4.5

Carola Lovering’s latest was one of my plane reads and I’m so glad I had uninterrupted reading time for this one. I absolutely love her books and writing style.

Twenty-three-year old Molly has big dreams of becoming a writer. She meets the dreamy musician Jake Danner and they quickly fall in love. Fast forward 10 years and Molly is living the suburban life in Connecticut with her husband and young daughter. When Sabrina moves to town, Molly thinks she’s finally found a real friend. But Sabrina has an agenda of her own ….

I loved this drama filled read! The dual timelines and multiple POVs effectively framed the story and built tension throughout the book.

Lovering is so good at creating multidimensional characters that draw you in and make you question your initial assumptions.

Take Molly. She can’t stop wondering if she made the right life choices and romanticizing her past relationship with Jake. Jake is excitement, passion and volatility, while her husband brings stability and grounds her. Should she blow up her perfect life for a second chance ?

Then we have Sabrina. She’s conniving, smart and wickedly fun to read. But she’s also vulnerable and really just wants to be loved.

Can you tell I really connected with this one !?

Needless to say, I can’t wait to read Carola Lovering’s next book! Thank you SMP and Netgalley for the eARC to read and review.

Wonderful read! I love the characters and the plot. It kept me engaged and on my toes the entire time! 4 star read!

When an Old Love Surfaces

Molly Diamond once an aspiring writer is now a wife and mother living in an affluent community that she doesn’t feel comfortable in. Like all couples, Molly and her husband, Hunter, have their struggles exacerbated by Molly trying to get pregnant with their second child.

Ten years ago, Molly was madly in love with Jake, the lead singer in a band. He even wrote a hit song for her. Now she’s hearing the song again and old memories come back. In the midst of her problems, Sabrina moves to Molly’s community. She’s different from the other women and Molly is sure she’s found a friend.

Sabrina, however, has a past and it ties to Molly. As their friendship unfolds secrets both from Sabrina and Molly surface. Now Molly has to face things she would rather keep buried.

The story is told from three points of view: Molly, Sabrina, and Jake. I thought it added a lot to a rather mundane story to have insight into how each of the characters viewed what was happening. I didn’t particularly like the characters. There was much happening that could have led to growth, but none of them seemed to change or want to change.

If you enjoy a rather gossipy romantic interlude, this book is for you. It is definitely not a thriller of a mystery, but it can be an enjoyable read.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Can’t Look Away is my second book by Carola Lovering and after finishing it, I can say with some certainty that she’s an expert at blending complex characters, suspense, and domestic drama into one bingeable story, perfect for your next beach or poolside reading session.

WHAT I LOVED:
❣️Lovering does a great job at creating characters who feel very real. None of them are perfect – every single character will do things that make you want to throw the book against the wall – but you will still empathize with each of them, even the antagonists.
❣️This realism extends to the plot and conflicts as well. There are no easy solutions or fixes (just like in real life sometimes) and Lovering really excels when writing about these morally ambiguous gray areas.
❣️This was a quick read. I read it in one sitting as the pacing was near perfect and made me want to keep reading, even after I said I would stop after one more chapter.

WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
❣️Many of the twists were predictable and didn’t feel unique to the story. I had the ending figured out about 25% of the way in, but even with that, the writing was strong enough to make me want to keep reading.
❣️I think there is a marketing issue with this book. I’ve seen a lot of people and publications refer to it as a thriller and that is a misnomer in my opinion. This is definitely more of a domestic drama with a splash of romantic suspense, so be sure to manage your expectations heading into this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I kept going back and forth with my final rating with this book, but I decided that I’ll leave it at a three-star. I didn’t hate this book by any means, but I also didn’t love it.

I struggle with considering this a “thriller” because to me it felt more like romantic suspense with drama. There were some thrilling elements here and there, but I personally wouldn’t consider this book a thriller. If I knew this was going to be the case beforehand then maybe I would’ve gone into this with a whole different mindset.

I did enjoy having 3 POVs with a past and present timeline. I don’t normally enjoy the obsession trope in a book, but I feel like it worked great in this one.

Sabrina was probably the most interesting character, reading about her obsession with Jake and Molly was very fascinating. I loved Molly and Jake’s characters, and the music involved with them both. I think all these characters were very engaging and held the story to the end. It did drag a bit and I would’ve enjoyed a better ending, although it was very realistic.

Overall, this was a decent read. I would’ve enjoyed it better if I went into it expecting something else. It was still a fun and captivating read though!

If I had gone into 𝐂𝐀𝐍’𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐀𝗪𝐀𝐘 by Carola Lovering expecting a thriller, I might have been disappointed. However, I didn’t and I was delighted! Luckily, I’d heard rumors that the marketing on this book was off. Once again, a book that is not a thriller was nonetheless listed as one (both on Edelweiss and Amazon). The publisher’s blurb does not use the word thriller. Instead it calls this book “a sexy suspense novel,” a much better descriptor. If it were me, I’d call this one a genre mashup of romance and light suspense, but no matter how it’s categorized I really liked this book.⁣
⁣
𝘊𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘺 was my Covid recovery book. The first couple days I had it last week I couldn’t read at all, but when my head cleared, I flew through this book. I loved the story of Molly who at 23 falls in love with an up and coming rock star, Jake. Their romance is like a fairytale, but let’s not forget in fairytales there are always problems and sinister characters. Jake himself is a problem as he struggles to find balance in his life with Molly and his budding career. Filling the sinister role is Sabrina, an ex-girlfriend of Jake’s. Their stories all fit together very nicely.⁣
⁣
I now consider Carola Lovering an auto-buy author for me. I’ve read all her books and love that they’re each very different, but all equally engaging. I found 𝘊𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘺 more in the vein of 𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘔𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴, but not nearly as toxic and much more romantic. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
⁣
Thanks to @stmartinspress for an ARC of #CantLookAway.

Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering is a complicated book with an unclear genre. This book is a thriller, but I would call it more of a romance with some suspense. This book has 3 POVs, which can become convoluted, but Lovering handled it easily. It is a slow burn to unravel each character's secrets. I don't mind when there is a slow-moving plot, as long as the climax is worthwhile. Lovering did a fantastic job of developing characters that are well-rounded and grounded.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the ARC.

I have to admit that I wasn't really a big fan of Carola Lovering's debut Tell Me Lies but I am OBSESSED with Can't Look Away! Speaking of which, this book has a strong obsession vibe, and like everyone else and their mother has mentioned, it is not a thriller. It is a drama-filled soap opera of a book, and I loved every single minute of it. While the story is told mostly from Molly and Sabrina's (AKA Sisi) viewpoints, there is the occasional chapter from Jake as well. I loved that Lovering decided to intertwine past chapters with present chapters, and it was great to see how it all came together in the end. There is a trigger for fertility issues (as well as other things) in this one as well and I was literally bawling like a baby at the end, so I was really glad I was home alone.

I also can't say enough great things about the audiobook, which is narrated by Caitlin Davies, Karissa Vacker & Zachary Webber. Davies voices Sabrina, while Vacker voices Molly and obviously we have Webber as Jake. Each one of them was a star, and such a pleasure to listen to, and I felt like they were each a perfect fit for their character. I already knew I was a fan of Webber and Vacker, but it has been AGES since I listened to Davies, and Can't Look Away definitely reinforced how much I enjoy her as a narrator. Clearly, I am really pushing the audio here, but I am fairly certain I would have loved this book even if I had read it instead of listened to it. I think you just have to be prepared for something that is like watching a soap opera or a telenovela, and if you are into those things, you just might love it. I am actually into neither, but I was so into the story and what was going to happen that it didn't matter. I am here for the drama, and I am here for whatever Lovering writes next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I learned my lesson and no longer read the synopsis of a book before diving in because sometimes it just gives too much away, but the short and sweet of it is this is a romantic/domestic suspense that follows the evolution of Jake and Molly's love story over a decade. Despite its marketing, t's not a traditional thriller, so don't go into it with those expectations.

I enjoyed it overall as the story alternates narration between three points of view and the past and present, providing a full picture of the characters' emotions and motivations over the years. We get a look at young love and the one that got away, with plenty of drama, jealousy, and lies thrown in to add some tension.

If you like a bit of drama and manipulation, pick this one up. It's entertaining and will keep you turning pages.

Content warning: pregnancy loss

Thanks St. Martin's Press for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This romantic suspense is so good you will not want to put it down! I was immediately hooked. I truly don't think anyone does dual timelines and multiple POVs quite like @carolatlovering. I have only read one other by her (Too Good to Be True) and it was done flawlessly in that as well.

Reasons to read this book -
✨ Dual timelines/multiple POVs
✨ Lots of lies, drama, and mystery
✨ Even though this is more romantic suspense than thriller - the twists are so good & will keep you on your toes
✨ Music vibes
✨ The ending was perfection

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress & @netgalley for my #gifted copy! This one is out TODAY, so RUN (like super fast) to your local bookstore and snag a copy!

I went into this one expecting a thriller, based on the author's previous book (and my judgement of the cover). Can't Look Away was more of a women’s fiction novel with a little suspense. Actually, it read a lot like a Colleen Hoover novel, so if you like her you’ll love this!

I was very impressed with the way the author wrote these characters. Throughout the story, I couldn’t figure out which of the characters I liked and was rooting for. There’s an obvious love triangle (square?) situation, and I was constantly changing which man I wanted Molly to pick. Molly was complex and well-developed, and while she certainly made some questionable decisions, it was in a realistic and understandable way. I can’t say the same for Sabrina, but she was a really fun trainwreck to watch. Especially once her lies all caught up to her–I was cringing on her behalf.

In regards to Lovering’s other books, I liked this one more than Tell Me Lies but not as much as Too Good To Be True. I would definitely recommend it, though!

Told in two time periods through the eyes of Molly, Sabrina, and Jake. The first time period takes place in 2013-2014. Jake Danner is the member of a music trio consisting of Jake and two Lane brothers. They call their group Danner Lane. Jake meets Molly, an aspiring writer, at a concert and falls in love with her. Sabrina is not happy and does everything secretly to break them up. The second time period takes place in 2022 in the exclusive community of Flynn Cove. We find Molly and Hunter are married with a five-year old daughter named Stella. Sabrina is married to Jake (unbeknownst to Molly) and Sabrina shows up in a yoga class that Molly teaches. Sabrina is still looking for revenge.

The term “soap opera” leapt entering my mind. I enjoyed the beginning and the end of this novel The middle of the novel, for me, moved like a soap opera (slow moving plot that does not change). At one point, I almost put the book down. I felt it was so repetitive. And, for a good part of the middle section it seemed like the author kept dropping the f-bomb all the time. Overused. As the story resolves itself, I became interested again and she’d a few tears. I think the book could have used some more editing. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

I love a book about a jilted lover! We get that along with the second chance romance vibe and all the best pieces for a good thriller.

Told in three unique perspectives from 2013 to present day, the story unfolds about Molly and her incredible romance with Jake, an up and coming musician and brings us back and forth through the timeline of life… Sabrina, a woman entering Molly’s life at present day, is the third mysterious voice we get and she leads us into the heart of the story.

This was a hell of a lot of fun. I enjoyed the disjointed timeline when I normally don’t. The cast of characters is fantastic. And the suspense?? I couldn’t put this one down.

Digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This title is tagged as suspense and thriller, and while it definitely packs some surprises, it’s not the caliber of heart stopping, page turning suspense/thriller that her earlier book Too Good to Be True was. With that said, I actually liked Can’t Look Away better, perhaps because it wasn’t such a stressful read. It had more of a romance lean to it, and while you knew Sabrina was a little evil and crazy from the get go, it wasn’t scary. I thought I was predicting plot twists, but inevitably I was wrong (which was probably the author’s intent). A very engaging read.

When will I learn that when publishers suggest that a novel will be perfect for fans of writers like Gillian Flynn, ignore them! Can't Look Away was marketed in the Suspense/Mystery/Thriller genre, but it is really more of a romantic fiction/women's lit novel. It's a good story about Molly Diamond, a budding writer, and her first great love, Jake Danner, a singer. They meet at one of Jake's gigs, and it is love at first sight. The year is 2013, and Molly and Jake are both in their early 20s. Their love is all-encompassing, but when Jake's band hits it big, the relationship falls apart. Jake loves Molly, but he can't seem to manage both professional success and a romantic relationship. When he's on tour, he forgets all about her, doesn't call, doesn't communicate, and blows off plans.

The novel then skips forward 10 years in time. Molly is now teaching yoga, has a young child, and is happily married to a wonderful man named Hunter. Life is great, but Molly is lonely. That changes when a woman named Sabrina moves into town and comes to one of Molly's classes. Molly is ecstatic to finally have a best friend, but Sabrina has an agenda, and it is NOT to be a friend to Molly.

The novel is well written, and the characters of Molly, Jake, and Sabrina are very well developed. It's easy to love Molly, be wary of Sabrina, and to judge Jake. I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't what I was expecting. If you're looking for a story about first love, I recommend Can't Look Away. If you're looking for a thriller, this is not it.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an eGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Holy moly! Get your hands on a copy of this book by @carolatlovering.

This was a five star read for me. I was expecting a thriller, but I got more of a romantic/suspense vibe. I was hooked from page one.

Molly and Jake meet while he is in an up and coming band. They fall In love - but that’s all I’m going to say. I don’t want to give ANYTHING away. There are four brilliant characters in this book (Hunter is my favorite). I can almost guarantee that you will love it!

#readingshouldbefun and this was five star fun for me!

This book is one of a kind and also hard to describe. It's part love story, part thriller. Jake and Molly are your typical "on again/off again" couple with lots of drama. Sisi is a sinister character that makes no sense but drives the plot. Thanks for the advance review copy.

I enjoy books that are told from multiple points of view because you can really dig into what the character is thinking, feeling, or planning to do. The book starts off primarily from Molly's point of view and we learn about her struggles until she and Jake have a moment when their eyes meet at a bar where his band was playing. From there it was off to the races.

Later in the book, we have a new character, Sabrina. We know she is up to no good but we don't really know why. Until we do, then it is a "whoa" kind of moment. Sabrina is messed up is all I can say. At first, you think she deserves some pity or sympathy until the truth is revealed. The pieces really start to fall into place and we have a better understanding of the past and how it has impacted the present.

The book does flip back and forth in time so that we can grasp Molly's relationship with Jake, her relationship now with her husband, Hunter, and how even love can't save a relationship.

The characters are young in the "past", 23+ and that explains a lot of their immaturity. But circumstances and situations change them as people, and while they may be more grown up in the present, there are still some secrets that need to be shared and discussions to be had if everyone is going to truly move forward.

I did enjoy this book and there is so much I want to say but it would give away a lot of the "suspense" of the plot. I don't think this is a true suspense novel, maybe a romantic suspense story, but I think it might be more of a drama that you would see on Lifetime or a similar channel.

We give this book 4 paws up.

After reading some author comments, I was expecting this book to have similar themes to the movie Tully, about a woman becoming a mom and missing who she used to be. I think that was probably the author's hope for this book, but the thriller aspect took away from that.

What we have here is some depressing Blue Valentine-esque love story, with shallow characters that are really not worthy of obsession.

This book has multiple timelines, and multiple viewpoints, which will probably annoy a lot of people. A lot of the chapters were the exact same events, just through a different perspective, so it wasn't hard to see where things were going. And how annoying is Jake? His eyes are really that nice that you can ignore all his other qualities?

I am not above the romantic jealousy psycho stalker plotline, but this was really more of a sad relationship autopsy than a thriller and did not do its subject matter justice.

Molly is at a small bar concert the first time she sees Jake. Their eyes lock and there’s just something about him. He asks around and gets her number and their connection seems instantaneous. Molly is his muse and Jake’s her biggest cheerleader for her writing. But Molly isn’t the only girl Jake has swept off her feet, and one simply can’t seem to let it go- Sabrina. Ultimately, Sabrina ends up with Jake, but she can’t get over his time with Molly. So much so that she moves with Jake to the town where Molly has settled with her husband Hunter. Sparks will fly when everything is revealed. “Can’t Look Away” by Carola Lovering is a story of love, regret, and obsession.

First off, I love Molly. She seems like someone I would probably be friends with in real life. She’s usually balanced and smart, but she’s in love, so we’ll let some poor choices slide. She seems to genuinely love Jake, but there are so many moments when he doesn’t put her first. It comes as no surprise that she ends up marrying Hunter. Molly deserves someone who loves her and put her first- or at least someone who can remember to send a text checking in with her every now and then.

Sabrina was an interesting character because she always walked that line of being too much or not quite enough villain. Somehow I felt like it was hard to fully hate her because she was wronged first. Not that a sad backstory is an excuse, but simply, she’s not emotionally healthy and that makes me pity her a little.

In the end, I gave this book 4 stars. It was interesting and watching Jake and Molly fall in love was beautiful. The ending felt a little flat to me, especially the epilogue. If there was some last twist or something, I think that would have bumped it over the top.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! This book is available now!!