Wow, this book has just completely blown me away. As I was reading it, I was convinced since about 7% in that I knew who the bad ‘guy’ was! Absolutely no questions, convinced! I even woke in the middle of the night and was like yeah it’s definitely so and so, this is the reason why and this is what they’ve done! Chattering away to myself about it all at 4 am!
So when it wasn’t, and I hadn’t guessed anything correctly, I was gobsmacked. I like being taken by surprise like this. Complete twist after twist and shock after shock, brilliantly written to keep me in suspense like this. I’m so glad I took a chance on this author via NetGalley and tried this book.
I tried to think about how I would react if a note were put on my car warning me that Morgan had been up to no good. Libby was in an impossible situation, as was Sean. If he was innocent, there was no way he could prove it; only Libby could determine if he was guilty. However, by pushing the matter she was driving him and herself insane, but how could she ignore it? An impossible situation, no matter how much trust you think you have if have you get a note like that you are bound to have doubts regardless.
After receiving the note, Libby’s life literally turns upside down. We follow the story back and forward in time. Starting off at the end and then the ‘before’ chapters interspersed with the ‘now’ catches up to itself at the end. It was all very cleverly executed. The ‘now’ sections weren’t as often and at the end f each one you would be left with a mini cliffhanger, leaving you panting for more but having to wait what felt like ages to get back to the ‘now’!
This was a real thriller whereby you didn’t know what direction the story was going in and you didn’t know who to trust. It grips you, and it was so hard to put it down to get some sleep, even though it ended up keeping me awake just thinking about it anyway. I may as well have kept reading!
Thoroughly enjoyed it and will most definitely be checking out the author’s other books!

The book started in an interesting way with the arrest of Libby Randell on suspicion of murder. The story was told from Before the arrest and Now and there were a few occasions where I was a bit confused but those queries resolved themselves as events unfolded. Libby was suspicious that her husband was having an affair and Date Night was an attempt to patch things up and that was obviously the point at which things in their lives spiralled out of control. Some of the characters were likeable such as Fran and Alice , I felt neutral about Libby as she needled Sean her husband at times (although I understood why) and I disliked him as his behaviour was unpredictable to say the least. I was intrigued throughout as there were events in Sean’s past that were mysterious and his relationship with his father Fred was strained. All these questions were resolved in the surprising end of the story and all the contradictions in the Before and Now narrative were explained.

I thought the book got better and better as it went along. There were times when you genuinely didn’t have a clue what was going on, where was the truth as there were so many false flags. It was an easy read and I gobbled it up in one sitting!

My first book by Samantha Hayes and what a book to start with, it's full of suspense, mistrust and self doubt mostly on Libby's character. I had my suspicions as to what actually happened but I wouldn't have guessed that ending. It's a great read that kept me awake way past my usual bedtime and would definitely recommend reading this. I was given this to read in exchange for my honest opinion and I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.

Libby finds a note on her car stating that her husband Sean is cheating on her. After confronting Sean they go out for dinner to clear the air and arrive home to find there babysitter missing. Libby is still doubting her husbands fidelity and trying to figure out what happened to the babysitter. Libby emotions are a rollercoaster ride. I thought the writer could have done a better job with the flashbacks. They seemed misplaced and confusing. The twist at the end was unexpected but took a while to get there.

Thanks Netgalley for lending this book for an honest review.

I liked this book as much as the other Samantha Hayes books I’ve read but it want my favorite of hers. The beginning was a bit slow for my liking but it had multiple twists and was very unpredictable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

This is an absolutely gripping thriller that I found extremely difficult to put down! When Libby returns home from a date night with her husband after receiving a strange note, the couple are shocked to find that the babysitter Sasha is missing. When they're unable to reach her, worry sets in - before Libby is arrested for Sasha's murder. Even though she didn't do it.

A fantastic novel with a unique twist!

Libby, Sean and daughter Alice are living an ordinary, happy village life when out of the blue their world is turned upside down beginning with an anonymous note left on libby’s car claiming her husband Sean is faving an affair.
Initially, Sean comes across as a likeable character. He’s a practising vet, doting father to Alice and beloved son of Marion. This accusation blindsides Libby, an experienced chef who now runs her own catering business. She quickly becomes suspicious and paranoid of her husband’s behaviour despite having previously trusted him implicitly. As doubt in her mind escalates, Libby and Sean’s relationship quickly deteriorates and we see a side to Sean that is controlling, secretive and dismissive of Libby’s feelings. Date night is supposed to provide a way of reconnecting and building bridges but takes a horrifying turn when, returning home early after a disastrous evening they find their babysitter, Sasha, has mysteriously disappeared.
The storyline alternates between flashbacks to that night and how the couple dealt with the immediate aftermath, to the present day with the ongoing police investigation into Sasha’s disappearance and then Libby’s arrest for her murder.
This is cleverly written with the reader feeling the full horror of Libby finding herself accused of murder as well as her increasing paranoia surrounding Sean’s alleged affair. She starts seeing everyone as the ‘other’ woman even suspecting her best friend Fran, Sean’s ex wife Natalie and even Sasha herself. As the reader is drip fed more details of date night we see Sean as a totally different character, constantly on his phone, secretive and acting suspiciously. Why do they both lie to the police about events if that night and why does Libby continue to do so even when facing a murder charge? Why does she trust Sean’s version of events and has she deliberately blocked out details she can’t face?
The whole village joins in the search for Sasha but with time ticking on are Jan and estranged husband Phil resigned to the inevitable, that Sasha has come to serious harm?
The unravelling of this mystery is full of twists and turns and revelations of that night are shocking. I certainly didn’t guess what was coming next although it’s obvious Libby is not the guilty party. I really enjoyed this thriller but not sure it possessed the necessary amount of tension to keep me on the edge of my seat. I did read this very quickly and thoroughly recommend. Thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read ahead of publication.

