What do you think?
Rate this book
The Nice Guy
Laura thought she’d found the one nice guy in New York City.
When Ethan saves her from a crushing crowd on Brooklyn Bridge, their connection is dazzling. Worthy of a heat-filled passionate night.
Laura falls pregnant from their one-night stand—a miracle considering her past fertility issues. Ethan is attentive and wonderful at first. She hopes he will be the kind of father she’d always wanted for herself.
Until his attentiveness turns to obsession. His questions become demands. Why didn’t she answer her phone or respond to his messages? Why won’t she move in with him and his rich mother?
Soon Laura realises the father of her child is a controlling sociopath. And there’s no telling the lengths Ethan will go to in order to keep baby Christopher for himself.
Laura will stop at nothing to save her baby boy.
But is she too late?
When Ethan saves her from a crushing crowd on Brooklyn Bridge, their connection is dazzling. Worthy of a heat-filled passionate night.
Laura falls pregnant from their one-night stand—a miracle considering her past fertility issues. Ethan is attentive and wonderful at first. She hopes he will be the kind of father she’d always wanted for herself.
Until his attentiveness turns to obsession. His questions become demands. Why didn’t she answer her phone or respond to his messages? Why won’t she move in with him and his rich mother?
Soon Laura realises the father of her child is a controlling sociopath. And there’s no telling the lengths Ethan will go to in order to keep baby Christopher for himself.
Laura will stop at nothing to save her baby boy.
But is she too late?
312 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2023
688 people are currently reading
2175 people want to read
About the author
Sarah A. Denzil
46 books2,479 followersSarah A. Denzil is a Wall Street Journal bestselling suspense writer. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews
August 15, 2023
"The Nice Guy" had a NICE START:
The protagonist discovers that she is pregnant after having a one-night stand with a man who saved her from being trampled on New York's Brooklyn Bridge.
THE NOT-SO-NICE
REST OF THE BOOK:
Unfortunately, the book took a huge nosedive midway through the book after the protagonist concludes that the father of her child is a controlling sociopath.
The entire second half of the book was replete with waaaaay too many eye-rolling moments.
Although the book was well-written and fast-paced, it was exhausting and required a HUGE suspension of disbelief.
I listened to the audiobook read by Rosie Cavaliero, who did an outstanding job with the narration.
2.5 stars.
The protagonist discovers that she is pregnant after having a one-night stand with a man who saved her from being trampled on New York's Brooklyn Bridge.
THE NOT-SO-NICE
REST OF THE BOOK:
Unfortunately, the book took a huge nosedive midway through the book after the protagonist concludes that the father of her child is a controlling sociopath.
The entire second half of the book was replete with waaaaay too many eye-rolling moments.
Although the book was well-written and fast-paced, it was exhausting and required a HUGE suspension of disbelief.
I listened to the audiobook read by Rosie Cavaliero, who did an outstanding job with the narration.
2.5 stars.
August 5, 2024
The standard trope with a controlling man, that still caught me by surprise at times. There were some events at the ending that I didn’t like, I knew I was reading a book then, plot neatly lining up.
May 2, 2023
This read like that Will Ferrell/Kristen Wiig lifetime movie that was a parody of a lifetime movie… I truly can’t believe this book took itself seriously.
Of the many plot holes:
1. Where does Laura find all this money? She doesn’t work for 3/4 of the book…
2. Why did it take her 6 months to “hire” (with all her riches..) a PI? Why does he agree to take her case for NO MONEY INSTANTLY? He pays out of pocket for their Greece adventure???
3. Nobody checked to see if Ethan died? Really?
I could go on but frankly I’m just too annoyed I wasted time on this book. Every character was poorly developed and it felt like they were play acting. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Of the many plot holes:
1. Where does Laura find all this money? She doesn’t work for 3/4 of the book…
2. Why did it take her 6 months to “hire” (with all her riches..) a PI? Why does he agree to take her case for NO MONEY INSTANTLY? He pays out of pocket for their Greece adventure???
3. Nobody checked to see if Ethan died? Really?
I could go on but frankly I’m just too annoyed I wasted time on this book. Every character was poorly developed and it felt like they were play acting. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2023
I have no words and I wish the author didn’t either
June 2, 2023
After a night spent together following an emotional afternoon, Laura starts noticing some red flags about Ethan. No big deal, they'd only known each other a couple of days, it didn't work out. But then comes a pregnancy, and Laura is torn about keeping Ethan from knowing his son. Nothing about Ethan's red flags suggested he was a psychopath, just an entitled jerk. Things get pretty dark quickly, and Laura finds herself in way over her head.
As Ethan's behavior worsens, the tension mounts, and things keep getting worse for Laura. A big part of the problem is Ethan has money, and Laura does not, and rich people get away with stuff!
This was a solid four star book until the end. I didn't see the twist coming, mostly because it didn't make sense! In this case I have to believe that an entire police force is that inept? What about all the media attention? Sure it made for an intense ending, but it's too much like a Friday the 13th movie.
As Ethan's behavior worsens, the tension mounts, and things keep getting worse for Laura. A big part of the problem is Ethan has money, and Laura does not, and rich people get away with stuff!
This was a solid four star book until the end. I didn't see the twist coming, mostly because it didn't make sense! In this case I have to believe that an entire police force is that inept? What about all the media attention? Sure it made for an intense ending, but it's too much like a Friday the 13th movie.
May 15, 2023
While this book ultimately had an interesting (ish) premise, it is poorly executed, horribly developed, and a waste of time.
It is truly just the cautionary tale of an abusive man with a Scooby Doo twist that was so predictable it became unpredictable. While many claim this to be a credit to the thriller genre, I fundamentally disagree. Though I was not a fan, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
This book follows a thirty-something British woman living in New York City. While at a women’s march, she is trampled by a crowd and subsequently saved by a handsome stranger. They have a one-night stand it becomes clear quickly that he is an abusive stalker—bombarding the FMC with text messages, showing up at her work, and so on. She breaks contact only to discover she is pregnant. She decided to tell her abusive ex-lover because she wanted the baby to have a father—throughout the pregnancy he proves to be just as mercurial and abusive as he was after they first met. He colludes with his overbearing mother to control the FMC, hits her best friend with a car, ensures that she is fired from her job, and unknown to the FMC is the person who breaks into her home, installs spyware on her computer, the whole nine yards. At the child’s birth he demands that the child be named after him and has a fit when he is not. He and his mother end up kidnapping the child and absconding to Greece, where the FMC and a detective eventually track them down to—the exhausted grandmother orchestrates and exchange of the baby with the mother, only for Ethan to crash and end up fighting with the FMC, ending with her pushing Ethan to his death. We flash forward to the child and mother living happily in England, when suddenly the child goes up to an old man on the street. Seemingly nothing, the mother and child go home—only to discover the old man is actually Ethan! Surprise, he never died! It becomes a whole hostage situation and such but ultimately ends positively.
Truly, a bad book to its core.
It is truly just the cautionary tale of an abusive man with a Scooby Doo twist that was so predictable it became unpredictable. While many claim this to be a credit to the thriller genre, I fundamentally disagree. Though I was not a fan, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
This book follows a thirty-something British woman living in New York City. While at a women’s march, she is trampled by a crowd and subsequently saved by a handsome stranger. They have a one-night stand it becomes clear quickly that he is an abusive stalker—bombarding the FMC with text messages, showing up at her work, and so on. She breaks contact only to discover she is pregnant. She decided to tell her abusive ex-lover because she wanted the baby to have a father—throughout the pregnancy he proves to be just as mercurial and abusive as he was after they first met. He colludes with his overbearing mother to control the FMC, hits her best friend with a car, ensures that she is fired from her job, and unknown to the FMC is the person who breaks into her home, installs spyware on her computer, the whole nine yards. At the child’s birth he demands that the child be named after him and has a fit when he is not. He and his mother end up kidnapping the child and absconding to Greece, where the FMC and a detective eventually track them down to—the exhausted grandmother orchestrates and exchange of the baby with the mother, only for Ethan to crash and end up fighting with the FMC, ending with her pushing Ethan to his death. We flash forward to the child and mother living happily in England, when suddenly the child goes up to an old man on the street. Seemingly nothing, the mother and child go home—only to discover the old man is actually Ethan! Surprise, he never died! It becomes a whole hostage situation and such but ultimately ends positively.
Truly, a bad book to its core.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2023
Audio - 4 Stars
Story - 3.5 STars
Story - 3.5 STars
March 13, 2025
The Nice Guy got off to a flying start, the author had me in the palm of her hand until about 3/4 of the way in.
The nice guy was tense and disturbing, not an original plot really, but the story and the narration felt fresh and vibrant. I wish the ending had come at the end of part 4. It may have bumped it up to a 5🌟 while the end was all wrapped up neatly, the 5th part took us into unbelievable territory and that was a shame.
Great narration!
Currently included with audible 🎧
The nice guy was tense and disturbing, not an original plot really, but the story and the narration felt fresh and vibrant. I wish the ending had come at the end of part 4. It may have bumped it up to a 5🌟 while the end was all wrapped up neatly, the 5th part took us into unbelievable territory and that was a shame.
Great narration!
Currently included with audible 🎧
November 29, 2024
Officially one of the worst books I’ve read in 2024!
It’s so unbelievably bad I don’t know where to start. Enough plot holes to fall all the way to Wonderland. The characters are atrocious and the writing abysmal.
I landed up reading the first bit of each chapter and then skipping to the next. And then, when you think it has to be finished, the ridiculousness continues.
One star to myself for finishing it.
It’s so unbelievably bad I don’t know where to start. Enough plot holes to fall all the way to Wonderland. The characters are atrocious and the writing abysmal.
I landed up reading the first bit of each chapter and then skipping to the next. And then, when you think it has to be finished, the ridiculousness continues.
One star to myself for finishing it.
May 17, 2023
Laura thought she’d found the one nice guy in New York City.
When Ethan saves her from a crushing crowd on Brooklyn Bridge, their connection is dazzling. Worthy of a heat-filled passionate night.
Laura falls pregnant from their one-night stand—a miracle considering her past fertility issues. Ethan is attentive and wonderful at first. She hopes he will be the kind of father she’d always wanted for herself.
Until his attentiveness turns to obsession. His questions become demands. Why didn’t she answer her phone or respond to his messages? Why won’t she move in with him and his rich mother?
Soon Laura realises the father of her child is a controlling sociopath. And there’s no telling the lengths Ethan will go to in order to keep baby Christopher for himself. Laura will stop at nothing to save her baby boy. But is she too late?
This story begins with the meeting between Laura and Ethan. She immediately finds him attractive and soon they become intimate with each other. Laura thinks Ethan is a nice boy, but he soon starts acting very strange. Laura decides to distance herself from him, only she discovered that she is pregnant by him...
It turns out that Ethan has two faces. One time he is the charming man, the other time he is very manipulative and goes completely crazy. Laura doesn't know what to do with him and things get more and more out of hand.
You make some jumps in the story, but most of it is about the aggressive and psychopathic Ethan. I wondered when Laura would cut off all contact with him, because it just kept going.
So there were quite a few reruns and I was waiting for the big plot twist. The story started very well, but then the suspense weakened for me. I found it to be a bit long-winded at times. Still, I enjoyed the story for a large part, but I think I expected a little more from it.
A big thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for the review copy!
Rating: 3.0 ⭐️
When Ethan saves her from a crushing crowd on Brooklyn Bridge, their connection is dazzling. Worthy of a heat-filled passionate night.
Laura falls pregnant from their one-night stand—a miracle considering her past fertility issues. Ethan is attentive and wonderful at first. She hopes he will be the kind of father she’d always wanted for herself.
Until his attentiveness turns to obsession. His questions become demands. Why didn’t she answer her phone or respond to his messages? Why won’t she move in with him and his rich mother?
Soon Laura realises the father of her child is a controlling sociopath. And there’s no telling the lengths Ethan will go to in order to keep baby Christopher for himself. Laura will stop at nothing to save her baby boy. But is she too late?
This story begins with the meeting between Laura and Ethan. She immediately finds him attractive and soon they become intimate with each other. Laura thinks Ethan is a nice boy, but he soon starts acting very strange. Laura decides to distance herself from him, only she discovered that she is pregnant by him...
It turns out that Ethan has two faces. One time he is the charming man, the other time he is very manipulative and goes completely crazy. Laura doesn't know what to do with him and things get more and more out of hand.
You make some jumps in the story, but most of it is about the aggressive and psychopathic Ethan. I wondered when Laura would cut off all contact with him, because it just kept going.
So there were quite a few reruns and I was waiting for the big plot twist. The story started very well, but then the suspense weakened for me. I found it to be a bit long-winded at times. Still, I enjoyed the story for a large part, but I think I expected a little more from it.
A big thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for the review copy!
Rating: 3.0 ⭐️
July 11, 2023
Omg i will never think the same way again about nice guys lol. The story in essence Laura gets injured on a march and is helped by nice guy Ethan which leads to a one night stand. A proper date results in too many red flags and she tries to get him out of her life. Nice guys jackel and hyde.
The thing i loved about this is sadly the gaslighting,manipulation and red flags are sadly very true to life but still a taboo for debate. This touches on them on a really true to life way
I loved all the characters even the bad nice guy. The plot was fast paced very extreme at times full of twists and turns some too predictable but that didnt disturb my enjoyment. Could see scope for a sequel. Excellent writing made it a fab page turner.
Highly recommended 5 stars look firward to the next one.
Thank you net gallery and the publisher for my arc
The thing i loved about this is sadly the gaslighting,manipulation and red flags are sadly very true to life but still a taboo for debate. This touches on them on a really true to life way
I loved all the characters even the bad nice guy. The plot was fast paced very extreme at times full of twists and turns some too predictable but that didnt disturb my enjoyment. Could see scope for a sequel. Excellent writing made it a fab page turner.
Highly recommended 5 stars look firward to the next one.
Thank you net gallery and the publisher for my arc
June 2, 2023
You know what…sometimes stupid people deserve what they get.
October 15, 2025
J’ai bien aimé sauf j’ai trouvé l’histoire un peu tiré par les cheveux . Mais ça m’a bien diverti
June 5, 2023
★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)
Her perfect date is her worst nightmare...
I've been a fan of since reading "Silent Child" some years ago and totally loved it. Followed by "Only Daughter" which was just as thrilling. I have since read a few more and what stands out to me is how diverse her plots are. They can go from psychological to domestic to supernatural. But there's one thing they all have in common - all of them equally chilling. Just reading her novella "The Quiet Wife" was enough to send chills down your spine.
So when I saw THE NICE GUY was up for publication and then caught it on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it. It is, by no means, an easy read. Many scenes made my skin crawl and had me squirming in my seat. But I stuck it out because I knew it would all come full circle by the end.
Laura and her friend Jessa are on a women's protest march in New York City when they lose each other and Laura finds herself trodden in the crush when she feels strong hands lift her from the ground and carry her to a nearby pub. And it's there she finds herself looking into the smiling eyes of the most handsome man. He introduces himself as Ethan and before long the pair are heading to Ethan's penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park, ripping each other's clothes off in the process. The following morning, ever the gentleman, he makes her breakfast and has someone run out to buy her a new pair of trainers since she lost one of hers in the crushing crowds the day before. Could he be any more perfect?
But when Laura starts receiving some startling texts following their night together, this sudden possessive stalkerish behaviour begins to raise a few red flags. And when she fails to respond to his texts, they become more abusive so she blocks his number. This doesn't stop him as he starts texting her from another number. Can the guy not take a hint? It was a one night stand. People have them all the time. But apparently, Ethan wants more than what Laura is willing to give. Finally, after tracking her down to her workplace and charming her colleagues, Ethan relents and agrees to stop with the texts and stalker behaviour.
At last...life is good.
And then, Laura discovers she's pregnant - a miracle considering her infertility due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. But she doesn't want to jinx it. She takes five tests to be sure and a blood test with her doctor. All positive. She's definitely pregnant. Now the conundrum. It's Ethan's, of course it is. But what to do? Should she tell him or should she just move on with her life and raise her child on her own? Growing up without a father has made her vulnerable in that respect in wanting to give her child a father. But is Ethan the right person for the job, whether or not they share the same DNA? But at the end of the day, she feels he has a right to know. And so she tells him.
At first Ethan is attentive and respectful of the boundaries she has set. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. But alas, it was not to last. It begins subtly at first with mood swings akin to Jekyll and Hyde before he morphs into a full blown psychopath complete with gaslighting, manipulation to the extreme, possessiveness and a complete need for control over everything. The more Laura tries to be fair, the more control Ethan is determine to have. And control he will get for he will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. And then there is Ethan's equally bizarre mother when upon meeting her it's easy to see that the nut didn't fall far from that family tree!
But just how far is he prepared to go? And just how far is Laura prepared to go to protect her child?
THE NICE GUY is essentially not a very nice tale. It's horrible and enough to make your skin crawl. But I stuck it out to see Ethan get his comeuppance...because they always do in fiction, don't they? Well, generally speaking, they do. And I was flipping the pages of my kindle waiting and hoping and waiting some more. We are taken halfway across the world...ah, Santorini. Such a beautiful place I would love to see but my knees would not.
What this book really is is chilling. It is seriously spine-tinglingly chilling. The lengths one manipulative b***** would go to to maintain control and pretty much get his own way. He was chillingly manipulative. He was a master at it. There was no way Laura was ever going to beat him at his own game or even by playing fair. Because this guy plays dirty and he plays to win. Simply put, he is a psycho. And he made my skin crawl. Laura tried to make the best decisions she could but she had no idea what she was truly up against and when she did, it was too late.
I did find the story dragged a little, particularly at the end. That entire final part I found completely unnecessary and so drawn out and thus being played out step by step by step. It didn't really add to the tension...more like the frustration. It should have ended in Santorini with a nice little Epilogue wrapping everything up and they all lived happily ever after...well, most of them. The twist was pretty predictable given that an entire fourth part was devoted to the aftermath that you just knew something was going to happen. And it was too laughable to be believable. I'm all for stretching the imagination and suspending belief but this had just a little too much elasticity to work. Remove the entire final part and it is a great thriller.
That aside, THE NICE GUY is a chilling tale that is compelling and thrilling in equal parts. About a not-so-nice guy after all.
I would like to thank #SarahADenzil, SLHarker, #Netgalley and #VictoryEditingCoop for an ARC of #TheNiceGuy in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Her perfect date is her worst nightmare...
I've been a fan of since reading "Silent Child" some years ago and totally loved it. Followed by "Only Daughter" which was just as thrilling. I have since read a few more and what stands out to me is how diverse her plots are. They can go from psychological to domestic to supernatural. But there's one thing they all have in common - all of them equally chilling. Just reading her novella "The Quiet Wife" was enough to send chills down your spine.
So when I saw THE NICE GUY was up for publication and then caught it on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it. It is, by no means, an easy read. Many scenes made my skin crawl and had me squirming in my seat. But I stuck it out because I knew it would all come full circle by the end.
Laura and her friend Jessa are on a women's protest march in New York City when they lose each other and Laura finds herself trodden in the crush when she feels strong hands lift her from the ground and carry her to a nearby pub. And it's there she finds herself looking into the smiling eyes of the most handsome man. He introduces himself as Ethan and before long the pair are heading to Ethan's penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park, ripping each other's clothes off in the process. The following morning, ever the gentleman, he makes her breakfast and has someone run out to buy her a new pair of trainers since she lost one of hers in the crushing crowds the day before. Could he be any more perfect?
But when Laura starts receiving some startling texts following their night together, this sudden possessive stalkerish behaviour begins to raise a few red flags. And when she fails to respond to his texts, they become more abusive so she blocks his number. This doesn't stop him as he starts texting her from another number. Can the guy not take a hint? It was a one night stand. People have them all the time. But apparently, Ethan wants more than what Laura is willing to give. Finally, after tracking her down to her workplace and charming her colleagues, Ethan relents and agrees to stop with the texts and stalker behaviour.
At last...life is good.
And then, Laura discovers she's pregnant - a miracle considering her infertility due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. But she doesn't want to jinx it. She takes five tests to be sure and a blood test with her doctor. All positive. She's definitely pregnant. Now the conundrum. It's Ethan's, of course it is. But what to do? Should she tell him or should she just move on with her life and raise her child on her own? Growing up without a father has made her vulnerable in that respect in wanting to give her child a father. But is Ethan the right person for the job, whether or not they share the same DNA? But at the end of the day, she feels he has a right to know. And so she tells him.
At first Ethan is attentive and respectful of the boundaries she has set. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. But alas, it was not to last. It begins subtly at first with mood swings akin to Jekyll and Hyde before he morphs into a full blown psychopath complete with gaslighting, manipulation to the extreme, possessiveness and a complete need for control over everything. The more Laura tries to be fair, the more control Ethan is determine to have. And control he will get for he will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. And then there is Ethan's equally bizarre mother when upon meeting her it's easy to see that the nut didn't fall far from that family tree!
But just how far is he prepared to go? And just how far is Laura prepared to go to protect her child?
THE NICE GUY is essentially not a very nice tale. It's horrible and enough to make your skin crawl. But I stuck it out to see Ethan get his comeuppance...because they always do in fiction, don't they? Well, generally speaking, they do. And I was flipping the pages of my kindle waiting and hoping and waiting some more. We are taken halfway across the world...ah, Santorini. Such a beautiful place I would love to see but my knees would not.
What this book really is is chilling. It is seriously spine-tinglingly chilling. The lengths one manipulative b***** would go to to maintain control and pretty much get his own way. He was chillingly manipulative. He was a master at it. There was no way Laura was ever going to beat him at his own game or even by playing fair. Because this guy plays dirty and he plays to win. Simply put, he is a psycho. And he made my skin crawl. Laura tried to make the best decisions she could but she had no idea what she was truly up against and when she did, it was too late.
I did find the story dragged a little, particularly at the end. That entire final part I found completely unnecessary and so drawn out and thus being played out step by step by step. It didn't really add to the tension...more like the frustration. It should have ended in Santorini with a nice little Epilogue wrapping everything up and they all lived happily ever after...well, most of them. The twist was pretty predictable given that an entire fourth part was devoted to the aftermath that you just knew something was going to happen. And it was too laughable to be believable. I'm all for stretching the imagination and suspending belief but this had just a little too much elasticity to work. Remove the entire final part and it is a great thriller.
That aside, THE NICE GUY is a chilling tale that is compelling and thrilling in equal parts. About a not-so-nice guy after all.
I would like to thank #SarahADenzil, SLHarker, #Netgalley and #VictoryEditingCoop for an ARC of #TheNiceGuy in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 4, 2023
It is getting worser! 😩
June 18, 2023
This was a fast-paced thriller that went in a different direction than I expected. It’s centered on Laura, who has a great first date with Ethan but then realizes he is not who she thought he was. Then she ends up pregnant from that very first date and struggles with his involvement in her and her baby’s lives.
I struggled a bit with Laura, who did not connect what felt to me like very obvious dots when bad stuff started happening to her. I did appreciate her dogged efforts to keep herself and her son out of Ethan’s grasp, though. There were some surprises and a general frenetic pace through the seemed half of the book that I enjoyed. The ending of the book was just ok for me; she didn’t make one decision that I hoped she would make, and there was some uncertainty in her future that I wish had been tied up.
Overall, fast paced and fun read that was quick for me, despite questioning some of Laura’s decisions. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled a bit with Laura, who did not connect what felt to me like very obvious dots when bad stuff started happening to her. I did appreciate her dogged efforts to keep herself and her son out of Ethan’s grasp, though. There were some surprises and a general frenetic pace through the seemed half of the book that I enjoyed. The ending of the book was just ok for me; she didn’t make one decision that I hoped she would make, and there was some uncertainty in her future that I wish had been tied up.
Overall, fast paced and fun read that was quick for me, despite questioning some of Laura’s decisions. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
July 11, 2023Omg i will never think the same way again about nice guys lol. The story in essence Laura gets injured on a march and is helped by nice guy Ethan which leads to a one night stand. A proper date results in too many red flags and she tries to get him out of her life. Nice guys jackel and hyde.
The thing i loved about this is sadly the gaslighting,manipulation and red flags are sadly very true to life but still a taboo for debate. This touches on them on a really true to life way
I loved all the characters even the bad nice guy. The plot was fast paced very extreme at times full of twists and turns some too predictable but that didnt disturb my enjoyment. Could see scope for a sequel. Excellent writing made it a fab page turner.
Highly recommended 5 stars look firward to the next one.
Thank you net gallery and the publisher for my arc
The thing i loved about this is sadly the gaslighting,manipulation and red flags are sadly very true to life but still a taboo for debate. This touches on them on a really true to life way
I loved all the characters even the bad nice guy. The plot was fast paced very extreme at times full of twists and turns some too predictable but that didnt disturb my enjoyment. Could see scope for a sequel. Excellent writing made it a fab page turner.
Highly recommended 5 stars look firward to the next one.
Thank you net gallery and the publisher for my arc
May 20, 2023
A one night stand turns into complete hell for our main character Laura. She winds up pregnant and Ethan the dad is a total psycho. I think the book could have been a little shorter without all the filler in the last few chapters. The suspense was definitely on though!
The twist at the end was kind of unbelievable but I definitely did not see it coming.
The twist at the end was kind of unbelievable but I definitely did not see it coming.
May 9, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with the ARC!
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this novel, but WOW.
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of The Stranger In Our House by Sarah A. Denzil from NetGalley, and I was blown away by the writing style and originality of the story. So, when I saw The Nice Guy on NetGalley, I had to request it.
The authors of this book did such a fantastic job of depicting manipulation and emotional abuse. I can’t remember the last book that made me so angry to the point I had to put it down and take a few deep breaths. This book made me do that. A lot.
I loved Laura’s character, and all of her flaws made her even more loveable. I’ve already seen other reviews calling her character “stupid” and that her decisions made readers angry. Let’s get something straight about this book: if your anger is directed at Laura and not Ethan (and the media), you’ve missed the entire point of this book. Laura’s character is thoughtful, caring, and selfless - her entire focus is on her child and what she thinks is best for their wellbeing. She wants to be able to give her child something that she never had: a relationship with their father. Is Ethan the best option? No. Is he the child’s father, regardless? Yes. This story is an extremely emotional journey of Laura coming to the realization that maybe not having the father present is better than having a manipulative, psychotic father present.
I’ve also seen reviews saying it’s “extreme” and “unrealistic.” So, here’s a question for you to end on: Just because the plotline/story of a book is extreme, does that make the general idea of it (in this case, a woman in a position of being manipulated, emotionally abused, and taken advantage of) unrealistic? Maybe, just maybe, the book is extreme on purpose to make you frustrated and take action against injustice within society.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this novel, but WOW.
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of The Stranger In Our House by Sarah A. Denzil from NetGalley, and I was blown away by the writing style and originality of the story. So, when I saw The Nice Guy on NetGalley, I had to request it.
The authors of this book did such a fantastic job of depicting manipulation and emotional abuse. I can’t remember the last book that made me so angry to the point I had to put it down and take a few deep breaths. This book made me do that. A lot.
I loved Laura’s character, and all of her flaws made her even more loveable. I’ve already seen other reviews calling her character “stupid” and that her decisions made readers angry. Let’s get something straight about this book: if your anger is directed at Laura and not Ethan (and the media), you’ve missed the entire point of this book. Laura’s character is thoughtful, caring, and selfless - her entire focus is on her child and what she thinks is best for their wellbeing. She wants to be able to give her child something that she never had: a relationship with their father. Is Ethan the best option? No. Is he the child’s father, regardless? Yes. This story is an extremely emotional journey of Laura coming to the realization that maybe not having the father present is better than having a manipulative, psychotic father present.
I’ve also seen reviews saying it’s “extreme” and “unrealistic.” So, here’s a question for you to end on: Just because the plotline/story of a book is extreme, does that make the general idea of it (in this case, a woman in a position of being manipulated, emotionally abused, and taken advantage of) unrealistic? Maybe, just maybe, the book is extreme on purpose to make you frustrated and take action against injustice within society.
July 12, 2023
3.5 slow start! Laura being saved by an amazing guy.. who is ACTUALLY the epitome of a red flag. I could see this being a full on criminal minds episode only JJ is the Mom (go with me) she has a child with red flag (Ethan) and will protect this child at all costs no matter what.
July 24, 2023
Really good suspensful thriller. I was intrigued throughout the entire book and the story kept me guessing the whole time.
June 19, 2023
My third book by this author and definitely the worst so far. There was just so much that didn't work for me, and it was good to just get it finished in the end.
When Laura meets Ethan, and they have a one night stand, she is keen to see him again. However, he is so different on their next date, that you would actually have assumed that this was going to be a weird twin book or something. This was my first issue. You can't call a book 'The Nice Guy' when he was nice literally once. There was no slow burn of the character becoming controlling and stalky, it was literally an instant switch - which, when we discover later other partners had finished relationships with him, was not how he operated. That was more of a slow burn. And honestly would have had to have been or NO ONE would have stayed with him.
There were other issues around that whole relationships and stalky behaviour, damaging behaviour and no one saying anything that just didn't ring true as well.
There were other things that just did NOT make any sense at all. Here lie spoilers...
When Laura meets Ethan, and they have a one night stand, she is keen to see him again. However, he is so different on their next date, that you would actually have assumed that this was going to be a weird twin book or something. This was my first issue. You can't call a book 'The Nice Guy' when he was nice literally once. There was no slow burn of the character becoming controlling and stalky, it was literally an instant switch - which, when we discover later other partners had finished relationships with him, was not how he operated. That was more of a slow burn. And honestly would have had to have been or NO ONE would have stayed with him.
There were other issues around that whole relationships and stalky behaviour, damaging behaviour and no one saying anything that just didn't ring true as well.
There were other things that just did NOT make any sense at all. Here lie spoilers...
June 15, 2023
This book gets more and more intense and suspenseful as you read it, and doesn't let up until the very end! Another winner from Ms. Denzil!
September 11, 2024
Enjoyed, damn that Ethan.
May 15, 2023
When Laura‘s One night stand with her night and shining armor turned into a surprise pregnancy with a control freak she is happy about the baby but dubious about the babies father Ethan. He comes from a well-to-do family but that isn’t the reason she wants her baby to know it’s father she was going to go it alone but advice from a coworker changed her mind and when Ethan looks like he is going to play nice she lets her guard down and almost loses everything. this was such a good book and although I didn’t waste much time on the summary because all you really need to know is what I said above and that you will not be disappointed in this book it truly is a five star thriller in one I am so glad I read. If you like your drama intense jaw clenching nerve wracking and you sitting on the edge of your seat then you love The Nice Guy by Sarah A Denzil. If you love a great thriller then you’ll love this book.. I received this book from NetGalley and the NetGalley co-op but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
September 22, 2025
I enjoy Denzil's stuff. This one was okay.
some thing(s) I liked:
✅well written
✅twisty
✅Laura started off well - seeing the red flags immediately and acting accordingly (going NC)
some thing(s), not so much:
⭕it was just unbelievable that Laura did a complete 180 AFTER Ethan already proved he was dangerous
⭕in all these thrillers, women always use the excuse they "never had a father and can't put their child through that" to stay with terrible/ dangerous/ abusive men. why?
⭕twists are fun, but it became just completely unbelievable in the end and even in fiction, I dislike veering too far from realism
some thing(s) I liked:
✅well written
✅twisty
✅Laura started off well - seeing the red flags immediately and acting accordingly (going NC)
some thing(s), not so much:
⭕it was just unbelievable that Laura did a complete 180 AFTER Ethan already proved he was dangerous
⭕in all these thrillers, women always use the excuse they "never had a father and can't put their child through that" to stay with terrible/ dangerous/ abusive men. why?
⭕twists are fun, but it became just completely unbelievable in the end and even in fiction, I dislike veering too far from realism
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2025
This was kind of like reading a Lifetime movie. It's not awful, but it's just... what it is...
The biggest issue I have with this story is the MC is fully aware Ethan is a red flag from the beginning, yet just lets all of these awful things happen to her and the people around her, and acts like she has no clue (Ma'am... you are aware... you know...). The lead-up to him being a total psychopath should not have come as such a surprise, but alas...
The biggest issue I have with this story is the MC is fully aware Ethan is a red flag from the beginning, yet just lets all of these awful things happen to her and the people around her, and acts like she has no clue (Ma'am... you are aware... you know...). The lead-up to him being a total psychopath should not have come as such a surprise, but alas...
May 20, 2023
Perfect book to read on his rainy day. 2 authors one that I'm very familiar with and over her books and another to now keep on the radar.
I loved this book as much as it's scary and true you just never know the true colors of someone. You hoe that Nice Guy you meet will be just that..
Just enough madness to the writing where I found myself devouring this book.
Perfect ending.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
I loved this book as much as it's scary and true you just never know the true colors of someone. You hoe that Nice Guy you meet will be just that..
Just enough madness to the writing where I found myself devouring this book.
Perfect ending.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
March 26, 2025
The only thing I got from this book: What a great day to not be pregnant.
Not sure which is worse – a character being utterly naive with faulty instincts to make unwise decisions, or someone noticing and acknowledging the red flags full well and choosing to go with it anyway.
Not sure which is worse – a character being utterly naive with faulty instincts to make unwise decisions, or someone noticing and acknowledging the red flags full well and choosing to go with it anyway.
August 31, 2023
Laura, a NYC transplant from across the pond, meets Ethan at a women's march. He saves her when she's getting trampled and they have a steamy night together. This is the first time since her divorce that she's felt butterflies but if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. He quickly takes her on a proper date and it's a disaster. Some people are better as a memory. The man is a walking red flag!
She chooses to walk away but he's not so ready to let go and pretty soon she finds out she's going to be stuck with him for 18 years.. what to do??
It started off well enough. I really could feel her dilemma but she made so many dumb choices and when you add her moral superiority complex to that, it just ended up getting annoying and not making much sense. It chose to drone on at times that were unnecessary and do a time hop at moments you'd like to witness.
To be completely honest I feel like this was definitely kind of a man-hating political moment the author had that turned into a book, which is fine because we've all been there, except for trad wives. I mean, it's like every bad trait someone could have has gone to this guy and there were jabs at US culture concerning guns and other things you hear about on CNN Twitter clips that I felt were low-hanging fruit. I found myself rolling my eyes but also buying digestives and Vegemite on Amazon so it was a mixed bag.
I'll check out the author's other work. I have a few of her books but this was available in the Audible Plus catalog and it's new so I wanted to check it out while I could. I would still recommend it just make sure you're sitting down for the final showdown because it's a doozy.
She chooses to walk away but he's not so ready to let go and pretty soon she finds out she's going to be stuck with him for 18 years.. what to do??
It started off well enough. I really could feel her dilemma but she made so many dumb choices and when you add her moral superiority complex to that, it just ended up getting annoying and not making much sense. It chose to drone on at times that were unnecessary and do a time hop at moments you'd like to witness.
To be completely honest I feel like this was definitely kind of a man-hating political moment the author had that turned into a book, which is fine because we've all been there, except for trad wives. I mean, it's like every bad trait someone could have has gone to this guy and there were jabs at US culture concerning guns and other things you hear about on CNN Twitter clips that I felt were low-hanging fruit. I found myself rolling my eyes but also buying digestives and Vegemite on Amazon so it was a mixed bag.
I'll check out the author's other work. I have a few of her books but this was available in the Audible Plus catalog and it's new so I wanted to check it out while I could. I would still recommend it just make sure you're sitting down for the final showdown because it's a doozy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews