What do you think?
Rate this book
Net Switch
Librarian's Note: There is an Alternate Cover Edition for this book here.
In the dead of winter, Sydney Hayes finds herself in an internet chat room in hopes of expelling her loneliness. Enchanted by a stranger, she soon finds herself caught up in an affair that spills over into her everyday life. Within a short period of time, the stranger captures her mind, her body and eventually her heart, but excitement turns to terror and Sydney must abandon the life she built in Chicago and assume a new identity.
A fragile woman in a new city, Sydney tries to put it all behind her as she makes a fresh start in Seattle, but her troubles follow her and she is running out of time. Feeling as though she has no other choice, Sydney is determined to destroy him before he destroys her, unaware that her journal holds the key.
Will she discover the secret before it is too late?
In the dead of winter, Sydney Hayes finds herself in an internet chat room in hopes of expelling her loneliness. Enchanted by a stranger, she soon finds herself caught up in an affair that spills over into her everyday life. Within a short period of time, the stranger captures her mind, her body and eventually her heart, but excitement turns to terror and Sydney must abandon the life she built in Chicago and assume a new identity.
A fragile woman in a new city, Sydney tries to put it all behind her as she makes a fresh start in Seattle, but her troubles follow her and she is running out of time. Feeling as though she has no other choice, Sydney is determined to destroy him before he destroys her, unaware that her journal holds the key.
Will she discover the secret before it is too late?
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2011
4 people are currently reading
1844 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 4, 2018
Interesting premise, I enjoyed the book. The format of the book was confusing at times. The journal seemed to go back and forth in time and written by more than one person. By the end I kind of figured out what was going on, but didn't see the number of people finally involved.
July 2, 2012
Full disclosure: I received my copy of Net Switch from the Goodreads Giveaways program.
Net Switch is a difficult book to review. There are so many twists and turns in the plot that it's almost impossible to discuss any particular aspect of the story without giving away something important by accident, so for that reason I'll keep this short and simple.
I enjoyed Net Switch. The concept was quite unique, and Denise Baer is a competent writer though her style in this novel will take some getting used to. I found it growing on me by the time I was around 50 pages in.
Twists and turns. Man, you want plots twisty enough to confuse the Minotaur, you got 'em here. While Syndey is the main character, and it's her journal that we're ultimately reading, there's more to that journal than meets the eye (or else there's more than one journal--it's hard to say until the pieces start falling into place). Main characters come and go, the same scenarios are described by multiple voices from multiple angles, and the after-effects of such encounters bubble and ripple around until you're asking yourself what really happened.
What DID really happen? Well, Sydney sure would like to know. After all, it seemed like such an innocent thing, meeting up with the mysterious Arcane in an anonymous chat room, but from that lone winter night events start to rapidly spiral out of control and nobody, not the police, not her family, not her friends, not her employer, can offer her a way out.
Don't be put off by the three-star rating. Net Switch IS worth your time, especially if you like mysteries and playing amateur detective. It's dark, it's sexual, it's violent, and it's not afraid to touch you in the bad places. Through sheer coincidence on my part, having finished reading a book with a similar major plot twist in it just before starting Net Switch, I guessed a good bit of what was going on early in the story which took some of the wind out of its sails for me. Had I not read this book (which I will not name--no spoilers!) just prior, I think four stars would have been in order.
Denise Baer's got a unique voice and style, and I very much enjoyed this story. It's not one I probably would have picked up on my own, but that's the beauty of fiction: having something fun thrust upon you by circumstance. In this case, I won a giveaway and was quite pleased with the resulting prize. If you too like thrillers, mysteries, and suspense stories and are likewise not put off by graphic descriptions of violence and some sadistic sex, then go for it.
Net Switch is a difficult book to review. There are so many twists and turns in the plot that it's almost impossible to discuss any particular aspect of the story without giving away something important by accident, so for that reason I'll keep this short and simple.
I enjoyed Net Switch. The concept was quite unique, and Denise Baer is a competent writer though her style in this novel will take some getting used to. I found it growing on me by the time I was around 50 pages in.
Twists and turns. Man, you want plots twisty enough to confuse the Minotaur, you got 'em here. While Syndey is the main character, and it's her journal that we're ultimately reading, there's more to that journal than meets the eye (or else there's more than one journal--it's hard to say until the pieces start falling into place). Main characters come and go, the same scenarios are described by multiple voices from multiple angles, and the after-effects of such encounters bubble and ripple around until you're asking yourself what really happened.
What DID really happen? Well, Sydney sure would like to know. After all, it seemed like such an innocent thing, meeting up with the mysterious Arcane in an anonymous chat room, but from that lone winter night events start to rapidly spiral out of control and nobody, not the police, not her family, not her friends, not her employer, can offer her a way out.
