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Man's Best Friend
A failed actress must decide how much she will give up—and what lies she will overlook—in order to live a life of luxury in this irresistibly suspenseful and slightly surreal debut that is Talented Mr. Ripley meets Nightbitch.
Ever since her year as a scholarship student amongst the ultra-wealthy at a Manhattan private school, El knows what it is like to feel rich—to feel chosen. And being not chosen is her current living at age 30, she has given up her dream of becoming a famous actress, she has no passions, no great love, nothing to look forward to.
Then El meets a mysterious trust-fund Cambridge grad who holds the keys to the world she has long dreamed of. Bryce may not be particularly good-looking, charming, or interesting, but he has chosen her. El allows herself to be lulled by the ease and safety that his wealth provides, becoming Bryce’s little pet, and giving up her job, friends, and apartment in short order. But when a series of disturbing and slightly surreal events reveal that Bryce is not quite what he seems, but something entirely more sinister, El face the consequences when his darkness—and her own—are unleashed.
Ever since her year as a scholarship student amongst the ultra-wealthy at a Manhattan private school, El knows what it is like to feel rich—to feel chosen. And being not chosen is her current living at age 30, she has given up her dream of becoming a famous actress, she has no passions, no great love, nothing to look forward to.
Then El meets a mysterious trust-fund Cambridge grad who holds the keys to the world she has long dreamed of. Bryce may not be particularly good-looking, charming, or interesting, but he has chosen her. El allows herself to be lulled by the ease and safety that his wealth provides, becoming Bryce’s little pet, and giving up her job, friends, and apartment in short order. But when a series of disturbing and slightly surreal events reveal that Bryce is not quite what he seems, but something entirely more sinister, El face the consequences when his darkness—and her own—are unleashed.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 22, 2024
1.5⭐️ I’m upset I spent my insomnia hours finishing this.
Man's Best Friend follows El, a late-20s failed actress living in NYC who abandons her current life for the allure of a luxurious lifestyle with Bryce, a wealthy but mysterious man. As El becomes entrenched in Bryce's world, one that she had only dipped a toe into as a child, she faces unsettling and surreal events that force her to confront the dark truths about him and herself.
I love complicated stories involving complicated women, and I can totally see what this book wanted to do—woman who has always been a doormat to others in her life finds her inner strength, determination, and viciousness to finally take ownership of the world she deserves—but, for me, it missed the mark in almost every way.
I feel in order to make this storyline work there must be depth. Depth to the characters, their motivations, their inner turmoils. Depth to the metaphors introduced (wtf was up with the first chapter and the dogs throughout?? again, didn't do what it wanted). And depth to how the book connects with the reader. But, El and her journey remained largely superficial throughout.
More so, this book reminded me of why You is so successful. Here, you also have a man obsessed with making/keeping a woman as "his". BUT, Joe Goldberg is wildly attractive, charming, and super intelligent, so we as audience members have to work past his enviable "It guy" qualities to understand none of that matters because he is evil, a murderer, and a psychopath. In Man's Best Friend, Bryce is just a fucking loser. He's rich beyond comprehension, but is unattractive (even to El), desperate, and weak. Major incel vibes. Ew.
Hate-review aside, I like the premise of the book. With deeper character development and a more nuanced exploration of its themes, Alana B. Lytle has the potential to craft a truly compelling narrative. I hope her future works show more rigor and critical analysis, as I believe she can deliver a story that fully realizes its ambitious goals.
Thanks to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Alana B. Lytle for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Man's Best Friend follows El, a late-20s failed actress living in NYC who abandons her current life for the allure of a luxurious lifestyle with Bryce, a wealthy but mysterious man. As El becomes entrenched in Bryce's world, one that she had only dipped a toe into as a child, she faces unsettling and surreal events that force her to confront the dark truths about him and herself.
I love complicated stories involving complicated women, and I can totally see what this book wanted to do—woman who has always been a doormat to others in her life finds her inner strength, determination, and viciousness to finally take ownership of the world she deserves—but, for me, it missed the mark in almost every way.
I feel in order to make this storyline work there must be depth. Depth to the characters, their motivations, their inner turmoils. Depth to the metaphors introduced (wtf was up with the first chapter and the dogs throughout?? again, didn't do what it wanted). And depth to how the book connects with the reader. But, El and her journey remained largely superficial throughout.
More so, this book reminded me of why You is so successful. Here, you also have a man obsessed with making/keeping a woman as "his". BUT, Joe Goldberg is wildly attractive, charming, and super intelligent, so we as audience members have to work past his enviable "It guy" qualities to understand none of that matters because he is evil, a murderer, and a psychopath. In Man's Best Friend, Bryce is just a fucking loser. He's rich beyond comprehension, but is unattractive (even to El), desperate, and weak. Major incel vibes. Ew.
Hate-review aside, I like the premise of the book. With deeper character development and a more nuanced exploration of its themes, Alana B. Lytle has the potential to craft a truly compelling narrative. I hope her future works show more rigor and critical analysis, as I believe she can deliver a story that fully realizes its ambitious goals.
Thanks to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Alana B. Lytle for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Man's Best Friend.
I liked the title more than I did the story but that's no shock.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
El is a failed actress looking for something...but what that is she's not sure.
When she meets a mysterious man named Bryce, she's quickly drawn into his privileged world.
But when she discovers his secrets, she has to make a choice about her future and what she really wants in life.
El is not a likable character; she's not witty or charming, smart or clever.
But she's honest about her complacency, about her desire to do less, sacrificing her morals and values for a life of leisure.
The narrative was boring, tedious, filled with bratty privileged people hooking up, boozing, doing drugs, trying to sound smarter than they really are by debating whatever hashtag is trending on social media.
The story is neither suspenseful or compelling; this is not a mystery or thriller so much as whiny people whining about how hard life is while they dash off to the Hamptons or Paris and guzzle thousands in booze and snort more thousands in drugs up their noses.
