Tortured. Love. OOF.

We get a multiple pov and timeline and we get love at first sight, love so wild it's not enough.

To say that Molly and Jake had a strong love would be an understatement. However, a love so monumental it would hurdle the obstacles, that's the question isn't it?

Have you ever loved someone so hard, so much and so deep but it still didn't feel like enough? The ones left in shadows feel this a million times over when there is obsession.

The narrators did such a fantastic job bringing Molly, Jake and Sabrina to life! I've said it a bunch but a good narrator can REALLY add to the reading experience. Definitely worth listening to.

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Carola Lovering and NetGalley for the gifted copies!

The Can't Look Away audio is spectacular. It takes what is already a fantastic book and adds that little something extra that a talented narrator can do. The multiple narrators for each of the individual characters help to differentiate between the perspectives, and I thought they were perfectly chosen.

Thank you @netgalley for ALC of Don't Look Away. After seeing so many reviews that this is not a thriller, I agree 100%. I am not sure I would categories this as a romance either since that would be a HEA.

I wasn't sure what to think of Sabrina and her actions. I guess it's a fixation. The story left me wanting more why Jake would marry Sabrina when he was ambivalent with her the first time around.

Overall, I enjoyed it.

This book was labeled General Fiction but was somewhat of a domestic drama/love triangle type story. I would truly give this book 3 1/2 stars. Though there wasn’t alot of suspense I did feel like it was leaning that way for a bit. It was more of a scorned lover/revenge story. The infertility thread interested me personally. Some of the storyline didn’t seem realistic to me but I still enjoyed it playing out. It was a wuick listen perfect for some long drives.

There were three narrators, which I always love. They each narrated the three perspectives/characters of the book as well as supporting characters. Thankyou to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC.

DNF at 61%

If I never read another book where people cheat on their spouses with an ex from X years they somehow still aren't over, it'll be a lifetime too soon. I also thought it was preposterous that Sabrina had managed to marry Jake and that she had been plotting for how many years to get revenge or whatever with Molly. It's just too... dumb and cliche.

“𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆, 𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔.”

I went into Can’t Look Away blind, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Although it is categorized as a suspense novel, it’s definitely more of a domestic drama (and Lord knows I love a drama with a soap-like tinge)!

I listened to most of this on audiobook (although read a bit from a ebook too) and loved the narration; the three different voices used really helped make Molly, Sabrina and Jake’s point of view distinct. I especially adored Karissa Vacker and Zach Webber’s voices. There is a lot to love in this book: the friendship between Molly, Everly, Nina and Liz; Jake’s rise to stardom with the band Danner Lane, the “Stepford Wife”-like community of Flynn Cove with its country clubs, “keeping up with the Joneses” attitudes, and Meredith (a classic B who runs the town). I really liked the past and present timelines; there were so many pieces that were neat to see come together, like knowing Molly is married to Hunter in the present, but then going to the past where Molly and Hunter were friends first. Lovering plays with what you expect to happen in her reveals. I did get slightly annoyed at Sabrina’s obsession with Jake at times, but also loved the juicy drama that I knew was to come from it. Jake too is a character that you want to root for, but scream in moments where he’s incredibly selfish.

Can’t Look Away is a dramatic look at fertility, fidelity, female friendships, life in your twenties and thirties, and first loves. It documents the rise and fall of a relationship, and examines reclaiming identity you’ve lost, when sometimes connecting with your past is part of that. This would make for a really good mini series - I hope it gets picked up! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this book! The narrators were fantastic, especially the actor who voiced Sabrina. The story wasn't fast-paced, but it was extremely intriguing, and the dynamics between the characters were fascinating.

I do think the book is mis-marketed as a thriller. There is definitely a sinister edge to this story, but it felt more like a romance than a thriller.

You are missing out if you do not pick this one up!

I honestly cannot remember the last book I binged in less than 24hrs but I could not put it down as I had to know how it ended. This book has everything I was looking for - romance, obsession, deceit, revenge and a couple of twists I didn’t see coming. I loved the alternating timelines and alternating POV’s between Molly, Jake and Sabrina - as a reader you were able to see events from all angles!

I alternated between the e-galley and audiobook and the audiobook, told with three different narrators, was wonderful! I cannot recommend this book enough!!

Wow. I got completely sucked into this book. I absolutely love it. It’s a great story. It’s intense even if it’s predictable. From the synopsis I’d say we all knew shit would hit the fan - and boy it did in one heck of a way.

The ending to this book was a giant mess - but in a good way. When everything came to a conclusion it got MESSY. I loved it.

Seriously I don’t want to say too much cuz *spoilers* - but I’d definitely recommend this to thriller lovers - especially domestic thriller lovers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you MacMillian audio for the chance to listen to Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering. This is my first book from this author but I have been interested in reading her work for a while now so I was very glad to have this review copy.

For me this is a 3 star plot, not quite my kind of book/plot BUT... this is a 4 start review because I am reviewing the overall audiobook and the book as intended for general readers. The audiobook was well produced and multiple narrators worked well for rounding out the way this story is intended to be told: inner dialogues and experiences of individuals who aren't always being truthful or clear with each other. I think different voices gave the audiobook that vibe and experience better than just reading the book alone would have. The audiobook is a bit long for me but it was an engaging listen throughout my busy day (I also listen at 2x speed) and the length has to do I think with the author's writing style and desire to fill out multiple perspectives and timelines that do add to the story. I appreciate the quality of the audiobook and the voice actors.

I also know that this is a well written story, the plot development is steady, and the storytelling is clear; the twists though did not surprise me much and while at times that does not bother me as a reader, this time I wasn't as invested in how the story was being told as I might be if I knew what was coming but was intrigued by how the author would get me there. That's a style/me comment, not a comment about how most readers might experience the book (esp fans of the author as I sense from past reviews of her work that this is her style, which is fine for many!). I struggled to stay engaged with the plot/characters at times as I just wasn't as drawn into the narrative as I wanted to be. This has little do to with the audiobook or the book overall and more that for me as a reader/listener the characters didn't connect to me.

I think this will still be a big hit with fans of non scary/non intense thrillers and fans of this author. This is a great audiobook for summer travel or for listeners like me who just have more errands and chores in and out of the house, it filled my car rides and morning chores well.

👀𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠!!👀

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: suspense
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞: second chances & young love
𝐏𝐮𝐛. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: June 14th, 2022!!!
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4 stars
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.9 stars

𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
‘In 2013, a country group performs at a bar near aspiring writer Molly Diamond’s Brooklyn apartment. Her eyes meet those of the band’s charismatic singer, Jake Danner, and the two quickly fall in love. Though Jake ends his half-hearted relationship with his girlfriend, Sisi, so that he and Molly can live together, his unreliability and Molly’s suspicion that he’s cheating destroy her trust. By 2022, her writing dreams abandoned, Molly is married to a more reliable man. Lonely in their upscale Connecticut town and unable to forget Jake entirely, she’s delighted to meet Sabrina, a wealthy marketer who shares her ironic, offbeat sensibility. The two grow close, but Molly is unaware that Sabrina, who has nursed a secret grudge against her for years, hopes to sabotage what she sees as Molly’s perfect life.’

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
If you are looking for a psycho ex girlfriend book, a rockstar, a phenomenal ending and a suspense beach read for this summer: THIS IS THE BOOK👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

While topic wasn’t my absolute favorite genre, I still completely devoured this one. And I loved the ending🖤 reminded me a bit of a love child between Colleen Hoovers Heart Bones, The People We Keep, and Rock Paper Scissors!!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫?!

One look across a crowded bar and lead singer, Jake Danner, wants to know more about want to be writer, Molly Diamond. When they meet, they fall head over heels quickly, but all is not bliss as Jake and his bandmates find fame and go out on tour. Fast forward nine years and we find Molly happily married to Hunter, living in an upscale Connecticut enclave, with a precocious five year old daughter, Stella. Molly doesn’t fit in with the lululemon clad other mothers and is extremely excited to finally have a new friend. Sabrina has recently moved to Flynn Cove And the two immediately hit it off, but Sabrina has some secrets of her own and Molly is about to revisit her past and the one that got away! This book was entertaining, but more on the soapy side. Pegged as a domestic thriller, the thrills were few and far between and fell more on the chick lit/romance side. While I liked the voice of Molly, the voices of Luke and Sabrina weren’t my favorite.

QUICK BITS
-Suspenseful romance
-'You' meets 'It Ends with Us'
-Multiple POV and timelines

REVIEW
After loving 'Too Good To Be True' last year I was excited to see what Lovering had in store for her 2022 release.

