Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the copy of For Worse, a brilliant debut by L. K. Bowen. It didn’t feel like a thriller at first because a lot of time is spent dissecting Ellie and Jeff’s cute meeting and their relationship, but it’s time well-spent because it laid the groundwork for the rest of the book. I really liked the insight into Jeff’s personality, even though it made me hate him even more. I also liked Hannah’s insight into her relationship with her boyfriend and how Ellie helped her think through it. It really resonated with me and my life, which rarely happens in novels.
When the book started to get darker, there were plenty of surprise reveals that really added to the suspense. I wasn’t completely surprised by what we finally learned, but it was still satisfying. When the book finally took a detour into thriller territory near the end it was so gripping I couldn’t stop reading. If you want a mesmerizing, well-written read, with distinct and interesting characters you will love this book.