This book takes you for a wild ride… I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did or be as shocked by the twists and turns — but it really did have me on the edge of my seat!

Well worth the 4 star review and a recommendation to any thriller lover!

Caleb has done it again!

Never Let You Go was wonderful.
I loved the slow character building and backgrounds at the beginning and then the suspense builds and builds.
About half way through the book I simply could not put the book down!

Caleb Crowe's latest book is a breathtaking journey through connections, past and present, and the scar...both internal and external...that bind two people together. With its mind-bending exploration of multiple universes and the metaphor of "balloons" representing our realities, the book poses the haunting question: *What happens if you stop feeding that balloon air?*

From start to finish, this novel captivates with its depth and brilliance. Crowe masterfully delves into the human psyche, crafting characters so layered and complex that readers are constantly left guessing what is real and what isn't. The twists—both subtle and seismic—are expertly woven, ensuring every reveal lands with impact.

Adding to the novel's charm is its clever chapter structure, which offers an inventive layer of engagement. Small moments of humor punctuate the dark and satisfying narrative, making this book a multifaceted experience. It’s simultaneously a love story, a horror story, and a gripping mystery that lingers long after the final page.

As a longtime fan of Caleb Crowe, I’m blown away by the growth he demonstrates in this work. This novel not only solidifies his talent but leaves me eagerly anticipating what’s next. A must-read for fans of thoughtful, genre-defying fiction.

This book had me in a chokehold and I couldn’t put it down. It follows Ariana, a 17 year old who grew up in the system. She runs away from her foster family and lands a job as an au pair for a family with two kids, Poppy and Daniel.

At first, it seems like she finally caught a break. She doesn’t have to stress about where she’s going to live or how she’s going to get her next meal. But the longer she stays with the family, the more she realizes they have some serious issues. Weird things start happening and she forms a bond with Daniel. He’s smart but also very sensitive, and Ariana steps into the role of being his protector.

Then there’s a massive fire that burns the house down. Everyone dies except Daniel and Ariana. After that, they lose touch and reconnect 10 years later and again things begin to happen.

The story is told through dual timelines going between “then” and “now.” The author did an amazing job weaving the two together. It never felt confusing and I knew exactly what time line was being talked about.

The ending? Absolutely wild and I didn’t see that twist coming. This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and honestly, he’s become one of my faves. I love his writing style. It’s clear, engaging and immediately hooks you in.

If you get a chance to read this book....do it....so it now! Wow just WOW! As I'm reading I'm like ok I know where this is going. Well I may have had some of it figured out but the ending! Well done, the twists and the epilogue..chefs kiss! I'm gonna quote a lil passage here: past and their present, connecting, crossing over or their past and future. Anything is possible. Everything is possible....basically when two universes collide. Which, this was how cohesive Caleb's writing was bookending most of the chapters together by making the past and present collide!. Which is taking the last line of the last chapter and making it the first line in the next chapter. How brilliant is Caleb that he did that in the majority of the chapters. Well done! Bump bump....

I received an ARC copy of Never Let You Go from Inkubator Books, NetGalley and British author Caleb Crowe.

This story follows Tracey Jones (AKA Ariana Simpson) a teen placed into the foster system. She runs away and becomes an au pair for a family with two children, Poppy and Daniel.

As an adult, Ariana marries an art gallery owner that soon dies tragically. She struggles to keep his gallery dream when Daniel appears back into her adult life.

This psychological thriller kept me up late and anxious from beginning to end.

Slang and terms consistent with the London setting. Trauma, lies, tragedy and a monster that is inescapable. It was a fantastic ARC read to start 2025! It is a must read this year!

Awesome book!! Great author! Will be looking for more!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Psychological thriller and a slow suspenseful burn that's located in the UK.
The mystery was easily figured throughout. A great read for stalker obsessed vibes.
I’m unsure how I feel about the ending, I’m guessing
the Author lets you decide how you wished it to end.

Be careful what you wish for.

Ariana has had a rough childhood, now months away from being 18 she is desperately trying to free herself from the care system and runs away from her current foster family. She takes a job as an au pair of two children, one being a 12-year-old boy named Daniel. The two develop a friendship until they are driven apart by tragedy. Fast forward 10 years and they connect again after another tragedy rocks Ariana's world.

This book was a fast-paced read with dual timelines. The transitions back and forth are smooth. It kept my attention even though I pretty much figured out it all pretty early on, a part of me was hoping there would be something more so I kept reading. It had more of a suspenseful vibe than a "thriller" vibe to me. I did get a little irked with the different spellings of certain words, but had to remind myself it was written with British English spellings and not American English but it did bug me. So if this is something that bugs you too just be aware. It would be a good book for late teens/young adults.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and of course, Caleb Crowe for the opportunity to read and review this book before its release on January 26, 2025. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ariana, a girl trying to escape the foster care system finds a temporary job as a nanny for a wealthy and seemingly perfect family. She quickly builds a strong bond with the family’s 12 year old misfit son, Daniel, but they are driven apart by a devastating fire.

Ten years later Ariana is reeling from the shocking death of her husband and the stress of trying to save his failing business and Daniel reappears. What at first seems like a blessing quickly spirals into a dark web of twists, lies, and obsession.
——
Never Let You Go is a masterfully written dark and twisty thriller. This story was so addictive, I literally devoured this book in almost one sitting. I especially enjoyed the transitions between timelines slowly revealing dark secrets and building Ariana’s story.

I have said it before, but I always appreciate when an author can write a dark suspenseful story without graphic scenes and triggers. Caleb Crowe did this expertly!

Never Let You go is a must-read for all thriller lovers!

Excellent read. Definitely kept me invested all the way through. However I did guess the main twist pretty early on but many others caught me off gaurd! Great great read!

A brilliant thriller that kept me wanting to keep on reading, I'm so looking forward to reading more books by this author, I found the ending it be a little bit odd!!

Big thanks to NetGalley, author Caleb Crowe and Inkubator books for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

I believe this is my first by this author as I have seen him recommended in a psychological book lovers group on Facebook. I will absolutely be looking into other books he has written as I felt this one was well done.

I would have given 5 stars but that ending 😡 I don’t want to give away spoilers but I am not a fan on unanswered questions even though the ending was exactly the way it should be given the rest of the book.

The author did a great job in Daniel’s character and the way he portrayed his personality disorder. I feel Ariana’s character lacked a little and maybe could have had just a little more street cred given she had been through hell in the foster care system.

I loved the plot, the author did an amazing job in capturing the readers attention and keeping it through all of Daniel’s escapades. Well done!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing me with an early advanced digital copy!!

Caleb Crowe's "Never Let You Go" is a gripping psychological thriller delving into themes of obsession and the lingering influence of past events.
Featuring a dual timeline and morally intricate characters, the novel captivates readers by gradually unraveling its central mystery.

Crowe masterfully crafts an eerie and captivating atmosphere that grips readers from the start. His skill in delving into the intricacies of morally ambiguous characters is impressive. The protagonist's fixation, the antagonist's mysterious aura, and even the minor characters are richly developed, leaving me eager to keep turning the pages! I appreciated the way it fully immersed the reader in the stalker-like qualities and obsession of the characters and plot. The author's willingness to delve into more sinister themes was a bold choice that I found quite invigorating.

Caleb Crowe's Never Let You Go is enticingly written in two timelines, Now and Ten Years Ago. Skillful multiple points of view, brilliant poetry and the manner in which the chapter endings and beginnings are tied together made me giddy in anticipation. Tension, whip-smart writing and suspense pulled me in and captivated me. I really like the level of darkness...just enough. What didn't work for me is unnecessary crass language which at times became distracting.

Ariana (Tracey) is no stranger to brokenness and developing a necessary thick skin. She has been through a lot, more than those who hadn't experienced loss. She is street savvy....she had to be. When she loses her husband, she must make tough decisions. With the help of those in the know, she learns more about the business her husband managed. Ten years earlier, she experienced loss of a different kind which changed her forever. Out of financial necessity, she became a nanny to two kids in a strange and loveless household. Her life is saved and in the process, she saves the life of another. The tangles which arise are gripping and the twists came from every direction. The past and present become enmeshed.

My sincere thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this enthralling novel.

Never Let You Go by Caleb Crowe I have tried multiple times to write a summary giving a brief description, but it is impossible. There is just too much in the story. I still feel the need to do that, but don’t know how to do it without giving plot points away and this is a good book. Just know The writing in this book is brilliant with each paragraph repeating the last line of the previous paragraph which I thought was genius. The twist and turns as always with Mr. crows books are nonstop. despite the ending not being a wham bam mic drop ending I still totally and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought they had some clever, diversion and clever actual twist and would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes domestic thrillers. Mr. Crow is quickly becoming an author who if he wrote it I will read it absolutely. #NetGalley,#IncubatorBooks, #CalebCrowe, #NeverLetYouGo,

Great book! Quick and easy and suspenseful read! Liked the ending. It had a few twists that I saw coming towards the end of the book! I enjoyed reading it!

Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Caleb Crowe’s “Never Let You Go” is a psychological thriller that explores obsession and the haunting power of the past. With its dual timeline structure and morally complex characters, the book offers a compelling story that keeps you engaged as it peels back the layers of its central mystery.

The story alternates between two timelines, ten years apart, following Ariana, a troubled young woman who escapes the foster care system to work as a nanny for a seemingly idyllic family. Her bond with 12-year-old Daniel becomes the emotional anchor of her life, but a devastating fire shatters her world and leaves her with scars that extend far beyond the physical. A decade later, Ariana, now a grieving widow, is forced to confront her past when Daniel reenters her life. What begins as a heartfelt reunion quickly spirals into a dark web of manipulation and obsession. As Ariana uncovers unsettling truths about the fire’s aftermath and Daniel’s role in her life, the story unfolds with tension, culminating in a chilling and provocative climax.

Crowe excels at creating an unsettling, magnetic atmosphere. His ability to explore darker themes and morally ambiguous characters is commendable, making this thriller stand out among others. The vivid settings and cinematic writing style transport you into Ariana’s world, bringing the story to life with evocative detail.

The dual timeline structure is masterfully handled, with chapters seamlessly bridging the past and present. This clever narrative device adds cohesion to the storytelling while slowly unraveling the darker secrets at the book’s heart. Crowe’s fluid prose and sharp pacing keep the tension simmering throughout, even as the plot edges into predictability at some points.

“Never Let You Go” delves into themes of obsession and the lingering effects of trauma. It examines the fine line between love and control, highlighting the destructive potential of unchecked emotions. Crowe’s willingness to embrace darker, morally complex themes sets the book apart.

Ariana is a complex protagonist whose resilience and vulnerability make her journey compelling. Daniel is also a fascinating and deeply layered character whose evolution adds complexity to the mystery. The author’s exploration of their relationship—rooted in obsession, trauma, and redemption—gives the story emotional depth.

While the writing shines, the central mystery falls a bit short of delivering the unpredictable twists that fans of the genre might expect. Ariana’s character, though engaging, sometimes lacks the savvy one might expect from someone with her troubled background. Her naivety and inability to connect the dots can be frustrating, making her less relatable at times. This weakens the emotional impact of her journey and leaves her decisions feeling inconsistent.

Overall, “Never Let You Go” is a gripping psychological thriller that showcases Caleb Crowe’s skill as a storyteller. This story is a haunting and atmospheric thriller that delivers an engaging and thought-provoking story. Fans of Crowe’s previous works and readers drawn to stories of obsession and psychological depth will find much to appreciate.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I had the chance to read an ARC of Never Let You Go by Caleb Crowe, and it was such a gripping read! The way the story alternated between the past and present until the timelines came together was so well done and kept me hooked the entire time. The suspense built perfectly, and I couldn’t put it down.

I also really appreciated the character development. Each character felt genuine, and their growth added so much to the story. It was such an immersive and well-paced read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a suspenseful, engaging book!

This was an amazing thriller - kept my attention for the whole story. Although it was predictable and with no big surprises it still was very interesting - i enjoyed getting to know the main characters when their past and present merged together.
The writing is excellent - author writes in a very simple but engaging way.
Fast paced, twisty and a perfect thriller to get you out of reading slump. Will definitely check our his other books.
Totally recommend!

Thank you, Netgalley, for a free ARC in exvhange for an honest review.