A good story and a decent plot tie-up at the end. But unrealistic character behaviours are a detractor & irritant.

Meredith is a therapist, who has been struggling to cope with a personal tragedy. Her husband Connor died in a car accident and another family suffers as well when he hits a woman and her girl. Meredith has been going to a therapist Dr Alexander herself as mandated by the medical board. One morning, seated in a coffee shop, she looks outside and sees Gabriel Wright, the other person impacted in the accident. Meredith had seen him in grief in the hospital, but thinks he had not seen her then. Meredith is seized by a desire to understand how he is coping and starts following him. She is taken aback when Gabriel approaches her as a patient.

I liked the further truths about the accident which get revealed as the plot progresses. There is a nice introduction of a twist with one of her patients playing a part. Meredith’s own sense of guilt about Connor and the accident he was in (he had a sports injury and was recovering) is well written. That said, most of her behaviours through much of the story is very contrived. The same holds to a lesser extent with respect to one of Meredith’s patients who has an important role in the plot, and also Gabriel.

It takes a lot of skill for an author to write a story that is mind-bending. This author managed to do that with this twisted tail that leaves you with a question like what the hell just happened?

I have this book is a bit intense in terms of the subject and there were several areas that left me feeling uncomfortable. What’s amazing about this author is she was able to subtly twist the story and leave you with that unbalanced feeling that has you guessing about who really was the bad guy in this wild tale.

There are so many parts in the story that cross so many lines in terms of unethical behavior. The closer you get to the end, you realize just how well she has twisted the story and leaves you guessing all the way through.

In The Unraveling, Keeland brings us intense characters, heartbreaking situations, and addictive behaviors that might make you squirm a bit. That ending is everything though!

As I said before, it’s been a while since I’ve read this author, and it was not in this genre however, she certainly caught my attention and she’s on my radar again. Be prepared for some mind-bending subtly in this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a crazy book with lots of twists and turns, I honestly thought the ending left the reader hanging, so I hope there is a sequel to tie up the loose ends. This book had a little bit of everything: mystery, romance, thriller, suspense and lots of drama! I really enjoyed it and I hope Vi Keeland writes more novels in this style!

Read if you like
Colleen Hoover
Liv Constantine
JT Ellison

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This thriller swept me into a whirlwind of suspense and secrets, leaving me glued to its pages until the very end. The relentless pace kept me on the edge, racing to uncover the truth behind the characters' tangled web of lies. Every twist and turn added another layer to the mystery, keeping me guessing until the final reveal.

What struck me the most was the raw portrayal of human vulnerability in the aftermath of tragedy. The characters grapple with guilt, blame, and the haunting weight of their secrets, painting a vivid picture of the complexities of the human psyche. As the story unfolded, I found myself questioning the motives of each character, never quite sure who to trust.

I liked the unconventional approach to the cat-and-mouse game. Instead of the usual tropes, the author crafted a gripping narrative that defied expectations at every turn. It was refreshing to see the characters navigate their way through the chaos in a way that felt both unpredictable and authentic.

The book left me breathless, reminding me that safety is never guaranteed and that the line between truth and deception is often blurred. It's a haunting reminder of the fragility of the human situations.

The pacing was a bit off on this one! A fast read with a strong beginning and strong end. However, the middle was a bit flat. This will be a good beach read since it can be binged.

THE UNRAVELING is one of the first books that I've read in a while that I had a hard time putting down. It was not only suspenseful and entertaining but it was just hard to stop thinking about. I couldn't wrap my head around Meredith's character and her obsession with Gabriel. I absolutely loved the ending, as my jaw dropped to the floor! All the stars for this one. Run, don't walk to get this book, it's really that good!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) close to pub date.

I finished this one a few days ago and needed time to ruminate on it. It ends with such a wallop that I’ve had a hard time not thinking about this book. Fast paced and saturated with obsession, this was a fast read. Several times, I yelled at Meredith in my head and yet all of her actions made so much sense for who she was and what she was going through. I really enjoyed this and am hoping Keeland writes more in this genre.

Holy moly! I’ve been a wreck throughout this story. How do you write a review for a book that has so many twists turns and unexpected coincidences (or are they), and keep it spoiler free?
You can’t. Suffice to say I loved this book - the suspense, the story, a psychological thriller that will keep you riveted throughout. The story drew me in from the first chapter. Meredith, once an upstanding psychiatrist, is left questioning her own morals, as both a person and a doctor after crossing paths with Garbriel (a man her husband wronged), on more than one occasion. Herein unravels a whole host of questions with no clear cut answers. Written completely from Meredith’s POV, save for one chapter, we get to see inside her complicated mindset, and I love it. I love the way she questions herself, her actions, and her decisions. She is a highly complicated person dealing with a highly unusual situation. Great writing, fantastic characters and a story that will keep you questioning every action and every decision until the very last page, then you too will be thinking. What the heck!!! I did not see that coming. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

An unhinged stalker tale? Count me in!

Psychiatrist Meredith McCall is trying to put her life back together after the death of her husband. But she's having a hard time putting aside her feelings of, not only grief, but guilt. Because her husband's death also resulted in the death of a mother and daughter. When she happens upon the husband/father of the deceased, Gabriel Wright, she becomes intrigued. He seems genuinely happy, and how can that be when she feels like her life is falling apart? In a desperate attempt to understand, she begins stalking Gabriel. Completely irrational and unhinged behavior, sure, (and as a psychiatrist Meredith knows that) but she thinks it might bring her some type of closure.

With the help of a fellow counselor, she starts to realize how unhealthy her obsession with Gabriel is and backs off. With her stalking behind her and her life moving forward, she feels better than she has in a long time. That is, until Gabriel walks into her office for therapy. She knows she should turn him away, but she pushes all ethics aside in attempt to help him. After all, maybe that will help right the wrong her husband did to Gabriel's family. But the longer she keeps up this ruse, the harder it becomes for her to let go and she starts spiraling into a dangerous game.

I've been reading a lot of stalker books lately, and this one falls somewhere in the middle.
I was very captivated at the beginning of the story. Meredith's grief was raw and her actions, though questionable, were in some ways understandable. It felt like her character was progressing towards a healthy and healing path. And I know that wouldn't have made for as tense of a thriller perhaps, but her character arc nosedive just threw me off. She pushed ethical and moral boundaries, made poor decision after poor decision, and jeopardized everything she'd ever worked for. It just didn't make sense. I wasn't that enthused by the back half of the book unfortunately. It was an okay read, but I've read other stalker tales that I liked much more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

solid 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is like a rollercoaster ride! Picture this: you start off on this journey with Meredith McCall, a girl who carries around some heavy regret/guilt from her past. Then, boom! Enter Gabriel Wright, who's not just a pretty face but also has layers upon layers of depth & equal baggage from his past. Obsession, and stalking along with Keeland's writing style pull you in, and before you know it, you're totally invested in their story. Good luck trying to figure out the ending because I was not able to figure it out. When I got to the epilogue I legit screamed at the ending.

What a book. Oh my!!! This Author turns out 5 star reads, this being no exception. Run....don't walk....to get this amazing book!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital copy in exchange for a review.

OMG. I can't remember the last time I stayed up until 3AM reading... what are responsibilities? Don't have them! All I could think about was this book, and now that it's over, I still can't stop. I'M OBSESSED. A stalker triangle!? How refreshing for a Lifetime-esque thriller! And that ending... will there be a sequel!? It could go either way, and both ways I'd be more than happy. All I want is for Meredith to be happy, and as it stands, she is. If this doesn't win best thriller of 2024, I'm going to be shocked.

Thanks to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for the ARC.

Vi Keeland is a prolific author of romance novels and with this book ventures into the thriller genre. This book is a quick read and there is enough spice to heat things up.
But, If you read psychological thrillers regularly, this book doesnt offer much of change. The 'twists' are easy to guess. I couldnt sympatize with the MC Meridith, when she took regrettable decisions, knowing very well the consequences. Gabriel's character was just attractive and nothing else.
I don't understand why writers of psychological thrillers find it mandatory to write in first person and in alternating timelines.
The first 13 chapters alternate between then and now, which is unnecessary. It was not revealing any mystery as we can easily guess what happened 'Then' right from the first chapter. All the other chapters till the end are in the present.

Recommended for readers of romantic thrillers.

Overall Take:
Engaging psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Synopsis:

After experiencing a terrible loss, New York City psychiatrist Meredith feels painfully adrift. When she crosses paths with Gabriel. Someone should have no business being near.

But when Gab walks into her office as a patient, seemingly unaware of who she is. Despite the ethics, Meredith can’t seem to turn him away and things get entangled.

Things can’t get any worse, until they do.

Thoughts:
I loved psychological thrillers, and I absolutely love them when they involve therapists and relationships with their patients. I feel that this is a really narrow niche, but oh boy is it one that I enjoy. I feel that every book I’ve read is written about this type of relationship I have had a lot of fun with. But funnily enough, forbidden romance in most other settings is not my favorite.

The characters were great. I enjoyed Meredith’s character. Her grief came through the page, and a lot of her story felt very relatable. I feel that I too would have blamed myself if I was in her shoes and things happened to me like they happened to her. This book kept me guessing and engaged until the last page, oh and on that last page was a jaw dropping reveal! I did not see that coming and it was amazing. I thought things had wrapped up nicely before that, but the true ending was amazing and what made this a five-star read for me!
I always struggle writing reviews more for five-star reads because there are just so many things I loved but all I can think of is “I loved this”.

Thank you to:
Thank you to Atria /Emily Bestler @atriathrillers, @vi_keeland and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.

Wow wow wow, that ending, just wow! Anyone can read the synopsis and know that Meredith's world has come crashing down. Her husband, a famous hockey player, was drunk and ran over a woman and her child. Meredith saw the woman's husband sometime later and it seemed he was healing and moving on. Unlike her. How? How can he do that? So Meredith has become a little obsessed with following Gabriel and watching him.

When Meredith attempts to get her career back, she can't believe it when Gabriel comes to her as a patient. Is this a coincidence? There is so much intrigue and danger in this story. Enter a third party. I can't say much about that person but things are not what they always seem. Just when you think that things are settled and the horrible truth comes out, keep reading. Believe me, your eyeballs are going to fall out.

QUICK TAKE: this was...not great. A solid twist ending does not make up for the paint-by-number domestic suspense melodrama slog that is the other 300 pages. However, I'm seeing a LOT of positive reviews for this one, so maybe I wasn't the audience. Wasn't for me.

Twisted and filled with suspense!

I really enjoyed this book! I went in to this not knowing much about the author or the story and ended up tearing through until the end. A New York City psychiatrist, Dr. Meredith McCall, suffers a traumatic loss and feels adrift in life. When she bumps into a man she has a tragic connection with, Gabriel Wright, it sparks an unhealthy obsession that leads her down a dark path.

This book didn’t disappoint. The author’s writing style was easy to read and her voice was engaging. Considering she usually writes romance, this story was definitely on the darker side. I was hooked from the beginning, learning about the tragedy that bound Meredith and Gabriel. None of the characters were perfect, but Gabriel changed the most over the course of the story. The pace was steady throughout, picking up in the third act, and I was gripped until the end. That twist on the final page was shocking!

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy suspense, twists, and compelling female protagonists.

Not sure how I feel about this one. Meredith was kind of ridiculous, saying the wrong things and just made a lot of really dumb choices.
I was invested in the story I knew something twisty was going to come up. I will say after awhile I did start to suspect Rebecca and Gabriel of being together. The end one year later was a nice touch.

"The Unraveling" is a triumph—a testament to the enduring power of love in the face of adversity. With its richly drawn characters, poignant prose, and unforgettable story, it's a novel that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page. Vi Keeland has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, and "The Unraveling" is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end.

This book left me speechless. From the scone I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely gasped at the end.

This is a thriller that begins with Meredith, a psychiatrist that lost her license for a year. While taking on of her long walks, she sees the man who her former husband killed his family in an accident. She becomes obsessed with him following him.

Once she goes back to her practice, that man comes in for therapy. The story takes off from there full of twists. The characters are completely deranged, morally questionable, and fascinating. I love when a main character is morally gray but I can’t help but root for her. I really wanted Meredith to come out on top despite her questionable decision making. It honestly makes the book so much better.

The book is fantastic and engaging. The tension between the characters is amazing. You’ll find out so many secrets each chapter. It is tense at times with a little smut which was fun in a thriller. It moves between a “then” and “now” timeline allowing the reader to start pieces together the story.

The ending was absolutely amazing. Honestly, I thought about it for days. I was shocked. Themes of obsession, lust, and revenge.

The characters are definitely morally questionable, so if you don’t like that, this might not be the book for you. For me- it made the story even better. I cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next. Do yourself a favor- buy this the second it comes out.

This book comes out June 9, 2024. Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.