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Name Not Taken
Meeting her future in-laws draws a young woman into a dark labyrinth in a novel of mounting psychological suspense by the author of My Favorite Terrible Thing.
Devon Ferrell and Richard Belmont are engaged, in love, and from two different worlds. Devon is as eager to please Richard’s elite parents as she is to leave the traumas of her childhood behind. After all, the Belmonts are her family now.
But being brought into the fold is unbalancing her. There are the piercing stares from Richard’s brother, the confounding whispers about Devon’s moods and health. It’s as if the Belmonts are looking for reasons to reject her, to fill her with self-doubt and put her on edge. It’s working. And no one seems to be on Devon’s side. Not even Richard.
Are the Belmonts right to be concerned about Devon? Or are they waging a psychological battle against her? The truth is getting darker. Because the mind games have just begun.
Devon Ferrell and Richard Belmont are engaged, in love, and from two different worlds. Devon is as eager to please Richard’s elite parents as she is to leave the traumas of her childhood behind. After all, the Belmonts are her family now.
But being brought into the fold is unbalancing her. There are the piercing stares from Richard’s brother, the confounding whispers about Devon’s moods and health. It’s as if the Belmonts are looking for reasons to reject her, to fill her with self-doubt and put her on edge. It’s working. And no one seems to be on Devon’s side. Not even Richard.
Are the Belmonts right to be concerned about Devon? Or are they waging a psychological battle against her? The truth is getting darker. Because the mind games have just begun.
318 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2025
2173 people are currently reading
7783 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine Henry
5 books336 followersMadeleine Henry is the author of five novels, including Name Not Taken and My Favorite Terrible Thing. Her work has featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Post, and Entertainment Weekly. She lives with her husband in New York, where she is at work on her next book. You can find her on Instagram @MadeleineHenryYoga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
January 23, 2025
NAME NOT TAKEN is the 3rd Madeleine Henry book I’ve read and once again, I’m left thinking about the story and characters long after I finished the last page. This one falls in the psychological suspense category and has that great page turning quality so many of us look for when we pick up a book from this genre. A character with depth is an added bonus that is brought to the table.
The premise is fairly simple but it hooks and reels you in. Meeting your future in laws and the desire to be accepted into the fold is something a lot of us can relate to. Devon is hoping to leave a good impression but that may be easier said than done.
The story has layer after layer and that’s due to purposeful writing. Yes, it’s a good binge read but there’s a lot more to appreciate about this novel. A crazy ride but I liked where the reading journey took me.
Thank you to the author for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
The premise is fairly simple but it hooks and reels you in. Meeting your future in laws and the desire to be accepted into the fold is something a lot of us can relate to. Devon is hoping to leave a good impression but that may be easier said than done.
The story has layer after layer and that’s due to purposeful writing. Yes, it’s a good binge read but there’s a lot more to appreciate about this novel. A crazy ride but I liked where the reading journey took me.
Thank you to the author for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
July 26, 2025
After two years with her basically perfect fiancé Richard, Devin finally gets the chance to meet his family. They’re wealthy, cultured…and also incredibly cold and icy. She can tell they don’t like her and it puts her on edge. Soon, her own behaviour becomes erratic. Is she the problem, or are they?
So, let’s break this down. Here’s what I liked about the book:
-I am a sucker for thrillers where we can’t tell if someone is losing their mind or being gaslighted
-This book was a fast-paced and easy read that kept me engaged
-There were some twists I didn’t see coming
However, here’s what I didn’t like:
-Overall, I feel like the biggest twist wasn’t surprising or compelling. There were other directions where I felt the story might go that would have been more interesting.
-The main character wasn’t likeable, but she also wasn’t unlikeable in an interesting way. I just straight up didn’t want to spend more time with her. At some points she is basically abusive to her fiancé.
-There were parts of this book that felt kind of like dream logic. It felt like characters made decisions that furthered the plot but also didn’t make sense.
I think this one’s skippable, but if you’re a voracious thriller reader you might still enjoy it.
So, let’s break this down. Here’s what I liked about the book:
-I am a sucker for thrillers where we can’t tell if someone is losing their mind or being gaslighted
-This book was a fast-paced and easy read that kept me engaged
-There were some twists I didn’t see coming
However, here’s what I didn’t like:
-Overall, I feel like the biggest twist wasn’t surprising or compelling. There were other directions where I felt the story might go that would have been more interesting.
-The main character wasn’t likeable, but she also wasn’t unlikeable in an interesting way. I just straight up didn’t want to spend more time with her. At some points she is basically abusive to her fiancé.
-There were parts of this book that felt kind of like dream logic. It felt like characters made decisions that furthered the plot but also didn’t make sense.
I think this one’s skippable, but if you’re a voracious thriller reader you might still enjoy it.
February 16, 2025
"On closer inspection, a sliver of a mirror shines in the mess of hair, like a lustrous needle snapped in half. Its bloody tip makes the painting seem even more sinister."
