S E Lynes is such a clever writer! Loved The Proposal even though it was really disturbing at times. It's about so many different things. A desperate author struggling to write a second book after her flop of a first one, an ex prisoner finding his way after he's been released and the facade of social media. It's a dark, twisted and creepy tale that kept me gripped

The Proposal... this is definitely a different kind of psychological thriller. Pippa an author trying to bang out her second novel. Ryan, the door to door salesman who is trying to get back on his feet after a brief stint in prison. They strike a deal, a proposal of sorts and their lives will never be the same after that first night they spend together.

The twists and turns in this book are almost hard to keep up with as the story snakes it’s way through the pages that keep you reading word after word as you almost can’t believe what your reading but yet you do. Is it a love hate thing??? Brilliantly written thriller that will stick with you all the way through including its twisted ending!

I loved it.
At about 54% is when the book picked up for me. I’m glad I didn’t give up on it because the ending was epic and made the book worth reading. It just took a long time to get to the thrilling part.
I really liked the ending, it was very original and totally unpredictable.
Thank you Netgalley for ARC.

I found The Proposal to be one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. I persevered until the end but I didn’t really enjoy it. I disliked the main character and also the style the book was written in. I also found it somewhat predictable. Sorry but this book wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

well first thank you Net Galley for the chance to read before it hits shelves. This book was a wild ride for sure. I was confused at the beginning just because the blog posts and the private journal entries were not adding up to the same thing. It wasn't until later in the book that I started to make sense of things, and by then I was kind of hoping that he killed her, I just didn't like her at all. But the more I read the more I realized what was happening. Can anyone say Stockholm Syndrome? I do have do have to say that the last few sentences made my skin crawl because you know what happened without Pippa even having to say it out loud so to speak.

I’ve read all SE Lynes’ books and this is definitely her best by far.

This very different psychological thriller grabbed me from the very first line and kept me hooked until the very last line. At every opportunity, I picked up my Kindle to try and sneak in a few more pages. I love books that are dark, twisted and chilling and this was all three and much more beside along with a couple of damaged, dysfunctional characters.

I read a lot of psychological thrillers, but this one is very different to any others I’ve read. I can’t wait to see what Ms Lynes comes out with next time. She is a great writer who clearly has a very twisted imagination and I love it!

I have enjoyed this author’s previous books immensely but found The Proposal very difficult to get into. I found the different aspects i.e. blog entries, audio excerpts, extremely disjointed and it did not ‘grab’ me.

It was an extremely slow-burner which, in my opinion, led to a great ending but was too long doing so.

3.5 rounded up
That was nuts, very dark and twisted. It’s also very different which I always appreciate. I think it’s the kind of story that most people will either love or hate. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it so I’m stuck in the middle. The last chapter is a letter from the editor which provides some clarity, as does gaining a general knowledge of the story Rebecca (and the Mrs. Danvers character).

The writing, switching from alternating blog posts to journal entries, was clever and worked well. The characters were twisted, but fascinating. The ending was quite chilling, but fitting.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

LOVED this book. It was everything that i look for in a book. Twisty, dark and un-put-downable. I had never read anything by this author before..now i look forward to reading more.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I liked the different narratives being told throughout the book as it developed an understanding of each characters story. However, I did find it hard to warm to, or connect with any of the characters as none were very likable, although maybe this was the point? However, I did want to keep reading to find out what had happened which is always a good sign.

There is no doubt in my mind that S E Lynes is like a good old and smelly cheese - she gets better with age and boy oh boy, each of her books get better and better.

Without rehashing the blurb above, it's safe to say that The Proposal is a very dark and uncomfortable psychological thriller.  The author has a real talent of grabbing the reader by the "short n curlies" and taking them on a roller-coaster of emotions from page one until the end.

The book is narrated by the main character Pippa.   Told from her private journals and her instagram/social media account we learn all about Pippa, a successful romance author and a very disturbing and dangerous individual called Ryan.  I don't want to give anything else away - except to warn you that this book has similarities to Pringles as once you start reading you just can't stop.  Bravo Ms Lynes another brilliant psychological thriller.

Just awesome in the craziest, most twisted way!

At it's heart this is a story about obsession and love, a story of the connection between author Pippa Gates and ex-convict Gary Hughes. Saying any more than that would ruin the story!

This was a fantastic book. I loved the premise of it, the creeping tension, the stifling terror and finally the twisted conclusion. It was a joy to read and I loved the format, with blog pots, Pippa's journal and Ryan's dictated notes. I especially loved the almost ending. Such a clever book, so intelligent and well written, exploring the idea of madness and how each of us is mad in our own separate way, moulded by the events of our pasts.

For me, this is one of the stand-out reads of 2018. Unique and challenging and ever so enjoyable.

It reminded me of YOU by Caroline Kepnes, one of my favourite books, so if you like this type of thriller this one is for you.

I’ll never buy anything from a doorstep seller again after reading this terrifying book! It did take me a while to get into, due to the different styles of writing – the story, a blog and a transcript – but for anyone struggling, my advice is to keep going. Very twisted and dark but utterly compelling!

Holy Cow…. This was my holiday read, yep I’m not one of those that goes for the oul romantic walk into the sunset holiday reader… more blow your mind psychological thriller that will have your head spinning…. Well this did just that… this is a story like no other I’ve read and my first read by S.E. Lynes, but I can honestly say it certainly won’t be my last!

There are three different storylines in the book, Pippa Gates Author Private Journal, Ryan (Audio Exerpt) and Pips Blogs.

The story reels you in straight away beginning with “The first thing you should know, dear reader, is that I am dead”!!! Right so WTF!!!

Pippa a bored teacher cum romance author (albeit not very successful) is under pressure for a second book. When a down on his luck man knocks on her door one night selling cleaning products, she feels sorry for him and buys something, something is a bit off with him and she knows it, after he leaves she goes running after him with a “PROPOSAL”, one that will turn her life upside down, she offers him £200 to tell him her life story and its hers to keep…. WHAT IS SHE THINKING.. is a story for a book really worth that much…..having this stranger ex-con in her home drinking wine and having food and him telling her his story!!!!

I am not going to tell you the rest but to needless to say, you will want to slap her to make her wake up and smell the coffee but at the same time feel sorry for her, she just wants to be loved having lost her mother when she was 6 and then abandoned by her dad at the age of 18!

A gripping psychological thriller full of twists, dark romance, suspense….it really covers a multitude This book will leave you with your mouth hanging open….. hats off to you S.E. Lynes honestly so well written and pulled together beautifully. Will be highly recommending this to my friends and family.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Be careful who you invite into your home...they may not be who they say they are...they may be a former rapist/murderer and they may have their sights set on you! A great read from S.E Lynes, it hooks the reader in quickly and is a hard book to put down. Mesmerisingly written. Thanks to #netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book #selynes #bookouture #theproposal

I've always enjoyed Bookouture's Pick of thrillers, they're craftly edited and error-proof and the pace is consistent enough to hook the readers. Thanks for this binge read!

4* Mad As A Hatter Stars

This book centers around Pippa Gates who is a school teacher by day and failing romance author by night. After her first book bombed she is desperately trying to meet her third deadline extension on a hopeful bestseller which is due to be sent to her editor the following morning but sadly has nothing worthy to send.

When there is an unexpected knock at her door she opens it to find a sickly looking man with faded old clothes standing there offering to sell her household cleaning products. The moment Pippa opened her door and the proposal made with Ryan to tell his story, her fate was sealed.

I struggled to like Pippa as her behavior throughout the story was irresponsible and dangerous. Ryan was dark and crazy creepy.

This book alternates between Pippa Gates Private Journal and Pippa Gates Author Blog Post. In between these we also have some Audio Excepts. It was a bit confusing in the beginning but it all came together in the end.

The Authors imagination takes you on a dark and twisty journey with this ill-fated couple. It was a chilling and disturbing read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review.

I actually gasped at the end, gasped! Wiltshire is where I grew up so I love reading about places that I may have been to although there weren’t many references to exact locations here.

Pippa is a lost and lonely soul, typically pushing away everyone who dares to love her. When the ex-con door-to-door salesman arrives she just can’t trust her instincts not to get involved.

As he tries to infiltrate her life, she takes his life from him and soon turns it into a best selling novel, until he comes knocking for his royalties.

I think the novel did end up more of a love-story that a psychological thriller but the bones of it were there; I’d have liked to have seen more about the Stockholm Syndrone, the police investigation, a piece from Marlie or Steve or perhaps some additional exploration about the events that happened. It was a bit too ‘clean’ and although I detest the jumping back and forth of the different narrative, it made a lot of sense at the end as to why is was so wildly different. This was a very clever and incredibly unique book that literally left me gobsmacked at the end. I truly thought it was based on a true story and was just about to go and google the Wiltshire Murders!! Convincing...

This book was a bit confusing the way it was written in different sections but it all came together at the end. A good read

Pippa is a school teacher who dreams of becoming a successful author. Her first published book didn’t do well and her editor wants her to churn out something better if she has to stay afloat. But, Pippa has a major writer’s block and just doesn’t know what should be her next plot or story.
Ryan is an ex-convict, recently released from prison, who is trying to make a living by selling cleaning products door-to-door.
When he lands up at Pippa’s door, she is beyond desperate for the story outline.
She makes him a proposal – one which will change her entire life forever.
She invites Ryan into her flat, to let him tell her his life story, so that she can use it for her next book. Ryan becomes infatuated with Pippa and starts to stalk her. He is convinced that they are soul-mates and are meant to be together.

Told alternately, as entries in Pippa’s private journal (where she pours out the truth), her blog posts (for the masses) and few glimpses from Ryan’s point-of-view, this novel is dark and the characters border on dysfunctional.
The book deals with and sheds light on the thought process of someone who has underlying mental problems.
Pippa is a bitter and dark character, reeling from a bad divorce, with no friends. She fills her life with random dating and one-night stands, when she isn’t writing. She has no place in her life for normalcy or commitment. Her only friend, Marlena, is equally worried and frustrated with her. She could have had a happy life with ex-husband, Bill. But it was always her changing expectations that led to her constant and impossible disappointment.

A paragraph which stayed with me:
“Love is no more than the compatibility of madness. Love is no less than the handing-over of the power to destroy from one human being to another. When you love someone, you give them the power to annihilate you – they can cheat on you, stop loving you, abandon you, belittle you, humiliate you and leave you bewildered and broken. This is why you have to be very careful about who you love.”

Will Pippa succeed in publishing her second novel?
Will Ryan end up harming her?
Or will Pippa finally find the love she has been searching for her whole life?