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The Affair
The brand-new psychological thriller from Claire Allan, perfect for fans of K L Slater and Claire Douglas.
Her heart is thumping now, only just distinguishable from the roar of the water and the wind. This is not safe. She is not safe…
She realises then, only one of them is coming back out alive.
She’s the person I want to be. Sorcha Hannon, survivor of a devastating affair. She’s found the healing and hope I desperately need to find for myself.
And now that Sorcha and I are friends, I am no longer alone. Instead of days hiding away from the world, I have someone to talk to. I feel as if I finally belong.
There’s just one small catch. Sorcha Hannon isn’t just a new friend to me, and she certainly isn’t a stranger. In fact, I know the ins and outs of her life, and her marriage, almost as well as she does. But if she finds out who I really am, I’ll lose everything. Then again, as Sorcha says, no one’s life is really as perfect as it seems… and I should have realised, I’m not the only one with secrets.
Readers can't get enough of THE
‘So skilfully and masterfully told, I was absolutely involved in these women's lives. It's just absolutely brilliant’ – JOHN MARRS
‘A lesson in story-telling... five stars from me’ – ANITA WALLER
'A brilliantly gripping, intense and highly addictive page turner that kept me guessing until the end. Loved it!' – DANIELLE RAMSAY
‘A story that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very last word’ – DIANE SAXON
Her heart is thumping now, only just distinguishable from the roar of the water and the wind. This is not safe. She is not safe…
She realises then, only one of them is coming back out alive.
She’s the person I want to be. Sorcha Hannon, survivor of a devastating affair. She’s found the healing and hope I desperately need to find for myself.
And now that Sorcha and I are friends, I am no longer alone. Instead of days hiding away from the world, I have someone to talk to. I feel as if I finally belong.
There’s just one small catch. Sorcha Hannon isn’t just a new friend to me, and she certainly isn’t a stranger. In fact, I know the ins and outs of her life, and her marriage, almost as well as she does. But if she finds out who I really am, I’ll lose everything. Then again, as Sorcha says, no one’s life is really as perfect as it seems… and I should have realised, I’m not the only one with secrets.
Readers can't get enough of THE
‘So skilfully and masterfully told, I was absolutely involved in these women's lives. It's just absolutely brilliant’ – JOHN MARRS
‘A lesson in story-telling... five stars from me’ – ANITA WALLER
'A brilliantly gripping, intense and highly addictive page turner that kept me guessing until the end. Loved it!' – DANIELLE RAMSAY
‘A story that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very last word’ – DIANE SAXON
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2024
1315 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
April 12, 2024
3.5 rounded up
June 2023.
Introvert Christina pushes herself to join the Soul Sisterhood which aims to empower women, helping them to overcome life’s challenges which is how she comes into the orbit of its award-winning leader, Sorcha Hannon. With Sorcha’s encouragement Christina tries to become the ‘ new her’. They become friends or do they? What’s true and what’s not as the tantalising and immersive conundrum of this character driven psychological thriller. Who is innocent and who is the guilty party?
This is a good read right from the powerful start. The characterisation is very well done with both central protagonists being clearly portrayed. Christina is so lonely, riddled with anxiety, overthinking and lacking in confidence while Sorcha seems the polar opposite. Is she as impressive and as inspirational as she seems? Christina makes you feel sorry for her but is she for real? The author pulls you into their story and you becoming invested in the push and pull which evolves into a twisty tale.
There are hints from the beginning that things are not as they seem and that there are some secrets that are likely to bubble to the surface. The Soul Sisters are wild swimmers, with the deep mysterious chilly depths of the Atlantic becoming a metaphor but what’s happening between key characters. There are uneasy undercurrents which become much more overt as time goes on building to a destructive game of cat and mouse with some very tense scenes. The ending is a bit melodramatic for my taste and it seems to finish very abruptly? However, it is certainly dramatic.
Overall though, I enjoy trying to figure out the skilfully woven puzzle the author has set and it has me turning pages trying to guess.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Boldwood Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 2023.
Introvert Christina pushes herself to join the Soul Sisterhood which aims to empower women, helping them to overcome life’s challenges which is how she comes into the orbit of its award-winning leader, Sorcha Hannon. With Sorcha’s encouragement Christina tries to become the ‘ new her’. They become friends or do they? What’s true and what’s not as the tantalising and immersive conundrum of this character driven psychological thriller. Who is innocent and who is the guilty party?
This is a good read right from the powerful start. The characterisation is very well done with both central protagonists being clearly portrayed. Christina is so lonely, riddled with anxiety, overthinking and lacking in confidence while Sorcha seems the polar opposite. Is she as impressive and as inspirational as she seems? Christina makes you feel sorry for her but is she for real? The author pulls you into their story and you becoming invested in the push and pull which evolves into a twisty tale.
There are hints from the beginning that things are not as they seem and that there are some secrets that are likely to bubble to the surface. The Soul Sisters are wild swimmers, with the deep mysterious chilly depths of the Atlantic becoming a metaphor but what’s happening between key characters. There are uneasy undercurrents which become much more overt as time goes on building to a destructive game of cat and mouse with some very tense scenes. The ending is a bit melodramatic for my taste and it seems to finish very abruptly? However, it is certainly dramatic.
Overall though, I enjoy trying to figure out the skilfully woven puzzle the author has set and it has me turning pages trying to guess.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Boldwood Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 30, 2024
I tried my hardest to enjoy this book more than I did… but it just didn’t happen. I found the overall narrative to be incredibly slow and tedious and even when the revelations started coming in the closing chapters, I did not get a sense of danger or tension.
This book follows Christina who had an affair with a married man. She has struggled with their separation and the novel details what happened in this relationship. To readers, it is clear that her lover was not the wonderful man that Christina thought he was and it takes a very long time for Christina to reach this conclusion herself. However, Christina joins a women’s empowerment group – the Soul Sisterhood – in a bid to come out of her shell again and be less of a recluse. And the leader of this group? None other than Sorcha – the woman who was married to Christina’s lover.
As the narrative develops, it is a case of whether Christina’s true identity is going to be discovered, versus a raw hunger to be accepted by this group of women. However, the threats that Christina starts to receive makes her question whether someone in the Soul Sisterhood knows who she really is. The paranoia that Christina feels intensifies her isolation and desperation to get close to the woman who was married to her lover – even at the risk of revealing who she is.
Whilst I enjoyed the contrast between the two women, I didn’t ever feel connected to them. Sorcha is presented as rather selfish and I didn’t believe she was genuine in her role within the Soul Sisterhood. On the other hand, I grew frustrated by Christina’s lurking around and the growing obsession with Sorcha’s family. This grows to the point of stalking and, even though she is receiving warnings to stay away, Christina is like a moth to a flame and cannot get enough of Sorcha’s life.
I think Christina becomes as addicted to Sorcha as she did to the affair. I liked how both women have secrets but I don’t think this was enough to fuel the narrative. It didn’t feel like a mysterious thriller but more of a domestic plodder and I struggled to really feel invested in Christina’s character. In my opinion, it felt like the narrative moved in circles and I was always reading in the hope of something shocking taking place.
