Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookouture and Jenna Kerman for the opportunity to read an advance copy of THE NURSE, to be published October 2, 2023. A young woman is hired right out of LPN training to be a caregiver for a prominent psychiatrist’s wife but after a period of time, she begins to question whether she should be following and responding to the concerns of the doctor or her new patient. This was a very slow burn thriller, with action beginning after 60 percent of the book. Once activity began, it moved along much better. 3/5 Stars. #NetGalley #Bookouture #JennaKernan #THENURSE

This book was soooo slow. I kept reading thinking it has to get going but I nearly lost the will. I am afraid it didn't suit me ,I am far to much of an impatient reader and was really struggling with the style and pace of the book. Hopefully other more patient readers will enjoy the book more than i did.

Emily has recently qualified as a nurse and is looking for her first job. Luckily a well paying job comes up with Dr. Roth, who has hired her to care for his wife Sabrina. Dr. Roth explains that Sabrina is delusional and needs to take regular medications, as well as have someone help with household chores. As Emily’s job progresses she soon realises that everything may not be as it seems. What is the truth and Is Dr. Roth purposefully over medicating his wife?

This is an interesting story that slowly weaves its way to the twisted end, however it does so a little too slowly. I found it hard to keep engaged in the book as it takes quite a while for anything to happen. It picked up eventually but by that point, although I could relate to the characters, I had little investment in them and overall story. There are some surprises towards the end and it does eventually turn into more of a thriller. Overall this was slightly too slow for me but would suit those who enjoy slow burns with several twists. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book is for fans of verity and the housemaid. There are plenty of twists and I didn’t guess what would happen but it also was unsettling. The female main character is a nurse which of course I related to and grappled with the ethical and moral dilemmas she faces. Dr. Roth and his wife Sabrina were interesting and god were they spoiled. It was hard not to constantly diagnose his wife but that’s the whole point. These characters were psychos so it’s worth a read but I personally struggled with the ethical and moral dilemmas of these health care professionals

I LOVE a good twist and this did not disappoint. I thought I had it figured out and then it shifted. This is such a great thriller for any level of thriller/mystery lover. Highly recommend. Will be looking for more from this author.

The Nurse by Jenna Kernan

This is a brilliant, intense and gripping mystery thriller novel that I very much enjoyed.

This book hit the ground running right from the very beginning. The prologue sets the tone for a gruesome and thrilling plot that is yet to be unravelled. From the start, we as readers are led to believe that there are dark secrets buried deep under the surface and it is our job to uncover them as we move through the story. Although the author does drop many hints along the way, they are so well disguised that if you don't pay attention, you will miss them. This only helps to build the level of suspense and intrigue surrounding these character and their lives.

The action does take a little while to fully develop in this book. There is a long, drawn out conversation between Emily and Dr Roth at the beginning that, to me, seemed unnecessarily long. However, once the action does set it, it quickly spirals out of control and leaves the readers desperately searching for the answers to all the mysteries. The author did a great job at writing this book and the way they've built suspense throughout is commendable! The ending of this book was fantastic too. Although there were hints that I picked up on throughout the novel, I was still shocked at the extent of the deceit carried out at the end. The author finally unravels the web of mystery in shocking and immensely clever way.

The characters in this book were incredibly well written. Emily's desperation for a job/money was made clear right from the beginning and offered an explanation as to why she would take such a challenging job. Emily did come across as naive and indecisive at some points, but this only helped to draw readers in and make the ending even more astounding. Dr Roth's character was perhaps the most interesting. As he discusses the job description with Emily there are multiple red flags that appear, but this helps the reader to build an opinion of Dr Roth which is then shattered at the end. Sabrina's character offered readers an engrossing dilemma: is she mentally ill, or is she not. Throughout the whole book we are left wondering whether she is sane or not, so we are never quite sure whether to take what she says as truth or fantasy. This adds a whole other element of mystery to the novel which was engrossing for us readers. At some points we feel sorry for her, and then at others we despise her; our feelings towards her bounce back and forth very much like Emily's. This book contains some of the most interesting and well-written characters that I have seen in a thriller novel.

