A good read, slightly predictable in places and I did suspect the big twist quite early on but still enjoyed it.

Paranoia, secrets and lies
This book had many intriguing twists and turns throughout. Paranoia, secrets, and lies are the theme of this story. Religion plays a large part in the story and I feel especially effects Anna. Anna and Jon's marriage seems to be flourishing as they run their business. But there is a wedge between them as they have not been able to concieve. Then they hire Grace to help out at the business at the urgening of Jon. Anna is skeptical of Grace, especially after she sees the way Jon looks at her. And then an ultrasound photo shows up in their mailbox. Who sent it and why? Whose ultrasound is it?

This one was a mixed bag for me; there were lots of elements I liked and enjoyed but others that left me feeling slightly impatient as it felt the plot was slow and dragged a little in places.

The author deals with difficult issues well and there are several potential trigger warnings with infertility, child loss and deceit within relationships all central to the plot.

There is an interesting angle with the religious aspect throughout, which deals with both positive and negative aspects of faith and its impact on the behaviour of others. It was central to understanding how Anna’s anxiety and mistrust of others as a result of her upbringing impacted on her judgement in different situations.

That said, Anna’s refusal to accept responsibility for her own deceitful actions, using her childhood as an excuse eventually became frustrating and I found her hypocrisy when imagining what she perceived to be happening between Jon and Grace a real bugbear.

I was convinced I had the basis of the plot figured out early on and couldn’t work out why it wasn’t even considered by Anna or Kate, especially after the baby scan was posted. Just before the actual twist was revealed towards the end, I realised my faux pas and at that point, began to feel some empathy for Anna again.

The ending certainly laid a few demons to rest but part of me was left feeling Anna should still have been made accountable for her earlier deception. But, no one’s going to argue with a potential happy ending!

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Really interesting premise that I felt was a little lost in delivery however I didn't see the ending coming and that made the whole thing enjoyable

Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Alison Stockham for the eArc of The New Girl.

This is a twisty, psychological thriller which kept me on the edge of my seat and sent me off into red herring territory. I would say it's a slow burn, building the characters and dynamics of Anna and Jon, her husband. Anna has a secret, a heartbreaking one that she can't tell anyone. Even Jon doesn't know. In their printing business, they are joined by a new girl, Grace. Grace is everything they needed for the business. She learns quickly, capable and likeable. So why does Anna feel threatened? Soon, she finds Jon and Grace whispering/ shifty glances and confines in a friend that they maybe having an affair. Are they?

I feel that reading this at a deeper level, conveys how deep seated shame, the secrets we hold and the portrayal of what people feel is the right "thing to do " do us. How that can truly build walls and alter ourselves at such a deep level. I really bonded with Anna, Once the big reveal was out, I really felt for her and related ro what she had experienced. I'll definitely be picking up more of Alisons books up in the future.

4 stars

I wanted to like this one but it was just too slow for me and I found myself losing interest. I struggled to connect with the main character Anna. I found her to be irritating.

I really wanted to love this book but I really struggled with it, it was a slow burn of a read hence the 2 stars

This is going to be one of those books that live in my brain rent free for all eternity!
Who would send such a cryptic and yet heart wrenching pack when all Anna wants is to be able to start a family of her own.

The New Girl was just fantastic - it had me hooked from start to finish. It had plenty of twists and turns, secrets and lies and a very satisfying ending. Absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

This book was exactly what you would need in a thriller. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and for a thriller this brought on a new view in terms of office workspace. Great book.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"The New Girl" by Alison Stockham is a riveting and addictive psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page until the very end. The story of Anna and Jon's struggles to conceive takes a dark and twisty turn when they receive a mysterious baby scan photo, throwing their marriage into turmoil.

Alison Stockham masterfully weaves a tale full of suspense, secrets, and intrigue, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout. The character of Grace, the new employee at Jon's printing business, adds an extra layer of tension to the story, and I found myself constantly questioning her motives and intentions.

The pacing of the novel is perfect, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that left me eager to read on. I couldn't put this book down, and it kept me up late into the night as I raced to uncover the truth behind the mysterious baby scan photo and the secrets lurking within Anna and Jon's marriage.

Overall, "The New Girl" is a gripping and thrilling read that will keep you guessing until the very end. Alison Stockham has once again delivered a top-notch psychological thriller that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

The premise of this book was slightly different from anything I’ve read before. So I was intrigued from the very beginning. I just knee that I had it figured out, but the ending was SO unexpected! This book has it all - secrets, betrayal, lies, and drama. There was no lack of twists and turns throughout this story. I felt a plethora of emotions while reading this one. It was such a roller coaster. I thought things were one way, but things were very different than they seemed. I was pleasantly surprised with the writing style that kept me intrigued and playing investigator to try and determine what was really going on. I enjoyed that there was a religious component, which you don’t really see in thrillers. Yet, it wasn’t done in an overbearing manner. Definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The New Girl by Alison Stockham was an emotional rollercoaster that just had you gripped from the very first page till the last. You will need tissues and lots of them. This book was a hard read for me and too close to home but very cleverly written by Alison.

I highly recommend this book.......but a book to be read away from people. If you are like me You can't hide under your sunglasses or sun hat whilst on holiday.....A sniff and a tear or two will give the game away!!! lol

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The New Girl' by Alison Stockham.

Read and reviewed for Alison Stockham, Boldwood Books, Book & Tonic, NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources Tours.

Publication date 9th April 2024

This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!

This novel consists of 29 chapters. The chapters are short in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

'The New Girl' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Keri discusses/includes Miscarriage, marriage problems and infidelity

WHAT did I just read!!!! WOW!!! I mean seriously Wow!! I was NOT expecting that lot fair play!!! This has GOT to start with a MASSIVE WELL DONE Keri!!!! Ooopps sorry, yes, needed a minute to get over that but I've just left you hanging there... Sorry.... Let me tell you more...

Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! This book is an extremely well written book by this amazing author which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and fantastically written with vivid descriptions I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times. The synopsis, title and cover really fit the storyline. As you can tell I LOVED the storyline!!! I found it to be realistic, heart racing, addictive ,extremely fast paced and everything you could ask for in an absolutely gripping storyline!! In this gripping domestic thriller we meet married couple Anna and Jon. They run their own small business and have been trying for a baby for a long time with no success. Jon lost his previous wife and unborn child in an accident and is desperate for a child or his own. To help them have more time for themselves and help Anna relax in order to help them conceive Jon employs the niece of a friend Grace to help them out in their business. Anna isn't happy that Jon has made this decision without her but it is too late and Grace has been told to come in to see what she thinks of the job. Not long after Grace starts working for Anna and Jon a baby scan picture is posted anonymously to Anna and Jon and Grace starts acting strangely. What is going on between Grace and Jon? Who sent the scan to Anna and what is she hiding? Who can be trusted, if anyone? Pick up your copy today to find out the answers to these questions and many more. This fast paced domestic thriller is ram packed with secrets, family, lies and an explosive twist that I would have never seen coming!! A huge congratulations to Alison on managing to shock me!! I have read hundreds of psychological and thriller books so it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I was left questioning who was hiding what and didn't know if I could trust any of the characters at all!! Alison discusses important but difficult topics such as fertility issues, miscarriage and marriage problems but does so sensitivity and manages to weave them all into a great storyline that I just could not put down!!! Alison's fantastic evocative writing skills ensures the reader is sucked deep into the storyline with the characters, atmosphere and emotions coming to life in front of them. All of the characters were very well developed, strong and realistic. I must admit that I wasn't really a fan of any of them and although this isn't a surprise in itself, what is is the fact that I still enjoyed the storyline!! If I dislike all of the characters in books I tend to struggle with the book itself but I had absolutely no problems with this one!! Anna annoyed me with some of her behaviours, accusations (especially towards her and Jon's friend Kate) and found her to go to extreme lengths at times. I found Jon to be a bit dull in the way that he went about things with just no thoughts to how Anna may feel. I was very wary of Grace especially with her strange attitude towards Anna. However, regardless if you like them or not they all played their parts perfectly and all came to life as you turn the pages. This book was fast paced with something constantly happening to keep you addicted. Every time I kept telling myself one more chapter the one I was in ended at a point where there was no way I could stop reading so I absolutely devoured it in one sitting!! Just brilliant fair play and everything linked in and wraps up perfectly!!! I cannot remember the last time I flew through a book so quickly. Each and every time I went to put it down to do something my fingers were itching to pick it back up as I just HAD to know what happened next!! I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie and would wait up all night to get tickets to watch it!! An absolute must read!!

