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Nothing Without Me
April Eden is about to have the night of her life. Her debut movie, The Vanished Woman, is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood’s radar. Her leading lady, Essie Lay—a fragile but magnetic former TV host—is on the cusp of a stunning comeback after being canceled for a disturbing scandal.
When Essie texts April saying she can’t face the ceremony, April heads to Essie’s palatial London mansion, Lotus Lodge, to persuade her to enjoy their big night together. But upon arrival, April is faced with tragedy: The woman's body is floating in the swimming pool, all signs pointing to suicide. Panicked, April activates Essie’s team expecting them to do damage control while she heads to the awards ceremony. She’s devastated yet determined to do what she can to protect Essie’s legacy.
But by the time April returns to Lotus Lodge to face the fallout, Essie’s body has vanished. Was she actually murdered? Is this an elaborate hoax or a publicity stunt gone wrong? Why does April start receiving unsettling messages trying to pin the blame on her?
When Essie texts April saying she can’t face the ceremony, April heads to Essie’s palatial London mansion, Lotus Lodge, to persuade her to enjoy their big night together. But upon arrival, April is faced with tragedy: The woman's body is floating in the swimming pool, all signs pointing to suicide. Panicked, April activates Essie’s team expecting them to do damage control while she heads to the awards ceremony. She’s devastated yet determined to do what she can to protect Essie’s legacy.
But by the time April returns to Lotus Lodge to face the fallout, Essie’s body has vanished. Was she actually murdered? Is this an elaborate hoax or a publicity stunt gone wrong? Why does April start receiving unsettling messages trying to pin the blame on her?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 18, 2023
The ugly face of fame, destructive online bullying, toxic friendship, and the ongoing fight of women for centuries to exist in a world ruled by men's rules: this book absolutely discusses these important subjects in a dark, realistic approach, not with kid gloves. Some chapters affect you like a harsh slap on your face! The mystery of a murder or missing person case of once a celebrity in her forties with a ruined public persona - a new actress with a chance of a comeback role in an indie project directed by an old friend she’s estranged from for her own reasons is a smart, twisty adventure that makes you guess to piece the puzzle and solve the main mystery before the author throws away the revelations at our way until the end.
The plot revolves around two women whose paths intersected in the early days as they try to climb the ladders of the most competitive entertainment industry. Essie Lay was always the sunshiny girl next door, supported by her wealthy, resourceful family who gives their full attention to her career path. On the other hand, April Eden, estranged from her family, creative, smart but shy, always envying Essie, tries sneaky ways to involve herself in her life, earning her trust and friendship. Finally, they get close, and some transfixing incident pushes them apart.
Twenty years later, when Essie is at the lowest point related to a video that tarnished her reputation, the only person who dares to give her a chance is April, who invests in her directorial debut movie: “Vanished Woman,” replacing her star Juniper with Essie.
Now the movie is finished, and all eyes are set for the opening night. On the same night, April gets a cryptic message from Essie that she is not going to attend the event. As April arrives at her palatial London mansion alongside her boyfriend Jaggs, she finds her friend floating in the swimming pool. There are remnants of crushed sleeping pills on the ground, all signs pointing to suicide. Instead of calling the officers, April is convinced to attend the ceremony by her boyfriend as she activates Essie’s sister/manager Janine and her wily agent Jonathan to handle the damage control. However, when she returns to the crime scene the very next day, she finds the poolside cleaned, and there’s no dead body floating around. It seems like Essie vanished into thin air.
The mystery starts gripping you as questions arise, such as what happened to Essie? Could she be alive or is someone whose name starts with J involved in her demise (which stretches the list as most of the characters’ names start with J, including April’s boyfriend, who acts very suspicious from the beginning)?
I enjoyed the thought-provoking criticism of the industry that takes a piece of women in exchange for sucking them dry until there’s only an empty vessel left behind. The intriguing, unconventional, and toxic relationship between the two main characters is also interesting.
The only things that made me stop giving five stars are a little far-fetched explanations in the end and some unreliable characterizations that made me roll my eyes. But overall, this is a fascinatingly riveting and gripping thriller that drags you into a twisty mystery, grabbing your full focus until the last chapter.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts
The plot revolves around two women whose paths intersected in the early days as they try to climb the ladders of the most competitive entertainment industry. Essie Lay was always the sunshiny girl next door, supported by her wealthy, resourceful family who gives their full attention to her career path. On the other hand, April Eden, estranged from her family, creative, smart but shy, always envying Essie, tries sneaky ways to involve herself in her life, earning her trust and friendship. Finally, they get close, and some transfixing incident pushes them apart.
Twenty years later, when Essie is at the lowest point related to a video that tarnished her reputation, the only person who dares to give her a chance is April, who invests in her directorial debut movie: “Vanished Woman,” replacing her star Juniper with Essie.
Now the movie is finished, and all eyes are set for the opening night. On the same night, April gets a cryptic message from Essie that she is not going to attend the event. As April arrives at her palatial London mansion alongside her boyfriend Jaggs, she finds her friend floating in the swimming pool. There are remnants of crushed sleeping pills on the ground, all signs pointing to suicide. Instead of calling the officers, April is convinced to attend the ceremony by her boyfriend as she activates Essie’s sister/manager Janine and her wily agent Jonathan to handle the damage control. However, when she returns to the crime scene the very next day, she finds the poolside cleaned, and there’s no dead body floating around. It seems like Essie vanished into thin air.
The mystery starts gripping you as questions arise, such as what happened to Essie? Could she be alive or is someone whose name starts with J involved in her demise (which stretches the list as most of the characters’ names start with J, including April’s boyfriend, who acts very suspicious from the beginning)?
I enjoyed the thought-provoking criticism of the industry that takes a piece of women in exchange for sucking them dry until there’s only an empty vessel left behind. The intriguing, unconventional, and toxic relationship between the two main characters is also interesting.
The only things that made me stop giving five stars are a little far-fetched explanations in the end and some unreliable characterizations that made me roll my eyes. But overall, this is a fascinatingly riveting and gripping thriller that drags you into a twisty mystery, grabbing your full focus until the last chapter.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts
November 14, 2023
4.5 rounded up
Wow, this latest novel from the talented Helen Monks Takhar sure packs a punch or two. This is April Eden and Essie (Esther) Lays’s story. April is now a writer and film director with her debut film “The Vanished Woman” being well received and up for awards. Her leading lady is Essie, once the darling of daytime TV, whose success spectacularly derails. This is Essie’s chance of redemption, an opportunity to re-kickstart her stalled career, but it’s also Aprils big chance. On the night of an award ceremony, April receives a disturbing phone call from Essie. April rushes to her home, accompanied by her boyfriend, Jags (Jagdeep), and there is faced with tragedy. What to do? The story is told in the present day and backtracks to several years ago when the two women meet on a daytime television set. The twisty and unpredictable novel looks at the high price of fame that is often paid by women, at the ‘cult’ of celebrity and all the pressure that comes with that especially the demands and judgements.
I don’t quite know where to start with this because there are so many layers to the storytelling. I suppose it begins and ends with all the characters whose portrayal is excellent. Essie has a magnetic personality and April is drawn to her like a moth to a flame but she is also very vulnerable and as the plot progresses you realise just how damaged she is. This is also true of April and although her motives are often questionable they can equally be understood. Essie’s family dynamics shock to the core, leaving a sour and bitter taste in the mouth. There are blurred lines between Essie and her role in The Vanished Woman and I love the way this plays out.
April and Essie encounter and endure things they should never have to, there is lack of choice, who ‘owns’ you, the toll that fake it till you make it has on mental wellbeing and the frequently exorbitant price of media scrutiny. They navigate rejection, exploitation, gaslighting, betrayal and lies on an enormous scale. Yet the burden of guilt they carry is huge - often when others should bear that load. It becomes a truly shocking twisted tale with some creepy, messy gameplay although who is the cat and who is the mouse is a ‘moveable feast’. Do they fall into the dangerous traps set and tumble into snake pits? That would be telling but what I can say is that it becomes dark, extremely powerful and my jaw drops on several occasions especially towards the end. My suspicion antenna twitches furiously back and forth as revelations emerge but I certainly don’t figure it all out by any means. Once the truth is out in the open it makes you feel both angry and sad - as it should.
I love the way this is written, it’s a slow burner that builds alongside a feeling of dread. There are clever metaphors which signal things of real significance and I love the way you are led this way and that. What price fame, eh.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Wow, this latest novel from the talented Helen Monks Takhar sure packs a punch or two. This is April Eden and Essie (Esther) Lays’s story. April is now a writer and film director with her debut film “The Vanished Woman” being well received and up for awards. Her leading lady is Essie, once the darling of daytime TV, whose success spectacularly derails. This is Essie’s chance of redemption, an opportunity to re-kickstart her stalled career, but it’s also Aprils big chance. On the night of an award ceremony, April receives a disturbing phone call from Essie. April rushes to her home, accompanied by her boyfriend, Jags (Jagdeep), and there is faced with tragedy. What to do? The story is told in the present day and backtracks to several years ago when the two women meet on a daytime television set. The twisty and unpredictable novel looks at the high price of fame that is often paid by women, at the ‘cult’ of celebrity and all the pressure that comes with that especially the demands and judgements.
I don’t quite know where to start with this because there are so many layers to the storytelling. I suppose it begins and ends with all the characters whose portrayal is excellent. Essie has a magnetic personality and April is drawn to her like a moth to a flame but she is also very vulnerable and as the plot progresses you realise just how damaged she is. This is also true of April and although her motives are often questionable they can equally be understood. Essie’s family dynamics shock to the core, leaving a sour and bitter taste in the mouth. There are blurred lines between Essie and her role in The Vanished Woman and I love the way this plays out.
April and Essie encounter and endure things they should never have to, there is lack of choice, who ‘owns’ you, the toll that fake it till you make it has on mental wellbeing and the frequently exorbitant price of media scrutiny. They navigate rejection, exploitation, gaslighting, betrayal and lies on an enormous scale. Yet the burden of guilt they carry is huge - often when others should bear that load. It becomes a truly shocking twisted tale with some creepy, messy gameplay although who is the cat and who is the mouse is a ‘moveable feast’. Do they fall into the dangerous traps set and tumble into snake pits? That would be telling but what I can say is that it becomes dark, extremely powerful and my jaw drops on several occasions especially towards the end. My suspicion antenna twitches furiously back and forth as revelations emerge but I certainly don’t figure it all out by any means. Once the truth is out in the open it makes you feel both angry and sad - as it should.
I love the way this is written, it’s a slow burner that builds alongside a feeling of dread. There are clever metaphors which signal things of real significance and I love the way you are led this way and that. What price fame, eh.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 11, 2024
Another story about the unpleasant side of fame and the heavy price people pay for it. Told from two different POV and in several different timelines, this one is very twisty and convoluted - maybe a little too convoluted. Also for me, too long, though I was really interested to see where the story was going, I felt it dragged at times and my attention waned. I like stories with different timelines but with this one I had to keep checking to see when, where and who. I enjoyed it for the most part however, and I very much liked the satisfying ending, I'll definitely check out more from this author, 3.5 stars.
May 5, 2024
This was an enjoyable, twisty, but too long story about the friendship between April and Esther and the consequences of one night.
February 8, 2024
See my review on www.mysteryandsuspensemagazine.com
April has finally had one of her biggest dreams come true- she is up for a major film award for best director. Although she should be enjoying the accolades, April can’t help but think about her leading lady, Essie Lay, and the fact that she found her body in the pool just hours before the ceremony. No one knows Essie is dead except April and her partner, Jag, and the secret is almost too much for April to bear. But when she returns to Lotus Lodge, where Essie lives, to deal with the aftermath, Essie’s body has disappeared. Was Essie really dead or has she just pulled a disappearing act? If Essie was dead, who moved her body and why? April’s guilt sets her on a path to get justice for her former friend and employee, but at what cost?
Helen Monks Takhar is the author of “Precious You” and “Such a Good Mother” and her newest novel, “Nothing Without Me” is a disturbing glimpse at life behind the Silver Screen.
Esther Laycock, stage name Essie Lay, is a woman forced into stardom due to her father’s depleting bank account, who is managed by her jealous and heartless sister. Esther and April shared a toxic friendship back in their early days in the business, but have drifted apart as a result of a devastating event. Immediately, the reader feels for both women, who have suffered greatly at the hands of others and have had control over their own lives ripped away. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the women turn to (and on) each other. Takhar has created a realistic depiction of female friendships torn apart by trauma and immediately, she creates an emotional bond between the characters and the reader.
The novel is narrated by both women, and takes place across multiple time periods, jumping back and forth between them. The chapters begin with naming both the character narrating and the time period, so it is easy to follow the chain of events. “Without Me” has multiple twists and turns that leave you guessing throughout and what happened to Essie is just the start. The ending was surprising but comforting, with each plot line perfectly wrapped up in a succinct and complete way.
“Without Me” shows the dark side of fame and the extra pressures that it places on females in the industry. Not only was the novel creative and entertaining, it was thought-provoking and emotional, and Takhar has provided a novel that everyone will be talking about.
April has finally had one of her biggest dreams come true- she is up for a major film award for best director. Although she should be enjoying the accolades, April can’t help but think about her leading lady, Essie Lay, and the fact that she found her body in the pool just hours before the ceremony. No one knows Essie is dead except April and her partner, Jag, and the secret is almost too much for April to bear. But when she returns to Lotus Lodge, where Essie lives, to deal with the aftermath, Essie’s body has disappeared. Was Essie really dead or has she just pulled a disappearing act? If Essie was dead, who moved her body and why? April’s guilt sets her on a path to get justice for her former friend and employee, but at what cost?
Helen Monks Takhar is the author of “Precious You” and “Such a Good Mother” and her newest novel, “Nothing Without Me” is a disturbing glimpse at life behind the Silver Screen.
Esther Laycock, stage name Essie Lay, is a woman forced into stardom due to her father’s depleting bank account, who is managed by her jealous and heartless sister. Esther and April shared a toxic friendship back in their early days in the business, but have drifted apart as a result of a devastating event. Immediately, the reader feels for both women, who have suffered greatly at the hands of others and have had control over their own lives ripped away. Desperate to reclaim their lives, the women turn to (and on) each other. Takhar has created a realistic depiction of female friendships torn apart by trauma and immediately, she creates an emotional bond between the characters and the reader.
The novel is narrated by both women, and takes place across multiple time periods, jumping back and forth between them. The chapters begin with naming both the character narrating and the time period, so it is easy to follow the chain of events. “Without Me” has multiple twists and turns that leave you guessing throughout and what happened to Essie is just the start. The ending was surprising but comforting, with each plot line perfectly wrapped up in a succinct and complete way.
“Without Me” shows the dark side of fame and the extra pressures that it places on females in the industry. Not only was the novel creative and entertaining, it was thought-provoking and emotional, and Takhar has provided a novel that everyone will be talking about.
