely. This is an element that regularly resurfaces, and one to watch out for as the insidious manner in which Della and Kate’s lives entwine takes hold. The idea of entrapment becomes more sinister, the feeling that their situation is preventable diminishing with every lie told and with every secret withheld. I love this aspect of the author’s writing which manages to somehow ‘normalise’ behaviour that is far beyond acceptable so that the only way forward is for the characters to endure whatever is forthcoming and hope that they remain relatively intact by the time all is said and done. I was almost delirious with anticipation when the point finally arrives for an escalation in plot twists which are expertly embedded in the narrative, catching me off guard. I blame the excellent portrayal of the two main characters for my shortsightedness! As the author steers this uncontrollable series of events to a gratifying halt, leaving some questions unanswered which suited me just fine, I have only one further comment to add. READ THIS NOW!
The House Guest is a cleverly written and well executed thriller that really impressed me and I’m quite a harsh critic when it comes to this genre. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2021
‘The House guest’ has a brilliant premise centering on Kate who has moved to London to continue to search for her sister Scarlett but also to gain her independence. Unsuspecting Kate has found a mentor in the glamorous and sophisticated Della and begins attending her life coaching sessions. As Della begins to influence many parts of Kate’s life she worries that things are getting a bit out of hand but cannot see a way out.
On the one hand it is an original and twisty thriller but the ending for me was a bit frustrating but it may have left some aspects open for a follow up. I loved the way this novel was paced because little parts are added to and wrapped up throughout the storyline. This book is a strong, psychological thriller which will have you shouting ‘don’t do it!’ like a genuine page turner should.
On the one hand it is an original and twisty thriller but the ending for me was a bit frustrating but it may have left some aspects open for a follow up. I loved the way this novel was paced because little parts are added to and wrapped up throughout the storyline. This book is a strong, psychological thriller which will have you shouting ‘don’t do it!’ like a genuine page turner should.
September 11, 2022
I am not going to lie - I really really struggled with the first 100-150 pages of this. Nothing much was happening and although it wasn't awful, I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up and read it. I almost gave up more than once but I am so glad I persevered as I actually really enjoyed when it all started coming together and everything started to make more sense.
I would recommend but give it time to let you enjoy it!
3.5 stats rounded up to 4
I would recommend but give it time to let you enjoy it!
3.5 stats rounded up to 4
August 29, 2023
I spent this entire book groaning "You're killing me, Kate."
It was honestly like watching someone be shocked by a jack in the box every time it popped open. For like an hour.
But you watch it for the full hour and that's on you.
It was honestly like watching someone be shocked by a jack in the box every time it popped open. For like an hour.
But you watch it for the full hour and that's on you.
September 14, 2023
2.5* Just OK for me interesting ending tho!
June 17, 2021
The disappearance of her sister, Scarlett, fifteen years ago left a such a void in Kate’s life, that when she receives news of a possible sighting in London, she decides to leave her job, family and home to search for her.
Shortly after she arrives, Kate meets life coach Della who invites her along to her women’s support group. Della soon takes Kate under her wing, offering her coaching skills in return for helping Della with her children. At first, she helps out with occassional baby sitting but soon becomes a regular fixture within the family, so much so that she’s invited to spend two months with them as a live-in nanny at their house in France. Soon Kate finds herself more involved in the family than she should be, in particular Della’s husband, Jonathan. It is at this point that the storyline becomes very interesting, with several twists and turns making this an engrossing read.
As a debut novel this was well written with likeable characters – even though I despised Della, but then I think that was the authors intention!
Thanks to NetGalley UK and HarperCollins UK for the review copy.
Shortly after she arrives, Kate meets life coach Della who invites her along to her women’s support group. Della soon takes Kate under her wing, offering her coaching skills in return for helping Della with her children. At first, she helps out with occassional baby sitting but soon becomes a regular fixture within the family, so much so that she’s invited to spend two months with them as a live-in nanny at their house in France. Soon Kate finds herself more involved in the family than she should be, in particular Della’s husband, Jonathan. It is at this point that the storyline becomes very interesting, with several twists and turns making this an engrossing read.
