Although Lauren is in the profession to mend others, she really needed to mend herself in order to stick up for what she needed and deserved. I am sure that it can be hard to be a stepmother to two children that have gone through multiple changes coupled with a strong willed ex-wife, but Joe really did need to stick up for her. Mistakes were made and I do not agree with the forum she stated as Miserable, but she did not know where to turn or who would listen. I am sure she felt very alone. The book did have a happy ending with her, Joe, Grace and Toby, but she was willing to take the risk to get what she wanted and deserved.

Carol Mason, between you and me, Lake Union, 2021

Thank you, NetGalley, for this copy for review.
Carol Mason’s novel, woven around the topic of step parenting, combines a sensitive and thoughtful approach, from the perspectives of all the main characters, as well as those that become involved while those relationships develop. At times, Mason’s even handedness toward the characters might annoy, particularly if the reader is committed to one or other of the protagonists. However, while this almost neutrality sometimes seems to slow the story, it works to demonstrate the complexity of the topic. This novel shows the inability of even those with the advantages of professional lives and lack of economic anxieties to deal easily with the complications attendant on developing any new relationship combining first and second families.

In December 2017 Joe Johnson and Lauren Matheson meet at the swimming pool in a Santa Monica Hotel. She is there to attend the wedding of a friend; he is there on business. Lauren is writing a short story, has a degree in history, but is now well on her way to becoming a medical doctor. He has been married, has two children, is originally from Chicago, but like Lauren, now lives in London. Fourteen months later Lauren is attending a patient and receives a text from Joe. They have married. In Chapter three, the first indications that all is not well appear with the introduction of Grace, Joe’s fourteen-year-old daughter.

Lauren and Joe’s relationships with Meredith, Joe’s first wife, Grace, and Toby, the four-year-old, become the foundation of the story. Lauren’s attempts to win over Grace; accept Joe’s attitude towards her relationships with his children; and her sometime mistakes, and difficulties with Meredith are well developed. While it is difficult not to sympathise with each character in turn, some of the behaviour is challenging while realistic. The tension in the household and between the protagonists becomes part of the process of reading as, often unwillingly, the reader is drawn into ‘taking sides’. Mason also cleverly renders readers part of the dilemma about why some occurrences are allowed to undermine a happy marriage.

This novel takes a complex situation and works well in highlighting the problems, while refraining from offering contrived solutions. Some clever humour is introduced amongst the stress. Although the open ending includes some elements of a typical happy conclusion, it is all the more satisfying because it is only one of the possible resolutions; other options are offered, maintaining the realistic way in which the novel has unfolded.

This is less of a thriller and more of a riveting but very true to life domestic drama. When a young doctor marries a seemingly perfect man with whom she has a powerful connection, little does she know that real life is far from perfect. If you throw in getting to grips with being a step parent, a volanic ex-wife, and a husband who never takes your side, - and a series of events that erode everyone's trust in her - you have no idea how it can possible end well. Can it? Is love enough? Can people change? Can we ourselves be better versions of ourself? Can we forgive and forget? It's fascinating stuff with a very satisfying ending!

An excellent easy to read story of modern day marriage.
Lauren hopes to be a fantastic stepmother to her husbands two children but soon discovers its a constant battle. New husband Joe fails to provide the support and there is the impossible task of trying to win over Meredith the ex wife, and endless battles with his complicated teenage daughter Grace.
Lauren starts to have doubts and wonder if she has made a huge mistake. Mason provides an engaging story with a touch of humour at times, which will relate to many..

Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed this, after the first chapter I just sat and finished it. Good plot, good characters and well worth a Thursday afternoon with a couple of cups of tea.

I have been lucky recently with the books I have requested, I have come across some new authors and new genre.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book, it wasn't a thriller or suspenseful, but still a great novel.

I felt like all the details in the book made it very realistic, and when I was reading it, I felt all the emotions alongside Lauren- frustration, astonishment, bitterness, etc.

One thing that really summarizied my indignant for Lauren was when she told Meredith: "But I was here, where were you?" . Endless incidents showed that both Joe and Lauren were too busy with their lives to be available, so they would dump the kids responsibilities onto the new wife, she was the one who had to pick up the kids, make dinner, take out for outings, all alone by herself. What should have been a simple solution is for Joe and Meridith to hire outside help, especially when they're both financially well off.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book very much, and happy about the ending as well.

The book description caught my attention straight away and once I had started to read the first few pages I knew I had to continue.

When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle…

She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby, and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith?

As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married?

Damn, Joe was just a creep to me. I saw his Ex-wife, Meredith and he was just so wrapped up in their children and control, Lauren couldn't do anything right, UGh, NIce book .

This was a pretty average domestic noir. The plot and the characters were good and interesting but unfortunately it was not memorable overall. There are too many similar books and this just did not stand out for me.

#BetweenYouAndMe #NetGalley
Wao.
When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle…She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith?As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married?
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Between You and Me by Carol Mason is a relationship drama and slow-burn domestic thriller that will appeal to fans of Behind Closed Doors and The Push. The plot revolves around Lauren, a doctor, who meets Joe, an older businessman while on vacation in America. They are both from London. Although it's complicated when they first meet and they aren't able to get together, things change when they see each over a year later back in London.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 2 that shows us the note that Joe writes to Lauren after they haven't seen each other for 14 months:

"Dear Lauren,
This could perhaps be a wild goose chase in more ways than one. But in case by some miracle this does actually manage to find you, and if there is even the remotest chance that, after all this time, you still vaguely remember me, I wanted to say that it's not complicated anymore and I would love to take you to dinner.
Joe Johnson."

The note is romantic, and this sounds like the beginning of a romantic comedy. However, this book is definitely not going in that direction. After Lauren and Joe get together, Lauren struggles to connect to his step-children and his ex-wife. She also starts to notice his temperament changing. Is Joe really not the person she thought he was? Or is it all in her head?

Overall, Between You and Me is a pretty standard domestic thriller. I took off one star because it got pretty slow in the middle, and it felt like nothing was happening. I prefer thrillers that have a little bit more action in them. However, that is not the book's fault. I'm only explaining why it wasn't a 5-star read for me. I think I will stay away from domestic thrillers in the future and read thrillers with more action-packed plots. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above or if you're a fan of relationship dramas, then I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Between You and Me by Carol Mason is a relationship drama and slow-burn domestic thriller that will appeal to fans of Behind Closed Doors and The Push. The plot revolves around Lauren, a doctor, who meets Joe, an older businessman while on vacation in America. They are both from London. Although it's complicated when they first meet and they aren't able to get together, things change when they see each over a year later back in London.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 2 that shows us the note that Joe writes to Lauren after they haven't seen each other for 14 months:

"Dear Lauren,
This could perhaps be a wild goose chase in more ways than one. But in case by some miracle this does actually manage to find you, and if there is even the remotest chance that, after all this time, you still vaguely remember me, I wanted to say that it's not complicated anymore and I would love to take you to dinner.
Joe Johnson."

The note is romantic, and this sounds like the beginning of a romantic comedy. However, this book is definitely not going in that direction. After Lauren and Joe get together, Lauren struggles to connect to his step-children and his ex-wife. She also starts to notice his temperament changing. Is Joe really not the person she thought he was? Or is it all in her head?

Overall, Between You and Me is a pretty standard domestic thriller. I took off one star because it got pretty slow in the middle, and it felt like nothing was happening. I prefer thrillers that have a little bit more action in them. However, that is not the book's fault. I'm only explaining why it wasn't a 5-star read for me. I think I will stay away from domestic thrillers in the future and read thrillers with more action-packed plots. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above or if you're a fan of relationship dramas, then I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!

I’m not a big fan of romance books, especially those centered around mending relationships, so this book just wasn’t for me. It was well written, but I just couldn’t get wrapped up in the book.

Lauren, the main character, seemed nice enough, but also a bit whiny, which made her hard to relate to.

Mason alluded to some potential infidelities or issues with Joe, Lauren’s husband, which would have made the book much more interesting. The conflict in the story, including in big part Meredith’s infidelity and Toby’s real father, played such a small part in the story. Lauren’s relationship with Grace also could have made for some good drama, but unfortunately had short bursts and then faded into the two having a good relationship without any explanation of the shift in Grace’s behavior. I also expected Lauren’s relationship with Mel to have so much more meaning or weight, but that also fell flat for me.

Overall the book was just okay. I finished it and don’t regret finishing it, but I have a feeling when I look back on my year in review I won’t even remember what this book was about.

There’s an old saying that goes something like,”If you think it’s too good to be true it probably is .”

Lauren, a young British medical student, is courted by Joe , also British, when they meet by chance in Palm Springs. Joe is divorced from his wife, Meredith, and has two children, 14 year-old Grace, and almost 4 years old Toby.

Needless to say they fall madly in love and are soon married. But married is not the wedded bliss Lauren anticipates from her courtship. Grace is a vicious, vindictive liar, cut from the same cloth as her mother. While Toby is adorable and loving, no one has ever taught him that hurling himself against someone standing at a hot stove is something he shouldn’t do (and he is old enough to know better), and neither child has learned that throwing a tantrum in public is not the appropriate way to get what they want.

And there are signs of fissures in the marriage as well. Joe is not always supportive.

I’ll leave it at that.

I received this book as an ARC. from NetGalley and the publisher.

Is her new husband really who she thinks he is?

This book was right down my alley! The beginning started off a bit slow for me! But like many others it quickly picked up the pace and before I knew it I was done with this great thriller!
Really enjoyed this book! Thanks NetGalley Publishers and author for this great advanced readers copy

It took me a while to get into this book but once I did I enjoyed it, very well written and all the characters were good, some I liked, some I didn't but the storyline was interesting.

I can thoroughly recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.