A good read. A bit predictable, but not so easy that you’ll have it figured out in chapter 1. Meet Beth. Beth struggles with long term relationships, she’s ok with that. Some people are picky. She has a loving father, sister and best friend Gemma and her work mates. Her circle is small but Beth just assumes that’s just her. Until one day at a pub with her sister near her family home, Beth sees a man from her past who she didn’t know that well, she was only 13 after all and he was her sister’s fling. But the visceral reaction Beth has to seeing you this man 26 years later is intense: paralyzing fear, nausea, complete anxiety and she continues to run into or has glimpses of this man and the symptoms continue and worsen. Meet Gemma. Gemma Is married to Beth’s childhood friend. Gemma has it all, a beautiful home, child and she thinks a loving husband........how do the lives of these two women intersect? Read on. You will be entertained. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC..

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Close My Eyes' by Beverley Harvey.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 23rd March 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. The synopsis stated that fans of Lisa Jewell and others will be gripped . I am a fan of Lisa's books so am interested to see if it will live up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 60 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium to long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Beth and Gemma. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.

This book is very well written with great descriptions. The synopsis was a true depiction of the storyline. I believe the author has done her research on PTSD and domestic violence or even had past experience of either or both as she does an excellent job of portraying both throughout the storyline.

The storyline starts off quite slow and then picks up its pace throughout. I would describe it as a roller-coaster where the first 30% is the build up going up the roller-coaster and then your on the ride being twisted, turned and filled with the suspense of what's around the corner. I was captivated by this nail biting and heart pounding psychological thriller and became hooked turning the pages until late into the night. The plot is dark and realistic and I loved how we seen from both Gemma and Beth's POV. I did work out what had happened at about 60% and wasn't surprised when the reveal came. However it was still a good solid read. I enjoyed going back in time with Beth and seeing how her past led to what was going on in the present.

I love the fact that we have 2 strong woman, one who was 'broken' to start and the other whose life starts tumbling down at about 25% but yet are both strong and determined and fight together to get the perfect ending. Beverley has created richly, layered characters who reach into the depths to rely on inner strength when facing the demons of their darkest days. It wasn't only Beth and Gemma who were well written but several minor characters who recognised the signs of DV and abuse and supported them both.

I just wanted to say a huge congratulations to Beverley on the subtle manner that she used to covey the issues of abuse, domestic violence, trauma and the less known form of abuse that is gas lighting. I believe that this will help any readers that are suffering but not realising what is going on to recognise the signs and get help. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

Overall a gripping and addictive dark psychological thriller.

Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery and Psychological Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell and anyone looking for a gritty and dark psychological thriller.

335 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4 /5 (I loved it but due to working out what was happening so quick it sadly loses a star from me ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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I am getting to love books with what I call two voices/narratives. It makes the reading far more interesting.

Beth and Gemma are friends connected by a common factor Guy, childhood friend of Beth and Gemma's husband.
Gemma has a charmed life, a loving, successful husband and a sweet daughter. Her marriage seems perfect but Gemma is wary of Guy's possesive and dominating nature and mood swings. When things start to turn ugly in their marriage, Gemma must find a way out. But will Guy let her go?

A chance meeting with her old neighborhood twins, at a bar one evening, something triggers Beth memory, something not so pleasant,that Beth has buried deep in her mind. As she grapples with the bitterness of the memory of the 'incident' 25 years ago, Beth decides to confront her culprit.

Two women, both caught in situations they didn't think they could get out of but eventually their courage makes them win. Though I could guess what the outcome would be, the narrative is good and keeps one engaged.

My 2nd book by Beverley Harvey and I am already looking forward to more of her books.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC

Close My Eyes by Beverley Harvey is another intriguing, thought-provoking, and twisty tale from one of my new favourite authors. If you have enjoyed Ms Harvey's previous offerings, you will want to add this latest to your TBR immediately.

Beth Harding is suffering from panic attacks and begins to wonder if the root of the problem stems from past trauma. Looking for support from family and confidantes, including sister Laura and best friend Gemma, Beth begins to unravel the truth of her past, and the shocking secrets that have long been buried begin to emerge, causing Beth to question everything, and everyone, she thought she knew.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Beth and Gemma, this one will have you pondering if anything, including our own mind, can ever truly be believed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this title.

Close My Eyes by Beverley Harvey is a thriller full of tension and long buried secrets that are waiting to explode. Told from the point of view of Beth and Gemma, this book will keep readers up at night.

Beth is single, 39, works at a charity and basically has a normal, mostly happy life. She goes out with her sister for a drink one night and has a panic attack when she sees a man who she knew as a child. She has no idea why she has had this reaction and is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Gemma is beautiful, a married mother whose husband is rich and successful. She seems like she has it all but her husband is increasingly stressed and violent. Her husband and Beth grew up together and have been friends since childhood. It's hard for her to always open up to Beth about her husband and her situation because she was his friend first.

There are old, long buried secrets that are going to come out that will ravage both women's lives. Who will be left standing after the fallout?

i have found a new author a love a good Psychological book and this did not disappoint but i di figure who it was half way .. Beth goes to her dads every Sunday a tidy up and a cooked meal for him but this particular day as she in the garden she feels an odd sensation from the Leylandii the scent . she has slit up from her boyfriend as she has no feelings for him .Gemma is married to Beth s and her sisters best friend Guy and they have a daughter Miya they have it all money the house her own personal trainer Caleb. one Sunday Beth and her sister Laura decide to go for a drink in there old local and Kevin binks walks in with his twin brother for some reason Beth is scared she can not remember her sisters 16th birthday what happened that night this story is brilliant so recommend very addictive

A smell, a sound, a face anything can trigger a long forgotten memory
A face from the past, someone Beth hasn’t seen or thought about for years triggers a wave of panic, the flash of a memory, quickly disappearing again.
For Beth this chance meeting throws her life into disarray as she increasingly suffers brief flashes of memory which disappear as quickly as they arrive but leave her feeling terrified, confused and overwhelmed. Seeking help from a therapist, family and friends Beth begins to uncover an event from her youth which has been buried deep in her memory.
This is my first book by this author and I am keen to discover more,
I felt she wrote both Beth and Gemma’s (Beth’s best friend) story well and with sensitivity as both are hard subjects, which can trigger reactions from readers who may have been or be going similar experiences
While the story seemed to start slow and involve the day to day life of these 2 main characters it very cleverly wove the trauma and terror into their seemingly mundane everyday life and was enough to keep me hooked as I wanted to find out more about them and how things would resolve

Out with her sister Laura one night, Beth sees two men from her past and is suddenly overwhelmed when hit with a certain smell. This smell is what begins to trigger long hidden memories. Painful, disturbing memories. Beth begins to remember bits and pieces of an attack from years ago. If this attack happened, how is it that it got buried so deep? Yes, so deep to the point of completely forgetting the event.

Beth's experience is not unique. Triggers are quite common. I experience them myself, unfortunately. In Beth's case, this smell when around certain people begins to bring those painful memories to her clearer and clearer. The question that begs to be answered is whether or not she will dig deep enough to fully remember.

In fact, what about the fact that her memories allude to an attack? Will said attacker let Beth reign in her memories and possibly expose the individual? Will Beth's friends and family, and even a therapist be able to help her to recount her memories, keep her safe and bring the attacker to justice?

This thrilling story by Beverley Harvey is well-paced, written in dual POV, with the other character being Gemma, Beth's friend. While I was thoroughly invested in Beth's story, I loved the alternating chapters where readers begin to understand what Gemma's battles are and how she copes with what is happening with her life, which in part shows that the grass is not always greener.

This is only my second book by this talented author and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for readers who enjoy exciting stories with twists and turns as well as compelling characters.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

You close your eyes when you go to sleep. You close your eyes when you want to relax. You close your eyes when you want to think about something, but you also close your eyes when to don’t want to see something or pretend it did not happen. Sometimes you have to close your eyes when you have to bring something back whether you want it to or not.
A lot of things happen during your life. Good and bad, funny and sad, happy and devastating. You can’t remember them all. In your mind you only keep a selection stored. The most memorable ones you can relive many times, but some need a trigger to resurface because they are in a hidden drawer in your head and you threw away the key.
Suddenly a smell, a colour, a person can unlock a memory that makes you feel warm inside, but sometimes it only fills you with dread and anxiety and you can’t recall why. The question is: Do you really want to find out or it is better left alone?
A great book in my opinion. Did I have an inkling? Yes. Was I right about my suspect? Yes, but I did not mind that at all. I had a wonderful time reading this story. 5 stars

Thank you, Beverley Harvey and Bookouture

Beth Harding is 39 years old and works in PR with a mental health charity. Gemma Ward is a 34 year old housewife and is Beth’s best friend. Everyone believe that Gemma is living a perfect life!
Beth is an ordinary person living an ordinary life.
Her sister Laura as well as her boss are worried that Beth is afraid of commitment.
Beth assured them that she is fine; however is having anxiety attacks. Beth believes they are being caused by a long ago repressed memory
Beth does visit a therapist as she wants to solve and stop the anxiety attacks.

This story is like driving a car in a new area~ first very slow (2.7 stars) until you figure things out.
Well in this story once Beth figured out the memory she had suppressed, the speed notches up
(now ⭐⭐⭐⭐ + high speed stars)!
These characters are great. I found myself cheering out loud for them!

My first Beverley Harvey story, I certainly look forward to my next read!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release granted to me for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 23, 2021

In the soon to be published psychological thriller, “Close My Eyes,” Beverley Harvey examines what we’d be willing to risk in discovering the truth. She cleverly reminds us of the double edged sword; in seeking the truth, someone’s life will be ruined.

Beth Harding, 39 and single, bumps into a contact from her teenage years and it instantly turns her life upside down. Suddenly, she becomes plagued with anxiety and her panic attacks become increasingly terrifying. Until one day she starts to remember….but someone wants her to forget. Relying on strength and courage from her married sister, Laura, and her bestie, Gemma, Beth learns the explosive truth about her forgotten past.

I was captivated by this nail-biting, heart pounding, thriller. The author has taken a seemingly gentle and happy upbringing like Beth’s and placed a dark, forgotten secret at the heart of it. She’s also unraveled a seemingly perfect marriage to show that nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. I found myself cheering Beth as she took steps to uncover the dark secrets of her past. The plot, although dark in places, was believable and well-paced, but it was the characterization that stole the show. Harvey has created richly, layered characters who reach into the depths to rely on inner strength when facing the demons of their darkest days. The suspense and twists kept me turning pages to discover the root of Beth’s pain and to see if Gemma was successful in battling her own demons.

As you turn over the last page, you’ll find yourself asking who you’d trust the most – friends? family? your own mind? You've got time to ponder your response as this thriller will be published March 23, 2021.

Thank you Beverley Harvey, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Beth Harding works at a mental health charity! She never had any reason to doubt her peaceful, happy upbringing. Then she suddenly starts getting awful flashes of an event from her past – a vicious attack from an unknown person. And she thinks it could be more than just a nightmare. But how could she forget something this big?

This was a good quick book to read! This writing was bit different but still kept me glued to the pages!
The setting was what I enjoyed the most that story! It was fast paced thrilling at times.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I loved the cover of this book and requested it immediately as the description intrigued me. I'm so glad that I was approved and given the chance to read this as it was a really good book. I really liked the way the book alternated between Beth and Gemma who are the two main characters in the book. I found myself completely drawn in and not wanting to put this book down. I absolutely recommend you read this book as soon as it's released in March as you will not be disappointed.

It was an interesting style of writing. The pace of the story was not consistent. However, it lends something to the story instead of taking away from it. The speed of the story is what makes this interesting. I understand Laura's character is there for support, but I find that she doesn't add to the overall of the story. It was a good run on whodunnit, but when a character does a 180 change in habits and attitude it does help the readers guessed who the protagonist was. The ending was a disappointment as there was no motive for why the protagonist did what they did. Yet it was not an open ending. A little frustrating, but overall good story.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Beth starts having flash backs to her childhood she starts to question her life and why she has no memory from a certain time growing up. As her anxiety grows she has to seek proper help to find out the truth and stop the past destroying her life but are the people in her life keeping secrets from her. Alongside Beth’s story we also have her Father and sister who are both struggling with their own issues and her friends Guy and Gemma who are battling their own demons. This book is an exciting thriller which I could not put down.

Close My Eyes by Beverly Harvey addresses a tried-and-tested subject matter, but the distinctive writing style of the author had me bowled over.

39-year old Beth Harding works at a mental health charity and leads quite a drab existence. Her sister Laura and her boss/friend Nessa are rightfully concerned about her, as they feel Beth shies away from commitment. Beth, herself, finds nothing wrong in this until she begins to have anxiety attacks, out of the blue. Recognising her triggers, Beth, tries to find the cause of these attacks, which is buried in her long repressed memory.
On the outside, it looks like Gemma Ward has the perfect life. With a powerful husband, a sweet daughter, and a comfortable lifestyle, the 34-year-old housewife seems to want for nothing. But behind closed doors, it's an altogether different story.

The story crept by at a snail's pace for more than 50% of the novel, mostly describing the everyday life of the two main characters. But through these seemingly mundane scenes, the author has carefully woven snippets of the trauma and terror the women suffer, slowly reeling in the reader, keeping one engrossed and wanting to know more.
I loved how the author portrayed the two women as these broken, yet strong characters. But even more heartening was the handful of minor characters who recognised the distress signs and supported the victims. The subtle manner used to convey issues such as abuse, gaslighting, and trauma was beautiful. The last 30% or so of the book was rushed and while the protagonists get their closure, the story itself was left open-ended.

Despite the slow pace, the plot had me hooked for the better part of a day. Overall  I found this to be a gripping novel and a must-read.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

First thing, I love the way the book was structured with (almost) alternating chapters between Beth and Gemma; two close friends with compelling events going on behind their own closed doors which had me gripped from start to end.

I read this almost 400 page book in 2.5 days and there was a reason for that. I cared big-time about the characters. It’s also true that I found both characters to be totally relatable. We’ve all either been a Beth or Gemma (maybe to a lesser degree) or we know a Beth or Gemma. If you don’t personally then I’m sure the #MeToo movement highlighted some key issues for you to ponder over. Every element of this book screamed real. The events and happenings weren’t over dramatised which only added to the authenticity.

Some of the topics examined were PTSD and anxiety, and the brain’s power to shut disturbing life events away until triggers force them back into the forefront of the mind. ‘Close My Eyes’ is a powerful book and quite terrifyingly shows how a person’s world can be thrown into turmoil without warning. I loved the ending too!

If you enjoy a real feeling psychological thriller that’s full of tension, mystery and will have you racing through every page, then ‘Close My Eyes’ is your book!

Beth has been having panic attacks and doesn’t know if the sensations she has are real. Her life is falling apart. Beth soon realizes the panic attacks could be triggered by a long forgotten trauma. The truth can ruin someone’s life. This book kept me guessing til the end when I figured out who might be the source of her panic attacks. Even tho I had it figured out I loved the ending. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

#CloseMyEyes #NetGalley
Wow. I gasped after reading the twists.
Beth never had any reason to doubt her peaceful, happy upbringing. Then she suddenly starts getting awful flashes of an event from her past – a vicious attack from an unknown person. And she thinks it could be more than just a nightmare. But how could she forget something this big?
Someone wants you to forget…With no husband or boyfriend to turn to, she asks her trusted family and old friends for reassurance, only to hear that it must all be in her head. Meanwhile, the flashes get stronger, more frightening, and more details start to come back to her – details she knows she couldn’t have invented. But these are people who have known her all her life and have her best interests at heart. Who should she believe?
I'm doing more promotion on its release date among my fellow Authors Bloggers Family Friends and followers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.

A tactile child psychological thriller? Yes this thriller starts off with a strange smell revokes a memory that the main character doesn’t remember. I really enjoyed the thriller it was fast paced, fun and I was dying to know what happened. Highly recommend.