Another winner from the author. A fun book filled with suspense and mystery. At the beginning not easily predictable but not surprising at the end. A book I would recommend to all.

First off let me just say I love Lisa Unger books. This novel centers around Poppy, whom has lost her photojournalist husband and is trying to deal with the loss. This novel has heart as well as being a tension builder. I’m never disappointed with a book by Lisa Unger.

Enjoyed the storyline & characters. Kept me wanting to fread more til I reached the end. Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre & even the ones that don't.

Her husband murdered while out jogging. Days missing from her memory. Friends who just want to help. Prescriptions that, on top of everything else have Poppy, a photographer who ran a business for other photographers with her husband, unable to tell the difference between reality and dreams. What has really happened? Did she really know the people she thought she was closest to?

An engaging thriller. Thanks, Netgalley, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was pulled into this book from page 1 and didn't want to put it down. The Main character, Poppy, was a very complex character. Poppy's husband Jack is murdered and Poppy has a breakdown where she loses memory of several days. Poppy is trying to find answers about why Jack was murdered and what happened to her during her breakdown. I was intrigued from the start and did not want to put the book down. Although I had my suspicions the ending was very unexpected. I highly recommend this book. I have loved all of Lisa's book so far and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you to Lisa, her publisher, NetGalley, for this amazing ARC in exchange for this honest review

Lisa Unger is one of my favorite mystery writers. I was anxious to read this book and it did not disappoint me. I was pulled into the story from page one. The main character, Poppy, was interesting and complex. After losing her husband to a brutal murder she seeks to find the murdeter. She becomes hooked on meds that are supposed to help her anxiety and sleeplessness. Her best friend and her husband play a big part in the story. At times the story seems confusing but it all comes together as facts begin to make sense. I would definitely recommend this book. You will not be able to put it down until the conclusion. Another great book by Unger!

“The photographer is a thief, stealing time.” – Poppy, in Under my Skin by Lisa Unger

Start to finish, I absolutely loved Under My Skin by Lisa Unger. As Poppy seeks to find the truth about who murdered her husband Jack, she must also uncover the truth about what happened to her during the days after Jack’s funeral, days she cannot remember at all.

Poppy has trouble differentiating between what is real and what is imagine or dreamed, and the reader must also ride down this path, never sure what is true and what is a nightmare. The story is thrilling, but my favorite part of this book is the character development, which is superb. Poppy and her husband are photographers, so many references are made to light and shadow, capturing emotion through a camera lens, and the beauty of images. There is such attention to detail in creating each character, even down to Detective Grayson and his Pepsi.

“The eye, the memory – they’re the trickiest liars. Only the camera lens captures the truth, and just for a moment.”

Thank you to author Lisa Unger, publisher Harlequin (Park Row), and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book was a joy to read!

I love this Author's writing and have read all her books. I was totally immersed in this story from the beginning. Poppy suffers a breakdown after the funeral of her husband who was murdered while on his morning run. No one was arrested or charged. Poppy loses a few days of her life and is not sure if she is dreaming or remembering pieces of what happened. Her best friend was keeping a huge secret from her. To say the ending had me gasping out loud is an understatement. Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

I have read Lisa Unger before and was excited to read her current book. Poppy Lang's world fall apart with the brutal murder of her husband Jack. Along with this, her concept of what is real and not is woven throughout. I was taken on this journey as at times it was disjointed, confusing me as to what was really going on. As the storyline continued, I realized that Unger wanted the reader to experience the disconnect and questioning of Poppy's mental faculties. I was hooked within the first 20 pages. Some readers may find this style a bit disconcerting. To me it added that dimension of insight as to how it must feel question the real and not so real world that could happen when trying to find the truth. Early on the reader knows about the mental breakdown and her slow recovery coming out of the fog from medication and mental distress as she tries to find her husband's killer.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC of #UnderMySkin

Another exciting and addictive book by Lisa Unger. This book takes us through the story about a woman suffering the ramifications of PTSD after the brutal murder of her husband. The reader experiences the blackouts, hallucinations, and flashbacks she faces all while the mystery of finding her husband’s killer unfolds.

Poppy and Jack were successful photojournalists, running their own business. They were madly in love and seemed to have it all, but when Jack gets brutally murdered on his morning run, Poppy’s world ceases to exist. A year later, Jack’s murder remains unsolved. Poppy continues to wade through her grief, barely partaking in her own life. Her friends and family tip-toe around her, afraid she may disappear again to suffer another break down as she did shortly after Jack’s funeral. Fueled by pills, alcohol, and grief, Poppy can no longer differentiate between reality and hallucinations. While her best friend, Layla, convinces her to start dating, thinking it may help in her recovery, Poppy begins having more frequent and intense nightmares, along with prolonged periods of blackouts. Her need to find out what happened to Jack continues to intensify as she begins to remember pieces of her past. When Poppy voices concern about someone following her, will those closest to her believe her? And when Jack’s case begins to unravel, will Poppy be able to face the truth about his death?

Unger did an excellent job at keeping the main character relatable and putting us right there in the throws of grief with her. As the plot develops, Unger has this unique way of teasing the reader with suspense by allowing truths to be gained by the characters but at the same time, not revealing too much to the reader . Great book. 5 stars.

I was so excited to read this book. It was enjoyable thriller! There were some crazy twists and turns. I would recommend this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Do you ever start a book by a favorite author when it’s quiet and no one is around so you can read quickly and uninterrupted? Then, it’s so good, you slow down to savor the ending… not wanting it to end? This is one of those books!

“Sometimes we invite darkness.” Yes, Poppy, whether inadvertently or intentionally, sometimes we do! This is the gist of this book, to me.

The book begins with the main character, Poppy, in a bar talking to a stranger. However, too much to drink and too many pills to dull the pain render her unable to fend off her date when he tries to force her. A hooded man saves her just as she falls unconscious.

Poppy’s husband, Jack, was brutally murdered a year ago. With no leads, the murder is still unsolved. Just after the funeral, Poppy disappears for several days and has no memory of where she was or who she was with before turning up on her best friend’s doorstep in a red party dress. She is in counseling, but continues to self-medicate with pills and alcohol and suffers from insomnia. She soon realizes she is suffering from hypnogogia… the transitional phase between sleep and wakefulness or vice versa. She has not idea what real and what is dream. She is being followed; she is seeing her dead husband. But, she is also seeing a strange woman that appears to her as being savagely beaten.

The Hollows is one of my favorite places and while “Under My Skin” is not set in this strange town, the main character does make a visit. While there, she also runs into one of my favorite characters, Jones Cooper. If you have ready a few of Lisa Unger’s other novels, you know where and who I am talking about. I won’t lie… I was giddy when I got to those parts.

Read it… you won’t be able to put this book down!

Publication Date: October 1, 2018
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Murder, Mystery, Paranormal
Cover: OK
Rating: 5 stars
Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

#UnderMySkin #NetGalley

After Poppy's husband Jack is beaten to death on his morning run, Poppy disappears. Several days later she stumbles into the lobby of her best friends building wearing a red dress, confused, and with no memory of where she was or what happened to her. Almost a year later her husband’s case is still unsolved with no leads on his murderer. Poppy, begins having vivid nightmares, blackouts, and is certain a hooded man has been following her. Is she losing her mind, are they dreams or memories, and who is the man following her? As Poppy begins to question the events surrounding Jacks death, she finds herself getting close to answers that might just get her killed.

I really enjoy Lisa Unger's writing and was so excited to get the chance to review her new book. I am really torn on what to rate this so I am going with 3.5 stars and rounding up. The first few chapters had me instantly hooked. I loved the idea of this novel in which a woman who falls into the "unreliable witness" trope is uncertain if what is happening to her is real or all in her head. It had that psychological thriller vibe involving a potential killer stalking her and no memory of past events. What I didn't care for was the main characters continual descent into grief stricken agony in which she repeatedly talks about her use of medication, alcohol, and sex to forget all of her pain. Also is everyone in this novel using the same online dating site? I personally prefer stronger female characters, even one's that are flawed (Ink and Bone), so Poppy's character was not that appealing to me. The novel does pick back up again after that short lag and finishes strong. This novel was entertaining and I finished it in a little over a day, so I would still recommend this to lovers of this style of mystery/thriller.

Under My Skin was an enjoyable read with an unreliable protagonist. Poppy Lang’s husband, Jack, was brutally murdered while jogging early one morning. Poppy falls apart soon after and there is a period in which she doesn’t remember anything that happened. Her best friend, Layla, finds her in a red dress and completely unaware of her surroundings. As the story progresses, we learn that Poppy is on medication from her therapist and is supplementing with other medication given to her by Layla to ease the pain she is feeling from Jack’s death. Poppy’s thought process is so scattered that it’s difficult to know if what she thinks is real is really there or not. This made the book even more interesting to read since the reader doesn’t know if the facts given are true or not. Although Poppy’s character was a bit annoying at times because of her instability, I found that her love for Jack helped to redeem her. She pushed and pushed to figure out what happened to him and with the help of the police officer and Layla, is able to put some of the pieces together gradually. Overall, I found this story to be entertaining and fun. The ending was also done well as it answered any question the reader might have about what happened and what lies ahead for the characters. This was my first Lisa Unger book and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Lisa Unger, Harlequin, Netgalley, and CityBookReview for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder, Blackout, and the Ultimate Truth

Would a psychotic-like break with reality be a welcome respite from everyday life?
Not in the case of Poppy Lang, a young woman whose husband was senselessly murdered while out on his early morning run. Jack and Poppy Lang were a successful young couple living in NYC and running their own creative arts agency.
Poppy has lost days of memory due to blackouts following her husband Jack’s funeral yet she keeps remembering disturbing images while seeing things that aren’t really there. She is on a lot of medication which she has started taking indiscriminately and irresponsibility in order to cope with overwhelming loss, grief, and confusion. The drugs are clearly making things much worse and Poppy suffers a perpetual hallucinatory state and can no longer decipher between memories, nightmares, and reality. Through it all, Poppy knows that she must keep digging to find out what really happened to Jack and why the police have not been able to find her husband’s killer after a year.
Poppy is a likable heroine and her blackout scenes are very well written. It is a bold move for a writer and Unger nails it. One of the underlying themes is the romanticizing of romantic and marital relationships. This theme plays out over and over as Poppy comes to terms with the reality of her relationship with her dead husband and also through her inability to acknowledge the truth about the relationships between those she holds near and dear. It’s a strong theme that plays well alongside a mystery that is not easily solvable. Poppy is a fighter and she has a strong reason to live and go on living. You will root for this character.
This is Unger’s best novel to date. If you have read any of her books before, The Hollows makes an appearance as well as Jones Cooper, one of her recurring main characters.
BRB Rating: Read It.

I love this book, characters were well developed. The plot had many twist and turns. Great read., cannot wait for the next book..

This is the story of Poppy, who lost her husband Jack to a murder over a year ago. She goes between real life, dreams and flashbacks....what is real and what isn't real? It certainly doesn't help that she is taking medication and drinking.

Who is the masked man? Why does her BFF Layla never leave her alone and have a phone app that can trace her whereabouts? Is Noah a good guy or a stalker? Why is Detective Grayson telling her to remain low? So many questions and so much to figure out....

I have read Lisa Unger before and I enjoy her stories. I did find myself taking my time through the first part of the book because I would get a little lost myself. I did find the second part easier to follow. It did all come together at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I like Lisa Unger's books and was excited to read this advance copy, thanks to NetGalley.


Poppy's husband Jack, has been murdered in Central Park. A year later, she still doesn't know what really happened and/or why. She has vivid, sometimes violent dreams where she doesn't really know if they are dreams or memories.


Poppy just can't move past all the unanswered questions surrounding her beloved husband's death and the more dreams/memories that flash before her, the more frightened she becomes. There are secrets in Poppy's life that she has been kept safe from and ones she may not want to know the truth about.
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was fast paced and interesting. I really wanted to see what happened! The only part I thought kind of was odd was Poppy's relationship with Noah. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the tie in to The Hollows, the fictional neighborhood seen in other books of Lisa Unger.
This book releases on or around October 1, 2018. I really do recommend it! Lisa Unger never fails to disappoint!


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Will review on Amazon and other sites upon book's release.

3/5 ⭐️
The beginning was a bit slow, but it wasn’t boring. Then things slowly started to happen and I was questioning the MC and her take on reality with everything that happens to her. As the book went on, the plot fell flat to me. The ending was alright, I see how everything came together, but I thought it would be this big revelation somehow.

"I wonder if anyone notices that I am a ghost in my life."

Poppy's husband, Jack, was murdered one year ago during his morning run in the park. After his funeral, Poppy disappeared. Her best friend and Mother were concerned and even more worried when Poppy showed up wearing a red dress, confused and with no memory as to where she was during those missing three days. Hospitalized with a "nervous breakdown", Poppy recovers but still does not have any memory of those lost days.

"What is read and what isn't real?"

This book was all over the place. It has a dizzying effect. When I first began reading, I was confused and had a hard time keeping track of what was happening. I scratched my head, wondering how this book got positive reviews. Initially this book is a mess. Timelines jumped around, things I thought happened, didn't happen....and then I got it. Poppy is having a hard time with her reality. She doesn’t know what is real, what as a dream, a past memory. She is confused and having trouble making sense of what is happening in her life. How many of us know what it feels like to question your reality? Is what just happed real? Was it a hallucination? A False memory, a dream? Did I have that conversation last night, or six months ago? Did I have that conversation at all? Lisa Unger did an amazingly brilliant job of having the reader feel what the female protagonist is feeling - confusion.

Wow! Is all I can say! What I initially thought was a mess turned into something brilliant. AS Poppy searches for the truth, Unger will have the reader (and Poppy) questioning what is real and what isn’t. This isn’t a straight murder mystery/thriller but a wild ride in search of the truth through one woman’s reality.

Very well done and thought out. Unger pulled this one off so smoothly. I was just as lost and confused as Poppy. I wasn’t clear as to what was happening and questioned my theories the entire book. Very well played, Unger! Although I wasn’t quite sure what was real and what wasn’t, I could not put this book down. I was eager to learn the truth about Jack’s murder and Poppy’s missing days.

Thank you to Harlequin -Hanover Square Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.