Tessa is a very strange person
Sherrie is a very protective mother
Kayla the daughter is very upset and always has her room untidy
It is a book I’ve have had in enjoyment
I had an ARC

A dark and twisted tale that had me on the edge the whole time.
Just when you thought you had it sussed - it throws you off again, making you wonder where its taking you - until BAM! It comes together at the end and is worth the wild ride.
I really enjoyed this one and will happily read more by this author.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

Wowsers - Casey Kelleher knows how to write a page turner! I read this in just a couple of sittings, which is unusual for me. Every time I got to the end of a chapter and planned to put my kindle down, I found I couldn't, unable to wait to see what was coming next.
Sherrie and Richard live with their 15 year old daughter, Kayla, who is tired of her mother's overbearing and overprotective ways. Meanwhile, Tessa has a traumatic history that comes back to haunt her when she thinks she sees her tormentor. I won't say too much about the plot as I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say that the misdirection in this one is brilliantly constructed, and Kelleher ramps up the tension at a gripping pace. 5* from me - look forward to the next.

This was a suspenseful thriller that I devoured within two days. It’s easy to read, keeps you on your toes and will have you hooked all the way through. However, I’m not sure how to feel about the big reveal at the end—while I didn’t see it coming, I felt that it didn’t really make sense and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. What I do think is interesting are the recurring discussions of maternal instinct and the lengths that a mother will go to for her child, and how the book fashions a truly horrifying story out of these seemingly tame themes. I recommend this if you want something easy to get through, perhaps to pull you out of a reading slump. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

Kayla's Mum Sherrie is so overprotective of her. So protective that she went to great lengths to stop her daughter from going on school trips. Overcoming Sherrie's guilt she spoils Kayla with gifts.

But Kayla's parents are hiding secrets from her... will Kayla discover these secrets now that she is 15?

After coming out of a bad patch in her life. Tessa is enjoying her two year relationship with girlfriend Ameila. But one day Tessa thinks she has seen HIM. Panic attacks flood through her and Tessa is convinced she is unwell. Is it him and can she stop him before it's too late?

A brilliant read, with lots of twists. I read this book in a few hours and I couldn't put it down.
I love it when you think you know what is going on and who it is and then the author turns it around on you!

Thanks to netgalley for the arc.

This book had me hooked from the start to the end, what a roller coaster of a ride.

Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.

When her worse fears happen, we follow a twisty story which is like history repeating itself.

I would highly recommend this book

4 stars.

When Tessa starts behaving out if character and thinking her past has come back to haunt her she is doubted. Sherrie is an over protective mother whose behaviour also becomes strange but why?
This book will have you gripped and turning the pages. Another fantastic read Casey and probably my favourite book of yours so far.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I enjoyed this read and found it quite thrilling - it just didn’t wow me though. The story is written well, and is on the whole a good read. I felt the author managed to create a lot of tension and suspense and certainly held my attention as the book progressed and making me wonder what would happen next. There are three main characters here, telling the story from their own view points - Tessa, Sherrie and Kayla. I liked Kayla, and after first not really liking or taking to the other two, they slowly began to grow on me the more I read. The story is about lies, deceit, and past hidden secrets. When Kayla goes missing, who is responsible and why? I really liked the twists in the story, most of which I didn’t expect. I was a bit confused a few times towards the end as to which character was telling that part of the story and it would have been a smoother read for me if these parts were just a bit clearer. If you like psychological thrillers that are full of tension and suspense with many twists I’d recommend you read this one.

3.5 stars

#OnlyChild #NetGalley
BRILLIANT. 5 🌟
Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them. Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter. As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them?
THIS BOOK IS WORTHY OF ALL THE PRAISE. Seriously it was a fantastic read. I reached its end but then i re read it to know how cleverly the author played with my mind and it was wowsone. Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.

I have read a couple of books of Casey Kelleher before and very much liked “I’ll Never tell”. I was looking forward to this one considering the early reviews were all good, but found it disappointing.

There are two sets of characters through which the story is told. Sherrie is the protective mother of 15-year-old Kayla. Kayla is close to her, as well as her dad Richard, who senses that Kayla is looking for more independence. Kayla is out with friends one evening and does not return home. Their distraught parents finally reach out to law enforcement the next morning. As hours turn to days, they grow more and more concerned. Could Richard’s past have anything to do with this? Tessa and Amelia are in a relationship and stay together. Tessa is getting over some traumatic incidents of her past, but the demons resurface as she sees someone she has known many years back.

The writing is very good, and there is an underlying tension through the book, keeping you hooked in anticipation as to what next. There are not too many characters in the story, and that keeps it simple. Nevertheless, the revelation frustrated me as it uncovers a pretty hackneyed and far-fetched plot & character motives.

The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it. Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.

This was a fast and engaging read. Once again as with other you did have to suspend belief at times but then again that is what is wonderful about reading, being taken to another world away from the realities of daily life. I worked out where this storyline was going early on but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Would recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to netgalley and bookoture for letting me review a copy of only child.
W.O,W what a book, filled with lies and deception ,i was on the edge of my seat and was obsessed.
Kayla is 15 and lives with her parents her mom is very over protective and wont let her out of her site, she even hides kaylas passport so she cant go on a holiday trip with her friends.
Kayla doesnt return after a night out, this is the night sherrie has dreaded,.
Will the secret come out after all the years of hiding it? Has it finally caught up with them??
Will their family ever be the same again. Does kayla get returned home or does she dicover the truth? Fantastic read highley recommend

A pleasant surprise!

Reading the title and synopsis, most readers might be able to guess what happened in the book. However, the book wasn't that 'easy'. I was frustrated a couple times because of the changing povs, importance, and how it went up until the conclusion part. Now that was satisfying to some degrees.

Sherrie dotted on her and Richard's only child, Kayla. When Kayla went missing after a series of 'problems' in her household, Sherrie was devastated. She absolutely hated it that Richard seemed unaffected. And who was Tessa and her role in this matter?

Only Child has the potential, but it remains to be seen because to me, Sherrie and Tessa was almost the same character: unhinged women. Richard might as well wasn't there, and poor Kayla bore the worst. The book suddenly changed to first person pov despite only used it once for the prologue really took me by a surprise. At some point, the plot even got muddy and unclear. Like, where should I put my sympathy too??

But the conclusion tied them all quite nicely. And the ending got me good.

An incredible read that left me on the edge of my seat and my heart in my mouth. It was gripping right from the start and unpredictable to a level that kept me guessing throughout

Spine tingling thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the last page. Be prepared for the ride of your life!!!!

this author has done it again a mind blowing addictive twisty story. that you will want to read until the end. Tessa lives with her. partner Amelia she is happy now but that has not always been for her. Tessa has demons as she was abducted many years ago buy the man she loved. Sherrie and Richard have a daughter Kayla. Sherrie is over protective of her daughter and will do anything for her to be at home. Tessa struggles in the outside world but she wants to make her partner a cake so she goes to the supermarket and when she comes out she sees him the man that took her all those years ok. Tessa has a panic attack. but will anyone believe her that she has found him as the police never did wont say no more but so good .and quite emotional

A good, enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns along the way, which kept you guessing. Thankyou, Netgalley for giving me an advance copy of this book.

This book was pretty slow until the last 25%. I almost DNF’D it at 40% but I’m happy I stuck with it. The ending was pretty wild and not what I had guessed at all. If you want a slow burn thriller for a gloomy day, this is it!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Only Child is an unputdownable novel! Full of twists and turns, you will never figure this one out!

Synopsis: "Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them."

Thank you for my ARC!

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.

Your emotions will take a heck of a ride whilst enjoying this suspenseful thriller.