THE UNRAVELING - VI KEELAND

3.5⭐

PLOT
After losing her husband NYC psychiatrist Meredith McCall feels her life has drifted apart. When she finds a man with whom she has a tragic connection she follows him and develops and unhealthy obsession with Gabriel Weight who seems to be perfectly happy and content while her life is in shambles until he decides to be her patient and their life becomes entangled. But her life and career continue to unravel and things slowly become worse.

MY THOUGHTS
This was a quick psychological suspense story more of obsessive kind than thriller per say. It starts with alternating timeline which is quick to read and slowly the story begins to unravel. I could pretty much predict everything except the last 2 twists esp the second last being excellent though I did have some questions about the last one ( let's discuss if u have read this) it was unimaginable!
Being a doctor myself I couldn't really get behind Meredith and her talks with her patients ( not at all how you do it) so you really have to suspend your beliefs to let the story go forward.
Apart from this it was a quick read!

This was a easy fast read. I thought I had an idea how it was going to end, but the very last page told me I was wrong!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of the Unraveling by Vi Keeland.

Huge thank you to the publisher's at Atria books for the opportunity to review The Unraveling by Vi Keeland. This book was suggested to me by the marketing team at Atria and I am beyond grateful it was. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was compelling from start to finish. There was a lot going on with this one. I thought this story was told with perfect pacing. Enough to leave you wanting more and more with every chapter's end. It ended the way I expected it to but it didn't make it any less thrilling for me. I knew exactly where this story was headed but the way Vi Keeland told it was perfect. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Can't believe this is their debut thriller. What a fantastic one at that!

4.25stars-THE UNRAVELING by Vi Keeland is a contemporary, adult, psychological thriller focusing on widowed psychiatrist Dr. Meredith McCall.

Told from first person perspective (Meredith), THE UNRAVELING follows Dr. Meredith McCall as she tries to navigate her life going forward. A tragic accident, loss of life, and two years of guilt find our heroine facing her past, a past that is now controlling her present. As Meredith begins to unravel, so too, do the ghosts that continue to haunt her, ghosts that refuse to let go, ghosts that are more real than she could have ever imagined.

The world building is fraught with twists and turns, betrayal and vengeance, power and madness, obsession and control.

We are introduced to widower Gabriel Wright, Meredith’s late husband Connor Fitzgerald, psychiatrist Dr. Alexander, receptionist and friend Sarah, and patient Rebecca Jordon, all who play a role in Meredith’s ongoing struggle.

THE UNRAVELING is a thought-provoking and unconventional story; a cautionary tale ; a raw, real and twisted despair, remorse and vengeance; of determination and dissolution. The premise is intriguing and powerful; the characters are desperate, tragic and questionable.


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I love a book like this that I can devour in one sitting. Very entertaining and I loved the great ending!

I love psychological thrillers that explore relationships between therapists and patients, and this read added an additional twist that made it fresh, provocative, and a propulsive page-turner.

Meredith is a psychologist who is grieving the loss of her husband after a tragic accident that killed him and another man's wife and young daughter. Since the accident her life unravels into grief, obsession, and increasingly morally gray decisions. Stalking the other man in NYC to see how he has been able to 'move on' after losing his wife and child, and then violating ethical code when he becomes a patient at her psychologist practice without revealing how they are connected. Short chapters, dual timelines, blurred lines and steamy spice made this thriller difficult to put down. I never saw the ending coming making it very satisfactory!

The unraveling was so hard to put down. Jumping right into to a dark story of obsession and stalking. Meredith McCall loses her husband and spirals into a depression and then obsession with a man who then walks into her office as a patient. Jaw dropping ending!!!

Meredith's story is divided up between chapters titled Then and Now. In one night her entire life changes. A year later she happens into a coffee shop and sees Gabriel, a man whose life was also impacted that night. He had been completely devastated just as she had been and yet now when she sees him, he seems completely happy. She starts to follow him, obsessed with what she sees in him. This sets off this dark tale. Although the marketing for this book is very clear and up front that it isn't a romance, the problem is the writing throughout most of the book feels like a romance, albeit a dark one. This is a fast read, I read it very quickly, and really wanted to figure out how everything would turn out. Some of what happens you can see coming from a mile away, but the very final twist, I actually didn't see and feel a little puzzled over because I'd almost like more of an explanation around it. None of the characters in this one are fully likeable, but at the same time I was completely intrigued by the story and what would happen next.

This is another book I somewhat forgot the topic of before I finally got around to reading it. However, I was not all upset when I finally dug into it.

This book grips you right from the beginning. You are left wondering what sort of heartache, catastrophe, Meredith has undergone, and why it consumes her so much. Thankfully, the author lets us know pretty quickly, but while the story seems told right away, there are so many more facets of it that we learn about as we read on. Literally to the very last page, you find out more and more about her connection with Gabriel.

What I appreciated about this book is that it portrays a woman who is a professional who helps others with their mental needs, she herself is unable to intercede on her own behalf to stop the madness in which she becomes entangled. She knows it's terribly wrong, unethical, unprofessional, possibly illegal, but just cannot help herself. I think this part of the story shows that even those that we think are pinnacles of their practice are not always as skilled as they seem. Meredith even has her assistant, with whom she works closely, completely fooled.

This book is also a testament to the allure of forbidden fruit. Meredith knows Gabriel is off limits, but is helpless to her physical attraction. She tries hard to separate herself and find someone more suitable. However, whenever she finds someone who seems perfect for her and to her (as well as not a threat to her entire practice), she cannot resist Gabriel.

I don't know that I have read much of Vi Keeland's books before, but I see she has an extensive back catalog. I will definitely be checking that out, as well as looking for her future books.

If you're looking for a psychological whirlwind, you've found it. But clear your schedule before you pick it up - it's hard to stay away from!

📚 A dark and addictive thriller that hooks you from the start.

👨👧 Meredith McCall, a New York City psychiatrist, is grappling with a devastating loss and teetering on the edge of a dangerous obsession. Gabriel Wright, the man connected to her tragic past, becomes an unexpected patient, further entangling Meredith in a web of ethical dilemmas and intense emotions.

💞 This isn't a love story but a tale of obsession. Meredith's fixation on Gabriel blurs the lines between professional and personal, leading her down a perilous path of deception and desire.

✍️ Vi Keeland masterfully crafts a multi-layered narrative filled with suspense, twists, and turns. The story is told from Meredith's point of view, oscillating between past and present, gradually revealing the dark secrets and questionable actions that define her descent.

🌟 This is a thriller about tragedy, deception, and obsession that unravels throughout the book. It kept me invested, and still left me reeling when all was said and done. Meredith's transformation from a competent psychiatrist to a woman driven by obsession is both fascinating and frustrating, while Gabriel's complexity adds to the story's intrigue.

A psychological thriller, with a romantic twist, perfect for fans of the tv series, You

Meredith McCall is a psychiatrist, adjusting to her new life after tragedy when she crosses paths with a man she has an unusual history with. Her complicated feelings fuel an obsession that lead her to agree to treat him as a patient when he walks into her office. Her life takes a destructive spiral as tragedy, desire and obsession make her unravel.

This was a gripping, fast paced thriller that can easily be devoured in one sitting. You won't want to put this one down as the twists kept coming. Vi Keeland is best known for her romance books, however, her debut thriller was one of the best thrillers I've read this year.

While the main character is flawed, she's not your typical clueless FMC you come to associate with thrillers. The story is told in dual timelines through Meredith's perspective. I wasn't surprised by the reveals around the 80% mark and thought I had it all figured out but this will keep you on your toes right until the very end. The ending will make you go back and reconsider everything you thought you knew.

If you love forbidden romance, suspense and morally grey characters, this one is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This isn’t a love story.

It’s a story about obsession.

After experiencing a terrible loss, New York City psychiatrist Meredith McCall feels painfully adrift. When she crosses paths with a man with whom she has a tragic connection, she follows him, sparking an unhealthy obsession with Gabriel Wright. How is he doing so well while her life is in shambles?

But when Gabriel walks into her office as a patient, seemingly unaware of who she is, she knows it crosses all ethical and moral bounds to treat him. Yet, Meredith can’t bring herself to turn him away and becomes further entangled. With her life and career continuing to unravel, it appears that things could not get any worse…until they do.

REVIEW

Unexpected and engaging. The Unraveling is a very well-written psychological thriller by Vi Keeland, whom I already knew for her romantic-comedy books, which are fun and easy to read. Here she has definitely taken a turn with her writing; if I hadn’t read her name on the cover, I wouldn’t have recognized her as the author of this story.
In this book her writing is engaging, almost hypnotic that pushes you forward page after page.
It’s written through the POV of Meredith, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who recently lost her husband in a tragic accident.
From the beginning I loved the alternating chapters with Meredith's past and present. Slowly discovering how her life has been turned upside down and why.
In the past I have read many thrillers and I am used to trying to solve the puzzles I encounter in reading as I go along, but in this case all assumptions collapsed miserably. I could never have imagined a story like this, and especially its unexpected ending, a bit unsettling but absolutely perfect.
I think Meredith is a character who gives so many mixed reactions in the readers, some of it makes you angry, some of it you want to shake her and scream "wake up!" but you can't help but go on page after page to find out what awaits her. She is human, not perfect, and she makes mistakes, but she faces the consequences of her actions, always.
Gabriel is an absolute mystery and he is perfect this way.

RATING 5 STARS



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The Unraveling is a beautiful story of Meredith and Gabriel. It's full of Suspenseful and thrilling moments. The story unfolds in a captivating way. You get hooked and it makes you so engaged that you will keep on turning the pages.

Vi Keeland fantastic story telling keeps you glued to the story and you will be obsessed with it.

I Cannot Recommend it enough to all readers. A Must read.

The first book in quite some time for me that I actually looked forward to reading. Keeland draws you in from the very beginning and doesn't let go. Everybody's true colors come out eventually.

Thank you NetGalley, Vi Keeland and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC!

What in the hell did I just read?!! This was so unhinged - no real likable characters, I felt some empathy for the FMC at certain parts, but other parts I simply could not. The delusion was working its hardest in this one. The twists were absolutely INSANE and the ending was VERY Joe Goldberg. What a wild ride that I couldn’t stop reading but maybe not for the right reasons.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Vi Keeland for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!**

In writing, much like in life, just because you CAN?

Doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Vi Keeland's first journey from the world of romance writing into the somewhat over saturated thriller genre unfortunately served to remind me of this adage over and over...and OVER again.

Meredith McCall is in desperate need of a Mc(Wakeup) Call. Years ago, she was living the dream with her hunky hockey playing beau, Connor, when a horrifying injury took him out of the game, and led him down a dangerous road...quite literally. When he ends up at the helm of a dangerous accident, his erratic behavior affects more than his wife...and the lives of another family are forever changed. Meredith can't quite let the devastation go and her guilty and curious conscience leads her to a familiar place, looking for a familiar person: Gabriel Wright. He's the one who has truly been destroyed by Connor's behavior and Meredith can't help but wonder what he's up to...so one day she decides to go to a place he will be and to follow him...you know, just for a WHILE.

But when Meredith's compulsion becomes a bit of a habit, she finds herself unable to get enough...and her behavior starts to resemble obsession. And as she attempts to dive back into her psychiatry practice, imagine her surprise when a very familiar face shows up at her door wanting therapy: none other than Gabriel himself. Meredith panics, thinking Gabriel HAS to know everything and that's why he's here...but why does he have to be SO attractive? Could she be imagining it...or is there CHEMISTRY between them? What exactly is Gabriel's agenda anyway...and does he KNOW who she is? Can she really turn down an opportunity to treat him and assuage her guilty conscience AND feed into her unbridled curiosity? Or is there a more intricate web of deception being spun...and a ploy for revenge that could turn her 'harmless' crush into a permanent nightmare?

First off, hearing such rave early reviews for this book MAY have set the bar unreasonably high for me. Although I was a bit wary going in, I couldn't help but be thrilled to read a stalker narrative which promised twists and turns AND a bit of spicy romance, and I was hoping this would go the way of say, an A.R. Torre tale.

Instead, this book, which promises to be 'chilling, exciting, and addictive' is a narrative tinged with the promise of exciting 'obsession' that ends up falling into the same well-worn patterns of many before it...but with cringe-worthy dialogue, a messy narrator, and too much needless spice to meet ANY of the aforementioned criteria.

Meredith is supposed to be QUITE the stalker, at least according to the premise...but to be honest, she seemed more like someone who just was looking for a roll in the hay with someone attractive...and Gabriel just sort of became that 'lucky' guy. Keeland tries to make her seem obsessive, but I felt like Meredith spent plenty of time doing other things, and was pretty harmless overall anyway. There are mentions made of Joe Goldberg and YOU, but again, I feel like this was just to push the narrative that she was a stalker rather than SHOWING her doing anything I'd deem dangerous. Granted, nobody should follow someone around in general, but when I read a thriller who wants to paint itself in this light, there's a certain LEVEL of creepiness needed in the narration to truly make that pop, and I felt that element was missing here.

What we got instead was PLENTY of stereotypical booze-fueled behavior, and a long drawn out plot to boot. (Yawn.) I think Meredith spent more time bopping over to the liquor store than she EVER spent hunting down Gabriel....especially because eventually, he ends up coming RIGHT TO HER for sessions. (Convenient much?) For someone who casts a sideeye at others' addictive behavior, Meredith could take a bit of her own advice. The number of times she rattled on about how it was her FOURTH glass, or the ever popular 'Might as well finish the bottle!" made me feel a lot better about an occasional second glass, I'll tell you that much!The only time I DON'T mind this device in thrillers is it rings of realism, or if the alcohol/drugs aren't a defining characteristic...but in this one, they took up FAR too much time...so for those who despise it, be warned. (Not to mention why on EARTH anyone thought Meredith was in a place to be practicing therapy again...but that's an entirely different tangent!)

And then there's Gabriel, the object of Meredith's 'obsession'. It's sad to say this, but Keeland leaned HEAVILY on her habits from romance writing when it came to this pair and their lusty interactions, and after a while, I just grew tired of it. At times it almost seemed like we were supposed to root for them as a couple (!?) which in a thriller like this one, just seemed WEIRD. I wanted more tension, more adversity, more blurring of the lines between patient and therapist...NOT for them to wax poetic about how much one character wanted to bend the other over a desk. I'm fine with a romance with a bit of suspense in it, but this was not even that...the tone was all over the place at times and I just couldn't figure out what I was supposed to be thinking OR feeling at any given moment.

But the number one issue that kept me from enjoying this one, however, was the dialogue. It was that sort of dialogue that makes you stop, pause, roll your eyes a bit, make faces, and most importantly, makes you think "NOBODY actually talks this way." If we can put aside all of the back and forth between Gabriel and Meredith throughout, Meredith's interactions with her OTHER patients (as well as her own therapist!) felt just ridiculous. I'm not sure if Keeland had anyone in the profession read this after the fact, but I'm pretty sure if therapists talked this way regularly they wouldn't have any patients. (And I didn't have any PATIENCE for it!) I'll give you just one example along the way where Meredith is listening to Rebecca (I mean, sort of):

"Him? You mean Steve? The man you just broke up with?" I'm getting lost in all of these unnamed men.
Rebecca rolls her eyes. "Who else would it be?"

Honestly, Rebecca...tell me you and your therapist don't actually CARE about your therapy without actually telling me. Completely brutal.

When the twists were revealed, I didn't find them that exciting (and one in particular was very predictable) so it felt even more like I was perhaps supposed to be waiting for a big romantic reveal rather than a terrifying one. (Aside from the last chapter, which was BETTER...if the whole book had utilized this format along the way, I have no doubt it could have been more intriguing!) This book's one redeeming quality is that is fairly readable (or at least, it doesn't get TOO bogged down in detail) so I was able to end my 'visit' to Meredith's office eventually. If I can stumble through a book like this in a few days, I can only imagine how I would have felt if I was TRULY invested in Meredith's stalking aspirations. (If that's an okay thing to say...maybe *I* need some therapy to recover from this crew!)

And the only thing truly 'unraveled' by the time I finished this one was the ball of yarn better known as my sanity.

3 stars, rounded up from 2.5

I was looking for something that would keep me completely entertained and The Unraveling by Vi Keeland was the book I landed on. And I'm glad I did!

It pulled me in right away and the four and five-star reviews are right- this book is a winner. I'm always hoping for a story with an interesting main character, an intriguing plot, and twists I don't expect. Oftentimes I get bored because I feel as though I am reading the same plot over and over again in different books but this was something new!

After experiencing a terrible loss, New York City psychiatrist Meredith McCall feels painfully adrift. When she crosses paths with a man with whom she has a tragic connection, she follows him, sparking an unhealthy obsession with Gabriel Wright. How is he doing so well while her life is in shambles?

But when Gabriel walks into her office as a patient, seemingly unaware of who she is, she knows it crosses all ethical and moral bounds to treat him. Yet, Meredith can’t bring herself to turn him away and becomes further entangled. With her life and career continuing to unravel, it appears that things could not get any worse…until they do.

Wow! What an incredible departure from Vi's normal romance genre. This book had me wanting more and more the further I got into the story. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, Vi took the story in another direction. Meredith & Gabriel have suffered the most horrific losses imaginable. Both lost their spouses in a car accident caused by Meredith's husband Connor. Gabriel not only lost his wife but his little girl, Rose. When fate has Meredith & Gabriel crossing paths again at a coffee shop 2 yrs after the accident, the heart of the story begins. Meredith has so much guilt over the accident her husband caused. Gabriel is struggling to move on with his life much like Meredith is but both have different reasons, Meredith and Gabriel are both struggling to stay away from each other, knowing they shouldn't be seeing each other, but the attraction between them is undeniable. I really hope we get more of this couple's story at some point, whether it is in bonus content or possibly a second book. There is so much more to explore with Meredith & Gabriel. Vi did a phenomenal job writing this romantic suspense.

4 stars
This was a very enjoyable book, written by Vi Keela, an author new to me.

Meredith is the main character, who is mourning the loss of her husband after driving drunk, in an accident that also killed a mother and child crossing the street.

As a psychiatrist, Meredith is having a hard time understanding how the grieving husband, Gabriel , and father of the deceased child can be living happily.
She embarks on a quest to understand, while following him around the neighborhood.
In a strange turn of events, Gabriel shows up at her office as a new patient.
Does he know that her husband was the driver of the car that killed his family? How can she help him without revealing her identify?
This was a fast reading, easy flowing book, with a somewhat twisty ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster books for the ARC
My opinions and review are unbiased and freely offered .

Absolutely amazing thriller debut from Vi Keeland!!

Most readers are used to getting some romance from Vi but this time she takes outside her usual genre and delivers an edge-of-you-seat thriller that keeps readers engage from start to finish.

I enjoyed how Vi wrote this one - it's captivating and enthralling and just when you think you know it all and have it all figured out, Vi throws us curve ball and leaves readers with their jaws hanging wide open.

I really hope Vi writes more novels in this genre in the future. She definitely nailed the suspense, mystery and thrilling vibes throughout this whole book.

Definitely a highly recommended read.