What do you think?
Rate this book
The Therapist
‘Wowza!... Got whiplash from one of the shocking twists in this book! Whew! Talk about a gripping, thrilling and hard to put down book!... Twist filled roller coaster ride!!!!!… Who saw that ending coming???? Not me!’ Openbookposts, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lana loves her job as a therapist, listening to other people’s worries, fears—and secrets. She tries never to get too close to her patients…
Until she meets Sandy, whose beautiful green eyes – eyes that Lana is sure look familiar – tear up as Sandy talks about her husband Mike. She swears the bruise on her face was just an accident.
But when Sandy leaves the session, Lana notices marks on the tissue she was dabbing her eyes with. It looks like blue, yellow, purple. There’s no way Sandy’s black eye was fake – is there?
Then Sandy goes missing. And Lana is accused of being involved.
The one person who might know the truth is Sandy’s husband. Mike says he’s desperate for answers, too –and to find his wife before it’s too late.
But who is lying? The heartbroken husband? The missing wife? Or the therapist who knows all their secrets?
A completely unputdownable psychological thriller that will leave you not knowing who to believe, from million-copy bestselling Nicole Trope. Anyone who loves Shari Lapena or Lisa Jewell will be totally addicted!
Read what everyone’s saying about The Therapist:
‘Loved, loved and more loved!!!!!... WOW!!!!!... It was like a rollercoaster ride I never wanted to get off from… left me totally shocked. I was like OMG!!!!!’ Bluemoonblogger, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Wow!... I was so hooked!... an absolute fantastic, suspense-filled, unputdownable page turner… I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!’ arcreviews_by_m, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Wow!... Kept me flipping pages long past my bedtime... A real rollercoaster ride!... I loved it!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An absolutely gripping page-turner that I could not put down. Five stars!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow what a read! A real rollercoaster of a ride… left me speechless!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Could not stop reading… Wow wow wow.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Left me utterly speechless… heart-stopping… A truly jaw-dropping read.’ Robin Loves Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Amazing… The ending was absolutely fantastic… 5-star page-turner!!<
Lana loves her job as a therapist, listening to other people’s worries, fears—and secrets. She tries never to get too close to her patients…
Until she meets Sandy, whose beautiful green eyes – eyes that Lana is sure look familiar – tear up as Sandy talks about her husband Mike. She swears the bruise on her face was just an accident.
But when Sandy leaves the session, Lana notices marks on the tissue she was dabbing her eyes with. It looks like blue, yellow, purple. There’s no way Sandy’s black eye was fake – is there?
Then Sandy goes missing. And Lana is accused of being involved.
The one person who might know the truth is Sandy’s husband. Mike says he’s desperate for answers, too –and to find his wife before it’s too late.
But who is lying? The heartbroken husband? The missing wife? Or the therapist who knows all their secrets?
A completely unputdownable psychological thriller that will leave you not knowing who to believe, from million-copy bestselling Nicole Trope. Anyone who loves Shari Lapena or Lisa Jewell will be totally addicted!
Read what everyone’s saying about The Therapist:
‘Loved, loved and more loved!!!!!... WOW!!!!!... It was like a rollercoaster ride I never wanted to get off from… left me totally shocked. I was like OMG!!!!!’ Bluemoonblogger, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Wow!... I was so hooked!... an absolute fantastic, suspense-filled, unputdownable page turner… I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!’ arcreviews_by_m, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Wow!... Kept me flipping pages long past my bedtime... A real rollercoaster ride!... I loved it!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An absolutely gripping page-turner that I could not put down. Five stars!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow what a read! A real rollercoaster of a ride… left me speechless!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Could not stop reading… Wow wow wow.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Left me utterly speechless… heart-stopping… A truly jaw-dropping read.’ Robin Loves Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Amazing… The ending was absolutely fantastic… 5-star page-turner!!<
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2025
938 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Trope
43 books1,897 followersNicole Trope writes psychological thrillers about families in crisis and the secrets we keep from ourselves and others. She has always been fascinated by the stories behind the headlines and published her first novel in 2012. In 2026 she will publish her 20th novel with Bookouture. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS, Canada and Germany. Her books have been translated into German, Italian, Polish, Hungarian and French and Japanese.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: The Therapist-July 31st 2025
Next Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: The Therapist-July 31st 2025
Next Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
August 4, 2025
I am not even going to try and summarise this book. Best to go into it blind like I did! It is one of those stories which keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat. There is no way of knowing who is telling the truth and as you read you swing back and forth and just as you think you have it sorted the author comes back with another twist.
Definitely full of suspense and very entertaining - Nicole Trope always seems to be able to pull out something new. Highly recommended if you enjoy unreliable narrators!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Definitely full of suspense and very entertaining - Nicole Trope always seems to be able to pull out something new. Highly recommended if you enjoy unreliable narrators!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 1, 2025
“The Therapist”, by Nicole Trope
a generous 3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This was my first book by this author.
It can be read in one sitting.
Although simplistic, the plot was gripping and the development of the story was well planned, however its execution made the story and its characters very unbelievable. the writing was clumsy in some parts and very repetitive, mostly because of the 3 different POV (Lana’s and Sandy’s were written in first person and Mike’s in 3rd).
