For a first novel this is pretty good. However, I have to take issue with the phrase 'twist that will keep you up all night'. Really? Hardly. A competent twist, although not at all unexpected, but why would it keep me up all night?
I felt that the early stages of the book were okay, the middle pretty good, but I found the ending a bit disappointing - there didn't seem to be anything that had me biting my nails and whereas I had hoped that the main protagonist would show some spine, after a brief period it disappeared again. Mmm.
Having written that, it probably seems as though I don't like the book, which is untrue, I just dislike those banner titles which seem to promise so much - a good book therefore can become a disappointment if it doesn't live up to the promise.

‘The Houseguest’ has a brilliant premise centering on Kate who has moved to London to continue to search for her sister Scarlett but also to gain her independence. Unsuspecting Kate has found a mentor in the glamorous and sophisticated Della and begins attending her life coaching sessions. As Della begins to influence many parts of Kate’s life she worries that things are getting a bit out of hand but cannot see a way out.
On the one hand it is an original and twisty thriller but the ending for me was a bit frustrating but it may have left some aspects open for a follow up. I loved the way this novel was paced because little parts are added to and wrapped up throughout the storyline. This book is a strong, psychological thriller which will have you shouting ‘don’t do it!’ like a genuine page turner should.

This book had many twists and turns and was certainly not what I expected. This book is well written and I enjoyed the conclusion. Very enjoyable.

I was quite interested in the premise of the novel. The older woman mentoring younger woman piece is ripe for so many stories and unpickings.

I felt Northedge had a good go at here but the way the story unfolded was a little slow to start and also slightly predictable especially towards the end.

I enjoyed this book but wow Kate is annoying. She makes bad mistakes over and over again and it’s hard to figure out if she’s just extremely naive or her mental health issues have caused her to misjudge Della and people in general.

Della is a life coach who Kate bonds with and ends up going to a weekly group to discuss what they want from life. Della has a gorgeous husband, Mark and two beautiful children, Jasper and Tabitha. Let me say the children’s ages were an issue for me. It mentions the “two-year-old” when they are in France in chapter 17 then in chapter 21 it suggests they’re six. Finally in chapter 37 it says Jasper is “as a boy of five”. It’s inconsistent which I didn’t like. The vocabulary for these children also seem rather forward.

The struggles Kate has dealt with since her sister left when she was a child could all have been helped if Kates mother had told her a secret she knew about.

The ending was a bit predictable and left open so I think there could be another to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harpercollins for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for my honest review.

Kate needs to escape after the disappearance of her sister, she finds herself drawn to Della who is a life coach.. but Della takes an extra special interest in Kate - not is all as it seems

Wow just wow, this book was completely now what I expected but it kept me wondering right to the very last page. And even now the cogs of my brain are whirring putting the information I’ve gained into context and all the clues are falling into place.

Kate is a bit of a lost soul, after her sister, Scarlet disappeared whom she idolised disappeared when Kate was 13 she has spent her life holding her breath, looking for clues, where is Scarlett. She follows the life path that Scarlet should have taken and tries to support her parents as best she can. Kate moves from Cambridge to London trying to search for Scarlett and bring her home. Here she is recruited to join a secret women’s empowerment group where the ladies plan their future and listen to the wisdom of the group leader Della, a woman with a social media and television presence and a reputation for helping people get what they want. Kate becomes a family friend and feels pulled into Della’s world, becoming a babysitter and later Nanny to Della’s two children and captivated by Della’s lifestyle and husband.

The story twists and turns and takes you on a rollercoaster ride, Kate’s sanity is rattled (not the first time in her life) - she is duped and you can’t help but feel for the poor young woman who is being groomed and isolated and a complete innocent who has no idea that she is being manipulated by another’s agenda. People all around her have told her versions of the truth and she must work her way through to find the answers, acceptance and forge her own path in life.

Kate 's sister goes missing when she is only young and her mum.and dad seem preoccupied to try and find her without realising the mental problems Kate is suffering from. Forward a few years and Kate moved to London after being contacted by an old schoolfriend who says she has seen Scarlett working on a market stall. She finds a job in a cafe and ends up getting friendly with a woman named Della who she has weekly meetings with and a few other women as well.

Kate soon gets sucked into Dellas family and world and ends up going on holiday with them to France. It soon becomes apparent that Kate is definitely being used for something, but what? What happens next traumatised Kate so badly that she ends up back in a n institution again.

Loved this book extremely well written and thoughout, defiantly a film version should be made!!!

The House Guest is a psychological thriller that had me so frustrated in parts, that I could happily have thrown my kindle across the room (I really liked the book, by the way)

Kate’s sister disappeared when she was 10 years old, and now 15 years later Kate decides to move to London after one of her sisters old friends phones to say that they’ve seen her. Could this be Kate’s chance to find her sister?

Kate is overwhelmed by everything: the fact that she can’t find a decent job, she’s having no luck in finding her sister, and her parents expectation that she’ll come home to be with them, that London is just a phase. In fact they are very protective of Kate, almost suffocatingly so. They want her to phone them regularly, and make it clear that they expect her to come back to Oxford.

So when Della walks in to the cafe that Kate works at and invites her to join in her life-coaching class for some free sessions, Kate jumps at the chance. After all, she might just get the help she needs.

Kate is such a vulnerable character: she’s emotional and needs constant reassurance, whilst at the same time she doesn’t want anyone to know about her past. Della, on the other hand, is confident in every aspect of her life. She’s a successful life coach with beautiful children and a supportive husband - but there always seems to be something lurking under this glossy exterior. You just can’t put your finger on it until it’s too late!

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to shake or hug Kate, if I’m honest, and I’m sure other people will feel the same way, especially as more of her past is revealed. But my standing ovation goes to Della’s character and how she manages to manipulate Kate into getting exactly what she wants!

I hope this has piqued your interest. It’s a pretty gripping read especially in the latter half, and I’m sure you will really enjoy it - I did!
Many thanks to HarperCollins for my NetGalley copy of this book.

The House Guest is a psychological thriller which starts with Kate's move to London and her involvement with Della who runs life coaching support groups. Kate is a vulnerable young woman who is searching for her sister 15 years after her disappearance and Della an unscrupulous, manipulative older woman taking advantage of those young woman who attend her groups. I liked the synopsis of this novel but sadly although well written I found it be lacking in pace. I found it incredibly difficult to connect with the characters (and did get confused with the wider group of characters) or the plot and for me it was a slow and plodding read that I unwillingly waded through.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review a digital ARC.

One of those fabulous twist thrillers, which keeps you guessing until the very end! Really well written, fast paced, and unputdownable! Keeps you wondering what’s next, which I absolutely love! Full of twists and turns, thrills, chills, and shocks! Highly, highly recommend this fun, captivating thriller!

I I’ll buzz around platforms and use my top Amazon reviewer number!

Quite the rollercoaster ride. This novel is beautifully written and cleverly plotted; you are constantly guessing and second-guessing the possibilities and final outcome. It takes quite a bit of willpower at times, not to turn to the end after yet another twist and turn. Also very well-judged is that everything is pretty much plausible. The London lifestyle and preoccupation with how everything looks to others rings painfully and pitifully true. Events don't veer into Hollywood-style coincidence or convenience and the story is all the better for it. In fact, you find yourself creating wild and whacky plotlines, the more paranoid you become.
This is exacerbated by the woefully vulnerable protagonist. The manipulation of her comprehension is very honestly (and frustratingly) portrayed.
Perhaps it's something the wealthy say when they've lost all sense of perspective, but one line really stuck out: one of the characters claims they don't have as much money as it appears, and I know wealth is a very subjective matter and in that moment, they could have been trying to elicit sympathy, but really! They do have quite a lot of the stuff, if events and situations are tallied.
There are a selection of supporting characters who breeze in and out with some astute observations capturing the essence of personality in a few words. Not one is really developed to the satisfaction of the reader but taking this as a deliberate decision, it only adds to the feeling of manipulation and mystery.

I can see this being made into a film, or to do it justice, a mini-series with a serious budget. It may even send chills of familiarity down some of the spines of the 'smart set' in London.

This kept me guessing and I wanted to read on to find out what was happening. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Kate's sister disappeared fifteen years ago and she has always wondered what happened. A possible sighting sends her to London to try and find her. On arriving Kate meets Delia a life coach who takes her under her wing and then kind of takes over.

A well written book that was a little slow to begin but then the twists and turns start and its picks up.

This book started slowly- I could see the potential for twists and turns and thought I had it solved- but it did take me a bit by surprise.
I'm not sure I liked any of the characters, except maybe Liam but I did want to know what happened to them. I found Kate's predicament a bit stilted- I won't say more as it would spoil it for future readers.
Give it a try- not taxing, an easy read.

This is a first book by this author; however, it is well written and provides us with a very imaginative and unusual story line, which hooked me from the start. The two main characters are Kate and Della. Kate has travelled up to London from Cambridge in an effort to track down her long-lost sister Scarlett, who has apparently been seen working in Camden market. Della is a life coach who gathers a group of lost souls seeking inner motivation at her home every week. Kate is sharing a flat and has found work as a waitress in an organic café, in order to cover the costs of her stay in London. Kate and Della’s paths cross when Della visits the café when Kate is having a bad day. Della sympathises with Kate and invites her to come along to one of her life coaching sessions. From here on Kate’s involvement in Della’s life grows steadily and moves beyond the life coaching sessions to a point where Kate is baby sitting for Della’s two young children. As the story progresses, we learn more of the problems Kate has had growing up in Cambridge, with a family that can not get over the disappearance of Scarlett as a young teenager. The next twist to the story comes when Della invites Kate to a house party and introduces her to friends. Building on that party, Della and husband Mark invite Kate to come with them and the children to France, where Kate, although acting as a nanny, also becomes “The House Guest”. From here on there are a series of bizarre happenings, which I can not reveal for fear of spoiling the various surprises that I certainly did not see coming. As already mentioned, the plot is very imaginative and as we move to a startling conclusion, we learn still more about Kate’s past and also some shocking details of Della’s past as an abandoned child and the intricate secrets that link her past with that of Kate and Scarlett and their parents. If you are looking for a story with a difference and a book that will keep you reading "just one more chapter" before you can put it down, this is a book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and its surprising outcome and I would like to thank Harper Collins & NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

