I read this for a blog tour.

This is dark tale of stalking, gaslighting and twisted revenge. Lily sets out to destroy Katherine's life, on the surface just because she can. She's fuelled by misplaced anger and jealousy, and all of this ultimately will lead to her downfall as Katherine is smart enough to see through her.

Twisted and shocking, with an ending I couldn't predict, this is a thriller for the way we live now, with generations pitched against each other, competing for the things we take for granted.

I really enjoyed this book...it was evenly paced, and made you want to find out more...many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an opportunity to read and advanced copy.

Seriously gripping, once I started this I could barely concentrate on anything else!

It's a really interesting premise, especially with the generational angel. Lily, 21, at the prime of her life and full of youth, beauty and talent. Katherine, 41, the editor of a successful trade magazine for the past 20 years, who no longer has her finger on the pulse. As a 28-year-old professional woman working in London, I actually felt caught in the middle of them both at times (the milestone of 30 getting scarily closer!).

Neither Katherine or Lily are likable characters, and although I felt sorry for them at certain times, I never really landed on either 'side'; I was much too preoccupied with trying to figure out their secrets. Frustrating at times, as it seemed that I would never get the answers I wanted - but the ending was good.

If it wasn't for the fact that I couldn't put this book down, I would probably give it a 3 out of 5 - but it definitely had that readability so I can't not give it a 4.

Katherine is late for work on the first day of new ownership of the magazine where she has worked for twenty years as an editor. She jumps into a taxi only to find Lily has also got in beside her. Katherine makes a mental character assassination of Lily, and as the journey progresses it becomes clear that Lily is starting her internship at the same magazine. As the days progress Lily succeeds in trashing everything Katherine does at the magazine and piece by piece takes apart her life, her home and her man.

This is a car crash of a book. Both Katherine and Lily are dreadful, damaged characters and you can see the devastation coming to Katherine's life from a mile off. Even though the outcome is obvious the reading is compulsive. This is certainly one of those unputdownable books and a great debut.

The formatting of this was so poor on kindle that I had to give up trying to read it as it was just a chore. The plot is also very similar to another new book called The New Girl and wasn't gripping enough to keep me going past the formatting.

Lily wants what Katherine has got but how far will she go to get it ?Precious You is the debut novel from Helen Monks Takhar and to be honest it did not grip me like a lot of other thrillers but it was a decent read,Katherine meets Lily as an intern at her publishing office which has just been taken over by Lily's aunt,Gemma.The story is told by Katherine and Lily and as it unfolds you learn just what Lily is up to and finally why ? I found it hard to get into the book as i just felt it dragged a little in the middle but it did pick up towards the end when you find out just why Lily was doing what she was doing and more about Katherine's life.Would i recommend this book ? i think i would yes but it is not the best thriller i have this year,non the less a decent debut novel.A good 3 star read.

