Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review.
Absolutely loved this book, totally engaged with the lives of the characters, couldn't put it down, read it over a weekend, will be reading more books by this author.

This was a fantastic domestic thriller and even though I had figured out the main plot line early on, there were several bumps along the way that I didn’t see coming and I very much enjoyed the bumpy ride!
Jane and Frank are a hardworking couple who want a simple life with their jobs, their fixer upper home and their dog, Dez. They’re saving up for a dream trip around the world after many failed attempts at getting pregnant. Frankie wins a scratch off and buys himself an expensive watch, which, while it gives him a major confirmation boost, sets in motion a sequence of events that would alter everything they know and love about their lives.
Meanwhile, at Janes running club, her friend Sophie brings a newcomer who sets her sight on coming between them. She bullies Jane and does everything she can to push Jane and Sophie apart, including throwing her a posh baby shower and then turning up pregnant at the same time, knowing that Jane hasn’t been able to get pregnant and rubbing it in her face.
Lexi and Frank cross paths, each not knowing who the other is in relation to Jane and the level of destruction that will take place as a result.
This story also highlights the fake reality of social media and how filters and pictures don’t really represent real life. There are also several triggers to be aware of.
This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my review.
Publication date: March 1, 2022

SE Lynes is one of my auto-buy authors. So as soon as I saw that she had a new release, I was there! The Baby Shower is another gripping and addictively entertaining psychological thriller with toxic characters, brilliant twists, and plenty of thrills.

As soon as I pick up one of Lynes' books, I instantly feel comfortable with her characters and can always picture her female leads vividly. The dynamics between friends and spouses are all really well developed, too, which is what draws me into her thrillers so much as I easily find an emotional connection to all involved.

And I had so much fun watching it unfold. My intrigue was high throughout and I really didn't want to put it down. I did see the end coming, but it feels more about the build-up than the reveal as you slowly start to see how everything is going to come together. It also brilliantly deals with some more serious topics, providing compelling moments while keeping the suspense high.

For me, SE Lynes never disappoints. Her stories are original, her characters are engaging, and her writing is very clever. I definitely recommend picking up one of her books if you haven't already!

(I'm on the tour for this on 6th March so my reviews will be live then)

Jane has had a difficult childhood, but now, she is mostly happy. She is married to Frankie and has three close friends that she met at a running club – Sophie, Hill’s and Kath. Jane and Frankie are a happily married couple, but they’ve recently decided to give up trying for a baby after many failed attempts and much heartbreak. But – she has her new business running a cafe that she has opened and loves, her weekly running club and Friday night drinks with the girls – it’s enough for now! This is, until Sophie – Jane’s closest friend meets and introduces a new member to their group – Lexie! Jane and Lexie couldn’t be more different from one another and didn’t initially click when Sophie brings Lexie along to Friday girls night – but that is just the beginning, and the happy life Jane has worked so hard for is about to be unravelled and torn apart.

This is the seventh book I’ve read by S. E. Lynes and I really enjoyed it. It managed to pull me out of a bit of a reading funk, and I found myself flipping through the pages. I do usually love this author’s books and this time is no different. I like her scandalous domestic thriller storylines and writing style and I think this is the first book where just under halfway through, I had a strong suspicion of the twist that was to come. I was mostly correct, but it didn’t ruin the enjoyment of the book at all. I really liked the characters and was absolutely furious on Jane’s behalf throughout. This book also covered some less spoken about themes and I think covered it well. And then there’s the adorable Des and his much loved ‘Ball’. All in all, I had a great time reading this book and will continue seeking out S. E. Lynes books for the pure fun of reading them. It’s enough, more than enough!

My thanks to the author and Bookouture for my gifted copy to review via NetGalley. Due to be released 1st March 2022.

There are only a handful of writers that I trust to provide me with a guaranteed 5 star read, Lynes is one of them. Good writing. Unusual plots. Satisfying endings. She embraces all three. In fact, you could say she"s the queen of flawed characters. As an unsociable soul, I wasn't sure of the topic but I found the relationship slant riveting but in the same way I'd watch a spider move across a web - in reality I'd rescue the intended victim. There is no such hope here for Jane, the MC. She's chosen her best friend. Now she must accept the consequences.
Excellent. More please.

I was seething with rage at this book. Not because it was bad, but because it was so good and believable! I am sure we have all met women like the antagonist in this story, and I have actually been in the situation of Jane (not the whole situation, thankfully) so I really felt for her and her reactions to it were spot on.
Such a good book, that I couldn't put down and I can't wait to read more by this author.

What an unexpected domestic thriller this is, there are trigger warning so I won’t repeat them here. What starts as a almost chick lit type of story centred around Jane, who owns and runs a coffee shop, and her three best friends soon becomes a dark and chilling story of bullying, stalking, blackmail and more…. Well written with the occasional touch of humour the story is a intense look at family and relationships.

Briefly, Jane and her husband Frankie have been trying for a family for years but they are now coming to terms with the fact this will never happen. The only other person who knows is Jane’s best friend Sophie. When Sophie brings Lexie into the girls group it is apparent to Jane that Lexie doesn’t like her, but no one else sees it. Is Jane just imagining it? Then Sophie and Lexie both become pregnant and the baby shower is planned. With Frankie seemingly becoming distant with her Jane starts to think maybe it’s all her fault.

The book deals sympathetically with the toxicity of some relationships and my empathy with Jane was real. Lexie was portrayed wonderfully as a manipulative, money and status oriented woman and her sycophantic behaviour was spine chilling.
Plenty of twist and turns, most of which I had guessed, but that took nothing away from the story. A great read and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Amazing!! I loved this book from start to finish! I have to admit that for the first couple of chapters I wondered about the title as there seemed no link to a baby shower…however it all made sense soon enough!

Brilliant characters, great plot line and fast paced, this book has it all!

My heart was thumping as I read this book and tried to work out the twists, which I managed to some extent. A real page turner, read it now!

Wow! It's been a while since I've enjoyed a psychological thriller to this degree. I really couldn't put it down as I tried to figure out where it was going. Well written, and good character development. The only reason I haven't given five stars is that I felt the epilogue was unnecessary and took away from the impact of the plot as a whole.

A brilliant mixture of lies, deceit, shocking events. A new girl joins a group of friends. Why is she so toxic to one person only. A really good read that gets darker as you delve in. A shocking conclusion. I love all SE Lynes books and this one is up there with the best.

Well... S.E. Lynes has done it again!! Another great book by a fabulous author. This book kept me reading till the very end. Highly recommend

A great book from S.E.Lanes yet again,Jane is married to Frankie and they seem to have the perfect marriage.But when best friend Sophie invites Lexie to their Friday drinks outing things start to go awry for Jane,for some reason Lexie takes an instant dislike to Jane and she can’t fathom why, but as events take a surprising turn at Sophie’s and Lexie’s baby shower,Jane is unsure what to do about the secrets she has uncovered.With plenty of twists and turns along the way this book will keep you gripped to the final chapter,it is a very good read and I very much recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.A great 5 star read.

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

The Baby Shower by S.E. Lynes is a gripping domestic thriller that you won't be able to forget! The story revolves around Jane, whose close-knit friend group has suddenly had a new addition. Lexie is now besties with Jane's best friend Georgie, and Jane is feeling a bit jealous. Why can't she accept the new girl, Lexie? What makes her so awful? If this sounds more like a drama than a domestic thriller to you, just wait! The plot gets tension-filled and ominous from there. The twists and turns will cause your mouth to drop open.

Here is a chilling excerpt from the Prologue:

"Police were called to the scene at approximately 7.35. Three emergency response units and two ambulances were sent, followed by an air ambulance. Two of the victims were taken by air ambulance to Kingston Hospital; one by ambulance. A further four people were treated for minor injuries and shock at the scene.
DCI Brian Kirby of the Metropolitan Police described the incident as ‘truly shocking’. A police cordon remains in place on Wimbham High Street from Broadway to Church Road.
‘These are the leafy suburbs, for goodness’ sake,’ said another L’Auberge diner, image consultant Valeria Sarti. ‘People move here to raise their kids. It’s supposed to be a safe place. We came here to feel safe.’"

Overall,The Baby Shower is a domestic thriller that will send chills up and down your spine. You should definitely read the trigger warnings if you normally consult trigger warnings before reading books. Without spoiling anything, I can just say that the plot deals with a very sensitive topic that many people may be triggered by. I did take off 1 star for this reason. Although I think that the subject matter is important and that people do need to know about it, I wasn't expecting it in this book, and it made me feel icky. Some books you read to escape real-life issues. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of domestic thrillers, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

I was completely captivated by the story of a toxic friendship. There are trigger warnings about infidelity and sexual assault, So be aware. I couldn't put the book down. It was addicting, Jane is a very relatable character in her marriage, struggling to have a baby. The Baby Shower was well-written and fast-paced. From resentment to despair to hatred and many other emotions are displayed here. The actual baby shower and her Jane's friend Sophie had my head spinning and made me sad for Jane. This book is set in Britain witch added to it's appeal

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a honest review.

In The Baby Shower author S. E. Lynes explores the dynamics of women's friendships as adults, and how sometimes it feels like high school. The reader is pulled into the story immediately and will find themselves rooting for Jane, the main character. I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy to review.

This mystery does hold your attention to the end. There is a small group of friends who go running together and have weekly drinks. They have known each other a long time and share everything - well, almost everything! Then along comes a new lady, and she seems to take over and captivate. One of the group is pregnant, and so is the newest member. The rest of the group feels a bit left out, especially one who has had several miscarriages. Her house has also been vandalized, and she has received a couple of nasty notes. She suspects the new member, but then she sees something that she was not supposed to see!
I did guess some of the ending, but there was a surprise.
I thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Holy crap! I didn't see the ending coming. Whoa! I knew this Lexie Lane was bad new from the moment she entered the story but I had no idea just how bad.

Lexie was such a great character to love to hate. And there are, unfortunately, so many people like her in the world. But more importantly was Jane. Oh, I loved Jane. Plane Jane who ends up being everything you want in a strong, stand-up heroin. What she tells Sophie in the last few pages had me cheering out loud.

This book was fast-paced with so much mystery and intrigue. I gobbled it up and could not put it down. I was totally immersed in this story.

I devoured this in one sitting! What can I say other than, I could not stop reading this story about friendship, lies and deceit.

Jane and her three close friends go to a running club every Tuesday and out for drinks every Friday night. One night, her best friend Sophie turns up with a new woman Lexie, and introduces her to the group. Jane immediately gets a bad vibe from Lexie as she starts to belittle her behind her friends’ backs.

Jane and her husband Frankie have been trying for a baby for years, unsuccessfully. Sophie falls pregnant and then shortly afterwards, so does Lexie. The two of them become inseparable and Jane continues to resent the way she is being treated by both women, which is totally understandable.

Lexie organises a joint baby shower at the Ritz and that’s when Jane spots the strapped on padding! Lexie is faking the pregnancy! Jane tells Sophie but of course she won’t have anything bad said about Lexie, her new bestie!

Things go from bad to worse for Jane as her Husband is trying to come to terms with a stupid mistake of his own. Having won big on a scratch card he blows the money on a new expensive watch which inadvertently lands him in trouble in a way he could never have imagined.

This is a story of how a toxic friendship can impact the lives of innocent people and how it is so easy for lies to be believed if they are convincing enough!

I did guess one of the twists but that’s only because I read so many thrillers that I am always trying to second guess every character. This didn’t make me enjoy the book any less. I say enjoy, but my anxiety levels were through the roof half the time willing Sophie to listen to what Jane was telling her. 😂

This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last as I loved the fast paced chapters.

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc.

🚨 Deals with bullying and mental abuse. Mentions rape via drugs.

I absolutely loved this fast paced thriller. The writing is excellent, and the storyline keeps you gripped and keen to read on. I would definitely recommend.

2.5 stars rounded up

The premise of the book is pretty good but it gets extremely repetitive and very predictable.

The story of a group of friends (the book is told mainly from Jane's perspective) and a new girl that joins them and starts creating a lot of drama especially in Jane's life.
I've seen all the major twists chapters ahead. And that is mainly because most chapters were simply repetitive thoughts and questions and relating the events that were clearly already described in the book with complete detail to another character.

It is a fast read and some of the topics approached are pretty good.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this nice book!