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The Model Patient
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10 copies available
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A 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.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 9, 2026
5 people are currently reading
3680 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Ashe
4 books119 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 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 9, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy @unionsqandco + @getredprbooks for my tour spot #partner
The Model Patient
< @
Releases: April 14, 2026
Evelyn Westbrook used to have it all. A modeling career and all the friends, but then she got married and lost herself completely. Now suffering from night terrors an old friend tells her about a psychiatrist she should go see. So she does.
But this psychiatrist is a master manipulator and knows how to get under his patients skin. He’s hiding something and has his own plans for Evelyn. But he’s never met a patient quite like Evelyn, because she has her own secrets too.
Oof. I loved this one. The 1960’s, the secrets, the slow suffocation of marriage - everything just made for the perfect read. It is more of a slow brew type of read, but that is what made it so special for me.
And while a major part of the plot is about sex (and getting pregnant) it’s not one of those reads. I had no issues. I loved how the book tackled women’s issues.
Loved the writing. I loved her previous book The Dance of the Dolls (ballet and highly recommend it) and can’t wait to read her other one now - The Sleeping Beauties.
This is one of those reads that does your head in as you read it. Reality becomes distorted. And you know I love a well researched story.
The Model Patient
< @
Releases: April 14, 2026
Evelyn Westbrook used to have it all. A modeling career and all the friends, but then she got married and lost herself completely. Now suffering from night terrors an old friend tells her about a psychiatrist she should go see. So she does.
But this psychiatrist is a master manipulator and knows how to get under his patients skin. He’s hiding something and has his own plans for Evelyn. But he’s never met a patient quite like Evelyn, because she has her own secrets too.
Oof. I loved this one. The 1960’s, the secrets, the slow suffocation of marriage - everything just made for the perfect read. It is more of a slow brew type of read, but that is what made it so special for me.
And while a major part of the plot is about sex (and getting pregnant) it’s not one of those reads. I had no issues. I loved how the book tackled women’s issues.
Loved the writing. I loved her previous book The Dance of the Dolls (ballet and highly recommend it) and can’t wait to read her other one now - The Sleeping Beauties.
This is one of those reads that does your head in as you read it. Reality becomes distorted. And you know I love a well researched story.
February 24, 2026
4.5⭐️
The Model Patient follows Evelyn Westbrook, who seems like she has it all. She has the perfect house, the perfect husband, not having to work, etc. This sounds like the perfect life. Just not Evelyn’s perfect life. She gave up her successful job in modeling, she has to deal with her mother-in-law, who is always in her business and also reminding Evelyn that she will never live up to her expectations, and facing pressure of having a baby. On top of all of this, she is having recurring nightmares of turning into a snake and devouring herself. She decides to turn to therapy to help with unhappiness and hides it from everyone in her life. This is during the 1960s, when therapy has not been normalized yet. She meets the enigmatic Dr. Daley, who she sees once a week. And she notices herself becoming drawn to him. But it is not the normal connection one has, it becomes borderline obsessive. Evelyn continues to struggle throughout her therapy sessions, as Dr. Daley’s utilizes the transference method, where he allows her to put all of her emotions from the past onto him. This blurs the line of therapist and client, especially as she notices that Dr. Daley is seeping into her daily life outside of their sessions. For instance, he becomes romantically involved with her best friend. Evelyn believes that he is doing everything on purpose to derail her life and make her fall in love with him. But for what reason? Isn’t the purpose of therapy to help heal from the past trauma and gain a healthier mindset? This is what Evelyn aims to find out while her mental health spirals out of control.
This was such an interesting book, and I absolutely devoured it! As a mental health therapist myself, I do not agree with Dr. Daley’s therapy methods at all. The psychodynamic modality is old school, but was popular in the 1960s due to Freud’s influence at the time. I received education and training in psychodynamic therapy, so I think it is fair to say that it has changed a lot since then. Dr. Daley utilizes the transference method to force Evelyn to put all of her emotions and desires onto him. This is unethical especially in Evelyn’s situation, who is a victim sexual assault. Nowadays, transference still happens in sessions, but there are boundaries in place and the therapist is supposed to help the client understand why their emotions are being placed onto the therapist. I definitely felt a lot of icks when reading the sessions between Evelyn and Dr. Daley. I also believe that the author did a great job with the unreliable narrator trope and having the reader question if Evelyn is accurately perceiving reality or if she is distorting reality to fulfill her own needs and desires.
Thank you to Get Red PR for the gifted arc 🌹
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
The Model Patient follows Evelyn Westbrook, who seems like she has it all. She has the perfect house, the perfect husband, not having to work, etc. This sounds like the perfect life. Just not Evelyn’s perfect life. She gave up her successful job in modeling, she has to deal with her mother-in-law, who is always in her business and also reminding Evelyn that she will never live up to her expectations, and facing pressure of having a baby. On top of all of this, she is having recurring nightmares of turning into a snake and devouring herself. She decides to turn to therapy to help with unhappiness and hides it from everyone in her life. This is during the 1960s, when therapy has not been normalized yet. She meets the enigmatic Dr. Daley, who she sees once a week. And she notices herself becoming drawn to him. But it is not the normal connection one has, it becomes borderline obsessive. Evelyn continues to struggle throughout her therapy sessions, as Dr. Daley’s utilizes the transference method, where he allows her to put all of her emotions from the past onto him. This blurs the line of therapist and client, especially as she notices that Dr. Daley is seeping into her daily life outside of their sessions. For instance, he becomes romantically involved with her best friend. Evelyn believes that he is doing everything on purpose to derail her life and make her fall in love with him. But for what reason? Isn’t the purpose of therapy to help heal from the past trauma and gain a healthier mindset? This is what Evelyn aims to find out while her mental health spirals out of control.
