You know the old saying “out of the frying pan into the fire” well that is exactly the predicament that Sophie has found herself in and I don’t think I’ve ever shouted at a book quite so much as this one.

Even though this is a work of fiction, as a woman I quickly noticed things that were uncomfortably familiar. With Sophie in a desperate situation it seemed that her life was about to change for the better. But if something seems to good to be true then it normally is and how do you recognise a wolf when everyone is dressed as sheep?

This was an infuriatingly tense read with superb characters that I was constantly changing my opinion on. Sophie was instantly likeable in her vulnerability and all her actions and reactions were completely understandable given her circumstances and I would implore you to read the author letter at the end.

I have to add that while this does contain a few twists and turns and an ending that I really did not see coming. For me, what really stood out was how the author has taken the topic of woman’s safety and shown the unfortunate reality of how difficult it is for women to not only know who to trust, but to be believed, even by other women.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book. This is my honest review.

This psychological thriller was well plotted but a little predictable and didn't really sustain my interest. My main problem was the excruciating naivety of the MC. She was so naive she didn't read as "real".

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, full of twists and turns. The ending I thought was a little rushed, but definitely worth a read. Recommended.

Sophie has been living with Charlie in Dorset for a number of years now. She left university in London after a violent mugging attack that injured and terrified her. She is close to her father so she can help with his care. Having finished her degree online, she has been applying for jobs in advertising in London. Charlie, a plumber, wants to marry her and live in his grandparents' little cottage. However, Sophie wants more and is determined to do more in her life. Charlie is not happy about her leaving him and demands that she pay him back for some of the physio care he has paid for her father, plus her old credit card debt. She promises to do so as she makes some money.

She interview sfor a job at a firm called One Pure Thought and gets the job working with Cassie, James and Max, the boss. She is delighted to learn that a nice flat comes with the job. Cassie and Max are brother and sister, and their father, the business owner bought a large house of flats nearby for the use of their employees. Currently, Sophie is the only one in the building. She loves and is challenged by her new job and they are all very good to her. She works very long hours but enjoys it.

The mugging event has come back to haunt her. After being threatened by the man who mugged her, she was so terrified, she withdrew her allegations. Now, it appears he has struck again and the police want to interview her once more.

Then, she is approached by the woman who had the flat before her who was fired and then disappeared. She wants to talk to Sophie in a quiet place and warn her about where she works.

This story keeps the reader guessing who or who may not be telling the truth at One Pure Thought leaving her to wonder whom she can trust. There is a lot of partying and alcohol involved which leaves her even more vulnerable. This was a good story which points out that sometimes if something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Offered a whole new life and an escape from a troubled past, is it divine intervention or mortal machinations? How's a girl to know? Readers are in for a twisty treat!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

The new girl by Ruth Heald.
When I moved to a city where no one knew me, clutching only a small bag of possessions, I really believed that I had left my old life—and my darkest secret— behind. Within weeks, I landed my dream job, a gorgeous flat and the perfect boyfriend in James. For the first time in years, with him, I started to feel I could finally trust people again. I began to feel safe. But now strange things have started to happen. Odd noises in the night, the constant feeling that someone is lingering at my door. James convinces me that I’m imagining things. But when I find a beautiful dress hidden behind the wardrobe and wear it to work, the atmosphere chills instantly. I can’t help but wonder, is there something, or someone they’re hiding from me? Then she appears at my door. The girl before me. She tells me to that I need to leave; that the new life I thought I’d built for myself is all a twisted trap…
And my whole world tilts… because if what she says is true, what’s going to happen to me?
Very good read with good characters. Gripping story. 4*.

This was just the psychological thriller style that I really enjoy. A seemingly innocent setup where things are just too good to be true !!

Sophie gets her dream job but it means leaving her life behind and moving to London. She is soon settled in to a new flat, paid for by the company she works for, and soon she has new friends and is enjoying life.

But soon she receives a message sending her straight back to her past. Who sent the message ? Can she keep the past hidden ?

As well as dealing with her past she soon starts hearing noises in the flat but there is no one else living in the house. Was it footsteps she could hear ?

Suddenly things start unraveling and the past is right in front of her. Can Sophie discover the truth ? Can she survive the past and present ?

This is a great psychological thriller with some brilliant characters. Plenty of edge of the seat stuff and lots of shady characters !! What more could you ask for ?

