Member Reviews
Fantastic book with a great storyline. Easy to follow plot which flips between conceal and reveal. I like the 'Sliding Doors' aspect to the book, great idea and well executed. I felt the book peaked a little early and the end dragged a bit but until then I literally couldn't put it down. Enjoyable from beginning to end
I really really enjoyed this one. Devoured this read in one seating. I couldn't put it down! A very unique story which is cleverly written. The 'Sliding Doors' concept to the story made it compelling and intense at times. Fantastic!! Highly recommend!
This is a ‘Sliding Doors’ novel – same people and same disaster but two different stories because of the moral decision that the central character, Jo, makes at the end of a difficult night out. Should she leave her attacker, knowing that he will likely die, or dial 999 after his fall as a result of her push? The chapters alternate between ‘conceal’ and ‘reveal’ and, of course, there are knock on effects in both which highlight that neither of the decisions will bring easy resolutions. Jo, her family and friends will all suffer.
I enjoyed this novel. Gillian McAllister writes well; her dialogue is lively and credible and I felt an immediate connection with Jo’s emotional and moral turmoil even though I haven’t been through a similar experience. That said, it’s not perfect. The author is very keen to tie everything up neatly at the end – something a little messier would perhaps have been truer to the spirit of the novel. I also found it difficult to warm to Jo’s husband Reuben, another major character. At times I thought that the reader was meant to see past Jo’s partiality and understand him for the controlling, immature, passive aggressive man that he is but at other moments McAllister was clearly encouraging us to see him as an appropriate partner. That said, I’ll be looking out for her next novel – she can clearly tell a story with an interesting central theme.
I was interning in NYC the summer between my junior and senior year of college. After a night out, I stayed at a friend's NYU from. She had to get up super early so it was 6am when I was out and about in Union Square, and I still remember the guy who followed me - down the street, into one convenience store, then another, until I finally hopped in a cab to go a few blocks. So I, like most women in big cities, know the feeling of being followed. And of course, this is just one example.
So naturally I felt for Joanna, the protagonist in this Sliding Doors meets SVU novel. When she pushes the man she believes is following her, and he falls - does she reveal or conceal? I raced through the short alternating chapters to discover her fate.
Despite her flightiness and other faults, I really liked Jo and found myself rooting for her to do the right thing.
I imagine this must have been a very difficult book to write and it took me a little while to get into the conceal/ reveal scenarios - especially on a kindle when it feels more difficult to go back and re-read something. However after this initial hiccup I loved the book and found both versions of Joanna's story very believable in the affect it had on her life and also of those around her, I didn't find any of the characters completely likeable and I think this added to the veracity of the stories. I think the question of "what would I do" and some of the book's themes of sexual assault, feminism, prisons, racism, growing up and moving on will keep readers and bookgroups debating for a long time!
A man lies before you, dying, you’ve pushed him. What do you do, call for help, check that he’s alright, or do you run, is there a possibility that you could get away with it? Could you live with the consequences?
Anything You Do Say is the second novel by bestselling author Gillian McAllister. I loved her first book, Everything but the Truth and her second novel is even better.
When Joanne goes to a bar on a night out with her friend, she has no idea how big an impact the evening will have on the rest of her life. A man begins to make her feel uncomfortable and when she leaves the bar she can hear someone following her. She tries to keep calm but as the man approaches her she makes a quick, rash decision. She attacks and he falls down a flight of stairs to his death leaving Joanne with an impossible choice to make.
What I really liked about this book is how Gillian explored the two different scenarios facing Joanne at that moment. When I’m reading a book I often wonder what would have happened if a character had decided to take another path, instead of the one the author chose for them and we often wonder this in real life too. In this book Gillian explores two sides to her character; I found it fascinating to see the impact that one decision can have on a person and on others around them. This, for me, is what made this novel really unique. Utterly gripping from the first page to the last, this is a thriller that you don’t want to miss.
Gillian McAllister is going from strength to strength and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.
I was lucky enough to meet Gillian at a Birmingham get together. I was intrigued by this story when she told me what she had been writing. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed. This book is unique in that it is two books in one. Our main character Joanne makes a terrible mistake. In one narrative, she does the right thing and then in the other she does the wrong thing. Do not be put off by this as it is seamlessly written and easy to follow.
I can’t even find the words to explain how much I loved this book. It is a rare thing to be able to see both sides of the coin. When I was reading this book, I kept changing my mind over what the right thing to do was. The realities of doing the right thing were terrifying and sort of depressing. It made question which was the right decision. At the beginning of the book I was convinced that doing the right thing was obviously what she should have done. But as the story moved on, I wasn’t so sure. I ended up realising that the idea of right and wrong isn’t as black and white as you think.
The writing was stunningly evocative in this book. I felt the emotions of the character to the extent that when I wasn’t reading, I was feeling guilty and emotional, constantly thinking about what I had just read. It has been a long time since I have become so invested in a Joanna and her story. This book is detail rich so you are immersed in Joanna’s life. I think the magic of this book is that it could happen to anyone, which made it relatable. We are all capable of making mistakes and any of us could have made the error that Joanna made. After all our fight or flight responses are still in built within us.