Don't be put off by the three-star rating. Net Switch IS worth your time, especially if you like mysteries and playing amateur detective. It's dark, it's sexual, it's violent, and it's not afraid to touch you in the bad places. Through sheer coincidence on my part, having finished reading a book with a similar major plot twist in it just before starting Net Switch, I guessed a good bit of what was going on early in the story which took some of the wind out of its sails for me. Had I not read this book (which I will not name--no spoilers!) just prior, I think four stars would have been in order.
Denise Baer's got a unique voice and style, and I very much enjoyed this story. It's not one I probably would have picked up on my own, but that's the beauty of fiction: having something fun thrust upon you by circumstance. In this case, I won a giveaway and was quite pleased with the resulting prize. If you too like thrillers, mysteries, and suspense stories and are likewise not put off by graphic descriptions of violence and some sadistic sex, then go for it.
August 12, 2012
Net Switch is an interesting read.
I finished it in two sittings, which is unusual for me. Lately I do not finish most of the books that I start, for one reason or another.
As another reviewer said, do not be put off by the three star rating--it means "I liked it," and I did.
It is a psychological thriller, a mystery, and a suspense novel all rolled up into a (mostly) tight little package. You will believe that you have it all figured out, and you will be wrong.
It is because the plot is so complex that I read it through completely on my second sitting. I wanted to be sure that I missed nothing, and I didn't. Even still, the final plot twist will definitely take you by surprise.
*Full Disclosure*
I am a writer, although not in this genre, and as such I view manuscripts as more than just a reader, but also as an editor. From that perspective, Net Switch would definitely benefit from a mild revision/edit. With that said, what writer's work would not?
This is just a minor point, hardly worth mentioning, but a story this good is definitely worth buying and reading exactly as is.
If you are a fan of suspense thrillers, I highly recommend Net Switch for a Saturday evening read. It does contain mature themes and some graphic language, but they are integral to the plot, and do not detract in any way.
I finished it in two sittings, which is unusual for me. Lately I do not finish most of the books that I start, for one reason or another.
As another reviewer said, do not be put off by the three star rating--it means "I liked it," and I did.
It is a psychological thriller, a mystery, and a suspense novel all rolled up into a (mostly) tight little package. You will believe that you have it all figured out, and you will be wrong.
It is because the plot is so complex that I read it through completely on my second sitting. I wanted to be sure that I missed nothing, and I didn't. Even still, the final plot twist will definitely take you by surprise.
*Full Disclosure*
I am a writer, although not in this genre, and as such I view manuscripts as more than just a reader, but also as an editor. From that perspective, Net Switch would definitely benefit from a mild revision/edit. With that said, what writer's work would not?
This is just a minor point, hardly worth mentioning, but a story this good is definitely worth buying and reading exactly as is.
If you are a fan of suspense thrillers, I highly recommend Net Switch for a Saturday evening read. It does contain mature themes and some graphic language, but they are integral to the plot, and do not detract in any way.
December 14, 2012
This book is well written and hits the ground running, wasting no time in getting right into the story. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it. It is definitely a cautionary tale, showing the very real dangers women expose themselves to hooking up with strangers they meet on the internet. The loneliness of Sydney Hayes leads her to make a choice she can't turn back from, even when she tries. The book is written in a journal entry format, making it even more terrifying and believable. She addresses the reader as "friends" which almost makes it seem like you're reading the journal entries as messages or long status updates on facebook or something like that, which added to a sense of concern for the character.
September 18, 2012
By far, Denise Baer’s Net Switch is the best self-published book I have read. I stayed up late and got up early to finish. Loss of sleep is one of the best compliments for readability that a book can ever receive. The obscure nature of reality fills this psychological suspense novel with multiple mental twists and turns and invites the reader to sit shot-gun with one very tortured soul.
In order to alleviate her suffering, the narrator finds herself in more than one risky situation. Sydney finds herself looking for attention in online chat rooms. When she identifies herself as “Newbie,” a gentleman aptly named Arcane moves in to claim his prey. Sydney makes every mistake that can be made when it comes to meeting people online. It comes as no surprise that the relationship that springs from such secrecy results in pain and frustration for Sydney.
The book is written as a series of journal entries, but from the viewpoints of two narrators. Caitlyn’s entries (fewer and farther in between) seem a bit jarring and unrelated at first, but given how the setting of Net Switch locates the narrator in a mental institution on the first page, the two seemingly disconnected narrators soon morph into two sides of a sad tale.
The narrative is written in a close first-person point of view. Italics are often used to show Sydney carrying on an inner-monologue. The author impressively sustains the almost suffocating perspective throughout the novel, which is no small writing feat. Indeed, the limitations of the narrative voice provide the novel’s utterly engrossing appeal.
The connection between the two voices shown in the journal entries could have perhaps been bridged a bit better with an outside transition between the two, such as another character shown reading the entries to help provide more context. Another small quibble would be in the sexually gratuitous videos found on YouTube and the seemingly inept police officers that appear in the story. Yet, considering the fragile and skewed mindset of both narrators, the reader starts to question their own perceptions of the text.
