Until I Met Her by Natalie Barelli

WOW. What a fun, thrilling, wild ride Until I Met Her is. These characters were something else. The book starts off with the murder telling you that she's the murderer and then strap yourself in! The web of lies and deception will force you to keep flipping those pages until you're finished. The ending was a little too perfect, but I don't care. I was super entertained!

When Beatrice met Emma she has something to ask her and from this moment everything changes.
This was full of twists and turns and worth a read for sure. I enjoyed it a lot! Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Loved it!!! I had the best time reading this devilishly twisted story. Whatever you do, do not get on Emma Fern’s bad side! Really you don’t want to know anymore than what’s in the blurb because it’s more fun that way.

Oh, I love this author. She writes fantastic psychological thrillers they keep me entertained and not accomplishing much else as I lose myself in her books.
Until recently, I was not familiar with her work but picked up a copy of “the Housekeeper”. And that started the domino effect of me devouring her novels one by one since the beginning of the year. This being her first published novel, had me just as entranced as the books that have followed.
It seemed like the perfect plan. What could possibly go wrong? She would be a ghost writer for a famous novelist whose works she loves and one who has taken Emma under her wing to mentor. Emma was not prepared for all of the fame that followed and basked in it; all the parties and book signings and appearances. She loves every minute of the newly found fame and other things in her life, the store she owns and her marriage takes a backseat to the whirlwind that is her new life.
But then something does go wrong. And her husband Jim, has secrets of his own. And suddenly her perfect life is threatened and she could lose it all. And there I will leave you, I don’t want to give anything away.
In addition to this book being such a good thriller, I couldn’t help but be enamoured with Emma. I think she was a little crazy to agree to this plan in the first place but the sudden 180 was terrific and Emma just made me laugh. Especially the conversation near the end with her husband, I was laughing out loud. I am now torn between reading the sequel right now or holding off since that is the last one of Natalie Barelli’s books that I haven’t read until she releases another. I hope that is soon.
Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Look, I know it's a cliche and lots of people hate it, but I just can't get enough of novels about writers, and novels set in the writing/publishing world. I know it feels like a cop-out for writers, but I don't care. I love 'em.

This book was fast and fun; every character is thoroughly horrible but I enjoyed spending time with them. Also, unusually for this sort of thing, the stuff about the writing life actually rang true enough – Natalie Barelli is a debut author but she seems to know her stuff about the publishing world.

This was an excellent tale with a great storyline. The characters were likable and this was a page turner. I would recommend this book.

I finally got to read this and it was VERY good! Once I started, I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day!

I loved Emma's character, a bit snarky with an attitude and I couldn't help but like her!

Just what is Beatrice up to and why? Very intriguing, I had to know! This was fast paced and kept me entertained until the very end. Loved that ending by the way!!! Now I HAVE to get book number 2, "After He Killed Me". Maybe there is a benefit to just now having read this because now I don't have to wait for book number 2 to come out! This was a great debut novel and I can't wait to read more of this author's work. 4.5/5 stars!

Until I Met Her begins with the funeral of an author- Emma Fern’s best friend and mentor. There is a private admission from Emma that she in fact, killed Beatrice. And so the book opens to reveal a mousy character who owns a vintage shop, is married to a successful businessman with a mundane life. But Emma Fern is nothing if she isn’t incredibly unpredictable.

Her entire world changes when Beatrice Johnson Greene entered her store. She can’t help but fall all over herself, complimenting her and winning her affection. The two quickly move from strangers to best friends, and within a short amount of time, trust begins to build between them. Emma begins to disregard the store, preferring to run off with Beatrice to drunken lunches, and shopping with the rich and famous.

Beatrice confides to Emma that she has written a book that is outside of her genre, and since a previous book of hers had bombed in the past, she was wondering if Emma could be the “author” for a novel she’d already written- take the credit, and be the face of this new book. At first, Emma is shocked and refuses to do it, but then her dream of being a writer is ignited, and she agrees.

Emma’s lust for fame, and a desire to remain friends with successful, untouchable Beatrice turns to greed as little by little Emma makes subtle changes to the manuscript and takes full possession of the book. And with no set contract in place, it’s hers, right?

A sidebar to consider in the novel is Emma’s relationship with her husband Jim. It is incredibly awkward, as she sees no wrong in him at all, and his lack of interest in anything she says/does. But because of his success, she admires and fawns all over him, even though he’s constantly dismissive of her. She seems to have a very skewed view of how well her own marriage is going. Pleasing Jim has always been her main concern, until the book…

Is Beatrice encouraged and thrilled for her best friend to have fame as well? Or is it truly a passive aggressive friendship that is doomed? You’ll have to read for yourself.

This was a quick read, one with unpredictable twists and turns, and moments of “what the what!?!!” I loved the characters, with the exception of Jim, who is so noticeably arrogant, that it makes me wonder what Emma really sees in him. And even though Emma is nothing like she seems in the beginning, I found that I liked her crazy thinking as she progresses through the story. She’s feminine, overthinks as many of us do, and a little immature, so I found her to be believable.

I loved Natalie Barelli’s first book in the Emma Fern series, that I’m currently reading the second book, After He Killed Me. Stay tuned for that review!!

I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!

From my blog: Always With a Book:

My thoughts: I think when you read as many psychological suspense novels as I do, you tend to find that they somehow have the same feel to them in some way or another. Yet, this one, this debut novel from Natalie Barelli, totally breaks that mold. It is unique, witty and grabs your attention from the very beginning.

This is the tale of a friendship...until it isn't. It's about how far you are willing to go to protect something that shouldn't even be yours in the first place. I loved the craziness of Emma. But what I loved the most is the way everything played out. You aren't quite sure just what is going on...who is really manipulating who here. There are some really twisted, crazy characters here, not at all likeable, but compelling to say the least. They get under your skin and you just have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next.

This is the type of book where you are not sure where it is going to go. It's very captivating and takes on some rather intriguing moral and ethical dilemmas. An addictive read, for sure, and I cannot wait to start the next one in this series, which I hope is just as addictive and crazy!

Awesome story. Can’t wait to read more from this author!!!

Most of this book felt more like a drama than a thriller to me, but it was still good. I didn't really like Emma or Beatrice (or any of the minor characters), which would normally ruin the book for me, but it actually made for an interesting read. My only complaint is I didn't know there would be a sequel until I finished reading it (it still doesn't say it on GoodReads). I like to be prepared for that, so I don't wonder why all the loose ends are tied up. That said, even though I will read the sequel, I do think this book works as a stand-alone novel.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
The ending wasn't what I expected, but it was different than what I anticipated.
In all, it was a great 1st novel which can be described as a psychological thriller which included suspense, deceit, murder, lies, and love.

A creepy read that had me hooked from the start. I love this kind of genre and this book did not disappoint.

i enjoyed the writing style and the characters involved, so much so that i was actually discussing the concept of someone else using your name for your work with my friends
Great read and look forward to reading more from Natalie Barelli.

Holy smokes! I loved this book, could not get enough! I ripped through this one, not because I wanted to get it over with but because it was so damn good. I waffled for a good long while on who was the bad guy because the characters were so rich and well developed. Eventually I came to the same conclusion most people would but it was quite a ride getting there. Emma Fern starts off as your normal, run of the mill woman and then basically turns batshit crazy. I mean, she did have some provocation but let’s be real. Beatrice was a bitch, I get it, but should that turn someone murderous? Probably not. At least not a sane person.

I loved the side angle story with her husband too, it added another dimension or layer which makes Emma spin out of control. But I don’t want to divulge too much info so I’ll just leave it at that.

I would 100% recommend this book and imagine my glee when I just noticed there is a follow up! I know what I’m downloading asap…!

4 1/2 Stars
A great plot that is very well executed. We know the "who", we just don't know the "why". The reader is caught up in the story immediately. As the story unfolds, we are given pieces of information in each chapter, leaving us guessing. With the twists and turns this novel takes, don't be surprised if your guess was completely wrong. Strong writing, a great cast of characters and an out of the ordinary ending makes this a very good read! Looking forward to the next Emma Fern book!

Compelling and addicting. I finished this book in a day. Though by the end it was hard to identify with or even like the characters, they were so fascinating. Fame, money, and success can certainly change everything and make you think and do things you wouldn't have dreamed of before to keep it. This is a quick and easy read that'll definitely keep you turning pages.

Imagine your favorite author walking into your workplace. Most of us would be thrilled, nervous, maybe even speechless. As a voracious reader myself, it was easy to put myself into Emma's position at first. She's perfectly willing to do the little favor author Beatrice Johnson Greene asks her, even though it's inconvenient. Just a simple delivery is how it begins. She is pleased about their little encounter, expecting it to be a cute story she can tell about helping a famous customer. But it isn't.

Beatrice asks her to lunch to thank her, and she's stunned. Even more so when that lunch evolves into a friendship. Beatrice is a little uppity, but still charming. It's not long before Emma is focusing more on her famous friend than her little shop. She starts to emulate her, telling her she had always dreamed of being an author herself, starting to act and dress more like her.

Beatrice has another favor to ask... you see, she's written a new book, but it isn't her usual genre. Writing out of her wheelhouse has gone badly in the past. She wants to see if her latest work would succeed without her famous name attached... and without the embarrassment if it doesn't. She could just release it under a different name, but that plan has flaws. She needs a fresh face to do interviews and promote the book. She wants Emma.

Emma refuses at first, but consents after realising she doesn't want to disappoint this woman who has become her dearest friend. Soon she begins to think of it as her book. After all, she's promoting it. It's her face on the jacket, her name on the cover. Who knows if it would even have succeeded without her? No one knows the truth but Beatrice and Emma, not even their husbands. She is thrilled with the attention, finally feeling like her success is equal to her incredibly intelligent and educated husband, or even surpassing it. The only way the truth could come out is if Beatrice confesses... but that can't happen.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer, thank you! My opinion is honest and unbiased.

I am a sucker for well written psychological thrillers, and I was pulled into Until I Met Her pulled me in immediately. Natalie Barelli has a real talent for taking really complex, but basically unlikeable, characters and making the reader interested in what happens to them. I so appreciated the many twists and turns. I found myself thinking that Emma, the main character, had grown on me. I enjoyed the book immensely and am eager to read the next book in the set! I will definitely seek out Natalie Barelli's books.

Wow! This is like a modern retelling of 'All About Eve.' Emma is flattered when her favorite crime writer, Beatrice Johnson Greene, buys something from her home decorating store. She and Beatrice quickly become friends, and then Beatrice offers her the chance of a lifetime: to publish Beatrice's literary novel under Emma's name! At first, this seems crazy. Emma has always wanted to write, but other than a few pages years ago, she never attempted it. But soon Emma agrees that this is a great opportunity.

Emma is not the doting little puppy dog that Beatrice assumes, however. Emma enjoys being a published writer, to the point that she convinces herself that the novel is actually hers. She cuts her hair like Beatrice's, and starts frequenting the stores Beatrice does. She loves doing interviews, and when Beatrice threatens to reveal the truth - well, Emma will prove that she's no push-over.

The pacing in this novel is quick as lightning - secrets are revealed from the very first chapter, and we get to see Emma unravel as she becomes more and more enmeshed in Beatrice's world. No one is likable here, as everyone if out for him/herself. But it's impulsively readable, and I see from the title that it's the first in a planned series. I can't wait to read more about Emma!

Very suspenseful and shocking! I enjoyed every page of this book. I would definitely read this author again.