As a debut novel this was well written with likeable characters – even though I despised Della, but then I think that was the authors intention!
Thanks to NetGalley UK and HarperCollins UK for the review copy.
November 10, 2022
I read this book voraciously. The narrative is exciting in the situation, while stretching the imagination, is a perfect set up for a mystery. But in spite of the solid writing, the protagonist is just plain stupid, so stupid you continually hope there’s a twist that will save the book. It’s one thing to be naïve, but it’s entirely different to be willfully ignorant to what is apparent to everyone around her. As the contrivances pileup, and our heroine signs her life away, we just can’t give a damn. I mean, come on! The author has promise, but she cannot expect us to care about someone who sees all the signs leading to her destruction and willingly accepts them.
February 21, 2021
I really enjoyed The House Guest.
Kate moves to London in search of her sister and she's in need of a friend.
And then Kate meets Della, a life coach who runs support groups for young women, dubbed by Kate as ‘the Janes.’
Della takes a particularly special interest in Kate, and Kate soon finds herself entangled in Della’s life – her house, her family, and her husband.
It’s only when she realises that she’s in too deep that Della’s veneer begins to crumble, and the warnings from ‘the Janes’ begin to come true.
Can Kate find her way back? How far will Kate be pushed? Why is Della so invested in Kate?
There's lots of dark moments in this book that show just how far people will go when they are desperate.
This is a twisty psychological thriller that makes you want to keep reading on to find out what will happen next.
Kate moves to London in search of her sister and she's in need of a friend.
And then Kate meets Della, a life coach who runs support groups for young women, dubbed by Kate as ‘the Janes.’
Della takes a particularly special interest in Kate, and Kate soon finds herself entangled in Della’s life – her house, her family, and her husband.
It’s only when she realises that she’s in too deep that Della’s veneer begins to crumble, and the warnings from ‘the Janes’ begin to come true.
Can Kate find her way back? How far will Kate be pushed? Why is Della so invested in Kate?
There's lots of dark moments in this book that show just how far people will go when they are desperate.
This is a twisty psychological thriller that makes you want to keep reading on to find out what will happen next.
May 14, 2021
Kate is working in a low-paid job – waitressing in a very ordinary café in London. She isn’t paid much but it has allowed her to leave her parental home and come to London. It is clear from the outset that Kate is unhappy and lonely. She had hoped to find a better job, and she had hoped to find a better place to live – currently she is house-sharing with Liam and others. The house sounds awful, mould on the walls etc. She is barely making enough to feed herself. Her hopes and dreams was to find a way to further her writing career whilst in London. Her other, more pressing need is to find her missing sister, who had left home when Kate was a child – without explanation, without getting in touch. Kate is convinced that she will be able to find her. Plus she is worrying about her parents, Dad has Parkinson’s Disease and Mum is his carer – but they will eventually need funds for more help. Kate had hoped that she would be able to provide. Clearly she has plenty on her mind.
At work she watches the yummy mummies. Groomed, glossed, confident – the have-it-alls, emphasising her lack, her failure. Then one day she is approached by one of these dazzling women. Slowly Della, who is a bit of a celebrity, a life-guru persuades Kate to join her classes with other similar women – classes to be held in her magnificent North London home. Poor Kate is mesmerised by the perfect home, perfect family, perfect husband. How does Della do it?
Wow, I loved this book. I couldn’t wait to read it, didn’t want to stop reading it. I was intrigued and whilst I queried decisions Kate made, I didn’t project forward enough and try to figure out what was going on. Sure, it was clear Della was not the gorgeous person she projected, but what was the agenda. As for Kate. She needed a good dose of reality – not the reality she was thinking – but good sense. Working my way through the book I would think ‘well that’s a bit odd, why would he/she/they do that’ or ‘Kate, think what you are doing’. Or ‘why doesn’t Kate tell Della ‘that’s not on’.
