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The Woman He Left Behind
How well do you know your husband?
Harry and Amelia start their idyllic marriage in the same way all newlyweds aspire unapologetically in love and tremendously excited to begin their lives together. Amelia is besotted with Harry. After years of being alone and almost giving up on love and marriage, Harry steps into her life and gives her the one thing she truly needs above all hope.
After their perfect wedding, the couple move to Manchester to set down roots, but life has other plans. When they struggle to conceive a child, Amelia is terrified that Harry might leave her, but Harry does the opposite. He becomes even more supportive and tries to help Amelia with her growing anxiety issues.
When tragedy strikes, and Harry astonishingly loses his life in an accident on a trip back to his hometown of Filey, Amelia is left broken and adrift.
On the recommendation of her sister-in-law, Amelia contacts a mysterious psychic, James, who alerts her that her husband’s death isn’t as accidental as everyone thinks. On James’ advice, Amelia follows a trail of malice, deception and violence in search of the answer to one question.
What happened to Harry?
Harry and Amelia start their idyllic marriage in the same way all newlyweds aspire unapologetically in love and tremendously excited to begin their lives together. Amelia is besotted with Harry. After years of being alone and almost giving up on love and marriage, Harry steps into her life and gives her the one thing she truly needs above all hope.
After their perfect wedding, the couple move to Manchester to set down roots, but life has other plans. When they struggle to conceive a child, Amelia is terrified that Harry might leave her, but Harry does the opposite. He becomes even more supportive and tries to help Amelia with her growing anxiety issues.
When tragedy strikes, and Harry astonishingly loses his life in an accident on a trip back to his hometown of Filey, Amelia is left broken and adrift.
On the recommendation of her sister-in-law, Amelia contacts a mysterious psychic, James, who alerts her that her husband’s death isn’t as accidental as everyone thinks. On James’ advice, Amelia follows a trail of malice, deception and violence in search of the answer to one question.
What happened to Harry?
- GenresThriller
353 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2024
128 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Philip Anthony Smith
18 books109 followersGet a free book by clicking here! Philip Anthony Smith made his debut as an author in 2024 with his first psychological thriller, 'Run For Your Life', which released in April of the same year.
As a first time author, he has no accolades or awards to show off, but boasts a lifetime of desire to become an acclaimed story teller.
After a long string of seemingly unrelated professions including window cleaner, SMS psychic and small business owner, Philip decided 2024 was the year to bring his stories to life.
As a first time author, he has no accolades or awards to show off, but boasts a lifetime of desire to become an acclaimed story teller.
After a long string of seemingly unrelated professions including window cleaner, SMS psychic and small business owner, Philip decided 2024 was the year to bring his stories to life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 18, 2024
★ 4 Stars ★
I'm a cover snob, so I was blown away by the stunning cover of "The Woman He Left Behind." And I was ecstatic when the author offered me an early reader's copy. This gripping tale probes the dark complexities of love, betrayal, and the dangerous dance between jealousy and obsession. The agony of betrayal cuts deep, and the thirst for vengeance can consume everything in its path. This story will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page!
Harry's life is like a wild rollercoaster ride - full of ups and downs, twists and turns. As he's about to embark on a promising relationship, tragedy strikes, triggering a whirlwind of emotions and painful memories. He returns to destructive habits. But as he hits rock bottom, Amelia enters his life, bringing a glimmer of hope. Their relationship, however, takes a dark turn as they struggle to start a family. With a toxic dynamic and mounting tensions, things seem hopeless. As if that's not enough, he's keeping a secret, and his new job adds fuel to the fire, but that's when the real excitement begins for readers!
"The Woman He Left Behind" cleverly utilizes dual timelines, adding complexity to the story. The seamless transitions between past and present events deepen our understanding of the characters' actions. As the two timelines gradually converge, unexpected connections and plot twists keep the suspense and intrigue alive. The author's smooth writing style had me eagerly anticipating the next twist.
The multiple perspectives hooked me. The character of Amelia skillfully blurs the line between love and loathing, adding incredible controversy to the story. The story intensifies when James, a mysterious psychic, is added to the lineup. Initially, I was unsure about this element, but I loved the mystic aura James brought. My mind was working overtime, spinning some wild stories!
As always, all the opinions shared in this review are my own and are left voluntarily.
I'm a cover snob, so I was blown away by the stunning cover of "The Woman He Left Behind." And I was ecstatic when the author offered me an early reader's copy. This gripping tale probes the dark complexities of love, betrayal, and the dangerous dance between jealousy and obsession. The agony of betrayal cuts deep, and the thirst for vengeance can consume everything in its path. This story will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page!
Harry's life is like a wild rollercoaster ride - full of ups and downs, twists and turns. As he's about to embark on a promising relationship, tragedy strikes, triggering a whirlwind of emotions and painful memories. He returns to destructive habits. But as he hits rock bottom, Amelia enters his life, bringing a glimmer of hope. Their relationship, however, takes a dark turn as they struggle to start a family. With a toxic dynamic and mounting tensions, things seem hopeless. As if that's not enough, he's keeping a secret, and his new job adds fuel to the fire, but that's when the real excitement begins for readers!
"The Woman He Left Behind" cleverly utilizes dual timelines, adding complexity to the story. The seamless transitions between past and present events deepen our understanding of the characters' actions. As the two timelines gradually converge, unexpected connections and plot twists keep the suspense and intrigue alive. The author's smooth writing style had me eagerly anticipating the next twist.
The multiple perspectives hooked me. The character of Amelia skillfully blurs the line between love and loathing, adding incredible controversy to the story. The story intensifies when James, a mysterious psychic, is added to the lineup. Initially, I was unsure about this element, but I loved the mystic aura James brought. My mind was working overtime, spinning some wild stories!
As always, all the opinions shared in this review are my own and are left voluntarily.
May 12, 2024
This book is the second release from this author and once again I ate this up. How people read thriller books casually over a few days I have no idea, because once I start one I simply HAVE to finish it all in one go, and this one was of course no different.
There was some genuinely really funny bits - as someone who lives just outside of Manchester where some of the story is set, I am very familiar with the trendy overpriced bars full of hipsters, and the security who just judge people on their footwear 🤣.
The characters are all so complex and literally nothing is as it seems, with its dual POV, past and present timelines, and unreliable narrator it really is such a great fast paced page turner. The book deals with its sensitive topics really well, and the premise of the fortune teller helping out the fmc is so cool - I loved the chapter images to go along with that as well.
I’ve said this before about other books, but I just don’t get how characters let themselves get blackmailed, I would rather the truth come out because it definitly would do either way, than be indebted to someone. Again though that’s maybe because it’s never happened to me🤣.
I really love the authors style of writing, where a sentence might seem like a throwaway remark but a few pages or chapters later you’ll read something else that’ll make you think back to that throwaway line and see it in a whole different light.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
’I started to feel like I could rely on someone for the first time since Harry had died. It did feel slightly pathetic that it was a clairvoyant man I’d never met, but beggars can’t be choosers’
There was some genuinely really funny bits - as someone who lives just outside of Manchester where some of the story is set, I am very familiar with the trendy overpriced bars full of hipsters, and the security who just judge people on their footwear 🤣.
The characters are all so complex and literally nothing is as it seems, with its dual POV, past and present timelines, and unreliable narrator it really is such a great fast paced page turner. The book deals with its sensitive topics really well, and the premise of the fortune teller helping out the fmc is so cool - I loved the chapter images to go along with that as well.
I’ve said this before about other books, but I just don’t get how characters let themselves get blackmailed, I would rather the truth come out because it definitly would do either way, than be indebted to someone. Again though that’s maybe because it’s never happened to me🤣.
I really love the authors style of writing, where a sentence might seem like a throwaway remark but a few pages or chapters later you’ll read something else that’ll make you think back to that throwaway line and see it in a whole different light.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
’I started to feel like I could rely on someone for the first time since Harry had died. It did feel slightly pathetic that it was a clairvoyant man I’d never met, but beggars can’t be choosers’
May 28, 2024
4.5! I save my 5 stars for books that devour me from the inside out, and thrillers rarely do - but this was really good!
I was kindly sent this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This is the second release from this author and follows our female protagonist, Amelia, who tragically loses her husband not long after their wedding. In trying to find out the truth behind his death, she finds she has to ‘look at some hard truths’ about herself in the process.
I am a sucker for judging a book by its prologue, and this one had me hooked! Within the first few pages I think I caught whiplash 🤣 but also instantly understood the vibe of the story and got straight into the plot.
I loved the writing style of this book, the fmc’s internal dialogue was sassy and unhinged in such a way that I really felt like we were experiencing her descent into madness right there with her. The descriptions were effective but not too wordy which I LOVE, I didn’t get bored trudging through pages and pages of unnecessary words - which with a thriller I think is really important. Keep me hooked!
I am a sucker for dual POV and this book used it so effectively! 🫶🏻 We were drip fed information that consistently made us feel like (if you know you know) we knew more than Amelia did, without giving too much away. It really kept us in the loop and helped to develop the plot really quickly. It avoided what can often be looooong descriptions of characters finding out all the details of the ‘truth’ which can get boring and repetitive, especially in a story with as many plot twists as this one!
The dual POV also really helped us establish that Amelia was definitely NOT a reliable narrator, and reading Harry’s perspective on things shone clear lights on the holes in her story, making me question EVERYTHING.
Finally, the ending MADE SENSE. I find a lot of thriller books try so hard to come up with a plot twist ending for the shock factor that makes 0 sense at all and leaves me mind boggled, but this book had a satisfying ending that was plausible.
If this book taught me anything, it’s to trust nobody 😂.
The Woman He Left Behind is released on the 28th of May! Let me know if you pick it up and thanks again to Phillip for sending it to me! 😻
I was kindly sent this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This is the second release from this author and follows our female protagonist, Amelia, who tragically loses her husband not long after their wedding. In trying to find out the truth behind his death, she finds she has to ‘look at some hard truths’ about herself in the process.
I am a sucker for judging a book by its prologue, and this one had me hooked! Within the first few pages I think I caught whiplash 🤣 but also instantly understood the vibe of the story and got straight into the plot.
I loved the writing style of this book, the fmc’s internal dialogue was sassy and unhinged in such a way that I really felt like we were experiencing her descent into madness right there with her. The descriptions were effective but not too wordy which I LOVE, I didn’t get bored trudging through pages and pages of unnecessary words - which with a thriller I think is really important. Keep me hooked!
I am a sucker for dual POV and this book used it so effectively! 🫶🏻 We were drip fed information that consistently made us feel like (if you know you know) we knew more than Amelia did, without giving too much away. It really kept us in the loop and helped to develop the plot really quickly. It avoided what can often be looooong descriptions of characters finding out all the details of the ‘truth’ which can get boring and repetitive, especially in a story with as many plot twists as this one!
The dual POV also really helped us establish that Amelia was definitely NOT a reliable narrator, and reading Harry’s perspective on things shone clear lights on the holes in her story, making me question EVERYTHING.
Finally, the ending MADE SENSE. I find a lot of thriller books try so hard to come up with a plot twist ending for the shock factor that makes 0 sense at all and leaves me mind boggled, but this book had a satisfying ending that was plausible.
If this book taught me anything, it’s to trust nobody 😂.
The Woman He Left Behind is released on the 28th of May! Let me know if you pick it up and thanks again to Phillip for sending it to me! 😻
May 15, 2024
HOLY S***.
Oh my life. I’m sorry but I don’t know how this book was that good??
Straight away, to me this started off feeling somewhat like a gothic tragedy and I was HOOKED - this beautiful scene playing out to inevitably end in heart break.
As Amelia’s journey progresses we are led on a search for answers, but are met with more questions to unravel the mystery, which keeps you wanting more and it was not what I was expecting *at all*, which only made it 100000x better.
The characters are so well developed making them so believable, I really felt every emotion along with them and it was even more interesting as those feelings changed as the story progressed.
I bloody love a dual timeline, so that along with the multiple POVs was perfect to me and flowed brilliantly.
It was incredibly well thought out, gripping, fast paced and clever, and I did not guess a single twist.
There is a trigger warning for this, but I think it’s a very important one, as it’s considered (wrongly) by many as a taboo subject, but it deserves just as much discussion as its counterpart, and it hugely adds to the story and the plot and the understanding of it.
It has suspense, shocks, twists and DRAMA. And I *loved* the unreliable narrator feeding the story.
I honestly just loved it - you know when you finish a book and you’re like F*** YES - that was me with this.
I was lucky enough to have The Woman He Left Behind sent to me and I can’t thank Philip Anthony Smith enough for allowing me to read and review this book before its release date on 28.05.24. I hope everyone else loves it too!
Oh my life. I’m sorry but I don’t know how this book was that good??
Straight away, to me this started off feeling somewhat like a gothic tragedy and I was HOOKED - this beautiful scene playing out to inevitably end in heart break.
As Amelia’s journey progresses we are led on a search for answers, but are met with more questions to unravel the mystery, which keeps you wanting more and it was not what I was expecting *at all*, which only made it 100000x better.
The characters are so well developed making them so believable, I really felt every emotion along with them and it was even more interesting as those feelings changed as the story progressed.
I bloody love a dual timeline, so that along with the multiple POVs was perfect to me and flowed brilliantly.
It was incredibly well thought out, gripping, fast paced and clever, and I did not guess a single twist.
There is a trigger warning for this, but I think it’s a very important one, as it’s considered (wrongly) by many as a taboo subject, but it deserves just as much discussion as its counterpart, and it hugely adds to the story and the plot and the understanding of it.
It has suspense, shocks, twists and DRAMA. And I *loved* the unreliable narrator feeding the story.
I honestly just loved it - you know when you finish a book and you’re like F*** YES - that was me with this.
I was lucky enough to have The Woman He Left Behind sent to me and I can’t thank Philip Anthony Smith enough for allowing me to read and review this book before its release date on 28.05.24. I hope everyone else loves it too!
May 15, 2024
THIS. BOOK.
My most anticipated read of the year and it exceeded my expectations! When the prologue gives you whiplash you know you’re in for a hell of a time.
If you’ve read this authors debut (and if haven’t why not??) you’re familiar with the twists and turns but it is amped up in his latest - double the characters - double the drama!
This was the perfect domestic thriller. You find yourself so invested in each character as Smith slowly unravels each one of them until you are faced with the truth about each - masterful!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
My most anticipated read of the year and it exceeded my expectations! When the prologue gives you whiplash you know you’re in for a hell of a time.
If you’ve read this authors debut (and if haven’t why not??) you’re familiar with the twists and turns but it is amped up in his latest - double the characters - double the drama!
This was the perfect domestic thriller. You find yourself so invested in each character as Smith slowly unravels each one of them until you are faced with the truth about each - masterful!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
May 15, 2024
"Because if i couldn't have him, nobody could"
How well do you know your marriage ?
Amelia is on a state of shock as she comes to terms with the death of her husband Harry..... but there are whispers that Harry's death isn't as innocent as it might seem. Amelia embarks on a journey of truth.... what really happened to Harry ? Is everyone as innocent as they seem ?
This is my second read from this author and this is by far my favourite! I couldn't put it down.... i started off hating one of the characters and ended up hating the character i originally loved 🤣 this book was full of twists and turns, i was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time and devoured the last 50% this morning whilst at work🙌
How well do you know your marriage ?
Amelia is on a state of shock as she comes to terms with the death of her husband Harry..... but there are whispers that Harry's death isn't as innocent as it might seem. Amelia embarks on a journey of truth.... what really happened to Harry ? Is everyone as innocent as they seem ?
This is my second read from this author and this is by far my favourite! I couldn't put it down.... i started off hating one of the characters and ended up hating the character i originally loved 🤣 this book was full of twists and turns, i was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time and devoured the last 50% this morning whilst at work🙌
May 20, 2024
I must say, this is a highly unique and intelligent psychological thriller. I found it utterly intriguing and became effortlessly invested right up to the bittersweet end.
This book carries a strong domestic thriller theme and will make you wonder, "How well do you know your husband?" Are there any deep secrets lurking, waiting to come back and bite you?
The book follows the lives of Amelia and Harry, who appear completely infatuated with each other. Newly married, they share an idyllic relationship and desire nothing more than to start a family. Unfortunately, they face struggles to conceive, and the added pressure becomes a strain. Amelia is willing to do anything to fight for Harry's attention but fears their life in Manchester isn't enough. Harry tries his best to support Amelia as a devoted husband should; however, Amelia is not the woman he thought she was. Unexpected tragedy strikes, Harry's life is suddenly lost, and we, the readers, are taken on a wild chase to uncover the truth. Was Harry's death suspicious? Will Amelia discover who her husband truly was? Can Amelia genuinely conceal her real self, or will her erratic behavior be revealed?
This thought-provoking book prompted constant questions and ruminating thoughts as I attempted to unravel the truth before the end. There are a shocking plot twists—it's more intricate than a spaghetti junction!
This is a character-rich story. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting each character and observing their roles come to life; they were captivating.
This is the second book I've read by Philip, and I'm still astounded that he is self-published. I've enjoyed following your author journey and feel incredibly hopeful for a promising writing career. He is an author not to be missed.
I completed this as a buddy read with @yorkshire.bookworm, and we finished it early because we couldn't put it down. Our messages were bouncing back and forth, and this book would make a great club read.
I would highly reccomend, it's slipped right into my top 5 books of 2024.
This book carries a strong domestic thriller theme and will make you wonder, "How well do you know your husband?" Are there any deep secrets lurking, waiting to come back and bite you?
The book follows the lives of Amelia and Harry, who appear completely infatuated with each other. Newly married, they share an idyllic relationship and desire nothing more than to start a family. Unfortunately, they face struggles to conceive, and the added pressure becomes a strain. Amelia is willing to do anything to fight for Harry's attention but fears their life in Manchester isn't enough. Harry tries his best to support Amelia as a devoted husband should; however, Amelia is not the woman he thought she was. Unexpected tragedy strikes, Harry's life is suddenly lost, and we, the readers, are taken on a wild chase to uncover the truth. Was Harry's death suspicious? Will Amelia discover who her husband truly was? Can Amelia genuinely conceal her real self, or will her erratic behavior be revealed?
This thought-provoking book prompted constant questions and ruminating thoughts as I attempted to unravel the truth before the end. There are a shocking plot twists—it's more intricate than a spaghetti junction!
This is a character-rich story. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting each character and observing their roles come to life; they were captivating.
This is the second book I've read by Philip, and I'm still astounded that he is self-published. I've enjoyed following your author journey and feel incredibly hopeful for a promising writing career. He is an author not to be missed.
I completed this as a buddy read with @yorkshire.bookworm, and we finished it early because we couldn't put it down. Our messages were bouncing back and forth, and this book would make a great club read.
I would highly reccomend, it's slipped right into my top 5 books of 2024.
May 11, 2024
WOW what a journey this takes you on!!!
How well do you know your husband??
Harry and Amelia start their idyllic marriage in the same way all newlyweds aspire to: unapologetically in love and tremendously excited to begin their lives together. Amelia is besotted with Harry. After years of being alone and almost giving up on love and marriage, Harry steps into her life and gives her the one thing she truly needs above all else: hope.
After their perfect wedding, the couple move to Manchester to set down roots, but life has other plans. When they struggle to conceive a child, Amelia is terrified that Harry might leave her, but Harry does the opposite. He becomes even more supportive and tries to help Amelia with her growing anxiety issues.
When tragedy strikes, and Harry astonishingly loses his life in an accident on a trip back to his hometown of Filey, Amelia is left broken and adrift.
On the recommendation of her sister-in-law, Amelia contacts a mysterious psychic, James, who alerts her that her husband’s death isn’t as accidental as everyone thinks. On James’ advice, Amelia follows a trail of malice, deception and violence in search of the answer to one question
What happened to Harry?
I was so invested and engrossed in this story at times I felt I was at the sidelines watching their every moves. At first I sympathised with Amelia but then I started to see another side to her, but also thought there were at least two other women this storyline could have related to. Full of many twists and turns, very cleverly penned together, with definite shockers.
Couple of TW so check before reading
I was grateful to receive an ARC version for an honest review
How well do you know your husband??
Harry and Amelia start their idyllic marriage in the same way all newlyweds aspire to: unapologetically in love and tremendously excited to begin their lives together. Amelia is besotted with Harry. After years of being alone and almost giving up on love and marriage, Harry steps into her life and gives her the one thing she truly needs above all else: hope.
After their perfect wedding, the couple move to Manchester to set down roots, but life has other plans. When they struggle to conceive a child, Amelia is terrified that Harry might leave her, but Harry does the opposite. He becomes even more supportive and tries to help Amelia with her growing anxiety issues.
When tragedy strikes, and Harry astonishingly loses his life in an accident on a trip back to his hometown of Filey, Amelia is left broken and adrift.
On the recommendation of her sister-in-law, Amelia contacts a mysterious psychic, James, who alerts her that her husband’s death isn’t as accidental as everyone thinks. On James’ advice, Amelia follows a trail of malice, deception and violence in search of the answer to one question
What happened to Harry?
I was so invested and engrossed in this story at times I felt I was at the sidelines watching their every moves. At first I sympathised with Amelia but then I started to see another side to her, but also thought there were at least two other women this storyline could have related to. Full of many twists and turns, very cleverly penned together, with definite shockers.
Couple of TW so check before reading
I was grateful to receive an ARC version for an honest review
May 9, 2024
The Woman He Left Behind by Philip Anthony Smith follows the mysterious journey of Amelia and Harry, a picture-perfect couple. After their dream wedding, they decide to start their new life in Manchester, eager to build a future together. However, fate has other plans in store for the young couple. Tragedy strikes unexpectedly when Harry meets with a fatal accident that shatters their dreams in an instant. The devastating loss leaves Amelia struggling to come to terms with the sudden emptiness that engulfs her world. Amidst the overwhelming grief and confusion, a beacon of hope emerges in the form of a mysterious psychic named James. He reaches out to Amelia, offering her a lifeline to unravel the truth behind Harry's untimely demise. Driven by a mix of desperation and curiosity, Amelia embarks on a journey guided by James's cryptic clues as she delves deeper into the hidden realms of the unknown.
This book was brilliant, it was fast paced from beginning to end. Suspenseful plot, great build up of characters, I was totally gripped from the start. Some great unexpected twists that kept me fully invested in the story. Thank you Philip Anthony Smith for giving me an opportunity of an ARC of your fantastic book.
This book was brilliant, it was fast paced from beginning to end. Suspenseful plot, great build up of characters, I was totally gripped from the start. Some great unexpected twists that kept me fully invested in the story. Thank you Philip Anthony Smith for giving me an opportunity of an ARC of your fantastic book.
May 23, 2024
4.5 ✨️ rounded up ✨️
We meet Harry and Amelia, who have moved to Manchester after their perfect wedding to make a start on their life together.
After struggling to conceive, Amelia worries that Harry might leave her - however he steps up and is there for her, even with her ever increasing anxiety...
Until tragedy strikes. Amelia is left alone, and broken after Harry accidentally fell to his death off the Brigg, in his hometown of Filey.
Within hours after his funeral, Amelia gets the number of a psychic, James, who informs her his death may not be accidental at all.
This is my first read from the self published Philip Anthony Smith, albeit his second novel - and I'm off to read the first ASAP!
I was instantly hooked with the dual POVs and multiple timelines, jumping back and forth and getting the 2 sides to every story! I was thoroughly invested and the ending just topped it off!
There is some sensitive subjects, so a quick glance of any trigger warnings wouldn't go a miss!
Thank you to Philip Anthony Smith for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We meet Harry and Amelia, who have moved to Manchester after their perfect wedding to make a start on their life together.
After struggling to conceive, Amelia worries that Harry might leave her - however he steps up and is there for her, even with her ever increasing anxiety...
Until tragedy strikes. Amelia is left alone, and broken after Harry accidentally fell to his death off the Brigg, in his hometown of Filey.
Within hours after his funeral, Amelia gets the number of a psychic, James, who informs her his death may not be accidental at all.
This is my first read from the self published Philip Anthony Smith, albeit his second novel - and I'm off to read the first ASAP!
I was instantly hooked with the dual POVs and multiple timelines, jumping back and forth and getting the 2 sides to every story! I was thoroughly invested and the ending just topped it off!
There is some sensitive subjects, so a quick glance of any trigger warnings wouldn't go a miss!
Thank you to Philip Anthony Smith for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2024
Once again this author has smashed it out of the park with his quality of writing and amazing storytelling!
From the off you become fully invested in the characters and their stories and feel the tension of the journeys they find themselves on.
This is told from both different POV's and different timelines which I always find is a good mix for an edge of your seat read.
This is quite an emotive read and a sensitive subject is handled with absolute class and care (do check trigger warnings) It's also a subject that desperately needs more air time and I applaud Philip for shining light on it!
There are several twists, turns and unexpected secrets revealed along the way which all add to the richness of this book.
I highly recommend picking this up on it's release day, May 28th 🩷
I was gifted a copy of this ebook in return for my honest review and honestly.....it's awesome!
From the off you become fully invested in the characters and their stories and feel the tension of the journeys they find themselves on.
This is told from both different POV's and different timelines which I always find is a good mix for an edge of your seat read.
This is quite an emotive read and a sensitive subject is handled with absolute class and care (do check trigger warnings) It's also a subject that desperately needs more air time and I applaud Philip for shining light on it!
There are several twists, turns and unexpected secrets revealed along the way which all add to the richness of this book.
I highly recommend picking this up on it's release day, May 28th 🩷
I was gifted a copy of this ebook in return for my honest review and honestly.....it's awesome!
May 12, 2024
First - a MASSIVE thank you to @philipsmithfiction for the opportunity to read this ARC of his second book in exchange for my honest opinion
Loved the dual POV and past and present timelines in which this book is set.
Fast paced
Page turner
Gripping
Suspenseful
This book is a brilliant read, with unexpected twists and it really makes you feel a lot of different emotions. Absolutely amazing writing and I felt fully invested in the characters and wanting to know what happened.
I really think Philip is an author to watch and I can see him writing so many more incredible stories.
Some trigger warnings to maybe check before you read.
Loved the dual POV and past and present timelines in which this book is set.
Fast paced
Page turner
Gripping
Suspenseful
This book is a brilliant read, with unexpected twists and it really makes you feel a lot of different emotions. Absolutely amazing writing and I felt fully invested in the characters and wanting to know what happened.
I really think Philip is an author to watch and I can see him writing so many more incredible stories.
Some trigger warnings to maybe check before you read.
May 8, 2024
Amelia is heartbroken having recently lost her husband Harry in a tragic accident. She is struggling to cope and cannot get the thought out of her head that it maybe wasn’t an accident after all.
The first word that entered my head when I finished reading this was WOW. What a journey this book takes you on, I was fully invested in the characters. They are written so brilliantly you feel like you really know them and become invested in their part in the story. I found myself sympathising with Amelia so much and was willing her to find the truth.
I was gripped and read this in one sitting, the fantastic writing allows the story to flow effortlessly. Full of twists and turns that will shock you. If you love a psychological thriller then you need to read this.
I would advise checking out the trigger warnings beforehand.
The first word that entered my head when I finished reading this was WOW. What a journey this book takes you on, I was fully invested in the characters. They are written so brilliantly you feel like you really know them and become invested in their part in the story. I found myself sympathising with Amelia so much and was willing her to find the truth.
I was gripped and read this in one sitting, the fantastic writing allows the story to flow effortlessly. Full of twists and turns that will shock you. If you love a psychological thriller then you need to read this.
I would advise checking out the trigger warnings beforehand.
May 16, 2024
I would like to thank @philipsmithfiction for giving me the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Where do I start....wow what a book. The story was fast paced and gripping from beginning to end.
Written as dual POV, skillfully crafted in both past and present tense, I found the characters deeply engaging, drawing me into their stories with compelling depth and investment.
If you like psychological thrillers with a twist, then I highly recommend this book. However you may want to check the trigger warnings.
Where do I start....wow what a book. The story was fast paced and gripping from beginning to end.
Written as dual POV, skillfully crafted in both past and present tense, I found the characters deeply engaging, drawing me into their stories with compelling depth and investment.
If you like psychological thrillers with a twist, then I highly recommend this book. However you may want to check the trigger warnings.
July 2, 2024
4⭐️
AD-PR PRODUCT
A gripping psychological thriller with twists fuelled by important themes! 😍
I really enjoyed this thriller that kept me on my toes and was pleasantly not what I was expecting. If there is a book that really emphasises that there’s two sides to every story, then this is that book! It was very clever.
Newlyweds Harry and Amelia are deeply in love and move to Manchester to settle down. Struggling to conceive, Harry doesn’t leave Amelia as she expected and instead supports her. Tragedy strikes when Harry dies in an accident, leaving Amelia broken. She contacts a psychic recommended to her who reveals that Harry’s death isn’t as accidental as everyone thinks. Amelia begins a journey through deceit to find out what happened to Harry.
I loved the structure of this book. Each chapter was represented by a tarot card which foreshadowed upcoming events. I found the beginning to be a real slow burn and it took a few chapters to really become immersed, but then the switch flicked and I flew through it.
Some of the chapters were lengthier at times, but I really liked the POVs of Amelia in the present looking for answers and Harry before his ‘accident’. This really brought the book to life.
I was sceptical about the psychic aspect of this read, but it didn’t play a huge role in this story, other than leading Amelia on to the next clue. I liked the differing characters throughout and wasn’t particularly fond of any of them, which Smith cleverly makes you feel. I had no idea who to trust, including the protagonists, and this made an enjoyable read.
(Potential Trigger in this paragraph ⚠️)
This book explores some tough topics, such as alcohol and drug use, and I loved the trigger warnings provided. Smith has incorporated an additional exceptionally important topic which is so underrepresented in thrillers. How this was tackled and portrayed was fantastic. Smith should be praised for this!
There were numerous twists in this thriller and I loved the life shattering secrets, jealousy and deceit interwoven throughout. How the book unravelled and led to a dramatic ending was unpredictable and impressive.
I absolutely loved the epilogue. So many books end abruptly without giving you that little bit more, but Smith has incorporated this epilogue to give you a sneak peak into the characters lives after the dust has settled and this was brilliant.
A huge thank you to Philip Anthony Smith for this ARC of The Woman He Left Behind which is out now, including on Kindle Unlimited. ♥️
I recommend this read and look forward to Smith’s future work! 😍
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
AD-PR PRODUCT
A gripping psychological thriller with twists fuelled by important themes! 😍
I really enjoyed this thriller that kept me on my toes and was pleasantly not what I was expecting. If there is a book that really emphasises that there’s two sides to every story, then this is that book! It was very clever.
Newlyweds Harry and Amelia are deeply in love and move to Manchester to settle down. Struggling to conceive, Harry doesn’t leave Amelia as she expected and instead supports her. Tragedy strikes when Harry dies in an accident, leaving Amelia broken. She contacts a psychic recommended to her who reveals that Harry’s death isn’t as accidental as everyone thinks. Amelia begins a journey through deceit to find out what happened to Harry.
I loved the structure of this book. Each chapter was represented by a tarot card which foreshadowed upcoming events. I found the beginning to be a real slow burn and it took a few chapters to really become immersed, but then the switch flicked and I flew through it.
Some of the chapters were lengthier at times, but I really liked the POVs of Amelia in the present looking for answers and Harry before his ‘accident’. This really brought the book to life.
I was sceptical about the psychic aspect of this read, but it didn’t play a huge role in this story, other than leading Amelia on to the next clue. I liked the differing characters throughout and wasn’t particularly fond of any of them, which Smith cleverly makes you feel. I had no idea who to trust, including the protagonists, and this made an enjoyable read.
(Potential Trigger in this paragraph ⚠️)
This book explores some tough topics, such as alcohol and drug use, and I loved the trigger warnings provided. Smith has incorporated an additional exceptionally important topic which is so underrepresented in thrillers. How this was tackled and portrayed was fantastic. Smith should be praised for this!
There were numerous twists in this thriller and I loved the life shattering secrets, jealousy and deceit interwoven throughout. How the book unravelled and led to a dramatic ending was unpredictable and impressive.
I absolutely loved the epilogue. So many books end abruptly without giving you that little bit more, but Smith has incorporated this epilogue to give you a sneak peak into the characters lives after the dust has settled and this was brilliant.
A huge thank you to Philip Anthony Smith for this ARC of The Woman He Left Behind which is out now, including on Kindle Unlimited. ♥️
I recommend this read and look forward to Smith’s future work! 😍
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
May 17, 2024
I have had the great fortune to read an advance copy of Philip Anthony Smith’s second book in exchange of an honest review.
Wow! Just wow! While I thoroughly enjoyed reading his first book, which I highly recommend, I was blown away out of my mind by the author’s inventiveness in this one.
The storyline is well-written, superbly plotted, suspenseful, with the necessary twists and turns that compel you to keep turning pages with sheer pleasure. Remember nothing is what it seems, and jealousy and possessiveness will be your two travelling companions when you embark on this one. It’s such a good psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the final chapters where there’s a sting in the tail which makes this book worthy of a sequel.
For all the above this book is FIVE STARS for me and I would like to thank the author for giving me the pleasure of reading it before its publication date.
Wow! Just wow! While I thoroughly enjoyed reading his first book, which I highly recommend, I was blown away out of my mind by the author’s inventiveness in this one.
The storyline is well-written, superbly plotted, suspenseful, with the necessary twists and turns that compel you to keep turning pages with sheer pleasure. Remember nothing is what it seems, and jealousy and possessiveness will be your two travelling companions when you embark on this one. It’s such a good psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the final chapters where there’s a sting in the tail which makes this book worthy of a sequel.
For all the above this book is FIVE STARS for me and I would like to thank the author for giving me the pleasure of reading it before its publication date.
May 12, 2024
Wow! What an amazing thriller ride this book is! I was captivated by the twists and the turns throughout. I love the tarot card details in each chapter and the illustrations are beautiful at the start of each chapter. Wonderful (and some not so wonderful) characters and a great storyline that keeps you guessing.
May 10, 2024
Firstly thank you very much to Philip for giving me the chance to read and review his new book. Well written,fast paced and gripping with characters that were so well written it was hard to put down. I really enjoyed the revenge angle from certain characters. Each chapter brought another surprise making this a perfect psychological read. I think this author is going to go far. Recommend.
June 5, 2024
This book was well written and had some interesting twists and turns. It was so good I read it in one day. I couldn’t put it down.
May 20, 2024
Firstly I would like to thank Philip for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Just from the Prologue alone I knew this book was going to be brilliant - it had me hooked!
This book is so cleverly written from two different POVs and also in two different timelines. This made the book even more exciting, fast paced and an all round page turner! I loved the character development, the book is so well written I really got invested in each characters storyline.
Some psychological thrillers can be predictable but not this one - this book kept me engaged throughout and I didn’t see the multiple twists and turns coming! Philip handles some difficult topics throughout the book with such sensitivity - certainly topics that deserve to be spoken about and highlighted more in books, so thank you for doing so with such sensitivity.
For all of the above reasons this was an easy 5 star read for me!!
Summary:
Amelia is grieving the sudden death of her Husband Harry. However, there is talk that Harry’s death may be suspicious and not an accident after all. Amelia receives text messages from a psychic, James, and when following his advice Amelia gets caught up in a trail of lies and violence all to get answers to what really happened to Harry.
I can 100% recommend picking this book up on Amazon - release date 28th May 2024!!
Just from the Prologue alone I knew this book was going to be brilliant - it had me hooked!
This book is so cleverly written from two different POVs and also in two different timelines. This made the book even more exciting, fast paced and an all round page turner! I loved the character development, the book is so well written I really got invested in each characters storyline.
Some psychological thrillers can be predictable but not this one - this book kept me engaged throughout and I didn’t see the multiple twists and turns coming! Philip handles some difficult topics throughout the book with such sensitivity - certainly topics that deserve to be spoken about and highlighted more in books, so thank you for doing so with such sensitivity.
For all of the above reasons this was an easy 5 star read for me!!
Summary:
Amelia is grieving the sudden death of her Husband Harry. However, there is talk that Harry’s death may be suspicious and not an accident after all. Amelia receives text messages from a psychic, James, and when following his advice Amelia gets caught up in a trail of lies and violence all to get answers to what really happened to Harry.
I can 100% recommend picking this book up on Amazon - release date 28th May 2024!!
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June 2, 20253.5 stars. Good story but there wasn’t 1 likable character
May 15, 2024
Where to start with this one 🤯
Firstly I would like to thank Philip for giving me the opportunity again to read the arc of his second book for my honest opinion, and what another fantastic book it was. As soon as I started this one I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down.
I read this book of course as a buddy read with my bestie Katie. Once again we smashed through it and read it in just over four hours instead of four days!! I still can’t believe this is only his second book.
The characters are very complex, and I became fully invested in them all, but not all is as it seems. It is written from two different POV’s set over two different timelines, past and present. It really is such a remarkable, fast-paced, page turning thriller.
I loved the little tarot pictures at the beginning of each chapter. It’s something I’ve not seen before in a book but it thought It added affect to the fortune teller that was helping Amelia discover the truth.
I find Philips writing style to be tremendous, he keeps you enthralled through out the book and the cliff hangers at the end of the chapters, well they are just bloody brilliant! Also they way he deals with the sensitive topics within this book is perfect! As I do feel it is a topic that does need talking about more.
The fact that some of it is set in Leeds, and with that only been round the corner from where I live it was fun to read about.
He is definitely an author to watch and I can’t wait to make my way through all his future books. I hope he writes loads! And to round of an outstanding book, Philip is just a great guy!
This little gem is released on the 28th of May! Set your reminders as your not going to want to miss it 🩶
Firstly I would like to thank Philip for giving me the opportunity again to read the arc of his second book for my honest opinion, and what another fantastic book it was. As soon as I started this one I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down.
I read this book of course as a buddy read with my bestie Katie. Once again we smashed through it and read it in just over four hours instead of four days!! I still can’t believe this is only his second book.
The characters are very complex, and I became fully invested in them all, but not all is as it seems. It is written from two different POV’s set over two different timelines, past and present. It really is such a remarkable, fast-paced, page turning thriller.
I loved the little tarot pictures at the beginning of each chapter. It’s something I’ve not seen before in a book but it thought It added affect to the fortune teller that was helping Amelia discover the truth.
I find Philips writing style to be tremendous, he keeps you enthralled through out the book and the cliff hangers at the end of the chapters, well they are just bloody brilliant! Also they way he deals with the sensitive topics within this book is perfect! As I do feel it is a topic that does need talking about more.
The fact that some of it is set in Leeds, and with that only been round the corner from where I live it was fun to read about.
He is definitely an author to watch and I can’t wait to make my way through all his future books. I hope he writes loads! And to round of an outstanding book, Philip is just a great guy!
This little gem is released on the 28th of May! Set your reminders as your not going to want to miss it 🩶
May 24, 2024
When you read this book DON’T trust the synopsis, the writing, the characters or even your own gut instincts cause this is going to blow your mind for sure, it’s not at all what you are thinking, not even close.
My rating for the book fluctuated so fast on my mind in the first 50% so much, as much as the plot twists on the book, and then it just kept getting better and better and better, it was fast paced, got its hooks deep into the reader and then came the second half and I was just staring into space because WHAT WAS THAT?
The emotions were well written, raw and anyone who has been in that situation can very well associate with.
It’s dual POV, and there is honestly no way for me to describe the book or the plot without giving away major spoilers, twist after twist until the very last sentence and it was such a satisfying read.
And you know the best part of it? It’s only the second book by a new author that is going to be a massive hit because of the angle he had taken, a very common trope in thrillers but also a different take?
I can see this being a best seller and I would absolutely recommend this because I throughly enjoyed it and not because it was an ARC.
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
My rating for the book fluctuated so fast on my mind in the first 50% so much, as much as the plot twists on the book, and then it just kept getting better and better and better, it was fast paced, got its hooks deep into the reader and then came the second half and I was just staring into space because WHAT WAS THAT?
The emotions were well written, raw and anyone who has been in that situation can very well associate with.
It’s dual POV, and there is honestly no way for me to describe the book or the plot without giving away major spoilers, twist after twist until the very last sentence and it was such a satisfying read.
And you know the best part of it? It’s only the second book by a new author that is going to be a massive hit because of the angle he had taken, a very common trope in thrillers but also a different take?
I can see this being a best seller and I would absolutely recommend this because I throughly enjoyed it and not because it was an ARC.
OVERALL RATING: 4.7/5
March 28, 2025
The Woman He Left Behind by Philip Anthony Smith was a gripping thriller that had me questioning my own sanity at times! The premise of this book captivated me from the beginning. Amelia finally finds the love of her life only for him to be suddenly gone forever. Was his death a tragic accident, or was something more sinister at play? As Amelia begins to question whether or not Harry's death was, in fact, an accident like the police concluded, she discovers she may have never really known the man she married that well after all!
Smith does an exceptional job at putting me through all the same ups and downs as his characters with every twist and turn. I'm happy for them one minute, sad the next, then furious and terrified at others! This one was an emotional rollercoaster for me for sure.
One thing I can definitely say is that this book kept my attention and constantly had me wanting to know what was around the next turn for Amelia! Is she finally going to figure out the truth about what happened to Harry, or is this just going to lead her to even more unanswered questions? Even though I think I had a couple of the twists figured out, Smith kept me second-guessing myself the whole time!
Smith does an exceptional job at putting me through all the same ups and downs as his characters with every twist and turn. I'm happy for them one minute, sad the next, then furious and terrified at others! This one was an emotional rollercoaster for me for sure.
One thing I can definitely say is that this book kept my attention and constantly had me wanting to know what was around the next turn for Amelia! Is she finally going to figure out the truth about what happened to Harry, or is this just going to lead her to even more unanswered questions? Even though I think I had a couple of the twists figured out, Smith kept me second-guessing myself the whole time!
December 7, 2025
Amelia and Harry fell in love at first sight. They got married, Harry started a new job, bought a home and were trying to have a baby. Harry left for a business trip and Amelia planned to join him the following day. Harry was tragically killed and found at the bottom of a cliff. Amelia was obsessed with finding out how this fall happened. She began an investigation and discovered that Harry had many secrets and that he wasn’t the man she married. Was his death an accident? Foul Play? Suicide? She was relentless in finding the truth.
This novel is told in duel timelines between Amelia and Harry. There are many twists and it was difficult to put this book down,
Thank you Philip Anthony Smith And BookFunnel
This novel is told in duel timelines between Amelia and Harry. There are many twists and it was difficult to put this book down,
Thank you Philip Anthony Smith And BookFunnel
November 21, 2025
Easily 4.5⭐️
This book had me feeling all sorts of emotions, but mainly outrage/anger for certain characters. There were a lot of twists that I didnt expect and when I had a hunch and thought id figured it out, there was a little twist to that too. Overall, really good book that highlights marital problems, financial issues, different POV and timelines. All the characters were great, except I really would have liked to have heard of a certain character really suffer after everything. But all in all, it was great! Loved how it all came to be at the end!
This book had me feeling all sorts of emotions, but mainly outrage/anger for certain characters. There were a lot of twists that I didnt expect and when I had a hunch and thought id figured it out, there was a little twist to that too. Overall, really good book that highlights marital problems, financial issues, different POV and timelines. All the characters were great, except I really would have liked to have heard of a certain character really suffer after everything. But all in all, it was great! Loved how it all came to be at the end!
May 27, 2024
wow is all I can say right now. this book was seriously unputdownable but also such a hard read at times. the themes discussed in it were something I haven’t come across much but it offers such a unique perspective, I really enjoyed it. most of the time it felt like I was watching a movie, I forgot I was reading and was fully immersed, which is what I usually look for in a thriller. amazing!
December 18, 2025
Great story & the characters draw you in slowly & who you think is the perpetrator isn’t, it has so many twists & turns but such an intriguing story & keeps you wanting to know what’s happened. I loved it & was a tad shocked at the end. Right till the last page, get this if you want a page turner you can’t put down.
I’d have read it quicker if I didn’t have jobs to do.
I’d have read it quicker if I didn’t have jobs to do.
June 5, 2024
This was a wild ride bringing to light that age old question, how well do you know your spouse? This psychological thriller brought us what started out as a perfect marriage, and slowly, page by page broken down the toxicity and lies. The twists in this read were fun and unique and totally flipped my opinion of the characters mid-way through a jaw dropping ending. There is a whole cast of characters with initial impressions made by the perception of certain narrators until the truth came to light which made for a fun read. I love twisty, toxic, dark thrillers and this one did not disappoint.
Currently reading
July 25, 2024Excellent story
What an amazing debut book. Well done.
The story started nice and slow and sort of pulled you in feeling sorry for Amelia. Then it changed......no spoilers, just read it
What an amazing debut book. Well done.
The story started nice and slow and sort of pulled you in feeling sorry for Amelia. Then it changed......no spoilers, just read it
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