Despite having read several of Allan’s novels, this definitely did not hit the mark for me and I was left feeling a bit deflated. If you haven’t read any of this author before, I would not recommend starting with this book because I don’t think it is the most interesting of plots.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Christina who had an affair with a married man. She has struggled with their separation and the novel details what happened in this relationship. To readers, it is clear that her lover was not the wonderful man that Christina thought he was and it takes a very long time for Christina to reach this conclusion herself. However, Christina joins a women’s empowerment group – the Soul Sisterhood – in a bid to come out of her shell again and be less of a recluse. And the leader of this group? None other than Sorcha – the woman who was married to Christina’s lover.
As the narrative develops, it is a case of whether Christina’s true identity is going to be discovered, versus a raw hunger to be accepted by this group of women. However, the threats that Christina starts to receive makes her question whether someone in the Soul Sisterhood knows who she really is. The paranoia that Christina feels intensifies her isolation and desperation to get close to the woman who was married to her lover – even at the risk of revealing who she is.
Whilst I enjoyed the contrast between the two women, I didn’t ever feel connected to them. Sorcha is presented as rather selfish and I didn’t believe she was genuine in her role within the Soul Sisterhood. On the other hand, I grew frustrated by Christina’s lurking around and the growing obsession with Sorcha’s family. This grows to the point of stalking and, even though she is receiving warnings to stay away, Christina is like a moth to a flame and cannot get enough of Sorcha’s life.
I think Christina becomes as addicted to Sorcha as she did to the affair. I liked how both women have secrets but I don’t think this was enough to fuel the narrative. It didn’t feel like a mysterious thriller but more of a domestic plodder and I struggled to really feel invested in Christina’s character. In my opinion, it felt like the narrative moved in circles and I was always reading in the hope of something shocking taking place.
Despite having read several of Allan’s novels, this definitely did not hit the mark for me and I was left feeling a bit deflated. If you haven’t read any of this author before, I would not recommend starting with this book because I don’t think it is the most interesting of plots.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2024
This is a slow burn psychological thriller that kept me guessing right up to the very end, with a twist that did not disappoint. It had me hooked with the prologue and set the tone for the story so well. What I loved about this book is the way Claire Allen develops her characters. It is exceptional. She has made them feel so real and relatable.
Throughout the story, you come across some sensitive themes, such as mental health issues and abuse, to name a couple, and that may be a trigger for some readers.
This is one of the best thrillers I've had the pleasure of reading this year. With its clever and unique storytelling, it is compelling and is unputdownable. I read this within 24 hours. I will certainly be seeking out her previous and any future books to read. Anyone who loves an engaging and satisfying psychological thriller, then this book is a must.
Synopsis.
The Affair centres around two female characters, Christina and Sorcha. Christina is a middle-aged woman who is trying to come to terms with a messy break-up, so much so she isn't coping with life. She is suffering from depression and is extremely lonely. Sorcha, a hugely successful influencer and creator of the Soul Sisterhood group, for women who support and empower other women. On the outside, she has the perfect life, but behind the scenes, Sorcha is trying to hold it together after spiltting from her cheating husband. When Christina joins Sorcha's Soul Sisterhood, their lives become entwined. Is there a more sinister reason behind Christina joining the group of women?
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books.
My opinions are my own
Throughout the story, you come across some sensitive themes, such as mental health issues and abuse, to name a couple, and that may be a trigger for some readers.
This is one of the best thrillers I've had the pleasure of reading this year. With its clever and unique storytelling, it is compelling and is unputdownable. I read this within 24 hours. I will certainly be seeking out her previous and any future books to read. Anyone who loves an engaging and satisfying psychological thriller, then this book is a must.
Synopsis.
The Affair centres around two female characters, Christina and Sorcha. Christina is a middle-aged woman who is trying to come to terms with a messy break-up, so much so she isn't coping with life. She is suffering from depression and is extremely lonely. Sorcha, a hugely successful influencer and creator of the Soul Sisterhood group, for women who support and empower other women. On the outside, she has the perfect life, but behind the scenes, Sorcha is trying to hold it together after spiltting from her cheating husband. When Christina joins Sorcha's Soul Sisterhood, their lives become entwined. Is there a more sinister reason behind Christina joining the group of women?
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books.
My opinions are my own
May 24, 2024
Two women. Both destroyed by the same man. One his ex-wife. The other his former mistress. They share a hurt that bonds them as much as it divides them. When they finally meet, friendship and revenge collide in an explosive way you can’t imagine.
Meet the former mistress. Christina is an introvert. She works from home and rarely goes out. There was a time when she had friends and a life. But her old friends have started families of their own and moved away. And he — the one man she ever loved and still loves — left her two years ago. She’s been alone ever since. Unable to move past the pain, she seeks out the only person who will understand. His ex-wife. Sorcha.
Meet the ex-wife. Sorcha Hannon is a wildly popular social influencer and founder of the popular Facebook group, the Soul Sisterhood, which promotes female empowerment. From the outside, Sorcha’s life is perfect. She’s a beautiful, successful woman with a beautiful house and two beautiful daughters. Although she knows who Christina is when she joins her group, she feigns ignorance and welcomes her with open arms while she plots her revenge.
However, nothing goes as planned. Not for either woman. When Christina starts to receive threats, she contemplates leaving the group. Someone knows who she really is. Someone knows her secret. But leaving won’t be so easy. Not if Sorcha has anything to do with it.
Brilliantly addicting, completely engrossing, and seriously unputdownable, “The Affair” by Claire Allan is OMG great! It’s hands down the best thriller I’ve read so far in 2024. That’s no small feat either, considering the year is dang near halfway over and I’ve read some incredible books. Part of the reason it’s so amazing is the characters. They are developed with a depth and attention to detail that makes each one of them seem human. There’s Sorcha and Christina. There’s also Sorcha’s friends, children, and ex-husband who play parts in the story. All these characters will either grab you by your heart or raise your ire — sometimes both — but you won’t get away without feeling something about each and every one.
The plot is just as well developed as the characters. Let me be honest. I cringed when I saw the title of this book, because I’ve had a belly full of thrillers that revolve around extra-marital affairs. But “The Affair” is like nothing you’ve ever read. The plot is original. It’s intriguing and well-paced. Once you sink into it, you don’t want to resurface. When Christina starts receiving threats from a member of the Soul Sisterhood group, it’s easy to believe it’s Sorcha, but that might be too obvious to be true. There are just enough red herrings swimming through the chapters to keep you guessing. Dark secrets and deadly intentions abound in the book, but can the characters figure it out before it’s too late? Can you?
“The Affair” is written from both Christina and Sorcha’s points of view. As the story starts out, Christina is a sympathetic character even though she’s also the former mistress. She’s lonely and heart-broken, making it easy to root for her as she joins the Soul Sisterhood Facebook group to get to know Sorcha, but also to make new friends. She’s very much the protagonist, especially when Sorcha makes it clear she’s plotting her revenge on the vulnerable Christina. However, getting to know Sorcha through her point-of-view means also getting to like her just as much.
