HOLY SMOKES! You will not want to put this book down. Talk about a gripping story. I could not get enough of this.

Well, well, well…

Don’t trust him? The only thing I don’t trust is anyone who says they liked this book.

The commas in this thing were so misplaced I started to wonder if they were running from something. And the open speech marks? Worse than a Charlie XCX song title. I get that the author was going for a certain style, but when I’m reading sentences like, “mothers should always be there for their children so doesn’t work” (…so she doesn’t work??), I have questions. Was this meant to make the character seem laid-back? If so, mission failed. It just made my brain hurt. And this wasn’t a one-off—it was a pattern. A very tiring, migraine-inducing pattern.

Now, onto the non-existent plot.

Sarah drops off her son at school and notices the local mom squad whispering like they’re plotting something. Enter: Charlie, the new, ridiculously attractive single dad. Cue Sarah’s internal monologue about how lonely and tough life is as a single mom. But she’s sworn off men after The Incident three years ago on Arran…

What happened on Arran, you ask? Oh, nothing. Nothing worth the dramatic build-up, anyway. The book hyped it like it was going to be life-altering, and then when it was revealed, I genuinely thought I had skipped a page. That was it? That was the big reveal? I’m furious.

This could have been a 30-page short story. And that’s me being generous.

The pacing? A mess. Important characters showed up at the 65% mark. And then there’s a missing person plotline that could’ve injected some much-needed excitement—except the police wrap it up in three days. THREE DAYS. The efficiency! Do you know how many people go missing and are never found? Meanwhile, this squad of overachievers handled it like they had nothing else going on. I was actually hoping the missing person drama would stretch out a bit, just to give us something resembling a plot. But nope. Denied.

Also, the characters? Absolutely not human. Their interactions felt so stiff and unrealistic I started wondering if AI wrote this. Sarah and Charlie’s relationship developed at lightning speed, and I couldn’t have cared less. Truly. If they had broken up, gotten married, or decided to join a cult together, I wouldn’t have batted an eye.

And the twist at the end? So unbelievably bad it gave low-budget action movie.

Bottom line: I’d sooner believe we’re living in a simulation than that people actually enjoyed this book. Two stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

Sarah is a single mom of Liam, she meets Charlie father of two kids who attend the same school as Liam. Fate. They have both been hurt, his wife left him in the night for a new liver. She falls for him hard, and eventually moves into his house where his mother, himself and his children all reside. Shortly after moving in she finds his wife's journal and through reading it she finds not all was roses with Charlie and he was a lot more sinister than he appears. Will he do to her what he did to his ex wife? Was the ex wife lying to plant evidence and set him up? Will she make it out of his house alive or is she next? The ending surprised me and was decent enough of a read to keep me engaged, but like most women in love, she was blind to so many flags everywhere, leaving me screaming at a book. It was fast paced and I finished it quickly. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley to an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Rating? 3.75 stars!

Thank you NetGalley! I did not see where this book would be going. I had so many theories about the twists and couldn’t believe the ending.

this book is a grip you until you finish it kind of book. thrillers are great. but when someone swoops in and still manages to shock you with the twists like Karen does then you are onto a real winner.
Sarah is a single mum. shes been hurt before and wants that to stay in her past. what it does mean is she is definetely not open to dating anyone new. but then at the school of her son Liam at pickup time she meet Charlie. and all her rules fall away. she thinks he could be different. as a reader i felt unease and im not sure whether this was just because i was writing for the shoe to drop. but from the off it didnt seem like all could be as it seemed.
Sarah spends more time with Charlie and his two children. he shares his past hurts too. he told her his wife left him and his children.
he also has mother who is less than happy to share him with Sarah.
things change dramatically and things start to feel wrong, go wrong in Sarahs life. one of those things being finding Charlies ex's journal.the fears start to mount and creep up on Sarah. something not right. is someone out to get her and could it possibly be Charlie?
this book is a fabulous read. and for anyone who enjoys thrillers you will love this.

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah is a single mom raising her only son who meets Charlie a handsome single dad with 2 daughters outside their children’s school. She wasn’t planning on dating again as she had a bad experience after her divorce and just wanted to focus on her son, but fell for Charlie and things move a little too fast. Charlie’s Mom is not too happy about another woman getting in the middle of her relationship with her family….

I enjoyed this book it was suspenseful and kept you guessing. It felt a little predictable, but then turned out not at all what I thought, but that is sort of where I got confused and did not understand why it turned out how it did. I don’t want to put in spoilers so I cannot elaborate more. I felt the ending was a little abrupt and not satisfying enough. I would pick up this authors other books. I do like her style.

Overall this book is great for those wanting to get into domestic thrillers it’s suspenseful, keeps you guessing, wanting to get to the big twist finale.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. Loved the vibe, hated the mmc from the get go. Didn't find this predictable, held my attention from start to finish. Ending was not what I guessed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I picked up Don’t Trust Him thinking I’d squeeze in a few chapters before heading out for errands. Let’s just say… those errands never happened. I was completely glued to the story, unable to shake the uneasy feeling that something was very, very wrong.

From the moment the protagonist meets Charlie, there’s an undercurrent of suspense that only tightens as the story unfolds. The idyllic moments—the school drop-offs, the late-night conversations, the growing romance—are laced with just enough unease to keep you on edge. When she finds Lynn’s journal, my stomach dropped. I felt her panic, the racing thoughts, the creeping fear that the man she was falling for might not be who he seemed.

What made this book so gripping for me wasn’t just the mystery but the emotional pull. The mother-son bond, the desperate need for a fresh start, the slow realization that the past never stays buried—it all felt so real. And then bam—the twists started coming, and I had to pause just to process what was happening.

This book completely derailed my day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you love psychological thrillers that mess with your mind and keep you guessing until the final shocking reveal, Don’t Trust Him is a must-read. Just don’t make any plans once you start—you will be canceling them.

You know that the hot new single dad at the school gate might be not such a good guy, don't you? Well, Sarah doesn't and she, along with her son Liam, move in with Charlie, his kids and his mother Alice who really doesn't like Sarah. Charlie claims his wife Lynn disappeared with a new lover but did she really? Fans of the genre might think they know what's going to happen but King has changed things up a bit with Lynn's diary and Alice. What really happened to Lynn and is Sarah are risk? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, No spoilers from me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. The first part of the book felt a bit all over the place to me, but then it picks up with twist after twist. The ending feels a bit rushed but it was still an entertaining read.

Utterly compelling I was engrossed right from the start and couldn't put it down. I finished it within a few hours. Highly recommended.

'Dont trust Him' is a very enjoyable twisty psychological thriller.

The plot involves Sarah, a single Mum who is estranged from her mum and bringing up her son, Liam alone. Her best friend, Tasha, lives close by, and as both have similar aged sons, often chat at the school gates. On one such occasion, they spot a hot new single Dad, much to Sarah's surprise this hot Dad, Charlie seems more attracted to Sarah than the other Mums who make their interest in Charlie very clear!

It soon becomes apparent that the envy of the other mums are the least of Sarah's problems as a series of unfortunate events follow, leaving Sarah scared, homeless and unsure who she can trust.

Throw into the mix Alice, Charlie's overbearing mother, and the mysterious disappearance of Charlie's previous partner/wife, and the scene is really set for some unputdownable action!

This is a really easy read that is guaranteed to entertain - easily a 5*highly recommended read from me!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

This is more of a slower thriller, which kind of made it hard for me to get through. I don’t fault the author for this, I have ADHD so it’s hard for me to pay attention if the book isn’t fast paced. I did also think the FMC was very annoying and things that were pretty obvious, she didn’t seem to get. The ending was really good and saved the book. I’m not really used to a slower thriller but I think someone who enjoys slower thrillers, would like this a lot.

This book started out like a sweet family drama and then the suspicious activity arrives and it became apparent that something wasn't right. I feel utterly shocked by the breathtaking twists. There was one twist in particular that I never ever saw coming! I enjoyed watching the characters and getting a study of them even the not so nice ones. The plot is clever!

Don't Trust Him by Karen King is full of twists and turns that readers will not see coming. Sarah meets a newly single dad at school drop off and they eventually start dating. His wife is missing and hasn't seen their daughters for over a year. His mother is overbearing. When she and Charlie temporarily move in together, her life gets stranger and stranger. Someone it seems is out to get her, but who is it? The man who she is falling for with the missing wife, his mom, or one of his exes?

This book is a real page turner, and I loved the ups and downs. Great twists throughout and no idea who was pulling the strings. I couldn't put this one down.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to have an ARC copy, throughly enjoyed this read did not expect the twist at all. Will definitely be reading more from this author

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the Advanced Reader Copy of Don't Trust Him by Karen King. Sarah is a single mom who is not interested in a relationship after a failed marriage followed by rebound relationship that ended with her partner going to prison. When Sarah meets single dad Charlie at the school drop off line, she begins to rethink that. Soon she, Charlie and their children are spending time together and enjoying life. Enter Alice, Charlie's rich, controlling mother who does not care for Sarah, or her son Liam. Soon things start happening that have Sarah questioning her sanity and Liam begins to withdraw and becomes sad. Sarah is convinced someone is out to get her. Is it Charlie? Is it Alice? Is it Dylan, her ex that was recently released from prison? This book has a lot of fun twists and turns. It is a quick read and it kept me interested. I rate this a 3.75/5. This is the first Karen King book that I have read, but based on how much I enjoyed it, I will definitely read others.

Release: April 3, 2025
Author: Karen King
Publisher: Bookouture

Rating: 4 25 ★ 

From the moment Sarah met Charlie at the school gates, dropping off his daughters as she said goodbye to her son, she feel an undeniable connection. Being a single mother has been tough, but his captivating green-blue eyes and warm smile make her wonder if she's finally found happiness—and a chance to escape her own past.

Charlie and Sarah grow close, sharing late-night conversations in the beautiful home his mother, Alice, gave him. He tells her his ex-wife, Lynn, abandoned their children for another man, leaving him heartbroken. Alice struggles to accept Sarah, and she can only hope she never learns the truth about her past.

Then Sarah find Lynn’s hidden journal, along with a sapphire ring and a silk scarf. A terrible feeling creeps in—something isn’t right. As a shadow falls over her, her heart pounds. Did something awful happen to Lynn? And who can Sarah really trust—Charlie, his mother, or the woman who vanished? She needs to protect her son… before it’s too late.

Karen King delivers an engaging psychological thriller in Don’t Trust Him, keeping the suspense high with its intricate web of secrets, deception, and manipulation. The novel effectively builds tension, making it difficult to determine who is truly trustworthy. The pacing is steady, with well-timed twists that keep the reader questioning the truth.

The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose struggle with doubt and paranoia feels authentic. The story does an excellent job of exploring the psychological impact of gaslighting and emotional manipulation. While some twists are predictable, the way the narrative unfolds remains compelling. The book strikes a good balance between mystery and psychological tension, making it a satisfying read for fans of domestic thrillers.

Favorite Quote:
"some people wear masks so well, you forget there's a real face behind it."

I loved this twisty read. Sarah has been through a lot, and her only priority is making sure her son is safe and sound. She's not interested in the hot single Dad, until she was. I found the book hard to put down, it made my heart race, sometimes I screamed at Sarah "RUN", I felt for the kids. My heart went out to them. They don't understand " (mental) games' some adults play.

3.5⭐️. An enjoyable quick read thriller. Gripping from the very start. Can anyone be trusted in this book? Really liked Sarah and felt sorry for her at times. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for ARC.