I couldn’t put this down while on holiday last week. My fascination could be largely down to the fact that I run group courses for women on how to be their authentic self - very successful in practice down to some lovely participants who respect each other, but here I could see how toxic they could become if done in the wrong environment or with clients more suited to individual therapy!
After Kate’s sister disappears, and she has to pick up her life again, she makes a move to London and meets Della. Della happens to be a life coach who runs support groups for women (who Kate calls ‘the Jane’s’). Della takes more than a professional interest in Kate though and soon she finds herself firmly ensconced in Della’s life - her home, family and even her husband. She is living in Della’s pocket and isn’t sure how she ended up there. It’s only when she starts to pull away slightly that the real Della starts to come out from behind her mask. Comments made by the Jane’s start to make Kate think. Why is Della so keen to keep her this close? What does Della want from her? An uneasy feeling comes over her as she wonders what truly lies at the bottom of their relationship?

The same uneasy feeling starts to build in the reader too. The author is perceptive about young women’s aspirations and ambitions. All those things we’ve told by magazines that we must have - the home, the husband, the career, the children. There are women who think that ticking off all these things is like a checklist they must complete before they can be happy. Instead of being happy with what life brings along instead. There are entitled women who think the perfect life is their birthright. Then there are the truly insecure and those with borderline personalities - an area many thriller writers are exploring. These are women who want all these things because they think it’s the right way to ‘do life’. Underneath is a void. Someone who is totally lost about who they are, or what they want to do with their lives. They simply copy the traits of whoever they’re with, like a chameleon. However, here we’re on edge because which one of the women has the real insecurities? Is it the unsophisticated Kate, who slowly but surely is being sucked into Della’s world? Or is it Della, who sees someone new to mine for ideas and emotions?

I loved analysing both women and really enjoyed the writer’s style. I felt totally draw into the plot and as the tensions rose in the novel, my tension rose too. I felt satisfied by the ending, but felt the author left it slightly open to future sequels. A great debut and I’m sure this writer will be up there with the likes Louise Candlish very soon.

There are two main characters in this book - Kate, a very naive young woman who has moved to London in the hope of finding her long list sister, and Della, a very manipulative life coach who knows what she wants and is out to get it at any cost.
Della quickly hones in on drawing Kate into her life with promises of helping her get the stories she is writing published in return for providing childcare for the family over the summer in France.
Returning to England, Della leaves Kate in the company of her attractive husband Mark, leading to devastating consequences which turns Kate's life upside down, eventually opening her eyes to Della's true character. I
Several dramatic twists and turns towards the end of the book left me almost breathless with anticipation but also exasperated with what I felt was Kate's stupidity. A really good slow starter read with a fast paced ending

The disappearance of her sister, Scarlett, fifteen years ago left a such a void in Kate’s life, that when she receives news of a possible sighting in London, she decides to leave her job, family and home to search for her.

Shortly after she arrives, Kate meets life coach Della who invites her along to her women’s support group. Della soon takes Kate under her wing, offering her coaching skills in return for helping Della with her children. At first, she helps out with occassional baby sitting but soon becomes a regular fixture within the family, so much so that she’s invited to spend two months with them as a live-in nanny at their house in France. Soon Kate finds herself more involved in the family than she should be, in particular Della’s husband, Jonathan. It is at this point that the storyline becomes very interesting, with several twists and turns making this an engrossing read.

As a debut novel this was well written with likeable characters – even though I despised Della, but then I think that was the authors intention!

Thanks to NetGalley UK and HarperCollins UK for the review copy.

My thanks to HarperCollins for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The House Guest’ by Charlotte Northedge in exchange for an honest review.

This is a psychological thriller/domestic noir and as I always feel that these are best read without too much introduction, I won’t say too much about the plot.

Kate’s seventeen-year-old sister Scarlett disappeared fifteen years ago. After a friend reported seeing Scarlett serving at a stall in Camden Market, Kate moved to London to try to find her. Kate is working at a cafe and visits the Market regularly, yet has had no success.

Then Kate meets Delia, a writer and life coach, who runs a support group for young women. There is definitely something a bit odd about the group. They are all rather similar in age, appearance, and dress as well as being at a similar stage in life: “unattached, unfulfilled at work, not yet defined by anything or anyone.” Kate and her friend Liam dub them ‘the Janes’.

Then Delia starts to take a special interest in Kate. At first Kate is flattered but quickly finds herself becoming entangled in Della’s life – her house, her family, and her husband. Is something going on beneath the surface? Well, given the kind of novel this is, that is pretty much a given but how will it manifest?

Overall, l found this an engaging psychological thriller that certainly had its surprises. It’s an assured debut and I certainly will be looking forward to news of her future projects.
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