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You Can't Hurt Me
Meet Eva, who can’t feel pain, and Anna, who can’t escape it.
Everyone has heard about the case of Eva Reid. Ever since she was born, she’s felt no pain: she can get a paper cut, break a limb and even give birth without feeling a single thing. Her story has long captivated the minds of reporters and researchers—including Dr. Nate Reid, Eva’s husband and acclaimed scientist, renowned for his work in the Pain Laboratory. Also among them is Anna Tate, a ruthless journalist with a dark past of her own.
When Eva is suddenly found dead inside her home, it raises a flurry of questions about the last night of her life—and who might’ve been involved. Anna finds herself growing increasingly obsessed with Eva’s case: her protected, painless existence, her promising career as a psychotherapist, and especially her toxic relationship with the alluring Dr. Reid, whom Eva met and married as his former patient. But what other secrets could they be hiding?
When Dr. Reid embarks on the process of writing a book about Eva, an opportunity arises for Anna to work on it alongside him. As she slowly inserts herself into their home to uncover what’s fact and what’s fiction, shocking discoveries await her—and not everyone may come out unscathed…
Everyone has heard about the case of Eva Reid. Ever since she was born, she’s felt no pain: she can get a paper cut, break a limb and even give birth without feeling a single thing. Her story has long captivated the minds of reporters and researchers—including Dr. Nate Reid, Eva’s husband and acclaimed scientist, renowned for his work in the Pain Laboratory. Also among them is Anna Tate, a ruthless journalist with a dark past of her own.
When Eva is suddenly found dead inside her home, it raises a flurry of questions about the last night of her life—and who might’ve been involved. Anna finds herself growing increasingly obsessed with Eva’s case: her protected, painless existence, her promising career as a psychotherapist, and especially her toxic relationship with the alluring Dr. Reid, whom Eva met and married as his former patient. But what other secrets could they be hiding?
When Dr. Reid embarks on the process of writing a book about Eva, an opportunity arises for Anna to work on it alongside him. As she slowly inserts herself into their home to uncover what’s fact and what’s fiction, shocking discoveries await her—and not everyone may come out unscathed…
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2024
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13729 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
May 29, 2024
These people!
Straight up, this is the most narcissistic bunch I’ve read in ages. Every last one of them! They bloviate. All. The. Time. Even their intimate conversations feel like two competing monologues.
But sometimes (I admit it), I hate-read characters and this was kind of fun.
I definitely wanted to know who did what and why. I also wanted every last character to come to some kind of horrific end.
I will warn you that this is strictly psychological. I mean, seriously, not much action happens. There were one or two conversations that were just egos spouting off at each other and I simply could not understand why women liked any of the men in this book. There’s also a bit of a hump in the middle that leaves you wondering DNF or read on. If you get to that point, read on because when their lies and lives fall apart, it’s popcorn!
• ARC via Publisher
Straight up, this is the most narcissistic bunch I’ve read in ages. Every last one of them! They bloviate. All. The. Time. Even their intimate conversations feel like two competing monologues.
But sometimes (I admit it), I hate-read characters and this was kind of fun.
I definitely wanted to know who did what and why. I also wanted every last character to come to some kind of horrific end.
I will warn you that this is strictly psychological. I mean, seriously, not much action happens. There were one or two conversations that were just egos spouting off at each other and I simply could not understand why women liked any of the men in this book. There’s also a bit of a hump in the middle that leaves you wondering DNF or read on. If you get to that point, read on because when their lies and lives fall apart, it’s popcorn!
• ARC via Publisher
November 6, 2024
Eva Reid has congenital analgesia, a condition where a person can’t feel pain. Funnily, this is the second book in as many months that I have read an ARC about this condition, but the two books are nothing alike. This book is focused on Eva and her husband Nate, a neuroscientist who ironically works at a pain laboratory, inflicting pain on people to test their responses. He met his wife this way, and fell in love with her brain that could feel very little, physically or emotionally.
Eva died of a cocaine-induced heart attack, and now a journalist named Anna wants to write an article about Nate and the work he does. This assignment turned into her ghostwriting an entire book about Eva, all from Nate’s point of view. It chronicles her life as a person who lived with no pain, and who went from being a sculptor to a therapist in the hopes of at least gaining empathy. We also get some chapters from Eva’s journal, describing her first patient as a therapist, someone she simply refers to as Patient X.
This book was fine. It was a very quick read, but I wouldn’t call it a page turner. I could see where the plot was trying to go, but it felt to me as though the author held back a bit when writing this (almost like the characters held back when writing!) and there wasn’t a sense of suspense. While I was interested in the story, nothing about it really spoke out to me, shocked me or gave me a thrill. These characters could really have been stretched, but again, something felt held back. I’ve seen some really good reviews for this one, but it just didn’t work for me. Three stars.
(Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, Emma Cook and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 5, 2024.)
Eva died of a cocaine-induced heart attack, and now a journalist named Anna wants to write an article about Nate and the work he does. This assignment turned into her ghostwriting an entire book about Eva, all from Nate’s point of view. It chronicles her life as a person who lived with no pain, and who went from being a sculptor to a therapist in the hopes of at least gaining empathy. We also get some chapters from Eva’s journal, describing her first patient as a therapist, someone she simply refers to as Patient X.
This book was fine. It was a very quick read, but I wouldn’t call it a page turner. I could see where the plot was trying to go, but it felt to me as though the author held back a bit when writing this (almost like the characters held back when writing!) and there wasn’t a sense of suspense. While I was interested in the story, nothing about it really spoke out to me, shocked me or gave me a thrill. These characters could really have been stretched, but again, something felt held back. I’ve seen some really good reviews for this one, but it just didn’t work for me. Three stars.
(Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, Emma Cook and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 5, 2024.)
December 12, 2024
3.25 stars
If you decide to read this book, just know it is very slow for the most part. It springs to life around the 60-70% mark and then becomes absolutely riveting. There were some good twists, and the whodunit suspense was nicely executed.
The story revolves around Anna, a ghostwriter hired by her publisher to write a grief memoir for a prestigious pain doctor whose wife, Eve, died from a drug overdose. Eve was famous for not being able to feel pain. She met her husband as one of his test subjects but later became his wife. As a psychotherapist in training, Eve kept a journal of her sessions with Patient X. As Anna becomes more involved in her book, she is exposed to lies and deceptions and fears that Eve's death may not have been as innocent as initially believed.
If one is okay with a slow, slow burn and able to be patient for the payoff, this book may be a good choice. The pain element was interesting, and the murder mystery bit was well developed.
If you decide to read this book, just know it is very slow for the most part. It springs to life around the 60-70% mark and then becomes absolutely riveting. There were some good twists, and the whodunit suspense was nicely executed.
The story revolves around Anna, a ghostwriter hired by her publisher to write a grief memoir for a prestigious pain doctor whose wife, Eve, died from a drug overdose. Eve was famous for not being able to feel pain. She met her husband as one of his test subjects but later became his wife. As a psychotherapist in training, Eve kept a journal of her sessions with Patient X. As Anna becomes more involved in her book, she is exposed to lies and deceptions and fears that Eve's death may not have been as innocent as initially believed.
If one is okay with a slow, slow burn and able to be patient for the payoff, this book may be a good choice. The pain element was interesting, and the murder mystery bit was well developed.
October 21, 2024
I absolutely loved the concept of this book but unfortunately it fell flat for me.
You Can’t Hurt Me follows Anna as she is hired to be a ghostwriter for Dr. Nate Reid. She dives into his world as a scientist who studies pain and the mysterious death of his wife who was diagnosed with a rare disease that made her unable to feel any pain.
The story wasn’t bad but the characters felt so flat to me. I ended up feeling bored and uninvested in anything going on. The twist was nothing shocking, saw it coming from miles away. It was all just okay. I know many others will love it, it just happened to not click with me.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
You Can’t Hurt Me follows Anna as she is hired to be a ghostwriter for Dr. Nate Reid. She dives into his world as a scientist who studies pain and the mysterious death of his wife who was diagnosed with a rare disease that made her unable to feel any pain.
The story wasn’t bad but the characters felt so flat to me. I ended up feeling bored and uninvested in anything going on. The twist was nothing shocking, saw it coming from miles away. It was all just okay. I know many others will love it, it just happened to not click with me.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
May 6, 2025
Review coming soon.
May 7, 2024
Wow, oh the tangled webs we weave! This is a drama full of unreliable narratives, deceit, lies and colorful characters! It is emotional and heart wrenching at times. Shocking at others. I went into this novel blind with no expectations. While it was a bit of a slow burn at times, I was anxious to find out where this novel was going. The writer is very good at crafting this tale! I found myself not knowing what to trust and anxious to get to the climax. It’s a good story and doesn’t disappoint! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
October 31, 2024
You Can’t Hurt Me
4⭐️
A terrific read!
Anna is drawn to the life Eva led and left behind. As a journalist she sees a great opportunity to get closer to Eva through Eva’s husband, Nate. He ultimately chooses her as the ghostwriter of his memoir. Eva was unique due to her inability to feel pain. Nate, a neuroscientist, was immediately intrigued by Eva, but the between parts of meeting and her death are mostly unknown to others. Anna is determined to find those facts and piece together the lingering mystery surrounding Eva and her death.
This is told from Anna’s POV which had me constantly wondering if her narration would be reliable. The beginning of the book lacks quite a bit of emotion as the characters are very guarded (with others and themselves), but as the story unfolds the characters become sharper and more focused to the reader.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for this ARC opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date Nov 05 2024
4⭐️
A terrific read!
Anna is drawn to the life Eva led and left behind. As a journalist she sees a great opportunity to get closer to Eva through Eva’s husband, Nate. He ultimately chooses her as the ghostwriter of his memoir. Eva was unique due to her inability to feel pain. Nate, a neuroscientist, was immediately intrigued by Eva, but the between parts of meeting and her death are mostly unknown to others. Anna is determined to find those facts and piece together the lingering mystery surrounding Eva and her death.
This is told from Anna’s POV which had me constantly wondering if her narration would be reliable. The beginning of the book lacks quite a bit of emotion as the characters are very guarded (with others and themselves), but as the story unfolds the characters become sharper and more focused to the reader.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for this ARC opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date Nov 05 2024
May 7, 2024
Wow, oh the tangled webs we weave! This is a drama full of unreliable narratives, deceit, lies and colorful characters! It is emotional and heart wrenching at times. Shocking at others. I went into this novel blind with no expectations. While it was a bit of a slow burn at times, I was anxious to find out where this novel was going. The writer is very good at crafting this tale! I found myself not knowing what to trust and anxious to get to the climax. It’s a good story and doesn’t disappoint! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
October 11, 2025
Book Title: You Can't Hurt Me
Author: Emma Cook
Publishers: Hanover Square Press/Harlequin Audio
Publication Date: November 5, 2024
Currently Available on KU? 🙅🏼♀️
Audiobook? ✅
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: You Can't Hurt Me by Emma Cook is a twisty little sucker that I really enjoyed. The “person who can’t feel pain trope” has probably been done before, but I liked the spin on it that Cook took, and Anna getting caught in the middle of something she shouldn’t be made for interesting reading!
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: I loved the pacing for the book, and it was just steady enough that I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t say I always approved of Anna’s decisions, but she is a whirlwind of a character and a messy one at that which created some heart pounding moments. The ending was a surprise to me and definitely gave me a little thrill on the last page.
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: I loved Alix Dunmore’s narration for this book, though I do kinda wish there had been a second narrator for the journal entries and odd news article. Dunmore took this one and ran with it though, and she was both easy and pleasant to listen to, which is a win in my book.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: While You Can't Hurt Me does touch on some heavier topics, it’s a lighter read overall and would fill the void if you are looking for something quick with light suspense.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: ✍🏼📓💊😧🥼
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Emma Cook
Publishers: Hanover Square Press/Harlequin Audio
Publication Date: November 5, 2024
Currently Available on KU? 🙅🏼♀️
Audiobook? ✅
🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: You Can't Hurt Me by Emma Cook is a twisty little sucker that I really enjoyed. The “person who can’t feel pain trope” has probably been done before, but I liked the spin on it that Cook took, and Anna getting caught in the middle of something she shouldn’t be made for interesting reading!
🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: I loved the pacing for the book, and it was just steady enough that I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t say I always approved of Anna’s decisions, but she is a whirlwind of a character and a messy one at that which created some heart pounding moments. The ending was a surprise to me and definitely gave me a little thrill on the last page.
🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: I loved Alix Dunmore’s narration for this book, though I do kinda wish there had been a second narrator for the journal entries and odd news article. Dunmore took this one and ran with it though, and she was both easy and pleasant to listen to, which is a win in my book.
💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: While You Can't Hurt Me does touch on some heavier topics, it’s a lighter read overall and would fill the void if you are looking for something quick with light suspense.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: ✍🏼📓💊😧🥼
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 26, 2024
This book had the potential to be really good, but it was too slow moving for my liking. I did like the storyline overall and enjoyed the big reveal but would have liked to have seen more twists and misdirections throughout the story. I also didn’t end up feeling particularly connected to any of the characters. I listened to the audiobook and read the digital book and at times I had times distinguishing which character’s POV I was listening to.
November 5, 2024
I received an ARC of this book.
This was an interesting book, but the extremely slow pacing and unlikeable two-dimensional characters hindered my enjoyment.
This is the story of Anna, who schemes her way into becoming the ghost writer for Dr. Nate Reid, who is "writing" a memoir about losing his wife Eva. What makes this so interesting to the public was that Eva was genetically incapable of feeling physical pain and Nate is a doctor specializing in pain management--Eva was his former patient--and Eva died under very mysterious circumstances.
So what is set up as an intriguing psychological thriller instead gets bogged down in poorly-developed characters, very slow pacing, questionable plot holes, and an unsatisfying ending. We see the story unfold from Anna's POV, yet I never felt like I really knew her--and not because the author was being deliberately ambiguous or trying to tempt the reader with tantalizing bits of information. It was because a). Anna was seemingly obsessed with Eva but we had no idea why. It was because b). she was seemingly obsessed with Nate but we had no idea why. It was because c). she felt compelled to be the ghost writer for this memoir--but again--the reader had no real or true insight into what was causing this compulsion. Both Nate and Eva were also not well-developed, and it was difficult to figure out what it was about them that inspired such fascination in Anna. For being such a linchpin in the book, Eva was really not fleshed out beyond a superficial discussion of her appearance, actions, and habits.
The pacing was also extremely slow. I believe this was to emphasize what the author wanted to be a taut psychological thriller, but there was truly little suspense or feeling of building danger that characterizes good psychological mysteries. I figured out who was behind Anna's death pretty early on, and the big "AHH!" moments didn't actually deliver. The action picked up quite a bit at the very end, but things were happening that didn't seem to make much sense.
I don't think I would recommend this one. Not sure if I'll read more by this author or not. The book showed promise, but did not deliver.
This was an interesting book, but the extremely slow pacing and unlikeable two-dimensional characters hindered my enjoyment.
This is the story of Anna, who schemes her way into becoming the ghost writer for Dr. Nate Reid, who is "writing" a memoir about losing his wife Eva. What makes this so interesting to the public was that Eva was genetically incapable of feeling physical pain and Nate is a doctor specializing in pain management--Eva was his former patient--and Eva died under very mysterious circumstances.
So what is set up as an intriguing psychological thriller instead gets bogged down in poorly-developed characters, very slow pacing, questionable plot holes, and an unsatisfying ending. We see the story unfold from Anna's POV, yet I never felt like I really knew her--and not because the author was being deliberately ambiguous or trying to tempt the reader with tantalizing bits of information. It was because a). Anna was seemingly obsessed with Eva but we had no idea why. It was because b). she was seemingly obsessed with Nate but we had no idea why. It was because c). she felt compelled to be the ghost writer for this memoir--but again--the reader had no real or true insight into what was causing this compulsion. Both Nate and Eva were also not well-developed, and it was difficult to figure out what it was about them that inspired such fascination in Anna. For being such a linchpin in the book, Eva was really not fleshed out beyond a superficial discussion of her appearance, actions, and habits.
The pacing was also extremely slow. I believe this was to emphasize what the author wanted to be a taut psychological thriller, but there was truly little suspense or feeling of building danger that characterizes good psychological mysteries. I figured out who was behind Anna's death pretty early on, and the big "AHH!" moments didn't actually deliver. The action picked up quite a bit at the very end, but things were happening that didn't seem to make much sense.
I don't think I would recommend this one. Not sure if I'll read more by this author or not. The book showed promise, but did not deliver.
January 22, 2025
This book kept me turning pages but Iwasn't really invested in it. the ending was unexpected. It was difficult to empathise with any of the characters.
My main qualm was at times I needed to look up the meaning of some words I had never heard before and in some instances these words were explained in the text (which did leave me wondering why they were used in the first place).
My main qualm was at times I needed to look up the meaning of some words I had never heard before and in some instances these words were explained in the text (which did leave me wondering why they were used in the first place).
March 4, 2025
3.25 🌟
I've been reading this book for my book club, and recently, I found myself in an intriguing discussion with another member. I said that I was already over 60% through, yet I still wasn't sure whether I was enjoying it or not. Now that I've reached the end, that uncertainty lingers – I'm still grappling with whether it was truly a thrilling read or not.
One aspect I did appreciate was the mysterious whodunnit element woven throughout the narrative. The character of Tony, Anna's brother, struck me as particularly unsettling; his creepy demeanour added a layer of tension that kept me turning the pages. I was genuinely eager to uncover the truth behind Eva's story as it unfolded.
However, the significant hurdle I encountered was my aversion to the cast of characters. They all seem like sociopaths ensnared in their own selfish pursuits, lacking any genuine empathy for those around them. It felt as though none of them possessed a moral compass beyond their self-interests, which made it incredibly challenging for me to root for anyone. This disconnection ultimately hindered my ability to engage deeply with the overall narrative.
Even Eva appeared to approach her work more as a means to feel something rather than out of any true desire to create positive change.
All in all, I believe the premise holds great promise, and I found myself compelled to continue reading, keen to discover how it would all conclude. However, I yearned for more depth and complexity among the characters, as having someone to connect with would have enriched my experience significantly.
I've been reading this book for my book club, and recently, I found myself in an intriguing discussion with another member. I said that I was already over 60% through, yet I still wasn't sure whether I was enjoying it or not. Now that I've reached the end, that uncertainty lingers – I'm still grappling with whether it was truly a thrilling read or not.
One aspect I did appreciate was the mysterious whodunnit element woven throughout the narrative. The character of Tony, Anna's brother, struck me as particularly unsettling; his creepy demeanour added a layer of tension that kept me turning the pages. I was genuinely eager to uncover the truth behind Eva's story as it unfolded.
However, the significant hurdle I encountered was my aversion to the cast of characters. They all seem like sociopaths ensnared in their own selfish pursuits, lacking any genuine empathy for those around them. It felt as though none of them possessed a moral compass beyond their self-interests, which made it incredibly challenging for me to root for anyone. This disconnection ultimately hindered my ability to engage deeply with the overall narrative.
Even Eva appeared to approach her work more as a means to feel something rather than out of any true desire to create positive change.
All in all, I believe the premise holds great promise, and I found myself compelled to continue reading, keen to discover how it would all conclude. However, I yearned for more depth and complexity among the characters, as having someone to connect with would have enriched my experience significantly.
October 18, 2024
I never knew that there are people out there that cannot feel pain until I started reading books. That concept is so fascinating to me and hence why I grabbed this book! And wowza, this was a shocking one! For me it kind of has The Silent Patient vibes (a little bit) which I LOVED! Anywho, we meet Eva who was born with the condition where she cannot feel pain. That fact along draws a lot of attention, especially to a researcher named Dr. Nate Reid. Having worked in that lab, he met Eva and eventually they married. Things take a twist when Eva is found dead leaving a reporter Anna on the hunt to find out what happened to Eva. Anna must get closer to Dr. Reid creatively in order to unearth details and the closer she gets the more clouded her judgment becomes. In the end, reality and deception are hard for Anna to decipher! So many secrets will be spilled! 😱
I really enjoyed this one and I am shocked I’ve never read anything else by her! I thought the writing was very well done and the overall mystery behind Eva’s death had me not trusting anyone! I loved how as the relationship between Anna and Nate progressed it became harder and harder to determine what was truth, who was trustworthy and just who was obsessed with what! This kept my attention the entire way through and I absolutely will be watching to see what Emma writes next!
I really enjoyed this one and I am shocked I’ve never read anything else by her! I thought the writing was very well done and the overall mystery behind Eva’s death had me not trusting anyone! I loved how as the relationship between Anna and Nate progressed it became harder and harder to determine what was truth, who was trustworthy and just who was obsessed with what! This kept my attention the entire way through and I absolutely will be watching to see what Emma writes next!
November 14, 2024
this was fine.
it wasn't really thrilling or suspenseful in any way and it had more medical jargon that i thought it would.
but i did find the whole premise of not feeling pain to be interesting and i thought when starting it "i know i have a super high pain tolerance but man it would be cool not to feel pain!"
welp, i changed my mind. i don't like that idea anymore.
thank you hanover press for the copy!
it wasn't really thrilling or suspenseful in any way and it had more medical jargon that i thought it would.
but i did find the whole premise of not feeling pain to be interesting and i thought when starting it "i know i have a super high pain tolerance but man it would be cool not to feel pain!"
welp, i changed my mind. i don't like that idea anymore.
thank you hanover press for the copy!
November 30, 2024
3.5 stars!!!
Meet Eva, who can't feel pain, and Anna, who can't escape it. Eva's life, without pain, fascinates researchers and reporters, especially her husband Dr. Nate Reid. When Eva is found dead, journalist Anna becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about Eva's life, career, and toxic relationship with Dr. Reid. As she delves deeper, shocking secrets are revealed that put everyone involved at risk.
I must admit, I was initially drawn to this book by its cover. Sometimes, a captivating cover can lead to a surprising discovery within the pages. Upon diving into this book, I was immediately intrigued, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something was lacking. The main character seemed underdeveloped, and the supporting characters had their flaws. The plot had potential, with its victim and twisty storyline, but there were holes that slowed the pace. Overall, the plot was decent, but it failed to leave a lasting impression. The ending, unfortunately, did not deliver the impact I had hoped for.
Despite my personal reservations, I believe that everyone has different tastes and preferences. I still recommend giving this book a chance, as you may find certain aspects more enjoyable than I did.
Thank you, Hanover Square Press for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Meet Eva, who can't feel pain, and Anna, who can't escape it. Eva's life, without pain, fascinates researchers and reporters, especially her husband Dr. Nate Reid. When Eva is found dead, journalist Anna becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about Eva's life, career, and toxic relationship with Dr. Reid. As she delves deeper, shocking secrets are revealed that put everyone involved at risk.
I must admit, I was initially drawn to this book by its cover. Sometimes, a captivating cover can lead to a surprising discovery within the pages. Upon diving into this book, I was immediately intrigued, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something was lacking. The main character seemed underdeveloped, and the supporting characters had their flaws. The plot had potential, with its victim and twisty storyline, but there were holes that slowed the pace. Overall, the plot was decent, but it failed to leave a lasting impression. The ending, unfortunately, did not deliver the impact I had hoped for.
Despite my personal reservations, I believe that everyone has different tastes and preferences. I still recommend giving this book a chance, as you may find certain aspects more enjoyable than I did.
Thank you, Hanover Square Press for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 18, 2024
“You can’t hurt me” follows the lives of two women and the story of how their lives collide.
Eva has a unique medical condition in which she is unable to feel pain. This leads her to meet her husband Nate who is a neuroscientist. There is a mystery surrounding Eva as she has since passed away and nobody really knows what happened between getting married and her cause of death.
Anna is in present day as a ghost writer for Nate’s memoir.
She feels a responsibility to found out what really happened to Eva and give her a voice from beyond the grave.
Although the plot follows the lives of two women, we hear all of the story told from Anna’s POV which leads the question is she always telling the truth and being unbiased or correct in her information.
I enjoyed getting to see more depth to the characters as the story progresses. Overall I enjoyed this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the EARC!
Publish Date: Nov 5th 2024
Eva has a unique medical condition in which she is unable to feel pain. This leads her to meet her husband Nate who is a neuroscientist. There is a mystery surrounding Eva as she has since passed away and nobody really knows what happened between getting married and her cause of death.
Anna is in present day as a ghost writer for Nate’s memoir.
She feels a responsibility to found out what really happened to Eva and give her a voice from beyond the grave.
Although the plot follows the lives of two women, we hear all of the story told from Anna’s POV which leads the question is she always telling the truth and being unbiased or correct in her information.
I enjoyed getting to see more depth to the characters as the story progresses. Overall I enjoyed this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the EARC!
Publish Date: Nov 5th 2024
January 12, 2025
The premise here initially caught my attention, Eva has a condition where she can’t feel pain. When she dies a journalist named Anna is drawn to her story and her husband. As interesting as that all is I wanted more action, nothing exciting ever happened and in the end I was underwhelmed. I do credit the narrator for me even finishing this she was excellent and engaging
April 20, 2025
Thank you to Hanover Square Press for the digital copy to review.
I really liked this one, thought it was an interesting premise and there were a couple of twists that were interesting. The pacing was fast and I was hooked from the start, not wanting to stop until I knew how it would end. I read this in a day, and thought it was a fun and entertaining read.
I really liked this one, thought it was an interesting premise and there were a couple of twists that were interesting. The pacing was fast and I was hooked from the start, not wanting to stop until I knew how it would end. I read this in a day, and thought it was a fun and entertaining read.
December 30, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was hooked at the very beginning of the book. The premise sounded really good.
The build up and investigation into what happened to the wife was written well. I do think that the conclusion was not as wild as I thought it would be based on the slow build up.
I was able to guess most of what actually happed on that night in specific.
The narration was good. I would definitely listen to more by them. I wish there would have been more suspense and drama based on the storyline.
I was hooked at the very beginning of the book. The premise sounded really good.
The build up and investigation into what happened to the wife was written well. I do think that the conclusion was not as wild as I thought it would be based on the slow build up.
I was able to guess most of what actually happed on that night in specific.
The narration was good. I would definitely listen to more by them. I wish there would have been more suspense and drama based on the storyline.
April 2, 2025
I mean… I finished.
April 2, 2025
I have a lot to say about this book and will discuss it fully spoiler free in a couple days on my channel!! https://youtube.com/@bookreviewswithb...
November 22, 2024
What a chillingly delightful novel! The woman married to the pain specialist, Eva, is found dead under some rather mysterious circumstances. But what a complication! She cannot feel pain since she suffers from a congenital condition that precludes her from doing so. When Anna, a ghostwriter, enters the scenario, she is fascinated with Eva’s story and Dr. Reid’s obsession with studying pain. Anna is determined to find out what really happened the night that Eva died, but her quest is filled with some unexpected twists and turns as well as danger. This is a moderately paced novel, perfectly paced for the action in the story. The characters are compelling and dynamic and the research that is included in the story is absolutely riveting. I had trouble putting down the book, especially once Anna started her independent investigation. This book proves that one should not take anything for granted and that not all narrators can be trusted. With a web of deceit built into the story as well as a cleverly executed page-turner with some head-spinning twists, this novel captivated my attention and intrigued me with its profound revelations about pain and how it can be manipulated. Edgy and satisfying novel that is terrifyingly brilliant!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
July 26, 2024
This book will be released in Nov, I had the privilege to receive the ARC copy. Emma took a concept of pain and turned this into a twisty thriller.
A woman is diagnosed with CIP (congenital insensitivity to pain) who winds up deceased. It was ruled a heart attack, but so many twists reveal the actual cause. Her husband is a neuroscientist who was treating her disease.
Anna is a journalist who gets word that Dr. Reid is looking to write a memoir and enlist Anna to be a ghostwriter of this novel. They tag team this book and confide into one another as time goes on.
A woman is diagnosed with CIP (congenital insensitivity to pain) who winds up deceased. It was ruled a heart attack, but so many twists reveal the actual cause. Her husband is a neuroscientist who was treating her disease.
Anna is a journalist who gets word that Dr. Reid is looking to write a memoir and enlist Anna to be a ghostwriter of this novel. They tag team this book and confide into one another as time goes on.
October 20, 2024
I loved this suspenseful read! The reader is a spectator to all of Anna's shocking discoveries. The book builds to a very satisfying conclusion.
November 16, 2024
A new to me author. This book was intriguing. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it but I have to admit it was good. A bit out there and unbelievable but still good.
There are four main characters in this book: Anna who is the ghost writer, her brother Tony who is, well, her brother, Nate the author who lost his wife and Eva who is deceased and the subject of this book. Eva has a rare disorder. She feels no pain. Nate is a neurologist and very interested in Eva's condition. They fall in love and marry. Eva becomes a therapist. Then something goes awry. Nate comes home and finds Eva in her studio dead. Was it an overdose? Accident? Murder? Or possibly suicide?
Anna is hired to ghost write a book for Nate. His story. The story of his life. It's a hard job but Anna does a brilliant job of getting to the bottom of things. Of how and why things happened. She has many questions and there are several obstacles in her way but she manages. Anna and Nate have a bit of chemistry but she also fears him. He has a bit of a temper. Anna finds Eva's journal and learns a lot. But does it give her the answers she is looking for or more confusion? How does Anna's brother Tony fit into this? What big secrets do Anna and Tony have? What will happen when or if it is revealed?
This book is a quick read and kept me turning the pages. I really wanted to know what happened. Who may or may not have murdered Eva. Or if she overdosed. I wanted conclusions. I was left just a bit scratching my head until I read the Epilogue. That summed it up pretty well.
This book lost one star because I found it utterly unbelievable. It was still good though so I won't say don't read it. I have to say grab it. Read it. See what it's all about. It's good. I enjoyed it and it did give me some of the feels I expect from a good story.
Thank you #NetGalley and #Harlequin, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.
Four stars.
There are four main characters in this book: Anna who is the ghost writer, her brother Tony who is, well, her brother, Nate the author who lost his wife and Eva who is deceased and the subject of this book. Eva has a rare disorder. She feels no pain. Nate is a neurologist and very interested in Eva's condition. They fall in love and marry. Eva becomes a therapist. Then something goes awry. Nate comes home and finds Eva in her studio dead. Was it an overdose? Accident? Murder? Or possibly suicide?
Anna is hired to ghost write a book for Nate. His story. The story of his life. It's a hard job but Anna does a brilliant job of getting to the bottom of things. Of how and why things happened. She has many questions and there are several obstacles in her way but she manages. Anna and Nate have a bit of chemistry but she also fears him. He has a bit of a temper. Anna finds Eva's journal and learns a lot. But does it give her the answers she is looking for or more confusion? How does Anna's brother Tony fit into this? What big secrets do Anna and Tony have? What will happen when or if it is revealed?
This book is a quick read and kept me turning the pages. I really wanted to know what happened. Who may or may not have murdered Eva. Or if she overdosed. I wanted conclusions. I was left just a bit scratching my head until I read the Epilogue. That summed it up pretty well.
This book lost one star because I found it utterly unbelievable. It was still good though so I won't say don't read it. I have to say grab it. Read it. See what it's all about. It's good. I enjoyed it and it did give me some of the feels I expect from a good story.
Thank you #NetGalley and #Harlequin, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.
Four stars.
January 17, 2025
This is a psychological thriller quite unlike any other I can think of. The closing chapters could raise the rating to 3.5 stars, but it slogs along for the first two-thirds of the novel so this would be my best offer.
Set in London, the novel centers around Anna, the narrator, a 30-something journalist who is enlisted to ghostwrite a "grief memoir". Dr. Nate Reid, a neuroscientist nicknamed the 'King of Pain' for his ongoing research into pain, is the "author" of the memoir. The 'subject' of the book is Eva, Reid's dead wife, a sculptor who died under mysterious circumstances, and who had been Nate's first study, as she was a victim of the inability to feel any physical pain. This rare condition often led her to try strange ways to test this.
We also meet Tony, Anna's brother; Amira, Anna's best friend & Tony's sometime girlfriend; Priya, editor of the book-in-progress; Eva's sister Kate & Kate's daughter Jade.
Misunderstandings abound; secrets are kept or covered up; twists & turns are numerous; tangled webs are woven; who is to believed? Was anyone responsible for Eva's death? All this, +++
This was not my favourite type of thriller by a long shot, but I must admit, once I managed to stumble through all of the tangles, webs, & deceits, I was suitably impressed with the outcome.
Set in London, the novel centers around Anna, the narrator, a 30-something journalist who is enlisted to ghostwrite a "grief memoir". Dr. Nate Reid, a neuroscientist nicknamed the 'King of Pain' for his ongoing research into pain, is the "author" of the memoir. The 'subject' of the book is Eva, Reid's dead wife, a sculptor who died under mysterious circumstances, and who had been Nate's first study, as she was a victim of the inability to feel any physical pain. This rare condition often led her to try strange ways to test this.
We also meet Tony, Anna's brother; Amira, Anna's best friend & Tony's sometime girlfriend; Priya, editor of the book-in-progress; Eva's sister Kate & Kate's daughter Jade.
Misunderstandings abound; secrets are kept or covered up; twists & turns are numerous; tangled webs are woven; who is to believed? Was anyone responsible for Eva's death? All this, +++
This was not my favourite type of thriller by a long shot, but I must admit, once I managed to stumble through all of the tangles, webs, & deceits, I was suitably impressed with the outcome.
January 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.
I really struggled with this book. It was kind of blah. I had a hard time physically reading so figured I’d give it a try on audio. I still struggled. I’m not sure if it was because it was British writing that I had a hard time following along or if it was just the way it was written. No fault of the author obviously. Could just be that I had a hard time following the writing style.
Anna is a ghost writer for a man whose wife just passed away. Everything is a little confusing and nobody really knows who’s behind the death. I’m also a little confused honestly. So this is as good as the reviews gonna get.
I really struggled with this book. It was kind of blah. I had a hard time physically reading so figured I’d give it a try on audio. I still struggled. I’m not sure if it was because it was British writing that I had a hard time following along or if it was just the way it was written. No fault of the author obviously. Could just be that I had a hard time following the writing style.
Anna is a ghost writer for a man whose wife just passed away. Everything is a little confusing and nobody really knows who’s behind the death. I’m also a little confused honestly. So this is as good as the reviews gonna get.
October 7, 2024
“You Can’t Hurt Me” is about Eva Reid, who can’t feel pain. Eva Reid's story is legendary. Since birth, she's been devoid of the sensation of pain: from paper cuts to broken bones, even childbirth fails to register. Her extraordinary life has captivated the attention of both journalists and scholars, including her husband, Dr. Nate Reid, a renowned scientist specializing in the study of pain. Among those intrigued by Eva's story is Anna Tate, a relentless journalist with her own shadowy past.
The sudden death of Eva within the confines of her home sparks a storm of speculation about her final hours and potential suspects. Anna becomes increasingly fixated on Eva's enigmatic existence: her sheltered life devoid of pain, her successful career as a psychotherapist, and notably, her complex relationship with the magnetic Dr. Reid, who once treated her as a patient before becoming her spouse.
As Dr. Reid sets out to pen a book chronicling Eva's life, Anna seizes the chance to collaborate as a ghostwriter. She works to uncover the truth about the night Eva died, but not without consequences.
Though initially enthusiastic about delving into this novel, I found it somewhat lacking in substance. The verbose and cumbersome language used throughout the book hindered my immersion in the story. Nonetheless, the conclusion offered a satisfying payoff, albeit after a slow build-up.
A massive thank you to Emma Cook, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Be sure to pick up this book when it is published on 11/5/2024!
Trigger warnings include drug addiction, murder, violence.
The sudden death of Eva within the confines of her home sparks a storm of speculation about her final hours and potential suspects. Anna becomes increasingly fixated on Eva's enigmatic existence: her sheltered life devoid of pain, her successful career as a psychotherapist, and notably, her complex relationship with the magnetic Dr. Reid, who once treated her as a patient before becoming her spouse.
As Dr. Reid sets out to pen a book chronicling Eva's life, Anna seizes the chance to collaborate as a ghostwriter. She works to uncover the truth about the night Eva died, but not without consequences.
Though initially enthusiastic about delving into this novel, I found it somewhat lacking in substance. The verbose and cumbersome language used throughout the book hindered my immersion in the story. Nonetheless, the conclusion offered a satisfying payoff, albeit after a slow build-up.
A massive thank you to Emma Cook, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Be sure to pick up this book when it is published on 11/5/2024!
Trigger warnings include drug addiction, murder, violence.
November 4, 2024
2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of You Can’t Hurt Me.
Dr. Nate Reid lost his wife Eva to a drug overdose a few years ago and now he is writing a book about their life together and he needs a ghost writer. In comes journalist Anna to help with the book. She cannot decide whether Nate is being honest or not. Can she find out the truth before she puts herself in more danger.
This book was a boring read to me. It talked way too much about medical things that were very hard to follow. It just felt like the book drug on way too long. I could not connect with the characters either.
Dr. Nate Reid lost his wife Eva to a drug overdose a few years ago and now he is writing a book about their life together and he needs a ghost writer. In comes journalist Anna to help with the book. She cannot decide whether Nate is being honest or not. Can she find out the truth before she puts herself in more danger.
This book was a boring read to me. It talked way too much about medical things that were very hard to follow. It just felt like the book drug on way too long. I could not connect with the characters either.
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