Unreliable narrator trope. Gone girl and Rebecca inspired. We follow mc Dev and her fiancée Richard. Vanessa, Richard's mother, is obviously not in favor of their relationship from the start and things started to get messy when Vanessa just disappeared one day putting even further strain on her relationship with Richard.
This was ok. I was interested to keep on reading and wanted to know more about the strange disappearance of Vanessa. The second half of the book and the ending was a bit perplexing and just did not wow me.
3.45✨
Big thanks to the publisher, Netgalley for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Expected release date: March 1, 2025
Unreliable narrator trope. Gone girl and Rebecca inspired. We follow mc Dev and her fiancée Richard. Vanessa, Richard's mother, is obviously not in favor of their relationship from the start and things started to get messy when Vanessa just disappeared one day putting even further strain on her relationship with Richard.
This was ok. I was interested to keep on reading and wanted to know more about the strange disappearance of Vanessa. The second half of the book and the ending was a bit perplexing and just did not wow me.
3.45✨
Big thanks to the publisher, Netgalley for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Expected release date: March 1, 2025
April 24, 2025
KU audio.
Narrator was fine, however I recommend reading this one vs the audio.
It’s a decent domestic thriller. Unreliable narrator, gaslighting, mental health representation. Often I’d be angered by the MC desire to stick with the mama’s boy fiancé and his creepy family. It’s a book where you yell out- “what the heck are you thinking” at least 50 times.
I kept going to find out how it ends- though, I’m not even sure whodunnit! I enjoy an unreliable narrator but this one left me guessing even after the end…. There isn’t a lot of explanation, the ending is left to the reader to decipher.
Quick read. Decent writing.
Narrator was fine, however I recommend reading this one vs the audio.
It’s a decent domestic thriller. Unreliable narrator, gaslighting, mental health representation. Often I’d be angered by the MC desire to stick with the mama’s boy fiancé and his creepy family. It’s a book where you yell out- “what the heck are you thinking” at least 50 times.
I kept going to find out how it ends- though, I’m not even sure whodunnit! I enjoy an unreliable narrator but this one left me guessing even after the end…. There isn’t a lot of explanation, the ending is left to the reader to decipher.
Quick read. Decent writing.
October 30, 2024
I swear I'm not dumb, but I genuinely don't understand the ending!
If the goal was to enjoy the ride not the destination, the book wouldn't have delivered either.
Characters wise, the book had extremely superficial characters. They were mostly profiles rather than well fleshed out characters. Just playing a role.
Devon, the broke artist who comes from a broken home. Richard, the perfect rich boyfriend who, almost demonically, makes a complete opinion change whenever he talks to his family.
Even the family members were almost written as Disney villains, apart from how Devon pictures the mental play, it was all told second, or third handedly.
Devon's mother arc was redundant, she didn't add to the book, and her conversations with Devon were boring.
The saving grace was how some parts actually managed to make feel anxious, the way Devon was spiralling made feel the same emotions.
The ending was vague, in my opinion. I didn't understand who did what, but I think that's a me problem judging by the other reviews.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
If the goal was to enjoy the ride not the destination, the book wouldn't have delivered either.
Characters wise, the book had extremely superficial characters. They were mostly profiles rather than well fleshed out characters. Just playing a role.
Devon, the broke artist who comes from a broken home. Richard, the perfect rich boyfriend who, almost demonically, makes a complete opinion change whenever he talks to his family.
Even the family members were almost written as Disney villains, apart from how Devon pictures the mental play, it was all told second, or third handedly.
Devon's mother arc was redundant, she didn't add to the book, and her conversations with Devon were boring.
The saving grace was how some parts actually managed to make feel anxious, the way Devon was spiralling made feel the same emotions.
The ending was vague, in my opinion. I didn't understand who did what, but I think that's a me problem judging by the other reviews.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
February 11, 2025
This has such potential to have a huge psychological twist at the end, instead there was NOTHING 😖
March 2, 2025
*ೃ༄*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Impassioned artist endures almost complete mental collapse -- or does she?
“𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎’𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎—𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎—𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚂𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 ‘𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚎,’ 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚗.”
Opposites attract. She's a right-brained loner starving-artist pursuing her passion. He's gregarious, charming, in finance, and from a wealthy family.
Devon and Richard seems to have the perfect life: newly engaged and about to meet his parents for the first time. Then everything goes downhill, in a very sinister and creep-inducing way.
Fast paced as expected from a psychological thriller, but what a surprise to find beautiful writing as well.
I spent so much of this book wondering who was actually sane. Things felt deranged from the jump, and I suspected almost everyone at some point.
I know some people found the ending ambiguous, which is interesting as I loved the ending and felt I knew exactly what happened! (So if you read this -- let's chat!)
I do suggest going in blind. I enjoyed wondering if all of the characters were suffering from some kind of multiple personality disorder or whether everyone is just a lying liar who lies. Although you have to suspend disbelief about some aspects, I found this highly addictive and loved the twists and turns.
