This book had the potential to be a far better read than what it actually was. A good interesting plot. But it was the characters for me, so dull and lacklustre, they just couldn't hold my interest and I was bored with it all.
Skipped over the last half of the book and no idea how it ended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in return for an honest review.

S. E. Lynes is one of my favourite authors and she never disappoints! I felt like I was a fly trapped in her web, waiting under pressure knowing there wasn't going to be good ending! Totally absorbed right until the ending. Her writing just gets better and better.

Thank you once again Bookouture and Net Galley for an Incredible read!! I love S.E. Lynes books, and honestly I almost stopped reading this at 24% because it was a slow burn but I wanted to give it a bit more of a chance. Boy I am soooo GLAD I did, what an anxiety ridden, tense book! I was soooo nervous at points. Sam is one of the nicest characters I have ever read. This book turned out to be NOTHING like I thought, WOW WHAT AN EVIL PLOT!!! Fantastic writing, I’m sorry to be finished.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Bookouture and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

You won’t want to put this one down. You’ll be seduced by the words and the story will keep you captivated.

Absolutely fantastic. One I couldn’t put down and read into the night.

This is an incredibly well written thriller, which gives off some fantastic relationship-lit vibes, making it all the more chilling.

I cannot recommend more highly.

The love of your life or your biggest mistake? When Sam bumps into his ex Naomi who is walking with a newborn baby, Sam begins to question if the baby could be his. The two agree to meet and what starts as minor red flags slowly turns into dangerous territory. S. E. Lynes’ newest release, The Ex, is the perfect mix of mystery and thriller and explores the consequences of loving a narcissist. The Ex is a fast moving and easy read which includes letters from our villain. This was my first S. E. Lunes book and I am definitely interested in reading some of her other works in the near future! Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This was such a great book! It gave me some second chance romance vibes but make it thriller. I really enjoyed the plot and the story. I never really knew what was going on but I enjoyed it!

When Sam accidentally bumps into his Ex girlfriend Naomi he is shaken to find that he is still in love with her. She has a baby that she says belongs to her friend but Sam thinks that the baby may be his.
I enjoyed parts of this story but I found it predictable and a little far fetched.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my me-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Swing and a miss! There was just so much that didn’t make sense to me. You begin the book for this different style and point of view from Miranda who is telling us about what went down with her mate and his ex. Which is all interesting and what not but how in the world did she know all these details to tell this story?! Strike one. Then you have the characters. There wasn’t anyone I could remotely latch on to. Sam the boyfriend was an absolute moron who couldn’t see a red flag if it was raised in his face. Naomi the ex was to have redeemable qualities but also pointed to IM A CRAZY PERSON. Not even the fun kind.. Joyce the grandmother was probably the most decent character but.. well that just wasn’t enough. Strike two!

The story. We are taken into this drawn out story when Sam sees his ex with a baby and freaks because - gasp - could that be his baby?! Then you jump down the rabbit hole of crazy. I was expecting a bit more of a thrill but in the end I got a one layer cake with decent icing. Unfortunately this wasn’t for me.


Thank you Bookouture and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I've given this 4 stars for great writing and well fleshed out characters, however the plot while suspenseful did leave me thinking there may have been another twist coming so fell a bit flat

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at about 30%.
I had no connection with the characters and just couldn’t push myself to keep reading.

My stomach is in knots! I have hardly put the book down today. The story line bubbles away and builds to an incredible crescendo. There are twists and turns and it is gripping until the end. Beautifully written with believable characters and relationships. I would highly recommend this book.

The Ex 4
The book starts with Sam bumping into Naomi, his ex, who he finally plucked up the courage to leave during lockdown. She is with a baby and it sets him wondering if the baby is his. What if the breakup was due to him, rather than her passive aggressive nature? So when Naomi seems to have changed, Sam is all too ready to forgive and forget, especially for the sake of his newly discovered son, Tom.
This book gave me an uncomfortable feeling throughout. I could never fully trust Naomi and wanted to tell Sam to slow down. As the story progresses, we hear from his colleague, Miranda, Sam and from a series of letters in the form of a diary, written from Naomi to Sam.
I really enjoyed this book, wanting it to finish and yet dreading the end. The characters are well composed and some relationships are complex while others are pure and simple. A recommended read.

If you imagine the chorus lyrics to ‘WOW’ ’ by Kate Bush then that’s how this book made me feel🙃
It is as tense as a City in the throes of a power cut, it really is and has the ability to keep you turning page after page
I wasn’t sure, I thought maybe then thought maybe not but the author had me in the palm of her hand as the reality of what one of the main characters ( Naomi ) was up to and the gleeful horror when it was made know was better, well worse than I had imagined
It’s a tale of being aware of what someone is really doing, and even when you think you are, check again
A superbly dark twisted read
And I loved the last 2 lines of the authors acknowledgements, brilliant

10/10
5 Stars

S.E Lynes writes psychological villains like no one else, with an innate sense of how to delve into the depths of human psyche and experience. The Ex is no exception. She manages to present us with an insightful and perceptive study of the narcissistic in the character of Naomi. We feel for Sam as he walks open eyed into her trap and even as we don’t trust her motives, the character is so well written and so multidimensional, that like him, want to give her the benefit of the doubt - she really does seem to have changed. And so, it begins.
This author’s understanding and skill in being able to judge just how far to push the reader and when to deliver the twist of the knife, never falters.
What I especially enjoy is watching this author experiment with different ways of telling the story - this time the main story point of view is from the best friend rather than the victim or villain, which gives us both an intimacy and a sense of perspective.
Brilliantly written with what has become S.E Lynes trademark of intelligence and sensitivity. I always feel in safe hands with this exceptional storyteller.

WOW!!! BRILLIANT!!
What a story, I whizzed through this, lapped up every single page, I did not want to put it down for a second. It is by far the best read of 2022.
I’m not great at writing reviews but this is worth 10 ⭐️ at least.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

I received a complimentary ARC of The Ex by S. E. Lanes in exchange for my honest review.
This book kept me up too late, kept me thinking about it until I could turn more pages! This was a twisting, turning, thrill ride that had an ending that I didn't see coming. The prose is well written, the characters are believable and the story was fast paced.
Sam has lived with his grandmother, Joyce, ever since he left his ex girlfriend Naomi after months of mental abuse. Then one day, after over a year, Sam sees Naomi in town and she has a baby with her. Sam is surprised, because Naomi is self centered and doesn't like kids. Upon talking to Naomi, however, Sam is amazed at how much she seems to have changed, how caring she seems, and how she is watching the baby for her friend.
When he returns home he tells Joyce about the encounter, and they both have the same thought, the timing is right... could Naomi be lying? Could the baby be his?
Sam and Naomi agree to meet, and after talking for awhile, Naomi admits that baby Tommy is Sam's son. They agree to take things slowly, but Sam is enamored with Tommy and thrilled with the person that Naomi has become.
Joyce, on the other hand, isn't buying the change. Leopards don't change their spots, they just get more deadly, and Joyce meets a tragic demise.
Was it really intruders? As time goes by, and their relationship speeds up, Sam is questioning what is real, what is true. Will Sam survive the truth, will Naomi?
5 stars on this amazing book!

A great page turner! Will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire way through. Great twists along the way!

Wow! Another 5 star read from S E Lynes. I don't know how she does it, but her books just get better and better. Can't wait for the next one.

This was a great read! without giving away anything, it took some great turns that I wasn't expecting. thought I had the ending worked out pretty soon in the start but nope! loved this and was sorry when it ended. Would highly recommend!