I received an advanced copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley.

In the aftermath of her fiancé's tragic murder, Gemma Morgan has dedicated three years to rebuilding her life. Just when it seems like she's finally on the path to recovery, a new man enters her world, bringing with him an air of mystery. As Gemma delves into the complexities of her burgeoning relationship, she can't shake the feeling that he's concealing something substantial. The initial optimism gives way to a pit of despair, leaving Gemma to grapple with the unsettling question of whether her fears are grounded in reality or if they're mere products of a paranoid mind.

As a reader, cruelty to animals is my ultimate red line, and encountering it in literature, even when acknowledging its unfortunate reality, remains deeply unsettling. The theme of gangster-related activities, coupled with the recurrent portrayal of a female crime reporter, felt somewhat worn out for my taste. However, Gemma's character did manage to resonate with me. Her unwavering loyalty to her friend Alice and her earnest attempts to offer support stood out in a world filled with toxic relationships, dominated by controlling males.

The exploration of online dating in the narrative struck a chord with me, having navigated through it myself, although my current relationship took a different path. The book adeptly exposes the prevalent fakeness in online personas, showcasing a stark contrast between the curated "internet persona" and real-life behavior—a reflection I found all too familiar.

Gemma's perspective dominates the narrative, with occasional contributions from Jackman. The story delves into the profound impact external circumstances beyond our control can exert on our self-perception and reactions within a given environment.

While the predictability of the ending loomed from the book's outset, Gemma's journey and the exploration of contemporary issues kept me engaged, despite my reservations about certain thematic elements. The interplay of characters and the unveiling of societal complexities painted a nuanced picture, making the read an intriguing experience.

An utterly stunning psychological thriller from Ali Blood that I couldn't devour fast enough!!

This is the story of Gemma, a journalist in her late twenties, who has suffered the ultimate bereavement - her fiancé, Callum, was senselessly murdered in a seemingly random attack in a park when walking his dog 3 years previously. As Gemma tries to move on with her life she embarks on a number of internet dates. She feels an initial attraction to John, just as her personal life takes a further turn when her best friend confirms her marriage has turned abusive, and the husband, Sean, resents Gemma's influence over his wife. Professionally, Gemma finds her investigative work leads to her making a dangerous enemy, as she uncovers a potentially corrupt police officer who may have murdered his wife. Yikes! When Gemma finds herself targeted in some unpleasant ways, the list of potential culprits is large!!

This is a great read, the plot is interesting and the writing is of a quality that makes it unputdownable!

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

ARC review—What a thrilling ride from start to finish. Had everything I love in a book! Looking for a thrilling rollercoaster ride of who done it— look no further! Absolute triple threat!

Note to author/publisher. —This book literally kept me interested the whole way through. Loved how it always kept me on edge and guessing who it was til the very end! Great book with great plot.

If you like a good domestic thriller and crime journalism novels , then this one is for you !

Gemma is an investigative reporter who is slowly piecing her life back together after losing her Fiance' several years ago. Between juggling work and coaching her best friend through Alice though Alice's sinister marriage , Gemma is investigating a heavy and messy case that digs up a dirty cop from the past.

Despite having no time for herself Gemma puts herself on Tinder with hopes to maybe get back into the dating scene. Things spiral quickly and things don't quite seem as they appear .

This is a slow burn cat and mouse and totally gave me Pelican Brief Vibes !!

I found the story took about 100 pages in to finally capture me , and I struggled to keep engaged .I feel the chapters that were in the office at the News Paper just too slow for me .

However I do think fans of The Wife Upstairs , The Widow and Behind Closed Doors will LOVE this read !
Thank you Netgalley , Avon Books and Ali Blood for this advance digital copy !

I recently dove into a thriller that not only kept me on the edge of my seat but also delivered a masterful display of character development and a mind-bending storyline. The author skillfully weaved a tapestry of suspense, leaving me hooked from the very first page.

The characters in this thrilling tale are more than just names on a page; they're complex, evolving entities that resonate with the reader. As the plot unfolded, I found myself deeply invested in their journeys, their flaws, and their triumphs. The author's ability to breathe life into each character is commendable, creating a cast that lingers in the mind long after the final chapter.

What truly sets this thriller apart is its twisted storyline. Every twist and turn is expertly crafted, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. The narrative unfolds like a well-played chess game, with unexpected moves that add layers of intrigue. The suspense is palpable, and the pacing is relentless, ensuring there's never a dull moment.

The author's storytelling prowess shines in the seamless integration of suspense, character development, and a plot that keeps you guessing. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, from heart-pounding excitement to moments of quiet reflection on the intricacies of human nature.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of thrillers that deliver both a gripping plot and rich character development, this book is a must-read. It's a testament to the author's skill in crafting a tale that captivates from beginning to end, leaving readers eagerly anticipating their next literary journey.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy of The Other Fiance.

Sadly, I think this might be a DNF for me. I'm 40% in and the writing style and story aren't grabbing my attention as much as I hoped. I'm happy for the other readers who gave this a 4 or 5 star rating.

I'll likely revisit at another time but right now, I just don't think it's for me.

This is a great read that I highly recommend to anyone who likes a mystery with many twists and turns. Gemma lost the love of her life 3 years ago and is just trying internet dating. She knows the negative issues and so feels that she is very well aware and can cope. The story line encompasses many side issues which added to the intense reading. I think that Gemma put herself in difficult situations but as a character I really liked her, however John Jackman the man who she meets through the dating app is a creepy person who Ali Blood the author has described so well.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this intense story.

What a great read! Twists, turns and tensions galore. Really well written – it’s one of those books you just can’t put down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy. Highly recommended.

An exciting read with a strong storyline and interesting characters, the flow of the story was good and kept me gripped throughout.I really disliked John as I think most readers will.The ending was unexpected.For lovers of a good easy to read thriller.
Ali Blood is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

Great Thriller kept me hooked from the first page until the last. Gemma is a journalist who lost her boyfriend 3 years previous she went on a dating app hoping to meet someone and find love again but the man she meets is not all he seems added to that worry is her best friend who has a very violent husband and tries to help her with dire circumstances.

Loved the book thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC

The main character in this book, Gemma, certainly doesn't have much luck with men! Her beloved fiance was murdered three years ago and now she has three other men after her, but not in a good way. Gemma works for a sunday tabloid and is investigating a possibly corrupt copper. At the same time she meets a gut on a dating app who starts coming over as obsessive, and also, her best friends controlling husband starts seeing her as a threat. This makes for a great read and I loved Ali Bloods style of writing. I was engaged throughout and liked the building of the characters. The ending didn't come as a big suprise to me but I would highly recommend this book.

Wow this woman has no luck at all and ends up having three men baying for her blood just from doing her job and being a decent friend. What follows is a tale of police corruption, murder and harassment and I hope someone snaps this story up as it would make a great drama on ITV. Loved it but not going to spoil it.

This book really gripped me right away and the twists and turns kept the pace up which added to the suspense and excitement for me.

A twisty one. Gemma, a journalist interested in police corruption lost her fiancé to murder three years ago. Now though, she's met John Jackson through a dating app and he seems like a good guy. But is he? At the same time, her pal Alice is struggling in a marriage filled with violence. The dual story lines will come together. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's dark in spots but it's also a page turner.

Losing her finance in a senseless murder whilst walking his dog . Gemma tries to find love through dating apps. An admirer who won't take no as the answer,. Her best friend, Alice's husband who blames Gemma and not himself for the problems in the marriage and husband whose wife disappeared a year, not only is he a policeman but has allegations of corruption made against him.
All three males make threats against Gemma and her work as a newspaper reporter.
Twists and turns that are completely unexpected.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a few who done it, great plot twist and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had 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!

She's moved on. Three years after her fiancé was murdered, Gemma Morgan is, at last, starting to move on with her life. He's long gone but just as she thinks everything is back on track, she realises the new man in her life seems to be hiding something big from her. Gemma’s hurled right back into her pit of despair, but is it just paranoia playing tricks on her?

Twisty thriller that captures your attention and was well thought out in regard to the plot and characters, but the title did throw me as it does not reflect the story There is a theme of domestic violence in the book so if this makes you uncomfortable the book may not be for you. Overall this was a good read, some of the supporting characters where excellent such as Martin and really enhanced the story, I did wish these had characters had more development and a bigger role in the book as they are what added to the quality of the story. A few twists that move the pace of the book along and I read the book quite quickly as I wanted to see where it was all heading and to see if I would I be satisfied with the ending which I was. Definitely worth reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so pleased to receive an ARC of The Other Fiancé, thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for this in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a page turner! I binge-read it in two days!
I really enjoyed the multiple plot lines throughout, all creating suspense and making me worry about our FMC, Gemma. She’s an investigative journalist working on police corruption case - I felt like I was in an episode of Line of Duty but from a journalists perspective! Very fun!
The first 80% of the book had me totally hooked.

I didn’t find the dual POV added a lot to the story, I felt it detracted from that storyline by reducing the suspense. Unfortunately I didn’t love the ending. It felt rushed and I didnt feel each of the plot lines were given the conclusion they deserved.

Overall a good read, I think most thriller fans would enjoy The Other Fiancé.

4⭐️

THE PLOT:

Gemma Morgan's fiancé was murdered 3 years ago and she finally feels like she's moving on with her life. While scrolling on a dating app, she matches with a man named John Jackson. Right from the jump, John is very eager and moving very fast and soon makes Gemma an obsession. All while this is going on, Gemma's friend, Alice, is in a very toxic and physically abusive relationship and is convinced he's hurting her out of love. This puts Gemma in a bad place mentally, and Alice's husband makes several threats unnerving her even more. All of these bad things are happening at once in Gemma's life she can barely handle it. But some people have far deeper secrets that they will do anything to keep them hidden.

MMY THOUGHTS:

The Characters: I actually really liked the characters in this book! Gemma was very likable and John was the biggest creep and I think anyone who reads this would agree. The side characters made a world of a difference in this book. They were so involved and showed a really good sense of trust and closeness that anyone would dream of. Martin was such a underrated character in this book I loved him so much!! The way he was there for Gemma in every sense just gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. I think everyone had enough depth to really feel for the characters, especially Alice. I always find it tough to read about domestic violence, but I stuck through it and ended up liking where the conclusion led. I'm glad he got what he deserved. 😌

The Plot: The plot was soooo good!!! There were so many twists and turns in this book. John literally made my skin crawl. He was the kind of stalker that we dark romance girlies do NOT like. 🤚🏼 From the very beginning, the plot was gripping and was such a page turner. It was such a fast-paced read that you could probably binge in a day. I absolutely could not turn away from reading this book it was in my hand every chance I could get. There was so much going on that I was never bored and all information that was given was for a purpose. A lot of thrillers can be filled with a lot of fluff that is related, but Ali Blood knew what she was doing!!

Overall, I had such a good time reading this book. I ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to people who love a creepy, fast-paced, action filled thriller because THIS is the one!! I will definitely be reading more from this author!🩷

⚠️PLEASE CHECK TW BEFORE READING THIS BOOK! THIS BOOK IS FILLED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR SOME READERS⚠️

Thank you Ali Blood, Avon Books UK, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I read The Other Fiance over two days and loved it. The story is fast moving and there are lots of unexpected twists. I adored the main character, Gemma Morgan, and felt really sorry for her. The ending came as a total shock and if you like a tense thriller then I'd recommend this. I read Ali Blood's first book, The Prisoner's Wife, which was also terrific. This one is just as good. My thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.