Member Reviews
With thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this novel - structurally, it reminds me of 'Sliding Doors' with Joanna having to make a decision and us then seeing the consequences of both sides. An interesting read.
Gillian McAllister is definitely one to watch. After devouring her debut novel in one afternoon, I was desperate to read Anything You Do Say and I can promise you right now that I wasn’t disappointed. I love a book with a good moral dilemma at the heart of it and the situation Joanna ends up in is one that kept me up at night until I’d finished it - it’s seriously good. Joanna is one of life’s true avoiders: if she can get out of having to deal with a problem, she’ll definitely try. From hiding her bank statements to filing difficult life decisions under ‘later’ she’s determined to take as little responsibility for her life as is humanly possible. One night she hears footsteps behind her as she is walking home and, terrified that it’s the man who’d been pestering her in the bar earlier, she turns around at his approach and pushes him. Hard. Once she sees his motionless body at the bottom of a flight of steep steps, Joanna is faced with a terrible decision: will she face up to her actions or bury her head in the sand and flee the scene? This book emphasises the fact that the world is very rarely black and white and the right thing to do is often harder to face than you’d like to think. A satisfying and engrossing read that you’ll lose yourself in, perfect for a winter Sunday afternoon on the sofa. I think this would make a fab series on TV. If you love Dr Foster, Broadchurch or Apple Tree Yard you should definitely give this a try. You won’t regret it.
A cleverly written book which follows two possible chains of events following an incident in London.
Alone, vulnerable and on a quiet path at night, Joanna believes she is being followed by a man who was harassing her in a bar. As he gets close, fear overwhelms her and she turns, pushes and he falls down 5 steps, landing unconscious, face down and at an unnatural angle. What should she do? Help him or run away? Both decisions are followed in alternate chapters "conceal" and "reveal". In both, her relationships and the impact on family, friends and colleagues are explored in detail over a period of about 3 years.
This book is compulsive reading, and without actually liking many of the characters (they were shallow and immature in the main) I just had to find out what happened next. Some of Joanna's decisions were strange and she did not seem to have a very good sense of self-preservation, blurting out silly lies which could easily be discovered, but I suppose that might well happen under stressful situations. Her deteriorating relationships with husband, friends and colleagues in both scenarios is very well done. The story (stories?) are told from Joanna's perspective and are intense and thought-provoking.
We are all at the centre of our own universe, and I'm glad I'm not at the centre of Joanna's.
This is a difficult book to describe. When I was younger, I used to be a fan of books that let you choose your way through the story by picking the next step. I would trace out the ultimate way after many attempts to survive the tale. This particular book was similar but with the protagonist making the choice.
There is just one choice.It is between doing the right thing and running. Jo Oliva has had a weird evening, and still under the effect of it, does something without processing it too much. The book then branches out into two parts, and we follow the repercussions of both of those actions. The study of the effects of a choice and the ripples it creates in the lives of all those connected, is the only reason I am rating this positively. The people described were not those who I could really actively like or dislike.The husband, the friends and the family were all flawed and though it might be realistic, it was not my cup of tea. The story did not captivate me as it should have, but it is an interesting concept.
This psychological thriller by Gillian McAllister moves between two possible scenarios / outcomes and makes the reader question what they would do in the same situation. The main character Joanna faces a life changing decision when she pushes an unknown assailant down a concrete flight of stairs. Should she call for an ambulance and explain what has happened or should she leave the scene to avoid the consequences of her actions. The book alternates between the two options 'reveal' and 'conceal' and tells of Joanna's fate having made her decision in each case.
This book is different to a lot of other psychological thrillers and will keep you gripped to the end. Highly recommended.
I found this book hard to put down. From the start it was gripping with a great ending. I loved it and would definitely recommend.
it was accident but she didn't go to get help. Did he die because of her? This sliding-doors type thriller offers 'she tells, she doesn't' options and plays them out. Convincing and disturbing.
Overally - a good book. Couldn't stop reading, however I felt bored sometimes. I'd recommended anyway, because of the form (two books in one) - quite unique and original. 3 stars (instead of 4 I was going to leave), because I expected better ending (twisted? Shoking maybe?) I found the ending a bit dissappointing.
Thank you Netgalley for the copy of the book!!
I enjoyed this parallel look at the 'what if' element of a decision one woman took. The consequences of the two separate decisions were both followed chronologically and both were equally interesting with surprising outcomes. This format is good for those who think 'if only we had made a different choice at a point in time".... Where would we be now?
This was a most enjoyable book…written with a ‘sliding doors’ approach...and one I couldn't wait to pick up at any opportune moment.
Joanna and her best friend Laura are on a girls’ night out, when Joanna receives some seriously unwanted ‘attention’ from Sadiq. On her way home, she hears someone behind her…seemingly following her. It must be Sadiq. He’s getting worryingly close and as they descend some steps, it happens: the moment that changes lives forever. Notwithstanding, there are two paths, Joanna can take. The story then pursues, in alternating chapters, each of the paths.
This was brilliantly executed, extremely well written and the characters were very well drawn—Joanna, in particular. I really liked her and her husband’s, Reuben’s, character.
Much as I was enjoying reading these two parallel universes, how the ending was going to evolve was constantly on my mind: but it came together excellently.
It’s quite a thought-provoking book: whatever you might think, you can never predict how you might act in a dangerous, threatening or serious situation.
A very good and satisfying book. Highly recommended.
What would I have done? This is the question I found myself asking throughout this read. In a split second Joanna has to react in a situation and then go on making decisions about how she deals with the aftermath of what she has done. I always have the guide in my life about not lying and in this book I can see why this is wise. 'If only'could be Joanna's mantra as she has to live with that first untruth and all it's consequences.
I really couldn’t connect with this book and unfortunately I gave up after a few chapters
A really gripping and unusual thriller - definitely unputdownable. Would heartily recommend it.
oanna is an avoider. So far she has spent her adult life hiding bank statements and changing career aspirations weekly. she lives with her husband Reuben in the basement flat in london
But then one night Joanna hears footsteps on the way home. Is she being followed? She is sure it's him; the man from the bar one the who was trying it on and bothering her and her friend she is scared frightened she call's her husband Reuben tells him to stay on the line until she gets home but the the line goes dead.
panicking and scared with the footsteps getting closer she doesn't know what to do, with the footsteps now behind her she turns and pushes with all of her strength, sending her pursuer tumbling down the steps and lying motionless on the floor.
shocked to the core with what she has done Joanna has to do the thing she hates most - make a decision. Fight or flight? Truth or lie? Right or wrong
Told in two view points "Anything You Do Say" takes you on on two different journeys one where Joanna stays call's the ambulance service stays and helps the man she pushed faces up to what she has done owns up to her loyal husband Reuben with her court case getting close and closer will she tell her Husband or any one that he waited a few minutes as she didn't know what to do that she did not call the ambulance straight away that she left him face down in the puddle longer then she said that few minutes that damaged him the most or will she say nothing will she be found guilty or not guilty?
or view point two Joanna does what she does best she avoids what happened she walks away leaves him laying there face down in that puddle where he dies because of what she did.. she hides the clothes she was wearing that night lies to her husband her friends she risks her job her love her freedom but will the guilt get the better of her or will she just move on with her life?
i loved this book i got in to it from the start i loved the store i loved there was two view points of what she did it leaves you the reader to decide what she did i could not stop reading this book i just had to carry on as i wanted to know what happened next what was Joanna going to do i was thinking all the time what will happen next,i loved the characters i loved the story i loved how it was written it had me on edge because i was really in to the story you kind of felt that you was apart of the story makes you feel involved i would rate this make a 10/10 if i could it is a book that i will be reading again and again! thank you to Netgalley and The publishers for my copy of the book i loved it very much
I thoroughly enjoyed this book with it's unique story telling. I couldn't put it down, much to my husbands chagrin as he was ignored!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Joanna and Reuben are a mismatched couple but very much in love. After a drunken night out, Jo makes an error in which a young man is hurt. Does she call the police or does she walk away?
This book had me absorbed completely. The different POV chapters was smooth and although a tiny confusing at first it soon flowed.
Great writing, great read. Loved it, could not put it down.
A split second decision has lasting implications for the protagonist in this tense psychological thriller. Late at night, believing that she’s being followed, Joanna lashes out, pushing her pursuer down a set of concrete steps. Does she call an ambulance, or walk away? Both scenarios are explored. In one, Joanna finds herself facing trial. In the other, she’s tortured by what she’s done, and desperate to evade the police. Ingenious, original and fast-paced, this is perfect for fans of Gone Girl and Girl on a Train.
Excellent, I really enjoyed reading this - I loved the split narrative, it gave a much deeper insight into the characters. The first person perspective worked really well.
The whole concept of harassment and intent was really well written, I know that I've often wondered how I would react in this sort of situation.
When I read how this book was written I wondered if it would be the sort of read that I enjoy. I need not have worried it kept me enthralled from the start.
The story is about Joanna who, after being molested on a night out.,makes a terrible mistake. In alternating chapters we learn what happens when she faces her dilemma and when she walks away from it.
I really felt for her in both scenarios, her husband, Reuben, is a very moralistic person, or so we think.
I would certainly recommend that you read this book, you won't be disappointed.