March 7, 2024
Nothing Without Me
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Helen Monks Takhar
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: April Eden is about to have the night of her life. Her debut movie, The Vanished Woman, is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood’s radar. Her leading lady, Essie Lay—a fragile but magnetic former TV host—is on the cusp of a stunning comeback after being canceled for a disturbing scandal.
When Essie texts April saying she can’t face the ceremony, April heads to Essie’s palatial London mansion, Lotus Lodge, to persuade her to enjoy their big night together. But upon arrival, April is faced with tragedy: The woman's body is floating in the swimming pool, all signs pointing to suicide. Panicked, April activates Essie’s team expecting them to do damage control while she heads to the awards ceremony. She’s devastated yet determined to do what she can to protect Essie’s legacy.
But by the time April returns to Lotus Lodge to face the fallout, Essie’s body has vanished. Was she actually murdered? Is this an elaborate hoax or a publicity stunt gone wrong? Why does April start receiving unsettling messages trying to pin the blame on her?
My Thoughts: This story was not like one I have read recently. It discusses some ugly truths in today’s society. Women writing movies in a man dominated field with the rules dictated by men. Social bullying that can ruin life’s, or at a minimum, severely impact a person’s life. Lastly, how ugly and out of mind fame truly is. The author delves into this topics with a no holds barred approach, in a realistic and authentic approach with a dark and disturbing twist. Essie comes from a wealthy family with all of the support, where April is estranged from her family. April is envious of Essie and wiggles her way into her life until an incident places a wedge between them. Fast forward two decades and a viral video has destroyed Essie’s reputation and April asks her to star in her debut movie. Movie is finished and it is opening night. April receives a cryptic text that Essie will not be at the award ceremony. Upon arriving at her mansion, she finds Essie floating in pool with signs of a suicide. April panics contacting Essie’s team and expecting they would do damage control while she is at the opening. Yet, when April returns, the body has disappeared. Here is where the mystery starts, what happened to Essie?
The story is narrated in the present time and backtracks to the past, when our MCs originally met. The relationship between the two main characters is toxic, definitely unusual, which kept me intrigued, and interested. The author’s writing style was suspenseful, thought provoking, and provided an intriguing account of an industry that is male dominated and absolutely takes women for granted. There was some stretching of the characters and the ending that I could not get invested in. However, overall, an enjoyable read. Our characters endure far more than they should, the price women pay to be in the film industry is extraordinary. The lies, betrayal, gaslighting, and being exploited at a high cost to a personal mental stability is beyond measure. When the truth emerges, it made me both sad and angry at the same time.
This is definitely a slow burn thriller that is captivating and gripping. I would recommend picking up or borrowing from your library today.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Helen Monks Takhar
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: April Eden is about to have the night of her life. Her debut movie, The Vanished Woman, is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood’s radar. Her leading lady, Essie Lay—a fragile but magnetic former TV host—is on the cusp of a stunning comeback after being canceled for a disturbing scandal.
When Essie texts April saying she can’t face the ceremony, April heads to Essie’s palatial London mansion, Lotus Lodge, to persuade her to enjoy their big night together. But upon arrival, April is faced with tragedy: The woman's body is floating in the swimming pool, all signs pointing to suicide. Panicked, April activates Essie’s team expecting them to do damage control while she heads to the awards ceremony. She’s devastated yet determined to do what she can to protect Essie’s legacy.
But by the time April returns to Lotus Lodge to face the fallout, Essie’s body has vanished. Was she actually murdered? Is this an elaborate hoax or a publicity stunt gone wrong? Why does April start receiving unsettling messages trying to pin the blame on her?
My Thoughts: This story was not like one I have read recently. It discusses some ugly truths in today’s society. Women writing movies in a man dominated field with the rules dictated by men. Social bullying that can ruin life’s, or at a minimum, severely impact a person’s life. Lastly, how ugly and out of mind fame truly is. The author delves into this topics with a no holds barred approach, in a realistic and authentic approach with a dark and disturbing twist. Essie comes from a wealthy family with all of the support, where April is estranged from her family. April is envious of Essie and wiggles her way into her life until an incident places a wedge between them. Fast forward two decades and a viral video has destroyed Essie’s reputation and April asks her to star in her debut movie. Movie is finished and it is opening night. April receives a cryptic text that Essie will not be at the award ceremony. Upon arriving at her mansion, she finds Essie floating in pool with signs of a suicide. April panics contacting Essie’s team and expecting they would do damage control while she is at the opening. Yet, when April returns, the body has disappeared. Here is where the mystery starts, what happened to Essie?
The story is narrated in the present time and backtracks to the past, when our MCs originally met. The relationship between the two main characters is toxic, definitely unusual, which kept me intrigued, and interested. The author’s writing style was suspenseful, thought provoking, and provided an intriguing account of an industry that is male dominated and absolutely takes women for granted. There was some stretching of the characters and the ending that I could not get invested in. However, overall, an enjoyable read. Our characters endure far more than they should, the price women pay to be in the film industry is extraordinary. The lies, betrayal, gaslighting, and being exploited at a high cost to a personal mental stability is beyond measure. When the truth emerges, it made me both sad and angry at the same time.
This is definitely a slow burn thriller that is captivating and gripping. I would recommend picking up or borrowing from your library today.
June 25, 2024
*Disturbing*
**3.5 Stars**
This book has left me with mixed feelings. It deals with the unpleasantness and the behind the scenes antics of the cutthroat world of show business. In this case Hollywood. The main characters are two women.
April
Who has come a long way and the film that she is directing is with a leading lady that she seems to be obsessed with to the point of creepy. April has always craved the life that Essie has which looks so perfect in her eyes. She soon finds out to her cost that all is never what it seems.
Essie
She is growing more and more weary. So many in her life are pulling her strings. She appears to have it all. Everyone wants a piece of her. She gave her heart to someone who betrayed her in the worse possible way. Who is behind it? This mistake caused her tv career to implode.
Now, a year later she is a leading lady in the part that could catapult her back into the limelight, April’s film.
I did not like either character or the games they played. The lengths and decisions they made left me cold.
With the awards ceremony looming Essie does not want to go. So she sends a message to April but that’s when things get a bit weird. Strange happenings, strange decisions and the lengths both Essie and April go to, for me blurs the lines of fact and fiction. I will say no more.
**3.5 Stars**
This book has left me with mixed feelings. It deals with the unpleasantness and the behind the scenes antics of the cutthroat world of show business. In this case Hollywood. The main characters are two women.
April
Who has come a long way and the film that she is directing is with a leading lady that she seems to be obsessed with to the point of creepy. April has always craved the life that Essie has which looks so perfect in her eyes. She soon finds out to her cost that all is never what it seems.
Essie
She is growing more and more weary. So many in her life are pulling her strings. She appears to have it all. Everyone wants a piece of her. She gave her heart to someone who betrayed her in the worse possible way. Who is behind it? This mistake caused her tv career to implode.
Now, a year later she is a leading lady in the part that could catapult her back into the limelight, April’s film.
I did not like either character or the games they played. The lengths and decisions they made left me cold.
With the awards ceremony looming Essie does not want to go. So she sends a message to April but that’s when things get a bit weird. Strange happenings, strange decisions and the lengths both Essie and April go to, for me blurs the lines of fact and fiction. I will say no more.
January 29, 2024
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC through NetGalley.
2024 52 Book Challenge - 14) A Grieving Character
This was a very, very slow burn novel. So slow that I struggled to read it. The second half, I was pretty much disinterested in the novel, so I skimmed it. The characters were very, very flawed and the novel basically revolved around that fact, as it was more of a character driven plot than an action plot. I personally thought that it was way over complicated and convoluted.
