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The Man She Married
How can you fight for a life you can't remember?
One moment I was just living my life, finding my way in the world. The next I woke up in a hospital bed with years of my life missing.
The man by my side – Rob, my husband – looks familiar, but I can't remember marrying him. I can’t remember our life together. Most haunting of all: I can’t remember anything about the last five years.
Rob keeps telling me that everything will be fine, that my memories will return, but something feels... wrong. Why does our flat feel so unfamiliar? Why does he flinch when I ask questions? Why are none of my friends and family in touch?
The more I try to piece my life back together, the more I question everything – even myself. Who is Rob, really? And can I trust him? More importantly, can I trust myself?
One moment I was just living my life, finding my way in the world. The next I woke up in a hospital bed with years of my life missing.
The man by my side – Rob, my husband – looks familiar, but I can't remember marrying him. I can’t remember our life together. Most haunting of all: I can’t remember anything about the last five years.
Rob keeps telling me that everything will be fine, that my memories will return, but something feels... wrong. Why does our flat feel so unfamiliar? Why does he flinch when I ask questions? Why are none of my friends and family in touch?
The more I try to piece my life back together, the more I question everything – even myself. Who is Rob, really? And can I trust him? More importantly, can I trust myself?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
November 9, 2025
*Desperate Acts*
Beth wakes up in a hospital bed, having lost the last five years of her life. When her husband Rob, comes to see her she feels like he is a stranger. A nurse suggests her instincts might still be there despite her memory loss.
As she prepares to return home, she remains uneasy. Initially attributing her feelings to her memory loss, she soon experiences flashbacks. Can she trust them?
Beth struggles to connect with her house and questions why she lacks friends and why her world feels so small.
The more she spends time with Rob, the more uncomfortable she becomes as glimpses of his temper surface.
Beth grapples with trusting his version of their lives and the accident that caused her memory loss.
As more flashbacks return, she realises Rob may not be who he seems.
Further revelations about her past introduce two more characters who might hold some answers. A showdown ensues, adding to the tension and trepidation throughout the story.
While I sympathised with Beth, I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. I was unsure if I could trust her or them. Nevertheless if you like suspense stories then this is for you.
Beth wakes up in a hospital bed, having lost the last five years of her life. When her husband Rob, comes to see her she feels like he is a stranger. A nurse suggests her instincts might still be there despite her memory loss.
As she prepares to return home, she remains uneasy. Initially attributing her feelings to her memory loss, she soon experiences flashbacks. Can she trust them?
Beth struggles to connect with her house and questions why she lacks friends and why her world feels so small.
The more she spends time with Rob, the more uncomfortable she becomes as glimpses of his temper surface.
Beth grapples with trusting his version of their lives and the accident that caused her memory loss.
As more flashbacks return, she realises Rob may not be who he seems.
Further revelations about her past introduce two more characters who might hold some answers. A showdown ensues, adding to the tension and trepidation throughout the story.
While I sympathised with Beth, I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. I was unsure if I could trust her or them. Nevertheless if you like suspense stories then this is for you.
February 10, 2025
This book opens with the heroine making reckless decisions on the road, which nearly lost me right from the start. But as the story progressed, I came to appreciate her fighting spirit. I loved her attempt to get her lick back against her controlling husband. I love a main character who takes risks to change their circumstances, even when their efforts backfire.
I understand why some readers feel the book ends abruptly, but I grew to appreciate the unconventional conclusion. That said, I do wish it had a bit more excitement.
I’ve always found the idea of vomiting as a response to bad news or shocking events rather odd. Well, that trope has made its way across the pond. I’m not sure it added anything to the narrative.
Because of how it started, I thought I would give this book three stars. But by the end, that rating felt too low. Four it is. Recommended.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I understand why some readers feel the book ends abruptly, but I grew to appreciate the unconventional conclusion. That said, I do wish it had a bit more excitement.
I’ve always found the idea of vomiting as a response to bad news or shocking events rather odd. Well, that trope has made its way across the pond. I’m not sure it added anything to the narrative.
Because of how it started, I thought I would give this book three stars. But by the end, that rating felt too low. Four it is. Recommended.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
January 6, 2025
WOW! What a page turner. I loved this book from start to finish and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller. I love how the author developed each character and kept me going back and forth in my thoughts of whether they were trustworthy or not. It was so engaging that there were times my heart was racing and I felt I was right there watching the story play out for a close friend. This book was amazing hands down!
January 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! From the beginning the reader is able to see that things are being hidden from Beth, but the reader is also in the dark as well. As we learn along with Beth the reader is able to kind of start to piece everything together.
The really interesting part about this is that you can't trust Beth and her memories and emotions, but Beth also can't trust herself either. The reader and Beth are trying to decipher what has actually happened and what all are lies. Beth struggles throughout the whole book with who she can actually trust when she doesn't remember any of them.
This book is very fast-paced, and kept me very invested the whole time, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning Beth's family secrets with Beth. I did think some of the plot twists were things that I could have guessed, but how we got to the plot twists was very enjoyable.
I rated this book a 4/5 star. I enjoyed the characters, but there were a few things that I think could have been resolved easier than Beth did it, but at the same time her brain wasn't exactly working in a logical way for some of the book. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller, especially with an unreliable narrator (my personal favorite!).
The really interesting part about this is that you can't trust Beth and her memories and emotions, but Beth also can't trust herself either. The reader and Beth are trying to decipher what has actually happened and what all are lies. Beth struggles throughout the whole book with who she can actually trust when she doesn't remember any of them.
This book is very fast-paced, and kept me very invested the whole time, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning Beth's family secrets with Beth. I did think some of the plot twists were things that I could have guessed, but how we got to the plot twists was very enjoyable.
I rated this book a 4/5 star. I enjoyed the characters, but there were a few things that I think could have been resolved easier than Beth did it, but at the same time her brain wasn't exactly working in a logical way for some of the book. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller, especially with an unreliable narrator (my personal favorite!).
January 24, 2025
My heart! This book was so excellent, albeit difficult to read at times due to emotionally heavy content. I am still recovering! I love books that are deeply emotional, plots that touch a part of your soul, characters that leave such an impression that you find yourself thinking about them and wondering if they’re okay – even when you’re not reading. This book was all that, and more.
Beth wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there and soon discovers she has no memory of the last five years of her life. She’s staring at a man she doesn’t recognize who is supposed to be her husband. She has to return to a home she doesn’t remember and a life she didn’t know she had. Nothing is familiar, nothing makes sense… and certain things aren’t adding up.
