If You Only Knew

Elizabeth is a successful lawyer, mother and wife but is living with a haunting secret. Now someone knows her secret and appears to be hunting her down...

I really enjoyed If You Only Knew, it’s an intense tale, full of suspense and drama. The quality of the writing is amazing and it’s genuinely hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel. With five stars from purplebookstand, I highly recommend you give this book a try!

I was lucky to be provided with an ARC of this book and I voluntarily provided this review.

What I liked about the novel was Elizabeth. This girl had been through hell, but still came to be a successful barrister (attorney), and loved her family dearly (despite her long hours at the office). Early in the novel, it was evident how strong Elizabeth was, and regardless of decisions made, I had nothing but respect for her character.

What did I hate about the novel? Her husband Miles. Hats off to Cynthia Clark’s characterization, but oh my God, what an ass!! This man had zero redeeming qualities. A busy surgeon himself, he constantly berated Elizabeth about her work hours when he himself would rush off at all hours having to return to the hospital. He wasn’t sexy, caring, affectionate, etc. He just ran out in the morning and showed up late at night. Then, despite his own shortcomings and mistakes, totally turned on Elizabeth when she attempted to trust him and open up.

Moving on, this was a gripping and exciting novel, despite already knowing what had happened and basically knowing how things would turn out. The way the author really made this novel stand apart from others was her well-developed characters (regardless of how uncomfortable it was reading about them), and the profound honesty regarding emotions and reactions to Elizabeth’s situation. I feel that knowing what happened in the beginning did affect my desire to keep turning the pages, however, I still found this an intriguing read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book; loved the point of view. Nicely written, easy to read with well developed. I would definitely recommend this book.

I was given a free digital copy of this book by Aria Publishing and Netgalley for an honest review. Awesome book by a debut author. College student Elizabeth is riding her bike back to campus late one night when she is hit by a car. She is uninjured but her bike is a mess so the man that hit her offers her a ride. This is when her life takes a new direction. Events occur that Elizabeth conceals and she lives for years with the fear of it all coming out. She goes on to become a successful lawyer and gets married and has a family, while always being worried about her secrets becoming uncovered, because now she has more than one secret. The book is very riveting as we go along with Elizabeth while she tries to keep her life together which is increasingly becoming more difficult. The suspense starts at the beginning of the book and carries through until the end. The characters are well written in the story and it feels well rounded. Overall a great book. Looking forward to more from this author.

To be killed or to kill? Pretty tough question to even think about. Elizabeth was put into a situation I pray I would never have to face. The book is read in present and past. I thought it was fast paced. A great page turner. But I would put a trigger warning on If You Only Knew, as it was a bit graphic.

🌟🌟🌟 1/2 Stars.
If You Only Knew By Cynthia Clark was a good read, It's the sort of book I would pack for my holidays to read around the pool not too taxing but a very enjoyable read nonetheless.
This Novel revolves around Elizabeth and explores how the numerous wrong decisions made on one single night can impact and shape the course of our lives the repercussions echoing down through the years affecting our lives dramatically.
It's a bit like a pebble thrown into a pond, the ripple effect, who knows where it ends.
"So If You Only Knew" is told from two timelines, the then and the now.
So as the reader we are fully aware, eyes wide open from the start. Elizabeth's secret is also ours. we get to experience all the fear, longing and confusion alongside her.
This works as we get to walk in her shoe's hearing her private thoughts.
It helps to build a sense of sympathy and solidarity as we get to feel the pain and panic first hand, making us feel somewhat closer, almost a friend, the only other person in the know.
Like being part of some secret exclusive club.
So we have the "THEN" which consists of a narration and walkthrough of the big secret.
And the "NOW" seventeen years later where Elizabeth is now a wife, mother and successful lawyer.
and we get to have a ringside seat as all the ripples settle and Elizabeth has to deal with a past that has caught up on her.
So "If Only You Knew" is not really a mystery as you the reader, are aware throughout of what is going on. There are no big reveals and no unexpected twists.
This was a minus for me as I kept waiting for the penny to drop, a big twist and there just wasn't one.
Also, I found the husbands Attitude "Miles" extremely hypocritical, considering what is revealed about his own past actions, I really couldn't take to him, talk about a lack of sympathy.
Yes, I could understand his shock and anger at his wife, but when the dust finally settled and he had time to think and reflect, you'd think he would have behaved in a much warmer manner towards his wife and the mother of his children.
The woman he supposedly loves, the wife who is aware of his deepest dark secret, The wife who didn't judge him,
Unlike Miles !!!
Talk about needing to man up.
despite these two above points, this was a good solid read that I would definitely recommend.
It was well written and flowed brilliantly making this a very easy entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a free Arc of "If only you knew" By Cynthia Clark. This is my own personal unbiased opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm

Wow what a tense read! I feel like I can breathe normally again now I've finished it!
Secrets always have a way of coming out and this book shows that even if you move to a different country, the truth will come out.
I really enjoyed this book and really felt for the main character, Elizabeth.
Something happens to her when she is at University and it has huge repercussions on her life. I can't say much more without spoiling it but I can say I loved the way the story was told.
Right up until the end you are kept on the edge of your seat and it makes you desperate to know how it's all going to end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria publishers for sending me an advance copy to read and review.

I really didn't know how excellent this book would be, that despite all that is happening at the moment and my life being quite hectic that when I could sit and read this book would draw me in so much that I was able to completely switch off from daily life around me and relax.

Imagine you had a secret, imagine you had a huge secret that would alter the entire adult structure of your adult life that you have built.

Things you wanted hidden. What a very heavy burden this would be, continually looking over your shoulder. Living a lie.
Hiding it from your family, from your husband that would shatter everything into tiny pieces.

Doubled with a fear of RED.
The colour that brings nightmares.
Frightening your children when they spill ketchup.

Miles her husband is unaware of her past. He thinks she needs help.
Miles the doctor.
Miles who wants to help, but doesn't know anything about her past.
Wait until he finds out.

I just adored this read, it gone into my top 10

My thanks to Aria and net galley

If You Only Knew by Cynthia Clark

Drama aplenty in this story of rape and murder – I was left with mixed feelings because though well written I guess my response would have been so much different to that of Elizabeth. She was raped, she murdered her rapist, she felt more guilt than I would have and she never came forward. That was not the only issue I would have handled differently but then, each person makes their own choices in life.

Elizabeth moved on after her rape and became a lawyer who took on many pro bono cases involving young women who had been violated and would not have been given adequate defense without her by their side. In this story Chloe’s court case parallel’s Elizabeth’s story closely. There is another young woman living on her street, Maya, that she is intensively involved with and that does and doesn’t work out well for both of them at points in the story. Elizabeth’s husband and children take a backseat in this book and it is really more about the guilt Elizabeth feels, her choices in the past and how those choices impact her in the present. I am still not sure what Elizabeth’s future will hold for her at the end of the book but do hope that having her secret out will give her some peace.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

I was lured into the story from the first sentence. What an opening!

I can't believe this is author's debut novel. I can only imagine what else she has in a store for us with her future books.

This is a very heartfelt story about how one night made a huge difference in a young girl's life. After being abducted and raped, young Elizabeth is able to get away from her abuser, however, she paid a great price for that. That night she became a killer. What can be worse than that?! Finding out that she is pregnant. Scared and shocked, Elizabeth gives the child for an adoption. Years later she locates her daughter, and... moves next door to a couple who have adopted the kid. Wait, she is not done yet, her firstborn becomes and babysitter to her 2 younger kids. Sounds like a great set up, right? However, skeletons can't be hidden in the closet forever...

Searching for a great and new suspense read? Look no further. Great debut thriller. I literally skipped the lines trying to read the book as fast as I could.

EXCERPT: '.....there was the crisp white envelope with my name written in a handwriting I didn't recognize and no sender's address.

Tearing open the envelope, I'd taken out the plain sheet of paper.

I FINALLY FOUND YOU, was written in block capitals. I KNOW WHAT YOU DID AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY.'

THE BLURB: A wife, a mother, a killer.

One wrong decision, one terrifying night, leaves student Elizabeth with a stark choice – kill or be killed. And the consequences of that choice will shape her whole life.

Now a wife, a mother, and a lawyer, she must find a way to out run her past, protect her family and live with her secret. But is it really possible to live a happy life with such a huge shadow cast by the past? And as it becomes clear that someone else knows her secret and is hunting her down, time is running out for Elizabeth to keep her family safe.

In the bestselling tradition of Clare Mackintosh and Jenny Blackhurst, Cynthia Clark has written a heart-stopping story about the choices we make and how far we'd go to protect our families. Even if it means deceiving the people we love most...

MY THOUGHTS: Living with guilt must be one of the hardest things to do. I can imagine it eating away at you rather like the sea undermining a cliff face. On top, everything looks fine. Underneath, the foundations are crumbling.

And that pretty much sums up Elizabeth's life. When she made her decision, she had no idea how far the repercussions would reach over the years, nor that she would have to keep adding layer upon layer of lies to keep her secret safe.

Cynthia Clark has written an absorbing and unpredictable story of a woman trapped by the undertow of her past. If You Only Knew is a tale of duplicity, one that packs quite an emotional punch. She has captured the raw emotions of a woman whose carefully constructed facade is being systematically demolished around her, but who cannot give up trying to resurrect and shore up that facade despite knowing that she is ultimately fighting a losing battle; a woman who knows that when she finally loses the battle, she is likely to lose everything and everyone she loves.

As I said, If You Only Knew packs quite an emotional punch. I held my breath in anticipation, I got angry, I was sad, frustrated, and shook my head in denial. I guess you could call it an interactive read! But one thing I never felt was bored.

Thank you to Aria via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of If You Only Knew by Cynthia Clark for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system

This book sounded so good but I just couldn't get into it. Sorry

Fabulous storyline very well written totally plausible l raced through this book even though didn't want it to end _ highly enjoyable and thoroughly recommended

Having read this book, I actaully can't believe that it is the author's debut novel. It was a highly entertaining read, where I was gripped right from the very first page, could not turn the pages quick enough.

The storyline was addictively good, kept me gripped throughout and anxiously wondering how it would all end and what the outcome would be for Elizabeth.

I was slightly surprised by the ending, as it didn't end quite how I thought it would end, but it was still good.

If you are looking for a fast paced suspense read, then be sure to give this one a go.

What a read! It's amazing to read that this is Cynthia Clark's debut novel, and what a thriller it is.

If You Only Knew has the main character flowing through life as serene as a swan .. until you realise that underneath it all she is paddling furiously to try and keep a secret of life-changing dimensions whilst having a full-on career alongside her husband and children. I can easily put myself in Elizabeth's place and think that the decisions she takes are quite understandable but, as with all the best secrets, you cannot depend on them not getting out .. eventually.

This is a well-written novel - accomplished and certainly polished for a debut. I found my heart pounding along with Elizabeth's as I tried to read faster and faster. The pressure she is under is palpable. It's a full on story, revealing itself piece by piece whilst daily life - or what passes for it - continues as sure as the sun rises and sets each day. The characters really came alive for me and I loved every word. I will most definitely add this author to my list of those to watch for in future.

My grateful thanks to Aria fiction for sending me an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, original and unbiased review.

When Liz was at university she made a mistake that changed her life forever. 15 years later she still holds that secret.. but for how long? Questions start being asked and it all threatens to be revealed. This was very much a page turner and I needed to fimd out what would happen to all the characters. Thanks to Netgalley and Aria for a copy of this book to read and review

Elizabeth suffered a horrific event in college. Since then, she has become a lawyer, gotten married, and is raising a family. However, that one dark night when she was a young, naïve student has never left her mind. The choices she made in the past are now threatening her present and her family.
A good story in some ways and in other ways, it just didn’t work for me. Elizabeth’s college trauma is revealed in great detail and if I had been watching a movie, I might have closed my eyes and covered my ears. I suppose for whatever reason, what happened to Elizabeth that night, just seemed like something you might read in the news, so very realistic, but uncomfortable for me in a fiction setting. The author reveals the ‘event’ early on, so the story’s main focus is ‘the now’. I will definitely look for the author’s next book as she can undoubtedly tell a story.
Thank you, Cynthia Clark, Aria, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great debut thriller. Elizabeth makes a decision that will change her life forever. Raped while in college forces her to kill or be killed. But what she does next will leave you speechless as you read to the conclusion.

I took this book on holiday with me and found it absolutely enthralling, a real page turner. I was totally engrossed from the start. I can't wait to read more by this author and would highly recommend this book

I loved this book from the very beginning its one where the author grabs you and pulls you in. The author continues the tale of a woman who tries to keep a very big secret exactly that, but as with most secrets they get more complicated and involve more lies and more people. This book is like that a single act causes ripples throughout a woman's life
The author builds the reader up to what seems like an obvious end game but is it the end?