One, tiny, tiny niggle. I was surprised at the twists and secrets that were exposed at the end of the book, and I can see why Della did what she did, but I couldn’t understand it, didn’t understand how she would want to do that.
Would not hesitate to recommend it and I think it would make a brilliant film.
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
At work she watches the yummy mummies. Groomed, glossed, confident – the have-it-alls, emphasising her lack, her failure. Then one day she is approached by one of these dazzling women. Slowly Della, who is a bit of a celebrity, a life-guru persuades Kate to join her classes with other similar women – classes to be held in her magnificent North London home. Poor Kate is mesmerised by the perfect home, perfect family, perfect husband. How does Della do it?
Wow, I loved this book. I couldn’t wait to read it, didn’t want to stop reading it. I was intrigued and whilst I queried decisions Kate made, I didn’t project forward enough and try to figure out what was going on. Sure, it was clear Della was not the gorgeous person she projected, but what was the agenda. As for Kate. She needed a good dose of reality – not the reality she was thinking – but good sense. Working my way through the book I would think ‘well that’s a bit odd, why would he/she/they do that’ or ‘Kate, think what you are doing’. Or ‘why doesn’t Kate tell Della ‘that’s not on’.
One, tiny, tiny niggle. I was surprised at the twists and secrets that were exposed at the end of the book, and I can see why Della did what she did, but I couldn’t understand it, didn’t understand how she would want to do that.
Would not hesitate to recommend it and I think it would make a brilliant film.
Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
June 21, 2021
This is a first book by this author; however, it is well written and provides us with a very imaginative and unusual story line, which hooked me from the start. The two main characters are Kate and Della. Kate has travelled up to London from Cambridge in an effort to track down her long-lost sister Scarlett, who has apparently been seen working in Camden market. Della is a life coach who gathers a group of lost souls seeking inner motivation at her home every week. Kate is sharing a flat and has found work as a waitress in an organic café, in order to cover the costs of her stay in London. Kate and Della’s paths cross when Della visits the café when Kate is having a bad day. Della sympathises with Kate and invites her to come along to one of her life coaching sessions. From here on Kate’s involvement in Della’s life grows steadily and moves beyond the life coaching sessions to a point where Kate is baby sitting for Della’s two young children. As the story progresses, we learn more of the problems Kate has had growing up in Cambridge, with a family that can not get over the disappearance of Scarlett as a young teenager. The next twist to the story comes when Della invites Kate to a house party and introduces her to friends. Building on that party, Della and husband Mark invite Kate to come with them and the children to France, where Kate, although acting as a nanny, also becomes “The House Guest”. From here on there are a series of bizarre happenings, which I can not reveal for fear of spoiling the various surprises that I certainly did not see coming. As already mentioned, the plot is very imaginative and as we move to a startling conclusion, we learn still more about Kate’s past and also some shocking details of Della’s past as an abandoned child and the intricate secrets that link her past with that of Kate and Scarlett and their parents. If you are looking for a story with a difference and a book that will keep you reading "just one more chapter" before you can put it down, this is a book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and its surprising outcome and I would like to thank Harper Collins & NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
June 2, 2021
Thrillers tend to start with something bad. It sets the scene. It puts you on edge and slowly ramps up the tension until the closing pages where everything falls into place and things turn towards normality once more. The House Guest takes another route; heavily downplaying what awaits in the concluding chapter. It's a move that pays off in the end, but in the meantime, you only get very slight hints that anything more is yet to come, reading more like a domestic drama with just a few teases that there may be an edge to come.
And so, it makes a decent enough read. The characters are strong and engaging enough to carry you onwards despite wondering if the height of tension will be a few slightly catty remarks about trivial matters. I even wondered if I was seeing clues to a mystery I'd made up in my own head at times. But it flows easily, it's just there was no real drive spurring me on. Pleasant, but not captivating.
