Your Move: A Novel

by Michelle Young

Claire Martel learned long ago that even people close to you can’t be trusted. She’s built a comfortable life for herself while keeping everyone at a distance. When she comes home one day and realizes that someone has been in her apartment, she knows that she is no longer safe and that her deepest secret has been discovered. Nothing is missing, but the message is clear. Who would believe her? Who can she trust?

Feeling the walls closing in, Claire finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation as a person of interest. Her home is no longer safe. Her best option is to disappear - again. She leaves her life behind, only to wind up running into danger, not away from it. Claire must push through her fears and find strength within herself as she ends up in a battle for her life.

Audible Audio

Published December 22, 2021

About the author

Michelle Young is a Canadian author of multiple books. She has been featured in The Globe and Mail, appeared on television and podcasts, and is passionately seeking new ways to bring invisible battles into the light through her stories. Young lives in the country on the outskirts of Ottawa with her family.

Follow Michelle on Instagram and Facebook
@michelleyoungauthor

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot as you can tell I finished it in two days. Author Michelle Young takes you through the life of Claire Martel and why she has lost trust in people. What happened to her to create this feeling, why does she react the way she does when someone is murdered. The book may have some parts most will predict but wait…..- just read it.

[C.L. Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Young’s first novel, though it is her third book (her first two are books of poetry). As with any first novel, there are growing pains, those aside, she’s crafted an exciting story that pushes the pages one after the other with tension and mystery. A definitive page turner that not only pays attention to plot but also character, it is told with an interesting present and flashback style that Young uses to unfold Claire’s story between past and present bit by bit. I found myself determined to see if my who-dun-it guesses were correct (and I will never tell you if they were). What I really liked about her story were the twists and turns she crafted to keep the readers guessing all the way to the end. Ultimately, Young will be an author to keep an eye on as she grows her craft, and I’ll be able to say: “I knew her when!”

[JANELLE || WHATSHESEEES · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was TOO easy to read and ended up reading it in a day!! My last thriller was slow-paced so I was glad for that to be the opposite case with Your Move!
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Claire/Elisabeth was easy to like from the get-go! She was so realistic to me and had a lot of complexities as a character which made her seem more authentic.
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The whole time I was reading I truly had no clue where everything was headed and when we finally came to that point it was shockingly a crazy alternative that I wasn’t expecting to happen!! ⠀
⠀In my opinion, it did read more like suspense than a psychological fiction but that still didn’t take away how much I loved this one. It was a great book and am really impressed with how easily the words flew off the page with this one. ⠀
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If this one isn’t on your TBR already I hope it is now!!

[Kayla (krakentoagoodbook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent thriller! I finished it in one sitting because I just absolutely needed to know what was going on. In terms of the plot, I was obviously very invested in finding out what happened to Claire in the past, as well as what was going on in the present. Some plot points were perhaps a bit convenient, and I did predict some of the reveals. That being said, there were some surprising moments!

Claire was not particularly likeable for me, but I did feel sympathy for her. She's certainly very strong and a survivor! Some of the side characters seemed nice, but we don't get to spend as much time with them (understandably). I really liked where this book ends up with some of these relationships!

Overall, I think this is a very strong debut novel! I would definitely recommend it to readers wanting a great, fast-paced thriller. Content warnings for rape, abuse, and miscarriage

I received a copy of this for review from the author - thank you! All opinions are my own.

[Mélanie Gagné · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start off by saying that Michelle Young has quite a poetic way of writing. When I first started the book, I couldn't get over how easy it was to read through the pages. On top of that, the plot was so addictive, intriguing! I honesly picked this book up at Indigo after having seen that Michelle Young was from Ottawa and attended UOttawa. I really am not disapointed by my choice! The story features Claire who leaves her past behind only to have it come back... with a vengeance! I swear this book will keep you on toes and guessing. Having read quite a few psychological thrillers, I thought I knew what was about to happen! Boy was I wrong! Two thumbs up for Michelle Young's debut novel 👍 👍

[Arti Manani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this is the authors first fiction novel. It's brilliantly written and very addictive. I was drawn in from the first page right until the very end. I can't wait to read more books by Michelle.

[Isabelle C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Move by Michelle Young is about a woman escaping her past and always looking over her shoulder. It’s a real page turner. You get hooked right from the start and the short chapters keep you hooked. I highly recommend it!

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. This was author's debut novel. I expect there will be more.

[DarkBetweenPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars

A psychological thriller at its best!

Your Move is intense.

It will have you on the end of your seat and your heart pumping.

Michelle blew me away with her writing style, she did so many things right. Not only did she dedicate the perfect amount of time to the plot, really building the perfect layout for the story line but Your Move is also extremely character driven. It's not easy to get that perfect delicate balance of both worlds but Michelle nailed it.

Your Move will keep you completely engrossed throughout the whole read. Just as you are getting comfortable and really feel you know where the story is going, Michelle throws you for a complete spiral.

Claire will experience memories of her past or the story may jump from present to the future, yet you don't get a full view into Claire's history and why she's hiding. You get that perfect tidbit here and there... Just enough to keep you gripping on... wanting more.

I admired Claire's strength! I also adored some of the relationships that started throughout this novel, so heart warming and a large piece of the story you will want to cling onto.

Your Move is everything I could ask for in a psychological thriller. It will really mess with your mind. Be prepared!

Thank you so much to Michelle Young for sending me this copy for review.

Michelle is a Canadian author of two poetry books, Salt & Light (2017) and Without Fear (2019). Your Move is her debut novel.

Published: September 5, 2019

And of course thank you all for reading.

Your Courageous Book Worm

-Nichole

[Lynn McCain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This book! The author had you guessing from the first chapter. It was easy to connect with the characters and had a great twist at the end.

[ABL · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Michelle’s first novel, this is a page turner that keeps your interest from cover to cover. The twists keep coming but connections are eventually made and some you don’t expect. If this is her debut novel, we’ve got a great thing coming with her next books!!

[Robert Gleitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, for a first thriller, I’d say this author is on the right track to a promising career in the genre. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist, and it continued like that to the end. Seldom do I have to finish before I can sleep, but I did on this one! Very good book.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phenomenal debut!! Young's poetry is heartfelt and authentic, and she brings that same emotional depth to her first novel. Her main character's development is compelling and far too relatable for too many people. I thoroughly enjoyed Your Move and can't wait to see what Young does next.

[Natalie Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story. Kept me on the edge of my seat. So many twists and turns, you don't know what to expect next. The characters were well developed and I felt like I knew them personally! Young did an amazing job tying the whole story together. Can't wait to read more by this author!!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome read!! Such a page turner I did not want to put it down.

[J. Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of twist and turns that are done so well.

[Vanessa Symington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this one down. Right from the start I was hooked and just needed more. As the story unfolded and pieces started to fall into place I still found myself on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I figured it out, another twist would come up.

Your Move is thrilling and deeply emotional. While I don't read many psychological thrillers, this is one I have immediately become obsessed with. I would absolutely recommend it. Michelle Young writes in a way that has you feeling every single emotion the characters experience. I'm mind blown.

** Please pay attention to TWs and CWs before reading. This book does cover detailed topics that can and will be sensitive to many people. While it is a remarkable read, it will not be suitable for everyone **

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was insane. I could help feel so overwhelmed the whole time just hoping that there would be some redemption for the main character. But at the same time I kept getting angry at her 😂. It was one of those books where you are rooting for her but then asking why all at the same time. But the ending?! It does not disappoint! Get your hands on this read!

[Nathalie Rebelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I needed! Fast pace action, twists and mysteries that keeps you invested in the story!
Great thriller and it makes it even more special that I got to meet the author. Happy to have a signed copy.

[Michelle Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews on my debut psychological thriller novel !! I'm so glad to see you're enjoying it!

[ALYAL100 · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the dumbest books I've read this year or any. Completely unbelievable plot, full of ridiculous coincidences and a completely implausible where-did-that-come-from ending.