When I saw Vi Keeland wrote a thriller I just knew it would be filled with twists. I have enjoyed many of her romances over the years and I knew this would be good. The tag line “this isn’t at love story. It’s a story about obsession”. The title “The Unraveling” and it’s about a psychiatrist? Are you kidding me, I am so in. I could not put this down and I needed to know what was really going on. What does Gabriel know? Is Meredith even reliable? This kept me guessing until the end and than it had me guessing again. I need to discuss this ending with someone right now!! I can not wait to read more thrillers from Vi Keeland.

The narrative of "The Unraveling" centers around Meredith McCall, a psychiatrist grappling with personal turmoil following a significant loss. After a prolonged period of emotional distress, she seeks to reestablish a sense of normalcy in her life, yearning for a fresh beginning. Unexpectedly, she encounters Gabriel Wright, an individual with whom she shares a tragic past, leading to a complex connection. Despite the potential risks, Meredith becomes entwined in Gabriel's life, blurring ethical boundaries as she endeavors to assist him through therapy. As mysterious events unfold, she confronts the consequences of her actions and the implications of her involvement with Gabriel.

Vi Keeland's work in this psychological thriller presents a captivating exploration of themes such as obsession, forbidden attraction, and moral dilemmas. The narrative unfolds with intense emotional resonance, coupled with suspenseful elements that heighten the reader's engagement. Keeland adeptly navigates the complexities of the characters' intertwined fates, creating a compelling storyline that delves into the darker aspects of human psychology.

"The Unraveling" stands out as a testament to Vi Keeland's ability to craft gripping narratives that delve into the intricate dynamics of interpersonal relationships. The novel's fast-paced nature and unexpected twists contribute to its overall appeal, drawing readers into a world characterized by suspense and psychological intrigue. Keeland's foray into the realm of psychological mysteries showcases her versatility as an author and sets the stage for further exploration in this genre.

In conclusion, "The Unraveling" serves as a compelling example of a psychological thriller that not only entertains but also delves into profound themes of guilt, redemption, and self-discovery. Vi Keeland's skillful storytelling and nuanced character development create a riveting reading experience that leaves a lasting impact on readers, making it a noteworthy addition to the genre of contemporary thrillers.

I can only hope for a sequel. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overview: After noticing a familiar face, Meredith McCall becomes increasingly obsessed with finding out why Gabriel Wright seems totally unaffected by the same tragic event that upended both of their lives. Her therapist convinces Meredith to stop her stalker ways before she descends further into her obsession. However, when she returns to her own psychiatric practice after being suspended, she is unnerved to discover that one of her new patients is none other than Gabriel, although fortunately he does not appear recognize her. Meredith would be breaking ethical boundaries by accepting him as her patient, but against her better judgment, she can’t seem to turn him away…

Thoughts: I absolutely devoured this book! Although this author is known for her romances, I was impressed by how well the threads of her debut psychological thriller were tied together. The dual timelines were super effective in building tension. The clues left throughout the book were obvious enough that I had a good idea of what the twists would be, but I would argue that it actually enhanced the reading experience because they had me eagerly anticipating the climax. The chemistry and spicy scenes between Meredith and Gabriel was so good, without being gratuitous. I did find some of Meredith’s thoughts in the first half a bit repetitive, but considering her traumatized and self-destructing nature, it was understandable.

Take home message: I highly recommend this addictive and sizzling psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes right until the very end. This is especially perfect for those who enjoy forbidden and/or stalker romances; HOWEVER, readers should be aware that this is NOT a romance, despite the author being a well-known romance writer.

Thanks to NetGalley, Emily Bestler books, and Atria for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Meredith McCall, a psychiatrist, is shown in the beginning of the novel attending counseling sessions in an attempt to save her career. She was forced to deal with the fallout from an incident that her ex-husband, Connor, was involved in as a sportsman. A psychological explosion resulted from her husband Connor's life-altering injury, which forced him to give up sports. This accident cost Meredith her husband Connor, and it also cost Gabriel Wright his family.

Unknowingly, Meredith felt a strange connection to Gabriel, whom she perceives as a victim of her husband's actions, while she was attempting to navigate her life through therapy and return to her career. Through the act of fate When she returns to her career as a psychiatrist, Gabriel becomes her patient, which piqued her interest and gave rise to further intriguing events. The plot begins to take shape and reveals the book's sinister secret. Every individual had a unique tale to share, varying degrees of involvement, moments of remorse, admissions of guilt, and much more.

The game play effectively portrays the psychological emotions in the novel, which is engaging and exciting.
Simon & Schuster and Netgalley provided me with an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Oh my goodness! I was hooked on this book by the first page. It kept you guessing the whole way through. You think you've got it figured out but the ending was not what I expected. I was actually left wanting more!

I love this thriller with spice. It was just the right amount of both. I hope Vi writes more books like this!

I am a fan of some of Vi Keeland's romances so I was intrigued by her thriller debut. Unfortunately, some deficiencies in her writing, that would fly with indie romance, are glaringly obvious in this thriller.

First off, I would call it more of an erotic thriller, but it didn't go full-frontal. It honestly should've been hornier. Also, it was riddled with cliches from the thriller genre. If I have to read another therapist with an alcohol problem in a thriller, I will yeet my Kindle into a river. I guessed every twist and turn and nothing was surprising. While lots of scenes of talking would be fine in a romance, they lacked tension in this. Where is the suspense?

It was an average thriller that took me a long time to read for its length.

Maybe she should stick to romances.

Meredith McCall is a New York psychiatrist drowning in grief after suffering a horrific loss. After almost two years her world still feels completely shattered and empty. She's been through too much, and her emotions are all over the place. She craves a sense of normalcy again, and needs to learn to stop living in the past. She feels like she's searching for something, but not sure what. Maybe she just longs for a fresh start. Then she runs into a man she shares a tragic history with. They have a connection even though they've never actually met. She should steer clear of Gabriel, but her curiosity gets the better of her. She makes the choice to follow him which gives her an odd sense of purpose. She finds it fascinating how carefree he appears while she's falling apart. When he suddenly walks into her office looking for a therapist, she can't bring herself to turn him away. Even though he doesn't seem to know who she is, it crosses all the lines and breaks all her own rules. As she heads down a dark unhealthy path things get more complicated as her life and career continue to unravel.

The Unraveling by Vi Keeland is an intense, emotionally charged, psychological thriller full of suspense, mystery, stalking, obsession, forbidden attraction and unexpected twists. I really enjoyed Vi Keeland's captivating debut thriller, and hope she continues writing more in this genre.

This was a slow story. I thought the atmosphere of creepy stalker-ness was very well done, but the problem was that we got these long gaps in between of her patient appointments and other aspects of her life. In the end, it dragged a lot. I was frustrated by the way she devolved into yet another "dumb woman" stereotypical character. She starts off in trouble for bad psychiatry practices that actually weren't her fault, but then she kind of became a bad psychiatrist for real and that was disappointing. The plot itself wasn't very twisty or surprising so I kept waiting for something big to happen... but then it never did. She just kept making bad decisions and I liked her less and less as the book went on. I think there are better psychological thrillers out there, but if you don't mind slow burns you may like this one.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

When you say to yourself you are excited to read a new book by one of your favorite authors and she says she is trying a thriller this time .. you go OK I will give it a shot BUT when it turns out to be the BEST book you have read WOW JUST WOW !! The story captivates you right off the bat with love and heartache !! And of course some mystery and thrillers BUT when you read the ending you will be like .. WHAT DID I JUST READ !! And it will ALL click together and make you go back and read some parts over because you will be an AWE !!

From a professional hockey player to his doctor wife to a professor and his wife and daughter and to a stalker and a dark, dark secret ..WOW just plain WOW !!

I can’t write what I would like to because I do NOT want to spoil it for others so, all I can say is BEST READ OF THE YEAR !! A HUNDRED STAR READ !!

Holy moly. This was such a page turned. I was hooked from the start. When I tell you that I had no idea where this story was going, I mean it.

I enjoyed the fast paced story with that wild plot twist at the end. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS from the last chapter! I need to know more. Give us a bonus chapter please?!

All I know is you genuinely cannot trust anyone in this story.

I love Vi Keeland and I’ve read a ton of her books. I was interested to see what she had to say when it came to a mystery. This was definitely the work of a first timer and someone who is coming out of the romance genre. I see the potential and know that it will get better and better as she continues.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of The Unraveling by Vi Keeland. Meredith rubbed me the wrong way and I could never bring myself to like or care about her. This was still a compulsive read and I was intrigued until I reached the explicit scenes near the end that came out of nowhere. While I understood how they fit in, they were too descriptive for me. I wasn't surprised to find out that Keeland usually writes romance books. It felt like the ‘twist’ at the end was tacked on just to have a ‘twist’ but is it a twist if the reader is confused about what it means?

4.5 ⭐ This book takes obsession, secrets, stalking, and grief/loss to a new level.
This book follows Meredith, a psychiatrist, who just lost her husband in an accident that also killed a woman and her daughter ( not spoilers since it happens early in the book). After this loss you follow Meredith as her life "unravels" and things go from bad to worse.
This book is twisty, heart-pounding, and overall a thrill ride along with fast read.
I also feel like if you like You by Caroline Kepnes, you will love the little drops of that book in here (still not a spoiler just an small aspect of it sprinkled in.)
I highly recommend reading this thriller from best selling romance author. Thank you to Netgalley, Vi Keeland, Simon and Schuster, and Atria books for the e Arc of this book.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This book started with a terrific premise. Unfortunately, it turned trite fairly quickly. I kept reading, hoping that it would improve. Ultimately, I was disappointed.

The Unraveling is an intriguing, suspenseful, read with some wild twists and turns and a side of taboo to boot. I went into this book completely blind like most books and I am so glad I did. Meredith is a psychiatrist struggling with loss and in life in general and she is not coping well. She forms an unhealthy obsession with Gabriel which ends up taking over various aspects of her life. When Gabriel comes to her office for an appointment she isn't sure if it's a coincidence or totally random or if he is on to her, but one thing is certain, things are about to get even more intense.

I have read many of this author's books and have enjoyed them all. I could tell just from the cover that this was going to be a totally different story for her, and while it was different, I was not at all disappointed. I was hooked from early on and invested in what was going to happen, and while there were times I thought I might have had it all figured out, I definitely didn't. I could not put this book down. There wasn't any part of me that wanted to. These characters and this story line completely sucked me in. While there were some parts of the story that were sad given their nature, the obsession and the mystery and the taboo nature of the story line just had me needing to read just one more page.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ahhh this was excellent! And the ending left my jaw on the floor. So so good!

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!

The Unraveling was the definition of unputdownable. I felt a sense of urgency throughout the book to keep turning the page. I got a sense of what was happening; the mystery wasn't necessarily well-hidden, but I still enjoyed the process of getting to the conclusion. I did feel like the ending still left so many unanswered questions and dangling plot points; what happened with Robert? Why was Gabriel going to Thailand? I would have liked an epilogue from Meredith's perspective. Having read a lot of hockey romance, it was interesting to read a book about a hockey WAG that turned truly dark.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Meredith McCall is a psychiatrist who is on probation after her husband’s death and visits another psychiatrist during that period. Meridith came across Gabriel Wright and decided to follow him, knowing everything about him—his schedule, where he goes, where he works.

Things I liked: A fast-paced psychological thriller with interesting premises. An engaging plot from the beginning. A flawed and twisted character, Meredith, makes bad decisions after bad decisions but still sympathises with her. Switch between the past and present.

Things I didn’t like: I was anticipating a jaw-dropping plot twist, but it was predictable; I saw it coming from miles away, and that was let down for me.

Overall, it was a decent read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts.

What 👏🏻 a 👏🏻 ride 👏🏻

I was hooked from the very beginning with this one! Seriously wished I didn’t need to stop and tend to real life, it was so good. I’ve actually never read another book by Vi Keeland, but I know she typically writes romance and this was her thriller debut. She knocked it out of the park, honestly.

There is some romance and spice included in this, tastefully crafted to match the tone and pace of the story. It felt authentic and necessary to the plot. But I found it cool that the author was able to weave some of her natural writing strengths into her new endeavor and make it work so well.

All in all, I kept creating false plot lines in my head, thinking I knew where this story was going, but I was usually only half right the entire book long. 🤣 It was the perfect build up of suspense and the end will have you 😱

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I love Vi Keeland books. It was a no brainer to read this even though it is not her usual genre. This book did not disappoint, there are twist and turns and the end left my mouth hanging open.