Ugh, I could cry all over again just thinking about it! I immediately loved Beth, and my heart ached for what she was going through. There were so many moments where I wanted to scream into the pages of this book to protect her, warn her, and help her figure out what she wasn’t seeing.
I definitely recommend this book. It reads so fast simply because you won't be able to put it down! You’ll cry, you’ll get angry, you have chills run down your spine! My only “complaint,” if you can call it that, is that I wanted more from the ending. Everything came together so quickly in the end, and my aching heart needed a slower pace with lots of reassurance and time to heal.
Beth wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there and soon discovers she has no memory of the last five years of her life. She’s staring at a man she doesn’t recognize who is supposed to be her husband. She has to return to a home she doesn’t remember and a life she didn’t know she had. Nothing is familiar, nothing makes sense… and certain things aren’t adding up.
Ugh, I could cry all over again just thinking about it! I immediately loved Beth, and my heart ached for what she was going through. There were so many moments where I wanted to scream into the pages of this book to protect her, warn her, and help her figure out what she wasn’t seeing.
I definitely recommend this book. It reads so fast simply because you won't be able to put it down! You’ll cry, you’ll get angry, you have chills run down your spine! My only “complaint,” if you can call it that, is that I wanted more from the ending. Everything came together so quickly in the end, and my aching heart needed a slower pace with lots of reassurance and time to heal.
December 10, 2024
Beth wakes up in the hospital after being in a horrible car accident. Her doctor explains she appears to be suffering from retrograde amnesia due to the fact she believes it's the year 2019. In Beth's mind, she's 24 years old, working at a local cafe in Australia, living with her parents. She's shocked when she's told it's actually 2024...and that she's in England...and her husband has been waiting for her to wake up.
Beth has lost the previous five years and has absolutely no recollection of this man at her bedside claiming to be her husband, Rob.
However, when Rob takes Beth home she does have a few moments where her actions are automatic, knowing where things are without having to think about it.
As she recovers, she seeks answers about the life she can't remember, which curiously makes Rob angry. He brushes his behavior off as wanting to take care of her, reminding her she needs to rest and that she needs time to allow the memories to come back to her organically.
But Beth knows she's always been independent, logical, and searches for answers anyway. Finding a phone, she's able to log in and starts to search for herself. She learns a mother of two children was also involved in the same crash as her; something that absolutely devastates her. Maybe Rob was right and the accident was too horrific to force the memories to come; her brain doesn't seem ready to process what happened.
As Beth continues to recover, she's shocked at the version of herself Rob claims she was; her closet doesn't contain clothes she'd ever wear; her extremely sparse social media shows pictures of things she'd never do, let alone post.
Isolated and feeling completely alone, Beth is determined to put the pieces of her life together with or without Rob's help.
This is the first book I've read by Alison Stockham but I've immediately added her others to my ever-growing TBR list. This was a four star read and one I would highly encourage fellow thriller fans to check out!
Beth has lost the previous five years and has absolutely no recollection of this man at her bedside claiming to be her husband, Rob.
However, when Rob takes Beth home she does have a few moments where her actions are automatic, knowing where things are without having to think about it.
As she recovers, she seeks answers about the life she can't remember, which curiously makes Rob angry. He brushes his behavior off as wanting to take care of her, reminding her she needs to rest and that she needs time to allow the memories to come back to her organically.
But Beth knows she's always been independent, logical, and searches for answers anyway. Finding a phone, she's able to log in and starts to search for herself. She learns a mother of two children was also involved in the same crash as her; something that absolutely devastates her. Maybe Rob was right and the accident was too horrific to force the memories to come; her brain doesn't seem ready to process what happened.
As Beth continues to recover, she's shocked at the version of herself Rob claims she was; her closet doesn't contain clothes she'd ever wear; her extremely sparse social media shows pictures of things she'd never do, let alone post.
Isolated and feeling completely alone, Beth is determined to put the pieces of her life together with or without Rob's help.
This is the first book I've read by Alison Stockham but I've immediately added her others to my ever-growing TBR list. This was a four star read and one I would highly encourage fellow thriller fans to check out!
January 16, 2025
The Man She Married by Alison Stockham is a pulse-pounding domestic thriller that will boil your blood!
This is one of the books that you will want to share with someone who is going through DV without realising it. This book clearly shows the red flags and levels of manipulation that are not easy to spot if you live in a household with an abuser.
The story caught my attention straight away! And oh my, when they were trying to explain about COVID, it felt like a dystopian story... but we lived through, all of us! So surreal!
I liked the characters as they were action-orientated instead of just crying in the corner!
Beth wakes up after a car accident and realises she is missing a massive chunk of her life. She does not recognise people around, and the country she lives in but she must trust them because she can't remember anything... At the same time, her gut instinct screams she is in danger... who to trust when you can't trust anyone?
If you don't recognise your husband, can you trust him?
I loved this book from start to finish! It was nice to see how the story unfolds, how events fall into place and how characters find the way forward.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this copy!
This is one of the books that you will want to share with someone who is going through DV without realising it. This book clearly shows the red flags and levels of manipulation that are not easy to spot if you live in a household with an abuser.
The story caught my attention straight away! And oh my, when they were trying to explain about COVID, it felt like a dystopian story... but we lived through, all of us! So surreal!
I liked the characters as they were action-orientated instead of just crying in the corner!
Beth wakes up after a car accident and realises she is missing a massive chunk of her life. She does not recognise people around, and the country she lives in but she must trust them because she can't remember anything... At the same time, her gut instinct screams she is in danger... who to trust when you can't trust anyone?
If you don't recognise your husband, can you trust him?
I loved this book from start to finish! It was nice to see how the story unfolds, how events fall into place and how characters find the way forward.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this copy!
February 21, 2025
brief summary:
beth is in a car accident and wakes up with amnesia- she cannot remember the past five years which includes moving to england from australia and meeting the man who she is told is her husband. as beth lives with her husband she begins to doubt him and the way he treats her as she finds out that he is hiding a lot of things from her but she is not sure what since she is isolated from everyone.
i couldnt put this book down it was so so good- i read it within a few hours. not knowing who to trust or what was going to happen made it so captivating. it was also very emotional and was hard to read at times because of the topics covered but i was just rooting for beth all throughout the book.
ps why did the author write the word pooky or pooks 100 times?? please stop xxxx
beth is in a car accident and wakes up with amnesia- she cannot remember the past five years which includes moving to england from australia and meeting the man who she is told is her husband. as beth lives with her husband she begins to doubt him and the way he treats her as she finds out that he is hiding a lot of things from her but she is not sure what since she is isolated from everyone.
i couldnt put this book down it was so so good- i read it within a few hours. not knowing who to trust or what was going to happen made it so captivating. it was also very emotional and was hard to read at times because of the topics covered but i was just rooting for beth all throughout the book.
ps why did the author write the word pooky or pooks 100 times?? please stop xxxx
July 15, 2025
this was a PAINFULLY slow book that had so much build up for absolutely nothing. the ending? STUPIDDDD. also 3 stars immediately gone bc the author insists of having the fmc’s friend call her “babe” EVERY. OTHER. WORD. IN. EVERY. SENTENCE. and the mmc calls her “pooky” every 3 seconds 😭 I COULDNT TAKE IT.
