She's not who she says she is...

Another addictive tale woven by Gemma Rogers that I devoured in one sitting. It's a fast paced guessing game of cat and mouse as the net closes in and we're left sifting through theories and suspects.

Ria has just returned from a five month sabbatical after the sudden and tragic death of her best friend and colleague. The toxicology report shows ketamine in her system but Ria knows Livvy - she doesn't do drugs. Ria believes someone spiked her drink and she can't let it go despite the death having been ruled as accidental. Everyone is moving on...but Ria can't. Hence the sabbatical at her boss' request.

Five months later she returns from France, low on funds and needing to get back to work. Tired from her journey she cannot wait to crawl into bed once she gets home. But as she unlocks the door to her flat, she hears voices. And to her shock discovers a stranger in her living room! With her ex!

Unbeknownst to Ria, Amanda has not only been hired as Livvy's replacement at the firm but is also Ria's new flatmate in her company-subsidised flat. It seems Amanda has made herself at home in amongst her things, alongside her ex and even in her job having taken over Ria's clients. And of course everyone at work loves Amanda. She charms the clients who adore her and she flirts and banters with everyone. But she doesn't fool Ria. There is something off about her though she is unsure exactly what. And her surname - Dowd - where has she seen it before?

And then strange things start to happen. Phone calls with Livvy's voice on the other end, packages and photos all targeting Ria. And with each new "gift" sending Ria into a downward spiral as she turns on Amanda, accusing her of being behind everything. But Amanda is all wide-eyed innocence. And Ria finds herself on a final warning after one too many outbursts at work. Is she in danger of losing her job as well as her best friend, her clients and her flat? And if it isn't Amanda, then who is doing this? And why?

THE FLATMATE is a page-turner for sure that will keep you glued until the vert end. I enjoyed the drama, the tension and the creepy vibes. All smoke and mirrors and a whole lot of fun.

I would like to thank #GemmaRogers, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheFlatmate in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Another great Gemma Rogers book! She is amazing and never disappoints. This was well told and huge on the creep factor! Really fun writing style and fantastic characters. I was hooked from page one. Loved it.
Thank you Gemma Rogers, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book

Gemma Rogers excels once again - Ive yet to read a book from this author that I'd rate any lower than 5 star, and this latest book by no means bucks this trend!

This grippy tale is mostly told through the perspective of Ria, a young exec, who finds herself utterly derailed (both personally and professionally), when best friend and colleague, Lizzy, dies in a drug related accident. Ria suspects her colleagues of spiking Lizzy with drugs and is highly encouraged to take long term leave. When circumstances force Ria back to work, she discovers she has a new flatmate - Amanda, to whom Ria takes an instant dislike. Is Ria's paranoia justified, or is she just paranoid?! All is revealed in this gripping psychological thriller!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

A climax to die for................
Gemma Rogers hits the right note with The Roommate, a psychological thriller. The story is an exceptional one. I was glued to the book till last. In fact, each character had an important role to play. Ria's character is interesting, as at first I thought she is going crazy. But with every chapter there is a new mystery. Reading it would be like travelling on a jet. Fast paced plot, interesting characters and mind bending plot will not let you put it down. If you are looking for a new book to pick, then this is the one.

Definitely 5 stars to the book. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

The flatmate sucks you right in. There’s plot twists and shockers in almost every chapter. Ria’s bestfriend Livvy dies and after 5 months leave from her job and finds Amanda has taken Livvys place at work and is now her flatmate.. A fast paced thriller that keeps you constantly on edge .

4⭐
Genre ~ thriller
Publication date ~ June 22, 2023
Page Count ~ 284
Audio length ~ 9 hours 23 minutes
Narrator ~ Imogen Church
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ dual timeline, dead bff, drugs, references to suicide

Ria has been on a 5 month sabbatical from work after the death of her best friend and coworker, Livvy. When she arrives to her flat someone new has moved into Livvy's room. On top of that, Amanda, sits at Livvy's desk and has her eye on Ria's old flame, Jayden.

Ria is adamant that someone they work with caused her death and she's out to prove it. These coworkers spend a a good amount of time together outside of the office, so it shouldn't be too hard for her to figure things out. She's really written in such a way that she seems unhinged and very unlikable. She's 23 and a bit immature in her actions. She must have been a stellar employee, too, for her boss, Chris, to be so generous ~ he gives her a flat to stay in, pay while on sabbatical and quite a severance package.

I wasn't too thrilled about the who and why around Livvy's death or how Ria ended up handling it, but overall it was a fast paced read that had some over the top crazy moments, but enjoyable.

Ria has taken 5 months off from work after her friend died. They both worked for the same advertising agency and were at a conference when Livvy was found dead - purportedly from drugs- something they both vehemently shied away from. On her return to the agency flat Ria finds she has company in the form of Amanda who started working there in her absence and appears to have ingratiated herself to those around her. Ria is getting strange phone calls from what sounds like Livvy and then some black roses arrive for her which really spooks her. Something appears off about Amanda- there’s too much convenience about her. Who killed Livvy as Ria is sure that it was deliberate and are they also after Ria? Is Amanda who she really says she is or is she somehow involved?
I enjoyed this- there is quickly a tension about it which I like in psychological thrillers- something to engage the reader early on and pique their interest. There's chaos around Amanda which works well and you know when her name appears something is about to happen one way or another. There's an excellent mystery to the whole thing and I flipped as to whom I thought the perpetrator(s) were. A page turner of a read which I thoroughly enjoyed and one that kept me engrossed the whole way through.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

Hold on to your hat because it's about to get real!!!! This is how you write a gripping, shocking, and jaw dropping page turner!!! I sat down not intending to read this book in one day, but I could not put this book down!!! It's that good!

Ria is still reeling after the tragic death of her best friend, Livvy. Even a 5-month sabbatical was not enough. But Ria needs money and when she returns to her flat, she finds Amanda Dowd. Livvy's replacement at work will be her new roommate. Uncomfortable much? Very, very uncomfortable. Plus, Ria’s ex-Jayden, seems to be very chummy with Amanda. Messy.

Returning to work, Ria learns that some things have changed and while coping with her new work partner, she begins to receive calls, packages and photos, things take a turn for the worse. Who is behind this? Why are they targeting her? Hasn't Ria been through enough?

Woohoo! This one was a shocking and hard to put down page turner! I was invested from the very beginning and enjoyed the drama and tension in this book. There are no dull moments or down time in this book. As the tension mounts and the creepy messages continue, I could not stop turning the pages. I had my theories and suspect figured out, but Gemma Rogers managed to shock me with her reveals.

I can't wait to read what Gemma Rogers writes next!

4.5 stars

#TheFlatmate #NetGalley #GemmaRogers, #Boldwoodbooks

Well written, tension filled, creepy and fast paced.

Now this book is what I call a thriller I whizzed through it needing to know what was going on and although the ending was a bit abrupt I really enjoyed it my first by this author although I do have a few others on my tbr so shall be reading them shortly 4 stars

"The Flatmate" immediately captivated me with its gripping storyline and plot twists, making it nearly impossible to set aside. From the very first page, I was hooked, eagerly turning each page to uncover the next surprising revelation.

The story follows the Ria, who returns to work after a sabbatical following the suspicious death of her best friend, Livvy. However, upon her return, she discovers Livvy's replacement, Amanda Dowd, as her new flatmate. Immediately, something feels off, and Ria's becomes increasingly suspicious of Amanda and begins receiving mysterious calls, photos, and presents from Livvy. Convinced that someone is targeting her, she embarks on a desperate quest to uncover the truth and protect herself from impending harm.

With its well-crafted characters, tense atmosphere, and skillful storytelling, "The Flatmate" is a must-read for anyone seeking an adrenaline-pumping reading experience. I am excited to read more by Gemma Rogers.

Yes!! This is just what I needed! I loved every sinister, creepy, addictive minute of this fast-paced psychological thriller. A mysterious flatmate mixed with the tragic death of a best friend creates a tale of betrayal, revenge, and paranoia. Is Lizzy really reaching out from beyond the grave, or is something more devious and deadly happening? Is someone out to get Ria, or is her overactive imagination taking over? This thriller pulled me in immediately and had me racing to the shocking conclusion. Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Flatmate’ written by Gemma Rogers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When Livvy dies of a drug overdose at a party organised for staff at Cardinal Media her best friend Ria suffers a breakdown and spends five months in France with her mother. On her return to work she discovers that Livvy’s replacement is Amanda who’s also her new flatmate. But someone is playing with Ria’s mind by sending her black roses, phone calls and text messages, all supposedly from Livvy. Ria is determined to find out who gave Livvy the drugs she’s adamant she would never have taken voluntarily, and exactly who Amanda is.

‘The Flatmate’ is a well-written psychological thriller that could also be called a workplace drama as a lot of the action takes place at the premises of Cardinal Media. The characters are nicely described and there’s so much suspense and intrigue that I haven’t been able to stop reading. The plot is suspenseful especially towards the end as Ria discovers the history behind Amanda and what caused Livvy’s demise, and although it’s relatively short in length, I was so involved that I got completely caught up in the story and completed it in less than a day. This is a relatable novel that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading and can recommend.

I wasn’t really a fan of this. I thought it was pretty boring and not much really happened that was interesting. I didn’t see a spark or connection.’

Ria returns to work following a long sabbatical after the suspicious death of her best friend Livvy.

On her return to the company apartment, she finds Livvy’s replacement Amanda firmly entrenched as her new flatmate.

Everyone seems to love Amanda and yet Ria is suspicious that something just isn’t right. Who is Amanda, what are her intentions and who killed Livvy?

The Flatmate is a quick and fast paced psychological thriller. Right from page one the action begins, and it does not stop until right at the very end. I think this would make a fantastic film/series. The whole way through there are twists and turns and just when you think things can't get any worse another spanner gets thrown into the mix, keeping you constantly on edge.

Without giving anything away, some parts are slightly implausible but if you look past them and taking into account how much I couldn’t wait to keep getting back to reading I think it deserves a full 5 stars.

It was surreal returning to work after a five=month enforced sabbatical following the suspicious death of my best friend Livvy at a work event. I was grateful for the time away to grieve and had slotted straight back into work. But a surprise awaited my return. Amanda Dowd, Livvy's replacement, was firmly entrenched as my new flatmate in the company apartment. Something that didn't feel right, I felt on edge. But everyone seemed to love Amanda. Even my ex-Jayden was blinded by her outgoing personality and model looks. But her desperation to become a friend felt unnatural.
when I began to receive phone calls, photos and presents supposedly from Livvy, I became spooked.... someone was targeting me, watching me. With my job, home and life on the line, I had to find out who was doing this to me.

What a fantastic read this book was. Ria is still coming to terms after the loss of her best friend Livvy. Now back at work after a five-month sabbatical, things have gone back to normal at the office and Amanda was hired to take over Livvy's job. I could not put this addictive read down. The pace is fast in this well written book. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. eager to find out what had been going on. There's an eerie vibe and things start happening to the people Ria worked with. I was kept guessing. I needed to know the answers. I loved this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #GemmeRogers for my ARC of #TheFlatmate in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick and fast-paced read (under 300 pages). There are things happening right from page one. No long-winded intros and no forever reading to get to the good parts and all the action.
As much as I hate all the cliché phrases of the book “keeping you on the edge of your seat”, this one does exactly that. While I might have preferred the ending to match the book’s overall anxiety-inducing pace (yup, here, I said it, I think the ending was somewhat not as thrilling as the whole book), this was a good Friday night read.

This is a quick read with fast paced chapters that will have you wondering how/why poor Livvy died and who was pretending to be her, until the very end. The intrigue and twists kept me reading. Grammatical errors sprinkled throughout the book, that should’ve been caught/corrected during editing, made me cringe.
Thank You to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Gemma Rogers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Wow I love Gemma’s books she never disappoints. A great thriller that has you wondering all the way through. I can highly recommend this book it’s a five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fast paced book that is engaging throughout. Lots of authentic characters that keep you wondering of their motives and actions. A quick read and perfect for the beach.

Tyrie is heading back to London after staying in France with her mom and her mom‘s new boyfriend something horrible has happened not only to get her to her moms house but happened at her moms house that cost her to leave. The horrible thing that made her run from London was the death of her best friend Livy. She was found in the restthe room of a bar and toxicology showed she was slipped Roofies and this is why Rie Rie had to take a break from work in life in London but thanks to her mom‘s boyfriend she is heading back to her flat when she walks in however she quickly learns it isn’t just her flat anymore she has a new roommate named Amanda to make matters worse she is sitting there laughing with the guy ReRi was seeing before she left. Reread tries to be nice but there is something about this Amanda she just doesn’t like she gives her strange vibes but soon she is back in her routine as best as she can be without her best friend Livy but when she starts getting phone calls and emails from her dead friend she believes she knows who is behind it every time she mentions what’s happening however in some form of fashion it just makes her look crazier and when Amanda files a report saying she is bullying her Rie Rie nose she has reached the end of her rope but can’t she proof Amanda is as crazy as she thinks or will she be the one who turns out looking like a lunatic? This is one crazy book I love Gemma Rogers thrillers but I am being honest when I say this is her best one by far. There is so much to the spot that I haven’t put in the summary because why would I go read it and see what an awesome book this is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it it is a definite five star thriller. I received this book from NetGalley and BoldWoodBooks but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.