Bryce is pathetic, a loser, and not surprisingly, a good match for El.
I accept El's reason for accepting Bryce's marriage proposal though the ending wouldn't work if Bryce wasn't a loser.
But then, people have gotten married for less.
I liked the title more than I did the story but that's no shock.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
El is a failed actress looking for something...but what that is she's not sure.
When she meets a mysterious man named Bryce, she's quickly drawn into his privileged world.
But when she discovers his secrets, she has to make a choice about her future and what she really wants in life.
El is not a likable character; she's not witty or charming, smart or clever.
But she's honest about her complacency, about her desire to do less, sacrificing her morals and values for a life of leisure.
The narrative was boring, tedious, filled with bratty privileged people hooking up, boozing, doing drugs, trying to sound smarter than they really are by debating whatever hashtag is trending on social media.
The story is neither suspenseful or compelling; this is not a mystery or thriller so much as whiny people whining about how hard life is while they dash off to the Hamptons or Paris and guzzle thousands in booze and snort more thousands in drugs up their noses.
Bryce is pathetic, a loser, and not surprisingly, a good match for El.
I accept El's reason for accepting Bryce's marriage proposal though the ending wouldn't work if Bryce wasn't a loser.
But then, people have gotten married for less.
August 2, 2023
Man’s Best Friend is a lot of things- at times light hearted and at other times, very dark, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. El is a 29 year old wannabe actor turned bakery employee, directionless and seeking validation through men. She struggles with feelings of worthlessness and an inability to let go of her high school insecurities and toxic friendships. The characters in this book are familiar- the unlikeable and lost protagonist, the wealthy and vapid friends, the mysterious love interest- but the writing is really good and the social commentary provides a fresh take on a tired archetype.
After a questionable meet-cute with a wealthy Englishman, El steps directly and willingly into the void of an all consuming relationship. She muses over the axiom “do you want to be right or happy,” isolating herself from healthy relationships and blazing a path of self-destruction. There are so many moments of clever writing and biting social criticism. One of my favorite gems is when El confront the righteous rage of a very wealthy ally to the working poor.
El is deeply unlikeable and that is what makes her such a fascinating read. She lives in the dangerous territory of almost good enough. She fails to create or nurture real relationships, in part, because she is afraid of rejection. I wasn’t necessarily rooting for her, but I was invested in her story, nonetheless.
I least enjoyed the dog related harbingers placed throughout the story. I get what the author is trying to say, but I didn’t enjoy the metaphors- they were too obvious and forced, taking away from a more interesting discussion on the absurdity of practicing ethical consumption under capitalism and the tenuous line between romance and abuse. The prologue reads like a completely different story so if you do not enjoy it, keep reading- it gets better.
After a questionable meet-cute with a wealthy Englishman, El steps directly and willingly into the void of an all consuming relationship. She muses over the axiom “do you want to be right or happy,” isolating herself from healthy relationships and blazing a path of self-destruction. There are so many moments of clever writing and biting social criticism. One of my favorite gems is when El confront the righteous rage of a very wealthy ally to the working poor.
El is deeply unlikeable and that is what makes her such a fascinating read. She lives in the dangerous territory of almost good enough. She fails to create or nurture real relationships, in part, because she is afraid of rejection. I wasn’t necessarily rooting for her, but I was invested in her story, nonetheless.
I least enjoyed the dog related harbingers placed throughout the story. I get what the author is trying to say, but I didn’t enjoy the metaphors- they were too obvious and forced, taking away from a more interesting discussion on the absurdity of practicing ethical consumption under capitalism and the tenuous line between romance and abuse. The prologue reads like a completely different story so if you do not enjoy it, keep reading- it gets better.
August 30, 2024
I didn't really like this story, but at the same time, I didn't hate it either. To be honest, I'm surprised that I was able to finish it because at no point in the story was I ever truly invested in what El was going through. She was a failed actress who didn't have any dreams, passions, or future plans to work towards. She did make some friends in college, but perhaps because they reminded her of her failed dreams, she slowly started distancing herself from them.
In 8th grade, she attended a private school via financial aid and was exposed to children from wealthy families. She felt like an outsider among them but comforted herself with the idea that one day she'd become a famous actress, and they'd tell everyone they knew that they went to school with her, however briefly.
Of course, that never happened, and right before her 30th birthday, one of only two friends that she made that year invited her to a party where she once again rubbed elbows with the elites. It was at this party that she met Bryce. She wasn't particularly attracted to him, but was willing to get to know him because h was wealthy.
El allowed herself to be dragged into Bryce's world. He fell in love with her relatively quickly and when he asked her to move in with him and allow him to pay off all her bills and take care of her she chose to ignore all the red flags telling her that something wasn't right with him. When she was finally confronted with the type of person he really was, she had to make a decision about whether or not giving up her life of luxury was worth sacrificing her morals.
That synopsis may sound interesting, but the story itself did not deliver. The characters were all superficial and annoying ( think entitled rich people being entitled and rich 🙄), the plot was tedious, and the ending didn't have the intended effect that the author was going for. I imagine shitty things like that probably happen all the time in that world, and you know what? Good for El. I've got nothing bad to say about her decision. 2.25 stars
In 8th grade, she attended a private school via financial aid and was exposed to children from wealthy families. She felt like an outsider among them but comforted herself with the idea that one day she'd become a famous actress, and they'd tell everyone they knew that they went to school with her, however briefly.
Of course, that never happened, and right before her 30th birthday, one of only two friends that she made that year invited her to a party where she once again rubbed elbows with the elites. It was at this party that she met Bryce. She wasn't particularly attracted to him, but was willing to get to know him because h was wealthy.
El allowed herself to be dragged into Bryce's world. He fell in love with her relatively quickly and when he asked her to move in with him and allow him to pay off all her bills and take care of her she chose to ignore all the red flags telling her that something wasn't right with him. When she was finally confronted with the type of person he really was, she had to make a decision about whether or not giving up her life of luxury was worth sacrificing her morals.