Sydney then moves to Seattle for a fresh start, but she really just begins slowly unraveling all over again. The reader may question how she affords such a move, but that’s all in the fun of reading this book. Indeed, the reader will question almost everything by the end.
The sex and language flow naturally as part of the story, and overly graphic scenes are not dwelled upon, but could potentially not be to some readers’ taste. However, great literature seeks to capture all walks of life, and Net Switch does just that.
JeriWB’s Rating: 4.5 Stars (“Really Liked It”)
A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for this review.
In order to alleviate her suffering, the narrator finds herself in more than one risky situation. Sydney finds herself looking for attention in online chat rooms. When she identifies herself as “Newbie,” a gentleman aptly named Arcane moves in to claim his prey. Sydney makes every mistake that can be made when it comes to meeting people online. It comes as no surprise that the relationship that springs from such secrecy results in pain and frustration for Sydney.
The book is written as a series of journal entries, but from the viewpoints of two narrators. Caitlyn’s entries (fewer and farther in between) seem a bit jarring and unrelated at first, but given how the setting of Net Switch locates the narrator in a mental institution on the first page, the two seemingly disconnected narrators soon morph into two sides of a sad tale.
The narrative is written in a close first-person point of view. Italics are often used to show Sydney carrying on an inner-monologue. The author impressively sustains the almost suffocating perspective throughout the novel, which is no small writing feat. Indeed, the limitations of the narrative voice provide the novel’s utterly engrossing appeal.
The connection between the two voices shown in the journal entries could have perhaps been bridged a bit better with an outside transition between the two, such as another character shown reading the entries to help provide more context. Another small quibble would be in the sexually gratuitous videos found on YouTube and the seemingly inept police officers that appear in the story. Yet, considering the fragile and skewed mindset of both narrators, the reader starts to question their own perceptions of the text.
Sydney then moves to Seattle for a fresh start, but she really just begins slowly unraveling all over again. The reader may question how she affords such a move, but that’s all in the fun of reading this book. Indeed, the reader will question almost everything by the end.
The sex and language flow naturally as part of the story, and overly graphic scenes are not dwelled upon, but could potentially not be to some readers’ taste. However, great literature seeks to capture all walks of life, and Net Switch does just that.
JeriWB’s Rating: 4.5 Stars (“Really Liked It”)
A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for this review.
January 11, 2012
Denise Baer makes the transition to novels and suspense in Net Switch. This psychological thriller follows Chicagoan Sydney Hayes, a seemingly nominal component of the working world. Her loneliness and a blizzard result in a chat room conversation and a tragic relationship that follows her across the country. Her trials and tribulations include a mental institution, murder, a stalker, and more. Plot twists and tragedies are abundant and readers are definitely left guessing throughout.
Ms. Baer writes in the first person perspective in the guise of journal entries by various characters; Sydney being the primary point of view. The novel focuses primarily on the plot with little attention given to much else. However, this most likely is a conscious decision of the author and can be consistent with the genre. It would not be much of a thriller if all the characters’ secrets were revealed from the start! Some word choices seem out of place and plain, but otherwise the style and writing are above par.
The development and depiction of Sydney by Ms. Baer is spot on. She wanted to create a flawed and insecure character and was successful. Readers will most likely find themselves emotionally angry and dumbfounded by the protagonist and her decisions. It is a struggle at first to relate to her, but is intended. Sydney is a character that creates feelings of both empathy and apathy; a walking oxymoron. This does well to display the dynamics and complexity of her character which deserves attention.
Despite all its strengths, there are some concerns. Ms. Baer’s depiction of policemen throughout the novel is unnerving and throws up a few red flags. The majority of officers manage to ignore, ridicule, or inspire fear for our heroine. This negative portrayal will not inspire confidence in readers about law enforcement, but it is important to note that in many professions there are those that under and overachieve. Perhaps the author intends to warn readers about the pitfalls of blind faith in institutions that the public relies on? To nitpick, the constant hammering of certain phrases in a different font hammers the point across; nearly to the verge of annoyance.
The writing style takes some getting used to, but begins to flow after only a few pages. This novel is a must read for thrill-seekers and fans of psychological journeys. Sexual content does make an appearance, but is far from distasteful. This genre and style is truly unique and stands apart. I cannot wait to see the reception for the novel and for more works from Ms. Baer. Exceptional writing with a strong finish!
~Kaptica
Ms. Baer writes in the first person perspective in the guise of journal entries by various characters; Sydney being the primary point of view. The novel focuses primarily on the plot with little attention given to much else. However, this most likely is a conscious decision of the author and can be consistent with the genre. It would not be much of a thriller if all the characters’ secrets were revealed from the start! Some word choices seem out of place and plain, but otherwise the style and writing are above par.