I found the characters a bit unbelievable and I thought that the book needed some editing, but I can’t deny that it was entertaining.
One of the narrators is unreliable, so I wasn’t satisfied with one of the twists.
As some of my friends loved this book, I did have big expectations.
And although I hated its cover, I ended up purchasing a copy, just because it was on sale.
a generous 3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This was my first book by this author.
It can be read in one sitting.
Although simplistic, the plot was gripping and the development of the story was well planned, however its execution made the story and its characters very unbelievable. the writing was clumsy in some parts and very repetitive, mostly because of the 3 different POV (Lana’s and Sandy’s were written in first person and Mike’s in 3rd).
I found the characters a bit unbelievable and I thought that the book needed some editing, but I can’t deny that it was entertaining.
One of the narrators is unreliable, so I wasn’t satisfied with one of the twists.
As some of my friends loved this book, I did have big expectations.
And although I hated its cover, I ended up purchasing a copy, just because it was on sale.
July 6, 2025
⭐⭐⭐½
The Therapist by Nicole Trope
A solid psychological thriller with a promising setup — but it didn’t fully deliver the punch I usually expect from her.
Lana, a therapist still carrying scars from her own past, agrees to take on a new client, Sandy, who claims she’s in a controlling and abusive marriage to a man named Mike. At first, Lana is just doing her job, listening, offering guidance. But as Sandy’s story grows more intense and disturbing, Lana finds herself emotionally entangled — until Sandy suddenly disappears.
Now Lana is caught in a web of uncertainty, and the lines between patient and therapist, truth and fiction, begin to blur. Is Sandy a victim? Is Mike the monster she described? Or is something even more twisted unfolding just out of view?
This had all the ingredients of a gripping read — layered trauma, unreliable characters, ethical gray areas, and a slow-building tension — but it didn’t quite stick the landing for me.
The pacing felt uneven. It started strong, but the middle sagged, and by the time the twist came, I’d guessed most of it.
I struggled to connect emotionally with Lana. Her narrative felt a bit distant, and I wanted more depth from her inner world.
The suspense was decent, but never reached that heart-pounding level I’ve come to expect from Trope’s best.
That said, I did appreciate the perspective shifts and how the story explored manipulation, vulnerability, and blurred boundaries in a therapeutic setting. The concept itself was interesting and handled thoughtfully — just not quite as emotionally immersive as I’d hoped.
Well-written and intriguing, but didn’t pull me in as much as her usual books. I liked the idea more than the execution. If you’re a fan of quiet psychological suspense with messy characters and moral tension, this one might work for you — just go in expecting a slow burn rather than a full-throttle thrill ride.
Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and Nicole Trope for the Arc of The Therapist, all opinions are my own.
The Therapist by Nicole Trope
A solid psychological thriller with a promising setup — but it didn’t fully deliver the punch I usually expect from her.
Lana, a therapist still carrying scars from her own past, agrees to take on a new client, Sandy, who claims she’s in a controlling and abusive marriage to a man named Mike. At first, Lana is just doing her job, listening, offering guidance. But as Sandy’s story grows more intense and disturbing, Lana finds herself emotionally entangled — until Sandy suddenly disappears.
Now Lana is caught in a web of uncertainty, and the lines between patient and therapist, truth and fiction, begin to blur. Is Sandy a victim? Is Mike the monster she described? Or is something even more twisted unfolding just out of view?
This had all the ingredients of a gripping read — layered trauma, unreliable characters, ethical gray areas, and a slow-building tension — but it didn’t quite stick the landing for me.
The pacing felt uneven. It started strong, but the middle sagged, and by the time the twist came, I’d guessed most of it.
I struggled to connect emotionally with Lana. Her narrative felt a bit distant, and I wanted more depth from her inner world.
The suspense was decent, but never reached that heart-pounding level I’ve come to expect from Trope’s best.
That said, I did appreciate the perspective shifts and how the story explored manipulation, vulnerability, and blurred boundaries in a therapeutic setting. The concept itself was interesting and handled thoughtfully — just not quite as emotionally immersive as I’d hoped.
Well-written and intriguing, but didn’t pull me in as much as her usual books. I liked the idea more than the execution. If you’re a fan of quiet psychological suspense with messy characters and moral tension, this one might work for you — just go in expecting a slow burn rather than a full-throttle thrill ride.
Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and Nicole Trope for the Arc of The Therapist, all opinions are my own.
August 17, 2025
~1.5~
Nicole Trope's work is such a mixed bag for me. I've loved some of her books and hated others. This is one of the latter.
I'm honestly too angry to write a proper review, but I'll sum it up:
This book is inane. The plot is overly simplistic and riddled with crater-sized holes.
There's an abundance of telling vs. showing, and the scenes we're privy to, like Lana talking to her son's teacher about his bad behavior, are superfluous and irrelevant to the story.
The therapist of the title, Lana, is an absolute moron, and the entire dumpsterfire of a plot hinges on her gullibility.
I saw the twist coming from pages away. Eventually, readers are told that
But the thing that really pissed me off is finding out toward the end that Lana was keeping things hidden from the narrative (ergo, she was lying to herself). I hate that plot device more than anything. It's cheap and makes me feel cheated every time.
I can't believe I wasted 99 cents on this trash.
Nicole Trope's work is such a mixed bag for me. I've loved some of her books and hated others. This is one of the latter.
I'm honestly too angry to write a proper review, but I'll sum it up:
This book is inane. The plot is overly simplistic and riddled with crater-sized holes.
There's an abundance of telling vs. showing, and the scenes we're privy to, like Lana talking to her son's teacher about his bad behavior, are superfluous and irrelevant to the story.
The therapist of the title, Lana, is an absolute moron, and the entire dumpsterfire of a plot hinges on her gullibility.
I saw the twist coming from pages away. Eventually, readers are told that
But the thing that really pissed me off is finding out toward the end that Lana was keeping things hidden from the narrative (ergo, she was lying to herself). I hate that plot device more than anything. It's cheap and makes me feel cheated every time.
I can't believe I wasted 99 cents on this trash.
September 24, 2025
This was a multilayered psychological thriller. It had so many twists and turns I didn't know where I was headed! I have read Nicole Trope's books before and she does not disappoint! The book certainly kept me engaged and I enjoyed reading it. It was full of suspense and well written. I would recommend this to others. I gave it a 4 star rating!
July 9, 2025
THE THERAPIST BY NICOLE TROPE.
Release date set for the 31st of July 2025.
I've read many Nicole Trope books and I've enjoyed them all and this one is as good as the others.
This one made me question everyone's motives and there's so many lies and deceit.
I recommend this one to everyone who loves this genre.
Release date set for the 31st of July 2025.
I've read many Nicole Trope books and I've enjoyed them all and this one is as good as the others.
This one made me question everyone's motives and there's so many lies and deceit.
I recommend this one to everyone who loves this genre.
July 28, 2025
Nicola Trope always delivers a good interesting and different read and ‘The Therapist’ again does this, with bells on
We meet Lana, a therapist who against her better judgement takes on fellow therapist Ben’s client Sandy who is in despair at her life
Lana however, even with her bad feeling has no idea just who she has taken on and the ensuing disruption and chaos she is going to bring to her life
It gave an enlightening look into the work and mind of a therapist and also her clients and we get to see just how devious people can be when they have a goal they desire
Addictive writing as always by this author made it a full on quick read where your mind is changing that quick with the events happening you may well need to book an appointment with Lana after reading it 🤗
We meet Lana, a therapist who against her better judgement takes on fellow therapist Ben’s client Sandy who is in despair at her life
Lana however, even with her bad feeling has no idea just who she has taken on and the ensuing disruption and chaos she is going to bring to her life
It gave an enlightening look into the work and mind of a therapist and also her clients and we get to see just how devious people can be when they have a goal they desire
Addictive writing as always by this author made it a full on quick read where your mind is changing that quick with the events happening you may well need to book an appointment with Lana after reading it 🤗
September 30, 2025
I’m just glad it is fucking over. This book was hell. Very tiring. A Gone Girl copycat. Look at me I’m this pretty smart woman! Look at me manipulate everyone in here! The most frustrating bitch I know.
August 16, 2025
A very exciting thriller novel, I really couldn't stop reading it, even into the early morning hours. Had me captivated with every page. A wonderful and addictive psycho drama. I'll certainly be reading more of her books because I absolutely loved it. Enjoy. Highly recommended 5 stars
July 9, 2025
What a fun read! I love stories with unreliable narrators, and this book offered up more than one! I thought that I knew who I could trust, but certain instances had me struggling with indecision and doubting everything. This definitely aided in creating the high shock value I felt when all the twists were revealed. And good lawd! There were so many surprises! One of the scenarios became evident about halfway through, but that didn't deter me from flying through the pages. I was completely transfixed with this story. I feel like the ending could have been a little more cathartic. It was a decent conclusion, but my vengeful feelings wanted more of a final eff you. I'm glad that Trope got her crazy back. I enjoy her thrillers so much more than the dramas. If you're looking for a fun, crazy, super-fast read, you won't want to miss this one! Highly recommend!
Thank you to Bookouture for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to Bookouture for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
July 7, 2025
A wild ride indeed!! I have read many of Nicole's books and just like the others I felt like my brain was on a rollercoaster of twists and turns.
Although I never really connected with the characters I still enjoyed the story. A definite recommend for sure
Although I never really connected with the characters I still enjoyed the story. A definite recommend for sure
August 4, 2025
I love the psychologist/patient trope so The Therapist felt like it had all the right ingredients for me. The prologue pulled me in, and I was ready for a dark, twisty ride... but the deeper I got into the book, the more disappointed I felt. The plot felt overly simplified... there was no real challenge in figuring things out. Most of the twists were painfully obvious, and you could spot the bad guy from the moment they appeared. Even if you don't read thrillers often, you'd probably predict 90% of what happens.
Another thing that didn’t work for me was how much the book told instead of showed. Key conversations and emotional moments were either skipped over or explained after the fact, which made it hard to feel any tension. Scenes that should’ve felt suspenseful or meaningful just fell flat.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. Their personalities felt inconsistent and underdeveloped, and their motivations (especially for the more extreme actions!!) weren’t convincing at all. It felt like they were just doing things because the plot needed them to, not because it made sense for who they were.
I considered DNF’ing around the halfway point but pushed through hoping it would redeem itself... sadly, it didn’t. I’ve read another book by Nicole and really enjoyed it so I know she’s a great writer, but this one just wasn’t for me.
My rating: ☆ . 75
Read in: 6 days & 🇬🇧 & 📱
Another thing that didn’t work for me was how much the book told instead of showed. Key conversations and emotional moments were either skipped over or explained after the fact, which made it hard to feel any tension. Scenes that should’ve felt suspenseful or meaningful just fell flat.
I also struggled to connect with the characters. Their personalities felt inconsistent and underdeveloped, and their motivations (especially for the more extreme actions!!) weren’t convincing at all. It felt like they were just doing things because the plot needed them to, not because it made sense for who they were.
I considered DNF’ing around the halfway point but pushed through hoping it would redeem itself... sadly, it didn’t. I’ve read another book by Nicole and really enjoyed it so I know she’s a great writer, but this one just wasn’t for me.
My rating: ☆ . 75
Read in: 6 days & 🇬🇧 & 📱
October 7, 2025
3.5/5
Good read!
You could kind of tell where it was going. At the end, I couldn’t put it down. The twist at the turn is so good!!!
Definitely a good easy and fast read that keeps your attention.
Good read!
You could kind of tell where it was going. At the end, I couldn’t put it down. The twist at the turn is so good!!!
Definitely a good easy and fast read that keeps your attention.
September 10, 2025
[NetGalley Read #45]
4.5 ⭐️
"We all carry baggage but it's not an excuse to hurt someone."
This was good. Really good.
Pacing was good. Never dragged on. Enjoyed the writing style. The story, the premise, the execution are all excellent. One small thing I really liked was the handling of first person (Lana and Sandy) and third person (Mike) perspectives. It never felt jarring and there was a good balance.
Characters are the backbone of this story. Whether it's good natured Lana, frustrated Mike, charming Ben or scheming Sandy, they are all enjoyable to read. One character that I really liked wasn't even in the story that much: William Owens. Even the secondary characters are good. Becky, the children, the police, Mike's parents, Kirsty.
The backstories for Lana and Mike are tragic as all hell. Even when you know what's coming, it still hits like a gut punch. The scene with Mike in the car hitting himself was just...incredible. I could feel the pain through the pages. And the reveal of Lana's motivation for becoming a therapist is just masterfully written. It just leaves you with a few lines and your imagination makes it so much worse than any words could ever do.
As for Sandy and Ben, these are two characters written to be hated and boy did they accomplish that objective. Sandy's chapters are fascinating to read. The narcissism, the hatred, and the delusion are excellently written.
Last two books (not from this author, just in general) I read had epilogues that slightly ruined the story for me. Thankfully, that's not the case here. It gave closure to the characters and a nice little reveal while keeping things realistic. Also liked that all three POVs were included in the epilogue.
It is a short book (240+ pages). Easy to read. Executes all the twists and turns in a satisfying way, keeps the tension and the mystery up, and resolves it in a good way. Even if you can figure out the mystery or the people behind all the chaos, it's a worthwhile read just for the characters alone.
Highly recommended. 👍
4.5 ⭐️
"We all carry baggage but it's not an excuse to hurt someone."
This was good. Really good.
Pacing was good. Never dragged on. Enjoyed the writing style. The story, the premise, the execution are all excellent. One small thing I really liked was the handling of first person (Lana and Sandy) and third person (Mike) perspectives. It never felt jarring and there was a good balance.
Characters are the backbone of this story. Whether it's good natured Lana, frustrated Mike, charming Ben or scheming Sandy, they are all enjoyable to read. One character that I really liked wasn't even in the story that much: William Owens. Even the secondary characters are good. Becky, the children, the police, Mike's parents, Kirsty.
The backstories for Lana and Mike are tragic as all hell. Even when you know what's coming, it still hits like a gut punch. The scene with Mike in the car hitting himself was just...incredible. I could feel the pain through the pages. And the reveal of Lana's motivation for becoming a therapist is just masterfully written. It just leaves you with a few lines and your imagination makes it so much worse than any words could ever do.
As for Sandy and Ben, these are two characters written to be hated and boy did they accomplish that objective. Sandy's chapters are fascinating to read. The narcissism, the hatred, and the delusion are excellently written.
Last two books (not from this author, just in general) I read had epilogues that slightly ruined the story for me. Thankfully, that's not the case here. It gave closure to the characters and a nice little reveal while keeping things realistic. Also liked that all three POVs were included in the epilogue.
It is a short book (240+ pages). Easy to read. Executes all the twists and turns in a satisfying way, keeps the tension and the mystery up, and resolves it in a good way. Even if you can figure out the mystery or the people behind all the chaos, it's a worthwhile read just for the characters alone.
