A Breathless, Grip-the-Edge-of-Your-Seat Ride!

Room for Rent by Noelle W. Ihli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was told by others that this book was slow, but I couldn't disagree more—I flew through it in what must be near-record time for me! From the very opening prologue, the sense of dread and danger is palpable, forcing you to keep turning the pages just to see if the protagonist survives.

The author handles the suspense beautifully with some fantastic misdirection; I managed to guess that one particular character wasn't all they seemed, but the ultimate twist regarding who was the real danger and who was a victim completely caught me off guard. The psychological tension answers that age-old question of why someone would stay in a terrifying situation: it boils down to pure desperation, determination, and having no place else to go.

It is a fast-paced, highly atmospheric university drama with incredible descriptive flair—at times, your throat will feel dry, and the ending might just leave you feeling physically itchy and a bit stomach-wrenched! While there is a tiny bit of gross-out tension near the end, it’s not overly visceral or supernatural, making it a great, clean, high-stakes thriller that would make an absolutely fantastic film. I had to read the final pages at a sprint, and then immediately go back and re-read them just so I could remember to breathe. Don't listen to the critics—this one is a ride!

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