Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great read! 5***** was hooked

Sometimes the only way forward is to look back. And so begins the story of the Dream House by Jess Ryder. A beautiful old house on the hill by the sea bought by Stella’s inheritance from her parents. It’s going to take a lot of TLC to bring this house to steam house status; very quickly Stella realizes just how much past resides in the present house. How much of the past there is residing in her house.
The building is just that a work site after purchase with many renovations needed. As Stella and her partner Jack live in one room as they wait and wait and wait for her builder to to transform it to the forever house Stella has always dreamed of. One night a woman bangs on the door battered and bruised and demands to be given refuge. It is here that Stella learns her house used to be a refuge for nattered women in the late 70’s. Unable to turn the woman Lori away, Stella takes her in until she can formulate a plate to get Lori away from her abusive partner Darren. Much to Jack’s annoyance as he smells a scam.
Stella feels she can’t turn Lori away because it is a form of giving back. Just like her parents did all throughout her childhood by taking in foster children. It’s either giving back or maybe it’s penance.
Going back in time we have the story of Kay. A young single Mom who thinks she’s met and married the “one”. Only very quickly after saying I do, Kay realizes she’s married an abusive monster.
Told from the perspective of Stella and Kay we watch as these two stories move back and forth from present day to the past. But what is it that ties these women together and to this house in particular?
A very satisfying read. Plot twists and revelations. This novel will have you turning the pages until it’s conclusion.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for another great ARC.

Dream House by Jess Ryder is a psychological thriller that kept me engaged.
After Stella's parents are killed in an accident she decides to use her inheritance to buy a ramshackle house near the sea and renovate it to make her dream house.
One evening a woman knocks on the door asking for help. Stella takes her in. This act of kindness results in a web of secrets and lies and turns Stella's life upside down.
I enjoyed this book and all the twist and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e- copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible thriller! Love this author and literally couldn't tear myself away from this book. Will definitely be reading more.

In the present, It’s time to make a change in Stella’s life so she decides to use the inheritance from her parents to purchase Westhill House and remodel it into her dream home with her boyfriend Jack. Stella spends all her time at the house in a construction zone with the contractor, Alan while Jack is working all day. One night as Stella and Jack are enjoying a dinner and some time alone, there is a knock at the door and a woman, Lori is standing there beaten, bloody and frightened. She states that she was give. this address by a helpline and was told that she would be welcome at any time. Westhill House was a women's’ shelter and was shut down a few years ago. Determined to make amends for the sins of her past and make her deceased parents proud, she vows to take Lori in and protect and care for her, much to the dismay of Jack who doesn't trust Lori and wants her out.
Another point of view in the story based in the past, in the 70s is told from Kay who was a teenage mother who survived domestic violence. She walks us through her life and the moment when she decided to leave.
These stories become intertwined and the transition is done beautifully. This story was interesting and kept me engrossed from the beginning.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

A story of domestic abuse and its ongoing repercussions is at the center of this story set in an old ramshackle home on the coast in England. Told in two different timelines, two separate stories of struggling women, which as every thriller reader knows, will converge into one in the last third of the novel. I thought I had some parts figured out but some were still surprising when they happen. I rushed through the last third as I had to know the ending. The characters are well written and we root for the women as their lives unravel. I recommend this book, not just as a thriller, but as a general warning never to underestimate or excuse the first time someone raises their fist, ever.

Stretched the imagination a bit, but overall, a good read. Interesting read and kept me guessing until the end

This was quite the mystery thrill ride! Many secrets, twists and turns keep this story move along at a fast and thrilling pace!

I really enjoyed this - slightly far fetched but not enough to put me off!
Told by 2 sides - Stella and Kay - past and present keeps you guessing the whole time.
Using her inheritance Stella buys a run down fixer upper that was once a women’s refuge. Late one night a battered woman knocks on her door seeking shelter!
Who is Lori? Who is Kay?
Really upsetting at times, like books about domestic violence are - but it is dealt with empathetically and with respect.
I really love Jess Ryder - so it was another big ✔️ for me. Can’t wait for her next one.

Just brilliant, loved every page, every twist and turn and I was gripped from the very first chapter. The style of writing I really enjoyed, especially how the story weaves from 1970 to the present day.

Overall this was a gripping psychological thriller with great characters and a satisfactory ending and I have no hesitation in recommending this addictive page turner.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I look forward to reading more from Jess Ryder in the future.

