Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think this book was really good. It definitely had me hooked and I had to finish it. I definitely had some guesses and wow was I wrong. It definitely shows how some people just jump into relationships so quickly without really knowing the other person and how it can just spiral out of control. I think it also shows how emotional abuse from previous relationships really change a person and lower their guard when it comes to knew relationships and they become too trusting with someone that is almost too good to be true. Overall this was a great book and I definitely recommend it.

4.5 Stars rounded up!

After a painful divorce, single mom Melissa Burke relocates with her young son, hoping for a fresh start—only to meet Thomas Danver, a charming widower and respected pediatrician at a dinner party. But Thomas carries a dark past: his first wife vanished three years ago, and although he was cleared of wrongdoing, rumors linger. Drawn into a whirlwind romance, Melissa soon receives an anonymous threat hinting that Thomas’s innocence may not be as clear as it seems. As her feelings deepen and danger creeps in, Melissa must decide how much she’s willing to risk—and who she can truly trust.
I had a really great time with this one! It was slow to start, but it picked up very quickly and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. I had to know if Thomas was innocent, who else might have been involved, who was warning Melissa to stay away from him, and what really happened to Thomas's wife, Rose. I also loved the different points of view throughout the story with the use of the third-person narrative to describe the present time, the entries from Rose's journal, and the transcripts from Thomas and Amelia's therapy sessions.
I gave this book a 4.5 because similar plot twists has been done in other books I've read so it didn't have the "shock" factor I would have liked, but Andrew DeYoung did such a fabulous job making it even darker and more disturbing than it usually is (Chapter 22 was so descriptive, it made my skin crawl!).
If you are looking for a domestic thriller that will keep you guessing at every turn, read Stay Away from Him!

I loved that I could really connect with the main character in this book. I am a divorced mother with a young son. I could really relate to the emotions that come with divorce and parenting. The writing was great and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

My overall rating of this title was 4.5*

Wow. This is honestly one of the best thrillers I have read in awhile - from the very first chapter I was HOOKED. I absolutely ate this one UP. The writing was SO good, and the story just builds in a way that you're like "oh 100% I know who did this" and then you start to question yourself. I am going to be honest, the ending had me absolutely floored! I was so shocked, I literally just paused and had to collect myself for a minute - but then when you look back and think about things and how it all lined up, it made SO MUCH SENSE.

I loved that we got the main character, Melissa's POV but also added transcripts from Thomas & Amelia's therapy sessions, and roses journal entries. It really helped piece this story together and get a really clear picture - almost like we were detectives, diving into all different parts of this story.

Overall, I really loved this and would recommend adding to your TBR. It had solid pacing, I didn't feel like there were any missing pieces, and the story itself was just really good and SO twisty, but also 100% believable.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

After Melissa moves to a different city with her young son after a messy divorce, she meets Thomas with whom she has an instant sizzling attraction. The two are seen together and people start warning Melissa to stay away from him. He told her he was a widower but others said he was a suspect in an ongoing disappearance investigation of his wife, Rose. Melissa has skeletons in her own closet, too. Thomas's two daughters and Melissa's son meet in short order and Thomas's closest friend Amelia is never far away. Melissa senses something is off and her instinct is clinched when she receives a threat. Thomas and Melissa enjoy an intense whirlwind romance but their pasts pursue them. Can anyone be trusted?

I really enjoyed the tension and thrillery aspects of the novel. However, I couldn't help but question naive choices characters made without question as red flags slapped them in the face. In spite of this, the novel was an enjoyable read on a hot summer day.

This book was so cleverly written and intrigued me from the start. It was able to switch easily from past to present throughout the book. The only thing I’d say is, it maybe needed a trigger warning due to a certain scene. However I understand that the author probably doesn’t want to give too much away if he listed all the potential triggers in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I ended up suspecting everyone but was still shocked with the ending. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Stay Away from Him dangled a truly irresistible premise: a recently divorced single mom falls for a charming pediatrician who just happens to be an exonerated murderer. The title itself practically screamed "red flag" of a tense psychological thriller where you'd be on the edge of your seat, screaming at the heroine through the pages.

And it did start strong, setting up that immediate intrigue. The idea of a man cleared of a suspicious death yet still shadowed by whispers was compelling and Melissa's rapid descent into an "obsessive, whirlwind romance" had all the makings of a thrilling disaster. You wanted to know if he really did it and how she'd figure it out.

However, despite the juicy setup, the book ultimately felt less like a heart-pounding mystery and more like a gentle jog through a familiar park. The "chilling, anonymous threat" didn't quite escalate into the nail-biting suspense I was hoping for and the big questions about Thomas's innocence often felt less like genuine puzzles and more like foregone conclusions. It was as if the book told you to "stay away" but then didn't quite give you enough compelling reasons why beyond the obvious.

Overall, this book offered an intriguing concept that didn't quite live up to its full potential. It was a decent read but I was definitely hoping for more thrills and fewer predictable turns.

4.5 stars!!

From the very first page, this book had me hooked! The writing is sharp, and the suspense builds with every chapter. You’ll find yourself playing detective, but good luck trying to figure out whodunit—trust me, you won’t! So, grab a cozy spot and prepare for a wild ride, because I dare you to make a guess! Ha!

Melissa Burke relocates with her young son after a painful divorce, seeking distance and healing. At a dinner party, she meets Thomas Danver, a charming widower and respected pediatrician, who is also an exonerated murderer. Thomas's first wife went missing three years ago, and although he was cleared of her murder, some believe he is guilty. Despite warnings from friends about his past, Melissa is drawn to Thomas, and they begin an intense romance. However, when she receives an anonymous threat, she starts to question his innocence and how well she knows him.

Our protagonist, Melissa, is attempting to start anew, but complications abound. In many thrillers, readers are encouraged to step into the characters' shoes, and this one is no exception. You might think you have a handle on the clues and potential suspects, but let me tell you, you really don’t! When your instincts fail you, who can you trust? What adds an extra layer of intrigue is the perspective of Rose, the missing wife. Her point of view makes the mystery of her disappearance all the more dramatic and believable—after all, we all have our suspicions about the spouse, don’t we?

The writing flows smoothly and at a brisk pace, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried to piece together the puzzle at every twist and turn. If you’re a fan of thrillers that keep you guessing with a cast of intriguing characters and believable scenarios that only come together at the end, then this is your perfect summer read. It’s the kind of book you can binge-read in one sitting, thanks to its captivating twists and turns. Happy reading!

Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sourcebooks for this free copy of "Stay Away from Him."

Another fantastic thriller from author DeYoung that keeps you guessing until the end.

Recently divorced Melissa is swept into a whirlwind romance with Thomas who was accused but found innocent of murdering his wife Rose 3 years ago. He's charming, protective, and attractive.

But there are some red flags that Melissa insists are nothing:
- his attachment to his ex-girlfriend Amelia who is also his therapist and neighbor,
- the Facebook group run by his dead wife's friend Kelli where the followers are convinced Thomas is a murderer
- the freaky note she gets telling her to "stay away from him"

Plus we get to hear from Rose herself through her journal entries. AND we get to overhear the therapy sessions between Thomas and Amelia through transcripts!

A very solid domestic thriller from an author who has upped his game since his last book (which I also liked!). It gets right into the action when Melissa meets Thomas in chapter 1, and doesn't slow down from there. Thomas, a possible suspect in his former wife's disappearance, comes on strong and readers will understand why the recently-divorced Melissa is interested. Some readers will also see that maybe she should slow her roll!

There's an interesting cast of secondary characters, each of whom deserves suspicion at various points. The timeline is tight and well-managed, there are plenty of opportunities to play detective, and some nice twists and turns. I thought I had this figured out at a couple of points but then something would be revealed to make me realize I didn't.

Very solid read for those of us who crack open crime books on the beach, not romances.

Clearly Melissa hasn't read many thrillers or watched Dateline or she would have recognized that there was something not quite right about Thomas. Sure, she knew his wife Rose disappeared but she doesn't seem to question it, just goes all in because he's nice to her at a time when she's vulnerable. Well. This has a dual time line that tells Rose's story as well as Melissa's. You might guess what happened or not but DeYoung does a nice job with twisting the trope. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Interesting psychological thriller that reminded me of an episode of Criminal Minds!!

I found Melissa quite frustrating as she seems to rush into a situation with little consideration for Bradley. She seemed too impulsive although you can also see that she's love-bombed and has waltzed into a bit of a nightmare!!

I did have reservations about Amelia but decided it'd all be too obvious if she was the bad guy. There is a lot to unpick though and she clearly knows there's something wrong somewhere.

I'm glad this wasn't as predictable as I first assumed. And, the twists send you in different directions where you can see potential for others to be the culprit before it all gets revealed.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was a fun read, and my first book by this author but definitely will not be my last!
We have two characters, Melissa & Thomas, each having gone through a traumatic experience in their last relationship only to be brought together and have an instant attraction towards one another. The question is: Can Melissa trust Thomas? Or are there underlying secrets waiting to be brought to the surface?
It starts off a bit slow but builds up to a fast-paced roller coaster of a ride and an explosively twisted ending. I loved the different POVs throughout the book, the twists, the suspense, and the characters! If you are looking for your next popcorn thriller then look no further and pick this one up ASAP!


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Different POVs
✦Questionable characters
✦A bit of a slow burn at first that then turns into a fast-paced rollercoaster and ends with an explosively twisted ending🤯🙌🏻
✦Plenty of suspense and twists
✦A fun popcorn thriller

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

This had to be one of those books while browsing through NetGalley you stumble upon, hoping you'd get approved to read it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC on this wonderful book. It really kept me on my toes and just what I needed to help me through my reading slump!

Our main character Melissa is new to town and trying to move on from her divorce. She meets Thomas and immediately becomes infatuated by his charm, charisma and friendly demeanor. Unbeknownst to her, Thomas was the main suspect in his wife's disappearance a few years ago. He has made quite a name for himself, especially since his wife Rose, was never found. 

Andrew De Young takes us through the events building up to Rose's disappearance, which really complimented the novel and the genre well. It exuberated with tones of mystery, psychological thriller and suspense. Readers are also given an insight into Thomas' character before meeting Melissa. Thomas' best friend since high school and ex-girlfriend happens to live right next door to him. He confides in her and De Young presents this to us in the form of a transcript between patient and therapist. There is a lot that goes on that De Young presents to us to deviate from suspicion and finding out the truth. Definitely a book that keeps you on your toes. 

Although the characters did fall a bit short for me they each served their purpose. Even Melissa and Thomas' children. A lot of characters are used as filler nowadays but De Young manages to establish this close knit town who knows everyone's business whilst keeping it within the main characters. 

Then we get the actual plot twist and climax as everything starts to fall into place. I did think it was a tiny bit rushed as not a lot happened in the first half of the book or things could've escalated quicker, but it was worth the plot twist brewing. This is a genre I will always love and for that, it deserves a whopping four stars!

ARC Received: Net Galley - Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 8, 2025
Melissa, Melissa, Melissa, I get you were in a vulnerable state but anyone can see from a mile away that he was love bombing you. You fell for it even after hearing about his past, that alone should have made you run for the hills. Foolish. And Tom was very delusional to move the way he moved. You knew what SHE was capable of and you allowed her to babysit for the other children in the neighborhood?!?!? What a fool you are as well! Great read with a twist I def didn’t see coming!!!

Thank you NetGalley! This was a first for me by this author. I throughly enjoyed it. I was shocked again and again as I plowed right through this story.

A fast paced and surprising domestic thriller that is so easy to binge read. Certainly caught me off guard a few times which is a good thing.

Melissa has just gone through a messy divorce and is looking for a new start with her young son. Thomas is a charming doctor whose wife went missing 3 years ago. Instant attraction and they begin a heated relationship. But rumours about what happened to Rose, Thomas's wife are still going strong and all fingers point to him.

I loved that we heard Rose’s voice through diary entries, as well as recordings of Thomas and his friend and therapist Amelia. Grab the popcorn and get comfortable with this one.

Published on July 8th, thanks to Poisoned Pen Publishing for my review copy to read.

When Melissa meets Thomas she thinks he’s the perfect boyfriend; a doctor, friendly, and great with kids. He’s also available because his wife is missing, believed to be dead ; many believe by him.

This was a good popcorn thriller perfect for a summer beach read. It took me some time to get into it. The latter half is much more fast paced than the first half as we get to know the characters and history. The end is exciting because there are several fake me outs, so you’ll likely never guess the truth.

“I wonder, am I the problem? Or is it my life that is making me this way? Am I mad ? Or am I being driven mad.”

Stay Away From Him comes out 7/8.

✨️Book Review✨️

Stay Away From Him
By Andrew DeYoung

Publish Date: July 8th, 2025

Themes:
👩‍❤️‍👨 New Relationship
🤫 Secret Past
🔪 Murder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

After really enjoying The Day He Never Came Home, I was excited to pick up Andrew DeYoung’s latest thriller—and it did not disappoint.

The story starts out deceptively light, with a budding new relationship that quickly spirals into something far darker. From the beginning, I was hooked. I loved how layered the plot was, full of misdirection and suspicion. There were so many potential culprits and hidden motives that I found myself constantly second-guessing everyone.

While I had a hunch about where things were headed, I still thoroughly enjoyed watching it all unravel. The darker elements were intense—at times even graphic—which only added to the unsettling atmosphere. DeYoung knows how to push the tension without overdoing it, keeping the reader fully immersed until the final page.

If you like thrillers that explore toxic relationships, trust, and manipulation with a heavy dose of suspense, this is a must-read.

Thank you to @poisonedpenpress for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first read by Andrew DeYoung. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention and kept it. I would definitely read more by this author.