ALSO THE LACK OF CRITICAL THINKING FOR THIS PLOT??? INSANE!!! you’re telling me a woman undergoes severe trauma and BRAIN DAMAGE HELLOOOOO, gets dumped into the arms of a “husband” she doesn’t recognize and the hospital/doctors don’t find it weird that she never showed up for any follow up appointments??? BYE
ALSO THE LACK OF CRITICAL THINKING FOR THIS PLOT??? INSANE!!! you’re telling me a woman undergoes severe trauma and BRAIN DAMAGE HELLOOOOO, gets dumped into the arms of a “husband” she doesn’t recognize and the hospital/doctors don’t find it weird that she never showed up for any follow up appointments??? BYE
February 13, 2025
You wake up in a hospital, having no idea what happened to land you there. You find out you’re married and are supposed to just go home with this stranger, playing happy wife.
I thought that this storyline was going in a direction of her not actually being married to the guy, but she is and she really did lose like 5 years of memory. Anyway, she starts to notice pretty quickly that something is just wrong, very wrong with all of this.
This story really kept me engaged throughout, but I swear, if her friend Dee said “babe” one more time, I was going to lose it.
I thought that this storyline was going in a direction of her not actually being married to the guy, but she is and she really did lose like 5 years of memory. Anyway, she starts to notice pretty quickly that something is just wrong, very wrong with all of this.
This story really kept me engaged throughout, but I swear, if her friend Dee said “babe” one more time, I was going to lose it.
January 5, 2025
I started and finished this book in one day, it really was THAT good. I was intrigued from the first page and can honestly say the author kept my attention the entire way through. There were little twists turns, that had me second guessing every character involved and I couldn't put the book down until I was finished and had all the answers! It was an easy read, written well and easy to follow. Would reccommend for sure, 10 out of 10 for me!!
January 11, 2025
Alison Stockham is a new author for me. The story kept me reading but also with a lot of questions that weren’t answered. I kept expecting a twist but none came. In my opinion it was an ok read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
January 27, 2025
3.5 star
Good enjoyable read.
I liked the first half of the book more than the second half.
If you’re into thrillers that focuses on husband and wife I highly recommend this book.
Good enjoyable read.
I liked the first half of the book more than the second half.
If you’re into thrillers that focuses on husband and wife I highly recommend this book.
June 11, 2025
I have given this 3 stars for the storyline. The book was something of a page turner, although the ending seemed somewhat contrived.
The writing, however, is not good - "there he was, stood in the lounge" (or something like that - it was the use of "stood" that annoyed me) is just one example of poor use of the English language.
More of a "read on a long journey" than any literary merit.
The writing, however, is not good - "there he was, stood in the lounge" (or something like that - it was the use of "stood" that annoyed me) is just one example of poor use of the English language.
More of a "read on a long journey" than any literary merit.
March 21, 2025
When Beth wakes up in a hospital bed, she has no idea how she got there. She is even more confused when she finds out she is in England rather that her Australian homeland, and that the man tenderly holding her hand claims to be her husband.
Five years of Beth's life have vanished in an instant. She does not recognise her husband, Rob, or anything about the life he says they lead. Everything he tells her about their so called happy marriage feels wrong, and she is dubious of the reasons he gives for her having cut contact with her family and friends. Who is this man? Can she trust him? What has happened in the last five years for her to be living a life she surely would not have chosen?
Beth wakes up after a car accident to find she has retrograde amnesia, which has taken away her memories of the last five years. Everything about the life she seems to be living, starting with the man who says he is her devoted husband, is alien to her. She is frightened and deeply suspicious... and she has every reason to be.
The story unfurls from the moment Beth regains consciousness, and Stockham makes the absolute best of this unsettling situation. The tension creeps up as years of psychological trauma are stripped away, driven by shocking reveals from the discoveries Beth makes while the increasingly unlikable Rob is absent, and the impact of fragments of memory that randomly return to her.
Suffice to say you will come to detest that whopping liar Rob, be turning the pages in a frenzy urging Beth to find the means to escape from her terrifying predicament, and be in awe of the way Stockham keeps her cards very close to her chest when it comes to the twist and turns that come at you thick and fast.
For a gritty story like this, with a shockingly extreme premise, there are pleasingly relatable characters and moments, which I think comes from the clever way Stockham shines a light on the motivations of the characters throughout. I really enjoyed how she explores the fascinating subjects of memory, and trauma based amnesia; and she does an excellent job getting to grips with coercive control, and how its insidious poison can spread until you find yourself isolated from your friends, family, and even your own self.
I consumed this little gem in one tasty gulp, totally glued to the page from eerie beginning to extremely satisfying ending. This stunning mash-up of Before I Go to Sleep meets Sleeping with the Enemy is Alison Stockham's best thriller yet!
Five years of Beth's life have vanished in an instant. She does not recognise her husband, Rob, or anything about the life he says they lead. Everything he tells her about their so called happy marriage feels wrong, and she is dubious of the reasons he gives for her having cut contact with her family and friends. Who is this man? Can she trust him? What has happened in the last five years for her to be living a life she surely would not have chosen?
Beth wakes up after a car accident to find she has retrograde amnesia, which has taken away her memories of the last five years. Everything about the life she seems to be living, starting with the man who says he is her devoted husband, is alien to her. She is frightened and deeply suspicious... and she has every reason to be.
The story unfurls from the moment Beth regains consciousness, and Stockham makes the absolute best of this unsettling situation. The tension creeps up as years of psychological trauma are stripped away, driven by shocking reveals from the discoveries Beth makes while the increasingly unlikable Rob is absent, and the impact of fragments of memory that randomly return to her.
Suffice to say you will come to detest that whopping liar Rob, be turning the pages in a frenzy urging Beth to find the means to escape from her terrifying predicament, and be in awe of the way Stockham keeps her cards very close to her chest when it comes to the twist and turns that come at you thick and fast.
For a gritty story like this, with a shockingly extreme premise, there are pleasingly relatable characters and moments, which I think comes from the clever way Stockham shines a light on the motivations of the characters throughout. I really enjoyed how she explores the fascinating subjects of memory, and trauma based amnesia; and she does an excellent job getting to grips with coercive control, and how its insidious poison can spread until you find yourself isolated from your friends, family, and even your own self.
I consumed this little gem in one tasty gulp, totally glued to the page from eerie beginning to extremely satisfying ending. This stunning mash-up of Before I Go to Sleep meets Sleeping with the Enemy is Alison Stockham's best thriller yet!
March 21, 2025
Beth wakes up in hospital with no memory of what happened or how she got there. She’s told she had a car accident and that they’ve called her husband. But Beth doesn’t have a husband. And how did she end up in England when she’s never left Australia? The Doctor tells her she has retrograde amnesia and Beth learns she’s lost five years of her life. Rob, the man they say is her husband, takes her home to recover and keeps telling her everything will be fine. But Beth can’t shake her feelings of unease. And it seems that the more she learns, the more questions she has. Can she really trust what Rob is saying? Moreover, can she trust her own mind?
Dark, emotive and unbearably tense, Alison Stockham had me in her thrall from start to finish with this unsettling thriller. I listened to this on audiobook and loved how evocatively the narrator told the story, immediately pulling me in. But it is Stockham’s writing that really stole the show. Expertly written, tightly plotted and fast-paced, it was hard to predict and I didn’t see those jaw-dropping twists coming. Filled with adrenaline and atmosphere, the suspense and fear pervades every page and you’ve no idea who to trust or what the truth is.
The story was filled with characters who are complex, flawed, relatable and real which made it easy to feel invested in their lives and care about what happened to them. Beth is likeable and Stockham does a great job of putting the reader in her shoes. From the moment Beth wakes up in hospital we feel her confusion, fear and disarray. Her flashbacks were so vivid and palpable that I would feel my own heart race alongside hers, and my heart broke as she tried to remember the pieces of her life she’d lost. But where I empathised most of all was with Beth’s feelings regarding her husband, Rob. Rob triggered my bad guy radar early on with what seemed like cold, mean and manipulative behaviour. And there was also the uneasy feeling he gave Beth. But what I liked was that you couldn’t be completely sure you were right about anything or anyone in this story as Stockman kept you questioning your own mind, just as Beth questioned hers.
Taut, twisty and unnerving, Alison Stockman has crafted a consuming sinister thriller not to be missed
Dark, emotive and unbearably tense, Alison Stockham had me in her thrall from start to finish with this unsettling thriller. I listened to this on audiobook and loved how evocatively the narrator told the story, immediately pulling me in. But it is Stockham’s writing that really stole the show. Expertly written, tightly plotted and fast-paced, it was hard to predict and I didn’t see those jaw-dropping twists coming. Filled with adrenaline and atmosphere, the suspense and fear pervades every page and you’ve no idea who to trust or what the truth is.
The story was filled with characters who are complex, flawed, relatable and real which made it easy to feel invested in their lives and care about what happened to them. Beth is likeable and Stockham does a great job of putting the reader in her shoes. From the moment Beth wakes up in hospital we feel her confusion, fear and disarray. Her flashbacks were so vivid and palpable that I would feel my own heart race alongside hers, and my heart broke as she tried to remember the pieces of her life she’d lost. But where I empathised most of all was with Beth’s feelings regarding her husband, Rob. Rob triggered my bad guy radar early on with what seemed like cold, mean and manipulative behaviour. And there was also the uneasy feeling he gave Beth. But what I liked was that you couldn’t be completely sure you were right about anything or anyone in this story as Stockman kept you questioning your own mind, just as Beth questioned hers.
Taut, twisty and unnerving, Alison Stockman has crafted a consuming sinister thriller not to be missed
December 30, 2024
Beth wakes up in hospital after a car accident. She thinks she's in Australia but, no she's in Cambridge in the UK. She thinks she's single,but apparently she is married. In other words the past few years have been wiped from her memory...
That is the story, briefly. It will only be brief because I cannot continue with this awful book. How the heck did it ever get published with it's clunky writing, and cheesy dialogue!
I know the word “sorest” is the superlative of “sore”, but it just sounds so awful -
“.....where her skin felt taut and sorest”, or is is just me?
“Her dad was always telling her that she needed a “proper” job, rather than stull being at the place that she got part-time work at, while she finished up her photography course at college”
“She was just wondering how long it would be before her parents arrived, assuming that they'd now been told she was awake, when a taller, older doctor, who had the definite look of a military man about him, appeared at the side of her bed”
I'm breathless reading these long, convoluted sentences!
And yet another:
“The juxtaposition of his stiff upper lip way of moving jarred with this overly friendly position, and Beth crinkled her brow in confusion only to wince at the pain this caused”
I'm still at 4% of this download. Perhaps someone can untangle this...
“....wincing at the pain she felt all over her body, trying to work which muscles did not want to do as the were told” Huh? I've read this at least three times and just can't understand it.
I got to 6% and the end of Chapter 2 before I admitted defeat.
This is arguably one of the worst books – possibly even the worst – I have attempted to read this year.
I couldn't care less what happens to Beth or Rob, who claims to be her husband. I don't care if the Military-style doctor ever relaxes his stuff upper lip, or if Sister Carmichael ever finds true love, or manages to make perfect Yorkshire puddings, or whatever it is she does when not trying to push Beth back into her bed. I just don't care.
My thanks to Netgalley without whom I wouldn't have known how utterly dreadful this is...
That is the story, briefly. It will only be brief because I cannot continue with this awful book. How the heck did it ever get published with it's clunky writing, and cheesy dialogue!
I know the word “sorest” is the superlative of “sore”, but it just sounds so awful -
“.....where her skin felt taut and sorest”, or is is just me?
“Her dad was always telling her that she needed a “proper” job, rather than stull being at the place that she got part-time work at, while she finished up her photography course at college”
“She was just wondering how long it would be before her parents arrived, assuming that they'd now been told she was awake, when a taller, older doctor, who had the definite look of a military man about him, appeared at the side of her bed”
I'm breathless reading these long, convoluted sentences!
And yet another:
“The juxtaposition of his stiff upper lip way of moving jarred with this overly friendly position, and Beth crinkled her brow in confusion only to wince at the pain this caused”
I'm still at 4% of this download. Perhaps someone can untangle this...
“....wincing at the pain she felt all over her body, trying to work which muscles did not want to do as the were told” Huh? I've read this at least three times and just can't understand it.
I got to 6% and the end of Chapter 2 before I admitted defeat.
This is arguably one of the worst books – possibly even the worst – I have attempted to read this year.
I couldn't care less what happens to Beth or Rob, who claims to be her husband. I don't care if the Military-style doctor ever relaxes his stuff upper lip, or if Sister Carmichael ever finds true love, or manages to make perfect Yorkshire puddings, or whatever it is she does when not trying to push Beth back into her bed. I just don't care.
My thanks to Netgalley without whom I wouldn't have known how utterly dreadful this is...
January 25, 2025
The Man She Married by Alison Stockham was another excellent book from start to finish, especially as it was full of twists and turns with a great storyline that will have you gripped. This was a book once I started I had to sit there and finish it to find out what happens to Beth.
When Beth finally wakes up she does not know where she is, all she can tell is that she is in hospital but what hospital? She has been in a horrible car accident. Her doctor is explaining to Beth what has happened to her but she appears to be suffering from retrograde amnesia due. In Beth's mind she believes it's the year 2019 and she's 24 years old, Loving life and working at a local cafe in Australia, and still living with her parents. Her world comes crashing down all around her and is shocked when she's told it's actually 2024. . . . . . .she is living in England and married to Rob who has been sitting next to her bedside waiting for Beth to wake up.
When Rob finally can take her home, But, as she recovers Beth does not recognise anything around her, nothing makes sense… and nothing is adding up.
Beth asks Rob questions about her and them, which makes Rob angry. She brushes his behaviour off as wanting to take care of her, and he reminds her she needs to rest and that she needs time to allow the memories to come back to her naturally and she can not rush these memories to come back!
Beth continues to search for answers and discovers that her closet etc doesn't doesn't contain any of her clothes, well the clothes that are there she would never wear!!!! Her Social Media is extremely sparse social media and shows pictures of things she'd never do, and let alone post.
Who is this person - this person can not be Beth?
But, Who is Rob? is he really Beth's Husband?
This book was excellent and I highly recommend it.
When Beth finally wakes up she does not know where she is, all she can tell is that she is in hospital but what hospital? She has been in a horrible car accident. Her doctor is explaining to Beth what has happened to her but she appears to be suffering from retrograde amnesia due. In Beth's mind she believes it's the year 2019 and she's 24 years old, Loving life and working at a local cafe in Australia, and still living with her parents. Her world comes crashing down all around her and is shocked when she's told it's actually 2024. . . . . . .she is living in England and married to Rob who has been sitting next to her bedside waiting for Beth to wake up.
When Rob finally can take her home, But, as she recovers Beth does not recognise anything around her, nothing makes sense… and nothing is adding up.
Beth asks Rob questions about her and them, which makes Rob angry. She brushes his behaviour off as wanting to take care of her, and he reminds her she needs to rest and that she needs time to allow the memories to come back to her naturally and she can not rush these memories to come back!
Beth continues to search for answers and discovers that her closet etc doesn't doesn't contain any of her clothes, well the clothes that are there she would never wear!!!! Her Social Media is extremely sparse social media and shows pictures of things she'd never do, and let alone post.
Who is this person - this person can not be Beth?
But, Who is Rob? is he really Beth's Husband?
This book was excellent and I highly recommend it.
December 12, 2024
1.5 stars rounded up to 2. Looks like I have an outlier opinion. This is a new to me author. I'll start by saying my opinions on this book are mine alone. The low rating doesn't mean it was a bad book. It just wasn't a fit for me. Beth wakes up in the hospital after being in a car accident. She has retrograde amnesia. She thinks it's 2019 and she thinks she's 24. She's missing 5 years from her life. She also thinks she's in Australia where she lived and grew up. Instead, she is in the UK and finds out she is married. She has no recollection of this. Her husband, Rob, seems caring at the hospital, but Beth doesn't quite feel comfortable around him. Eventually, she is well enough to go home. She doesn't recognize anything, but begins getting small flashbacks, and notices Rob has quite a temper that he can turn on and off very quickly.
That's all I can say about the plot because the next part is the ending. Yes, this went on through the whole book. Beth wondering who Rob was. Rob being mean. When I say this was a slow burn, I mean it was tortoise paced. Once I finally got to the ending, it fell totally flat with me. I was expecting something sort of big at the end for all that reading but BAM it was over.
I found all of the characters unlikable. Beth has a friend named Dee and every 5th word out of Dee's mouth is Babe. Rob calls Beth Pooks or Pookie. Over and over. Yes, it's nitpicky, but it got on my nerves. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I'm sorry to say I do not recommend this book.
That's all I can say about the plot because the next part is the ending. Yes, this went on through the whole book. Beth wondering who Rob was. Rob being mean. When I say this was a slow burn, I mean it was tortoise paced. Once I finally got to the ending, it fell totally flat with me. I was expecting something sort of big at the end for all that reading but BAM it was over.
I found all of the characters unlikable. Beth has a friend named Dee and every 5th word out of Dee's mouth is Babe. Rob calls Beth Pooks or Pookie. Over and over. Yes, it's nitpicky, but it got on my nerves. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I'm sorry to say I do not recommend this book.
January 19, 2025
I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of this book, and by around 50 pages in, I was fully hooked (though it did take a little time for the story to pick up for me).
Beth wakes up with no memory of the past five years, and she’s shocked to find herself on the other side of the world, married to a man she doesn’t recognize, yet instinctively knows she shouldn’t trust. Alone and isolated, she’s determined to piece her life back together, even if it means doing so without her husband Rob's help.
From the very beginning, I found myself questioning what was really happening, and although I predicted a few of the twists, the story still kept me gripped. It’s a fast-paced, engaging read that held my attention for the most part. I did find some of the internal monologue a bit repetitive at times, which led me to skim through parts. I also struggled to sympathize with some of Beth's decisions - while I understand the impact of her brain injury, it was hard to overlook the many red flags she seemed to ignore or overlook to fit her narrative.
I did expect a bit more from the ending and found it somewhat anti-climactic. I had been anticipating another big twist that never came, but I was still satisfied with how things wrapped up overall.
This was my first book by Alison Stockham, and I’m definitely curious to explore more of her work in the future. All in all, it was a 3.5 star read, and I’d definitely recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers.
Trigger warning: This book deals with themes of domestic violence and coercive control.
Thank you to NetGalley and BoldWood for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Beth wakes up with no memory of the past five years, and she’s shocked to find herself on the other side of the world, married to a man she doesn’t recognize, yet instinctively knows she shouldn’t trust. Alone and isolated, she’s determined to piece her life back together, even if it means doing so without her husband Rob's help.
From the very beginning, I found myself questioning what was really happening, and although I predicted a few of the twists, the story still kept me gripped. It’s a fast-paced, engaging read that held my attention for the most part. I did find some of the internal monologue a bit repetitive at times, which led me to skim through parts. I also struggled to sympathize with some of Beth's decisions - while I understand the impact of her brain injury, it was hard to overlook the many red flags she seemed to ignore or overlook to fit her narrative.
I did expect a bit more from the ending and found it somewhat anti-climactic. I had been anticipating another big twist that never came, but I was still satisfied with how things wrapped up overall.
This was my first book by Alison Stockham, and I’m definitely curious to explore more of her work in the future. All in all, it was a 3.5 star read, and I’d definitely recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers.
Trigger warning: This book deals with themes of domestic violence and coercive control.
Thank you to NetGalley and BoldWood for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2025
A slow paced but suspenseful psychological thriller. I read this in two days as I was gripped!
Following a bad car accident, Beth wakes up with retrograde amnesia. In her mind, it's 2019 and she's a single, 24 year old barista who lives in Australia with her family. However, its 2024 and Beth now lives in England with her husband - and is estranged from her family.
She cannot remember the past five years or the life she has built for herself - including her husband and her home. To help her regain her memory and recover, Beth heads home with Rob.
However, her instincts and flashes of memory say Rob isn't all that he seems. Is she paranoid and he's just trying to protect her? Merely uncomfortable living with a man she doesn't remember and therefore doesn't know? Or is her gut trying to tell her something? Does her body remember trauma that her mind doesn't?
Isolated and with no money, no phone and no memory, Beth sets out to find the truth.
This had me questioning which reality was true and I was intrigued until the end.
I will say, it felt like there was a fair bit of repetition (in sentiment) of internal dialogue which is very believe but made it a little slow paced.
Trigger warning at the end (although may indicate spoilers).
Also, if I never hear the nickname Pooky again - I'll be happy!
Thanks to NetGalley and BoldWood for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
****
Trigger warning: This includes domestic violence and coercive control. I will say from my experience I thought it was accurately portrayed and well handled.
Following a bad car accident, Beth wakes up with retrograde amnesia. In her mind, it's 2019 and she's a single, 24 year old barista who lives in Australia with her family. However, its 2024 and Beth now lives in England with her husband - and is estranged from her family.
She cannot remember the past five years or the life she has built for herself - including her husband and her home. To help her regain her memory and recover, Beth heads home with Rob.
However, her instincts and flashes of memory say Rob isn't all that he seems. Is she paranoid and he's just trying to protect her? Merely uncomfortable living with a man she doesn't remember and therefore doesn't know? Or is her gut trying to tell her something? Does her body remember trauma that her mind doesn't?
Isolated and with no money, no phone and no memory, Beth sets out to find the truth.
This had me questioning which reality was true and I was intrigued until the end.
I will say, it felt like there was a fair bit of repetition (in sentiment) of internal dialogue which is very believe but made it a little slow paced.
Trigger warning at the end (although may indicate spoilers).
Also, if I never hear the nickname Pooky again - I'll be happy!
Thanks to NetGalley and BoldWood for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
****
Trigger warning: This includes domestic violence and coercive control. I will say from my experience I thought it was accurately portrayed and well handled.
August 6, 2025
This is the first time reading a book by this author, I will definitely be reading more of her books.
Beth wakes us in hospital with no memory of what happened or how she got there. She's told she had a car accident and that they've called her husband. But beth doesn't have a husband. And how did she end up in England when she's never left Australia? The doctor tells her that she has retrograde amnesia and has lost five years of her life. Rob, the man they say, is her husband takes her home to recover and keeps telling her everything will be okay. But beth can't shake her feelings of unease. Can she trust him? And can she trust herself?
I really enjoyed reading this book. From the very beginning, I found it to be a very gripping read that made me want to keep turning the pages; making me want to read more.
This book is expertly written, tightly plotted, and fast paced it was so hard to predict what was going to happen. I didn't see those jaw-dropping twists coming. This book is filled with adrenaline and atmosphere. The suspense and fear pervade every single page, and you've got no idea who you can trust or what the truth is.
I really enjoyed how the author explores the fascinating subjects of memory and trauma based amnesia. She does an excellent job getting to grips with coercive control.
I read this book in 2 days. I was totally glued to the page from the very start right up until the end.
If you haven't read this yet, then I highly recommend you read this book as it won't let you down.
Beth wakes us in hospital with no memory of what happened or how she got there. She's told she had a car accident and that they've called her husband. But beth doesn't have a husband. And how did she end up in England when she's never left Australia? The doctor tells her that she has retrograde amnesia and has lost five years of her life. Rob, the man they say, is her husband takes her home to recover and keeps telling her everything will be okay. But beth can't shake her feelings of unease. Can she trust him? And can she trust herself?
I really enjoyed reading this book. From the very beginning, I found it to be a very gripping read that made me want to keep turning the pages; making me want to read more.
This book is expertly written, tightly plotted, and fast paced it was so hard to predict what was going to happen. I didn't see those jaw-dropping twists coming. This book is filled with adrenaline and atmosphere. The suspense and fear pervade every single page, and you've got no idea who you can trust or what the truth is.
I really enjoyed how the author explores the fascinating subjects of memory and trauma based amnesia. She does an excellent job getting to grips with coercive control.
I read this book in 2 days. I was totally glued to the page from the very start right up until the end.
If you haven't read this yet, then I highly recommend you read this book as it won't let you down.
May 21, 2025
The Man She Married by Alison Stockham is one of those psychological thrillers that quietly gets under your skin. From the moment Beth wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the last five years—including her marriage to Rob—you’re pulled into a fog of uncertainty that mirrors her own. I constantly questioned what was real, whom to trust, and whether Beth’s instincts were leading her toward the truth or deeper into danger.
What stood out to me was how Stockham captured the emotional disorientation of memory loss and the vulnerability that comes with it. As someone who loves character-driven thrillers, I appreciated how Beth’s confusion and determination were portrayed with such raw honesty. There were moments when I felt genuinely anxious for her, especially as subtle red flags began to surface in her seemingly perfect life.
The pacing was steady, and while the story didn’t rely on big, flashy twists, the tension built gradually and effectively. I did wish for a slightly more explosive climax, but the psychological depth and emotional stakes more than made up for it.
This book reminded me how terrifying it can be not even to trust your mind, and how powerful it is when a woman begins to reclaim her voice. I’d recommend a compelling read to domestic suspense fans with a strong emotional core.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Stockham, and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What stood out to me was how Stockham captured the emotional disorientation of memory loss and the vulnerability that comes with it. As someone who loves character-driven thrillers, I appreciated how Beth’s confusion and determination were portrayed with such raw honesty. There were moments when I felt genuinely anxious for her, especially as subtle red flags began to surface in her seemingly perfect life.
The pacing was steady, and while the story didn’t rely on big, flashy twists, the tension built gradually and effectively. I did wish for a slightly more explosive climax, but the psychological depth and emotional stakes more than made up for it.
This book reminded me how terrifying it can be not even to trust your mind, and how powerful it is when a woman begins to reclaim her voice. I’d recommend a compelling read to domestic suspense fans with a strong emotional core.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Stockham, and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2025
THE MAN SHE MARRIED By Alison Stockham
One moment I was just living my life, finding my way in the world. The next I woke up in a hospital bed with years of my life missing.
The man by my side – Rob, my husband – looks familiar, but I can't remember marrying him. I can’t remember our life together. Most haunting of all: I can’t remember anything about the last five years.
Rob keeps telling me that everything will be fine, that my memories will return, but something feels... wrong. Why does our flat feel so unfamiliar? Why does he flinch when I ask questions? Why are none of my friends and family in touch?
The more I try to piece my life back together, the more I question everything – even myself. Who is Rob, really? And can I trust him? More importantly, can I trust myself?
😊What i liked -
✔ Mystery/Crime/Thriller.
✔ The book starts with an accident and the FMC in the hospital with her memory wiped out (but only a few years). While reading the book you could feel the uneasiness Beth was feeling. In snippets you come to know the personality she was to what she has become after meeting Rob. There were a good amount of twists and what if moments. It was an interesting read.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ Though I did not mind guessing the twists and the book was paced well but it could have ended a lot earlier than it did- so it did feel a bit stretched.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
🕵️Thriller Lovers
📈My Rating : 3.5/5
One moment I was just living my life, finding my way in the world. The next I woke up in a hospital bed with years of my life missing.
The man by my side – Rob, my husband – looks familiar, but I can't remember marrying him. I can’t remember our life together. Most haunting of all: I can’t remember anything about the last five years.
Rob keeps telling me that everything will be fine, that my memories will return, but something feels... wrong. Why does our flat feel so unfamiliar? Why does he flinch when I ask questions? Why are none of my friends and family in touch?
The more I try to piece my life back together, the more I question everything – even myself. Who is Rob, really? And can I trust him? More importantly, can I trust myself?
😊What i liked -
✔ Mystery/Crime/Thriller.
✔ The book starts with an accident and the FMC in the hospital with her memory wiped out (but only a few years). While reading the book you could feel the uneasiness Beth was feeling. In snippets you come to know the personality she was to what she has become after meeting Rob. There were a good amount of twists and what if moments. It was an interesting read.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ Though I did not mind guessing the twists and the book was paced well but it could have ended a lot earlier than it did- so it did feel a bit stretched.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
🕵️Thriller Lovers
📈My Rating : 3.5/5
January 18, 2025
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Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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In 'The Man She Married,' Beth, the protagonist, grapples with amnesia following a car accident, losing the past five years of her life. Her husband, Rob, presents himself as the picture of devotion, yet Beth experiences unsettling unease, a gut feeling that something isn't quite right. This intriguing premise drives a fast-paced narrative, keeping me hooked and eager to uncover the truth.
However, the character development felt somewhat superficial. Beth, while understandably disoriented, came across as overly gullible and somewhat irritating at times. Rob, unfortunately, was a rather one-dimensional villain, lacking any depth or nuance. His motivations remained shrouded in mystery, leaving his descent into darkness unexplained and unconvincing. Supporting characters similarly fell into predictable archetypes, lacking the complexity that would have enriched the story.
The ending fell very flat and was almost anticlimactic. The resolution seemed overly convenient, lacking the organic flow that would have made it more believable.
Overall, 'The Man She Married' offers a promising premise, but the execution falls short. While the fast-paced plot kept me engaged, the underdeveloped characters and the somewhat unsatisfying ending ultimately hindered the book's impact.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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In 'The Man She Married,' Beth, the protagonist, grapples with amnesia following a car accident, losing the past five years of her life. Her husband, Rob, presents himself as the picture of devotion, yet Beth experiences unsettling unease, a gut feeling that something isn't quite right. This intriguing premise drives a fast-paced narrative, keeping me hooked and eager to uncover the truth.
However, the character development felt somewhat superficial. Beth, while understandably disoriented, came across as overly gullible and somewhat irritating at times. Rob, unfortunately, was a rather one-dimensional villain, lacking any depth or nuance. His motivations remained shrouded in mystery, leaving his descent into darkness unexplained and unconvincing. Supporting characters similarly fell into predictable archetypes, lacking the complexity that would have enriched the story.
The ending fell very flat and was almost anticlimactic. The resolution seemed overly convenient, lacking the organic flow that would have made it more believable.
Overall, 'The Man She Married' offers a promising premise, but the execution falls short. While the fast-paced plot kept me engaged, the underdeveloped characters and the somewhat unsatisfying ending ultimately hindered the book's impact.
January 19, 2025
The Man She Married by Alison Stockham is a domestic thriller full of secrets and lies. This book does deal with domestic violence and coercive control so that is a trigger for you just be aware.
Beth awakens in a hospital after being in a car accident. She discovers that while she believes she is 24 years old and in Australia where she grew up, she is missing 5 years of memories. She is now in the UK and married to a man named Rob. She doesn't remember anything past 2019 and while in the hospital Rob seems kind enough there is just something unsettling about him and their relationship. When Beth is well enough to go home she is eager to regain her memories. But what are Rob's intentions for her? When she starts to get flashbacks of her missing years, she realizes all is not what it seems with Rob and her marriage. This book had a very good story line and I found myself eagerly reading to find out what Rob was hiding. I really think that Stockham really captured what a domestic violence relationship looks like. The red flags, the control, the manipulation and isolation Beth felt was very convincing. I did feel like some parts did drag just a bit but it didn't stop me from finishing. This was the first book I have read by this author but not my last.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Stockham, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Expected release date is January 20th 2025.
Beth awakens in a hospital after being in a car accident. She discovers that while she believes she is 24 years old and in Australia where she grew up, she is missing 5 years of memories. She is now in the UK and married to a man named Rob. She doesn't remember anything past 2019 and while in the hospital Rob seems kind enough there is just something unsettling about him and their relationship. When Beth is well enough to go home she is eager to regain her memories. But what are Rob's intentions for her? When she starts to get flashbacks of her missing years, she realizes all is not what it seems with Rob and her marriage. This book had a very good story line and I found myself eagerly reading to find out what Rob was hiding. I really think that Stockham really captured what a domestic violence relationship looks like. The red flags, the control, the manipulation and isolation Beth felt was very convincing. I did feel like some parts did drag just a bit but it didn't stop me from finishing. This was the first book I have read by this author but not my last.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Stockham, and Boldwood Books for this ARC. Expected release date is January 20th 2025.
January 24, 2025
I was fascinated by everything related to the memory loss and the eventual recovery, and the twists of the story amplified already the tensions following the search for the truth. From the intempestive beginning, we know that something is brewing, but as we are approaching the end, there are more questions than answers.
Nothing is accidental in the story, and from the very beginning the reader feels challenged to make presumptions. Both physical and emotional details, particularly at the beginning of the book, do create an ambiance of confusion and expectations, that we are unsure where it will actually lead to.
Through the main male character Rob, Stockham portrays the perfect image of a narcissistic psychopath, and as a reader, following the torture and manipulations he exerted over Beth were excruciating. The cruelty of Beth´s everyday life is only balanced by the admirable women solidarity, offering comfort and support during horrible times.
The Man She Married is a dark journey alongside the pathways of memory and manipulations. It may warn us to be careful who we trust and why is important to trust oneself´s intuition when everyone tried to convince you the opposite. In any case, it is a book to remember.
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions, as usual, are my own
Nothing is accidental in the story, and from the very beginning the reader feels challenged to make presumptions. Both physical and emotional details, particularly at the beginning of the book, do create an ambiance of confusion and expectations, that we are unsure where it will actually lead to.
Through the main male character Rob, Stockham portrays the perfect image of a narcissistic psychopath, and as a reader, following the torture and manipulations he exerted over Beth were excruciating. The cruelty of Beth´s everyday life is only balanced by the admirable women solidarity, offering comfort and support during horrible times.
The Man She Married is a dark journey alongside the pathways of memory and manipulations. It may warn us to be careful who we trust and why is important to trust oneself´s intuition when everyone tried to convince you the opposite. In any case, it is a book to remember.
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour but the opinions, as usual, are my own
December 20, 2024
I love it when a new-to-me author blows my socks off. And this book certainly did. From the first page I was hooked. My grip on the story as tight as main character Beth's fingers on the steering wheel of her car.
After the intense opening, we learn that Beth has been in an accident. Even worse, she has lost five years of her life. Amnesia, which then delivers the double-whammy of revealing a husband she has no memory of marrying. And she's living in a country she has no recollection of moving to. An awful lot to deal with…
Bit by bit, the author teases out nuggets of information and kept me on my toes trying to figure out who and what to trust. Because – when your memory is as reliable as a British train timetable – it's difficult to know what is true and what is a web of lies.
Some memorable lines:
Rob's face fell. Just a second before a kind smile washed over it, like a wiper blade removing rain from a windscreen.
In her head there was a flash, a minuscule moment of something that called at her. Like a recollection was knocking at a door, but she couldn't quite get it to open.
My thanks to the author and Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance copy.
After the intense opening, we learn that Beth has been in an accident. Even worse, she has lost five years of her life. Amnesia, which then delivers the double-whammy of revealing a husband she has no memory of marrying. And she's living in a country she has no recollection of moving to. An awful lot to deal with…
Bit by bit, the author teases out nuggets of information and kept me on my toes trying to figure out who and what to trust. Because – when your memory is as reliable as a British train timetable – it's difficult to know what is true and what is a web of lies.
Some memorable lines:
Rob's face fell. Just a second before a kind smile washed over it, like a wiper blade removing rain from a windscreen.
In her head there was a flash, a minuscule moment of something that called at her. Like a recollection was knocking at a door, but she couldn't quite get it to open.
My thanks to the author and Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance copy.
January 17, 2025
Beth wakes up in hospital with no memory of how she got there. Rob is beside her bed and says he is her husband, however Beth believes this can’t be right as she has never been married. Only she finds out she has lost 5 years of memories. As time goes on Beth insistently feels something is not right. Can she trust Rob or herself?
Although this is a familiar trope, I usually find this intriguing so was keen to read. I ended up enjoying the majority of this story and found the plot fairly fast paced and it kept me interested. I found myself constantly second guessing myself, not knowing exactly how it would all play out, although there were no major surprises.
I found a few of the characters irritating, especially friend Dee and her overuse of a specific endearment, this slightly hindered my enjoyment of the whole novel. I also wasn’t that keen on the ending as I expected something a bit more from it. Even though a familiar one, this was a good story as a whole and I would read more by this author. 3.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Although this is a familiar trope, I usually find this intriguing so was keen to read. I ended up enjoying the majority of this story and found the plot fairly fast paced and it kept me interested. I found myself constantly second guessing myself, not knowing exactly how it would all play out, although there were no major surprises.
I found a few of the characters irritating, especially friend Dee and her overuse of a specific endearment, this slightly hindered my enjoyment of the whole novel. I also wasn’t that keen on the ending as I expected something a bit more from it. Even though a familiar one, this was a good story as a whole and I would read more by this author. 3.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
January 22, 2025
MY THOUGHTS -
This book blew my mind. One chapter… That’s all it took. I was hooked. This is the kind of book you hate to read (because of the content) and yet... you can't put it down!
This whole book was totally like a roller coaster ride literally. Up and down, up and down, twisting this way and that. I never knew what to believe. Was I believing the truth? Was I believing the lies?
I don’t know why, but I absolutely love books they have anything to do with memory loss. No I do not have any personal connection to memory loss nor have I ever known anyone in real life to have suffered from memory loss. I am just very attracted to books of that subject. So this one had a huge plus sign on it right from the get-go.
Very suspenseful and really had you rooting for Beth.
My only negative, if you can really call it a negative… Was that this book seemed to end very abruptly for me. I wanted to know more, I needed to know more. It really feels to me like there should be a sequel... please!
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Rachel's Random Resources - Thank You!!
This book blew my mind. One chapter… That’s all it took. I was hooked. This is the kind of book you hate to read (because of the content) and yet... you can't put it down!
This whole book was totally like a roller coaster ride literally. Up and down, up and down, twisting this way and that. I never knew what to believe. Was I believing the truth? Was I believing the lies?
I don’t know why, but I absolutely love books they have anything to do with memory loss. No I do not have any personal connection to memory loss nor have I ever known anyone in real life to have suffered from memory loss. I am just very attracted to books of that subject. So this one had a huge plus sign on it right from the get-go.
Very suspenseful and really had you rooting for Beth.
My only negative, if you can really call it a negative… Was that this book seemed to end very abruptly for me. I wanted to know more, I needed to know more. It really feels to me like there should be a sequel... please!
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Rachel's Random Resources - Thank You!!
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