Bring Me Back was okay but not good. I would rate it a 3 out of 5 stars. I know I am in the minority in my rating but this seems to happen to me often when things are very popular. I looooooved B.A. Paris’ first two books and can honestly say that Behind Closed Doors, probably comes in as one of my top three favorite books of all times! I really enjoyed The Breakdown and was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next but Bring Me Back just wasn't on the same caliber as the two previous novels.

What was it I didn’t like about, Bring Me Back? The characters, I didn’t like, love, relate, or empathize with anyone. Characters are very important to me when reading, I just had zero feelings for these characters- oomph. The story I figured out for the most part rather quickly and was just waiting to see how it would all unfold. I did want to keep turning the pages to see if I was right, however but was disappointed when I was.

This book alternates between before and after Layla went missing.

Finn meets Layla and falls madly, deeply in love with her straight away. Finn feels like he needs to protect and take care of Layla, she’s had a rough go of it losing her mother at a young age, having a drunk for a father, and she is in a new place far away from her only family, her older sister, Ellen. Finn quickly moves Layla in and buys a home for them to live in together. About a year into their relationship they go on vacation, on the drive back, Finn stops at a truck stop to use the restroom. When he comes back out to the car Layla is GONE! Finn tells the police they were happy, they became engaged on the trip...but is that REALLY what happened or does Finn know more than what he has told the police? Years pass with no clues as to where or who took Layla, she has simply vanished.

Seven years have passed and Layla is presumed dead, Finn has a ceremony for Layla in one of her favorite spots and invites, the lead detective and Layla’s older sister, Ellen who he has yet to meet in person.

Finn begins a relationship with Ellen; they have a common loss and shared grief but is that enough to build a real relationship on? Finn isn't sure but as time passes he feels his relationship with Ellen must compete with his relationship with Layla and he must follow the same timeline so they become engaged to be married because after all, he told the police that he and Layla were engaged after a year....and now the trouble starts!

Is Layla back? Where has she been? Why now? Or is someone playing a sick perverse joke?

The writing was good; I enjoy Paris’ writing style, she always keeps me engaged. I am ALREADY anxiously awaiting her fourth book and feel like I would pick up anything B.A. Paris writes without even reading what it is about. I think it was my own fault for having prior expectations of what Bring Me Back would be for me, as it was probably my most anticipated novel of 2018. It was solid and I do recommend it to those that love a good mystery with a TWIST that doesn’t need to be believable.

***Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Will post to Goodreads on 5/21/18 and post to book seller sites on release date 6/19/18

Like her other two books, I enjoyed and devoured this book. Don't want to give too much away by describing it.
What a wild ride, when you think you have it figured out right along with the Finn about what happened to Layla throws another red herring at you and keeps at it till the end. An ending I really didn't see coming, an ending that both heartbreaking and bittersweet.

All in all a very good read. Four thumbs up 👍👍👍👍 (Not quite a fiver, I felt it kinda lagged near the end of part two and the beginning of part three)

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris tells the story of Finn, Layla and Ellen and is a thriller that will leave you in suspense until the very end! Finn and Layla are happy and in love. While travelling, Finn stops to use the bathroom and when he returns, Layla is gone, never to be seen again.

Years later, Finn is ready to move on and is now engaged to Ellen, Layla’s sister, who bonded through their shared grief. Even so, there is something off about Ellen, but Finn puts that aside.

When things seem to finally settle into place for Finn and Ellen, things begin to happen that indicate Layla may still be alive. Someone claims to have seen Layla. Then lost items belonging to Layla begin to appear close to Finn. Then the emails start. Could Layla truly be alive and if she is, where has she been?

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris takes you a thrilling journey full of mystery and suspense. What is real and what is not? That ending was unexpected and will leave you reeling!

Happy reading!

This book was ok. Solid, 3 stars. It's certainly a popular genre, and I can see it being a well liked addition to our new books collection. But overall, I just thought it was ok. Not wonderful. Not bad. Just ok.

Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris was one hell of a head-game. Twelve years ago life was perfect for Finn McQuaid- a solid career and he’s stumbled upon the love of his life, Layla, as she is roaming the streets of London on New Years Eve. It’s an instant connection, a genuine love at first sight. They are soon engaged, but there’s trouble in paradise. In an effort to rekindle their passion Finn and Layla take off on a romantic getaway. This is the moment their life changes forever.
When Finn pulls over at a rest area, Layla is sleeping in the passenger seat. Not wanting to disturb her, he leaves the car and when she comes back, she’s vanished. (Or so he tells the police.) Finn picturesque life is immediately brought to shambles. In the wake of this tragedy, he’s brought closer to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Ellen is like Layla, but without any of the minor annoyances of naive Layla. Finn soon finds himself enamored with Ellen. He begins to rewrite his life, fall back into the normal blissful cadence of life when yellow Russian dolls begin to appear, their significance only Finn and Ellen would know. Who could be sending these messages? But how is that possible when she’s been dead for years? Is it possible that Layla isn’t dead after all?
What ensues is a tale that will constantly leave you guessing. Just when you’ve think you’ve figured it out, an unexpected twist has you reevaluating your every thought. I found myself inside Finn’s head, dealing with the consequences of his lies with him. I found myself wondering what was reality and what simply had to be a figment of the imagination. The ending will leave you dizzy with the realization that things aren’t always as they seem.
I received a copy of Bring Me Back from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my honest review. I would also like to thank B. A. Paris for crafting yet another story that captivates and intrigues all the way through!

Bring Me Back is wonderfully written with intriguing characters and a thrilling plot that I’ve just seen a few too many times to fully enjoy but newer thriller readers should love.

Finn and Layla have a perfect relationship until it all goes awry and Layla disappears after the couple stops to use the restroom on the way home from a skiing trip. When Finn contacts the police he tells them everything he can to help find Layla, but there are some things he can’t tell them. Twelve years later, Finn has moved on and is engaged to Layla’s sister Ellen when he receives a phone call informing him that someone has seen Layla. Alive. Soon after items connected to Layla begin appearing around his house and Finn received emails from someone who knows things that only Layla could know. If Layla is alive, why contact him now? Where has she been for the last twelve years? And what is it that she wants?

Bring Me Back is broken up into three parts and is told in alternating chapters of before and after with the before eventually catching you up on everything that happened twelve years ago. From the start you know Finn lied about the night Layla went missing, but you don’t know what it was that he lied about. I enjoyed finding out what actually happened that night, but the story fell apart a bit for me in the present day chapters where Finn is led to believe that Layla has returned. Unfortunately the direction the author went is one I’ve read many times before which lessened my enjoyment, but I see how someone newer to the thriller genre would like the direction she chose to take the story.

The characters in this book felt realistic with their own hidden agendas and it’s obvious immediately that everyone is keeping secrets from one another. While I liked learning what everyone was hiding, it felt like the author kept repeating that everyone was untrustworthy which got a bit tiring. There were a few aspects to each of the characters that surprised me though which was a nice change as a lot of thriller characters tend to just be cutouts of each other.

While I liked Bring Me Back it didn’t feel like it was unique in the genre, but I am definitely interested in the author’s other books which I think will work better for me. I would recommend this book if you’re a newer reader of the thriller genre.

This gripped me from page one until I put the book down finished. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen - I had to change direction! I was enthralled! The only thing was about halfway through, I got a little lost with all of the alternating timelines, but as long as you read this in one go, you should be good.

*3.5 stars rounded up.

Twelve years ago, Finn's partner Layla disappeared with no trace from their car while it was parked at a rest area in France. Now he's engaged to marry her sister Ellen but Layla may have been spotted. She is teasing them both with clues and seems especially to be playing a cat and mouse game with Finn, sending him provocative emails. Does he still love her? And where has she been hiding for all these years?

The story is told from Finn's first-person point of view so the reader is very aware of the turmoil of his thoughts and emotions. Interspersed are occasional chapters written from Layla's pov, which seems to get crazier and crazier as the story progresses. What does she really want?

I thought this was an intriguing and riveting thriller that kept me guessing right up till the end. My first taste of B. A. Paris's writing--I'll be back for more!

My arc was provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange foe an honest review. Thank you very much!

WOW! This book is absolutely amazing!! I think it took me about 4 hours to finish it, I couldn’t put it down. This was my first B.A. Paris Book but it won’t be my last. Through out the whole book I kept thinking I had things figured out and boom, something would happen to change my mind and make me rethink things. I highly recommend this book for anyone who like psychological thrillers!

Finn and Layla are a young couple traveling through France after a ski vacation when they pull over and Finn goes into the restroom. But when Finn comes back, Layla is gone. A police investigation ensues but Layla is never found. Now 12 years later, Finn has moved on with his life back in England and has found love again, with Layla's sister, Ellen. They are engaged to be married but then Ellen finds a missing Russian doll outside their house. It is the same doll Ellen lost as a child and only Ellen, Finn and Layla know the story behind the dolls. Then Finn gets more Russian dolls and an email from an unknown person who claims to be Layla. Is Layla really still alive? Or is someone toying with him? This creepy psychological thriller is a cat-and-mouse game between Finn and Layla that almost drives him to the brink of sanity.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and St. Martin's Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

As far as psychological thrillers go, this was just an okay read for me. I was engrossed enough to keep turning the pages, but disappointed that it was necessary to have such a detailed explanation of what really happened at the end of the book. It was also difficult to connect with any of the characters. I've heard from other readers that the author's previous books were better, so I do plan to read those at some point. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this author's previous books. This one was full of suspense until about the halfway point. Then it flowed into a point where it was easy to see where it was going. The ending was as predicted and completely unbelievable.

This was my first book by B. A. Paris, and it won't be my last. Still, it doesn't mean I wasn't disappointed.

Finn lost his beloved Layla after an argument of which he doesn't remember much, just the result: Layla wasn't where he had last seen her. It's been twelve years and now he is about to get married to Ellen, secret messages start to arrive to both of them. It seems more than possible they come from Layla, who was supposed to be dead. Is it?

This book never managed to grip me. It's easy and fast to read, I never considered abandoning it, but it's also a little predictable. The way the messages escalate wasn't that thrilling, for example. They start with Russian dolls, they end with Russian dolls. Nothing much really happens to compensate.

As for the conclusion, I think it was as predictable as the rest. If you've been reading the most recent thrillers, you'll guess it at the 20% mark, I bet. I wasn't bored, though. Paris is an excellent writer. Even though I wasn't fond of any of the main characters, I didn't hate any. It was a delightful reading, even if I had higher expectations considering how successful Paris's thrillers have been.

Not a book I recommend if you have anything else to read but it wasn't a bad experience.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

I enjoyed this story. It was entertaining and definitely held my attention. It was a little predictable and the storyline was not my favorite of B.A. Paris. However, that being said, I would still definitely read more from this author.

Finn and Layla were going to get married until Layla went missing on a trip to France. Ten years later Finn is going to marry Layla's sister Ellen and strange things start happening, that indicate that Layla may still be alive. What ensues is paranoia on the part of Finn, as he tries to find out if Layla is really alive. During this time, he and Ellen grow apart, with Ellen wondering if Finn loved Layla more than her.

The book had me wanting to keep reading to the end despite the fact that Finn is a very selfish, unlikeable, wealthy guy, who made me wonder why he had such loyal friends. Early on I suspected what was actually going on and found out I was correct by the end of the book. There is a long email that explains everything...I think it would have been better to find another way to reveal what was happening.

Even though I suspected the secret, I had hoped that there could be a plausible explanation for how everything transpired. An explanation that let us know how this could take place in a way that seems understandable. But instead, we get a resolution that is full of holes because I do not think that what took place could be so easily carried off. Anything more I say would spoil the book but the book gave no reasonable explanation for what happened to have actually worked for so long, or at all.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

First and foremost I have to say I ALWAYS enjoy a B.A. Paris book. I love her writing style. The words just flow nice and easy off the page. I'm always intrigued to see what type of story she has concocted. I find it's always very clever and twisty.

Finn's girlfriend, Layla, went missing and was presumed dead twelve years ago after they were coming back from a ski trip from France to England. When they stopped at a rest stop she disappeared. Twelve years later Finn is engaged to Ellen and has finally put his tragic past behind him. Only Layla may have been spotted somewhere in England. So goes the unravelling of the story. What happened to Layla? Was that really her that was spotted? Finn begins to receive pieces of some Russian dolls. First being placed around his home...then in the mail. These dolls have a significance to Layla. I thought that part of the story was clever.

The story was good and I enjoyed it but I just found it ran rather slow....with just the popping up of Russian dolls here and there and not much else seemed to be happening. I did not care much for Finn although I think we needed to know him better to really understand him. I wished we could have learned more about his past and background.

I loved the first two B.A. Paris novels. While this one was still enjoyable to read it was not my favourite of her novels. The twist was perhaps a little bit far-fetched but I was puzzled trying to piece together what was happening. She did a good job with throwing in some red herrings. In the end I figured it out but the pace to that realization was good. You didn't "get it" until later in the book.

BRING ME BACK by B.A. Paris is the third psychological thriller from this author that I have been excited to receive and read. This author has a writing style that pulls you in and presents you with many surprising twists and turns.
On their way home from vacation, Finn and Layla stop at a highway rest stop in France. When Finn returns to the car, Layla is gone. With no cell service, Finn drives to the nearest police station to report what happened, but not everything.
Finn attempts to move on with his life and eventually meets Ellen, Layla’s older sister. Their shared grief brings them closer together. Finn tries to see Layla in Ellen, but they are very different and even with those differences or because of them, Finn becomes involved with Ellen.
Ten years later, when Finn and Ellen announce their engagement, Finn begins to receive emails and little Russian dolls that only have significance to Finn, Ellen and Layla. Finn does not know what to believe. Is Layla alive? Where has she been? Why is she making contact now? Secret messages, hidden secrets, clues and warnings all ramp up the suspense as Finn tries to discover the truth about Layla.
This was not my favorite by this author. That said, I was compelled to continue reading until the end. The first part of this book had me turning the pages, but for me it bogged down in the middle. It does pick up the pace again towards the end. The plot bounces back and forth from present to past to reveal the twists which this author is exceptional at producing. I was able to guess a part of the resolution, but the ending was unexpected and I was not really happy with it, but that may not be true for all readers. This thriller is one that I expect many readers will have mixed feelings about. I can recommend it as an intriguing thriller read, but not my favorite from this author.
Thanks very much to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one started off strong in part one, but sort of petered off the farther into it I read! The characters were unlikable and the twist was just too far fetched to seem realistic! Not my favorite by this author.

Bring Me Back is the second novel I've read by Paris, and I enjoyed this one as much as Behind Closed Doors.

Ten years ago Finn and Layla stopped at a rest stop and when Finn returned from the restroom, Layla had disappeared. There is more to that story--but you have to read the book to find out. Finn has recently become engaged to Layla's sister, Ellen.

First, someone from the town where Finn and Layla used to live says they spotted Layla. Then, Russian dolls begin to appear in strange places where Finn or Ellen will find them. Only Finn and Ellen and one other friend know the significance of the Russian doll. Finn begins to get emails from someone claiming to know where Layla is.

All of this turmoil makes Finn wonder just how much he really loves Ellen. It puts a strain on their relationship. And as the clues pile up and Finn becomes convinced that Layla is still alive, the couple is driven to the breaking point.

Just who is behind these mysterious events? Is it Layla? Or is someone else trying to break Finn and Ellen up, or even worse.

The tension builds nicely throughout the entire story. The pace is fast--there is always something happening. I did feel that this second book is a bit formulaic, nevertheless, my heart pounded a bit at times.

Paris has the talent for ramping up suspense, and I can recommend this one easily to those who enjoy that type of story.

I'm going to start with I hate reviewers that say "this wasn't believable". It's a book! That's why we read them. But I think Ms Paris pushed this one a little too far. Without giving away any spoilers, the ending, while surprising was a little cliched. I can't say this was my favorite book of hers.