Until everything came to fruition.
Those vague hints and possible clues? They're real. And cleverly misleading at times. Those seemingly simple chapters beforehand were a very delicate framework, carefully laid to set up the real story. Even in looking back, some aspects need a second thought just to see their real purpose. It's impressive, but also the biggest weakness - it's so subtle it could easily get lost. It makes for a thoughtful read but it loses out on some simple entertainment as a result.
Anyway, the final chapters do still deliver the rewards. Yes, there's the entertainment I was craving, but it doesn't sacrifice any of the qualities that had kept me reading in the first place. The qualities of the characters make the internal conflicts fascinating and believable. The careful story building pays off and allows the whole story to embrace grey areas, spaces where we can insert our own opinions and make the story our own. I can see it making for interesting discussions as it would be so easy for readers to come away with different feelings about how it plays out.
And so, it makes a decent enough read. The characters are strong and engaging enough to carry you onwards despite wondering if the height of tension will be a few slightly catty remarks about trivial matters. I even wondered if I was seeing clues to a mystery I'd made up in my own head at times. But it flows easily, it's just there was no real drive spurring me on. Pleasant, but not captivating.
Until everything came to fruition.
Those vague hints and possible clues? They're real. And cleverly misleading at times. Those seemingly simple chapters beforehand were a very delicate framework, carefully laid to set up the real story. Even in looking back, some aspects need a second thought just to see their real purpose. It's impressive, but also the biggest weakness - it's so subtle it could easily get lost. It makes for a thoughtful read but it loses out on some simple entertainment as a result.
Anyway, the final chapters do still deliver the rewards. Yes, there's the entertainment I was craving, but it doesn't sacrifice any of the qualities that had kept me reading in the first place. The qualities of the characters make the internal conflicts fascinating and believable. The careful story building pays off and allows the whole story to embrace grey areas, spaces where we can insert our own opinions and make the story our own. I can see it making for interesting discussions as it would be so easy for readers to come away with different feelings about how it plays out.
January 17, 2023
This novel was really unique and shows how idolising someone for the wrong reasons can be damaging. This novel had me quite emotional in some areas, as it was a heartbreaking story of betrayal and emotional manipulation and abuse.
Della takes a liking to Kate instantly after Kate attends one of Della’s wellness and therapy sessions. We learn later that the reason for this is because Kate confesses that she does not want children of her own. Della manipulates Kate into becoming a live-in nanny for her own 2 children, and we see Kate slowly warming towards the children through the novel. Kate idolises Della and begins to believe that she should have Della’s life, as she does not appreciate it enough.
The family go on holiday to France, and Kate goes with them. When Della is absent one weekend, Kate finds herself becoming more attracted to Della’s husband. One thing leads to another, and they end up in bed together. Kate later finds out she is pregnant.
Once Della is made aware, she begs Kate to keep the baby, explaining that she cannot have children of her own, and Kate can act as a surrogate and always be involved in the child’s life. This was a huge red flag - Della shows narcissistic tendencies throughout the novel and is clearly manipulative but charming simultaneously. Kate later gives birth to the baby and surprise, surprise, Della retracts permission for Kate to have anything to do with the child, and tells Kate not to come looking for them. Turns out that this was always the plan, and the whole situation had been elaborately set up. I felt heartbroken and devastated for Kate at this part, as she was evidently crushed and became depressed.
Towards the end, Kate makes the super wise decision to kidnap the child from Della, but is caught, and realises that Della can give the child a better life - the only life the child knows.
Ultimate plot twist at the end when we find out Della is actually Kate’s long-lost older sister, and had targeted her to get back at her parents for giving her up for adoption at a young age.
Della takes a liking to Kate instantly after Kate attends one of Della’s wellness and therapy sessions. We learn later that the reason for this is because Kate confesses that she does not want children of her own. Della manipulates Kate into becoming a live-in nanny for her own 2 children, and we see Kate slowly warming towards the children through the novel. Kate idolises Della and begins to believe that she should have Della’s life, as she does not appreciate it enough.