That synopsis may sound interesting, but the story itself did not deliver. The characters were all superficial and annoying ( think entitled rich people being entitled and rich 🙄), the plot was tedious, and the ending didn't have the intended effect that the author was going for. I imagine shitty things like that probably happen all the time in that world, and you know what? Good for El. I've got nothing bad to say about her decision. 2.25 stars
May 1, 2024
thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the advanced digital copy of this one.
this one comes out on May 14 2024.
--
i think this one was my bad. with comps like Nightbitch and Talented Mr. Ripley, it's not a surprise to me that i was drawn in, but this turned out to be a story that centered money and those stories often frustrate me, especially with no commentary about how poisonous the few having excessive wealth can be to both their own emotional states and obviously the huge toll it takes on society.
el is resourceless, always coming in late for her bakery job, and simply a sad mess. i found this relatable, though i also think something about the way this story was written made me feel like i was meant to feel sorry FOR her instead of putting me in a place of solidarity WITH her.
anyway - el has a chance to reconnect with old, super-wealthy "friends". the quotations being operative because there's nothing authentic about these old friendships. el is miserable, constantly comparing herself, and just generally obsessed with all the things that she doesn't have, namely fame and money via an acting career that never was.
el loses her ID at the party where she met up with her old friends, casually cutting lines of cocaine in a bathroom. it falls in the hands of a guy named bryce who coerces her into a date so that she can collect it. bryce from the start you know is gross and a manipulator and i think intuitively el would have to had she stopped focusing on status-climbing for ten seconds.
so, i don't know. ultimately less of a thriller, just a book about insufferable rich people doing drugs and drinking and partying and a girl who is very broken down by the inequity of having to work like most of the rest of us refusing to make a singular good decision when options are presented to her.
honestly, cover alone, i thought this was going to be unhinged girl lit where we get a hot woman covered in blood. absolutely my bad.
i suspect this will be a banger for those that love the work of emma cline, though it certainly wasn't for me.
this one comes out on May 14 2024.
--
i think this one was my bad. with comps like Nightbitch and Talented Mr. Ripley, it's not a surprise to me that i was drawn in, but this turned out to be a story that centered money and those stories often frustrate me, especially with no commentary about how poisonous the few having excessive wealth can be to both their own emotional states and obviously the huge toll it takes on society.
el is resourceless, always coming in late for her bakery job, and simply a sad mess. i found this relatable, though i also think something about the way this story was written made me feel like i was meant to feel sorry FOR her instead of putting me in a place of solidarity WITH her.
anyway - el has a chance to reconnect with old, super-wealthy "friends". the quotations being operative because there's nothing authentic about these old friendships. el is miserable, constantly comparing herself, and just generally obsessed with all the things that she doesn't have, namely fame and money via an acting career that never was.
el loses her ID at the party where she met up with her old friends, casually cutting lines of cocaine in a bathroom. it falls in the hands of a guy named bryce who coerces her into a date so that she can collect it. bryce from the start you know is gross and a manipulator and i think intuitively el would have to had she stopped focusing on status-climbing for ten seconds.
so, i don't know. ultimately less of a thriller, just a book about insufferable rich people doing drugs and drinking and partying and a girl who is very broken down by the inequity of having to work like most of the rest of us refusing to make a singular good decision when options are presented to her.
honestly, cover alone, i thought this was going to be unhinged girl lit where we get a hot woman covered in blood. absolutely my bad.
i suspect this will be a banger for those that love the work of emma cline, though it certainly wasn't for me.
January 15, 2024
This was a pretty quick read but I had mixed feelings about it. Bryce really didn’t seem that bad and a lot of El’s responses to his behavior didn’t seem to fit the situation. El isn’t really a likable character but you also don’t hate her. She’s just a little bit boring. Her personality felt confusing - she was supposed to be the sad single 30 year old who gave up her dream of being an actor but was also described as confident and independent. It felt contradictory. The introduction of her 2 sets of friends from college and middle school didn’t really flow and felt clunky. The parts about her dreams weren’t necessary and the ending gave you nothing.
May 23, 2024
This was a really gripping read. In some ways it reminded me of Emma Clines’s The Guest, but with a little more bite to it. Both books deal with a main character longing to be part of a wealthy lifestyle that they weren’t born into. Both books feature the main character in a questionable relationship with a man. The man in this book is quite alarming and their relationship is certainly not healthy. And in both books, the main characters are drifting through life with no specific goals in sight.
There’s a lot to delve into with this book and I found El and her transformation to be fascinating. She’s not an easy person to like but she’s relatable. There is also the presence of dogs throughout this story and what they signify for our main character.
There were several different directions this book could have gone and I was pleasantly surprised with how things wrapped up. It was unexpected and I think the ending was in line with what type of person El is and who she wants to be. And unlike The Guest, we get concrete answers with this book. Overall, this was an absorbing read and a great debut. This is def more of a lit fiction book though and not a thriller.
There’s a lot to delve into with this book and I found El and her transformation to be fascinating. She’s not an easy person to like but she’s relatable. There is also the presence of dogs throughout this story and what they signify for our main character.
There were several different directions this book could have gone and I was pleasantly surprised with how things wrapped up. It was unexpected and I think the ending was in line with what type of person El is and who she wants to be. And unlike The Guest, we get concrete answers with this book. Overall, this was an absorbing read and a great debut. This is def more of a lit fiction book though and not a thriller.
May 10, 2024
This was quite a book! Man’s Best Friend is a compelling story about a character who grows more unlikeable as the story progresses and offers a blistering social commentary of wealth, privilege, and poverty. Intense and clever!
It starts out fairly standard—a somewhat entitled out-of-work actress has seen how the other half lives and can no longer be content with her life. Nor does she even try to make her life anything other than what it is. As the book goes on, El prioritizes any friend she deems of higher status over those who may be closer to her, less judgmental, more reliable, and actually like El. Not only is El a terrible friend, she’s an all-around selfish and lazy person.
Am I convincing you to avoid this book? Don’t!
El is written that way intentionally, and trust me you don’t need to—nor are you expected to—like El as a person. Her single year at a private school introduced her to two girls who she believes herself to be friends with, Anna and Julia. El will drop everything to hang out with them, though as we learn, their friendship is shallow and riddled with unhealthy competition.
I found being inside El’s head endlessly fascinating. She’s such a deliciously unlikeable person. Her relationship with the wealthy, Cambridge-educated Bryce is bizarre at best. Bryce is a lovesick puppy when it comes to El, and El can barely stand him. But it turns out El isn’t the only one with a dark side.
The social commentary is blazing hot throughout, and the ending is powerful and sharp.
Thank you to Putnam Books and Penguin Random House for my copy. Opinions are my own.
It starts out fairly standard—a somewhat entitled out-of-work actress has seen how the other half lives and can no longer be content with her life. Nor does she even try to make her life anything other than what it is. As the book goes on, El prioritizes any friend she deems of higher status over those who may be closer to her, less judgmental, more reliable, and actually like El. Not only is El a terrible friend, she’s an all-around selfish and lazy person.
Am I convincing you to avoid this book? Don’t!
El is written that way intentionally, and trust me you don’t need to—nor are you expected to—like El as a person. Her single year at a private school introduced her to two girls who she believes herself to be friends with, Anna and Julia. El will drop everything to hang out with them, though as we learn, their friendship is shallow and riddled with unhealthy competition.
I found being inside El’s head endlessly fascinating. She’s such a deliciously unlikeable person. Her relationship with the wealthy, Cambridge-educated Bryce is bizarre at best. Bryce is a lovesick puppy when it comes to El, and El can barely stand him. But it turns out El isn’t the only one with a dark side.
The social commentary is blazing hot throughout, and the ending is powerful and sharp.
Thank you to Putnam Books and Penguin Random House for my copy. Opinions are my own.
February 28, 2024
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Chapter 1 begins with a story about a dog who loves its owner and lives a perfectly perfect life, but finds itself asking what if. What if it were better somewhere else? What if I were loved more? What if someone paid more attention to me? What if I were cared about more? Is life always so mundane and patterned? While this threw me off in the beginning, I quickly realized that this was a metaphor what was El was going through in her life. El no longer is happy with her path and being a loyal servant to someone. She wants more.
That being said, I honestly did not connect with this book like I had hoped that I would. It was a little all over the place for me. I was confused with the canine perspective for a good portion of the book. I probably should have read other review first, but I prefer to go in blind and decide for myself. A book where living on the fringe of the rich and wanting more than she has – will put of a lot of toxic vibes and that may be great for other readers. I expect this book to have a wide variety of reviews. It will have a love/hate relationship with readers.
Chapter 1 begins with a story about a dog who loves its owner and lives a perfectly perfect life, but finds itself asking what if. What if it were better somewhere else? What if I were loved more? What if someone paid more attention to me? What if I were cared about more? Is life always so mundane and patterned? While this threw me off in the beginning, I quickly realized that this was a metaphor what was El was going through in her life. El no longer is happy with her path and being a loyal servant to someone. She wants more.
That being said, I honestly did not connect with this book like I had hoped that I would. It was a little all over the place for me. I was confused with the canine perspective for a good portion of the book. I probably should have read other review first, but I prefer to go in blind and decide for myself. A book where living on the fringe of the rich and wanting more than she has – will put of a lot of toxic vibes and that may be great for other readers. I expect this book to have a wide variety of reviews. It will have a love/hate relationship with readers.
May 3, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for my free copy for review.
"Man's Best Friend" by Alan B. Lytle presents a captivating, slow-burning narrative centered around the main character, El, as she reflects on her past and grapples with the deep-seated desire to be chosen, accepted, and respected by her affluent friends. The roots of her feelings of inferiority trace back to her father's departure, adding a poignant layer of complexity to her character. Despite facing setbacks in her acting career and working at a bakery, a pivotal night at a party in the Hamptons, hosted by her wealthy friend Julia, becomes a catalyst for profound change in her life. Here, the author deftly navigates El's response to her circumstances, including her reluctant involvement with a man she barely likes, leading to the revelation of unsettling truths.
El's character, whom I found unlikable, is depicted with a compelling mix of disturbance and depth. Her pursuit of acceptance from her wealthy friends is juxtaposed with her oversight of the meaningful connections she has already formed. Her transformative actions towards the story's conclusion mark a significant turning point. Rather than succumbing to fear, she seizes control, confronts the truth about her fiance, and ultimately gains not just wealth, but more importantly, autonomy.
This thought-provoking narrative offers a profound exploration of personal agency portraying a character's journey from vulnerability to empowerment. It delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the profound impact of self-realization.
"Man's Best Friend" by Alan B. Lytle presents a captivating, slow-burning narrative centered around the main character, El, as she reflects on her past and grapples with the deep-seated desire to be chosen, accepted, and respected by her affluent friends. The roots of her feelings of inferiority trace back to her father's departure, adding a poignant layer of complexity to her character. Despite facing setbacks in her acting career and working at a bakery, a pivotal night at a party in the Hamptons, hosted by her wealthy friend Julia, becomes a catalyst for profound change in her life. Here, the author deftly navigates El's response to her circumstances, including her reluctant involvement with a man she barely likes, leading to the revelation of unsettling truths.
El's character, whom I found unlikable, is depicted with a compelling mix of disturbance and depth. Her pursuit of acceptance from her wealthy friends is juxtaposed with her oversight of the meaningful connections she has already formed. Her transformative actions towards the story's conclusion mark a significant turning point. Rather than succumbing to fear, she seizes control, confronts the truth about her fiance, and ultimately gains not just wealth, but more importantly, autonomy.
This thought-provoking narrative offers a profound exploration of personal agency portraying a character's journey from vulnerability to empowerment. It delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the profound impact of self-realization.
May 18, 2024
What a perfect “Who’s afraid of little old me? You should be” novel.
This was fantastic and reminded me a lot of Anna Pitoniak’s Necessary People while still being its own unique story.
I love books that take place mostly via the protagonist’s inner monologue, provided that the inside of their head is an interesting place to be. It most definitely is in El’s case, and I loved the way she moved through the story and evolved from a person who things happen to into a person who makes things happen.
I liked the mystery element to this as well. It’s not hard to tell where it’s going, but it fits beautifully with the rest of the narrative. The writing is sharp and well-crafted, and the whole piece has both a grim realism and and dreamlike quality that play surprisingly well together.
The dog metaphor (or whatever we’re going to call it) that bookends the story didn’t work and felt contrived, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of an otherwise supremely smart and satisfying read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This was fantastic and reminded me a lot of Anna Pitoniak’s Necessary People while still being its own unique story.
I love books that take place mostly via the protagonist’s inner monologue, provided that the inside of their head is an interesting place to be. It most definitely is in El’s case, and I loved the way she moved through the story and evolved from a person who things happen to into a person who makes things happen.
I liked the mystery element to this as well. It’s not hard to tell where it’s going, but it fits beautifully with the rest of the narrative. The writing is sharp and well-crafted, and the whole piece has both a grim realism and and dreamlike quality that play surprisingly well together.
The dog metaphor (or whatever we’re going to call it) that bookends the story didn’t work and felt contrived, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of an otherwise supremely smart and satisfying read.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
May 17, 2024
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This book was definitely not what I was expecting! There were some twists that I didn’t see coming but others that felt pretty obvious. Unfortunately, Bryce reminded me a lot of my fiancée with his sweetness and caring nature, I pray it doesn’t go any further! The characters are well developed and the story is interesting and kept me reading late into the night. I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers with a touch of romance!
This book was definitely not what I was expecting! There were some twists that I didn’t see coming but others that felt pretty obvious. Unfortunately, Bryce reminded me a lot of my fiancée with his sweetness and caring nature, I pray it doesn’t go any further! The characters are well developed and the story is interesting and kept me reading late into the night. I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers with a touch of romance!
June 12, 2024
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. Reading this was like enjoying a sinful piece of chocolate that just tastes so delicious while you savor it in your mouth. Loved all of the small details and character development. El knew what she wanted and she “took the bull by the horns.” Thoroughly, truly LOVED this book! An absolutely fantastic read that I will definitely reference and remember in the future!
April 12, 2024
Man’s Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle follows El, a failed actress who has had a taste of the rich life and has been chasing that high ever since. With two rich friends, she feels like an outsider. She eventually meets Bryce, a trust fund baby who just may be her ticket to a better life. But Bryce has secrets of his own that may be darker than El imagined.
If you go into this wanting a literary book with some thriller elements, I feel like you would enjoy this book. It’s pretty slow moving and the main character isn’t particularly likeable so it’s hard to feel attached to the story.
I feel like I enjoyed this well enough. After seeing it compared to The Talented Mr. Ripley, I was expecting a bit more twists and turns. This book ended up going in a way I wasn’t expecting. I think I would recommend this book to a few people but not a ton. I think the people that really love slower moving literary thrillers will enjoy this one.
I would check out more from this author because while this book is slow, I never felt like I was having a bad time or anything. The writing style was something that I really enjoyed. So I think my expectations for this story were a little high but I still had a good time.
Huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you go into this wanting a literary book with some thriller elements, I feel like you would enjoy this book. It’s pretty slow moving and the main character isn’t particularly likeable so it’s hard to feel attached to the story.
I feel like I enjoyed this well enough. After seeing it compared to The Talented Mr. Ripley, I was expecting a bit more twists and turns. This book ended up going in a way I wasn’t expecting. I think I would recommend this book to a few people but not a ton. I think the people that really love slower moving literary thrillers will enjoy this one.
I would check out more from this author because while this book is slow, I never felt like I was having a bad time or anything. The writing style was something that I really enjoyed. So I think my expectations for this story were a little high but I still had a good time.
Huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 25, 2023
El is a struggling actress nearing the end of her opportunity to make it big. Living in New York, she works half heartedly at a bakery and spends time with her NYU friends dreaming of what could have been. Back in middle school, El spent a golden year at a private Manhattan academy. The friends she made there seemed to have moved on, but El has never forgotten them. When one of the friends returns her text and invites her to the Hamptons for a night, she jumps at the chance. While she is there she meets a very interesting man who for once, is more interested in her than her friends.
The themes of never being good enough, or just being good enough at times worked well, I do not think the dog metaphors were helpful, and seemed to have detracted from the story. While some of this territory has been covered before, Lytle is a great writer and the ending will absolutely thrill you! #Mansbestfriend #alanablytle #penguin
The themes of never being good enough, or just being good enough at times worked well, I do not think the dog metaphors were helpful, and seemed to have detracted from the story. While some of this territory has been covered before, Lytle is a great writer and the ending will absolutely thrill you! #Mansbestfriend #alanablytle #penguin
October 6, 2023
3.5 stars for this one.
El is a 29yo, directionless, hurt, and...just bithcy lady, dealing with certain self realizations about life and relationships. Failed friendships, an icky relationship, abandoned father, barely there mother all have made El into a sad, lost girl.
I loved the writing and the character development of most characters. I really enjoyed disliking El. The decisions she makes, her calculated actions fueled by her failed acting skills, and her impulsive thought process all make her the toxic being of her circle. Her boyfriend, Bryce, being just as bad, gave me the major ick!!!
The reason I didn't rate this higher is because the story itself was kind of meh. Even tho there was even a murder thrown in there. Meh.