This was such an interesting book, and I absolutely devoured it! As a mental health therapist myself, I do not agree with Dr. Daley’s therapy methods at all. The psychodynamic modality is old school, but was popular in the 1960s due to Freud’s influence at the time. I received education and training in psychodynamic therapy, so I think it is fair to say that it has changed a lot since then. Dr. Daley utilizes the transference method to force Evelyn to put all of her emotions and desires onto him. This is unethical especially in Evelyn’s situation, who is a victim sexual assault. Nowadays, transference still happens in sessions, but there are boundaries in place and the therapist is supposed to help the client understand why their emotions are being placed onto the therapist. I definitely felt a lot of icks when reading the sessions between Evelyn and Dr. Daley. I also believe that the author did a great job with the unreliable narrator trope and having the reader question if Evelyn is accurately perceiving reality or if she is distorting reality to fulfill her own needs and desires.
Thank you to Get Red PR for the gifted arc 🌹
Read more reviews on my blog! https://christinaschapterblog.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Evelyn Westbrook should be happy. She has a nice home, married to the man she loves and a best friend who she adores. She is struggling to fit into the role of housewife and seems to garner nothing but criticism from her new in-laws who are desperate for a grandchild.
But Evelyn feels like she cannot give them what they want and that her body has never belonged to her. She begins to suffer with nightmares that take her back to the start of her modelling career and seeks professional help to deal with it. But will dredging up the past make things any clearer for her?
I thought the premise for this novel interesting but I found the actual story a little too circuitous. I am assuming it was meant to convey Evelyn's spiralling mental health but it just became irritating after a while.
Evelyn is an interesting character whose past informs so much of what happens in the novel, preventing her from moving on in her life. It was cleverly and sensitively dealt with but I found Evelyn herself an unsympathetic character, despite her fragility. For me it made it difficult to truly engage with the story.
I would recommend this as an interesting look at mental health and the use of psychotherapy and transference as tools to help certain patients.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital review copy.
But Evelyn feels like she cannot give them what they want and that her body has never belonged to her. She begins to suffer with nightmares that take her back to the start of her modelling career and seeks professional help to deal with it. But will dredging up the past make things any clearer for her?
I thought the premise for this novel interesting but I found the actual story a little too circuitous. I am assuming it was meant to convey Evelyn's spiralling mental health but it just became irritating after a while.
Evelyn is an interesting character whose past informs so much of what happens in the novel, preventing her from moving on in her life. It was cleverly and sensitively dealt with but I found Evelyn herself an unsympathetic character, despite her fragility. For me it made it difficult to truly engage with the story.
I would recommend this as an interesting look at mental health and the use of psychotherapy and transference as tools to help certain patients.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you are looking for a thriller that will really cause your head to twist and to question your on sanity then The Model Patient is the story for you. There was so much going on that at one point I was starting to think everyone in this book was the enemy. Not to mention that towards the end there is a super amazing plot twist that will blow your mind. This story takes place in the UK during the 1960's so in a way there has been progress made in regards to mental heath. Overall this is an exciting story you don't want to miss.
We are introduced to Evelyn who seems to have it all. However, she feels stuck and keeps having a recurring nightmare. She decides to start therapy where she meets Dr. Daly. The first couple of sessions are pretty basic. However after the first couple ones is where things get more intense. We get a peak into Evelyn's past and some of the indiscretions that happened during her teen years.
From there is when things are really starting to go down hill. She starts having mistrust for her husband and best friend. She then believes that her Dr. secretly wants her. However, she is shocked when she learns the true mess of the situation
We are introduced to Evelyn who seems to have it all. However, she feels stuck and keeps having a recurring nightmare. She decides to start therapy where she meets Dr. Daly. The first couple of sessions are pretty basic. However after the first couple ones is where things get more intense. We get a peak into Evelyn's past and some of the indiscretions that happened during her teen years.
From there is when things are really starting to go down hill. She starts having mistrust for her husband and best friend. She then believes that her Dr. secretly wants her. However, she is shocked when she learns the true mess of the situation
March 14, 2026
Here is a story that felt unsettlingly raw and real. I was taken back to mid-twentieth century London where the world of fashion, art, and youth culture mingled against the backdrop of postwar conservatism. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 is about a young model seeking professional therapy to uncover the symbols behind her festering nightmares in an attempt to regain control over a troubling marriage.
I was entirely transfixed by the power dynamic between Evelyn Westbrook and Dr. Daley over a course of weekly psychotherapy sessions. Never have I shifted so much in my seat by their increasing unease and toxic tension. It was agonizing and at times difficult to pinpoint the true villain. In the first half, Lucy Ashe was giving the readers all but also nothing at the same time which only added to the mystery and intrigue of this book. It was unapologetically dark, complex, unrelenting, neurotic. All the words. And the cat-and-mouse romance? Emotionally manipulative if not entirely delusional. Yet boundaries were clearly broken and trust, severed.
The powerful themes surrounding motherhood, societal implications on women’s mental health and sexual autonomy were all central in this all-encompassing psychological suspense. I was held captive, desperate for answers and simply could not put it down.
Thank you Union Square Co. & Get Red PR for an advance copy.
I was entirely transfixed by the power dynamic between Evelyn Westbrook and Dr. Daley over a course of weekly psychotherapy sessions. Never have I shifted so much in my seat by their increasing unease and toxic tension. It was agonizing and at times difficult to pinpoint the true villain. In the first half, Lucy Ashe was giving the readers all but also nothing at the same time which only added to the mystery and intrigue of this book. It was unapologetically dark, complex, unrelenting, neurotic. All the words. And the cat-and-mouse romance? Emotionally manipulative if not entirely delusional. Yet boundaries were clearly broken and trust, severed.
The powerful themes surrounding motherhood, societal implications on women’s mental health and sexual autonomy were all central in this all-encompassing psychological suspense. I was held captive, desperate for answers and simply could not put it down.
Thank you Union Square Co. & Get Red PR for an advance copy.
February 5, 2026
The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe. Thanks to @getredprbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1963 London, ex-model and new wife, Evelyn Westbrook begins to see a therapist. She is at first apprehensive but quickly develops a rapport with him. He seems manipulative and eager to pull out her secrets.
I don’t usually love therapy tropes, but I did find this one interesting. The therapy sessions were compelling, and a lot was based around the transference and therapist/client relationship. I figured out the twist, but it was more of a “maybe this is what’s going on” way, so I still enjoyed the reveal. I may have yelled “I knew it! excitedly. I loved that a female friendship was at the heart of the story and how it ended.
