I’m a big fan of this author and love her domestic psychological thrillers as she always gets inside the minds of all her characters so their actions seem completely relatable and authentic. In The Ex, Sam meets up unexpectedly with his ex girlfriend who now has a child. After a brief chat they both go their own ways but Sam can’t stop thinking about her and her little boy especially as the dates of his birth and his familiar features make him think that maybe she has been hiding something from him…
I loved the multiple points of view here especially as they kept me on my toes about what was really going on between Sam and Naomi! And although this is a bit of a slow burner to begin with, there are plenty of twists and shocks building that will knock your socks off!
A cleverly written book with a gripping storyline.

The Ex follows Naomi who runs into her ex Sam and things are different. Because now Naomi has a kid and Sam is left wondering if it is his kid. Soon Sam and Naomi start a complicated relationship and try to rebuild the trust they lost. But one of them wants to get revenge on the other. 

I thought this was a good thriller for the most part. I will say I was not really a fan of this writing style and I don't like the mind games that the characters played with each other. I did enjoy the plot twist at the end because I did not see that coming. I liked this thriller enough that I kept reading it. But I don't know if I would suggest this one. This is just because I am a huge thriller reader and I have read better thrillers. But if you are just getting into reading thrillers I think this would be a great book to start off with. Thank you NetGalley, S.E. Lynes, and Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

Slow starter that got better, in that I was gripped by Sam's rush of emotions and speedy actions which were clearly going to end in disaster. Generally, it did feel more like an OTT family drama than a thriller. A couple of good twists, but too neat an ending for this genre, and the letter by way of explanation of Naomi's POV was a bit too easy. But it is a good quick read that I enjoyed.

I’m such a big fan of this lady’s writing it is so powerful, so when given the chance to read one of her books I jumped at it, I have not long finished reading the baby shower (I’m still recovering from it actually 😲). The characters were so relatable and either very likeable or easy to dislike. It was a very long slow build up and knowing how Lynes writes I knew it would be worth the wait and it so was every possible crazy twist came my way. It was strange and very real reading a book set in covid times I’m sure more will be coming our way as it was a very surreal time for all of us that makes the perfect setting for a book.

@netgalley ⒶⓇⒸ ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ

Thanks to @netgalley and @bookouture for the much appreciated E-ARC of S.E. Lynes 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒙.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒙
𝙱𝚢: @selynes
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Thriller, Mystery
𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚛: @hachetteuk @bookouture
𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝙾𝚗: August 26th 2022
@𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚎: 4.25
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚎: 💔💔💔 / 5 Broken Hearts

Sam Moore, all round nice guy and landscape gardener sees his ex-girlfriend, Naomi, walking along the beach with a child in a pram about a year after they broke up. Their relationship was beyond anything I could understand. Sam felt he couldn’t do or get anything right when it came to Naomi but really Naomi was very annoying and a huge manipulator.

After they run into each other Naomi makes it sound as if it was Sam who was cruel and that him leaving her in the lurch all that time ago was hurtful. But all Sam is thinking about is how much the baby she had looks just like him and he calculates their time apart. He must know is this baby his?
When Naomi tells Sam he is the father he is so excited. He and Naomi gradually rekindle their relationship. Throughout the story Naomi is writing Sam letters that she doesn’t give him until the end. These letters will be the end of everything for their little happy family.
This was another well written story by one of my newer favorite writers. There was very little mentions of the Covid virus in this story. And I have said in past reviews that I am not good with books that include the virus. I’m trying to stay clear of them however I wasn’t aware at the time of starting this that the virus was in it. Like I said it was really just sprinkled in here and there and it seemed okay.

The story itself like I said was well written and a fun idea. However, this was a bit different read than the authors other novels. I guess I expected more. Because I have loved many of her past reads. But I just felt there were no jaw dropping moments or many twists. It was easily predicted.

I will still continue to read S.E. Lynes books because I do enjoy her creative and talented writing. This one just wasn’t for me this time around.

3.5 stars rounded up. What a crafty way to tell a story—the first chapter is chronologically set after all the events of the book and reveals the ending, and the letters that Naomi writes throughout the book actually disclose the endgame, yet this book was still full of surprises! I figured it out nearly halfway through the book but it kept my attention because I just knew there was more to come. It was tense and the characters were relatable and I loved the multiple POVs.

Such a great book, I couldn't put this down and literally read it in one sitting.

Very well written, cleverly crafted and massively entertaining.

They say an ex is an ex for a reason and the plot of this book is a definite reason as to why you shouldn't!

Although I'd already worked out that Naomi wasn't all she was cracked up to be, I had no idea of the plot twist that was still to come!

Naomi and Sam were such flawed characters, but worked together so well.

The Ex is a fast paced read, the narrative of which is told from several POV and letters written by Sam's friend Miranda.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one grabbed me from the first page. Told in the third person but someone who is close to one of our protagonists, it gives it a slightly biased view of what actually happened which I kind of liked. The hindsight vibe to the story gives it a real sense of tension where you know SOMETHING is coming but at the beginning you’re not sure what.

I love that the story is told through a mixture of third party recollection told from different points of view as well as through a letter from Naomi to Sam that sheds A LOT of light on the situation. The Ex keeps you guessing as it’s told in such a way that has you guessing who stands on the side of good / bad until the last moment.

A great read that will keep you guessing!!

Gripping read told from two perspectives…..couldn’t put it down but for some reason at the end I kept expecting more to happen but it didn’t….fab book though!

Have read and loved all of S. E. Lynes books and this latest one did not disappoint, had me hooked all the way through. Definitely worth reading

I love S E Lynes writing so was excited to get a copy of The Ex. Just as good as her previous stories. A chilling story about two people getting back in a relationship post lockdown. This was a bad break-up but running into each other Sam and Naomi decide to give a go as there is now a baby involved. I raced through this as it was fast paced and thrilling. A huge twisty ending.

The love of your life… Or a deadly mistake?

It’s hard, meeting your ex after so much time apart. You remember the tears and accusations, the desperate look on his face as he punched the wall, but you try not to show it. You smile politely, even while your heart beats faster. You watch as he looks down into the stroller, at a beautiful blonde-haired blue-eyed baby kicking his little legs in the sunshine, whose innocent smile lights up the world. You see his face change. You know what he’s thinking. The next day he calls. His voice is shaking. He wants the truth. Is it his child? You hesitate, your throat dry, good and bad memories swirling in your mind. You’ve missed him so much, but can you trust him again?

You decide the most important thing is doing what’s right for baby Tom. But, a month later, when sirens wail in the night, you have to admit; you never thought either of you would go this far!

Around a year after Sam and Naomi break up, they run into one another after Tom goes for a hike along the Dorset coast. Sam is your classic nice guy and left the relationship for all of the right reasons, he thought – but after their chance meeting, Sam can’t get that baby out of his head – the timings seem about right! But Naomi wouldn’t do that to him, would she? After they agree to meet for coffee, Sam begins questioning himself again. Was everything really the way he thought things had been? Maybe he was also at fault for their relationship failing? She seems so nice now – had he made a mistake leaving her??

I do love S.E.Lynes books and I did enjoy this one but I felt it was missing something. The story just unfolds and there weren’t really any twists like you have in a usual thriller. What happens is pretty much what you think is going to happen. Even so, it was enjoyable and the characters were very well written. You definitely get the feels for the characters, whether it be love, pity or hate! And the story definitely takes you on a ride!

My thanks to the author and Bookouture for my advance copy to review via NetGalley.


Three and a half character drivenstars stars rounded up to 4 stars

Sam & Naomi had split up during the pandemic when Sam decided that he should go through lockdown with Joyce, the grandmother who had brought him up- a situation Naomi refused to entertain. When he unexpectedly meets her one day she is with a baby- a fair haired blue eyed boy & Sam cannot get the idea that he is the father- even though Naomi tells him Tommy belongs to her friend. Sam can't get over the change in Naomi- she seems so much gentler & kinder. He also cannot get Tommy out of his head- could there be a future for them as a family?

The story is told through the eyes of Miranda, Sam's friend & workmate long with third person accounts from Sam & Joyce & letters/diary entries from Naomi. Reading this was like watching a slow motion train crash! It's a while since I read such a nasty, narcissistic character as Naomi- or one I wanted to shake some sense into as Sam! Definitely couldn't put it down till the bitter end. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

S.E. Lynes does such a great job of crafting mysteries that are unpredictable. I had so many moments of having to put the book down and process what just happened, because it was unexpected! I love that when reading psychological thrillers - I feel like not knowing what is coming makes the story so much more fun to read. Highly recommend!

A belter.
I was obsessed with this while I was reading, and when I wasn't. I'm sure I would have finished it in one sitting had life not got in the way!
Gripping from the first page and a variety of characters to love and hate.
I loved Sam, and whilst I was frustrated with how manipulated he was, Lynes does a superb job of helping readers understand how Naomi's behaviour caused him to be like this- constantly blowing hot and cold and making him second guess himself.
I loved the ending too, although I think there was potential for a further twist!
Excellent thriller. Bravo Susie Lynes.

The Ex is an excellent psychological thriller. This is a book that I was eager to get to the end of in order to find out what the outcome was going to be. But then on the other hand I didn’t want to finish the book as I was so completely and utterly gripped by the storyline. This is a slow burn of a read but in all honesty it suits the story and it has a sort of creepy effect as the story progresses. This book has some excellent characters, some I loved and others not so much. A book I highly recommend for psychological thriller fans.

This was a simple, easy to read story, though I think the author wrote it well and made the characters believable especially Sam and Joyce! I enjoyed it as a quick read.

I want to thank the author, Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read this book.

OMG the manipulation in this book is just...Wow!
The twist in this novel is unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

This book was absolutely phenomenal......S. E. Lynes is a master of the thriller. I can't wait to get my hands on another book by this author.

S.E. Lynes creates addictive domestic thrillers that always kept me on the edge. Mostly because every time I think I know how this will unfold and have it all sorted out, she brings that twist that will change everything back to square one. Don’t believe anyone and anyone from the beginning. That’s my advice to you. Because if you think that actually he is the one that got away, you are so wrong.

It is an emotional story in the beginning. The author makes you fall for the old single mother that meets her ex after a few years apart and the reconciliation is not that easy to happen. But underneath it all, there’s so much more, so many hidden secrets and twists.

That last punch was unexpected, even if I knew it was bound to happen.