This tense, fast paced YA thriller had me on the edge of my seat throughout and is packed full of shocks that just keep on coming. Harlow and her mum have been perennially on the run , changing names and characters as they arrive at each new place. Harlow has never known why but when her mum is killed in a road accident she journeys back to her mother's birthplace and starts to unravel family secrets that perhaps should have stayed hidden.The plot really does keep you guessing right up to the closing chapters and Harlow is a great character, strong but vulnerable with a great sense of self that she hasn't lost through acting the parts given her by her mum but has become submerged inside this troubled teen.

This is the first Book I have read by Rebecca Barrow. I found it to be such a trilling & intense story set around powerful yet tender female characters with the odd exception . These characters were embroiled in so many family secrets that you were quite often second guessing what was going to happen next. I cannot wait to read more by this author & I will be highly recommending it to friends. #NetGalley,#Goodreads, #Amazon.co.uk, #FB, #Instagram, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>.

The cover of this book is was captured my attention at first. But when I read what it was about, it sounded right up my street! I love small town mysteries that include family drama, and of course lgbtq+ representation.

I will start of my saying Harlow and Cora were my favourite characters because I felt like the other characters weren’t really well fleshed out. I couldn’t find myself connecting to or caring about anyone else.

I was really drawn into the start of the book, but I found the middle tough to get through but I pushed passed it to get to the end, and my lord was the ending worth it.

I could really envision the house and the surrounding area. The setting of the house in the woods felt like a character itself. I loved the little spooky moments. It really had me questioning if the house really was haunted or not.

The one thing that kind of confused me about this book was the random switching between third person and first person. It kept taking me out of the story and taking me a while to get back into the flow of it then. It also felt like something was missing to make the whole story flow together nicely. I didn’t mind the jumping back and forward in time, but there was just something missing I can’t really put my finger on.

Overall I enjoyed the book and story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Barrow and Hot Key Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Another book that took me a while to get into. The plot was intriguing butt I found the story was so slow. It did pick up and it did improve. Personally I think that this would of fared better as a novella. I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

This was a super twisty thriller and I just couldn’t get enough! I loved how the story slowly unfolded throughout the book and how it felt like you were solving the mystery alongside Harlow. I really enjoyed the jumps back in time, and I loved how sapphic the book was.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: And Don’t Look Back
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Rebecca Barrow
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Thriller
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 3rd October 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 4th September 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★

“Did she have any boyfriends that caused issues? Did she owe anyone money?”
It strikes Harlow as darkly funny, how these are the same questions that swirled around Eve. As if both she and her daughter brought their troubles on themselves, by maybe getting involved with the wrong men, or trusting the wrong people with money. As if maybe they should have been smarter, taken their own safety more seriously, and then people wouldn’t have to be asking these questions at all.

The longest time Harlow and her mum has spent in one place was six months. Each time they move they shed their identities, foregoing names, hairstyles, fashion choices, even friends. Harlow doesn’t know why they need to do this, but this is her regular way of life, she doesn’t knowany different. Until her mum dies in a terrible car collision.

And Don’t Look Back is a winding thriller with not only a sapphic main character who also represents POC, but many of the side characters have that same representation too, particularly the sapphic representation which was almost all of the female characters in the novel. It made a welcome and fresh change from the heteronormative thrillers that I typically consume.

This book really surpassed all my assumptions and expectations. Every time I felt safe in my knowledge of the plot and the next steps, something new was revealed. This truly was as twisted as I’d hoped.

There were inserted flashbacks into Cora’s (Harlow’s mum) life that lead up to her running away initially which was just as entertaining as the main storyline from Harlow’s POV. Harlow was a great main character, her persona reminds me of the old adage: curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction bought it back. Harlow likes to find the truth just as much as she likes to tell lies.

It was so easy to be swept away by this fast paced book, the tense edge to the prose due to the outrunning nature of Harlow’s life made me read so fast I felt like I was outrunning something myself (probably my TBR).

—Kayleigh🤍

I have previously loved one of Rebecca Barrow's books, Bad Things Happen Here, so I was really excited to get a chance to pick up another of her work.

It is unfortunate but this book just didn't work for me. I think the fact that our main character, Harlow, is left alone very early into the book without any answers or even knowing the right questions to ask and doesn't have another character to bounce off of, gave the book a fumbling in the dark quality that made for a really frustrating read. In retrospect, I think what specifically didn't work for me about that is that I enjoy being able to guess and have theories about what the truth is but I don't feel like I was given enough information to be able to form these theories.

The book did an incredible job of creating tension and a creeping sense of something terrifying was happening but it was just out of the corner of Harlow's eye. I really like this sense of peril that was created however I did expect it to go in a different direction so unfortunately it was another aspect of the book that did not work for me.

The book ends on a satisfying final twist that I didn't see coming and added a final layer of depth to the story that had been happening in this book.

All-in-all, this book did not work for me but I don't think the flaws are objective issues with this book but rather this book was not to my tastes and for very specific reasons. I do think as far as a thriller goes where you don't have the answers until later, it does a good job and likely will be a massive hit with people who do read and enjoy YA thrillers. The last thing I want to do with my review is to turn somehow away from Rebecca Barrow's writing because she really is a skilful writer, it's just unfortunate that I didn't like this book however I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read more of Barrow's work and will definitely be eagerly anticipating her next release.

A gripping, dark thriller with lots of twists and turns. I wanted to love this more than I did, but I think I found it lacking...something. I liked the plot, but I still didn't really ever understand why Harlow and her mum were on the run so seriously...(SPOILER)




...over a little amount like $10,000? Which she had saved in a savings account?
(note, I understand that there were other factors at play, but the main one seemed to be the $10k issue. Also, I understand that 10k is a lot of money but in this story? It would have stopped the running and made Harlow have a better life. I just didn't get this aspect at all.)

I do think I enjoyed this book, mostly, but I didn't like many elements.

A thought-provoking thriller that delves into the human psyche, making you question how far people will go when faced with dire circumstances.

A really great and intriguing read. I loved the characters and the story. Will look out for more from this author.

Harlow and her Mum Cora, have been on the run her entire life, she has no idea what they are running from. When trying to skip town Cora is killed and tells Harlow to run and don't look back.
Harlow wants to know what her mum was running from and ends up back in her mums home town. This book had me hooked from the first page, I felt like I was Harlow I wanted and needed to know what Cora was running from. This book had a few twists that I wasn't expecting. Definitely worth a read.

I enjoyed this book- it kept me wanting more.

Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Unfortunately I failed to connect with this story and really struggled to get into it. I did read it to the end, but it didn't capture my attention and I couldn't really engage with the characters.

Harlow and her mother, Cora, have been perpetual fugitives, their lives a tapestry of evasive manoeuvres. The reasons for their flight remain a cryptic enigma to Harlow, shrouded in obscurity. At each destination, a fresh alias is woven, accompanied by a fabricated narrative, and their tenure is fleeting, a transient existence defined by impermanence.

A fateful night brings a harrowing twist as Cora's life is abruptly extinguished while they attempt yet another escape. Harlow is left solitary, besieged by a deluge of unanswered queries. Her mother's enigmatic secrets endure, as a key to a concealed safety deposit box beckons her toward Crescent Ridge—Cora's birthplace. Here, Harlow unearths a labyrinth of concealed truths and intricate deceit.

Guided by the aspiration to unravel her mother's enigma and gain insight into her essence, Harlow embarks on this odyssey. However, the revelations that unfurl will transcend her expectations, upending the very foundation of her understanding—of her mother, of herself—altering the course of her existence irrevocably.

Immersing myself in this narrative was an exquisite delight; the author's craftsmanship is evident, rendering it a captivating read catering to a wide spectrum of readers, encompassing both the young adult and adult demographic. Its appeal defies age categorizations, signifying a profound narrative that resonates across generations. The prose is eloquent, seamlessly interweaving a fascinating premise with a richly envisioned setting.

While the eBook's allure is unmistakable, potential enhancements to user-friendliness emerge. The integration of navigational chapter links, the elimination of conspicuous word gaps, and the inclusion of an evocative cover design would metamorphose the eBook's presentation, elevating it beyond its current document-like format. In light of this, a marginal deduction from my rating seems warranted.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Rebecca Barrow doesn't waste any time in getting the story going, catapulting you into the action straight away. From the very start, this book was an absolute page turner for me, keeping me hooked with questions and answers that lead to more questions. So many of the twists and turns took me by surprise, and even the ones I saw coming didn't feel predictable or obvious - there had just been enough seeds sewn to lead me to a few theories which were, occasionally, right. That said, most of the twists I definitely didn't see coming, especially towards the end as it starts to feel like everything has wrapped up, and some of the final revelations were truly shocking.

An absolutely brilliant read. Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All Harlow has ever known is running: the scared look on her mother's face, the quick packing of bags, and the escaping to a new place, new name, new life. And then her mother dies, leaving Harlow with a key to open a deposit box, and the fear that whatever they were running from might have finally caught up with them. Harlow knows she could keep running, keep going, but without her mum's insistence, it's much harder to run from a nebulous threat. Seeking answers, Harlow makes her way to the deposit box: and finds only more questions, causing her to wonder how much of her life has been a lie.

I was a little unsure about this book, particularly because it sounded similar to Tess Sharpe's 'The Girls I've Been' and Marit Weisenberg's 'This Golden State' - both of which I loved, so I was nervous that this might not live up to those lofty heights. However, I absolutely should not have worried: honestly, And Don't Look Back might be one of my top mystery/thriller novels of the year. Despite my initial comparisons to other books, this felt really unique throughout - there was so much going on, and I could not have guessed half the twists! Plus, SAPPHIC <3

I also thought this was an incredible look at family dynamics, in particular abuse. I won't say much more, but it is worth noting that it comes with a big content note for parental abuse.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review. I wish I could read this for the first time all over again!

So, I’ve been a huge horror/thriller fan my whole life so as soon as I see new horror titles it gets added to my must read list.
And Don’t Look Back was a fantastic read, and one I’ll be buying a physical copy of when it’s released.
Fast paced to start, with a bit of a slower middle building up to the climax.
Full of twist and turns and suspense I would highly recommend this to fans of horror and thriller books. Great characters and character development.
Highly entertaining and enjoyed it very much

This was insane, very sapphic, and I loved it. The plot was twisty in all the right ways and because the pacing was a little slower in the middle third, certain parts were made all the more shocking - I was hoping for a thriller that would terrify me and I got it. Like, if any of this happened to me I would just curl into a ball and never move again. I was also pleasantly surprised at how likeable the characters were, especially the narrator, Harlow (a rarity in thrillers!) Highly recommended for anyone who is even remotely interested in the premise, it's that good.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review. All opinions are my own.

A good read but it made me think of another book which is is why I only give it 4 stars.

That being said I did enjoy the character development over the course of the book and totally recommend to everyone

Harlow and her mother have been on the run for Harlow’s whole life. After her mother dies she thinks she has to keep running, but with the money her mother left her was insurance documents and photos of her teenage mum with two other girls. All from a place she had never heard of, harlow decides to learn about her past in a hope to stop having to run forever. A missing grandmother, a dead mother, a haunted house, Harlow doesn’t know how to start finding out what has been keeping her running her whole life. She has to decide whether or not to let some secrets stay buried, or blow the whole thing open so she can finally have a real life.

after reading ‘bad things happen here’ last year I followed Rebecca right away. when this was announced I immediately ran to netgalley to request it. It took me ages to get round to reading it but I am very glad I did.

this book was jam packed to say the least, there was so much mystery in here I honestly had no idea what conclusion this was going to come to. There was a lot to unpack within this book, on some occasions I had to go back and re read because there was so much to remember.

All of the characters were likeable and relatable also. I love that there is a lot of lgbtq+ representation in her books. It’s so refreshing to see such inclusion. I wish we got more encounters with Sloane and Harlow. I really wanted Harlow to have that love she was fantasising about.

the last chapter had me shook, I loved that extra bit of the story that made it unforgettable. It would be really cool to have a book in Cora’s point of view because I would love to know everything that happened to her, how and how she kept running.

I really recommend you check out this book and bad things happen here because they are SO worth it.

thanks to netgalley for letting me read in exchange for an honest review :)