Margo is a librarian with a hidden secret that she has made her mission to hide. However, when Patricia joins the team and finds margo with a customer who's unconscious , she starts snooping and discovers margos' true identity. Will Patricia do the right thing or use this secret as writers' fuel to feed her newest obsession. A thriller with 2 POVs full of twists and turns. There was an expected assault scene with a corpse, so do check triggers. This book was packed with animosity and twisted tension. A book of obsession, dark desires, passion, and unhinged characters .

This is a book like no other I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more from this author. Will be recommending to friends.

This book with its bright yellow cover immediately caught my eye when I came across it on NetGalley and the blurb guaranteed that I added it to my TBR. I am new to this author and was not sure what to expect.
This riveting psychological thriller explores the dark underbelly of seemingly ordinary lives. The author crafts a tale of suspense and danger within the confines of a small-town public library. At the heart of the narrative is Margo, a librarian with a carefully concealed past. Her colleagues and patrons see only her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charge, oblivious to the fact that she was once a nurse with a trail of premature deaths behind her. The library serves as Margo’s sanctuary, a place where she attempts to quell the haunting urges of her past. The author excels at creating an atmosphere of quiet unease, drawing you into Margo’s dual existence.
The arrival of Patricia, a recent graduate and aspiring novelist, introduces a new dynamic to the story. Patricia, keenly observant, quickly senses Margo’s subtle sinister edge. The tension builds as Patricia becomes increasingly fixated on unravelling the mystery behind Margo’s façade. You are drawn into Patricia’s descent into obsession, making you question whether her relentless pursuit of the truth is driven by curiosity or an innate danger of its own.
The turning point occurs with a patron’s death in the library bathroom, offering a glimpse into Margo’s mysterious past. This event catapults the narrative into a thrilling exploration of secrets, deception and the consequences of unearthing buried truths. Patricia’s quest for answers becomes an all-consuming force, blurring the lines between reality and her own psychological turmoil.
Laura Sims’ writing is razor-sharp, creating an atmosphere that is both chilling and captivating. The pacing is expertly controlled, maintaining a sense of suspense that keeps you engaged until the final page. The characters are well-developed and the author skilfully navigates the complexities of their relationships, adding to the narrative. These two women will make it hard for you to ever look at your local librarian in the same way.
“How Can Help You” is a fantastic psychological thriller that explores the intricacies of human nature and the haunting power of hidden pasts. This novel is a must-read for fans of suspenseful storytelling and psychological depth. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of this author's work.

I love the idea of a thriller set in a library and I liked the inclusion of a writer in this. It was weird because I didn’t know who to root for which was fun but strange… I enjoyed the book a lot but think it might fade from my memory,

I was not too impressed or disappointed by this psychological suspense novel. I think the author missed a great opportunity to give a shocking twist at the end, not to say this book doesn't have twists, but the sudden stop at the end just didn't feel right.

“People confess to you all the time. They tell you things they wouldn’t tell someone they knew - you’re a semi-anonymous sympathetic ear. And they think you might have answers.”

The premise of this novel is absolutely delicious; Margo is a librarian hiding a deadly secret, Patricia is a woman who unwittingly stumbles upon the truth. The two become engaged in a game of vicious cat-and-mouse, fuelled by a weird obsession neither of them quite understands. AND it all takes place in a library! Sign me up; I adored Alice Slater's Death of a Bookseller last year, and this has very similar vibes.

I tore through this; I loved the dual POVs and how they re-told the same events through different eyes, and Laura Sims is undenabily a really talented author. That's why it bugged me that while I really enjoyed it, I actually wanted more from it - Sims seems content to skim over the surface of her story & its characters, never digging into their psyche the way I wanted her to.

Both Margot and Patricia were absolutely fascinating but they remained surface level; this was frustrating especially as the narrative dropped hints of darker elements of both characters that the reader never gets to see. Margo's black humour was a bright spot, but for a probably pyschopath, she just felt a bit too normal for me to believe that she had committed heinous crimes. Similarly, Patricia, the library's new recruit, becomes obsessed with Margo, but we're never really told why.For me, the lack of character exploration cheapened the story for me, and left me wanting.

I loved the library setting & the descriptions of weirdo patrons, which elevated the novel from a mediocre thriller to something more fun. But I think if you like your thrillers bookish, you're much better off with Death of a Bookseller, which is both uncannily similar in concept and considerably better in execution.

There wasn't anything I didn't enjoy about this book. Such a fun read and what an ending!
Margo is a librarian with a secret, Patricia is a research librarian/wanna-be author who just can't help but find Margos little back story fascinating, obsessed and enthralled by her. These 2 characters were so easy to like, the whole of the library staff were fantastic. I adored this story

An intriguing and gripping story, I loved the characters and can't wait to read more by this author.

This book has a really interesting premise, and I found myself caught up in the story within the first few pages. A fugitive hiding in plain sight? An angel of death? Unlikeable female leads? A library setting? What more could I ask for?

Well, it turns out I could ask for more. And that’s just it: I wanted MORE. More detail. More suspense. More character development. Just more.

Both of the lead characters had so much potential, but there was so little background on them that they never felt fully fleshed out. The ending was so strange and rushed, almost like the author couldn’t quite figure out how to tie things up. The final climax just fell flat and didn’t do any justice to all of the build up. And what was the point in introducing the detective character if you’re not going to put him to any use?!

The book needed another 20-50 pages, with more depth added to the characters and plot.

That being said, I raced through it and enjoyed the story for the most part, I just felt a little let down by the end and wished it could have fulfilled its potential.

“People confess to you all the time. They tell you things they wouldn’t tell someone they knew - you’re a semi-anonymous sympathetic ear. And they think you might have answers.”

Laura Sims novel is about two strange librarians. One is Margo who is known for her middle-aged normalcy, congeniality and charm. They would never suspect she once was a nurse responsible for countless premature deaths in her wake. She reinvented herself at his library which has become her safe haven until Patricia is recruited. A failed novelist and recent graduate who instantly notices the flaws in Margo’s character. Soon this becomes an obsession for Patricia as she becomes one for Margo. There’s something about each other they both can’t resist exploring out of odd curiosity. When two deaths occur in this town, Patricia becomes fixated on Margo from something she herself has let slip.

This read like a fast paced suspense novel. From the start to the end the reader is pulled into the quirks of each of these librarians and how they navigate around each other. As more and more is revealed, the obsessive behaviours of both to an extent becomes “normal”. They way the characters are oblivious to how obvious they are being is at times unsettling and both funny.

This can easily be read in one go. Although at times the characters did frustrate me I did enjoy the majority of this book.

I had high hopes for this book, but gave up reading about a third of the way through.
I found the characters irritating and the story moved so slowly that it didn't seem worth spending time getting to the end, as I didn't care what happened to them.
The description of the library was good.

"How Can I Help You" is a gripping and suspenseful novel by Laura Sims that looks into the hidden depths of a woman's dark past. The story is narrated by Margo, a seemingly ordinary middle-aged library assistant, and takes place in a small-town public library. However, unknown to her colleagues and patrons, Margo has a haunting history of premature deaths stemming from her past life as a nurse.
For years, Margo has been able to keep her past buried and find comfort in the library's sanctuary. However, her peace is disrupted when Patricia, a talented yet frustrated writer, joins the staff. Patricia's sharp observation and curiosity lead her to delve into Margo's hidden past, ultimately leading her down a dangerous path as she uncovers the truth.
As the story progresses, Laura Sims skilfully alternates between Margo's perspective and Patricia's, heightening the tension and building suspense. Patricia becomes increasingly suspicious of Margo, fuelled by her own failed ambitions and the enigmatic events that occur within the library's walls.
Sims brilliantly captures the essence of their complex dynamic, bringing dark humour and depth to the narrative. The writer's attention to detail and meticulous pacing keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth.
The novel "How Can I Help You" is a well-crafted thriller that immerses readers in a world of secrecy and deceit. Laura Sims skilfully intertwines the stories of Margo, a nurse who disguises herself as a killer, and Patricia, an aspiring writer consumed by curiosity. The book's well-crafted characters and exciting storyline make it a compelling read. However, some readers may find the ending unsatisfying. Overall, the journey is an addictive and heart-pounding ride.

Margo is just your average small town librarian who is always there and happy to help, but oh...wait Margo isn't Margo and she really isn't what she appears to be. Margo is actually Jane who has reinvented herself to run from her murderous past.

I sped through this entire book so quickly. Laura Sim's writing style was so smooth and the switching between Patrica and Margo felt seamless. I loved the way we got to see both sides these women. Margo clinging onto her past, needing to help as she likes to call it and Patricia who is looking for an escape from her own life and recent personal failures. The unreliable nature of both narratives was so fitting for the story and helped build tension throughout.

My one gripe was that the ending was a little underwhelming. I felt like it crept up on me and happened so fast that I blinked and it was over. I went into this pretty blind and I would definitely define this a physiological tale which would be a perfect recommendation for those who subscribe the the unique 'weird girl books' genre.

This was a very weird one for me, I enjoyed the premise but the ending just seemed very rushed - I had 10 pages left and was confused as to how it would end well… spoiler - it sort of didn’t …. Still. If you like mystery’s / thrillers then this may be for you, it is a short read too so!

This is the ultimate cat-and-mouse thriller. A slow-burn book that took my breath away, HOW CAN I HELP YOU takes a simple library and makes it one of the most dangerous places to be. I was intrigued by the concept - a murderous nurse fleeing her past - and it really added a level of creepiness I never expected. A weird and sinister little novel that I adored.

Margo fled her old life as a serial killing nurse and reinvented herself as a cheery, helpful librarian... or has she? And what will happen when a fellow librarian notices some of her old traits making an appearance?

I LOVED this book. It was a real page turner and I couldn't wait to get back to it each time. The dual viewpoint of the two librarians was brilliant as you could see how her odd behaviour was being perceived by everyone else. The character development was SO good, gradually building a picture of Margo and her previous life and building the tension as she was feeling her old urges return. I was so on edge wondering when she was going to be discovered.
The end was tense and brilliant and a really good twist. If you like thrillers with a great storyline, you will love this!

This book is an engaging character study of two colleagues who are oddly fascinated with each other.
The library setting felt very real and the interactions with patrons and colleagues were witty. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing their friendship develop, especially getting to read both characters' perspectives on the same interactions.
Overall a dark but funny book about two unreliable and potentially unlikeable characters. However for me the ending felt rushed and was very quick, which was disappointing as the rest of the book had a slow pace that built the tension to that point. I think if you have a personal connection to nursing or libraries or the characters sound interesting to you then the book is still well worth a read, just bear in mind it is more of a character/scene study than a thriller.

How Can I Help You
by Laura Sims

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of How Can I Help You, sorry I am late with my review!

I'm not sure how I feel about this book, I love a psychological thriller but I didn't think there was many twists and turns in this one. I still enjoyed it but I wasn't hooked. With the book being less than 300 pages I expected to fly through it but I found myself reading a few pages at a time, that being said when my kindle finally said 1hr30mins left I did stay up until it was finished. I would have loved more background on Margo especially about her childhood and why she did what she did and where her obsessions started. I enjoyed Sims' writing style but I did find the book repetitive in parts by the way the dual POV's were written.

I really enjoyed the setting being in a library. The stories of the patrons were funny and gave a glimpse at the life of a librarian. I've always wanted to work in a library myself!

⭐⭐⭐

#HowCanIHelpYouNovel #NetGalley

This starts off slowly. It is an incredibly accurate portrayal of library life, compelling and interesting. It carries on, slowly getting darker and darker, drawing you in to what becomes an unputdownable page turner. Anyone who uses a public library will be hooked by this book, and will never look at the staff of their local library in the same way again.
A very clever and well written book.

How Can I Help You is a clever, slow burning thriller than can easily be read in a single sitting. The setting of a small town library is sure to appeal to avid readers as it did me.

This is a book that you want to go into fairly blind. The suspense builds throughout the story of these 2 women, neither If them really who they appear to be. It was fun to see how they saw the same incidents so differently. It is dark and disturbing but a fun and quick read.

Thanks to Verve Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on July 25th