Member Reviews
She's not who she says she is.
Ria and best friend and co worker Livvy are at an award ceremony for their work Cardinal Media in Brighton, when Livvy is found in the toilets dead with the drug Ketamine in her system, Ria knows that this is not Livvy she would never take drugs, after a three month break from work Ria is ready to return and going back to her flat in Crawley she finds her ex Jayden and a blonde Amanda making themselves at home, and is stunned to find that she is now her new flat mate and is also taken Livvy's job. This woman is no replacement for Livvy and for reasons Ria doesn't like her.
Then things start to happen for Ria she is not going mad and the finger is pointed at Amanda who is this woman and why is she doing this? But no one believes Ria.
This book gives you so many goose bumps as you are reading, that will keep you well hooked into the story and send shivers down your spine, I could not put it down right till the ending, makes you so excited to carry on to one more chapter. brilliant absolutely brilliant.
Ria is trying to get her life back together after her best friends Livvy s death. But it is now time for her to get. Back to work where her best friend worked to but as soon as she gets back in her flat. she has a flat mate that she never had before. Amanda Ria s ex-boyfriend Jyden is with the new flat mate that hurts. and no sooner is she back the messages and phone calls start. Ria was always convinced that she would never take that drug. And someone wants to dig it all back up. A very addictive and twisty read I love this Authors books.
Having read quite a few books by this author, The Flatmate, I have to admit wasn't for me, the pace was too slow, I did finish reading and I must admit it did getting better at the end.
WOW! Putting myself in Ria’s shoes, I was beginning to grow irate with EVERYONE around me, the gaslighting was at an all time high throughout the book and it was very hard to read at some points, so it took me over a week to finish this book. Lots of guilt to go around for this “friend” group — the ending had me floored when discussing what led up to Livvy having that last drink!!!! It was a good book, it just wasn’t my favorite though (sorry!!!)
This was a good book, though I did struggle a bit with the protagonist. It centers on Ria, whose best friend and coworker Livvy dies at a company party. Ria takes a break but when she returns to work, she can’t get over her suspicions that one of her fellow employees is responsible for Livvy’s death. To make matters worse, a new hire named Amanda has taken Livvy’s job and is put up in the company flat along with Ria, who immediately doesn’t trust her.
I understand her trauma but thought that Ria kept acting out which destroyed her credibility, rather than taking the time and effort to do the due diligence she needed to do in order to figure out what happened to Livvy. I was constantly shaking my head at the way she handled various situations. I also thought that one of the things that happened towards the end of the book didn’t make a whole lot of sense and it pulled me away from the story a bit. On the good side, there was genuine creepiness throughout the book as Ria receives messages that are allegedly from Livvy, and the overall mystery kept me guessing.
Overall, good book that I would’ve liked even better if I had more of a connection with the protagonist. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Flatmate, by Gemma Rogers, is a psychological thriller. The writing is very good and the characters are brought to life. Ria 's best friend at work, Livvy, dies during a company party. They work at a Media company along with 4 others or so. They're all very close and go out a lot after work and hang out together. Ria finds out that Livvy's drink was spiked with Ketamine and can't get past the fact that no one is being held accountable. Her life bgins to fall apart. She knows someone at work is responsible... but who? Her boss tells her to take a five month leave to get herself together and to grieve. Ria is the one who found Livvy's body in the women's bathroom. Ria goes to France and visits her mother, where her mother and Ria have a huge fight so Ria comes back and returns to work. When she returns, Ria finds out she has a new flatmate, Amanda, who also replaced Livvy at work. Strange things begin to happen. Ria begins to get calls from Livvy's number. Livvy sends her black roses. Ria gets a call and hears Livvy's voice. She suspects Amanda, but why would Amanda do this? Is she out for revenge? If so, why?
I felt the book was very well done. It was a fast read, although I think some of the filler could have been cut out of it. I was immersed from the first page, and finished it in a day. Thank you To Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would certainly recommend this book
I always love Gemma Rogers books and this one was no exception! Suspenseful, confusing, I think I doubted every single character at some point! A great psychological thriller.
Wow, what a book! "The Flatmate" by Gemma Rogers is an intense psychological thriller that will have you pouring over the pages from start to finish.
The book follows Ria, who is dealing with loss, grief, and mourning. After the suspicious death of her best friend Livvy at a work event, a death all are eager to move on from but Ria, she takes much-needed time off from work. After a five-month enforced sabbatical, she is more than ready to come back to work and the company apartment where she lives. To her great shock, she now has a flatmate, Amanda, a new co-worker who replaces Livvy at work. Amanda seems to have an impact on everything, even Ria's ex-boyfriend, Jayden. Despite Amanda's efforts to befriend her, Ria finds it hard to warm up to her.
The plot thickens when Ria starts receiving calls, photos, and gifts supposedly from Livvy. Ria believes one of her co-workers is responsible for these incidents and Livvy's death, and she doesn't know whom to trust. Her co-workers think she is losing her mind due to her obsession with Livvy's death and her wild accusations. Ria has to figure out who is behind everything and why they're doing it before things will take a deadly turn.
I loved the book and couldn't put it down. While it may not be edge-of-your-seat suspense, the suspense is nicely maintained, and the pace builds and quickens toward the end of the book. While I guessed right away who was behind all the occurrences, although not the motive, I was still hooked. I just had to keep reading to find out what happened and why.
The book is written in the first POV, alternating between Ria and Livvy. I loved the way the author interjected Livvy's perspective into the story. What holds the reader's attention are the mindsets of the characters, their interactions, and the unraveling of the plot. The main characters were very well-developed, and their thoughts and intentions were realistic and complex. With an intricate plot, interesting characters, and an easy-to-read narrative, "The Flatmate" is one great book! I highly recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers with a bite!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
Another great book from Gemma Rogers, I’ve read every book from her and they just keep getting better and better, I always look forward to seeing what’s next from her and always amazing
Thanks to boldwood books and netgalley for an arc of this book. This book is fantastic, i couldnt stop reading.....
When rias best friend dies on a night out from work, ria has to get away and goes travelling for 5 months she currently lives in a flat which is owned by her boss. . When ria arrives home it looks like she has a flatmate, and has her feet firmly planted with rias ex jayden. Amanda also seems to have stepped straight into livvys spot at work... ria thinks she has seen amanda before and sets out to find where from??? What is amanda upto? And why is she setting ria up to have everything taken away from her???? I ecourage you to read it, i loved it Mental health is a topic widely discussed
BE KIND, you never know what somebody else is going through
A must read
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Flatmate by Gemma Rogers published by Boldwood Books.
Awesome novel! I have read all books by Gemma Rogers and I'm always excited for her next. I was so happy to receive this advanced copy. Gemma did not disappoint with this novel, it may be one of my favorites, although her first novel, Stalker, is what got me hooked. I just love her writing style.
Gemma has created awesome characters, a great plot that unfolds to reveal the twisted reason behind the antagonists actions. She is gifted at creating characters and working them into the story so that we love the loveable ones and dislike the villains.
Ria is the main character and has just come back from a 6 month hiatus after her best friend died from an overdose. She is returning to her job and her leased apartment, but she has a new roommate, Amanda. How will she make this work when her previous roommate was Livvy, her bestie that died.
Gemma has a way of making her stories flow, character development makes sense and there is no confusion as to who is who.
I like the relationship that was created between the characters, especially Ria and Amanda, very believable. Ria does her best to be a good person and accepting of someone new. But as things unfold, she becomes more and more suspicious of Amanda and her intentions.
Gemma has done an amazing job with weaving a story that is hard to put down, I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next.
I recommend not only reading this novel but all books by Gemma Rogers, she is a very talented writer, all books are stand alone and have different subject matters.
The Flatmate by Gemma Rogers is another gripping tale of intrigue and suspense from an author who never seems to miss the mark. I was invested in full from beginning to end.
Ria has returned to work following a sabbatical. Her best friend and coworker Livvy died under mysterious circumstances during a night out for a work function several months earlier, and Ria knows that there is more to the story. Upon returning, she is introduced to Amanda who has not only taken Livvy's job in the company, but has also been installed in the corporate apartment as Ria's new flatmate. None of this sits well as Ria continues to mourn her friend, but when she starts to get messages implying that she knows more about Livvy's death than she is letting in, her eyes turn immediately to the suspicious new interloper.
Gemma Rogers has, once again, crafted a thoroughly propulsive tale that had me glued to the pages. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Another amazing book from this author..
It kept me guessing all the way through. Was a easy read but very enjoyable. So many twists and turns in this book
Ria is devastated after her best friend dies. She knows she didn't do drugs so is convinced someone spiked her drink. The police close the case. She takes some time off and is finally coming back to work. She is determined to find out who killed her friend. This book will make you think twice before you pick up a drink at a party.
First she discovers she has a new flatmate-Amanda. She walks in on Amanda with her ex-boyfriend being all cozy. Ria has all sorts of strange things happen but she is convinced Amanda is behind it all. There is no way that Lizzy is reaching out from the grave to text, call, and send flowers. Is she loosing her mind? Her co-works think she has lost it and don't want her there.
I liked that this short book and so much going on that you can easily finish the book in a day.
Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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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 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. Yet her desperation to become friends felt unnatural. When I began to receive 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. I knew I hadn’t caused Livvy’s death; I still believed it was no accident. Someone else was guilty and I had to find out who before I was next...
A nice spooky thriller that will keep you enthralled for hours - well written and a satisfying ending means you should take it to the beach, backyard, porch or in an easy chair in front of the a/c to read. DOn't forget to reapply your SPF if you are outside: this book will keep your attention and make you forget about the world around you!
#shortbutsweetreviews
Another Gem of a thriller from this author.
Lots of real characters mixed in with the troubled one's.
Excellent story line and she amazes me with how she comes up with a different one each time.
I was kept guessing and at one stage i really thought i knew what was coming......i was wrong.
Thank you so much netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy.
Five huge stars from me!
Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, revenge, jealousy, A great who done it, and a few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
I really enjoyed this book, but have one major problem with it. Even though Chris and others admitted the issues were not with Ria, why was she the one that lost her job and took the blame? That would not fly I don't feel in real life. But other than that, this book was great! Good suspense and kept the reader guessing as to what the connection was between Ria and Amanda. Love Gemma's books!
This was great fast paced thriller which had me hooked until the very end.
Ria returns to work after taking a 5 month long sabbatical after her best work friend dies. On her return Ria has a new flatmate they both live in the company apartment. Since returning weird things start to happen to Ria . She blames her new flatmate Amanda but Amanda has everyone wrapped around her fingers so nobody believes Ria. Ria’s life starts to spiral out of control with nobody to help Ria Will she find out who is doing this and is it linked to her best friends death if so how much danger is Ria in.
Excellent thriller with many twists and turns will definitely recommend this to everyone.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my opinion.
This was one of those fast paced thrillers I couldn’t put down, because I had to figure out how it ended.
Ria is back at work after taking a 5 month long sabbatical after her best work friend dies. But as soon as she is back, weird things start to happen to her. She is quick to blame her new flatmate Amanda in the company apartment, but unfortunately Amanda has everyone in the office wrapped around her fingers.
It doesn’t last long before Ria is spiraling at work again focused on all the strange things happening to her. Will she be able to get to the bottom of who is terrorizing her? And does her new flatmate actually have anything to do with it? Or is Ria dreaming it all up?
Quick and easy thriller read. I only knocked off one point because of the last two pages of the book, I didn’t love how it ended there.