“The good girl, the dutiful daughter, lover, wife: they were slipping away. Instead, there was something darker, a monster, or a demon, rising to the surface.
Read if you like:
-Therapy tropes
-1960’s setting
-Female friendships
-Dream analysis
The Model Patient comes out 4/14.
1963 London, ex-model and new wife, Evelyn Westbrook begins to see a therapist. She is at first apprehensive but quickly develops a rapport with him. He seems manipulative and eager to pull out her secrets.
I don’t usually love therapy tropes, but I did find this one interesting. The therapy sessions were compelling, and a lot was based around the transference and therapist/client relationship. I figured out the twist, but it was more of a “maybe this is what’s going on” way, so I still enjoyed the reveal. I may have yelled “I knew it! excitedly. I loved that a female friendship was at the heart of the story and how it ended.
“The good girl, the dutiful daughter, lover, wife: they were slipping away. Instead, there was something darker, a monster, or a demon, rising to the surface.
Read if you like:
-Therapy tropes
-1960’s setting
-Female friendships
-Dream analysis
The Model Patient comes out 4/14.
March 19, 2026
This Review Copy was provided by Union Square & Co. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a gripping psychological thriller that had me wondering how it would pan out right up to the very end! It did not disappoint! I don’t think I’ve ever rooted SO hard for a fictional female character before. Evelyn has been having a lot of nightmares about snakes, so she goes to see a psychodynamic therapist (this is in the 60s.) At first, and honestly throughout the entire book, I was rooting so hard for Evelyn and her mental health. She has some insufferable people all around her through a lot of the book (which is so infuriating) and she’s gone through some big life changes and is facing intense pressures as an adult, so no wonder she sought therapy for her own well-being. The book takes a crazy turn when Evelyn starts to think that her therapist has ulterior motives and that’s where things really start to unravel for her. There were so many times where I was so mad at the men in this book, including her therapist, and that just made me root for Evelyn harder. She went through some traumatic and heavy stuff as a child, which made for a deeply layered character and heartbreaking story. There were many times throughout this book that I audibly gasped in excitement, frustration or fury and made some remark out loud, which just goes to show how the author really makes you invested in Evelyn’s well-being and mental health. Overall, it was super well written and I love a strong female character with good instincts! The author’s way of making some twists pretty predictable and others not is what made this story so compelling and I would gladly recommend this to other readers who love a good thriller with a psychological and feminist bent and emotionally complex characters.
This book was a gripping psychological thriller that had me wondering how it would pan out right up to the very end! It did not disappoint! I don’t think I’ve ever rooted SO hard for a fictional female character before. Evelyn has been having a lot of nightmares about snakes, so she goes to see a psychodynamic therapist (this is in the 60s.) At first, and honestly throughout the entire book, I was rooting so hard for Evelyn and her mental health. She has some insufferable people all around her through a lot of the book (which is so infuriating) and she’s gone through some big life changes and is facing intense pressures as an adult, so no wonder she sought therapy for her own well-being. The book takes a crazy turn when Evelyn starts to think that her therapist has ulterior motives and that’s where things really start to unravel for her. There were so many times where I was so mad at the men in this book, including her therapist, and that just made me root for Evelyn harder. She went through some traumatic and heavy stuff as a child, which made for a deeply layered character and heartbreaking story. There were many times throughout this book that I audibly gasped in excitement, frustration or fury and made some remark out loud, which just goes to show how the author really makes you invested in Evelyn’s well-being and mental health. Overall, it was super well written and I love a strong female character with good instincts! The author’s way of making some twists pretty predictable and others not is what made this story so compelling and I would gladly recommend this to other readers who love a good thriller with a psychological and feminist bent and emotionally complex characters.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All i can say is wow ! This book has many layers that you dont expect to be peeling back when reading, and i really do feel that the author has done so much work in this book. There are alot of themes in this book which i really didnt see coming. the main character has done really well for herself with a successful modelling career and is obviously struggling with life changes and adjusting to being newly married and the pressures of having a family. We all know we shouldnt judge a book by its cover so we dont just our main character either as on the outside she looks like she has it all ,the looks , the success and lifestyle. But when you look very closely at her emotional state shes fragile, untrusting and vunerable, due to the fact that people have let her down. This is hard for a reader and if you are upset easily perhaps this wouldnt be the book for you as it does have some strong themes.
The main character Evelyn decides that the anxiety shes facing needs to be confronted head on , she wants to be settled and be happy . As a reader we can all buy into the self improvement journey but this uncovers alot , its very deep. On the outlook we meet the therapist and he seems well a bit cold and non emotional but theres something about him that you cant quite put your finger on. Evelyn did well to carry on the sessions as most people would have been like its not for me.
This goes way deeper than expected and alot of sensitive themes are explored in this book and the therapy, it felt like a slow burn thriller but then theres the heightened emotional turmoil that roots the reader into carrying on. My heart sank alot in this book at how let down she had been by people around her and the fact that our main character is so much more than the pretty face of a magazine cover. The themes bring alot into question and thats why i feel the author did its research well. It felt so much deeper for a thriller book.
My sunday today was i will pick the book up and read a few chapters, turns out i read the book for the rest of the day, you feel like you are invested in Evelyn , she faces alot but we need to be able to see that in adversity she can rise again!
Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.
The main character Evelyn decides that the anxiety shes facing needs to be confronted head on , she wants to be settled and be happy . As a reader we can all buy into the self improvement journey but this uncovers alot , its very deep. On the outlook we meet the therapist and he seems well a bit cold and non emotional but theres something about him that you cant quite put your finger on. Evelyn did well to carry on the sessions as most people would have been like its not for me.
This goes way deeper than expected and alot of sensitive themes are explored in this book and the therapy, it felt like a slow burn thriller but then theres the heightened emotional turmoil that roots the reader into carrying on. My heart sank alot in this book at how let down she had been by people around her and the fact that our main character is so much more than the pretty face of a magazine cover. The themes bring alot into question and thats why i feel the author did its research well. It felt so much deeper for a thriller book.
