While Goodwin manages to set the scene well with very atmospheric settings, the story was not particularly original or memorable. It was overall fairly entertaining but I don't think it's going to be one I'm going to remember for very long. The epilogue was my favourite section, great ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an early copy of The Blackout!

This was not exactly what I expected, but in a good way! First we read about two women walking home after drinking too much and finding themselves in trouble. Then as the novel continues, we learn one of them is in hiding a year later and has a questionable past…

This was definitely a pulse pounding page turner! I liked the beginning a lot and I was genuinely creeped out at times. However, I didn’t like the ending. It started to get repetitive and I was left feeling a bit confused. Overall though, I did enjoy this fast paced read!

I thought it was just me but other reviewers were unhappy with this book. It starts off well but half way through it just got messy. Characters changing names, different timelines and generally uninteresting. I kept thinking “ silly little girl why did she do that? “. I will try other by this author, maybe I didn’t connect with the characters or the story. Not for me - DNF. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for a prepublication ebook.

This book started out great. It was very interesting for the first few chapters well written and great twists and turns. I found towards the middle it started to unravel and towards the end I lost interest. I have read books by the author before and have enjoyed them but this wasn’t for me

Rating: 3.2/5

This is my second experience of Sarah Goodwin's work, having previously read "The Resort". I enjoyed the first half of "The Resort", which was full of suspense, but felt that it was let down by a disappointing and overly simplistic second half. Frustratingly, there is some evidence of a similar trait in this novel, too - although, overall, the standard of this one is markedly better.

Once again, Sarah Goodwin, shows that she is very adept at creating a tense and darkly suspenseful atmosphere. For the first 50-70% of this thriller I was suitably enthralled and the author was keeping me very much on the edge of my seat. The writer had created a premise that was all the more scary, because it was so easy to imagine the scenario happening in a real life situation. There was a well-handled switch between events on a drunken night out in Bristol and the action developing in a secluded part of Norfolk twelve months later. The author also cleverly dropped some hints into the narrative that there may be other historical happenings exerting an influence on proceedings too. This really was shaping up to be one of the better examples of a book from this genre.

Unfortunately, Sarah Goodwin wasn't quite able to maintain the same high calibre in the latter stages of "The Blackout". The quality of the content doesn't deteriorate to the same degree that it did in "The Resort", but I did get a similar sense of the storyline being rushed and plot developments being a touch too convenient and stretching credulity beyond the acceptable parameters of fictional literature. "The Blackout" is certainly an enjoyable read, but it still left me feeling frustrated, because it was so close to being something even better.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded down, mostly because of the epilogue.

Meg and Cat enjoy a night out on the town, but find themselves without money to get home. While walking, they are pursued by two men and hide in an abandoned house. The events of that night leave one of them dead and the other hiding in a remove village under a new name, going to great lengths to ensure the past doesn’t catch up with her.

I liked the relationship between the two girls and the suspense that built up while they were hiding. The first half was very engaging and I flew through it.

Things got a little far-fetched at the end, but it was still an entertaining read. I really did not like the epilogue, I was confused about what happened and it didn’t add anything to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The story is told over different time spans, the friendship between Meg and Cat, and the disturbing events that shaped the way Meg is.

I feel that the book lost its way in the middle of the book and became a bit repetitive. I ended up asking myself "really". Which is a pity as the storylines in itself were good.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Blackout by Sarah Goodwin is the latest book by an up-and-coming thriller writer! The story revolves around Meg, whose went through a traumatic experience with her friend Cat one year ago. Last summer, when walking home one night, Meg and Cat get into a dangerous situation and end up running for their lives. Now, Meg is in a safe house during a blackout when she realizes that she is not alone...

Here is an emotional excerpt from Chapter 2:

"'Where is my phone? It must've fallen out of my pocket. It could be anywhere.'
I tried to remember when I'd last seen it. 'I think you left it on my coffee table.'
'Oh... right.'
I sighed. Cat had no phone and no cash. I had no cash, no card and my phone was busted It looked like we were walking home. Perhaps the miserable walk would keep me from thinking about things I didn't want to. Even if the evening was a disaster, at least I wasn't spending the anniversary of my brother's death all alone."

Overall, The Blackout is an adult thriller that you won't be able to put down! One highlight of this book is the terrifying premise. I couldn't stop reading because I had to know what happened next. Another highlight of this book is the nonstop action. One final highlight is the satisfying reveal and ending. I do have to put a content warning though for sexual assault. However, if you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in August!

Having loved Stranded, I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately it felt disjointed in plot progression. The epilogue seemed unnecessary too.
It's a book full of unlikeable characters which isn't bad thing. Not every book should have heroes. I just felt like the villains were too despicable, their partnership too fortuitous, and somewhat unbelievable.

rating is 2.5 stars rounded up.

this book was a bit of a... shaky ride for me. let's start with what i liked about it: the atmosphere was great, and i was really invested in getting to know what was happening. it had a few twists i couldn't anticipate (and one i did, but not the most important, which is what i care about when it comes to thrillers), and this is a quick read so it kept me turning the pages. overall, i really did want to know what had happened in the past and how it was going to end in the present.

there were a few characters i didn't particularly liked, although that may be a personal preference of the type of character who i find annoying rather than anything else. the writing at times was odd, and the epilogue really pulled me out of it, it made me end up in a really low note compared to the final chapter (and the final portion in general) which i had really enjoyed. there were some things that bordered on a bit unbelievable for my taste which pulled me out at times. i don't know, it's hard for me to pin-point what i didn't enjoy because there were parts that just felt strange. i may read another book by the author because i feel like it might go better, but this one i wanted to like a lot more than i ended up doing.

Meg and Cat are best of friends and head out for a night in Bristol. Meg’s still grieving the loss of her brother Damien, so the evening out is a welcome distraction. The two drink and take a few pills but soon find at the night’s end that they are out of money for bus or cab fare home. On the late night walk home things go terribly wrong. One year later, Meg finds herself living in isolation in a cottage in Norfolk. The events from that night and previous events from her past seem to have caught up with Meg. She soon finds she is running out of time and people are out to find her and possibly kill her. This was an on the edge of your seat ride. I enjoyed this novel. I’m still a little confused at the ending..but overall really liked the novel.

Meg and Cat go for a girls night out in Bristol. Meg wants to forget about her loss of her brother for one night. The girls drink too much and run out of money so they must walk home. Then two men follow them and they decide to hide in a cabin to escape.

The police show up and the girls are thankful to be rescued and have this nightmare behind them. Only things go from bad to worse for these two.

Meg realizes a bit too late that her past has caught up with her. Meg as a kid did something horrible and now she will watch her best friend die. She can't get away from her past or what she has done.

I wanted to like this book- the premise was promising, and thriller/suspense is my favorite genre. The Blackout started out slowly, pulled me in around chapter eight, and held well for most of the story (some chapters less so). The end of the final chapter was fairly satisfying. Unfortunately, an unnecessary and rather confusing epilogue was added and removed what satisfaction I had found. Altogether, this book fell flat for me.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is an absolute page turner of a book that once I picked up found hard to put down. Well written and atmospheric with an interesting protagonist that the author gives a true to life feel. Enjoyed the layout of the chapters going to different parts in time that was easy to keep track off. However the epilogue in this is somewhat odd and quite frankly not needed as it just leaves the reader baffled. If you enjoy edge of your seat reads than this will tick all the boxes.

Thank you NetGalley and AVON a division of HarperCollins Publishers for a copy of "The Blackout" in exchange for my honest review.

The idea of the book was very interesting but I found it to be very confusing. The timeline between 2022 and the "blackout" was not seamless and it was hard to follow what was happening.

It started out with Megan and her friend Cat going out to a club on the anniversary of Megan's brother Damian's death. Then we have a lost purse, a broken mobile, a forgotten mobile, no money and a lost ID. The friends are refused a ride on the bus since they can't pay so they walk home. They are chased by 2 men and end up hiding in a boarded up house where the are found.

The dual timeline should have been clearer so that it was easier to follow. The 2020 portion is fast-paced and interesting with a strong start. Then it became hard to read and follow along.

Oh dear I’m so conflicted about this one! I love Sarah Goodwin’s books normally but this one really don’t work for me. To start with I got very confused when the action switched from the night out to “before the blackout”. Once I worked out what was happening I got really into the storyline which was quite graphic and hard hitting at times but it was such a gripping and scary experience that I felt completely overwhelmed by what was happening to poor Meg. The twist made every make much more sense even if it was a little contrived but the ending?!?! Just no!!!! It did not lend anything to what had gone on previously and made absolutely no sense. Not my favourite of her books by a long way.

In my option, Sarah Goodwin is the Queen of survivor thrillers with resilient female characters, and this book was just another proof of that. ⁣
⁣
I loved The Blackout! It was vivid and atmospheric with “Home alone” vibes. It was addictive, spine-tingling, and it left me totally breathless. The dual timeline was layered perfectly and the touch of humor was refreshing. The main emotions I felt throughout the book were guilt, loss, resilience, and revenge. ⁣
Holly cow! Just when I thought I had figured out what happened…a much worse scenario unfolded….the unthinkable brutality hit me hard and left me speechless. ⁣
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Thank you @netgalley and @avonbooksuk for this ARC that was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Sarah Goodwin and I have always tried to read all her books as they are always so fun and keep me guessing.

‘The Blackout’ is an twist filled thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you guessing throughout different parts of the book.

Starting out we meet two friends Meg and Cat who are going to have a girl’s night out at the club as an anniversary is coming up which meg is trying to forget but as the night progresses after having a few drinks many unfortunate situations happen.. meg loses her purse that has all her stuff in it to get back home. Without any money on hand now they decide to walk home but whilst doing this they are followed by men who have bad intentions for the two friends.

Told over different timelines we witness the events that happened which lead to where they are in the present as Meg is struggling to escape what happened which is why she lives in a remote safehouse with no friends or family. There is a big secret that she has but now after a year of hiding meg believes she is safe. Only now the lights have gone out.

The Blackout is a mystery thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, I could not put it down. The portrayal of the characters were relatable and the atmosphere setting were described and written in a way in which you could imagine yourself being there alone which adds to the suspense thrill. Throughout different parts my heart was racing.

A fun gripping read with twists that will have you guessing to the very end. Sarah Goodwin is an exceptionally amazing author that is able to add so much suspense and thrill to her books, I am never disappointed and always look forward to her new books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this arc in exchange of an honest review.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book through @netgalley and @avonbooksuk

This is my first read by this author and I'm delighted to have discovered this author. The Blackout is a haunting, claustrophobic and fast paced thriller.

It follows every woman's worst nightmare. When a drunken nightout goes terribly wrong and Megan and Cat find themselves in a dangerous situation. Forced to walk home in the dark, tired, hungry, drunk and with no money they are truly stuck. So when two men start chasing them the horror of their situation becomes all too real. I found this part of the book really scary as it could happen to anyone. We've all been there when we've drunk too much to forget a situation. And it was written so well, it was utterly terrifying. It was an atmospheric read.

It's hard to review the next part of the book for fear of giving spoilers but it was an enjoyable and entertaining read and I look forward to checking out more from this author. Definately one to check out.

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Another winner by Sarah Goodwin! It was great right from the start and did not let up! I really enjoyed the characters ( especially Meg) and story line. Was a quick read - I could not put it down. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Sarah Goodwin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Definitely recommend this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️