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Aye dear Sophie how could you be so naïve, she is offered an amazing job in London, new house in Soho, free clothes, food, drink and furnishings and she never has an inkling of a doubt there is ‘something not right’
But naïve in Sophie’s case does not mean annoying or irritating and the author managed to assuage the ‘no one would believe this’ as she was just so relatable and yes nice, I really liked her and was urging her on as little by little she started to realise all was not as it seemed
There is a back story for Sophie which goes a way to explain her keeness for a new life and to ditch Dorset for the glam life in London and it all ties into the story
Some mean nasty characters and some nice ones to offset this, trouble was ( in a good way ) working out which was which
With an edgy tense ending and a ‘ahhh good’ epilogue made this an enjoyable read where I actually thought ‘ good, I hope Sophie is happy now in her life’ so the character of Sophie certainly made an impression on me!

9/10
5 Stars

A gripping story from Ruth Heald.
Sophie has been a victim of assault while studying at the University in London and it has taken years for her to get over the trauma. Though still a bit afraid, as the man who assaulted her is a powerful one not bought to justice.
She decides to take back her life and considers herself lucky when she lands a dream job in London. But when the past seems to catch up with her, this time she digs in her heels and decides to take it head on.

Finally a woman who manages to see through the falsehood and doesn't buckle down.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookoutre for the ARC

If this book wasn't dragged out for so long, I would've given it five stars. It was a thrill to read when it was moving faster than a snail's pace. It was also really predictable.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The New Girl' by Ruth Heald.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ruth Heald, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 25th January 2022.

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

I was originally drawn to this book by its interesting cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally gripping, unputdownable and twisty psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and You.
.' I am a fan of 'Gone Girl' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives 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, 54 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium 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 Dorset and London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, 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. I have holidayed in Dorset many times and also visited London recently so I'm looking forward to seeing if I recognise any places named.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Sophie. The benefits of third person perspective 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.


'The New Girl' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Ruth discusses/includes sexual assault and several others.


WOW!!! What an absolutely page turning domestic and psychological thriller!!! This is the first book I've read by Ruth but it most definitely won't be the last!!!


I started this in the morning and I couldn't put it down until I finished at 2am!!! Clear your schedules before you pick this up!!

This book is fantastically written with in depth and vivid descriptions that leave you hearing the keyboards typing in the office, feeling the chill in the air and leaves your heart pounding. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.

The storyline is scarily realistic and extremely believable. The fact that Ruth has done her research definitely shines through so a huge congratulations!! There is nothing worse than reading a book which is filled with errors but I didn't find a single one here. The plot exposes the reality of many women, myself included, who have been in everyday situations that many take for granted but then get put into vulnerable positions. In this book Ruth explores many situations that either myself have been in or that I helped others through when I volunteered at victim support. I don't want to say to much as not to spoil it for future readers but some scenarios included being stuck in a job or relationship that may seem perfect on the outside but is completely different on the inside. As Ruth states in the letter at the end of the book 20% of women and 4% of men have experienced sexual violence since the age of 16 and the conviction rate is just 6%. However, these are only the recorded figures of those reports, many go unreported. I truly believe that anyone who reads Ruth's book and has been in any of the situations mentioned will hopefully find the strength to escape from them. I know I have spent alot of time talking about the theme of the book but they are such important subjects that I felt they should be spoken about. I've added all of Ruth's books to my Amazon wish list and as I was reading the synopsis of each I realised the majority of her books are based on everyday vulnerability of woman and I just want to praise Ruth again for choosing to write about them and thank you. Anyway moving on...


The plot is absolutely filled with suspense, twists, shocks, tension, romance, lies, friendship, deceit and so much more, everything you could want in a domestic drama and psychological thriller. I was completely absorbed throughout and it really felt like I was back in London again rediscovering Soho, seeing the Shard and much more. I loved how the book wrapped up and although I would have loved to see more done to certain people Ruth kept the ending realistic to what the outcome would actually be. Throughout the book my heart was pounding and I was filled with a range of emotions from sorrow to anger, disgust to shocked. I was absolutely blown away by the twists and was definitely not expecting them so another HUGE congratulations to Ruth. I have read so many books now it does get harder and harder to surprise me but you definitely managed it. I thought I had it all worked out until BOOM!!! ABSOLUTE BOMB SHELL!! I am looking forward to reading the rest of your books and if they are half as good as this one they are bound to be amazing!!

THIS IS A BOOK THAT SHOULD BE READ, SHARED AND TALKED ABOUT BY EVERYONE!!!

The characters were all strong and well developed. I really connected with Sophie from start to finish both due to us being female and some of the circumstances she was put in have been similar to my own. It is always great seeing strong female leads in books especially those who have not had a perfect life and represent reality. I enjoyed watching her personality develop and change from beginning to end and how she went from strength to strength whereas in other novels by another author she may have crumbled. I won't say anything about any of the other characters as I do not want to give anything away. However, there was a mix of personalities which all worked perfectly for the storyline and proves that what someone may seem like on the outside may be opposite to what their true personalities are.

I want to end my review by stating that if you recognise or relate to any of the subjects discussed in this book please tell a friend, contact the police or speak to victim support. You can even message myself. Please talk to someone. There are people out there who will listen. You are not alone.

CONGRATULATIONS RUTH ON AN ABSOLUTE SUCCESS!! This has got to be one of the most realistic fiction novels I have ever read and thank you for bringing such difficult themes to light in a way that may help many men and women. Welcome to my top author club and here is to your next success 🥂



Overall an absolutely page turning domestic thriller that will suck you in, keep you turning the pages hooked until you have finished and will blow your mind. Please be aware that it deals with several sensitive subjects and I have inclided a trigger warning.


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


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'The Girl on the Train' , 'Gone Girl', 'You', KL Slater, Shalini Boland and anyone looking for a heart racing page turner.



304 pages.

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

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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A new job. A new start in a new city. Sophie can't believe her good fortune! She lands a dream job. With the job, comes a place to live, a credit card to purchase what she needs, new friends, and a chance to have the career she wants. But what if her dream becomes a nightmare?

When it seems too good to be true, maybe it is. Sophie is happy at her job, but soon strange things begin to happen to her, there are strange noises in her flat, and a woman approaches her to warn her about her employer.

This was an entertaining and engaging read. It moved at a nice pace, and I loved trying to figure out what was going on. Poor Sophie, she has endured something horrible in her life, and she deserves a new start. I was rooting for her while doing some super sleuthing. This was pure escapism reading which did not disappoint. I read most of it in one day as I did not want to put it down. There were some twists and turns which made this a fast and engaging read.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

The New Girl was a chilling read. I found it a fast paced, page turner with plenty of twists and turns to keep the tension building. All in all a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Trigger warning: sexual assault
This was an easy read, but everything felt very superficial and underdeveloped. The characters were flat and the plot was predictable. The main character, Sophie, is excruciatingly naive, which was problematic for me. Overall, it had the feeling of a novice writer’s first book; not terrible, but just not great. The ending wasn’t half bad, even though the reveals weren’t much of a surprise to me, but the epilogue was a bit cheesy.

All flaws considered, there were some moments of creepiness and dread that may suggest this author could grow into the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a free digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

After experiencing an horrific event whilst at university, Sophie has tried to re-build her life and put her past behind her. She is not happy at home and wants more from her life and when she is offered a job in London that sounds perfect and will give her the new start she is desperate for, she jumps at the chance but what's the saying "If it sounds too good to be true ... it probably is!"

Sophie is, in my opinion, a little naïve and pretty gullible. There were red flags and flashing warning signs everywhere but Sophie didn't seem to see them ... really??? A little implausible given her past, but I found the anticipation of how and when the penny would drop for her was quite engaging.

Full of interesting characters, well written and at a good pace, this is an enjoyable thriller with contemporary themes and whilst it isn't full of violence, blood or gore, there is a palpable sense of unease throughout. Some of the twists were quite obvious (to me anyway) and whilst the ending was satisfactory, the epilogue was disappointing in it's unrealistic outcome.

If you can get past the frustration of wanting to put your hands in the book and shake some sense into Sophie, this is an entertaining read and my thanks must go to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

Thanks to #netgalley and #bookouture for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. An atmospheric read that captured my attention from the first chapter. Sophie has rebuilt her life after a sexual assault in her college days, she no longer has social media and when she lands her dream job in an advertising company giving her the opportunity to relocate to a London apartment rent free she jumps at the chance. Her work colleagues and her work seem to be everything she hoped for but she does have a feeling she is being watched and then a former employee warns her to leave the company and the apartment as they are not what they seem and neither are her colleagues. The feeling of something sinister brewing kept me turning the pages, I just had to know what was really going on. A suspenseful thriller and a thoroughly enjoyable read.⭐⭐⭐⭐ #ruthheald #thenewgirl #netgalley #bookouture #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram #thriller #amazonkindle

This book gave me everything I needed and more. I read it in one day because it was so entertained. This book is a thriller with lots of twists and a good amount of suspense. It's well-paced and manages to stay interesting from start to finish. The main character is likable and the side characters add to the mystery and intrigue of the book. People who like thrillers will enjoy this book. Thanks for the advance review copy.

This is my first novel by author Ruth Heald and I did really enjoy it

We meet Sophie who is ready for a new start, obviously Sophie has a dark past and its nearly time for her past to catch up with her. She starts her dream job and she gets brutal reminders of her past and she starts to question everything and everyone, it is quite hard to give a review of this book without giving some of the story away so I am going to keep this review short and sweet.

This book is full of twists and turns and Sophie is somewhat a complex character and the reader really gets to know her.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ruth Heald and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my review.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced ebook.
A fast paced page turner, I guessed a couple of things before they happened and felt the ending was a little abrupt and unsatisfying.

