Gripping, thrilling and unputdownable. Should you trust willingly, or will it all go wrong in the worst way possible. What starts as an online date and a bit of fun, quickly turns into a real life nightmare, with walking away an unseemingly impossible conclusion. Brilliant book and an interesting and intriguing plot. 5 stars

Wow, that was something else and honestly, I am still processing what I just experienced. I’m saying experienced instead of reading because the last 40% of that book I read in one setting and it felt like I was inside this thriller movie. I laid in bed with a blanket over my head holding my kindle close ready to find out what the heck would come next.

The book starts out with what seems to be the most perfect first date between Hannah and Alex. They want all the same things, have all the same interest, and Alex is obviously super-hot in the eyes of our leading lady Hannah. Well without giving away too much after that things just get a bit Alfred Hitchcock or maybe a bit Ted Bundy. Red flags everywhere, shadows lurking, lots of lies, and sketchy people left and right. This book does a wonderful job of making almost no character trustworthy or at times likeable. It was a wild ride but that first 60% was a bit of a drag to be honest.

There were not many negative takeaways from this book, expect one, Hannah. The main character in this book was much to reminiscent of a dumb high school girl cliché. She ignored the obvious signs, had awful friends, and overall, was not a likeable character for me. I felt like she made the plot repetitive, she just kept putting herself in the same situations repeatedly. I know giving this book three stars just from one character alone seems cruel. But you must understand, this book is about HANNAH and her friends, love life, past, and work. For me she was not a character I was rooting for or even really wanted to read about.
But I say all that to say this, it was all worth it for that last 40% or maybe more so 30%. The plot thickens to something I somewhat expected but then flips on you again for an even better story. I loved how the author worked the doubt into your mind on who you could and could not trust. It felt, at some points, like Hannah had just surrounded herself with obsessive people who all needed her. I loved that feeling of not knowing who the real “bad guy” was, very reminiscent of a who-dun-it. Author Sue Watson also did an incredible job of tying up loose ends as well. The ending feels like chef’s kiss to all the madness that was endured throughout the novel.
I really hate to give this book only three stars, but it took me 10 days to finish this 300-something page novel. Which is not like me at all, but that main character was just a struggle to endure. I will be picking up more of Sue Watson’s work though, because she as an obvious talent in writing and overall, this plot was absolutely killer (lol.) Thank you NetGalley for my copy!

I really enjoyed this book and got involved in the story very quickly. The author’s writing flowed so easily.

Hannah is looking for love after a recent break up: she decides to give online dating a try. She swipes on a handsome guy who has very similar interests to her and hopes for the best. When they meet he seems to be perfect for her but is he everything he appears to be?

This thriller was full of intrigue and kept me ‘on my toes’ guessing what was going on. Hannah appeared very naive for her age but perhaps just wanted to be loved so was blinded.

Excellent read.

Too Perfect....?
Meeting Alex on a dating app Hannah is amazed to find that they have so much in common. Is he too good to be true? Alex knows that Hannah is just perfect for him too.... Tense, psychological suspense with credible characters and a compelling, twisting and often terrifying narrative.

I loved this book and couldn't flip the pages fast enough(one day read!). The premise revolves around Hannah and Alex's relationship after meeting on a social dating site. Hannah surprised me with her naivety considering her career choice, however I think this needed to be written into the character to advance some of the plot points. I found some of the middle a little repetitive, but felt it was needed to see how the relationship started its spiral. The ending was certainly unexpected and provided an excellent twist.

I will certainly be going back and reading some of the author's previous books.

Thank you to Negalley and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy.

As soon as I started hearing about this book I just HAD to have it! Exactly my kind of read, a great plot, and only a few characters to get to know.

Hannah has not too long left a long term relationship that just wasn’t going anywhere, she wants to find "The one", have 3 kids and a Labrador and she wants it now, so when her boss and best friend encourages her to go on the dating app, she finally agrees…

The tale begins at the restaurant, Hannah and Alex are on their first date they have EVERYTHING in common including their dreams for the future. It couldn’t be going any better he is very good looking and seems to be really interested in everything she has to say – this could be it, this could be the one but is it just to good to be true?

You’ve heard the saying “ I couldn’t put it down”? well I HAD to put it down, I really didn’t want the book to end so I stalled and stalled savouring it for as long as I could – I managed to spread it over 3 days treating myself to it and loving every word. Its so full of suspense and I was constantly guessing what was going to come next and often getting it wrong! Full of twists and surprises throughout the story kept me thoroughly entertained I would most certainly recommend this book to anyone who like a Domestic Thriller.

I shall now be going through Sue Watsons back catalogue and seeing what other delights she has to offer!

Blog link will follow on Publication day

*Book Review* - 🍷 FIRST DATE 🍷

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Hannah desperately wanted love. She met Alex and he wanted everything she did, 3 kids, holidays in Devon and even the same dog. But do you really fall in love on the first date?
She thinks she met the man of her dreams?.. But isit to good to be true?


This book had me gripped from the start. It is so well written, I was so tense in parts I had no idea what was going to happen from one chapter to the next.
I love this genre, but often tend to work out the plot twist half way through. But I just couldn't even guess this.
Hannah's character so desperately wanted the happy ending, there were parts where I wanted to bang her head back to reality. But love is blind!
When I thought the book had ended I felt gutted, almost like 'is that it!?'. But the next chapter just when BOOM!! I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT ENDING AT ALL! I loved it!
If I could rate it more than a 5, I would. This has been one of, if not the best thrillers I have read!

Loved loved loved it! I have just purchased a few more books by Sue Watson. I'm hooked! Thank you for letting me review this more via #netgalley

First Date is a tense and gripping thriller that I read over a couple of days. Hannah has been waiting her whole life to meet her perfect man. She’s 38 and worried life is passing her by but when her friend Jas encourages her to join a dating app, she’s matched to Alex. He’s everything she could wish for and seems to want the exact same things out of life as her. He’s perfect for her and she’s perfect for him but can things sometimes be too good to be true?

This book is dark and brooding and takes you on a rollercoaster with some great twists and turns. A great book that I can highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

When Hannah meets Alex on a dating site and they turn out to be a perfect match, she is over the moon. They both want the exact same things in life. But then she begins to discover cracks in his "perfect" façade. Is he merely trying to paint a more rosy picture of himself and his life, or is he covering up something much more disturbing?

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I got so frustrated with Hannah for ignoring what I felt like were obvious lies. I felt like it made her seem less intelligent than she really was supposed to be. The book seemed to be going in a very obvious direction, so I was pleasantly surprised by the creepy twist at the end. I will say if you are expecting a suspenseful thriller, you will have to wait until the last quarter of the book before you get to that part. The first 75% is just good story with a creepy stalker vibe.

First Date Review
Let me start off by saying, this book is amazing! Though, the main character of the story, Hannah was a bit difficult with her seeming lack of common sense and naivety, the story line was brilliant. There are so many great twists, and it keeps you wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I would highly recommend it to fans of thrillers/suspense!

First Date - Sue Watson

This books begins on Hannahs first date with Alex. He seems perfect, he wants exactly the same things as her, 3 kids, a house in Devon, a golden Labrador. But some things are just too good to be true...

This book is the best psychological thriller I’ve read in a really long time! From the first page I needed to know more I didn’t want to put it down!

9/10 I usually work out how books like this end but by 80% I still had absolutely no idea what was going to happen! I started to feel a bit let down by the ending and then BAM the next chapter completely spun it all on its head! It was just so good!

The whole time I was reading it I felt so tense, you know when your watching a tv show and your just waiting for somebody to jump out and frighten you? That was me the entire time!

Watson quickly becoming one of my favourite authors in this genre and I really want wait to read some of her other books now! (I recommend the empty nest if you haven’t read it!)

Thankyou to Netgalley and bookouture for giving me a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

i so enjoyed this story .Hannah does not have much luck with boyfriends her last one Tom she had to make him move out so she decides to use a date app her work friends are her family and her boss her best friend then she meets Alex he everything she wants in a man .some one hates Hannah she is being sent hate letters i wont say no more but so recommend this

This was an exciting thriller that started of as a literal rollercoaster and never slowed down. The characters were well drawn and the storyline flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended!

Straight away I was thrown into this one which I absolutely loved. It was like being in a rollercoaster when it’s starting but you haven’t had time to fasten your seat belt yet. Loved its fast pace and how straight away you questioned it ALL. I did like Hannah but there was a lot of times I was thinking “is she for real”. I did find the middle of the book slowed a lot and was willing it to go back to its rollercoaster pace. I was fairly satisfied with how it all came together but was hoping for a different outcome. I really did enjoy this book and loved this authors style of writing and will be definitely be reading more of her work.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC that due to be published on the 16th of Oct.

First Date by Sue Watson is the first book from author I have read, and I am finding hard to put into words how I feel about this book.
Hannah Weston has not the best of luck with relationships. The last one she had with Tom she had to ask him to move out. So, she decides to use a dating app where she meets Alex. Alex seems to be the perfect boyfriend. Wanting the same things in life, three kids, a Labrador and a holiday in a cottage in Devon. The first date goes well she thinks that he maybe the ‘one’. But boss and bestie Jasmine tells her to slow down and see what happens. As time goes on and the relationship deepens. Alex seems to want to spend more time with her and doesn’t want her to go out with her friends. But Jasmine thinks that Alex is being really controlling and stalking her after getting caught following her and he is not as perfect as he seems. Hannah thinks that he just cares for her and that’s why he does what he does. When Hannah finds out that Alex is still married and that his wife maybe stalking her you would think that the relationship would end but, Hannah just carries on oblivious to everything.
The First date is a cleverly written thriller from the author that I could not put down and I am sure will be reading some of her other books. Beside that what can I say about the main character. Hannah irritated the hell out of me. So much that I had to keep stopping reading and pause for a few minutes and then carried on. She was is so gullible and I could not believe that she went on a weekend away with Alex after all the things he has done. Whilst reading I thought are you serious? But I did like the cheeky twist at the end, 4 stars from me.

Hannah is searching for love and has a perfect first date with Alex. Well nearly perfect, anyway, there is a glaring red flag that Hannah chooses to ignore.

Throughout the book, Hannah continues to ignore the red flags, which can be rather annoying; however I was highly entertained and invested in the first half of the book. Unfortunately the 2nd half didn't have much more to offer so I began to lose interest.

I did enjoy the ending, it wasn't what I was expecting or guessed at all along the way.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

It took me a little while to get into this story but I'm so glad I persevered. Towards the end I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen ......... the ending!!!!!!!! Brilliant. This is the first book I've read by this author and won't be the last.

I love this author, so was excited to start this book. I knew I’d be treated to an edgy, spine-tingling thriller, and I certainly wasn’t wrong. Hannah is a social worker, and meets Alex through a dating app following a disastrous previous relationship. They seem to make the perfect couple, and everything seems to be going well. Alex is wealthy, good looking, caring and very attentive - but does it seem that he is too good to be true?

Now, I’m not opposed to dating apps, but it does seem that most of the time these apps are full of weirdos or perverts!! Alex, initially comes across as none of these, but as the story moves on you begin to get the impression that he is a little needy and obsessive. Personally, I’d have been out of there as quick as my little legs could carry me, but Hannah seems loved up and oblivious to Alex’s behaviour! I did at several points throughout the book wonder whether I was reading Alex all wrong, and if Hannah could see no wrong in him then perhaps I shouldn’t either! The author has certainly done a fabulous job of twisting and turning the storyline into making you mistrust some, if not all of the characters!!

Hannah comes across as a nice character, a hard-working social worker with some difficult cases to deal with. She had a bad experience with her previous boyfriend, so I found myself rooting for her to be lucky in love in her relationship with Alex. She did however have a very trusting nature and whilst I was inwardly screaming at her all the way through the book to wake up and smell the coffee, she seemed oblivious to everything!! The storyline did also get me thinking perhaps that’s because there was nothing to be distrusting of??!! Oh, do you now see how clever this author is with her writing and how she manages to push the direction of blame and suspicion onto each character, one after the other!!

There were only a handful of characters within the storyline so it was great to be able to concentrate on Hannah’s story rather than try and remember a lot of different names. The supporting characters were mainly Hannah’s work colleagues and whilst they were happy for Hannah to be in a relationship, they also shared some of the same worries that I had as I was reading!! The storyline moved at a steady pace, letting Hannah and Alex’s relationship grow. I loved the feeling of tension and suspense that filled the pages, and genuinely felt freaked out for Hannah at times! The author is a great thriller writer and definitely knows what would get under your skin!

Of course, as the story moves on towards its conclusion, you begin to make your own decisions as to how you think Hannah’s story will play out. I really enjoyed how I could see what was going on and yet there was absolutely nothing I could do about it! I felt suspicious of everything and everyone, and as the story twists and turns you are faced with some fantastic surprises!! Fantastic read by a fabulous author!! Would recommend!!

This was another brilliant read from Sue Watson and definitely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Once I had picked it up I couldn’t put it down. Like this authors other books she has the ability to draw the reader in from the start and presents a gripping read that gets so intense you have to keep turning the pages. This was a fabulous domestic psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns along the way

By heck, there's some gullible and damaged people out there! Hannah is a social worker with a traumatic past which left her with trust and confidence issues. Her boss Jas and her workmates are her social and support circle, but she wants a real soul-mate. She puts her profile on 'Meet your Match' and is swept up by Alex, who appears to be too good to be true in his efforts to please her.

The first part of the book swept me along; I couldn't put it down as I wanted Hannah to open her eyes and see what the readers (and Jas) were seeing. However, about two thirds through it begins to run out of steam a little - she has all these suspicions about what is happening around her, but still shuts her eyes and sings 'lalala'. Is anyone really that gullible? Or are we only seeing one side?

The final chapters bring a suitable, if surprising conclusion, and many of our suspicions are justified.

Its well written, pacy and entertaining with enough red herrings and real clues to keep the reader guessing about what is really going on. A fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.