I've enjoyed Pip Drysdale's books in the past, and she does not disappoint in The Close Up. This thriller brings the reader into the gritty side of stardom, where 'making the bigtime' means sweat and hard work.

Zoe, a failed debut novelist, just can't seem to write her next book. When Zach, a former flame and now huge movie star, comes back into her life, Zoe uses him as the basis for her novel.
Only thing is, someone is re-enacting the dark parts of her failed book.

This is a brilliant thriller that had me guessing until the last pages.

The Close Up
Pip Drysdale

‘Because everything dangerous starts with warmth: fire, hope, love. Even hypothermia feels warm before it kills you.’

Zach was intoxicating. The ultimate regular guy underneath all the celebrity, and achievements. I’ll put my hand up and add myself to the list of girls infatuated with him. 😆

‘And now here we are and the tables have turned and why is there never an earthquake in this city when I need one?’

Ohhhh chapter 23, when life starts imitating art the thrilling aspects really kick up a notch. When plot points from her thriller book are used to terrorise Zoe, the danger is imminent.

‘And that’s when I have the scariest thought of all: Am I the unreliable narrator of my own life?’

The ending was like a hurricane, hit after hit and destructive as it barrelled down on you, within such a limited window of time too. Addictive reading.

‘The same thing that kept me alive at times. Hope. So yes, there’s a dark side to everything that sparkles, if you look close enough.’

I’ve had such a wonderful time on The Close Up Book Tour! Thank you so much for having me.

‘And I know that sounds naive, that dreams are crushed here far more often than they’re realised, but something happens when you land here. You believe, with all your heart, that you’ll be the exception.’

(Posted 15th December 2024)

A fast faced thriller with lots of twists and turns. Some characters are unluckable and did become repetitive in some parts.

Pip does it again! I loved this book ! Which was very easy to read! The characters were well developed and the storyline was great! Wil definitely recommend to others

“Every Hollywood day turns to Hollywood night, eventually. And every single one of us is lured there by the magic-hour light.”

Genre Mystery Thriller
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Zoe Ann Weiss moved to Los Angeles to chase her dream of becoming a bestselling author, but reality hasn’t been kind. Her debut novel flopped, her writing has stalled, and the aspiring actor she fell for, Zach, vanished from her life. Now, three years later, Zach is a Hollywood sensation while Zoe is stuck working at a flower shop, staring down her thirtieth birthday and a mounting fear that she’ll never revive her career.

A chance delivery to Zach’s doorstep reignites their connection. As they begin dating in secret, Zoe’s writer’s block lifts, and she feels inspired for the first time in years. But when their relationship becomes public, her first novel unexpectedly goes viral, catapulting Zoe into the limelight she once craved.

However, fame comes with a dark cost. Among her new admirers is a stalker fixated on Zach and on Zoe’s thriller. Step by terrifying step, the stalker begins reenacting the book’s violent events in real life, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. As the pages of her own story come to life, Zoe must confront a nightmare she never imagined… and figure out how to rewrite her fate before it’s too late.

I devoured this book in a sitting, it hooks you from the get go and has you turning pages faster than ever to get to the end whilst somehow not wanting it to end.

Thank you Pip & Harper Collins for sending me this copy of The Close Up.

This bingeable thriller follows a struggling author named Zoe, who is trying to come up with a book idea for her second novel. Zoe bumps into her old flame, Zach, who is now a famous actor. The fun begins when Zoe and Zach start casually dating and some photos end up online of them together. Zoe then starts to have creepy things happen to her, which all follow the plot from her first book. This thriller kept me turning the pages late into the night because I just HAD to know how it ended. Another absolute page turner and I loved every minute of it. The twists and turns did not disappoint. I highly recommend this great thriller.

Never a dull moment in books by this author! Unexpected twist was a shock. Recommended read for people who like twisty tales.

The protagonist Zoe Ann Weiss and I share a surname! They use her last name a lot in this book. That was a bit of thrill for me. For most of the book, it might have been the most thrilling thing. Zoe is meant to be writing her second book, but she is blocked. Then the plot gets all meta, with someone stalking Zoe using the plot of her first book, and then Zoe using this to write her second book. The middle of the book is just Zoe endlessly staring at a 'blinking cursor' driving around in her work van, and recapping what happened before. Others have called this a 'slow burn' but I just found it slow. Then it ramps up with some unlikely action, before taking an unexpected turn.
I felt the whole time like I was reading a book, always at a remove from the characters and the action. This was fine - if you find it at a Little Library or on the bookshelf of a hostel it's definitely a way to spend a few hours, but it's not compelling.