While I didn't really like this style of novel, I know a number of people who would love it, because it's not a badly written novel, and the female empowerment message was pretty nice, regardless of the events in the novel.
2024 52 Book Challenge - 14) A Grieving Character
This was a very, very slow burn novel. So slow that I struggled to read it. The second half, I was pretty much disinterested in the novel, so I skimmed it. The characters were very, very flawed and the novel basically revolved around that fact, as it was more of a character driven plot than an action plot. I personally thought that it was way over complicated and convoluted.
While I didn't really like this style of novel, I know a number of people who would love it, because it's not a badly written novel, and the female empowerment message was pretty nice, regardless of the events in the novel.
April 16, 2024
A twisty, dual POV, thriller about the complicated relationship between a female director and her star actress. With a shared history of tragedy and dark secrets, this book starts off strong as April discovers Essie floating dead in her pool on the night they are both up for big awards.
Unsure what to do, April's boyfriend convinces her to leave Essie and go on to the awards show only to later discover Essie has gone missing. Told through flashbacks, we get to see just how complicated their relationship is and why.
Everyone has something to hide in this book and things happened I wasn't expecting. There is a great storyline about the dark side of fame, abuse and even rape. Good on audio and definitely worth listening for fans of dark psychological thrillers.
Unsure what to do, April's boyfriend convinces her to leave Essie and go on to the awards show only to later discover Essie has gone missing. Told through flashbacks, we get to see just how complicated their relationship is and why.
Everyone has something to hide in this book and things happened I wasn't expecting. There is a great storyline about the dark side of fame, abuse and even rape. Good on audio and definitely worth listening for fans of dark psychological thrillers.
March 14, 2024
Thank you to Booklist and Penguin Random House for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title.
April Eden is on the verge of greatness. Her directorial debut, The Vanished Woman, is nominated for major film awards, including a nod for the movie’s star, Essie Lay. Essie needs this win to recover her career after an embarrassing scandal. When Essie texts that she plans to bail on the award ceremony, April heads to Essie’s secluded mansion with her boyfriend, Jags. They arrive to find Essie floating in her pool, seemingly dead. Jags convinces April to go to the ceremony and pretend she never saw Essie; the actress’ family will find her soon enough. Feeling guilty and hearing no news, April returns the next day and is shocked to find Essie’s body gone. Takhar (Such a Good Mother, 2022) weaves a sense of foreboding with two unreliable narrators, offering nuggets from the past that keep the plot intriguing. While readers might find some of the twists transparent, the climax and conclusion are surprising and entertaining. Recommended for readers who like flawed but well-developed characters, like those in books by Julia Dahl, Shanora Williams, and Sian Gilbert.
April Eden is on the verge of greatness. Her directorial debut, The Vanished Woman, is nominated for major film awards, including a nod for the movie’s star, Essie Lay. Essie needs this win to recover her career after an embarrassing scandal. When Essie texts that she plans to bail on the award ceremony, April heads to Essie’s secluded mansion with her boyfriend, Jags. They arrive to find Essie floating in her pool, seemingly dead. Jags convinces April to go to the ceremony and pretend she never saw Essie; the actress’ family will find her soon enough. Feeling guilty and hearing no news, April returns the next day and is shocked to find Essie’s body gone. Takhar (Such a Good Mother, 2022) weaves a sense of foreboding with two unreliable narrators, offering nuggets from the past that keep the plot intriguing. While readers might find some of the twists transparent, the climax and conclusion are surprising and entertaining. Recommended for readers who like flawed but well-developed characters, like those in books by Julia Dahl, Shanora Williams, and Sian Gilbert.
April 17, 2024
Essie’s body has vanished. Is this an elaborate hoax or publicity stunt gone wrong? Essie is an actress who is on again off again friends with April, a debut director. Their relationship is told in fragments from both the past and the present, and by both Essie and April's POV. This makes for a lot of jumping around in their complicated history and I admit I had a hard time connecting to the story until I hit the halfway point, at which point I couldn't put the book down. April comes across as both highly intelligent and incredibly gullible and I had a hard time believing she would not call 911 when she finds Essie's body in the pool. She exhibits more questionable behavior when it is discovered that Essie's dead body is nowhere to be found. Eventually the history between April and Essie is revealed, along with a plot twist I found even more unbelievable than April's behavior, that actually brings about an incredibly empowering end to the book that I rather enjoyed. Surprisingly. For this I'm giving the book 3 stars. Helen's writing style flows nicely and is easy to read and I would be interested in reading any future work of hers.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 12, 2024
AD/PR - April and Essie have a friendship that's more than a little toxic but made for such good reading. I loved this dual PoV thriller all about the dark side of fame!
If you enjoy books about celebrity culture, particularly around the price of fame for women then you'll love this. We go behind the scenes of celebrity and the movie industry to see how destructive it can be when scandal hits the media and online trolls come out in force. We start as Essie and April meet in their younger years when they're trying to make their way in the industry. Essie has a wealthy family and star quality, while April doesn't have much except a dream of her own film and searing jealousy towards Essie. Cut to twenty years later and it's April who's shining as a director, while Essie's drowning in scandal. She agrees to be the leading lady in April's new film but on awards night April finds her dead in her pool. What follows is what she does next.
Nothing Without Me is a real slow burn thriller that drips with suspense and unease. I loved the past/present timeline which kept the tension building m. There are some awful characters in this and both women are unlikeable but I loved reading it!! I thought the mystery was well done and highlighted what the industry does to women, raising them up and tearing them down. I definitely feel that Essie and April are products of this treatment!
Nothing Without Me was a gripping read that felt very relevant and timely. It balanced juicy drama with feminist issues so so well, where it was as fun and exciting as it was thought-provoking and eye opening!
If you enjoy books about celebrity culture, particularly around the price of fame for women then you'll love this. We go behind the scenes of celebrity and the movie industry to see how destructive it can be when scandal hits the media and online trolls come out in force. We start as Essie and April meet in their younger years when they're trying to make their way in the industry. Essie has a wealthy family and star quality, while April doesn't have much except a dream of her own film and searing jealousy towards Essie. Cut to twenty years later and it's April who's shining as a director, while Essie's drowning in scandal. She agrees to be the leading lady in April's new film but on awards night April finds her dead in her pool. What follows is what she does next.
Nothing Without Me is a real slow burn thriller that drips with suspense and unease. I loved the past/present timeline which kept the tension building m. There are some awful characters in this and both women are unlikeable but I loved reading it!! I thought the mystery was well done and highlighted what the industry does to women, raising them up and tearing them down. I definitely feel that Essie and April are products of this treatment!
Nothing Without Me was a gripping read that felt very relevant and timely. It balanced juicy drama with feminist issues so so well, where it was as fun and exciting as it was thought-provoking and eye opening!
December 7, 2023
I love a good story about the seedy side of Hollywood! Told in two timelines, this is the story of April and Essie’s friendship and the compromises they made to have fame. Celebrity always comes at a big cost, sometimes it requires your very life. This was a bit of a slow burn but also twisty, compelling, and page flipping fun! Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on April 2, 2024
August 25, 2024
Powerful
November 7, 2023
A very clever twist on the puppet masters of fame and the girls fighting back, Very timely as well. A slow urn that pays off.
April 7, 2024
This story took me on an unexpected ride, because not only does the plot hold many twists, but it also made me think about the differences in how men and women are treated by society (especially celebrities), and how they treat/support each other. Told from the perspectives of director April Eden and the star of her debut film, Essie Lay. The two women knew each other years ago when they were both starting out in the industry, before Essie made a name for herself as TV host, but after an incident that is not revealed until later in the book, they never see each other again until April reaches out to recently disgraced and "cancelled" star, wanting to convince Essie to star in the film that April feels she wrote "for" her former friend. The story moves between multiple timelines in the distant and more recent past, as well as the present, which starts the night of the British film awards at which the two women have been nominated for best actress and best director. April and her boyfriend go to Essie's house to check on her before the ceremony after Essie sends April a message that she can't face the ceremony, only to find April floating in her pool. April is devastated, but her boyfriend convinces her to leave Essie for someone else to find and to continue to the awards ceremony --to not let this spoil the night. Thus begins a well-paced story full of surprises, which I won't give away by saying anything more!
January 20, 2024
The rise and fall of Essie Lay, an actress not without her traumas and issues. April Eden, film director, who is a long ago friend of Essie’s, also a troubled woman. Their rekindled friendship and working partnership is fraught, neither can quite forgive the other, but the film they make together is an amazing success, though it does bring all their old issues to the surface.
I appreciated the plot of this this story, and welcomed the twists and turns.
This is the second book I have read by this author and again I thought it would be a DNF, but persevered and the outcome was ok. The characters were unpleasant, but that is the skill of a good author, making the reader like/dislike the protagonist.
I think that the problem I have is that whilst the plot (and the message, if a little didactic) is good, I don’t like the author’s writing style and that makes reading a chore rather than a pleasure. At times unrealistic and arduous, I did skip some passages.
A slow start, but with a fair ending.
2.5*
Thank you NetGalley and HQ.
I appreciated the plot of this this story, and welcomed the twists and turns.
This is the second book I have read by this author and again I thought it would be a DNF, but persevered and the outcome was ok. The characters were unpleasant, but that is the skill of a good author, making the reader like/dislike the protagonist.
I think that the problem I have is that whilst the plot (and the message, if a little didactic) is good, I don’t like the author’s writing style and that makes reading a chore rather than a pleasure. At times unrealistic and arduous, I did skip some passages.
A slow start, but with a fair ending.
2.5*
Thank you NetGalley and HQ.
November 27, 2023
A very slow burn and whilst I liked the premise and the fact its told over duel timelines, it all just felt very...... overly complicated and unrealistic I guess? I know its a fiction so it doesn't have to be remotely real but this just felt a bit too much of a stretch for me. Its certainly cleverly written with oh so many layers but I just struggled to really get invested. I'm sure that reader who favour a character based story over an action one will love this be ause it certainly does dive deep into the characters and who they are and why
April 11, 2024
TV star Essie Lay's career was in meltdown, when a face from the past, rising director April Eden, gave her a way back into the limelight with a leading role in her ground-breaking film, The Vanished Woman. The film is now up for a raft of awards, and is sure to herald great things for director April and 'born again' star Essie. However, on the night of the glamorous British Film Associate Awards, where they both stand to win, April receives a call from Essie to say that she cannot face turning up to the ceremony.
April makes a last minute dash to Essie's mansion, Lotus Lodge, in affluent Hampstead, to try to persuade Essie to attend the event, but instead of having to find a way to calm her anxious star, she is faced with a very different sort of dilemma... for Essie lies dead, face-down in her luxurious swimming pool. April is forced to make a decision whether to deal with Essie's tragic demise now, or continue the night as if nothing has happened. The choice she makes takes her on a dangerous path that has her confronting uncomfortable truths about her own and Essie's pasts, and the connection that lies between them.
In an absolute masterclass of plotting, Helen Monks Takhar spins a jaw-dropping tale of betrayal and revenge in the brutal world of film and television production. Told through the voices of April and Essie, the story unfurls in delicious slow-burn style in the past and the present, cutting back and forth between the time the two women met, the paths of their careers, the film production that reunites them, and the chaos that ensues from April's decision. Each thread adds context, and atmospheric texture to the story as a whole, and Monks Takhar uses them to stunning effect by gradually exposing the secrets at the heart of this mystery, and the truth about the moments that have defined April and Essie's relationship. It is not often that I really do not know where a story will land, but this genuinely had me second guessing myself the whole way through, until the cracking twists and turns in the final throes of the novel brought everything together in a series of moments of cleverly conceived clarity.
Not only is this a thriller that keeps you on your toes with its drama, but it positively thrums with themes for you to get your teeth into on both the personal and professional fronts. Monks Takhar examines how abusive relationships and dysfunctional families affect the course of Essie and April's lives in a way that makes you sick to your stomach, and she has a ball using them as motivators to drive a story centred around the darkest of emotions. But what impresses me the most is the spectacular way she explores many facets of control, exploitation, manipulation, expectation, and sexism, through the many shades of meaning in her excellent title, Nothing Without Me.
This is a classy novel that begs to be consumed in a single sitting. It will keep you turning the pages well into the night - and leave you with a lot to ponder on about the entertainment industry, and the pitfalls of celebrity, particularly when it comes to the way men and women are treated so differently. I loved it!
April makes a last minute dash to Essie's mansion, Lotus Lodge, in affluent Hampstead, to try to persuade Essie to attend the event, but instead of having to find a way to calm her anxious star, she is faced with a very different sort of dilemma... for Essie lies dead, face-down in her luxurious swimming pool. April is forced to make a decision whether to deal with Essie's tragic demise now, or continue the night as if nothing has happened. The choice she makes takes her on a dangerous path that has her confronting uncomfortable truths about her own and Essie's pasts, and the connection that lies between them.
In an absolute masterclass of plotting, Helen Monks Takhar spins a jaw-dropping tale of betrayal and revenge in the brutal world of film and television production. Told through the voices of April and Essie, the story unfurls in delicious slow-burn style in the past and the present, cutting back and forth between the time the two women met, the paths of their careers, the film production that reunites them, and the chaos that ensues from April's decision. Each thread adds context, and atmospheric texture to the story as a whole, and Monks Takhar uses them to stunning effect by gradually exposing the secrets at the heart of this mystery, and the truth about the moments that have defined April and Essie's relationship. It is not often that I really do not know where a story will land, but this genuinely had me second guessing myself the whole way through, until the cracking twists and turns in the final throes of the novel brought everything together in a series of moments of cleverly conceived clarity.
Not only is this a thriller that keeps you on your toes with its drama, but it positively thrums with themes for you to get your teeth into on both the personal and professional fronts. Monks Takhar examines how abusive relationships and dysfunctional families affect the course of Essie and April's lives in a way that makes you sick to your stomach, and she has a ball using them as motivators to drive a story centred around the darkest of emotions. But what impresses me the most is the spectacular way she explores many facets of control, exploitation, manipulation, expectation, and sexism, through the many shades of meaning in her excellent title, Nothing Without Me.
This is a classy novel that begs to be consumed in a single sitting. It will keep you turning the pages well into the night - and leave you with a lot to ponder on about the entertainment industry, and the pitfalls of celebrity, particularly when it comes to the way men and women are treated so differently. I loved it!
January 2, 2024
The night has finally come after years of toiling in the entertainment industry for female director, April Eden, and her star, Essie Lay, in Nothing Without Me by Helen Monks Takhar. April knows that they're both slated for the top awards for her movie, The Vanished Woman. Even after Essie experiences her own version of cancel culture after a misstep, she's a shoo-in, but will she show up?
When April stops by Essie's palatial mansion, Lotus Lodge, to persuade her to attend this important event, she finds Essie drowned in her swimming pool. Instead of immediately calling the police, she and her boyfriend Jags leave the scene of the crime after she notifies members of Essie's family to check in on Essie. They'll take care of it, but once April returns to Essie's mansion, the body is gone.
