I found this book well-written and surfacing an important topic. It has two main protagonists, an established executive and the understudy determined to rise above her. It also has a great twist in the tale. My only criticism is that I found it hard to identify with either protagonist.

I enjoyed this book, part Devil Wears Prada, part psychological thriller. The twist was a big one that I didn't see coming (and I'm normally pretty good at working out the twists).

I liked this book; it had many twists and turns and interesting characters. Some of it was a bit confusing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

I liked this book because it was a mix between thrilling and a typically ‘girly read’ it felt a bit Devil Wears Prada at the start, with the rivalry between colleagues in a beauty environment. You then start to see there is a more sinister motive. (Which I love, psychological thrillers are my favourite) Throughout I didn’t really know what to expect, which is good because I like to be kept guessing! I’ve given it a 4 star because I still have some unanswered questions I feel. Why did she change the spelling of her name? Ashley vs Ashleigh, and I didn’t think we learnt enough about her brother. What did he do in the past? If you love things like big little lies, this is for you!

This was a very interesting read that presented the important topic of rivalry and postpartum depression. I really liked the plot and the fact that the book was written alternating present and past moments in which dual narrators tell the story.

The characters were developed, and I particularly like the protagonist Helena who you meet after many years in the countryside and don’t really know what happened to her in the past.

There’ve been accidents. There was her colleague Ashley and her malicious behaviour towards her. How far would you go to get what you really want? There’s a child, Helena’s husband and that night she spent with her boss. It’s all deliciously entwined.
A real page turner! It won’t disappoint.

Anyone who has ever watched the classic movie All About Eve will be familiar with the phrase “hold on to your seat you’re in for a bumpy ride”. This theme may have been done before but the Rival delivers an over the top look at modern women that will take your breath away and stay with you for a long time. Helena meets Ashley when she hires her to be an assistant at KAMU, a makeup company. All goes well for a while until their budding friendship is damaged by Ashley’s uncontrollable ambition and Helena’s unexpected pregnancy. While Helena and Ashley dominate the fast paced action, the supporting male characters, Jack, David, Joel and Jason, are well described and help to move the plot quickly along. A shocking surprise ending leads to a much different discussion. I read this book in one sitting and you will too. Both Helena and Ashley are sympathetic characters and you’ll alternate support between them. The Rival is a great book club read.

Thank you Charlotte Duckworth, Quercus Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Rival is an intriguing story told from the perspective of 2 women- flicking back and forward in time it tells of the difficulties woman face in the workplace when contemplating motherhood. The author also discusses post natal depression and psychosis sensitively and with care. While it starts off slowly it’s worth persevering as the ending is as unexpected as it is insightful.

While this book had a bit of a confusing, slow start, the ending more than makes up for that. It is told from dual points of view of Helena, a hard working career woman and Ashley, a young, ambitious woman who wants what Helena has. Once this book gets going, it doesn’t stop. And the twist at the end was something I did NOT see coming. Whoa. It’s sad, shockingly real, and intense. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review. Will definitely read more from this author!

I'm not really sure how I felt about this book to be honest with you. We have two main characters Helena, a slightly older woman who is at the pinnacle of her career; and Ashley, her protege and an extremely ambitious young woman who is willing to go to any lengths to get what she wants. Who will get what they want? Or will they both pay the ultimate price? I personally have never worked at this level in the corporate world, so I wasn't able to identify readily with either character, and found a hard time liking either character. I found that there was a subplot that I could have done without. There are a couple of interesting twists toward the end that added a bit of interest, although I did find myself skimming here and there throughout the book, and when I find myself doing that it, it automatically drops the book down to a three or four star review.

I would like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Rival is a typical psychological thriller, it has all those standard elements that i tend to really enjoy. Where it differs in its premise is that most in the genre by focusing on Helena, a successful career woman, who mentors Ashley, an ambitious young woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her aims in her own career. But when Helena gives up work having had a baby, the baby is never seen. So what has happened to the child and how is Ashley involved.? Why does Helena blame Ashley for all her woes? This is a story that doesn't fail to surprise, told from the point of view of both Helena and Ashley.

This book is addictive. When the lives of Helena and Ashley coincide in the working world little did they know their rivalry would have far reaching consequences for both of them in their personal life. The author has you wanting to read on with every twist and turn that you uncover. It's like no other book I have ever read.

The story centres around Helena a 30 something successful business woman and 20 something Ashley who she hires for her social media expertise. Helena becomes wary of Ashley especially when she becomes pregnant and realises how ruthlessly ambitious she actually is.

The book is set in the "Now" and "Then" and each chapter is told from either Helena's or Ashley's perspective.

I'm not going to say much about the storyline because it's hard to tell without giving too much away. Who wants to read a book when they know everything that's going to happen? Not me! so I'm not going to spoil it for anybody.

What I will say is that the book is a slow burn for the first couple of chapters while you get to know the characters, then it takes light and you can't put it down. It is dark and chilling in parts even more so when you realise what has actually happened and I really, really felt for Helena and her husband Jack.

Throughout the book I disliked and liked Ashley but I could see how she had became that person and I did feel some empathy for her.

I think for a debut book it's outstanding and I look forward to reading more from Charlotte Duckworth.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC.

The Rival

I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller!

The way it transported you from NOW to THEN and between the 2 main characters, (Helena and Ash) was really easy to follow.

Helena is a successful business woman, Ash wants what Helena has, but to what lengths will she go to get it?

This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and hits you right at the end with a shocking twist.

With thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for a free ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.

(Also posted on my GR account!)

I'm tempted to bump the rating to 4 because this is the type of book that I like.
However, and it's a big one, it moved oh so slowly.
I often found myself nearly screaming because the opportunities to speed up and to increase the suspense were there, but it never really came.

The only thing that kept me forward was Helena. She was, in my opinion, the only character with round personalization. Poor Helena, she got sick from carrying the whole book on her shoulder.
Ashley, the titular rival here, didn't get the same experience. Yes, she was troubled, her brother this, her nana this. I can say that she was nearly there, but not entirely. She lacked something, I don't know what that is, that could make me empathize her more.

Despite everything, I quite like the resolution and after reading the author profile in the end of the book, I get why she wanted to write this.

Still an enjoyable book, I wish it could move a lot faster than it is.

This back and forth rivalry is something else! It plays out like a next level lifetime movie. The characters and plot kept me on my toes.

In this corner we have HELENA....unexpectedly pregnant at the height of her career.🥊

In this corner, we have her protege ASHLEY, an ambitious woman determined to get the promotion she wants...🥊

In this DOG EAT DOG corporate world, only ONE can be victorious.
There cannot be a draw. 🥊🥊

Who will come out on top?

Having never worked in the corporate world, the book did not really resonate with me,

AND, worse, it was LONG, with a sub plot that I felt could’ve completely been edited out, to tighten up the plot and speed up the pace.

Thank You to Netgalley, Quercus books, and Charlotte Duckworth for the digital ARC that I received in exchange for a candid review! This book will be released in the US market on Oct. 17, 2019.

This book centers around Helena and Ashley- Helena hires Ashley to work for her and the book goes back and forth between between them and also between timeframes.

I just didn't like this book- I couldn't relate to, nor did I like, either main character, and I found the entire book depressing. There was a twist towards the end but it didn't do anything to make the whole thing seem less bleak to me. I saw that other reviewers really enjoyed it but it was just not for me.

Netgalley provided me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#The Rival #Netgalley. The premise of this book is female rivalry but ends up so much more than that, and I challenge any mother not to resonate with the main character in this fabulous read.
It starts off slowly building the characters, Helena and Ashley, the former being the boss a savvy business woman who hires an assistant, Ashley, who slowly starts to undermine her, and ends up taking her job. The story is told from both sides and half way through the book you become aware that someone is dead, and leaves you guessing until the end. BUT the book also touches on working mothers and the pressures they feel, along with postnatal depression and how women feel coping with a newborn baby. It sends a very important message, one I could relate too and found interesting to read. A thriller with a heartening message I'd, great book.

The Rival by Charlotte Duckworth is the last book I read, I just finished it! It’s such a great book and I loved the writing, the pace, the plot, and characters. Charlotte Duckworth is definitely another writer whose future works I will be eager to read! I read her upcoming novel, Unfollow Me, and was totally hooked. I then got a hold of The Rival and its equally as intriguing.

Here’s the plot:

NOW: Living in her home in the countryside HELENA is a career woman without a job and a mother without a baby. She blames ASHLEY for destroying her life. But is what happened really Ashley’s fault?

THEN: When Helena hires Ashley to work with her, she’s startled but impressed by her fierce ambition. They form a dream team and Helena is proud -maybe this is the protégé she’s always wanted to have? But soon Helena realises that nothing will stand in the way of Ashley’s drive to get to the top. And when Helena discovers she is pregnant, she quickly realises how vulnerable her position is, with devastating consequences.

The book was really good and then during the last quarter of the book, there was a bit of a twist. I’m still thinking about it. Charlotte is a wonderful writer and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

I just realized that I bought this book last year and then rebought it recently and read it this week. I have a surplus of books and forget what I have purchased. Anyone else?

Here’s a link to the $1.99 kindle version!

Honestly I wasn’t a huge fan of The Rival. The beginning was slow and I found it easy to put down and keep coming back to rather than read in one sitting books. It’s well written but I just found something lacking from the plot but I also didn’t relate to the characters at all.

This one wasn’t for me but it wasn’t a bad book. Give it a go!