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Now You Are Mine
Preorder the BRAND NEW psychological thriller from BESTSELLER Amanda Brittany A remote lakeside house. Six strangers with something to hide.
Who's out for revenge? Who will survive? When Polly signs up to an art retreat in the Lake District, it's an escape from the stress of recent months, when a stalker preyed on her and her friend.
It's also an opportunity to find out more about her family Polly believes her biological mother once lived here, at Lakeside House.
But things quickly turn sinister. The previous owners supposedly took their own lives here, years before – and the glamorous new owners are now receiving disturbing threats. Someone is sabotaging Polly's artwork. The five other guests on the retreat all seem to be hiding something.
Then one of them goes missing.
Is someone trying to scare Polly? Do the creepy goings-on have anything to do with the family she never knew? Or has the stalker followed her to Lakeside House, and is now hiding in plain sight?
Now You Are Mine is a pulse-pounding dark psychological thriller. If you like Lucy Foley or C.L. Taylor, you'll love Amanda Brittany
Who's out for revenge? Who will survive? When Polly signs up to an art retreat in the Lake District, it's an escape from the stress of recent months, when a stalker preyed on her and her friend.
It's also an opportunity to find out more about her family Polly believes her biological mother once lived here, at Lakeside House.
But things quickly turn sinister. The previous owners supposedly took their own lives here, years before – and the glamorous new owners are now receiving disturbing threats. Someone is sabotaging Polly's artwork. The five other guests on the retreat all seem to be hiding something.
Then one of them goes missing.
Is someone trying to scare Polly? Do the creepy goings-on have anything to do with the family she never knew? Or has the stalker followed her to Lakeside House, and is now hiding in plain sight?
Now You Are Mine is a pulse-pounding dark psychological thriller. If you like Lucy Foley or C.L. Taylor, you'll love Amanda Brittany
296 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2024
161 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Brittany
14 books196 followersAmanda Brittany is the best selling author of psychological thrillers NOW YOU ARE MINE, HER LAST LIE, TELL THE TRUTH, TRACES OF HER, I LIE IN WAIT, I'M WATCHING YOU and THE ISLAND HOUSE
LET ME OUT is out on June 29th 2025 with Boldwood Books.
Her debut, HER LAST LIE has so far raised £9000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister from eBook royalties.
Amanda lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her crazy, cute dog. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, travelling, walking her dogs, reading & sunny days. She also has a soft spot for snow, which features in HER LAST LIE & I LIE IN WAIT.
Amanda has studied psychology and criminology, has a diploma in creative writing, and a BA(Hons) in English Literature.
She also writes psychological suspense novels with Karen Clarke. THE SECRET SISTER, THE PERFECT NANNY and THE NEW WIFE.
You can follow her on:
Twitter: @amandajbrittany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabrittany2
Instagram: @amanda_brittany_author
LET ME OUT is out on June 29th 2025 with Boldwood Books.
Her debut, HER LAST LIE has so far raised £9000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister from eBook royalties.
Amanda lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her crazy, cute dog. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, travelling, walking her dogs, reading & sunny days. She also has a soft spot for snow, which features in HER LAST LIE & I LIE IN WAIT.
Amanda has studied psychology and criminology, has a diploma in creative writing, and a BA(Hons) in English Literature.
She also writes psychological suspense novels with Karen Clarke. THE SECRET SISTER, THE PERFECT NANNY and THE NEW WIFE.
You can follow her on:
Twitter: @amandajbrittany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabrittany2
Instagram: @amanda_brittany_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 9, 2024
3⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ September 9, 2024
Publisher ~ Boldwood Books
Est Page Count ~ 299 (p+ 53 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 48 minutes
Narrator ~ Julie Maisey
POV ~ multiple 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, domestic abuse, child abuse, locked room vibe, a lot of rain
The prologue is rather intriguing with someone dumping two bodies. As the story unfolds we slowly learn who the bodies are and who put them in their final resting place.
Soon after a stalking incident at home Polly heads to Lakeside House for an art retreat hoping to find out more about her birth mother. She doesn’t know much, only has a picture with her of her mother standing in front of this house. The house has secrets though and the rumor around town is that the original owners, Esme and Stephen, died by suicide, but their bodies were never found. Will Polly get the answers she desires from any of the other attendees or staff? Or will she get more than she bargained for in her 5 day stay?
Tara, the new homeowner, chimes in with her POV a few times. Her marriage to Xavier isn't as it seems to outsiders.
We meet Esme 42 years ago when she lived in Lakeside House. She’s in an abusive marriage when she learns she’s pregnant. Her chapters were heartbreaking to read and told in the 1st person.
Overall, I loved the description of the house and the secret tunnels and bunkers. I wish my house had a secret tunnel, how fun would that be! I did feel like it was one thing happening after another after another after another, almost too much going on. And it rained constantly. I found it odd that picnics and outings were scheduled when they were in a flash flood warning. Maybe that’s just me because I hate when I have to go out in the rain. There were a few twists I hadn’t seen coming, so that was nice. If you liked locked room vibes due to storms with some tense moments then I think you'll like this one.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ September 9, 2024
Publisher ~ Boldwood Books
Est Page Count ~ 299 (p+ 53 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 48 minutes
Narrator ~ Julie Maisey
POV ~ multiple 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, domestic abuse, child abuse, locked room vibe, a lot of rain
The prologue is rather intriguing with someone dumping two bodies. As the story unfolds we slowly learn who the bodies are and who put them in their final resting place.
