Plot:
Steph’s husband walked out after a thirty-year marriage. Her kids are grown. She hasn't seen or spoken to her son Max in over 10 years. Strange things have been happening since she started living alone. Her daughter Bea thinks she’s imagining things. Steph knows that the noises in the night, the open windows she knows she left closed, the strange smell in the kitchen, none of it feels right. Then her house is broken into, and a young man named Noah helps her fix the front window. He’s fallen on hard times and Steph impulsively offers him a place to stay. At least if he is there, she won’t be home alone. Strange things start happening once more. It becomes clear someone will stop at nothing to make her never, ever feel safe again.

Thoughts:
This book is good. This is the first I have read from this author. It definitely kept me wondering what would happen. The plot tries to lead you to think one thing is going on so you pretty much know that's not what will happen. I did predict the twist but I didn't enjoy it less because of it. The ending felt a tad rushed to me. Everything came together at the very end. I enjoyed the flow of the rest of the book. It honestly didn't feel like a psychological thriller book to me until the end. It needed a bit more to get into my head. I did find myself very worried for Steph. I grew attached to her and Noah. Noah's story was intriguing to me. I'm happy to see a book touch on things like homelessness, the military life, and more. I do recommend reading this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! This book releases January 31st.

i found this book very slow to get into, but once i got into it i really enjoyed it. brilliant characters and plot.

When I read the reviews on this book I am not sure I read the same book as they did. LOL Although I did find the story engaging I don't think I found it exciting and "unputdownable". I do believe the protagonist was extremely naive and really didn't think through a lot of decisions she made. The ending was a twist but such a weird twist. I don't want to say more or I'll spoil the ending.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC of The Guest Room by Rona Halsall.

When I first started reading this book I thought this is going to be quite formulaic, but my opinion completely changed! I must admit I thought I had it all sewn up but but I was completely wrong, when I thought back to what had been going on it all made sense!
I enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend it if you are a fan of domestic thrillers with some very dodgy characters. The ending was very fitting too.

This is a gentle thriller and an easy read.
I must admit, I realised who was behind all the trouble early on but still managed to finish the novel.
It didn't grab me at any point but was quite engaging throughout.

I received a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture.

I found this to be an enjoyable book. It’s a very easy read, easy to binge read - the short chapters certainly helps with this!

However, I did find it quite repetitive at times but it also seemed to alternative between not much happening and everything happening in one go. It felt like it was quite rushed as a whole.

I found it so predictable though, it was very obvious what was going to happen. But I am really confused about the ending. The way it’s written makes it hard for me to get my head around what’s been revealed.

This book definitely had the creep factor I crave! It was a definite page turner for me. We were slowly given information about each of Steph’s relationships and why they might be the one trying to scare her. As Steph uncovered the truth behind the disturbing things that were happening to her she was shocked at what she discovered.

After a long marriage Steph’s husband leaves her. Her house doesn’t feel the same. Something is off at home. Theres vandals, someone’s been in her home. There’s so much suspense here, you may even sleep with the lights on. Steph wants to bond with her daughter Bea and sublet a room to supplement income. There’s a few points in the story you’ll question your sanity and turn back and reread what you’ve already read! This is a true page turner that you’ll devour in 1-2 sittings. I am going to go and find other Halsall books right now that’s how good the writing is! Absolutely addictive read! Great thriller!

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Guest Room. Horrible, I don’t know why I kept reading this. I love all her books but this was a disaster, the main character was so naive and childish. Soooooo disappointing and far fetched. I’m sorry to have to do a review like this one.

•~Book Review~•
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The Guest room is a psychological thriller written by Rona Halsall which is slated to release on 31st January of 2022.
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Steph has recently seperated from her husband Andy. She has a daughter Bea and a son Max who left the family for army a long time ago thus cutting off familial ties. Steph is in a battle ground with Andy over the house she's living in since it was the house they both lived in together.
Both are furious against each other with Andy accusing Steph of an affair and Steph being innocent trying to prove that she is innocent. Amidst all the chaos, there's consecutive intruder attacks taking place in her house which leaves are shaking and afraid. She takes up a lodger, a young boy named Noah who is homeless and strikes up a good relationship with him. But the attacks still continue leaving her at unease. She's confused doubtful and afraid for her life. Who's the intruder? Why is he trying to scare Steph? What is his intention?
Find it out from the book.
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I was completely taken over by to book. I had few assumptions of the intruder but was proved completely wrong and was kept on toes and kept me guessing.
There was a huge twist at the end and I was completely baffled since I didn't expect it at all. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and lack lustre nonetheless it was mind boggling. And I enjoyed reading the book. I convey my thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with the e- arc. You can request for the book on Netgalley and read it on Netgalley shelf app.

Oh my goodness! This was my first Rona Halsall book and I have to say that I love her writing! This was a psychological thriller that even made me question my own self multiple times as I was reading it. It was so captivating that at times I had a difficult time putting it down. The author did such a good job at the suspense in the novel to the point that you could almost feel the suspense through the pages. The one thing that was a bit difficult at times was the repetitiveness at the beginning of the novel, but it didn’t deter me from continuing to read it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I have already recommended it to several friends to put on their radar for next year!

4.5 starts rounded up to 5 stars on here!

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future

This is an instant addiction, just like it had ever been with Rona Halshall books!! Loved the blurb, picked it up immediately and finished in one sitting and what a fantastic thriller it was. I'm still shaking with unease at the effect it has on me.

What we have here is a woman who lives alone in her house and the area used to be nice and safe once, but not anymore. She's constantly attacked by vandals and she sublets her place to working women, just to get some company. Her daughter is worried and her exhusband wants to sell the house.

Amidst this, she discovers that someone is in the house as she begins to notice her things being meddled and everytime she calls the police, they end up empty handed. Soon things escalate, and she impulsively takes a decision to allow a stranger into her house.

Rona Halshall is a master in the psychological suspense genre and this book is just so brilliant and creepy. I'm pretty sure I'll never feel safe again in my own house if I'm alone. I'm going to flip over every creak and noise and that's because of you Rona!

Sadly this one just didn't do if for me. I'm a huge mystery and thriller buff so I wad disappointed.


Thank you anyways to Net galley and Bookature.

A binge-worthy domestic suspense thriller with some great twists and a highly relatable main character. The first book I have read by this author and will now be checking out her others.

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for an eARC of The Guest Room by Rona Halsall.

This book is ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. The writing is bingeable - it's my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more! I also really enjoyed the ending and although I did guess some of it, I was surprised by some other bits which is always welcome. That being said, I do think it's a very character-driven book and repetitive at times, especially in the first half.

This one makes you stop and think - how safe are you really, each night in your own home?

Steph is no stranger to hard times.

First, the disappearance of her son Max ten years ago, and now her husband, Andy has left her.

Steph has never been alone, but has thrown herself into work and bonding with her daughter Bea.

She struggles to adjust, with a series of strange occurrences that disrupt her home and peace.

She decides on impulse to take on a lodger - but has she made a terrible mistake?

This thriller kept me on my toes and I read it very quickly, and got thrown off a few times on what would happen next. Would recommend.

Steph is now living alone after her husband walked out. And she doesn't like it. She knows something is wrong, very wrong. But what can she do? This was chock full of twists and turns I never saw coming! Unputdownable right up to the jaw dropping end! Can't wait to read more!

This book is one of the best thrillers I’ve read. It is a page turner, I couldn’t put this book down! You wouldn’t see the twist coming on this one, the writing style is great and it is not complicated. The story is not too slow and not too fast, it is well written, it has details that makes you feel like you know the characters in the book.

Unfortunately this book just didn't do it for me!
Everything was just a bit too obvious and contrived while it was difficult to like any of the characters much at all.
Sorry!

What do you do when you don’t feel safe in your own home? Who is lurking around and what do they want?

Read if you like:
Domestic thrillers ✅
Suspicious activity ✅
Questionable characters ✅


A captivating, page turning domestic thriller!Lots of scenes that will make you jump and feel uneasy! It’s a constant guessing game trying to figure out who can be trusted and who is causing all the mayhem. It’s one disturbing occurrence after another! I flew through this book and really loved the suspense! Things continue to escalate and take a sinister turn. I couldn’t believe the big twist!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reader copy.