I REALLY wanted to love this especially since it was like a TJR novel (like Malibu Rising with all of the rock star drama) and You (with the obsession and manipulation of the of the key characters by an outside force). With how much I was hooked to reading this one I am surprised by the ending. There was no real outcome of all of the stalking/manipulation done by one character. It all came to a boiling point and something very predictable happened to the main character, and then in the end it was just one very long conversation with everyone clearing up loose ends. The fact that the last chapter was just dialogue discussing the previous events and what got them there… it was just very lackluster.

This is marketed as a thriller, but it is 100% just a drama. This book hooked me, invested me, and I couldn’t put it down, but ultimately I kind of waste my time. Where was the big ending? What was the point to all of this? There wasn’t more to the obsessive character’s goal? There wasn’t some big scheme in the end? I’m left feeling very unsatisfied with this story. The plot also, truly did not make any sense if you really think about it. I’d be hard pressed to believe anyone in real life would take the actions the villain in this story took because it directly put her own happiness at risk. The actions were a gamble and unrealistic.

However, I did enjoy the writing and the story was interesting as it was building up. The development of the characters was lovely to read, and there were a twist or two that I didn’t expect (but they were also just not very exciting twists). I really thought there was going to be more. I liked the dual POVs, but this was just a big build up of a book to have everything resolved via dialogue in the end.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is being published on 6/14/22 for all who are interested.

While Can’t Look Away isn’t a page turning, on the edge of your seat thriller… it still sucks you know from page 1! This one has a perfect pace, and all the right combinations to make it a must read for 2022.

3.5 stars

This book was difficult to review. The story itself wasn’t bad, I enjoyed reading it. My biggest gripe is the way it is being marketed. It’s labeled a thriller, but it reads more like a domestic drama. Had I had different expectations, I might have enjoyed this more. While reading, I kept expecting something super suspenseful to happen, but it never did.

The story is told in alternating timelines between Molly, Sabrina, and Jake. At the beginning of the book, I was rooting for Molly. But as the story progressed, I became disappointed in her actions and she became unlikable. The same could be said for Jake and Sabrina. The emotional rollercoaster of having a love/hate relationship with the three main characters became a bit draining.

While I was hooked at the beginning of the book, the middle seemed to drag. The story took too long to get to any action and unveiled secrets very slowly.

I still enjoyed the author’s writing style and look forward to reading her future novels as I really enjoyed the author's previous book, ‘Too Good to Be True’.

If you enjoy domestic dramas, give this one a shot. Having the proper expectations will greatly shape how you enjoy the story.

I was very excited to read the next part domestic drama, part mystery and part thriller book by Carole Lovering. While the premise is extremely enticing, the whole story’s mystery falls flat. The story is mainly a domestic drama/womens fiction. If i went into the book expecting little to mo mystery, I would have enjoyed it more overall. Considering that fact, I would rate the book 3 stars. engaging.

Finished this late last night and I just did not care for it. At first, the book had me intrigued and I was hopeful it would be a promising book, but it was hard for me at times to push through to finish once I started. I guess it is because of the writing style, but to me it dragged on too long and could have been shortened to make it more enjoyable.

I'm really sad it didn't work out for me, because the premise and the synopsis made it seem like something I would enjoy. However, it's not a domestic thriller so much as a domestic drama. There's lots of drama and I enjoy drama, but this was more cheesy drama and not so much shock and awe. I mean these people are cray. I'm seeing others compare it to a Lifetime movie and I would have to agree with them. It's mindless and not hard to follow, but I wouldn't even tell someone that wants to read an easy book to read this one because I didn't fly through it and finish it in one sitting like I would expect from a book like that. I know of other better books to read that would fall into that category.

TW: infertility, cheating, miscarriages

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

The difficulty in reviewing this book lies in that it was marketed as a "thriller and suspense" and it most certainly is not. I kept waiting for the twist, the other shoe to drop, or something thrilling to occur. Turns out, it is simply a romance/domestic drama story. Anyone looking for a thriller or suspense will be disappointed. I think that description should be removed from the marketing because when you are looking for a thriller and it does not appear, you will be disappointed no matter how good the story.

I will add that the beginning of the book had me hooked, the middle drags on and the end was sort of a "what the heck was that?", but not in a good way. Molly annoys me to death, and the author writes her as a saint, the protagonist to whom all these bad things happen. But she herself is a pretty terrible, self-involved person and I did not like Molly at all. It is clear that the author WANTS you to like Molly, but I did not, and that threw me off as well.

Finally, there is one character who would have been charged/prosecuted/jailed in real life, but that is not even mentioned as a possibility and it is silly how her story line ends. I won't divulge any spoilers but suffice it to say that the end was unrealistic from a legal standpoint.

This is a domestic drama with 3 wholly unlikable main characters. The book drags and could also use some editing as well. We are supposed to believe that Molly and Jake are so in love, but most of the book is them fighting and not getting along. I never saw any love there. And again, we are supposed to feel bad for poor Molly, but I could not stand her.

This was a cute book about first love, regrets and the progression of time. Made you go hmmm. Loved the writing style.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

While this book was enjoyable, it was far from a thriller. Though there are points of suspense, overall I would describe the book as more of an angsty romance. It was definitely a slow burn. I appreciated the growth that the characters had throughout the novel but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have to push myself to finish it. It does read a bit like a shallow Lifetime movie. So if you're someone who loves family drama (think; Real Housewives of Beverly Hills but with slightly more plot), this may be the book for you. (3.5 stars, rounded to 4).

This novel is the story of Molly, a struggling writer; Jake, a musician whose rock band eventually makes it to the big time; and Sabrina, who dated Jake before he met Molly. It conveys the not only the star-crossed romance that Molly and Jake have but also the heartaches that went with it over the years.

I got wrapped up in this story, even though what might have been designed as twists and turns seemed pretty predictable and expected to me, so I keep reading to see what would happen next . . . . until I eventually reached the end. So, the story sucked me but I found myself disappointed as I reached the finish. Perhaps because the adult characters were pretty sophomoric and acted for the most part as though they were in high school. Perhaps because I could not really relate to the characters, especially Sabrina (whose motivations for all she does totally escape me). Perhaps because I wouldn’t classify this novel as a mystery/thriller but more of a romance of sorts akin to a Lifetime movie. Yet, I kept reading and turning pages, so I would classify the read was a good one, and I look forward to reading other works by Carola Lovering.

3.5 ⭐️
This was a good book but seemed more of a romance book with little suspense. I was expecting a full on thriller, which is why I rate it 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give my honest review.

A wildly entertaining, suspenseful domestic drama about the one that got away. Readers who enjoy dual timelines, crazy MCs, and small town settings rampant with soon-to-be exposed secrets will really enjoy this book!

A lot of family drama with little surprises. The story features Molly in two different time frames. The story was not what I was expecting. Just not for me.

Huge thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and whoever listed this as a Read Now so I could grab it.

I devoured this. I didn't have a ton of expectations going into this since this is the first of Lovering's books I have read, but now I will be reading everything she writes. I absolutely loved Molly. She was a great character and the dual POV's were really nice to get along with her. I had no idea where this was going, all I knew is I wanted whatever the best scenario for Molly to happen and I think I got that. I totally lost it and cried at the end and it was just the most bittersweet ending. I loved the past/present timelines and I think these were done really well without being confusing. I would've liked to have just a little more on Liz & Molly in the end, or some sort of resolution but oh well.

I will be recommending this one all summer. This is out 06/14!

This is one of those novels that sucks you in from the very beginning! Molly and Hunter are happily married with daughter, Stella. Then Molly has a new client, Sabrina in her yoga class and things begin to go sideways. Alternating in time, the book shows us Molly's first love, Jake as their relationship evolves as well as her present marriage and family life with Hunter. Enough said. This is one you won't be able to "look away" from either as the stakes get higher on each page! Captivating and realistic, this novel kept me reading long into the night!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

In 2013, Molly was a barista wanting to be a writer. She meets Jake who is in a band. They quickly fall in love. Now the year is 2022 and Molly has given up writing, is married to Hunter and feels she doesn't click with her life. Molly teaches yoga and is trying to conceive her second child. Molly makes a new friend Sabrina and they bond over their fertility issues. This is when the fun begins! Secrets and lies make this quite the drama filled book. I tend to think this is more drama than thriller but it is a really good read! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Can't Look Away is the second book I've read by Carola Lovering. It is a story told in 3 POVs and in 2 different timelines of the past and present. Molly and Jake meet across a crowded club while Jake is performing with his band and become an instant couple. They fall hard and they fall fast. But life with a musician isn't always what it's cracked up to be. They have some pretty high highs and some lows that are hard to come back from. And we get to witness their love unfolding and crashing at various speeds.

In the present, Molly is now married to Hunter living the suburban housewife life with their daughter Stella and all the snooty housewives of Connecticut. She just can't connect with them until a new woman comes to town and they become fast friends. She's almost too good to be true. They have a lot in common and even more than Molly initially knows.

This is a hard book for me to review because while I was totally consumed by this story and couldn't put it down, I also felt like I kept waiting for something more to happen. Something big and significant. But I never got that. I think part of the reason is because this is being marketed as a mystery/thriller. I would classify it more domestic drama with a small side of suspense. I loved the stalker aspect that was added and the history of the character and their stalking from past to present. It gave me a slight feminine Joe Goldberg (from You) vibe. I wish we got more of that and for it to have turned a bit darker so it was more unexpected. What I got was good, but felt more toned down for the thriller it was trying to be.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the characters, but I just wanted more. It was so close to giving me all those vibes with the stellar writing and great characters, I just needed that push into darkness. The story and the characters' history and where it went in the present was all put together so nicely at the end. Almost too nicely. Like a made for tv movie. But in the end, this book was entertaining and kept me hooked from beginning to end. I just expected more thriller aspects to push me to that edge. If you only need a slice of suspense, this book will do the job as the characters are captivating and will draw you in. Just don't expect anything too far out. It was predictable but well written and entertaining.

This is a tougher one for me to review and summarize. I went into this thinking it was a thriller or mystery. It is most definitely not either. I would classify it more as a psycho-crazy drama. The first third of the book did suck me in and was the part I did like the most but I never got invested enough after that due to the path it was going down. Sometimes I seem to be able to completely engage in totally cray-cray, but this time it didn't work for me as much as I expected as the story progressed. Molly and Jake are head over heels - Molly is an aspiring novelist getting her MFA and Jake is a singer in a band on the eve of becoming a star. We have to mention Sisi - Jake's Ex that he left before Molly / for Molly. The difference of the reason is perception vs. reality. I did consider putting this one down a few times but like the title, I "Can't Look Away". Very good marketing on the team's part there as it was a bit of train wreck but I did want to see how it wrapped up. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest option. Can't Look Away will be available on 6/12/2022.

I wouldn’t really call this a thriller, but I did enjoy it. The storyline was gripping and sweet. Likable characters. Not a ton of action.

Molly is working on jump starting her writing career when he meets Jake Danne. The lead singer of Danne Lane and Molly quickly fall in love. Jake easily falls into the world of being famous and isn’t great at communication while on tour. It’s been years since their relationship ended, and Molly is happily living in Flynn COve with her husband and daughter. When she meets a new friend Sabrina, the two are quickly attached at the hip. Until they decide to have a double date and Molly walks in to see Sabrinas husband…Jake. What does Sabrina have up her sleeve?

This was a slow burn, but that didn’t keep me from wanting to know what Sabrina’s plan was. I really felt all the emotions through this book. Love, betrayal, jealousy, longing, heartbreak, depression, safety, warmth, it really went through them all. There were definitely a few times when we went back to earlier years that I wanted to punch Jake, and ask Molly why she was putting up with this nonsense. Overall I found this one really enjoyable. I was rooting for Molly throughout in whichever relationship she was in. Also Sabrina was a bit bat shit crazy…

From the author of Tell Me Lies & Too Good to Be True, comes Carola Lovering's Cant Look Away, a sexy suspense novel about the kind of addictive, obsessive love that keeps you coming back-- no matter how hard you try to look away. Highly recommend this page-turning and mind blowing read.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC.