This book had twists and turns from start to finish.
Elena was a great main character and I rooted from her from start to finish. Ethan was a questionable character but I really wanted them to work out. I’m glad they did. I wanted Elena to stick up to her family more. They were not nice and were not supportive of her.

Overall, this was a great book and I really enjoyed it.

Playing with my emotions on so many levels, I couldn't stop reading it. A real page turner, you know you have to go to sleep for work the next day, but you just keep reading.

This story was interesting to say the least.
It disturbed me as well with how Elena fell for one of her abductors. This was the one aspect of the story that just put me off.

The rest of the story had so much potential but the relationship was very much the center of the story.

My unrestrained thoughts: What the fuck was that? An emotional rollercoaster ride of the author playing with my emotions!

Now, onto a little sophisticated review – it may contain tiny spoilers!


When I Know Your Name by G.M. Lawrence is a psychological thriller where we meet Elena Dumont, who seems to have a perfect life. Well, as far as a rich family, a handsome boyfriend, and a successful career is concerned. But things go south real quick when she is kidnapped without any apparent motive. The turn Elena’s life takes then is entirely thrilling, pulling you into the mystery right beside her.

The mystery of the book is well-planned, with it starting right in the first chapter. What sets this apart from other kidnapping stories is the twists the author throws after the protagonist’s release. Elena teams up with her own kidnapper (Stockholm syndrome, but make it romantic) to find who was behind her abduction and the things that were revealed… I did not see those coming, especially at the end.

After I started to read it, I wasn’t sure why everyone loved this book. And that’s because I found the part of her captivity part a tad boring. Nothing significant happened, apart from her father refusing to pay the ransom and the violence against her during that part. But that was justified because what else is there to do when you are kidnapped? Survive, overthink, and try to sleep, of course.

I really loved the change in Elena’s behaviour after the release. There was a deeper, fucked up mind driving the protagonist, and only after reading and mulling over the book would you notice that. I wasn’t expecting such a nuanced character and her questionable character arc, which blew me away. As you can imagine, my initial thoughts about the book’s likability flew out the window.


What I liked about the book:

Elena’s fluctuating emotions: Lawrence perfectly captures the ever-changing thought process of the protagonist. She felt strong one moment and weak the next. Healing one moment and in pain the next. It was a subtle way to show how the kidnapping had affected her psyche and how unhinged she was slowly becoming.

The twists: I have this habit of reading ahead because I have lost my patience, haha. So, I read ahead as usual, and my jaw dropped. Literally gasped like my soul was sucked out by a Dementor. And then I went back, completed the pending part and gasped again! The same happened with the next sections, too. It was a chef’s kiss.

The other characters: Some other characters, such as Elena’s father and Charlotte, are some of the best characterizations. Her father’s mere presence is enough to show why Elena is the way she is. And that really cemented his personality in my mind. Even though I hate him (maybe more than Elena), his portrayal is realistic enough to be believable. The same goes for Charlotte – she perfectly nailed the role of a concerned but supportive best friend. I felt like she was based on my own best friend, hehe!


What I wasn’t impressed with:

The first and foremost thing I didn’t like was the build-up of the romance. Though Ethan and Elena seem solid later, the start of their relationship is rocky yet instant. Their attraction felt unnatural (given the circumstances, understandable), but they oddly reminded me of Edward and Bella. Mainly because their relationship showed an obvious power imbalance, dependency, and convoluted love. But... It’s still a better love story than Twilight.

Another thing that bothered me was the vagueness around Ethan’s work. He just told her he did that and that without explaining it to Elena (or us). It seemed like the author didn’t want to dive into the technical aspects of his job or didn’t think of elaborating as it was from Elena’s POV. But the surface explanations about him getting all that sensitive information threw me off. I would’ve definitely loved more detailed descriptions about him and his work!


My final thoughts?
Go and read it! You won’t be disappointed. This book is really a psychological thriller because my mind was fucked up for days after I finished it!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review! #arcreview

This was a very gripping, fast-paced, and immersive book. This story had a great twist and I was shocked by the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

I felt this book was well-crafted and the writing style was captivating. While I enjoyed the book, I have to admit there were certain elements of the story that left me feeling conflicted. I had a hard time embracing the concept of a captive falling for her captor. I understand Stockholm Syndrome, but it still left me feeling a bit unsettled. The connection between Elena and her captor seemed rushed and a bit difficult to grasp. I have not read anything by this author prior to this book and might have to look for more.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

A quick and easy read. I didn't expect it to be quite so Stockholm syndrome based and a bit 365 days without so much spice.......... but that's your basic premise really. More than a thriller but not too much of a romance book thankfully! It's nothing too deep, I was hooked really quickly but found the pace stopped and started a bit. It's definitely worth sticking with it though because it was a really good read overall

Who kidnapped Elena Dumont? And what do they really want?

Elena Dumont appears to have it a charmed life, a handsome boyfriend and wealthy, successful parents.