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

This one started off quite gripping and had me turning the pages, but by the end it left me with very mixed feelings.

Zoe is a writer struggling to produce her second book. Zach is a famous actor who she met prior to his fame. When they reconnect by chance her creativity returns and she starts to write her second book. Soon enough she is being stalked by a suspected crazed fan of Zach’s as well as struggling to submit her new book due to the NDA she has signed.

I liked how the book depicted the darker side of fame and fortune and delved into that world a little.

Unfortunately this one started to drag for me. I struggled to connect with any of their characters, they were all just a little bland. Zoe was pretty frustrating at times and became so repetitive. It started to just go round in circles of not being able to write, worrying about her relationship with Zach, when was the next stalker move going to come, which was already spoilt as it was straight from her book. I didn’t really get the suspense that I was hoping for.

I found it lacked intensity and lost my interest pretty quickly. The epilogue was a little bit out of left field, but in the same token didn’t really surprise me. I think as it was a real slow burn it didn’t really hit the same way compared to if it was fast paced with lots of twists and turns.

Thank you to Harper Collin’s and NetGalley for the ARC

Buckle up and get comfortable for a wild ride.

Zoe Ann Weiss is an author and florist. But her first novel "fractured" didn't do to well and she is now having trouble getting a second book written. But fate calls and brings her the best story yet. She bumps in to Zach Hamilton a former lover now movie star and this is when everything starts to get out of hand. She is in the press, her name everywhere, her phone number and press know where she lives.

All the stars for this one. An absolute fast paced book with short chapters and an LA setting. The twists and turns in this book had me wanting to keep turning the pages late in to the night and I even found the audiobook so I could finish it. I just had to know how this was going to end. Pip will continue being an auto read author for me and I can't wait to see what the author will bring out next.

Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for my gifted copy for my honest book review.

What an absolute brilliant premise! 😍

I will read anything by Pip and I went into this one blind because there's nothing better than going in blind and being absolutely blown away by a book that yanks you in hard and fast, leaves you gasping for breath with every turn of the pages, has you so far on the edge of your seat, you nearly fall off and leaves you stunned with all its twists and turns and guys, guess what?! That's exactly what The Close-Up did for me!

Life changes for struggling writer Zoe Ann Weiss on her 30th birthday when she runs into an old flame, now a famous actor, Zach Hamilton. Sparks re-ignite and they begin to date casually. Sounds like a dream come true right?!

Her writers block has suddenly disappeared so that's a good thing but then photos of Zoe and Zach are leaked in the press. Zoe's flop of a first novel suddenly goes viral and everyone knows who Zoe Ann Weiss is! Including a stalker obsessed with Zach who starts stalking Zoe and re-enacting the scenes from her first book. Scenes that I would certainly be scared if they were happening to me!

The Close-Up is out now! A must read to add to your shelf!

In The Close-Up, Pip Drysdale crafts an electrifying psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge from the first page to the last. The story follows Harper, a talented young photographer who specializes in spotting "red flags" in relationships—until she becomes entangled with a man who tests her limits and challenges her every instinct. Harper’s journey is both thrilling and unsettling as she navigates a game of cat-and-mouse that turns her life upside down.

Drysdale’s writing is sharp and immersive, pulling readers into Harper’s world and mind. The twists are cleverly executed, making this a true page-turner, and the underlying themes of obsession, power, and self-discovery add depth to the suspense. With each revelation, Harper’s reliability as a narrator is questioned, blurring the lines between art and obsession, trust and deception.

The Close-Up is an enthralling read for anyone who loves dark, character-driven thrillers. It explores the fine line between attraction and danger in a way that’s as thought-provoking as it is addictive. Fans of Drysdale won’t be disappointed, and newcomers will find it hard to put down.

The Close Up is a gripping thriller about the lengths people will go to achieve fame and fortune…and to stay there.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewel and Lucy Foley, this was a very bingeable and immersive read. The twists kept coming throughout, and it was so hard to know who to like or trust. It was darker than the cover suggests, and I’m still trying to process the ending-the twists really don’t let up! A thrilling ride built on the sordid underbelly of celebrity and power in LA.

