Mia is tormented by the thought that she may have been responsible for her best friend Alice's death many years ago. In an attempt to piece together what happened on that fateful day, she seeks the help of a psychologist to unlock her memories.

The book started slowly and failed to hold my interest; I got easily distracted. Additionally, too many characters were introduced at once, making it difficult to keep track. However, as I better understood the story, I appreciated the use of multiple perspectives and the seamless transitions between past and present.

This book was all right, but it wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free copy of the book.

The Guilty Patient by Luana Lewis had me on the edge of my seat.
It kept me hooked for the entire story, and I couldn't put it down because I was gripped and felt like I needed to know what was happening!
There are some good twists in the story and it kept me so engaged.
I really enjoy her writing.

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

<i> I think I killed my best friend </i>

Mia doesn't remember if she killed her best friend or not. Three years ago, Mia and her best friend Alice went on a trip together, one that Alice didn't come back from alive, but Mia doesn't remember what happened, and no one was every charged for Alice's death. Now, after three years, Mia had this random memory of that fateful night and goes to a psychologist to attempt to remember what happened.

Honestly, I was unsure about Tara at first. I mean, someone walks into your office for their first appointment, says they might have killed their best friend, and you decide there's not enough time left in the session to go into that and leave it for the next session? I could never do that. I would instantly cancel everything and try and find out what happened. But as the book went on, I understood where she was coming from about needing Mia to be ready to share, and wanting to be sure that she would be able to get the whole and accurate story. In the end, I appreciated what Tara did to help Mia, and help her figure out if she truly did kill her best friend.

The chapters were very short, so it made it seem like I flew through this book and it was pretty fast paced for the most part, with a couple of lulls here and there, but I was hooked from the start. Throughout each chapter, old memories are recovered and new information is brought to light, which added more to the story and the question of what happened to Alice, who did it, and why. I found myself constantly changing my idea of what had happened every time new information was given. Tara, Mia's psychologist, works with Mia and utilizing several other sources to find out exactly what happened. The ending caught me completely off guard, it was not one of the options that I had come up with and I really enjoyed that.

My main complaint that I had about this book is not really a complaint, because I understand why it was done, it just got confusing at times. This book does go back and forth between the present and several different timelines in the past.

Thank you to Bookouture, Luana Lewis, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

A fast-paced, intensely suspenseful dual plot involving two FMC. Both women are trying to get answers while dealing with their own past traumas which mirror one another in many ways.
So many secrets, so many lies - it seems everyone has something to hide! What a great psychological thriller with emotional depth and a gratifying ending!!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was hooked right away and didn't want to put it down, the twists and turns kept me surprised until the end.

First, I want to thank Luana Lewis, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing this book so I can bring you this review.

Luana Lewis brings us readers a different kind of psychological thriller that I am used to in her latest The Guilty Patient. Where one of the main characters point blank confesses killing someone hiding nothing.

I loved how Luana made her prologue stand out with vivid descriptive details of the events that had been seen. This hooked me into the story wanting to know what happened to the poor girl.

What I found interesting is Mia confessed to killing her only friend and best friend Alice but WHY?!!! When readers find out why it’s a shocker!!!!

Through the story we learn a little more about Mia’s past

I did not realize that this book was a sequel. I didn't have much trouble getting into it though. I was hooked from the beginning and I loved the twists and turns it took! I enjoyed the complexities of Mia's character, and how Tara was determined to get to the bottom of everything going on. There was a nice surprise at the end, which I love in thrillers. Definitely worth the read!!!

I really enjoyed this book! It pulled me in straight away and had several twists and turns to keep me guessing. I liked the jumps in time line and different perspectives throughout. I also enjoyed reading about a therapist and how memories can make people question everything. It’s definitely made me interested to read more books by this author. I’m thrilled to have been given a chance to be an ARC reader for this book and I’ll be recommending it to friends and family.

The guilty patient 4 ⭐
Release: Oct 13

Genre:
suspense thriller

Details:
Alice and Mia went on a weekend getaway with their friends 3 years ago. Alice's remains are found in her home. The narrator is Mia who recounts the moments just before Alice passes away recalling her relationship with Tom- who Mia would eventually marry.
Mia experiences a breakthrough during a therapy session and begins to recall being with Alice when she took her last breath leading her to believe she killed her best friend.
She fears someone close to her is hiding a terrible secret, so she starts questioning her friends about how they see the events. Because she is unable to trust herself, Mia finds it difficult to believe those around her.

Thoughts along the way:

-Why does Mia have difficulty remembering things?
-the details of fatal incident with her friend Alice
-her mother (even though she passed when Mia was only 7)
-did Carolyn plant the memory in Mias head? Why did she suddenly remember after all this time?
--trauma induced false memory?
-Could she really kill Alice that easily?
-there are a lot of plots being introduced, I hope they all come together in the end
-what's with the Freddie situation?

Mia

-36ish weeks pregnant
-Tom loved Alice before he loved Mia (was dating Alice when she died)
-chronic headaches (could they be tied to her lapses in memory?)
--hearing a voice when headaches are present?
--what causes these headaches?
-was she high the night Alice died?
-Could explain the lapses in memory

Tara

-lost her husband Daniel in a hit and run 1 year ago
-blames herself
--did Daniel have a secret life?
-swiss bank account that has payments going out routinely
-this was predictable, but make sense
-brother Matthew
--is he really dead?
--why can't Tara remember the details of Matthew's death?
---Matthew was charged with the murder of their parents?
-did she kill her mother?

Alice
-financial instability in childhood causing fears in her adult life
-was high when she died
-is she sleeping with David?
--nope!
-the scarf!

*thank you to netgalley, the publisher & author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I had a hard time getting into it at first. The start is kind of slow, but picks up speed and I enjoyed it from there. Mia was a strange character, being so completely passive most of the time. Tara, her therapist, spent 99% of her time either following Mia everywhere or seeking out her family members to speak with. Spending hours with a client off hours, involving family without her permission, it’s all pretty weird. Must violate some code of ethics for psychologists. At the conclusion, almost as quick as a snap of the fingers, Mia shrugged off her deep rooted issues and lived happily ever after. I wish therapy was that easy in reality! Tara’s storyline was better, in my opinion. Putting all of that aside, I liked the story and writing and I’d read another novel by the author.

There was a lot going on here, that gripped me, kept me wondering, and fascinated me. I have always found how the brain works to be fascinating, and this showed me a different side of how it works. My brain seemed tangled at times, just like the story, but as I read, there was a lot to figure out. I will admit, I did not figure it out, but Luana Lewis, does tell us what really happened. If you want to delve into a story that has lots of twist and turns, with many different people thinking they did it, this is the book for you. It might challenge you, and you might not figure it out either.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley.

The Guilty Patient
By: Luana Lewis

4 Stars

Tara is a psychologist with her own problems, but when Mia walks in one day, this case Tara knows will be one that will take all her strength. Mias best friend dies and is having terrible memories. Is it real? Did Mia kill her best friend?

This was a fast-paced thriller with a twisty story. I loved the storyline, and Mia, being in her condition, adds to the seriousness of the story. This was a story that blended pain and loss with secrets and family drama. It was intriguing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was a bit like getting two stories for one. Tara, having her own side story, adds a mystery to the story aside from Mia and Alices. It really wrapped it all up in a fine and crazy bow at the end because I never saw that ending coming.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

What a great read. a true twisty and turny thriller. couldn't put it down

Thank you for the opportunity to review

The Guilty Patient by Luana Lewis
Telling my therapist that I remember standing over my friend Alice as she took her last breath, I wonder, was I her killer?
This captivating psychological thriller is a must read!! 4 stars

This is my first read by Luana Lewis. The Guilty Patient was provided to me by NetGalley for my honest opinion. The premise of the book is good. I always find myself drawn to the psychologist/therapy trope so that had my attention. It did take me a bit to get into though. As I kept reading I was more invested in the characters and the plot unraveling. The timelines could be hard to keep up with but the suspense aspect was so good! All in all it was a good read.

We are introduced to Mia, a pregnant patient seeking psychotherapy to uncover memories from the night her best friend died. From there, there are so many subplots in this book it is impossible to touch on them all in one review.
The story was intriguing but a bit drawn out. Overall I enjoyed it and wanted to figure out what really happened that night.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for this opportunity.

I thought this was good but boy was there a lot going on here. There are several stories being told and although they all kind of come together I still felt it was a lot to keep up with. There's the therapist's story, the victim's story, the in-laws story, the other therapist's story and of course, the guilty patient's story. I had a difficult time getting it all straight and actually getting into it but closer to the end it really started getting good and although the end seemed a little abrupt the main question was answered in a satisfying way. I was left with a few new questions that I hope to see answered in the future because I do think there are two characters that would make great partners in future stories. I will say this, my absolute favorite part was the offer of some gelato! You will just have to read it to find out what I mean and what it is I want to see more of.

Seductive and twisted. Highly recommended! Readers, find some quiet alone time to settle in with this one because you won't stop reading until you've turned the final page. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries, suspense and thrillers.

I really enjoyed The Guilty Patient, a Psychological Thriller, written by Luana Lewis. Thank you to NetGalley & the Publisher for allowing me to read this Advanced Reader Copy in return for an honest review📖

I thought this book started quite slow however soon became fast paced with many different twists and turns! I was always second guessing myself!

We start off meeting a pregnant woman who is seeing a psychologist as she is determined she murdered her best friend. Throughout this book we follow the pregnant lady and her psychologist whilst they break everything down and come face to face with the truth whilst also gaining insight as to who killed her best friend.

This book was insane when you get into it, I absolutely loved it and feel obliged to read the authors other book!

I really did feel as though I had worked it all out but as the pages kept being turned I got myself more and more into a jumble of thoughts that I just couldn’t understand. However thanks to the psychologist who works with the pregnant lady it slowly unpicks the night in question and it all made sense in the end…although the ending was not what I had expected in the slightest!

A very enjoyable and quick read and one I found had me hooked! I wish we knew more about the life afterwards but I feel lucky to have been able to catch a glimpse, I wish to have known more but I’ll settle for what’s left for us to enjoy!

Can you always trust your memory, or can it be manipulated? This psychological thriller will leave you in doubt. Complex motivations/characters and a surprising denouement make this book highly recommended!