Don't You Dare is a gripping, twisty psychological thriller that centers around a cast of quite unlikable characters. Hannah, Scarlet, and Thomas were inserparable their second year of college. While they studied, partied, and made lasting memories, most notably, they played the Daring Game together. One person dared another, and after that dare was complete, the next person had to "up" the dare. Of course, things didn't end well, and now Hannah is in an unhappy marriage, Scarlet is living overseas, and Thomas is unknown. Sixteen years after the game ended, Thomas suddenly returns to town and Hannah finds herself mixed back into the Daring Game, as well as a dangerous relationship, with Thomas.

The book is fast paced and there are plenty of twists and exciting reveals. However, the characters are truly all unlikable. The author does a nice job of tying almost everything together by the end. The one main issue I had with the ending was that the ultimate villain (in my opinion) gets away with everything. Everyone else in the story suffers in one way or another for their mistakes; however, this one character just is able to continue on. This character was also, by far, my least favorite. There are also a lot of decently graphic sex scenes. I don't think SO many were necessary, and they actually started to detract from the overall plot.

Because of the intrigue, pacing, and reveals, I'll recommend this book to those looking for a "can't-put-down" thriller.

To say that I was ADDICTED and OBSESSED with this book would be an understatement! I was immediately drawn into the book and could not turn the pages fast enough. This fast-paced thriller was so unique and steamy that I could not put it down. The mystery had me on the edge of my set and my mind was blown on the final plot twist. You will not see it coming!

*****Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Jessica Hamilton, and NetGalley for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for an honest opinion.

fast paced and a page turner! I love the past and present timeline presented in this book. I would say there were some parts in the book where i was confused but overall I really like the plot line about the rivalry, family drama, and the twist and turns that follow the characters!

Don’t You Dare started out a little on the slow side for me, but once it got going I couldn’t stop reading!

This is a story told in dual timelines. One is the story of three friends in college who had an uncomfortably close relationship, complete with hookups, drugs, and a game they called the daring game. The stakes got higher and higher in their game, until one day the dare was too much and it broke their group apart. The other timeline is in present day, when one of the three friends (Hannah) is in an unhappy marriage, drinking too much, when a second friend reaches back out to her and wants to restart the game.

I did feel some empathy for Hannah, as she has had several terrible things happen in her past and her marriage is definitely not a dream. However, she is really quite unlikable as she makes horrible decision after horrible decision throughout the story. I truthfully didn’t like a single one of these damaged characters, but I still wanted to know everything that was happening to them.

The book plays with themes of trust, connection, and how far someone will go to fit in with their friends. Unfortunately it seems most of these people trust the wrong person. This was a fast paced, easy to read thriller after getting past the initial few chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

did I speed through this one in a manner of hours? yes, yes, I did 😅 but what’s really new on that front anyway?

this book really had it all, folks!! the secrecy, the dual timeline, the friendship group that really turned sexy, the dark romance aspects of it all, it really was doing the most and getting away with it!

however, for me, it’s become the case that I read too many thrillers and now it really takes a lot to wow me 😅😅 and this one was just fine. it was enjoyable, a quick read, but it wasn’t anything new, in my opinion.

plus, the ending was a little too neat for my opinion … like all of a sudden, they figure out who the bad guy is and everything’s fine? and everyone who doubted the MC is just believing her, no questions asked? and her husband doesn’t want to make her life a living hell anymore? it was a little jarring

if you’re new to the thriller genre, or love a good sexy mystery, I would highly recommend this one!! jessica’s writing was just the right amounts of mysterious and intriguing to take the reader on a ride!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: bordeaux merlot

This one was a tough read. I found it difficult to get into and an extremely slow read. It had great potential, but ultimately was a very boring read for me. I kept hoping that it would get better, so kept going.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher & author for allowing me to read and give my honest opinion.

This psychological thriller did not leave any stones upturned. Three college friends went their separate ways after a dare turned tragic. Hannah, Scarlett and Thomas were close and enjoyed crazy and scary dares with the Daring Game. When three is a crowd, sparks fly, and jealousy tears their relationship apart, but the final dare goes wrong and Thomas is expelled from school. He disappears completely.

With dual timelines, 16 years later, Hannah is married to Evan and they have two daughters. Her marriage is on the rocks. When she receives an email from Thomas to play the Daring Game, she accepts. Knowing this is not a good idea because of her family, she defies her senses and gets into a steamy affair with him.

Not only are the two of them playing the game, but they receive a dare from someone else. At times, the notes were left in her house. She suspects several different characters...her husband, the nosy neighbor... Someone knows about their affair... Who is daring them now?

A great mystery to solve. I enjoyed it and thought the writing was incredible. The characters and scenes were believable. When the past has a secret to hide, it was fun unraveling it to see what tore the three of them apart. The ending was shocking and twisted.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fast read. Full of family drama, rivalry between friends and old flames reignited. I couldn’t stop reading as I needed to see where this story took me. The plot twists just kept coming making for a tense entertaining afternoon of page turning delight.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

I really enjoyed this book!

The story revolves around Hannah, Scarlett, and Thomas, 3 friends who meet during college. They end up playing a game called the Daring Game, where they take turning daring each other to do scandalous dares. The three of them grow very close and jealousy develops amongst the friends. Scarlett pushes Thomas into one last dangerous dare. Thomas gets expelled from college and the game ends.

Years later, Hannah is married with kids. Thomas suddenly comes back to town and wants to play the Daring Game again. However, they soon realize that someone else is playing the game and knows their secrets. Who is it? Who wants to get revenge on Hannah and Thomas?

This was a page turner filled with twists and turns! The author did a good job at keeping the reader guessing and flipping between the potential culprits. Looking forward to more reads from Jessica Hamilton!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Hello?? I couldn't STOP reading??? It was so tense and amazing and brought me such desperation that kept my attention fixed in it until the very end. The plot twist made me go :O in ways few books can. It was really unexpected and smart, the way it was inserted in the story. If you love to be surprised, this is a must read!

This book kept me up all night trying to finish it to find out what happens. Don't try to figure out what is coming next or who did what because you will be wrong and totally surprised. This was wonderful!
I just reviewed Don't You Dare by Jessica Hamilton. #DontYouDare #NetGalley
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A twisty story full of insecure and odd characters. Told in 2 timelines we follow Hannah , Scarlet and Thomas during their first year of college The dares they give each other end up having long lasting results. There wasn't a lot of character growth for so much of this book that it was tough to hang in there. I was glad i did finish it even if i did guess who the culprit was about halfway through.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this one immediately because I ma a mess and so are my friends. People who have it together, like Libby, from the book are no fun at all. And yeah the daring thing is dumb AF but clearly Hannah is a mess and needs to be doing dumb messy things.

So Hannah is a mess. A complete and total mess. We would be best friends.
However, my friends are not this horney for men. That I can't relate to.
This entire book also made me grateful for the unrelenting honesty between me and my husband, even if it can seem mean at times.
The thing I loved most about this book is that there are so many potential suspects and yet none of them fit. You can't assume or guess any of it.
You have no idea. Even the husband seems like a jerk who is only being giant jerk due to being fed up. And you know I love to hate the husbands! I felt bad that Hannah couldn't just call him and be honest but I had no hatred. So weird. Such amazing talented writing.
Anyway I have a lot of feeling about the ending but just know that I loved it and it fits.

Thanks for the ARC. Bravo!

Don't you Dare is the newest thriller by Jessica Hamilton that comes in and goes out with a BANG!
It begins with besties -Hannah and Scarlett- and some crazy college games like Truth or Dare but you can say with a twist.
Drinks are being poured. Stalkers are staked out in bushes. Personal files and personal photos are being shared. Homes are being robbed.
Oh, did I mention lives are being destroyed. Kids are involved. Marital affairs are plentiful.
Can I just get a cup of tea to go? lol....
No, seriously this is why I don't drink!
Revenge, jealousy, drama, nosy neighbors and yes death.
However, first we must learn that Daring Games aren't all they're cracked up to be. Someone is always getting hurt. One guy Thomas Sutton was expelled.
Yet, we find that 16 yrs. later that that past can creep back and destroy us because everyone has a story to tell and a secret too keep hidden.
Just ask Hannah as she sets sail with Evan and kids on a new journey. Until, she's facing divorce after receiving a letter from Thomas.
Three-somes, sexual encounters, it's all too much for some but happily shared with others.
The private background on Hannah and even on Rob's brother Jefferson was something else that added so much fuel to this growing fire.
The fact that Jefferson was seriously injured in an accident creates plenty of friction and rubs more than a few the wrong way.
That ending was a shocker as Jessica Hamilton puts us on the HOT SEAT of this game Truth or DARE with someone taking the fall.
Whom will be the next to step right up...or , shall we say, take the fall....
Thank you to Jessica Hamilton, Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
This newest work comes out in May 2023! Add to TBR!

DNF at 50%. I had a hard time getting into this one. The description of this book was very promising, but unfortunately, I didn't get what I expected. This whole daring game was a brilliant idea, but the storytelling was flat for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I loved this juicy thriller! It’s about three friends that played a risky daring game back in college. Now, years later, their paths cross again. Will they return to their old ways. Can they trust each other?

This is a twisted story about three college friends who played Truth or Dare in college until a dare goes horribly wrong. Hannah and Scarlett are the best of friends and when Thomas enters the picture, their relationship is strained. Hannah and Thomas are attracted to each other but cannot be together per Scarlett’s rules. Scarlett is the puppet master, and everyone follows her lead. Fast forward 16 years and Hannah reconnects with Thomas who wants to start up the game again. Hannah is stuck in an unhappy marriage, and welcome’s Thomas’ attention. There is a lot of chemistry between Thomas and Hannah, and they begin an affair, sneaking off to have sex whenever and wherever they can. The sex scenes are pretty graphic, and if this isn’t your thing, you might want to skip past those parts. I personally didn’t have any issue with them. Soon, someone else is playing the game and knows about Hannah and Thomas’ affair. Let the crazy games begin!

I loved everything about this twisted, sexy thriller! I enjoyed reading about the dynamics between the friendships. Scarlett was a true master manipulator, even years later, but things are not always as they seem. You don’t know who to trust or believe throughout the story and there are shocking twists throughout. I loved the dual timelines and found the ending very satisfying.

I loved this book so much I immediately purchased the author's debut novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

Okay. This book was a little surprise dose of university throuple, mixed with mom needing an outlet, mixed with murder and revenge. There was quite the load to unpack here.

Let’s start with the university storyline. It was not enjoyable for me tbh. It was a tough read to read about how desperately infatuated the main character was with her friend that turned into a manipulative, pity-inducing throuple that just made you cringe every time you read it because you were made at the instigator while feeling horrible for her somehow too.

Fast forward to the current daring game. Just how would that happen. Yes let’s explode our lives to do a dare because we’re a bit bored. Sounds good.

Drinking problem? Why do we need to give every female in a thriller a mental health issue that we use as a plot device? The answer is we don’t.

Honestly that’s most of my thoughts.

Do you dare? After reconnecting with he college boyfriend and restarting a game of risku dares Hannah finds that the secrets around her life become too much!
Definitely a book i wouls recommend and read again.

Was this a predictable book? Yes. Was it an enjoyable read? Also a big yes.

I usually am not the biggest fan of thrillers, so I get easily satisfied with them. This may be the case, but the truth is that I enjoyed the story, the fast pace, the eerieness that accompanies it every now and then. The main character is a solid one, a very faulty-if-she-was-a-real-person character, but you'll soon see yourself rooting for her (which is saying a lot about how much I enjoyed this book, since Hannah makes a series of very questionable choices).
It's the kind of book where you can see every single character as being the bad guy. You can't trust a single soul, and that heavy atmosphere drags through the pages, translating itself into a very nice book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this e-arc, in exchange for a honest review.