Twisty and unpredictable and kept me guessing the whole time, it had a creepy atmosphere woven all the way through and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was gripping the whole way through.

Lauren can't wait to leave London for a fresh start in the countryside with her new partner Paul and his two young children.
She never thought she'd be so lucky. A dream glass house in the woods, a ready-made family, a second chance. But as dark rumours swirl about their new home, Lauren begins to question their happily-ever-after. When they met, she was at her most vulnerable. She would trust Paul with her life. But should she?

The synopsis had me itching to read this and thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books I received this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story is told from Lauren’s POV in the first part and then Elizas in the second part. So many twists and turns which i thought I had guessed but I hadn't quite got the last twist..
A brilliant read. I couldn't put it down.

5 stars. I will be looking out for more books by Emily Freud.

⭐️ 4.75/5 (rounded up to 5⭐️)
🗂 Psychological Thriller
✅ UK based
✅ I felt uncertain/on edge the whole time
✅ Would make a great tv series
😩 I half guessed the ending
💬 “The only control you have over a situation is how you react to it”
📆 July 2022
*Publication Date - 1st September 2022

I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Quercus Books!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgHLd5LrGPD/

Thank you NetGalley, Quercus Books and Emily Freud for letting me read “What She Left Behind” in exchange for an honest review.

“He gave her everything. But can she trust him?”

4,5 ⭐️

A woman standing on the second floor of a darkly lit building. Outside? Inside? I can’t really tell. What I like is the title in a bright pink font. Looks mysterious at least.

In the first part the story is told from Lauren’s POV. Then it switches to Eliza and we are already suspicious at this point. I found the big twist at the end already a bit obvious.

Suddenly Lauren has it all, all she ever dreamed of, but never thought she would be able to have. A loving partner in Paul and his two young children, Margo and Jesse. The family she never had. Escaping busy London to the countryside, they are house sitting a stunning home of one of Paul’s friends. Mysterious, how it’s just sitting there, waiting for them. Lauren’s had a rough past, which is slowly revealed to the reader. Turns out that Paul was her doctor.
Paul has given her so much, how can she start doubting him? Or is she right to do so? Things are not what they seem to be. Jesse gives us clues here and there.

Lauren tries so hard to be the perfect mother, but how can she, when the past is looming over her, aka the perfect, deceased wife Emma?! I really felt for the son, Jesse, who has trouble settling in.

The start was a bit slow and it got me a while to get into the story. But it got better and better. At times it has a spooky, creepy atmosphere. It feels like a mixture of domestic and psychological thriller.

The story is very well paced and builds up slowly suspense. I really would like to talk more about the content, but then I would spoil it for everyone else. The parts were perfectly intertwined even if they can be confusing at first. You need to really pay attention. The characters are great and well rounded. You go from loving to hating them and back again. It was definitely one of the best books of this year so far, just shy of a five stars read.

What she left behind was a compelling read.
Dark and twisty just how i like it.
I read into the night.
I need to read more from this author.
Thanks for an early copy to the publisher and netgalley.

What she left behind by Emily Freud.
He gave her everything. But can she trust him?
Lauren can't wait to leave London for a fresh start in the countryside with her new partner Paul and his two young children.
She never thought she'd be...
Brilliant read. Couldn't put it down. Read in one sitting. I was sort of right but it was the why that got me. but I certainly didn't see that coming. Wow. Twister. 5*.