I'm still not 💯 sure what's real and what's fake in this book. There's so much gaslighting that it feels like Gone Girl mixed with Sherri Rapini. It's frustrating that Devon would go back to Richard after he so casually threw her away based on ideas his mom put in his brain. Most of the characters are frustrating for not believing Devon and even she's not a reliable narrator.

i really enjoyed this book, it catched me right in the beginning. it was so interesting to get to know the different charakters. This book made me feel so many feelings i don't have that often when i'm reading books. i never read a story like this and it's a really great story because i think many people can relate. the relationship between yourself and your mother in law can be pretty hard and this books shows exactly that. I really liked the plottwist at the end and it was quiet interesting to find out more about amber und the ex girlfriend of oliver. the hint with the earrings??? loved it.
i could not put it down the story was really well written, i can't say anything bad against it.

Devon Ferrell, has chosen life with a man she trusts, loves and is sure loves her. Richard Belmont is in the fast track to an amazing career and future. Richard has kept Devon away from his family. A chance encounter with a family member forces Richard to not only take Devon home to meet the family; it not only changes the dynamics of their lives, it puts Devon in danger. Happy reading

I swear I'm not dumb, but I genuinely don't understand the ending!
If the goal was to enjoy the ride not the destination, the book wouldn't have delivered either.
Characters wise, the book had extremely superficial characters. They were mostly profiles rather than well fleshed out characters. Just playing a role.
Devon, the broke artist who comes from a broken home. Richard, the perfect rich boyfriend who, almost demonically, makes a complete opinion change whenever he talks to his family.
Even the family members were almost written as Disney villains, apart from how Devon pictures the mental play, it was all told second, or third handedly.
Devon's mother arc was redundant, she didn't add to the book, and her conversations with Devon were boring.
The saving grace was how some parts actually managed to make feel anxious, the way Devon was spiralling made feel the same emotions.
The ending was vague, in my opinion. I didn't understand who did what, but I think that's a me problem judging by the other reviews.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

This book is a 3.5 star read for me, uplifted to 4 stars.

Devon, an artist, gets engaged to a man with means, Richard. Richard comes from a family with means who do not appear to be excited by Devon as an addition to said family. She goes to meet them and is eager to please. She’s also eager to keep her past hidden and keep her relationship intact. She feels off kilter and is filled with self-doubt. She feels abandoned by Richard. Is she the victim or the villain?

I thought this book started a little slow. The characters seemed a bit superficial, like they were stock standard rich people and artist (which yes, I know, there is a reason for that). I feel like we are told she is a complicated artist who becomes immersed in her art and is easily obsessed with it and nothing is important as the importance of art, but I'm not sure I felt like her character as written was like that.

However, the book took some wild turns and I kept reading to know what was going to happen. I was kept guessing.

If you enjoy domestic family thrillers, where there is an unreliable narrator and the plot is anything but straightforward, then you are probably going to enjoy this one. It does well at playing up tension and an overall sense of unease.

This is one of those books where you're asking yourself from the beginning: Is the main character the victim, or the villain? Because even she doesn't know.

Devon's relationship with Richard has been absolutely perfect for the last two years. A struggling artist with a dark childhood, she found solace in Richard's stable, successfully life. But when they get engaged, and it's time to meet Richard's family, things start to seem less happy. Has she been diluted to her own deteriorating mental health, or are the whispers coming from the Belmonts intended to errode her relationship with their son? Lies are being told, but by whom?

The idea of this book intrigued me, reminiscent of Black Swan or The Voices. I love the little hints here and there that make you think, "Is she being gaslit, or in desperate need of help?" Sanity and paranoia blend together like Devon's paintings, and the darker things get, the more you realize Devon is hiding important things from her past.

This whole book was very interesting, but the ending fell flat. I was waiting for the massive Gone Girl-esq twist, the Shutter Island-like ambiguous ending. But it didn't come. And it wasn't a "Could be this, could be that" type of thing, it was a, "What the heck even happened?" Without giving too much away, I'll just say that the conclusion was murky, and everything went to Happily Ever After too quickly. Four-point-five stars for the first 85% of the book, 4 for the last 15%.

It pains me to give this review, because I absolutely love this author and her previous books. I just couldn't ignore the inconsistencies, confusion, and message in the end to accept abuse. I think the premise was excellent, and I was gripped in the beginning. But overall, I think it needed more substance and editing.

The premise was good, but the writing style made it hard to connect to the story or the main character. The best parts of it were the bits of story about the MC and her mom, and that point of view on her trauma. However, as creepy or weird as the in-laws were supposed to be, the interactions didn’t help express that. I had a hard time caring about the story.

This had everything that I was looking for in a psychological suspenseful novel, I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish and was invested in what was going on in this story. The characters were well written and enjoyed the overall story being told. Madeleine Henry has that element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting to read this. It was dark and engaging and glad I got to read this.

The tl;dr is that I wouldn’t recommend this book. It was forgettable in a world full of amazing psychological thrillers and family dramas. The characterization felt too shallow and there wasn’t enough intrigue to hold my interest, and by the end I wanted to skim. If I hadn’t gotten an ARC, I likely wouldn’t have finished this book. Thanks to NetGalley!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Little A for an ARC of Name Not Taken by Madeleine Henry in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was not able to put this one down. I recently completed this amazing book that completely captivated me. What I particularly enjoyed was the constant uncertainty about whom to trust and what to believe throughout the storyline. Just when I believed I had figured out the twist, I found myself questioning my own conclusions, which, in my opinion, is the hallmark of an outstanding thriller novel. I enthusiastically plan to suggest this book to anyone seeking an engaging read filled with surprising plot developments.

Name Not Taken: A Gripping Domestic Thriller That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat

If you’re in the mood for a psychological thriller that delves deep into the complexities of relationships and family dynamics, Name Not Taken is a must-read. This captivating novel tells the story of Devon, a passionate young artist, and her tumultuous journey as she becomes entangled with her fiancé Richard’s affluent and seemingly perfect family.

From the moment Devon meets Richard's family, there’s an unsettling vibe. It’s as if her arrival is less of a welcome and more of a disruption. As Richard's mother launches a covert campaign to paint Devon in a negative light, Devon finds herself battling not just the disapproval of her future in-laws but also the ghosts of her own past.

One of the standout elements of this book is how it intertwines Devon’s art with her emotional state. The way her artwork evolves in response to her experiences adds a fascinating layer to the narrative, reflecting her internal struggles and growth.

With an unreliable narrator and a cast of characters who are anything but straightforward, Name Not Taken keeps readers guessing from start to finish. The tension is palpable, and the plot twists will leave you reeling. If you love a story with complex characters and a gripping, unpredictable storyline, this one should definitely be on your reading list.

*Name Not Taken* by Madeleine Henry is a smart and engaging novel that delves into identity and reinvention with humor and heart. Henry’s sharp writing and memorable characters make the story both entertaining and thought-provoking. A delightful and insightful read that keeps you hooked until the end.

This book had a LOT of descriptions, a lot of "telling, not showing" which was fine. The story was interesting and wove very nice web of all these possible outcomes. However, I felt the ending lacked the "punch." There was just so much going on, things that never went anywhere, that the wrap-up was just lost. Great plot but lost me on the execution.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I was excited to read this as I enjoyed 'My Favorite Terrible Thing' earlier this year.

While not a perfect read (I found there was a lot of "tell, don't show" in this book), this is a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up. The plot took wild turns I wasn't expecting, and I even began to doubt myself at times as I read. I finished this in a couple of hours because I just had to know what was going to happen. I look forward to more twisted thrillers by Madeleine Henry!

I love a book that has you rooting for a character the whole time! Definitely a binge worthy book! Started and finished this in one day!

I could not flippin put this book down. I read during meetings. I read through lunch. Absolutely phenomenal! Will purchase for my libraries.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

I couldn't put this book down! The author was amazing at having you second guess the way each character thinks.
The description is what caught my attention. Having in-laws who make you question yourself is such a toxic topic that not many people understand unless they've personally been through it.

Devon was the perfect character I never knew I needed to read. I kept rooting for her the whole book.

The whole book was fantastic. Definitely perfect for spooky season.

Thank you, netgalley for the eARC. first, I would like to say I enjoyed the writing style it was super easy to read and descriptive at first the plot had me wondering what was gonna happen and I couldn’t wait to finish. But it quickly got absurd and the female MC was so annoying. Some of her decisions were questionable and left me not knowing what really happened the ending was lackluster and left me wanting more and wondering, was this all inside of her head?

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
It was difficult to put this book down, even though I found it depressing at times.
The way I understood it, the narrator was sliding into a mental breakdown after having been introduced to her in-laws to be. The mother-in-law did everything she could to drive her away, finally succeeding.
She's a devoted painter and throws herself into her art to the point where she barely eats, sleeps and lives in squalor. There were times I felt frustrated with the character.
The ending is good overall, although I was slightly confused. Did she or didn't she?
I did enjoy it though and definitely recommend it!
4 rounded up to 4.5 stars