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The Nurse
“Can you start right away?” I can hear the desperation in Dr Roth’s voice. He’s longing for someone to look after his poor, sick wife Sabrina in their perfect Florida home. The job pays an awful lot. And I really need the money. As long as they don’t ask too many questions…
I spend my days by Sabrina ’s side. She has everything money could buy – a luxurious home, a handsome, doting husband who would do anything for her. I hate cleaning up her mess, picking her designer clothes off the floor, and driving her to the golf club. I hate how she sneers at me, no matter what I do. But I have to remember why I’m really here.
Dr Roth has made it clear I have to make sure she takes her medication. Because if she doesn’t, there’s hell to pay. Three times a day, I count her sedative pills carefully. Sabrina rambles about the death of a child. About a terrible accident. Dr Roth shakes his head sadly. Delusions are a heartbreaking symptom of his wife’s illness, he says.
But when Dr Roth leaves the house, Sabrina becomes more clear-headed. She tells me she’s done something terrible. And that her husband is lying. He keeps her trapped because of what she did. And I’m the only one who can help her escape.
Can I believe the words of a woman suffering from delusions? Or is Dr Roth not as trustworthy as he seems? Someone is lying. And if the Roths find out why I’m really here, this could take a deadly turn…
An unbelievably gripping psychological thriller with a mind-blowing twist that will have you flipping the pages deep into the night. Fans of The Doctor’s Wife, The Perfect Marriage and The Surgeon won’t be able to put this down!
I spend my days by Sabrina ’s side. She has everything money could buy – a luxurious home, a handsome, doting husband who would do anything for her. I hate cleaning up her mess, picking her designer clothes off the floor, and driving her to the golf club. I hate how she sneers at me, no matter what I do. But I have to remember why I’m really here.
Dr Roth has made it clear I have to make sure she takes her medication. Because if she doesn’t, there’s hell to pay. Three times a day, I count her sedative pills carefully. Sabrina rambles about the death of a child. About a terrible accident. Dr Roth shakes his head sadly. Delusions are a heartbreaking symptom of his wife’s illness, he says.
But when Dr Roth leaves the house, Sabrina becomes more clear-headed. She tells me she’s done something terrible. And that her husband is lying. He keeps her trapped because of what she did. And I’m the only one who can help her escape.
Can I believe the words of a woman suffering from delusions? Or is Dr Roth not as trustworthy as he seems? Someone is lying. And if the Roths find out why I’m really here, this could take a deadly turn…
An unbelievably gripping psychological thriller with a mind-blowing twist that will have you flipping the pages deep into the night. Fans of The Doctor’s Wife, The Perfect Marriage and The Surgeon won’t be able to put this down!
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2023
587 people are currently reading
996 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Kernan
123 books394 followersThank you for finding me on GoodReads.
Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan
Here's a bit more about me...
Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.
Jenna offers a FREE BOOK as a welcome gift to new VIP Readers. Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/jennakernan/grippi...
Visit Jenna at www.jennakernan.com
Follow Jenna here ...
BookBub: jenna-kernan
Twitter: @jennakernan
Instagram: jenna-kernan
Facebook: AuthorJennaKernan or join her newsletter at www.jennakernan.com
Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan
Here's a bit more about me...
Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.
Jenna offers a FREE BOOK as a welcome gift to new VIP Readers. Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/jennakernan/grippi...
Visit Jenna at www.jennakernan.com
Follow Jenna here ...
BookBub: jenna-kernan
Twitter: @jennakernan
Instagram: jenna-kernan
Facebook: AuthorJennaKernan or join her newsletter at www.jennakernan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
October 2, 2023
Emily Lancing may have graduated top of her class and scored a great job at graduation, but nothing prepared her for her employers, Dr. and Mrs.Henry Roth, a prominent local psychiatrist and his wife.
Nothing.
When she discovers that the doctor’s wife becomes more lucid after her husband leaves the house, Emily decides to monitor the situation. Is she purposely being overmedicated? Is Mrs. Roth hiding something? Why does Dr. Roth have so many rules to follow? He’s a psychiatrist, surely he’s doing what’s best for his wife? Author Jenna Kernan allows readers to follow alongside the nurse as she tries to get to the bottom of the mystery before it’s too late.
What I love most about Kernan’s writing is her ability to weave in intriguing unanswered questions. I knew there was something up with the Roths, but Kernan didn’t spell it out for me - thank goodness! I had to keep turning pages to …well, get the answer, but then another question arose! I love this kind of writing.
I also appreciate an author who doesn’t give us too much backstory! I know why it’s done, but often I feel so bogged down with the protagonist’s history that it makes for a slow start and hampers me racing through the pages. Kernan knows when to reveal facts when they have the biggest impact on her story. Oh, there are clues and facts that are dropped like breadcrumbs, don’t get me wrong. What is left for us to pick up and follow is ‘just enough.’ Again, I love this kind of writing.
This is a captivating domestic thriller that you’ll want on your tbr pile! Kernan knows how to write thrillers and delivers a gobsmacking twist - one that you’d never guess, even after wading through all the secrets and lies.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Nothing.
When she discovers that the doctor’s wife becomes more lucid after her husband leaves the house, Emily decides to monitor the situation. Is she purposely being overmedicated? Is Mrs. Roth hiding something? Why does Dr. Roth have so many rules to follow? He’s a psychiatrist, surely he’s doing what’s best for his wife? Author Jenna Kernan allows readers to follow alongside the nurse as she tries to get to the bottom of the mystery before it’s too late.
What I love most about Kernan’s writing is her ability to weave in intriguing unanswered questions. I knew there was something up with the Roths, but Kernan didn’t spell it out for me - thank goodness! I had to keep turning pages to …well, get the answer, but then another question arose! I love this kind of writing.
I also appreciate an author who doesn’t give us too much backstory! I know why it’s done, but often I feel so bogged down with the protagonist’s history that it makes for a slow start and hampers me racing through the pages. Kernan knows when to reveal facts when they have the biggest impact on her story. Oh, there are clues and facts that are dropped like breadcrumbs, don’t get me wrong. What is left for us to pick up and follow is ‘just enough.’ Again, I love this kind of writing.
This is a captivating domestic thriller that you’ll want on your tbr pile! Kernan knows how to write thrillers and delivers a gobsmacking twist - one that you’d never guess, even after wading through all the secrets and lies.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 3, 2023
Is this thriller about an unhinged, delusional, paranoid woman, or a controlling, diabolical, scheming man? Who is the victim and who is the villain? I enjoyed speculating on who was telling the truth throughout this twisted tale of deception and betrayal. This is an intense game of cat and mouse with the players stealthily racing toward vengeance. Who should be feared and who should be protected? The conclusion was full of twists and turns that were surprising and satisfying. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy.