I liked that there was also social commentary about the vulnerability of women. In fact, I felt it could have been more prominent as this is an issue that is prevalent within society. I often feel vulnerable when walking alone, even in broad daylight. So it was interesting to explore and consider that in an extreme circumstance. I also really enjoyed watching Joanna grow as a person. In both narratives, Joanna is forced to address her avoidant personality and accept who she really is and stop worrying so much about what other people think. I think a lot of people, especially myself, define themselves through what others think of them. The traumatic events in both narratives are a catalyst for Joanna to learn how unhealthy that is. This book is unique and brilliantly written and I would highly recommend it to everyone.
Written in the style of 'Sliding Doors' - at least that's how I have interpreted it. Pick the story and ending of your choice. Loved it! Totally different to anything I've read before and so intriguing. The weaving of the different storylines drew me and I found myself thinking yes, this is how it should be and then the next chapter completely changed my mind! Truly a fascinating story and one I shall most definitely enjoy reading again. Maybe next time I'll pick a different ending!
An intense book that realistically described a situation that we could all find ourselves in. Really makes you consider what direction you would have taken in the same circumstances and there's no real good choice. I felt quite sorry for the main character but was also extremely frustrated with her attempts to conceal the truth, all of which dug her in deeper. I thought the circumstances were realistic and when it comes to it not impossible that they could happen to any one of us.
I really enjoyed this , when I saw that the description likened the book to sliding doors , one of my favourite films I was really intrigued to read this . After Joanna has been harassed in a bar , she thinks he is following her as she makes her way to the tube , as he comes up behind her she shoves him hard and he falls in a heap down the stairs , and this is where the book gets really interesting . It's told from two perspectives, conceal and reveal each one exploring what happens when she leaves him and tries to hide what has happened and secondly what happens when she calls for an ambulance and tries to help the young man .
I didn't necessarily like Joanna in either story , she made silly mistakes in both , but I did warm to her and was rooting for her when she came clean , after all it was an accident . This book was great , really descriptive, paced and very well written . It was my first book my Gillian McAllister but will certainly not be my last . Thank you for the opportunity to read this , I loved it .
One night out followed by an incident now your faced with a choice but you have to think quick. The reader then follows Jennifer in both senarios. Either way that one night changes her life for good and the lives of the people around her. Brilliant a truly compelling read.
I loved this book. A clever story - which is actually two stories taking turns in being told. The two different stories depend on the action Joanna takes after a single event. Excellent characters and gripping story. This will make a great book club read - really makes you think about how you would react in the same situation. Highly recommenD.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a story with two options for Joanne I found myself all the way through understanding her dilemma. The book does well to hold attention as the stories are mainly about one character and what happens to her. It also brings home how small moments in time can have tragic consequences. .The only negative I found was that in one story the victim died and in the other lived so the stories didnt seem so parallel.
This proved to be not a book I enjoyed. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the authoress or the book itself. I have overdone thriller/suspense books with the main character being a woman in her thirties in a somewhat paranoid state doing things I always think I would never have done. However I was intrigued by the sliding doors approach.
A really well thought out plot, written extremely well to illustrate both stories - conceal or reveal. I liked how no matter which way she turned, her relationships with her husband, friends, family and colleagues etc inevitably changed. A book of decisions, dilemmas and consequences, I was hooked. Excellent.
What a brilliant, thought-provoking and original story! Anything You Do Say is being marketed as "Gone Girl meets Sliding Doors" which possibly won't entice you to read it if you didn't like Gone Girl, so here are my thoughts.
Anything You Do Say is an intelligent and clever story involving Joanna who has to make a life changing decision when she pushes an unknown assailant down a concrete flight of stairs; should she call the ambulance and admit her actions or should she flee the scene and pretend it never happened.
The story really takes off after this attack and alternating between "Conceal" and "Reveal" chapters we follow the two paths Joanna has taken, both filled with guilt, lies, fear and secrets.
Throughout the book the authors knowledge of the criminal justice system was clearly evident and I felt all the emotions Joanna was experiencing in both the Conceal and Reveal stories were plausible and realistic. A really gripping thriller that certainly makes the reader think about the paths they could have chosen in certain circumstances. This is Gillian McAllister's second novel and in my personal opinion is her best yet!
Two options are open to Joanna after an incidenton a night out. This novel explores the impact of each set of actions on the protagonist and all the lives she touches.
It is revealing how one lie leads to another, to another.
Joanna becomes to dislakie the person she is becoming. It os difficult living with her “wonderful” husband. Can anyone live up to the standards he expects of everyone, including himself.
At times this does seem to drone a bit but overall it provides interesting insights into a relationship under pressure.
I found this thoughtful and intense parallel narrative of a woman living two separate lives, each one hinged on a decision made in a moment of crisis, really gripping. It wasn't as simple as a good or bad decision leading to a good or bad life; each reality had a complex set of outcomes and led to a fascinating unfolding of two disparate stories.
At first I thought there was far too much detail and time spent in each chapter of the Reveal/Conceal timelines but eventually it became clear that the reader has to experience every minute of the protagonist's experience in order to be able to understand her choices. I was constantly questioning how I might have handled the situation, which is the mark of a truly engaging read in my opinion.
I especially liked how the author developed sthe econdary characters because it's the relationships around the central figure who influenced what she did and who she became in each timeline. Highly recommend.
I loved this book. right from the start I was gripped. Wanted to keep reading to find out more....got into it easily and found out all characters easy as well. couldn't put it down, enjoyed the ending as well x
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A young woman on her way home from a night out is involved in an incident, then the story begins. Two books for the price of one most unusual style, very interesting