But when she is kidnapped, she is forced to confront the problems that lurk beneath her perfect facade.

Although she is terrified, Elena digs deep and shows resilience and courage. One of her captors notices her bravery and they develop an unlikely bond.

Elena is faced with a should she trust this man who is supposed to be her enemy?

She embarks on a dark journey to discover who is behind her kidnapping and why they would want her abducted in the first place.

The web of deceit she uncovers has earth shattering consequences. Will Elena make the right choice? And will she find out who is behind the kidnapping before they strike again?

When I Know Your Name , the spellbinding psychological thriller from G.M. Lawrence.

Action packed and thrilling to the end. Elena showed great depth and growth. That plot twist at the end still has me reeling. Will recommend to others.

When I Know Your Name
by G.M. Lawrence
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy! This was a good book. I read through the whole book with no stops, except for coffee.

When I know your name

What I liked:

Woman in peril: the trope is strong here. A woman, being told she’s paranoid about worrying about a regular occurrence of seeing the same man over and over (because of a past issue) is then kidnapped.

Stockholm syndrome is real, alive, and well here.

You can see why the MFC has the emotions she has.

What I didn’t like:

It has a saggy middle. I can’t explain why without spoilers, but I did check my progress at 40%, which isn’t always the best sign.

Ultimately, it’s worth sticking with, but it can drag a little.

I’d give it a 3.8, which, of course, gets rounded up officially.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

When I Know Your Name offers a classic twisty thriller/revenge novel. Protagonist Elena is kidnapped outside her London apartment while on a jog, presumably as a result of her well-known family wealth. As she's held in captivity, she develops a connection with the handsome leader of her kidnapping heist. When I Know Your Name has a good mix of predictable and surprising twists, making it a quick and light read for fans of psychological thrillers. The dialogue is stiff at times but does not hold it back from being enjoyable. There are some steamier scenes that don't go over the top.

Fabulous! I was so gripped and tense, that I held my breath pretty much right though!

A young woman is abducted and abused, but is helplessly drawn to her captor. Why is he holding her and how is she going to get out?

Elena was an engaging and relatable protagonist and I was fascinated by the fireworks between her and the man holding her. It was so much more than Stockholm syndrome, it was ELECTRIC!

But this is no simple romance story, this is twisted, sinister and intense. The experience changes Elena and as she embraces her new strength, she needs to find out whether she can trust any of the people she believed in. And in order to do that, she has to put her whole life in the hands of the enemy.

One of my top reads of this year. 5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, G. M. Lawrence and Inkubator for an ARC in return for an honest review.

*ARC REVIEW*

Holy crap y’all.. I could not put this down. I was hooked from the first 3 chapters! Absolutely gripping.

This novel is listed as a mystery/thriller on netgalley.. I can see that part. But there is such a great romantic suspense aspect.
There was a bit of spice.. (not much, only like 🌶️🌶️)

But if you love a morally grey anti-hero who will burn the world for thr FMC.. you’ll love this.. think Stockholm syndrome but make it “romantic” 🤷🏼‍♀️

With lots of family drama, twists and turns, and a little romance.. this abduction thriller isn’t at all what you’d expect.

For fans of Mary Kubica’s “Good Girl”.. this would be right up your alley!

Thank you #netgalley for the copy!

Do not start reading this before bed or you will likely find yourself tired the next day after staying up all night reading. A mix of dark romance, mystery and psychological thriller, I really enjoyed this book. There are plenty of suspects, twists and turns and even when you think it is solved, there is more.

Elena’s story keeps your attention throughout. The strained family dynamics, getting over a kidnapping while trying to find out the truth and a ‘new’ love interest as she recovers from her ordeal. The others take a backseat but are interesting enough that the storyline seems well rounded. I just wish it ended differently for her so she could truly have a fresh start.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book had my hooked in the first chapter, maybe even the first few pages. I love a good dark romance book but this one takes the cake on being the perfect amount of romance without over doing it. The author was extremely descriptive of all the things happening, I could picture it in my head like a movie. 10/10 an amazing book.

Gripping, powerful, brilliantly written romantic psychological thriller. Impossible to put down as you journey through Elena's abduction and imprisonment. The twists and turns in this remarkable story have you captivated as it reaches its climax in the final pages. Highly recommended read and worthy of five stars.

This was a hard one to rate. On one hand, the plot was strong - if incredible - and the pace was excellent. However, little time is given to build the characters beyond the superficial and this, combined with often melodramatic dialogue, made it hard for me to really feel engaged in the story. Spoiler alert - the troubling relationship between Elena and Ethan is very off-putting. The victim-perpetrator trope is one which arguably has no place in a modern world where women, especially women surviving trauma, can and do demand power and independence.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, mystery, kidnapping, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I will recommend reading this book as it was worth reading! it wasn't one of my top favorite but still worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Suspense kidnapping went wrong. Steamy in places with corruption, family and friends all in the spotlight.

Money and power seem to have no holds barred. in this book. But friendship wins the day.

Easy Summertime reading.