Thank you to the author for the free review copy. ♡
“𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎’𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎—𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎—𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚎. 𝚂𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞 ‘𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚎,’ 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚗.”
Opposites attract. She's a right-brained loner starving-artist pursuing her passion. He's gregarious, charming, in finance, and from a wealthy family.
Devon and Richard seems to have the perfect life: newly engaged and about to meet his parents for the first time. Then everything goes downhill, in a very sinister and creep-inducing way.
Fast paced as expected from a psychological thriller, but what a surprise to find beautiful writing as well.
I spent so much of this book wondering who was actually sane. Things felt deranged from the jump, and I suspected almost everyone at some point.
I know some people found the ending ambiguous, which is interesting as I loved the ending and felt I knew exactly what happened! (So if you read this -- let's chat!)
I do suggest going in blind. I enjoyed wondering if all of the characters were suffering from some kind of multiple personality disorder or whether everyone is just a lying liar who lies. Although you have to suspend disbelief about some aspects, I found this highly addictive and loved the twists and turns.
Thank you to the author for the free review copy. ♡
February 13, 2025
Starts out well
Good reading story that ends on a bit of a low note...just felt a bit rushed. Definitely worth the time for a good read.
Good reading story that ends on a bit of a low note...just felt a bit rushed. Definitely worth the time for a good read.
February 10, 2025
This book deserved 1-star, but I gave it 2 stars because it was compelling and kept me reading for the wrong reason. The interactions between the characters, particularly Devon and fiancee were so far-fetched, so inappropriate, so incredulous, I read on for the same reason people slow down and rubber-neck car accidents, or go to a carnival freak show. I mean, all the future mother-in-law, a Svengali who controls her son’s mind, had to say was, Devon eats funny, and her fiancee who knows her best after after two years of co-habitation starts to believe she suffers from all sorts of serious mental health issues.
It’s the incredulous weird, freaky, off-kiltered, stupid things like this that kept me reading just to see if the stupid will get stupider. The author did not disappoint. The behaviors of all, and Devon’s insufferable, non-sensical inner voice, second guessing herself and everything else, was painful. (Does that make me a masochist?) This was a most maladroit psychological thriller, because the characters’ character and psychological constructs were implausible.
It’s the incredulous weird, freaky, off-kiltered, stupid things like this that kept me reading just to see if the stupid will get stupider. The author did not disappoint. The behaviors of all, and Devon’s insufferable, non-sensical inner voice, second guessing herself and everything else, was painful. (Does that make me a masochist?) This was a most maladroit psychological thriller, because the characters’ character and psychological constructs were implausible.
September 28, 2025
“when you have to beg someone to stay, they’ve already left.”
― Madeleine Henry, Name Not Taken
This book is Feral.
There’s really no other way to describe it. This book is a feral, menacing raccoon, waiting quietly in a dark alley way to swallow you up.
And let me just say I’ve read hundreds of thrillers, but this book worms itself into you. It’ll cling onto you, and I’m telling you when you close the book at the end, you’ll feel shaken.
I often do plot reviews. I’m not gonna do that here for a few reasons. Number one I read this a while back, so the details are not fresh in my mind.
But even if they were, I think it’s best gone into knowing as little as possible.
Except……
OK, my good reads friends! Imagine you’re dating someone and you’re meeting his parents, and a game begins. One you never wanted to play.
The game is — you think your fiancé‘s parents utterly despise you, and have set out to drive you insane.
That’s it. That’s all I’m going to say. I will say this book is about art, and madness, it’s about mind games and Alfred Hitchcock like imagery.
Man would this make a great movie. Of course Hollywood tends to screw up many a book adaptation and there’s no telling if they would screw this one up to..
But this is more than your average thriller, because it’s raw. It’s a live wire, and I don’t see how anyone could read this and be unaffected, it’s that intense.
Highly highly highly highly recommend.
― Madeleine Henry, Name Not Taken
This book is Feral.
There’s really no other way to describe it. This book is a feral, menacing raccoon, waiting quietly in a dark alley way to swallow you up.
And let me just say I’ve read hundreds of thrillers, but this book worms itself into you. It’ll cling onto you, and I’m telling you when you close the book at the end, you’ll feel shaken.
I often do plot reviews. I’m not gonna do that here for a few reasons. Number one I read this a while back, so the details are not fresh in my mind.
But even if they were, I think it’s best gone into knowing as little as possible.
Except……
OK, my good reads friends! Imagine you’re dating someone and you’re meeting his parents, and a game begins. One you never wanted to play.
The game is — you think your fiancé‘s parents utterly despise you, and have set out to drive you insane.
That’s it. That’s all I’m going to say. I will say this book is about art, and madness, it’s about mind games and Alfred Hitchcock like imagery.
Man would this make a great movie. Of course Hollywood tends to screw up many a book adaptation and there’s no telling if they would screw this one up to..
But this is more than your average thriller, because it’s raw. It’s a live wire, and I don’t see how anyone could read this and be unaffected, it’s that intense.
Highly highly highly highly recommend.
March 2, 2025
I loved this book to pieces!! It was exciting, it was thrilling, it was filled with drama in which the average person can relate. To me, thrillers such as these are the best thrillers - the ones that could happen to any person, at any place, at any time. I was so grateful to read this one because I have read a couple of books recently that did not thrill me so this was a reminder of why psychological thrillers, (done well), in my humble opinion, are the best genre!
August 22, 2024
a book for all the victims of toxic boy mums.
name not taken is a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of motherhood, intergenerational mental illness, internalised misogyny, and dysfunctional family dynamics through the eyes of a painter haunted by her past, perfect for fans of freida mcfadden and lucinda berry.
i picked this book up because i was fascinated by the underlying concept. an unreliable narrator driven to the brink of sanity by her fiancée’s antagonistic family sounds like it would be amazing. and it likely would have been with a few more rounds of editing, deeper characterisation, better exposition, and more polished prose. unfortunately, although i was drawn into the story in the first chapter, it struggled to keep my attention as it went on and i found myself wanting to skim through the rest of it. there wasn’t enough of a set up of the plot before the conflict happened for me to feel very affected by it. the characters, especially the secondary characters, also felt quite empty and inauthentic so it was hard to connect. there were also some spelling and grammar mistakes but i’m sure these can be easily fixed and didn’t really impact my reading experience.
in my opinion, the most compelling parts of the book were the relationship between devon and her mother, and devon’s reflections on her childhood. it felt really authentic and helped me connect with devon on a deeper level. there were also some captivating descriptions and insights on art and painting which i really liked.
overall, the concept of this book was good but it missed the mark a bit for me when it came to the execution.
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
name not taken is a psychological thriller that explores the complexities of motherhood, intergenerational mental illness, internalised misogyny, and dysfunctional family dynamics through the eyes of a painter haunted by her past, perfect for fans of freida mcfadden and lucinda berry.
i picked this book up because i was fascinated by the underlying concept. an unreliable narrator driven to the brink of sanity by her fiancée’s antagonistic family sounds like it would be amazing. and it likely would have been with a few more rounds of editing, deeper characterisation, better exposition, and more polished prose. unfortunately, although i was drawn into the story in the first chapter, it struggled to keep my attention as it went on and i found myself wanting to skim through the rest of it. there wasn’t enough of a set up of the plot before the conflict happened for me to feel very affected by it. the characters, especially the secondary characters, also felt quite empty and inauthentic so it was hard to connect. there were also some spelling and grammar mistakes but i’m sure these can be easily fixed and didn’t really impact my reading experience.
in my opinion, the most compelling parts of the book were the relationship between devon and her mother, and devon’s reflections on her childhood. it felt really authentic and helped me connect with devon on a deeper level. there were also some captivating descriptions and insights on art and painting which i really liked.
overall, the concept of this book was good but it missed the mark a bit for me when it came to the execution.
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
January 18, 2025
*Paperback
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.25/5)
“Sometimes, you need to let things go to be happy.”
Thanks so much to Madeleine Henry for allowing me to check her book out before the rest of the world gets to dive in. This book literally landed on my doorstep and I immediately started reading it and had a hard time putting it down.
This one is about a future monster-in-law from hell and has an unreliable narrator. Love it!
As soon as Devon meets her future in-laws I wanted to jumped into these pages and rage with her. The audacity!!!!
Things aren’t always what they appear and Devon starts to question her reality. Are they gaslighting her or is she crazy!? 🎨🖌️🖼️
This one had elements in it that were similar to Kiersten Modglin (my fav author). The only thing I struggled with in this one is the ending…I was confused by it. I only dinged it a partial star for that though because the book was really entertaining and enjoyable even though it stressed me out.
Pick this one up on 03/01/2025 and decide for yourself!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.25/5)
“Sometimes, you need to let things go to be happy.”
Thanks so much to Madeleine Henry for allowing me to check her book out before the rest of the world gets to dive in. This book literally landed on my doorstep and I immediately started reading it and had a hard time putting it down.
This one is about a future monster-in-law from hell and has an unreliable narrator. Love it!
As soon as Devon meets her future in-laws I wanted to jumped into these pages and rage with her. The audacity!!!!
Things aren’t always what they appear and Devon starts to question her reality. Are they gaslighting her or is she crazy!? 🎨🖌️🖼️
This one had elements in it that were similar to Kiersten Modglin (my fav author). The only thing I struggled with in this one is the ending…I was confused by it. I only dinged it a partial star for that though because the book was really entertaining and enjoyable even though it stressed me out.
Pick this one up on 03/01/2025 and decide for yourself!
August 30, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.
I couldn't put this book down! The author was amazing at having you second guess the way each character thinks.
The description is what caught my attention. Having in-laws who make you question yourself is such a toxic topic that not many people understand unless they've personally been through it.
Devon was the perfect character I never knew I needed to read. I kept rooting for her the whole book.
The whole book was fantastic. Definitely perfect for spooky season.
I couldn't put this book down! The author was amazing at having you second guess the way each character thinks.
The description is what caught my attention. Having in-laws who make you question yourself is such a toxic topic that not many people understand unless they've personally been through it.
Devon was the perfect character I never knew I needed to read. I kept rooting for her the whole book.
The whole book was fantastic. Definitely perfect for spooky season.
November 12, 2024
i really enjoyed this book, it catched me right in the beginning. it was so interesting to get to know the different charakters. This book made me feel so many feelings i don't have that often when i'm reading books. i never read a story like this and it's a really great story because i think many people can relate. the relationship between yourself and your mother in law can be pretty hard and this books shows exactly that. I really liked the plottwist at the end and it was quiet interesting to find out more about amber und the ex girlfriend of oliver. the hint with the earrings??? loved it. and i really enjoyed how the author described the painted pictures and how it got darker and darker. how the author described the mental state of the protagonist for example the story with the horse ("so devon. what was your horse?")
i could not put it down the story was really well written, i can't say anything bad against it.
i could not put it down the story was really well written, i can't say anything bad against it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2025
TOO DARK FOR ME
This book was well written, but too unbelievable for me. It was too dark and psychotic to be enjoyable. The main character especially is over the top disturbing in a creepy way. The support characters were not believable either…… sorry, but I think this book is a major waste of time.
This book was well written, but too unbelievable for me. It was too dark and psychotic to be enjoyable. The main character especially is over the top disturbing in a creepy way. The support characters were not believable either…… sorry, but I think this book is a major waste of time.
February 27, 2025
Was this written by AI? If so, then I no longer fear for my job. Dear Lord, this was poorly written. Absolutely nothing severe enough happened to warrant any reaction from any of the characters. Dialogue was stilted and painful. And repetitive. The author had characters reenact the exact same conversations multiple times. Both the internal and dialogue was just…tragic. This is an actual line- “I nod, feeling wooden, and pet the meat with my fork.” I’m not going to say this book was the worst part of my vacation but…I’m going to think it.
February 6, 2025
Dark. DRAMATIC. And ridiculous
This book was not for me. I can't say much about it without giving anything away but it was SO overly dramatic and unbelievable, I don't believe that anyone acts the way the characters in this book do in real life. After the first few chapters it just becomes unreal (in a bad way) it tries too hard to be edgy and mysterious but comes off as weird, disconnected and silly. Wouldn't recommend
This book was not for me. I can't say much about it without giving anything away but it was SO overly dramatic and unbelievable, I don't believe that anyone acts the way the characters in this book do in real life. After the first few chapters it just becomes unreal (in a bad way) it tries too hard to be edgy and mysterious but comes off as weird, disconnected and silly. Wouldn't recommend
December 26, 2025
Unhinged. If I had to describe this book in one word, that would be it, and I mean that in the very best way. Devon is engaged to Richard and couldn’t be happier. Then she meets the in-laws, and something is off. Rather, Devon feels like maybe they want something to be off with her and are trying their best to make that happen? Whatever it is, it is working, and as this went on, the tension and second-hand awk was real, but then, things kept happening to where even I was questioning everyone, both Devon and the family alike. The ending was wild, and let me just say I was very glad to be single after reading this. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and cannot wait to read what Henry has coming next.
Thank you to the author for the gifted book to review.
Thank you to the author for the gifted book to review.
February 26, 2025
“You can’t be tormented by someone unless you’re a little desperate for them to love you.”
This book will stay with me for years. I don’t think I’ll read another one like in my lifetime. I started reading Name Not Taken this morning, and I just finished it feeling completely insane … I feel like I’m slowly coming out of a fog, like I’ve experienced everything Devon did. And it’s exhilarating and exhausting.
I’d love to have a conversation with Madeleine Henry! I’d love to talk to the person with the brilliant mind who created characters so believable that I’m lost now that the book ended. Also, I want to talk to her about this book!!! I haven’t loved a book like this in years.
Devon and Richard have been dating a couple of years, and now that they’re engaged, she’s going to meet his parents. No, they aren’t in another country, or even across the country. They live in New York, and his parents live in Connecticut. So I wondered why it’s taken two years for her to meet Vanessa and Clarke Belmont. That was the least of things I pondered reading.
So here’s the thing … I can’t tell about it without it sounding exactly like the blurb, or giving spoilers. And this isn’t a book I want to spoil. I’m just yelling from rooftops for everyone to read it. It’s that good!
This book will stay with me for years. I don’t think I’ll read another one like in my lifetime. I started reading Name Not Taken this morning, and I just finished it feeling completely insane … I feel like I’m slowly coming out of a fog, like I’ve experienced everything Devon did. And it’s exhilarating and exhausting.
I’d love to have a conversation with Madeleine Henry! I’d love to talk to the person with the brilliant mind who created characters so believable that I’m lost now that the book ended. Also, I want to talk to her about this book!!! I haven’t loved a book like this in years.
Devon and Richard have been dating a couple of years, and now that they’re engaged, she’s going to meet his parents. No, they aren’t in another country, or even across the country. They live in New York, and his parents live in Connecticut. So I wondered why it’s taken two years for her to meet Vanessa and Clarke Belmont. That was the least of things I pondered reading.
So here’s the thing … I can’t tell about it without it sounding exactly like the blurb, or giving spoilers. And this isn’t a book I want to spoil. I’m just yelling from rooftops for everyone to read it. It’s that good!
February 6, 2025
What a wild and binge-worthy ride! I second-guessed absolutely everyone and everything throughout the story, and found myself thinking about this book long after I finished it.
This psychological suspense thriller follows Devon, a newly engaged woman who is meeting her fiancé Richard’s parents for the first time. Coming from very different backgrounds, Devon is eager to make a good impression. Unfortunately, it seems her in-laws might be playing games, putting her relationship with Richard in jeopardy.
I enjoyed Henry’s writing style. She effectively built suspense while delivering a layered and interesting story. Toxicity, manipulation, drama, and gaslighting are woven throughout, accompanied by several surprising twists. There were moments when I was genuinely shocked. Devon, a painter, experiences her emotions profoundly, and we see how they impact both her art and her creative process as the story unfolds and she unravels. She is a well-developed yet enigmatic character, a compelling and unreliable narrator.
I appreciated the art references and found the ways the author connected art and the process of creating art to the story, particularly intriguing! Readers who enjoy psychological and domestic thrillers and stories featuring unreliable narrators will definitely want to check this out!
This psychological suspense thriller follows Devon, a newly engaged woman who is meeting her fiancé Richard’s parents for the first time. Coming from very different backgrounds, Devon is eager to make a good impression. Unfortunately, it seems her in-laws might be playing games, putting her relationship with Richard in jeopardy.
I enjoyed Henry’s writing style. She effectively built suspense while delivering a layered and interesting story. Toxicity, manipulation, drama, and gaslighting are woven throughout, accompanied by several surprising twists. There were moments when I was genuinely shocked. Devon, a painter, experiences her emotions profoundly, and we see how they impact both her art and her creative process as the story unfolds and she unravels. She is a well-developed yet enigmatic character, a compelling and unreliable narrator.
I appreciated the art references and found the ways the author connected art and the process of creating art to the story, particularly intriguing! Readers who enjoy psychological and domestic thrillers and stories featuring unreliable narrators will definitely want to check this out!
February 27, 2025
Official Rating: 3.75 ⭐️
I was very happy to select this book as my prime first read for this month!
This book is a psychological thriller about Richard Belmont and Devon Ferrell. It’s a fast-paced thriller that tries to keep you on your toes. The main conflict of this book is between Richard’s mother and Devon and it’s basically a game of mental warfare. It’s very different than any other thrillers I’ve read! This book is written from Devon’s perspective and is an interesting take on in-laws (at least these ones haha).
I personally feel that this book would’ve been a lot better if there was a little more editing and depth added to the characters to help the story flow better. There’s a couple plot holes and unexplained behavior by all of the character that I believe could’ve been fixed if—again—we had some depth to these characters.
Overall this was a good thriller, a little confusing but it’s pretty solid! Definitely would recommend to anyone wanting a new thriller to read!
I was very happy to select this book as my prime first read for this month!
This book is a psychological thriller about Richard Belmont and Devon Ferrell. It’s a fast-paced thriller that tries to keep you on your toes. The main conflict of this book is between Richard’s mother and Devon and it’s basically a game of mental warfare. It’s very different than any other thrillers I’ve read! This book is written from Devon’s perspective and is an interesting take on in-laws (at least these ones haha).
I personally feel that this book would’ve been a lot better if there was a little more editing and depth added to the characters to help the story flow better. There’s a couple plot holes and unexplained behavior by all of the character that I believe could’ve been fixed if—again—we had some depth to these characters.
Overall this was a good thriller, a little confusing but it’s pretty solid! Definitely would recommend to anyone wanting a new thriller to read!
March 5, 2025
SYNOPSIS
- Devon and Richard just got engaged. On the surface, they seem like a classic opposites-attract couple — she’s a creative, struggling artist, and he’s a polished finance guy from a wealthy, old-money family.
- When Devon finally meets Richard’s family, everything shifts. The Belmonts ooze money and perfection, but Devon immediately senses something off.
- The family’s subtle comments and fake concerns start messing with Devon’s head, until she doesn’t know who (if anyone) she can trust — including herself.
- As Devon spirals, she starts questioning her relationship, her sanity, and whether the Belmonts actually want to welcome her in… or destroy her completely.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
- Incredibly twisty and completely addictive.