Wow! I absolutely did not see that twist at the end. Libby finds a note on her car stating that her husband Sean is cheating on her. He insists that it is not true and wants to take her on a date night to make up for it and show her that he loves her. Sean’s mother Marion usually babysits but she had a church event and so they had Sasha, a seventeen year old who helps Libby out with her dinner business, babysit their daughter Alice. But Libby is consumed by the note and Sean’s suspicious behavior, such as not answering calls and deleting his texts and call log when Libby asks to see his phone. This animosity ruins the dinner and causes them to head home in a taxi, not speaking to each other. The night only gets worse when they return from dinner to find their babysitter, Sasha missing. Tensions rise as Libby, Sean and Alice are forced out of their home as the police bring in a forensics team to search for clues of Sasha’s disappearance. They go and stay at Sean’s parents and try to get on with their lives but Libby can’t accept that Sean isn’t cheating on her and she is suspicious of everyone. Could it be Sean’s ex wife Natalie who still hasn’t accepted their divorce many years later, Libby’s best friend Fran, or could it be the missing teen Sasha, or someone else?

Libby has never been arrested before, especially now on the suspicion of murder. Libby is left to wonder how on earth she got there? So we have to go back to the beginning, when everything began.

Libby was taking her 4-year old daughter, Alice, to school when she discovers a note on her windshield. The meaning of the note was straight to the point—her husband Sean was having an affair. Even though Sean swore up and down that there was no truth to that note, Libby remained suspicious.

To clear the air, Sean suggests he and Libby go on a “date night.” Since Sean’s mother was busy, she was unable to babysit Alice. Instead, Sean and Libby hire their occasional babysitter, 17-year old Sasha. But when the couple comes home after their prickly date, Sasha is gone. Sasha isn’t the type to leave a child unattended or forget to take her phone and belongings with her. Something is definitely wrong—and that’s when Libby phones the police.

The days after her disappearance, the police are trying to uncover just what happened to poor Sasha. And Libby is trying to decide just how much she really knows her husband. Libby thought she could trust him, but that trust is what put her in this predicament in the first place.

Date Night is Samantha Hayes’ latest thriller release. Last year I read her novel, The Reunion, and was underwhelmed by the storyline and the writing, but luckily I found Date Night to be an improvement from that. This story is told in dual timelines: “now” and “before.” Every character seems guilty up until the end when all the pieces come together. I wish the ending was more concrete, as it left off on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I still enjoyed this read! 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Samantha Hayes for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of Date Night.

Libby and Sean have a happy marriage; she has a burgeoning catering business and Sean is a sought after vet. But, when Libby receives a mysterious note saying Sean is cheating on her, misgivings and doubt plague her mind and taint her relationship with her husband.

When Libby and Sean return early after a much needed date night, they discover their babysitter, Sasha, is missing.

Where she is? What could have happened?

Date Night is a typical thriller; the story is told from the perspective of the unreliable female character who knows more than she's telling the readers.

And that's my main gripe. From the beginning, the author doesn't tell us much, just bits and pieces she wants us to know and as the story unfolds, Libby reveals what 'really' happened.

I dislike when authors use this literary device because it's not a twist; it's purposely misleading to the readers when you withhold information.

I enjoy reading mysteries/thrillers because as I read, I want to solve the case as it unfolds along with the hero or heroine. If the clues are purposely held back so the readers can't figure out what is happening, this is not a twist, it is dishonest.

Second, Libby is an unlikable character. She lacks strength and spends far too much time worrying and fretting over Sean's possible indiscretion.

If she was so worried about his adultering, why not follow him? Do a little investigating of your own instead of worrying needlessly?

There are plenty of suspects, and red herrings but the story is bogged down with Libby's fretting, repetition over what happened that night and what 'really' happened.

I did figure out whodunit early in the book, but I liked the finale, the reason behind Sasha's disappearance and how it ends.

Sam Hayes’ latest novel gets right into the action - Libby, who runs a catering business, finds an anonymous note on her car informing her that husband Sean, a vet, is having an affair. Although there’s no other evidence, the doubts immediately set in. But it’s not till Libby and Sean go out for a “date night”, designed to reassure her, that the trouble really starts, when their babysitter Sasha mysteriously disappears.

The story is told from Libby’s perspective and it’s apparent from early on that she isn’t telling either us or the police everything - there are apparently inexplicable discrepancies. But it’s not till much later that the truth finally starts to emerge.

It’s readable and well plotted, and I never guessed the truth till it was revealed. Libby annoyed me slightly - her obsession with Sean’s possible affair and suspicion of every woman in his vicinity, even when so much else was going on, got a bit wearing after a while. In retrospect she was a bit hopeless, actually. Still, it was a good holiday read which kept me guessing.

All I can say is wow! What a captivating read that’s full of twists and turns! Samantha Hayes is a fantastic author with the ability to add multiple layers to her story whilst keeping the reader on the edge of their seat! I also found myself guessing who the culprit could possibly be throughout the book and I have to say that I was thoroughly surprised by the end! Amazing!

One of the BEST thrillers I have read in YEARS! Exceptional and addicting. You won’t stop until you finish the very last page. 5 huge shiny bright stars!

Anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller with more turns than a maze and a new twist around every corner will love this book. Every time I thought I knew what had happened there was another surprise leading to the shocking conclusion. Definitely one of the best books I've read recently.
Review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon

Date Night by Samantha Hayes
Release date August 20th 2019
Sean and Libby seem to have a happy marriage. Then one morning Libby is taking their daughter Alice to her mother-in-law's and Libby finds a note on her windshield. "Sean is having an affair". The note has been bothering her for a couple days now. So Sean and Libby decide to have a Date Night to reconnect and put the note out of their minds. Well date night doesn't go as planned and it leaves Libby more suspicious then before. They leave the restaurant early and head home, both them not speaking to each other. When they arrive home they discover the babysitter missing and their daughter left home alone.
From here the story takes on a wild ride and ends with twist I did not see coming. I gave this book 3.5/5 stars rounded up. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the free copy of #datenight for an honest review.

I just finished this book last night and I have to say, I did not see that twist coming. As a regular thriller reader, you start to learn going into a book that ALL is not generally what it seems. After a few books under your belt, you expect to see a twist coming and assume it's the least expected culprit. As a mystery lover, I'm always on the lookout for who it could be (the friend, the mother in law, who did it?). But honestly, this was a new twist and something I didn't expect. With multiple layers, this story is intricate and you definitely need to pay attention. I'm so glad I did and I love how writers continue to come up with creative ways to surprise their readers. If you love domestic thrillers or books set in the UK, I definitely recommend spending some time with the Date Night! Kudos to Samantha Hayes and thank you for the surprise ending. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

Wow what a fantastic book, loved every page full of twists and turns and a brilliantly addictive page turner, such a well developed story with a fantastic ending.

I have read a few books from Samantha and never been disappointed, all well written page turners that are so hard to put down and I can thoroughly recommend this book, a worthy five stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

Returning early from a disastrous date night with my husband, I know something is wrong the moment the wheels crunch the gravel drive of our home. Inside, the TV is on and a half-eaten meal waits on the table. My heart stops when I find our little girl is alone in the house and our babysitter, Sasha, is missing…

Days later, when I’m arrested for Sasha’s murder and torn away from my perfect little family, I’ll wish I had told someone about the threatening note I received that morning.

I’ll hate myself for not finding out who the gift hidden inside my husband’s wardrobe was for.

I’ll scream from the rooftops that I’m innocent – but no one will listen.

I will realise I was completely wrong about everything that happened that night…

But will you believe me?

****
I absolutely loved this book and could barely put it down. I was suspecting so many different outcomes and different people throughout the book. The only reason it has lost a star for me, is that at times I felt the book read as slightly muddled, and also, for me, the ending was too abrupt, which left me disappointed as the story was so good. Otherwise it would have been a 5* read.

This was a really good read for me , with a totally unexpected twist at the end . Libby and Sean are having problems in their marriage they decide to go for a night out to try and recapture what was missing recently . The night doesn't end well and after bickering they go home to find their babysitter missing and their daughter asleep upstairs , The story is recounted in the present and the evening of the date and the aftermath that follows . With Libby trusting Sean less and less and random notes telling Libby that Sean is having affair there are more suspects than you could shake a stick at , an overbearing mother in law and a pain of an ex wife the plot ticks along nicely . A little slow at times but that didn't spoil my enjoyment in any way .

Really enjoyed this, although it did seem a little muddled in places. Really interesting premise and, unusually, despite going through a number of possibly explanations, I honestly wasn't quite expecting the big reveal. Good stuff.