When It Is Bad, It Is Horrid…
Twisted love, toxic bonds, obsession, dark and menacing games and suddenly… an enemy in common. The tale of Wes and Ivy, a love story perhaps - or a tale of a relationship spiralling madly and dismally out of all control - but what comes next? Twisting, turning psychological suspense populated with bitingly unreliable narrators, a sharp narrative in snappy chapters and edged with a bleak, dark humour. What a tangled web we weave…

To describe Wes and Ivy’s love story as twisted is one understatement as they take things to a whole new dimension when their relationship sours. Over and over again in one vicious cycle of horrific break ups followed by heartwarming make ups this pair are addicted to each other, obsessed even but in equal measure they are destructive. A few months after one such dramatic breakup, Ivy receives some creepy items, assumes it’s Wes and reports it to Detective Karen Colglazier ….. now after the latest make up they have a common enemy – the detective. The pair have much to hide and the last thing they need is a Rottweiler detective on the case. Oh, and I forgot to mention Wes’s nosy PA Bianca whose next level snooping could spell disaster. So, sit back, get comfortable and let the games commence.

This takes toxic relationships almost into the stratosphere and I love the shenanigans! It’s like watching two gladiators dodge and spar in the Colosseum, who will emerge the victor? The characters are definitely not likeable, keep your beak out Bianca, Colglazier is like the proverbial dog with a bone or the bloodhound on the scent. Much of what she does is informed by her personal experiences as well as gut instinct. Wes and Ivy need their heads banging together to knock some sense in. However, if I’m honest though, I do have a sneaky admiration for some of the stunts, oh to have that nerve!! Samantha Downing keeps you reading on, with surprise after surprise and twist after twist, so you have to keep up. At the centre of this is a buried secret and that hook keeps you reading on, and you just want to know, no, you HAVE to know!

This is one fast paced, rollercoaster ride you’ll definitely want to be on and although the ending is good, I think I’m probably expecting a bit more Kapow! It’s a cracking read nevertheless.

With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Ivy and Wes are in some kind of toxic relationship where they love to break up and make up and also play cat and mouse games with each other.

Ivy goes to the police as a bit of a joke, to report Wes as a stalker....this causes an interest in their relationship by a detective in the sex crimes unit, named Karen. This detective in concerned about Ivy and starts looking into their relationship and their past.....and Wes and Ivy do have a secret they're trying to protect, so obviously this is not good.....

I don't know about this one. Initially I assumed this couple would have a similar dynamic to the couple in My Lovely Wife. That book was so deliciously twisted ...with this book having 'twisted' in the title, I was expecting all the twisty! Lol. Ivy and Wes did not deliver....they are childish and repetitive w.r.t the games they play in their relationship.

The most interesting thing I suppose is the unravelling of their secret, but even that, once you know what it is....the mystery is over.

We have a few other characters, Bianca (an office assistant), Abigail (also some office colleague) and the detective, Karen, who has her own agenda and biases.

I still pushed through, but I struggled with the last part of the book....I just wanted to get to the end.

I love Samantha Downing, this one just wasn't my favourite from her, but I can't wait to read whatever she comes up with next.

𝐀 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟐 ⭐️
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝟏𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑
𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝘞𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘷𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺?
𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘥.

I was so excited to be approved this by Netgalley, as this is my first Samantha Downing read.

I have ‘My Lovely Wife’ on my shelf which I’ve heard amazing things about.

But A Twisted Love Story, for me was a let down.

It was medium paced and had nice short chapters which I like which always ended on a cliffhanger but I went into this thinking it would be maybe a bit of a dark romance which can be very twisted.

This was a toxic relationship where they both treated one another childishly and gaslighted one another, it became repetitive and I didn’t care for them. Some characters were really under utilised and I didn’t understand the motifs of some of others either.

I will definitely read ‘My Lovely Wife’ but I wouldn’t strongly recommend this one. Maybe I’ve read too many thrillers and I need to be more surprised lol!

