I really struggled with this book 😬 I just found it so unbelievable and far fetched. That someone who has gone for a bit of ‘time out’ after the death of her baby would become so involved in strangers lives was just too much and I found myself eye rolling ! So I didn’t finish the book unfortunately.

A great read full of characters hiding behind smoke and mirrors. A very relevant story in times when social media can be so controlling and manipulative. I loved it!

“The Truth About Her” by Annie Taylor is a psychological thriller that delves into the deceptive world of social media and the facades people create. The story unfolds with Callie, who rents a beach cottage in Whitstable and finds herself entangled with the cottage’s owner, Vanessa Lowe. Vanessa, a glamorous influencer, appears to have the perfect life: a beautiful home, a loyal husband, three perfect children, and a legion of online fans. Callie, an admirer of Vanessa’s seemingly flawless world, is drawn into her life when Vanessa’s son mysteriously disappears. As Callie gets closer, she begins to suspect that Vanessa’s perfect life is a carefully constructed lie. The disappearance of Vanessa’s son forces Callie to question everything she thought she knew about Vanessa. Is Vanessa truly a mother in despair, or is she a woman capable of doing anything to maintain her illusion of perfection?

The author skillfully portrays the allure and danger of influencer culture, where the line between reality and fabrication is often blurred. The narrative is well-paced, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed, with Vanessa standing out as a particularly complex figure whose motivations are both fascinating and disturbing. One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of the impact of social media on personal relationships and self-perception. It raises questions about authenticity and the lengths to which people will go to preserve their public image.

“The Truth About Her” is a compelling psychological thriller that offers a thought-provoking commentary on modern society.

I loved the premise of this book at a time when social media seems to control our lives and influencers are selling us (mostly unobtainable) aspirations. The setting was brilliantly done (at times I felt like I was in Whitstable, though I've never been there) and the slow unravelling of the missing child mystery provided a good pace and intriguing narrative. I also enjoyed the thematic elements about how you never know what's going on behind closed doors/beneath the surface as Callie learns the reality of Vanessa's life.

This was an enjoyable read and I'd be happy to read future books by this author.

With thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the glamour and the characterisation of Vanessa, who I obviously wanted to know more about.
Sometimes it was a bit dramatic, but who doesn't like a bit of drama.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Callie rents a cottage in Whitstable as she needs time to recover from a recent trauma. She soon realises that the cottage is owned by a famous Instagram influencer, Vanessa, her husband Justin and three children. Vanessa soon befriends Callie and invites her to her home to meet the family. Vanessa reveals to Callie that she had become friends earlier with Rachel who had moved into the area with her three year old daughter Sadie, Sadie and Matthew, Vanessa’s three year old son, became good friends. But after a few months Vanessa started accusing Rachel on social media of having an affair with Justin which caused Rachel and Sadie to move away. Vanessa calls to inform Callie that Matthew has gone missing and implies that Rachel was responsible. Callie decides that she will try and find out more about Rachel but uncovers hidden secrets and truths. The three women all tell their own story and the book flits in and out of timelines. I found this an excellent and gripping read.
Thanks to Netgalley and a Penguin books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Couldn't stop reading this one! It's a wild ride and you really feel for Callie. Great twists at the end and I can't help but feel that one character definitely got what they deserved.

This is such a fantastic written story I loved all the twists and turns it was like being on a rollercoaster I didn't want this story too end but such an amazing ending I never guessed I love a good thriller that keeps me on my

Callie Thorne escapes to Kent, a beautiful beach cabin and a welcome basket waiting for her. She soon discovers that the owner is a very well known Instagram influencer.

There are so many layers to unpick in this book. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout this one. It definitely becomes impossible to predict.

We have unreliable narrators which fit perfectly because we all know, social media is not an accurate representation of people’s lives.

I do love a read based around social media, especially when we have toxic relationships and twists galore. This is an author that has pulled me in and made it impossible for me to put down.

The writing flows perfectly and I have quickly devoured this gem. I definitely can’t wait to see what is coming next from this author.

This is a book I have no hesitation in recommending.

Firstly thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy of this book. Thank you to Dawn for the recommendation and to Claire for the excellent buddy read!

The book was such an intense read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book was gripping from start to finish and I was so eager to read on and find out the secrets that each character had!

The book mainly centres around 3 women, all of who I found myself relating to and also who I really despised at the same time.

I had my theories about a certain male of the family and whilst not completely right, I was not far off the truth

I think what I liked most about this book, whilst I don’t wish it to happen to anyone, I could see it happening and felt that it was a very believable book. We live in a world now that is all about “likes” and how we appear on social media. Having to have the perfect photo, the perfect light, the perfect life to show to our followers. We’ve all been guilty of it. The pressure that some people must feel can be quite immense, particularly when your livelihood depends on it. I can also see how some people leave no stone unturned to get those likes which will equal pounds.
It’s a shame really and I think that’s one of the most important messages I got from this book. That life isn’t always what we think from what we see on social media.

the writing just flew and even though it’s a chunky book, I found myself just flying through the chapters when I picked it up. The authors writing style was really addictive and I really hope this isn’t the last we have seen of this author.
I love it when a debut author arrives on the thriller scene and you instantly fall in love with their debut book!

Easily a five star read from me and highly recommend this to any thriller lover.

This novel had a lot of great aspects, particularly the exploration of social media's influence on our perceptions and how it can hide what's actually going on underneath. The author did a fantastic job with characterisation, effortlessly revealing the cracks beneath the seemingly-perfect facade. The frenzied dynamics between Vanessa and those around her added to the intrigue, leaving the reader to question who is really trustworthy.

The novel was multi-layered, keeping the me engaged throughout. The unreliable narrator style added an extra element of suspense as the twists kept coming, making it impossible to put the book down. The moments of suspense and tension were really well written, making for a thrilling read.

However, at times, it read more like a soap - an entertaining one, but still a bit exaggerated. The length of the book could have been trimmed down a bit, especially during the parts where timelines from the past were interspersed with the present day. Although the end came quickly, it still left a lasting impression.

Regardless of these small negatives, it was an enjoyable read with many praiseworthy elements. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

An interesting story and an interesting take on social media vs Real life. I did think Callie's story was going to go further/have more to it but it didn't.

I think the twist is obvious and most readers will get it but still a good twisty thriller

I read this in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. A gripping and twisty read that had me absolutely hooked

I thought this was a well written, multi-layered domestic thriller. Full of unreliable characters, it was gripping and I was fully engaged in the storyline.

Each female character had their own motives and agendas, leading to her being untrustworthy but yet relatable in a certain way. Full of female fuelled drama it was entertaining to see how women can react to one another.

Reading this as a buddy read with @bookworm1346 I still managed to race through the book with its easy flow and fast pace, and we both enjoyed it with many discussions along the way.

The final revelations could have been shocking had we not already guessed, thanks to the very subtle hints we picked up, and I think the book concluded in the best and most believable way possible. I will definitely be looking for more to read from Annie Taylor.

I really liked this book. Callie has had so much heartache in her life and is just looking for some peace and quiet but she is dragged in to a terrible incident by the family she is renting a cabin from. Vanessa, the mother at the centre of the tragedy seems heartbroken, seems like the perfect mother, perfect landlord, perfect wife but is she any of those thing? Should Callie find out? Should she get involved? Maybe she shouldn't but she cannot help herself. This book gripped me from the start. Its so interesting the way it delves into small town politics and school gate Mums not being who you think they are. Really really good. Was gripped. Sad in parts but really taut and tense - unputdownable!

I honestly couldn't put this down. There were a couple of little twists I saw coming. However that ending I did not guess untill the very page it was revealed.

This was the first book I've read by this author and this will certainly not be the last.
This author managed to use duel timelines to make me feel empathy with all of the characters including the ones I shouldn't of.

Overall a great pace and an absolute page turner.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this e copy and for introducing me to this author.

Insta vs reality. A beautiful holiday home owned by a beautiful family in a beautiful house. Yet behind closed doors there is a different story. A really gripping, suspenseful read. Dark and twisty.

Quite an insight into the twisted mind of toxic friendships of one woman who is an influencer forms with another. Vanessa the influencer uses her high profile to try and damage. Despite all her following she lives in a very troubled mind and world where she is very broken.
Quite a mystery thriller moving backwards and forwards in time and expressing individuals’ different views on the circumstances.
It is fast paced and kept me reading wanting to know what would happen. The last part of the story took me by surprise and it thought if anything the situation would be very different.
This read kept me on edge throughout.

A shocking crime thriller set in Whitstable, following Callie, who has booked a beach cottage to get away from it all.
Whilst getting supplies she bumps into glamorous influencer, Vanessa Lowe, the owner of the beach cottage, and takes up her offer of dinner.
Vanessa has it all - a beautiful home, a loyal husband and three perfect children as well as adoring online fans.
During the course of the evening, Matthew, Vanessa’s son does missing from her home and Callie finds herself right at the centre of the investigation - is Vanessa a distraught mother or a woman who’ll do whatever it takes to cover up the cracks.
Full of twists and turns, flicking between characters and timelines, loved the style of writing.
Thanks @annietaylor @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the eARC

Callie rents a cottage on Whitstable’s seafront to give her the space she needs to come to terms with a trauma. The cottage turns out to be owned by mega influencer Vanessa and Callie is quickly subsumed into Vanessa’s glamorous life. Too quickly, but then Callie is vulnerable and Vanessa’s perfect life proves a great distraction. Until that is, the veil is lifted because we all know what happens on insta is at best a fragment of truth.

The novel drew me in from the start and both women had likeable qualities despite my not entirely trusting their narration. The novel’s plot was believable but I was uncomfortable with how entirely Callie became involved with Vanessa and her family in such a short time. For me this was a massive red flag, and whilst it gave Callie pause but she didn’t seem able to stop herself.

The last part of the book introduces a new perspective, which brings about the final twist and means the reader couldn’t guess the big reveal. I wasn’t keen on this, I’m fine about the reader not being able to guess the twist - it makes for a better story - but I feel it’s a bit unfair to introduce a new perspective when the reader has been working to find the truth between the two women’s narratives. If it had been revealed through either of the women’s perspectives I feel it would have made a better reading experience. That said, it was a gripping and immersive read and I would recommend it to fans of family drama thrillers.