'The New Girl' is a novel I personally would classify as family saga/drama...possibly edging its way into psychological fiction territory!

The protagonist, Anna, is married to Jon, and together they own a fledgling graphic design business, they are a church-going couple, and are keen to expand there family, but, frustratingly, nature does not seem to be cooperating, This would seem to be the state of affairs, but of course, delve a little deeper and there is plenty more going on!

Jon suggests they expand their team at work, and quickly suggests an attractive young woman he knows through church connections, combine this with a sinister piece of mail Anna receives and her suspicions as to what exactly is going on with Jon and this new intern quickly escalate!

This is a good story and definitely one for fans of the slow burn! Likable and interesting characters and some very interesting writing around family dynamics!

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

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I actually got to 30 percent and could not finish. The main character just drove me crazy. She was just always whining and complaining and was just about poor me. Her husband thought she wanted a baby and they were trying for years but she was actually on the pill because she didn't want a baby. One day an ultrasound picture of a baby shows up in her mailbox and she accused her best friend of putting it there lol. It was so drawn out also.

I loved this, despite getting everything wrong and going way off route with trying to guess what was going on.

I’m a massive fan, so I knew I was in for a treat, she writes the best characters and there always to be one who annoys me, this book had Grace, such a annoying sneaky and patronising person! I wanted Anna to punch her in certain points 😂

This has some great twists, add to your TBR

After reading My Silent Friend I was eagerly awaiting a new release by Alison Stockham and this did not disappoint. I was hooked instantly and I would never have predicted that ending. I thought the twists and turns were perfectly plotted to keep you guessing and needing to reach the conclusion. The characters are well written and I found it really easy to sympathise with Anna over her current struggles and the past trauma that was shaping her ability to let herself build a future. I think the dual timeline was great at gradual showing the bigger picture. If you like an intense family drama/thriller full of secrets and betrayal then this is perfect.

2.5 rounded up to 3.

My unrestrained thoughts: Hm… Quite good. Hm… What is happening? Hm… I don’t understand where this is going. Hm… I see, this is how it ends. Okay…
Now, onto a little sophisticated review – it may contain tiny spoilers!

TW: Potential infidelity, marriage issues, past miscarriage, and potential infertility.

I have never read Alison Stockham’s novels before so whatever thoughts I have on her writing style or structure are restricted for The New Girl only. Its story goes like this – Anna and Jon seem to be flourishing together, they have a seemingly happy marriage and running a business. But their inability to conceive has driven a wedge between them, but they, like any other couple, sweep it under the rug.

But that wedge deepens when Jon butters up Anna to get a new intern to help them with the work. In comes Grace – a young girl half their age who is attractive and suspiciously close to Jon. Right from the start, warning bells ring in Anna’s head about Grace, further fuelled by her friend, Kate’s assumptions about Jon’s possible infidelity. The conflict comes to a head when a baby scan photo comes to Anna’s doorstep. Why is it important? 1. Because it taunts Anna on her well-kept secret about their inability to conceive. 2. The back of it reads Grace. *dramatic sound effect*

If you think you can imagine where this is going, you simply can’t! Because the reveal flips the script all over. There were certainly some parts that I loved, but I have to be honest here, even though the protagonist was relatable, I didn’t like her much. Anna lets her paranoia overtake her throughout the book, blowing things way out of proportion. As a result, most of the narrative circles round and round without getting to the point or even dropping any foreshadowing events.

Another point is that there is a pretty big religious aspect to the novel. I wasn’t expecting that and I immediately saw amazing potential in that angle… but that was also not handled properly. Unfortunately, all these (and other things) made the book a bit tedious for me to read.


What I liked about the book:

• The realistic portrayal of overthinking: The way Anna spiraled over her own assumptions was something I liked only because I found it totally relatable. She thinking the worst and taking a molehill and making a mountain of it… I know for a fact that’s exactly how overthinking works.

• Anna’s day-to-day life: Even if Anna was overthinking all the time, the author didn’t fail to show how Anna lived every day. Snippets of her home life, her workdays, and her church visits – all these painted a homely picture that I couldn’t help but like. It showed that Anna was a really jovial yet dedicated person, and I would have loved to see that more… but, oh well!

• Parts of the big reveal: I didn’t like the way the reveal was handled, but there were parts of it that I couldn’t help but appreciate. Firstly, the actual mystery – I simply wasn’t expecting that. It made my jaw drop and gave me some satisfaction after all those grueling chapters. And secondly, Anna keeping her secret from Jon about not getting pregnant… well that made sense to me. And, as Anna reasoned, it would’ve been such an unnecessary way of hurting their family, when she was finally pregnant!


What I wasn’t impressed with:
Imagine you want something and it’s right there in front of you. But for some reason, it seems to move away from you when you go closer to it. This book felt like that to me. It was truly capable of becoming one of the best mystery books with a slice-of-life twist (but it came across as the other way around)… I guess that goal moved away from the author when she tried to go close.

This novel had its wins, but the confused narrative put all those in the backseat. The mystery was watery at best, with only one thing happening to fuel it (the scan coming in through the post). [ I was also expecting more insight into Anna’s childhood – so I could hate her family and justify her actions – but nothing came of the sort. Since there was no shock value to her past, it negated the goosebumpy effect the book promised to deliver.

Expanding more on that, I also felt that the end was too good to be true. Everything was laid out in the open in two short chapters and there was no anger, just acceptance. I was especially hoping Jon to lash out at Anna but he was all loving, understanding, and caring. For a story so rooted in reality, the ending was almost fairy-tale-like, and that definitely doesn’t happen in real life.


My final thoughts?
I don’t know how to make up my mind on The New Girl – while it is a quick and easy read, it is also the kind of book I’d pick up only if I have nothing else to read. But me not being impressed with it doesn't mean you won't be, so give it a try!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
#netgalley #arcreview

Review:

***TRIGGER WARNING: Miscarriage, marriage problems, possible infidelity***

Anna and Jon are a married couple. Anna really wants a baby. They feel overwhelmed in life and work with their design and printing business and feel like they need help.

Will they get that help in Grace?

Grace goes to the same church and has a dog that sleeps under the pews. I liked this little detail, and how ir was woven into the plot. She works with Jon at the church.

Anna’s feelings were right out there from the start, and some were realistic and others were unfounded. She was a bit opinionated at times. Kate is a good friend of hers, and I liked her and how supportive she was.

The New Girl is the first novel by Alison Stockham I have reviewed.

It was a little predictable, but it also felt true-to-life. The pace was very quick, which was good, as I was eager for Anna and Grace to get to know each other. The way they did was realistic.

I was also thinking: what kind of feelings does Jon have for Grace? Are they messing with Anna and her mind? I did feel uneasy more than once as the story developed because of this and other things that happen to add twists to the book.

Who can be trusted?

Thanks to Alison Stockham, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

3.5 stars.

Unfortunately I sort of struggled with this one and I can’t put my finger on exactly why. The first half of the book I found to be quite repetitive and the constant reference to God and religion did irritate me at times. I did enjoy the ending and was totally taken aback by the twist. It was certainly one I did t see coming.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review

The New Girl is a family secrets thriller, Anna has many secrets she has been keeping from her husband Jon. When he employs a young girl to intern at their offce she spirals into seeing conspiracy theories every where and is convinced that they are having an affair.

Will Anna be able to keep her secrets or will Jon find out everything. Just who is The New Girl, Grace?

A taught family secret thriller that moves along a fast pace with gripping characters and an emotional ending

Anna and Jon have been trying for a baby with no luck. One day a scan photo is sent to their house shattering their perfect life. But the question is who sent this photo and why?
A brilliant fast paced read I found very hard to put down.

Anna and John have been married seven years and still no signs of starting a family, both have had a traumatic past with Anna losing her child when she was young and John also losing his wife and baby. Now at first I had no idea of their ages and for the longest part of the book until near the end I had Anna in her late forties not around 37 = an irk of mine is not definitely knowing a characters age. They run a printing business and when John suggests bringing in someone to help ease the admin workload Anna isn't sure, but when it turns out that John has already gone ahead and hired Grace. a young woman he has meet through their church, this gets Anna's heckles right up.

Grace starts working and Anna struggles to gel with her, especially when she starts asking questions about Anna's family and upbringing and why she and John don't have children. Her imagination really starts to run wild when a baby scan is shoved through her door shortly after Grace started working for them, is John and Grace having an affair? is the baby scan Grace's? 
Anna is just all over the place with her imagination connecting dots that don't exist.

Grace is definitely keeping some kind of secret, and when she discovers that Anna is also hiding a secret from John she gives Anna a ultimatum that brings everything to head revealing past wrong doings. Whilst I saw Grace's secret coming towards the end, it was still a twist that was heart-breaking, but then it also ended up that Anna didn't need reveal her secret after all!!

Thank you to Negalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, although I did find it heavy in religion in places. Recommended.

First, I want to thank Alison Stockham, Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley.

WOW!!! Readers are always asking me for book recommendations that are unpredictable and give you the wow factor-well I have just the book for you! Yes, Alison Stockham’s The New Girl does just that.

One thing that is different from most psychological thrillers that I have read is that Alison incorporated a religious theme to the storyline. It was done subtlety and not overbearing. I thought it was quite refreshing to see in a book.

Oh what an emotional rollercoaster Alison put me on with this one! Most of the book I had empathy for various situations that were going on. However, there was one deep dark revelation that revealed that I was literally screaming at my Kindle!! I was furious and wanted to jump into the book and give the character a piece of my mind. It was a brilliant twist and Alison went there but WOW!!

This is definitely one book you will want to put on your TBR list as I bet readers will be talking about this book!

This is my first book by this author and she treated me to a very enjoyable book. 

I have to admit I had the same thoughts Anna had, but often when it's too obvious it's probably not true, because that would result in a not very suspenseful story, would it. :)

So it made me want to read on to find out the truth, because there were quiet some liars to be found here. Will every morsel of truth be revealed though?

There is emphasis put on religion, but I had the impression those people did not read the manual correctly. Their behaviour and what their behaviour should be were worlds apart. 

In my opinion some parts were a bit repetitive and I would not call this book a thriller, but this does not mean it was not a good one. I would say it was about family and their relations with a few twists added to the mix. It was most certainly interesting enough to get me hooked. 4,5 stars

Thank you

The New Girl by Alison Stockham

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

The letterbox clatters and sitting on the mat is a piece of paper, in black and white, with everything needed to blow Anna’s perfect life apart.

A baby scan photo.

Anna and Jon have been trying for a baby with no success, so after years of disappointment, this feels like a kick in the teeth.

Who sent it? And why?

Anna’s thoughts fall on Grace – the keen young woman Jon hired at their printing business. Something about Grace isn’t quite right. She asks too many questions and makes Anna nervous but she can’t work out why.

And she can’t deny she sees the way her husband looks at her.

All she knows is this baby scan might tear her marriage apart…

My Opinion

Anna and Jon have recently set up a new business and between the business and trying to start a family they are struggling. One of the solutions to this is to hire a new member of staff - Grace. When Jon hires Grace, Anna grows suspicious that there is something wrong. This book deals with some sensitive topics. This was my first book by Alison Stockham but I do already have my next one lined up. This was an enjoyable and relatable read.

Rating 4/5

The New Girl, what a brilliant read!

Anna & Jon found each other when they both needed each other, both have had previous losses of a baby so they are keen to start their own family together - but are they both?

Overworked Jon talks Anna in to agreeing to have help at work and they take on Grace, but Anna doesn’t trust her, she seems to be up to something and making Anna feel very uncomfortable. Then one day a baby scan appears through Anna & Jon’s letterbox, addressed to Anna - who’s behind it? Whose idea of a sick joke is this?

All throughout I found this book to be compelling and had me wanting to find out more. A real page turner.

Another palate cleanser thriller. Unlikeable characters and a story you’ll have to suspend disbelief for. I would be interested to read more from the author in the future, I think the psychological thriller premise is a muscle the author needs more experience with and then their stories will be more flushed.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to yell at Jon so badly, I still don't buy how his motives were so innocent when he intially hired Grace, and choosing to text her late at night, etc.

It was a decent story, but I wouldn't classify it as a thriller.

In this book you following Jon and Anna...... One of the main focus of the book is about conceiving and the couple have been very unsuccessful in the story. They both run a printing business as well. One of their focus points is church where they meet grace. She is in her early twenties and they ask her to work for them part time. While awaiting Grace's arrival there is an envelope that shows up with and ultrasound picture of a baby. Anna wonders if someone is playing a trick or what is going on.

In this novel you experience lies while trying to protect secrets. I fill that there was no thriller aspect in this story but it does get more interesting and twisty the longer you read into the story. There needs to be a trigger warning about religion in the novel as it is stated very heavily in the story. Even though there is a heavy emphasis on religion, it was still a very good story and i enjoyed the twists within the story.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

The New Girl by Alison Stockham made me question a lot of things that I have taken for granted about my family, my employer and my life choices. This story had me drawn in, invested the characters and about to cry at the end. I hope there is a sequel to this, because I’d love to read it.
#TheNewGirl
#AlisonStockham
#BoldwoodBooks

Anna & Jon have a great life - or do they? They’ve got an up and coming printing business, and they’ve been happily married for 7 years. However, there’s one thing missing for them - a baby. It hasn’t happened for them and it’s not a secret to those around them. When a baby scan photo shows up at their home addressed to Anna, with no explanation as to who sent it or why - Anna feels uneasy. Why would someone do this? Are they trying to tell her something? Is it someone from her past, bringing up trouble? Or someone from her life now - who knows a secret she doesn’t?

Overall - I enjoyed the story, and the twist was a surprise I didn’t see coming, even though I wrongly guessed every other option before 😂

My main issue was that this book is heavy with religion. The main characters are religious (they met at a church, very involved in the community, etc), say things like “if it’s God’s plan, it’ll happen”, and even brings up some trauma from the past that is 100% related to religious parents. With both characters being religious, it’s clearly a central point of their relationship and just peppered in this book all over the place. This might not be an issue for some, but as someone who isn’t solidly set in their religion, this was a really big turn off for me. Truthfully had I known religion played a part in the story at all, I probably wouldn’t have requested to read it in the first place.