I didn't completely enjoy this book until the end. I didn't look forward to reading it at the end of every day because it was a slow starter and the story about Kay was sad and the story about Stella was only slightly interesting. Jack was such a jerk about taking in the battered Lori and that was annoying. But I pushed through and the part about the sisters staging the lie about Lori was something I didnt see coming. I knew Lori wasn't entirely honest and there had to be something going on but I wasn't expecting that. The way the past and present became intertwined was the best part of this story. When kay finally reveals what happened to Alan all those years I ago I was glad he got what was coming to him and understood now why Dawn and Abi were there. The part about Mickey taking Stella's money and then never showing up was sort of odd to me and wasn't resolved. Or at least the slammed money was not mentioned. I was glad Stella didnt turn in Kay, Abi, and Dawn, but her selling the house at the end was a bit of a let down. I was hoping she'd turn it into a refuge for women again. This book's message about women standing up to their abusers and choosing to be survivors instead of victims could have been nicely rounded by the house turning into something positive for the future instead of simply being sold.

The Dream House relies on its character development and relationships to move the story forward. It is told in two timelines, one in present day through Stella's perspective and the other in the 1970s through Kay's perspective. It does a nice job of transitioning between the two timelines and merging them at exactly the right moment. I thought it was a good story with some thriller elements. 4 stars.

I loved The Dream House and it’s definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.
I read all new psychological thrillers and this one really stands out. I kept thinking that I had guessed the plot and it then threw something else at me. It’s one that I would strongly recommend to anyone and is worthy of 5 stars.

A very interesting, sad, thrilling tale. The author tells a story that is set in present day but reaches back into the 70s. Stella owns a home that used to be a halfway home for victims of abuse. One night, a woman knocks on the door, seeking help, not realizing that it's no longer a women's shelter.

Stella takes her in, much to the annoyance of Stella's boyfriend, and in doing so, sets about a whole chain of events leading back 40 years. What a difficult subject to write about. Yet handled so well.

Thank you to the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

I love love loved this story! I am usually good about predicting the twists and I was SURE I had this one figured out but man was I wrong. This story threw me for 100 loops. Super well done by the author. I truly enjoyed it and couldn’t read it fast enough!

For a most brilliant read I recommend The Dream House by Jess Ryder.

NOW: Stella lives with her partner, Jack. With her inheritance, Stella has purchased a former women's refuge house that begs for a lot of work to be done. Stella's goal is to have this become a large family house for her and Jack and any children that they may someday have. One night, a bruised and bloody woman, Lori, arrives at their door and they take her in (at Stella's insistence) for a night. Lori is a victim of domestic abuse, says Stella - Jack is not as compassionate. The timeline stretches out a bit...

THEN (1970's) Kay is living at her parent's house with her 4 year old daughter, Abigail. Abigail was conceived during a holiday in Spain when Kay was 15. Unmarried, and now with her child in school, Kay's parents think it's time for Kay to get a job. She does - at a stationary/card shop. While working there, she meets Alan: charming, considerate, handsome and gift-giving. Kay knows he is the one for her. She is hoping they can be a family...

Twisty roads take us through an intertwining story that perfectly melds both stories together. Without confusion, this story makes up for a great read ! Lots of unexpected turns ! All of the characters are well developed and they create plenty of suspense. I could not put this one down !!!

Superb read!!!

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a wonderful read.

I loved The Dream House (new title is much better as well!).

Stella has spent her inheritance on a huge run down house with aspirations to make it her dream house. A knock on the door one night and a domestic violence victim on her door step is all it takes to learn the house was previously a women’s refuge. But who is this woman?

Stella was a little naive but she’s a loveable character that I imagine readers will fall in love with and the storytelling is top notch! Some great little twists and I wad left reeling at the end.

A strong 5/5.

Totally gripping book that I couldn't put down. I loved Stella although I could have shaken her at times. Kept me guessing until the end, a real page turner.

This was a great read , I really raced through it searching for how the story from the past and the narrative from now were going to tie together . Stella has bought a house with an inheritance left for her by her parents , she finds out that it was used in the past as a refuge for victims of domestic abuse . One night a battered woman turns up , fleeing from her abusive husband , with , she says no where else to turn but she is not necessarily what she seems . The story in the past is told from Kay a young single mum who meets a charming man and think his her way to being respectable, she is soon brought down to earth with a crash . The domestic violence is not an easy read but essential for the story . Excellent 5 stars from me

This book was GOOD. This is my normal genre so I am always excited to find a book that keeps me guessing and keeps me up late reading! I finished this book in one day because I just had to know what happens. And I could not have predicted it. This is my first book by this author but I am so excited to read more of their work! Would definitely recommend.