October 3, 2023
I listened to the audiobook of this one and I did enjoy the narrator. I felt like she did a good job bringing the main character to life the best she could. I felt like all of the characters in this book The first third of the book was really hard for me to get through. I felt like the writing could have been better and I got tired of repetitive sentences and weird metaphors that took me out of the story. I really liked the concept of the book and for me just a little polishing to the writing would have helped a lot. The second third was ok but super slow and still not enticing.. I would have given up if this wasn’t a book I had through Netgalley. The next 20 percent was interesting and a bit twistier than I initially expected from the book. The last part with the “big reveal” was too thorough. It didn’t feel revealed but lectured. I liked the resolution for each of the characters but it could have been done a little more smoothly. I was also confused by the couple of chapters by other narrators. In a book totally told from one perspective those couple of chapters were weird and out of place and a dead giveaway that there were some missing pieces. Emily has an interview for the best paying job she’s ever come close to. A private nurse for a rich couple where the wife has mental health struggles and needs help. In the interview she realizes the job is more housekeeper than nurse but she is determined to get the job (as she states clearly about a dozen times). As she gets to know the family she can’t help but wonder what exactly is going on in the Ross home. Overall I gave this one 2.5 stars rounded up because of a decent twist and a really good concept.
September 2, 2023
"The Nurse" by Jenna Kernan is a clever psychological thriller that poses some challenging moral questions and explores the choices that drive us to do the things we do.
The book follows Emily Lancing, a Licensed Practical Nurse with aspirations, who applies for a job at the residence of the Roth family. Dr. Henry Roth, a prominent psychiatrist, hires her to be the personal nurse for his troubled wife Sabrina. Emily's role extends beyond nursing; she is also expected to serve as a housekeeper, handle light household chores such as tidying up and doing laundry, and drive Sabrina around, among other tasks. Additionally, she must ensure that Sabrina takes all her medications. According to the husband, Sabrina suffers from delusions and other mental health issues that require consistent medication to prevent her condition from deteriorating
Pretty soon Emily fell into routine, spending her days at Sabrina’s side. When she begins to suspect that Dr. Roth is over-medicating his wife, she noses around to determine his trustworthiness. She seeks to discern whether he is a devoted husband or an unscrupulous one, controlling his wife for his own benefit. In either case, she finds herself treading on dangerous ground.
The book starts slowly, but the pace picks up in the second part of the book. The detailed descriptions of day-to-day activities were more than enough to maintain interest. The focus is primarily on the characters and their motivations, and I appreciated the dynamics between them.
The characters are complex and compelling, particularly Emily. I did feel she made some unwise choices and took unnecessary risks. While I understood her actions, I had mixed feelings about some of them.
Toward the end of the book, I guessed the impending twist, so it didn't come as a great shock. Nevertheless, I found it brilliantly executed. I did feel that the author spoon-fed us the solution to the puzzle in the last chapter, going into unnecessary detail to explain some aspects. However, I'm unsure if it could have been handled differently.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and found the concept interesting. I will definitely read more books by this author. I recommend the book to people who readers who relish delving into the mindset of characters. Just don't expect a fast-paced narrative and allow the story to develop slowly and creep up on you. It will be worth the wait!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my Blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
The book follows Emily Lancing, a Licensed Practical Nurse with aspirations, who applies for a job at the residence of the Roth family. Dr. Henry Roth, a prominent psychiatrist, hires her to be the personal nurse for his troubled wife Sabrina. Emily's role extends beyond nursing; she is also expected to serve as a housekeeper, handle light household chores such as tidying up and doing laundry, and drive Sabrina around, among other tasks. Additionally, she must ensure that Sabrina takes all her medications. According to the husband, Sabrina suffers from delusions and other mental health issues that require consistent medication to prevent her condition from deteriorating
Pretty soon Emily fell into routine, spending her days at Sabrina’s side. When she begins to suspect that Dr. Roth is over-medicating his wife, she noses around to determine his trustworthiness. She seeks to discern whether he is a devoted husband or an unscrupulous one, controlling his wife for his own benefit. In either case, she finds herself treading on dangerous ground.
The book starts slowly, but the pace picks up in the second part of the book. The detailed descriptions of day-to-day activities were more than enough to maintain interest. The focus is primarily on the characters and their motivations, and I appreciated the dynamics between them.
The characters are complex and compelling, particularly Emily. I did feel she made some unwise choices and took unnecessary risks. While I understood her actions, I had mixed feelings about some of them.
Toward the end of the book, I guessed the impending twist, so it didn't come as a great shock. Nevertheless, I found it brilliantly executed. I did feel that the author spoon-fed us the solution to the puzzle in the last chapter, going into unnecessary detail to explain some aspects. However, I'm unsure if it could have been handled differently.
Overall, I enjoyed the read and found the concept interesting. I will definitely read more books by this author. I recommend the book to people who readers who relish delving into the mindset of characters. Just don't expect a fast-paced narrative and allow the story to develop slowly and creep up on you. It will be worth the wait!
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my Blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
October 2, 2023
3.5 Stars
Just out of nursing school and struggling financially, main character Emily is thrilled when a wealthy psychiatrist wants her to care for his wife. What seems like a dream job turns out to be anything but when Emily sees what’s going on behind closed doors. Clearly, something odd is going on with his wife. Is she in danger from her husband? Emily wants to help, but after signing a strict NDA, what can she do?
THE NURSE is a simmering domestic thriller that put me on edge wondering who could be trusted. The first half of the book was a slow burn with lots of details about the workings of the Roths’ bizarre life and their expectations of Emily. Maybe a bit too slow for my taste, but the mystery about what’s really going on kept me reading as secrets are revealed.
The last third of the book was very exciting and super twisty. While I loved the final outcome, I felt like much of the ending was just an explanation of how things fit together, instead of showing. Still, I thought that the conclusion was wildly entertaining and satisfying.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Just out of nursing school and struggling financially, main character Emily is thrilled when a wealthy psychiatrist wants her to care for his wife. What seems like a dream job turns out to be anything but when Emily sees what’s going on behind closed doors. Clearly, something odd is going on with his wife. Is she in danger from her husband? Emily wants to help, but after signing a strict NDA, what can she do?
THE NURSE is a simmering domestic thriller that put me on edge wondering who could be trusted. The first half of the book was a slow burn with lots of details about the workings of the Roths’ bizarre life and their expectations of Emily. Maybe a bit too slow for my taste, but the mystery about what’s really going on kept me reading as secrets are revealed.
The last third of the book was very exciting and super twisty. While I loved the final outcome, I felt like much of the ending was just an explanation of how things fit together, instead of showing. Still, I thought that the conclusion was wildly entertaining and satisfying.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
October 7, 2023
Will you decipher who's the victim and who's the villain?
Book Information
“The Nurse” by Jenna Kernan is a 404-page mystery novel with a publication date of October 2, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Madeline Pell and spans 12 hours and 9 minutes. Thank you to Dreamscape Select for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
In sunny Florida, Emily accepts a caregiving job for Dr. Roth's sick wife, Sabrina. The pay is great, which she desperately needs. But there's a catch: she can't ask too many questions.
Emily quickly finds herself stuck with cleaning up after Sabrina and driving her around. Sabrina treats her with contempt, but Emily needs the job. Dr. Roth insists Emily make sure Sabrina takes her medication. It seems like a simple task until Sabrina starts talking about a terrible accident and a dead child.
When Dr. Roth leaves, Sabrina becomes surprisingly clear-headed and drops a bombshell: she claims Dr. Roth is hiding the truth, and she needs Emily's help to escape. Emily's torn between trusting a woman with delusions and Dr. Roth's seemingly reliable facade. As secrets unravel, Emily finds herself in a dangerous game where the truth might be deadly.
My Thoughts
Jenna Kernan's "The Nurse" presents an engaging premise with occasional suspenseful moments. The book, however, suffers from a very slow start. Notably, nothing of real significance unfolds until you're about 40% into the story. The narrative is primarily driven by Emily, the private nurse hired to assist Sabrina Roth, with a brief section narrated from Sabrina's perspective.
Throughout the book, Kernan employs a technique of posing questions within the story, frequently delving into Emily's thoughts, which are consistently punctuated by queries. While this technique can be effective, it tends to be somewhat overused in this novel, becoming more bothersome than impactful over time.
The story does have its share of twists and turns, keeping readers guessing about the true nature of the characters involved. The central mystery revolves around identifying both the victim and the villain, creating a cat-and-mouse dynamic that adds intrigue.
However, the book could have been shorter and some readers might find it somewhat drawn out. Moreover, the ending may leave some feeling disappointed, as it leans more towards explanation than a satisfying reveal.
The audiobook narration felt somewhat stiff to me, feeling more like someone reading the text rather than performing the story. While opinions on this may vary, it was not among my favorite audiobooks of the year.
Recommendation
Despite its flaws, "The Nurse" does have some twists and turns and may appeal to those who appreciate a slower-paced narrative.
Rating
3 Possibly Delusional Stars
Book Information
“The Nurse” by Jenna Kernan is a 404-page mystery novel with a publication date of October 2, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Madeline Pell and spans 12 hours and 9 minutes. Thank you to Dreamscape Select for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
In sunny Florida, Emily accepts a caregiving job for Dr. Roth's sick wife, Sabrina. The pay is great, which she desperately needs. But there's a catch: she can't ask too many questions.
Emily quickly finds herself stuck with cleaning up after Sabrina and driving her around. Sabrina treats her with contempt, but Emily needs the job. Dr. Roth insists Emily make sure Sabrina takes her medication. It seems like a simple task until Sabrina starts talking about a terrible accident and a dead child.
When Dr. Roth leaves, Sabrina becomes surprisingly clear-headed and drops a bombshell: she claims Dr. Roth is hiding the truth, and she needs Emily's help to escape. Emily's torn between trusting a woman with delusions and Dr. Roth's seemingly reliable facade. As secrets unravel, Emily finds herself in a dangerous game where the truth might be deadly.
My Thoughts
Jenna Kernan's "The Nurse" presents an engaging premise with occasional suspenseful moments. The book, however, suffers from a very slow start. Notably, nothing of real significance unfolds until you're about 40% into the story. The narrative is primarily driven by Emily, the private nurse hired to assist Sabrina Roth, with a brief section narrated from Sabrina's perspective.
Throughout the book, Kernan employs a technique of posing questions within the story, frequently delving into Emily's thoughts, which are consistently punctuated by queries. While this technique can be effective, it tends to be somewhat overused in this novel, becoming more bothersome than impactful over time.
The story does have its share of twists and turns, keeping readers guessing about the true nature of the characters involved. The central mystery revolves around identifying both the victim and the villain, creating a cat-and-mouse dynamic that adds intrigue.
However, the book could have been shorter and some readers might find it somewhat drawn out. Moreover, the ending may leave some feeling disappointed, as it leans more towards explanation than a satisfying reveal.
The audiobook narration felt somewhat stiff to me, feeling more like someone reading the text rather than performing the story. While opinions on this may vary, it was not among my favorite audiobooks of the year.
Recommendation
Despite its flaws, "The Nurse" does have some twists and turns and may appeal to those who appreciate a slower-paced narrative.
Rating
3 Possibly Delusional Stars
September 29, 2023
This kept me up way too late trying to figure out this psychological thriller. Lots of lies and secrets thrown in and you didn’t know who was fooling who. Loved the twist at the end! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. Can’t wait for more books by this author, Jenna Kernan. To be published October 2023.
August 15, 2023
The Nurse
by Jenna Kernan
Pub Date: 02 Oct 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.5/5
In The Nurse, Jenna Kernan weaves a unique thriller that blew my mind. It is an electrifying book offering a unique and captivating reading experience. I enjoyed Kernan's writing and was entranced by the suspense and tension of the story. It is a gripping read that will make the reader think twice about the demands of the nursing profession.
Emily is a struggling nursing student who is thrilled to land a job working for renowned psychiatrist Dr. Roth. He's needing a nurse to look after his mentally ill wife Sabrina in their luxurious Florida home. The position pays well and Emily needs a reliable income. She is excited to start her job until she notices strange things about the situation. Is Dr. Roth trying to over-medicate his wife? Emily soon realizes that this job is not as simple as it seemed at first, and she must figure out the truth about Dr. Roth and his wife Sabrina before it's too late.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this book with me. I'm glad to have reviewed this book and highly recommend it to others. Its intriguing characters and thought-provoking plot make this a wonderful book to kick off fall.
#TheNurse #JennaKernan
@advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #bookmail #netgalleyapprovals #Netgalleyapproval @advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
by Jenna Kernan
Pub Date: 02 Oct 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.5/5
In The Nurse, Jenna Kernan weaves a unique thriller that blew my mind. It is an electrifying book offering a unique and captivating reading experience. I enjoyed Kernan's writing and was entranced by the suspense and tension of the story. It is a gripping read that will make the reader think twice about the demands of the nursing profession.
Emily is a struggling nursing student who is thrilled to land a job working for renowned psychiatrist Dr. Roth. He's needing a nurse to look after his mentally ill wife Sabrina in their luxurious Florida home. The position pays well and Emily needs a reliable income. She is excited to start her job until she notices strange things about the situation. Is Dr. Roth trying to over-medicate his wife? Emily soon realizes that this job is not as simple as it seemed at first, and she must figure out the truth about Dr. Roth and his wife Sabrina before it's too late.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this book with me. I'm glad to have reviewed this book and highly recommend it to others. Its intriguing characters and thought-provoking plot make this a wonderful book to kick off fall.
#TheNurse #JennaKernan
@advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #bookmail #netgalleyapprovals #Netgalleyapproval @advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
August 18, 2023
A captivating domestic thriller full of lies, deceit, and secrets. I was kept guessing to the very end. Suspenseful with finance characters you're not sure you can trust.
August 23, 2023
I knew from the start that this would be a fun, twisty book - and it was! This isn’t very thought-provoking, but it is definitely juicy…
Emily just graduated, valedictorian, as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She immediately is offered a job as a private nurse, catering to only one patient. Knowing she has a ton of student loan debt to pay back, Emily happily takes the position…despite the NDA, the locked-up car keys, and the mountain of medications she is required to dispense.
Dr. Henry Roth wanted the valedictorian for a few reasons, one being that he will pay anything for the best care when it comes to his wife, Sabrina. Bree has some mental health issues (of course) and her psychiatrist husband is treating her as best he can, but she’s still struggling with delusional thinking. Emily isn’t sure she’s up for this challenge, but she needs the money. How difficult can one woman be?
This had a slight feel of Frieda McFadden’s “The Housemaid”, because all is not as it seems with this couple, and it’s up to the nurse to figure out what to do with the situation she unravels. This was quite suspenseful the whole way through, and the ending was good. Four stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture, Jenna Kernan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on October 2, 2023.)
Emily just graduated, valedictorian, as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She immediately is offered a job as a private nurse, catering to only one patient. Knowing she has a ton of student loan debt to pay back, Emily happily takes the position…despite the NDA, the locked-up car keys, and the mountain of medications she is required to dispense.
Dr. Henry Roth wanted the valedictorian for a few reasons, one being that he will pay anything for the best care when it comes to his wife, Sabrina. Bree has some mental health issues (of course) and her psychiatrist husband is treating her as best he can, but she’s still struggling with delusional thinking. Emily isn’t sure she’s up for this challenge, but she needs the money. How difficult can one woman be?
This had a slight feel of Frieda McFadden’s “The Housemaid”, because all is not as it seems with this couple, and it’s up to the nurse to figure out what to do with the situation she unravels. This was quite suspenseful the whole way through, and the ending was good. Four stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture, Jenna Kernan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on October 2, 2023.)
September 27, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
Madeline Pell does a wonderful job with the narration of this book! All the characters sounds completely different and it was very clear and concise, such an easy listening experience! The story is about a young girl that just graduates top of her class in nursing and gets offered her dream job, taking care of the wife of doctor who has many mental problems and needs constant surveillance. This story will make you question both sides and I was pleasantly shocked and surprised by the conclusion! I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!
Madeline Pell does a wonderful job with the narration of this book! All the characters sounds completely different and it was very clear and concise, such an easy listening experience! The story is about a young girl that just graduates top of her class in nursing and gets offered her dream job, taking care of the wife of doctor who has many mental problems and needs constant surveillance. This story will make you question both sides and I was pleasantly shocked and surprised by the conclusion! I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!
September 10, 2023
3.5 Stars
"The Nurse" by Jenna Kernan is an intriguing read that had its moments but also left me with mixed feelings. I stumbled upon this book with little knowledge of the plot, and that sometimes adds an element of surprise to my reading experience, which I enjoy.
The premise of an outsider entering a family's life and altering its dynamics is a trope I find fascinating. In this story, Emily, a recent community college graduate in dire need of money, becomes the private nurse for Sabrina, the wife of charismatic psychiatrist Dr. Ross. From the outset, Emily is curious about Sabrina's need for private medical care, especially when she learns about Sabrina's mental disorders. The rules Emily must follow and the tasks she's assigned, like never allowing Sabrina to drive and ensuring she takes her medication, create an air of mystery and intrigue.
The narrative raises ethical concerns, particularly with Dr. Ross treating his wife without any oversight. This aspect is a significant red flag, as it leaves room for potential abuse and conflicts of interest. There should have been a third party involved to oversee the treatment.
The book's pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, with the story only gaining momentum around the halfway point. The twists and turns that followed did manage to pique my interest, making me question who was telling the truth and who was lying. However, the ending left me somewhat disappointed. I dislike it when killers explain every detail, as it feels like the author thinks the readers can't connect the dots themselves. A more cleverly written ending would have been more satisfying.
Additionally, the author's decision to introduce random points of view, like Claire and Sabrina, without prior context was confusing. Most of the story is narrated from Emily's perspective, and these sudden shifts disrupted the flow. Perhaps using diary entries or a prologue to introduce these perspectives would have been more effective.
Furthermore, Emily's character lacked some credibility. It's common sense to trust your instincts, and if something appears suspicious or too good to be true, it usually is. Emily's naivety in certain situations seemed unrealistic.
Overall, "The Nurse" is a decent read with an engaging premise and some suspenseful moments. While it has its flaws, it manages to deliver an intriguing mystery. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and would like to extend my thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing it in exchange for my reviews. I would rate it 3.5 stars, as it falls somewhere between being an average read and a captivating thriller.
"The Nurse" by Jenna Kernan is an intriguing read that had its moments but also left me with mixed feelings. I stumbled upon this book with little knowledge of the plot, and that sometimes adds an element of surprise to my reading experience, which I enjoy.
The premise of an outsider entering a family's life and altering its dynamics is a trope I find fascinating. In this story, Emily, a recent community college graduate in dire need of money, becomes the private nurse for Sabrina, the wife of charismatic psychiatrist Dr. Ross. From the outset, Emily is curious about Sabrina's need for private medical care, especially when she learns about Sabrina's mental disorders. The rules Emily must follow and the tasks she's assigned, like never allowing Sabrina to drive and ensuring she takes her medication, create an air of mystery and intrigue.
The narrative raises ethical concerns, particularly with Dr. Ross treating his wife without any oversight. This aspect is a significant red flag, as it leaves room for potential abuse and conflicts of interest. There should have been a third party involved to oversee the treatment.
The book's pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, with the story only gaining momentum around the halfway point. The twists and turns that followed did manage to pique my interest, making me question who was telling the truth and who was lying. However, the ending left me somewhat disappointed. I dislike it when killers explain every detail, as it feels like the author thinks the readers can't connect the dots themselves. A more cleverly written ending would have been more satisfying.
Additionally, the author's decision to introduce random points of view, like Claire and Sabrina, without prior context was confusing. Most of the story is narrated from Emily's perspective, and these sudden shifts disrupted the flow. Perhaps using diary entries or a prologue to introduce these perspectives would have been more effective.
Furthermore, Emily's character lacked some credibility. It's common sense to trust your instincts, and if something appears suspicious or too good to be true, it usually is. Emily's naivety in certain situations seemed unrealistic.
Overall, "The Nurse" is a decent read with an engaging premise and some suspenseful moments. While it has its flaws, it manages to deliver an intriguing mystery. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and would like to extend my thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing it in exchange for my reviews. I would rate it 3.5 stars, as it falls somewhere between being an average read and a captivating thriller.
December 12, 2023
Superb on audio, a truly great production. I enjoyed this psychological thriller, it kept my attention, I loved the MC and couldn't wait to get back 5o listening.
The ending was brilliant. Completely surprising and expertly crafted
The ending was brilliant. Completely surprising and expertly crafted
September 26, 2023
The excess of wealth and ethical boundaries are highlighted and explored in the latest slow-burn thriller from one of my favorite authors, Jenna Kernan.
Emily just graduated nursing school at the top of her class and can't believe that a wealthy doctor wants her to come and work for him, caring for his wife. At this point, I'm thinking it's some kind of Verity scenario, but I was wrong.
It seems like a perfect fit for Emily, who has no other commitments because her family is dead. They need her to really be available and Emily is pleased to oblige. Her old clunker car isn't, but she's limping it to work.
Emily finds out this job is a bit more than she bargained for, as she will not only be the wife's nurse, but an assistant of sorts. She has duties beyond medical, and speaking of medical, we don't really know what's wrong with the wife. Sometimes she seems fine, sometimes her behavior is bizarre, but the afflictions her husband claims she suffers from are alarming and as a new nurse, she can't really pin down what's going on. Is there a reason they requested her aside from her good grades?
It seems Emily will do anything to make this work and it begs the question of why she's so committed to this family. Did fate bring them together or did one of them have other plans?
This really took a while to build up but it was interesting from the first page. There was a lot of dialogue and a lot of character building, which bores me if done incorrectly but Kernan always keeps it interesting and is very descriptive. It was almost atmospheric. It kept its juiciest secrets for the final reveal but left enough crispy breadcrumbs to build tension the whole time and I thought it was excellent!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
Emily just graduated nursing school at the top of her class and can't believe that a wealthy doctor wants her to come and work for him, caring for his wife. At this point, I'm thinking it's some kind of Verity scenario, but I was wrong.
It seems like a perfect fit for Emily, who has no other commitments because her family is dead. They need her to really be available and Emily is pleased to oblige. Her old clunker car isn't, but she's limping it to work.
Emily finds out this job is a bit more than she bargained for, as she will not only be the wife's nurse, but an assistant of sorts. She has duties beyond medical, and speaking of medical, we don't really know what's wrong with the wife. Sometimes she seems fine, sometimes her behavior is bizarre, but the afflictions her husband claims she suffers from are alarming and as a new nurse, she can't really pin down what's going on. Is there a reason they requested her aside from her good grades?
It seems Emily will do anything to make this work and it begs the question of why she's so committed to this family. Did fate bring them together or did one of them have other plans?
This really took a while to build up but it was interesting from the first page. There was a lot of dialogue and a lot of character building, which bores me if done incorrectly but Kernan always keeps it interesting and is very descriptive. It was almost atmospheric. It kept its juiciest secrets for the final reveal but left enough crispy breadcrumbs to build tension the whole time and I thought it was excellent!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
September 25, 2023
An audio arc from NetGalley which I might have dnf’d if not for my moral compulsion to finish when given a review copy.
My honesty to give a 3 stars is also a compulsion.
It was ok. Not great, and I think one reason was the lack of any character worth caring about. I disliked every single one of them.
Briefly, Uber wealthy, distasteful couple in a compound where access is limited hire a nurse who they treat as a housekeeper, cook, maintenance, and nurse discovers a mystery.
The burn was too slow and if, like me, you have a PhD in domestic thrillers, the “surprise ending” was guessable.
My honesty to give a 3 stars is also a compulsion.
It was ok. Not great, and I think one reason was the lack of any character worth caring about. I disliked every single one of them.
Briefly, Uber wealthy, distasteful couple in a compound where access is limited hire a nurse who they treat as a housekeeper, cook, maintenance, and nurse discovers a mystery.
The burn was too slow and if, like me, you have a PhD in domestic thrillers, the “surprise ending” was guessable.
September 22, 2023
I liked this book but didn't love it. It was a bit too slow paced for me. It did have suspense but it took way too long to get to the point with too many extraneous details thrown in for no reason whatsoever. I finished it because I wanted to know what happened, so it was definitely interesting enough, but I felt it could have been shorter. There is something to be said for buildup so I'll give the author that, but I found myself getting bored in parts.
Overall a good read that will keep you guessing. If you like a slower pace book this is definitely a good pick.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Jenna Kernan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall a good read that will keep you guessing. If you like a slower pace book this is definitely a good pick.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Jenna Kernan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2023
I was given permission to read this book as an ARC courtesy of NetGalley. All thought, feelings and opinions are 100% authentic and my own.
This book was gonna get 4 stars, simply because it felt lack lustre as far as psychological thrillers go up to around 60%. And then I finished it, and it’s gotta be 5 stars. It deserves it for that damned plot twist! I’m getting ahead of myself, no spoilers.
The plot - Emily is a newly qualified nurse, and is desperate for a job. She is requested for by the Roth’s as a personal nurse for Henry Roth’s mentally ill wife, Sabrina. However it turns out, there are darker things in play when it comes to Sabrina’s mental health, and Emily is playing catch up trying to figure out what is the truth, and what are just part of Sabrina’s delusions. This is a psychological thriller, the ending I did NOT expect. Like, at all. It was completely from left field, and I hadn’t even conceived it as a possibility until it was all laid out for me. Obsessed. I was obsessed.
The characters - in some psychological thrillers, the characters tend to struggle to be more than 2D, fitting a specific gimmick, purpose, or red herring role. As it turns out, the characters in this book are complex, intricate characters and I found myself invested in each one. They were thoroughly enjoyable to read about.
This book was gonna get 4 stars, simply because it felt lack lustre as far as psychological thrillers go up to around 60%. And then I finished it, and it’s gotta be 5 stars. It deserves it for that damned plot twist! I’m getting ahead of myself, no spoilers.
The plot - Emily is a newly qualified nurse, and is desperate for a job. She is requested for by the Roth’s as a personal nurse for Henry Roth’s mentally ill wife, Sabrina. However it turns out, there are darker things in play when it comes to Sabrina’s mental health, and Emily is playing catch up trying to figure out what is the truth, and what are just part of Sabrina’s delusions. This is a psychological thriller, the ending I did NOT expect. Like, at all. It was completely from left field, and I hadn’t even conceived it as a possibility until it was all laid out for me. Obsessed. I was obsessed.
The characters - in some psychological thrillers, the characters tend to struggle to be more than 2D, fitting a specific gimmick, purpose, or red herring role. As it turns out, the characters in this book are complex, intricate characters and I found myself invested in each one. They were thoroughly enjoyable to read about.
October 6, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Nurse' by Jenna Kernan.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jenna Kernan, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous.
Publication date 2nd October 2023.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Hunted Girls', 'The Adoption' and 'The Ex Wives' which I would also highly recommend. It is also the first book in 'The Roth Family Lies' series.
This novel consists of a prologue and 46 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
Wow!! What a non stop action packed psychological page turner!! Fantastically written with vivid evocative descriptions that really put you in the storyline. The synopsis, title and civet worked perfectly with the plot.
The plot itself is unique and intriguing and filled with heart in your mouth in the edge of your seat moments. Several times I realised I was holding my breath and biting my nails. This book has everything you could want in a psychological thriller novel!! It was filled with mystery, twists, deceit, secrets, shocks, tension, suspense and everything you could ever want in an addictive page turner !! I was completely absorbed from page one until the explosive ending. I cannot wait to read more books by this fantastic author. Just when I thought I had worked one thing out I was absolutely mind blown by another shocking reveal!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me when it comes to thrillers but this book absolutely messed with my head!!! There were so many times I told myself I would read just one more chapter and then go to bed that I gave up trying to foo.myself in the end!!! I ended up devouring it in one sitting as it is genuinely unputdownable!!!! I absolutely love, love, loved the explosive ending which I would never have seen coming and would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Madeline Pell who did a great job bringing this story to life. I have also listened to Miranda Smith's 'The Weekend Away' which Madeline also did a great job narrating and I would highly recommend that book also. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Miranda but also to listening to more books narrated by Madeline!
The characters were all very different with their own unique personalities. They were all strong and well developed characters along with being very believable. I was completely invested in Emily and Jenna's evocative writing skills and Madeline's fantastic narrative skills really brought her character to life throughout the book. I loved seeing her character develop throughout the book along with getting to know more about Henry Roth and Sabrina Roth. This is one of those books that I am extremely limited in what I say about the characters as I really don't want to give anything away about the storyline because, believe me, you will not have a clue of what is to come when you read this gripping page turner!!!
All I am going to say is that regardless of whether I loved or hated the characters they all worked perfectly together to create an unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you sucked in from the second you pick it up to the moment you get blown away by the twist at the end!!!
Continue to read until the end of the book to read the prologue and first chapter of Jenna's 'The Adoption'. Another absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will have you hook, line and sinker!!
Congratulations Jenna on yet another fantastic page turner!!! An explosive psychological thriller that will have you chewing your nails and screaming and shouting at the pages!! Here's to your next success 🥂. This is exactly why I love your books and cannot wait until each and every one you bring out!!
Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down even at 2am!!
Overall an absolutely heart racing, suspense filled, unputdownable addictive page turner psychological thriller with a bombshell unexpected twist at the end!
402 pages/ 12 hours 9 minutes
This book is just £1.99 to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £10.99 on paperback and £39.37 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheNurse #TheRothFamilyLies #JennaKernan #MadelinePell #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited #BookoutureAudio #Audible #Audiobook
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Review for 'The Nurse' by Jenna Kernan.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jenna Kernan, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous.
Publication date 2nd October 2023.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Hunted Girls', 'The Adoption' and 'The Ex Wives' which I would also highly recommend. It is also the first book in 'The Roth Family Lies' series.
This novel consists of a prologue and 46 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
Wow!! What a non stop action packed psychological page turner!! Fantastically written with vivid evocative descriptions that really put you in the storyline. The synopsis, title and civet worked perfectly with the plot.
The plot itself is unique and intriguing and filled with heart in your mouth in the edge of your seat moments. Several times I realised I was holding my breath and biting my nails. This book has everything you could want in a psychological thriller novel!! It was filled with mystery, twists, deceit, secrets, shocks, tension, suspense and everything you could ever want in an addictive page turner !! I was completely absorbed from page one until the explosive ending. I cannot wait to read more books by this fantastic author. Just when I thought I had worked one thing out I was absolutely mind blown by another shocking reveal!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me when it comes to thrillers but this book absolutely messed with my head!!! There were so many times I told myself I would read just one more chapter and then go to bed that I gave up trying to foo.myself in the end!!! I ended up devouring it in one sitting as it is genuinely unputdownable!!!! I absolutely love, love, loved the explosive ending which I would never have seen coming and would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Madeline Pell who did a great job bringing this story to life. I have also listened to Miranda Smith's 'The Weekend Away' which Madeline also did a great job narrating and I would highly recommend that book also. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Miranda but also to listening to more books narrated by Madeline!
The characters were all very different with their own unique personalities. They were all strong and well developed characters along with being very believable. I was completely invested in Emily and Jenna's evocative writing skills and Madeline's fantastic narrative skills really brought her character to life throughout the book. I loved seeing her character develop throughout the book along with getting to know more about Henry Roth and Sabrina Roth. This is one of those books that I am extremely limited in what I say about the characters as I really don't want to give anything away about the storyline because, believe me, you will not have a clue of what is to come when you read this gripping page turner!!!
All I am going to say is that regardless of whether I loved or hated the characters they all worked perfectly together to create an unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you sucked in from the second you pick it up to the moment you get blown away by the twist at the end!!!
Continue to read until the end of the book to read the prologue and first chapter of Jenna's 'The Adoption'. Another absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will have you hook, line and sinker!!
Congratulations Jenna on yet another fantastic page turner!!! An explosive psychological thriller that will have you chewing your nails and screaming and shouting at the pages!! Here's to your next success 🥂. This is exactly why I love your books and cannot wait until each and every one you bring out!!
Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down even at 2am!!
Overall an absolutely heart racing, suspense filled, unputdownable addictive page turner psychological thriller with a bombshell unexpected twist at the end!
402 pages/ 12 hours 9 minutes
This book is just £1.99 to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £10.99 on paperback and £39.37 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheNurse #TheRothFamilyLies #JennaKernan #MadelinePell #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited #BookoutureAudio #Audible #Audiobook
@TheNurse @TheRothFamilyLies @JennaKernan @MadelinePell @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley @Amazon @AmazonKindle @Bookstagram @BookBlogger @KindleUnlimited @BookoutureAudio @Audible @Audiobook
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
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September 22, 2023
This was a much slower pace than I was expecting based on the synopsis. I love a good psychological thriller, especially ones involving the medical field, but this book didn’t really live up to my expectations, unfortunately. The overly detailed descriptions were sometimes difficult to get through and much of the book seemed to drag on. At about 50% it started to pick up a bit but I found that I wasn’t as invested in the characters as I would have liked.
I didnt see the twist coming at the end and it seemed a little rushed, quickly trying to tie up the loose ends.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ARC.
I didnt see the twist coming at the end and it seemed a little rushed, quickly trying to tie up the loose ends.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ARC.
October 3, 2023
The Nurse
By: Jenna Kernan
5👩⚕️👩⚕️👩⚕️👩⚕️👩⚕️
Psychologist Dr. Henry Roth hires Emily to look after his wife Sabrina as her private nurse and companion. Emily jumps at the chance as her student loan debt is waiting to get paid off.
👩⚕️
As with most kind of jobs where some of high profile involved she is asked to sign a NDA. The house is amazing and she is granted a lot of access and access to a vehicle for the job. Sabrina requires a lot of medication. Is it all necessary? He requires a lot of Emily as he can be called away for work at any time. He has lots of requests! Sabrina has PTSD, depression, paranoia and a multitude of others diagnosis. Is Emily up for all that he is requesting?
👩⚕️
Let the fun begin! Emily is now getting conflicting information so the snooping and concerns start. This was my 3rd novel by Kernan and I am a huge fan of her psychological thrillers.
👩⚕️
Thank you Bookouture and Dreamscape Elect for these advanced copies. This novel is out October 2 and is defined worth reading!
#bookouture, #thenurse, #jennakernan, #bookreview, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50, #netgalley, #dreamscapeselect
By: Jenna Kernan
5👩⚕️👩⚕️👩⚕️👩⚕️👩⚕️
Psychologist Dr. Henry Roth hires Emily to look after his wife Sabrina as her private nurse and companion. Emily jumps at the chance as her student loan debt is waiting to get paid off.
👩⚕️
As with most kind of jobs where some of high profile involved she is asked to sign a NDA. The house is amazing and she is granted a lot of access and access to a vehicle for the job. Sabrina requires a lot of medication. Is it all necessary? He requires a lot of Emily as he can be called away for work at any time. He has lots of requests! Sabrina has PTSD, depression, paranoia and a multitude of others diagnosis. Is Emily up for all that he is requesting?
👩⚕️
Let the fun begin! Emily is now getting conflicting information so the snooping and concerns start. This was my 3rd novel by Kernan and I am a huge fan of her psychological thrillers.
👩⚕️
Thank you Bookouture and Dreamscape Elect for these advanced copies. This novel is out October 2 and is defined worth reading!
#bookouture, #thenurse, #jennakernan, #bookreview, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50, #netgalley, #dreamscapeselect
July 27, 2023
The Nurse had me from the very first page and I didn't want to put it down! It was fantastic and I feel like this is a great book for readers who are new to mystery thrillers.
Our protagonist Emily is fresh out of nursing school when she lands a job working for a rich phycologist and his mentally unstable wife. Once she starts, Emily wonders if she's not just dealing with the wife's mental illness, but something much more sinister.
This book was fast paced, and the author does a great job of making you feel like you're right next to Emily trying to figure out the mystery. It was exciting and had me guessing the entire time. Just when you think you know what's happening, it shifts, and it's hard to know who you can trust. There was times Emily frustrated me with her indecision, but all in all I enjoyed her as our main character.
I was originally going to give it 4 stars, just because of Emily's decision making, but the overall experience and ending made up for it.
I was given an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
Our protagonist Emily is fresh out of nursing school when she lands a job working for a rich phycologist and his mentally unstable wife. Once she starts, Emily wonders if she's not just dealing with the wife's mental illness, but something much more sinister.
This book was fast paced, and the author does a great job of making you feel like you're right next to Emily trying to figure out the mystery. It was exciting and had me guessing the entire time. Just when you think you know what's happening, it shifts, and it's hard to know who you can trust. There was times Emily frustrated me with her indecision, but all in all I enjoyed her as our main character.
I was originally going to give it 4 stars, just because of Emily's decision making, but the overall experience and ending made up for it.
I was given an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
August 30, 2023
Thank you to netgalley for this book.
My first time reading anything by Jenna kernan and probably my last.
I really had high hopes for this book as the blurb of this book reeled me in but a few chapters in and unfortunately I was bored.
Everything was dragged out unnecessarily and never got straight to the point!
The ending got a bit better but it was an obvious twist to the book.
Emily had this curly red unruly hair but yet managed to keep it tidy and not bulging through dr roths hoodie! How?
After this book I don’t think I’ll be reading anything by this author again!
My first time reading anything by Jenna kernan and probably my last.
I really had high hopes for this book as the blurb of this book reeled me in but a few chapters in and unfortunately I was bored.
Everything was dragged out unnecessarily and never got straight to the point!
The ending got a bit better but it was an obvious twist to the book.
Emily had this curly red unruly hair but yet managed to keep it tidy and not bulging through dr roths hoodie! How?
After this book I don’t think I’ll be reading anything by this author again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2023
I’m a sucker for books that are based in places that are close to home so this was an instant read for me. Other than knowing it was about a nurse & that it was based in Lakeland, FL I went in blind… but let me tell you, it did not disappoint! This was a quick, fast paced read with lots of twists & turns I did not see coming. The ending had my mind blown. If you’re a fan of books from authors like Freida Mcfadden, Jeneva Rose, Kiersten Modglin etc. do yourself a favor & pick this one up!
A huge thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!
A huge thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!
September 29, 2023
This was a slow burn domestic thriller that Ramos up in the last 30ish%. There were some points that kind felt a bit sluggish but it was worth sticking through it to get to the ending.
Emily has recently graduated at valedictorian of her nursing school class and is now an LPN. She comes from a humble background and is burdened with student loans and with the loss of her mother, she’s trying to save for a headstone. So when she hears of a home healthcare job that seems to good to be true, she decides she has to apply for it anyway and she gets the job and that’s where the story kicks off. The husband is a psychiatrist who is also responsible for the care of his wife, who he says has many issues caused by trauma in her past and it will be Emily’s job to make sure she takes her meds and stays calm and stays on her routine so that she won’t become unstable. But Dr. Roth doesn’t seem completely stable himself. Is Mrs.Roth really a danger to herself and others or is Dr.Roth just super controlling? Do the Roth’s have secrets they’re trying to hide?
The pacing was a little slow for the first half and then it started to pick up but then it had enough twists to keep me intrigued and questioning who was telling the truth and who was lying.
The narrator did a fine job of keeping the story engaging and the characters distinctive.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
Emily has recently graduated at valedictorian of her nursing school class and is now an LPN. She comes from a humble background and is burdened with student loans and with the loss of her mother, she’s trying to save for a headstone. So when she hears of a home healthcare job that seems to good to be true, she decides she has to apply for it anyway and she gets the job and that’s where the story kicks off. The husband is a psychiatrist who is also responsible for the care of his wife, who he says has many issues caused by trauma in her past and it will be Emily’s job to make sure she takes her meds and stays calm and stays on her routine so that she won’t become unstable. But Dr. Roth doesn’t seem completely stable himself. Is Mrs.Roth really a danger to herself and others or is Dr.Roth just super controlling? Do the Roth’s have secrets they’re trying to hide?
The pacing was a little slow for the first half and then it started to pick up but then it had enough twists to keep me intrigued and questioning who was telling the truth and who was lying.
The narrator did a fine job of keeping the story engaging and the characters distinctive.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
August 26, 2023
This was super close to being a 5 star read for me! The main reason I dropped it down to a 4 star rating were the pacing issues. I felt like the book dragged quite a bit at the beginning and middle. I wasn't entirely "on the edge of my seat" for the vast majority of the book so that made me read it over many sessions instead of binging it like I normally would with a thriller. The ending of this book is really what could have made it 5 stars. What was really successful in this book was the portrayal of the wife Sabrina and how unreliable she was as a character. I really thought I had her figured out but wow was I wrong. The plot twists were super unpredictable in the end and extremely satisfying for the reader. I really enjoyed being in the dark until the confession/who dun it took place. I also enjoyed how we got an explanation on how the twist was pulled off. I find thrillers have a bad tendency to have massive twists that lack practicality and leave the reader to make assumptions on how the twists took place. This was a really successful thriller and I really enjoyed the last third.
Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Jenna Kernan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Nurse will be published October 2, 2023.
Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Jenna Kernan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Nurse will be published October 2, 2023.
October 3, 2023
Yikes! What a clever twisty psychological thriller. I was completely hooked and couldn't stop until the end. This was an engaging, engrossing and addictive ride.
The story did start a little bit on the slow side for me in the first part but then it just picked up and didn't let go until the very end. The characters were so complex, so hard to trust which makes for an even more electrifying read.
The plot was intricately constructed, so well done. The authors writing will grip you and once the twists start coming you will be completely shook. I loved how everything just gives you closure to the reasoning behind everything. This one will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.
I listened to this one and the narrator did a fantastic job with making you feel all the emotions and the suspense of the story.
If you're looking for a fantastic domestic thriller that will captivate you with incredible twists, add this to your TBR now!
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscape, @bookouture & @jennakernan for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The story did start a little bit on the slow side for me in the first part but then it just picked up and didn't let go until the very end. The characters were so complex, so hard to trust which makes for an even more electrifying read.
The plot was intricately constructed, so well done. The authors writing will grip you and once the twists start coming you will be completely shook. I loved how everything just gives you closure to the reasoning behind everything. This one will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.
I listened to this one and the narrator did a fantastic job with making you feel all the emotions and the suspense of the story.
If you're looking for a fantastic domestic thriller that will captivate you with incredible twists, add this to your TBR now!
✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscape, @bookouture & @jennakernan for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2023
3.5 stars
This was a wild ride! The beginning was a little slower and somewhat repetitive, and some of the descriptions and conversations went on for a little too long. It definitely jumped up in pace as the book went on. There were lots of twists, some I figured out and some I had no idea about.
Emily was so frustrating, I wanted to shake her for being so naive! If it seems too good to be true, it is. But it worked well to show desperately she needed the job. I also loved the back and forth on how I felt about Sabrina, did she actually have the mental problems her husband said she did, or was he overmedicating her?
Overall I would recommend this audiobook, I enjoyed the narrator and found the book hard to stop listening to once it picked up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a wild ride! The beginning was a little slower and somewhat repetitive, and some of the descriptions and conversations went on for a little too long. It definitely jumped up in pace as the book went on. There were lots of twists, some I figured out and some I had no idea about.
Emily was so frustrating, I wanted to shake her for being so naive! If it seems too good to be true, it is. But it worked well to show desperately she needed the job. I also loved the back and forth on how I felt about Sabrina, did she actually have the mental problems her husband said she did, or was he overmedicating her?
Overall I would recommend this audiobook, I enjoyed the narrator and found the book hard to stop listening to once it picked up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2023
This is a very slow paced book. You realize it's slow at first but you don't realize just how slow. Nothing happens for 60% of the book. It has so many details I had to skip some in order to finish it.
However, the characters have solid backgrounds and personalities. They seem real people from the start and you're able to connect with Emily easily. Her thoughts provide some interesting real life advice which I appreciated.
If you like suspense books with well grounded characters and lots of details then this book is for you.
However, the characters have solid backgrounds and personalities. They seem real people from the start and you're able to connect with Emily easily. Her thoughts provide some interesting real life advice which I appreciated.
If you like suspense books with well grounded characters and lots of details then this book is for you.
November 18, 2023
Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan, can boast a prolific career as an author and throughout the years she has penned more than 40 novels. After writing romantic suspense, western historical, and dark paranormal romance, she’s now writing unsettling domestic thrillers with massive commercial success. THE NURSE is a claustrophobic page-turner, raising moral questions and keeping the reader on tenterhooks in discovering the true motivations of each character.
Read my full review on ITW's monthly magazine "The Big Thrill": https://www.thebigthrill.org/2023/10/...
Read my full review on ITW's monthly magazine "The Big Thrill": https://www.thebigthrill.org/2023/10/...
September 14, 2023
The Nurse by Jenna Kernan
This is a brilliant, intense and gripping mystery thriller novel that I very much enjoyed.
This book hit the ground running right from the very beginning. The prologue sets the tone for a gruesome and thrilling plot that is yet to be unravelled. From the start, we as readers are led to believe that there are dark secrets buried deep under the surface and it is our job to uncover them as we move through the story. Although the author does drop many hints along the way, they are so well disguised that if you don't pay attention, you will miss them. This only helps to build the level of suspense and intrigue surrounding these character and their lives.
The action does take a little while to fully develop in this book. There is a long, drawn out conversation between Emily and Dr Roth at the beginning that, to me, seemed unnecessarily long. However, once the action does set it, it quickly spirals out of control and leaves the readers desperately searching for the answers to all the mysteries. The author did a great job at writing this book and the way they've built suspense throughout is commendable! The ending of this book was fantastic too. Although there were hints that I picked up on throughout the novel, I was still shocked at the extent of the deceit carried out at the end. The author finally unravels the web of mystery in shocking and immensely clever way.
The characters in this book were incredibly well written. Emily's desperation for a job/money was made clear right from the beginning and offered an explanation as to why she would take such a challenging job. Emily did come across as naive and indecisive at some points, but this only helped to draw readers in and make the ending even more astounding. Dr Roth's character was perhaps the most interesting. As he discusses the job description with Emily there are multiple red flags that appear, but this helps the reader to build an opinion of Dr Roth which is then shattered at the end. Sabrina's character offered readers an engrossing dilemma: is she mentally ill, or is she not. Throughout the whole book we are left wondering whether she is sane or not, so we are never quite sure whether to take what she says as truth or fantasy. This adds a whole other element of mystery to the novel which was engrossing for us readers. At some points we feel sorry for her, and then at others we despise her; our feelings towards her bounce back and forth very much like Emily's. This book contains some of the most interesting and well-written characters that I have seen in a thriller novel.
Overall I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would highly reccomend this book to fans of psychological thrillers. Thank you to Netgalley and Jenna Kernan for the ARC
This is a brilliant, intense and gripping mystery thriller novel that I very much enjoyed.
This book hit the ground running right from the very beginning. The prologue sets the tone for a gruesome and thrilling plot that is yet to be unravelled. From the start, we as readers are led to believe that there are dark secrets buried deep under the surface and it is our job to uncover them as we move through the story. Although the author does drop many hints along the way, they are so well disguised that if you don't pay attention, you will miss them. This only helps to build the level of suspense and intrigue surrounding these character and their lives.
The action does take a little while to fully develop in this book. There is a long, drawn out conversation between Emily and Dr Roth at the beginning that, to me, seemed unnecessarily long. However, once the action does set it, it quickly spirals out of control and leaves the readers desperately searching for the answers to all the mysteries. The author did a great job at writing this book and the way they've built suspense throughout is commendable! The ending of this book was fantastic too. Although there were hints that I picked up on throughout the novel, I was still shocked at the extent of the deceit carried out at the end. The author finally unravels the web of mystery in shocking and immensely clever way.
The characters in this book were incredibly well written. Emily's desperation for a job/money was made clear right from the beginning and offered an explanation as to why she would take such a challenging job. Emily did come across as naive and indecisive at some points, but this only helped to draw readers in and make the ending even more astounding. Dr Roth's character was perhaps the most interesting. As he discusses the job description with Emily there are multiple red flags that appear, but this helps the reader to build an opinion of Dr Roth which is then shattered at the end. Sabrina's character offered readers an engrossing dilemma: is she mentally ill, or is she not. Throughout the whole book we are left wondering whether she is sane or not, so we are never quite sure whether to take what she says as truth or fantasy. This adds a whole other element of mystery to the novel which was engrossing for us readers. At some points we feel sorry for her, and then at others we despise her; our feelings towards her bounce back and forth very much like Emily's. This book contains some of the most interesting and well-written characters that I have seen in a thriller novel.
Overall I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would highly reccomend this book to fans of psychological thrillers. Thank you to Netgalley and Jenna Kernan for the ARC
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