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The Model Patient
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Expected 9 Apr 26A taut psychological exploration of obsession, betrayal and the dangerous relationship between a patient and therapist in 1960s London.
In the quiet hush of her therapist’s office, Evelyn Westbrook finds herself revealing secrets she’d prefer to keep hidden. Abandoning her successful modelling career to become a model wife for her husband, Henry, has left her days feeling empty. Her mother-in-law is pressing for a child that Evelyn doesn’t want. And her nights are haunted by a recurring nightmare in which she becomes a snake devouring its own tail.
As Evelyn’s sessions with the enigmatic Dr. Daley unearth more questions than answers, her interest in him turns into obsession. But is her therapist finally providing the care she needs, or is she being manipulated?
A compelling novel about identity, power, and the cost of playing the roles we never chose.
In the quiet hush of her therapist’s office, Evelyn Westbrook finds herself revealing secrets she’d prefer to keep hidden. Abandoning her successful modelling career to become a model wife for her husband, Henry, has left her days feeling empty. Her mother-in-law is pressing for a child that Evelyn doesn’t want. And her nights are haunted by a recurring nightmare in which she becomes a snake devouring its own tail.
As Evelyn’s sessions with the enigmatic Dr. Daley unearth more questions than answers, her interest in him turns into obsession. But is her therapist finally providing the care she needs, or is she being manipulated?
A compelling novel about identity, power, and the cost of playing the roles we never chose.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 9, 2026
3 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Ashe
4 books104 followersLUCY ASHE is the author of CLARA & OLIVIA (Magpie, Oneworld publications), published as THE DANCE OF THE DOLLS in the US (Union Square & Co). Her second novel is THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES.
CLARA & OLIVIA was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger 2024.
She trained at the Royal Ballet School for eight years, first as a Junior Associate and then at White Lodge. She has a diploma in dance teaching with the British Ballet Organisation.
She studied English Literature at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, while continuing to dance and perform. She then took a PGCE teaching qualification and became an English teacher.
Her poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. She also reviews theatre, in particular ballet, writing for the website Playstosee.com.
CLARA & OLIVIA was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger 2024.
She trained at the Royal Ballet School for eight years, first as a Junior Associate and then at White Lodge. She has a diploma in dance teaching with the British Ballet Organisation.
She studied English Literature at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, while continuing to dance and perform. She then took a PGCE teaching qualification and became an English teacher.
Her poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. She also reviews theatre, in particular ballet, writing for the website Playstosee.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 10, 2025
There's a thoughtful afterword and bibliography to this book which demonstrates how Ashe had been thinking and researching her themes, so it's a bit disappointing that this ends up being so tropey. Rather than being 'addictive' as promised in the blurb, this is rather slow-paced and a bit repetitive, so that I had guessed some of the tired plot - including the 'big reveal' - very early on. Partly that's because we've read this before: the male psychiatrist and his female patient, the push-pull of attraction and fear, the gaslighting, the hidden secrets
The 1960s setting can feel a bit heavy-handed: flat-footed mentions of Cliff Richard and the Beatles, lunch in Carnaby Street, the fashions, the pill - it would have been nice to have seen the decade portrayed in less clichéd terms, in surprising rather than expected images.
And I guess that's my main takeaway - nothing here startled me or caught me unawares. From Evelyn's past trauma to her current struggles with her overwhelming mother-in-law, and the tension between her and her best friend (who dress alike and can be interchangeable in some ways - natch!) all feel like re-used components from a thousand other female-authored thrillers.
This is a fun switch-off read but it can also feel a bit of a slog at times. Reading about someone else's Freudian/Jungian dreams really isn't very interesting especially when they're as hackneyed and over-used as a phallic snake!
There are interesting things happening but they get rather overwhelmed by the banal plottiness - to me this felt like it wanted to be a serious book about trauma and the problematic dynamics in some forms of psychotherapy only that gets pushed aside by the urge to turn this into a 'mad woman - or is she?' psychological thriller with switched identities, knives and not one but two dastardly plots.
