This definitely kept my interest throughout as I didn't know who to believe, but I definitely questioned Melissa for falling so hard so fast for a man who she knows was accused of killing his wife, it seemed a little too much too fast with all of the details that came about right when she met him. Especially with her past and her son, I found it a little unrealistic. However, I really enjoyed the twist, and only started to suspect it right at the end. It then switched rather dramatically to a horror movie type villain with a rushed climax, but I liked how everything tied up at the very end.

After a difficult divorce, Melissa Burke moves to a new city with her young son, seeking solace and a fresh start away from her ex-husband. She’s not in the market for a new romance; her focus is on healing and finding peace. However, her plans take an unexpected turn at a dinner party hosted by a friend, where she meets Thomas Danver, a charismatic widower who expresses interest in her by asking for her phone number. As she gets to know him through her neighbors, she discovers that Thomas is not only a devoted father to two daughters but also a well-respected pediatrician with a controversial past—he was once accused of murdering his first wife, who vanished three years ago. The case surrounding Thomas's ex-wife captivated the local media, leading to a mix of opinions about his innocence. While some still suspect him of foul play, Melissa's friends defend him, claiming he was wrongfully accused and is incapable of violence. Drawn to Thomas and intrigued by his story, Melissa agrees to go on a date, which quickly evolves into an intense romance. However, when she receives a disturbing anonymous message that raises doubts about Thomas's past, she finds herself grappling with the unsettling question of whether she truly knows the man she is falling for.

I enjoyed this book, but found some of it to be a little far-fetched and predictable. Most of the twists came at the end and I believe I had all characters as a suspect at one point. What I really appreciate are the multiple perspectives such as Melissa, diary entries, and therapy session recordings. I had already guessed who the killer was about half way through and the character development seemed rush, which was disappointing. If it had more thriller aspect and less love story, I would have potentially liked it more. Overall it's a good book and I would recommend it, but I can tell that it won't be at the top of my list for yearly reads. Thank you to Andrew DeYoung and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stay Away From Him by Andrew Deyoung is a psychological thriller that hooks readers from the very start with its intriguing premise and complex characters. The novel follows Melissa Burke, a recently divorced woman who relocates with her son in search of healing. What she doesn’t expect to find in her new city is Thomas Danver, a widower with a murky past. What begins as a seemingly innocent romantic encounter quickly unravels into something far darker, forcing Melissa to confront her own doubts about the man she’s falling for.

The book is structured with multiple perspectives, which is one of its most compelling features. We get Melissa’s point of view as she navigates her new life, Thomas’s perspective through therapy session transcripts, and insights into Rose, Thomas's first wife, via old diary entries. This unique narrative style kept me engaged, providing a well-rounded understanding of the characters’ motivations and adding layers of suspense throughout the story. The alternating viewpoints give a glimpse into Thomas's psyche, making the mystery of his past both captivating and unsettling.

The early parts of the book are particularly gripping. Melissa’s growing attraction to Thomas, combined with the mystery surrounding his first wife’s disappearance, sets the stage for a taut psychological drama. I was instantly hooked by the possibility that Thomas might be hiding dark secrets. Is he innocent, or is he really the monster some people believe him to be? Deyoung does a fantastic job at keeping the reader in suspense, playing with themes of trust, guilt, and the danger of falling for someone with a complicated history.

Where the book loses some of its momentum, however, is in the middle. As Melissa becomes more entangled in her relationship with Thomas, the pace slows considerably. The plot, which initially feels like a thrilling ride, becomes somewhat predictable, and the suspense starts to wane. The development of the characters' relationships—particularly between Melissa and Thomas—could have been more nuanced. Melissa's emotional struggles and doubts could have been explored deeper, which might have added more tension and depth to her internal conflict.

The ending, though satisfying in some ways, left me with mixed feelings. While it provided closure, it also felt a bit rushed, as if the author was trying to tie up too many loose ends too quickly. Given the complex build-up, I was expecting a more elaborate and perhaps even darker resolution. That being said, the final twist was unexpected and provided just the right amount of shock to leave me thinking about the book long after finishing it.