Overall I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would highly reccomend this book to fans of psychological thrillers. Thank you to Netgalley and Jenna Kernan for the ARC

I enjoyed this book. It was longer than those I usually read so I felt like it dragged at points or contained extraneous details, but that may be that it just wasn't my style. The writing is great and the plot definitely kept me engaged and coming back for more! I would have probably given it another star if there weren't so many errors when referring to mental illness (i.e. diagnoses that don't exist.) I have sent this feedback to the publisher and am happy to come back and add another star if those corrections are made.

This took me in straight from the start. I thought that Emily was perhaps not the wisest of people trying to search the home of the Roths but all was revealed at the end. It was a twisty thriller that gave information at a pace that kept me guessing what was going on all the time. It was well written and I did not expect the ending.

This is one of those perfect suspense books; you feel eager to find out what's going to happen next, while at the same time, dread reaching the end of the story. Fortunately, Jenna Kernan is a new author for me, so now that I'm finished with "The Nurse," I can immediately jump into her other titles.

I've had fabulous luck with excellent books lately (The Guest; The House Guest; Strange Sally Diamond; None of This Is True), and this story definitely continued my run. The main character was both smart and likable, and the narrative unfolded at an ideal pace. Without giving anything away, I had fun trying to piece together just who was a victim and who was a villain.

Kernan is a talented psychological suspense writer and I'm thrilled to have discovered her work. Thank you Bookouture, Jenna Kernan, and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of "The Nurse" and giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts about it!

This book is an interesting read, nothing is as it seems. I guessed what was going to happen early on, but still enjoyed the book and would recommend it if you like a thriller.
This book is well written and I enjoyed it straight from chapter one. I found it well paced with a good thorough build up with both the story and personification of the characters.
Bit of a twisty psychological thriller.

This story is about a girl named Emily who gets a job as a home nurse for this rich family. The husband (Dr. Roth) tries to tell Emily that his wife Sabrina is mentally I’ll, and has delusions and thinks things are real when they are not. Throughout the book Emily get the feeling that Dr. Roth is making these stories up just to be able to claim his wife’s inheritance. This whole story turns out to become a wild rollercoaster. I wasn’t expecting the ending at all!! Made my head spin in all directions. All I have to say is karma took its place at the right time!! I really enjoyed this book!!!

Read this if you like:
closed gate communities
wealth
mental illness themed stories
don’t know who to trust vibes
blackmailing
revenge
arranged marriages

The blurb gave me the feeling that this was going to be a faced paced psychological thriller, but unfortunately this was such a slow read… Nothing really happens till 60% into the story.
The long and very detailed chapters make you quickly lose interest and discourage you to keep on reading. It all feels messy throughout most of the story and keeps spinning in circles. I also didn’t connect with any of the characters as they are all not quite loveable and a bit egocentric.
Once you get yourself to the tough piece and the pace speeds up a bit you get rewarded with a bit more drama and suspense which elevates the story and rekindles your interest. Sadly, the plot twist wasn't enough for me to make this a good read/story as it wasn’t really mind blowing. However, all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place at the end and the confused feeling from earlier provides clarity so that you understand everything at the end and can complete the story completely without loose threads.

If you like slow paced revenge stories setted in a wealthy closed gate community, you definitely can give this one a go. But for me it just lacked some pace and variation in environment and events.

Thank you @netgalley & @bookouture for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so close to giving up on this book. It starts off so slow and does not pick up the pace until past the halfway point.
I did enjoy it though. The ending was not what I was expecting and can say I did not see that coming.
I knew from the start something was not right but I was not prepared for the twist- everything just clicks into place and you're stunned!

This book was easy to read. I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters. When I thought I figured everything out I was wrong. The ending was unpredictable.

"The Nurse" by Jenna Kernan is an intriguing read that had its moments but also left me with mixed feelings. I stumbled upon this book with little knowledge of the plot, and that sometimes adds an element of surprise to my reading experience, which I enjoy.

