I Want You More follows Zara, a ghostwriter who is down on her luck after the passing of her father and in desperate need of a new job - when along comes Jane Bailey.

Jane is a Food Network TV sensation and she just so happens to be in need of a ghostwriter for her memoir, but she has some rules: Zara has to stay at Jane's Hampton home for the interview and book writing process. No one can visit and no one can take any photos. Finally, most importantly, Zara must fall in love with her.

What Zara brushes off as a joke turns into reality and twisted horror as admiration shifts into infatuation and the lines between the two women blur into madness.

I was kind of surprised by how quickly I ate this book up once I started reading, usually I'm not a fan of relationship thrillers, but this ended up being a quick read! I hadn't read anything by Swan Huntley before but I'm definitely going to be looking out for more!

I Want You More is a story about love and obsession, and what happens when they become so intertwined they consume you. A thriller with some good twists, I enjoyed how Swan Huntley unraveled both the story and characters.

i requested this book on NetGalley a while back and finally got around to reading it. Here are my main thoughts.

I requested this book without fully realizing that it was a thriller. That was my bad. I don’t particularly like thrillers. I’ll try not to let that influence this review too much.

The plot sounded, and was, pretty interesting. The book didn’t have me obsessing over when I could continue or anything, but it kept my attention while I was reading.

The dialogue felt very planned out and foreshadowing-y. On the one hand that is a good thing, because it made me nervous for what was ahead. On the other hand, it made the third act a bit underwhelming.

I would classify this as a literary thriller and it definitely tried to deal with the obsession etc in lesbian relationships and the way you narrate your own past. If these themes speak to you, and you like thrillers, pick this up. If those themes speak to you, but you don’t really like thrillers, you can probably skip this one.

One very big problem I had with this book, the thing that often bothers me in thrillers, is that most plot progression is entirely dependable on the stupidity of the main character. And wow- what was she dumb. Characters felt flat, but I understand that thats often the case in thrillers. The action was okay, there could have been more of it.

A super twisted, manic sapphic thriller romance. All about the obsession that sometimes comes with a crush (or more), looking up to someone or being jealous. Somehow reminded me of Big Swiss which is such a hit! Surprised this hasn't popped off as much as it deserves.

Zara Pines always wanted to write a book, and then she kind of fell into ghostwriting. After her domineering father dies, she gets a gig ghostwriting for food personality, Jane Bailey. Jane insists Zara move in with her for the summer to finish the book and get to know each other. Of course, Zara starts falling for her romantically, she starts turning into her, wearing her clothes, even getting her haircut. Jane starts to take over her life, and Zara has to make it out before she’s completely consumed.

This. Book. Was. Wild. Unhinged in such a fun way. I tore through it very quickly. The pacing is perfect, slowly reeling Zara in, leaving us seeing where it’s going while she gets deeper and deeper in. Such an engrossing read.

In this gripping sapphic suspense, plain jane Zara falls in love with the famous chef she’s ghostwriting for. Eventually, Zara begins to see the true Jane that is hidden far away from the cameras. But is it too late for her at that point?

I went into this one blind (i.e. without reading the synopsis at all) and I really enjoyed it! I was in the middle of a few other books when I started this one because it was calling to me. I was so invested in this story and the MCs relationship from the start that I knew I absolutely needed to finish this before I went back to anything else!

Thank you so much to Zibby Books, Swan, and NetGalley for the e-galley!

the cover is the first thing that catches your eye. and it promises a lot, maybe a little bit more than i expected. it is a great thriller, there were moments i felt my breath catching and i couldn't stop reading. but sometimes it felt a tad bit flat. while it was a pretty thrilling story, i couldn't help but feel annoyed by some of the nonsensical things that happened. overall, i'd still recommend it mainly because it was an easy read. this is not a thriller that'll make you think but to relax, and sometimes we need books like this.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I absolutely devoured this book. The premise was so intriguing, and the writing was excellent. It was twisty, and very single white female but with a new twist. I love that the ending left some ambiguity, and also showed the main character in the aftermath of what happened.