Talk about dysfunctional with a healthy dollop of bonkers! I loved this book even though most of it made me cringe along the way. It was all things creepy and nasty and, even though there were a few things that jarred and irked me as not completely plausible, I lapped it up in just a couple of sittings. Katherine is the Editor of trade magazine Leadership. It has recently been taken over by new owners and, on the day she is due to meet her new boss, her bus fails to turn up. As she gets into the only taxi around, she is guilted into sharing it with Lily who just happens to be her new intern. Coincidental - almost certainly, Serendipitous - well, you'll just have to read to find that out. And so begins a really rather strange and dysfunctional relationship between the two women which I am going to leave you to discover as the author intends...
Two of the weirdest and, I have to say, nastiest characters storm through this book with barely a second regard for others. Their open criticism of each other is certainly reflected in their own behaviour. They take stalking to a whole new level, along with game playing and all things in between. It's car crash reading at its best! It also tackles other quite sensitive (important and current) issues along the way - sexism, ageism, racism, and focuses on snowflakes, a lot. But it's all handled very well throughout and, dare I say it, gives a few chuckles along the way too.
For a debut book, and I believe that's what this is, it's extremely well written and perfectly polished. Looks like we have a new bright light in the genre who is not afraid to mix it all up a bit whilst delivering a quality read. Really looking forward to seeing what she serves up next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me, it didn’t grip me from the start and so then I just lost interest.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you, HQ, and NetGalley for a copy of Precious you by Helen Monks Takhar but I am afraid this book was not for me. I am not one to give up on a book and not finish it but, I am afraid I could not carry on after halfway through sorry.
41-year-old Katherine Ross is editor in chief at a magazine. When the magazine is taken over by Gemma Lunt. In comes Gemma’s niece as an intern 24-year-old Lily. Lily is everything that Katherine isn’t, and she is in charge of bringing the magazine into the 21st century. The pair are assigned together to turn the magazine around. But while they do that, they try a form a bond but Katherine thinks that Lily has an hidden agenda but plays along, even going out together to form a bond The pair get obsessed with it other while doing so. Even Lily investigating her past accomplishments at the magazine and even her family background.
I really tried to read this book but, I personally think that this was written for a younger generation. I thought the characters in this book are the worse characters in a book I have read they were so horrible and didn’t give a care about anything or anyone and everyone trying to get “one up” on everyone else. This reminded me of a reality Tv program like Love island and soon as I see it on Tv I switch over. 2 stars from me.

Oh this one is a really difficult one for me to review. I finished Precious You by Helen Monks Takhar last night and I still don’t know whether I really enjoyed it…

Firstly I have to say, and I think I’ve said this before, that I often struggle when a book is rammed full of completely unlikeable characters. And Lily and Katherine are about as unlikeable as you can get! Katherine is a senior editor at a failing magazine. Under the new leadership Gemma brings in some new staff to try and inject some life into the publication. Lily is a young intern with some great ideas, fresh writing and plenty of enthusiasm. But she’s clearly not all she seems.

The two main characters are just horrible. They’re both exceptionally clever, master manipulators, each trying to score points against the other. I did enjoy reading about their struggle for power, and they are both written so vividly, I believed that either of them could be capable of anything. Little snippets of information about their pasts are revealed as the narrative progresses but I struggled to work out what was really going on until the compelling and twisty ending.

My main problem with the book is that I just didn’t “get” one of the major plot points. The author lines up Lily and Katherine to be automatically in competition with each other because of their ages. Ok so far. But Lily, aged 23, is repeatedly, almost gratuitously, referred to as “Snowflake” or “millennial” by 41 year old Katherine, while Katherine is “old” and privileged “Gen X”.

Now, I’m sure there are people in the world that speak and think like this, particularly people as objectionable as these 2 women, but I have literally never heard it. At 36 am I in a no man’s land between these ages? Perhaps I’m not this book’s target market? Otherwise, I suspect I fall into the “old” category, which I object to! 🤣 Perhaps this opposition is more prevalent in certain careers than others?

Likewise with the stereotypes described (eg. Millennials don’t drink or take drugs, have no sense of humour); I have just genuinely never heard older people talk of younger adults in the way Katherine and her partner refer to Lily.

I read the author’s note afterwards and she does specifically state that it was her intention to address these generational tensions. And in principal I think that’s not a particularly problematic angle, I just didn’t personally connect with the language and stereotypes used.

I think this is the kind of book that some people are going to absolutely love and will be massive this summer, it just sadly didn’t really do it for me.

