When a book like this comes along it simply has to be devoured in one sitting, no ifs or buts...it was waaay to good to leave half finished.

It's a pacey read set in modern day with glimpses back to Violet's childhood. I found it quite unsettling in places and heart warming in others.

The characters throughout are brilliant, diverse and full of depth. Violet was such an easy character to become emotionally invested in, and I found her relatable in ways.

Violet's story is addictive reading and Tonge took me down the rabbit hole into a darkness I wasn't expecting...as the old adage goes 'Never judge a book by its cover'. I went into the book blind and had no idea what lay in wait!

*FYI - If You Could See Me Now was previously published under the title Knowing You*

I really enjoyed this book and it was certainly not what I expected. I had no idea where it was going and because of that I was hooked.

Violet finally feels her life has settled, after a difficult time at school and growing up she now has her dream job and is living with her boyfriend, Lenny. Then Lenny ends their relationship, in his place Violet gets a new flatmate, Bella, and uses Bella’s help to have a makeover and take her life into her own hands. This seems to have worked when she meets new author Casey but not all is as it seems with Bella.

Violet’s character took me on a rollercoaster. At the start I felt sorry for her when her boyfriend leaves her and we get to see her insecurities but as the book goes on I started to find her frustrating, like I wanted to shake her. But as we unearth more of Violet’s past the way she is acting and is so easily led become clear and I went back to feeling for her.

The subjects that are tackled in this book are hard hitting but I found told so well. This was enhanced by the supporting characters, especially Bella and Kath.

I liked how this was told in a dual timeline, by revisiting Violet’s childhood we could see how this has affected her and it’s through this that we get a better understanding of her character.

I enjoy Samantha Tonge’s writing style in this as with the other books of hers I have read. She will definitely be a must read for me.

A story about friendships, trust and honesty.

Loved this book! We get to know Violet as a child when she seems lost and alone until she makes a friend. Violet as an adult is happy with her life until she and boyfriend Lenny break the relationship. Enter Bella, a new flat mate, who is determined to do a makeover on Violet. Moving between the past and the present, this book is heart wrenching at times, especially when things aren’t always what they seem.

My review of Knowing You, having just discovered this is a reissue and I don't re-read -

To me this is a book of two halves - the first half gives us a feel for what Violet is normally like, how her break up for Lenny is affecting her, and about her job in publishing. We get to meet her friends and there is a lot of talk about books which I l always like.

Then the second half well from about 60% onwards I knew I couldn't put the book down, had no idea what was going on around me, as I was so utterly absorbed as everything seemed to move up a notch, and some of the things I was wondering about became slightly more confirmed, but at the same time shocking me.

Depending on your circumstances there are themes in this book that could be upsetting, but at the same time most likely will ring true for anyone going through the same things. I am not going to mention that big themes of the book though as I have no intention of spoiling anything for anyone.

In fact this is a hard book to review given to me all the best bits, the most impressive sections and the bits I'd love to shout about are all in the second half of the book, and work best if you have read it all, so rest assured its absolutely fantastic, and had me completely and utterly gripped.

The best comparison I have is to liken this to Amanda Prowse - in terms of really getting to grips with a tricky issue, writing about it in an accessible and sensitive way, making you really feel something for the characters involved, If this is the direction that Samantha Tonge is moving in, and it certainly seems that way after the last two books, then I can only look forward to seeing what she tackles next, as this was really impressive.

I loved the Violet worked in publishing, anything that gives me an insight as to how books are made / acquired etc.. always fascinates me, and I loved her friends at the retirement home book club that she runs have decided to set up a blog.

All the lighter moments of the book were equally well described and I really felt as though I was getting to know Violet, her new flatmate Bella and all of her friends and colleagues really well.

There were times where I really disliked Violet, she is someone who seems as though she is too easily led by others and seems to struggle to know her own mind. At times I wanted to, knock some sense into her,, and at others just give her a hug as she seemed so inexperienced too.

Interspersed with the present day story we get flashbacks of what life was like for Violet in 2001, when she was only 7. They added a lot of the book, and gave an idea of where some of Vi's personality traits evidently stemmed from.