Soon after a stalking incident at home Polly heads to Lakeside House for an art retreat hoping to find out more about her birth mother. She doesn’t know much, only has a picture with her of her mother standing in front of this house. The house has secrets though and the rumor around town is that the original owners, Esme and Stephen, died by suicide, but their bodies were never found. Will Polly get the answers she desires from any of the other attendees or staff? Or will she get more than she bargained for in her 5 day stay?
Tara, the new homeowner, chimes in with her POV a few times. Her marriage to Xavier isn't as it seems to outsiders.
We meet Esme 42 years ago when she lived in Lakeside House. She’s in an abusive marriage when she learns she’s pregnant. Her chapters were heartbreaking to read and told in the 1st person.
Overall, I loved the description of the house and the secret tunnels and bunkers. I wish my house had a secret tunnel, how fun would that be! I did feel like it was one thing happening after another after another after another, almost too much going on. And it rained constantly. I found it odd that picnics and outings were scheduled when they were in a flash flood warning. Maybe that’s just me because I hate when I have to go out in the rain. There were a few twists I hadn’t seen coming, so that was nice. If you liked locked room vibes due to storms with some tense moments then I think you'll like this one.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
September 10, 2024
Now You Are Mine by Amanda Brittany, When the story begins we meet Polly Ashton all her life she has known she was adopted but the only clue she has to her birth parents is an anonymous picture of a 16 year old girl thought to be her mom. and the house she is standing in front of and it’s the reason for her booking this artist retreat at “the lake house.” Polly isn’t an artist but the retreat is open to any level artist but she isn’t prepared for the eclectic group of people she meets when she arrives especially the owner Xavier. The Lakehouse’s history is that the people who lived there before Steven and Ezma Frampton had a suicide pact got swallowed up by the lake and was never seen again. Polly thinks she may possibly be related to them and this is why she is there. The owners already have had protest in strange threatening letters sent to them but it seems when Polly arrives the strange events only become more frequent and more targeted towards her. She really becomes concerned because before leaving home her and her roommate Nikki were stalked by one of Nickie’s one night stands and she fears the stalker may have followed her. Before it’s over however polly will find out more than she wanted to know an solves murders a kidnapping and even a threat to her own life. This was such a good full complete story. They have a lot of characters in the book but if you read and pay attention I found it was very easy to follow every third or fourth chapter is in the past with Ezma and racist abusive Stephen. What else can I say the writing is really good the story is well told Polly is very likable as well as Martha and even Tara had me feeling sorry for her there is something that irked me in the book but it is minor and if I mention it here it will give one of the many key plot points away and trust me there are lots of twist that are so worth reading the book and waiting for. So I would just say if you want a great mystery/thriller then you will definitely enjoy this book I absolutely enjoyed it loved it found it so entertaining and definitely recommend it.#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #AmandaBrittany, #NowYouAreMine,
September 25, 2024
This was an atmospheric psychology thriller that has some twists and a sense of dread throughout. It's set at a house on a lake in England. The house has a dark history. Six individuals are staying there for an art retreat. Each character has secrets, and reasons for attending the retreat. Polly is trying to escape a stalker and find some relaxation. She is also searching for her birth family. While there, strange things start happening and Polly starts to feel like she cannot trust anyone there and that possibly her stalker has followed her. This one started out strong but the middle felt on the slow side. It did amp up towards the end though. A decent read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 22, 2024
I really enjoyed my first read from Brittany and was expecting this to be a similar locked-room mystery. However, this story was quite disappointing: I found the plot to be quite messy and the characters not particularly convincing.
The opening chapter of someone apparently burying two bodies with a distracting suicide note was something that immediately intrigued me. Fast-forward many years later and we see Polly arrive at Lakeside House which has now become an artists retreat. However, Polly isn’t really there for crafting her art technique, but to find out more about her birth mother – whom she suspects used to live at Lakeside. Yet, the other artists seem to be slightly odd, one goes missing and it would seem that someone has it in for Polly.
What confused me was that the author gave equal importance to Polly’s search for information on her family history, as well as the stalker she has recently escaped from. However, my brain considered the stalker to be more of a sub-plot, when later in the novel it is meant to be really important. It would have been better if Brittany had developed this more earlier on in the story, to signify it would be added into the main plot. Indeed, I was confused about Polly’s relationship with her flatmate Nicky, and was never convinced that there was anything more to this co-habiting, despite what is implied.
In my opinion, the plot moves quite slowly and I never got a sense of mystery or suspense. It always seems to rain and the characters are out and about in it, despite apparent flood warnings. The setting is quite spooky, especially when tunnels are discovered, but it was at this point that I thought the story began to get far-fetched. When more of Lakeside’s history is revealed, I had lost interest in the story and was frustrated by how much the characters were running around the property – more like headless chickens that lacked purpose.
Although I seem to be in a bit of a reading slump at the moment, I had high hopes for my 200th book of the year… this one didn’t deliver the punches I had expected after Brittany’s last book and I was glad to finish it. The story started off well enough, but I think it slowed down halfway, before racing to a clumsy conclusion where I couldn’t really care about the fate of the protagonist. Whilst this might be the impact of my reading slump, I still don’t think this was as good in the slightest as my previous read from this author.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The opening chapter of someone apparently burying two bodies with a distracting suicide note was something that immediately intrigued me. Fast-forward many years later and we see Polly arrive at Lakeside House which has now become an artists retreat. However, Polly isn’t really there for crafting her art technique, but to find out more about her birth mother – whom she suspects used to live at Lakeside. Yet, the other artists seem to be slightly odd, one goes missing and it would seem that someone has it in for Polly.
What confused me was that the author gave equal importance to Polly’s search for information on her family history, as well as the stalker she has recently escaped from. However, my brain considered the stalker to be more of a sub-plot, when later in the novel it is meant to be really important. It would have been better if Brittany had developed this more earlier on in the story, to signify it would be added into the main plot. Indeed, I was confused about Polly’s relationship with her flatmate Nicky, and was never convinced that there was anything more to this co-habiting, despite what is implied.
In my opinion, the plot moves quite slowly and I never got a sense of mystery or suspense. It always seems to rain and the characters are out and about in it, despite apparent flood warnings. The setting is quite spooky, especially when tunnels are discovered, but it was at this point that I thought the story began to get far-fetched. When more of Lakeside’s history is revealed, I had lost interest in the story and was frustrated by how much the characters were running around the property – more like headless chickens that lacked purpose.
Although I seem to be in a bit of a reading slump at the moment, I had high hopes for my 200th book of the year… this one didn’t deliver the punches I had expected after Brittany’s last book and I was glad to finish it. The story started off well enough, but I think it slowed down halfway, before racing to a clumsy conclusion where I couldn’t really care about the fate of the protagonist. Whilst this might be the impact of my reading slump, I still don’t think this was as good in the slightest as my previous read from this author.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2024
Starting out strong, this book definitely captured my interest but it was not able to retain that as the story crawled to its end. It has such a creative plot twist and the book is well written vocabulary wise but I felt like the written POV style (change between first and third pov) kept me confused.
December 22, 2024
Looking to escape a recent stalker, Polly has enrolled in an artist retreat owned by the young couple Tara and Xander.
As others join Polly, readers learn the other participants are also escaping something and hold secrets of their own.
The story is told from the perspective of three woman across two timelines. Polly and Tara’s perspectives are told in present day while Esme’s is told from 25+ years ago.
In this locked room thriller readers are taken through a journey as everyone’s dark past collides with the present as events are brought to life.
I rated this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars. There were times I had to go back and reread sections to remind myself which character was which and how their past was impacting the present. There seemed to be a lot happening and toggling between the current and past timelines while keeping each character’s stories straight was often challenging as I found myself being easily distracted.
I’ve read other books by the author and have absolutely loved them! I will continue to excitedly check her books out as they are released! If you enjoy thrillers from Amanda Brittany and enjoy locked room mysteries, I would recommend checking this out for yourself!
This book is available now!
As others join Polly, readers learn the other participants are also escaping something and hold secrets of their own.
The story is told from the perspective of three woman across two timelines. Polly and Tara’s perspectives are told in present day while Esme’s is told from 25+ years ago.
In this locked room thriller readers are taken through a journey as everyone’s dark past collides with the present as events are brought to life.
I rated this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars. There were times I had to go back and reread sections to remind myself which character was which and how their past was impacting the present. There seemed to be a lot happening and toggling between the current and past timelines while keeping each character’s stories straight was often challenging as I found myself being easily distracted.
I’ve read other books by the author and have absolutely loved them! I will continue to excitedly check her books out as they are released! If you enjoy thrillers from Amanda Brittany and enjoy locked room mysteries, I would recommend checking this out for yourself!
This book is available now!
August 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the opportunity to read an ARC of Now You Are Mine by Amanda Brittany. All opinions are my own.
When Polly signs up for an art retreat in the Lake District, she’s hoping for some peace, a break from the stalker who’s been making her life a nightmare, and maybe even a chance to dig into her past. Lakeside House, the retreat’s setting, is as full of secrets as it is scenic views. The previous owners met a rather grim end, and now the new, stylish owners are receiving some unsettling threats. Polly’s peaceful retreat quickly turns into a thriller—her artwork is being tampered with, her fellow guests are hiding more than just bad brushstrokes, and then one of them just up and disappears.
Now, with all this suspenseful setup, you’d expect a nail-biting read. But for me, this one didn’t quite deliver. The book starts with an intriguing premise, but I spent way too much time in the first half of the book trying to keep the characters straight. Many of them felt more like caricatures than real people, which made it hard to care about what happened to them. The thriller elements felt a bit over-the-top, with a villain who seemed more fit for a melodrama than a psychological suspense novel.
Character development was another sticking point. The characters felt shallow, making it hard to root for anyone, which in turn made the mystery less compelling until about halfway through the book. That said, when the plot finally picked up, I found myself more engaged. There were a few twists that genuinely caught me off guard, and the final act had me flipping pages to see how everything would be wrapped up.
The ending did tie things together, but some of the twists felt a little too far-fetched to fully buy into. Still, it was a fast-paced conclusion, which was a nice change from the slower start.
Overall, Now You Are Mine had its moments and a few surprises, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations in terms of character depth and consistent tension. I’m sure other readers will enjoy the twists and the speedy finish, and I’m grateful for the chance to read it before its release.
When Polly signs up for an art retreat in the Lake District, she’s hoping for some peace, a break from the stalker who’s been making her life a nightmare, and maybe even a chance to dig into her past. Lakeside House, the retreat’s setting, is as full of secrets as it is scenic views. The previous owners met a rather grim end, and now the new, stylish owners are receiving some unsettling threats. Polly’s peaceful retreat quickly turns into a thriller—her artwork is being tampered with, her fellow guests are hiding more than just bad brushstrokes, and then one of them just up and disappears.
Now, with all this suspenseful setup, you’d expect a nail-biting read. But for me, this one didn’t quite deliver. The book starts with an intriguing premise, but I spent way too much time in the first half of the book trying to keep the characters straight. Many of them felt more like caricatures than real people, which made it hard to care about what happened to them. The thriller elements felt a bit over-the-top, with a villain who seemed more fit for a melodrama than a psychological suspense novel.
Character development was another sticking point. The characters felt shallow, making it hard to root for anyone, which in turn made the mystery less compelling until about halfway through the book. That said, when the plot finally picked up, I found myself more engaged. There were a few twists that genuinely caught me off guard, and the final act had me flipping pages to see how everything would be wrapped up.
The ending did tie things together, but some of the twists felt a little too far-fetched to fully buy into. Still, it was a fast-paced conclusion, which was a nice change from the slower start.
Overall, Now You Are Mine had its moments and a few surprises, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations in terms of character depth and consistent tension. I’m sure other readers will enjoy the twists and the speedy finish, and I’m grateful for the chance to read it before its release.
September 12, 2024
A woman named Polly attends an art retreat in the Lake District to escape a stalker and learn more about her family. However, things take a sinister turn as the retreat becomes plagued by threats, sabotage, and mysterious disappearances. Polly and the other guests must unravel the secrets and figure out who is out for revenge before it's too late.
This book initially had a slow start, requiring me to revisit and re-read several chapters. However, once I pushed through the sluggish beginning, the story began to captivate me. The narrative featured multiple points of view, alternating between Polly, Esme, and Tara, shifting seamlessly between the present and the past. It demanded my full attention to avoid getting lost in the intricate storytelling.
I found myself drawn to the main character and the plot, which included unexpected twists that kept me engaged. This book defied my expectations, ultimately leaving me satisfied with the experience. I highly recommend giving this page-turner a chance, as the dynamic and intriguing female characters will keep you guessing until the very end.
Thank you, Boldwood Books for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book initially had a slow start, requiring me to revisit and re-read several chapters. However, once I pushed through the sluggish beginning, the story began to captivate me. The narrative featured multiple points of view, alternating between Polly, Esme, and Tara, shifting seamlessly between the present and the past. It demanded my full attention to avoid getting lost in the intricate storytelling.
I found myself drawn to the main character and the plot, which included unexpected twists that kept me engaged. This book defied my expectations, ultimately leaving me satisfied with the experience. I highly recommend giving this page-turner a chance, as the dynamic and intriguing female characters will keep you guessing until the very end.
Thank you, Boldwood Books for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 9, 2024
Thank you Boldwood Books for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now You Are Mine is marketed as a “pulse pounding dark psychological thriller”.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get that.
Welcome to the art retreat at Lakeside House.
Polly arrives for some peace and quiet after dealing with a stalker that caused distress for her and best friend and roommate Nicky.
Followed by a bunch of strangers with something to hide.
As well as hosts, Xander and Tara, all the guests are a bit suspicious.
The grand recently renovated manor has a disturbing past and when strange happenings occur…… things get interesting!
A mediocre read.
This started off good but became like a chore to read in the middle and finished ok, also I found there was a plot disconnect at times.
There’s no big surprises for me and found I didn’t connect to the characters.
A tame plot and an average ending.
Now You Are Mine is marketed as a “pulse pounding dark psychological thriller”.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get that.
Welcome to the art retreat at Lakeside House.
Polly arrives for some peace and quiet after dealing with a stalker that caused distress for her and best friend and roommate Nicky.
Followed by a bunch of strangers with something to hide.
As well as hosts, Xander and Tara, all the guests are a bit suspicious.
The grand recently renovated manor has a disturbing past and when strange happenings occur…… things get interesting!
A mediocre read.
This started off good but became like a chore to read in the middle and finished ok, also I found there was a plot disconnect at times.
There’s no big surprises for me and found I didn’t connect to the characters.
A tame plot and an average ending.
August 20, 2024
Thank you @theboldbookclub for giving me the chance to read this book. The main character is a victim of stalking so she goes to a retreat and you can imagine that things do not go according to plan . Loved the suspense of this and would love to read more by this author. Well worth a read.
September 30, 2024
This book starts off with a bang with two bodies being dumped. As the plot develops, we discover who these people are and what happened to them. The writing style was very descriptive, and I enjoyed feeling like I was in the setting with the characters. There was a sense of foreboding throughout, and it made this a suspenseful ride. Dual timelines and multiple POVs lend to make a complex story. The ending was very unexpected! This was an enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2024
I give this book a 4 star.
I did find most of the characters to be kinda forgettable. There really wasn’t too much to them. It was hard to keep them straight in the beginning.
Polly goes to an art retreat in hopes to find out more about her past. But she finds more then she bargained for. Attempting to put a stalking incident behind her. She tries to find a bit of background of her real mom who died while giving birth to her.
If you enjoy a story with large twists you won’t see coming then this is definitely a good read. Honestly it was the twist I didn’t see coming which upped my rating. The story starts out ok but really picks up towards the end. I would definitely recommend this to someone who likes a slight thriller with a twist.
I did find most of the characters to be kinda forgettable. There really wasn’t too much to them. It was hard to keep them straight in the beginning.
Polly goes to an art retreat in hopes to find out more about her past. But she finds more then she bargained for. Attempting to put a stalking incident behind her. She tries to find a bit of background of her real mom who died while giving birth to her.
If you enjoy a story with large twists you won’t see coming then this is definitely a good read. Honestly it was the twist I didn’t see coming which upped my rating. The story starts out ok but really picks up towards the end. I would definitely recommend this to someone who likes a slight thriller with a twist.
August 29, 2024
Review
In true Amanda Brittany style, she smashes another amazing book out of the park. I'm a huge fan of Amanda's and her books just seem to get better.
This book was a slow burn at the beginning, building up the momentum that draws you in and doesn't let go.
An absolute must read from a brilliant author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In true Amanda Brittany style, she smashes another amazing book out of the park. I'm a huge fan of Amanda's and her books just seem to get better.
This book was a slow burn at the beginning, building up the momentum that draws you in and doesn't let go.
An absolute must read from a brilliant author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 15, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Now You Are Mine in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
I picked up Now You Are Mine expecting a tightly woven psychological thriller—the kind that keeps you up too late, eyes flying across the pages, heart racing. The premise had promise: a missing woman, buried trauma, and a protagonist whose past refuses to stay hidden. But despite that setup, the story quickly lost momentum and never found its footing again.
The Details
The protagonist felt frustratingly passive. She reacted instead of acting, drifted through events, and repeated the same thoughts without growth or clarity. I wanted to understand her, to connect with her fear or confusion—but her narration circled around the same emotional beats until they felt stale. Her decisions rarely made sense, not even within the context of her trauma, and that made it difficult to root for her or stay invested in her journey.
The pacing dragged. For a thriller, this book moved at a glacial pace. Long stretches passed without meaningful action or insight. Instead of building tension, the plot wandered. Key developments landed without impact, and emotional moments lacked weight. I kept waiting for the story to escalate, to offer a twist that would jolt the narrative back to life—but it never really happened.
Most of the twists fell flat. Some were painfully predictable, while others felt tossed in without enough setup. They didn’t surprise or thrill—they simply arrived, disconnected from the rest of the narrative. A well-done twist should feel inevitable in hindsight, not confusing or random. These reveals lacked the finesse that makes a psychological thriller satisfying.
The supporting cast felt underwritten. Characters appeared when the plot needed them, but few had real presence or depth. Conversations lacked tension, and relationships that should have added complexity felt one-dimensional. Even the antagonist lacked menace or intrigue.
The Verdict
To its credit, the writing itself remained clean and readable. The premise held potential, and with tighter plotting and more emotional depth, this could have been a stronger story. But too often, the narrative played it safe. Scenes that should have simmered with dread felt dull. Revelations passed without consequence. The book needed more urgency, more psychological nuance, and a protagonist who took charge of her own story.
July 28, 2024
Polly, a victim of a recent stalker, finds herself at an exclusive art retreat, set in the town her birth family is from. The retreat is the perfect escape from the latest incidents and she can search for the truth about her birth family. The property has recently been renovated and with only one photo of her mother, she knows she’s at the right place. Polly has an eerie feeling about the hotel and when disturbing incidents start happening, she’ wonders if her stalker has found her or if the guests are really who they say they are.
A page turning mystery that had me guessing whodunit all throughout! A big cast of characters, but easy to follow along. The story is told from different perspectives, in present day and past. The author does a great job giving backstories to each and connecting everything in the end.
A page turning mystery that had me guessing whodunit all throughout! A big cast of characters, but easy to follow along. The story is told from different perspectives, in present day and past. The author does a great job giving backstories to each and connecting everything in the end.
August 14, 2024
Six strangers, from all walks of life, are staying at the newly refurbished Lakeside House in the heart of the Lake District for an art retreat. But each person has a secret and are there for their own reasons, not because of art.
This story followed a few of the characters, including the couple who owned the house. We mostly follow Poppy, a woman in her 20s who is fleeing a stalker and searching for her birth family. Her peaceful break quickly takes a sinister turn when strange things start happening. The book is filled with plenty of suspense and lots of twists, some I figured out, but others that caught me off guard. It was fast-paced, and I couldn't get enough of it once I started.
This story followed a few of the characters, including the couple who owned the house. We mostly follow Poppy, a woman in her 20s who is fleeing a stalker and searching for her birth family. Her peaceful break quickly takes a sinister turn when strange things start happening. The book is filled with plenty of suspense and lots of twists, some I figured out, but others that caught me off guard. It was fast-paced, and I couldn't get enough of it once I started.
August 23, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, and it’s shot into my top reads of the year for sure!
Now You Are Mine follows Polly, who having had her live flipped upside down by a stalker, decides to visit an art retreat in the Lake District, in a house she believes her biological mother once lived in. Once there, things start to go horribly wrong for Polly - has her stalker somehow followed her or is she dredging up family secrets that should stay hidden?
I will say that initially I found there to be a few too many characters and it was slightly overwhelming keeping track of them, but as the story progressed, they all play a key role and are there for a reason. The story is told from multiple narrative perspectives and over different time periods, and is expertly written to weave a complex tale of murder, broken families and buried secrets. Throughout the story we are offered lots of possibilities of what happened and plenty of opportunity to guess, but I was still surprised by the ending and it wasn’t a theory I had considered, which I love as usually you can tell ‘who done it’ early on. An absolute must read for fans of thriller and suspense stories!
Now You Are Mine follows Polly, who having had her live flipped upside down by a stalker, decides to visit an art retreat in the Lake District, in a house she believes her biological mother once lived in. Once there, things start to go horribly wrong for Polly - has her stalker somehow followed her or is she dredging up family secrets that should stay hidden?
I will say that initially I found there to be a few too many characters and it was slightly overwhelming keeping track of them, but as the story progressed, they all play a key role and are there for a reason. The story is told from multiple narrative perspectives and over different time periods, and is expertly written to weave a complex tale of murder, broken families and buried secrets. Throughout the story we are offered lots of possibilities of what happened and plenty of opportunity to guess, but I was still surprised by the ending and it wasn’t a theory I had considered, which I love as usually you can tell ‘who done it’ early on. An absolute must read for fans of thriller and suspense stories!
November 19, 2024
This was just...meh. Not great, not terrible. I feel like I'm not going to remember much of this. The characters weren't very interesting.
Some of the mystery was intriguing, but some of the plot points I didn't care about. I wish that the 2 mysteries would have meshed better.
I didn't like that there were so many POVs & that they would switch rapidly. It was too confusing.
Some of the mystery was intriguing, but some of the plot points I didn't care about. I wish that the 2 mysteries would have meshed better.
I didn't like that there were so many POVs & that they would switch rapidly. It was too confusing.
August 31, 2024
Not my favorite. I found this book really slow and hard to get attached to any of the characters. I'll definitely try more by this author.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read to this ARC.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read to this ARC.
September 18, 2024
This is the first book I have read by Amanda Brittany and it was an absolutely brilliant psychological thriller that captivated my attention from start to finish. The intricacies of the narrative, coupled with the suspenseful twists and chilling atmospheres, made for a brilliant reading experience.
While there were quite a few individuals to get to know, the author deftly wove their stories together, ensuring that every character had a purpose and relevance to the overall plot. Their motivations, secrets, and relationships added depth to the story, making it all the more engaging.
I am really looking forward to exploring more of Amanda Brittany’s work.
While there were quite a few individuals to get to know, the author deftly wove their stories together, ensuring that every character had a purpose and relevance to the overall plot. Their motivations, secrets, and relationships added depth to the story, making it all the more engaging.
I am really looking forward to exploring more of Amanda Brittany’s work.
October 2, 2024
This tense thriller was an enjoyable read. I've not read this author before but I found the story and how the writing built up the tension and suspense was just the sort I like to read in a thriller.
November 7, 2024
2.0 ★彡 skip this one! i only gave it a chance because it was a free audiobook, but it was a waste of time honestly. the characters were boring, no personality, no desire for me to root for them or try to figure this out. snooze fest!
January 12, 2025
3.5 stars
July 23, 2025
Barely finished- just couldn’t get into it because it was far fetched and the characters were extremely under developed.
July 27, 2024
An art retreat at a beautiful house on the banks of Lake Kendalmere. Polly, arrives, not just for the retreat but to find out more about her mother who she believes had links to the house years ago. She's had a traumatic year so far as her and her flatmate have been targeted by a stalker.
Lakeside House has a sordid past though, years ago Esme and Stephen Framptom were suspected of a murder suicide although their bodies were not found.
As the retreat continues, Polly suspects the stalker has followed her to the lakes when suspicious events happen. This novel gives locked room vibes as fellow retreatists are stuck in the house due to bad weather conditions
Amanda Brittany is an automatic read for me, her books are on the creepy, tense side. As with all her books this novel sends the reader into tailspins as there are plenty of red herrings to confuse you.
Lakeside House has a sordid past though, years ago Esme and Stephen Framptom were suspected of a murder suicide although their bodies were not found.
As the retreat continues, Polly suspects the stalker has followed her to the lakes when suspicious events happen. This novel gives locked room vibes as fellow retreatists are stuck in the house due to bad weather conditions
Amanda Brittany is an automatic read for me, her books are on the creepy, tense side. As with all her books this novel sends the reader into tailspins as there are plenty of red herrings to confuse you.
August 6, 2024
Polly heads to an art retreat at the Lakeside House in the Lake District. But Polly is not really interested in art. She's here to find out more about her biological mother, who she believes once lived at the house. She's also looking for a break, after a stalker preyed on her and her friend.
Polly finds out that the previous owners supposedly took their lives at the house many years ago. And the new owners are receiving threats from an unknown person. The five other guests at the retreat all seem to be hiding something as well. Polly's suspicions ramp up when someone destroys her artwork. Then, one of the other guests goes missing. Polly is worried that her stalker may have followed her to the retreat. Or, perhaps whatever is going on has to do with her unknown family...
I honestly found this book to be a bit of a drag and super unmemorable. It doesn't really pick up until the end. Either way, I found the majority of the book quite boring. I found myself skimming parts, waiting for some exciting action. Not really my cup of tea and not really a "thriller". I almost decided to give up at around 45%, but pushed through. I was glad when it was done, lol!
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Polly finds out that the previous owners supposedly took their lives at the house many years ago. And the new owners are receiving threats from an unknown person. The five other guests at the retreat all seem to be hiding something as well. Polly's suspicions ramp up when someone destroys her artwork. Then, one of the other guests goes missing. Polly is worried that her stalker may have followed her to the retreat. Or, perhaps whatever is going on has to do with her unknown family...
I honestly found this book to be a bit of a drag and super unmemorable. It doesn't really pick up until the end. Either way, I found the majority of the book quite boring. I found myself skimming parts, waiting for some exciting action. Not really my cup of tea and not really a "thriller". I almost decided to give up at around 45%, but pushed through. I was glad when it was done, lol!
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2024
"Now You Are Mine" by Amanda Brittany is an engaging psychological thriller written from multiple perspectives and in dual timelines, alternating between third and first person. This is just the kind of book I enjoy, so I happily dived in.
The book starts with a bang, featuring murders, and then jumps forward 26 years. The story follows Polly, a young woman who escaped a stalker only to walk out of the frying pan into the fire. She attends an art retreat in the Lake District to decompress from her ordeal and to learn more about her birth family who used to live there, and finds more than she can handle.
The Lakeside House has a horrid history; its previous owners supposedly took their own lives there, but no bodies were ever found. Pretty soon, Polly finds that her troubles have followed her. The new owners are receiving disturbing threats, someone is sabotaging her artwork, and the place has a creepy undercurrent. The plot takes a sinister turn when disturbing incidents keep occurring, one of the guests goes missing, and the worsening weather conditions trap them there.
I loved the book, and the plot kept me guessing right up until the end. The story moves at a good pace with plenty of twists and turns to build suspense. While I suspected one twist, the others caught me by surprise. I liked Polly, was anxious about what happened to her, and rooted for her.
Moving between past and present, what unfolds is a tale of abuse, control, environmental concerns, fallible human nature, and love. The writing is taut and suspenseful, and the author expertly builds tension and atmosphere throughout the book. The characters are well-drawn, each with their own distinct personality.
The author has crafted an engrossing mystery that keeps you interested from beginning to end. I liked the writing and the way the story unfolded before my very eyes. The author doesn't give us all the information at once. Bit by bit, she uncovers more pieces from the past and connects the dots.
To sum up, I enjoyed the book very much and found it original and intriguing. It kept me excited and interested throughout the novel. It was well-written, with good, interesting characters, a compelling premise, and suspense. If you enjoy stories with complex plots and vacations gone awry, this is the book for you.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2024...
The book starts with a bang, featuring murders, and then jumps forward 26 years. The story follows Polly, a young woman who escaped a stalker only to walk out of the frying pan into the fire. She attends an art retreat in the Lake District to decompress from her ordeal and to learn more about her birth family who used to live there, and finds more than she can handle.
The Lakeside House has a horrid history; its previous owners supposedly took their own lives there, but no bodies were ever found. Pretty soon, Polly finds that her troubles have followed her. The new owners are receiving disturbing threats, someone is sabotaging her artwork, and the place has a creepy undercurrent. The plot takes a sinister turn when disturbing incidents keep occurring, one of the guests goes missing, and the worsening weather conditions trap them there.
I loved the book, and the plot kept me guessing right up until the end. The story moves at a good pace with plenty of twists and turns to build suspense. While I suspected one twist, the others caught me by surprise. I liked Polly, was anxious about what happened to her, and rooted for her.
Moving between past and present, what unfolds is a tale of abuse, control, environmental concerns, fallible human nature, and love. The writing is taut and suspenseful, and the author expertly builds tension and atmosphere throughout the book. The characters are well-drawn, each with their own distinct personality.
The author has crafted an engrossing mystery that keeps you interested from beginning to end. I liked the writing and the way the story unfolded before my very eyes. The author doesn't give us all the information at once. Bit by bit, she uncovers more pieces from the past and connects the dots.
To sum up, I enjoyed the book very much and found it original and intriguing. It kept me excited and interested throughout the novel. It was well-written, with good, interesting characters, a compelling premise, and suspense. If you enjoy stories with complex plots and vacations gone awry, this is the book for you.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2024...
November 2, 2024
*2.5 Stars*
Now You Are Mine is one of those books that intrigued me because of the mystery surrounding her mother and her family. Plus, I like stories that revolve around sinister events from the past whereby the net generation has to go hunting for clues about mysterious disappearances and secrets. How I love secrets! This had all the elements that I love in a story. So, where did it go wrong? Well, I actually found a lot of it implausible and although I can suspend some level of belief, there is definitely a limit. And I wasn't a fan of the main character.
The overall character development was one-dimensional which made it really difficult to root for the characters or really care what happened to them. I didn't really care that they were written in both first and third person as I don't think that was the problem, but I am writing this almost two months later from my notes, and if I hadn't written those notes, I would not recall who was who as they were all bland.
The first part of the book was the most interesting for me as I was intrigued by the mystery and I was interested in the setting and the threatening notes the new owners were receiving. You have Polly's artwork being tampered with, some of the characters are behaving weirdly, other characters are definitely hiding things from their friends and their significant others, and then one of them just disappears. Looking at all those things, it should have been a fascinating read, but the execution of it all just didn't work and felt excessive, like the author was trying too hard to create all of these strange scenarios, but couldn't keep track of all the threads. And because the characters weren't all that engaging, I just couldn't get invested in the story and what was happening, flipping through the pages just to get to the end.
I did enjoy the atmosphere of this book and thought the setting was intriguing, but then I love tunnels and secrets, so that was the part I enjoyed the most. I was actually grateful for the multiple POV as it gave me a break from Polly's story line as I found her irritating at times, and it was nice to learn what happened in the past and how it affected the future.
Now You Are Mine had a lot of elements that were interesting, but issues with character development and pacing definitely impacted the overall reading experience. Some of the twists were a bit hard to believe, and overall, I found the book to be a bit forgettable with an average plot and average characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Now You Are Mine is one of those books that intrigued me because of the mystery surrounding her mother and her family. Plus, I like stories that revolve around sinister events from the past whereby the net generation has to go hunting for clues about mysterious disappearances and secrets. How I love secrets! This had all the elements that I love in a story. So, where did it go wrong? Well, I actually found a lot of it implausible and although I can suspend some level of belief, there is definitely a limit. And I wasn't a fan of the main character.
The overall character development was one-dimensional which made it really difficult to root for the characters or really care what happened to them. I didn't really care that they were written in both first and third person as I don't think that was the problem, but I am writing this almost two months later from my notes, and if I hadn't written those notes, I would not recall who was who as they were all bland.
The first part of the book was the most interesting for me as I was intrigued by the mystery and I was interested in the setting and the threatening notes the new owners were receiving. You have Polly's artwork being tampered with, some of the characters are behaving weirdly, other characters are definitely hiding things from their friends and their significant others, and then one of them just disappears. Looking at all those things, it should have been a fascinating read, but the execution of it all just didn't work and felt excessive, like the author was trying too hard to create all of these strange scenarios, but couldn't keep track of all the threads. And because the characters weren't all that engaging, I just couldn't get invested in the story and what was happening, flipping through the pages just to get to the end.
I did enjoy the atmosphere of this book and thought the setting was intriguing, but then I love tunnels and secrets, so that was the part I enjoyed the most. I was actually grateful for the multiple POV as it gave me a break from Polly's story line as I found her irritating at times, and it was nice to learn what happened in the past and how it affected the future.
Now You Are Mine had a lot of elements that were interesting, but issues with character development and pacing definitely impacted the overall reading experience. Some of the twists were a bit hard to believe, and overall, I found the book to be a bit forgettable with an average plot and average characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 12, 2024
The last few months have been a living nightmare for Polly after being stalked by her roommate's one night stand. Signing up for a relaxing art retreat at Lakeside House had nothing to do with an interest in art, but a chance to get away from it all and hopefully uncover some information about her family's past. Adopted at birth, Polly knows very little about her biological mother except that she died during childbirth. The only photo she has of her is in front of Lakeside House where she used to live. She hopes to learn more about her while she's there.
However, from nearly the moment she arrives, Lakeside House is more creepy than it is a relaxing retreat. The owners are whispering about dangerous threats from "The Stranger". The other guests seem a bit eccentric and annoying, but it's soon clear they're each a little creepy -- and not who they seem. When Polly's art is sabotaged and things go missing from her room, she wonders if her stalker is back -- or if the danger she finds herself in has something to do with the troubled birth family she never knew. Polly's life depends on figuring out the answer before it's too late.
Riveting, ominous, and filled with spine-chilling suspense, "Now You Are Mine" by Amanda Brittany starts out feeling like run-of-the-mill detective fiction, but quickly transforms to an eerie psychological thriller. There are so many twists and turns, you might get a little motion sick. And you'll love it! You'll be as delighted as you are creeped-out. If you love a good mystery, you'll love this book. If you love a sinister-feeling psychological thriller, you'll love this book too. There are a lot of characters to get to know and the plot is a little complex, but it's 100% captivating and certifiably unputdownable (by yours truly, of course).
I didn't start out loving this book, but I ended up falling in love with every bit of it, especially the final twist. Let's be real, okay? All final twists are shocking in the psychological thriller genre, so that's never a surprise. But when an author orchestrates a final twist that is so shocking that it turns me tail over tea kettle and changes the way I feel about some of the characters (or the book as a whole) ... it's an awesome experience.
Thank you, Amanda Brittany, for the awesome experience.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘆, 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹'𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
August 2, 2024
[I got this book with Netgalley, so I was gifted a free copy in exchange for a honest review]
Lately I have been a little bit hesitant with the mystery/thriller books. Yes I'm enjoying them, but they are being so predictable lately. This book takes places in a remote lakeside house, with six strangers coming together for a art retreat. We follow our main character Polly, who signed up for the retreat to escape the stress of the past few months, due to a stalker preying on her and her roommate. But there is a reason Polly wanted to go to this specific house. She believes her biological mother once lived here.
However, things are turning south rather quickly. The previous owners of the house have taken their own lives, or so the story goes. And the new owners are receiving disturbing threats. Someone is sabotaging Polly's artwork. The five other guests on the retreat all seem to be hiding something.
Then one of them goes missing.
Is someone trying to scare Polly? Do the creepy goings-on have anything to do with the family she never knew? Or has the stalker followed her to Lakeside House, and is now hiding in plain sight?
So as said before, I struggle a bit with thrillers, especially finding good ones that aren't predictable, and this one surprised me on so many levels! I did not expect anything really. I was guessing, and a few things were guessed correctly, but the "big reveal" was super unexpected for me.
The writing style of Amanda Brittany is really fitting with the whole thriller. She created an amazing image in my head. The picture of the house and its surroundings were written so so good. This was the first thriller in ages that pleasantly surprised me and that I really enjoyed. I loved the twists, and this is definitely a thriller to put on your anticipated releases list for September!
Lately I have been a little bit hesitant with the mystery/thriller books. Yes I'm enjoying them, but they are being so predictable lately. This book takes places in a remote lakeside house, with six strangers coming together for a art retreat. We follow our main character Polly, who signed up for the retreat to escape the stress of the past few months, due to a stalker preying on her and her roommate. But there is a reason Polly wanted to go to this specific house. She believes her biological mother once lived here.
However, things are turning south rather quickly. The previous owners of the house have taken their own lives, or so the story goes. And the new owners are receiving disturbing threats. Someone is sabotaging Polly's artwork. The five other guests on the retreat all seem to be hiding something.
Then one of them goes missing.
Is someone trying to scare Polly? Do the creepy goings-on have anything to do with the family she never knew? Or has the stalker followed her to Lakeside House, and is now hiding in plain sight?
So as said before, I struggle a bit with thrillers, especially finding good ones that aren't predictable, and this one surprised me on so many levels! I did not expect anything really. I was guessing, and a few things were guessed correctly, but the "big reveal" was super unexpected for me.
The writing style of Amanda Brittany is really fitting with the whole thriller. She created an amazing image in my head. The picture of the house and its surroundings were written so so good. This was the first thriller in ages that pleasantly surprised me and that I really enjoyed. I loved the twists, and this is definitely a thriller to put on your anticipated releases list for September!
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