My sunday today was i will pick the book up and read a few chapters, turns out i read the book for the rest of the day, you feel like you are invested in Evelyn , she faces alot but we need to be able to see that in adversity she can rise again!
Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.
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
3.25 ⭐️
This book opens strong with an intriguing therapist–patient dynamic, but I ended up wishing the momentum had stayed as sharp as those early chapters. The premise of The Model Patient immediately caught my attention—1960s London, a moody atmosphere, and a woman whose carefully controlled life starts to slip. Evelyn Westbrook, a former model trying to settle into married life, begins to unravel when her husband suggests they try for a baby. Haunted by nightmares and a past she’d rather avoid, she turns to Dr. Daley for support—only to find herself pulled into a dynamic where care and manipulation blur, and she’s no longer sure what’s real or who to trust.
Lucy Ashe’s writing is atmospheric and introspective, leaning into emotional unease and vintage tension. The opening had that quiet, compelling sense of dread I love, but as the story progressed, it slowly lost momentum for me, and I found my mind wandering where I wished the tension would tighten.
I really liked how Ashe explores power, vulnerability, and emotional unraveling without relying on big twists. The therapeutic relationship has an unsettling edge, and the 1960s backdrop adds an interesting layer to the themes of secrecy and identity.
But I will say, some sections felt repetitive, especially around Evelyn’s inner turmoil, which slowed the pacing. A few developments felt predictable, and I occasionally wanted more drive in the middle and later chapters.
Overall, The Model Patient is a moody, character-driven psychological story with an intriguing setup and a strong sense of atmosphere. Even though the pacing softened as it went on, the themes of control, vulnerability, and emotional unraveling give it a compelling undercurrent.
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book opens strong with an intriguing therapist–patient dynamic, but I ended up wishing the momentum had stayed as sharp as those early chapters. The premise of The Model Patient immediately caught my attention—1960s London, a moody atmosphere, and a woman whose carefully controlled life starts to slip. Evelyn Westbrook, a former model trying to settle into married life, begins to unravel when her husband suggests they try for a baby. Haunted by nightmares and a past she’d rather avoid, she turns to Dr. Daley for support—only to find herself pulled into a dynamic where care and manipulation blur, and she’s no longer sure what’s real or who to trust.
Lucy Ashe’s writing is atmospheric and introspective, leaning into emotional unease and vintage tension. The opening had that quiet, compelling sense of dread I love, but as the story progressed, it slowly lost momentum for me, and I found my mind wandering where I wished the tension would tighten.
I really liked how Ashe explores power, vulnerability, and emotional unraveling without relying on big twists. The therapeutic relationship has an unsettling edge, and the 1960s backdrop adds an interesting layer to the themes of secrecy and identity.
But I will say, some sections felt repetitive, especially around Evelyn’s inner turmoil, which slowed the pacing. A few developments felt predictable, and I occasionally wanted more drive in the middle and later chapters.
Overall, The Model Patient is a moody, character-driven psychological story with an intriguing setup and a strong sense of atmosphere. Even though the pacing softened as it went on, the themes of control, vulnerability, and emotional unraveling give it a compelling undercurrent.
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'The Model Patient' by Lucy Ashe is a mind-blowing psychological thriller. It explores many important themes like Mental health, counselling, different therapy techniques especially psychodynamic theory. It does talk about many taboo subjects which rarely people talk openly. It has heavy themes and can at times make one uneasy while reading it but it is important to read and know about such topics.
The central character of this novel is Evelyn who is a housewife and seeks therapy. The relationship dynamic between patient and therapist is shown and how complex it gets as the story unfolds. It mainly focuses on psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis. Various techniques like word association, Rorscharch ink blot test,dream analysis, transference is shown and the pioneers of this therapy like Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud are mentioned. The counselling sessions were written in such a way that one can feel Evelyn while reading it.
The complex relationship between Evelyn and her husband henry is well depicted and it shows how much controlling the environment was for her. It also shows how certain traumatic events in life can shape a person's behavior and personality.
I enjoyed reading about the friendship between Evelyn and Diana. As a side character, I did like her a lot and they had such a tight knit friendship which was adorable to read.
The therapy sessions are from patient's POV which was really interesting to read. The in laws of Evelyn were unlikable characters and were really toxic.
Overall I would highly recommend everyone to read this amazing book because one can gain a lot of knowledge from it regarding mental health and psychodynamic therapy. Reading about Evelyn felt like there are many women who go through this silently and can never heal from it. It was really eye opening in many ways.
Thank you unionsqandco netgalley for this ARC!!
The central character of this novel is Evelyn who is a housewife and seeks therapy. The relationship dynamic between patient and therapist is shown and how complex it gets as the story unfolds. It mainly focuses on psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis. Various techniques like word association, Rorscharch ink blot test,dream analysis, transference is shown and the pioneers of this therapy like Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud are mentioned. The counselling sessions were written in such a way that one can feel Evelyn while reading it.
The complex relationship between Evelyn and her husband henry is well depicted and it shows how much controlling the environment was for her. It also shows how certain traumatic events in life can shape a person's behavior and personality.
I enjoyed reading about the friendship between Evelyn and Diana. As a side character, I did like her a lot and they had such a tight knit friendship which was adorable to read.
The therapy sessions are from patient's POV which was really interesting to read. The in laws of Evelyn were unlikable characters and were really toxic.
Overall I would highly recommend everyone to read this amazing book because one can gain a lot of knowledge from it regarding mental health and psychodynamic therapy. Reading about Evelyn felt like there are many women who go through this silently and can never heal from it. It was really eye opening in many ways.
Thank you unionsqandco netgalley for this ARC!!
February 18, 2026
BOOK REVIEW — The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
This book is tense, atmospheric, and quietly unsettling — a psychological spiral built on obsession, control, and the dangerous intimacy between therapist and patient.
