Really liked the premise of this and the way the story was presented. Also liked the imperfections of the characters so we not really sure who was the villian. But ultimately it didnt have enough substance for me and I'm still not sure what I make to the characters or the message.

Welcome to the most screwed up couple you’ll meet
The book begins by introducing us to Ellie and Steven who are travelling to a cabin fur a weekend away. You can feel the anxiety and tension that both of them have, with how much they are both depending on this weekend
Despite picking up on the tension, I had no idea what was going on
After arriving at the cabin, things start going wrong. No cell service; strange noises;
Then the book turns….
I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming and the ending was incredible!
The book is so well written. I had really gone girl vibes with this book. The book is brilliant and one that I can see being made into a tv series
Highly recommend

I was delighted to be part of the April Squadpod Bookgroup, Thank you to Michael Joseph Book for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

When you begin this book you think that it will be story of a couple having a weekend away, just the two of them. but its not long before you realise that it is all not that it appears. Ts it the setting, the storm or the couple ?

The story is told from the viewpoint of both the protagonists Steven and Ellie which really makes the story all the more intriguing, how each person perceives the other and you get the full story. Steven is a professor whose father had a past of having relationships with young students. Steven despises his father for his behaviour and he is absolutely convinced that he is not like his father and is a good man. Ellie also has a past which is uncovered throughout the story.

This book is so full of tension and twists, its like a white knuckle ride as there were so many times that I was blindsided by this story and its characters. The author cleverly weaves literature into the book, Steven is an English professor so the inclusion of Dostoevsky’s The Devil’s and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre really adds to the intricacies of the writing.

This book evoked many feelings in me, anger, pity and disgust, it is a story that has many many layers and it is a difficult review to write without giving spoilers. I will say you need to read this clever, topical and gripping book it will leave you reeling ! A must for lovers of psychological thrillers.

5 stars *****

Welcome to the most screwed up couple you’ll meet
The book begins by introducing us to Ellie and Steven who are travelling to a cabin fur a weekend away. You can feel the anxiety and tension that both of them have, with how much they are both depending on this weekend
Despite picking up on the tension, I had no idea what was going on
After arriving at the cabin, things start going wrong. No cell service; strange noises;
Then the book turns….
I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming and the ending was incredible!
The book is so well written. I had really gone girl vibes with this book. The book is brilliant and one that I can see being made into a tv series
Highly recommend

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review.
Wow what a read this book is, challenging subject matter. Couldn't put it down read it within a couple of days.

A very slow build up, but once the dramatic event happens at about 20-25%, it feels like the book stalled a bit. The descriptions of the snow, trees etc were a bit tedious, and it all felt a bit clunky and not quite believable. But atmospheric, and timely in many ways.

I loved the premise of this book, the plot and how it all tied up in the end and would absolutely recommend it. It was fast paced, thrilling and gripping, but for me at times it was just too full on. Honestly I was exhausted halfway through! Very clever plot though and I didn't see where it was going for quite a while.

I struggled with this book due to repetition and overly long descriptions and I’m struggling with this review. I think the #metoo issues are important but since Ellie went after Steven doesn’t that mean she groomed him? She had very good motives but she failed to attract him as herself, so went to extremes in her diet, appearance, character, behaviour etc to trap him. I’m not defending him as he obviously was the greater culprit but neither were likeable. The prologue gives away 99% of the denouement so all we are reading is who did what to whom and why. The middle sagged for me and I was bored, having said that I would read another book by this author.

Interesting plot to this book. I liked how the story was told from two different perspectives and how it all came together in the end.

Hard Candy-esque revenge story in an atmospheric setting.

A lone guest house in the middle of the woods and it's the two of them.. Nobody but them and their secrets.

Even after sleeping on it, I find it extremely difficult to rate and review this book.

Firstly, the author is a magician in conjuring the atmospheric setting, the flourished writing puts me straight in the setting and I love it! I can feel the chilling cold, I can hear the logs crackling in the fireplace - everything comes alive with her skilful writing.

However, at some point, it does start to feel too long and too descriptive, so I guess it is a fine balance.

I really do not want to leave a very critical review, as the premise (the #MeToo movement) is so very important and also hits close to home to me. It is an extremely overlooked issue even in this day and age and light should be brought to these being ongoing crimes committed toward women and the perpetrators appropriately prosecuted.

However, once the story reached a certain point in the 'action' of things, it plateaued and from there, it only became a cat and mouse chase and trips down the memory lane. For my liking, this could barely be described as a thriller or a mystery. With only the two of them (one being the piece of egomaniac shit they were) - it could not go any further. Maybe I would have felt retribution if there was a little more gore? I think it would feel more satisfying after being subjected to reading so much of their inner entitled delusional word vomit. Their thoughts were so detached from seeing women as anything else as a means to an end.

Wait, was the author grooming me too?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

A perfect example of the arrogance men in power can have (not all men I hasten to add). This book is a thought I am sure many women have had, to exact the revenge onto any man who has wronged them and other women, particularly in a sexual or misogynistic manner.
Despite the grammatical errors I found this to be an easy (yet uncomfortable) read and would read another by this author

TW: cheating, sexual exploitation, suicide, threat of rape.

A couple, Literature Professor Steven and Masters Student Ellie leave NYC and head to a remote house in Chesapeake Bay for a romantic weekend winter escape. As it’s their six month anniversary, the seclusion, surrounded by forests and the ocean, should provide exactly the privacy they need in each other's company, to get to know each other even better.

A dark, character-driven, psychological thriller, this read was definitely incredibly gripping and unpredictable. The descriptions of locales was atmospheric, the comparison of the walls of the house harbouring secrets which would remain contained from the outside world, the icicles adding a chill, the looming trees casting shadows just added to the suspense and danger. Despite the remote location, there is an increased sense of claustrophobia which the readers feel in their bones due to the first person narrative by the protagonist. The dual point of view, flashbacks and build up was fast-paced and kept you hooked. I also loved that, amongst several important themes layered within the plot, the author also highlighted how the protagonist also seeks out a female psychologist as (often) male psychologists have disregarded and struggled to validate experiences only women will understand. It is important to address this and I sincerely appreciated that the author found the space and empathy to do so within her book.

Both characters bring their own mystery to the storyline and as the plot thickens, you find yourself holding your breath waiting to see which twist will take place next. I would not want to say more which would spoil the read for others. The weaving of Literature within the storyline to reinforce certain ideas was clever, however, in other aspects, I can see why this story would not gel with everyone as the approach and stance of both characters is questionable and definitely can't be justified whatsoever. For this reason, I wasn't sure how I felt when I finished the book (it feels more of a 3.4 - 4 star for me) as I can't condone the actions but the message is a crucial one and I would still recommend this read. It is an incredible debut and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping thriller that keeps the reader guessing, while interrogating the narratives often spun about student-teacher relationships.

Liked the sound of this book and it started well, but it was very predictable and felt a bit repetitive from the mid-point onwards and felt myself skimming from there.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for sending me an Advanced Copy of Nobody But Us.

I had a really fun time reading this book, despite me not loving this genre of book. When I turned 18 I decided I had to read "serious, grown up" books - think Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Nobody But Us fits into this female led thriller novel.

This was definitely a chill summer read that I think will definitely become one of the most chatted about book in the office. Book clubs will love it and I'm sure the film rights will be optioned soon enough. It just seems like it was perfectly written to be adapted.

That being said, I felt like the first 100 pages were very slow, I wanted to find out what was going on but the first 100 pages(!!!) was pure build up to the first twist.

Nothing is very shocking, the twists are on the nose. (But I think that's what makes this genre fun to read! You feel smart!)

I enjoyed the novel and feel like I wasn't the best audience for it, but I think those who love this genre will adore Nobody But Us.

When Ellie and her older boyfriend Steven take their first trip together to celebrate their six month anniversary, what starts out as an idyllic weekend soon takes a dark turn when it becomes apparent that each of them have secrets. The question is – who’s secrets are most deadly?

“The forest sprawls towards the ‘architects’ house’ made of glass and steel until it meets the ocean – nature invading the modern setting of the house.”

Ellie is an NYU grad student and Steven is a literature professor at an elite Manhattan school, they are both eager and excited to spend some time together away from prying eyes and to get to know each other better. As they head away from city life, weather conditions continue to deteriorate, making for a potentially cosy winter getaway at their secluded rental in Chesapeake Bay – but with temperamental weather and temperamental mobile phone reception – there is a growing feeling of claustrophobia in this isolated psychological thriller.

The snow, cold, wind and darkness mixed with the tension and suspense – the atmosphere, almost acted as its own character and definitely added to the book, which I really liked. I just think the author should have paid the same attention to the actual characters and developed them a bit more. I also really liked the #MeToo element of the story. At times the book gave me ‘They Never Learn’ feels and those aspects of the book were very well done, as was the general writing. But… the story’s pacing was very uneven and I nearly DNF’d quite a few times before the story picked back up again and saved itself. There seemed to be some repetition which I think served as filler along with the secret diary entries, which were a bit lacklustre and sadly didn’t add anything to the story.

The premise of this book was really good, but the execution was lacking on various levels at various points throughout, so it was just an ok read for me in the end! However, I am glad that I read the book in its entirety to get the full feeling from the book with the author’s note at the end – there are some very important messages you can take from this book and I’m always happy to see another author tackling feminism issues! I’ll be looking out for more books by this author and I’m sure we will see a more rounded novel from her next time.

Fast-paced & gripping for the most part.
I loved the writing style & the atmosphere created with an important topic explored at the centre of its plot.

I found the pace too slow in places for me so it lost a 🌟

Many have liked it for one reason, others have hated it for the same reason.

I enjoyed it. I can’t say I loved it but it’s a great story. And while it's a very heavy book with some triggers or topics that need to be discussed, it's probably why this is a must read story.

A marriage and its upbringing are still taboo talks sometimes. The couple made for a tense read with many difficulties, lots of interesting turns and some twisted scenes. I felt like it's a bit too much in the middle of it, but once I got past three quarters, it all made much more sense.

While this was a debut novel, it was amazingly beautiful written and gripping. All the feelings and frustrations that the characters felt were so well done on the page.

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.

Wow, I'm not sure I can articulate how dark, tense and deeply unsettling this read is, but also bold, completely enthralling and utterly intoxicating. What an exceptional debut, with A Promising Young Woman and My Dark Vanessa vibes.

This started well and had real potential. I found that after about half way it began to get rather repetitive and I found myself skim reading to the end.

There are lots of good reviews about this book so give it a go if you enjoy a psychological thriller. This one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.