An easy read with some suspense and a plot that kept the story flowing. I wasn’t impressed with the ending.

Jodie can't believe her eyes when she picks up the green t-shirt she finds in her late father's belongings. Holding it in her hands, she can't understand how it could possibly be hidden in her box in the attic. Mainly because this is her teenager sweetheart's top... the one he was wearing when he went missing 19 years before.

A fast-paced story starting right from the first page, I didn't want to stop reading it.

Every time I thought I had it worked out, it completely flipped. The twist at the end, heartbreaking. What a fantastic story, I need to read more by this author very soon.

Add this to your wishlists and preorder... Trust me, you will not be disappointed. One of my new favourites for 2022.

*NetGalley book*

Well I didn't see that one coming! I was hooked from the reading the inital premise to the last page. Shocking, full of twists and did I mention shocking! Amazing. Highly recommended

Poor writing, abrupt ending, too long and drawn out. I made it through, but I did not enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jodie’s is clearing out her dad’s house following his funeral when she comes across a t-shirt which once belonged to her boyfriend, Ben. Ben disappeared nearly 20 years ago, and the last time Jodie saw him was the night he went missing…and he was wearing this same t-shirt. Why is the t-shirt hidden in her dad’s house? Of course, this opens many questions for Jodie, and she sets out to find what actually happened all those years ago, and how her dad fits into it all.

This was an enjoyable thriller, and I liked Jodie’s character. I could relate to her easily and empathised with her difficulties concerning her teenage son. The book had a good pace initially, grabbing my attention from the beginning and I loved the suspense the author has created throughout the story. It did slow up a little in the middle, but the tension remained and carried the storyline through to the latter part of the book where everything was revealed by ways of lots of twists and turns. There was a good selection of characters, some I liked, some I didn’t but they all added their own thing to the storyline.

This is definitely one of those books where you think you have it all worked out, but then find you are completely wrong! It was great to be kept on my toes trying to work it all out, and the twists in the storyline made sure that wasn’t easy! It was a good solid read, which once started I couldn’t put down until I’d found out what was going on! Would recommend!

This was one I was hoping to love. Jodie is clearing out her childhood home after her dads death, she finds a shirt that belongs to her boyfriend who vanished. Why is it the shirt is there and what can it mean?

I was liking this book til around 30%, and then it was hard for me. Jodie and her name are mentioned so much I think I’ll just be thinking of her name for ages to come. Also, I wasn’t sure how her son was going to play into this but I was growing annoyed with the lack of mention about the shirt. It was a struggle to keep going.

I did manage to complete the book, but this wasn’t one I enjoyed. I just finished another book by this author in March and loved it so I’m sure this was just a one off.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the digital review copy.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.
When I first saw this book, I was really excited. I mean, I wanted to know what happened to the boyfriend and all that but some pages were so slow that I had to close the book for a break and come back to it. Fortunately, it made up for it as I went on with the book. The ending got my attention even if it was rushed.
This book is okay for me.

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture, and Kerry Wilkinson for my gifted copy!

Synopsis:
After her father's death, all Jodie wants is to clear out his space as soon as possible. But then, tucked in a box on the attic, she finds a t-shirt - one that really shouldn't be in her father's posession. Because it belonged to her first boyfriend, Ben. And he was wearing it the day he went missing...

My thoughts:
The synopsis sounded so promising, and I really enjoyed the first few chapters of this book. I was hooked right away and I really wanted to know what happened to the boyfriend and what Jodie's father had to do with it. But the middle part was quite repetitive, and therefore, dragging. The ending, anyway, more than made up for that. I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! The final two twists made me fly through the pages, and I couldn't finish the book fast enough. I just wished the final scene wouldn't have been this rushed.

Parts of this book reminded me of:
- Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

This was my second book by this author, and it's my favorite so far.

I have read several of Kerry’s books and enjoyed them all and this was no exception. Hooked from the start with a few twists to keep me engaged I read the book in 2 sittings. Although a tad slow in a couple of parts it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. I recommend this book and author.

Every time I start reading one of this author's books, I am glued to the story from beginning to end with no effort because the story always grabs my undivided attention as soon as I start reading. I enjoyed this story so much and I am always sad when I finish Mr. Wilkinson's books and know I have to wait for his next book. There is always a little bit of an eerie feeling as I'm reading his work lately, which is a rare element present in other authors' work. Outstanding! Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author, for the opportunity to read and review this great story!

This is another great domestic thriller by Kerry Wilkinson. It’s an easy, engaging read with enough twists to keep me guessing.
It was a 4 star read for me as I felt it was a little slow at stages.

Thanks to the NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

I am a big fan of Kerry Wilkinson books. The standalone books are east to read and this was no exception.

Jodie is clearing out her dads house when she finds a T-shirt belonging to her ex boyfriend in the attic. It is the one he was wearing when he does. Jodie is thrown into a web of doubt. Her dad was the good guy, everybody said so. So why does he have it?

The suspense is built and explanations teased. Then another find in the attic leads to a twist in the tale.

I thought I had it figured out, but then Jodie’s son goes missing with his cousin. A van ride with her brother provides some more twists to this tale and an unexpected ending, before the trademark cliffhanger on the last page!

I really enjoyed this. 5. Stars.

After her Father's funeral and finding out she'd been solely left his house Jodie starts to clear her childhood home. But in almost the first box she opens she finds an old t-shirt. Nothing unusual there you may think, but this t-shirt was last seen being worn by her boyfriend who was last seen nearly 20 years ago. How has it come to be neatly folded in the loft and why has her dad got it and kept it?
This discovery sends Jodie on a journey that she's not sure she will recover from, who can she trust.
Added to this drama with her teenage son, a friend at the end of a relationship, and her brother, who's wife is contesting the will, Jodie will almost be pushed over the edge.
Not a fast paced thriller like so many of Kerry's books but a good solid read nonetheless, you feel all of Jodies emotions and worries as you are engrossed in the reading
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, I am under no obligation to leave my honest review
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

The Boyfriend is a story about a teenager who disappeared and how his girlfriend lived on not knowing what happened even though someone was put away for the crime.
She soon finds clues and is torn on what to do with the knowledge she now has.

I enjoyed this story but felt it could of had a bit more details to help the story along. I will say I did not see that ending coming.

Can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

✨Book Review✨
The Boyfriend
By Kerry Wilkinson

Kerry Wilkinson was a new Author for me! The synopsis of this book sounded really exciting, so I was extremely happy to receive this E-Arc for review.

I really enjoyed this book. The storyline kept me intrigued, the characters were well developed, and all in all there was a wonderful flow to the writing, with just enough twists and turns to keep me wondering what would happen next!
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Wilkinson.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book drops June 16th, be sure to check it out!

Huge thank you to @netgalley and to @bookouture for the E-Arc to review for my honest opinion.

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Jodie is clearing out the attic of her father’s house after he has passed away and stumbles across the old T-shirt her boyfriend Ben was wearing the day he disappeared 19 years ago.

Ben went missing when they were just teenagers. His parents still stare out the window desperately waiting for him to come home. So how did the T-shirt he was wearing when Jodie saw him walk away from their last date end up in her father’s attic? How can this be and how will this t-shirt and the events that follow put her own son Owen in danger??

I made it to 24% before this book did me in. The sheer amount of times Jodie’s name is used in the first chapter approx. 50 and 1200+ in this 300 pages book, is utterly ridiculous. It was a play by play of the events going on and there was so much unnecessary detail it became painful.

I did my best and i skimmed through the book and found out the killer and what happened in the end and truly i don’t feel like i missed anything because in the first 6 chapters alone there was enough detail about peoples clothing, squeaking shoes, the mention of ‘My Dad’ and who can forget the name Jodie that I didn't need more.

I want to thank Bookoture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview this book prior to release for my honest opinion. Unfortunately this was not for me at all.

A thrilling emotional read. Jodie has never really gotten over her first boyfriend's death. Ben disappeared one day and his body was never found. As she is busy cleaning out her dead father's house she finds a green shirt that Ben always wore. Why would her father have it? Did he have something to do with Ben's death? Jodie knows that she needs to find out more about her father & to see if he had any secrets. What she finds out causes her even more stress as it involves her brother.
She isn't too sure what she should do now as there are problems at home with her son Owen and his dad isn't too interested in helping out. Can Jodie find out the truth before everything she holds dear falls apart around her?
What will she do when she finds out the truth about that day? Will it change anything?
A very emotional read. The twist at the end is heartbreaking it is almost like Jodie is been punished.
I really felt for Ben's parents are they never got full closure and now Jodie will never be able to tell them what she knows as it will destroy them.
Jodie is trying her best but she is drowning in everything around her. Who does she really have that can be there for her? Her friend Fiona tries but she has her own problems. The ex is too involved in his new life and the brother Mike is controlled by his wife.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher Bookouture for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review.

Another outstanding psychological thriller

I am a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson’s books and his latest did not disappoint. Jodie’s father was a hero in their small town, the local mayor who volunteered for every committee, helped every citizen in need and just days after his death is about to have a community center named after him. Jodie is going through the unenviable task of cleaning out his house and getting it ready to put on the market when she discovers a t-shirt that belonged to her boyfriend Ben—the same boyfriend who went missing and died over 20 years ago. Someone else was arrested and served time for that crime. But could Jodie’s dad have really been involved?

This novel is about long held family secrets and is very much a character led narrative. I loved watching the individual stories unfold. There’s Fiona, the best friend in a troubled marriage. Jodie’s son, Owen, who has a gaming addiction and is in trouble at school, and the troubled relationship with his father, who has remarried and is devoting all his time and energy to his shiny new family. Jodie’s relationship with her brother Mike and his wife Samantha is also fractured, both in the past and the present and the way that comes into play is cleverly crafted. Perhaps most intriguing of all is the man who was accused of the crime of murdering Ben and served years in jail… he’s now free and a pariah in the community. I loved the way clues to what really happened all those years ago were slowly revealed as Jodie seeks out the truth. 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley for review purposes.

It took me longer than normal to get through but I had guessed the whole story by the beginning so it was too predictable for me. If you like easy predictable books with no real twist, this is for you

Oh. My. Goodness.

I'm used to a certain level of storytelling from Kerry Wilkinson, but 'The Boyfriend' really knocks it out of the park. To take such an innocuous life event and craft an increasingly dark and difficult tale shows some real skill.
The majority of the book will keep you guessing, lulling you into a false sense of security but before you know it, the rug gets pulled out from under you and the story gets turned up to 11.

It's not all about 'all action, all the time' type crime thrillers, it's the ones that slowly build and worm their way into your subconscious before all hell breaks loose.