This was a strong psychological thriller novel, it had that concept that I was hoping for and enjoyed how the characters worked in this universe. I thought it had realistic characters and was invested in how they worked in this psychological thriller novel. Sophie McKenzie has a great writing style and am excited for more.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this e-arc! I was unable to finish the book as I just couldn’t connect with the characters or find the story believable.

How far would you go for someone you love?! Alison has an excellent relationship with her eighteen year old daughter. Lola is a hardworking, straight A student, bound for university. They tell each other everything. Or so she thought. Lola has a secret: she’s been sneaking off to meet her much older boyfriend, Brendan. He’s everything she ever dreamed of enigmatic, cool and absolutely irresistible.That’s what Alison thought too, when she first met Brendan years ago, at university. Before he ruined her life! Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, a great who done it and a few crazy twists and turns. The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Oh, the suspense! The thrills and the scary man that McKenzie crafts so well! I liked this story and felt chills while reading it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Can't wait to see what others think of this one.

Book Review: Anything for You by Sophie McKenzie

Sophie McKenzie's Anything for You is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the harrowing lengths a mother will go to protect her child from a dark and painful past. With themes of family loyalty, trauma, and the dark underbelly of human relationships, McKenzie delivers a taut, suspenseful narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Plot Overview: Love, Secrets, and Betrayal
The novel centers on Alison, a devoted single mother with a close relationship with her eighteen-year-old daughter, Lola. Their bond is one of trust and openness—at least, that’s what Alison believes. Lola is the model teenager: a straight-A student, well-behaved, and responsible. But Alison’s sense of security is shattered when she learns that Lola has been keeping a secret: she’s been meeting an older man, a man Alison knows all too well.

Brendan is the personification of Alison’s worst fears. Years ago, when she was a university student, Brendan was her enigmatic, intoxicating boyfriend—until he shattered her life in ways she has never fully recovered from. Now he’s back, only this time he has his sights set on her daughter. Alison knows exactly how dangerous Brendan can be, and she’ll stop at nothing to keep him away from Lola. But in doing so, she uncovers layers of deception, hidden agendas, and chilling revelations that threaten her already fragile world.

Characters: Depth and Complexity
McKenzie’s character development is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Alison is a relatable protagonist; her past traumas and protective instincts make her a sympathetic figure. Through her internal struggles, readers get a vivid sense of the sacrifices and fears that shape her decisions. Alison’s history with Brendan is gradually revealed, and her emotional scars give weight to her desperation to keep him away from Lola. Her protective instincts feel raw and real, capturing the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter.

Lola, on the other hand, is not merely a rebellious teenager. Her feelings of excitement and confusion over her relationship with Brendan are convincingly portrayed, and readers can sense her vulnerability as she grapples with her mother’s protectiveness and her desire for independence. This complexity in Lola’s character underscores the generational tension between mother and daughter, making their relationship feel authentic and adding emotional depth to the story.

Brendan is an unnerving antagonist whose presence casts a chilling shadow over the entire book. McKenzie paints him as charismatic yet subtly sinister, and the air of mystery around him heightens the tension. As the story unfolds, readers learn more about his manipulative tendencies, which become central to the plot’s escalating suspense.

Themes: Trust, Manipulation, and Family Loyalty
Anything for You dives deeply into themes of family loyalty and the difficulty of maintaining trust in close relationships. Alison’s struggle is a constant tug-of-war between being a supportive mother and a fierce protector, and McKenzie portrays this tension with emotional realism. As a psychological thriller, the book also deals with the manipulation and toxic control that some people can exert over others, which is central to Brendan’s character and influence.

The theme of hidden secrets also runs strongly throughout the novel. Alison believed she had a close, open relationship with Lola, only to realize that her daughter has her own secrets, bringing a painful awareness of how little she may know her own child. McKenzie explores the boundaries between protection and invasion of privacy, especially when Alison takes extreme steps to shield Lola from Brendan. This adds a psychological layer to the novel, prompting readers to consider how much control a parent should exert over their child, even with the best of intentions.

Suspense and Pacing
McKenzie’s pacing is masterful, keeping readers hooked from the first page to the last. She gradually reveals pieces of Alison’s traumatic past with Brendan, building suspense as readers come to understand just how far Alison is willing to go to protect Lola. The tension between Alison and Lola is electric, especially as Alison’s increasingly desperate actions begin to strain their relationship.

The novel’s structure allows the story to unfold in layers, each twist revealing a new facet of Brendan’s character and Alison’s past. McKenzie plants clues that encourage readers to question each character’s motives, creating a sense of intrigue that carries through to the shocking conclusion. The twists are not overly contrived but rather stem from the psychological depth of each character, making them both surprising and believable.

Psychological Depth: A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
At its heart, Anything for You is a psychological examination of the lengths a parent will go to in order to protect their child from harm. McKenzie taps into the universal fear of a past trauma resurfacing, turning it into a nightmare scenario where Alison’s most terrifying memories threaten to destroy her relationship with her daughter. The psychological tension in Alison’s character is palpable; she’s haunted by her own vulnerability to Brendan’s manipulation and fears that Lola could fall prey to the same.

McKenzie also explores the theme of self-deception. Alison’s determination to protect Lola blinds her to the possibility that she may, at times, be going too far. Her trauma drives her to take extreme measures, some of which are morally ambiguous, raising the question of how much control a person should exert in the name of protection.

Final Verdict: A Dark, Twisty Thriller That Lingers
Anything for You is an intense, emotional thriller that will leave readers with lingering questions about trust, family bonds, and the weight of unresolved trauma. Sophie McKenzie has crafted a novel that goes beyond typical thriller tropes, offering a deep, unsettling look at how past wounds can dictate our present actions. The twists are skillfully woven, and the characters’ motivations are compelling, making the story feel as psychologically rich as it is suspenseful.

This book will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers that delve into family dynamics and explore the darkness that lies beneath seemingly perfect relationships. Readers who enjoy morally complex protagonists, high-stakes tension, and intricate emotional storytelling will find Anything for You a satisfying, edge-of-your-seat read. McKenzie’s tale of obsession, revenge, and the fierce love of a mother is a memorable addition to the genre, and it’s sure to resonate with anyone who has ever fought to protect someone they love.