The then and now chapters were very confusing and I'm still not sure about the ending , so I can only describe it as an OK read

First off... I'm a massive Nina Manning fan and hate the fact that this didn't do it for me 😣

One word I could use to describe this book is confusing!

I'm not 100% sure how to rate this one so here goes... I found this book quite 'out there'.

I was really excited to recieve this book, I love a psychological thriller bit somehow this one fell short.

The main character has a major OCD for cleanliness (which was brilliantly researched and executed)and becomes obsessed with a celebrity on Instagram and their cleaning tips/advice (think Mrs Hinch). She basically turns into a stalker.

Basically a slow burner that seemed to take for it to actually get anywhere in a personal sense.

In all honesty I didn't particularly like it. Its confusing, bizarre and weirdly unsettling. I think the fact I'm left with more questions than answers has just rattled me a bit!

Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This psychological thriller really takes you on a journey that is so unique that it will stay with you long after you have finished reading the book and may even require you to start it all over again.

Nina includes so many important issues as part of this story including mental health, abuse, living with OCD, trauma, relationships and most relevant to this platform our use of social media, the rise of cleanstagrammers and the issue of trolling.

Regi because slightly obsessed with situations around her like her neighbours and a cleaning account on Instagram that seem to help her to focus her mind away from her own issues but because of her own past could lead her into even more chaos.

Just when you think you have a grasp on the story and feel in control like Regi tries to be with her compulsions you realise nothing is what it seems.
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I enjoyed this book. I found it quite disjointed, but the reason for that becomes clear at the end of the book! I’m rarely surprised by a twist, but this was a good one.
The writing is a bit clunky in places and the characters weren’t always as fleshed out as they could have been but ok the whole, this is a good story and well worth a read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

Well this was a great easy to fly through read, with a unique ending - i found myself hooked from the very first page. We meet Regi, she is a mature student just about to start a new path after escaping she wants to forget about and creating a new identity would do just that. She manages to distract herself from her past with innocent instagram scrolling giving her the comfort she is seeking, but when she starts to notice a few trolls and not all is at seems - we soon learn alot more about how achieving perfection is not as simple as it seems.

I really really enjoyed this, it was told in a way that was easy to read but with enough depth and tension to keep me turning the pages. I found that it was realistic such as the way the instagram posts were written, its totally something you see in day to day life. The characters were strong with their own quirks and again so relevant to the world we live in at present. Told over then and now, we soon learn how it all fits together and let me tell you - i didnt see it coming and well, it was a surprise. This was a great read and i really invested in it. Below ive attached a sneak peak for you!

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The House Mate
By: Nina Manning


REVIEW ☆☆☆

Well, The House Mate was....honestly, I don't know what it was. Confusing? Yes. Way out of left field? Yes. The main character is a woman with serious OCD issues, and for reasons unknown, she moves into a house with some other women to start her life anew. She becomes obsessed with an Instagram personality known as Mrs. Clean, because OCD.

The chapters are divided as Then, Now and Instagram posts. We get some information about the past trauma that led to all of this. Eventually, things progress, and she has an obsession/stalker situation with Mrs. Clean. This character behaves in such odd ways that are far from normal, and I didn't care for it much. The end is bizarre and unsettling and ????? I think a huge suspension of disbelief is necessary to read this book. It wasn't for me.

The House Mate missed the mark for me which is a shame as I have read Nina Mannings previous books and rated them highly.
First off this book is wrongly labelled as a psychological thriller as it’s more of a character study. I struggled to finish this as for some reason it just didn’t gel with me even though I do suffer slightly with OCD. Regi is the main character, suffers from OCD and when we meet her she is moving into a house share with women ten years younger than her. Regis we find has left an abusive relationship and her ex husband is now stalking her, we also find out that she has lost two babies. We see her OCD get the better of her at times but how she gets to grips with it. Her infatuation with Mrs Clean a highly influenced person on Instagram and how that starts to take a hold of her life. The ending was confusing and wasn’t what I expected.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

The story is told from two perspectives. On the one hand, Regi is a woman in her thirties who suffers from OCD and with a past she wants to forget. She is trying to start over, attending classes at university and sharing a house with younger girls. On the other hand, a young woman with a complicated and abusive relationship with an older boyfriend she can’t leave. How are the two women connected?

