annieb123's Review of The Spare Room

by Andrea Bartz

Staying with a friend and her husband is sexier—and deadlier—than anyone could have imagined, in this “delightfully salacious” (Shondaland) domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club pick We Were Never Here.

“A fresh and sexy ride, perfect for reading poolside.”—People (Best New Book)

“Sexy, atmospheric, deliciously creepy, and ingeniously plotted: the best kind of up-all-night page-turner.”—Lucy Foley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Apartment and The Guest List

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Elle, PopSugar, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, CrimeReads

Kelly’s new life in Philadelphia has turned into a nightmare: She’s friendless and jobless, and the lockdown has her trapped in a tiny apartment with the man she gave up everything for, who’s just called off their wedding. The only bright spot is her newly rekindled friendship with her childhood friend Sabrina—now a glamorous bestselling author with a handsome, high-powered husband.

When Sabrina and Nathan offer Kelly an escape hatch, volunteering the spare room of their remote Virginia mansion, she jumps at the chance to run away from her old life. There, Kelly secretly finds herself falling for both her enchanting hosts—until one night, a wild and unexpected threesome leads the couple to open their marriage for her.

At first, Kelly loves being part of this risqué new world. But when she discovers that the last woman they invited into their marriage is missing, she starts to wonder if they could be dangerous . . . and if she might be next.

Packed with Andrea Bartz’s signature tension, twists, and toxic relationships, The Spare Room marks an edgy, boundary-pushing new direction from the “master of the ‘feminist thriller’” (Los Angeles Times).

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Spare Room is a racy thriller by Andrea Bartz. Released 20th June 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a "beach read" with lots of scandalously racy scenes and an over-the-top plot. The author has a good grasp of description and setting, and there's a palpable tension throughout which is unsettling and impressive. The book falls a bit flat with stilted characterization and uneven dialogue. Many of the sex scenes felt tacked on gratuitously and the pacing in the first 50(ish)% was distinctly different than the latter parts. That being said, fans of Gone Girl and Pretty Things will find a lot to like here.

Definitely an adult read, much of it NSFW. Three stars due to the uneven pacing and weirdly convoluted denouement and epilogue.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

22 November, 2023: Started reading

22 November, 2023: Finished reading

22 November, 2023: Reviewed