This was super chilling and interesting food for thought, in our world of advancing technology.

Anna and Elijah have been married for ten years. Elijah is…well, not exactly controlling, but he always wants to know where Anna is and what’s she is doing, to the extent that he has installed cameras all around their high spec tech home. For Elijah, this is simply because he adores Anna and wants to know she is safe, but for Anna, Elijah’s behaviour is stifling.

On their anniversary, Elijah’s gift to Anna is for them to take their relationship to the next level and to have chips inserted that allow them both to hear the other one’s every thought, Anna is horrified, but how can she tell her husband that? She has no choice but to go ahead.

Trapped in a prison she can’t escape, Anna starts to have unusual dreams, which she realises are Elijah’s memories and which are also deeply disturbing. Does this mean he can access her memories? And therefore her secrets? Who is this man she is married to and is she in danger?

The book is really well written and the plot is fantastic!
Refreshingly original, this compelling read is highly recommended.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Carys Green and Random House Vintage for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I really liked the concept of this book, but I felt it lacked a cohesive plot. It was a lot of repetitive dialogue between the main characters, and I don't agree that saying something out loud means you aren't thinking it. It was a good idea but maybe too difficult to put into practice.
Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy.

I liked the premise of the novel but not the theme of coercive control and the unlikable characters. The relationship between the two main characters was unrealistic and lacking in chemistry. I failed to finish.

Would you want your partner to hear your every thought? Would you want to hear theirs? That's exactly the premise of this thriller meets sci-fi novel.

The husband Elijah is a wealthy man all about technology, to the point of their whole home being digitised. All controlled by an app. Including doors and windows. Yet it's mentioned several times throughout the book that His wife, Anna, doesn't have the app, which for me didn't make sense of seeing as it controlled the front door. I just found that all a bit weird!! His latest obsession was with the Unity chip, which he then buys them for their anniversary. It was clear Anna wasn't keen on the idea, and it seemed she was hiding something from him.. but she goes ahead and gets it anyway. Again, this is odd, and honestly made the storyline a little less believable as if you were hiding something from someone you wouldn't, then let them have complete access to your thoughts.. hmm?!?

Honestly, from the get-go, they seemed a rather strange match & Elijah didn't seem like a very nice person at all, so why Anna was even with him? It'll never know.

The concept was highly intriguing but I just don't think some of the storyline itself added up or made sense and it definitely wasn't believable [ which is what I like about books ] Shame really as this had great potential.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy.

What a fascinating premise for a book. Would I chose to share all my thoughts with my partner? Definitely not but in the book that is what happens. The story is quite dark and tumultuous and covers the time from university to adult life and as the thoughts become shared an interesting glitch is found that includes the sharing of dreams and memories.

This is a great read. Futuristic, dark and thrilling. The possibilities are endless with an app for everything in the home and now an implant to read each others minds.

Great book, one I would definitely recommend with a good ending that was not what I expected.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

YOU CAN HEAR HIS EVERY THOUGHT... BUT HE CAN HEAR YOURS TOO.

Never again wonder where they are
Never again doubt their feelings for you
Know your partner intimately
OneMind: for the ultimate closeness

In a modern tech advanced world, Anna is a traditional girl, who doesn't understand tech, whereas her husband Elijah always has to have the latest gadget before getting bored of it. So when Elijah announces that he wants them to get a Unity, OneMind chip, Anna is reluctant to say the least.

A chip in which you can hear each others thoughts! What could possibly go wrong? What secrets will be unearthed?

I don't want to give too much away, but safe to say we all have parts of us we don't fully share with others and thoughts we wouldn't want others to hear, but when you are hiding secrets this is amplified.

This book is so well written and really delves into the idea of sharing all your private thoughts every waking moment with your partner. The characters are believable, in their flaws and thinking, touching on controlling behaviours, obsession and idolisation.

This is such a compelling read I was hooked and didn't want to put it down. Such a great concept for a book and really well executed.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers, Random House for this ARC.

I'm grateful to the publisher for allowing me to read this book early, especially as it was such a pleasure to read. Far more than just being about coercive control, it also touches technology and privacy also, with a deft and skillful touch.
As a debut novel, it shows much promise for what can come, as the book is strong, measured and very enjoyable to read. I loved reading about the dynamics about the relationship and the secrets that we all have that should never be shared.

I found the storyline in the book fascinating, technology that enables you and your partner to hear each others every thought - no thank you! It’s amazing how quickly the marriage can fall apart when they get you, all of you, uncensored. It was truly a brilliant read and I couldn’t put the book down.

With a theme in the tone of ‘Black Mirror’ or a John Marrs book, this slightly futuristic story centering around a technology that allows parters to read each other’s minds was initially exciting.
For me, the interest started to wane somewhat around the middle when it was clear that no major surprises would happen and that what you think of the characters in the beginning, is exactly how they are towards the end.
The blatantness of ‘what’s going to happen’ is disappointing because this book is incredibly well written, the dialogue is impactful and the general idea is first rate.
Sadly, the ultimately simplicity in the resulting story and the obvious outcomes are what stop me from giving this full marks.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

This was interesting psychological sci fi type thriller.
A young couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary elijah loves his gadgets and wants them to have a chip installed within their 'mind'. Anna however is not at all that way inclined with regards to modern technology but relents. I willl leave tge reat of the story for you to enjoy. It was totally enthralling read for me.
Thank to Netgalley and Random House Uk Vintage for an early copy to enjoy.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book, but I’ve always had a fascination with new technology and the darker side of it. Our two main characters definitely showed that we don’t always know our partner as well as we thought. I would not want that much access to my partners thoughts. Always on My Mind was a great read but has given me a lot to think about.

Fabulous price of writing! I really wasn’t sure about this book before I started but gave it a go and 100% glad I did.

Unity ….. Anna and Eli…. United together forever.

Such a futuristic concept but worked really well. Great thriller for a cold Scottish winter!

The premise of the book drew me in, it was my first attempt at reading a thriller which is not normally the book genre that I gravitate to but I have been wanting to expand my horizons, and I think Always on my Mind was a good choice to do so. The fact that Anna let her husband put the chip in her mind had me reeling, I understand it was part of the thriller story, that she is concealing a secret that she doesn't want out and that her husband is abusive but it didn't quite click for me as I couldn't connect with Anna in the way that I thought I was supposed to as this was a thriller. Because of this I didn't continue with the book.

Thank you to Random House UK, Vintage and Harvill Secker for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unity, where one mind brings happiness, or does it. OneMind is a company that have designed a small chip implanted behind your ear which enables you to hear your living partners thoughts. Intrusive or thoughtful.
Elijah, a technology fan, decides this is what he and his wife should have for their 10th wedding anniversary. I mean he already controls her life why not her thoughts too. Anna is not so keen as there things from her past she'd rather keep to herself.
I liked Anna's character although I did feel frustrated that she couldn't see how Elijah was controlling her even before Unity came into their lives, she was just grateful he was with her. I loved her friendship with Mandie, a true friend.
The story progressed steadily, building the tension before reaching the conclusion. It was a fascinating subject and how fast technology is developing I can see it happening in the future, I for one will not be joining in. This is a great debut novel.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, I'm under no obligation to leave my review.
Review left on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph and Fable now and on Amazon on publication day

My first book choice for 2025 certainly had an interesting premise. Imagine having a chip implanted in your head that enabled you to hear your partner's thoughts, and further imagine that your partner also had a chip implanted so that they could hear yours. It would feel kind of intrusive, wouldn't it? Especially if you've been keeping secrets from your partner.
Such is the premise of Always On My Mind. I've shared as much of the plot as I'm willing to. Suffice to say this is quite a chilling, psychological thriller. The male protagonist, Elijah, gives off stalker vibes from the very first chapter.
He loves his technology, and the house he and Anna live in has all the latest gadgets, giving the story a sci-fi feel. Anna however, has an almost luddite attitude towards the tech.
Sadly, none of the characters are likeable. I struggled to find a single redeeming feature in any of them. That said, I enjoyed Always On My Mind. It made for a good start to the year.
Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My last read of 2024! The premise of this book really appealled to me so I was very pleased to be approved for an ARC. I enjoy speculative thriller books and this one did not disappoint.

The idea of hearing all your partners thoughts and them hearing yours would not appeal to me in the slightest, and it was clear that the main character Anna felt the same. She felt pressured into having the new technology chip by her controlling husband Elijah.

Obviously these types of things never end well and this book was no different. An enjoyable read...I felt the ending could have concluded a bit more definitively one way or the other but this didn't impact my overall view of the book at all.

Carys Green’s Always on My Mind is an unsettling, thought-provoking thriller that delves into the complexities of intimacy, trust, and the boundaries of privacy in relationships.

The story centers on Anna and Elijah, a couple celebrating their ten-year anniversary with a bold leap into cutting-edge technology: a OneMind implant that allows them to share each other’s thoughts. Initially, the implant seems like a gateway to deeper connection, but it soon unravels their relationship in chilling and unexpected ways. Anna begins experiencing vivid memories that aren’t her own, triggering a cascade of paranoia and fear. The real tension arises when Anna realizes Elijah might also be privy to her darkest secrets.

Green masterfully balances the emotional and psychological stakes, creating a gripping narrative that explores the implications of such radical transparency. Themes of toxic relationships and power dynamics are woven throughout, offering a layered exploration of how control and trust intersect. Anna’s internal struggles, heightened by the invasive technology, make for a claustrophobic and compelling read.

The pacing is brisk and relentless, with each revelation pushing Anna—and the reader—closer to a breaking point. The concept of shared thoughts is both fascinating and horrifying, and Green’s portrayal of its consequences feels eerily plausible, adding to the novel’s tension.

Always on My Mind is not just a thriller; it’s also a poignant commentary on the dangers of sacrificing privacy for the illusion of closeness. With its sharp plotting, intriguing characters, and unsettling premise, this debut cements Carys Green as a rising star in the high-concept thriller genre. A must-read for fans of psychological and speculative fiction.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Thank you for Carys Green, Random House UK – Vintage, Harvill Secker, and Netgalley for the Advanced reader Copy of this title. Potential readers, here is my opinion on the novel.

If you want to know what happens when you give a controlling, possessive partner control, look no further. Carys Green presents an idea that is so satisfyingly eerie and has the reader trying to emulate Unity’s OneMind in order to will themselves into Anna Weston’s head. What was she thinking?

Anna Weston has been married to Elijah, the man she met on her first night at the Student Union bar. The book opens on their tenth anniversary with a panicked Anna running late for a dinner Elijah is cooking. Elijah does all the cooking, earns the money, and has the home kitted out in the latest tech, freeing Anna up to pursue her love of art in her home studio. That does not stop Elijah wanting to know Anna’s every making move. Presenting her with his latest gift, he offers Anna the opportunity to hear his every waking thought, the only catch is…he will hear her every conscious thought too. With a couple this close, who had known each other their whole adult lives, what could possibly go wrong?

Like so many readers and reviewers have said before me, there is a large chunk of repetition in this book where Anna frequently asks about a specific feature of the chip that are a main feature of this book, and although Elijah answers each time, it is still a main topic of conversation between the couple. This feature of the book can be a bit grating at times. However, I did not allow this to deter my reading. Instead, it helped build a better sense of both Elijah and Anna’s characters.

The premise behind the book was a novel idea for me. I loved the drama, the touch of sci-fi, and the not-so-distant feal of the novel. It felt fresh and unique. I also loved the way the novel was told in alternating past and present tense, connecting the then and now, whilst posing questions that helped spur the reader and keep the page turning. It gave the reader a clear picture of the two main couples in the book, how they came to be, and exactly what their foundations were made of. That said, the backstory also makes you wonder how the couples have successfully stayed together until present day. The women are a far cry to their earlier selves.

Although I had a range of ideas in my head about how the story would end, I have to admit, I was caught off-guard. I did not see what was coming until it sucked me into the action as it unfolded. Suspense was a constant ally throughout this book’s journey and an enjoyable read. Jumping from person, thought to thought, to spoken language took a little getting used to so the visual cues using bold, italics, and speech marks is helpful. I am not sure if the book would be easy to listen to if the narrator were not altering their voice to get into each character.

As a trigger warning, there are a few mentions of abortion and miscarriages to be aware of. If you are not put off by what you have read so far, then this book is for lovers of modern-day thrillers who love the latest technology. There is frequent use of the ‘f-bomb’ to signal fear, or an error but otherwise, the book would probably be considered tame in content, and typical of a thriller genre novel. I highly recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5 stars, with the only letdown being the repetition that makes Anna a little annoying.

I requested this from NetGalley because it was an intriguing plot.  It reminded me a bit of the TV show Made For Love where a woman finds out that her tech billionaire husband implanted her with a chip to be able to track her and read her emotions.  In this book, there's an eager tech adopter who persuades his tech-avoiding wife to have chips implanted so they can read each other's thoughts.  I was not expecting so many red flags about the husband and certainly not so soon.  I think the first one was within the first couple of pages, where he said that he wanted to know where she was at all times.  I don't think I've ever read a book where I was telling the character not to continue within the first chapter!  Having said that, I didn't much care for any of the characters and found them all to be quite annoying.  The secret that Anna was so desperate to conceal was obvious within the first few pages.  It wasn't actually revealed until nearly 75% of the way through and was a total non-event.  The build-up for the ending ramped up at that point but then dropped off and the ending took a completely different turn.  I can't say that it was particularly satisfactory and I was left feeling quite annoyed by the whole thing.  It's definitely not the book I was expecting from the blurb which is a shame. 

Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy to review.

Although I didn’t like the main protagonists and was frustrated that Anna could be so bullied while being oblivious to her husband’s motivations, I actually liked this book. I was intrigued by the concept of being able to implant a chip in each person’s head so they can read each other’s thoughts. I made me wonder what would happen if this was a reality and hands up I won’t be signing up for this procedure any time soon. Having got over my dislike of Anna, with her sordid secrets allowing her husband to cajole her into having the chip, I found the story becoming more intriguing. The tension ratchets up, particularly towards the end and I was torn as to whom I was routing for. An interesting idea, well written and I’ll be looking out for more by Cary’s Green.