Goodreads

Release date: November 25, 2025

Publisher: Celadon

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Eighteen months and eleven lost bidding wars into house-hunting in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, 37-year-old publicist Margo Miyake gets a tip about the perfect house, in the perfect neighborhood, slated to come up for sale in one month. Desperate to escape the cramped apartment she shares with her husband Ian—and in turn, get their marriage, plan to have a baby, and whole life back on track—Margo becomes obsessed with buying the house before it’s publicly listed and the masses descend (with unbeatable, all-cash offers in hand).

A little stalking? Harmless. A bit of trespassing? Necessary. As Margo infiltrates the homeowners’ lives, her tactics grow increasingly unhinged—but just when she thinks she’s won them over, she hits a snag in her plan. Undeterred, she’ll prove again and again that there’s no boundary she won’t cross to seize the dream life she’s been chasing.

Review:

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino is a wildly entertaining debut that turns the ruthless world of real estate into a battleground of obsession, deceit, and dark humor. Margo, our protagonist, is unhinged in the best way — snarky, desperate, and oddly relatable as she becomes consumed by her quest to secure the perfect home. While she’s not exactly a character you’re supposed to root for, I couldn’t help but cheer her on through every questionable decision and chaotic scheme.

This is a thriller that moves fast, packed with sharp dialogue, biting wit, and plenty of unexpected turns. Kashino balances the absurdity of Margo’s desperation with genuinely smart plotting and darkly funny observations about status, envy, and the lengths people will go to for what they think they deserve. The final act takes things in a darker, twistier direction than I expected and I loved every second of it.

For a debut, Best Offer Wins feels impressively confident and refreshingly original. It’s clever, fast, and full of personality, the kind of book that’ll have everyone talking once they pick it up. If you love thrillers with a biting sense of humor and a delightfully unhinged heroine, this one’s a must read. 🏡💀✨

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.