Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the early read of Every Breath You Take by the amazing Amanda Rijks. The premise of this book was so compelling to me. Imagine your husband disappeared and you had a bucket list of things to do in order to see him again. I guess you would say it depends on what was in that bucket list right? Well, strap in y’all because this one gets twisty. This was so much fun to read and at the same time a little scary. Don’t miss this one.

When Eva's husband Samuel doesn't come home from a boy's night out, she thinks he's sleeping off his hangover at a friends house. So she waits. And waits.... Eventually, he sends her a text - he's met someone else and needs a few days to get his head together. Eva is devastated. How could he do this? How could he do it to his children? She thought his marriage was rock solid. She tries to go on with her life as best she can. But things take a truly bizarre turn....

Miranda Rijks is one of my go-to authors - I never read the premise, I just read the book when it's at the top of my TBR pile. Once again, I was not disappointed with this book There was so much going on, and it all seemed to be happening to Eva. Her husband Samuel didn't come home after a night out with the boy's. Then she gets a text message saying he has met someone else. But then she receives a photo of someone holding a knife to Samuel's throat. He hasn't met someone else, Samuel's been kidnapped. But the ransom they want is a little weird.

The story is told in alternating chapters from the wife and the lover's perspectives. I did correctly guess who the kidnapper was, but I still thought I must be wrong, but not the reason why until it became obvious. Filled with twists and a truly weird ransom, the things Eva had to do in a short time period, were unbelievable. I was fully invested in this book, I think this is my favourite book, so far, by Miranda.

Published 14th July 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Inkubator books and the author #MirandaRijks for my ARC of #EveruBreathYouTake in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a Miranda Rijks novel, and it absolutely will not be my last. Miranda is a fantastic storyteller, and her writing style is amazing. I loved being able to read things from the different characters' points of view. Every time I thought I had figured out what was really going on, I was surprised to learn that I had not, in fact, figured things out. There were a few times that the story got so exciting and intense that I had to stop reading for a few minutes and just breathe. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller.

This was my first book by Miranda Rijks, it was very gripping from the very beginning, the twists near the end were phenomenal!

Another cracking read by Miranda Rijks!
When Eva's husband Samuel doesn't come home after a night out she thinks he has stayed with friends. Then she starts receiving messages with a bucket list of things she has to do if she wants to see him again. The story is told from her view and the lovers view. A great read full of twists and turns.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy of this book. This thriller is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Think you know what is going on? Think you know who did it and why? Think again.

📖 Review:
Miranda Rijks has crafted an electrifying thriller with Every Breath You Take! From the moment Eva’s husband, Samuel, doesn’t come home, the story takes off at breakneck speed, and I was absolutely hooked. 📚💥

Eva's world is shattered when she gets a text from Samuel saying he’s met someone else. Just when you think things can’t get worse, they take a sinister twist with the arrival of a horrifying photo of Samuel with a knife to his neck and a chilling ultimatum: complete a kidnapper’s bucket list or he dies. 😨🔪

As Eva embarks on this twisted scavenger hunt, the stakes keep getting higher. Every task she completes brings new dangers and challenges, unraveling her life piece by piece. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, desperate to see what insane demand would come next and how Eva would handle it. 📄🏃‍♀️

Rijks does a phenomenal job of building suspense and keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The emotional rollercoaster Eva experiences is palpable, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. Her determination to save Samuel and protect her children is both inspiring and heart-wrenching. ❤️👩‍👧‍👦

The plot twists are relentless, and just when you think you’ve figured it all out, another shocker hits you. The blend of psychological tension and fast-paced action makes this book impossible to put down. 📖💨

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow! This was my first Miranda Rijks book and what a rollercoaster!
Eva is happily married, or so she thinks. But when she returns from a girl’s trip with her besties, Samuel, her husband, does not come home from work. Not long until she gets a text from him announcing that he’s leaving her. Eva’s world is shattered, even more so when a few days later she receives a photo showing Samuel with a knife held at his throat. Now she fears for his life! Instead of ransom, the kidnappers instruct her to complete a bucket list of actions very unlike her and not to talk to the police or anyone else. Because of her strange behavior, her friends and family are getting worried. Is she losing her mind over losing Samuel? Is she neglecting her children? She keeps everything to herself for fear of Samuel’s and her children’s safety. She can’t trust anybody.
The book is told from 2 POV’s, and I couldn’t put it down. I literally felt like I lived all the ups and downs, hopes, fears and doubts with Eva. I wanted to hug her, slap her, comfort her. Unlike Eva, of course, I had the advantage of reading ‘the other POV’ as well. Yet, about halfway through the book, I was really shocked by the early twist. I highly recommend this book to Thriller lovers, the author provides suspense from beginning to end.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy. It was a pleasure and honor, and the above is my honest review and opinion. I’ll be looking forward to reading more of Ms Rijks.

I've read many books by Miranda Rijks because every now and then I need a book with a nice but not too complicated plot, interesting characters and a few surprises. The writing flows easily so it's not hard to finish a title in a couple of hours.

This one didn't disappoint either. We have a happy couple (Eva and Samuel), two children (one of each), a nice house, good jobs and no financial difficulties. And then suddenly everything goes wrong and Eva finds herself swept away in a most horrible nightmare. Only it's not the nightmare she's been having since almost drowning when she was thirteen, this is a real nightmare. Her loving husband Samuel disappears and the kidnapper wants to destroy Eva's life.

Needless to say everybody thinks Eva's gone completely mad and so she's left to her own devices when trying to solve the mystery, while having to work hard in her own company and trying to be a good mum to her children. The story is fast-paced with Eva driving to various locations and generally trying to not get absolutely mad - because her friends and family are not right in thinking she already is.

The big surprise and centre part of the plot is revealed a little to soon in the story. It's a big surprise but for me, it would have been an even bigger surprise if it was a little more spaced out. Now we read what it is all about, but just not the whole background. This background follows much later and feels a bit rushed. Therefore, three stars instead of four, but still, a very enjoyable book.

Thanks to Inkubator books and Netgalley for this review copy.

Written in dual pov, this book captures a lot of pain and struggle and mystery on what happened to the FMC’s husband. I really liked how fast paced the chapters were and it was a quick thriller binge. Many many thanks to publishers and Miranda Rijks for this ARC!

Rarely do I feel that I wasted time reading one thing when I could have been reading another, and this was unfortunately one of those times. The writing was a bit too amateur, and not in a good way. There was no character development, and everyone seemed one-dimensional with no emotion aside from the protagonist in the beginning. Each reveal felt cheap, and the entire story was outlandish as well as rushed. I hate that I feel like I am bashing a book, ever, but this is how I feel upon finishing. Two stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Inkubator Books, for this ARC.

This author does not disappoint. The ending was so unexpected and I did not want it to end. I enjoyed the storyline and how there was the kidnapping and ransom/bucket list request. It was a refreshing and thrilling read. Highly recommend,

From the first page I was hooked! Kept me guessing until the end. Binge worthy thriller! I can’t wait to read more of Miranda’s books!

WOW this book was something else. Lots of twists and turns. It started off with a bang and it never stopped until the end.

It is an awesome book to read! It was excellent! Well written and I found myself gasping a couple times.

Miranda you did a great job. You had me there.

This book wins the award for intense twistiness! The dual POVs from the wife and the lover kept me hooked. The bucket-list plotline? Pure genius!

Evie's husband vanishes, and she starts getting messages saying he's been kidnapped. The kidnapper gives her a bucket list to complete. What a plot!

The big reveal about the kidnapper's identity? My jaw literally dropped! Big thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for this awesome read!

Every Breath You Take is a wild ride that will make you question her sanity and your own. I loved this book, it kept me engaged, wanting to scream at Eva, and questioning everything. Just when you think you got it nailed you're wrong.
Eva and Samuel are happily married with two kids, until one night Samuel doesn't return after a night out with the guys. Fearful she calls the cops to report him missing, but when they chalk it up to a grown man sleeping off a wild night or one that has decided to leave his family she insists they are wrong. Soon after though she receives a message from him later saying he has met someone and needs to get his head on straight she is forced to face the truth. But hold on because this ride is far from over, she then receives another text that he has been kidnapped and if she wants to save him she can't contact the police but must complete this bucket list of sorts. Which she does, until the requests become so insane that it leaves everyone questioning her mental state, and when she can no longer comply she must again seek the police for help.
This was a great thriller that left my head spinning, and even when I thought I figured it out, I was wrong. Face paced and mesmerizing, I can't wait to check out more books by Miranda Rijks.
Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think my main issue with the book was the dual perspective - Eva’s parts were amazing, suspenseful and thrilling. The kidnapper’s part took all the suspense and threw it in the bin. They also made the story quite predictable - no guessing, no surprises, no twists.
Still - the cat and mouse game was a fun to read.

Eva and Samuel have a happy marriage, two great kids and life is good. At least she thought it was until Samuel doesn't come home one night and she's left worrying. She later receives a message stating he's leaving her for another woman, but is everything as it seems? Eva's life is about to be turned upside down in ways she could never have imagined.

This is the first book I've read by this Author and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a fast paced, crazy thriller with a lot of twists and turns. Eva was a great character, showing tremendous strength in difficult times, even when the people around her think she's losing her mind.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to trying more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a crazy ride! It shows what someone will do to help their loved one! The protagonist is put into impossible situations. And I am surprised she survived! There were some surprising twists although I’ll admit to being disappointed in the big reveal! I’m an eternal optimist! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Miranda Rijks' latest thriller, Every Breath You Take, promises an intriguing premise but ultimately delivers a mixed bag. The story follows Eva, a woman whose husband Samuel goes missing, only to send a cryptic text claiming he’s left her for another woman. Eva's nightmare escalates when she receives a photo of Samuel with a knife to his neck and a list of bizarre demands she must fulfill to ensure his safety. This setup immediately grabs attention and keeps readers on edge.

Rijks excels at building suspense, employing dual perspectives from Eva and Samuel’s lover, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative. The pacing, while initially slow, picks up and maintains a steady momentum filled with twists and turns. Some of these twists are predictable, but there are moments that genuinely surprise and elevate the reading experience. The writing is crisp, and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to empathize with Eva’s plight.

However, the novel falls short in its climax and resolution. The main twist, while surprising, feels somewhat underwhelming and lacks the emotional impact one would expect from such a buildup. The ending, in particular, feels rushed and leaves loose ends, making it seem as if an additional chapter was needed to provide closure. This abrupt conclusion may leave readers feeling dissatisfied after investing so much in the story.

Despite these shortcomings, Every Breath You Take is an engaging read, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a fast-paced, twisty narrative. While it may not be Rijks' best work, it still offers an entertaining escape with its blend of suspense and mystery. Those looking for a gripping summer read with an interesting premise and dynamic characters will likely find this book worth their time.

I give it 3.5 stars, rounding down to 3.