Characters:
🕊 Evelyn Westbrook — elegant, trapped, emotionally unraveling beneath the perfect-wife image
🩺 Dr. Daley — enigmatic, distant, impossible to fully trust
👔 Henry — respectable husband with expectations Evelyn can’t live inside
Vibes:
• psychological drama
• obsession
• unreliable perceptions
• 1960s societal pressure
• marriage confinement
• therapist/patient boundary tension
• slow-burn unease
What the story gives:
In 1960s London, Evelyn Westbrook has left behind her modelling career to become the perfect wife — but the role feels suffocating. Pressured into motherhood she doesn’t want and haunted by recurring nightmares, she turns to therapy hoping for clarity.
Instead, her sessions with Dr. Daley only deepen the questions. What begins as vulnerability slowly shifts into fixation, blurring the lines between help and harm. The more Evelyn searches for answers about herself, the more entangled she becomes in her therapist’s orbit — and it becomes unclear who truly holds the power.
What I Loved:
• the eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere
• Evelyn’s gradual psychological unraveling
• constant uncertainty about truth vs manipulation
• commentary on women’s roles and expectations
• tension that builds quietly rather than dramatically
• a story that keeps you questioning motives
Final Vibe:
Haunting, intelligent, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way.
The Model Patient is a slow psychological descent into obsession and control — perfect if you enjoy character-driven suspense that leaves you thinking long after the last page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
This book is tense, atmospheric, and quietly unsettling — a psychological spiral built on obsession, control, and the dangerous intimacy between therapist and patient.
Characters:
🕊 Evelyn Westbrook — elegant, trapped, emotionally unraveling beneath the perfect-wife image
🩺 Dr. Daley — enigmatic, distant, impossible to fully trust
👔 Henry — respectable husband with expectations Evelyn can’t live inside
Vibes:
• psychological drama
• obsession
• unreliable perceptions
• 1960s societal pressure
• marriage confinement
• therapist/patient boundary tension
• slow-burn unease
What the story gives:
In 1960s London, Evelyn Westbrook has left behind her modelling career to become the perfect wife — but the role feels suffocating. Pressured into motherhood she doesn’t want and haunted by recurring nightmares, she turns to therapy hoping for clarity.
Instead, her sessions with Dr. Daley only deepen the questions. What begins as vulnerability slowly shifts into fixation, blurring the lines between help and harm. The more Evelyn searches for answers about herself, the more entangled she becomes in her therapist’s orbit — and it becomes unclear who truly holds the power.
What I Loved:
• the eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere
• Evelyn’s gradual psychological unraveling
• constant uncertainty about truth vs manipulation
• commentary on women’s roles and expectations
• tension that builds quietly rather than dramatically
• a story that keeps you questioning motives
Final Vibe:
Haunting, intelligent, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way.
The Model Patient is a slow psychological descent into obsession and control — perfect if you enjoy character-driven suspense that leaves you thinking long after the last page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A difficult book to review as the author has clearly invested considerable research and commitment in writing this. However I think perhaps a marmite book, strongly appealing to some readers but maybe frustrating for others who might expect more action in a thriller, this is very character driven story.
I stuck with my usual habit of reading about 15% a day, otherwise I might have struggled to finish. Much of the narrative takes the form of therapy sessions with Dr Darley, with each one going in ever decreasing circles, making it feel a little repetitive, and leaving me feeling as frustrated as Evelyn. The plot is subtle, and these sessions demand close reading, skim reading isn’t an option as they form the main thrust of the book.
The book deals with some serious issues, sexual abuse, coercion, but also highlights the changing expectations of women during the late 50’s and 60’s, when getting married and bringing up a family was no longer seen as the be all and end all, at least for the educated, middle class women. I think maybe working class women took a little longer to catch up to wanting more from life. Later in the book the pace picks up with twists, revelations and more action, which made me more engaged, leading me to finish a large chunk at one go.
I wouldn’t say I ‘enjoyed’ it in the usual sense, but it certainly gives food for thought and the author’s endnotes give further explanation and insight into the psychotherapy used in the book, providing useful context for readers interested in that aspect. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.
I stuck with my usual habit of reading about 15% a day, otherwise I might have struggled to finish. Much of the narrative takes the form of therapy sessions with Dr Darley, with each one going in ever decreasing circles, making it feel a little repetitive, and leaving me feeling as frustrated as Evelyn. The plot is subtle, and these sessions demand close reading, skim reading isn’t an option as they form the main thrust of the book.
The book deals with some serious issues, sexual abuse, coercion, but also highlights the changing expectations of women during the late 50’s and 60’s, when getting married and bringing up a family was no longer seen as the be all and end all, at least for the educated, middle class women. I think maybe working class women took a little longer to catch up to wanting more from life. Later in the book the pace picks up with twists, revelations and more action, which made me more engaged, leading me to finish a large chunk at one go.
I wouldn’t say I ‘enjoyed’ it in the usual sense, but it certainly gives food for thought and the author’s endnotes give further explanation and insight into the psychotherapy used in the book, providing useful context for readers interested in that aspect. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Set in 1960s London this is a quite an unsettling story which follows Evelyn ‘Evie’ Westbrook as she goes through psychotherapy with Dr Daley after experiencing distressing dreams. I was a child in the 60’s but the descriptions of the era really resonated with me. It’s also clear the author has done a lot of research into this particular form of therapy, which in itself is a quite disturbing treatment.
Briefly, former model Evie looks on the surface to have the perfect life; loving husband, nice home in Pimlico, comfortable lifestyle but all is not rosy. Her mother in law is pressuring her to have a baby, which she doesn’t want, and under the surface Evie is mentally collapsing. At the recommendation of an old friend she starts therapy once a week. But there is something not quite right about Daley, and Evie has so much baggage in her past she begins to get an unhealthy obsession with Daley.
I felt quite uncomfortable as the therapy sessions continued with a transference dominant methodology clearly having a negative influence on Evie. It was like a car crash waiting to happen and nothing could stop it. There are a number of issues raised in the book such as coercion and abuse but just as disturbing is the general treatment of women, I remember how my mother was in the 60’s, she basically did everything. But the fact that women had now started to wrest back some control over their lives was so positive. A thought provoking and fascinating read, dark and complex but compelling. I enjoyed it.