So starts off this thriller that examines celebrity culture, feminism, the movie industry, and everything that goes along with it. It started out as an interesting premise, and there seems to be a lot of misdirection. Some characters right off the bat appeared sketchy to me, but the entire time you're not really sure what happened to Essie and who could be responsible for her death. The book alternates between the two main characters, flashbacks of their long history together, and their perspectives before the drowning.
I would say this book also heavily explores female friendships and the dynamics between them. It also spotlights the destructive lens we put stars behind, assuming the very worst about them and not letting them live. Are they involved with this or that person? Are they getting married/divorced? Are they pregnant? Are they having fertility problems? Why are they not getting along with whomever? We need to know. The author based some of the characterizations on Jennifer Aniston and her opinion piece for the New York Times about her own struggles with celebrity.
Sometimes, this book did drag, and I found myself wondering when the plot would pick up. There's a lot of exposition about the characters and their beginnings. Everyone and no one seemed culpable for the drowning yet I suspected the same people the whole time. Some characters just seemed shady from the beginning. I did like the inside look at acting and movie-making, but the thriller plot didn't hold my interest for long. In the middle, I started to lose interest and just wanted the book to reach its climax and conclusion. The book has some good points and is well-written, but I felt like it was missing something.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group-Random House, Random House Trade Paperbacks, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
When April stops by Essie's palatial mansion, Lotus Lodge, to persuade her to attend this important event, she finds Essie drowned in her swimming pool. Instead of immediately calling the police, she and her boyfriend Jags leave the scene of the crime after she notifies members of Essie's family to check in on Essie. They'll take care of it, but once April returns to Essie's mansion, the body is gone.
So starts off this thriller that examines celebrity culture, feminism, the movie industry, and everything that goes along with it. It started out as an interesting premise, and there seems to be a lot of misdirection. Some characters right off the bat appeared sketchy to me, but the entire time you're not really sure what happened to Essie and who could be responsible for her death. The book alternates between the two main characters, flashbacks of their long history together, and their perspectives before the drowning.
I would say this book also heavily explores female friendships and the dynamics between them. It also spotlights the destructive lens we put stars behind, assuming the very worst about them and not letting them live. Are they involved with this or that person? Are they getting married/divorced? Are they pregnant? Are they having fertility problems? Why are they not getting along with whomever? We need to know. The author based some of the characterizations on Jennifer Aniston and her opinion piece for the New York Times about her own struggles with celebrity.
Sometimes, this book did drag, and I found myself wondering when the plot would pick up. There's a lot of exposition about the characters and their beginnings. Everyone and no one seemed culpable for the drowning yet I suspected the same people the whole time. Some characters just seemed shady from the beginning. I did like the inside look at acting and movie-making, but the thriller plot didn't hold my interest for long. In the middle, I started to lose interest and just wanted the book to reach its climax and conclusion. The book has some good points and is well-written, but I felt like it was missing something.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group-Random House, Random House Trade Paperbacks, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
March 19, 2024
I have read and enjoyed this author's previous books so I was quite excited to get my mitts on this, her latest. And I wasn't disappointed.
We follow April Eden as she is about to attend an awards ceremony where she is up for a very prestigious award, the winning of which would catapult her star into the stratosphere! She is worried abut her leading lady, one Essie Lay, who is, shall we just say, a bit fragile, with a chequered past. So, on the way to the ceremony, which Essie drops out of attending, April pops in to check on her. And finds her floating face down in her pool. The mess and detritus strewn around all point to suicide so, April, in a bit of a panic, and swayed by her boyfriend, proceeds to the ceremony with him, leaving the mess to deal with later. Only, when she returns to deal with it, there's no sign of a body, the scene is also clean. What on earth is going on...?
And so begins a rather intriguing mystery which held me rapt all the way through as I tried to second guess what on earth was going on! Layered through the mystery we have Essie's past and her attempt to try and get back in favour, the treatment of women in the film industry, cancel culture, and that's all before we try and work out what actually happened to Essie. Alive or dead? If alive, is she working alone, what is her endgame. If dead, suicide or murder? Either way, who moved the "body". When you also factor in April receiving scary nasty messages, you know you are in for a wild ride...
Told in the present and also back a few years, detailing how the two women met and how their paths - together and separately - led them to the fateful night... With the past injected at exactly the right places to explain and progress the present day action.
Characterisation is tricky. They are all, in their own ways, both likeable and unlikeable, and I did take a wee while to figure some out. Essie and her sister's relationship was, shall we just say, eye opening! And with the way things transpired early on, I was powerless to work out who to trust...
With secrets and lies aplenty, and a healthy side order of dysfunctional behaviour, all set in the murky (male dominated) world of film, this is a book that keep on giving all the way up to the wholly satisfying, and shocking end.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We follow April Eden as she is about to attend an awards ceremony where she is up for a very prestigious award, the winning of which would catapult her star into the stratosphere! She is worried abut her leading lady, one Essie Lay, who is, shall we just say, a bit fragile, with a chequered past. So, on the way to the ceremony, which Essie drops out of attending, April pops in to check on her. And finds her floating face down in her pool. The mess and detritus strewn around all point to suicide so, April, in a bit of a panic, and swayed by her boyfriend, proceeds to the ceremony with him, leaving the mess to deal with later. Only, when she returns to deal with it, there's no sign of a body, the scene is also clean. What on earth is going on...?
And so begins a rather intriguing mystery which held me rapt all the way through as I tried to second guess what on earth was going on! Layered through the mystery we have Essie's past and her attempt to try and get back in favour, the treatment of women in the film industry, cancel culture, and that's all before we try and work out what actually happened to Essie. Alive or dead? If alive, is she working alone, what is her endgame. If dead, suicide or murder? Either way, who moved the "body". When you also factor in April receiving scary nasty messages, you know you are in for a wild ride...
Told in the present and also back a few years, detailing how the two women met and how their paths - together and separately - led them to the fateful night... With the past injected at exactly the right places to explain and progress the present day action.
Characterisation is tricky. They are all, in their own ways, both likeable and unlikeable, and I did take a wee while to figure some out. Essie and her sister's relationship was, shall we just say, eye opening! And with the way things transpired early on, I was powerless to work out who to trust...
With secrets and lies aplenty, and a healthy side order of dysfunctional behaviour, all set in the murky (male dominated) world of film, this is a book that keep on giving all the way up to the wholly satisfying, and shocking end.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
April 2, 2024
Essie Lay, BAFTA nominated film star, is floating face down in her pool instead of picking up her award. Is she alive or dead? Definitely Dead thinks April Eden, Writer and Director of “The Vanished Woman” the film for which they are both nominated. April, on her way to the ceremony, has called in to Essie’s home, “Lotus”, to check that her publicity shy Star is on schedule, only to discover Essie in the pool, empty Champagne bottle and scattered pills spilled on the floor. The right thing to do would be to jump in, retrieve the body, start CPR, call the emergency services, but April doesn’t do any of these things, partly because this will ruin the triumph she feels she merits after working her way up for nearly twenty years in the TV and Film world. The other reason for not responding correctly is Jags, her boyfriend, who swiftly takes control of the situation. His proposal is that they go to the ceremony, but text a message to Essie’s sister and manager, Janine, saying they are worried that Essie will not come to the ceremony and suggesting that she calls round and manages her. However, Janine doesn’t do this and, when Essie wins the Best Actress Award, goes on stage with April, and reads out Essie’s speech saying, among other things, that she intends to disappear, drop out, vanish. Next morning, April, Jags and Janine return to “Lotus”, the former expecting to find a body the latter expecting to castigate her sister. However, there is no body (nor champagne bottle, nor pills), but also no Essie. Is she alive or dead? Either way the question is where is she?
The story is told in chapters which alternate between Essie and April, and across time from when they first met as the youngest and most minor of crew members in a television studio. Through this mechanism we learn of their friendship, estrangement and rapprochement, of their difficult family backgrounds, of Essie’s rise to fame destroyed by scandal and her rise again thanks to April’s film. The style is a bit slow, especially early on, but the plot is complex and requires careful thought on the part of the reader, so perhaps a moderate pace is helpful. There are a lot of reveals, not twists per se, and once there are sufficient scraps of detail it is not too difficult to figure out what is going on. Throughout the story there is a focus, more or less overt, on the struggle for recognition that women have to overcome in the misogynistic world of TV and Film. There is justification for this, and don’t doubt that there has been, and probably still is, a problem but perhaps it is laid on a bit too heavily because it gets in the way of the plot. Overall it is a good, solid and interesting tale.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
The story is told in chapters which alternate between Essie and April, and across time from when they first met as the youngest and most minor of crew members in a television studio. Through this mechanism we learn of their friendship, estrangement and rapprochement, of their difficult family backgrounds, of Essie’s rise to fame destroyed by scandal and her rise again thanks to April’s film. The style is a bit slow, especially early on, but the plot is complex and requires careful thought on the part of the reader, so perhaps a moderate pace is helpful. There are a lot of reveals, not twists per se, and once there are sufficient scraps of detail it is not too difficult to figure out what is going on. Throughout the story there is a focus, more or less overt, on the struggle for recognition that women have to overcome in the misogynistic world of TV and Film. There is justification for this, and don’t doubt that there has been, and probably still is, a problem but perhaps it is laid on a bit too heavily because it gets in the way of the plot. Overall it is a good, solid and interesting tale.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
February 18, 2024
In NOTHING WITHOUT ME Helen Monks Takhar has apparently done it again! While this is my first Helen Monks Takhar novel, it will certainly not be my last as she has the ability to put me there in any room and situation.
Director April Eden has finally done it! She is up for a film award up for as Best Director, And she brings old friend, Essie Lay on board as lead actress after a scandal had her canceled out years ago. Now, it looks as if Essie is ready for a comeback and The Vanished Woman may just start her return ticket to stardom.On the night of the ceremony April arrives at Lotus Lodge to gather Essie only to find her facedown in her pool. April goes into overdrive trying to hide the fact that Essie is dead, even sending her sister/manager to be the one to find her in the pool. When sister Janine doesn’t find Essie anywhere, April and her beau return after the ceremony only to find that she is gone. What happened? Where is the body? And what is an accident? A suicide? When April starts receiving strange messages and threats, she decides to find out if Essie is the one behind them. Alternating between what happened 20 years ago when they met and what is happening now we find the full story of The Vanished Woman”.
I really enjoyed this book about the dark side of fame and to what lengths people will go to keep it. The author can paint a serious picture as you feel that you were in the room or involved in the conversation. She has a smooth and easy writing style which leads to an enjoyable read. As I said, this is my first Helen Monks Takhar novel. I will be delving into some of her other works, which are already on my TBR pile. (It’s getting out of control.)
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
Director April Eden has finally done it! She is up for a film award up for as Best Director, And she brings old friend, Essie Lay on board as lead actress after a scandal had her canceled out years ago. Now, it looks as if Essie is ready for a comeback and The Vanished Woman may just start her return ticket to stardom.On the night of the ceremony April arrives at Lotus Lodge to gather Essie only to find her facedown in her pool. April goes into overdrive trying to hide the fact that Essie is dead, even sending her sister/manager to be the one to find her in the pool. When sister Janine doesn’t find Essie anywhere, April and her beau return after the ceremony only to find that she is gone. What happened? Where is the body? And what is an accident? A suicide? When April starts receiving strange messages and threats, she decides to find out if Essie is the one behind them. Alternating between what happened 20 years ago when they met and what is happening now we find the full story of The Vanished Woman”.
I really enjoyed this book about the dark side of fame and to what lengths people will go to keep it. The author can paint a serious picture as you feel that you were in the room or involved in the conversation. She has a smooth and easy writing style which leads to an enjoyable read. As I said, this is my first Helen Monks Takhar novel. I will be delving into some of her other works, which are already on my TBR pile. (It’s getting out of control.)
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
January 30, 2024
I have to admit that I struggled with this novel, although I think many people will enjoy it. It is set among the world of celebrity and filmmaking, our two main characters being the Director, April Eden, and fallen TV star, now lead actress in April’s movie, Essie Lay.
The novel begins on the night of an awards ceremony, in which both April and Essie are favourites to win the Best Director and Best Actress awards. Essie sends a message to say she will not attend, so April and boyfriend, Jags, head off to her mansion to try to convince her to come and find her floating in the pool. Jags persuades April to attend the awards as though nothing has happened and, on their return, the body has vanished. All of this is in the book blurb, so no spoilers that you could not easily have picked up from the cover.
We then go back and forwards in time, to when both were young women runners, at the bottom rung of success. They become friends and then fall out and when Essie’s career crashes, it is April who gives her another chance. If you like novels about female friendships, the toxicity of life in the public eye and a sense of empowerment, you will enjoy this. I did enjoy it, but with reservations. I could not buy into leaving your friend floating in a swimming pool and leaving, or many of the other plot twists and turns. The characters were just not well rounded enough for me to believe in their actions.
Overall, an interesting message, but I think this one will be forgettable. I received a copy of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Rated 3.5
The novel begins on the night of an awards ceremony, in which both April and Essie are favourites to win the Best Director and Best Actress awards. Essie sends a message to say she will not attend, so April and boyfriend, Jags, head off to her mansion to try to convince her to come and find her floating in the pool. Jags persuades April to attend the awards as though nothing has happened and, on their return, the body has vanished. All of this is in the book blurb, so no spoilers that you could not easily have picked up from the cover.
We then go back and forwards in time, to when both were young women runners, at the bottom rung of success. They become friends and then fall out and when Essie’s career crashes, it is April who gives her another chance. If you like novels about female friendships, the toxicity of life in the public eye and a sense of empowerment, you will enjoy this. I did enjoy it, but with reservations. I could not buy into leaving your friend floating in a swimming pool and leaving, or many of the other plot twists and turns. The characters were just not well rounded enough for me to believe in their actions.
Overall, an interesting message, but I think this one will be forgettable. I received a copy of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Rated 3.5
March 30, 2024
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
April Eden, after years of struggling as a female director, is finally getting her due. Her debut movie The Vanished Woman is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood’s radar, and her leading lady, Essie Lay—a fragile but magnetic former TV host—is on the cusp of a stunning comeback as well. However, the night of award presentation, Essie messages April saying she can’t face the ceremony. April heads to Essie's house to try to convince her to go, but is shocked to discover Essie's body floating facedown in her pool, all signs pointing to suicide. April panics and leaves, planning to go to the ceremony and act as if Essie was just unable to attend, and then "find" the dead body the next day. However, when she goes back the next day, there is no body......Essie has disappeared. April doesn't know whether Essie was actually murdered, if this was a publicity stunt gone wrong, or what exactly is happening. And why is she receiving messages that are trying to make her look guilty?
I really enjoyed this author's previous book "Such a Good Mother", so I was excited for this newest book. Unfortunately this one was not for me. It was a slow burn for the entire book, and I just could not relate to any of the characters. None of the characters were likeable, and that is always a deal breaker for me....I always need someone to root for. Overall, I give this a 2.5 rounded up to a 3.
April Eden, after years of struggling as a female director, is finally getting her due. Her debut movie The Vanished Woman is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood’s radar, and her leading lady, Essie Lay—a fragile but magnetic former TV host—is on the cusp of a stunning comeback as well. However, the night of award presentation, Essie messages April saying she can’t face the ceremony. April heads to Essie's house to try to convince her to go, but is shocked to discover Essie's body floating facedown in her pool, all signs pointing to suicide. April panics and leaves, planning to go to the ceremony and act as if Essie was just unable to attend, and then "find" the dead body the next day. However, when she goes back the next day, there is no body......Essie has disappeared. April doesn't know whether Essie was actually murdered, if this was a publicity stunt gone wrong, or what exactly is happening. And why is she receiving messages that are trying to make her look guilty?
I really enjoyed this author's previous book "Such a Good Mother", so I was excited for this newest book. Unfortunately this one was not for me. It was a slow burn for the entire book, and I just could not relate to any of the characters. None of the characters were likeable, and that is always a deal breaker for me....I always need someone to root for. Overall, I give this a 2.5 rounded up to a 3.
December 21, 2023
Film director April Eden is finally getting the recognition she has been craving with her latest film, The Vanished Woman. Everything she has been working towards is within her grasp, assuming she can keep her leading lady, disgraced starlet Essie Lay, from going off the rails again.
Unfortunately, things don’t go to plan when April finds Essie face down in her pool on opening night. From there, things only continue to get more chaotic when Essie’s body later goes missing. Was it all a publicity stunt gone awry, or is someone playing a sinister game with April? If Essie is dead, why would someone take her body?
While April scrambles to uncover the truth, the reader gains insight into the complicated friendship between the two women. This is done through alternating viewpoints from both characters across the span of twenty years. Throughout the book, it becomes clear they’ve been shaped by their toxic friendship, as well as abuse at the hands of those with power over them. Working through the ghosts of their past is key to finding out what happened to Essie.
Ultimately, this is a cautionary tale about the dangers of both fame and living life online in today’s world. It is a compelling read, albeit a bit dark, and certain aspects are so unbelievable it pulls the reader out of the story. That being said, this is ultimately a fun thriller and would make for a good beach read for fans of the genre.
Unfortunately, things don’t go to plan when April finds Essie face down in her pool on opening night. From there, things only continue to get more chaotic when Essie’s body later goes missing. Was it all a publicity stunt gone awry, or is someone playing a sinister game with April? If Essie is dead, why would someone take her body?
While April scrambles to uncover the truth, the reader gains insight into the complicated friendship between the two women. This is done through alternating viewpoints from both characters across the span of twenty years. Throughout the book, it becomes clear they’ve been shaped by their toxic friendship, as well as abuse at the hands of those with power over them. Working through the ghosts of their past is key to finding out what happened to Essie.
Ultimately, this is a cautionary tale about the dangers of both fame and living life online in today’s world. It is a compelling read, albeit a bit dark, and certain aspects are so unbelievable it pulls the reader out of the story. That being said, this is ultimately a fun thriller and would make for a good beach read for fans of the genre.
May 20, 2024
Another fab thriller from this author!
April Eden is about to have the night of her life, a movie that she wrote and directed is up for some major awards, and her leading lady, Essie Lay is about to have a stunning and surprising comeback after the scandal that threatened her career just a year before.
On the night of the award ceremony, April receives a message from Essie saying she cannot face attending. Assuming her friend and colleague is nervous, April makes a last minute detour to Essie's mansion, determined to persuade her to attend.
It is there that she is faced with an entirely different scenario, Essie is face down in her own swimming pool presumably dead. April, already running late, must make a decision on whether to deal with this now, or go the ceremony.
Thinking that there is nothing she can do for Essie now, she goes to the ceremony. A decision that will change her life forever.
Told from both April and Essie's perspectives, this is a twisty turny thriller ... Just when I thought I had it sussed, another spanner was thrown in to the works, and another suspect thrown in to the mix.
Essie (Esther) and April have a strange relationship, that has evolved throughout their rise to fame.
I particularly enjoyed the nod to Sunset Boulevard at the beginning of the novel, and can't wait for the authors next.
April Eden is about to have the night of her life, a movie that she wrote and directed is up for some major awards, and her leading lady, Essie Lay is about to have a stunning and surprising comeback after the scandal that threatened her career just a year before.
On the night of the award ceremony, April receives a message from Essie saying she cannot face attending. Assuming her friend and colleague is nervous, April makes a last minute detour to Essie's mansion, determined to persuade her to attend.
It is there that she is faced with an entirely different scenario, Essie is face down in her own swimming pool presumably dead. April, already running late, must make a decision on whether to deal with this now, or go the ceremony.
Thinking that there is nothing she can do for Essie now, she goes to the ceremony. A decision that will change her life forever.
Told from both April and Essie's perspectives, this is a twisty turny thriller ... Just when I thought I had it sussed, another spanner was thrown in to the works, and another suspect thrown in to the mix.
Essie (Esther) and April have a strange relationship, that has evolved throughout their rise to fame.
I particularly enjoyed the nod to Sunset Boulevard at the beginning of the novel, and can't wait for the authors next.
June 23, 2024
I know it’s not fair to be especially dissatisfied with a book because I made an effort to find it and then waited in line to get it - it’s not as if Helen Monks Takhar called me personally and begged me to read her book Nothing Without Me. But the truth is that I wouldn’t have liked it if I had picked it randomly off the shelf, in fact I’d probably have given up on it more quickly. The plot involves two women with similar self-doubting personalities who yearn desperately for A Man to validate them. It begins with the apparent suicide of one of them and revolves around their relationships with a trusted man. I didn’t read far enough to verify my suspicion that the dead one’s male betrayer is imaginary, a ghost, a drag-king, or (my money’s on this one) the other woman’s future bad guy. Meanwhile the two women muse endlessly (believe me on this) about their probable short-comings. I gave up before learning whether the suicide is really real (the body disappears within hours of discovery) and whether the bad guys are the same person or for that matter, if they’re (he’s?) really even bad. But I did read far enough to know that I really didn’t care.
Those who ignore my dismissive summary may be treated to more phrases like the following: “Their failure to not be proud of me …” (ch.13)
Those who ignore my dismissive summary may be treated to more phrases like the following: “Their failure to not be proud of me …” (ch.13)
February 1, 2024
April Eden is about to have the night of her life. After years struggling uphill as a female director, her debut movie The Vanished Woman is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood’s radar. Her leading lady, Essie Lay—a fragile but magnetic former TV host—is on the cusp of a stunning comeback after being canceled for a disturbing scandal. When Essie messages April saying she can’t face the ceremony, April heads to Essie’s palatial London mansion, Lotus Lodge, to convince her to enjoy their big night together. But upon arriving, April is faced with tragedy: Essie’s body is floating in her swimming pool, all signs pointing to suicide. Panicked, April activates Essie’s team—her put-upon sister/manager, Janine, and her wily agent, Jonathan—expecting them to do damage control while she heads to the awards ceremony; she’s devastated yet determined to do what she can to protect Essie’s legacy.But by the time April returns to Lotus Lodge to face the fallout, Essie’s body has vanished. Was Essie actually murdered? Is this an elaborate hoax or publicity stunt gone wrong? And why does April start receiving unsettling messages, trying to pin the blame on her?
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me an advance copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me an advance copy.
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