- Devon’s unreliable narration kept me guessing the whole time, and I loved how the story constantly made me question whether she was losing her mind or if the Belmonts were actually out to get her. Is Devon the victim or the villain? Even from page one, it’s clear Devon doesn’t know — and that uncertainty made every twist hit even harder.
- Madeleine Henry’s writing really stood out. There’s a real elegance to how Henry weaves Devon’s inner thoughts, past traumas, and present fears together.
- Perfectly captures that chilling dysfunction of a wealthy, image-obsessed family. They radiated wealth and control, but you could feel the rot under all that polish.
- The Greenwich and NYC settings added to the vibe perfectly. That contrast between Devon’s bohemian life and Richard’s ultra-wealthy world made the tension even sharper.
- I also loved the glimpses into Devon’s messy relationship with her mom and her complicated backstory. Those moments gave her character so much depth and made her unraveling feel even more personal.
- The execution and pacing were spot-on. Every chapter left me needing to know what would happen next.
- I know some readers didn’t love the ending, but I actually thought it fit the story perfectly. It felt unsettling, satisfying, and true to the characters.
- Devon’s character really stuck with me — she’s complicated, messy, and at times infuriating, but so incredibly well-written.
- From the very first scene with the Belmonts, I hated them. Their passive-aggressive cruelty drove me crazy .
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ a dark, twisty, fast-paced psychological thriller that dives deep into family dysfunction, wealth, gaslighting, and complete mind games. Devon’s unreliable narration kept me second-guessing everything — her own memories, the creepy-perfect Belmont family, and whether Devon’s the victim or the real problem. The writing felt smooth and sharp, the pacing never dragged, and every character felt a little too real in the best (and worst) way. If you love books that mess with your head and keep you flipping pages, this one’s a must-read.
⸻
Thanks to Little A and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now.
- Devon and Richard just got engaged. On the surface, they seem like a classic opposites-attract couple — she’s a creative, struggling artist, and he’s a polished finance guy from a wealthy, old-money family.
- When Devon finally meets Richard’s family, everything shifts. The Belmonts ooze money and perfection, but Devon immediately senses something off.
- The family’s subtle comments and fake concerns start messing with Devon’s head, until she doesn’t know who (if anyone) she can trust — including herself.
- As Devon spirals, she starts questioning her relationship, her sanity, and whether the Belmonts actually want to welcome her in… or destroy her completely.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
- Incredibly twisty and completely addictive.
- Devon’s unreliable narration kept me guessing the whole time, and I loved how the story constantly made me question whether she was losing her mind or if the Belmonts were actually out to get her. Is Devon the victim or the villain? Even from page one, it’s clear Devon doesn’t know — and that uncertainty made every twist hit even harder.
- Madeleine Henry’s writing really stood out. There’s a real elegance to how Henry weaves Devon’s inner thoughts, past traumas, and present fears together.
- Perfectly captures that chilling dysfunction of a wealthy, image-obsessed family. They radiated wealth and control, but you could feel the rot under all that polish.
- The Greenwich and NYC settings added to the vibe perfectly. That contrast between Devon’s bohemian life and Richard’s ultra-wealthy world made the tension even sharper.
- I also loved the glimpses into Devon’s messy relationship with her mom and her complicated backstory. Those moments gave her character so much depth and made her unraveling feel even more personal.
- The execution and pacing were spot-on. Every chapter left me needing to know what would happen next.
- I know some readers didn’t love the ending, but I actually thought it fit the story perfectly. It felt unsettling, satisfying, and true to the characters.
- Devon’s character really stuck with me — she’s complicated, messy, and at times infuriating, but so incredibly well-written.
- From the very first scene with the Belmonts, I hated them. Their passive-aggressive cruelty drove me crazy .
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ a dark, twisty, fast-paced psychological thriller that dives deep into family dysfunction, wealth, gaslighting, and complete mind games. Devon’s unreliable narration kept me second-guessing everything — her own memories, the creepy-perfect Belmont family, and whether Devon’s the victim or the real problem. The writing felt smooth and sharp, the pacing never dragged, and every character felt a little too real in the best (and worst) way. If you love books that mess with your head and keep you flipping pages, this one’s a must-read.
⸻
Thanks to Little A and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now.
February 8, 2025
They say that when you marry your spouse, you also marry their family. But what if that family was a nightmare? In this book, we meet the Belmonts, an old money, family who are introduced to Devon, their son Richard’s new fiancé, and while things on the surface seem to go well, Devon immediately notices that they start putting ideas in Richard’s head. Soon their “concerns” about Devon begin to resemble an-all out campaign against her, or is it? Are they correct in their concerns? After all, Devon has never been very conventional. Hopefully Devon can find out before she loses what is left of her sanity.
I absolutely devoured this novel, staying up way later than I should have because I simply could not put it down. It just captivated me as I was desperate to know what was going to happen and how everything was going to turn out. The plot of the book resembles a car crash that you can see coming. You can’t stop it and you can’t look away, all you can do is wait to see it happen as you watch in horror and frustration.