This book is filled with tension and suspense. There’s a sense of danger in the air that you start to feel early on in the story, then feel throughout. There are times when your heart will race as you wonder what will happen next. It’s one heck of a domestic thriller! But it will also tug at your heart at times, making you tear up a little or even cry as these two very different women (Christina and Sorcha) display their vulnerability and hearts.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I loved this book. I loved every single page of it. It’s a tense domestic suspense novel in which friendship and revenge do a dangerous tango. Yet, it also has heart. It goes without saying that the ending is one you won’t see coming. It’s a mystery as much as it is a domestic thriller, after all. It’s remarkably satisfying, though. I loved it –and think you will too. From beginning to end, “The Affair” by Claire Allan is a well-written and captivating read that I couldn’t put down. Let me know what you think after you read it.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, Claire Allan, and Rachel’s Random Resources for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review, as well as for including me in the blog tour.
Meet the former mistress. Christina is an introvert. She works from home and rarely goes out. There was a time when she had friends and a life. But her old friends have started families of their own and moved away. And he — the one man she ever loved and still loves — left her two years ago. She’s been alone ever since. Unable to move past the pain, she seeks out the only person who will understand. His ex-wife. Sorcha.
Meet the ex-wife. Sorcha Hannon is a wildly popular social influencer and founder of the popular Facebook group, the Soul Sisterhood, which promotes female empowerment. From the outside, Sorcha’s life is perfect. She’s a beautiful, successful woman with a beautiful house and two beautiful daughters. Although she knows who Christina is when she joins her group, she feigns ignorance and welcomes her with open arms while she plots her revenge.
However, nothing goes as planned. Not for either woman. When Christina starts to receive threats, she contemplates leaving the group. Someone knows who she really is. Someone knows her secret. But leaving won’t be so easy. Not if Sorcha has anything to do with it.
Brilliantly addicting, completely engrossing, and seriously unputdownable, “The Affair” by Claire Allan is OMG great! It’s hands down the best thriller I’ve read so far in 2024. That’s no small feat either, considering the year is dang near halfway over and I’ve read some incredible books. Part of the reason it’s so amazing is the characters. They are developed with a depth and attention to detail that makes each one of them seem human. There’s Sorcha and Christina. There’s also Sorcha’s friends, children, and ex-husband who play parts in the story. All these characters will either grab you by your heart or raise your ire — sometimes both — but you won’t get away without feeling something about each and every one.
The plot is just as well developed as the characters. Let me be honest. I cringed when I saw the title of this book, because I’ve had a belly full of thrillers that revolve around extra-marital affairs. But “The Affair” is like nothing you’ve ever read. The plot is original. It’s intriguing and well-paced. Once you sink into it, you don’t want to resurface. When Christina starts receiving threats from a member of the Soul Sisterhood group, it’s easy to believe it’s Sorcha, but that might be too obvious to be true. There are just enough red herrings swimming through the chapters to keep you guessing. Dark secrets and deadly intentions abound in the book, but can the characters figure it out before it’s too late? Can you?
“The Affair” is written from both Christina and Sorcha’s points of view. As the story starts out, Christina is a sympathetic character even though she’s also the former mistress. She’s lonely and heart-broken, making it easy to root for her as she joins the Soul Sisterhood Facebook group to get to know Sorcha, but also to make new friends. She’s very much the protagonist, especially when Sorcha makes it clear she’s plotting her revenge on the vulnerable Christina. However, getting to know Sorcha through her point-of-view means also getting to like her just as much.
This book is filled with tension and suspense. There’s a sense of danger in the air that you start to feel early on in the story, then feel throughout. There are times when your heart will race as you wonder what will happen next. It’s one heck of a domestic thriller! But it will also tug at your heart at times, making you tear up a little or even cry as these two very different women (Christina and Sorcha) display their vulnerability and hearts.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I loved this book. I loved every single page of it. It’s a tense domestic suspense novel in which friendship and revenge do a dangerous tango. Yet, it also has heart. It goes without saying that the ending is one you won’t see coming. It’s a mystery as much as it is a domestic thriller, after all. It’s remarkably satisfying, though. I loved it –and think you will too. From beginning to end, “The Affair” by Claire Allan is a well-written and captivating read that I couldn’t put down. Let me know what you think after you read it.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, Claire Allan, and Rachel’s Random Resources for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review, as well as for including me in the blog tour.
October 10, 2024
I enjoyed this book, but found it to overexplain a couple times. Things that could have been left to the imagination, or were obvious were dropped in.
I enjoyed the twist, I hadn't seen it coming and it made look at the rest of the book differently.
Would recommend!
I enjoyed the twist, I hadn't seen it coming and it made look at the rest of the book differently.
Would recommend!
November 26, 2025
For me an enjoyable read but not something that will stick in my head. I will say affairs aren't something I enjoy reading about, messy domestic situations can annoy me just because I can't relate mostly. I don't think I sympathised with any of the characters, I felt for Christina in some ways, but there was part of me that was like 'come on woman have a bit of pride and back bone'.
As domestic thrillers go this was fairly fun, I think the way this book started helped it a lot and but as we progressed through the book I lose a little interest. It isn't a super twisty book and it's a little surface level but if your looking for a head empty thrill this might be for you.
I like my thrillers to have a little more action or learn more into horror/suspense. I can't rate this lower than a three though because it's my fault for not checking the blurb more....but come on I was given this book for free I couldn't help myself.
As domestic thrillers go this was fairly fun, I think the way this book started helped it a lot and but as we progressed through the book I lose a little interest. It isn't a super twisty book and it's a little surface level but if your looking for a head empty thrill this might be for you.
I like my thrillers to have a little more action or learn more into horror/suspense. I can't rate this lower than a three though because it's my fault for not checking the blurb more....but come on I was given this book for free I couldn't help myself.
May 13, 2025
I really enjoyed The Affair by Claire Allan. What I liked most was how the story was told from different characters' perspectives which kept things interesting and made me want to keep reading to see how everything would come together. I also loved that it was set in Ireland as it gave the book a nice atmosphere and made it feel a bit different from other thrillers I’ve read, mostly because they're set in America/UK. It was such an easy read and before I knew it I’d finished the whole thing. Definitely one I’d recommend if you’re after a quick engaging story with a few twists along the way.
April 29, 2024
It took me a while to get invested in this book but I’m so glad I kept reading as I soon became engrossed in shady secrets that revealed themselves throughout the storyline,
The setting was special to be personally, set in my birth town I knew most of the locations and the beaches of Donegal in particular took me back to many happy memories. When the characters navigated the twisty road down to kinnagoe bay I felt like I was being transported there myself.
Christina one of the main characters was not initially likeable to me, but as I got to know her more, I did find myself beginning to understand what made her the way she was. When she joined the soul sisters group I questioned her intentions but once again as the story began to unwind I began to have more empathy for her.
All the characters in the book were wonderfully written. Each with their own unique backstory which portrayed female friendship which triumphed against all the odds.
The authors writing style was easy to read, allowing the story to unravel bit by bit with many twists and turns along the way ! Another winner by Claire Allan !
The setting was special to be personally, set in my birth town I knew most of the locations and the beaches of Donegal in particular took me back to many happy memories. When the characters navigated the twisty road down to kinnagoe bay I felt like I was being transported there myself.
Christina one of the main characters was not initially likeable to me, but as I got to know her more, I did find myself beginning to understand what made her the way she was. When she joined the soul sisters group I questioned her intentions but once again as the story began to unwind I began to have more empathy for her.
All the characters in the book were wonderfully written. Each with their own unique backstory which portrayed female friendship which triumphed against all the odds.
The authors writing style was easy to read, allowing the story to unravel bit by bit with many twists and turns along the way ! Another winner by Claire Allan !
September 5, 2024
I didn’t expect the twist at the end but thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew someone else was involved but it wasn’t who I was expecting at all.
A great thriller novel with a lot of character development and twists/turns to keep you engaged and interested. It is a slow burn but you can’t help but connect with everyone and want to find out how it unfolds.
A great thriller novel with a lot of character development and twists/turns to keep you engaged and interested. It is a slow burn but you can’t help but connect with everyone and want to find out how it unfolds.
August 23, 2024
I tend to buy my books based on the blurb then pick randomly from my kindle to read so I kind of go in blind each time (over 700 on my kindle lol) Anyway based on the title of this one I really had no clue where it was going in the beginning. But once it got going I really enjoyed it.
Christina joins a Facebook group “soul sisterhood” a group of women looking for friendship and more with their influence leader Sorcha. As an introvert going to a coffee morning with all the ladies is Christina’s first step into pushing herself forward.
This book isn’t your typical domestic noir based on an affair as the title suggests, it covers other angles and was a really good read.
Christina joins a Facebook group “soul sisterhood” a group of women looking for friendship and more with their influence leader Sorcha. As an introvert going to a coffee morning with all the ladies is Christina’s first step into pushing herself forward.
This book isn’t your typical domestic noir based on an affair as the title suggests, it covers other angles and was a really good read.
May 25, 2024
This is the authors first thriller and it was written with such skill. Told in dual POV the story is based on a lonely woman trying to make friends and a popular woman whose life is not as perfect as it seems. The twists are well spaced out and not all the details are given at once. The author hints at a twist and dangles it in front of the reader for a little bit before revealing it. This kept me guessing until the end of the book.
September 18, 2024
Hell have no fury like girl power!
I really enjoyed this book. Although I worked out who the wrong-un was it didn't stop me from wanting to see how it panned out. They always say it's the quiet ones!
I really enjoyed this book. Although I worked out who the wrong-un was it didn't stop me from wanting to see how it panned out. They always say it's the quiet ones!
July 28, 2024
3.5-3.75. A little slow and was hoping for more action which didn’t really come until the last 15% or so. But still a quick read.
*Available on KU
*Available on KU
November 19, 2024
First book by a new-to-me author. Excellent read.
March 7, 2025
This book didn't have the same feel as other psychological books that I have read. I felt everything happened so quickly.
There was a twist at the very end of the book that you didn't see coming but if I'm being honest the whole storyline felt a bit of a let down.
It's a good book for someone just starting out but I don't think I would recommend to others
There was a twist at the very end of the book that you didn't see coming but if I'm being honest the whole storyline felt a bit of a let down.
It's a good book for someone just starting out but I don't think I would recommend to others
July 25, 2025
I enjoyed this book, I was invested in the story and needed to find out who was behind all of the skullduggery. A very easy, compelling read - great for a summer afternoon or two.
August 9, 2024
Started of slow but once it got going I couldn't put it down. Brilliant book
April 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ A good read that kept me page turning, but I found the twists predictable. Saying that, it is worth reading and I’ll be trying some more of Claire Allan for sure.
November 9, 2024
Excellent story. Really enjoyed it
November 6, 2025
Aware of her lack of social skills and inability to make friends, Christina joins a women's group to meet new people. But there are other reasons for her joining which are revealed as this entertaining book progresses. Well written with strong characters, if a touch formulaic, The Affair is an enjoyable read.
May 21, 2024
Everyone loves a domestic drama, don’t they? I mean, most of us are likely to be involved in international espionage, investigating serial murder, dramatic courtroom showdowns or time travel back to exciting times in history, but any of us could get caught up in some relationship mishap that turns sinister. I mean, we hope not, but it’s at least a possibility and therefore, more relatable than other types of fiction
Of course, the chances of this type of conflict increases if you behave like the main character in Claire Allan’s new novel, The Affair. I’m not going to include any spoilers in my review but the title of the book gives you a clue that some of the characters have been up to no good and karma may be coming for them. However, there are ways to make your life even more difficult, and there is certainly some poor decision-making going on in this book. The trick is to make people’s strange behaviour plausible to a reader, whilst still engineering entertaining scenarios which create a compelling story. It’s not easy to do, but this author achieves it with aplomb.
It is no mean feat to make a person who acts poorly still come across as sympathetic enough for a reader to care about. We have to be able to imagine ourselves in their shoes and understand why they do what they do, even if we don’t think we’d make the same decision ourselves. Claire achieves this, turning a person who could easily be the villain of the piece into a figure to whom we can relate. The point here is to remind us that we are all human, subject to human frailty, and making a mistake maybe does not and should not render us unlovable forever. There but for the grace of god, and all that.
That being said, there are some irredeemable characters in this book, which makes for a really fun read. I had my suspicions early on that certain people were not all they seemed, and I thoroughly enjoyed racing through the book to find out. The themes in this book are very relatable – female friendship, fake friends, relationship breakdown, the cult of social media, insincerity and placing blame for poor behaviour where it belongs – all of these things make for an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
I really enjoyed The Affair. It was an easy and entertaining read that had some interesting things to say. Great stuff.
Of course, the chances of this type of conflict increases if you behave like the main character in Claire Allan’s new novel, The Affair. I’m not going to include any spoilers in my review but the title of the book gives you a clue that some of the characters have been up to no good and karma may be coming for them. However, there are ways to make your life even more difficult, and there is certainly some poor decision-making going on in this book. The trick is to make people’s strange behaviour plausible to a reader, whilst still engineering entertaining scenarios which create a compelling story. It’s not easy to do, but this author achieves it with aplomb.
It is no mean feat to make a person who acts poorly still come across as sympathetic enough for a reader to care about. We have to be able to imagine ourselves in their shoes and understand why they do what they do, even if we don’t think we’d make the same decision ourselves. Claire achieves this, turning a person who could easily be the villain of the piece into a figure to whom we can relate. The point here is to remind us that we are all human, subject to human frailty, and making a mistake maybe does not and should not render us unlovable forever. There but for the grace of god, and all that.
That being said, there are some irredeemable characters in this book, which makes for a really fun read. I had my suspicions early on that certain people were not all they seemed, and I thoroughly enjoyed racing through the book to find out. The themes in this book are very relatable – female friendship, fake friends, relationship breakdown, the cult of social media, insincerity and placing blame for poor behaviour where it belongs – all of these things make for an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
I really enjoyed The Affair. It was an easy and entertaining read that had some interesting things to say. Great stuff.
October 23, 2024
Christina never felt as though she fitted-in, in whichever community she found herself--which is how she arrived in her thirties without ever having experienced the loving, close and intimate relationship that comes to most people at some point. It's not surprising therefore that, when this lonely, almost friendless woman was courted by an enigmatic and charming man at her workplace, she fell hook, line and sinker--despite the fact that he was a husband and father.
Coming out the other side--because of course it didn't last--she lives a lonelier life than ever. Until, that is, she joins the 'Soul Sisterhood,' a social media group run by the beautiful Sorcha, an Instagram influencer--and the now ex-wife of Christina's ex-lover.
It's said that love is a form of madness, and Christina has to be certifiably insane to knowingly put herself in the orbit of the fascinating Sorcha---not the least because, despite the care she takes to disguise her past, somebody therein is aware of exactly who Christina is, and is determined to make her pay.
