Well, this book was superb. I really loved it. I found that my sympathy and empathy changed from one character to the other constantly as the book progressed. It was just everso slightly exhausting! Fabulous ending, I really recommend.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

We are told this story through the point of view of Rob his wife Carly and their friends Craig and Jenni. One evening Carly asks her husband Rob 'who else would you go for if you could?' This innocent question changes everything for the four of them. It's hard to review without putting spoilers in so I'm not gonna say anything about the storyline. I will say it's a different kinda read for me and although I didn't like the characters I did enjoy the story.

I was excited to read Obsession as it had a promising plot and sounded right up my alley. Robson took no time to jump right into the drama, almost too quickly. Although the book took no time to ramp up, it did take a long time to get through. Many times feeling very repetitive. The further you get into the book, the more unrealistic it become (I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to include spoilers).

I enjoyed the story being told from all four characters point of view and getting inside each of their heads. However, I wasn’t a fan of the overall writing style. The character from which the POV was for that chapter would be “talking” to the other characters (e.g. “I feel you moving further away from me again, Craig.” and “Everywhere I go, Jenni, your eyes follow me.”) which I think was to make it feel more intimate but just felt forced.

Obsession was a quick mindless read and a solid effort.

2 couples, 4 friends - Carly & Rob, Jenni & Craig, Betrayal, jealousy. Carly has been insecure ever since she asked Rob if they weren't together, who would he be with & he replied Jenni. 4.5 *. Highly addictive, totally gripping. For me, not so sure about the ending but it really was a fabulous read. One to recommend. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

This book was like a soap opera! Friendships, betrayals, backstabbing... a little of it all minus the evil twin. 😂
I enjoyed the story, but some decisions the characters made drove me up the wall.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this novel.

This is a book about obsessions and how human frailty copes with them. There are four main characters that this book is covering, they are all very well described and it was easy to relate to each of their actions, however bad, given the differing circumstances. The opening chapter with Carly and Rob on vacation with their children sets the whole scenario when Carly asks her husband who he would fantasise to be with if he could. The question was meant to improve their married life but it produced a very dangerous answer that threads throughout the book. The idea that Jenni had named the four boys the four gospels was lovely and added to the familiar, friendly family life that the two couples shared, at least at the start. At different times I felt sorry for each of the four but never ever knew who was telling the truth or indeed who could be trusted and this goes to the very last page as there is still at least one unanswered question about who was telling the truth. This is a book that defines how people react when faced with what they see as adversity and how easily it grows into obsession. Not a usual type of psychological thriller more a medical thriller but one that keeps the reader in suspense until the very end.

Though I enjoyed the story of this book and was interested to see it through to the end, I would only give it 3.5* as I didn't feel it was a real page turner. It's worth a read but wouldn't say it is a must read in my opinion.

As soon as I read the blurb for this book I had about a million questions racing through my mind so I knew I'd have to read it to find out the answers.

What a journey!

The question that set things in motion was a dangerous question to ask but it was even more dangerous to answer.

I was hooked on the storyline pretty much straight away, when life got in the way and I had to put my Kindle down I still found myself thinking about it. Obsession is an extremely appropriate title.

I enjoyed reading from each character's point of view because it helped me understand them all individually. The writing style was interesting, the characters were directing their thoughts at each other and it kind of made me feel like I was eavesdropping on their private conversations!

Carly wasn't a particularly likeable character to begin with but I don't think she was supposed to be. She clearly had problems and there were a few times I felt sad for her but she was definitely the character I loved to hate at that point. Then a major incident occurred and the tide slowly started to change, I began to see the situation in a different light and I wondered if Carly had been right all along.

This is a book that continued to raise questions throughout - just as I thought I'd found the answer, something would happen to twist it all around again. In the end I gave up trying to figure out who to believe!

This was an utterly absorbing read, I simply couldn't pull my mind away from the story. An easy 5 stars.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Carly and Rob have a tempestuous relationship and one night on holiday Rob answers a question that changes their dynamics. Jenni and Craig are their friends and before long Carly starts and affair with Craig which leads to the breakdown of marriages, friendships and eventually leads to disastrous consequences.

At the start of this book I hated Carly and championed Jenni but as the book weaves its way my opinions changed. This book was brilliantly written with POV from all four people.

Absolute pleasure to read

I'm afraid I found this just too much. I know it's about obsession and swapping partners but well, it was just a bit too much. Not in a good way either - for the story it was too long and a lot could have been cut for a better effect. For those who loved Fifty Shades and the like, then it will work for them , but not for me sorry!

There are two married couples who are the main characters in this novel and each chapter is written from one of the main characters perspective. One night Carly asks her husband Rob "who else would you go for, if you could?" They are close friends with Jenny and Craig.

There is not much more I can say about this novel as I would give too much away.

This is a well written debut novel. The main characters are developed slowly, with each chapter we learn a little more about them. There are some twists and turns to keep your interest. The plot line is gripping and it covers mental health, relationships and deceit. There is also a lot of sexiness the book that might offend some people.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Amanda Robson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did finish this book but it was hard going, the premise of the story was very good but unfortunately the author didn't quite pull it off. The characters were all unlikable and I felt no sympathy for any of them, it was told from the viewpoints of all the main characters but that left it lacking something as opposed to adding a different dimension.

Not my cup of tea. Could not empathize with any of the characters.

This is the story of two married couples Rob and Carly & Craig and Jenni and the various combinations of their friendships, relationships and sexual couplings. I found it tedious, distasteful and quite unbelievable. I didn't like any of the four characters and I really didn’t need to know such intimate details of their bodily needs.

There were many shocking things which I found quite irritating as they were frequently passed off as a symptom of mental illness. In this age of increasing fragile mental health I think this topic needs to be treated more realistically and sympathetically than it is in this book. It felt more like a manual for anyone who wishes to behave badly to pretend that it is acceptable as they pass it off as a mental illness.

It’s written in a combination of first person, second person and third person which does not make for an easy flow of reading. I was frequently backtracking to work how who was saying what and also looking back to search for quotation marks as the first person and second person dialogue was constantly interleaved. The only way of making sense of such dialogue was checking for the presence or absence of quotation marks. This took me out of the plot on numerous occasions.

From simple curiosity comes obsession.....until it's the ultimate driving force. It will lead you to love, hate, despair and to finally, the unthinkable. I would highly recommend this book, 5 out of 5 stars from me.

Ok so this book was interesting in the context of being about obsessions. Carly and Rob and Craig and Jenny are really close friends, they have children the same age and Carly and Jenny work together. Until one night Carly asks Rob who would you go for if you could? He answers Jenny and that is how the obsession starts! Carly has a history of anxiety and mental health issues so nobody believes her when she says Jenny is not what she seems. She is obsessed with them having an affair but in fact, she is the one that does. The only problem I had with it is that it went on a bit long and became a bit repetitive. Still a good read which i finished

I’m genuinely in two minds about this book. It is an easy and enjoyable read, just right for summer holiday reading. Written in short chapters and in the voices of 4 different characters, the plot is one that follows the inter-relationship between two couples, Carly and Rob and Jenni and Craig.
Leading happy and fulfilled lives, the story revolves around what happens when Carly asks Rob who he would be with if it were not her. That one question, and Rob’s reluctant answer, sparks a spiral into unhappiness, infidelity and destructive behaviour.
Robson uses a nice plot device of leading from one character to the next through a linking of events so that the reader can see a different perspective to the one just offered.
The difficulty I had is that not one of these people is innately empathetic or likeable. Rather they are extremely self -obsessed and altogether very irritating. The men are weak and the women live only to please them. Two of the characters are religious and I could not work out whether this was the author showing us how hypocritical their actions are, or just using this as a device to draw two characters closer together.
I was also somewhat dismayed by the portrayal of mental health issues, which was both unrealistic and unhelpful.
Nevertheless, there is something hypnotic about watching such a horrible drama play out in front of you, knowing that the characters are unable to stop the destructive path that they are following.
An interesting debut novel which shows promise.
For these reasons I give the book a three star review.

Obsession

Amanda Rowe's debut is a largely bleak exploration of the nature of love, friendship and madness. It kept my interest throughout, with many short and snappy chapters as the narrative viewpoint changes.

The story starts with two couples; life is ordinary and normal but the veneer of respectability is soon stripped away when boundaries are crossed and lust takes over. But there are twists for the reader. Whose narrative may be trusted? Who's the victim and who's being exploited? Whose psyche is the most twisted? None of the characters are particularly likeable and I felt little sympathy for any of them. Despite that, I found the plotting compelling and fast paced, even though I had to stretch belief a couple of times. I finished the book in a couple of sittings and thought overall it's well executed. Kept me guessing and it's a decent psychological thriller; escapist fiction and I enjoyed it. Certainly an author I'll look out for in future.

My thanks to the publisher for an advance review copy via Netgalley.

Rob, Carly, Craig and Jenny are the four main characters in this book and make-up two couples.
When one confesses to secretly desiring someone he shouldn't all hell breaks loose.
Good solid debut and I look forward to reading more from this author.