Thank you HarperCollins Publishers Australia for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

The Close-up was an adrenaline packed, fast-paced, and at times creepy thriller, full of suspense, drama, betrayal, and crazy twists.
It grabbed my attention immediately. I read it in one sitting, I honestly couldn't put it down.

I loved the storyline, it was unique and intriguing, the characters were interesting and complex, and the writing was excellent as always.
The final few twists threw me for a loop, I definitely didn't see them coming.
I wasn't entirely happy with the ending though, which is why it's not getting 5 stars. It would have otherwise.

Pip Drysdale is definitely one of my favourite thriller authors. I've loved all her books so far, and The Close-up is no exception. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.


I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins Australia, and Pip Drysdale for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When a stalker starts to reenact scenes from her thriller novel, Zoe is on edge. She knows how her book ends and she is determined not to suffer the same way.

Wow, what a fantastic book! I have loved all of Pip Drysdale's books and she has delivered again with The Close-Up. The writing was superb, the twists aplenty and I managed to practically read the book in almost one full sitting - it was so hard to put down! If you've loved the author's previous work, be sure not to miss this one. If you've not read this author before - what are you waiting for?

When Zoe Ann Weiss is in a book slump after her debut novel was a flop, she reignites with an old flame and things really escalate from there….

The action, the suspense, the twists and turns, this one had me on the edge of my seat and I really couldn’t see how it was going to end!
The epilogue had my jaw on the floor and summed up the ending so well.

I really enjoyed Pip’s writing style and the characters in the story. I could really relate to Zoe and her best friend - feeling like failures and not where they’d like to be in life despite their best efforts. I feel a good novel is so much more enjoyable when the characters are likeable!

The Close-up is full of twists and keeps you guessing, which is fun, but I found Zoe's endless anxiety a bit overwhelming. However, if you enjoy psychological thrillers, then you will probably enjoy this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the review copy.

Because here in my silver sequined dress beneath that sliver of moon, it occurs to me that there's a dark side to everything that sparkles: sequins, the moon, love, ambition, the Hollywood sign. Every Hollywood day turns into Hollywood night, eventually.

WOW! I did not expect this book to pull me in as much as it did. There were so many aspects to Pip's writing that just made you constantly question all the motives, and goals of all the people in play.

This story is told in the POV of our main character Zoe, who has moved from London to LA to pursue and save her writing career, after being given the opportunity of a lifetime, but then watch her treasured first novel flop on its release. She is now desperately trying to salvage her career by thinking of another bestseller. In her journey to find out what that is she re-kindles with an old flame who just happens to be a movie action star and almost seems untouchable. Though as they rekindle what was their relationship, more skeletons come out of the closest... and Zoe has to choose to pursue her career or her crush.

During the story there were elements that just kept you on your toes, and I found the almost chaotic energy of Zoe a massive draw card. She has absolutely everything riding on this story, but has also become her own story. The narration also, breaking the fourth wall at points was brilliant. I was second guessing Zoe's actions as well as the other characters in her story. Even Zoe, was second guessing Zoe.

I admit, I didn't know anything about this book before I started reading it, and I am glad I didn't because it made everything that much more intense.

The twists, turns and misdirection were fantastic and I would definitely recommend this book!

Zoe is a young author living in LA who is struggling to write her second thriller novel. She becomes involved with Zach a famous actor who has previously broken her heart but was also the catalyst to her finishing her first book, so she decides she needs to be with him to write this second book. But Zach has a stalker who starts reenacting the events from Zoe’s first book in an attempt to scare Zoe into ending things with Zach.

I found it hard to connect to or like any of the characters in this book but at the same time couldn’t put it down.

Lots of unpredictable twists and turns until the very end. If you’ve liked Pip Drysdale’s previous books I think you’ll enjoy this.

Well this was a totally insane story!! A frenzy attack of reading! A debut novel Fractured by Zoe Ann Weiss becomes a reality for her as she struggles to write her second novel. She becomes her next novel…..
It is frantic but also brutal. The world of LA seeps out of the characters, the location and the storyline. The ending took me totally by surprise, almost to the point of being shocked!

Recommended read if you can handle the pace!


This review is based on a complimentary copy from HarperCollins Publishers Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheClose-Up #NetGalley