The family go on holiday to France, and Kate goes with them. When Della is absent one weekend, Kate finds herself becoming more attracted to Della’s husband. One thing leads to another, and they end up in bed together. Kate later finds out she is pregnant.
Once Della is made aware, she begs Kate to keep the baby, explaining that she cannot have children of her own, and Kate can act as a surrogate and always be involved in the child’s life. This was a huge red flag - Della shows narcissistic tendencies throughout the novel and is clearly manipulative but charming simultaneously. Kate later gives birth to the baby and surprise, surprise, Della retracts permission for Kate to have anything to do with the child, and tells Kate not to come looking for them. Turns out that this was always the plan, and the whole situation had been elaborately set up. I felt heartbroken and devastated for Kate at this part, as she was evidently crushed and became depressed.
Towards the end, Kate makes the super wise decision to kidnap the child from Della, but is caught, and realises that Della can give the child a better life - the only life the child knows.
Ultimate plot twist at the end when we find out Della is actually Kate’s long-lost older sister, and had targeted her to get back at her parents for giving her up for adoption at a young age.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2021
When an old school friend contacts Kate to tell her that she has seen Scarlett, Kates sister that disappeared fifteen years ago, she feels compelled to look for her. Once Scarlett had gone, it felt like the rest of the family could not move past it. Kate had only been ten at the time but had since suffered from depression. There had been a time when she had to stay in a psychiatric unit for a while. Kate did not want to raise her parents’ hopes, so had kept the sighting to herself. Kate moved to London to try and find Scarlett and got work there.
Della Hunter, a well-known life coach, had called into the cafe where Kate was working and suggested that Kate looked like she needed to talk to someone. Della invited her to join her ‘Janes group’ where women could open up to each other, without knowing their true identity. Kate soon felt a strong connection with Della, and a strange relationship began.
I thought that this book sounded good, but I was wrong. It was brilliant. I must admit to feeling quite smug thinking that I knew where this story was going, but I was PC Plod at the side of Sherlock Holmes, where solving this mystery was concerned.
The characters are transparent in so many ways, and yet we all play different roles to people and depending on who we are with determines the role we play. There are some great characters in this story that you see many sides too. It has its shocks and wow moments that I had to read again. I do like twisty chapters that take me by surprise, and this has more than its share.
A highly recommended read. Excellent story.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
Della Hunter, a well-known life coach, had called into the cafe where Kate was working and suggested that Kate looked like she needed to talk to someone. Della invited her to join her ‘Janes group’ where women could open up to each other, without knowing their true identity. Kate soon felt a strong connection with Della, and a strange relationship began.
I thought that this book sounded good, but I was wrong. It was brilliant. I must admit to feeling quite smug thinking that I knew where this story was going, but I was PC Plod at the side of Sherlock Holmes, where solving this mystery was concerned.
The characters are transparent in so many ways, and yet we all play different roles to people and depending on who we are with determines the role we play. There are some great characters in this story that you see many sides too. It has its shocks and wow moments that I had to read again. I do like twisty chapters that take me by surprise, and this has more than its share.
A highly recommended read. Excellent story.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
March 27, 2021
After her sister Scarlett went missing when she was just a child, Kate and her parents have never really recovered. Now in her twenties, Kate has left Cambridge behind and moved to London after a tip off that Scarlett might be working there. While working her cafe job and still with no leads on the whereabouts of Scarlett, Kate happens on a chance encounter with motivational life coach Della who she feels immediately drawn to...
The House Guest is a good psychological thriller - jam-packed full of tense moments and dark secrets which kept me interested throughout. The characters are strong from uncertain, naive Kate to authoritative, dazzling Della and her charming husband Mark - each of them have layers which are peeled back as the story progresses and therefore my opinions of all of them changed frequently.
There are some really tragic events that unfold and although I wanted to shake Kate at times for the crazy decisions she was making, I also couldn’t help but sympathise with the claustrophobic situation she finds herself in. What I liked about this book is the plot is really well-paced and is narrated over the course of a few years - I’m not a fan of a story that feels rushed with too much happening in a short space of time which was not the case here, the timeline felt natural.
I couldn’t give this book 5 stars as the ending, although a good one, left me with a lot of unanswered questions that slightly infuriated me so I’m hoping there will be a second instalment of this book. Otherwise, it’s an entertaining and well-written read that I enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The House Guest is a good psychological thriller - jam-packed full of tense moments and dark secrets which kept me interested throughout. The characters are strong from uncertain, naive Kate to authoritative, dazzling Della and her charming husband Mark - each of them have layers which are peeled back as the story progresses and therefore my opinions of all of them changed frequently.
There are some really tragic events that unfold and although I wanted to shake Kate at times for the crazy decisions she was making, I also couldn’t help but sympathise with the claustrophobic situation she finds herself in. What I liked about this book is the plot is really well-paced and is narrated over the course of a few years - I’m not a fan of a story that feels rushed with too much happening in a short space of time which was not the case here, the timeline felt natural.
I couldn’t give this book 5 stars as the ending, although a good one, left me with a lot of unanswered questions that slightly infuriated me so I’m hoping there will be a second instalment of this book. Otherwise, it’s an entertaining and well-written read that I enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2021
Genre: Mystery| Thriller
Release Date: 13th May 2021
Publisher: Harper Collins UK
When Kate was twenty-five, she moved to London and wasn't exactly where she was expecting to be. Living in a run down flatshare, working a zero-hour contract in a coffee shop and feeling very alone, especially since her sister vanished without a trace years ago.
But then she meets Della and by chance ends up taking part in her life coaching class, and very quickly their lives become tangled together, Della was charming, enchanting even and despite Kate not wanting Dellas help she couldn't say no to her. Without even realising it, their relationship becomes all-consuming. She's looking after Dellas' kids, meeting her friends, wearing her clothes and getting very close to her husband ...
Both of them have secrets, but how long can Kate stay in Della's orbit before it spirals out of control?
The House Guest was a slow-burning fire of a story full of tension, passion and lies that was gripping right from the start. The contrast between the hopeful naivety of Kate and the enigmatic powerhouse that is Della caught my intruige at once and right before my eyes a story about jealousy, obsession and possession that made me look behind my back way too many times.
For me, it felt a little obvious what was going to happen throughout the story, and even though I'd guessed most of the conclusion and several key points throughout - it was the journey getting there that caught me off guard in ways I didn't expect.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Charlotte Northedge, Harper Collins and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Release Date: 13th May 2021
Publisher: Harper Collins UK
When Kate was twenty-five, she moved to London and wasn't exactly where she was expecting to be. Living in a run down flatshare, working a zero-hour contract in a coffee shop and feeling very alone, especially since her sister vanished without a trace years ago.
But then she meets Della and by chance ends up taking part in her life coaching class, and very quickly their lives become tangled together, Della was charming, enchanting even and despite Kate not wanting Dellas help she couldn't say no to her. Without even realising it, their relationship becomes all-consuming. She's looking after Dellas' kids, meeting her friends, wearing her clothes and getting very close to her husband ...
Both of them have secrets, but how long can Kate stay in Della's orbit before it spirals out of control?
The House Guest was a slow-burning fire of a story full of tension, passion and lies that was gripping right from the start. The contrast between the hopeful naivety of Kate and the enigmatic powerhouse that is Della caught my intruige at once and right before my eyes a story about jealousy, obsession and possession that made me look behind my back way too many times.
For me, it felt a little obvious what was going to happen throughout the story, and even though I'd guessed most of the conclusion and several key points throughout - it was the journey getting there that caught me off guard in ways I didn't expect.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Charlotte Northedge, Harper Collins and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
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