Highly recommended. 👍
June 27, 2025
Loved Nicole Trope’s The Therapist!! It was a multilayered, psychologically intense, character driven thriller. It goes without saying that I am always compelled to Trope’s books because of her writing style. Each of the ones I have read are emotionally charged, psychologically intimate, and sharply paced. The Therapist was no different. This story followed Lana, a therapist, who reluctantly took on a new patient, Sandy, from her colleague Ben. After an initial session with Sandy and her husband Mike, Lana became entangled in a "he said/she said" situation, unsure who to believe. As Lana delved deeper, she questioned reality and fiction. It was a captivating narrative filled with twists and turns. I was thoroughly immersed in this drama therapist patient mayhem. Although this wasn’t a unique trope, I’ve read another book similar to this, the character development and layered suspense made this stand out among other books in the genre. I liked how Trope’s story explored a few of my favorite psychological themes of trust, deception, and the complexities of relationships. Moreover, the multiple points of views in addition to the then and now timelines created a rich and layered narrative that deepened the suspense and character complexity. I also liked how each voice was distinct yet accessible and added depth to the plot twists and character arcs.
Altogether Trope delivered another gripping domestic thriller that skillfully merged suspense with real psychological depth. I love how she taps into my desire for honesty and transformation—and my desire for drama. It’s compelling! If you haven’t read a Nicole Trope novel yet, I highly recommend reading The Therapist. And, for any one who is already a Nicole Trope fan, you will want to add this one to your TBR list now.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Altogether Trope delivered another gripping domestic thriller that skillfully merged suspense with real psychological depth. I love how she taps into my desire for honesty and transformation—and my desire for drama. It’s compelling! If you haven’t read a Nicole Trope novel yet, I highly recommend reading The Therapist. And, for any one who is already a Nicole Trope fan, you will want to add this one to your TBR list now.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 27, 2025
Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Therapist is the newest from home grown psychological thriller author Nicole Trope.
I’ve been a dedicated fan of Nicole’s for quite a while now and the skilled writer continues with a great book.
Divorced Lana is a successful therapist with a young son, Iggy.
After her colleague asks her to take on one of his clients, Lana is hesitant.
A scene at the office changes her mind.
New patient Sandy is in an uncomfortable marriage and she needs to expose her husband.
Then someone goes missing, someone’s lying and someone is ultimately in jeopardy……
I really enjoyed this book, it has all the essence for a successful read.
There’s the clever plot, the suspicious characters and the thrilling atmosphere.
I did work it out very early on and I stuck to my gut feeling and I was right.
I was still very keen to see it all come together or should I say fall apart.
Another satisfying novel from a talented storyteller.
The Therapist is the newest from home grown psychological thriller author Nicole Trope.
I’ve been a dedicated fan of Nicole’s for quite a while now and the skilled writer continues with a great book.
Divorced Lana is a successful therapist with a young son, Iggy.
After her colleague asks her to take on one of his clients, Lana is hesitant.
A scene at the office changes her mind.
New patient Sandy is in an uncomfortable marriage and she needs to expose her husband.
Then someone goes missing, someone’s lying and someone is ultimately in jeopardy……
I really enjoyed this book, it has all the essence for a successful read.
There’s the clever plot, the suspicious characters and the thrilling atmosphere.
I did work it out very early on and I stuck to my gut feeling and I was right.
I was still very keen to see it all come together or should I say fall apart.
Another satisfying novel from a talented storyteller.
August 1, 2025
Hooked from the start in this psychological thriller. An intriguing read featuring a narcissist character, Sandy. What was her game, was she telling the truth or merely manipulating her therapist , Lana. I raced through this book to discover the answers
July 16, 2025
This was such a rollercoaster read - at times I was totally intrigued, and other times I was totally disinterested.
Lana is a therapist who takes on a new patient. Something about this patient rubs her the wrong way, and she begins to doubt what she's being told. However, the patient's husband doesn't help himself by basically behaving the exact way the patient is claiming. Lana has to figure out who she believes and what's really going on. Pretty interesting premise in my opinion.
Some of the writing felt like it needed a good editing; there were many run-on sentences and areas that could have been built upon seemed to be simply stated and then moved on from. I wanted just a little more info at times, a little more depth and a little more backstory. At parts, it felt like I was reading a late draft instead of the final product. Nothing terrible, just needed a little tightening up and development.
However, the final third of this book took off and took me on a wild ride. I was trying to keep up and trying to figure out what was happening as they were developing at lightning speed. And when all was said and done, the ending was so completely satisfying and left me extremely content. It was nice to reach the end of a story and feel satisfied. I just wish the first section was as stellar.
Thank you to the publishers, the author, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Lana is a therapist who takes on a new patient. Something about this patient rubs her the wrong way, and she begins to doubt what she's being told. However, the patient's husband doesn't help himself by basically behaving the exact way the patient is claiming. Lana has to figure out who she believes and what's really going on. Pretty interesting premise in my opinion.
Some of the writing felt like it needed a good editing; there were many run-on sentences and areas that could have been built upon seemed to be simply stated and then moved on from. I wanted just a little more info at times, a little more depth and a little more backstory. At parts, it felt like I was reading a late draft instead of the final product. Nothing terrible, just needed a little tightening up and development.
However, the final third of this book took off and took me on a wild ride. I was trying to keep up and trying to figure out what was happening as they were developing at lightning speed. And when all was said and done, the ending was so completely satisfying and left me extremely content. It was nice to reach the end of a story and feel satisfied. I just wish the first section was as stellar.
Thank you to the publishers, the author, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
July 18, 2025
This book just felt disjointed from the beginning. I couldn't seem to connect with the characters and the storyline just didn't deliver.
June 28, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending this my way. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Therapist is an upcoming psychological thriller set to release in July 2025. It follows the interwoven unreliable narratives of a patient and therapist as they try and out the truth. I love Nicole Trope usually, but this one was unfortunately doing nothing for me. I found the writing style jarring and chapters too long. Maybe attributed to my personal circumstances, but I skimmed most of it, as I was not compelled to finished. A very disappointing read, but hopefully an outlier to her other fantastic works.
The Therapist is an upcoming psychological thriller set to release in July 2025. It follows the interwoven unreliable narratives of a patient and therapist as they try and out the truth. I love Nicole Trope usually, but this one was unfortunately doing nothing for me. I found the writing style jarring and chapters too long. Maybe attributed to my personal circumstances, but I skimmed most of it, as I was not compelled to finished. A very disappointing read, but hopefully an outlier to her other fantastic works.
July 8, 2025
Meet Lana, a therapist 🛋️ still carrying the emotional scars of her past. When a new client, Sandy, confides that she’s in a controlling and abusive marriage 💔, Lana is pulled into a chilling story. Then… Sandy disappears. 😱 What happened to her?
This intense psychological thriller 🔪 is packed with trauma, secrets, and suspense. Nicole Trope’s unique writing style had me hooked 🎯—with slow-building tension that kept me flipping pages 📖 late into the night. 🌙
The therapeutic setting was incredibly well done 🧠, and I loved the shifting POVs 🔄. The manipulation! 😵💫 The vulnerability! 😢 The suspense! 😰 It’s all here.
🙌 Highly recommend for fans of dark, twisty thrillers!
Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for the ARC read of this fantastic book ❤️🔥
This intense psychological thriller 🔪 is packed with trauma, secrets, and suspense. Nicole Trope’s unique writing style had me hooked 🎯—with slow-building tension that kept me flipping pages 📖 late into the night. 🌙
The therapeutic setting was incredibly well done 🧠, and I loved the shifting POVs 🔄. The manipulation! 😵💫 The vulnerability! 😢 The suspense! 😰 It’s all here.
🙌 Highly recommend for fans of dark, twisty thrillers!
Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for the ARC read of this fantastic book ❤️🔥
August 9, 2025
★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)
Good listener...good liar...?
Meet Lana. She's a therapist in private practice in Sydney's leafy suburbs and still bearing the emotional scars of her past. She was married to Oliver and together they had Iggy, now seven, until she discovered he was having an affair. Now he's married to a terminally happy and perfect woman named Becky. And Iggy adores her.
But she leaves her personal life behind when she comes to work. Although it's her personal life that has influenced the direction in which her professional life has taken as a therapist. After the tragedy of her past, she knew she wanted to help others better understand themselves and to help understand people better. She shares the practice with Ben, a psychologist from the UK. Everything is going smoothly until, against her better judgement, she takes on one of Ben's clients who has developed transference and is in complete and utter despair.
Meet Sandy. She comes to Lana on Ben's recommendation and confides that she is in a controlling and abusive marriage. She loves her husband but she doesn't love the way he lets his anger get the better of him. She just wants the husband she met and married back...before he hurts her, or worse - one of the children - Lila (5) and Felix (7).
Meet Mike. Sandy's husband is in a despair of his own. He cannot understand what is going on with his wife. One minute she's up, the next she's down. But either way she's always screaming or crying. He just wants his happy smiling wife back. He'll even go to therapy with her if it means it will help her.
And then Sandy disappears.
When Sandy doesn't show for her next appointment, Lana is worried. Sandy said something in the last session which gives her cause for concern now. She is certain her husband Mike knows more than he's letting on and against her better judgement (again) she goes around to Sandy's house to confront Mike and says that they need to talk. But Mike wonders what has Sandy said to her about their marriage. Surely she hasn't told her...everything?
Lana is caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies and uncertainty. She has crossed the boundaries between patient and therapist by turning up at her door but Lana finds herself questioning just exactly what is truth and what is fiction? She isn't sure what to believe anymore. And then the text message arrives.
"Help me Lana. I think he's going to kill me."
Lana knows whatever has happened, she needs to know that Sandy is safe. And Mike of course doesn't help himself by behaving just the way Sandy claims. It's a classic "he said/she said" with a complex twist. And Lana doesn't know what or who to believe.
Honestly, Mike and Sandy were a train wreck. But who do you believe? Lana has listened to them and watched them both and even she's confused, questioning her judgement as well as reality. What is truth and what is fiction? She can't quite tell. And Lana was a tough one to connect with. She didn't really open herself up at all so it was hard to know who she really was and how she was feeling or what she was thinking.
Like all of Trope's "tropes", this tale is multi-layered with tension and complexity, delving into psychological themes of trust and deception. The story was easily predictable but it didn't ruin it for me - it just wasn't completely surprising as we watch it unfold. Trope drip-feeds us little by little by the climax before pulling the rug out from under us to reveal what's really going on.
It was a slightly slower build than some of Trope's other offerings and I found both Lana and Sandy equally irritating that it was hard to slip into rhythm. But by the end, I had fairly enjoyed the ride. The ending was satisfactory though I would have liked to hear from that last final voice. When you read it, you will know what I mean. It would have been good to get that final perspective.
I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTherapist in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Good listener...good liar...?
Meet Lana. She's a therapist in private practice in Sydney's leafy suburbs and still bearing the emotional scars of her past. She was married to Oliver and together they had Iggy, now seven, until she discovered he was having an affair. Now he's married to a terminally happy and perfect woman named Becky. And Iggy adores her.
But she leaves her personal life behind when she comes to work. Although it's her personal life that has influenced the direction in which her professional life has taken as a therapist. After the tragedy of her past, she knew she wanted to help others better understand themselves and to help understand people better. She shares the practice with Ben, a psychologist from the UK. Everything is going smoothly until, against her better judgement, she takes on one of Ben's clients who has developed transference and is in complete and utter despair.
Meet Sandy. She comes to Lana on Ben's recommendation and confides that she is in a controlling and abusive marriage. She loves her husband but she doesn't love the way he lets his anger get the better of him. She just wants the husband she met and married back...before he hurts her, or worse - one of the children - Lila (5) and Felix (7).
Meet Mike. Sandy's husband is in a despair of his own. He cannot understand what is going on with his wife. One minute she's up, the next she's down. But either way she's always screaming or crying. He just wants his happy smiling wife back. He'll even go to therapy with her if it means it will help her.
And then Sandy disappears.
When Sandy doesn't show for her next appointment, Lana is worried. Sandy said something in the last session which gives her cause for concern now. She is certain her husband Mike knows more than he's letting on and against her better judgement (again) she goes around to Sandy's house to confront Mike and says that they need to talk. But Mike wonders what has Sandy said to her about their marriage. Surely she hasn't told her...everything?
Lana is caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies and uncertainty. She has crossed the boundaries between patient and therapist by turning up at her door but Lana finds herself questioning just exactly what is truth and what is fiction? She isn't sure what to believe anymore. And then the text message arrives.
"Help me Lana. I think he's going to kill me."
Lana knows whatever has happened, she needs to know that Sandy is safe. And Mike of course doesn't help himself by behaving just the way Sandy claims. It's a classic "he said/she said" with a complex twist. And Lana doesn't know what or who to believe.
Honestly, Mike and Sandy were a train wreck. But who do you believe? Lana has listened to them and watched them both and even she's confused, questioning her judgement as well as reality. What is truth and what is fiction? She can't quite tell. And Lana was a tough one to connect with. She didn't really open herself up at all so it was hard to know who she really was and how she was feeling or what she was thinking.
Like all of Trope's "tropes", this tale is multi-layered with tension and complexity, delving into psychological themes of trust and deception. The story was easily predictable but it didn't ruin it for me - it just wasn't completely surprising as we watch it unfold. Trope drip-feeds us little by little by the climax before pulling the rug out from under us to reveal what's really going on.
It was a slightly slower build than some of Trope's other offerings and I found both Lana and Sandy equally irritating that it was hard to slip into rhythm. But by the end, I had fairly enjoyed the ride. The ending was satisfactory though I would have liked to hear from that last final voice. When you read it, you will know what I mean. It would have been good to get that final perspective.
I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTherapist in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 2, 2025
When a therapist named Lana agrees to take on a new client, she expects the usual sessions. Some trauma, a few secrets, perhaps a breakthrough or two. But Sandy with her polished appearance and eerie calm is anything but typical. Sandy insists her husband Mike is controlling and abusive. She shares stories that leave Lana unsettled but something just doesn't feel right. The details don't add up and the tears definitely feel forced. And then Sandy vanishes. Now, Lana is caught between her professional ethics and doubt. Why did Sandy seem threatened by her husband? And why does Sandy's husband seem terrified, not for his wife's safety, but of what Sandy might have said? As Lana digs deeper, she unravels a web of lies, and manipulation. Someone is lying. And the truth might destroy them all.
Nicole Trope is another auto buy author for me! As always, Trope delivers another gripping psychological thriller that had me questioning everything, and everyone, until the last page. As the story unfolds, Trope expertly explores themes of gaslighting, emotional trauma, and the slipperyness of truth. Her ability to create tension through the little moments is beautiful. Pauses that feel loaded, and dialogue that reveals just as much as it conceals. The alternating POVs keep the pace steady and I was constantly flip-flopping on who to believe or root for. Character development is definitely a highlight. Lana as our main character is flawed, vulnerable but also strong. And then Sandy is just a whole puzzle in human form. This is definitely a book that plays with perception. Just when you think you know everything, Trope twists the narrative. Overall, The Therapist is an addictive read where no one is quite what they seem. Definitely a worthy addition to your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley, Nicole Trope, and Bookouture for this ARC! Publication date was July 31st 2025.
Nicole Trope is another auto buy author for me! As always, Trope delivers another gripping psychological thriller that had me questioning everything, and everyone, until the last page. As the story unfolds, Trope expertly explores themes of gaslighting, emotional trauma, and the slipperyness of truth. Her ability to create tension through the little moments is beautiful. Pauses that feel loaded, and dialogue that reveals just as much as it conceals. The alternating POVs keep the pace steady and I was constantly flip-flopping on who to believe or root for. Character development is definitely a highlight. Lana as our main character is flawed, vulnerable but also strong. And then Sandy is just a whole puzzle in human form. This is definitely a book that plays with perception. Just when you think you know everything, Trope twists the narrative. Overall, The Therapist is an addictive read where no one is quite what they seem. Definitely a worthy addition to your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley, Nicole Trope, and Bookouture for this ARC! Publication date was July 31st 2025.
August 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Therapist is a gripping and fast-paced psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first pages. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives—it added depth and tension without ever becoming confusing. The characters were well-drawn and believable, and I appreciated how their personal stories unfolded alongside the mystery.
That said, I found the plot a little predictable at times. Even though there were a few twists toward the end, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on early on. Still, the journey was enjoyable, and it didn’t take away too much from the experience.
Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a quick, engaging read with solid character work.
Rating: 4/5
The Therapist is a gripping and fast-paced psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first pages. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives—it added depth and tension without ever becoming confusing. The characters were well-drawn and believable, and I appreciated how their personal stories unfolded alongside the mystery.
That said, I found the plot a little predictable at times. Even though there were a few twists toward the end, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on early on. Still, the journey was enjoyable, and it didn’t take away too much from the experience.
Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a quick, engaging read with solid character work.
Rating: 4/5
July 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, author Nicole Trope and Bookouture publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.
It was an okay read and I am usually a big fan of this authors books. It was quite predictable in I pretty much knew how it was going to end the second we were introduced to the one character.
I felt that the author didn’t give us much in the way of a plot. We were told things happened in conversations with characters and not in a build up of a storyline. From someone who had studied and worked in therapy, it wasn’t very believable in the storyline we do get.
The ending felt rushed and lacked any real thrill to bump it up to a higher star read. The chapters were long and it felt very slow throughout most of the book.
Sadly, 3⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was an okay read and I am usually a big fan of this authors books. It was quite predictable in I pretty much knew how it was going to end the second we were introduced to the one character.
I felt that the author didn’t give us much in the way of a plot. We were told things happened in conversations with characters and not in a build up of a storyline. From someone who had studied and worked in therapy, it wasn’t very believable in the storyline we do get.
The ending felt rushed and lacked any real thrill to bump it up to a higher star read. The chapters were long and it felt very slow throughout most of the book.
Sadly, 3⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 3, 2025
As a therapist Lana, is supposed to help her clients. Her colleague Ben works with her and he asks Lana to take on a patient he is reluctant and wondering why? Sandy is the client and she has her own reasons for seeing a therapist. Sandy claims things about her husband and the twists start happening.
Lana starts to wonder if Sandy’s claims about her husband are correct and she talks with him. Oh, a wicked tale is woven.
Deceptive, twist, motives, and finding out how each character has their own motives and might not be who they claim to be was fun to discover.
Trope always delivers a fun psychological thriller.
Lana starts to wonder if Sandy’s claims about her husband are correct and she talks with him. Oh, a wicked tale is woven.
Deceptive, twist, motives, and finding out how each character has their own motives and might not be who they claim to be was fun to discover.
Trope always delivers a fun psychological thriller.
July 18, 2025
I LOVED this! I expected the direction early on, but the execution was better than I imagined. There were also a few smaller plot twists that caught me by surprise and gave new understandings to the story. As a therapist myself, I appreciated Lana and how she was written. She wasn’t perfect, made mistakes, and clearly had blind spots (that resulted in a few mistakes). Despite that, we learn she’s very good at her job. Overall, a quick and satisfying read! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC!
July 19, 2025
5 🌟 wow what I ride. First thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read this one, this is my first book by Nicole Trope and she certainly left her mark. Straight off the bat this one has you hooked and in suspense, I did not want to put it down. It had me confused the whole way through about who was lying and telling the truth and couldn’t guess anything until the very end. I absolutely loved the character development and was easy to follow jumping between the 3 different character prospectives. 5 🌟
July 8, 2025
I love everything written by Nicole Trope. She has a wave to give life to characters and you feel like you reading true crime. This book was no exception, wonderful characters wonderful storyline. Bravo on another fantastic book.
Thanks to the author,the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book
Thanks to the author,the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews