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The Spare Room
Staying with a friend and her husband is sexier—and deadlier—than anyone could have imagined, in this provocative domestic suspense novel
Kelly’s new life in Philadelphia has turned into a nightmare: She’s friendless and jobless, and the lockdown has her trapped in a tiny apartment with the man she gave up everything for, who’s just called off their wedding. The only bright spot is her newly rekindled friendship with her childhood friend Sabrina—now a glamorous bestselling author with a handsome, high-powered husband.
When Sabrina and Nathan offer Kelly an escape hatch, volunteering the spare room of their remote Virginia mansion, she jumps at the chance to run away from her old life. There, Kelly secretly finds herself falling for both her enchanting hosts—until one night, a wild and unexpected threesome leads the couple to open their marriage for her.
At first, Kelly loves being part of this risqué new world. But when she discovers that the last woman they invited into their marriage is missing, she starts to wonder if they could be dangerous . . . and if she might be next.
Kelly’s new life in Philadelphia has turned into a nightmare: She’s friendless and jobless, and the lockdown has her trapped in a tiny apartment with the man she gave up everything for, who’s just called off their wedding. The only bright spot is her newly rekindled friendship with her childhood friend Sabrina—now a glamorous bestselling author with a handsome, high-powered husband.
When Sabrina and Nathan offer Kelly an escape hatch, volunteering the spare room of their remote Virginia mansion, she jumps at the chance to run away from her old life. There, Kelly secretly finds herself falling for both her enchanting hosts—until one night, a wild and unexpected threesome leads the couple to open their marriage for her.
At first, Kelly loves being part of this risqué new world. But when she discovers that the last woman they invited into their marriage is missing, she starts to wonder if they could be dangerous . . . and if she might be next.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2023
920 people are currently reading
52941 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Bartz
11 books2,550 followersAndrea Bartz is a Brooklyn-based journalist and the New York Times-bestselling author of WE WERE NEVER HERE, a Reese's Book Club pick. Her debut thriller, THE LOST NIGHT, was an LA Times bestseller, and her sophomore thriller, THE HERD was named a best book of the year by Marie Claire, Crime Reads, Good Housekeeping, and other outlets. Her most recent thriller, THE SPARE ROOM, was a GMA Bonus Buzz Pick, a Marie Claire book club pick, and a best book of summer per People, Shondaland, Glamour, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and more. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Vogue, and many other outlets, and she's held editorial positions at Glamour, Psychology Today, and Self, among other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,802 reviews
January 17, 2023
My eyes rolled so much, I had to switch to an audio book to give them a rest! 🙄
The premise sounded promising and I enjoyed this author's 2021 novel, We Were Never Here. I love a "inviting a stranger into the home" trope, so was hoping for a thrilling story.
If I had known about the sexual leaning scenerio, I never would have picked it up. This wasn't even a thriller until the last 25% (which seemed like an afterthought). The setting is also during the pandemic.
Kelly was insufferable and deserves an award for the most frustrating character. She also wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.
If you enjoy this type of "wild romance", maybe it will work. The writing did keep me interested until I figured out where it was going. I had to skim quite a bit to get through some scenes. I dislike writing a negative review, but there wasn't much I enjoyed. I did enjoy her cat, Virgo 😻
I'm just not the right audience and came close to dnfing it several times.
Thanks to NG for the Arc. OUT June 20, 2023
The premise sounded promising and I enjoyed this author's 2021 novel, We Were Never Here. I love a "inviting a stranger into the home" trope, so was hoping for a thrilling story.
If I had known about the sexual leaning scenerio, I never would have picked it up. This wasn't even a thriller until the last 25% (which seemed like an afterthought). The setting is also during the pandemic.
Kelly was insufferable and deserves an award for the most frustrating character. She also wasn't the brightest crayon in the box.
If you enjoy this type of "wild romance", maybe it will work. The writing did keep me interested until I figured out where it was going. I had to skim quite a bit to get through some scenes. I dislike writing a negative review, but there wasn't much I enjoyed. I did enjoy her cat, Virgo 😻
I'm just not the right audience and came close to dnfing it several times.
Thanks to NG for the Arc. OUT June 20, 2023
August 20, 2023
I can't seem to put down my e-reader—it's scorching hot! This book is an absolute inferno!
Kelly, a 35-year-old woman, finds herself dumped by her long-time fiancé. Thankfully, she reconnects with her old school friend Sabrina, a writer of sizzling erotica, who is married to a powerful and seductive man. Seeking solace after her breakup, Kelly accepts Sabrina's invitation to stay in the spare room of their stunning Virginia mansion. Little does she know, this leads to a steamy threesome with the enticing couple in the midst of a pandemic. Kelly must navigate her new reality in the face of these life-altering circumstances.
However, her blissful arrangement takes a surprising turn when she discovers she's not the only one sharing intimate moments with the couple. Another woman, her predecessor, has gone missing, and the last place she was seen was the very mansion where Kelly now resides. Intrigued? I bet you are!
Prepare to be captivated by this incredibly provocative, naughty, and breathless tale. You won't be able to tear yourself away from the pages, and a wide smile will surely adorn your face as you eagerly flip through each chapter.
The story starts off with a slow burn, enticing you into its grip. But fear not, as the tension intensifies, so does the heat. While you may think you're reading an erotic thriller, the second half propels the slow burn to a boiling point. With its trapped-in-a-mansion setting, palpable claustrophobia, and an enthralling whodunit mystery, you'll be kept on the edge of your seat, yearning to unravel the secrets and uncover the truth.
Without revealing too much, be warned: this is no ordinary popcorn thriller. It delves into scandalous topics, derails expectations, and presents a plethora of triggering subjects, jaw-dropping incidents, and mind-blowing twists. While I had mixed feelings about certain aspects of the conclusion, the brilliant epilogue left me thoroughly satisfied.
Andrea Bartz has truly delivered her boldest, sexiest, and most enthralling work to date. Although I deducted half a star due to some reservations about certain character situations, I'm rounding up to a 4.5-star rating and giving it a well-deserved full 5-star praise. Wow, what an incredible read! Bravo, Andrea Bartz!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing this amazing digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Kelly, a 35-year-old woman, finds herself dumped by her long-time fiancé. Thankfully, she reconnects with her old school friend Sabrina, a writer of sizzling erotica, who is married to a powerful and seductive man. Seeking solace after her breakup, Kelly accepts Sabrina's invitation to stay in the spare room of their stunning Virginia mansion. Little does she know, this leads to a steamy threesome with the enticing couple in the midst of a pandemic. Kelly must navigate her new reality in the face of these life-altering circumstances.
However, her blissful arrangement takes a surprising turn when she discovers she's not the only one sharing intimate moments with the couple. Another woman, her predecessor, has gone missing, and the last place she was seen was the very mansion where Kelly now resides. Intrigued? I bet you are!
Prepare to be captivated by this incredibly provocative, naughty, and breathless tale. You won't be able to tear yourself away from the pages, and a wide smile will surely adorn your face as you eagerly flip through each chapter.
The story starts off with a slow burn, enticing you into its grip. But fear not, as the tension intensifies, so does the heat. While you may think you're reading an erotic thriller, the second half propels the slow burn to a boiling point. With its trapped-in-a-mansion setting, palpable claustrophobia, and an enthralling whodunit mystery, you'll be kept on the edge of your seat, yearning to unravel the secrets and uncover the truth.
Without revealing too much, be warned: this is no ordinary popcorn thriller. It delves into scandalous topics, derails expectations, and presents a plethora of triggering subjects, jaw-dropping incidents, and mind-blowing twists. While I had mixed feelings about certain aspects of the conclusion, the brilliant epilogue left me thoroughly satisfied.
Andrea Bartz has truly delivered her boldest, sexiest, and most enthralling work to date. Although I deducted half a star due to some reservations about certain character situations, I'm rounding up to a 4.5-star rating and giving it a well-deserved full 5-star praise. Wow, what an incredible read! Bravo, Andrea Bartz!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for providing this amazing digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
August 22, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Kelly loves Mike. Kelly thought Mike loved her. Kelly has sacrificed a lot for their relationship, recently moving from Chicago to Philadelphia for his job, leaving her job, friends and family behind.
As the Covid-19 pandemic puts the world in lock-down, Kelly and Mike's relationship takes a turn for the worse. Mike suddenly requests that they pump the breaks on their upcoming nuptials.
Kelly is devastated and confused. She doesn't know where she stands with Mike now. It's uncomfortable and stressful being trapped in their tiny apartment together.
The only bright spot of this period of time is the friendship Kelly has rekindled with a girl she used to know in high school, Sabrina, who is now a successful Romance author.
Kelly confides to Sabrina about her current relationship issues and Sabrina comes up with a plan; a perfect escape for Kelly to clear her mind and reassess everything.
Sabrina offers Kelly the chance to go live with her and her husband, Nathan, at their palatial mansion in Virginia. They have a spare room, might as well put it to good use.
Kelly graciously accepts. She's heartbroken to be leaving Mike behind, as it is still unclear about where they stand, but nevertheless, he doesn't try to stop her. In a way, she feels she doesn't have a choice.
Not knowing how long she will ultimately stay with the couple, Kelly packs just the necessities, including her cat, Virgo, and heads to VA.
Initially, things are awkward, but a few glasses of wine help and Kelly finds herself truly relaxing and settling in.
Both Nathan and Sabrina are gracious hosts, who seem truly happy that she is there. So happy in fact, that after a night of bonding over a great meal, drinks and some time by the pool, they end up opening up their relationship to her and a steamy threesome ensues.
Kelly can hardly believe her luck. She has never felt this way. She's happy and falling hard. Mike, who?
There are some red flags though. The most disturbing is the fact that the couple's previous partner disappeared under mysterious circumstances. When Kelly presses for information, she's not satisfied with the answers she is getting from Sabrina and Nathan. What are they hiding?
As the tension mounts, Kelly starts to think she's in over her head. Could she be the next one to disappear?
Y'all, this was such a tricky one to rate. It took me days and I'm still not sure I got it right. I waffled between a 2-star and 4-star rating.
Honestly, there were quite a few things about this story that drove me nuts. On the flip-side though, there was also great intrigue, tension and food for thought.
I did enjoy how quickly Bartz got us to the meat of the story. Within the first 10% of the story, Kelly is already getting herself to VA and settled in.
I like that the author didn't waste a bunch of time with filler in the beginning. We're all here to see what happens when Kelly moves into the spare room, after all.
I also enjoyed the sexual chemistry between the trio. That was a fun dynamic to watch play out.
It did take a long time to get anywhere though after the initial set-up. I was just hoping for someone to get murdered or something by the halfway point.
I was getting miffed at Kelly because she was making so many dumb choices and I started to dislike both Sabrina and Nathan. It was weird though because even through those negative emotions, I was addicted to this story.
I couldn't stop reading. It had the suspense and messy drama I needed to keep me furiously turning the pages.
The second half was all over the place for me. There were some fun reveals and the tension definitely continued to grow, but it felt chaotic at times and not in a good way.
It got wilder and wilder as the story progresses, almost to the point where, I won't say I was rolling my eyes, but I was close. Either way, I couldn't stop thinking about it after.
If I were to describe The Spare Room with one word it would be, twisted.
Overall, I walk away from this happy with my reading experience. It was far from perfect, but there's no doubt that I was entertained and compelled to keep reading.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Ballantine Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was a memorable one!
Kelly loves Mike. Kelly thought Mike loved her. Kelly has sacrificed a lot for their relationship, recently moving from Chicago to Philadelphia for his job, leaving her job, friends and family behind.
As the Covid-19 pandemic puts the world in lock-down, Kelly and Mike's relationship takes a turn for the worse. Mike suddenly requests that they pump the breaks on their upcoming nuptials.
Kelly is devastated and confused. She doesn't know where she stands with Mike now. It's uncomfortable and stressful being trapped in their tiny apartment together.
The only bright spot of this period of time is the friendship Kelly has rekindled with a girl she used to know in high school, Sabrina, who is now a successful Romance author.
Kelly confides to Sabrina about her current relationship issues and Sabrina comes up with a plan; a perfect escape for Kelly to clear her mind and reassess everything.
Sabrina offers Kelly the chance to go live with her and her husband, Nathan, at their palatial mansion in Virginia. They have a spare room, might as well put it to good use.
Kelly graciously accepts. She's heartbroken to be leaving Mike behind, as it is still unclear about where they stand, but nevertheless, he doesn't try to stop her. In a way, she feels she doesn't have a choice.
Not knowing how long she will ultimately stay with the couple, Kelly packs just the necessities, including her cat, Virgo, and heads to VA.
Initially, things are awkward, but a few glasses of wine help and Kelly finds herself truly relaxing and settling in.
Both Nathan and Sabrina are gracious hosts, who seem truly happy that she is there. So happy in fact, that after a night of bonding over a great meal, drinks and some time by the pool, they end up opening up their relationship to her and a steamy threesome ensues.
Kelly can hardly believe her luck. She has never felt this way. She's happy and falling hard. Mike, who?
There are some red flags though. The most disturbing is the fact that the couple's previous partner disappeared under mysterious circumstances. When Kelly presses for information, she's not satisfied with the answers she is getting from Sabrina and Nathan. What are they hiding?
As the tension mounts, Kelly starts to think she's in over her head. Could she be the next one to disappear?
Y'all, this was such a tricky one to rate. It took me days and I'm still not sure I got it right. I waffled between a 2-star and 4-star rating.
Honestly, there were quite a few things about this story that drove me nuts. On the flip-side though, there was also great intrigue, tension and food for thought.
I did enjoy how quickly Bartz got us to the meat of the story. Within the first 10% of the story, Kelly is already getting herself to VA and settled in.
I like that the author didn't waste a bunch of time with filler in the beginning. We're all here to see what happens when Kelly moves into the spare room, after all.
I also enjoyed the sexual chemistry between the trio. That was a fun dynamic to watch play out.
It did take a long time to get anywhere though after the initial set-up. I was just hoping for someone to get murdered or something by the halfway point.
I was getting miffed at Kelly because she was making so many dumb choices and I started to dislike both Sabrina and Nathan. It was weird though because even through those negative emotions, I was addicted to this story.
I couldn't stop reading. It had the suspense and messy drama I needed to keep me furiously turning the pages.
The second half was all over the place for me. There were some fun reveals and the tension definitely continued to grow, but it felt chaotic at times and not in a good way.
It got wilder and wilder as the story progresses, almost to the point where, I won't say I was rolling my eyes, but I was close. Either way, I couldn't stop thinking about it after.
If I were to describe The Spare Room with one word it would be, twisted.
Overall, I walk away from this happy with my reading experience. It was far from perfect, but there's no doubt that I was entertained and compelled to keep reading.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Ballantine Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was a memorable one!
March 8, 2023
I loooved writing this book—it's my sexiest, weirdest, juiciest, and (dare I say) most personal thriller yet. THE SPARE ROOM is sexy, suspenseful and a bit different from my last books (which were more traditional thrillers), but with plenty of the intrigue and juiciness and complicated relationships my readers have come to expect. I can't wait for you all to read it, and I'm beyond grateful to every single reader. Hope you love it! x
April 20, 2023
hello i finished this book in 1 sitting 🙋🏼♀️ i was addicted!!
this was so fun and chaotic and unique and suspenseful. it was very wild but i loved it 😂 as someone who reads mainly thrillers, it’s always so refreshing to read a unique thriller and one that catches you right away.
as an early reader, i am VERY eager to see how the public reacts to this subject matter and plot. it’s definitely different and not mainstream 👀
i normally don’t enjoy locked room/one setting thrillers as they feel so claustrophobic and predictable, but this one worked. it’s set in the pandemic times (trigger warning), so the one setting makes sense.
there was a twist about 1/3 in that made my jaw drop. totally didn’t see this book going that way, but not in a bad way! my advice is to go in as BLIND as you can on this one—that’s what made it so fun for me!!!
this is for fans of THE LAST HOUSEWIFE and GOOD RICH PEOPLE. easily my fave book of hers yet!
this one is out in June but i’ll work out an early review on my IG feed in May 💖 thanks to Andrea and Ballantine for the early gifted copy!
this was so fun and chaotic and unique and suspenseful. it was very wild but i loved it 😂 as someone who reads mainly thrillers, it’s always so refreshing to read a unique thriller and one that catches you right away.
as an early reader, i am VERY eager to see how the public reacts to this subject matter and plot. it’s definitely different and not mainstream 👀
i normally don’t enjoy locked room/one setting thrillers as they feel so claustrophobic and predictable, but this one worked. it’s set in the pandemic times (trigger warning), so the one setting makes sense.
there was a twist about 1/3 in that made my jaw drop. totally didn’t see this book going that way, but not in a bad way! my advice is to go in as BLIND as you can on this one—that’s what made it so fun for me!!!
this is for fans of THE LAST HOUSEWIFE and GOOD RICH PEOPLE. easily my fave book of hers yet!
this one is out in June but i’ll work out an early review on my IG feed in May 💖 thanks to Andrea and Ballantine for the early gifted copy!
January 13, 2023
Kelly Doyle is is on the outs with her boyfriend Mike. She decides they need a break and moves in with her friends Sabrina and Nathan Lamont. They live in a mansion on Tanglewood Estates overlooking a creepy cemetery. She starts up an affair with the couple and learns of another girl’s disappearance that was involved with them.
She finds things around the mansion that creeps her out and uncovers disturbing secrets and lies.
This book was a great read full of twists and turns and left me gobsmacked by the ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC that will be released June 20, 2023!
She finds things around the mansion that creeps her out and uncovers disturbing secrets and lies.
This book was a great read full of twists and turns and left me gobsmacked by the ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC that will be released June 20, 2023!
September 22, 2023
After hiking halfway across the country to follow the man she thought she was going to marry, Kelly is heartbroken and terrified when her fiancé calls off their wedding. Now stranded in Philadelphia with no job or friends, she’s desperate to get out of their tiny, ground floor apartment. The only thing keeping her from losing it completely is the recently reinvigorated friendship with Kelly’s childhood acquaintance, Sabrina. A bestselling author who seems to have everything that she’s always dreamed of—a successful husband, a skyrocketing career, and a mansion just outside of D.C.—Kelly yearns to get to know her better. After all, she’s spent plenty of time stalking her online.
So when Sabrina offers her a life raft in the form of an open ended invitation to stay with her and husband Nathan in their massive home, Kelly jumps at the chance. But on arrival at their gated community, it’s not just the lifestyle that she falls in love with. No, Kelly quickly falls under the spell of both of her hosts, finding herself strangely attracted to them as they get to know each other better. One night, however, her crush becomes all too real when feelings transform into actions in the form of a sexy yet unexpected threesome. Suddenly, the life Kelly has been yearning to fix back home in Philadelphia doesn’t seem quite so perfect after all.
Initially entranced by the titillating new world that she’s discovered in Sabrina and Nathan’s home, Kelly throws herself head first into the relationship. As one week becomes two and the days quickly pass, she can’t imagine life getting any better. That is, however, until she discovers that she wasn’t the first woman to be welcomed into the couple’s marriage. And considering that her predecessor just so happens to have gone missing, Kelly starts to ask herself whether Sabrina and Nathan are truly as magnanimous as they seem. Or are they decidedly more menacing and manipulative than she ever could have imagined?
A spellbinding mix of heartfelt drama and light domestic suspense, The Spare Room was like nothing I’ve read before. Opening with an absolutely riveting prologue, my attention was grabbed from the get-go. Unfortunately, from there the pace downshifted considerably. Instead it moved into a long, slow burn that bordered on chick lit with quite a bit of LGBTQ+ romance. And, as an avid fan of Andrea Bartz, I was somewhat disappointed when this storyline deviated from of her previous formula for success.
Nevertheless, I found myself swept up in Kelly’s story. A pushover of a woman who was just looking for someplace to belong, her whole aura transformed magically over the course of the book. As she faced newly opened horizons and inescapable trauma, she morphed into a stronger, more self-reliant individual whom I grew to respect. Fully fleshed out, I thoroughly loved getting to know her.
One of the most successful attributes of this novel, however, was easily the grace and beauty with which a non-hetero, polyamory relationship was explored and described. While I personally cannot imagine the feelings at play as the revelations that Kelly experienced were revealed, they felt wholly genuine and authentic to me. Personally, I found it to be an endearing tale of learning to accept oneself that I truly enjoyed unraveling.
The plot itself, as I’ve already mentioned, didn’t quite come off as a thriller or suspense novel for majority of the plot, but the climax and conclusion? Well, they were truly top-notch. With just enough nerve-shredding dread and palpable tension to make me tear through the pages, the last third of the book was a suspense readers dream. And that epilogue? Well, it definitely took me by surprise.
All in all, while The Spare Room was nothing like I expected, I enjoyed the ride nonetheless. Captivating, utterly bingeable, and packed full of impending doom towards the end, this one merely cemented the fact that Bartz is on my auto-buy list. But what this one demonstrated clearly is that she is not only a master of the thriller genre, but is also deftly skilled at spinning a seductive and poignant yarn. As long as you’re good with this being unlike We Were Never Here or The Lost Night, I highly recommend giving this book a try. Rating of 4 stars.
Trigger warning: infidelity, marijuana use, COVID, strangulation, gaslighting, mention of: death of a parent, miscarriage
So when Sabrina offers her a life raft in the form of an open ended invitation to stay with her and husband Nathan in their massive home, Kelly jumps at the chance. But on arrival at their gated community, it’s not just the lifestyle that she falls in love with. No, Kelly quickly falls under the spell of both of her hosts, finding herself strangely attracted to them as they get to know each other better. One night, however, her crush becomes all too real when feelings transform into actions in the form of a sexy yet unexpected threesome. Suddenly, the life Kelly has been yearning to fix back home in Philadelphia doesn’t seem quite so perfect after all.
Initially entranced by the titillating new world that she’s discovered in Sabrina and Nathan’s home, Kelly throws herself head first into the relationship. As one week becomes two and the days quickly pass, she can’t imagine life getting any better. That is, however, until she discovers that she wasn’t the first woman to be welcomed into the couple’s marriage. And considering that her predecessor just so happens to have gone missing, Kelly starts to ask herself whether Sabrina and Nathan are truly as magnanimous as they seem. Or are they decidedly more menacing and manipulative than she ever could have imagined?
A spellbinding mix of heartfelt drama and light domestic suspense, The Spare Room was like nothing I’ve read before. Opening with an absolutely riveting prologue, my attention was grabbed from the get-go. Unfortunately, from there the pace downshifted considerably. Instead it moved into a long, slow burn that bordered on chick lit with quite a bit of LGBTQ+ romance. And, as an avid fan of Andrea Bartz, I was somewhat disappointed when this storyline deviated from of her previous formula for success.
Nevertheless, I found myself swept up in Kelly’s story. A pushover of a woman who was just looking for someplace to belong, her whole aura transformed magically over the course of the book. As she faced newly opened horizons and inescapable trauma, she morphed into a stronger, more self-reliant individual whom I grew to respect. Fully fleshed out, I thoroughly loved getting to know her.
One of the most successful attributes of this novel, however, was easily the grace and beauty with which a non-hetero, polyamory relationship was explored and described. While I personally cannot imagine the feelings at play as the revelations that Kelly experienced were revealed, they felt wholly genuine and authentic to me. Personally, I found it to be an endearing tale of learning to accept oneself that I truly enjoyed unraveling.
The plot itself, as I’ve already mentioned, didn’t quite come off as a thriller or suspense novel for majority of the plot, but the climax and conclusion? Well, they were truly top-notch. With just enough nerve-shredding dread and palpable tension to make me tear through the pages, the last third of the book was a suspense readers dream. And that epilogue? Well, it definitely took me by surprise.
All in all, while The Spare Room was nothing like I expected, I enjoyed the ride nonetheless. Captivating, utterly bingeable, and packed full of impending doom towards the end, this one merely cemented the fact that Bartz is on my auto-buy list. But what this one demonstrated clearly is that she is not only a master of the thriller genre, but is also deftly skilled at spinning a seductive and poignant yarn. As long as you’re good with this being unlike We Were Never Here or The Lost Night, I highly recommend giving this book a try. Rating of 4 stars.
Trigger warning: infidelity, marijuana use, COVID, strangulation, gaslighting, mention of: death of a parent, miscarriage
February 15, 2023
This book just wasn’t for me, I found the narrator, Kelly, to have no depth. She was clingy & desperate & far too eager to please. The entire throuple/pandemic/quarantine angle was not fun reading. Honestly, I felt icky most of the time. And reading about the pandemic & “strict quarantine protocols” three years later is quite frankly exhausting. The final scene between Mike and Kelly was anti-climatic and weak, which led to my final eye roll - Sabrina & Kelly breaking up after Kelly realized Mike was actually the murderer, sparking her to “go find herself,” while Sabrina moved on as a swinger. No thank you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2023
Dumb. Not a thriller. Not sexy. Just drags on and on and main female character was annoying,obnoxious and not the brightest crayon in the box.
I wanted to love it. The premise sounded great. The execution on the other hand, not so much. Multiple times I considered DNF. But I plugged along anyway.
Listened to audiobook and even the narrator, who is one of my favorites, could not save this one.
I wanted to love it. The premise sounded great. The execution on the other hand, not so much. Multiple times I considered DNF. But I plugged along anyway.
Listened to audiobook and even the narrator, who is one of my favorites, could not save this one.
April 13, 2023
I recently read The Writing Retreat by this author’s sister and commented that, although I did not enjoy that selection, I had liked We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz. When I saw this early copy on NetGalley I didn’t hesitate to request it. I mean, look at the cover alone . . . .
The premise here is that Kelly (hey, girl, hey!) has been told by her fiancé that he would like to “pump the breaks” on their upcoming nuptials . . . . and it’s not because they’re in the middle of the pandemic. Kelly shares her story with Sabrina - a former high school friend turned influencer/bestselling romance novelist she has reconnected with over social media – and Sabrina offers Kelly a spare room with she and her husband Nathan in their Virginia mansion. And then they become a throuple????
Yeah. I’m pretty clear that romance in general tends to hinder my enjoyment when it comes to stabby good times, but this was some serious Lifetime Movie of the Week stuff. I’ll go with 2 Stars because it is coming up on pool season so I could see people losing themselves in this bit of nonsense.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise here is that Kelly (hey, girl, hey!) has been told by her fiancé that he would like to “pump the breaks” on their upcoming nuptials . . . . and it’s not because they’re in the middle of the pandemic. Kelly shares her story with Sabrina - a former high school friend turned influencer/bestselling romance novelist she has reconnected with over social media – and Sabrina offers Kelly a spare room with she and her husband Nathan in their Virginia mansion. And then they become a throuple????
Yeah. I’m pretty clear that romance in general tends to hinder my enjoyment when it comes to stabby good times, but this was some serious Lifetime Movie of the Week stuff. I’ll go with 2 Stars because it is coming up on pool season so I could see people losing themselves in this bit of nonsense.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2023
Kelly and her boyfriend Mike are planning to be married but they are in the midst of the pandemic and starting to go stir crazy from being together almost twenty-four hours a day. Kelly then makes a huge mistake in their relationship so they decide to take a break for a week or two with Kelly moving in with an old high school friend and her husband that she's recently reconnected with over the internet.
Unprepared for the lavish life in a magnificent mansion in a severely, secured gated community in rural Virginia, Kelly experiences many mixed feelings plus she really doesn't know Sabrina very well, who was a wallflower in high school and now she is one of the most gorgeous women Kelly has ever seen and her husband Nathan is equally charming and attractive. Before long Kelly is seduced into the lifestyle and wasn't quite prepared to fall for both of her generous hosts. Soon after they begin a threesome, but what about Mike? Everything is wonderful until Kelly finds out that there was another roommate who mysteriously disappeared and that she has been surrounded by many ugly lies and deceit which will drag her down more dark roads that lead to murder and more!
This book was certainly entertaining and I wasn't quite prepared for the storyline since I went into it blind. The premise of the story was very good although the threesome caught me a little off guard. I must say that the author "Andrea Bartz" handled all the sexuality taking place in a more sensitive way so I wouldn't quite call this erotica yet to be forewarned there was plenty of sexual affections being shared throughout. The book was pretty much a slow-burn for sixty percent and then it got exciting with mysteries and deceit and maybe even murder.
At first I liked Kelly but as I kept reading I didn't care for her at all. I found her unpredictable, needy, demanding and always blaming others for her choices and insecurities. I think this book will have a great appeal to many readers although I did find there was too much repetition and jumping around in the second half off the story. I wish the book had been much shorter. The story taking place during the vivid lockdown was another enjoyable element which offered some realism to the story. With all that said, the novel was very unique, entertaining with several twists and I would definitely read another book from this writer.
A big A+ shoutout to Kelly's cat "Virgo". An adorable addition to the entire story!
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 KILLER AND DISTURBING 🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Unprepared for the lavish life in a magnificent mansion in a severely, secured gated community in rural Virginia, Kelly experiences many mixed feelings plus she really doesn't know Sabrina very well, who was a wallflower in high school and now she is one of the most gorgeous women Kelly has ever seen and her husband Nathan is equally charming and attractive. Before long Kelly is seduced into the lifestyle and wasn't quite prepared to fall for both of her generous hosts. Soon after they begin a threesome, but what about Mike? Everything is wonderful until Kelly finds out that there was another roommate who mysteriously disappeared and that she has been surrounded by many ugly lies and deceit which will drag her down more dark roads that lead to murder and more!
This book was certainly entertaining and I wasn't quite prepared for the storyline since I went into it blind. The premise of the story was very good although the threesome caught me a little off guard. I must say that the author "Andrea Bartz" handled all the sexuality taking place in a more sensitive way so I wouldn't quite call this erotica yet to be forewarned there was plenty of sexual affections being shared throughout. The book was pretty much a slow-burn for sixty percent and then it got exciting with mysteries and deceit and maybe even murder.
At first I liked Kelly but as I kept reading I didn't care for her at all. I found her unpredictable, needy, demanding and always blaming others for her choices and insecurities. I think this book will have a great appeal to many readers although I did find there was too much repetition and jumping around in the second half off the story. I wish the book had been much shorter. The story taking place during the vivid lockdown was another enjoyable element which offered some realism to the story. With all that said, the novel was very unique, entertaining with several twists and I would definitely read another book from this writer.
A big A+ shoutout to Kelly's cat "Virgo". An adorable addition to the entire story!
I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 KILLER AND DISTURBING 🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
January 28, 2023
The Spare Room takes place in early 2020 during the onset of the covid pandemic and centers around 35-year-old Kelly Doyle. Kelly recently just moved to Philadelphia with her long-term boyfriend and since the lockdown, Kelly has been stuck in their new apartment in a new city jobless, friendless, and now her relationship with her boyfriend is becoming strained.
Kelly's childhood friend Sabrina Lamont, along with her husband Nathan invites Kelly to temporarily stay in the spare room in their glamourous mansion in Virginia. Kelly jumps at the opportunity in hopes the time away from her boyfriend will help to mend their relationship. Soon after Kelly arrives, she starts to develop romantic feelings for both the Lamonts, and much to her surprise Sabrina and Nathan’s feelings are mutual. As their three-person relationship begins to deepen, Kelly learns that the Lamomts have done this before with another woman. And much to her surprise, the woman is missing.
I always looking for a unique story, especially when it comes to thrillers. So the unique plot synopsis immediately drew my interest to The Spare Room. The book took me on a couple of unexpected turns. At several points, I expected the story was going to go a certain way but then a twist was dropped and I was completely wrong.
Even though this story contains a plot twist, I'm not sure that The Spare Room should be categorized as a thriller but instead it's more of a romantic mystery. I was really surprised with the spice factor in this one. A large portion of the story centers around Kelly’s sexual relationship with the Lamont’s.
Overall I found The Spare Room to be an entertaining read. Even though I didn't like The Spare Room as much as I loved We Were Never Here, I still look forward to reading anything Andrea writes in the future. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this one, especially readers of romantic suspense.
The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz will be available on June 20. Many thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy!
Kelly's childhood friend Sabrina Lamont, along with her husband Nathan invites Kelly to temporarily stay in the spare room in their glamourous mansion in Virginia. Kelly jumps at the opportunity in hopes the time away from her boyfriend will help to mend their relationship. Soon after Kelly arrives, she starts to develop romantic feelings for both the Lamonts, and much to her surprise Sabrina and Nathan’s feelings are mutual. As their three-person relationship begins to deepen, Kelly learns that the Lamomts have done this before with another woman. And much to her surprise, the woman is missing.
I always looking for a unique story, especially when it comes to thrillers. So the unique plot synopsis immediately drew my interest to The Spare Room. The book took me on a couple of unexpected turns. At several points, I expected the story was going to go a certain way but then a twist was dropped and I was completely wrong.
Even though this story contains a plot twist, I'm not sure that The Spare Room should be categorized as a thriller but instead it's more of a romantic mystery. I was really surprised with the spice factor in this one. A large portion of the story centers around Kelly’s sexual relationship with the Lamont’s.
Overall I found The Spare Room to be an entertaining read. Even though I didn't like The Spare Room as much as I loved We Were Never Here, I still look forward to reading anything Andrea writes in the future. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this one, especially readers of romantic suspense.
The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz will be available on June 20. Many thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy!
July 29, 2023
3⭐
Publication date ~ June 20, 2023
Page Count ~ 341
Audio length ~ 11 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Brittany Pressley
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ cheating (maybe, since they're in an open marriage I guess it's not considered cheating and she was on a break, but wanted to add it just in case), murder, locked mansion atmosphere, pandemic talk
Kelly and fiance, Mike, are taking a break, so she goes to stay with a school friend, Sabrina and her husband, Nathan. They have an attraction and become a trouple. It's not Sabrina and Nathan's first time with this dynamic, but their previous lady is now missing....hmm.
Well I'm not too sure about this one, so I'm plopping it in the middle. To each their own with their marriage and what they do in it, but I'm not super big on romance in my thrillers, however it was a slow burn and not really a thriller, but there were some exciting moments after quite a while, though. Kelly made some questionable choices after she makes revelation after revelation after revelation that had me rolling my eyes. I was surprised about the zinger at the end, though.
I absolutely hate pandemic talk in my books and there are many references to it, blah.
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes ~ I've listened to Brittany many times and she did a lovely job as usual. She was properly frantic when necessary.
*Thanks to the author, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Publication date ~ June 20, 2023
Page Count ~ 341
Audio length ~ 11 hours 39 minutes
Narrator ~ Brittany Pressley
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ cheating (maybe, since they're in an open marriage I guess it's not considered cheating and she was on a break, but wanted to add it just in case), murder, locked mansion atmosphere, pandemic talk
Kelly and fiance, Mike, are taking a break, so she goes to stay with a school friend, Sabrina and her husband, Nathan. They have an attraction and become a trouple. It's not Sabrina and Nathan's first time with this dynamic, but their previous lady is now missing....hmm.
Well I'm not too sure about this one, so I'm plopping it in the middle. To each their own with their marriage and what they do in it, but I'm not super big on romance in my thrillers, however it was a slow burn and not really a thriller, but there were some exciting moments after quite a while, though. Kelly made some questionable choices after she makes revelation after revelation after revelation that had me rolling my eyes. I was surprised about the zinger at the end, though.
I absolutely hate pandemic talk in my books and there are many references to it, blah.
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes ~ I've listened to Brittany many times and she did a lovely job as usual. She was properly frantic when necessary.
*Thanks to the author, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
June 13, 2023
Andrea Bartz is a new author to me, one I found on Netgalley. Oddly enough, I chose her book and her sister's book at the same time. They also have heavy, deep lesbian tones, which is totally fine, but surprised me given they were released relatively close to one another. Andrea focuses on the break-up of a couple that sends the almost-married female half to stay with two friends (okay, they knew each other nearly two decades ago) during the pandemic. She finds subtle hints of them wanting a threesome, then she learns their former thrupple partner has gone missing. Girl, get out now... what is wrong with you for staying?
That said... I enjoyed the book but definitely felt there was too many moments of disbelief. I get that our heroine was upset about her break-up and kinda had a hidden attraction to women but she received too many warnings to ignore. Nonetheless, the ending brings everything together, with a shocker, of course. I was around 4 stars but felt the whole thing was too contrived with not enough explanations and history to really grip a reader... so I ended up with 3 stars. Will read more from the author, and I think it's a good thriller - just not necessarily well-rounded enough for me to recommend to others yet. I see the possibility of her getting bigger tho!
That said... I enjoyed the book but definitely felt there was too many moments of disbelief. I get that our heroine was upset about her break-up and kinda had a hidden attraction to women but she received too many warnings to ignore. Nonetheless, the ending brings everything together, with a shocker, of course. I was around 4 stars but felt the whole thing was too contrived with not enough explanations and history to really grip a reader... so I ended up with 3 stars. Will read more from the author, and I think it's a good thriller - just not necessarily well-rounded enough for me to recommend to others yet. I see the possibility of her getting bigger tho!
April 28, 2025
reading vlog: https://youtu.be/RnysFMwO-84
bestie i am so sorry but this just did NOT do this for me. the unsexiest book all about sex i truly cannot believe my eyes. if i heard the audiobook narrator say "my loves" once more i was gonna throw my phone across the room
bestie i am so sorry but this just did NOT do this for me. the unsexiest book all about sex i truly cannot believe my eyes. if i heard the audiobook narrator say "my loves" once more i was gonna throw my phone across the room
July 26, 2023
This stunk. Bad.
My biggest complaint is that it was just straight boring. Even if twists or ending don't make sense but the rest of the book was good, it evens out. This whole book was just dragging. Shout out book club or I wouldn't have finished. The entire thing was just a freak throple which is not my vibe in the slightest and then annoying ass Kelly. All she did was worry, snoop like a crazy person, and beg for love and attention.
Spoilers:
I didn't like how the author never made Kelly likable at all to the point I thought she was the killer. Then in the end trying to make you root for her "choosing herself" like I actually don't give a fuck what happens to her, if anything she'll probably just find someone else to make miserable.
Mike being the killer. C'mon. I don't think it counts as a good twist to pull something outta nowhere with zero context prior to why he'd do that.
The throwaway chapter at the end that shows Elizabeth was a con artist the whole time was completely pointless.
Overall booo.
My biggest complaint is that it was just straight boring. Even if twists or ending don't make sense but the rest of the book was good, it evens out. This whole book was just dragging. Shout out book club or I wouldn't have finished. The entire thing was just a freak throple which is not my vibe in the slightest and then annoying ass Kelly. All she did was worry, snoop like a crazy person, and beg for love and attention.
Spoilers:
I didn't like how the author never made Kelly likable at all to the point I thought she was the killer. Then in the end trying to make you root for her "choosing herself" like I actually don't give a fuck what happens to her, if anything she'll probably just find someone else to make miserable.
Mike being the killer. C'mon. I don't think it counts as a good twist to pull something outta nowhere with zero context prior to why he'd do that.
The throwaway chapter at the end that shows Elizabeth was a con artist the whole time was completely pointless.
Overall booo.
January 21, 2023
Quick synopsis: Kelly and her significant other decide to have a "break" right before they get married. Things just aren't working out as expected so her friend from school who she recently got in touch with invites her to stay for an undetermined amount of time with her and her husband during the pandemic. The idea is they will be in lockdown together and just to give Kelly time to evaluate everything.
Thoughts: This just didn't work for me. I felt it was really drawn out and could have been way shorter based on the plot. Nothing really happens that you don't expect for most of the book. Obviously relationships form during the time frame as they are holed up together and you can certainly see that happening, but then it just kept going. Nothing stood out as a mystery or thriller, just people co-existing. It seemed more of a rinse/repeat telling and then finally around the last quarter it picked up, but there was no build up to it and IMHO the thriller/mystery I wanted came out of left field. I like to try and vet out where a book is going and why but I had nothing to build off of, I just wish more of the mystery was dabbled more into the first part of the book.
For those who are on pandemic overload and just done hearing about it, this will not be for you. However, I will say I live somewhere that had no restrictions so to hear the reiterations of other locations that had more strict lockdowns and "pods" it did give me pause to think how things are handled differently and affected people. Anywho, this just wasn't for me. It just didn't have what I was expecting, however the author is one I will still give a try again, she changes up her style and plots to the point some will work but others may not, but how will you know if you don't give it a try?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I think I'm going to go 2.5 stars on this one, but round up to 3. I think if it was shorter it would be a 3 read.
Thoughts: This just didn't work for me. I felt it was really drawn out and could have been way shorter based on the plot. Nothing really happens that you don't expect for most of the book. Obviously relationships form during the time frame as they are holed up together and you can certainly see that happening, but then it just kept going. Nothing stood out as a mystery or thriller, just people co-existing. It seemed more of a rinse/repeat telling and then finally around the last quarter it picked up, but there was no build up to it and IMHO the thriller/mystery I wanted came out of left field. I like to try and vet out where a book is going and why but I had nothing to build off of, I just wish more of the mystery was dabbled more into the first part of the book.
For those who are on pandemic overload and just done hearing about it, this will not be for you. However, I will say I live somewhere that had no restrictions so to hear the reiterations of other locations that had more strict lockdowns and "pods" it did give me pause to think how things are handled differently and affected people. Anywho, this just wasn't for me. It just didn't have what I was expecting, however the author is one I will still give a try again, she changes up her style and plots to the point some will work but others may not, but how will you know if you don't give it a try?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I think I'm going to go 2.5 stars on this one, but round up to 3. I think if it was shorter it would be a 3 read.
February 1, 2023
Shortly after I started this book, I realized it was not for me. The cover intrigued me but I only got to 20% before throwing in the towel. I did not connect with any of the characters at all. It's supposed to be a mystery/thriller but to me, it's 90% Fifty Shades of Gray and 10% thriller. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 17, 2023
This is definitely a more slow burn character driven story than I was expecting going into it going into it - it takes about 70% into the book for anything ‘thrilling’ to really happen, most of it is spent on a romantic plot between Kelly and the married couple she is staying with and I found myself skimming through a lot of it. it also was much more sexually graphic than i anticipated (not that i personally mind) but just know that going into it!
Kelly was an irritatingly frustrating narrator to follow, her naïve and emotionally driven decisions throughout the book made me physically angry at times (maybe this was Bartz’s intention), but i can’t say i enjoyed it. I don’t mind an unlikeable narrator but Kelly was just insufferable.
The story definitely picks up once we finally make it to the more thrilling parts but by that point i was already pretty disconnected from the story. this will definitely find an audience, but I feel like readers should know before going into it that it reads more like a romantic suspense/domestic drama than a thriller.
Kelly was an irritatingly frustrating narrator to follow, her naïve and emotionally driven decisions throughout the book made me physically angry at times (maybe this was Bartz’s intention), but i can’t say i enjoyed it. I don’t mind an unlikeable narrator but Kelly was just insufferable.
The story definitely picks up once we finally make it to the more thrilling parts but by that point i was already pretty disconnected from the story. this will definitely find an audience, but I feel like readers should know before going into it that it reads more like a romantic suspense/domestic drama than a thriller.
June 23, 2023
Well this was disappointing…..not really a thriller until the very end. Kelly the main character will have you wondering if she even has a brain in her head, leaves her husband after she has a mini mental breakdown on him that is somehow his fault to go stay with Sabrina and her husband, a friend from high school that she hasn’t seen in 15 years and has only been talking to again for the past 3 weeks. 🙄 Then it somehow turns into a threesome sex party, skimmed a ton of that. Then to add even more weirdness there’s an ex to the married couple who has went missing. The last chapter…..best in the whole book.
Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 25, 2023
I really wanted to love this, but it just didn't work for me...
Full Review with more detail on my blog
I liked the premise of it, where a woman is heartbroken after her engagement falls apart and moves in with another couple and the three eventually become intertwined romantically. Add to that a former partner of the couple who is missing, and it was a good set up. I also liked that it got moving quickly (we didn't spend a long time on set up).
Unfortunately, that also meant that we were missing most of the relevant back story to make the ending work for the reader. As written, we are really blindsided by an entirely different set of facts about the time leading up to the events of the novel. The main character Kelly is so unlikable, but not in an intentional way. I think we are supposed to root for her but I didn't. I found her self-absorbed, naive, not very intuitive to what is going on, and selfish. She also became weirdly sex-obsessed which is fine but we dwelled on that too long.
I also didn't think the COVID lockdown worked as the technique it was intended to, since the events of the novel went on for a long time and it was set in the US. Those of us here know that most cities lifted the worst restrictions on and off during this time and people weren't completely isolated (particularly people like this who were healthy and had no preexisting conditions). Kelly absolutely could have left to stay elsewhere. I think a better tactic would have just been to lean into Nathan's job and security concerns. The COVID message at the end drove me bonkers. This might be a me-thing, but I'm just not at a place where I'm ready to dive into the worst of how people felt during the pandemic, nor have a happy "isn't it great the lockdown ended and we are free and life is good" when the pandemic took the lives of so many and ruined the lives of countless more.
Anyways... I loved her first book! I don't think this one was for me.
Full Review with more detail on my blog
I liked the premise of it, where a woman is heartbroken after her engagement falls apart and moves in with another couple and the three eventually become intertwined romantically. Add to that a former partner of the couple who is missing, and it was a good set up. I also liked that it got moving quickly (we didn't spend a long time on set up).
Unfortunately, that also meant that we were missing most of the relevant back story to make the ending work for the reader. As written, we are really blindsided by an entirely different set of facts about the time leading up to the events of the novel. The main character Kelly is so unlikable, but not in an intentional way. I think we are supposed to root for her but I didn't. I found her self-absorbed, naive, not very intuitive to what is going on, and selfish. She also became weirdly sex-obsessed which is fine but we dwelled on that too long.
I also didn't think the COVID lockdown worked as the technique it was intended to, since the events of the novel went on for a long time and it was set in the US. Those of us here know that most cities lifted the worst restrictions on and off during this time and people weren't completely isolated (particularly people like this who were healthy and had no preexisting conditions). Kelly absolutely could have left to stay elsewhere. I think a better tactic would have just been to lean into Nathan's job and security concerns. The COVID message at the end drove me bonkers. This might be a me-thing, but I'm just not at a place where I'm ready to dive into the worst of how people felt during the pandemic, nor have a happy "isn't it great the lockdown ended and we are free and life is good" when the pandemic took the lives of so many and ruined the lives of countless more.
Anyways... I loved her first book! I don't think this one was for me.
July 16, 2023
Well, that was not what I expected at all. Be warned, this is a very spicy thriller, with lots of details on the main characters sex life. As a non spice reader, it was a little too much for me, but at the same time I was glued to the pages of this slow burning thriller. Andrea Bartz certainly ramped up the tension in this one and I felt it all. A locked room story with a difference, The Spare Room will keep you reading late into the night, and it will continue to shock you until the very end.
Set during the pandemic, we meet Kelly in Philadelphia. She has recently moved there with her fiancée Mike, and nothing is going right. No friends, no job and soon, no Mike. When her high school friend, Sabrina offers her the spare room in her Virginia mansion, she jumps at the chance. Sabrina and her husband are very happy to have her come and stay and she needs the break. Once there, she realises that she is falling for them both, and the couple open their marriage up to include her. But something is not right, Kelly discovers that there was a woman before her, and that woman is now missing.
Locked in this mansion, Kelly has everything she could ever want. But she doesn’t feel safe. The couple don’t want to talk about the woman, but she finds little clues and starts to put the pieces together. It will have you holding your breath as you turn the pages, waiting to find out what will happen next.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for send me an advanced copy of this book o read. Publishes in Australia on July 18th.
Set during the pandemic, we meet Kelly in Philadelphia. She has recently moved there with her fiancée Mike, and nothing is going right. No friends, no job and soon, no Mike. When her high school friend, Sabrina offers her the spare room in her Virginia mansion, she jumps at the chance. Sabrina and her husband are very happy to have her come and stay and she needs the break. Once there, she realises that she is falling for them both, and the couple open their marriage up to include her. But something is not right, Kelly discovers that there was a woman before her, and that woman is now missing.
Locked in this mansion, Kelly has everything she could ever want. But she doesn’t feel safe. The couple don’t want to talk about the woman, but she finds little clues and starts to put the pieces together. It will have you holding your breath as you turn the pages, waiting to find out what will happen next.
Thanks to Penguin Books Australia for send me an advanced copy of this book o read. Publishes in Australia on July 18th.
June 19, 2023
• BOOKSTAGRAM •
Below are my play by play thoughts while reading the book — though I don’t think I’m spoiling anything they could be interpreted I suppose as spoilers.
Okay, hear me out — the beginning was annoying. Kelly kept referencing this bad thing she did and of course never told us what that bad thing was that tore apart her engagement and got her packing on a train to DC, which you quickly realize is the hook of the book and you find out about 20% in. You have to wait for the reasoning and you’re wondering did she cheat, kill someone or something? Your mind starts to wander. We only know that she breached Mikes trust.
Sabrina and Nathan seem relatively normal which makes you wonder what is this book about and when does it get weird.
Then — it gets weird and freeeeaky. I feel bad for Kelly because she seems like she has extremely low self worth/confidence and is grasping at anything and anyone that gives her one iota of attention without thinking of all the ramifications of what can happen after the shine dulls.
The book really makes you kind of sympathize with the way Kelly isolated herself though. It’s a pandemic, people aren’t socializing much but businesses are open, so it must not be during the height of the pandemic where everyone was on lockdown.
How Kelly treats Mike though when she’s moved on and found someone more exciting is kind of cruel. I’m feeling Sabrina and Nathan are getting her to cut herself off from everyone so no one will care about her anymore and then with Nathan and all of his high tech surveillance stuff will somehow frame everything so there’s no footage like with the second dead animal thing.
It takes until about half way through for one of them to start acting slightly off and then it all goes downhill from there and you’d think that would be the warning signal but — no, we keep going lol her ability to completely dismiss every red flag reminds me of a very bad cliche horror movie where someone goes to open the door while they are home alone after getting 8374920 crank calls.
I must admit though - the ending did catch me off guard but seemed so far fetched, I didn’t get that happy feeling at the end of the book when you realize how everything unfolded.
Below are my play by play thoughts while reading the book — though I don’t think I’m spoiling anything they could be interpreted I suppose as spoilers.
Okay, hear me out — the beginning was annoying. Kelly kept referencing this bad thing she did and of course never told us what that bad thing was that tore apart her engagement and got her packing on a train to DC, which you quickly realize is the hook of the book and you find out about 20% in. You have to wait for the reasoning and you’re wondering did she cheat, kill someone or something? Your mind starts to wander. We only know that she breached Mikes trust.
Sabrina and Nathan seem relatively normal which makes you wonder what is this book about and when does it get weird.
Then — it gets weird and freeeeaky. I feel bad for Kelly because she seems like she has extremely low self worth/confidence and is grasping at anything and anyone that gives her one iota of attention without thinking of all the ramifications of what can happen after the shine dulls.
The book really makes you kind of sympathize with the way Kelly isolated herself though. It’s a pandemic, people aren’t socializing much but businesses are open, so it must not be during the height of the pandemic where everyone was on lockdown.
How Kelly treats Mike though when she’s moved on and found someone more exciting is kind of cruel. I’m feeling Sabrina and Nathan are getting her to cut herself off from everyone so no one will care about her anymore and then with Nathan and all of his high tech surveillance stuff will somehow frame everything so there’s no footage like with the second dead animal thing.
It takes until about half way through for one of them to start acting slightly off and then it all goes downhill from there and you’d think that would be the warning signal but — no, we keep going lol her ability to completely dismiss every red flag reminds me of a very bad cliche horror movie where someone goes to open the door while they are home alone after getting 8374920 crank calls.
I must admit though - the ending did catch me off guard but seemed so far fetched, I didn’t get that happy feeling at the end of the book when you realize how everything unfolded.
December 2, 2023
ᴏɴᴇ ᴘᴏᴠ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ɴᴇᴡᴇʀ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴅʀᴏᴘ ᴀs ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴠɪᴅ ᴘᴀɴᴅᴇᴍɪᴄ (ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ ɪᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀɢɢʀᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜᴏᴜᴛ). ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪs ʙʟᴀᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ᴀs ᴡᴇ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴋᴇʟʟʏ’s ʟɪғᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ɪɴsᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴀɴxɪᴇᴛʏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏғғ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ! ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɪɴᴠᴏᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ. sᴇx ɪs ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪɴᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ (ᴀs ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ sᴍᴜᴛ) ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴀᴍᴏᴜɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋ�� ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ sᴍᴜᴛ!
ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴏʀɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ғɪᴛ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴇᴏʀʏ. ᴛᴡɪsᴛ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ sʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴡɪsᴛ! ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴅᴏɴᴇ! ɪᴛ’s ʀᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀɴ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴀɴʏ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢ ᴛᴡɪsᴛs ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ sᴏ ғᴀʀ ғᴇᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ.
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴍʏ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴀɴᴅʀᴇᴀ ʙᴀʀᴛᴢ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ғɪɴᴅ ᴀ sᴀᴛɪsғʏɪɴɢ ᴘᴀʏᴏғғ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏᴠᴇʀʜʏᴘᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴏʀ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀs. ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅʀᴇᴀ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴏɪɴᴛ! ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴜᴍᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ! sᴜᴘᴇʀ ᴇxᴄɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ.
📖 ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @randomhouse @penguinrandomhouse ᴀɴᴅ @netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ 📖
ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴏʀɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ғɪᴛ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴇᴏʀʏ. ᴛᴡɪsᴛ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ sʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴡɪsᴛ! ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴅᴏɴᴇ! ɪᴛ’s ʀᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴀɴ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴀɴʏ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢ ᴛᴡɪsᴛs ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ sᴏ ғᴀʀ ғᴇᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ.
ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴍʏ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴀɴᴅʀᴇᴀ ʙᴀʀᴛᴢ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ғɪɴᴅ ᴀ sᴀᴛɪsғʏɪɴɢ ᴘᴀʏᴏғғ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏᴠᴇʀʜʏᴘᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴏʀ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀs. ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅʀᴇᴀ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴏɪɴᴛ! ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴜᴍᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ! sᴜᴘᴇʀ ᴇxᴄɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ.
📖 ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @randomhouse @penguinrandomhouse ᴀɴᴅ @netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʀᴄ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ 📖
July 2, 2023
Man, this was so hard to get through. The plot didn’t pick up until about 70/75% in, and it was still lacking that suspense & thrill factor. I had to stop myself from all the eye rolls at one point. All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this one.
June 28, 2023
what the heck did i just read
May 10, 2023
Andrea Bartz and I just really don't mesh well. I don't think I've given any of her books more than a 3-star rating, and THE SPARE ROOM is just that. Straight down-the-middle 3-stars for her upcoming steamy thriller as I was expecting more with that in-your-face WTF type of plot synopsis.
When Kelly loses her job and relationship with Mike, she turns to her childhood friend Sabrina. Sabrina is a bestselling author and has a handsome, high-powered husband. Covid lockdowns have begun, but Sabrina and her husband Nate offer Kelly a spare room in their Virginia mansion. Kelly decides to take the opportunity as she has to escape. This escape however explodes when Kelly begins falling for both Sabrina and Nate and eventually the trio begin trying to be a thruple. Kelly feels validated and lusted for, but Sabrina and Nate aren't new to this different type of relationship status and it hasn't worked out successfully in the past for them. Kelly starts realizing that maybe Sabrina and Nate and her relationship with them isn't what she thought it could be.
This book is really slow even with the juicy plot synopsis. I was expecting a lot more chaos and sex, but THE SPARE ROOM is more of a slow-burning drama. That being said, this book is definitely my favorite from the author and I enjoyed that she decided to write a non-mainstream plot in a mainstream genre. The Karen's and Linda's will probably be up-in-arms, but I really appreciate when authors "go there." I will continue to give this author a chance, but just know that this isn't the popcorn thriller you may expect from the synopsis and that is probably why I didn't rank it higher. Go in with different expectations and let me know if your rating is different than mine knowing that it's not what you should expect to read.
When Kelly loses her job and relationship with Mike, she turns to her childhood friend Sabrina. Sabrina is a bestselling author and has a handsome, high-powered husband. Covid lockdowns have begun, but Sabrina and her husband Nate offer Kelly a spare room in their Virginia mansion. Kelly decides to take the opportunity as she has to escape. This escape however explodes when Kelly begins falling for both Sabrina and Nate and eventually the trio begin trying to be a thruple. Kelly feels validated and lusted for, but Sabrina and Nate aren't new to this different type of relationship status and it hasn't worked out successfully in the past for them. Kelly starts realizing that maybe Sabrina and Nate and her relationship with them isn't what she thought it could be.
This book is really slow even with the juicy plot synopsis. I was expecting a lot more chaos and sex, but THE SPARE ROOM is more of a slow-burning drama. That being said, this book is definitely my favorite from the author and I enjoyed that she decided to write a non-mainstream plot in a mainstream genre. The Karen's and Linda's will probably be up-in-arms, but I really appreciate when authors "go there." I will continue to give this author a chance, but just know that this isn't the popcorn thriller you may expect from the synopsis and that is probably why I didn't rank it higher. Go in with different expectations and let me know if your rating is different than mine knowing that it's not what you should expect to read.
November 10, 2023
I really wanted to like this book. I will admit that a part of why I struggled to get into it may be that I’m not sure the pandemic is something I need to revisit yet (maybe ever?). I also found all of the characters in this book pretty un-likable and uninteresting. I didn’t find the plot particularly interesting either although I thought the idea was really good and there was potential for a good thriller here. I thought the ending was pretty bizarre and I have to say that these characters are who I would want to know if I murdered someone. Kelly and her fiancé are having problems so when her friend from high school Sabrina offers to let her stay with her and her husband Nathan in their “pod” she jumps on the chance. (This also felt weird. When everything shut down the last thing I would have done is move in with anyone I hadn’t seen since high school). She’s instantly feeling at home but there are secrets in every home and the more she learns about this home the more she fears she needs to know. The writing wasn’t bad and like I said there were good ideas. I just really struggled to get into this one and really had to push myself to get through it.
February 17, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this one. This one was just not for me. About 95% of this one reads like Fifty Shades of Gray and 5% thriller - suspense. Very disappointed in this one.
January 16, 2023
This was a unique and interesting read, with some good surprises. The story centers on Kelly, who reconnects with a woman she barely knew from grade school who invites her to come stay in her mansion in VA after Kelly falls out with her fiancé. Kelly is desperate and lonely and decides to take the risk. Once in VA, she becomes enamored with her new host and her husband and they with her, but it’s clear they are hiding something and she isn’t sure if everything is adding up.
This story was interesting because it seemed really predictable and I was prepared for it to not be that memorable but it turns out things aren’t as they seem at all. I love a story with unreliable characters where the author deliberately leads you to thinking you figured things out before switching it up on you. I did think that Kelly herself was a rather annoying character and that the book spent too long on her internal dialogue, but I still liked the story overall. There is a romance aspect to this book, which I generally go out of my way to avoid, but I actually thought the threesome angle was fascinating and found that I ended up enjoying it.
Overall, I thought the story was unique and I loved the twists towards the end that had me rethinking what I initially thought were forgone conclusions. I’d recommend to those who enjoy domestic suspense books. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story was interesting because it seemed really predictable and I was prepared for it to not be that memorable but it turns out things aren’t as they seem at all. I love a story with unreliable characters where the author deliberately leads you to thinking you figured things out before switching it up on you. I did think that Kelly herself was a rather annoying character and that the book spent too long on her internal dialogue, but I still liked the story overall. There is a romance aspect to this book, which I generally go out of my way to avoid, but I actually thought the threesome angle was fascinating and found that I ended up enjoying it.
Overall, I thought the story was unique and I loved the twists towards the end that had me rethinking what I initially thought were forgone conclusions. I’d recommend to those who enjoy domestic suspense books. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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