Congratulations Alison on an absolutely explosive success!!! This is the exact reason I would like to welcome you to my favourite author club!! Here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Clear your schedules before picking this addictive thriller up as you will not be able to put it down!!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Alison's 'The Silent Friend' which promises to be just as addictive as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!

Overall an absolutely page turning, addictive, gripping and explosive must read that will keep you addicted from the very start to the mind blowing ending!!!

290 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon, free with Kindle Unlimited and £9.99 in paperback which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Anna, 37, and Jon, 43, own a printing business which is becoming very successful. so, when Jon suggests getting an assistant to help with some of the work, Anna isn’t sure she wants that. But, Jon knows a young woman named Grace at church who has just graduated from college and would be interested in working several days a week. Anna is perturbed that he already has someone in mind for the job.

Jon wants a child so very much. Anna says she does too but has not been able to conceive.

When Grace starts working at the business, Anna is not quite ready to have her there. For some reason, she can’t help but think that Grace and Jon could be having an affair. So, when she receives an anonymous picture of a baby scan, she wonders who could have sent it and why.

I just did not like Anna. I felt that she had a not of things going on in her head and her anger is actually frightening. The emphasis on the church plays into the story to show how some people are so mindset on how the church can control their lives. The story plays out showing readers why Anna has such anger but I just still wasn’t that impressed by this book. Sorry.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was an easy book to read. Not too many characters to confuse the reader but a very well written story which I guessed who the "bad" person was.........I was totally wrong! Held my interest although a little sluggish a few times but overall a good read!
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

The New Girl was a brilliant introduction to Stockham's writing for me - why have I never read anything by her till now?

It's a moderately paced thriller, that's based on the secrets and lies between husband and wife duo Anna and Jon on their baby journey. Who doss the scan photo belong to? Who is playing wicked games with Anna's mind?

Loved the twistiness of the plot, the brilliant characters and an ending that left me mouth agape in shock!

Secrets, lies, and a big surprise! I had no idea where this book was going when I picked it up. I was pleasantly surprised with the writing and intriguing plot.

Anna and Jon are a married couple who own a business together. They have been trying to have a baby for quite some time with no success. Jon hires Grace as an intern to help as their business picks up. Anna is a little leery as Grace begins asking questions about her life and past. Why so nosey? Then, one day a baby scan is left at her home and Anna can't help but wonder who sent it, what it means and wonders if Jon has been cheating on her. Could the baby be his???

This book is full of secrets, past pain and trauma, and insecurity. I wanted to yell "communicate, communicate, communicate" at my kindle. Anna likes to share things with her friend that she has never shared with her husband. What secret is she keeping from him?????? She is not the only one keeping a secret in this gripping and thrilling book!

This was a tantalizing read full of secrets, twists, and revelations.


Thank you to Boldwood books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jon and Anna find each other and connect over each losing a baby. They get married and start a business. Their business is growing, and Jon suggests hiring someone to help them out. While Anna is iffy about it, Jon has basically already hired Grace. Grace starts asking personal questions, and Anna sees Grace and Jon whispering a lot and suspects they are having an affair. Everyone seems to be keeping a secret, but what are they and how do they effect each others’ lives.

This is the true definition of a slow burn. A little too slow for me personally, but there are those that really love slow burns, then you will absolutely love this book. Told in the third person point of view, we are told the story from Anna’s perspective. I would have liked to have gotten the perspectives of the other main characters, but the fact that we don’t really helps the mystery.

There was something early on that tipped me in the direction of one of the secrets, but as the author so skillfully did, I was thrown off that scent. Then I was second guessing what I thought the secret could be.

I’ve seen a lot of comments about the religion in the book. For me, it didn’t bother me. I actually barely noticed it. So this will be different for every person that reads it.

I did find Anna slightly annoying, and even more so when she was with her friend, Kate. But I guess if I thought my husband was having an affair, I may be annoying and not myself either.

All in all, a good book.

Anna was so paranoid throughout the entire book I began to get paranoid too.
I really thought Jon and Grace were up to no good. I never dreamt another possibility could be the truth until it literally hit me full on in the face. My reaction was to be chagrined because I should have figured it out sooner.
I was bothered by Anna’s lying to Jon about a very big thing.
I don’t think she will be able to keep it s secret and I believe she will rue the day she didn’t tell Jon.
It’s a guessing book full of miscues, placed adeptly and purposely by the author.