Great as a page-turner to read on the train but this had the potential to be deeper than that.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC via NetGalley
The 1960s setting can feel a bit heavy-handed: flat-footed mentions of Cliff Richard and the Beatles, lunch in Carnaby Street, the fashions, the pill - it would have been nice to have seen the decade portrayed in less clichéd terms, in surprising rather than expected images.
And I guess that's my main takeaway - nothing here startled me or caught me unawares. From Evelyn's past trauma to her current struggles with her overwhelming mother-in-law, and the tension between her and her best friend (who dress alike and can be interchangeable in some ways - natch!) all feel like re-used components from a thousand other female-authored thrillers.
This is a fun switch-off read but it can also feel a bit of a slog at times. Reading about someone else's Freudian/Jungian dreams really isn't very interesting especially when they're as hackneyed and over-used as a phallic snake!
There are interesting things happening but they get rather overwhelmed by the banal plottiness - to me this felt like it wanted to be a serious book about trauma and the problematic dynamics in some forms of psychotherapy only that gets pushed aside by the urge to turn this into a 'mad woman - or is she?' psychological thriller with switched identities, knives and not one but two dastardly plots.
Great as a page-turner to read on the train but this had the potential to be deeper than that.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC via NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Model Patient is a taut and atmospheric psychological novel that lingers long after you’ve closed the final page. Set in 1960s London, it captures the quiet intensity of therapy sessions where Evelyn Westbrook, a former model turned reluctant housewife, begins to unravel under the weight of secrets, expectations, and haunting dreams.
Evelyn is a fascinating protagonist—restless, vulnerable, and caught between the roles others demand of her and the identity she longs to claim for herself. Her recurring nightmare of becoming a snake devouring its own tail is a chilling metaphor for the cycle of repression and self-doubt she endures. The dynamic with Dr. Daley, her enigmatic therapist, is the novel’s beating heart: a relationship that teeters dangerously between care and manipulation, obsession and betrayal.
Lucy Ashe’s prose is elegant yet unsettling, perfectly suited to the claustrophobic atmosphere of Evelyn’s world. The novel explores themes of power, identity, and the cost of conformity with sharp psychological insight, making it both compelling and deeply thought-provoking.
The Model Patient is a gripping exploration of obsession and control, perfect for readers who enjoy psychological fiction that probes the darker corners of human relationships. It’s stylish, haunting, and quietly devastating—a novel that asks what happens when the roles we’re forced to play begin to consume us.
with thanks to Lucy Ashe, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Evelyn is a fascinating protagonist—restless, vulnerable, and caught between the roles others demand of her and the identity she longs to claim for herself. Her recurring nightmare of becoming a snake devouring its own tail is a chilling metaphor for the cycle of repression and self-doubt she endures. The dynamic with Dr. Daley, her enigmatic therapist, is the novel’s beating heart: a relationship that teeters dangerously between care and manipulation, obsession and betrayal.
Lucy Ashe’s prose is elegant yet unsettling, perfectly suited to the claustrophobic atmosphere of Evelyn’s world. The novel explores themes of power, identity, and the cost of conformity with sharp psychological insight, making it both compelling and deeply thought-provoking.
The Model Patient is a gripping exploration of obsession and control, perfect for readers who enjoy psychological fiction that probes the darker corners of human relationships. It’s stylish, haunting, and quietly devastating—a novel that asks what happens when the roles we’re forced to play begin to consume us.
with thanks to Lucy Ashe, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
December 16, 2025
I appreciate how well-researched this novel is. I agree with what the author said in her afterword about early psychologists presenting themselves as sort of god-figures in their own research, leading students to lack an understanding of a patient’s experience.
