This was one of the books I started to try to get over a book hangover, and while it promised to have all the twists, I found it to be just okay.

I think it was definitely a case of me/mood reading and not the book however, and would definitely recommend the narration and audiobook format.

*many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy

In her gripping debut novel, "He Said He Would Be Late," Justine Sullivan takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through the intricate web of marriage and new motherhood. With a relentless pace and surprising twists, Sullivan delves deep into the complexities of relationships and the devastating consequences of secrets.

The story centers around Liz Bennett, a fortunate woman living a seemingly perfect life with her husband, Arno, and their daughter, Emma. Arno is a successful and devoted husband, making Liz believe she has found true happiness. However, when Liz stumbles upon a suspicious text message on Arno's phone, her world is turned upside down, and her fears begin to consume her.

Sullivan masterfully builds suspense from the very beginning, as Liz's anxiety intensifies with each passing page. The author's portrayal of Liz's emotional turmoil is vivid and palpable, making it easy for readers to empathize with her desperate need for answers. The unraveling of Liz's once idyllic life becomes a thrilling journey, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.

What sets "He Said He Would Be Late" apart is Sullivan's skillful exploration of the blurred lines between reality and imagination. As Liz delves deeper into her quest for the truth, the boundaries of her sanity become increasingly blurred. Sullivan's portrayal of Liz's internal struggle is both haunting and thought-provoking, forcing readers to question their own perceptions of truth and deception.

The narrative is fast-paced, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Sullivan's writing style is engaging and immersive, effortlessly guiding readers through Liz's tumultuous journey. The story is masterfully crafted, with a perfect balance of tension, emotion, and intrigue.

Additionally, the author expertly captures the nuances of marriage and motherhood, painting a realistic and relatable picture of the challenges faced by women in these roles. Through Liz's character, Sullivan explores the depths of a woman's intuition and the lengths she will go to protect her family, even in the face of doubt and disbelief.

"He Said He Would Be Late" is a riveting psychological thriller that will leave readers breathless. Justine Sullivan's debut is a remarkable achievement, showcasing her talent for crafting intricate and suspenseful narratives. This book is a must-read for fans of the genre, and Sullivan is undoubtedly an author to watch.

Sound Production

Macmillan Audio's sound production is exemplary in terms of clarity and professionalism, making it a standout choice for audiobook enthusiasts. With their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to delivering a top-notch listening experience, Macmillan Audio consistently produces audiobooks of exceptional quality. As a fan and avid listener of their audiobooks, I have always been impressed by the crystal-clear sound and seamless narration. The production values are consistently high, ensuring that every word is clearly articulated and the overall audio experience is immersive and enjoyable. Macmillan Audio has truly earned its reputation as a leader in the audiobook industry, and it remains my go-to choice for captivating and well-produced audiobooks.

Narration

Kelli Tager is a talented and captivating narrator whose skillful delivery brings this audiobook to life. With her warm and expressive voice, she has the ability to effortlessly draw listeners into the pages of “He Said He Would Be Late”. Tager's ability to capture the essence of each character and convey their emotions with authenticity is remarkable. Her clear enunciation and impeccable pacing make it easy for listeners to follow along and fully engage with the narrative. Tager's versatility shines through as she seamlessly transitions between different voices and accents, adding depth and dimension to the storytelling. Her narration is a testament to her dedication and professionalism, and her performance enhanced the overall enjoyment of “He Said He Would Be Late”. With Kelli Tager as the narrator, listeners can expect a truly immersive and memorable audio experience.

A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listener’s audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Couldn't get into this one and I think it was billed incorrectly. It's not a thriller, like it's been advertised. More of a drama.

<3 This was a great read but being unable to increase the speed on the narration was so annoying! It was taking way too long to get to the ending! I got two hours left to see what fresh Blue Hell will reveal itself in this #PsychologicalThriller! I have to resist to search for the spoilers.--OK I initially did not care for the ending but after sleeping on it, the unanswered questions I had align with this genre. I was still worth the read. <3
#HeSaidHeWouldBeLate #JustineSullivan #NetGallery

I'm sorry to say I couldn't finish this book. I listed to it as an audiobook but I found the character of Liz so annoying and her downward spiral more sad and avoidable then a sign of anxiety or postpartum. The droning on and on of all the ways Liz thinks Arno could be cheating on her while she becomes a closet alcoholic was monotonous. And the excessive amount of details (the names of each flower, for example) was unnecessary.

Sorry but I couldn't dedicate another five hours of listening to this.

I listened to He Said He Would Be Late and enjoyed it. There were a few times I rolled my eyes at the actions of the MC, but that might have been the point. I recommend it if you are a fan of psychological suspense, family drama, marriage/divorce, and new Mom stories, I enjoyed the audiobook and would recommend it as well.

I sadly just couldn’t get into it. Life to short to commit to an okay book when you could find one that provides a fantastic escape! I tried to as keep going and ultimately I know other will enjoy it more for books appeal to everyone in a different way! Thank you for providing this ARC for me to try reading.

I listened to the audiobook and I can say that the narrator (Kelli Tager) was excellent. The story was generally entertaining. I'd say that it's more of a psychological-mystery rather than thriller. Also, I was really drawn to the concept of this novel. I've recently read other thriller/suspense books which focused on the themes of motherhoods, family, and relationships and I enjoyed them. Unfortunately, I felt that I was constantly comparing this book to the others- and it kept falling short.

I love an unhinged woman on self-destructive spiral, but this spiral felt toooo disconnected. Is it because of motherhood? Or is it because her husband is a low-key jerk? Or is it because her mom kind of sucks? The logical answer is "all of them" but it didn't feel cohesive enough for it to be all of them.

Also, I wish the reader had a better opportunity to make their own opinion about the husband so that the end could be more striking. Although it is clear that the narrator is unreliable, it was very ambiguous about what kind of person the husband is, especially because we could only see him through the narrator's perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. My ears say thank you too.

Justine Sullivan's He Said He Would Be Late is an okay read for me. I am going to give it three and a half stars.

While I enjoyed the writing and narration of this book I did not enjoy the story. The story was not for me and I could not connect with the main characters.

Audiobook received for free through NetGalley

Overall written well with a good narration. Had second hand embarrassment throughout but overall great.

One morning, new mother Liz sees a flirty text from another woman to her seemingly perfect husband. This begins Liz's downward spiral to prove that her husband is cheating on her and that her flawless marriage may not be as it seems.
The writing style for this started out good and had my attention and I felt sympathy and a connection with Liz as it explained how things have changed since she became a mom, but then it all goes downhill from there. Liz's character is extremely dull and simpleminded, and just plain annoying. Also this is listed as a physiological thriller but is anything but. This is flat out a story about a woman trying to figure out if her husband is cheating on her or if she is losing her mind and it just goes on and on and on about nothing really. There is no mystery or suspense, and then it just tells the "big secret" and then ends. I am extremely disappointed and feel like I wasted my time with this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Justine Sullivan for allowing me to listen to an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story was fun to listen to and the narrator did a great job! I enjoyed Liz and being in her head for the ride. It does have the serious themes of postpartum depression and generalized anxiety disorder, but handled in a sensitive way and with a sense of humor. I especially liked the ending and it left me thinking...

*Received for free from netgalley for honest review* Overall great book, didn't see that ending coming tbh so that was wild but really enjoyed it! Would recommend and even buy. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I found this main character kind of annoying, maybe because its how my anxiety brain spirals and that's how I function too and I hate that about myself. This is a typical "is he cheating" kind of story that leads you on the hunt for answers. It felt like the typical "Is the narrator unreliable or is she valid in her thoughts and correct in her assumptions" type of story. There was so much mundane detail in there that just felt like filler. Decent book but wouldn't read it again.

I thought this would be more of a thriller but it’s not. There’s barely any suspense or mystery. The whole book is about if Liz’s husband is cheating on her or not yet all she does it jump to conclusions in her head. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Kelli Tager did a fine job. I would listen to another audiobook narrated by her but I don’t think I would read any other book by this author. I found Liz’s reasoning didn’t make any sense. She wasn’t an endearing character so it was hard to stay invested in the story for her. I didn’t care at the end about her or her husband.

"Fast-paced, twisty psychological thriller", was an oversell. I found it very slow and repetitive. The storyline was very mundane. I did not like Liz or Arno.
"A deep dive down the rabbit hole", was a good description. Liz overreacts. The lack of communication between the couple was frustrating as well as the dump things Liz does to uncover the truth.
I didn't love the ending.
The audiobook narrator was good.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was overall an interesting read, although it gave me anxiety listening to it! Somewhat predictable twists but enjoyable. The narrator was good.

The synopsis of this book made it seem like it was going to be fantastic but it it was far from it.

There is little character development that adds to the story. The main character is whiny and completely unreasonable. There is a slight undertone of postpartum depression/anxiety, but it is never explored or brought to light. Using such a serious illness as a fluffy additive to a novel is wrong and does not help add awareness to it. There are lots of repetitive thoughts and comments, that I questioned if the audio skipped back. Major plot holes that change the course of the book, including the big reveal.

The narrator of the audio book made it easy to follow, conveyed emotion well, and hold the listeners attention.

I want to thank Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy.

I was intrigued throughout the book, and the story moved along quickly. However at some point I was hoping it was going to hurry up and wrap up. And when it did, it was the last sentence of the book. Wait, what? Who? Did I miss something? It was extremely anticlimactic.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance audiobook.