I was lucky to receive an advance copy of The Other Girlfriend by Alex Stone from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinions. I loved the cover of this book and the description really drew me in. My initial thought was it started out slow but I stuck with it (and am so glad I did) as it gets really, really good. I promise you won't be able to put it down as you will be dying to find out what happens . Great read - don't give up on it! Can't wait to read more by this author.

Alex Stone is an author to watch, this is another absolute gem from a truly talented author. We are told this one by Lizzie and Beth. The plot is told is a dual timeline and I absolutely loved it.

I love how Stone writes, as a reader you are instantly transported and it is completely impossible to put this down once you delve into the pages of this one.

The characters in this one are likeable and relatable. I have loved the journey through this one with them and this is completely unpredictable. I have adored everything about this one.

I adored Alex’s debut and this is one that has been even better. Stone just keeps raising the bar and I have nothing negative I can say about this gem. This is a great read, unpredictable and captivating.

This is an absolute must read and one that I have devoured in just one sitting. I could easily imagine this one on screen and I would be there for it.

I have no hesitation in reading this gem. It’s absolutely superb and a definite for the TBR.

The Other Girlfriend is a slow-burn, psychological, character-driven story. Complex and layered, it focuses on a woman who is struggling with the past and attempting to learn the truth and come to terms with what occurred. In alternating chapters between the present and past, the author's portrayal of trauma, anxiety and agoraphobia is very well done. Alex Stone knows her onions when it comes to complex characters. A fascinating tale for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Boldwood Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is my second book by Alex Stone and I loved this one just as much. Alex has a great knack for creating Psychological intrigue and intensity. I read The Other Girlfriend in a couple of days and for me that is the indicator for a great read.. It doesn’t drag and the pace is set just right so that I never lost interest. I absolutely wanted to find out what Tom was really up to. He clearly needed something from Lizzie and very very quickly took over her life again after 10 years. How did he manage to do that? Lizzie herself even says to herself that him being there is “risky” I instantly thought “oo why is it risky?, what happened all those years ago”? “Why has Lizzie allowed Tom to become so ingrained in her life so fast”? questions questions, they all get answered and superbly well to.

Lizzie, now Beth is full of self doubt. She has Agoraphobia which is brilliantly dealt with and the level of research that Alex Stone must have done really shines out. Lizzie’s desperate need for Tom’s approval is unnerving and I found myself really disliking Tom. He made me feel uncomfortable from the minute he arrives and I wanted to grab Lizzie and warn her to get rid of him and fast.

The Other Girlfriend is a powerful read filled with complicated friendships that go back years and years. Trust and mistrust, lies and deceit on almost every page. I was completely drawn into this brilliant cleverly written thriller that just keeps you wondering who did what to whom and how on earth will any of it be resolved. I highly recommend this to all who just love a great read and a bit of creepy intensity. Loved it.

The Other Girlfriend is a quick read that I enjoyed.
Lizzie/Beth suffers from anxiety, getting out of her front door is a big thing and crowds are a deffo no no, she hasn’t always been like this though. Tom was her teenage best friend that she wished was more, she would do anything for Tom but when Tom gets a girlfriend things don’t go quite to plan and an accident occurs that leaves Lizzie a different person.
This book covers a lot of issues, metal health, anxiety and gas lighting to name a few. It was a slow burner but was a quick read for me, the storyline was good but a few characters could have been stronger and the ending was as I thought it would be a quarter of the way into the book but I still enjoyed it though.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood books for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Well crafted characters, an underlying sense of menace and an immersive narrative combine for a suspenseful, one sit read.

Twisty dark story. At times I wanted to slap Lizzie/Beth but it’s easy to see how certain women can be manipulated by sleazy men. Good story.

This is a wonderful quick read with an unexpected ending. Lizzie struggles with anxiety that stems from her past. Tom, her childhood friend, was always there for her until he wasn’t. Now Tom is back and Lizzie has to face her past.
As someone who has anxiety I loved the way the author described Lizzie. Her feelings were written so accurately. I know the point of the book is not to focus on anxiety but if you or someone you know has anxiety, this book will help describe the feeling. Unless you have anxiety it’s hard to understand what it feels like and why you can’t do things people think you should be able to.

📚The Other Girlfriend by Alex Stone📚
Blog Tour with Rachel’s Random Resources
Netgalley Widget
Rating: 3.5★ rounded to 4★

Read My Reviews ➡️ jessicabelmont.com

The Other Girlfriend is a slow burn, psychological thriller. It is a complex, layered plot about a woman, Lizzie, who is struggling to come to terms with the past and find the truth.

What I found compelling about this read is the realistic portrayal of mental health, lies, secrets, and gaslighting. She is naive, and while her decisions frustrated me, I tried to put myself in her shoes, and her personality and reactions made more sense that way. This is a truly character driven novel where putting yourself in the shoes of the characters makes the story unfold in a more intriguing way.

The plot is definitely a slow burn, which is not for every reader. This isn’t a book I read in one day, but it was a book I spent time with over a few days. As the plot started to come together, things made more sense, and I enjoyed the layered plot.

Overall, this was a good read with a lot of depth and interesting themes to dig into as I read. I’d recommend checking it out if you enjoy psychological thrillers that build over time.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the Netgalley widget review copy and tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

It started out great! It sucked you in and made you think!

But while the buildup was SOO good, it didn't deliver.

It was a ridiculous climax and everything was so obvious the entire time. Very anticlimatic.

I wish the ending was different or at least better written?? It seemed very rushed and I didn't like it too much.

But otherwise, it was beautiful. I will recommend as long as one ignores the ending.

This book was really good, the plot was so gripping and I enjoyed the storyline. It was told in the perspective of Lizzie, now known as Beth. Something happened 10 years ago and she’s been trying to separate herself from it. She reinvented herself as Beth to let go of her past. She seemed to be a vulnerable character but by the end, I could see a lot of development of her character. She gets reminded of her past by Tom, I absolutely hated him. He was very manipulative and pushy on Lizzie.

This story revolves around Lizzie and her struggles so I found it to be very deep and complex book. Lizzie’s struggles of trauma and agoraphobia was well dealt with in the book. Lizzie’s story is told in past and present chapters, in the past chapters we find out what truly happened 10 years ago.

I read this book so quickly, I couldn’t wait to find out what really happened. I thought the story flowed well and it was a well planned plot. After reading this authors first book, I couldn’t wait to read this one. It definitely met my expectations and more.

An intense yet slow burn, psychological thriller that kept my attention throughout. Although I will admit I wasn’t surprised by anything it was still a fantastic read, I was intrigued to see how everything would play out.
I enjoyed learning more about the characters, especially Lizzie. Written in such a way we fully support her, sympathise with her but feel frustrated that she cannot see the blatantly obvious. She seems set to be taken in by the same person that was happy to destroy her (not that she could see that).
We are given alternating chapters between the present day and the past, which I loved as it fully explained how Lizzie had got to where she had and why, but also how the other people in her life had played a part.
Story involved some serious themes around mental health, that were touched on a lot. I think its important such issues are included in stories and I found it to tie in well with the story and why these characters would struggle, not just added for effect.
Good writing, interesting characters (your gut instinct on one will be spot on!) and a gripping story. I highly recommend.

EXCERPT: It was all my fault.
I'd ruined everything.
One night.
One drink too many.
One bad idea.
One secret that destroyed so much.
No one can know.

ABOUT 'THE OTHER GIRLFRIEND': She loves him…

Lizzie Green once loved Tom Murphy with a passion that bordered on obsession. All she wanted was his love to be returned. Then one night something terrible happened and Tom left Lizzie broken hearted. She swore she would never let him hurt her again….

She loves him not.

Now, ten years later, Tom turns up on Lizzie’s doorstep still as charming as ever. Lizzie knows he still has the power to break her heart and destroy her life again. But Lizzie can’t say no to him….

Can she?

MY THOUGHTS: Sorry, but 'meh'.

Lizzie is a twit. Not the entertaining Roald Dahl kind either. I kept wanting to tell her to get a grip, grow a backbone, but eventually her endless introspection wore me down and bored me to the point where I skimmed almost two thirds of the book, frequently considering abandoning the read.

There's no suspense, no thrills, no action. It's all pretty pedestrian and predictable.

There's no character to root for.

The book is set in the beautiful location of Devon, but it's not capitalized on. Just as I didn't connect with the characters, I felt no sense of place.

I love the cover, but wish I had just admired it from afar.

⭐⭐

#TheOtherGirlfriend #NetGalley

I: @alexstoneauthor @booksandtonic

T: @AlexStoneAuthor @BoldwoodBooks

#contemporaryfiction #psychologicaldrama

THE AUTHOR: Alex Stone is an accountant from the West Midlands, who uprooted her life to pursue her dream of living by the sea and becoming a writer. She is proof that if you stick at it, anything is possible, and is now a psychological suspense writer based in Dorset. This beautiful and dramatic coast is the inspiration and setting for her novels.
Alex has a keen interest in psychology, and her novels examine how situations in the past can shape a person for the better and the worst.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Other Girlfriend by Alex Stone for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage.

"Friendship, a state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust between two people…"

This is the definition of the word according to a dictionary. I think a lot of people should read this and compare it to how they treat their ‘friends’.

In this book we meet Tom and Lizzie. Their friendship started when they were toddlers and they really shared a strong bond.

Only one of them though paid attention in school when the word was explained. The other one uses friendship as a means to make themselves better and stronger, while, in the meantime, crushing the other one’s heart.

One tells tales in order to protect the despicable things they do. The other one suffers in silence, seeing their future ripped in pieces.

One devastating event forces them apart. They have to keep their distance. One says it’s to protect the other. One feels still believes every word that comes out of their mouth.

And then there is that blast from the past…

Time heals all wounds, right? Is there still hope? Will finally the dream come true?

One should be happy, but are they? One thinks they still got it, even after all those years, but do they?

One has a lot to win. One has a lot to lose. Maybe it’s time the manipulator gets a taste of their own medicine?

Friends… they can be so much fun and you can be really close. I thought I had a few good ones too and then, suddenly, one day they don’t seem to remember you even exist.

Maybe you are better off without them. I saves you a lot of heartache.

In this book the author shows us that one second can change your life. You are devastated and you are happy that someone can keep their cool. After all they do it to protect you. Or is it rather to protect themselves?

Friendship should put all parties on the same level. Sometimes one person feels they should always take the lead, because they know best. Do they though?

A very enjoyable read. 4 stars

Thank you

A suspenseful slow burning read that kept me flipping the pages until late in the night.

The story is told in first person format from Lizzie in the build up to events, and from (as she's now known) Beth in present day. She was such a complex yet realistic character, struggling with her mental health and is being gaslighted by Tom, who was manipulative, charming and definitely one to be avoided!

The plot was compelling and the big reveal wasn't what I was expecting, but everything tied up nicely at the end.

I'm definitely a new found fan of Stone's writing style and will be checking out her other books.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I found The Other Girlfriend to be an OK read. It was a slow burner of a story with fairly interesting characters, I just did not find it as thrilling as I had expected I would.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

Lizzie (now known as Beth) grew up with Tom. They were best friends and one day before they started university, they realized they were in love. The problem was Tom was dating Hannah whose father owned the company he worked for. Thus, he promised Lizzie he would break up with Hannah when the time was right and they could be together. However, actually doing that was taking a long time while Lizzie’s heart was being broken.

Lizzie’s parents wanted her to attend a university at some distance away so she could learn to spread her wings. But, she insisted that she attend a university locally.

One day, something very bad happened that changed Lizzie's life and she became almost like a hermit. She rarely leaves her home and interacts with very few people.

Ten years later and now known and Beth, she still lives in her parents home that she bought from them when they retired. So, it is with shock that she answers a knock on the door to find Tom whom she has not seen in 10 years. He has a suitcase with him and invites himself to stay with her for awhile.

Can she let him back into her life? Does he truly love her and want to be with her?

This is a dark and depressing book that made me want to smack Lizzie/Beth and tell her not to accept things that she was told. Let me just say: “Tom, it should have been you.” I realize that Lizzie/Beth had been diagnosed with agoraphobia, but it’s a shame she did not have better mental/medical care. The story left me disappointed with such a weak character - agoraphobia or not.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was fortunate to be given a space on this blog tour by Boldwood Books @bookandtonic

This is a slow burner of a book where we follow Lizzie/Beth and how her life has been significantly affected by one night on the cliffs as a teenager. She has built a wall around herself to try and protect herself from any further damage in her life. I really felt for her as it was obvious she was a puppet to the others who were present. I was relieved when she finally started to stand up for herself!

Definitely a book to ponder.

Lizzie has always loved her friend Tom. But after leaving her broken hearted with a terrible secret, she picked up the pieces and learned to live again. When Tom shows up on her doorstep ten years later, Lizzie can't believe it. Could this be the second chance with him that she'd hoped for? Or is Tom after something else?

Oh Tom, Tom, Tom....without giving anything away I'll just say that the ending was most deserving. Told in Then and Now timelines, we are given the backstory about the secret each of the friends has had to keep and how they are dealing with it in present time. This was a cleverly written book that I was able to read quite quickly. With the short chapters, I kept picking it up "just for one more chapter".

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Alex Stone's debut, The Perfect Daughter, so when I saw "The Other Girlfriend" on NetGalley, I immediately requested it!

Twisty, suspenseful, and so fun to read! Lizzie/Beth's character drew me into this book. She was definitely an unreliable narrator. I couldn't figure out what she was hiding, but I knew she was hiding something good! I was immediately intrigued from the moment Tom showed up on Lizzie's doorstep, and couldn't put this book down. Her and Tom's relationship seemed complex and I enjoyed the past/present alternating chapters. Alex Stone's writing is excellent. She knows how to hook you in so you won't want to stop reading! Highly recommend this psychological thriller!

4.5 stars/5 stars