Evelyn, a young woman living in 1960’s England, is a prime candidate for psychotherapy. She is feeling the consequences of giving up her fulfilling modeling career to marry a man whose parents are obsessed with the prospect of grandchildren. She thought she could handle it, that domestic life would start to grow on her, but it does not seem to be so. She’s feeling crazier by the day, and her new psychiatrist might just be the cure.
After a few sessions with her doctor, it becomes clear that there are some questionable tactics at play. Now Evelyn is questioning her life- and what she thinks of this doctor- more than ever.
I did end up predicting quite a bit of the plot early on, and there is some repetition when it comes to her experiences with the doctor. Although everything ties up well at the end, I feel like the genre of this book was noncommittal. Was it a historical fiction? Thriller? Lit fic? I think it would have been more successful if it leaned into one of these aspects a little heavier.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Evelyn, a young woman living in 1960’s England, is a prime candidate for psychotherapy. She is feeling the consequences of giving up her fulfilling modeling career to marry a man whose parents are obsessed with the prospect of grandchildren. She thought she could handle it, that domestic life would start to grow on her, but it does not seem to be so. She’s feeling crazier by the day, and her new psychiatrist might just be the cure.
After a few sessions with her doctor, it becomes clear that there are some questionable tactics at play. Now Evelyn is questioning her life- and what she thinks of this doctor- more than ever.
I did end up predicting quite a bit of the plot early on, and there is some repetition when it comes to her experiences with the doctor. Although everything ties up well at the end, I feel like the genre of this book was noncommittal. Was it a historical fiction? Thriller? Lit fic? I think it would have been more successful if it leaned into one of these aspects a little heavier.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lucy Ashe’s novel transports readers to 1960s London, where Evelyn Westbrook’s seemingly perfect life begins to fracture under the weight of expectation and therapy sessions that blur the line between healing and manipulation. The atmosphere is steeped in period detail, with Evelyn’s recurring nightmares and strained relationships adding layers of unease to the narrative. The dynamic between patient and therapist is central, raising unsettling questions about trust, obsession, and control.
While the book builds tension gradually, it offers a compelling exploration of psychological vulnerability and the pressures of conformity. The pacing may feel deliberate, but the intrigue lies in the slow unraveling of Evelyn’s world and the ambiguity surrounding those closest to her. Readers who enjoy character driven psychological dramas with a vintage backdrop will find this an absorbing, if understated, thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
While the book builds tension gradually, it offers a compelling exploration of psychological vulnerability and the pressures of conformity. The pacing may feel deliberate, but the intrigue lies in the slow unraveling of Evelyn’s world and the ambiguity surrounding those closest to her. Readers who enjoy character driven psychological dramas with a vintage backdrop will find this an absorbing, if understated, thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
November 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! It’s a slow-burn psychological thriller set in 1960s London that feels both elegant and quietly chilling. Evelyn, a former model turned “perfect” wife, starts to unravel when she begins therapy with Dr. Daley — and things get weird fast. You’re never totally sure who’s manipulating who, and I loved that uneasy, twisty vibe.
Lucy Ashe does a great job with the setting and mood — all the glamour and social pressure of the time really come through. It’s not a super fast-paced thriller, but it keeps you hooked with that creeping tension and emotional build-up.
My only gripe is that I wanted a bit more from the side characters, but overall this was such an absorbing read. Perfect if you like stories like The Silent Patient but with a vintage twist.
Lucy Ashe does a great job with the setting and mood — all the glamour and social pressure of the time really come through. It’s not a super fast-paced thriller, but it keeps you hooked with that creeping tension and emotional build-up.
My only gripe is that I wanted a bit more from the side characters, but overall this was such an absorbing read. Perfect if you like stories like The Silent Patient but with a vintage twist.
December 25, 2025
[ARC review] Described as a psychological thriller, but it's very slow burn. Things don't start gathering pace until half-way through. We've got a gaslighting, snooping mother-in-law and a psychiatrist/psychologist who pushes the main character to reveal her deepest feelings. Where is all this going to lead to we (might) wonder?
The plot hangs together reasonably well, but the characters and the descriptions are not cerebral enough for me personally (not that my IQ is anything above average). The presentation of the 1960s and the characters' lives is often rather flat. In fact, how the characters and themes are pitched struck me as being on an exact par with those in Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us, the latter of which I wasn't over fond of precisely because the characters felt like sterile vehicles for the book's otherwise powerful themes.
In The Model Patient, things don't go anywhere that we haven't seen in psych thrillers before, and the reader is easily able to guess what's going on way before the main character anticipates it. It felt more of a case of me trudging through the mechanics and somewhat dragged out banalities of married life and unfulfilling s*x rather than being truly invested in events. This would have been a thrilling book to read in the 1960s, but not in 2026.
There are a couple of points that might merit the book four stars, but overall, I'd rate this as ok but not writing that pushes the boundaries. If you loved the characterization found in It Ends With Us, then you'll enjoy this book, but if weren't a fan of the character portrayal there, then you can give The Model Patient a miss.
The plot hangs together reasonably well, but the characters and the descriptions are not cerebral enough for me personally (not that my IQ is anything above average). The presentation of the 1960s and the characters' lives is often rather flat. In fact, how the characters and themes are pitched struck me as being on an exact par with those in Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us, the latter of which I wasn't over fond of precisely because the characters felt like sterile vehicles for the book's otherwise powerful themes.
In The Model Patient, things don't go anywhere that we haven't seen in psych thrillers before, and the reader is easily able to guess what's going on way before the main character anticipates it. It felt more of a case of me trudging through the mechanics and somewhat dragged out banalities of married life and unfulfilling s*x rather than being truly invested in events. This would have been a thrilling book to read in the 1960s, but not in 2026.
There are a couple of points that might merit the book four stars, but overall, I'd rate this as ok but not writing that pushes the boundaries. If you loved the characterization found in It Ends With Us, then you'll enjoy this book, but if weren't a fan of the character portrayal there, then you can give The Model Patient a miss.
December 3, 2025
pretty fun slowburn thriller with some fantastic vibes and wonderful plotting. would recommend this one. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hooked from the start!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Meh. This was pretty predictable and the author's writing style is weird in a way I can't put my finger on. But I did finish it, so it was mostly ok. Ish.
January 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | An Unsettling, Masterful Dive into the Therapeutic Mind
In swinging 60s London with wonderfully researched historical scene setting, The Model Patient starts as a sophisticated drama about marriage and society but slowly tightens its grip, morphing into a tense psychological thriller.
What makes this book stand out is how visceral the therapy sessions feel. You can tell that Ashe poured her own difficult experiences as a patient—and the extensive research she did to process them—into these pages (I also recommend reading the fascinating Author's Note & Bibliography at the end to see how much went into this!) The result is a story that feels almost intrusive to read; the depiction of gaslighting, transference, and the slow violation of professional boundaries is terrifying.
Ashe brilliantly explores how women were objectified in this era, showing how easily the lines between love, control, and fear can dissolve. It is a tense, immersive read that questions who actually holds the power when a mind is unraveling. Truly hard to put down.
In swinging 60s London with wonderfully researched historical scene setting, The Model Patient starts as a sophisticated drama about marriage and society but slowly tightens its grip, morphing into a tense psychological thriller.
What makes this book stand out is how visceral the therapy sessions feel. You can tell that Ashe poured her own difficult experiences as a patient—and the extensive research she did to process them—into these pages (I also recommend reading the fascinating Author's Note & Bibliography at the end to see how much went into this!) The result is a story that feels almost intrusive to read; the depiction of gaslighting, transference, and the slow violation of professional boundaries is terrifying.
Ashe brilliantly explores how women were objectified in this era, showing how easily the lines between love, control, and fear can dissolve. It is a tense, immersive read that questions who actually holds the power when a mind is unraveling. Truly hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews