What do you think?
The Model Patient
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
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
Lucy Ashe
7 books128 followersLUCY ASHE is the author of THE MODEL PATIENT, a psychological novel published by Simon & Schuster (UK) and Hachette/Union Square & Co (US).
Her debut novel is 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.
Lucy Ashe trained at the Royal Ballet School before changing course to study English Literature at Oxford University, where she graduated in 2010. She later qualified as an English and Drama teacher. Her first two novels were inspired by her years immersed in the world of classical dance.
A former resident of London, UK, Ashe lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Her debut novel is 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.
Lucy Ashe trained at the Royal Ballet School before changing course to study English Literature at Oxford University, where she graduated in 2010. She later qualified as an English and Drama teacher. Her first two novels were inspired by her years immersed in the world of classical dance.
A former resident of London, UK, Ashe lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
June 30, 2026
⋰˚☆ 2
ೃ⁀➷
I’ve been bamboozled. This book is a proclaimed “Thriller” but its anticlimactic elements was the quite opposite of a thriller. This book more so dealt with a psychological nature, but it was very un-suspenseful.
Very interesting premise, but my profound detest for such delusional protagonist was off putting. And honestly, this book felt pretty cliche with the whole trad life women face. I felt the whole narrative was about a therapist consciously having transgression behavior, and a delusional patient. I’m bored. There was only such fragments that had it out for this book, but its failed delivery made it tedious.
ೃ⁀➷
I’ve been bamboozled. This book is a proclaimed “Thriller” but its anticlimactic elements was the quite opposite of a thriller. This book more so dealt with a psychological nature, but it was very un-suspenseful.
Very interesting premise, but my profound detest for such delusional protagonist was off putting. And honestly, this book felt pretty cliche with the whole trad life women face. I felt the whole narrative was about a therapist consciously having transgression behavior, and a delusional patient. I’m bored. There was only such fragments that had it out for this book, but its failed delivery made it tedious.
February 18, 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
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.
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.
May 21, 2026
was it predictable? yes
did i like the resolution? also yes
did i like the resolution? also yes
September 2, 2026
In her late 20's, Evelyn left the glamorous world of modeling to marry charming and wealthy Henry, who encouraged her to settle into the good life, Sunday dinners with his family, holidays with the whole Westbrook clan. But it's the mid-60's, London is swinging, and this is not working for her - the pressure to get pregnant, Henry's parents' constant interference, and isolation - and horrible dreams begin to plague her. At the suggestion of a former colleague, Evelyn secretly begins psychoanalysis with Dr. Patrick Daley. As the abuse that she suffered at the hands of family friend as just a teen is revealed, sessions with Dr. Daley get increasingly confusing for her - he seems to be encouraging him to love him, but gives nothing in return. Her best friend Diana tries to stabilize and support Evie, but gets pulled into a swirl of allegations that she is not sure she can believe. And someone is trying to make Evie believe that she is a bad, bad person. Author Lucy Ashe has constructed a tight, smart thriller that touches on women's right to birth control, societal pressures to conform, and the changing mores of the modern world against the backdrop of The Beatles and Carnaby Street.
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
July 29, 2026
The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe is a compelling historical novel set in the 1960s, following a young woman who becomes involved in the world of pioneering plastic surgery. As she navigates a prestigious medical environment, she is forced to confront the ethical dilemmas, ambition, and unequal power dynamics that shaped medicine during that era.
The novel explores themes of medical ethics, plastic surgery, patient consent, psychiatric care, trauma, sexism, manipulation, and the abuse of power within healthcare. The 1960s setting feels authentic and highlights a time when medical authority was rarely questioned and women's voices were often overlooked.
Lucy Ashe's writing is elegant, immersive, and emotionally resonant. The pacing is excellent, the characters are richly developed, and the atmosphere is both haunting and believable. The medical details add depth without overwhelming the story, making it an engaging read for both historical fiction fans and readers interested in the history of medicine.
⚠️Trigger warnings: medical abuse, psychological manipulation, trauma, misogyny, coercion, institutional abuse, disturbing medical procedures, mental health themes, grief, and character death.
A beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that raises important questions about ethics, trust, and the cost of medical progress. Highly recommended.
The novel explores themes of medical ethics, plastic surgery, patient consent, psychiatric care, trauma, sexism, manipulation, and the abuse of power within healthcare. The 1960s setting feels authentic and highlights a time when medical authority was rarely questioned and women's voices were often overlooked.
Lucy Ashe's writing is elegant, immersive, and emotionally resonant. The pacing is excellent, the characters are richly developed, and the atmosphere is both haunting and believable. The medical details add depth without overwhelming the story, making it an engaging read for both historical fiction fans and readers interested in the history of medicine.
⚠️Trigger warnings: medical abuse, psychological manipulation, trauma, misogyny, coercion, institutional abuse, disturbing medical procedures, mental health themes, grief, and character death.
A beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that raises important questions about ethics, trust, and the cost of medical progress. Highly recommended.
April 23, 2026
Book Title: The Model Patient
Author: Lucy Ashe
Publishers: Union Square & Co. & Hachette Audio
Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: April 20, 2026 – April 23, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Ohhh, the levels of darkness and obsession this read took me to! Evelyn is such a layered character, and while I didn’t always agree with her choices (shocker, I know), she was very flawed and authentically herself. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up liking this! There were even a couple of jaw-dropping twists that I wasn’t expecting, and the ending is absolutely WILD. Triggers are definitely important to check before starting this, and some parts felt undeniably uncomfortable while I read them. This was a great book to push me out of my comfort zone, and it held my attention completely.
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: I was very impressed by Lucy Scott’s narration, and I thought she was a great choice to be the voice of Evelyn. She perfectly embodied the character, and I felt like I was right there in the story. The pace is on the slower side as well, so listening to this was extremely helpful for me.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🖼️📸📝👀🤫
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Lucy Ashe
Publishers: Union Square & Co. & Hachette Audio
Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Dates Read/Listened: April 20, 2026 – April 23, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Ohhh, the levels of darkness and obsession this read took me to! Evelyn is such a layered character, and while I didn’t always agree with her choices (shocker, I know), she was very flawed and authentically herself. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up liking this! There were even a couple of jaw-dropping twists that I wasn’t expecting, and the ending is absolutely WILD. Triggers are definitely important to check before starting this, and some parts felt undeniably uncomfortable while I read them. This was a great book to push me out of my comfort zone, and it held my attention completely.
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: I was very impressed by Lucy Scott’s narration, and I thought she was a great choice to be the voice of Evelyn. She perfectly embodied the character, and I felt like I was right there in the story. The pace is on the slower side as well, so listening to this was extremely helpful for me.
T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🖼️📸📝👀🤫
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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 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.
May 30, 2026
Part thriller, part mystery, part historical fiction, part literary fiction — this book truly had it all:
✨ Family secrets
✨ Obsession
✨ Betrayal
✨ An unreliable narrator
✨ 1960s societal expectations
✨ Unbalanced therapist/patient dynamics
✨ A twisty ending
Such a great travel read. Atmospheric, unsettling, and completely bingeable.
📖 After years as a successful model in 1960s London, Evelyn turns to psychotherapy to help navigate feelings of inadequacy in her marriage and the loss of identity she feels after modeling. But as therapy sessions dig up buried trauma, the lines between therapist and patient begin to dangerously blur…
Such a great travel read. Atmospheric, unsettling, and completely bingeable.
📖 After years as a successful model in 1960s London, Evelyn turns to psychotherapy to help navigate feelings of inadequacy in her marriage and the loss of identity she feels after modeling. But as therapy sessions dig up buried trauma, the lines between therapist and patient begin to dangerously blur…
May 11, 2026
Couldn’t put this down, I stayed up till 1.20am on a Monday morning to find out what happened at the end.
This book is certainly a page turner.
This book is certainly a page turner.
April 8, 2026
There were many times during The Model Patient that I thought I knew exactly where the novel was going... I was wrong every time.
The Model Patient is an interesting historical fiction novel focusing on a retired model now housewife adjusting to her new role. She seeks out psychotherapy to help her become a "better wife" so she can move on from her past and enjoy her present and future. The sessions reveal the dark and often manipulative power dynamic between the therapist and the patient. As Evelyn progresses in her therapeutic journey, the reader is left questioning if she is losing her grip on reality or if her therapist has an alternative agenda.
This book felt a bit redundant as Evelyn attends session after session, the build up to the climax slow and intentional. I kept expecting a big crash that didn't quite come and the reveal may be predictable for the experienced thriller reader.
Overall, The Model Patient is intriguing, thought-provoking, and dark. I loved the undercurrents of feminine rage and the recurring themes of friendship, independence, and reclaiming your power.
Thank you to Union Square & Co. and the Novel Insiders Book Club for the copy.
The Model Patient is an interesting historical fiction novel focusing on a retired model now housewife adjusting to her new role. She seeks out psychotherapy to help her become a "better wife" so she can move on from her past and enjoy her present and future. The sessions reveal the dark and often manipulative power dynamic between the therapist and the patient. As Evelyn progresses in her therapeutic journey, the reader is left questioning if she is losing her grip on reality or if her therapist has an alternative agenda.
This book felt a bit redundant as Evelyn attends session after session, the build up to the climax slow and intentional. I kept expecting a big crash that didn't quite come and the reveal may be predictable for the experienced thriller reader.
Overall, The Model Patient is intriguing, thought-provoking, and dark. I loved the undercurrents of feminine rage and the recurring themes of friendship, independence, and reclaiming your power.
Thank you to Union Square & Co. and the Novel Insiders Book Club for the copy.
June 21, 2026
What a brilliant book!
I loved the characters of Evelyn and Diana and the exploration of their friendship was fantastic. The general plot was really good and explored quite a few different things as the book went on. The ending felt satisfying and wrapped everything up in a surprising way.
I really liked this book. 5*
I loved the characters of Evelyn and Diana and the exploration of their friendship was fantastic. The general plot was really good and explored quite a few different things as the book went on. The ending felt satisfying and wrapped everything up in a surprising way.
I really liked this book. 5*
May 3, 2026
it’s been so long since a book has made me feel this excited!!
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.
May 29, 2026
I did enjoy this. I thought it was very clever and did a great job of capturing just how delicate the patient/ doctor relationship can be in psychotherapy. How the psychiatrist has a position of power and that sometimes this uneven dynamic can cause harm. The FMC was annoying at times and a bit naive, but overall I felt bad for her. Much like her character, I too felt like I was in the dark. I truly had no idea what was going on, & hadn’t figured it out until 75% in. There’s nothing worse than solving the plot early on. This did not disappoint. This story takes place during a time when the contraceptive pill was just coming out, early 60’s, and only married women (on a case by case basis) could obtain a prescription for it from their doctor. A time when women didn’t have autonomy over their own bodies, which is still an ongoing debate today.
I did think the ending fell a bit flat, however, I really appreciated the author’s note at the end. It helped me to better understand her vision in writing this book & I admire the amount of research that went into this.
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
Trigger warning for sexual abuse.
I did think the ending fell a bit flat, however, I really appreciated the author’s note at the end. It helped me to better understand her vision in writing this book & I admire the amount of research that went into this.
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
Trigger warning for sexual abuse.
May 19, 2026
First of all, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. From the moment I read the synopsis, I was excited about this book and crossing my fingers to get a copy. Now, onto the review.
Oh, how I love reading a book so good that it makes me hate being a human being with responsibilities and duties like work and going to the gym. If it were up to me, I would have just sat my butt down and read “The Model Patient” straight through until the end.
This is the kind of book that made me want to read all the way through to the acknowledgments, just to understand what the process of creating this story was like. And here's a tip: read them! Knowing how much research the author did on the details of the world she created—like what was happening in the early '60s, the birth control pill, and the type of therapy the protagonist goes through—just makes the story that much richer.
You know what makes this a true thriller for me? How, at every turn, Evelyn is never in control of her own life; instead, the men around her are. It’s such a sharp contrast to the historical moment she’s living in with the arrival of the pill. And honestly, it's so timely for this book to come out right now, amidst the rise of the manosphere.
Oh, how I love reading a book so good that it makes me hate being a human being with responsibilities and duties like work and going to the gym. If it were up to me, I would have just sat my butt down and read “The Model Patient” straight through until the end.
This is the kind of book that made me want to read all the way through to the acknowledgments, just to understand what the process of creating this story was like. And here's a tip: read them! Knowing how much research the author did on the details of the world she created—like what was happening in the early '60s, the birth control pill, and the type of therapy the protagonist goes through—just makes the story that much richer.
You know what makes this a true thriller for me? How, at every turn, Evelyn is never in control of her own life; instead, the men around her are. It’s such a sharp contrast to the historical moment she’s living in with the arrival of the pill. And honestly, it's so timely for this book to come out right now, amidst the rise of the manosphere.
April 24, 2026
I liked aspects of this book but, as a therapist myself, I had a hard time with how much this book made me cringe. I appreciate how the author highlights the vulnerability of patients, and more so how complicated that was in the 1960's.
I did find the pacing to be less "slow burn" and more repetitive and ultimately landed on 3 stars instead of more.
I did find the pacing to be less "slow burn" and more repetitive and ultimately landed on 3 stars instead of more.
September 7, 2026
An interesting but uncomfortable as times look into therapist and patient relationships.
I enjoyed the slow burn tension and was very happy that my predictions about the twists ended up being correct! However, I do think Evelyn should have just killed him tbh. Cause who doesn’t crave a good murder scene 😉
I enjoyed the slow burn tension and was very happy that my predictions about the twists ended up being correct! However, I do think Evelyn should have just killed him tbh. Cause who doesn’t crave a good murder scene 😉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2026
This was a solid, absorbing read and it kept my attention the entire time. The therapy sessions added such an interesting layer and I loved how the tension slowly built as Evelyn unraveled. That twist completely caught me off guard and I always love when that happens.
Evelyn as a main character did not work for me. She is probably one of my least favorite FMCs to date, which made it harder to fully connect to the story at times. Even with that, I was still invested in what was happening and needed to see how it all played out.
The themes around identity, control, and obsession were done well, and the ending felt strong and satisfying. Overall, a really enjoyable read despite not loving the main character. 3.5 stars rounded up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the gifted copy!
Evelyn as a main character did not work for me. She is probably one of my least favorite FMCs to date, which made it harder to fully connect to the story at times. Even with that, I was still invested in what was happening and needed to see how it all played out.
The themes around identity, control, and obsession were done well, and the ending felt strong and satisfying. Overall, a really enjoyable read despite not loving the main character. 3.5 stars rounded up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the gifted copy!
September 8, 2026
2.5 stars
June 4, 2026
This was interesting enough, but then I saw the plot twists from a mile off, and the last one had me skimming over the last few pages.
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.
April 26, 2026
On the couch, everyone's a suspect. Probably including the doctor.
1963 London. Former model Evelyn Westbrook has traded runways for a restless domestic life and a mother-in-law who will not let up about grandchildren. Cue the enigmatic Dr. Daley, whose therapy sessions seem to raise more questions than they answer.
The premise is solid and the doctor/patient tension does its job. It's a slow burn that tests your patience a little, and Evelyn keeps you at arm's length even when you want to pull for her.
Vibes We Are Tracking:
🐍 Recurring snake dream doing a lot of heavy lifting
🛋️ Therapy as a weapon, not a cure
🪞 Former model, reluctant wife, unreliable narrator
🎩 Dr. Daley has never once had good intentions
1963 London. Former model Evelyn Westbrook has traded runways for a restless domestic life and a mother-in-law who will not let up about grandchildren. Cue the enigmatic Dr. Daley, whose therapy sessions seem to raise more questions than they answer.
The premise is solid and the doctor/patient tension does its job. It's a slow burn that tests your patience a little, and Evelyn keeps you at arm's length even when you want to pull for her.
Vibes We Are Tracking:
🐍 Recurring snake dream doing a lot of heavy lifting
🛋️ Therapy as a weapon, not a cure
🪞 Former model, reluctant wife, unreliable narrator
🎩 Dr. Daley has never once had good intentions
April 13, 2026
I was looking forward to picking this one up because it’s a change from my go to genre. PLUS, the premise sounded great! This however ended up being a disappointing read. The thriller aspect of the story was lacking in my opinion and unfortunately most of the mystery elements were rather obvious. I think the writing and the message the author is trying to portray were great! However, I was just bored reading this.
What to expect:
✨therapist/patient
✨psychotherapy
✨1960’s London
✨drama
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 4/14
Thank you BookSpark and Union Square for the gifted arcs!
What to expect:
✨therapist/patient
✨psychotherapy
✨1960’s London
✨drama
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 4/14
Thank you BookSpark and Union Square for the gifted arcs!
May 25, 2026
There's a very specific pleasure in a thriller that's less about who did it and more about what is happening to this woman's mind, and The Model Patient delivers exactly that, in the most beautifully upholstered 1963 London setting imaginable. Lucy Ashe has written the literary equivalent of a slow pour of something expensive — atmospheric, elegant, faintly poisonous.
Evelyn Westbrook gave up a glittering modeling career to become the perfect wife, and now finds her days hollow, her nights eaten by a recurring nightmare of a snake devouring its own tail, and her mother-in-law applying relentless pressure to produce a baby Evelyn is quietly, defiantly taking the pill to avoid. Enter Dr. Daley, the enigmatic Freudian therapist she starts seeing in secret — and the central, delicious question of the book: is he the only person finally caring for her, or is he manipulating her down to the studs? Ashe keeps that needle quivering for a long time, and the transference-tangle between them is genuinely uncomfortable in the best way. Who holds the power in the consulting room is the whole game, and it shifts constantly.
What elevates it is the period detail and the thematic heft. Ashe (a former Royal Ballet dancer turned novelist) clearly did her homework on both 1960s fashion and psychoanalysis, and 1963 London comes alive in the drinks, the dresses, the music — without ever feeling like a costume drama. Underneath the suspense is a sharp, sympathetic examination of female objectification, bodily autonomy, and the cost of performing roles you never chose. It's smart, and it has something real to say.
So why four and not five? It's a slow burn, and occasionally a little too slow — the atmosphere is gorgeous but the plot can idle, and readers craving a propulsive twist-a-minute thriller may get restless in the middle. Evelyn's deliberate unreliability is the point, but it also keeps you at a slight remove, admiring her predicament more than feeling it. And while the ending is satisfying, a couple of the late turns I saw coming.
Still, this is an assured, intelligent, atmospheric read — perfect for book clubs and anyone who likes their suspense literary and their period detail immaculate. Four stars: elegant, unsettling, thematically rich, and a reminder to never, ever trust a man who refuses to break eye contact in a therapy session. Content warnings for references to sexual abuse and reproductive coercion.
Evelyn Westbrook gave up a glittering modeling career to become the perfect wife, and now finds her days hollow, her nights eaten by a recurring nightmare of a snake devouring its own tail, and her mother-in-law applying relentless pressure to produce a baby Evelyn is quietly, defiantly taking the pill to avoid. Enter Dr. Daley, the enigmatic Freudian therapist she starts seeing in secret — and the central, delicious question of the book: is he the only person finally caring for her, or is he manipulating her down to the studs? Ashe keeps that needle quivering for a long time, and the transference-tangle between them is genuinely uncomfortable in the best way. Who holds the power in the consulting room is the whole game, and it shifts constantly.
What elevates it is the period detail and the thematic heft. Ashe (a former Royal Ballet dancer turned novelist) clearly did her homework on both 1960s fashion and psychoanalysis, and 1963 London comes alive in the drinks, the dresses, the music — without ever feeling like a costume drama. Underneath the suspense is a sharp, sympathetic examination of female objectification, bodily autonomy, and the cost of performing roles you never chose. It's smart, and it has something real to say.
So why four and not five? It's a slow burn, and occasionally a little too slow — the atmosphere is gorgeous but the plot can idle, and readers craving a propulsive twist-a-minute thriller may get restless in the middle. Evelyn's deliberate unreliability is the point, but it also keeps you at a slight remove, admiring her predicament more than feeling it. And while the ending is satisfying, a couple of the late turns I saw coming.
Still, this is an assured, intelligent, atmospheric read — perfect for book clubs and anyone who likes their suspense literary and their period detail immaculate. Four stars: elegant, unsettling, thematically rich, and a reminder to never, ever trust a man who refuses to break eye contact in a therapy session. Content warnings for references to sexual abuse and reproductive coercion.
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
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