The premise of an outsider entering a family's life and altering its dynamics is a trope I find fascinating. In this story, Emily, a recent community college graduate in dire need of money, becomes the private nurse for Sabrina, the wife of charismatic psychiatrist Dr. Ross. From the outset, Emily is curious about Sabrina's need for private medical care, especially when she learns about Sabrina's mental disorders. The rules Emily must follow and the tasks she's assigned, like never allowing Sabrina to drive and ensuring she takes her medication, create an air of mystery and intrigue.

The narrative raises ethical concerns, particularly with Dr. Ross treating his wife without any oversight. This aspect is a significant red flag, as it leaves room for potential abuse and conflicts of interest. There should have been a third party involved to oversee the treatment.

The book's pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, with the story only gaining momentum around the halfway point. The twists and turns that followed did manage to pique my interest, making me question who was telling the truth and who was lying. However, the ending left me somewhat disappointed. I dislike it when killers explain every detail, as it feels like the author thinks the readers can't connect the dots themselves. A more cleverly written ending would have been more satisfying.

Additionally, the author's decision to introduce random points of view, like Claire and Sabrina, without prior context was confusing. Most of the story is narrated from Emily's perspective, and these sudden shifts disrupted the flow. Perhaps using diary entries or a prologue to introduce these perspectives would have been more effective.

Furthermore, Emily's character lacked some credibility. It's common sense to trust your instincts, and if something appears suspicious or too good to be true, it usually is. Emily's naivety in certain situations seemed unrealistic.

Overall, "The Nurse" is a decent read with an engaging premise and some suspenseful moments. While it has its flaws, it manages to deliver an intriguing mystery. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and would like to extend my thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing it in exchange for my reviews. I would rate it 3.5 stars, as it falls somewhere between being an average read and a captivating thriller.

This was a excellent psychological thriller, it was a real page turner.. I couldn’t put it down. Plenty of twists and turns throughout with a exciting ending. The characters were good, the story itself was so suspenseful and the style of writing was perfect. I have read other books by this author and have loved them all, can’t wait for the next one out. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review:

Thank you Bookouture and Net Galley for an early copy of The Nurse, this one was a WINNER!! What a Plot, the characters, the ending, OHMYGOSH!!! In the beginning I could NOT read the chapters fast enough, I Had to know what was happening. This was soooooooooo GOOD, why did it have to end? And speaking of the ending, WHOA, NEVER EVER SAW THAT COMING! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Keep writing please Jenna Kernan, I’ve already shouted this one out to my friends to buy.

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the title, because I’m a nurse. What kept me turning pages well after midnight for several nights was the intrigue. The author has you switching your loyalties among the protagonists throughout the entire book. Without giving anything away, I can only say that if you like to be surprised, and you think you know people and how they are going to act and turn out, then this book is for you! It’ll have you questioning everything you ever thought about what you thought you knew about people. Sometimes those that seem so innocent really are the ones you need to be most scared of. This book will have you questioning everyone you know! I absolutely loved this story! Never saw the ending coming. Nothing is as it seems. This author did an amazing job at character building and leading you down a certain path. A real page turner! I can’t wait to read another book by Jenna Kernan!

I LOVED this book!! It sucked me in right from the beginning and kept my attention throughout. If you are a fan of Behind Closed doors, or the Housemaid you will LOVE this!! Especially fans of Freida McFadden, BA Paris, and Kiersten Modglin ! 100% recommend

I just wrapped up "The Nurse," and it was quite the rollercoaster. This thriller took me on a wild ride through the lives of the rich and powerful, showing just what they can get away with and at whose expense.

The whole atmosphere in this book? Tense and suspenseful. You're constantly on your toes, waiting for that next bomb to drop.

Now, here's the twist - I sort of saw where it was all headed, and I had a feeling about the ending. But you know what? It didn't take away the fun of this thriller. It's one of those books where you're in for the ride, not just the destination. And when that ending came around, it was pretty darn satisfying.

So, if you're into thrillers that make you question just how far the elite can go, and you like a suspenseful vibe, give "The Nurse" a whirl. It's a wild journey with a good ending.