If like me you love reading women's fiction, but also quite like reading darker books too - then this new dark women's fiction genre - and Knowing You in particular could be just what you are looking for. I certainly glad that I read it.

Violet is pretty happy with her life. She has a job in publishing children's books and she and her boyfriend Lenny are pretty happy. Yes, things might be a bit routine but that's how things get after a while in any relationship. Right? Well, not right, once fellow publisher Beatrix is on the scene. Beatrix is something of a personal idol of Violets, until she finds out that she has her claws into Lenny.

Heartbroken, Violet decides she needs a new flatmate. Enter Bella! Bella is energetic and driven and soon she is strongly encouraging Violet to take control of her life. First step, a lifestyle change with food and exercise. Second new hair, makeup, clothes. Third step, lose some more weight. Fourth step, why can't you go after that author with the hot new manuscript! But Bella is not quite what she seems.

As Violet's friends and colleagues become more and more concerned about her, she begins to isolate herself from them, all in the name of putting herself first, which is a shame. I particularly liked the book club women who are all much older than Violet and who clearly care for her and in some parts give some welcome comic relief.

Whilst we get to see the new Violet, we also get flashbacks into her childhood, which wasn't the easiest. I did guess part of what happened to cause her childhood trauma, but not the whole story.

I have read quite a few of Samantha Tonge's books now. She writes issues based women's fiction with an astonishing depth to them. This is the second book in a row by her that I have read where the book that requires the reader to come into it not knowing what the major themes are. Knowing would spoil the twists. It does also make it a bit tricky to review as I have so much more I could say, but I don't want to spoil the reading experience for anyone.

I'll finish with something very wise my good friend Sally told me



You don't have to believe everything you think.



Whilst I am not necessarily good at living up to this, I do remember it clearly quite regularly. It's possibly a mantra that could have helped Violet.

This book was originally published as Knowing You back in 2019 and has been revised and an epilogue added.

I am sharing this review with the Bookish Books Challenge hosted at Bloggin Bout Books and with British Isles Friday hosted at Joy's Book Blog Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 3.5/5

Violet has a happy life, good friends, good job in publishing and Lenny, her boyfriend. When Lenny leaves her, she needs a new flat mate. Enter Bella. With Bella's help, she starts to revamp her life. Then she meets author Casey. And is romance in Violet's future?
But the past is starting to intrude. Violet's past is revealed in flashback and her childhood friend Flint is there for Violet during a sad time when she was young. She blames her mother for the falling out with Flint. But how is this related to her current life?
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A powerful story about friendship, trust, and taking control of your life while not being afraid to stand out

How far would you go for a perfect life?

Back in her troubled school days, kind-hearted Violet always dreamed of a life where she was happy. Now it feels like she’s just about getting there. She has her dream job working with books, and she’s living with her handsome boyfriend, Lenny.

But when her relationship with Lenny falls to pieces and he moves out, Violet, hurt and lonely, decides it’s time to really take her happiness in hand. With her new flatmate Bella’s help, she changes her image and takes control at work, ready to show the world that she doesn’t need Lenny, ready to live her best life!

Then she meets magnetic author Casey, she begins to wonder if all she needed all along was a makeover. Lenny will rue the day he lost her!

But – with Bella – all is not as it seems. And Violet too has a secret, one that dates right back to her childhood, which could change everything…

My Opinion

Previously published as Knowing You.

Samantha Tonge has been a must-read author for me recently – I didn’t read this book when it was first published so I was happy to see that it was being rereleased. Violet is such an interesting character. If You Could See Me Now is an engaging read, with plenty to keep the reader entertained. Samantha utilises flashbacks to help the reader get a better understanding.