I loved how the author slowly unravels pieces of information, leaving me wondering what would happen next. The plot is well-constructed and well-written, full of twists, some of which I managed to figure out, some that I didn’t see coming and when the truth is fully revealed, it took me completely by surprise.

Regi is a relatable and authentic character. Her OCD, her obsession not only with the little boy living next door, but also with an Instagram account, and her mysterious past keep the tension high and the reader on their toes. I was really curious about her past wondering what happened to her? And who is she hiding from? The answers… another surprise!

I was intrigued by the blurb of The House Mate and, after finished reading it, I can honestly say that it lived up my expectations. It is dark and thrilling and the more I read, the more I couldn’t put it down. It is a fantastic psychological thriller to enjoy this Halloween!

Well, this a complex and twisty novel!

Regi clearly has issues from her past, and she’s a character that takes a while to get to know.

The timeline flicks back and forth between present and the past, and as the story progresses, the tension and pace increases. When the two timelines finally collide, I was initially a bit confused, but with a sudden twist, it all makes sense.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot, for fear of spoiling it, but it is so clever. I was totally consumed by this book and I was really surprised and impressed by the way it all works out.

A completely unputdownable, suspenseful novel, I was gripped by it from start to finish. Excellent.

I’m not entirely sure what I make of this! Part of me wanted to DNF but another part of me was so intrigued where it was going because I genuinely had no clue.

I really enjoyed the aspect of social media, especially the obsession with Cleanstagrammers! They’re a whole new phenomenon and it is easy to become addicted.

I did find the ending abit.. WHATTT, and would have preferred it to be described a little better. It felt like the ending was thrown at us and we were just meant to accept it, even though it didn’t really make sense.

That being said I would definitely read more from this author!

This is my second book I've read by Nina Manning and I'm really becoming a fan of her writing. I really enjoyed The House Mate, the synopsis drew me right in and as soon as I started reading I quickly began to devour it. I read a lot of thrillers so I always appreciate a book with twists that I didn't see coming. Manning has a really well thought out plot and is really great at creating believable situations and characters. It was a really well written,  fast paced, shocking thriller revolving around misconceptions that I would highly recommend  I will say that near the end of the book,  it does get a little confusing and far fetched but the rest of the book makes up for it. 

Regi, is desperate to escape her past and decided to start a course at university where she  moves in to a house share. Regi has  severe OCD and stumbles across a group of cleaners on social media, which is the perfect distraction for her to start rebuilding her life. Although her past isn't as far behind as she thinks and  her new found love and obsession for social media quickly becomes an unhealthy situation.

The Housemate by Nina Manning is the newest offering in her psychological thrillers. i have read a few of Nina's books and always enjoyed them, so I hoped The Housemate would be just as good if not better. I need not to have worried, this book keeps her high standards if not higher.
Regi is an older, mature student who house shares with three much younger students in London. We soon discover that Regi has more issues than meets the eye.She is suffering from OCD which is never easy as well as trying to escape her past.The story is told through 'now' and 'then' alternately.This woman really had my emotions rolling as the past events in her life are slowly revealed and the state of her mental health can be better understood.The present makes us wonder if she is really being stalked by a man in a baseball cap and if any of the other things she is constantly overthinking are real or the result of her failing mental health. Even her social media obsession makes us think, is this due to her obsessive behaviour or because she is trying so hard to lead a normal life just like her housemates. This book really made me feel for Regi, her struggles just to get through a single day were hard enough. Her housemates are all as you expect of uni students, trying to 'get' Regi and her issues at the same time as having their own stuff to deal with.
This is not a fast-paced story, but that is good. All the issues highlighted, abuse, grief and obsession along with mental health problems may have not been dealt with the correct sensitivity if it was faster. I was gripped by this captivating story and as I said previously, it had me feeling every emotion as the story unfolded.
Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Nina Manning for the copy of the book to write my review.