With thanks to HQ for my gifted e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I seem to be having a good run of great books at the moment
This book however isn’t just great, it is outstandingly fiendishly deliciously darkly wonderful 😵
Katherine is in her 40’s, a journalist, jaded but on her way back, she has had the 90’s and hangs on to the excesses with every breath she takes
She cant stand snowflakes
Lily is a snowflake of the highest order and she is also Katherine’s new intern.....it is a disaster about to happen
But, Katherine hasn’t banked on Lily being more than a millennial pain she certainly didn’t expect what was to happen to every aspect of her life, no one could
Told in a truly wonderful style via both character’s in real time I cant begin to tell you how explosive, exciting and powerful this story is and as the book reaches it’s conclusion the word that comes to mind ( and rarely does ) is exquisite, this book, everything about it from the first letter to the last is exquisitely terrifyingly fabulous
One of the best books I have ever read
10/10
5 Stars

A dark workplace thriller that follows the lives of Katherine Ross, a 41 yr old magazine editor and her young intern Lily (coincidentally the niece of the new CEO). Lily sets out to bring Katherine's world crashing down.

Both Katherine and Lily are thoroughly unlikeable characters to the extent that I couldn't find myself caring who had the upper hand in their destructive, obsessive relationship. Katherine's behaviour and attitudes were like someone from a bygone era, and hard to reconcile with someone in their early 40s. The overuse of the derogatory term snowflake made me bristle repeatedly - I presume this was the point.

It was essential to suspend your disbelief at key points; in what real world setting would you ever suggest a senior staff member is trained by your intern? Likewise, what workplace leader would opt for a spa & bar day when expected to be on a training day!?

Getting past the above, I did however find the story an enticing page turner and it was genuinely entertaining. I dont think the story will last long in my memory but it did entertain.

Precious You, is a ominous and sinister mix of workplace noir and psychological suspense and is Helen Monks Takhar's daring début.

Flagging editor Katherine Ross, is concerned when Lily Lunt, a twenty-four-year-old, privileged, politically correct, millennial is hired as an intern at Leadership magazine, where Katherine is editor in chief. To Katherine, Lily represents everything she is not. Lily is enterprising, advantaged and she has a social media obsession Katherine cannot comprehend. Katherine is envious of Lily’s youth and she fixates on the younger woman’s beauty. As complex rivalry escalates between them dark secrets as well as sinister plans begin to emerge, and both women are not who they give the impression of being. As desperation grips them, the question remains as to which one might triumph over the other.

Structured using alternating points of view, the narration is divided equally between Katherine and Lily. The two women are like chalk and cheese but as the story progressed, their shared experiences and thought processes gradually allowed me to recognise they were not that dissimilar. The narration was intensive and I loved that all of their faults, as well as their confidence levels and self-doubt were on view. I really wasn’t sure if I was team Katherine or Lily as both women were completely intolerable and obnoxious, though for me this served to delightfully enhance the story.

Precious You is a distinctive and original thriller with plenty of grit to keep those who appreciate bleaker storylines captivated. It is a deliciously dark read and I particularly liked that Helen Monks Takhar gave me plenty of fodder including political and topical issues, power and prestige to ruminate over whilst also featuring a plethora of twists, turns and misdirection to keep me flipping the pages. Precious You is a pertinent novel that fishes in the quagmire of a working relationship marred by a generational divide, rivalry, obsession, evil, deceit, revenge, and jealousy.

Helen Monks Takhar really knows how to create maximum uneasiness and apprehension. Her writing was assured, the tension was taut throughout, and the pace never flagged at all. A fantastic read from a brilliant author I'm delighted to have discovered.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request, from HQ via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Helen Monks Takhar for the opportunity to read this book!

Set in the world of magazine publishing, Precious You is a modern-day tale of intrigue and includes all the worst parts of office life.
There's nothing I love more than finding a new writer to add to my list. The writing style is interestingly different here, in a good way. The story of two diametrically-opposite characters, in age, experience and values, clashing in the workplace is handled with aplomb. The twist unexpected and gasp-worthy.

Just wow! If you are looking for a book that leaves you guessing until the last page then this is it!

This is a dark tale into intern Lily’s dark fascination with her new boss Katherine, but is all as it seems?

The characters in this book are well rounded and believable and at times you want to hate both of them but can’t quite manage it.

This book had me furiously turning the pages, wanting me to know what happens and the ending did not disappoint. All in all a great, suspenseful read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Helen Monks Takhar and HQ for my arc of Precious You in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: An obsessive power struggle between a magazine editor and her 'millennial intern'. For Katherine Ross, editor of Trade magazine: Leadership, she's got to where she is today through true grit and hard work. She sees millennials like new intern Lily Lunt as soft, overly emotional, easily offended and way too politically correct. For Lily, Katherine is a has been, clueless, old fashioned, still thinking she's 'down with the kids'. As Lily and Katherine are drawn towards each other more and more Katherine begins to suspect Lily of planning to bring down and even take over her life. Is Katherine simply paranoid? Jealous of Lily's youth and beauty or does Lily genuinely have nefarious plans for Katherine?

Wow! That was a whirlwind! One of those tense gripping thrillers that are addictive to read while leaving a nasty taste in your mouth at the evil of the characters! Precious You stands out as one of those page turners that feel impossible to put down, those ones where you can see the train coming off the track and feel like screaming at the characters to get out, get away, runnnnnn!

Lily and Katherine were both fantastic characters and the wonderful writing allowed you to at times hate and sympathise with both of them. Katherine was very set in her ways, living in a world which has left her 'past it' and while you could disagree with some of her behaviours she was definitely the character who evokes the most sympathy. Lily meanwhile came across vindictive, patronising and sneaky. But don't set your heart on your opinions of the characters because boy oh boy are there some twists!
Precious You Is one of the best books I've read in a while. I'd recommend for fans of Mark Edwards, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen, and Kathryn Croft.

I can't say I liked this book because it is dark, disturbing and twisted. It is so much more than a power struggle between two women - Katherine, past her prime as the lead journalist of a magazine and Lily looking to bring the magazine into the 21st century. Neither of these characters are good people - they are both the result of their upbringing and use that as an excuse to use up and spit out people as they climb their ladders to adulthood and success. They both leave a bad taste in the mouth where there is little room for sympathy and definitely much to dislike.
Somewhere in the middle there is a sound message about mental health problems and how they should be addressed and acknowledged in today's society.
A well written, and compulsive debut!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Helen Monks Takhar/HQ for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sorry this book was not for me. I could not get into the story at all. I did not feel any warmth or empathy towards the characters and struggled to keep reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is a difficult book to review... original and tense on one hand, a bit far fetched and full of horrid characters on the other.

I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out why Lily (one of our narrators, the 20 something intern) was so obsessed with destroying Katherine's life (our other narrator, a 40 something journalist). However, I felt there was too much emphasis on the aggravation between the two being purely down to their generational stereotypes. Lily hates the supposed privilege of women Katherine's age and Katherine hates the political correctness of Lily's generation. Katherine is also deeply envious of Lily's youth and is having a mid-life crisis/mental breakdown. I didn't like how often Katherine was so vehemently against 'snowflakes' and she came across as so harsh and oppressive of a young woman who she really should have mentored and nurtured. It's not even that Lily has forced Katherine to be an enemy rather than a friend, because Katherine had this attitude to begin with. Lily, in turn, is a horrible woman and has so many issues I wouldn't know where to begin.

What began as an intriguing plot (with this inter-generational hatred ruining it slightly) slowly started to feel more and more implausible. Katherine's actions towards the end don't tie in with how she felt about certain things or people throughout. Sometimes I wanted to scream at her for something she did, or did not, do.

There was a great twist - I was so focused on the dynamic that I didn't think too deeply about motivations. The writing is pacey and good quality.

Real mixed feelings but if you can deal with unlikable characters, who are perfect stereotypes, and some out there events then you'll love it.

I read this book via Pigeonhole over a nine day period. I felt as if I was the wrong age group reading this storyline and it just didn’t resonate with me. Although I am sure there will be other readers who thoroughly enjoy reading this book, Precious You by Helen Monks Takhar.
With thanks to Pigeonhole, Netgalley and the publishers for the read of the book.