First thing to know: get your expectations in order!

This is not a thriller to the level of TGTBT, instead it is a troubled romance story with a dash of suspense.

The one thing that really stood out to me, which you don't often see in disfunctional romance was the emotional maturity of the male characters. They were written in way that you don't often see, of course prone to mistakes, but also fully able to own their downfalls.

Overall I enjoyed the suspense and thought the story was well done!

RATINGS
8 Characters
8 Atmosphere
8 Writing Style
7 Plot
7 Intrigue
8 Logic
7 Enjoyment
TOTAL = 53/14 = 3.79

3.75/5.00 Cawpile Rating
2.00/5.00 SOS Rating (scale of surprise)

I devoured this book. I wouldn’t change a thing. I was rooting for all of the characters—maybe not Sabrina though. Was perfection!

𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦!

All I can say is that I wasn’t expecting this book at all, a twisty, tense thriller mixed with a second chance romance that kept me at the edge of my seat. I mixed reading and listening to the audio and loved them both. A fantastic read that you need to add to your tbr.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this gifted copy.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Read if you like:
⎐ Dual timelines
⎐ Stalkerish crazy characters
⎐ The one that got away trope
⎐ The Golden Couple

This was a quick read that is more of a Romantic Suspense with a touch of thriller. With the dual timelines, multiple POVs, and conniving, obsessive characters it had me interested the whole time. Plus the narration was fantastic! I just recently got her other book Too Good To Bo True on #BOTM and now I can’t wait to read that one!

I loved how the author tied everything together at the end! Thank you NetGalley, St.Martins press, and Macmillan.audio for an advanced audio of this book. Mark this one as Want to Read on @goodreads! Out today, June 14, 2022!

3.5

This book was a crazy ride! I love that the author showed the struggles of the heart with the main characters.

This had more or less a revenge plot. I felt it either needed more revenge or just not at all with secrets just unraveling. The revenge part just didn't necessarily seem revengey enough.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story.

WOW! Thankfully I got the ebook and audio ARC of this one, because once I started I could not stop. Although not actually a thriller in my eyes, it was some really intense suspense with a lot of craziness thrown in.

Molly Diamon meets Jake Danner when he's a rising rock star. He's playing at a local bar where Molly goes with a friend and their eyes lock and sparks fly! He pursues her and she is smitten.
There is the little fact that he had a girlfriend, but he tells her that wasn't working and that he had already begun the breakup process. They fall hard and fast and their love is intense. But his career is on the upswing, and life with a rock star isn't all wonderful. Allegations of cheating, communication issues, and too much time apart push Molly into the arms of another man who she had struck up a friendship with along the way.

Fast-forward a few years where Molly, Hunter, and their daughter, Stella, live in a quiet, although exclusive, community where she isn't sure she quite fits in. She loves her husband and daughter, but friends are few and far between. Then she meets Sabrina at her yoga studio and they quickly become BFFs. There's much more to Sabrina than Molly realizes.

Things from her past are about to come back into her life in a big way and Sabrina definitely has her own agenda where Molly is concerned. Molly's world is turned upside down. Secrets come out, people resurface, and we are along for this out of control ride!

Molly isn't perfect. Who is? But Sabrina is definitely one of those characters you will love to hate and the lengths she will go to in getting what she wants will amaze you!

Finished this one in a day!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for my advance copies in exchange for an honest review!

📚 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 📚

Book 48/100 - 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I got to opportunity to listen to this audiobook in an advanced reviewer copy through Net Galley. I was so excited to try this author out for the first time.

This was a mix of suspense, serious drama and romance. It had an amazing story line (with some trigger warnings) but it was stunning and catching! Twists and turns, 💣 being dropped and a great group of narrators.

This was a book that pulled me in from the beginning and I found every chance I could to listen to it! Carola Lovering maybe one of my new favorite authors!!

Carola Lovering entertains again with her latest mystery, "Can't Look Away."

What I loved:
- Twisty romance with secrets, lies, betrayal and hot chemistry
- Ex-turned-stalker mystery
- Excellent narration (especially the uber-sexy voice of Zachary Webber)
- Fast pacing and easy-to-follow plot

What I didn't love:
- Somewhat predictable
- Characters are a bit too forgiving for my taste
- A wee bit long (12 hours)

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener audiobook via the NetGalley app.