In terms of character development, Melissa is a sympathetic protagonist whose vulnerability and search for healing are relatable. Her internal struggles felt authentic, and I found myself rooting for her. Thomas, on the other hand, is a more enigmatic figure. While his charm initially draws Melissa in, his past remains an elusive mystery, making it hard to fully trust him as a character. I appreciated the way Deyoung kept the reader questioning Thomas’s innocence, though at times, it felt like the tension around him could have been amplified further.

Ultimately, Stay Away From Him is a solid psychological thriller with a captivating premise, but it falters in its pacing and character development midway through. The multiple viewpoints and suspenseful tone make it an engaging read, but the middle section drags a bit before the story picks up again in the final pages. For those who enjoy a good mystery with plenty of twists and a dash of romance, this book is certainly worth picking up, though it might not leave you completely satisfied in the end. I’m giving it a solid 3.75 stars—a good read, but not without its flaws.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC of 'Stay Away From Him' by Andrew DeYoung - expected release date of 07/08/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading some other reviews I see I'm in the minority with my rating. Did we all read the same book!? But I'm supposed to provide an honest review so, here we go. I started cringing about 15% in. I contemplated giving up on this book at 25% in. Since it's an ARC I pushed on but man, this was rough. The writing was rudimentary and more telling than showing, almost like someone young and unexperienced wrote the book (alot of she said this, she did that - "she thought Kelli was stupid", then a few pages later "that sounds stupid but it's true"). I wasn't able to get invested in the storyline. The characters were intolerable and over the top annoying. Except Rose, the dead wife. Her journal entry flashbacks had a different feel than the rest of the book. They were exciting to read.

The things the FMC and MMC said and did within 24 hours of meeting were just ridiculous. The FMC was fresh out of an emotionally abusive relationship yet within the first day of meeting the MMC love interest, she's allowing him to speak to her disrespectfully and making excuses for it? Then her son was calling him dad after 2 days of knowing each other! She also recognized that the MMC isolating her yet kept agreeing to the way he was controlling her? Ugh I was so icked out. Turns out though he was just a love bombing creep, not a killer though. The twist at the very end, the killer reveal, came completely out of left field and wasn't exciting at all considering the person was barely even mentioned in the book! There was only one negative thing written about her, a comment she made to the FMCs young son scared him, but then at the end it turns out she's been an animal and mom torturing psychopath her whole life! If you're looking for a simple whodunit without a lot of complexity, this one's for you!

I had a hard time putting this book down, it captured me from the beginning. Melissa is newly divorced with a young son moves to a new town where she meets Thomas at a dinner party. Melissa finds out the next day that Thomas's wife has gone missing 3 years earlier and was charged with her murder but no body was found and charges were dropped. Torn between the warnings she's received and her growing feelings for Thomas, Melissa faces a difficult choice: ignore the unsettling rumors or uncover the truth—whether Thomas is guilty or the victim of a dangerous frame-up Everyone seemed suspicious at some point! The twists and turns were so well-crafted that I was completely wrong. The dead wife’s journal entries and Thomas's therapy session notes throughout the book kept me wanting more while I was trying to solve it myself. The ending was a shock and one that I did not see coming.

Release date July 8, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Andrew DeYoung for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Stay Away From Him by Andrew DeYoung is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat from page one and doesn’t let go until long after you’ve finished. Equal parts chilling and thought-provoking, this psychological thriller explores trust, identity, and the terrifying gray area between perception and reality.

DeYoung masterfully builds tension with subtle unease that snowballs into full-blown paranoia. The protagonist’s descent into doubt is so well-drawn that I often found myself questioning everything—what’s real, who’s lying, and how far someone would go to protect their version of the truth.

What makes this novel stand out is its eerie restraint—it doesn’t rely on gore or shock value, but instead cultivates a slow-burning dread that’s far more haunting. Smart, original, and deeply unsettling in the best way, Stay Away From Him is a must-read for fans of Gillian Flynn and Tana French.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I devoured it in a day—and I’ll be side-eyeing strangers (and friends) for weeks to come.

Thank you netgally and penn press for letting me read this book.
If you like sitting on the edge and a book you don't want to put down, I highly recommend reading this. It won't disappoint you. There are a lot twists and turns and you will want to read it in one setting. It is also very through and well written.