As you probably have gathered from the blurb, it’s difficult to discuss The House Mate without giving anything away. And I really don’t want to give anything away because I want you to enjoy this book for what it is: a bloody great read. So, let me try to give you something extra without blowing the entire operation.

The House Mate alternates between ‘then’ and ‘now’ chapters and I was hooked on each one. I was curious how they would come together to unravel the mystery of Regi but I also saw them as two separate stories that I wanted the answer to. So, I got two gripping stories rather than one, in a way.

I really liked Regi. I felt sympathetic toward her but I also acknowledged her as a strong woman. It was interesting to follow her journey as she battled OCD, tried to forge a relationship with her younger housemates, and explore the world of Instagram. While her use of Instagram was touted as an obsession, I found it more complex than that. I could see how it was also a form of comfort to Regi and believe that it helped her through some bad times.

The House Mate is exactly the kind of book I love and I felt not one word of the gripping story was wasted. However, I do also have to acknowledge that the ending was a bit confusing although once it registered with me, I did like it. Overall, a big thumbs up from me.

This is a book that certainly gets you thinking from the outset! Full of suspense and intrigue, it follows the life of Regi, in her mid-thirties and sharing a house with a bunch of 20-year-olds, whilst trying to start a new life away from a traumatic past which has involved lots of therapy and OCD.

Set in ‘Now’ and ‘Then’ chapters, we are offered glimpses into how her past has affected her present and it is difficult not to feel empathy for her as she continues to struggle with her compulsions.

The interesting twist to the plot is Regi’s growing obsession with Instagrammer Mrs Clean and the anecdotal instagram posts and comments at the end of chapters link nicely to the storyline and tie in Regi’s behaviours in a way that is unexpected at the outset.

The story can be quite dark and disturbing at times as Regi’s past returns to haunt her on an almost daily basis, from voices she hears, to the man in the baseball cap who seems to be tracking her movements.

A heart-stirring read with plenty of tension!

With thanks to the author and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for including me in the blog tour for 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴! This is another great book by @ninamanning_author - a page turning psychological thriller that will lead you one way and then completely takes you by surprise! 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ from me!

Synopsis:
The perfect life? ...Or the perfect lie?
When Regi moves into her new house share, she's ready for a clean slate. A new home. A new routine. A new identity...
Desperate to escape the shadow of her past that follows her everywhere she goes, Regi finds the ideal distraction in the perfect lives of others on social media.
But as innocent scrolling turns into an unhealthy obsession, Regi will soon learn that seeking perfection comes at a price...
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Straight away I was intrigued and hooked! The story focuses on Regi who is the eldest of her housemates attending uni! She has a form of OCD and something from her past is haunting her… But what?

It’s a bit of a wierd story for me because it flicks between the present and her past. But I didn’t expect the outcome that happened at all, the thing that was haunting her I thought it was far worse than it was. For me it was more of a mystery than thriller… A really good read, I did enjoy it. I was just trying to figure Regi out for most of the story! Different. Unique. Brilliantly written. Page turner and a lovely ending. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.

When Regi moves into her new house as a mature student she faces many challenges. Her past is chasing her and her OCD is controlling her life. Written as a "then and now" book just when you think you know what's happening, the twists start. How can Regi adapt to her new life, what's going on with the mysterious neighbour and her crying child and who is chasing her. I really enjoyed this one. i found myself reading that "one more chapter" late into the night. Well written with a good plot, plenty of twists and well-rounded characters. Thank you netgalley and Boldwood books for allowing me to preview this title. I will be recommending it.

It is apparent from the outset that Regi is dealing with some significant mental health issues and is trying her best to control them. Living in a shared house is not helping the anxiety and need for order but there is something else triggering this anxiety. What or who is it ?

She is tidying the summerhouse and Mini one of her housemates is really impressed and compares her to a cleanstagrammer who are people on Instagram who have millions of followers for showing their immaculate homes to others. Regi is fascinated and also calmed by the sense of order as someone with OCD that she craves.

She starts looking at Mrs Clean’s posts and finds comfort in them, as the story progresses you know that Regi is hiding dark secrets from her past and will this stop her being able to move on with her life.

When she starts to study again she meets Will but can she trust him ? Regi starts to become obsessed with the fact there is a child next door but no one else in the house sees or hears it. Is she right or is it her mind playing tricks on her.

This is really fastpaced story that I read in one sitting. I genuinely felt for Regi and I needed to find out what her secrets were and I can tell you I didn’t see what was coming at all. It does deal with some difficult issues, which could be difficult for some people to read.

If you enjoy a dark psychological thriller you will love this one !

I thought I had this book all figured out, I really did, and then it threw my assumptions upside down, shook them about, and watched as the loose change fell out of their pockets. The story is told in two time perspectives: Then and Now. Regi has moved into a house in readiness for a university course as a mature student and is living with three younger women. It very quickly becomes apparent that Regi has suffered some kind of trauma in her past, which manifests in a variety of obsessive compulsions and flashbacks from her past.

As the story progresses, the flashbacks become more real and a figure from her previous life seems to edge in on the periphery of her world, a life she tries hard to hide from others. Regi becomes obsessed with a Mrs Hinch style ‘cleanstagrammer’ on Instagram, Mrs Clean, and a particular troll who features in every post with an unpleasant remark. What starts as curiosity becomes an obsession and eventually, Regi feels compelled to find out more about these instagrammers and the reality behind the filtered photos and sponsored hashtags.

Regi was an interesting character, because I was drawn into her version of the truth due to the novel being written in the first person perspective. Looking back however, I can see that she was an unreliable narrator. I fell into the trap as a reader of believing that I knew all about this character because I was reading what she was thinking however there was so much more to her than met the eye.

The house mates didn’t play as much of a part as I thought they would although I felt bad for Regi at some of the remarks from one housemate in particular who viewed her as a threat. They also served as a reminder for just how much Regi’s life was impacted by whatever had happened in her past and her present OCD.

I’m struggling to say too much without giving something away but I got through most of the book waiting for the point when my suspicions about how the Then affected the now would be proved correct. But when the two converged, I was thrown, confused, and even had to reread a couple of chapters because I couldn’t figure out how I’d been so wrong!

I raced through this book in a few hours and thoroughly enjoyed the tension throughout. The twist was definitely worth the wait and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Nina Manning. A solid 4 star rating for me.

I chose this book because of the psychological thriller element, but although I was really invested in Regi’s heart-wrenching story, it fell short for me.

The signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) described in the novel are well-researched. I had a friend with this disorder who was traumatized and developed similar compulsions, i.e. excessive door locking, counting, and extreme cleaning after his home was broken into.

I was intrigued by Ms. Manning’s plot beginning with an eye-opening prologue and then giving the reader a look into the life of an interesting and vulnerable main character trying to deal with a traumatic secret and a very real mental health disorder while moving on with her life as a traditional college student. The suspense is gradual but effective and the idea of using Instagram posts as a relief for her anxiety is unique. However, the ending was confusing and did not mesh with the climax of the story which was unbelievably coincidental and unfortunately, a real let down for me.

Overall, this is a promising thriller told in past and present. The well-written scenes are compelling and nail-biting as well as moving and heartbreaking. The characters are intriguing and mysterious. Unfortunately, I had more questions than answers at the end.

Thank you to Ms. Manning for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.