I didn't understand the sprinkled in dog references to appease the title...? Maybe it went over my head.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
El is a 29yo, directionless, hurt, and...just bithcy lady, dealing with certain self realizations about life and relationships. Failed friendships, an icky relationship, abandoned father, barely there mother all have made El into a sad, lost girl.
I loved the writing and the character development of most characters. I really enjoyed disliking El. The decisions she makes, her calculated actions fueled by her failed acting skills, and her impulsive thought process all make her the toxic being of her circle. Her boyfriend, Bryce, being just as bad, gave me the major ick!!!
The reason I didn't rate this higher is because the story itself was kind of meh. Even tho there was even a murder thrown in there. Meh.
I didn't understand the sprinkled in dog references to appease the title...? Maybe it went over my head.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
September 9, 2024
Early reviews of this book had me NERVOUS, and while I do think it’s bold to compare this to Nightbitch (an all-time fave of mine), I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
El is a failed actress, living in NYC and struggling to accept her reality. She always thought she’d be rich and famous, but now she works in a bakery, watching her NYU friends make their mark on the world. When she meets an extremely wealthy man who wants to dote on her, a very wide door opens for her, offering her everything she could ever want, but is living the life she dreamed of worth it?
El is not a particularly likable character, but I was fully invested in her story. I was expecting a literary examination of the dangers of wealth (which there is), but this also turns into a sharp thriller that had me guessing El’s (and her mysterious boyfriend’s) motives the entire time.
I received a free digital review copy from the publisher.
El is a failed actress, living in NYC and struggling to accept her reality. She always thought she’d be rich and famous, but now she works in a bakery, watching her NYU friends make their mark on the world. When she meets an extremely wealthy man who wants to dote on her, a very wide door opens for her, offering her everything she could ever want, but is living the life she dreamed of worth it?
El is not a particularly likable character, but I was fully invested in her story. I was expecting a literary examination of the dangers of wealth (which there is), but this also turns into a sharp thriller that had me guessing El’s (and her mysterious boyfriend’s) motives the entire time.
I received a free digital review copy from the publisher.
April 22, 2024
I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Last year, I read "The Guest" by Emma Cline and loved it. At the same time, many people hated it and felt that it meandered far too long and eventually went nowhere. I have a feeling that this book will be just as polarizing this year, and I hate to say it, but as much as I wanted to like this book, I'm going to be on the "what was this all for?" side of things.
The book focuses on El, a young 20-something who comes from a broken home. Since junior high, it's been El and her mother after her dad left her for the secret other family he'd been hiding from them. While in middle school, El befriends Julia and Anna, two rich, popular girls who take her under their wing and make someone out of El - or at least until middle school ends and Julia and Anna go to a private high school while EL goes to a performing arts high school. The three remained close, but as years passed, Anna moved on, and El and Julia rarely saw each other.
At the top of the novel, EL is working at a bakery and has finally decided to give up on her dream of becoming a famous actress. She's unsure of where her life is taking her, and when Julia invites her to a weekend at The Hamptons to celebrate Julia's birthday, she decides to leave her worries behind and have a little fun. A weekend with rich friends who have no cares in the world is just what EL needs. She can at least pretend she's one of them for a few days.
While there, El loses her wallet, and a man she briefly remembers from the party messages her on Facebook letting her know he found it. He lives in the city, and El agrees to meet him for drinks. Bryce (the dude) isn't exactly handsome, but he's super rich, and he seems smitten with El, so she agrees, and it's not long before the two are dating. El always saw herself becoming rich and famous with a gorgeous man by her side. She may be willing to give up the gorgeous man and fame if it means she could be financially free. What's wrong with being a kept woman? But then she learns something about Bryce that shakes her - he may not be the awkward, doting man she thought he was. But he's rich and gives El whatever she wants - maybe she can use this to her advantage?
The relationship between El and Bryce is at the heart of the story, and it is a twisted and compelling dynamic, but it doesn't build up to the suspenseful climax it could have. With his aura of wealth and privilege, Bryce exerts a magnetic pull on El, drawing her into his world of deceit and manipulation. As the layers of Bryce's true nature are peeled back, the reader is left questioning everything they thought they knew about him and about El herself. When El learned his secret, I felt for sure the book would (finally) move in a direction that would make me invested in her journey, but then El did what El did, and I was back to hating her.
One of the things that drew me to this book was that it sounded like it was going to be a thriller - in my opinion, it wasn't. It's nothing more than a story about a woman in her 30s who feels entitled and is pissed that she never became rich and famous. She had several chances to redeem herself along the way but refused to care about anyone or anything other than herself and what she felt she deserved. I felt zero connection to her and absolutely zero empathy. I also didn't care about Bryce or any other characters, and it's really difficult for me to enjoy a book when I don't care about anyone in it.
While some may find morally grey characters and unsettling themes off-putting, I typically love them (provided I can empathize with or see some humanity in one of the MCs). Lytle's unflinching exploration of power, wealth, and the lengths people will go to obtain them is both gripping and thought-provoking but gets lost in a plot that is almost as shallow as its characters. I mentioned Emma Cline's "The Guest" earlier, which had a somewhat similar protagonist, but the difference between that book and this one is that despite all of the crap that Alex (the protagonist in that book) did, I felt empathy toward her. She was messed up and made some horrible choices, but I still wanted her to be okay. Had El shown any sort of empathy for anyone other than herself, I may have liked this one more.
Last year, I read "The Guest" by Emma Cline and loved it. At the same time, many people hated it and felt that it meandered far too long and eventually went nowhere. I have a feeling that this book will be just as polarizing this year, and I hate to say it, but as much as I wanted to like this book, I'm going to be on the "what was this all for?" side of things.
The book focuses on El, a young 20-something who comes from a broken home. Since junior high, it's been El and her mother after her dad left her for the secret other family he'd been hiding from them. While in middle school, El befriends Julia and Anna, two rich, popular girls who take her under their wing and make someone out of El - or at least until middle school ends and Julia and Anna go to a private high school while EL goes to a performing arts high school. The three remained close, but as years passed, Anna moved on, and El and Julia rarely saw each other.
At the top of the novel, EL is working at a bakery and has finally decided to give up on her dream of becoming a famous actress. She's unsure of where her life is taking her, and when Julia invites her to a weekend at The Hamptons to celebrate Julia's birthday, she decides to leave her worries behind and have a little fun. A weekend with rich friends who have no cares in the world is just what EL needs. She can at least pretend she's one of them for a few days.
While there, El loses her wallet, and a man she briefly remembers from the party messages her on Facebook letting her know he found it. He lives in the city, and El agrees to meet him for drinks. Bryce (the dude) isn't exactly handsome, but he's super rich, and he seems smitten with El, so she agrees, and it's not long before the two are dating. El always saw herself becoming rich and famous with a gorgeous man by her side. She may be willing to give up the gorgeous man and fame if it means she could be financially free. What's wrong with being a kept woman? But then she learns something about Bryce that shakes her - he may not be the awkward, doting man she thought he was. But he's rich and gives El whatever she wants - maybe she can use this to her advantage?
The relationship between El and Bryce is at the heart of the story, and it is a twisted and compelling dynamic, but it doesn't build up to the suspenseful climax it could have. With his aura of wealth and privilege, Bryce exerts a magnetic pull on El, drawing her into his world of deceit and manipulation. As the layers of Bryce's true nature are peeled back, the reader is left questioning everything they thought they knew about him and about El herself. When El learned his secret, I felt for sure the book would (finally) move in a direction that would make me invested in her journey, but then El did what El did, and I was back to hating her.
One of the things that drew me to this book was that it sounded like it was going to be a thriller - in my opinion, it wasn't. It's nothing more than a story about a woman in her 30s who feels entitled and is pissed that she never became rich and famous. She had several chances to redeem herself along the way but refused to care about anyone or anything other than herself and what she felt she deserved. I felt zero connection to her and absolutely zero empathy. I also didn't care about Bryce or any other characters, and it's really difficult for me to enjoy a book when I don't care about anyone in it.
While some may find morally grey characters and unsettling themes off-putting, I typically love them (provided I can empathize with or see some humanity in one of the MCs). Lytle's unflinching exploration of power, wealth, and the lengths people will go to obtain them is both gripping and thought-provoking but gets lost in a plot that is almost as shallow as its characters. I mentioned Emma Cline's "The Guest" earlier, which had a somewhat similar protagonist, but the difference between that book and this one is that despite all of the crap that Alex (the protagonist in that book) did, I felt empathy toward her. She was messed up and made some horrible choices, but I still wanted her to be okay. Had El shown any sort of empathy for anyone other than herself, I may have liked this one more.
Read
February 24, 2024***Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Man’s Best Friend .
And Thank you
***PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, for an an advanced digital ARC
I was excited for this book based on the title and was unfortunately disappointed.I found the way it was written to be very scattered and confusing. The main character El is very bland, and there is nothing about her, or her quid pro quo romance with Bryce that makes you want more of any of it . I feel the ideas were there, but the follow through and the character development was rushed and unfinished. I liked the descriptive writing used throughout allowing the reader to visualize the environmental factors surrounding the characters but needed more connection and interest in the characters themselves. I feel this writer has the absolute potential to make a really good novel , but needs to focus more on the direction of the story as well as deciding on which aspect of the story they are intending to be the most important in reference to the genre being more of a mystery, romance or just simple first person reflective journaling. With that said I look forward to future novels in hopes of getting this quality of writing along with a riveting story.
And Thank you
***PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, for an an advanced digital ARC
I was excited for this book based on the title and was unfortunately disappointed.I found the way it was written to be very scattered and confusing. The main character El is very bland, and there is nothing about her, or her quid pro quo romance with Bryce that makes you want more of any of it . I feel the ideas were there, but the follow through and the character development was rushed and unfinished. I liked the descriptive writing used throughout allowing the reader to visualize the environmental factors surrounding the characters but needed more connection and interest in the characters themselves. I feel this writer has the absolute potential to make a really good novel , but needs to focus more on the direction of the story as well as deciding on which aspect of the story they are intending to be the most important in reference to the genre being more of a mystery, romance or just simple first person reflective journaling. With that said I look forward to future novels in hopes of getting this quality of writing along with a riveting story.
June 17, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for providing me with an eARC of Man's Best Friend in exchange for my honest review!
When you compare a book to both The Talented Mr. Ripley and Nightbitch, it will automatically draw me in before I even read the first page (I haven't read Nightbitch, but it's on my TBR pile, and I'm a massive fan of the 1999 film adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley). The cover is great, too. Unfortunately, this fails to grip me all that deeply. The characters, including El, are just so vapid as they sink themselves into partying and drugs, and it's not even being executed in an interesting manner. It simply comes off as cliched, failing to get me invested in the unlikable characters. The second half of the plot does engage me a little more than the first half, but still, it's not much of an improvement. Once I reach the ambiguous ending, I'm left to blandly shrug at the forgettable narrative I just pushed myself through.
Overall, I'm officially rating Man's Best Friend two out of five stars. Oh well, I'm still glad I gave it a shot.
When you compare a book to both The Talented Mr. Ripley and Nightbitch, it will automatically draw me in before I even read the first page (I haven't read Nightbitch, but it's on my TBR pile, and I'm a massive fan of the 1999 film adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley). The cover is great, too. Unfortunately, this fails to grip me all that deeply. The characters, including El, are just so vapid as they sink themselves into partying and drugs, and it's not even being executed in an interesting manner. It simply comes off as cliched, failing to get me invested in the unlikable characters. The second half of the plot does engage me a little more than the first half, but still, it's not much of an improvement. Once I reach the ambiguous ending, I'm left to blandly shrug at the forgettable narrative I just pushed myself through.
Overall, I'm officially rating Man's Best Friend two out of five stars. Oh well, I'm still glad I gave it a shot.
April 2, 2024
A woman of modest means is impacted for life by attending an elite school for one year in 8th grade. Surrounded by wealth and privilege, El feels less than and spends most of the ensuing years trying to capture what the moneyed kids had.
When many years in the future El is maybe stalked by a wall street whiz, she puts her personal ethics aside to accept everything he's willing to give or provide for her. Even the mounting evidence of perhaps evil doing on the part of her provider isn't enough for El to turn away from her new status.
El was mostly unlikeable but I did enjoy her owning her true self in the end.
What didn't work for me was the dogs behaving badly intermittently throughout which was surely meant to convey something but alas, it confused the story for me.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for an early e-copy. All opinions are my own.
When many years in the future El is maybe stalked by a wall street whiz, she puts her personal ethics aside to accept everything he's willing to give or provide for her. Even the mounting evidence of perhaps evil doing on the part of her provider isn't enough for El to turn away from her new status.
El was mostly unlikeable but I did enjoy her owning her true self in the end.
What didn't work for me was the dogs behaving badly intermittently throughout which was surely meant to convey something but alas, it confused the story for me.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for an early e-copy. All opinions are my own.
October 26, 2023
ARC for review. TBP May 14, 2024.
El is befriended by wealthy girls Anna and Julia when they are in eighth grade. She is enamored with their lives of privilege and she tries to hold on to those ties even after they go on to separate high schools, colleges and adult lives. El attends a birthday party for Julia at Julia’s beach house at the Hamptons when the women are in their late twenties, El has recently given up her dreams of trying to make it as an actress and is at loose ends. A chance encounter has her meeting Bryce who contacts her upon their return to the city and the two fall into a relationship, but is this what’s best for El?
I liked the book, but the dog stuff….I didn’t get it. Maybe I’m just slow.
El is befriended by wealthy girls Anna and Julia when they are in eighth grade. She is enamored with their lives of privilege and she tries to hold on to those ties even after they go on to separate high schools, colleges and adult lives. El attends a birthday party for Julia at Julia’s beach house at the Hamptons when the women are in their late twenties, El has recently given up her dreams of trying to make it as an actress and is at loose ends. A chance encounter has her meeting Bryce who contacts her upon their return to the city and the two fall into a relationship, but is this what’s best for El?
I liked the book, but the dog stuff….I didn’t get it. Maybe I’m just slow.
October 23, 2024
Man’s Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle is a gripping debut that delves into the complexities of desire and the price of luxury. The story follows El, a struggling actress who becomes entangled with Bryce, a wealthy trust-fund grad. As El surrenders her life for the allure of wealth, she uncovers unsettling truths about Bryce and herself. Lytle skillfully combines suspense and surreal elements, creating a thought-provoking narrative that will keep readers hooked. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that explore identity and ambition, this book is a must-read!
September 12, 2023
* Special thanks to Penguin Group PUTNAM, NetGalley, and the author, Alana B. Lytle for an ARC of this book. Publication date: May 14, 2024*
The story follows 29 year old El who feels lost, directionless, and lonely. She struggles with a father who abandoned her, a mother who was physically there, but not emotionally, and toxic friendships in her adolescent years. This character is hurt, flawed, and unlikeable; however that is what makes her feel so real. Lytle did an incredible job in conveying how someone with a disorganized attachment would struggle with her relationship with self and others. El then meets another man and begins to sacrifice herself for the chance of feeling wanted and loved. The question then becomes how much is she willing to sacrifice?
This book made me feel slimy, afraid, and satisfied. I would definitely recommend this novel.
The story follows 29 year old El who feels lost, directionless, and lonely. She struggles with a father who abandoned her, a mother who was physically there, but not emotionally, and toxic friendships in her adolescent years. This character is hurt, flawed, and unlikeable; however that is what makes her feel so real. Lytle did an incredible job in conveying how someone with a disorganized attachment would struggle with her relationship with self and others. El then meets another man and begins to sacrifice herself for the chance of feeling wanted and loved. The question then becomes how much is she willing to sacrifice?
This book made me feel slimy, afraid, and satisfied. I would definitely recommend this novel.
February 12, 2024
El has failed in her dream to become an actress. She has always been on the fringe of the rich life. When she meets Bryce, she thinks all her dreams are coming true. Trips to Paris, black card luxuries,living in a NewYork loft etc..but what will she do when she finds out that Bryce has a darker side.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.
May 25, 2024
A slow-burn thriller
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This thriller is a slow burn for sure, and rife with metaphors. While you can definitely see some aspects of how the relationship is turning out, El’s development is fascinating to watch. 3.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to goodreads and the publisher for my copy!
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This thriller is a slow burn for sure, and rife with metaphors. While you can definitely see some aspects of how the relationship is turning out, El’s development is fascinating to watch. 3.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to goodreads and the publisher for my copy!
July 28, 2023
I don't know if I can do this story justice right now as I've been up all night with it, unable to tear my eyes away until the brutal, beautiful ending. El ( Heloise ) was abandoned by her father at a young age. He had another life, another partner, another daughter, and when he chose them El was forever marked. Never feeling good enough. Her father's rejection taints all her future relationships. With both men and women. This is a tale of desire and jealousy. Obsession, murder, mythology, morals, and the rage of women striving to be themselves , only themselves, no matter who that self may ultimately be. I hated El's callous attitude toward her friendships. I applauded Navya. Bryce just made me want to shower constantly. His character evoked an actual creepiness across my skin. This is a book that will be impossible to define or forget.
July 1, 2024
Literally tore through this in (essentially) one sitting. Such a sick, twisted story, told effortlessly. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Bravo.
December 5, 2025
Okay, so, I get the parallel she’s trying to draw between the domestication of dogs and the domestication of kept women, but it’s not doing it for me.
June 27, 2024
What a wonderfully surprising ending!
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