Imagine this scene. You are on a long road trip with your partner. It's the middle of the night, and you have to stop the car to go to the restroom. You leave your partner in the car, and tell her to lock the doors. You run to restroom in the pitch black of night, quickly relieving yourself so you can hurry back to the car. On the way to the bathroom, you see another person pull up to the rest stop, but don't think much of it.

You rush to your car, eager to get back on the road again, only to find your girlfriend is missing. You search in the dark of the night, only to come up empty-handed. With no cell phone service, you abandon the search and head to the nearest gas station to call for help. Your girlfriend is never found again.

Flash forward 12 years later. You are happy engaged to your girlfriend's sister, whom you met while grieving. Things seem perfect until your missing girlfriend comes back from the dead, or at least someone who is pretending to be her is following your every move.

This is the premise of B. A. Paris' Bring Me Back, a whirlwind psychological thriller that is twisty as a mountain road. This book is a great study in unreliable narrators: can you trust what you have been told by the person whose girlfriend went missing? He seems like a nice guy, albeit one with a temper. Did he kill his girlfriend, and, if so, who is stalking him and his fiance? Is it a jilted lover seeking revenge? Is it some stranger who read about him in the paper and nothing more? Is it a close friend who harbors resentment over a financial falling out, or who is jealous over his pick of lovers? Or is it truly his former lover, angry that he is now with her sister?

Thank you to the author, B. A. Paris, the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a an advanced reader copy of Bring Me Back. The book will be available for purchase on June 19, 2018 - it is the perfect poolside read!

This novel will probably be quickly compared to Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. They both have strong-willed women hell bent on keeping/destroying the man they love. But to limit Bring Me Back to yet another girl-gone-wrong novel would be an injustice. B.A. Paris once again dissects a dysfunctional relationship and gets to the core of what makes a man and woman fall for each other. I found the latter half of the novel much more fascinating than the first half. Quite honestly, without giving anything away, I felt the first half was a bit redundant and at times, unbelievable. Why would a 19-year-old woman who was in a relationship for a year, "return" after 12 years? Nineteen is usually an impetus age when relationships come and go, not usually a time when one moves on without a word and then "reappears" wanting to take back everything she gave up. That being said, I did find the story intriguing.

This is hands down my FAVORITE book by the author. I was riveted. I couldn't put the book down and I didn't want to. This is one of the must read thrillers of summer 2018 and I know it's going to be an instant bestseller. I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars

Wow, wow, wow!!!! I read this in 2 days, I could not put it down. I thought I had it all figured out, but the author completed mindf@cked me! This book keeps you guessing and is full of suspense and the ending was mind-blowing!!!

This was my first book given to me from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review and I was so excited! I’ve read BA Paris’ other two books and thought they were both pretty great so I had high expectations and this book did not disappoint!

What I loved about this book was that there were multiple options for how it could ultimately end- all as possible as the rest. So it was exciting as I ready closer to the end to see which direction Paris led the book to.

I thought this book was super well written and kept my interest throughout (so much so I finished it in 2 days!) and highly recommend it!

Finn and Layla were on their way home from a holiday getaway when he stops at a rest area. When he returns from the restroom, Layla is nowhere to be found. Finn rushes to the nearest service station and phones for the police, who search for Layla with no luck. She has just disappeared. No one knows if she was murdered, if she left of her own accord... she's just gone .

Twelve years later, Finn is engaged to Ellen, who happens to be Layla's sister (scandalous!) and has moved on with his life (as much as possible anyway). That's when strange things start happening... the strangest of them being the random appearance/delivery of tiny Russian dolls, behind which there is a story that only Finn, Ellen, and... Layla.. know about.

Torn between thinking that someone is playing a cruel joke on them, and believing that Layla really has returned, Finn begins to spiral into a lot of pent-up emotion and conflict. Lies are told, secrets are kept, and people are broken in the turn of events that unfold... all led along by the presence of these little dolls..


★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆

Oh my gosh, guys... this was such a FUN read. The underlying premise and themes of this novel were brilliant and they really reminded me of one of my favorite books of all time... which I cannot state in this review because if you have read it, then it will ruin the twist for this one for you! (DM me if you read it and want to chat about that)

The novel starts out with two alternating time lines, both from Finn's point of view. One timeline is taking place when he first met and fell in love with Layla... the other taking place in current day where he is living with Ellen (Layla's sister) and is engaged to be married. That little bit of scandal alone is enough to cause some emotional turmoil and conflict in a relationship. So when the Russian dolls begin to show up, possibly signifying that Layla is back, the strength of Ellen and Finn's relationship begins to be tested.

About halfway through the novel (give or take), you get a second POV from a character other than Finn (sorry, can't tell you who.. because, spoilers!).

Everything in this novel seems so black-and-white and surface level, but with just enough mystery and conflict for you to know that it isn't that simple. You can feel that big twisty moment approaching but it's hard to really pinpoint what about it is so strange and what you think the truth may be. There is even some really fun symbolism that you can look back on after you have completed the novel (I would also love to chat about this with you if you have read the novel, so DM me if you want to talk Bring Me Back with me!)

B.A. Paris is really a fantastic author. I have loved every one of her novels. She creates flawed characters with twisty story lines and really has a way of constructing this dramatic flair that I haven't really experienced with other novels.



There were really only two things that I did not like about this novel:

★ Solved too soon: I had a pretty solid theory on what was going on/how the book would end, and once I figured that out, it was so baringly obvious that I spent the last 25% of the novel dying (with excitement though.. don't get me wrong!) to get to the end to confirm my ideas. Other than a few little tweaks, I was pretty spot on. This was really just a personal factor for me and this may not be the case for everyone! Keep an open mind :)

★ The ending--> Now... the ending was not bad, by any means. I enjoyed every bit of this book and the premise was so creative and engaging. If you have read B.A. Paris' Behind Closed Doors and loved it, then I think you will be satisfied with the ending as well... Paris has a way of creating these theatrical scenarios and endings that require a little suspension of belief in order to truly enjoy. She takes an already interesting and exciting concept and always finds a way to amp it up to a little larger of a proportion than what I would call realistic. I thought about docking a star or so on this one for the ending.... but in all actuality... it's part of her writing style, so I should have expected that and I really can't complain too much on that front because it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel.



Thank you to B.A. Paris, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

As a HUGE fan of B.A. Paris' first two books, I was a little underwhelmed by Bring Me Back, and found the plot to be just a little too convoluted for me! While it had the same extremely readable pacing of B.A Paris’ previous books, the plot was too insane to get past.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris.

Twelve years ago while traveling through France on holiday, Finn McQuaid's girlfriend, Layla, disappears from the rest stop. Finn never tells the police the whole truth about what happened that night and her disappearance was never solved. Fast forward to the present day and Finn is now engaged to his missing girlfriend's sister, Emma. Russian nesting doll replicas begin to appear. Only Kayla, Emma and Finn know the meaning of them. Is Layla alive?

This is a fast paced thriller that I read in less then 48 hrs. Another #1 top seller written by B. A. Paris!

Bring Me Back is possibly the best thriller I have read all year! it captured my attention right from the beginning and I read through it so fast. I did not expect the twist ending. this book is dark and twisted but also touches on grief and mental health. Finn's girlfriend Layla goes missing with no trace of her whereabouts. 12 years later, Finn is engaged to be married to Layla's sister, Ellen. what happened to Layla? and why, after 12 years, have clues started appearing to suggest she may still be alive?

young British couple are driving through France on holiday when they stop for gas. He runs in to pay, she stays in the car. When he returns her car door has been left open, but she's not inside. No one ever sees her again.

Ten years later he's engaged to be married; he's happy, and his past is only a tiny part his life now. Until he comes home from work and finds his new wife-to-be is sitting on their sofa. She's turning something over in her fingers, holding it up to the light. Something that would have no worth to anyone else, something only he and she would know about because his wife is the sister of his missing first love.

As more and more questions are raised, their marriage becomes strained. Has his first love someho
w come back to him after all this time? Or is the person who took her playing games with his mind


My thoughts:
Dark ,twisted, creepy , it's all these and more , it'll keep you on the edge of your set want to know what's happening and it'll keep you pulled in to The very end, just like The Breakdown it won't let go unit the very end. So hold onto your set ,get comfortable and settler down to spend the night reading. At least that what it feels like to me. Can't wait to see B.A.Paris next book when it comes out. With that said thinks Netgalley and to the publishers of her books for letting me fall in love all over with her books and style of writing.

Years after man (Finn's) girlfriend (Layla) disappears, he moves on with her sister (Ellen); shocking!

Twelve years ago, Finn was arrested after his fiance, Layla, went missing. She was never found, the charges were dropped, and now he's moved on and is engaged to ... gasp ... Layla's sister, Ellen, and the public is appalled.

The story alternates between the past (Finn's time with Layla) and the present (Finn's relationship with Ellen). Of course, the media circus was rampant when Layla first went missing and once again when Finn's engagement to Ellen becomes public knowledge. Why do Russian dolls—items that have deep meaning to the sisters—keep turning up in odd places? Could Layla still be alive, or is someone else messing with Finn's head?

Yet again, B.A. Paris pulled me in from the very first page! What happened to Layla all those years ago, and why? I was so intrigued by this story, but then wait, what? Please, please, please don't be going where I think you're going ... Yep. You went there. Why, oh why, did you go there?!?

I absolutely LOVED Behind Closed Doors (4 stars) and The Breakdown (4 stars) and was beyond thrilled to read an advance copy of this one ... but, you guys, it totally let me down. Where was the originality? Where were the twists and turns like in the first two books?

So, ok, here it is ... I don't usually include spoilers in my reviews, but this time I HAVE to, mostly because it reminded me. Way. Too. Much. of another book I didn't care for ...

[ ... spoiler...

The Woman in Cabin 10 (2.5 stars). Bleh. How the heck was she able to convince Finn that she was two DIFFERENT people?!? Really?!? #Lame #Lame #Lame ... but hey, at least the people in this book were related, unlike the characters in Cabin. But, still, I'm not buying it.

... end spoiler... ]

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! Thank goodness for snow days as I got sent it yesterday and I’ve done nothing else but read it today.
It’s one of my favourite books this year and my definite favourite by this author. I would strongly recommend it and would give it a worthy 5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book I thought it was a good solid psychological thriller and probably my favourite of this authors. Good development of characters and a storyline with enough red herrings, cliffhangers and twists to keep my interest. I didn't give it five stars as I did guess the ending but overall pretty enjoyable and I would recommend.

Compelling! Spine-tingling! Creepy! Completely addictive! I could barely stop for a bite of lunch and thank goodness I was not working today so I could finish this! This is her third book, I read her first two, and she is still at the top of my ‘must read’ authors. I enjoy so much the way the story just keeps building in suspense until you can barely stand it! If you are a fan of suspense and thrillers you must not miss this. Now I am sad because I have to wait for her next book and I am sure it will be a little while yet!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the free copy of this book, in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Okay, So Behind Closed Doors, is the book that started me on the road to obession with Domestic Thrillers, I love that book, still to this day I remember the way I felt reading it, I was terrified. Her second book, The Breakdown was great too, and now her new third book was fabulous. 

There was something about this book, I couldn't put it down. I really felt like I just devoured it. I wanted to find out what really happened to Layla, and I needed to know if Finn did something to her, I had so many theories running through my head, ultimately  none of my theories were right. The character development in this book was spot on, you get the trust no one vibe, and really all of them are unreliable in one way or another. This was a gripping, bite you nails, hold on to the edge of your seat, one more chapter book, and I loved every second of it! 

B.A. Paris is a writing genius. I have been entranced by all of her books, and each one has new fresh, creative ideas. I absolutely cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Really good book that kept me on my toes. As with the authors other books your kept guessing how its all going to unravel. Finn is an interesting character. Living with his now girlfriend Ellen. You find out the story about how his 1st girlfriend and sister of Ellen vanished on holiday in France. A lot more to the book. I love this authors books slowing becoming one of my favourites

Have you heard? B.A. Paris has a new novel coming out this summer! Just like her previous novels Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown, this is an addictive psychological thriller you don't want to miss!

Twelve years ago, Finn took a trip with his girlfriend Layla. On their way home, they make a stop somewhere and Finn leaves Layla sitting in the car. When he comes back, she's vanished without a trace.

It was a struggle, but Finn moved on with his life, finding love with Layla's sister Ellen. Everything is going well until the day Finn gets a phone call informing him his former neighbor thought they'd seen Layla. That was unsettling enough, but then an item is left at the house he shares with Ellen—something that held significance to Layla that few people knew about. The emails started coming soon afterwards, hinting that Layla is still alive... emails that sometimes seem to be coming from Layla herself.

Finn is desperate to know the truth and determined to keep Ellen in the dark until he gets the answers he needs. If Layla really is alive, what will that mean for his relationship with Ellen? And if she isn't... who is messing with his head?

Bring Me Back is cleverly written, telling the story of Finn's present day life with Ellen, as well as his past life with Layla. I love it when a story is rounded out this way, giving the reader little pieces of the past to attempt to put together before the Big Reveal comes. Each new discovery makes the things you already know take on new meaning.

I was immediately struck by the differences between the two sisters—Layla is carefree and vivacious, whereas Ellen is serious and restrained. The more aware I became of how little the sisters had in common personality-wise, the more I wondered about Finn's relationship with Ellen. Their pairing certainly seemed an unlikely one, and I liked the way Finn thinks about that more and more as he tries to sort out the truth about the emails and items left for him to find.

Finn makes important discoveries are made early in the book, and the story takes a decidedly sinister turn as it gets into part two. I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of the book, but I have to say it gets MUCH better in the second part! There's a definite cat-and-mouse vibe going on here, and I couldn't put it down.

Even though I managed to figure out something crucial before it was revealed in the book, the ending was still significant and played out in a shocking way I didn't see coming, and made me bump my rating up a bit from four stars to four and half well-deserved stars.

Put this one on your TBR, y'all... and get ready for a great read this June!

3.5 stars rounded down.
Having really loved this author's previous two books, I was very excited when I saw she had a new one out. I was even more excited when I managed to snaffle an early review copy. I cleared some space on my TBR and dove right in. All was going swimmingly and I was really enjoying it until about half way through when I paused and said to my brother that I thought I knew where it was going and that I really hoped I wasn't right. I put it aside and carried on regardless. Sadly I was right and even with the author's explanation which satisfied a few of the niggles I had about the outcome, it just wasn't enough for me to really believe in what I had been reading. In fact, I even called the red herring that the author also slipped it, I was actually hoping that this was going to be the real reveal! Looking at other reviews, I appear to be in the minority and I admit that maybe my early guess may have skewed my later feelings and things could have been very different for me had I not seen it coming. But that's how it was and I have to write my reviews with honesty or I am not being true to myself as a reader/reviewer.
It wasn't all bad though, as I said, I was really enjoying it up until I had my moment of clarity. the characters were working well for me, the story was interesting and kept my attention nicely. Actually, the story kept me interested throughout as, ignoring my feelings about the way the book was going, it was still interesting how we would eventually get there and what would happen when we did. Niggles aside, I though the actual ultimate ending was very well done.
It's hard to write much more about the book without being able to qualify my thoughts and feelings. I have tried to put a few things down but invariably they either don't make sense without further explanation, or hint too much about things that are best left unsaid. I will just end on a positive point though. Everything aside, it was a very readable book. I absolutely flew through it - both before and after my epiphany. So I guess I can't feel too hard done by. It also hasn't skewed my feelings about the author and wouldn't stop me reading any of her future books.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was a quick & very intriguing story from page one with a wonderful twist!

B.A. Paris has crafted yet another psychological thriller, this time involving a woman who mysteriously disappeared and was never found while en route home from a holiday with her boyfriend. Five years later, he met her sister as they accepted that she was never returning and memorialized her. Now they are in a relationship and planning to marry, but strange events lead him to believe that perhaps the missing sister is alive and toying with his emotions. After all, he never quite told the whole story to the police. As Russian dolls keep materializing -- symbolizing a childhood event that only the sisters knew about -- the pressure builds, culminating in a plot twist that many readers either won't see coming at all or considered but, thanks to Paris's clever diversionary tactics, dismissed a few chapters back. Bring Me Back moves at a steady, fast pace as the action accelerates to the shocking climax. It is refreshing that, unlike in Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown, the female protagonist is not weak, gullible, and helpless, although there are moments when it seems she might be too trusting and loving. Again, Paris's writing suffers from one drawback -- a significant suspension of disbelief is required in order to accept the ending to the story and its resolution will leave readers asking many questions. Nonetheless, the story is enjoyable. Paris has delivered another quick read that's perfect for a rainy afternoon or beach outing.