Member Reviews
Catalogue of Tragedy, Wealth of Lies.....
Fast moving psychological suspense. A catalogue of tragedy, a wealth of lies and secrets. Characters on the whole difficult to like and, in turn, root for. Some, of course, are meant to stir up those feelings of loathing! Solid plot with a quick storyline. Overall, a compelling read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and the Author Sheryl Browne for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be a little confusing and choppy in the beginning, but once I got the characters and plot straight it became the epitome of a cant put down psychological thriller!
More twists and turns than a Country road.
My third read from this Author and I'm definitely a fan, who's other books I will for sure be reading.
How far would you go to get what you want? Conversely, how far would you go to set out to prove the new girlfriend is a liar? And lastly, how far would you push the love of your life to believe you?
An interesting read about delusional people and the secrets they keep. All in the name of love. Whether that be sane or irrational.
Another good read by Sheryl Browne.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for another great read!.
Wow! What a read! This was fast-paced and unpredictable. Perfect summer read! Such a fantastic physiological thriller. Throughout the book you are trying to solve the whodunit and it definitely keeps you guessing!
Thanks the NetGalley and Bookouture for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, this is not an easy review to write.
The New Girlfriend started of really strong.
I liked the idea of the story and really wanted to find out what was going on.
However I was about half way through when I lost my sympathy for the main character. The other characters apart from Adam, were unlikeable as well. Instead of the plot slowly unraveling I felt more and more confused as the story drew to an end. I just didn't get a lot of the things that happened. There were so many lies and secrets that I could hardly keep track and get my head around things.
I liked the writing style but I can't stand unlikeable characters, I also didn't get their motives.
All in all, not a bad book but their was too much going on for me to comprehend.
Nevertheless, thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I feel very "meh" about The New Girlfriend by Sheryl Browne. I had a hard time relating to the characters or connecting with them, so I wasn't motivated to move through the story. It also just felt unrealistic to me. How can a mother not know her son was a father?
Was it one of the worst books I've read? Absolutely not. One of the best? Also no.
A tense read which at times takes some quite dark and twisted turns. Some of the characters weren’t really very relatable and others I wasn’t sure if I liked them or not.
Very twisty and a great read and you’re left not knowing who to trust and who to relate to
Cassie is devastated when her only child dies in a tragic accident. Shortly after Josh's funeral, Kim turns up on the doorstep with baby Samuel and he is the spitting image of Josh as a baby. Cassie begins to obsess over her new grandson but strange things start to happen...
It is clear that Cassie and Kim both have secrets from the past which they are desperate to keep hidden. Cassie receives mysterious text messages which descend to blackmail while Kim is evasive about the details of her relationship with Josh.
The narrative is delivered through multiple viewpoints including Josh in flashback chapters. These are particularly poignant as we know he has died and we are witnessing the events that lead to tragedy.
Cassie, Kim and Josh's ex Jemma are all emotionally written by Sheryl Browne to create sympathy, whilst also raising questions about their actions and motives. The grief of losing a loved one is realistically portrayed and sensitively written. These characters have a vulnerability which makes them appealing despite their dubious activities.
Some parts of The New Girlfriend are quite dark. Kim's homelife is quite tragic to read about, yet her stalking and desperation is creepy yet heartbreaking. The sinister messages and mental breakdown of Cassie, the tension in Cassie and Adam's marriage all contribute to the sense of unease and danger that make us as readers feel concerned for the characters.
The final page is truly jaw dropping and I wasn't expecting it at all (no spoilers!) Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read: part psychological thriller, part family drama but definitely emotional.
When Josh dies under a train his mother, Cassie & step-father, Adam are devastated. They refuse to believe it was suicide. Cassie has had a battle with cancer, is obsessed with cleaning & is receiving threatening messages- a lot to handle. Shortly after Josh's funeral a young girl appears at the door with a baby. She tells them that she was Josh's girlfriend & this is his son. Although knocked for six as they had no knowledge of her Cassie is immediately desperate to be part of baby Samuel's life. Although Adam is quite dubious, the baby looks like Josh & it is dragging Cassie out of her depression. However Cassie soon becomes obsessed with the baby & suspicious of Kim, thinking she is after Adam. Told from the points of view of Cassie & Kim & occasionally others it manages to confuse & keep you reading.
In spite of being really keen to find out what was what, it was not a book I particularly enjoyed. The characters with the exception of Adam were very dislikeable & Adam was a bit of a drip! It kept the attention but I wasn't left with thinking 'That was great!' Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me rad & review this book.
I really enjoyed this one.
A real mix of complex characters who are a bit like marmite!
A tense edge of you seat read, full of secrets and lies with a shocking and unexpected conclusion hold onto your hats and enjoy the ride!
The plot was one of the better ones I have come across. However, I had a difficult time getting behind a couple of the main characters. Cassie was unsympathetic; she was harboring secrets and had to lie in the bed that she made. It was difficult to feel for her grief. I kind of felt the same about Kim. The person I did feel sorry for was Adam. He seemed to be caught in the middle of all of the crazy women. I’m not going to say anything about the plot, but the second half of the book was definitely more interesting than the first half. 3.5 stars for a good plot, but not good characters. For a detailed review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
4.5 Stars
If you’re looking for a terrifying page-turner that will send your heart rate soaring through the roof, then look no further than Sheryl Browne’s latest chiller: The New Girlfriend.
To the outside world, Cassie is the perfect wife and mother. With her perfect home, perfect husband and perfect children, Cassie seems to be the least likely of candidates to have skeletons rattling in her closet, but beneath her respectable exterior lies a woman with plenty of shocking secrets she has gone to great lengths to hide. Nobody must know what she had done years ago and nobody must discover her most shocking secret. But truth does have a habit of getting out no matter how hard you try to hide it as she discovers when at the worst moment of her life, she gets a text that might just expose something she has gone to significant lengths to hide.
Cassie’s beloved son dies in a tragic accident and Cassie is knocked for six. Beside herself with grief and unable to cope with the devastating loss, Cassie cannot possibly contemplate the thought of her dear son not being in her life. The shocking text message she received threatening to expose her is the last thing she wants to cope with, but she must do whatever it takes to keep it hidden from her husband. However, it quickly transpires that she isn’t the only one in the family who was keeping secrets. A woman knocks on her front door and claims to be Josh’s girlfriend. Cassie lets her in, but is she aware of just who she has let into her family home? Can she trust Josh’s new girlfriend? Or has she just made the biggest mistake of her life?
Can Cassie keep her past hidden from her family? Or is she about to be exposed and lose everything and everyone she cares about?
Sheryl Browne’s The New Girlfriend is domestic noir at its most mesmerizing! A gloriously twisted page-turner with shocks and revelations you simply won’t see coming, edge of your seat suspense does not get any better than this!
Full of tension, chills and jaw-dropping family drama, clear your schedule and switch off your phone because once you start Sheryl Browne’s The New Girlfriend, putting it down won’t be an option!
The New Girlfriend was a very twisty read that I loved.
Cassie and Adam are mourning the death of their only son, Josh, Cassie is struggling until Kim turns up on her doorstep claiming to be Josh’s fiancé and with her she has Samuel that she claims is Josh’s baby. It is obvious it is and Cassie is elated as this gives her a purpose and hope but Cassie starts getting anonymous texts and if she can’t find out who is sending them her future is in danger.
This set off as a nice read until suddenly everything turns on its head, everything you think you know you then start to question.
This was a book I enjoyed and loved how the twists all came neatly together, I think this might be Sheryl Browne’s best yet.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing of this story is very slow
I need to remember that when requesting books by this author. At least that way I can set my expectations. I like the writing style and she creates some crazy characters. Besides Adam, the rest of the cast is rather unlikable or outright nuts.
Cassie’s inner monologue was tiring. Her secret was stretched to the bitter end and highly improbable. There are many twists to the story but because they were so outlandish I don’t think the majority of readers will see them coming. The last one GAH!
Setting aside reality, I did feel compelled to finish this story though it took me longer than usual. It was interesting how everything came together. If you like a slow burner and don’t mind suspending reality a bit then this will be your jam.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.
4-4.5 stars. What a great psychological thriller!!! This one was a page turner from start to finish. I enjoyed the short chapters and the writing style. I have to admit that both Kim and Cassie annoyed me a lot! If I had to choose who was crazier or more annoying, I’m not sure I would be able to answer. The ending of the book was REALLY good with some twists that I did not see coming!!! I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves a good mystery! This was my first Sheryl Browne book but definitely not my last!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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The New Girlfriend by Sheryl Browne is a psychological thriller you will not want to put down.Cassie and Adam's son has died, he fell in front of a train a tragedy at the best of times. A young red haired girl attends his funeral, but is not there when Cassie looks for her to speak with. Ten weeks afterwards the same girl comes to their door, with a baby, explaining she is Kimberley and the baby is Josh's son, named Samuel. Obviously they are flabbergasted but Cassie goes out of her way to be a grandma to Samuel. The only problem is Cassie has a secret that will smash this world apart if anyone knew.
Told from Cassie and Kim's perspective mainly apart from some chapters from Adams, this story captivated me, I really needed to know what was going to happen. The characters were all developed well and they aren't all likeable. Some are just pure manipulators but I won't spoil the book for you by exploring further. A gripping story that has layers of lies and deceit for us to uncover as we read along with the story. Thank you to Bookouture-Books-On- Tour and Netgalley for the book to give my review for the blog tour.
Totally enjoyed this story of secrets,betrayal,and lies within a family. After Josh dies tragically,his parents Cassie and Adam welcome his girlfriend into their lives along with their grandson Samuel. Their hearts are filled with love and in Cassies case secrets. Someone has come out of the woodwork and is blackmailing her. Can she find out who and why before they ruin everything?
Gosh this was my first time delving into a book by this author..
I can't believe I've not read any of her previous books yet. She's just fabulous, her work I adored....
I always find when I pick up a book from an author I've not read before, I'm a little apprehensive, yet excited for what lays ahead..
Hoping I'll find another lovely author to add to my list...
Please do add author Sheryl Browne to your must read list....
The New Girlfriend will have you gripped for sure...
We meet a number of characters in this one...
Josh, who dies at the beginning of this story under unusual and horrifying circumstances...
Along comes Kim who is claiming to be in love with Josh and has given birth to his son Samuel recently...
And who are Ryan & Jemma?
Add to that Josh's devastating parents Cassie & Adam who are struggling with their loss.
Makes for a great story doesn't it....
There is a glimmer of hope for Cassie & Adam in their grandson Samuel. It gives them something to help put one foot in front of the other at such a difficult time....
The authors characters are developed so well throughout the story. They are quite manipulative in their quest. But for what in the end, revenge, jealousy maybe...
We see how devastation can lead to such disturbing consequences.....
I loved how she told the story through the different characters...
Don't we know though that secrets and lies eventually come out, it's just a case of when and usually it is when you really don't want them to...
I found I couldn't quite leave this book down.....completely addictive reading....
Well worth your time....
What a book! Sheryl Browne this might be your best yet! Fast paced. Addictive. Twisted. Unpredictable. With a draw dropping ending. Cassie is devastated when her only son Josh is tragicly killed. When Kim shows up claiming to be Josh’s girlfriend Cassie is skeptical but so wants it to be true because Kim also has a baby she claims to be josh’s. Now Cassie has something to keep living for, but what’s up with these creepy messages. Someone seems to know everything about Cassie’s past and if the truth comes out Cassie’s future will be completely destroyed.
This book started off simply enough but then... BAM! Things went sideways and got complicated real quick. It was clear that both Cassie and Kim were hiding things. In fact everyone in this book seem to be hiding something with the exception of Adam. The narrative bounces back-and-forth in time. We see the events taking place after josh’s death as well as how the relationship developed between Josh and Kim. I’m not even certain I necessarily liked any of the characters in this book, but I sure did want to know what the heck was going on. Was Cassie going crazy? Was Kim honest? A riveting read with a ending that definitely shocked me! Well played Miss Browne!
This book in emojis 🚇 📱 👶🏼 📲 🧬
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***🤯
Sheryl Browne can do no wrong!
All her books are amazing and unique.
This one didn't disappoint.
Well written, full of emotions like always, well developed storyline that flows... maybe a little too slow...
Beautiful cover.
I can't wait for the next one! You know I'll be reading it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.