A fantastic traveling sister read with my wonderful sisters Norma, Brenda and Lindsay!

An intriguing debut thriller
Emma lives a rather ordinary life. She owns a small furnishings store and is married to an economist who never seems to fully appreciate her. One fateful day, Beatrice Johnson-Greene, an award-winning and bestselling author walks into her shop…and into her life. Emma is awestruck. What grand fortune! See, Emma has secretly, desperately always wanted to be an author. Her dream since childhood.
All it takes is one little lie from Emma “I wrote a novel once.” And with that, their chance meeting blossoms into a new friendship. Only Beatrice has a deeper motivation behind this new whirlwind of a friendship! She wants Emma to be the name and face of her latest novel. And for Emma to take ownership of it. (Why she would want this I could never understand!?).
It's a dream come true for Emma. To become the successful author she always wanted to be. But how far will she take this farce? When is it no longer a far-fetched fantasy but a reality?
I found Emma's quirky and sarcastic inner dialogue both entertaining and endearing. It was great fun watching her deal with the consequences and fallout of this very bizarre experiment. Emma truly was the best part of this book! You couldn't help but love her!
The books reads very fast and held my attention throughout. There were parts I thoroughly enjoyed and was hopeful the intensity would hold till the end. But it left me wanting more. (Is that good or bad??). I can't imagine what the author has in store for Emma (or us readers) in book two After He Killed Me due out in Oct 2017.

To find this review along with our Traveling Sister Review, please visit the Traveling Sister Review section of Norma and Brenda’s fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Natalie Barelli for a copy to review.

4 stars! This was a quick, entertaining, character-driven read.

A book about a book – how can you go wrong with that? I enjoyed reading about the life of a writer and the accomplishment of publishing a highly successful debut novel. The author, Natalie Barelli, did an excellent job keeping me curious as to the intentions and motivations of each of the characters throughout the story – it kept my interest from start to finish. With that being said, I did feel that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly. I would have liked a more dramatic finish.

I loved the main character, Emma Fern. Her snarky inner thoughts and comments were highly entertaining, often making me laugh out loud. I enjoyed following Emma on her crazy journey - her character was, by far, my most favourite part of this novel!

As always, it was a pleasure reading along with my sensational sisters – Norma, Brenda and Kaceey! To find this review, along with our full Traveling Sister Read review, please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous book blog at :

https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com/traveling-sister-reads/

A big thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Natalie Barelli for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun, pleasant and clever little gem Until I Met Her was for a Traveling Sister Read with Norma, Lindsay and Kaceey.

Until I Met Her is a wonderful and delightful web of deceit, lies and betrayal that had me engaged, interested and excited to find out the consequences to the deception.

Natalie Barelli does a great job creating such unlikeable characters it was hard not to loved them. Emma’s wit, snarkiness and inner thoughts had me laughing and cheering her on in her web of deceit and in the things she did to maintain that deceit.

The ending wrapped up a little too neatly and quickly and had Kaceey yelling out loud again with “A little more drama please”. I too could of used a little more in the ending I will definitely be looking out for the second book to see what web of deceit Barelli might have in store for us.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Natalie Barelli for a copy to read and review.

A book within a book – how can you go wrong with that?  I absolutely love reading books that are about or have books within the storyline.

UNTIL I MET HER (The Emma Fern Series, Book 1) by NATALIE BARELLI is a fun, clever, exciting, compelling, and character-driven debut thriller novel that grabbed my attention right away and had me totally engaged and curious throughout this story as I was trying to figure out the direction, motivation, and intentions of all the characters involved.

NATALIE BARELLI delivers a wonderfully written story here with the most standout character that I have ever read and the highlight of this book was our main character’s personality.  The snarky commentary of Emma Fern was one heck of an entertaining, amusing, and the most enjoyable aspect of this novel!

To sum it all up it was an intriguing, mysterious, fast-paced, and a quick and easy read that will keep you entertained right to the very end with the help of our main character’s quirky and sarcastic inner dialogue which will leave you wanting more in the end.  I am really looking forward to what the author has in store for Emma Fern in the next book of this series, AFTER HE KILLED ME which is due out in October, 2017.  Would recommend!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Natalie Barelli for the opportunity to read a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

Review can be found on my blog:
https://www.twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

The story line and characters start out simple yet original. The book opens telling you “who done it”. The main characters, Emma and Beatrice are very witty and interesting characters. I enjoyed the banter between these two characters and the insights on Emma’s thoughts about Beatrice. Their competitive, sarcastic relationship reminded me of the sisters relationships in Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty.

I don’t want to give any spoilers. So lets just say all of the characters became much more complex and “interesting” as the book went on. The author saves several fun twists for the last third of the book.

This was not an edge of your seat thriller. I would recommend this book for anyone looking of a light fun read.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Favorite List worthy. I read this book in ONE day people. I couldnt stop. I liked the characters then I hated the characters then I felt sorry for the characters. So many emotions and you truly feel them all. Highly recommend. Go Read This Now

The vilest fictional antagonists, I’ve discovered, aren’t the flashy ones with a laugh that makes your bones shiver. The vilest fictional villains are people like Emma Fern, who try to convince you of their helplessness and niceness, while being anything but.

Until I Met Her by Natalie Barelli begins with a funeral. Famous crime writer Beatrice Johnson Greene is dead and Emma Fern, the young writer she took under her wing, is inconsolable.

Oddly, as Emma herself admits, it was she who killed Beatrice.

Emma owned a niche home décor store into which Beatrice had walked in. A diehard fan of Beatrice, Emma is soon elevated to the ranks of Beatrice’s friend and protégé, thanks to a favour she did her. Beatrice offers to mentor Emma on the writing and completion of her novel.

The attention does wonders to Emma’s confidence, inspiring her to write her own book. Until then, Emma has been under the shadow of her economist-husband, Jim, who is working on a revolutionary economic model.

One day, Beatrice asks Emma to publish a novel she has written in her name. Her reasoning is that being a bestselling author of crime thrillers typecasts her; her literary novel should not be snuffed out by the critics. A little like JK Rowling did as Robert Galbraith.

However, Beatrice wants a real person to publish the book and handle the publicity, in return for which she is willing to split the royalties by half. The two women write and sign their contracts on two cocktail napkins, one for each of them. Emma publishes the book, Long Grass Running, in her own name.

Very soon, she is lauded as a literary voice and her books begin to sell, and both Emma and Beatrice are pleased at the success of their scheme and the royalties pouring in. When Emma is shortlisted for the prestigious Poulton Prize, Beatrice believes that it is time to own up to the scheme they initiated. But Emma is not ready to give up the life she sees as her own now.

The only thing that could out her is the cocktail napkin.
Emma kills Beatrice and retrieves the napkin and so begins a web of lies and deceit that she spins to keep anyone from getting close to her secret.


Since we know at the start that Emma has killed Beatrice, it is no surprise. What we get to see is how quickly Emma’s life comes dangerously close to unraveling.

The book is written in the first person present tense point of view of Emma. Only the flashbacks, from the time Beatrice walks into Emma’s store to the time of her death, are in past tense.

Emma isn’t very likeable, even at first, and as she begins to copy Beatrice’s look and mannerisms, she becomes horribly distasteful. With her subsequent actions, as she seeks to cover up her tracks, she falls even lower in our estimation.

As a character, she has her own complexities. Aching for her husband’s approval and respect, she struggles with her suspicion of her husband’s on-off affair with his ex-student Allison.

Emma says, My entire existence was a balancing act between being desirable enough that he would love me, but not so needy or dependent that I’d drive him away. This balancing act is emblematic of all her relationships.


The publication of Long Grass Running gives her the validation she craves. Holding the book in her hands, she thinks, What is real has a weight, what is imaginary does not… The earth only pulls to her what has substance.



This book isn’t a whodunit. And we get to know pretty early why Emma acted as she did. What we see unfolding in this book is how Emma degenerates further, wiping off the opposition, hiding her tracks. Willing to stop at nothing to protect her insecurities in the personal and professional sphere.

Since almost no one knows about her crime, it is up to us, as readers, to feel the shock and horror of her actions.

I rooted for Emma to get caught, to be find out. I can’t remember the last time I’ve disliked a character so, and this is her first person PoV, mind you.

So Book 1 ended with her at the pinnacle of her success. I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to Book 2.


(I read a Kindle edition of this book through NetGalley.)

I don't have a lot to say except that I really liked this one. It's a bit unrealistic and predictable as far as the plot line and some of the actions the characters take, but that's also what makes this an interesting story. How do we really know people and how they would act when under pressure?? I was highly intrigued by the evolution of Emma Fern and thinking about what I would do in each of the characters' situations. I definitely recommend this and am looking forward to the second one in the series, After He Killed Me (Released on October 19, 2017, according to Amazon).

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Wow!!! Congratulations to the author for coming up with a fresh, unique & witty novel that I could not get enough of, leaving me with a record book hangover.
Let me just say I am VERY stingy with rating novels. When most rate a novel as 5, I will on average rate it as 3. To rate this as 5 therefore means I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book and I am eagerly waiting in anticipation for Natalie Barelli's next novel.
I enthusiastically and wholeheartedly recommend this one! Many thanks to Netgalley, Natalie Barelli and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this treasure in exchange for an unbiased review.

Twists, turns, secrets, and lies all make for a fast plot driven read. The only problem is that Beatrice really doesn't need to put someone else's name on her book (for heavens sake look at all the authors who use pseudos to publish across genres). Emma has issues of her own and while she's a complete character, I didn't really like her very much. That said, this is well written and others might find it more entertaining than I did. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Two authors. One successful. One aspiring. One mentor. One devotee.

What happens next creates a page turning, twisty, suspense thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good read.

I was captivated by the story of a struggling writer obsessed with her mentor, a famous crime novelist. Emma yearns to be a successful author and when she is befriended by her favorite writer Beatrice, she is awe struck. She is taken under Beatrice’s wing and shown a life never before available to her – the life of a well known and highly popular writer.

Beatrice has a plan that she shares with Emma. This plan takes on a life of its own and therein lies the story. A story that definitely delivers a satisfying and thrilling suspense thriller.

I don’t like to read spoilers when I am reading reviews, so I will leave it to you to discover this book on your own. The author really delves into Emma’s psyche and some of the thought processes made me laugh out loud as I felt the emotions and joy and pain of this character.

Simply put, I loved this book and look forward to more of Natalie Barelli's brilliant work.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

What a crazy book! I thought the premise sounded interesting, but the book itself was even better and more surprising than what I was expecting! The characters weren't particularly likable, but made it all the better. The first person narration was an interesting choice, and I loved the ending, too. It was perfect!

Emma isn't sure if she is living a happy life. She has a husband who seems to be getting distant and her ownership of a little interior decorating shop isn't very exciting but keeps her busy day to day. That is until one of her favorite authors walks in the door. Upon meeting Beatrice, Emma's world becomes a whirlwind of social events and intimate get togethers with her new BFF. So when Beatrice plays on Emma's insecurities, Emma finds it hard to resist the request to play Christian to Beatrice's Cyrano and becomes the "author" of Beatrice's next book. It gets weirder from there and a bit more unbelievable. At points this was a good suspense thriller but at other times the writing and story line felt scattered and unpolished. I am not sure where the author plans to take the series next as this book seemed very self-contained and didn't leave much room for the future. This book would be nice for a quick beach read where you don't spend much time really thinking about the intricacies of the plot.

I really liked this book and how the author twists things this way and that. The main character, Emma,(and just about every character, actually,) is un-likeable. I mean really un-likeable. Once you realize that Emma has accepted the strange pact suggested by her new closest friend, famous author Beatrice, you know that this tale will not end well. I highly recommend to thriller and mystery fans.

Be prepared to have time to read this book. I sat down with a cup of coffee and five cups later I finished the book with a sigh. Beatrice is a famous writer of detective novels. Emma owns a mish mash of an interior design store. When Beatrice comes in one day to find a last minute gift for her mother in law both of their worlds change. Beatrice, a la JK Rowling, wants to write more serious books. So she persuades Emma to pose as the author of the book. When success comes in a big way for the book things change again. This is not exactly a "who done it" because we know in the first few pages of the book that Beatrice is dead and Emma did it. But it is quite a ride. Be prepared to lose an afternoon to this book.

**3.5 sars**

Emma Fern is happy working in her antique shop, life is good with her husband Jim who is working on some computer modelling that he is trying to sell to the government.

And then her favourite novelist Beatrice walks into her shop and her life changes. Beatrice Johnson Greene feels her writing has been pigeon holed into a genre and would love to prove everyone wrong. She befriends Emma and talks her into pretending that she wrote 'Long Grass Running' but when the novel is nominate for the Poulton Prize, the stakes are changed.

I'm not really sure what to think of this story, I felt it did fall a bit flat in the middle but I think over all I didn't like any of the characters. It seems that everyone was out for their own agenda (yes, Emma did become a bit delusional with her self importance). It's one of those novels where you can't go into details for fear of giving the plot away. I did end up enjoying this novel but not loving it. I see that this is book number 1, so I would be really interested to see the direction the author takes Emma next....I hope she becomes more likeable because she sort of is.....

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read and review.

This was one of my books of the year. Effortlessly written, easy to read, engaging, with a touch of metafiction and murder. The story did get a little strained at the end, and convenient, and I wasn't too sure of the economic subplot but this was easily the best book I have read all year.

I was thrilled when I saw this was Book 1 of THe Emma Fern series as I loved it! When Emma is befriended by her favorite author, Beatrice, she can't believe her good luck as she is drawn into the older woman's circle of literary friends along with a whirlwind of parties and compliments. And when Beatrice asks her for a favor involving her next book, Emma is dying to please. But she has no idea what a dark world awaits; this coupled with her husband's seemingly odd behavior and desire to fund his new company forces her into rash actions she has no idea she is capable of--and sets her on a course of no return. Brutal and deftly written, this left me breathless at the last page. I can't wait for Book 2!

Great book! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

Delightful and dark! This story has twists and turns and makes for a very fun ride.