The themes of family, trauma and obsession were incredibly well done because it showed how insidious such “innocent-seeming” concepts, like spending time with your family or focused on your nuclear, immediate family, on the surface can become when they are manipulated and taken too far. For anyone that has different relationships with their family it also shows how difficult it can be to explain those relationships to other people. I liked that the author showed that. Not all families or relationships look the same, but each impacts us very deeply and all the characters here showed that.
Speaking of the characters, I really liked Devon and her character had a lot of depth. For a lot of the book, it can be hard to pinpoint her exact motivations or frame of mind which keeps the book exciting, but wants you understand her in greater depth things become clearer, and I saw her in an even more positive light. Of course she had some flaws, but who doesn’t?
I can’t recommend this book enough for people who love a good psychological thriller. It was a wild ride that I’ll be thinking about for quite a while, as it left quite an impression on me! I look forward to reading more from this author.
I absolutely devoured this novel, staying up way later than I should have because I simply could not put it down. It just captivated me as I was desperate to know what was going to happen and how everything was going to turn out. The plot of the book resembles a car crash that you can see coming. You can’t stop it and you can’t look away, all you can do is wait to see it happen as you watch in horror and frustration.
The themes of family, trauma and obsession were incredibly well done because it showed how insidious such “innocent-seeming” concepts, like spending time with your family or focused on your nuclear, immediate family, on the surface can become when they are manipulated and taken too far. For anyone that has different relationships with their family it also shows how difficult it can be to explain those relationships to other people. I liked that the author showed that. Not all families or relationships look the same, but each impacts us very deeply and all the characters here showed that.
Speaking of the characters, I really liked Devon and her character had a lot of depth. For a lot of the book, it can be hard to pinpoint her exact motivations or frame of mind which keeps the book exciting, but wants you understand her in greater depth things become clearer, and I saw her in an even more positive light. Of course she had some flaws, but who doesn’t?
I can’t recommend this book enough for people who love a good psychological thriller. It was a wild ride that I’ll be thinking about for quite a while, as it left quite an impression on me! I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 16, 2025
Name Not Taken is a delightfully twisty, dark & fast-paced read. I was kept guessing throughout and even second guessed my thoughts at the culmination of the book. It is an intricately woven tale with little details or suggestions slowly introduced throughout that creates a beautifully executed unreliable narrator. The characters are unlikeable in all the right ways - I didn’t care for any of them but I wanted to know every last detail about each one of them. The family dynamic and Devon’s reactions are completely plausible so you could feel yourself in the situation and will start to question what you would do to protect your happily ever after.
February 20, 2025
1 star
I didn't like this one. I felt like I was getting gaslight along with our main character. The characters were awful, like not the way they were written but the characters themselves (especially Richard). I didn't like the ending either, so... i like psychological thrillers, but this one was not for me.
I didn't like this one. I felt like I was getting gaslight along with our main character. The characters were awful, like not the way they were written but the characters themselves (especially Richard). I didn't like the ending either, so... i like psychological thrillers, but this one was not for me.
February 9, 2025
A struggling artist gets engaged to a man from a wealthy sophisticated family that welcomes her less than warmly. Do their comments about her eating habits and mental health come from a place of caring, or are they an insidious plot to make her unravel? The author turns up the tension steadily throughout, making her paranoia seem justified. But is it?
February 16, 2025
Ambition. Envy. Greed. Power. Passion. Family.
A story of matriarchal madness, a mothers limitless love to protect and preserve her family.
A thrilling journey of rival social-classes and uncertain sanity. A struggling artists ambition to succeed at what she loves in a battle of the Haves vs the Have Nots.
So much to say! But most any insight printed here will be a spoiler! So this review is intentionally bland, and that saddens my heart. I want to share so much with you, but the impact would be lessened. Just read the book.
Can recommend.
A story of matriarchal madness, a mothers limitless love to protect and preserve her family.
A thrilling journey of rival social-classes and uncertain sanity. A struggling artists ambition to succeed at what she loves in a battle of the Haves vs the Have Nots.
So much to say! But most any insight printed here will be a spoiler! So this review is intentionally bland, and that saddens my heart. I want to share so much with you, but the impact would be lessened. Just read the book.
Can recommend.
February 16, 2025
I have to admit that this book really caught my attention and was a real page-turner. However, with so many narratives and layers, I found myself unsure of where it was all heading at one point. Richard, one of the main characters, was awful, and I didn’t like him. As for Devon—let's just say she was an unreliable narrator! By the end, I was more confused than satisfied; overall, it was a decent book for a quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2025
So good
This was such an enticing book. I loved peeking into the characters minds. The twist on the sister and the mom was great. The book was an unexpected treasure. I loved it and read it in a day.
This was such an enticing book. I loved peeking into the characters minds. The twist on the sister and the mom was great. The book was an unexpected treasure. I loved it and read it in a day.
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