The development and depiction of Sydney by Ms. Baer is spot on. She wanted to create a flawed and insecure character and was successful. Readers will most likely find themselves emotionally angry and dumbfounded by the protagonist and her decisions. It is a struggle at first to relate to her, but is intended. Sydney is a character that creates feelings of both empathy and apathy; a walking oxymoron. This does well to display the dynamics and complexity of her character which deserves attention.
Despite all its strengths, there are some concerns. Ms. Baer’s depiction of policemen throughout the novel is unnerving and throws up a few red flags. The majority of officers manage to ignore, ridicule, or inspire fear for our heroine. This negative portrayal will not inspire confidence in readers about law enforcement, but it is important to note that in many professions there are those that under and overachieve. Perhaps the author intends to warn readers about the pitfalls of blind faith in institutions that the public relies on? To nitpick, the constant hammering of certain phrases in a different font hammers the point across; nearly to the verge of annoyance.
The writing style takes some getting used to, but begins to flow after only a few pages. This novel is a must read for thrill-seekers and fans of psychological journeys. Sexual content does make an appearance, but is far from distasteful. This genre and style is truly unique and stands apart. I cannot wait to see the reception for the novel and for more works from Ms. Baer. Exceptional writing with a strong finish!
~Kaptica
March 11, 2012
Makes you think twice about online dating...
I received a copy of this book to read/review as an official reviewer from IndieBookBlogger.blogspot.com.
Net Switch is a dark, psychological thriller which picks right up from the start and doesn't really let you go until the end. There is romance, drama, and intense moments of sheer terror all bundled neatly into a journal-esque form throughout the entire book.
The story follows the (unfortunate) exploits of Sydney, a lonely forty-something woman who desperately yearns for some acceptance and love in her life. She meets someone online and starts a relationship, only to have it go horribly wrong. Attempting to rebuild her life, she changes her identity and moves to another state. But as luck would have it, her problems continue to plague her.
Let me start off by saying I enjoy the Author's writing style. Even though the story was just a compilation of journal entries, the story (& terror) she conveyed seemed real, plausible, and it easily kept me turning the page (or swiping my finger: iPad!), eager for more! My critique list has a few entries. First off, I have no problems with the story being comprised entirely of journal entries. I've personally never read an entire book like that, but it didn't detract from the story at all. In fact, I think it worked in the Author's favor and further helped ensnare the reader. Trust me, it worked! :)
What I didn't like, and found incredibly distracting, was the dates of the journal not being in chronological order. Yes, I realize we were meant to learn about another period in he protagonist's life, but the problem was the date jumping wasn't consistent, 2008, then 1984, then back to 2008, 1989, 2008, 2006, 1992, etc. It really made it hard to follow along with the thread of the story. I was constantly flipping back to the previous entry to try and figure out the relevancy of the entry.
I loved the twists and surprises at the end, and I certainly won't give away any spoilers, but it was a little hard to comprehend all of the subtle twists that were thrown in. Was I reading about him or her? Did that really happen or not? Bottom line... If you enjoy a good psychological story which makes you think, then check this one out! It's worth the read!
I received a copy of this book to read/review as an official reviewer from IndieBookBlogger.blogspot.com.
Net Switch is a dark, psychological thriller which picks right up from the start and doesn't really let you go until the end. There is romance, drama, and intense moments of sheer terror all bundled neatly into a journal-esque form throughout the entire book.
The story follows the (unfortunate) exploits of Sydney, a lonely forty-something woman who desperately yearns for some acceptance and love in her life. She meets someone online and starts a relationship, only to have it go horribly wrong. Attempting to rebuild her life, she changes her identity and moves to another state. But as luck would have it, her problems continue to plague her.
Let me start off by saying I enjoy the Author's writing style. Even though the story was just a compilation of journal entries, the story (& terror) she conveyed seemed real, plausible, and it easily kept me turning the page (or swiping my finger: iPad!), eager for more! My critique list has a few entries. First off, I have no problems with the story being comprised entirely of journal entries. I've personally never read an entire book like that, but it didn't detract from the story at all. In fact, I think it worked in the Author's favor and further helped ensnare the reader. Trust me, it worked! :)
What I didn't like, and found incredibly distracting, was the dates of the journal not being in chronological order. Yes, I realize we were meant to learn about another period in he protagonist's life, but the problem was the date jumping wasn't consistent, 2008, then 1984, then back to 2008, 1989, 2008, 2006, 1992, etc. It really made it hard to follow along with the thread of the story. I was constantly flipping back to the previous entry to try and figure out the relevancy of the entry.
I loved the twists and surprises at the end, and I certainly won't give away any spoilers, but it was a little hard to comprehend all of the subtle twists that were thrown in. Was I reading about him or her? Did that really happen or not? Bottom line... If you enjoy a good psychological story which makes you think, then check this one out! It's worth the read!
November 23, 2025
Sydney is trying to get out of the mental institution. Arcane wants to keep her in. The only possibility for her release is to hand over her prize possession-her journal, but can she trust him with her secrets?
In the dead of winter, Sydney Hayes finds herself in an internet chat room in hopes of expelling her loneliness. Enchanted by a stranger, she soon finds herself caught up in an affair that spills over into her everyday life. Within a short period of time, the stranger captures her mind, her body and eventually her heart, but excitement turns to terror and Sydney must abandon the life she built in Chicago and assume a new identity.
A fragile woman in a new city, Sydney tries to put it all behind her as she makes a fresh start in Seattle, but her troubles follow her and she is running out of time. Feeling as though she has no other choice, Sydney is determined to destroy him before he destroys her-unaware that her journal holds the key.
Will she discover the secret before it's too late?
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times
Tropes: Mental Health Rep, Journal, Secrets, Internet Chat Room, Loneliness, Affair, Hidden Identity, Fresh Start, Murder, Tragic Relationship, Trials, Tribulations, Stalker, Tragedy,
Net Switch by Denise Bear.
I have really enjoyed the books by Denise Bear that I have read so far and Net Switch by far is one of her best, I can honestly say that I have lost sleep over this book and IMO that’s one of the best compliments an author can ever receive. There is this ambiguous nature of reality that fills this psychological suspense novel with multiple mental twists and turns that invites the reader to sit front and center next to one very tormented soul.
This is a psychological thriller that follows Chicagoan Sydney Hayes who at first appears to be a normal working-class woman whose loneliness drives her to a chat room conversation and a tragic and toxic relationship that will follow her across the country. Sydney’s trials and tribulations will include a mental institution, murder, a stalker, and oh so much more. There will be plot twists and tragedies abound and readers are going to be left guessing what’s going to happen next.
Sydney finds herself trying to lighten her suffering, and as such she finds herself in multiple risky situations, and sadly they are mostly of her own making. Sydney is lonely and she goes looking for attention online in chat rooms. It’s when she admits that she’s a “Newbie,” one certain gentleman who has appropriately taken the name Arcane moves in to claim his prey.
Really Sydney makes every single mistake the one can make when it comes to meeting people online. And I really wasn’t surprised that the relationship that sprang up from such stealth resulted in so much pain, suffering and frustration for Sydney in the end.
I found that the way Denise wrote this book to be very different and unique. It’s written as a series of journal entries, but we don’t only get journal entries from just Sydney’s POV, we also have another narrator named Caitlyn. And while Caitlyn’s entries do become few and farther between, they are still present. We also find that the setting of Net Switch is in a Mental Institution, we find that the two distinct voices are soon morphing into two sides of what will become such a very sad story.
The story itself it told in this close first-person POV. I loved the way that Denise used Italics to show Sydney’s inner-monologue’s. And Denise manages to use what would be normally suffocating perspective throughout the novel, successfully and this is not an easy writing achievement. With the limitations of the story voice that is provided the novel’s engrossing appeal is utterly shocking and yet it’s not at the same time.
There is a connection between Sydney and Caitlyn’s voice’s that we see in the journal entries that I think Denise was trying to use as a bridge to help with outside transitions between the two, perhaps after another character has been shown to have been reading the journal entries in order to help provide context.
A small issue I have is with the sexually expendable videos that are found on YouTube and the evidently inept police officers that we see in the story. And yet, considering how fragile and skewed the mind of both Sydney and Caitlyn are, we the reader actually find ourselves questioning our own conceptualisations of the text and what we have read, what we are reading and what we will be reading.
We watch Sydney move to Seattle for a fresh new start, but sadly all that happens is rather than finding the new start and happiness she had been searching for, all that happens is she ends up falling apart all over again. I found myself questioning how Sydney was able to afford such a big more, but I’ll admit that that was part of the fun in reading this book. By the end of it, you the reader are going to be questioning everything and anything and you’re going to have to spend some time putting your own head back on straight.
The language, the sex, it all flows so beautifully and naturally as part of this story and even the overly graphic scenes you find yourself not really dwelling that much on. But I can also see how this book wouldn’t be to every reader’s taste.
Denise did an interesting job with her character development of Sydney. Denise created this flawed insecure character and she was successful with this. I found myself emotionally angry and astounded by Sydney and all the decisions that she makes. I had a hard time to really connect to her at first, but as I read, I realized that Denise had intended it to be this way. Sydney is the kind of character who creates feeling of both empathy and apathy at the same time; she is the perfect walking oxymoron. This perfectly displays the dynamics and the complexities of Sydney’s character and she deserves all the attention.