Briefly, former model Evie looks on the surface to have the perfect life; loving husband, nice home in Pimlico, comfortable lifestyle but all is not rosy. Her mother in law is pressuring her to have a baby, which she doesn’t want, and under the surface Evie is mentally collapsing. At the recommendation of an old friend she starts therapy once a week. But there is something not quite right about Daley, and Evie has so much baggage in her past she begins to get an unhealthy obsession with Daley.
I felt quite uncomfortable as the therapy sessions continued with a transference dominant methodology clearly having a negative influence on Evie. It was like a car crash waiting to happen and nothing could stop it. There are a number of issues raised in the book such as coercion and abuse but just as disturbing is the general treatment of women, I remember how my mother was in the 60’s, she basically did everything. But the fact that women had now started to wrest back some control over their lives was so positive. A thought provoking and fascinating read, dark and complex but compelling. I enjoyed it.
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
Read
March 11, 2026Another book from Lucy Ashe that pulls you in, makes you think, and surprises you right up to the very end. Evelyn seems to live a charmed life, a former model that has the perfect house, perfect husband, and the time and money to do whatever she wants. But when the curtain is pulled back her life is far from perfect. She is at loose ends and after freeing herself from the expectations of her parents she finds herself faced with the expectations of her husband and his mother. Add in a manipulative therapist that exploits Evelyn and has secrets of his own and it is a wild ride.
The characters are oh so memorable. Evelyn is dealing with trauma from childhood and has a need to be liked which Dr Daley takes advantage of. Dr Daley is a frightening piece of work. He uses everything Evelyn shares against her and even finds a way to make her best friend Diana doubt her. His secret was one I did not see coming and explained some of his behavior. Diana is the best friend everyone needs, she supports Evelyn and knows her secrets and I was so upset when she seemed to drift away from Evelyn and not believe her. For me the most horrifying behavior came from Henry’s mother, she was so intrusive and controlling and Henry was oblivious. No wonder Evelyn felt the way she did.
This book is full of unbelievable moments that took me by surprise and I recommend it.
Thanks to Get Red PR for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The characters are oh so memorable. Evelyn is dealing with trauma from childhood and has a need to be liked which Dr Daley takes advantage of. Dr Daley is a frightening piece of work. He uses everything Evelyn shares against her and even finds a way to make her best friend Diana doubt her. His secret was one I did not see coming and explained some of his behavior. Diana is the best friend everyone needs, she supports Evelyn and knows her secrets and I was so upset when she seemed to drift away from Evelyn and not believe her. For me the most horrifying behavior came from Henry’s mother, she was so intrusive and controlling and Henry was oblivious. No wonder Evelyn felt the way she did.
This book is full of unbelievable moments that took me by surprise and I recommend it.
Thanks to Get Red PR for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Evie, a former model, has been experiencing traumatic dreams. Although each one is different, they always involve a snake. A friend recommends Dr Daley, a psychologist who is currently working on the analysis of dreams. However, rather than helping, her sessions with him always leave her frustrated that nothing seems to have improved. This is because rather than tackling her problems, Dr Daley seems to want to explore other issues within her life. She also realises she is beginning to develop a dangerous attachment to the clinician. It is a situation which is not helping her home life with husband Henry, and trying to cope with her awful mother in law (definitely the mother in law from hell!)
Set against a backdrop of the mid-1960s, I found The Model Patient slow to begin with, probably because a large part of the story concentrated on Evie's visits to Dr Dailey. Through these conversatons, however, Evie's back story is revealed and darker issues beyond the dreams begin come to the surface.
Early on, I realised Dr Daley had an ulterior motive with the way he was conducting his sessions with Evie, and was not at all surprised when all was revealed.
A well written and cleverly structured novel that pulls you in and holds your attention.
I would like to thank Simon and Schuster, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Model Patient in exchange for an honest review.
Set against a backdrop of the mid-1960s, I found The Model Patient slow to begin with, probably because a large part of the story concentrated on Evie's visits to Dr Dailey. Through these conversatons, however, Evie's back story is revealed and darker issues beyond the dreams begin come to the surface.
Early on, I realised Dr Daley had an ulterior motive with the way he was conducting his sessions with Evie, and was not at all surprised when all was revealed.
A well written and cleverly structured novel that pulls you in and holds your attention.
I would like to thank Simon and Schuster, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Model Patient in exchange for an honest review.
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 Publisher
The Model Patient follows Evelyn, who is newly married to Henry and struggling to adapt to her role as a traditional wife. Although this life feels unfulfilling, she is desperate to make her marriage work. Plagued by anxiety and disturbing nightmares, Evelyn is clearly unravelling beneath the surface. At the suggestion of her friend Lionel, a fan of her jewellery designs, she begins psychotherapy.
The novel offers an intimate and unsettling exploration of Evelyn’s journey through therapy, revealing how deeply a person can be shaped by past trauma and buried experiences. As the sessions progress, long-suppressed insecurities rise to the surface, leaving Evelyn increasingly exposed and vulnerable. The therapist’s methods are unconventional and often disturbing, and Evelyn struggles to understand how they are meant to help, particularly as the therapy seems to deepen her distress rather than ease it.
Gradually, the treatment begins to affect her life, judgement, and decision-making, drawing her into a darker psychological spiral. This is a compelling and intimate portrait of identity, trauma, and the forces that shape who we become, while also exposing a more sinister side to psychotherapy. The Model Patient is a gripping and thought-provoking read — one that stays with you long after the final page.
The novel offers an intimate and unsettling exploration of Evelyn’s journey through therapy, revealing how deeply a person can be shaped by past trauma and buried experiences. As the sessions progress, long-suppressed insecurities rise to the surface, leaving Evelyn increasingly exposed and vulnerable. The therapist’s methods are unconventional and often disturbing, and Evelyn struggles to understand how they are meant to help, particularly as the therapy seems to deepen her distress rather than ease it.
Gradually, the treatment begins to affect her life, judgement, and decision-making, drawing her into a darker psychological spiral. This is a compelling and intimate portrait of identity, trauma, and the forces that shape who we become, while also exposing a more sinister side to psychotherapy. The Model Patient is a gripping and thought-provoking read — one that stays with you long after the final page.
January 29, 2026
Set in 1960s London, this novel explores the experiences of Evelyn starting psychotherapy — and the tale of intrigue, obsession and attraction that follows.
Intense at times to read, I switched between reading long stretches in the book and having a few breather breaks. The further into the book it gets, the more problematic the client - psychologist relationship feels and throughout the book it feels as if all is spiralling and spiralling. Uncomfortable to read many a time, but this also attests to the craft of the author of getting this discomfort across on paper. And despite feeling discomfort, it is at the same time also super intriguing.
In the same spirit of experiencing some discomfort while reading; the family (in law) dynamics and all the associated expectations. Aarg — they behave soo frustratingly at times. Convincingly done!
Loved the 1960s setting. Could tell a lot of research has gone into this. Very enjoyable and interesting.
Where I felt part of the plot points were easy to anticipate, there were actually a few big points that managed to surprise me!
Just to mention also, I thought the author’s note at the end of the book was really worth reading for some added perspective.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with this ARC.
Intense at times to read, I switched between reading long stretches in the book and having a few breather breaks. The further into the book it gets, the more problematic the client - psychologist relationship feels and throughout the book it feels as if all is spiralling and spiralling. Uncomfortable to read many a time, but this also attests to the craft of the author of getting this discomfort across on paper. And despite feeling discomfort, it is at the same time also super intriguing.
In the same spirit of experiencing some discomfort while reading; the family (in law) dynamics and all the associated expectations. Aarg — they behave soo frustratingly at times. Convincingly done!
Loved the 1960s setting. Could tell a lot of research has gone into this. Very enjoyable and interesting.
Where I felt part of the plot points were easy to anticipate, there were actually a few big points that managed to surprise me!
Just to mention also, I thought the author’s note at the end of the book was really worth reading for some added perspective.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this one! It’s a slow-burn psychological thriller that pulls you in quietly and doesn’t let go. The tension builds gradually, layering suspicion, secrets, and emotional unraveling in a way that feels subtle but deeply unsettling.
Lucy Ashe absolutely shines when it comes to atmosphere. The glamour, rigid social expectations, and quiet pressures of the time period feel so vivid and immersive. You can sense how appearances matter just as much as truth, and that undercurrent of judgment and performance adds so much weight to every interaction. The setting isn’t just a backdrop — it actively shapes the characters’ choices and fears.
It’s not a breakneck, twist-every-chapter kind of thriller. Instead, it hooks you with creeping tension and psychological depth. The emotional buildup is what really drives the story, and by the time everything starts tightening, you’re completely invested.
One thing that would've elevated this story further is more development of the secondary characters. They had so much promise, and exploring their complexities could've enriched the plot even more. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and atmospheric read.
Lucy Ashe absolutely shines when it comes to atmosphere. The glamour, rigid social expectations, and quiet pressures of the time period feel so vivid and immersive. You can sense how appearances matter just as much as truth, and that undercurrent of judgment and performance adds so much weight to every interaction. The setting isn’t just a backdrop — it actively shapes the characters’ choices and fears.
It’s not a breakneck, twist-every-chapter kind of thriller. Instead, it hooks you with creeping tension and psychological depth. The emotional buildup is what really drives the story, and by the time everything starts tightening, you’re completely invested.
One thing that would've elevated this story further is more development of the secondary characters. They had so much promise, and exploring their complexities could've enriched the plot even more. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and atmospheric read.
Review of advance copy
This book completely hooked me from the very beginning. The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe is one of those rare stories that pulls you in so deeply that you simply cannot put it down. I found myself constantly wanting to read just one more chapter because I had to see how the complex relationship between the patient and her therapist would unfold.The psychological tension throughout the story is incredibly engaging. Ashe does a fantastic job of slowly revealing pieces of the narrative while keeping the reader guessing about what is really going on. The dynamic between the two characters is fascinating and layered, making every interaction feel meaningful and suspenseful.And the plot twist, wow!!! I genuinely did not see it coming at all. When everything finally came together, it completely surprised me in the best possible way and made the entire story even more memorable.If you enjoy psychological thrillers with gripping storytelling and unexpected twists, this is absolutely a book worth picking up. I highly recommend The Model Patient. It was an amazing read and easily a five‑star book for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In 1963 London, Evelyn Westbrook was a successful model who gave up her career when she married Henry, aiming to be the perfect wife. But she wasn't happy, feeling pressure to start a family and tormented by a recurring nightmare. She sought treatment with Dr. Daley, a Freudian psychoanalyst. As Evelyn begins to her open up to her new doctor, she finds herself becoming more and more attracted to him. Daley keeps his distance while encouraging Evelyn's transference of emotions, which only enrages her. Is Evelyn being manipulated by her doctor, or is she unraveling due to all the duress in her life?
The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe keeps its secrets while the reader tries to figure out what is truly going on in this tense psychological thriller. Are Dr. Daley's techniques genuinely therapeutic, reflecting popular practices of the time period, or is there more beneath the surface? And what about Henry, who is influenced by his controlling mother, who is not a fan of Evelyn? It's an unsettling read that pays off.
Many thanks to Get Red PR and Union Square & Co. for the advance.
The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe keeps its secrets while the reader tries to figure out what is truly going on in this tense psychological thriller. Are Dr. Daley's techniques genuinely therapeutic, reflecting popular practices of the time period, or is there more beneath the surface? And what about Henry, who is influenced by his controlling mother, who is not a fan of Evelyn? It's an unsettling read that pays off.
Many thanks to Get Red PR and Union Square & Co. for the advance.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is an intriguing novel which explores the practice of psychotherapy in the 1960s.
Evelyn Westbrook is a former model who is married to a man with a successful father and a stay at home mother. The expectation is for Evelyn to stay at home, cook perfect dinners and have babies. Evelyn starts seeing a therapist to discuss how she’s feeling but the therapy starts to mix with her life outside, including her relationship with her best friend, as Evelyn starts to explore her past.
This is an unsettling read, looking at ethical conflicts, transference and empowerment, set against the backdrop of women gaining more independence and the advent of bodily autonomy through the use of contraception.
There’s a sense that the reader never knows what’s real and what is imagined, as Evelyn struggles to understand what therapy is doing to her. She is definitely an unreliable narrator. Added to this is the growing sense that the therapist has his own agenda.
Fascinating reading.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Evelyn Westbrook is a former model who is married to a man with a successful father and a stay at home mother. The expectation is for Evelyn to stay at home, cook perfect dinners and have babies. Evelyn starts seeing a therapist to discuss how she’s feeling but the therapy starts to mix with her life outside, including her relationship with her best friend, as Evelyn starts to explore her past.
This is an unsettling read, looking at ethical conflicts, transference and empowerment, set against the backdrop of women gaining more independence and the advent of bodily autonomy through the use of contraception.
There’s a sense that the reader never knows what’s real and what is imagined, as Evelyn struggles to understand what therapy is doing to her. She is definitely an unreliable narrator. Added to this is the growing sense that the therapist has his own agenda.
Fascinating reading.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
March 15, 2026
The Model Patient
Lucy Ashe
Pub: 4/14/26
3.5☆
In the quiet hush of her therapist’s office, Evelyn Westbrook finds herself revealing secrets she’d prefer to keep hidden. Abandoning her successful modeling 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?
My Thoughts:
The Model Patient was a moody, slow burn, character driven story of obsession and control. It’s one that subtly pulls you in and will have you questioning all the things. In the end it was just ok for me. I think I needed a little something more; action, thrill, intensity? Definitely check it out first yourself.
Make sure to read the author’s note at the end, as it gives you an interesting added perspective.
Read if you enjoy:
🐍 Psychological Drama
🐍 Therapist/Patient Dynamics
🐍 Psychotherapy
🐍 1960’s London Setting
🐍 Slow Burn
Thank you Get Red PR and NetGalley for the gifted copies.
Lucy Ashe
Pub: 4/14/26
3.5☆
In the quiet hush of her therapist’s office, Evelyn Westbrook finds herself revealing secrets she’d prefer to keep hidden. Abandoning her successful modeling 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?
My Thoughts:
The Model Patient was a moody, slow burn, character driven story of obsession and control. It’s one that subtly pulls you in and will have you questioning all the things. In the end it was just ok for me. I think I needed a little something more; action, thrill, intensity? Definitely check it out first yourself.
Make sure to read the author’s note at the end, as it gives you an interesting added perspective.
Read if you enjoy:
🐍 Psychological Drama
🐍 Therapist/Patient Dynamics
🐍 Psychotherapy
🐍 1960’s London Setting
🐍 Slow Burn
Thank you Get Red PR and NetGalley for the gifted copies.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Evelyn Westbrook has it all. A former model, she has the looks and life anyone would envy.
A beautiful home, a man that loves her, and yet- nothing feels right.
She feels like a stranger in her own body and when nightmares start to plaugue her, therapy is suggested.
Now, we're not talk current day therapy, this book is set in 1963, and as Evenlyn falls into a strange reliance with her therapist, we have to question motives and whether he is taking advantage of her obsession.
This book keeps you guessing and takes so many turns I couldn't really guess the ending even if I tried.
If you love a psychological thrillers and the concept of dream analysis, this will be a perfect read for you. Expected to release 4/9, I give a big thanks to GetRedPR and the author for a chance to read this in advance.
A beautiful home, a man that loves her, and yet- nothing feels right.
She feels like a stranger in her own body and when nightmares start to plaugue her, therapy is suggested.
Now, we're not talk current day therapy, this book is set in 1963, and as Evenlyn falls into a strange reliance with her therapist, we have to question motives and whether he is taking advantage of her obsession.
This book keeps you guessing and takes so many turns I couldn't really guess the ending even if I tried.
If you love a psychological thrillers and the concept of dream analysis, this will be a perfect read for you. Expected to release 4/9, I give a big thanks to GetRedPR and the author for a chance to read this in advance.
March 1, 2026
🐍Review🐍
Thank you so much @unionsqandco and @getredprbooks for the gifted copy of
THE MODEL PATIENT which is releasing April 2026.
“A psychological tour de force about a former fashion model, who begins seeing an enigmatic therapist with questionable motives- and soon falls under his sway.”
From the very beginning, THE MODEL PATIENT transports readers to 1963 London with so much talk of the fashion, art, and music of the time. While I found the story to be a slow burn, I was definitely invested in Evelyn’s story and couldn’t wait to see how everything played out.
There were a few good twists towards the end of the book that I truly didn’t see coming and that really brought it all full circle. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a slow burn, psychological novel where you won’t know who to trust.
3/5 ⭐️
Thank you so much @unionsqandco and @getredprbooks for the gifted copy of
THE MODEL PATIENT which is releasing April 2026.
“A psychological tour de force about a former fashion model, who begins seeing an enigmatic therapist with questionable motives- and soon falls under his sway.”
From the very beginning, THE MODEL PATIENT transports readers to 1963 London with so much talk of the fashion, art, and music of the time. While I found the story to be a slow burn, I was definitely invested in Evelyn’s story and couldn’t wait to see how everything played out.
There were a few good twists towards the end of the book that I truly didn’t see coming and that really brought it all full circle. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a slow burn, psychological novel where you won’t know who to trust.
3/5 ⭐️
Review of advance copy
Wow what twists and turns! There were so many moments in this book that had me questioning what was actually happening! I really think that our main character, Evelyn was such a raw character! The vulnerability we get from her made it easier to see both sides to her. It made me want to root for her on one hand, but on the other wonder what she was doing!
This story really explores the topics of autonomy, childhood trauma, identity, and control. It really dives deeply into some of the societal pressures women face as well!
This book is around 4.25 stars for myself, I did manage to guess some of the twists, but overall such a quick read! I really enjoyed where this story went. Such a great psychological thriller, well worth the read!
Thank you to the author and GetRedPR for my advanced reader copy!
This story really explores the topics of autonomy, childhood trauma, identity, and control. It really dives deeply into some of the societal pressures women face as well!
This book is around 4.25 stars for myself, I did manage to guess some of the twists, but overall such a quick read! I really enjoyed where this story went. Such a great psychological thriller, well worth the read!
Thank you to the author and GetRedPR for my advanced reader copy!
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