"You Know Her" is a mystery novel that promises intrigue and suspense but falls somewhat short of its potential. The story revolves around the disappearance of Joy Maddison during a summer heatwave five years ago and the viral video posted by her husband, which has captured the attention of millions online. On the fifth anniversary of her disappearance, a chance sighting near her home sparks new hope and questions about her fate.

The characters are adequately developed, and their emotions and struggles are relatable. Joy's husband's determination to find his wife and the impact of her disappearance on her family and community are explored to some extent. However, the character development could have been deeper to create a stronger connection with the reader.

The plot is filled with suspense and unexpected turns, which maintain a level of engagement throughout the story. The oppressive heatwave serves as an atmospheric backdrop, emphasizing the tension and uncertainty surrounding Joy's disappearance. The pacing is reasonable, with clues and revelations gradually unfolding, leading to a somewhat predictable but still satisfying conclusion.

The comparison to books like "Gone Girl," "The Silent Patient," and "The Girl on the Train" may raise expectations that "You Know Her" doesn't quite meet. While it shares some elements with these psychological thrillers, it lacks the same level of complexity, depth, and jaw-dropping twists that define those novels.

One of the drawbacks of the book is that some of the characters' actions and decisions may come across as implausible or melodramatic, which can hinder immersion in the story.

In summary, "You Know Her" is a decent mystery novel with elements of suspense and intrigue. While it may not reach the heights of the most acclaimed psychological thrillers, it still offers an engaging and readable experience. If you're looking for a moderately suspenseful story with a familiar premise, this book might be worth a read.

Vlogger Joy Maddison is loved and hated in equal measure. With millions of viewers, she is followed by fans who want to see her every move and copy her, and trolls who are waiting for the inevitable slip up.

Five years ago, Joy goes off for a run in the local woods and disappears. Has she been kidnapped, murdered or has she just had enough and eloped with a mystery lover?

This book had so much potential and the story line, though not original, was interesting. Unfortunately there was so much waffle and repetition it was hard to get into the story. Slow, meandering and with lots of contradictions made it a laborious read.

With a really good tidy up and a thorough edit it could be a winner.

2.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Storm.

3.5⭐Although the plot is interesting, the excessive amount of repetitive internal dialogue made it difficult to continue reading, especially in the beginning. Despite this issue, I was still hooked by the story and couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happened to Darling Joy. The writing was well crafted, the characters were intriguing, and the constant uncertainty of who to trust kept me guessing until the end. The revelation of who kidnapped Joy five years ago was shocking as it was the least expected person, which made it even more gripping.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an eARC.

This was a pretty average book. It was very slow at parts and awfully repetitive. It did not keep my interest and I found myself rushing to finish it.

Joy Madisson disappeared five years ago and no one has heard from her. Mattie is a drug addict who knows Joy's fate because it was she and her partner Jono who murdered her, or so she thinks.
#YouKnowHer is a slow-paced thriller in which the characters recall specific moments that give rise to situations that produce unexpected plot twists.
The plot is interesting and overall it's a good story that's perfect for an idle moment.

Very much a typical thriller to me but this one just didn’t leave me wanting more. It wrapped up nicely and the content was okay however it didn’t capture my attention like most books in this genre do. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was very slow, with a lot of the same thoughts and ideas voiced over and over. I didn't mind reading it, but I was happy when I finished. The "twists" didn't seem so twisty to me, and the characters felt one-dimensional. It just felt like a very long journey to reach an unsatisfying conclusion.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being given freely.

This was a slow burn thriller with a lot of nice twists. The characters are very well developed and interesting. I found the ending to be rather shocking. Overall it’s a good story.

Rather slow to start with and dragged here and there. Once i had got into it i found it pretty creepy with enough twists. Overall a decent read.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Well, I was a bit torn about how to rate this book. I loved the plot, the twist, the characters and all that happened in there. I really loved the ending, too. However, it felt really slow moving, dragging even at times, specially the first part.

As soon as I saw the cover I knew that this book was for me! I was not disappointed. The plot is uniquely different from anything I have ever read before. Shocks and surprises just keep coming with an explosive unforeseen conclusion which is completely satisfying.
I particularly liked how the author portrays the life of Mattie, a rough down and out character with addiction problems. I liked the creepy unknown commentator writing in itallics and the mystery of Joy vanishing is the central theme.
An excellent standalone thriller. Highly recomended.

This book was pretty interesting, and had some great twists! It wasn't super gripping, but still a good read. One of the twists really through me for a loop, and I think it would for many other readers as well!

It had good writing, although it was a little slow for me. It was twisty and had a lot of parts to it. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****