While there are a lot of strengths in the character developments, there are concerns at the same time. There is the description of the policemen throughout the novel and it’s really very unnerving and it throws up more than a few red flags. We see the majority of the officers managing to ignore, ridicule, or inspire fear for Sydney. I will promise you that this negative portrayal is not going to inspire any confidence in the reader about law enforcement, but at the same time you have to note that in a lot of professions there are those that under and overachieve. I think that Denise intended to warn all readers about the pitfalls of having the blind faith in any institution that the public relies on.
One of the great things that literature does is strives to capture all walks of life, and I can promise you that Net Switch does exactly that.
In the dead of winter, Sydney Hayes finds herself in an internet chat room in hopes of expelling her loneliness. Enchanted by a stranger, she soon finds herself caught up in an affair that spills over into her everyday life. Within a short period of time, the stranger captures her mind, her body and eventually her heart, but excitement turns to terror and Sydney must abandon the life she built in Chicago and assume a new identity.
A fragile woman in a new city, Sydney tries to put it all behind her as she makes a fresh start in Seattle, but her troubles follow her and she is running out of time. Feeling as though she has no other choice, Sydney is determined to destroy him before he destroys her-unaware that her journal holds the key.
Will she discover the secret before it's too late?
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times
Tropes: Mental Health Rep, Journal, Secrets, Internet Chat Room, Loneliness, Affair, Hidden Identity, Fresh Start, Murder, Tragic Relationship, Trials, Tribulations, Stalker, Tragedy,
Net Switch by Denise Bear.
I have really enjoyed the books by Denise Bear that I have read so far and Net Switch by far is one of her best, I can honestly say that I have lost sleep over this book and IMO that’s one of the best compliments an author can ever receive. There is this ambiguous nature of reality that fills this psychological suspense novel with multiple mental twists and turns that invites the reader to sit front and center next to one very tormented soul.
This is a psychological thriller that follows Chicagoan Sydney Hayes who at first appears to be a normal working-class woman whose loneliness drives her to a chat room conversation and a tragic and toxic relationship that will follow her across the country. Sydney’s trials and tribulations will include a mental institution, murder, a stalker, and oh so much more. There will be plot twists and tragedies abound and readers are going to be left guessing what’s going to happen next.
Sydney finds herself trying to lighten her suffering, and as such she finds herself in multiple risky situations, and sadly they are mostly of her own making. Sydney is lonely and she goes looking for attention online in chat rooms. It’s when she admits that she’s a “Newbie,” one certain gentleman who has appropriately taken the name Arcane moves in to claim his prey.
Really Sydney makes every single mistake the one can make when it comes to meeting people online. And I really wasn’t surprised that the relationship that sprang up from such stealth resulted in so much pain, suffering and frustration for Sydney in the end.
I found that the way Denise wrote this book to be very different and unique. It’s written as a series of journal entries, but we don’t only get journal entries from just Sydney’s POV, we also have another narrator named Caitlyn. And while Caitlyn’s entries do become few and farther between, they are still present. We also find that the setting of Net Switch is in a Mental Institution, we find that the two distinct voices are soon morphing into two sides of what will become such a very sad story.
The story itself it told in this close first-person POV. I loved the way that Denise used Italics to show Sydney’s inner-monologue’s. And Denise manages to use what would be normally suffocating perspective throughout the novel, successfully and this is not an easy writing achievement. With the limitations of the story voice that is provided the novel’s engrossing appeal is utterly shocking and yet it’s not at the same time.
There is a connection between Sydney and Caitlyn’s voice’s that we see in the journal entries that I think Denise was trying to use as a bridge to help with outside transitions between the two, perhaps after another character has been shown to have been reading the journal entries in order to help provide context.
A small issue I have is with the sexually expendable videos that are found on YouTube and the evidently inept police officers that we see in the story. And yet, considering how fragile and skewed the mind of both Sydney and Caitlyn are, we the reader actually find ourselves questioning our own conceptualisations of the text and what we have read, what we are reading and what we will be reading.
We watch Sydney move to Seattle for a fresh new start, but sadly all that happens is rather than finding the new start and happiness she had been searching for, all that happens is she ends up falling apart all over again. I found myself questioning how Sydney was able to afford such a big more, but I’ll admit that that was part of the fun in reading this book. By the end of it, you the reader are going to be questioning everything and anything and you’re going to have to spend some time putting your own head back on straight.
The language, the sex, it all flows so beautifully and naturally as part of this story and even the overly graphic scenes you find yourself not really dwelling that much on. But I can also see how this book wouldn’t be to every reader’s taste.
Denise did an interesting job with her character development of Sydney. Denise created this flawed insecure character and she was successful with this. I found myself emotionally angry and astounded by Sydney and all the decisions that she makes. I had a hard time to really connect to her at first, but as I read, I realized that Denise had intended it to be this way. Sydney is the kind of character who creates feeling of both empathy and apathy at the same time; she is the perfect walking oxymoron. This perfectly displays the dynamics and the complexities of Sydney’s character and she deserves all the attention.
While there are a lot of strengths in the character developments, there are concerns at the same time. There is the description of the policemen throughout the novel and it’s really very unnerving and it throws up more than a few red flags. We see the majority of the officers managing to ignore, ridicule, or inspire fear for Sydney. I will promise you that this negative portrayal is not going to inspire any confidence in the reader about law enforcement, but at the same time you have to note that in a lot of professions there are those that under and overachieve. I think that Denise intended to warn all readers about the pitfalls of having the blind faith in any institution that the public relies on.
One of the great things that literature does is strives to capture all walks of life, and I can promise you that Net Switch does exactly that.
January 24, 2013
Net Switch is a psychological thriller and a survival story, it mixes a bit of drama with the mundane, a bit of mystery with crime and manages to do it in a way that had me believing I knew what was coming (occasionally I did), but most of the time being knocked for six by something completely unexpected.
The unexpected twists in this story all made complete sense once explained, they were complex and well thought out and sometimes so completely gut-wrenching I was staring wide-eyed at my kindle. The deceptively simple ways Denise twisted things was truly brilliant.
Denise Baer has unleashed a truly scary book here, yet you'll find no ghosts or goblins.
Taking the format of journal entries, this book may not be everyone's cup of tea, but give it a try if you would like a true mind-bender. Explore the inner mental processes of Sydney and experience the story as she sees it.
I doubt you will be disappointed.
*Note:I was provided an electronic version of this book in return for an honest review*
The unexpected twists in this story all made complete sense once explained, they were complex and well thought out and sometimes so completely gut-wrenching I was staring wide-eyed at my kindle. The deceptively simple ways Denise twisted things was truly brilliant.
Denise Baer has unleashed a truly scary book here, yet you'll find no ghosts or goblins.
Taking the format of journal entries, this book may not be everyone's cup of tea, but give it a try if you would like a true mind-bender. Explore the inner mental processes of Sydney and experience the story as she sees it.
I doubt you will be disappointed.
*Note:I was provided an electronic version of this book in return for an honest review*
August 6, 2012
I received the book through the Goodreads giveaways
Suspense is a word that comes to mind to describe this read, it keep me on my toes and forehead wrinkled in trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, in a good way. I was definitely confused when reading the novel because of the time gaps between the journal entries of Caitlyn and Sydney, but everything tied together nicely as the novel went on.
As a psychology student it was intriguing and exciting to read this book. If mystery/suspense/and psychological thrillers are what you seek, this is wholeheartedly a book for you to read. It also makes you think twice before divulging your personal life on the Internet or to anyone one in general.
Suspense is a word that comes to mind to describe this read, it keep me on my toes and forehead wrinkled in trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, in a good way. I was definitely confused when reading the novel because of the time gaps between the journal entries of Caitlyn and Sydney, but everything tied together nicely as the novel went on.
As a psychology student it was intriguing and exciting to read this book. If mystery/suspense/and psychological thrillers are what you seek, this is wholeheartedly a book for you to read. It also makes you think twice before divulging your personal life on the Internet or to anyone one in general.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2012
Net Switch is a fast paced psychological thriller. It quickly catches the reader's attention and holds it throughout. The main characters Sydney has a chance online encounter with a younger man that leads to him stalking her. The action is at times intense as she struggles to keep herself safe from a man that seems almost invisible at times.
It is a well thought out and well written story. True to the thriller genre there are many twists and turns to the plot before the truth is at last revealed. (I hesitate to even discuss the plot for fear of spoiling things.) All in all it's a great book I would happily recommend. As far comparisons I would put it in the same vein as a Chuck Palahanuik novel like Fight Club or Invisible Monsters.
It is a well thought out and well written story. True to the thriller genre there are many twists and turns to the plot before the truth is at last revealed. (I hesitate to even discuss the plot for fear of spoiling things.) All in all it's a great book I would happily recommend. As far comparisons I would put it in the same vein as a Chuck Palahanuik novel like Fight Club or Invisible Monsters.
August 10, 2013
This is one of the best books I have read in quite a while. Full of twists and turns. As a reader, a book has to grab me in the first few sentences or I tend to put it away. I couldn't get enough of this book. I wanted to finish it in one day, but schedules don't permit that so I allowed myself something to look forward to for a three day period of time. I don't want to talk much about the plot b/c I fear giving anything away. However, this book has humor, suspense, keeps you on your toes. After researching this author, I was shocked to see that this was her first novel. As a self published, unknown author, her writing is in the same caliber as well known traditional authors.
May 14, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the author, whom I know through a book club, in return for an honest review.
The story of the main character in this book was interesting, mysterious and I could not let the book down the moment I started reading it. I finished it over two consecutive days. Because I am doing my medical residency in the psychiatry, I thought at the beginning, that it would be difficult to write an honest review without criticising many aspects of psychiatry-related issues in the book. However, based on how the story ends, I do not have anything to criticise. I recommend reading this book.
The story of the main character in this book was interesting, mysterious and I could not let the book down the moment I started reading it. I finished it over two consecutive days. Because I am doing my medical residency in the psychiatry, I thought at the beginning, that it would be difficult to write an honest review without criticising many aspects of psychiatry-related issues in the book. However, based on how the story ends, I do not have anything to criticise. I recommend reading this book.
January 6, 2012
In a word – wow. A psychological thriller is not something I would have picked up had I not been familiar with the author. I’m usually a wimp when it comes to the books that get your heart pounding, but I’m glad I picked this one up. The writing style is exceptional and the story keeps you turning pages. I am a bad one for always figuring things out and this had me guessing the whole way through. Even at the end when I think I had it – there was a new twist. My heart poured out for Sydney. Nice job, Denise. I look forward to more from you.
July 13, 2012
Denise Baer employs deceptively simple language to spin a complex dream catcher of a nightmare tale, told almost entirely in streaming journal entries.
Reading this book will have you peeling the metaphysical onion, tears and all. She has constructed a conch seashell of a phycological mystery that pulls you in with a tidal roar of brutal physicality and frightened whispering emotions
In short, this story travels the galaxy of raw interacting events to a total unsuspected shocking conclusion.
Reading this book will have you peeling the metaphysical onion, tears and all. She has constructed a conch seashell of a phycological mystery that pulls you in with a tidal roar of brutal physicality and frightened whispering emotions
In short, this story travels the galaxy of raw interacting events to a total unsuspected shocking conclusion.
June 15, 2012
This is a book that everyone should read before logging on and telling everything you know about yourself. "Think twice" is good advice, but that doesn't do this story justice.
On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog!
I know a guy who was yakking to everyone online about his up-coming vacation. When he returned, he discovered that all his sheep had been carted off - a $25,000 loss. All that was left of the flock was a pile of ears next to the barn. For those who don't know, sheep have/had ear tags. Sorta creepy. Eh?
On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog!
I know a guy who was yakking to everyone online about his up-coming vacation. When he returned, he discovered that all his sheep had been carted off - a $25,000 loss. All that was left of the flock was a pile of ears next to the barn. For those who don't know, sheep have/had ear tags. Sorta creepy. Eh?
March 30, 2018
*2.5 stars
DNF'ed at page 87
This book is very heavy, and felt that while reading it. I could only read a few pages at the time before putting it down, because it was effect me. I do feel that this is a personal experience for me. Overall the book is greatly written and very engrossing, I am wondering what would happen, but mentally I can't handle finishing it.
DNF'ed at page 87
This book is very heavy, and felt that while reading it. I could only read a few pages at the time before putting it down, because it was effect me. I do feel that this is a personal experience for me. Overall the book is greatly written and very engrossing, I am wondering what would happen, but mentally I can't handle finishing it.
April 18, 2013
This book was amazing! I loved how it was written in journal form and all of the suspense. The ending really made sense and I thought it was brilliantly executed!
February 18, 2016
The first half of the book was confusing and I didn't think I was going to like the book at all. Woah, it sure did pick up! Once you start uncovering more information; wow!
November 26, 2025
WOW! What did I just read!? This was a very gripping psychological thriller. Sydney was an amazing FMC in this book. Everything that she went through was crazy. That journal was a roller coaster ride. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, the story took a turn. I was just completely blown away. The writing was intense, but the journal entries really kept you bouncing around. In a good way. I’ve read a few books by Denise, but I have to say this one is my fave so far. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around how she dove so deep and was so on point with the DID. One thing I’ve noticed about Denise, is that when she uses any sort of disorder in her writings, it’s clear she does her homework.
I’m very impressed. I loved this book. I devoured it in one sitting.
I’m very impressed. I loved this book. I devoured it in one sitting.
July 4, 2024
Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The psychological twists in this novel definitely kept me interested, but the switching between characters (until the end) mostly just had me confused and looking back to see if I misunderstood something. Some parts are a bit graphic and cringy. Overall-page turner.
The psychological twists in this novel definitely kept me interested, but the switching between characters (until the end) mostly just had me confused and looking back to see if I misunderstood something. Some parts are a bit graphic and cringy. Overall-page turner.
November 25, 2025
What a read!! This had me in a spin. The twists and turns kept on coming. I felt the last part gave me whiplash in a good way lol
I read it in a day as I couldn’t put it down. Let me just say that I’ve had a hard time concentrating lately yet I was able to breeze through this.. shows how well written it is. I would definitely recommend this story.
I read it in a day as I couldn’t put it down. Let me just say that I’ve had a hard time concentrating lately yet I was able to breeze through this.. shows how well written it is. I would definitely recommend this story.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews