Brilliant book. Jane is quite happy with her life – a devoted husband, successful coffee shop and a great best friend in Sophie - although she is coming to terms with early menopause, meaning she will not be able to conceive which was her greatest wish. When a newcomer, Lexie, joins the group and takes best friend Sophie away from Jane, she feels a great mistrust of her, and when Jane accidentally finds out Lexie is lying to everyone, she has no one to turn to as who will believe her?
This is a fabulous book – I think it is Susie’s best yet. I finished it in a day because I just couldn’t put it down. A definite “just one more chapter” type of book. Highly recommended.

Wow. If I could give this book 10 stars I would

This book had me gripped from the first page

I loved Jane and frankie

Thank you to netgally for this book

Wow!!! What a brilliant rollercoaster read that just builds & builds up the tension and you are left open mouthed at what is happening.
Cracking psychological thriller I literally could not put this book down the story just kept grabbing my attention I couldn't stop reading.
From secrets & lies, to friendships & adult bullying, then throw in the odd psychopath, this book has it all covered to keep you engrossed.
The storyline really draws you in with such great characters that you can love or hate & the author really makes you feel the emotions & frustrations that build up throughout.
The author sensitively covers infertility & sexual assault as well as toxic relationships.
I did end up putting two and two together to see where this story was leading but not all so a few surprises at the deceptions & an exciting ending.
The author has done a fantastic job with this story as she slowly builds it up so you can't put it down till you know what happens.
You definitely don't want to miss out on reading this book & I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
If not then like I always say we don't all like the same things.
I for one found it a brilliant psychological thriller .
Need to read more from this author I can't believe I've never come across her before. I loved it!!

I really enjoyed this book! It was very fast paced and kept you guessing and wanting to know more! There were a few good twists along the way as well. I loved Jane as a main character and was proud of the decisions she made throughout the story.

This book is centered around Jane and a group of friends. Jane gets frustrated when Sophie introduces a new friend into the group. The new friend starts to push her out of the group and starts putting everyone against her. Her husband is also dealing with his own problems and the work load and both are struggling with the fact they are unable to get pregnant.

It's a quick read with a few surprises thrown in there, it keeps you wanting more as you go. It was a little frustrating to see that Jane didn't want to say how she felt to her friends since she saw them as her family. But over all I was happy with how the book ended and I loved the fact that Jane was able to stand up for herself at the very end.

Overall a fun read and it definitely got me out of a reading slump! Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this ARC in exchange for honest review.

Marshmellow Fluffin Animal Crackers! 😯😳🤯😳

Well fluffer nutter stuffer!! My heavens this was one crazy ride with juicy parts all along the way. I couldn't read fast enough - my eyes burning barely blinking trying to devour it all. This was so fast paced and easy to digest I couldn't get enough! A psychological thriller to the core. Jane has made a life for herself she loved and is proud of. She's married to Frankie, she's got her own coffee business, great friends & a best friend, Sophie. She's finally in a good space and content. However, the one thing she's still trying to get past is that she can't have children. And now Sophie had told her she's expecting another child. A new woman in town, Lexie, becomes friends with Sophie and soon, Jane realizes, that's not all Lexie is after or wants. Jane starts to realize Lexie is undermining her and Sophie's friendship & soon announcing she's pregnant too! Oh but that's not all my lovelies. An accident soon ensues that sends three people to hospital and what once seemed like a high school friend issue, has become so much more devious and dark. While I pretty much had it pegged what the ending was and the how / why, I still gobbled this novel up like pumpkin pie! I hated and loved each character many times. The secrets, deceit, strangeness - it enrapt me. So delish and deviant!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutrure for this ARC!
Release date: March 1, 2022

I give this 4 / 5 snowflakes! ❄️

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of The Baby Shower.

Jane is happily married to Frankie and has a solid friendship group. Jane is happy with life for the most part but longs for a baby which sadly not something which is happening for her.
Janes life is turned upside down by the arrival of a girl Lexie and from the day she met her there is no changing the destruction of what is to become her life.
The Baby Shower is a roller coaster of a read and exactly what I needed to get me over my reading slump.
The characters were fantastic and you really felt who they were and really felt the dislike and anger towards them.
All the way through I was routing for Jane and felt her pain.
Fantastic read and highly recommend.

The Baby Shower
by S. E. Lynes
I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it, thank you.

A brilliant. Fast-paced and sinister, book. Great thriller and writer. Thank you

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Jane is married to Frankie, they are a perfect match. Jane runs her successful cafe business and she has a small circle of good friends along with her best friend Sophie .Frankie has a plumbing business and works all hours. Jane is heartbroken because she is unable to have a baby but has accepted it until her friend Sophie tells Jane she is pregnant. Sophie also tells Jane about her new friend Lexie and introduces her to their weekly meet ups Lexie takes an instant dislike to Jane but only Jane can see what’s happening and Sophie doesn’t believe her. This is where the nightmare begins and will threaten every part of Jane’s well being and her very existence.

This book is not for the faint hearted, it covers topics of bullying and undertones of sexual violence. The writer takes you on a well written reply extraordinary journey with many surprises along the way. 5 stars

This taut thriller starts with the description of three people in hospital after a hit-and-run accident, whose back stories are then slowly unravelled. Jane is one of these individuals. A successful small business owner and in a solid marriage, Jane is assumed to be happy but has been through several painful IVF cycles. Jan'e's increasingly desperate quest for a baby the determines what is a roller-coaster of a narrative. Absolutely recommended for readers looking for multilayered, complex domestic thrillers, I read this book in just two sittings. Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the free ARC I was kindly provided with in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.

I cannot believe that this is the first Susie Lynes book I have read but based on this novel I am off to find some more
Jane has a circle of 3 close friends who meet up at their running club and for Friday evening drinks. She is happily married to Frankie and together they are trying to come to terms with the fact that they can't become parents, 3 IVF procedures having failed.
One Friday evening Sophie invites a new friend for drinks and Lexi soon integrates herself in with the group, but only Jane seems to see the other side of Lexi. Meanwhile Frankie seems to be more distant, working late and tired. Is Lexi out to ruin Jane's friendships? Has she an agenda that only she knows?
This novel makes the reader assess their own friendships and the affect the loss of that friendship could mean, loyalty means such a lot but what if you felt your loyalty was being tested and whether trust could ever be the same
I advise anyone who loves psychological thrillers to read this great book that's published March 1st.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Susie Lynes for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I am under no obligation to leave my honest review

The story of a poisonous female with psychopathic tendencies! Think Mean Girls for adults with added toxicity and a sprinkling of vicious revenge..

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; It is the perfect holiday read (I am in fact typing this from a sun lounger in Tenerife ☀). The characters were fabulous, so very believable and able to evoke emotion throughout. I felt like a proud Mum during those last few pages when I read - without giving too much away - Jane's final conversation with Sophie. You go girl!

I will most definitely be on the lookout for future reads by S. E. Lynes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review 📖

Wow! What a roller coaster of a read “The Baby Shower” was!
There were many times that I wanted to leap inside the book and slap the face of one of the characters - what a psychopath!
This book has many topics, from friendships, adult bullying, secrets and lies.
The characters are so well written that you feel like you really know them in reality. The chapters are short and sharp so you just want to keep on reading to see the outcome.
Another fabulously dark read by S.E Lynes. Read it. You must!

Jane and Frankie are coming to terms with the fact that they cannot have children, when once again her best friend Sophie announces she is pregnant. Jane struggles to be a good friend but her own heart is breaking.

Along comes Lexi. She is a little over the top and quickly takes Jane's place as bff to Sophie. Why does Jane feel there is something not right about Lexi? Why can't the others in her running group see how Lexi treats Jane? What is Lexi up to anyway? Is Jane making too much of her relationship/lack of relationship with Lexi?

Jane is forced to attend a double baby shower for Sophie and Lexi where she learns a shocking secret. How will her friends react when she shares the news? How will Frankie react? Why is Frankie working so many long hours lately? So many questions that need answers.

Great characters. Totally believable if a little naive at times. This is a good read. Check it out for yourself. Publication date is March 1st.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.

3.5 stars round up to 4

She doesn't know I'm there, watching her in the mirror. She slides her hand under her blouse. And then I see something impossible. She isn't pregnant....

She bursts into my life like a storm, and nothing is the same again. She seems so perfect, with her lilting laugh and her beautiful face. One by one, I watch as my friends fall under her spell. Only I seem to suspect something. Only I see that her smiles don.t reach her cold, furious eyes. And when I'm accused of doing things I didn't do, when my home is vandalised, I know she's behind it. But she only lets her mask slip when no one is looking.

Secrets, lies, toxic relationships, this book has it all. The curve balls come at you from all angles. The characters are believable, relatable, but not very likable. The story is told from Janes and Frankie's perspective. There are parts that are pretty predictable and a little far fetched, The pace is slow to begin with then it gets more of a steady one/ This is a quick and easy book to read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SELynes for my ARC of #TheBabyShower in exchange for an honest review.

Oh gosh…… I could not put this book down! I devoured it over the course of the weekend. I loved the author’s portrayal of the main characters and found them extremely believable and easy to both like and hate in equal measure!! Really enjoyed this book and this being the third book I’ve read by this author, I can definitely say that this doesn’t disappoint. I would give this more than 5 stars if I could!

A very enjoyable read with an interesting concept. The characters are all believable and play their part perfectly. Well paced and engaging throughout.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. This was my first book by S.E. Lynes and it won't be the last! This book reminded me of the movie Bridesmaids in the beginning with a new girl honing in a on friendship and showering her with gifts. My blood boiled throughout this book with how Lexie treated everyone~ Being nice to Sophie but then turning around and making Jane look like the bad friend. I did feel this book was fairly predictable though with what happened with "Natasha" and Freddie. I'm glad Jane stood up for herself in the end and it was a great ending!

Wow! What a bloody amazing book! It’s not often I can say this but I read this in one sitting while daughter was at school! I was riveted by this book right from the first chapter so entirely and only left the settee to make a few cups of tea!

This is the reason I love SE Lynes books. You just get sucked into the storyline, the characters and the friendships. You feel their blight, their emotions and the frustrations of their situations. It makes you think how you’d deal with things in this situation. As always, the author deals with traumatic incidents which are dealt with, with such sensitivity. The storyline has friendships as a theme that makes you question the actions of others and she totally throws in those twists that have you shocked and bewildered.

Might have had a little cry near the end too!

Another top read and overall excellent novel from the psychological thriller writer SE Lynes!

Also want to say thank you to Susie for the lovely mention in the acknowledgements. I’ll never tire of seeing our friendly group in print. ❤️

Where do I begin with this review? I enjoyed the book for the most part but it didn’t blow me away. It was a multi layered story cantering around Jane, her husband Frankie, her best friend Sophie and two other good friends. On one level the story concentrated on the fact that Jane couldn’t have children due to a condition which causes her to be going through premature menopause. Along side this her best friend Sophie announces she is pregnant with her second child. At the same time Sophie introduces a “new” friend Lexi, into their close knit group who is one of the nastiest characters I have read about for a while. What follows if Lexi’s systematic bullying of Jane, targeting her and causing hurt not only to her but also to everyone around her. To say any more would involve spoilers!

The book did build nicely and although you knew there would be a climax to the book I had guessed some of it and other bits were just a little smaltzy and cliched. Saying that, if you want an easy psychological thriller read, this is for you.