I have added a few different books from this author to my reading pile, but this is the first one I actually read. The plot lines really drew me in and the writing truly kept me engaged. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded with hints of the past dropped in between most of the present day chapters. However, the narrator was kind of annoying to me at times. Mostly how naïve she was while trying to help this perfect stranger. I don't know if it was really that unbelievable, but I certainly found it frustrating. This definitely made me feel less invested in how things turn out for her. However, I did truly start to care about the well being of Kay from the past as well as Lori, the guest, in the present. I enjoyed some of the twists in their story and overall quite enjoyed this book that I was a little unsure of in the beginning. I would definitely pick up another book by this author though, very well written.

Beginning with a prologue where a girl escapes to an isolated place to give birth, the story switches back and forth between the present-day/first-person perspective of Stella - and the past/third-person limited perspective of Kay.

A year ago Stella’s parents were killed in a hit and run, and still grieving, Stella has bought a huge neglected house with the inheritance her parents have left her. As foster carers, her parents worked tirelessly to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds, but it is clear Stella is hiding a secret from her past that has left her dredged in guilt. When a stranger (Lori) turns up on the doorstep covered in bruises and claiming to be a victim of domestic abuse, Stella sees this as an opportunity to redeem herself from whatever it is she has done, but with Stella’s boyfriend, Jack, believing Lori has a hidden agenda, Stella soon starts telling white lies to keep Lori hidden from him. True to the psychological thriller genre, these small lies soon escalate and before we know it there is a whole cast of unreliable characters. Jack might not trust Lori, but Lori doesn’t trust him either, and with Stella’s first-person narrative putting the reader right in her shoes, it is difficult to know exactly who she can trust. And then there’s the builder: a great bloke, salt of the earth, so why does he go missing as soon as the police start sniffing around?

The past timeline tells the story of Kay who got pregnant when she was fifteen. At first I thought this related to the prologue but we soon learn that fifteen-year-old Kay has supportive parents (well sort of) so it can’t be. Kay goes on to marry an abusive ‘man’ who everybody thinks is wonderful, unaware of what goes on behind closed doors. This part of the story deals with some dark and gritty issues and with such a slow build up, where Kay’s husband goes from being somebody who is over-attentive to somebody who is controlling and violent, this makes you consider relationships in the present timeline. Is Jack’s behaviour because he is genuinely concerned for Stella or because he is controlling? It also links to the present timeline theme of things not being as they appear to the outside world.

Ping-ponging between past and present, The Dream House made for one hell of a read. I’m usually pretty good at second guessing what happens but this was full of surprisingly clever plot twists. For most of the story, Lori’s identity is kept secret but once it is revealed, everything (including the prologue) all makes sense. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it for anybody who likes Lisa Jewell, Louise Jensen, or Jo Ullah.

The Dream House my second Jess Ryder book and I found it to be a good read. Its fast-paced and has some good twists. While I wasn't blown away as expected, the characters are what kept me hooked to this one.

When Stella first set eyes on Westhill House with its breath-taking views of the sea she feels a connection with the building. She convinces her partner Jack to move into Westhill House with her. But soon the never-ending renovations and constant take-outs take their toll on the relationship and Jack starts spending more time at work. But when Lori shows up at Westhill house in the dead of the night everything changes. Stella cannot turn away Lori who is desperately in need of some shelter. While helping Stella renovate the house, in exchange for her boarding Lori discovers children’s drawings under the wallpaper in the back bedroom, hidden papers underneath the floorboards in the turret room. Soon Stella realizes Lori knows more than she is letting on. But will she ever discover Lori's secret and her connection to Westhill House?

Although I said that the characters are what kept me going in this book, does not mean I like them. In fact, I found Stella to be highly frustrating, immature and naive, bordering on stupid. But that's just my point of view. I really feel for Jack. Stella seems to carry this chip on her shoulder and there's this huge mystery on why she feels so guilty for her parent's death, but in the end, the reason why doesn't make sense to me. The rest of the characters, however, are portrayed well. The story is told from two POV's Stella's and Kay's. I enjoyed the Kay storyline better -there was more happening and more juice in that storyline.
I liked The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder so maybe I went in expecting too much. But don't let that put you off. This book might just work for you. It has a good number of twists and the last few chapters are really great.

Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture and Jess Ryder for an arc!

Ryder does a wonderful job in this domestic thriller about Stella, who finds her dream house and is fixing it up only to have her whole life unravel in the process.

The story is told from Stella's point of view (in the present), and Kay's (in the past). The house that Stella buys was once a woman's refuge and it's history becomes a part of the story, almost like it is another character.

When Lori appears on her doorstep one night, an obviously abused woman who believes the house is still a refuge, Stella takes her in, wanting to do the right thing. But we soon learn that something is not quite right as the story of the house past and present unfold in a chilling way.

This was a real page-turner and I was anxious to find out Stella's, Lori's, and Kay's stories. There are secrets and lies, great twists, and anxious moments in this well written psychological thriller.

One of the major themes of the book is domestic violence and Ryder is very respectful and does a great job in her portrayal. She even explains at the end how she was careful not to put in anything gratuitous and even includes references for women needing support themselves.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.

Jess Ryder’s new novel is aptly called, ‘The Dream House’, and I say that because I felt like I was in a dream when I was reading it!

Stella has, in her eyes, found her dream house. The house where she envisions growing old in with a husband and children. However, Stella’s boyfriend isn’t as taken with the house as she is, and when a random person turns up on their doorstop late at night covered in blood, Jack seems to dislike the house even more.

Stella is a very trusting person – would you honestly let a stranger into your home late at night, seeing them beaten and bloodied and not call the police? I could see where Jack was coming from there. Just because Stella had been brought up by parents who took in people who needed help, it didn’t mean that Stella do the exact same. And anyway, fostering children and taking a bloodied woman into your home late at night are two completely different things.

I thought the storyline contained well incorporated suspense, and I felt that the intrigue behind the characters lifestyles were very well thought out. I will say that I wasn’t too taken with the story in it’s entirety though, as I felt that things were verging on unbelievable at times. I loved Stella’s warm personality, but i found that her naivety riled me up more often than not.

‘The Dream House’ is a very interesting and dark read, especially if you like books which extend the boundaries a lot. One thing is for certain though, Jess Ryder certainly knows how to make her readers think!!

Jess Ryder is an attractive new author for me in my favoured genre.
Enjoyed the dual storyline and found the characters truly believable. Domestic violence is a powerful subject and I think it was portrayed sympathetically.
However I wasn't overly keen to keep reading as I felt it just lacked that edge of the seat feeling and I did struggle to finish.
I will keep an open mind and try another of Jess's books though as it certainly shows promise.

This book by Jess Ryder is full of twists, surprises and plenty of anxiety. Stella and Jack move into a dream house. It needs a lot of renovation and soon chaos emerges. With the pounding upstairs, Jack and Stella are finding it difficult to maneuver around each other in many ways. To add to the strain, Lori, a victim of domestic violence appears at the door, bloody and crying.

Lori stays much longer than either expected and twists begin to abound. By the end of the book, the reader will forget how many red herrings they fell for. The characters are rich and the storyline compelling.

Jess Ryder does a really good job incorporating the stigma of domestic violence within the story. She shows why some women fail to report, the societal stigma that exists (especially in previous decades) and the inability of restraining orders to truly prevent abusers from gaining access to their victim.

This is a satisfying fiction book which intertwines the issue of domestic violence with a thriller. I highly recommend it. While Stella might be written incredibly naive, she is necessary for the story to become reality.


I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.

The Dream House - Westhill House??? Is it a dream house, or isn't it? For Stella, it is everything she has ever wanted - for Jack it isn't. It is too quiet, with nothing much to do in the surrounding area. Stella sets about using her inheritence money (from the deaths of her mother and father) to make this home amazing! Here we meet Alan - the one man band who is going to restore her home for her. Things are slowly improving when late one night, there is a bashing at their door - standing on the steps is a bruised and battered woman - Lori is her name - she claims her husband is abusing her and she arrived at Westhill believeing it to be a refuge. Stella feels terrible for this poor woman and allows her to stay the night - Jack is totally unhappy with this and expresses his feelings - Stella however continues to go behind his back and let her stay in the upstairs room without his knowledge. Lori and Stella seem to be coming good friends with Lori helping Alan out with renovations. When Jack finds out Lori is still there, he is fuming and leaves for a while. Stella is gutted but determined to help out this young woman.
This story flits between past and present - the present is Stellas life, the past is of a woman named Kay and her husband Foxy.
I don't want to say too much more as the story takes a sudden turn about 65% in, and what you thought you knew, may not be all it seems. Read the book to find out more!

I really enjoyed this book. I adored the story line and loved the main characters. I read this book in one sitting and would highly recommend this book.

Stella bought a house based on her inheritance, and she and her boyfriend Jack are determined to turn the former Westhill House into the perfect dwelling. However, Jack is getting frustrated with the renovation. One night a woman comes banging on their door. Her name is Lori and she claims that she is escaping her abusive spouse and that she was told that this house was a safe refuge.

Stella just cannot let the bruised and battered Lori back out into the night, so she allows her to stay, at least until Lori has a place to go. Thing is, Lori stays longer, although Stella is quite wary. Even more so, Jack is not happy and works longer and longer hours to stay away from home.

Things begin to get weird and quite quickly at that. For one thing, it becomes quite unnerving to Stella that Lori seems to know a lot about the house. While Lori stays there she begins working with the handyman and strange things begin happening. One example is that underneath wallpaper are some very dark drawings that Lori unearths and shows Stella. Is Lori who she says she is?

This story is told in dual timelines. We the reader know that at some point things will converge. It is a thrilling journey to see things progress, and we begin to wonder who is reliable in this story. Sadly, remembering what brought Lori to Stella is a bit unsettling. Lori's whole story involves the domestic abuse she tells Stella about. This was indeed difficult to read, especially as the story evolved.

With the twists and turns, and character development, it was definitely an engaging read, one that kept me turning pages right through until the end. Nope, I could not put this book down. I enjoy the writing style of Jess Ryder and look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stella and Jack are living in a dilapidated house being refurbished by a lone builder. Stella opens the door late one night to a bruised and bleeding Lori, who is seeking refuge from her abusive husband. Lori’s words don’t add up and Stella is pushed to the brink of her relationship with jack and her own safety.

I quite enjoyed this book but it felt a little slow in parts. I would read more from the author though. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Stella inherits money from her parents and decides to buy an old house a few hours outside of London. Her boyfriend Jack lives with her but he complains about the small town and the remodeling of the home. One night a woman shows up and asks for help. Stella comes from a family that helped others and she wants to help the woman. Jack sees the woman as a threat.
Everyone has secrets that they do not want to share with anyone. Slowly everything comes out in the open.
Suspenseful and a few twists you are not expecting to happen.

Thanks so much for requesting me but it’s way past the dates so, I will read the book from the kobo site to catch up soon.

Take care and enjoy your summer!

NO... NO... NO... I can't believe what I have just read.

I was coursing down the the smooth path of a story set in a mystery genre that author Jess Ryder was taking me on where Stella came into some inheritance, after the passing of her parents. She bought the broken down Westhill House and started living there with partner Jack. Lori, a battered woman, came knocking at her door one night, and Stella, bless her heart, gave her shelter. And Lori stayed on and on... Jack was thrown out soon.. So far so good

Jess's writing threw in some suspense moves with secrets twirling in the mists of this house. I was curious. The vibes of the house turned sad with some reveals of its history. I was intrigued. Lori's best friend Abi joined them and stayed on. AND THEN THE BOOK EXPLODED!! At every page, I was awe-struck with secrets so hard-hitting that I barely had time to stay on top of it. But Jess Ryder did not let go of me. She made me turn the pages of my kindle so fast that my head spun. I needed to know the truth. STAT.

And ultimately, I was given the truth I was searching for, but there were so many of these truths bursting out of the pages, you had to read it to believe it. Can open, worms crawling. Omg! It was one roller coaster ride from beginning to finish.
And yeah, I liked the book, couldn't you tell?

Book Review
Wow talk about intense...
Loved this latest novel "The Dream House" by author Jess Ryder...
If you are looking for a gripping, intense and roller coaster read then look no further.
We meet Stella whose parents were killed in a car crash.
Together with her boyfriend Jack, they are renovating an old house outside London that used to be a women's refuge centre.
We can see problems immediately between Stella & Jack.
The house is Stella's, bought with money her parents left her when they died.
Jack hasn't wanted to move from London and he lets this be known quite regularly.
One night a woman turns up at their door looking for the refuge centre. She is scared, beaten and looking for help. She is completely terrified her husband will find her and kill her. Stella isn't sure what to do but feels they should help her. Jack isn't feeling so helpful.
I was completely gripped by this woman and kept trying to guess what she was up to if anything.
Stella's boyfriend jack disappears quite often in the story so with this and something not quite adding up with her new guest Lori, you are on edge throughout the novel.
Well worth nabbing a copy of this psychological thriller.
I don't think you will be disappointed at all...

Thank you kindly to author Jess Ryder and her publishers Bookouture for my copy of this book. Much appreciated.

Previously referred to as ‘The Guest’ I was super disappointed with this novel by Jess Ryder. I haven’t read any of the authors previous books but found they were pretty popular and generally well received so I was expecting to really enjoy this read about a woman who buys a forever home only to have a stranger turn up in the night with an unknown link to the house.

The main reason for disappointment was purely the interactions between the characters. I found the conversations didn’t sit comfortably and felt a bit forced which made me struggle to really connect with any of them. Also the switching chapters between two characters didn’t quite work for me, I think it could have set itself up as more of a twist if written in a different format.

The narrative itself was easy to read but repetitive and clichéd with its tropes however I can respect the delicate way that domestic abuse is referred to and handled throughout the novel. It’s definitely not an easy subject to write or read about but Jess Ryder manages to delve into this without the use of in depth descriptions and difficult situations. The use of this subject matter is the novels redeeming feature in my opinion since a lot of research must have gone into it and it does show. I definitely wanted to get to the end of this novel and unveil all of its secrets which is why I ultimately gave the novel 3 stars out of 5 but it hasn’t made me desperate to pick up any more of Ryders novels.

With thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

The Guest now called The Dream House is Jess Ryder`s fourth book.

The plot tells the story of two women Stella and Kay. The chapters spanning between then and now.

The now was about Stella who had bought a property called Westhill House with her parents inheritance. Late one night Stella was with her partner Jack when a stranger came to the door.. Lori had escaped from her abusive husband Darren and was told Westhill House was an woman`s shelter. Stella took Lori in for the night but it soon it became longer. Lori was scared of Darren finding her so she never left the house, preferring to help Alan their builder. Jack didn't trust Lori and thought she was only after Stella`s money. Lori told Jack to leave after he staged a burglary to blame Lori.

The Then chapters were about Kay who got pregnant when she was fifteen. Kay gave birth to Abigail and worked in a card shop. One day she was swept off her feet by Alan Fox (Foxy). Foxy didn't care that Kay had a daughter and mostly ignored her , a year later Kay and Foxy got married. The domestic abuse started that evening, first a pinch and then punches as months passed. Kay blamed herself and wanted to make the marriage work, she thought Foxy would change if he had a child of his own. However when Kay became pregnant she knew the marriage was over and left the marriage with Abigail.

I didn't particularly like Stella but she was an interesting character. Stella spent her childhood resenting her parents for taking in foster children. Yet when a Lori knocked on her door in the middle of the night Stella took her in without question. I thought Stella was too true trusting and risked being taken advantage of. I had to roll my eyes when she put a advert on a supermarket notice board for a complete refit. I thought Jack was selfish but definitely more sensible than Stella.

I found Kay `s story the most compelling of all, I felt so sorry for her. Set in the seventies Kay ignored all the warning signs so she could become respectable married woman. I was so proud when Kay was brave and left Foxy to start again.

I have read all four of Jess Ryder`s books and The Dream House is my least favourite. I have awarded three stars because it failed to grab me. The plot went at a slow pace, So much so I was reluctant to pick it up.
Personally for me the story didn't became interesting until the 60% mark.

However when Stella found out Lori`s secret I was hooked, I loved how Kay`s story seamlessly blended into the present day. From there there the story really picked up pace. From there were twists and turns aplenty, the big twist was shocking!! I did not see it coming.

The Dream House was not a bad book by any means, it's just I prefer Jess`s other books. This has not put me off and I look forward to book 5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5

The Dream House (formally The Guest) by Jess Ryder is a compelling and heartbreaking look at domestic abuse.

What it's about: Stella finds Westhill House and decides that after a rehab, it will be the perfect place to build a future with her boyfriend Jack. But one day, not far into the rehab, a stranger shows up in the middle of the night claiming to be a victim of domestic abuse and hiding from her husband. The thing is, Westhill House used to be a refuge for battered women, and the stranger, Lori, was told she could go there day or night and be taken in no questions asked. Stella's parents were foster carers, so she is determined to help Lori by letting her stay, even if that means tension with Jack. But as everyone's demons start to rise to the surface, Stella begins to wonder if Westhill House is really her perfect home. . .

The Dream House is definitely a character driven novel that places most of its attention on the stories of Stella and a woman named Kay. The stories are told in dual timelines and was something that I really loved. I really enjoy when stories switch between past and present, and it really worked for this book. I fell hard for the female characters and ended up loathing most of the male characters.

As I said right away, this is a book that focuses on domestic abuse so there are bound to be triggers. But I loved the way Ryder took this serious topic and really brought it to light without being incredibly descriptive. It was enough to break my heart, but not too much that I was unable to read the book.

I'm not sure I really love the title change for this novel, but both are still fitting. There were a couple of twists to The Dream House that I didn't see coming at all and they really surprised me. There were also spots that made me burst out in laughter which brought some much-needed lightness to the story.

Song/s the book brought to mind: Bathroom Sink by Miranda Lambert

Final Thought: While I don't think this book was particularly fast paced, it was definitely gripping and one that I read pretty quickly (anything under 5 hours for me is pretty quick). This was also the second domestic abuse novel that I read in a row so the fact that I liked this book so much has got to mean something. I was a little worried that I wouldn't like The Dream House as much as Dear Wife, but I ended up loving Ryder's writing style, and she can really tell a story. I highly recommend The Dream House to fans of compelling fiction that aren't afraid of the abuse theme.

How do I start my review???
WOW WOW WOW!!! I didn't know I couldn't love a book that much!
I was into it from the start! The title I had in mind was "the guest that won't EVER leave!" or "the guest you can't get rid of" !!!
A bruised woman turns up at your new house, her husband beat her up, you take her in... Your man doesn't like it, wants her gone... you feel you have to help her...

Many things happen. Good plot, twists, good pace, interesting characters...
So good! so well written!

That made me doubt my own sanity! Who's lying, who has secrets, what's going on...

I just LOVED IT!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

What happens when your dream house turns into a nightmare! Jess Ryder has cleverly constructed an addictive domestic thriller. Stella has just moved to her dream house with her boyfriend Jack. The house is in need of a lot of work, but Stella can see its potential and has fallen head over heels in love with this home. Then one night there is a knock at the door, Who can possibly be at the door in the middle of the night? It is a strange woman Lori, battered and beaten and in need of a safe place. Lori tell Stella and Jack that she was told this house was a refuge for battered women. Stella is sympathetic and wants to help a girl out... Jack is suspicious. 40 years earlier teen mom Kay thinks she has found her knight in shining armor. But after a while the Knight’s armor starts to tarnish. So much that Kay and her daughter Abby‘s lives might be in danger. Two women living four decades apart, what ties them together?

I am such a sucker for a dual timeline story! I love trying to puzzle together how two seemingly separate Narratives are connected. Both Stella and Kay were likable sympathetic characters. The men in their lives, not so much. I was completely engaged by both stories, although I think I was a little more invested in Stella. The house renovating and this uninvited guest. The story was puzzle together at a perfect pace. I did see a few things coming, but certainly not all. And there was such an obvious connection that I completely missed! Another compelling read from Jess Ryder.

*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***