Thanks to @netgalley, penguin random house for this ARC!

#netgalley #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #netgalleyreads #netgalleyuk #booktok #bookstagrammer #bibliophile #thrillerbooks #thriller #bookmagic #bookstagrammer #bookblog #bookstagramuk #bookreview

Wes and Ivy take the "it's complicated" relationship to a whole other level. In some ways, each is the love of the other's life. When the relationship works, it works beautifully. When it doesn't, it is the stuff of nightmares.

That is why they have told each other innumerable times that it is over once and for all. Only to then rescind that decision, and find themselves back together again - apparently very happy.

The problem is, it doesn't last. And the fall-out can be dangerous, it was on one memorable occasion.

And with each iteration, the stakes get higher, as the levels of toxicity inch inexorably upwards. Both Wes and Ivy are aware of this, to some extent, but they don't seem to be able to help themselves when it comes to ratcheting up things further.

When Ivy reports Wes as her stalker to a policewoman working in the sex crimes unit, she goes too far. Demonstrating the profound unhealthiness of their connection, Wes finds this move on Ivy's part amusing, and it kicks off another round of the relationship.

The point at which things spiral out of control is when Karen, the policewoman, decides to look into the matter further, on her own initiative. As it turns out, Karen has her own agenda when it comes to cases like this...

Meanwhile, things are also getting more complicated at his end than Wes is aware. Bianca, an admin assistant in his office, also has her own agenda - and insatiable level of curiosity that is inadvertently activated by the policewoman's visit to see Wes in his office.

This is an interesting read and well worth the time. While Wes and Ivy undoubtedly have a toxic relationship, Bianca and Karen are pretty strange too. The story emerges from all four points of view, and is disturbing at multiple levels. Suffice to say, it's not just the love story that's twisted here!

A Twisted Love Story indeed. Wes and Ivy are madly in love. Obsessed about each other. The perfect couple right?
Not when in the hands of Samantha Downing. They fight as much as they love. The break up and get back together. They always try and get one up on each other. Both are slightly unhinged(to put it mildly) when it comes to each other.
They both have one skeleton in the closet though. One that they never speak of. It’s lay dormant for years. That is until Ivy reports Wes to the police for stalking her when they are on their latest breakup.
Little do they know that the detective hones in on Wes and starts to stir the hornets nest that is their past!

I loved this one overall. Black humour throughout. Deliciously slightly unhinged main characters and a collection of odd character supporting them this one reads a bit like a Coen Brothers movie. Skirting between the humorous, the odd, the violent and the downright strange.

A couple of very minor negatives that stopped me giving this five stars.

The detective. Her character felt very wooden and written for purpose rather than reason. The tenuous link to try and “save” Ivy felt unbelievable and awkward to read.

Ivys best friend. Was there ever a more annoying and pointless character written? I get he’s supposed to be her conscience in a way but I just didn’t buy it. Sure she knew him since he was a kid but they seemed the most unlikely of acquaintances, never mind best friends.

The first three quarters of this speed along at a hugely entertaining and twisted pace. The final quarter of the book I didn’t care for as much but I’m nit picking really.

Overall this was a hugely enjoyable read. I really enjoy Downings writing style. You always get the feeling that, not matter how twisted the characters or disturbing the subject matter, she is writing with a slight smile on her face and that oozes out through her words.

Many thanks ti the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

#ATwistedLoveStory @ Michael Joseph's NetGalley Catalogue

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I’ve read all of Samantha Downing books and this one was no different she is the queen of thrillers. This book was so captivating one world WOW! It was a fast paced and kept me guessing throughout what would happen next it’s a perfect book for psychological thrillers fans alike, from the very first page I drawn and couldn’t put the book down it was so good I read it in a day! The characters were likeable also.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this book and all the plot twists that it presented! Another cracking book by Samantha Downing

These characters had me in a choke hold and wouldn’t let me go. I couldn’t stop reading until I had experienced every twisted moment of this book and it was worth every second. I new I loved Samantha Downing’s writing style since reading ‘He Started It’, there’s just something about the writing that means I compulsively can’t stop reading. Even in the slower parts I didn’t hesitate to continue turning the pages, and I love an author that can make you care about every second.

Wes and Ivy are a couple who consistently come back to each other, even after many arguments and many breakups where they screamed at each other that they would never ever get back together. But they still do and every time they pretend things are going to be different. This story starts a year after their first break up when a detective comes to interview Wes about Ivy’s stalker. Wes very quickly realising that Ivy has told the detective that it is him that is stalking her. Unexpectedly this doesn’t anger Wes and in fact he decides to reach out once again, leading to restarting their whirlwind relationship. But that first visit from the detective won’t be the last and there are more things that she will inevitably uncover from Wes and Ivy’s past. Leaving Ivy to wonder whether going to the police was in fact not the best decision.

Downing writes morally questionable, twisted and unhinged characters so well, that she somehow along the way convinces you to care for them and while questioning your sanity you still root for them no matter how wild the circumstances. Wes and Ivy are no different, including other characters in this story that are somehow just as messed up as our main characters maybe even more so. This makes for an interestingly wild ride.

The perspectives switched around a lot, especially in the beginning. It was a little confusing and hard to pinpoint whose perspective I was reading from initially, but eventually I did get used to it as I read further. In the end it worked out in a way that had you intrigued by every character, but those first few chapters were kind of slow going. Overall it worked though and I really enjoyed how it came together. I’d definitely recommend this if you like Samantha Downing’s other books, especially ‘My Lovely Wife’ and ‘He Started It’. And if you haven’t read any yet this is definitely a great place to start!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“You came back to me”
“I always do.” He doesn’t quite say the words; he breathes them.”

I was so excited when my request for the arc was approved! Samantha Downing writes amazing thrillers and this was no exception!

It was a page turning thriller! I did not wanna put the book down.

We have a toxic relationship, obsession, stalking and love that always wins.

A must read thriller this summer!

A different book from Samantha Downing,A couple who have a very toxic,I love you I hate you relationship makes for a good twisted and suspenseful read.
Plenty of twists and more twists with a wow ending that I loved.
Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph Penguin Random House for the ARC.

What a book! In some ways the felt like a really quick and easy read that I just flee through but the actual subject of the toxic relationship of these flawed characters is a deep subject that's really well portrayed. This is the kind of love that will destroy both characters but I guess they think the pleasure is worth the pain and so things unfold. I loved that these aren't written as malicious people or purposefully vengeful, they're just so broken and damaged and that makes them seem a but vulnerable rather than just come across bad people. Anywho, I loved it! Who doesn't get stuck right into a dysfunctional relationship?!

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing is a gripping and intense psychological thriller that explores the dark and dangerous side of a tumultuous relationship. Wes and Ivy's love is all-consuming, oscillating between passionate highs and destructive lows. When a detective becomes their common enemy, they realize that their toxic cycle of break-ups and reconciliations needs to end before it's too late.

Downing's writing is razor-sharp and keeps readers hooked from the first page. The author masterfully builds tension and suspense, making every twist and turn unpredictable. The characters are deeply flawed and complex, adding layers of intrigue to the story.

A Twisted Love Story is a compelling and chilling exploration of obsession, manipulation, and the lengths people will go to protect their love. It delves into the depths of toxic relationships and the potentially fatal consequences that can arise. Fans of psychological thrillers will be captivated by this dark and twisted tale.

Twisted is right. Wes and Ivy's on-off relationship is toxic - which everyone except them can see - yet impossible to break away from. They're the quintessential can't-live-with-each-other-can't-live-without-each-other couple.

They're also bound together by a secret which could cost them dearly. And a big misjudgment by Ivy is putting it at risk of exposure.

Police officer Karen, dedicated to protecting the abused and vulnerable, thinks she knows what's going on, but she doesn't really. You can't blame her. Ivy and Wes are weird.

Administrative assistant Bianca, too, loves a bit of digging around in the lives of her colleagues, but what she finds out hits closer to home than expected.

Ultimately everything starts conspiring to render things even more chaotically out of hand than they already are.

A highly readable story, full of people I'd probably give a wide berth to in real life. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

I first came across author Samantha Downing when I read her bestselling thriller ‘My Lovely Wife’. I knew after reading that novel that I would definitely read more of her work. ‘A Twisted Love Story’ once again delivers an enthralling and twisted narrative with a blend of intense romance, chilling suspense, and unexpected plot twists. I am pretty sure Samantha Downing has another bestseller on her hands.

Wes and Ivy are immersed in a passionate and tumultuous relationship and the author captures the intense emotions that come with being madly in love. But there is also a dark side to their love, destructive fights, property damage, and even brushes with the law.

‘A Twisted Love Story’ tells of the complexities of relationships, love and obsession portraying the toxic nature of Wes and Ivy’s connection. The characters are well formed and developed and their flaws and vulnerabilities add to the narrative and making them relatable in their own twisted way.

This is a gripping and suspenseful read that delves into the lengths people will go to protect what they love. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that explore the darker side of relationships then this might be just what you are looking for.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

#ATwistedLoveStory #NetGalley
Game changer of 2023. A shocking read. 5 ⭐
Wes and Ivy are madly in love. They've never felt anything like it. It's the type of romance people write stories about.
But what kind of story?When it's good, it's great. Flowers. Grand gestures. Deep meaningful conversations where the whole world disappears. When it's bad, it's really bad. Vengeful fights. Damaged property. Arrest warrants. But their vicious cycle of catastrophic breakups and head-over-heels reconciliations needs to end fast. Because suddenly, Wes and Ivy have a common enemy--and she's a detective. There's something Wes and Ivy never talk about--in good times or bad. The night of their worst breakup, when one of them took things too far, and someone ended up dead.If they can stick together, they can survive anything--even the tightening net of a police investigation. Because one more breakup might just be their last.
Samantha Downing has done it again. This is her most gruesome book till date. What an ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy of this book.

A Twisted Love Story, Ivy and Wes on / off, obsessive and passionate. This is the story of their relationship, their secrets, the scrapes they get into and their struggles.

It's written in quite a light and easy style and the plot unfolds as it goes. Some may say it lacks some narrative direction but Samantha Downing keeps you reading. There are lots of little hooks and twists.

It kept me entertained, I'll say it was good fun rather than a great thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin

This was a fabulous unusual love story come crime story as love-hate couple Ivy and Wes find themselves attracting the unwanted attention of a police officer and as their backstory gradually unravels the extremities of their relationship soon become apparent. These characters were so messy and a genuine can’t live with / can’t live without couple and whilst it was difficult to understand what kept them together to begin with their relationship did make a weird kind of sense over time. Whilst I did really enjoy this over all I felt it dragged a little midway but the ending proved to be as dramatic as the rest of their relationship. 9/10

A great read that definitely lives up to the title and is very ‘twisted’.
That plot centres around a dysfunctional couple, and it’s a unique and engaging thriller.
There are plenty of twists throughout and intriguing characters.
I’ve read all of Samantha Downing books, but this one is definitely one of her best.

First book that I have read from this author and certainly won’t be the last fantastic fast paced thriller which had me hooked.

Wes and Ivy have dysfunctional relationship there is lies, murder and a bit of stalking going on.

This was a great read with a interesting story Will be recommending this to everyone fantastic.

A Twisted Love Story is exactly that!

We follow Wes and Ivy's relationship and see how it affects everyone around them. From lies, to murder, to stalking, nobody is safe!

A very fun and entertaining novel