I love domestic dramas told in different POVs and this novel did a great job of that. A good, fast paced read. I did grow quite weary with Rowan’s constant agony but overall I enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

My first book by this author but I will certainly be looking out for more. A good, strong read with a twist that, although I did have an inkling of, and thought the ending a bit rushed, it didn't spoil the enjoyment.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rowan, 42, and Theo, 50, Blackwood have been married for several years now. Theo has a daughter, Ellie, 17, from his first wife who walked away from them a few days after Ellie was born. The thought is that she was very depressed and may have committed suicide although her body has not been found.

Rowan works for an advertising company and enjoys her job. Theo has a successful tech firm and he has created a virtual assistant app that he calls Vera. It is rather like Alexa but much more sophisticated. It controls everything in the house from opening the door to lights, etc.

During their marriage, Rowan has had to endure Ellie’s nastiness to her and the tricks the girl likes to play on her. She has tried in so many ways to befriend Ellie but hasn’t had any success. Ellie just enjoys doing mean things to her.

When Rowan discovers she is pregnant after trying for some years, she and Theo are ecstatic but Ellie is jealous. As Rowan finds herself tired a lot, she decides to quit her job and spend her time planning for the baby.

But Rowan has some secrets from her past and the way she was brought up and treated by her family. This causes her to have nightmares and a lot of apprehension. Will she able to finally put the past behind her and enjoy the new baby?

I grew quite weary with Rowan’s constant agony. How was she ever able to handle a job before she became pregnant? At 17 and after years living with her stepmother trying to get along with her, Ellie became just an immature brat. I read “The Patient” by this author and really like it. But this book just didn’t do it for me.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is told by 2 POV's. That being the mother and the stepdaughter. I love my domestic dramas and I certainly loved this one. It was unpredictable and that is what makes a book for me.

Tense and gripping from the start. A great story that I will definitely be recommending. The twists at the end were a big surprise . I loved it! Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review, and to Teri Terry for writing such a brilliant story

This felt like a slow burn thriller, but it did keep me wanting to read more to see what would happen next. There is such a feeling of impending doom that gave the book such an atmospheric vibe. The moments of panic and not knowing if some things were real or imagined added another creepy later to the story. The twist at the end was definitely surprising!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc!

Here is the blurb

"Standing in my bathroom, the luxurious marble tiles cool under my feet, I stare at the test in my trembling hand. The second line is unmistakable: I’m pregnant.

This is all my husband Theo and I have ever wanted, but I didn’t think it was possible. I should be excited, but all I can think about is telling my stepdaughter.

Because Ellie’s always hated me, ever since she realised it was no longer just her and Theo. Now she’s seventeen, beautiful and smart – smart enough to see through me. And if Ellie decided to uncover my secrets, it wouldn’t be just my marriage at stake… it would be my life.

But I’ve been so careful burying my past. There’s no way she could learn the truth. I know stress isn’t good for the baby, so I force myself to relax.

Until one day I find a packet of tablets tucked inside Ellie’s bag. My head spins – she’s made it clear she wants me gone but I never imagined she would try to harm my baby. I know I can’t tell Theo. She would only deny it to her beloved daddy, fluttering her lashes like she always does.

My beautiful home has become a prison, my husband feels like a stranger. But all I know is that this precious life inside me is more than I deserve – and there’s nothing I won’t do to protect it…"

I requested this book as many years ago I read the Slated young adult trilogy by this author and really enjoyed it. So when this popped up on Netgalley I immediately clicked request. I was not disappointed. The book was obviously aimed at a different audience but I was immediately intrigued by the characters and their interactions. To be honest there were no real surprises during reading this but I find the author really easy and enjoyable to read. Overall a solid psychological thiller.

This gripping psychological thriller is an intense stepdaughter & stepmother battle that could lead to deadly consequences. But I wondered if everyone was what they seemed. I constantly read to see what twists Teri Terry had in store & was thrilled by her surprises!

Thank you, Teri Terry, Bookouture, &Netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.

This was a really great book! I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Omg I could not put this book down. Absolutely great read. Will definitely recommend this to everyone.

This was pretty good! I liked the book from the beginning and I’ve found interesting bot POV. In the beginning, I didn’t like Ellie that much, but I ended up really enjoying reading her parts. They were both interesting characters and I clearly saw how as the book advanced, Rowan lost a bit of her soul. I was not expecting the ending and I think that It was a well constructed plot. One of those thrillers you devour and read in almost one sitting.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This book was absolutely amazing and I couldn't put it down. I will definitely look for more books by this author.

Rowan is married to Theo who has a 17 year old, Ellie.
The book is told in parts by Rowan and Ellie. You can tell from the beginning that Ellie is running from her past and I really liked how that part of the story slowly unfolded through the book. There are many moments when I was saying to myself "what?did I really just read that happened?".

I do highly recommend this book.

An enjoyable book and definitely the type of story that I tend to go for. More domestic noir than thriller, although Vera is pretty terrifying! The book is well paced and has authentic characters. Well worth a read.

This thriller was a page turner, I couldn’t put it down and I just wanted to figure out the truth. And I have to admit I had it all wrong. With its technology aspect this book has a slightly creepy setting, living in a house that knows and controls everything sounds kind of crazy!

I have mixed feelings about Rowan, she annoyed me at some points and I totally understand that it was because of everything that happened in her past so her present actions are understandable.

It took me a while to read this book. I think it was because it didn’t grab me from the start but once I got into it, I rushed through it.

Keep with it and you will enjoy it.

This was my first book by this Author and I have to say, I was HOOKED early in, I binged this one as fast as I could , it was a hard book to put down and kept me paging through as fast as I could. Loved this one SO much! Brilliant read.

I tend to gravitate toward domestic suspense and really enjoyed this book. It had an interesting ending and a few twists along the way. I especially loved the development of the relationship between the two protagonists, Rowan and her step-daughter, Ellie.

Rowan finds out she is pregnant, and her stepdaughter, Ellie, is not happy about it. As time goes on, Rowan begins to struggle with day to day life and is afraid she is in danger.

Not only does this book explore domestic relationships, but there is also a fantastic sub-plot exploring religious fundamentalism and trauma. The book also caused me to think a lot about the role of technology in our lives.

4.5 stars rounded up.

This is a fast paced domestic thriller with some unexpected twists and a pretty good ending . I enjoyed the two POVs and once again I’m glad I don’t have any virtual assistants in my home 😆

The Patient was the first book I read of Terry's, so I had high hopes for The Step Daughter's Lie. It didn't disappoint and fast surpassed The Patient becoming my favourite book by Terry to date.

It's a fast paced read, the premise of which had me hooked immediately. I couldn't flip the kindle pages fast enough.

Lies, deceit and deception are always the prelude to a brilliant thriller and boy did this one deliver!

The characters are credible and I couldn't fault them. The plot is solid and it's such an immersive, engaging read.

From the first sentence to the last, I was fully immersed in The Step Daughter’s Lie by Teri Terry. This is the first book I have read by @teriterrywrites and she might just be my favourite new-to-me author. Terry writes in a way that draws the reader in wanting for more. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. I love a psychological thriller with a twist, dual points of view, unreliable narrators and a nail-biting pace. The Step Daughter’s Lie had all of the above. I loved that the two main characters perceptions were polar opposite’s, leading the reader to question who is telling the truth. I’ll tell ya, I was utterly shocked by the end of the book.

Thank you @bookouture for my arc of The Step Daughter’s Lie and for introducing me to the fabulous writing of @teriterrywrites ! She is absolutely brilliant. Now excuse me while I go hunt down her backlist.

Pub date: July 24, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️