I really wanted to like this book as the premise was really promising but it was a real let down. Styled as a thriller, I found it lacked any sort of thrills, suspense or twists. The plot is awkward to follow and flips between narratives so many times I’m not entirely sure what the main story was supposed to be. I also found the ending very rushed and rather ridiculous considering everything that happens between the characters in the book.

We’re supposed to feel sorry for Emily and her situation but honestly she is so unlikeable. She is self absorbed, whiney, over reacts and seems to think the world revolves around her. She makes so many judgements and accuses William of things when there is no logic to this and gets even more suspicious him when he is defensive and disagrees with her. She then has the audacity to accuse others of being narcissistic when it’s literally her entire personality. Neither William or teddy come across as nice people either so I don’t find myself rooting for any character, and frankly want to see Emily fail and end with nothing. Her family and therapist also come across as enablers to this behaviour, reinforcing that she is in the right even when she clearly isn’t.

The writing style for me is difficult to follow, I just don’t find the flow easy or fast paced. Usually with a book, I can’t wait to read the next chapter but this felt a bit of a mission to finish sadly. The premise was really promising but the execution just doesn’t hit the mark for me. I appreciate in fiction novels you do have to suspend reality a little but I found this so far fetched and over the top, and struggled to believe how any of the story/actions/behaviour would ever actually happen in real life. It’s my first read from the author and sadly I don’t think I’d rush to read another.

Thank you to netgalley and inkubator books for this arc in exchange for my honest views.

If Only You Knew by Theo Baxter is an extremely well written story with an intricate plot and skillfully drawn characters. it's a real page turner with twists and turns that seem to spin out of control. The ending was explosive and totally unexpected.
It grabbed me from the first page and kept me guessing.

Thank You NetGalley and Inkubator Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

As always, another amazing read! It starts with a bag and kept .e completely obsessed throughout. I literally just spent my day off reading this and loved every second

This was a good read. Enough twists to keep it moving along. It’s a warning to make sure you know who you are choosing as a romantic partner! I would read more by this author!

Book Review: "If You Only Knew" by Theo Baxter

From the outset, "If You Only Knew" captivates with its engaging narrative and its protagonist, Emily, navigating the complexities of narcissistic relationships. I will say, though, at times I just wanted to shake some sense into Emily and at certain points in the book, she got on my ever-lasting nerve as she handled certain situations. But hey, it kept me reading to see what the heck would come next!

The character dynamics, especially Emily's interactions with William, are compelling and suspenseful, keeping me guessing about his true intentions. Honestly, I was beginning to second guess everyone at some point, and had so many theories going on in my head I couldn’t even keep track of them all. The plot unfolds with relentless twists that kept me on edge throughout. However, some of the events towards the end just seemed a little too unbelievable. This took me out of that fully engrossed mode of reading I get into, but at the end of the day…it’s a book! It’s not real life!

Overall, Baxter's writing crafts a gripping story that combines psychological depth with thrilling suspense. While the conclusion left me conflicted about Emily's final choice in her partner, "If You Only Knew" remains for me a recommended read for its compelling storytelling and emotional journey.

*Disclaimer: I used AI to help me take my book and chapter notes to form a cohesive review. While this review is not 100% AI generated, it has bits and pieces thrown in.

Plenty of twists and turns that kept me reading this book. The topic of an abusive marriage may trigger some people. Felt like a familiar and at times a trope that is overdone. Otherwise a solid read and keeps your interest.

Creep thriller with good mix of characters. Plenty of twists and turns,intricately woven plot. Kept me guessing.

Emily is struggling under the immense pressure of her complicated and tumultuous divorce from Teddy Gaunt. Teddy, with his wealth, old money, and vast network of connections, refuses to let Emily go. His grip on reality has been tenuous for a longer time than Emily realized, adding to her distress. Emily's occasional lapses in judgment and questionable decisions make her doubt her ability to connect with or trust others.

The book starts off at a slow pace, but after chapter 14, it picks up significantly. While the plot moves rapidly, it leaves several aspects open to interpretation, creating some unresolved gaps. Despite these, the book makes for a great summer read. I was compelled to finish it quickly to see if my theories about the story were correct. Most of them were, except for a surprising twist involving William.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It excels in building up the narrative, making the reader feel as if they are experiencing the same emotional rollercoaster as the protagonist.

Thank you, NetGalley and Inkubator Books, for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy!

Just like other Theo Baxter books I have read this one kept me on edge, with great pace, tensions and amazing twists.

Emily and Teddy seem to have a loving marriage, “til death do us part.” Soon they are in the middle of a contentious divorce. Emily soon feels like she is being followed and stalked. Is it in her head? Is it her soon to be ex or new boyfriend? This fast paced thriller kept me hooked until the very end.

This book is about Emily who is in the process of a very difficult divorce from her narcissistic, abusive husband Teddy. She begins to be stalker, with her stalker trying to ruin her career by hacking into her emails along with doing hang up calls. Emily instantly suspects Teddy but then her new boyfriend William is acting suspicious…

I found this book maybe a bit too fast paced for me although I did read it in 24 hours! The story was great and you do keep wondering who the stalker could be (at one point I wondered if it was Emily’s dad 😂) but I felt I had read an entire book by 40% of the way through. Theo manages to describe the characters brilliantly, highlighting Teddy’s narcissistic traits perfectly, and how being in an abusive relationship has caused Emily to distrust everyone. Great read, would recommend!

A great read which kept me hooked from start to finish. A storyline full of twists and turns. This book is not to be missed.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I loved this book!!! It kept me wanting more, Teddy such a nasty character and other harbouring their own secrets. Everyone needs a William who will look out for them and protect them when it really matters. Such a good read with the right amount of suspense built

This was a quick read that I enjoyed. I wouldn't classify the book as a thriller but the story kept me interested. The main character is in an abusive marriage which might be triggering for some people. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be reading more. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

wow!!!!! this book was sooooo freaking good. so many unexpected twists and turns!!!!! 5/5 stars without hesitation

I always seek out Theo’s books. Please read his detective series if you haven’t. This book is about a crazy ex, a bit crazy boyfriend and a stalker or two. It’s very much a domestic thriller. His easy writing style makes all of his books a great way to spend an afternoon. While not my favorite, it still held my interest. Do check out Theo’s books. I’ve read almost all of them. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Firstly thank you for my early access in exchange of a review.
Whilst the premise was good this book had errors which left the last part a challenge to finish .
It felt quite long and clunky .
It did have me gripped to discover the truth and suspecting everyone and it was insightful to the issues of a stalker case .

Well, a few months ago I read a book by this author for the first time and I actually enjoyed it a lot, so I was naturally eager to read a new one.
Sadly, this didn't work for me. I did like the premise of this book but the execution failed to hold my attention.
Some dialogues here were very hard to swallow...
At least it was fast and easy to go through.
I'd recommend to other readers who have read any books by this author before.

Thank you NetGalley! This book had me feeling for the main character and what she went through. I did not think it was going where it went. Very good!

I wanted to love this novel as the premise was strong and full of promise but the plot was over-the-top melodramatic and fell quite flat. The characters are caricatures of goodies and baddies without any depth or nuance. The dialogue is clunky and the court scenes defy even suspended disbelief. A very generous two stars.