After reading "Stranded" by Sarah Goodwin, I was very excited to read this one. It kept me interested throughout and I enjoyed the unlikable heroine of the story, a surprising pick. Very suspenseful and fast paced. It did leave me with questions, which is why I can't give it 5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Megan and Cat went out to have fun and drink. By the end of the evening they were out of money, drunk and forced to walk the long and unsafe way home. Along the way, they were chased by two men and forced to hide for hours in an abandoned house. Megan survives the night but Cat does not, although the police arrive that evening. A year later, Meg is far away, living alone under a new name; she is terrified and vigilant about her safety because of the events of that night. A wide-ranging blackout begins, and what follows is a cat and mouse chase as those after Meg finally find her. The story is told in dual timelines. There are several secrets and unexpected reveals. Character development and descriptions of the countryside are very well done. The ending left me less than satisfied and was a flaw in an otherwise interesting book.

With thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

I really liked this survivor’s tale about a girl who always seems to land on her feet, while those around her… don’t. It took me a bit to get into the rhythm of the two timelines, but once I’d worked that out, I was pretty gripped and eager to see whodunnit. Four beach read stars.

Overall a good read but I did lose a bit of interest halfway through and I wasn't keen on the characters or the two timelines.

For me personally it wasn't an 'edge of seater' nor did it keep me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this ARC.

Sarah Goodwin's "The Blackout" is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. After a harrowing experience one night, Meg and Cat find themselves in a life-or-death situation, forcing them to seek refuge in an abandoned building. Fast forward one year, Meg seeks solace in a remote safehouse, but the past catches up with her when a blackout plunges her into darkness, and a sinister presence emerges.

Goodwin's writing is suspenseful and evocative, creating a palpable sense of fear and tension throughout the narrative. The pacing is relentless, driving the story forward with a sense of urgency that leaves readers eager to uncover the truth behind the characters' predicament.

The characters are well-drawn and relatable, with Meg's struggle to escape her past and the looming threat of revenge adding layers of complexity to the story. The atmospheric setting, including the crumbling sea cliff and the storm-ridden night, adds an additional layer of suspense and unease.

"The Blackout" is a thrilling and gripping read, with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the final pages. Sarah Goodwin's mastery of suspense and atmospheric storytelling makes this a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Prepare to be captivated and chilled as you journey through the dark and dangerous world of "The Blackout."

After reading a couple of Sarah’s other books I was delighted to be approved for this one.

Meg is living under an assumed name, in a borrowed cottage at the end of a cliff. With no family or friends, she is all alone. And hiding. Hiding from the past. But not just one big secret, but two….after a year of hiding out, Meg can almost believe that she is safe. That is, until the lights go out and it’s blackout.

This book got my heart racing at times, as well as making me feel sorry for Meg and what her life has been like, even after finding out about the choices she has made.

Would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good thrilling read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

This started out really strong. A mystery that kept me guessing and surprises and thrills that kept me glued. But around the 60% mark, it lost its momentum and things got weird. Almost like the story suddenly changed into something else. Disappointing.

This is the fourth book I've read by Sarah Goodwin. All of them were fun, fast reads and The Blackout was no exception! Her protagonists are brave and bold and her plot lines are all very exciting. I recommend this title and I can't wait for her next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

I loved the premise and thought the book started off really well. I was really invested and the dual timelines kept me guessing but it all just kind of loses traction and falls apart halfway through. It just didn't feel like anything much happened and I get that it's a fiction book so doesn't have to be realistic but I just felt it was too bizarre and unbelievable for me

You can't outrun your past, and someone wants revenge. That is part of the synopsis of The Blackout by Sarah Goodwin. I'm not quite sure if I liked this book. The story was told in two timelines, and it did read like a locked-room mystery. However, I didn't feel there was that much mystery or drama, and it didn't have me wanting to turn the pages as much as I would have liked. I did finish the book, but it left me feeling a bit flat and not satisfied. I especially disliked the ending.

#NetGalley @AvonBooksUK

I have read other novels by Sarah Goodwin, and I’ve enjoyed them. As a result, I was excited to receive “The Blackout.”

This is a cat and mouse story. Two friends in an abandoned building witness something that leaves one running for her life, and the other dead. Many years later, the one survivor has changed her name, stays vigilant to try to stray alive. However, she is found and a blackout occurs… here we go.

The beginning is propulsive thriller, and the tension ratchets up. The twists are very good, and the pace will keep you going. However, for me, it fell apart mid way. I can’t really say why other than after the first reveal it lost momentum.

It’s a quick read and entertaining, but I was just a bit disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Blackout is an outstanding novel packed to the brim with suspense and thrill. It makes you question mistakes you've made in your life and how it could all go wrong during a power cut. I know, moving forward, I'll be a little more nervous about power cuts in the future because you never know who may be looking for you.

The jumps between timelines were well executed and were clear, leaving no ambiguity as to where you were in the story.

The characters were immersive and it's easy to lose yourself in this novel trying to work out the secrets that Megan is hiding.

Overall, a fantastic book and I look forward to reading more of Sarah Goodwin's work!

I am afraid I didn’t enjoy this book: it just did not flow well and the plot seemed rather far fetched. It was not for me.

I wanted to like this more than I did. The title and synopsis are great. I like that the story is told through two separate timelines and both are quite suspenseful and frightening, however, the way the stories intertwined felt somewhat implausible, and I found the violence and assault pretty disturbing. Thanks to NetGalley for opportunity to read this ARC.

Excellent story. Lots of action and twists and turns. Well worth reading

Looking forward to more from Sarah Goodwin
Many thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC and opportunity to enjoy this wonderful book

Oh. Em. Gee! This book will haunt my dreams for a good while. “The Blackout” took me on a fast-paced journey with Megan running for her life, being chased by two people trying to shut her up.

Megan and her best friend, Cat, were enjoying a night out drinking and dancing. As dawn neared, they realized they had no money, no phone and no way home. Their only choice was to walk. When they realized they were being followed, they ducked into an abandoned building and things went awry quickly. Cat ended up dead and Meg ran for her life.

One year later, Meg had changed her name, moved into a small decrepit house, and became vigilant every moment of her life. When the fateful night occurred and they found her again, she was glad she had booby trapped her home, but her skills were no match against these guys, whoever they are. Meg once again finds herself struggling to stay alive. There was no electricity, no phone, and no way out. The blackout could prove useful or deadly to her.

I was on edge for the majority of this book, it was very hard to put down. It does have some twists that I didn’t see coming, and I do love a good twist. Overall, I rate this book 4 stars and recommend it to all you armchair detectives out there. Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advanced copy. This book is due to be published on August 31, 2023.

Revenge keeps this mystery alive. Murder and mayhem keep it moving quickly. Red herrings kept me guessing. The characters are realistic, and the story believable. Although fiction, the book reads like nonfiction…true life. This talented author has written a cannot put down novel. It would make a good movie. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the author and the publisher.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for the copy of The Blackout by Sarah Goodwin. I have read and loved other books by this author so I was excited to read this one. It started out great and full of tension. I loved the cat and mouse chase and all of Meg’s boobytraps. For some reason everything fell apart after the first reveal Everything started to make sense but it just wasn’t very shocking or plausible and I started to get bored. It was really near the end so while I really enjoyed the majority of the book it was ultimately disappointing. There were many heartstopping moments and many twists, so if that's your thing you will really love this book. I liked it but didn’t love it. This would be a good beach read.