Stay Away From Him | ARC Review

This book was engaging, twisty, and just all around wonderful. The plot was done with expert precision, and the twists were perfectly executed. I could not put this down! I enjoyed that we got three POV’s, I think it really added to the mysterious factor and to the story overall.

Four stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read and review ahead of time!

This one releases July 8, 2025 ✨

From the very first page, this gripping tale ensnares you with its suspense and nail- biting tension! This book is an absolute must read!

It was a brilliant read that hooked me from the outset. I couldn’t tear myself away! It was full of red herrings, twists and turns, this would be a great tv adaption!


A massive ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

⭐️: 4.5

I loooooove a good whodunnit thriller, especially when it’s a domestic thriller and you can’t trust anyone!! And this book was exactly that🙂‍↕️ it was a slow burn type of thriller but with a fast paced story telling. There were times the FMC irritated me so much just with her choices😅 I did NOT see that ending coming!! I really thought I had it figured out but my goodness, I was totally wrong😱👀

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc

This was a quick read for me! Kept me intrigued the entire time and was quite the page turner. I didn’t expect the twist at the end, so that’s always fun. Thank you for the ARC!

A quick and easy read. While at times a little repetitive, I was glued to the pages for the most part. There were times when I wanted to throw my kindle across the room because, come on Melissa, are you really that naive? The story takes an interesting and unexpected turn and the ending throws a nice curveball. Read if you like dark and unsettling.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC

I will definitely be reading more from Andrew DeYoung, this booked had me hooked from chapter 1. I loved the twists and turns

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Loved This One!

The uncertainty around Thomas’s innocence was so well done—I kept going back and forth the entire time, never sure what to believe. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took a turn I never saw coming. The twists were perfectly placed, keeping me hooked until the very last page.

Now, I will say that the pace of Melissa and Thomas’s relationship moved fast—almost unrealistically so—but honestly? That didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. I understand that books are fiction, and not everything needs to be completely believable for a story to be engaging. If anything, the whirlwind romance only added to the suspense, making me question everything even more.

If you love thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, with a dark, unsettling romance at the center, this is the book for you. Highly recommend!

well, damn!!! Andrew deyoung made me feel like the main character and when i snap back to reality, it made me have trust issues. This is how the book hooked me. This is my very first book from the author and honestly I like the way he writes so I will try to read more of his work in the future.

Reading Stay Away from Him wasn’t a race to the finish—it was an unsettling experience that sank its hooks into me bit by bit, making me question every character’s motives long after I set the book down. At first, I found myself nodding along with Melissa’s choices. After all, who wouldn’t be drawn to a charming, successful doctor who’s overcome a tragic past? But as the unease crept in, so did the doubts—both hers and mine.

What I loved (and hated, in the best way possible) was how Andrew DeYoung masterfully made me feel like I was the one in the relationship. One moment, I was convinced Thomas was unfairly judged, the next, I was practically yelling at Melissa to run. The anonymous warning, the way the tension built ever so slightly with each chapter, the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right—it all made for an incredibly immersive read.

By the time the full truth was revealed, I wasn’t just shocked—I was rattled. This book burrowed into my mind, making me think about trust, perception, and how easy it is to ignore our instincts when we want to believe the best in someone. If you love slow-burning thrillers that leave you unsettled long after you finish, Stay Away from Him is an absolute must-read.

I could not put this book down. I love a twisty domestic thriller and this one hit the mark for me. Thank yo NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, I only liked it. The reason being it was a bit unrealistic at times and I struggled to connect to the characters. Please give it a try because you never know you may really like it.

I like to write a review based on being pulled into the story. No reveals on what happened, just how fast did I get sucked in. I was caught by chapter 1. I read dozens of psych thrillers per year; I am giving this a 5 star recommendation. Highly recommend!

An intense thriller with plenty of twists and some interesting albeit frustrating characters. I was infuriated the whole way through with Melissa. Where there's smoke there's fire. I loved the diary entries and therapist transcripts sprinkled throughout. They really added to the build up to that ending I didn't see coming.