I was looking for a popcorn domestic thriller to binge but sadly this wasn't the book for me.

The good: Interesting premise of extreme kidnapping, sheds light on what an abusive relationship is like and how people find themselves trapped in one, the author's note in which she shares her inspiration for the story and why she wrote this book.

Unfortunately, the cons outweighed the pros for me. I found the story to be slow and dull. It didn't hold my interest but I kept reading because of the relatively quick pacing and no-frills writing and straightforward plot.

There were gaping plotholes and very unbelievable parts (e.g. a character who has been portrayed as intelligent and calculated would never neglect to delete emails from the trash folder). The twist was very predictable too.

I also have issues with the protagonist needing to be 'rescued' by another male character on multiple occasions, which defeats the author's wanting Noelle to "come out strong, free and on top of the world". Jack and Kari are portrayed in a positive light by the end but I found them just as dislikeable as everyone else.

I was really excited to read this book and it started out really strong! As I got more into it though, it kind of became a little far fetched and unbelievable. This is a really smart woman who had already been through this and fell for it again? A little too over the top - and I totally predicted the ending. That being said, I really liked the style of writing and it definitely kept me reading and interested!! I would definitely read this author again -

Jessica Payne's Debut novel was so hard to put down. Her writing style just sucks you right in. There was an instant hate for Dr. Ashcroft that had me rooting and trying to think of ways Noelle could get out. When are plan to get fake kidnapped turns out to be a real kidnapping, she is left wondering who would this to her and why? But there could be a few.

The waiting for the kidnapping was intense, as she doesn't know when it will happen or how and either do we! Once she's taken it speeds up and doesn't stop. Daniele was the WORST, his ego was incredibly big for no reason that I could see and with missing other girlfriends.. he's a big nope! His determination to find Noelle was strong as her need to and struggle to get away from him. once she's taken we get a whole new world open of things that. happen in the past and questions start to get answered.

I love how fast paced this was and the characters you could root for as they search for answers! The ending was so satisfying!

Thank you to Bookouture, Jessica Payne, and Netgalley for my early copy for review.

Oh my! I thoroughly enjoyed this. Do people like Daniel really exist? I spent most of the story despising him, and thinking he needed a lesson. As they say, pride comes before a fall, oh boy, does it ever. i never saw the twist coming to be honest, it caught me a little off-guard.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my ARC.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

4.5 stars! This is Payne's debut novel and it was gripping from the very first chapter. I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading. I loved the dual POV. The chapters from Daniel's POV were so well written and had such "YOU" vibes that added so much to the book. Definitely recommend checking this book out if you're a thriller fan! I'm looking forward to Payne's next book, whatever it may be!

Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Make Me Disappear’ written by Jessica Payne in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

After extricating herself from a controlling relationship it only takes a couple of months before Noelle realises that her new boyfriend, Dr Daniel Ashcroft, isn’t as perfect as she’d hoped. Daniel watches her every move, has cameras in her home and a tracker on her phone, but Noelle thinks up a way to escape him by arranging her own kidnapping, except that things don’t quite go according to plan.

‘Make Me Disappear’ is an exciting psychological thriller that’s told through the eyes of Noelle and Daniel with a timespan that ranges from fourteen months previously to the present time. The plot is gripping and well thought-out with characters that maybe aren’t completely believable but fit in well with the story. There are dark undercurrents running throughout and plenty of suspense, drama and twists and turns, but the final twist comes as a huge surprise and is totally unexpected. This thriller which I believe to be a debut novel for the author flows well and is so easy to read I’ve finished it in just over twenty-four hours. I can recommend this novel and will be eagerly awaiting Ms Payne’s next one.

Thank you netgalley for this book!
I throughly enjoyed this and was really hooked from the get go.
I loved the duel pov and getting to see the two sides. I also really liked how the chapters were fairly short and left me wanting more.
I must admit I did guess the big twist from about half way but I still enjoyed the book and it didn’t ruin it for me.

Publication date 16 May 2022

A wonderful psychological thriller with such a unique premise, it had my head spinning!

Thank you to @netgalley @bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful debut novel!

I read a lot of thrillers, few surprise me with clever twists and turns as this one did with its exceptionally clever and brilliant plot! I actually can’t believe it’s a debut!

Meet Noelle, a hardworking nurse who’s left one abusive relationship just to find herself in another.
Told in duel POV between Noelle and her fancy, rich, psycho, doctor boyfriend Dr Daniel Ashcroft, we follow an intricate and cleverly plotted story. I loved Noelles character and was rooting for her the whole time. Daniel is one of the best/worst antagonists I’ve read in a while. I love how the author got us into his inner monologue. Just brilliant!

I thought I knew where this was heading early on. Boy was I wrong! I do love being wrong and surprised with a good thriller. Without giving too much away, this books tackles quite a few heavy topics, that I felt were written with sensitivity and well researched, making for a rich, compelling narrative. All leading to a mind blowing, well tied up ending.

This book will make you question everyone, and who you can really trust.
Hats off to this wonderful author, I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

Name of Book: Make Me Disappear
Author: Jessica Payne -Debut Author
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: May 16, 2022
My Rating: 3.5 rounded up

When Noelle Thomas, a nurse at Seattle General meets Dr. Daniel Ashcroft, an Anthologist also at Seattle General, she is sure she met the perfect guy.

Story is told from the POV of both Noelle and Daniel; in two time period of then and now.

Both Noelle and Daniel are swept off their feet and soon become a couple.
It takes a little while for the ‘real’ Dr. Ashcroft to show his controlling and narcissistic side.
By the time they have been together for a year, Noelle is very fearful that Daniel is a danger not only to her but to anyone Noelle is close. She learns about an extreme entertainment company entitled “Kidnapping for Hire” usually does kidnapping for party entertainment etc.
Noelle is sure this is safest way to break off this relationship, she will be able to get away from him and he will no longer be a threat.

Yikes I sure had a problem liking any of these characters.
I wanted to understand why Daniel was so full of hate. He had so much going for him: good looking, successful career, and wealthy; but I was ready to skip his chapters, in fact.
I have a low tolerance for excessive profanity and these unlikeable characters certainly had me at my peak.
I really was close to DNF and decided to read the some reviews. One reader described it as suspenseful and very entertaining.
Also read the author’s “A Letter from Jessica’ as I always enjoyed reading the ‘Author’s Notes’ and/or ‘Acknowledgements’ as it gives the inside scoop to the author’s motivation for writing the story.
In this case, Ms. Payne tells us that the thriller genre is meant to entertain but she believes should include important human truths.
Again the word entertaining ~ Hmmm. I have read/reviewed 3065 books on Goodreads and 99% were fiction ~ so yes I read for entertainment.
Most of this was not entertaining but I hung in there and the twist did come through. Story ended with me saying: “Okay, I now ‘get’ the good reviews.”

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 16, 2022.

A big thank you to Bookouture and Netygalley for the arc of this audio book to read and review.

Make me Disappear is the debut book by Jessica Payne and a great psychological thriller. Noelle, a nurse at a hospital in Seattle, who initially thought she had met the perfect man in the rich, handsome Dr Daniel Ashcroft, an Anaesthetist, who does seem to thing he is God's gift to the world! Initially he seemed great, but there is a lot more to him, than meets the eye.

Noelle realises that all is not as it seems as she hears rumours about how a previous girlfriend disappears and then realises how possessive he is getting and finds out she is being watched. How can she get out of this controlling relationship? She finally decides to try and arrange her own kidnapping.

The story is told from their points of view of both Noelle and Daniel in turn. I didn't like the character of Daniel. He was way too arrogant and almost felt at times that the book would do without his self loving appreciation of himself, which seemed way over the top at times, and didn't like the way he looked down on everyone around him. It didn't detract too much as I was very keen to find out about Noelle and what would happen next. It's a bit farfetched but a an enjoyable read, would just prefer to tone down Daniel, a tad!!

A great and enjoyable page turner nonetheless.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MakeMeDisapper for an honest review. Turn pager psychological thriller at its best. J. Payne hit this one out of the ball park. It kept me on edge and up late reading. This book has twists and turns that are both breathtaking and climatic and kept me wanting more with each page. Dr. D. Ashcroft is the handsome charming doctor. Eve is a struggling nurse. You’d think they would be perfect. Until Eve finds cameras in her apartment. The song “Every Breath You Take” played in my head EVERY TIME I picked up this book.

This was an amazing debut! I was so impressed that I could be taken in by the suspense and fast paced storyline, that was quite unique.
The relationship between Noelle and Daniel, seems at the start to be wonderful. He is successful, handsome and romantic and Noelle is a first thrilled by his desire to be so protective, until she wasn’t. When she discovers his hidden cameras in her apartment, she begins to realise that Daniel is not when he projects. With Daniel’s previous girlfriend having been reported missing and never found, Noelle realises that she needs to escape the relationship. With Daniel threatening to hurt her and her family if she leaves, she knows that her escape will need to well-planned.
I found the alternating POV from Noelle and Daniel quite fascinating, with both characters trying to outmanoeuvre the other. The stress felt by Noelle is palpable and contrasts significantly with Daniel’s narcissistic and controlling personality. Together, this makes for an exciting story that had me hooked from the start.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Book Outure. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great psychological thriller packed with intrigue and twists and turns and characters you can love to hate - read this book quickly as was enjoying it so much and will look out for further books by this author

I love psychological thrillers and this one sounded intriguing. I've read numerous books with women stuck in abusive/controlling relationships, but this is the first one where the woman arranges her own kidnapping in order to escape.

Noelle was a strong female protagonist who figured out fairly early on in her relationship with Daniel that he was controlling. She thought not only about her own safety, but the safety of those she loved, and knew she had to leave him. She realized that the only way that she could get away from Daniel without it causing problems for others was to fake her own kidnapping. However, things don't always go according to plan...

This was an intense novel with a lot of twists along the way and I enjoyed all of the turns the story took. I want to say so much more about the things I liked, but I don't want to give anything away! I'll just leave it at "I really loved the ingenuity of the main character, Noelle!" The only disappointing aspect of the book to me was that I was able to easily figure out what I would call the "main" plot twist early on. However, the characters were well written and I enjoyed the premise. I will definitely read more from this author in the future!!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MakeMeDisappear by #JessicaPayne in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed above are completely my own.

✔️ I was always hurrying to get to the next chapter to find out what’s really going on !
✔️ definitely a couple of unexpected twists
✔️ a great debut novel - I can’t wait to read more from this author

A bit silly and definitely longer than it needed to be…

I don’t like to leave bad reviews, especially for new authors, but I’m finally done and it became a chore towards the end. I liked the writing and the pace was fine for the first third of the story. After the kidnapping takes place the story slows considerably, the focus becomes on inner monologue and a lot of repetition of it at that.

The twists that aren’t spoiled by hints are surprising because they are so nonsensical, unrealistic. There’s no way to expand on this without going into spoilers so I’ll leave it at that. I did feel the need to finish so I guess it was entertaining enough. If the story had been trimmed a bit, especially the second half, I would have given it a better rating. I would probably try more by this author if the premise appealed. As always, my cup of tea might differ from yours so don’t let this discourage you from trying it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This was fast paced with well developed characters and a storyline that was good. I enjoyed the way it was written too. I did work out the ending but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of reading the book in anyway. Around half way through some of the plot became a bit far fetched and the ending I thought could have been better.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Make Me Disappear, Jessica Payne’s fun and twisty thriller. Trapped in a manipulative relationship with Dr. Daniel Ashcroft, who may have made his last girlfriend disappear, Noelle decides to take matters into her own hands. She arranges her own kidnapping to escape him, but nothing goes as planned. The book alternates between Noelle’s perspective and Daniel’s, and Daniel’s chapters were some of my favorites--he is over-the-top creepy, a narcissist set on controlling everyone and everything around him. Payne does a fantastic job throwing us off-kilter, making it impossible to trust anyone.

Daniel is a handsome, charming doctor. The perfect boyfriend. Or is he? Noelle certainly thought he was until she finds out he has hidden cameras in her house. Then, she finds out his last girlfriend disappeared without a trace. Noelle is frightened for her life and those she loves. She arranges for her own kidnapping, but things don’t go according to plan. Things never do.

Jessica Payne’s amazing debut novel is both breathtaking and thrilling. I’ve read many thrillers and Jessica Payne truly has a way with words. The pacing is perfect. The plotline is tense and unique. Payne had me on pins and needles all the way up until the end, which was jaw-dropping. I definitely didn’t see it coming. I highly recommend Make Me Disappear as my first five-star read of the year! I can’t wait to read more from Jessica Payne!

OK, wow! I’m not sure what to even say about this except that it’s completely bonkers. I have no idea what happened here. My mind is just in pieces. It’s a domestic thriller. There is a lot going on but not so much that it’s overwhelming. Everything is not as it seems and there are so many twists you can’t possibly see coming. The entire story is totally unexpected and unique. For a debut, I’m blown away. I’m going to be purposely vague and just tell you that you have to read this. It’s so insane. I can’t stop thinking about it.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.