Rating 4/5

Violet has a career she loves and a relationship that she is happy with. The first part of this story follows her life as an editor, which is interesting. She has lots of friends who are older than her, but they value her friendship as much as she does theirs. The present-day narrative is broken up with stories from Violet's childhood, a particularly momentous event that takes place and profoundly affects the young girl. It's impossible not to empathise with Violet as a child and to admire what she has achieved as an adult. Then, something changes her outlook on life, and the secrets of her past resurface in a dangerous adult version. It's a beautifully written story. Violet is a lovely character, and you want her to realise that beauty comes from within and that she doesn't need the opinions of others to validate her. I loved the sincerity and the easy flow of this book. It's easy to read, but it makes you think. The characters are believable, as are their motivations and actions. Even though you may guess what is happening, you are never sure until the end. The full impact of Violet's story resonates, and it's a poignant and powerful message. A curious mix of revenge fiction, family drama and self-awareness, this story will hold your interest until the last page.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A great read. Violet has been dumped by her boyfriend Lenny, in favour of someone more influential in the book publishing world. With the help of new flat mate Bella she decides to reinvent herself. As Violet gains confidence she realises Bella is not all she seems. Will she spoil Violet’s budding romance with an author? Well written and good characters make this a good read.

Reading the synopsis of this book I thought this was going to be a light, fun read. A story about a woman who recreates herself to show a guy she's better without him. That us nit what this book was..

This story was not a light fun read but one that seemed very heavy at times. Whether present day or the chapters that took place in 2001, Violet's life just seemed very sad. At times I struggled to read the story because of this. It was too much.

I'm not sure this is a book I would want to read again or recommend. The subject matter is serious and the author did a good job of presenting it. Overall this book was just too much of a heavy read for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my opinion which I
have given.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'If You Could See Me Now' by Samantha Tonge.

Congratulations Samantha on yet another fantastic page turner!!! An absolute must read with vivid descriptions that set the scene for you. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

Grab the tissues and clear your schedules as you will not be able to put this down!!!

The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Samantha Tonge!!! I absolutely loved your previous books that I have read and when I seen this book I just had to read it. I was a bit dubious wondering with such amazing previous books how on Earth are you going to make another book just as amazing as those ones are but you managed it hook, line and sinker which is not an easy feat at all!! I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next with your incredible talent!!!! In this beautiful page turner we meet the lovely, kind hearted and sweet Violet. Violet is loving her job as editor of children's book as well as running a book club at the retirement home but did not have the best childhood as she was bullied. Things have not got much better for her as an adult after discovering her long term boyfriend Lenny has cheated on her. Violet decides to rent her spare room out and meets Bella who is looking for somewhere to live. Bella helps Violet to increase her confidence and change her lifestyle and look. With her new lifestyle changes comes a new author which she wants for her publishing house. However, it isn't just the publishing house that Bella wants the author for when sparks start to fly. However, is the saying what goes up must come down true and if so will Bella's lifestyle come tumbling down? Well, the only way to find out is to grab a copy for yourselves and get lost in this fantastic page turner. I promise that you will not regret it! With a storyline ram packed with friendship, mystery, secrets, warmth, heartbreak, happiness, humour, books, relationships, dreams, self discovery and so much more what on Earth are you waiting for? The storyline is realistic and filled with love, loss, heartbreak, tears, finding yourself,, romance, friendship and more. I was completely absorbed from the first page until late at night when I could only put it down because I'd finished it. It is one of those books that is just impossible to put down!!! I lost count how many times I would promise myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next so I promised myself just one more, just for this to happen over and over until I had devoured it in one sitting. Samantha does a perfect job of weaving together the multiple timelines of Violet's life now and in the past to ensure the reader gets the bigger picture of what her life was like when she was younger and does it without complicating things or giving anything away too soon while ensuring the reader can see, feel and hear everything that Violet is feeling and seeing then and now. Make sure you clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down!! An emotional read full of love, heartbreak and hope weaved perfectly into it. If you love Jodi Picoult, JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks then Samantha Tonge is an absolute MUST READ author for you!! Grab your copy of this amazing book today and I can promise you will not regret it!! It is a gorgeous book and can be read in the sun or curled up next to the fire as regardless of where you read it Samantha will suck you into the storyline seeing everyone and everything coming to life around you. I was completely invested in the storyline throughout and on several occasions my heart was in my throat with what was happening. An absolutely gorgeous read that I would to see being made into a movie! Congratulations Samantha on another stunning success.

This would make an absolutely stunning movie that I would love to watch!!

I was completely invested in the characters and Samantha does an amazing job of weaving Violet's past and present together ensuring the reader really gets to feel everything that she is feeling and that Violet completely jump out of the pages, as do all of the characters. I loved discovering more about all of the characters and seeing their flaws, secrets, weaknesses, hopes, fears, strengths, hopes and more and seeing their personalities change throughout the storyline. Violet was realistic, strong and very likeable and I was rooting for her to find happiness throughout. The fact that Samantha clearly cares about her characters is obvious to anyone who reads her books and sees how she makes them come to life with her stunning emotive and evocative descriptions. It's hard to say too much as I don't want to give anything away to future readers but I'd you want to find out what I mean just get your copy today!! A great realistic mix of memorable characters who worked perfectly for this storyline.

ABSOLUTELY loved this book Samantha and here's to hoping you've started on your next page turner. Watch out JoJo Moyes, Jodi Picoult, Nicholas Sparks and Diane Chamberlain you have some serious competition here!! This is the exact reason you are one of my favourite authors!!!

Overall an unputdownable, powerful, emotive and addictive emotional rollercoaster ride.

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If You Could See Me Now channels into the part of the human mind that strives to show detractors that we are worthy of admiration and should not be judged too harshly. Many of us must have had that thought when thinking of slights from our youth or a chance to revisit an awkward conversation with a particular nemesis. Set in the publishing world, we follow Violet as she listens to that voice in her head.
In this book, Violet’s slight comes in the form of boyfriend Lenny dumping her in favour of a glamorous replacement, someone who not only has more confidence but is capable of swooping in and stealing more than just her partner. I absolutely got Violet’s pain as I have also experienced the crippling pain of not being good enough and my imposter syndrome is very evident.
Violet sets her sights on proving to her former boyfriend and his new partner that she was underestimated, so she begins to make dramatic changes under the guidance of her new housemate, Bella. As her confidence grows, so does the distance between herself and her closest friends.
As Violet begins to emerge from the shadows of her former self, she finds the strength to turn the tables on Lenny by stealing an author from him. It helps that he’s got a certain something that Violet finds impossible to ignore. However, the author, Casey, knows that he’s more than an asset to be used for point scoring.
This fabulous story feeds on the part of so many of us that we choose to ignore as we believe that we are not worthy of the respect that we crave. The structure of the story is beautifully controlled, and for most, I believe that the eventual reveal will come as a shock.
Sam Tonge draws on her personal demons giving us an insight into the battles that other people face on a daily basis. As the saying goes, nobody knows what another person is going through, so be kind.

A powerful and moving story that keep you reading and hooting for Violet and her happiness until the very surprising end. Trust, friendship, family, mental health and finding oneself and been happy with who you are is the heart of this beautiful and great story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy. This is my honest review

Relationships, friendship, being who you are, and being compassionate are all of the strong points of If You Could See Me Now. This book shows Violet through various stages of her life as it provides glimpses into Violet, the main character's childhood. In the present day, Violet is working her dream job as her dream relationship with her live-in boyfriend, Lenny, falls apart.

Violet gets a new flat mate and decides to make some changes, of course there are those in her life who are not too comfortable with the changes Violet is making due to feeling that she is not coping well with her breakup. Samantha Tonge created sympathetic, relatable, and caring characters who were there for Violet every step of the way.

This book was enjoyable, well written, touching, moving, and well thought out.

*This book does touch on some sensitive subject matter concerning self-esteem issues, anxiety, bullying, loss, and self-doubt to name a few. Samantha Tonge does handle these issues with Grace.

** This book was previously published as Knowing You.

Violet didn’t have the easiest of childhoods – the sudden loss of her much loved uncle, her mother falling to pieces, her struggles when bullied at school, and a friendship that became particularly important to her abruptly ended. Now an adult, having often escaped between the pages of books when younger, she has the perfect career – as an editor of children’s books – with supportive friendships at work and in the book club she runs, and a comfortably settled relationship with boyfriend Lenny. But things go badly wrong – he cheats on her with the woman who was her personal role model, and she rather loses her way for a while. Until she finds a new flatmate, Bella, who encourages her to take radical steps to change her image, to push away all her former friends, and to stake everything on attracting a new and particularly special author to her publishing house. She’s brimming over with confidence – Bella’s friendship is so important to her, and that author might just also bring the new romance she’s looking for – until everything comes tumbling down.

For a while, Violet does become very driven and rather unlikeable, single-mindedly pursuing her own happiness and hurting others along the way, apparently taking control of her life but with the increasingly toxic Bella directing her every move – but her longer term friends are always there in the background, poised to intervene when she finds herself at her lowest ebb. Those friendships are something I particularly liked about this lovely read – all the better that they were diverse and multi-generational, and the individuals so very real and well drawn.

But I’m sure it won’t surprise you – if you’ve read any of the author’s other books – that there’s far more to the story than I can share in a review, serious issues that come as a real surprise, rooted in Violet’s difficult childhood that we sometimes revisit in flashback. And, as always, the full story is a particularly emotional one, with its very real and serious issues handled with considerable insight and exceptional sensitivity.

The pacing of the whole book – especially the timing of the reveal – is quite perfect, and if your sympathy for Violet has sometimes wavered as she changed her life in so many ways, it’s certainly more than restored when the true facts begin to emerge. I’d love to go into more detail, but this really is a book you need to experience – it’s an entirely compelling read, and I’m sure you’ll find Violet’s story as impossible to set aside as I did. It does have plenty of lighter moments, but its emotional depth is stunning – I thought it was quite wonderful, and couldn’t recommend it more highly.

I wasn’t expecting the big twist at the end.
I liked how Violet took control of her life and even plotted revenge against Beatrix with Bella.
Everyone has different coping mechanisms and Violet dealt with hers in a unique way.
The flashbacks to 2001 were sad but reveal an integral part of the plot that I didn’t catch on to until the end.

Oh my goodness this book really draws you in!
I liked the way we see snippets of Violets childhood scattered throughout the story, they gradually build up to a crescendo and helps explain why she behaves the way she does in her adult life.
Some rather dark scenes occur which increased my desire to read on, to discover what was happening with Violet and if she would achieve her ambitions.
Brilliantly researched and described, you really get to see what emotional scars are hidden in Violet, you eventually start becoming concerned for her welfare too, just as her friends do as they witness her changes in looks and personality.
An intense story that was illuminating to read, I loved the unexpected moments that crept up stealthily as you read on. A fantastic piece of women’s fiction that was moving and inspiring to read.

Violet is living her best life being paid to read books and sharing her home with her partner Lenny, but when Lenny leaves her for a rival colleague Violet is at her lowest ebb. She was always comfortable being the quirky odd one out who had her own style but her new flatmate Bella shows her that she needs to take her life in hand and sharpen up. Violet starts a rigorous health regime that results in a stunning new look, ready to take on her rivals and succeed at life. We follow Violets progress interspersed with flashbacks to her troubled childhood. Gripping emotional story,

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge is a thought-provoking women's fiction read that will resonate with many people. There are some sensitive topics in this novel but they are definitely written with care.

Violet is struggling after having her heart broken by her ex-boyfriend Lenny. When her new roommate and friend Bella suggests it's time to get her life in order, Violet starts exercising, eating right and even getting a complete makeover. With her newly found confidence, Violet starts to develop feelings for an author named Casey. But while her dating life is going well, Violet realizes that Bella is not who she says she is. Violet too is hiding things... one secret in particular that could change her newfound lease on life.

This is a well written and engaging read that explores the themes of relationships, friendships and honesty. One particularly strong part of the novel was the strong character development. The way Tonge writes these characters is brilliant, making them feel real with all the emotions and the intricate relationship between them. The only drawback I had was I felt like it was a little repetitive at times. Still an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Tonge, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Expected publication date is February 28th 2025.

As much as I enjoyed Violet’s story, I found my interest waning when it came to the flashback chapters. I couldn’t correlate how the flashbacks would have anything to do with the current story. Unfortunately this affected my overall enjoyment of the book as a whole.
Despite this however, I will be looking to read Samantha Tonge’s previously released books in the future as I did enjoy the main storyline of If You Could See Me Now.