★★★ 3.5 stars

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Ruth Heald's exciting new thriller THE NEW GIRL.

I've been a fan of Ruth Heald since her debut domestic thriller "The Mother's Mistake" which is just brilliant from start to finish. So naturally every new release of hers incites an excitement and anticipation of what's to come. This one promises fresh starts and new beginnings for the protagonist who has seen her fair share of ups and downs, not to mention disappointments. Unfortunately, this fresh start isn't what she was expecting.

THE NEW GIRL in this story is Sophie, who had escaped London once before after an incident at university for the safety of home in Dorset. But now she is ready to put the past behind her and move forward...beginning with a job at an ad agency in London. Unfortunately, her boyfriend Charlie doesn't see things in quite the same way. After celebrating ten years since their first kiss at the tender age of fourteen, Charlie springs a surprise on her he is sure she will love.

As he leads her to the cottage by the sea that was once his grandfather's, he proudly announces that he is doing it up for them to settle down and raise a family in. And then he pops the question. Sophie stalls. This isn't what she wants and she flees the house, taking refuge in her childhood home with her father. OK, so maybe Charlie was a bit presumptuous...but after ten years together if it was me I would have thought they'd get married too. And not to mention that cottage by the sea...and the sounds of the ocean through the window at night. To me, that is just pure heaven.

So instead of settling down in their sleepy seaside village in Dorset (which I would prefer to smelly crowded London, myself), Sophie sends out applications to London ad agencies in the hope of securing herself a job. When she is contacted by One Pure "something or other" (I forget the rest of the name) for an interview she can hardly believe it. She travels up to London and meets with James and Cassie, two of the founding members of the company, and together they hit it off. Sophie nails the interview and is offered the job. Better yet, she is offered a flat the company uses for their employees rent-free. Um...

Seriously, how naive can one person be? Hand-picked from a social media post to her dream job with a rent-free flat? Who take her shopping for food, clothing and furnishings? And her bosses just too good to be true? Does she not have any inkling whatsoever that something isn't right? Truly...if something seems too good to be true, then it generally is. But Sophie just welcomed it all with open arms and a naivete that was almost cringeworthy. She should have remembered that nothing comes for free...her experience with Charlie should have told her that. And yet...

And then Sophie begins to hear noises in the night, footsteps outside her door...when she is the only occupant in the building...and a dead rat on her doorstep. And she has the creepy feeling she is being watched. Do people actually feel that? Truly? Then she is approached by a woman claiming to have worked for the company before and she wants to talk to her...but Sophie isn't so sure. When the police approach her regarding her past, Sophie fears her secret is about to be exposed. And before long, Sophie isn't sure who she can trust.

And then she stumbles on a dead body in the flat below hers...

In all honesty, Sophie was too gullible for words. I mean, I generally take people at face value but she took it to a whole new level. She ignored all the red flags and neon signs flashing in her direction, even when warned, and basically dug herself in deeper. She was in a bit of a bind though...new job, new flat and no way of paying rent anywhere else in London except maybe a park bench. Is that why she ignored all the warning signs? Given at all she had endured I would have thought she'd have been more guarded and not so trusting. That went without saying...and yet here she was trusting complete strangers. Even when Charlie turned up several times, which was a little creepy to say the least, she trusted her new friends instead of him who'd she'd known half her life.

The plot was interesting enough but full of holes in my opinion because I really couldn't see a woman being that naive particularly after what she'd been through. Yes, it was a tad far-fetched but it was still fast paced and gripping enough to keep me engaged to the end. I wasn't surprised by the ending or the links to her past as I could see them from a mile off. I didn't trust anyone in the story and hoped Sophie wised up to them before it was too late. No one else is really worth writing about.

THE NEW GIRL is a creepy thriller that had my spidey senses tingling throughout despite my desire to shake some sense into the woman. Sophie has a vulnerability that stems from a previous trauma which has turned he into an unreliable judge of character. And now she's stuck in a flat alone with the threat of someone out there exposing something she would much rather keep hidden. Who can she trust? While Charlie was becoming a tad too clingy and overprotective, I still felt it was a case of better the devil you know than swimming in an ocean of sharks she could not see lurking in the shadows.

A relatively spine-tingling read, THE NEW GIRL is a thriller where you suspect everyone as you try to guess who is responsible. The twists may be unexpected or you may see them coming...it depends on how you read it all. The climax was nail-biting and somewhat exciting but the epilogue was a bit of a letdown as I had expected a bit more to come of things.

Overall, THE NEW GIRL is a reasonably enjoyable read that didn't quite have me on the edge of my seat but it was fast paced and gripping just the same. Didn't quite pack the same punch as the author's previous thrillers but still a good read.

I would like to thank #RuthHeald, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNewGirl in exchange for an honest review.