This book is captivating and engrossing, the tale of an obsession creeping in. Zara Pines just lost her dad and learns he’s basically disinherited her. She feels unmoored and somehow insufficient. A writer but so far none of her creative writing has been published whereas she has a zeal for ghostwriting. A new opportunity tumbles into her lap when everything seems bleak, writing celebrity chef Jane Bailey’s memoir while living in her Hamptons home. Once Zara has moved in with Jane and has started interviewing her their connection grows and grows, but is it a healthy attachment ? Before long, Zara is wearing Jane's clothes, has her hair cut like Jane's and has even adopted some of Jane's speech and mannerisms. As the line between the two women blurs, some of Zara’s decisions seem questionable and I understand characters need to be a certain kind of gullible for some thriller plots to work, but Zara starts out as a very weak person, and only discovering her self-worth quite late in the game, but when Zara begins to peek behind Jane's mask, she realizes there’s a darker side to her bubbly personality..

This book was dark and twisty. The final twist was a good one i did not see coming. If domestic thrillers are your jam, you should check this out!

Zara is a ghostwriter who really needs to land her next job. So even though she hadn’t ever heard of Jane, a Food Network star, she’s all in to work on her book - including going to live at Jane’s house in the Hamptons for a few weeks while interviewing her for the book.

This was a compelling read and I found myself flying through it. However I really didn’t like Zara and found it really hard to understand some of the choices she was making.

Thank you to Zibby books and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

3.5 ⭐

(apologies this is a little late i got held up but i did post about this on instagram in relevant time)

I love an unreliable narrator, I love a good weird book and I wasn't you more gagged me in a lot of places but I felt there was potential to go even more bananas. I like the premise and originality but I felt it was skating the line between mass appeal and going straight up ballistic. All that said though still a fun read and would def recommend if you're in the mood for some plots that are twisty

Wow! I Want You More flowed with such ease, I could hardly believe I was at the end already. I wasn't expecting this to be as much of a thriller as it was, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked. I enjoyed the pace at which we see Zara start to morph into Jane and also how Jane's "reality" is revealed throughout the book. A good book generally leaves me speechless, and I can confidently say that I have no words left.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This is a SERIOUSLY addictive book that I devoured in one tiny afternoon because I just couldn't tear myself away, and the plot flows so seamlessly from the pages. When you are thinking simmering intensity that is building to an explosive and horrifying conclusion, you would find this book as the definition in the dictionary.

Everything about this book is beautifully crafted - the pacing, the setting, the subtly menacing characters, the deepening claustrophobia, the intensity - all of it is packaged to keep to entirely invested in what is happening and what is going to happen next. Zero spoilers but hollllllly hell is it a ride and it packs a punch in the very last chapters.

This is an absolute YES for your summer TBR's - it is cannot be missed fun that will have your head spinning and your heart racing.

ANOTHER outstanding 2024 debut by a talented new Canadian author!! I was hooked by the premise for this book that sees Persian Canadian, Jolene screwing up at working and getting assigned extra HR training only to find herself accidentally given access to all of her co-workers emails.

Funny, heartfelt and with a touch of a forbidden office romance that had me swooning and crying, this had a relatable female main character, mental health rep, a complicated family relationship, fake dating and a great cast of side characters.

Perfect for fans of The Office or The other Black girl and excellent on audio narrated by Nasim Pedrad. I can't wait to read more from Natalie Sue! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Horrifically fantastic. A terribly wonderful depiction of how a relationship can quickly devolve into an abusive one. An emotionally stunted writer with a narcissistic tv star who is desperate to keep her fame and public persona above all else. The short chapters add to the quickness with which the relationship between Zara and Jane devolves.

From the moment I started "I Want You More", I knew I was in for a gripping ride. There was something about the way Swan Huntley set this novel up that I always felt intrigued to turn the page.

Here's a bit of the synopsis:
Zara Pines, still stunned from the death of her father and stumbling through life without finding her calling, decides to accept a job ghostwriting Jane Bailey’s memoir. Jane is the star of the hit TV cooking show ‘30 Bucks Top’ and an iconic fan favorite who feeds off the attention of others. Zara isn’t one of those fans. She’s in it for the money and can’t believe Jane wants her to spend the summer living at her East Hampton home. Zara wants to finish the project quickly and get back to her burgeoning relationship with a woman back in California. But despite the picturesque Hamptons hideout, Jane starts to shed her meticulous personality —and Zara falls prey to her manipulative antics. Just as things escalate, Jane's drama with another rising celebrity comes to an apex, thusly changing their dynamic. As Jane falls apart, it’s up to Zara to pick up the pieces. Can Zara escape before Jane controls their final days?

You'll be sitting on the edge of your seat reading this book. The beginning was so intriguing, I couldn't put it down and was excited to get back to it! As I was finishing up the book, I still had no idea how it would end and I kept allowing my mind to wander back to previous clues to help me know if Zara was the culprit here or Jane?

The best thrillers are the ones that keep you guessing all along. Thank you to Zibby Books Publishing, Swan Huntley, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

After her father dies, ghostwriter, Zara, takes a job writing for Jane, a celebrity chef who's cooking show, 30 Bucks Tops, is #1 for foodies. Things get weird pretty quickly after Zara moves in with Jane. Jane slowly starts to peel away the curated personality she keeps for the cameras and allows Zara full access, even wearing Jane's clothes. As they grow closer romantically, Jane begins to change in ways Zara didn't see coming. Will Zara be able to disentangle herself before its too late?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Zibby Books for this e-arc.*

The cover of the book is striking and the synopsis definitely grabs your attention, unfortunately, the writing is a miss.

Zara is a ghostwriter who takes a job for Chef Jane Bailey. To do the job Zara must move in with Jane while she’s interviewing her for the book, but once inside, Jane’s quirks become the least of Zara’s problems.

The first 100 pages of the book focus on Zara and Jane working on the interview process for the book, The story is told from Zara’s POV so her building obsession with Jane is there but very on the nose with little development as to why. However by page 101 it’s an instalove with sapphic spice littered mixed with domestic abuse and manipulation

The story lacked the character development needed for me to connect with the characters. I found Zara and Jane equally unlikable and it gave me no one to root for. I also thought the premise was a stretch; you have to suspend a lot of belief.

Overall predictable and not really enjoyable. I actually hated the ended and what the author did to the character of Zara.

Thank you Zibby Books & NetGalley for the ARC.

I truly didn't think I would be so affected by this novel. I can't stop thinking about it. It was disturbing and at times heartbreaking. I felt like I was yelling at the TV trying to keep the girls in a horror movie from trusting the bad guys. I was sitting there watching it happen and I couldn't do anything about it and yet somehow I knew exactly how Zara felt. We start changing ourselves for the person we love because we want to please them and sometimes we don't see that it's happening for the worst because we’re inside of it. I really couldn't put this down because I had to know what came next! This was such a good novel about obsession and delusion. Something I'd recommend for all psych thriller lovers!

Zara Pines, grieving from the loss of her dad and not sure what she is going to do now, gets a request to be a ghostwriter for celebrity chef Jane Bailey, who stars in the show 30 Bucks Tops. Zara has never heard of her, and quite frankly she hates ghostwriting, but when she discovers the fee will be $50K she quickly changes her tune. The only problem is she is insisting on Zara living at her East Hampton home for the summer .while she works on the book, and Zara just started a new relationship that seems really promising and doesn't want to mess that up. Jane Insists, so she goes to stay there, and Zara hopes she can speed things along and leave quicker than originally planned. However, the longer she is there, the more their attachment grows. Before long, Zara is wearing Jane's clothes, has her hair cut like Jane's and has even adopted some of Jane's speech and mannerisms. As the line between the two women blurs, Zara begins to see under Jane's mask, and there is a darker side that she is hiding from the cameras.

This book was so good. It was dark and twisty, and so creepy at times. Sometimes I just wanted to shake Zara and yell at her to :wake up!" , and it was frustrating when she was so blind to Jane's manipulations for so long. There are instances of physical abuse in the book if that is a trigger for you, so be forewarned. If you love a good thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then you should check this out!