Despite the rather unlikely premise around which this story is built, it's refreshing to find a scenario within which it's not 'the other woman' who emerges as the villain of the piece--which is not to say that the husband-stealing variety doesn't exist. As long as manipulative married men can divide women and set them against each other, they'll continue to rule the roost and commit adultery with impunity.
Christina has to suffer nevertheless, and whether she makes it to the end of the book alive to draw that conclusion remains to be seen. An interesting take on the subject.
Coming out the other side--because of course it didn't last--she lives a lonelier life than ever. Until, that is, she joins the 'Soul Sisterhood,' a social media group run by the beautiful Sorcha, an Instagram influencer--and the now ex-wife of Christina's ex-lover.
It's said that love is a form of madness, and Christina has to be certifiably insane to knowingly put herself in the orbit of the fascinating Sorcha---not the least because, despite the care she takes to disguise her past, somebody therein is aware of exactly who Christina is, and is determined to make her pay.
Despite the rather unlikely premise around which this story is built, it's refreshing to find a scenario within which it's not 'the other woman' who emerges as the villain of the piece--which is not to say that the husband-stealing variety doesn't exist. As long as manipulative married men can divide women and set them against each other, they'll continue to rule the roost and commit adultery with impunity.
Christina has to suffer nevertheless, and whether she makes it to the end of the book alive to draw that conclusion remains to be seen. An interesting take on the subject.
July 23, 2024
Was not expecting that ending!!!! This was a wild and drama filled ride and I thought the plot was great!
My fav part was when Sorcha wouldn’t tell Ronan who she was on the phone with and he got super angry. So satisfying
Chaotic summary for my own remembering purposes:
Christina is a late-thirty-year-old who feels pretty alone in the world. She ends up sparking up a romance with a higher up at work, who just so happens to have a wife (who is a major influencer) and two daughters. She also ends up falling pregnant with his baby, but has a miscarriage. The wife, Sorcha, finds out about the affair and divorces the husband, Ronan and our story begins two years after the divorce.
Christina decides she wants to join Sorcha’s group, the Soul Sisterhood. One, because she wants to meet new people and make friends. And two, because Sorcha is the only other person who knows what it’s like to have her heart broken by Ronan Hannon. So she joins the group, trying to be very vague about her identity and work as to not attract attention which would lead to them realizing she’s the other woman. Unbeknownst to her though, Sorcha and her friend Joan already know who she is.
Joan even gives her a warning at the first polar plunge gathering she goes to, saying Christina is being watched.
Christina eventually gets mysterious phone calls from an unknown number with a distorted voice telling her to leave the group and no one wants her.
She leaves the group, not wanting to cause any problems but Sorcha invites her back. Sorcha is actually very friendly to her and although she mentions getting revenge, she never does and I don’t think she has it in her to do that anyway. She’s too nice.
Christina comes back to the group and goes to a bookclub at Sorcha’s house where her drink is spiked and she gets extremely ill. Carla takes her home and gets her into bed. When she wakes up she finds a Polaroid of her and Ronan on her nightstand, which is not wear she left it. She thinks Carla found it and has now told everyone who she is. Later that night she discovers she has been removed from the group chats and blocked from the Facebook group.
Come to find out, Sorcha got drugged at the book club too and was in the hospital and had no idea about Christina’s removal from the group. She invites her back. And they plan to get together at Sorcha’s house the next day.
At Sorcha’s Joan shows up and continues her shadiness toward Christina, making her very uncomfortable. On her way out, Esme invites Christina to her room to see her dolls and she reluctantly goes. Esme shows her Molly, a reborn doll. And Christina is reminded of the baby she almost gave birth to, but couldn’t.
Ronan makes a surprise visit and Esme alerts Christina by yelling that her dad is there and then running to great him at the door. Christina decides she needs to escape before he sees her so she tries rushing out and accidentally almost takes Molly, the doll. Anyway, she makes her great escape and goes home to drown herself in wine and her sorrows for what her life has become.
Joan leaves Sorcha’s house and Ronan ends up weaseling his way into a family movie and pizza night. He’s done this before and got Sorcha drunk and kissed her, but she’s not naive anymore and she knows what he’s trying to do. So after the girls go to bed, she tells him he needs to leave. He plays the victim and Sorcha isn’t having it. She ends up telling him that Christina was over today and that’s who Esme was talking about when she said her “new friend” was over.
In a rage he leaves her house and heads over to Sorcha’s. Joan is already there, telling her that they know who she is and they have all along. When Ronan arrives, Joan offers to hide in the bedroom just in case things get too hectic.
And good thing too because Ronan comes in with the rage of a man who has nothing to lose and he tells her he’s glad their baby died and only wishes she’d have died with it. Then he attacks her and starts choking her to death. Joan comes to the rescue and hits him with a lamp and knocks him out. Police and paramedics come and Ronan ultimately gets sent away.
Sorcha and Christina have a long talk and work things out. Sorcha feels so sorry for her and everything she’s gone through and wants to be a friend to her. They even start back up the soul sisterhood and plan for a swim with Sorcha Christina Joan and Carla on a full moon for the ultimate cleansing and reset.
On the night of the swim Carla calls Christina and tells her Sorcha has to stay a little longer with Esme because she’s sick and that they are moving their swim location to a more remote beach. Luckily Christina messages Sorcha and says she hopes she feels better and the change of plans is fine and she’ll see her at the new location. Sorcha is super confused by this because Esme is fine and as far as her and Joan know, the plans haven’t changed. Both women are unsettled by this message and can’t get a hold of Christina or Carla. Joan says Carla has been acting super strange since the incident with Ronan at Christina’s. Apparently she ran over to Ronan at the hospital and held his hand. And Carla always answers her phone so they know something is off. They decide to just drive to the new location and hopefully catch them before something bad happens.
When Christina and Carla get to the beach they see all the missed calls from Sorcha and Joan and can’t call back because there’s no service. Carla says she also got a text from Sorcha saying Esme started throwing up and so she won’t be coming. They decide they should still do the swim and it’ll feel great to do it anyway. They go into the water and Carla holds onto Christina, guiding her way father than she should. Christina notices an evil look in her eye and then Carla starts attacking her and pushing her under water. She tells Christina that she’s ruining ronans life and she and Ronan are supposed to be together. She also confesses that she killed Christina’s baby (she gave Ronan abortion pills to slip in Christina’s drink). This sets Christina off and she starts drowning Carla screaming and crying at her for killing her baby. Just then Sorcha pulls Christina out and Joan pulls Carla out and they call the police. The end.
My fav part was when Sorcha wouldn’t tell Ronan who she was on the phone with and he got super angry. So satisfying
Chaotic summary for my own remembering purposes:
Christina is a late-thirty-year-old who feels pretty alone in the world. She ends up sparking up a romance with a higher up at work, who just so happens to have a wife (who is a major influencer) and two daughters. She also ends up falling pregnant with his baby, but has a miscarriage. The wife, Sorcha, finds out about the affair and divorces the husband, Ronan and our story begins two years after the divorce.
Christina decides she wants to join Sorcha’s group, the Soul Sisterhood. One, because she wants to meet new people and make friends. And two, because Sorcha is the only other person who knows what it’s like to have her heart broken by Ronan Hannon. So she joins the group, trying to be very vague about her identity and work as to not attract attention which would lead to them realizing she’s the other woman. Unbeknownst to her though, Sorcha and her friend Joan already know who she is.
Joan even gives her a warning at the first polar plunge gathering she goes to, saying Christina is being watched.
Christina eventually gets mysterious phone calls from an unknown number with a distorted voice telling her to leave the group and no one wants her.
She leaves the group, not wanting to cause any problems but Sorcha invites her back. Sorcha is actually very friendly to her and although she mentions getting revenge, she never does and I don’t think she has it in her to do that anyway. She’s too nice.
Christina comes back to the group and goes to a bookclub at Sorcha’s house where her drink is spiked and she gets extremely ill. Carla takes her home and gets her into bed. When she wakes up she finds a Polaroid of her and Ronan on her nightstand, which is not wear she left it. She thinks Carla found it and has now told everyone who she is. Later that night she discovers she has been removed from the group chats and blocked from the Facebook group.
Come to find out, Sorcha got drugged at the book club too and was in the hospital and had no idea about Christina’s removal from the group. She invites her back. And they plan to get together at Sorcha’s house the next day.
At Sorcha’s Joan shows up and continues her shadiness toward Christina, making her very uncomfortable. On her way out, Esme invites Christina to her room to see her dolls and she reluctantly goes. Esme shows her Molly, a reborn doll. And Christina is reminded of the baby she almost gave birth to, but couldn’t.
Ronan makes a surprise visit and Esme alerts Christina by yelling that her dad is there and then running to great him at the door. Christina decides she needs to escape before he sees her so she tries rushing out and accidentally almost takes Molly, the doll. Anyway, she makes her great escape and goes home to drown herself in wine and her sorrows for what her life has become.
Joan leaves Sorcha’s house and Ronan ends up weaseling his way into a family movie and pizza night. He’s done this before and got Sorcha drunk and kissed her, but she’s not naive anymore and she knows what he’s trying to do. So after the girls go to bed, she tells him he needs to leave. He plays the victim and Sorcha isn’t having it. She ends up telling him that Christina was over today and that’s who Esme was talking about when she said her “new friend” was over.
In a rage he leaves her house and heads over to Sorcha’s. Joan is already there, telling her that they know who she is and they have all along. When Ronan arrives, Joan offers to hide in the bedroom just in case things get too hectic.
And good thing too because Ronan comes in with the rage of a man who has nothing to lose and he tells her he’s glad their baby died and only wishes she’d have died with it. Then he attacks her and starts choking her to death. Joan comes to the rescue and hits him with a lamp and knocks him out. Police and paramedics come and Ronan ultimately gets sent away.
Sorcha and Christina have a long talk and work things out. Sorcha feels so sorry for her and everything she’s gone through and wants to be a friend to her. They even start back up the soul sisterhood and plan for a swim with Sorcha Christina Joan and Carla on a full moon for the ultimate cleansing and reset.
On the night of the swim Carla calls Christina and tells her Sorcha has to stay a little longer with Esme because she’s sick and that they are moving their swim location to a more remote beach. Luckily Christina messages Sorcha and says she hopes she feels better and the change of plans is fine and she’ll see her at the new location. Sorcha is super confused by this because Esme is fine and as far as her and Joan know, the plans haven’t changed. Both women are unsettled by this message and can’t get a hold of Christina or Carla. Joan says Carla has been acting super strange since the incident with Ronan at Christina’s. Apparently she ran over to Ronan at the hospital and held his hand. And Carla always answers her phone so they know something is off. They decide to just drive to the new location and hopefully catch them before something bad happens.
When Christina and Carla get to the beach they see all the missed calls from Sorcha and Joan and can’t call back because there’s no service. Carla says she also got a text from Sorcha saying Esme started throwing up and so she won’t be coming. They decide they should still do the swim and it’ll feel great to do it anyway. They go into the water and Carla holds onto Christina, guiding her way father than she should. Christina notices an evil look in her eye and then Carla starts attacking her and pushing her under water. She tells Christina that she’s ruining ronans life and she and Ronan are supposed to be together. She also confesses that she killed Christina’s baby (she gave Ronan abortion pills to slip in Christina’s drink). This sets Christina off and she starts drowning Carla screaming and crying at her for killing her baby. Just then Sorcha pulls Christina out and Joan pulls Carla out and they call the police. The end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2025
2.5, actually.
I don't know where to start.
First, Christina. I mean... I hate her. Yes, at the beginning, I felt empathy for her, and I worried about her and her anxiety. I had dealt with anxiety before, not at the level she has, but I know what it feels like to be in that position, to feel like you don't fit in anywhere and you aren't welcomed to any group. I know it's our mind playing tricks and shaping the reality in a wrong way, but it still feels so real. But... BUT I just can't wrap my mind around the idea of being BEST FRIENDS with the ex-wife of the man you were sleeping with. I mean, NO, IT'S A BIG NO. Nowhere in the world is it acceptable or right to do that, no matter how much you need friends. And it drove me mad that SHE KNOWS what she's doing is wrong, AND SHE KEEPS DOING IT. She knew Ronan was married, she knew he had a family, she knew sleeping with a married man is WRONG, and still she subscribed to Sorcha's FB group and started a friendship with HER, all this while still SECRETLY IN LOVE WITH RONAN. I mean, girl, COME ON. And not content with that, she goes into her house and with her daughters, and incidentally has the guts to think that all that should be hers and not Sorcha's, that's NOT FAIR with her. What the fuck?
Sorcha... girl. I know you have a big heart, and you don't want to be mean to anybody but girl, she's the one your husband slept with while married to you. COME ON. Yes, she started to be closer to Christina because she wanted revenge, but in the end they just became friends, like nothing had happened. Sorry, but no. Yes, I know the 95% of the guilt is on Ronan, I know, but Christina is not innocent, she knew all along what she was doing.
But Carla, I DON'T EVEN WHERE TO START. If I thought Christina was evil, Carla is the demon. At least Christina didn't have any relationship with Sorcha when everything happened, but Carla WAS HER BEST FRIEND. The freaking godmother of Esme. That's unforgivable; that's wrong on every level and universe. Yes, Christina has a really bad self-love, but Carla doesn't have it AT ALL. She is not only the mistress, but she knows that Ronan has a wife, with whom he still shares a marital bed, but also sleeps with other women. I mean, she is like the main mistress, and the others are second mistresses. Just, WHAT????
Ronan, darling, I'm not going to spend a lot of time writing about you because everybody here knows you're the worst of the worst, and a freaking narcissist that only uses women for his own amusement.
It was a really slow book; it lacked those twists that left you without words. I think she had a really good plot with Sorcha and her vengeance, but she was afraid to develop it.
PD. Sorry if my English is bad, it's not my main language.
I don't know where to start.
First, Christina. I mean... I hate her. Yes, at the beginning, I felt empathy for her, and I worried about her and her anxiety. I had dealt with anxiety before, not at the level she has, but I know what it feels like to be in that position, to feel like you don't fit in anywhere and you aren't welcomed to any group. I know it's our mind playing tricks and shaping the reality in a wrong way, but it still feels so real. But... BUT I just can't wrap my mind around the idea of being BEST FRIENDS with the ex-wife of the man you were sleeping with. I mean, NO, IT'S A BIG NO. Nowhere in the world is it acceptable or right to do that, no matter how much you need friends. And it drove me mad that SHE KNOWS what she's doing is wrong, AND SHE KEEPS DOING IT. She knew Ronan was married, she knew he had a family, she knew sleeping with a married man is WRONG, and still she subscribed to Sorcha's FB group and started a friendship with HER, all this while still SECRETLY IN LOVE WITH RONAN. I mean, girl, COME ON. And not content with that, she goes into her house and with her daughters, and incidentally has the guts to think that all that should be hers and not Sorcha's, that's NOT FAIR with her. What the fuck?
Sorcha... girl. I know you have a big heart, and you don't want to be mean to anybody but girl, she's the one your husband slept with while married to you. COME ON. Yes, she started to be closer to Christina because she wanted revenge, but in the end they just became friends, like nothing had happened. Sorry, but no. Yes, I know the 95% of the guilt is on Ronan, I know, but Christina is not innocent, she knew all along what she was doing.
But Carla, I DON'T EVEN WHERE TO START. If I thought Christina was evil, Carla is the demon. At least Christina didn't have any relationship with Sorcha when everything happened, but Carla WAS HER BEST FRIEND. The freaking godmother of Esme. That's unforgivable; that's wrong on every level and universe. Yes, Christina has a really bad self-love, but Carla doesn't have it AT ALL. She is not only the mistress, but she knows that Ronan has a wife, with whom he still shares a marital bed, but also sleeps with other women. I mean, she is like the main mistress, and the others are second mistresses. Just, WHAT????
Ronan, darling, I'm not going to spend a lot of time writing about you because everybody here knows you're the worst of the worst, and a freaking narcissist that only uses women for his own amusement.
It was a really slow book; it lacked those twists that left you without words. I think she had a really good plot with Sorcha and her vengeance, but she was afraid to develop it.
PD. Sorry if my English is bad, it's not my main language.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2024
I've already read books by this author and enjoyed them a great deal so when this one dropped in price I snapped it up PDQ ! Again, she hasn't disappointed and I was hooked. As usual I had no idea who was going to turn out to be the baddie and guessed at a few differing people as she dropped clues here and there, knowing we'd usually get it wrong !!
I usually have to give up if I'm really not keen on or liking the protagonist very much but in this case with Tina it wasn't a problem. I was onside till she crossed a line for me I wasn't too happy about and I wiped my hands of her, then. There's only so far my empathy with her was going to take me !! I liked Sorcha yet found my feelings on her turned the other way. At first I thought she was a self-satisfied, vacuous dope but I ended up greatly warming to her.
There are some very funny lines throughout this which made me giggle to myself. No doubt some readers will find the odd bit of language unacceptable but I always like bad language being used as people talk like that, so for me it rings way truer than the odd "goodness gracious" !! Though, since I mentioned language, this sentence reads just wrong to me altogether, "When I look in the mirror, I'm disappointed to see I don't look quite as good as I hoped it might"......
I couldn't find the definition of "hanging like a bat".....I took it to mean smelly but Google or even the Urban Dictionary were of no help here. We got to hear too often, as an aside, Christina was feeling hot or sweaty, too !!
There were the odd words dropped from sentences, drug taking I'd personally hyphenate, "Its uncomfortable" when it ought to be "It's" and I'd write speciality not specialty, as that's usually an Americanised version. Then THIS line baffled me but then I realised all it needed was a comma to make the sense it was supposed to-"Joan had left a large pot of home-made soup, which would be easier for me to eat on the stove......." Read it back to yourself and you'll get what I'm meaning.
These errors aside, I'll definitely read more by this author. Oh, I'm with her regarding Twitter vs X as well.....I mean, we send a Tweet.....so what do we do on X ? Just post, I suppose ? There was no need to change its name in the least...a dumb move as everyone knows what I mean when I say Twitter and never correct me on it so they probably still call it that themselves !!
I usually have to give up if I'm really not keen on or liking the protagonist very much but in this case with Tina it wasn't a problem. I was onside till she crossed a line for me I wasn't too happy about and I wiped my hands of her, then. There's only so far my empathy with her was going to take me !! I liked Sorcha yet found my feelings on her turned the other way. At first I thought she was a self-satisfied, vacuous dope but I ended up greatly warming to her.
There are some very funny lines throughout this which made me giggle to myself. No doubt some readers will find the odd bit of language unacceptable but I always like bad language being used as people talk like that, so for me it rings way truer than the odd "goodness gracious" !! Though, since I mentioned language, this sentence reads just wrong to me altogether, "When I look in the mirror, I'm disappointed to see I don't look quite as good as I hoped it might"......
I couldn't find the definition of "hanging like a bat".....I took it to mean smelly but Google or even the Urban Dictionary were of no help here. We got to hear too often, as an aside, Christina was feeling hot or sweaty, too !!
There were the odd words dropped from sentences, drug taking I'd personally hyphenate, "Its uncomfortable" when it ought to be "It's" and I'd write speciality not specialty, as that's usually an Americanised version. Then THIS line baffled me but then I realised all it needed was a comma to make the sense it was supposed to-"Joan had left a large pot of home-made soup, which would be easier for me to eat on the stove......." Read it back to yourself and you'll get what I'm meaning.
These errors aside, I'll definitely read more by this author. Oh, I'm with her regarding Twitter vs X as well.....I mean, we send a Tweet.....so what do we do on X ? Just post, I suppose ? There was no need to change its name in the least...a dumb move as everyone knows what I mean when I say Twitter and never correct me on it so they probably still call it that themselves !!
July 23, 2025
Another great psychological thriller by Londonderry author Claire Allan. There are two main characters in the book, Christina and Sorcha. Christina is a lonely accountant who works mainly from home, has virtually no social life and is still recovering from a broken relationship which ended two years ago. Her relationship had been with a married man, hence the book’s name “The Affair”. Sorcha is a single mother but is completely different to Christina and is extremely sociable living in a huge house overlooking the River Foyle. She is a social media influencer and has set up a successful woman’s network called Soul Sisterhood.
Lonely Christina decides to join Soul Sisterhood and is taken under Sorcha’s wing at the first coffee morning which Christina attends. Sorcha then invites Christina to go seawater swimming in Donegal with some of the group and Christina starts to think that her days of loneliness are over. But all is not what it seems and Christina starts to receive warning phone calls from an anonymous caller to leave the group which she ignores.
Despite the warnings, Christina continues to participate with the group both on Facebook and WhatsApp and then decides to join their Book Club. At the first meeting, she becomes violently ill and has to be rushed home by one of her new friends, Carla. Sorcha also gets sick and she is rushed to hospital. The next day Christina struggles into work and when she returns home, she discovers that her flat has been trashed. Kind hearted Sorcha invites Christina to lunch the next day but things get nasty. The story ends with a completely unexpected twist which I certainly didn’t see coming.
Claire has written a number of thrillers and they are all set in the Londonderry area. No matter which of her books you read, they are all excellent and completely addictive as you try to guess how it will end up. Claire always keeps me guessing right to the end.
Lonely Christina decides to join Soul Sisterhood and is taken under Sorcha’s wing at the first coffee morning which Christina attends. Sorcha then invites Christina to go seawater swimming in Donegal with some of the group and Christina starts to think that her days of loneliness are over. But all is not what it seems and Christina starts to receive warning phone calls from an anonymous caller to leave the group which she ignores.
Despite the warnings, Christina continues to participate with the group both on Facebook and WhatsApp and then decides to join their Book Club. At the first meeting, she becomes violently ill and has to be rushed home by one of her new friends, Carla. Sorcha also gets sick and she is rushed to hospital. The next day Christina struggles into work and when she returns home, she discovers that her flat has been trashed. Kind hearted Sorcha invites Christina to lunch the next day but things get nasty. The story ends with a completely unexpected twist which I certainly didn’t see coming.
Claire has written a number of thrillers and they are all set in the Londonderry area. No matter which of her books you read, they are all excellent and completely addictive as you try to guess how it will end up. Claire always keeps me guessing right to the end.
August 4, 2024
Claire Allan’s The Affair is a fast-paced, unpredictable and jaw-dropping chiller that kept me reading all through the night.
Sorcha Hannon is the woman Christina would love to be. While Christina is an introvert who keeps other people at bay, Sorcha had all of her dirty laundry aired on social media and lived to tell the tale. The survivor of a devastating affair, Sorcha had found the healing and peace of mind that Christina desperately needs for herself. When the two become friends, Christina finally finds the port in a storm that had been missing from her life for so long. She has somebody who will listen to her and give her advice and a shoulder to cry on. Yet, little does Sorcha realise that Christina is not all that she seems…
Sorcha thought that Christina was a total stranger, but that is far from the truth. Christina knew everything about Sorcha before the two of them became friends. There wasn’t a single minute detail of Sorcha’s life that Christina did not know. But if Sorcha discovers the truth, Christina’s life wouldn’t be worth living. However, Sorcha is far from perfect herself – and she isn’t the only one in this friendship keeping a deadly secret…
Claire Allan is on superb form with her latest thriller, The Affair. A creepy, complex and compulsively readable tale about friendship, deception and the twisted bonds that connect people together, The Affair is a propulsive page-turner full of tension, foreboding and suspense readers will wants to devour in one breathless sitting.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sorcha Hannon is the woman Christina would love to be. While Christina is an introvert who keeps other people at bay, Sorcha had all of her dirty laundry aired on social media and lived to tell the tale. The survivor of a devastating affair, Sorcha had found the healing and peace of mind that Christina desperately needs for herself. When the two become friends, Christina finally finds the port in a storm that had been missing from her life for so long. She has somebody who will listen to her and give her advice and a shoulder to cry on. Yet, little does Sorcha realise that Christina is not all that she seems…
Sorcha thought that Christina was a total stranger, but that is far from the truth. Christina knew everything about Sorcha before the two of them became friends. There wasn’t a single minute detail of Sorcha’s life that Christina did not know. But if Sorcha discovers the truth, Christina’s life wouldn’t be worth living. However, Sorcha is far from perfect herself – and she isn’t the only one in this friendship keeping a deadly secret…
Claire Allan is on superb form with her latest thriller, The Affair. A creepy, complex and compulsively readable tale about friendship, deception and the twisted bonds that connect people together, The Affair is a propulsive page-turner full of tension, foreboding and suspense readers will wants to devour in one breathless sitting.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 15, 2024
I've been reading a lot of thrillers late, because it's October, and some of them really disappoint. However, this one did not disappoint in any way. I listened to this book on audible, which made it seem so much more alive.
The characters were so well written and nuanced. They were relatable and seemed so realistic. I found myself identifying with bits and pieces of their stories and personalities. Listening to their conversations and hearing their thoughts really did make them seem move alive. From the Instagram influencer to the tween daughter, all of the characters were different. They all had different emotions and all reacted to situations differently, but in keeping with their personalities. The characters really felt like people you would know.
The plot was fast paced. There were no sections that felt like it was dragging or boring. There were so many revelations sprinkled throughout the book. And it kept me guessing right up until the very end. When I started reading it, I had an idea of who it was that was mentioned in the prologue. But I was completely wrong. My opinion changed so many times throughout the story, mostly because of all of the twisting the author managed to put in the story. The epilogue was genius! It was like one of those movies or TV shows that ends and you think that's it, but is it really? Is there more?
This was the kind of story that you want every thriller to be like, but not many really achieve it. I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up and read it.
My rating: 5 stars.
The characters were so well written and nuanced. They were relatable and seemed so realistic. I found myself identifying with bits and pieces of their stories and personalities. Listening to their conversations and hearing their thoughts really did make them seem move alive. From the Instagram influencer to the tween daughter, all of the characters were different. They all had different emotions and all reacted to situations differently, but in keeping with their personalities. The characters really felt like people you would know.
The plot was fast paced. There were no sections that felt like it was dragging or boring. There were so many revelations sprinkled throughout the book. And it kept me guessing right up until the very end. When I started reading it, I had an idea of who it was that was mentioned in the prologue. But I was completely wrong. My opinion changed so many times throughout the story, mostly because of all of the twisting the author managed to put in the story. The epilogue was genius! It was like one of those movies or TV shows that ends and you think that's it, but is it really? Is there more?
This was the kind of story that you want every thriller to be like, but not many really achieve it. I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up and read it.
My rating: 5 stars.
September 19, 2025
Reclusive Christina is trying to build up her confidence after the end of a relationship. She joins a women’s only social group headed up by influencer Sorcha. Will she make friends and change her life for the better? Or will the past catch up with her…?
The Affair is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
The prologue starts off with a wild swimming incident between two characters and then the book goes back in the timeline to show how they get to that situation. Christina has been through a bad break up and her confidence is at rock bottom. She is almost obsessed with successful influencer Sorcha and decides to emulate her by joining her social group.
The book is written from Christina and Sorcha’s first person perspectives so that we can understand their emotions and actions. My sympathy was initially directed at Christina as she is so low emotionally and I could relate to her social anxiety. Her bravery in reaching out to an empowerment group was quite touching but there is also a slightly sinister overtone to her focus on Sorcha.
Initially it is quite a slow burn as we establish the scenario and main characters. There are hints about the link between the women in the first chapters but I liked the way we find out Sorcha’s awareness about a quarter of the way through the book. The style of writing was easy to read and the plot twists built the tension as the book progressed.
The Affair is an entertaining psychological thriller with two clearly defined female lead characters.
The Affair is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
The prologue starts off with a wild swimming incident between two characters and then the book goes back in the timeline to show how they get to that situation. Christina has been through a bad break up and her confidence is at rock bottom. She is almost obsessed with successful influencer Sorcha and decides to emulate her by joining her social group.
The book is written from Christina and Sorcha’s first person perspectives so that we can understand their emotions and actions. My sympathy was initially directed at Christina as she is so low emotionally and I could relate to her social anxiety. Her bravery in reaching out to an empowerment group was quite touching but there is also a slightly sinister overtone to her focus on Sorcha.
Initially it is quite a slow burn as we establish the scenario and main characters. There are hints about the link between the women in the first chapters but I liked the way we find out Sorcha’s awareness about a quarter of the way through the book. The style of writing was easy to read and the plot twists built the tension as the book progressed.
The Affair is an entertaining psychological thriller with two clearly defined female lead characters.
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