I didn’t think I’d get a second chance at love. But then I meet handsome, charming Scott in my local bookshop and he makes me forget the mistakes of my past. I feel safe with him. As we talk about our future over a candle-lit dinner, I think he could be the one…
Everything is perfect until my ex-husband Jonathan hammers on my door late one night. My stomach drops when he yells, ‘Scott is a killer.’
At first, I don’t believe it. Surely my ex is just stirring up trouble?
Except when I question what Scott has told me about himself, I wonder if I know him as well as I think I do. Is my new boyfriend really who he says he is?
Then someone I know is found dead only a street away from where I live. And I start to receive threatening messages…
I don’t know who to trust. Someone is lying. Someone is a killer. But is it my ex-husband or my new boyfriend?
This pulse-pounding psychological thriller from bestselling author Mikayla Davids is a gripping, addictive page-turner that will make you question those closest to you – and have you glued to the pages! Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas, Lucy Foley and John Marrs.
Why readers love Mikayla
‘WHAT WAS THAT?!?! I didn't plan on staying up til 2am to finish this! It had me gripped from the start. I loved the characters and it kept me guessing until the very last pages! So good!!!’ Goodreads,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Talk about a binge read! I devoured this in one go… Wish I could give more than five stars because OH MY GOD those twists just kept coming!! ALL THE STARS!!!’ Bookywookman82,
‘Ahhhh loved it!!! Fantastic… One of my fav authors! Loved this gripping psych thriller!! I absolutely raced through it!!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I devoured this! Read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. I loved the suspense and the twists and turns… It really grabbed me!’ Lozzieloves, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fast-paced, gripping read, I honestly had no idea where it was going… I was so blindsided by the end…’ ericas_bookreviews,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brilliant book by this incredible author. You can never put her books down once you start reading them. Always gripping and constantly guessing and wondering who it could be. Just brilliant!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh. My. Days! This was fantastic. I was absolutely hooked from the start including the short, simple prologue that caused instant intrigue.
I think this took me longer to read because I kept stopping to tab/highlight anything from key moments, favourite moments and my suspicions and theories, of which I had a lot. lol Especially surrounding the “chair incident” which made me think of the JLo film, Enough but I won’t say anymore.
It’s told mainly from Nancy’s point of view including a dual timeline featuring events of the past but what I thought was really clever was the chapters told from Ella’s perspective. It added a whole new level that had my mind conjuring up even more theories.
I was right about a few things (one in particular made me shout out “I knew it!”) but that didn’t take away from my enjoyable especially as I love when my guesses are right (I like to be smart! lol) and even more when I didn’t get the brilliant twist at the end. Very clever.
This is the second book I’ve read by Mikayla Davids and definitely won’t be my last. I feel I’ve found a new favourite psychological thriller author. I love her writing style, the story was clever and intricate without being overly complex and had riveting chapters that kept me wanting more. A true just-one-more-chapter kind of book.
This book was fantastic, fast paced, full of emotion and excitement. I've read several of Mikayla David's books but this one is definitely my favourite. I loved the dual timeline and the odd chapter from her daughters pov was a nice touch too. I did not guess all the twists at the end. The author kept all of her cards close to her chest. It was a proper wham moment when the reveal happened. I loved the daughter story too and her ending was perfect. It's definitely a brilliant thrilling read, well worth the five stars that I've given it.
This book had me in a chokehold from the first chapter. Like what the hell was going on? Who was it? Why was it happening to Nancy? What happened all them years ago?! This is what was flying through my head after the first couple of chapters and this is what kept me hooked. So many twist and turns which kept me gripped to this book and I didn’t want to put it down. It was the perfect thriller for me and had so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Perfectly written and each character was well described. I was kindly sent a digital copy of this fantastic book by @lovebookstours and @mikayladavidsbooks , this book definitely needs to be on your TBR this year. Wonderful!
I genuinely loved this new book by Mikayla Davids from the start. I’ve had a couple of books recently where it’s taken me a while to get into them, so I was incredibly pleased to be off to a flying start with this.
Another well put together thriller, suspense and mystery from the first couple of chapters when Nancy starts to get silent and frequent calls. From there on its chapter after chapter of surprises and cliff hangers.
I haven’t expressed surprise at an ending like I did at this for a long time!!!
A true page turner. I couldn’t put it down! Great job Mikayla! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
“Because life was very grey for a long time and it finally feels as though the colour has been returning to our lives.”
I was gifted an advanced copy of The New Boyfriend by Mikayla Davids from the author herself… eek moment. I absolutely adore her books and have now read every single one, so I went into this knowing I was in for a brilliant ride, and it did not disappoint.
The premise alone had me hooked: perfect man, perfect liar… perfect killer? Nancy thinks she’s finally found her second chance at love with charming Scott. After a difficult past, he makes her feel safe, hopeful, like life is finally regaining its colour. But when her ex-husband turns up late one night insisting Scott is a killer, everything begins to unravel. Suddenly there are questions, secrets, a death close to home, and threatening messages that make you doubt absolutely everyone. Is her ex stirring up trouble, or has she let the wrong man into her life?
This was one of those books I picked up planning to savour slowly, and then suddenly it was finished. I read it in one sitting because I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Mikayla’s writing is just so easy and realistic; it flows effortlessly and pulls you straight in.
It’s a quick, captivating read, but don’t let that fool you, the twists absolutely deliver. Even when I thought I’d worked out where it was heading, I was still caught off guard by some of the reveals. There were a couple of things wrapped up a little too neatly in the epilogue that I would have happily explored more, but overall it completely delivered on the psychological thriller tension without feeling overcomplicated.
What really stood out for me though was the family connection running through the story. The relationships weren’t just background noise, they mattered. Nancy’s constant awareness of her children’s feelings added depth and realism, and it even left me with questions about her own upbringing. That emotional layer gave the suspense more weight.
There’s something about Mikayla Davids’ writing that makes it so easy to imagine these characters as your neighbours, or to see the whole thing playing out as a devour-worthy TV series. Before you know it, you’re completely invested.
If you’re looking for a gripping, fast-paced thriller with emotional depth and twists that genuinely catch you off guard, The New Boyfriend is definitely one to add to your list.
Another book by Mikayla Davids, and once again, I was hooked. I have read two of her earlier books, and I really enjoy the suspense and mystery she builds into her stories. Nancy’s life changes when she meets Scott, and soon everything starts to fall apart. She faces threats, trouble at work, and issues with her ex-husband. Even when things get worse, she tries to stay strong. At one point, she no longer knows whom to trust and begins to question every relationship in her life. The story moves between the past and the present. At first, the timelines feel separate, but everything connects clearly in the end. I was able to guess part of the mystery and had some idea about who might be behind Nancy’s troubles. Still, many twists and turns kept the story exciting and unpredictable. The book also explores friendships and relationships. Some are true and loyal, while others are not. I really liked the bond between Chloe and Nancy, and also between Nancy and Ella. I was rooting for Jonathan, though I have to admit I was also taken in by Scott’s charm! I truly disliked Tim. The link between Denise, Scott, and JJ was an interesting surprise. By the end, I found myself questioning every character’s motives. One thing I loved was Nancy’s favorite coffee shop and bookstore that she often visits. It felt like a dream place for any book lover. Almost every chapter ends with a twist or a cliffhanger. I simply could not put the book down and finished it in one sitting. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing and take you on an emotional roller coaster, this book is a great choice. It’s perfect for a weekend read or when you want something fast-paced and gripping.
This was my first read by Mikayla Davids and it definitely won’t be my last!
The New Boyfriend is a brilliantly twisty psychological thriller that taps straight into what is probably every woman’s worst fear when dating — what if he isn’t who he says he is? That premise alone makes the tension throughout this novel palpable.
The story is told mainly from Nancy’s POV, with occasional chapters from her daughter Ella, which adds an extra layer of perspective — especially towards the end. There’s also a dual timeline following Nancy in 1998/1999 alongside the present day, which gradually reveals secrets from her past and adds depth to the unfolding mystery.
After Nancy’s marriage breaks down and with her two teenagers now grown, she decides to dip her toe back into the dating world. When she meets charming and handsome Scott in her local bookshop, it feels like fate. He seems like the perfect knight in shining armour until her ex-husband Jonathan suddenly appears and accuses Scott of being a killer.
From there the tension ramps up quickly. Strange things start happening and two women are murdered close to Nancy’s home. But are the deaths connected to her? Is Jonathan simply trying to sabotage her new relationship, is there a stalker lurking nearby or is Scott hiding something far darker?
This was a real page-turner and I didn’t see the final showdown and reveal coming. A gripping, twist-filled thriller that will definitely have your pulse racing by the end!
Thank you to Mikayla Davids and Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I love psychological thrillers. They have become the majority of what I read now, after switching from primarily romance. The premise behind this book really hooked me, and I have seen a bunch of people talk about Mikayla's books and how good they are.
I did enjoy Mikayla's writing, and I did enjoy this storyline. The twists and turns I *kind of* saw coming, but not to the extent that Mikayla wrote them. I didn't guess them completely, which allowed for some sudden surprises. I loved the multiple POVs. I really enjoy seeing everyone's pieces of the puzzle from their own points of view, and I think that was done well in this story. Nearly every chapter ends on a sort of cliffhanger, and I think that was brilliantly done as it nearly forces you to continue going to see what will happen next.
The biggest struggle for me in this book was the FMC, Nancy. She was so gullible and naive that it just ruined a lot of things for me. I couldn't get behind her as a character, and she made me want to pull my hair out. That was really my biggest hurdle with this book, so if that doesn't bother you, then honestly, you will probably enjoy it. All that being said, because it was a character issue and not a story issue, I would gladly pick up another Mikayla Davids book and give a different one a chance.
‘The New Boyfriend’ is the latest gripping thriller from the pen of Mikayla Davis. I think I have read most of her books by now, and this is up there with her best. Once again, she has created compelling and authentic characters against a backdrop of absolute chaos! They are such fun reads.
Nancy is going through a divorce and has been persuaded by her friend Chloe to sign up for online dating. She gives it a chance but is stood up. But don't worry, there is a meet-cute in the bookshop - a handsome younger guy, Scott, comes to her rescue. They enjoy getting to know one another and decide on another date. At the same time, Nancy is receiving threatening text messages - she has a stalker. Scott thinks it is her ex-husband, but could he hate her that much….
Nancy was a brilliant protagonist - she was feisty, loyal to her children and friends, funny, and fragile. Mikayla always manages to create well-fleshed-out characters, and this was no different. They are always multi-layered, complex, but someone that you root for!
I really enjoyed this story and flew through it in one day. The chapters were short and managed to suck you in right from the start. The pacing was superb, and there were lots of misdirections and great revelations! That epilogue chapter - I did not guess that at all!
The New Boyfriend by Mikayla Davids was an absolutely addictive read that I flew through in a single day. Once I started, I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
The story follows a woman who thinks she may have finally found love again when she meets charming and seemingly perfect Scott in her local bookshop. After a difficult past, he feels like the fresh start she’s been hoping for. But everything quickly unravels when her ex-husband appears at her door with a shocking warning: Scott is a killer.
From that moment on, the tension ramps up and the story becomes impossible to stop reading. The pacing is fantastic and the twists keep coming, constantly making you question who is telling the truth. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something new would happen that made me doubt everything again.
I loved how the story played with trust and perception, you’re constantly second guessing the characters and wondering who can actually be believed. The short chapters and fast pace made this such an easy book to devour, and I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” until I’d finished the whole thing.
A gripping, twisty thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. If you enjoy fast-paced domestic thrillers packed with tension and surprises, this one is definitely worth picking up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This thriller had me hooked right from the start. Nancy, recently divorced and trying to rebuild her life, thinks she’s finally found someone special when she meets Scott in a bookshop. He’s charming, attentive, and seems like the perfect fresh start. But everything shifts when her ex-husband shows up with a chilling warning.
From that moment, Strange incidents begin to happen, and Nancy is caught between trusting her instincts or believing the man who makes her feel safe. The dual timelines from Nancy’s past in the late ’90s and her present-day life kept me guessing about how her history tied into the danger she faces now.
I really liked how the story explored trust, doubt, and the risks of opening yourself up after heartbreak. Nancy felt believable, strong but vulnerable, protective of her kids, and desperate to know the truth. The short chapters and fast pace made it impossible to put down.
The ending was shocking and satisfying, tying everything together in a way I didn’t see coming.
Yes!!!!! I had been waiting to see a new Davids book pop up and I was over the moon when I saw they had one coming out. I absolutely snatched it up and read as quickly as my eyeballs would cope. Too fast because now I am sad it is over! In true Davids style, the book has the same tone and style as her other fantastic books, which is great because it is full of details, from the surroundings to the hidden things that you look back on later and realize they linked up all along. It is fast paced and offers so many tense moments that you are on the edge of your seat, excited to read every single page. I loved the characters and the development each had. The fact we could get the feel for the kind of people they were, especially the main lads, in the boyfriend and the ex, as it really built up that distrust feeling, making each chapter really make you stop and look at everything. I loved the flow of the story and I especially the way this book ended. Another brilliant brilliant read by Davids.
By now you all know how much I fangirl Mikayla Davids. And the hits keep on coming!
Meet cute in a bookstore. How perfect is that? When Nancy's first online date ghosts her at their restaurant meetup, this handsome guy comes to her rescue. He likes books and wine. He's not put off by the fact that she's soon-to-be-divorced, with two kids. And he's there to comfort her when a stalker starts harassing her.
But her ex doesn't trust him. Is it jealousy? Or are his instincts correct?
Nancy's character is so fleshed out, you feel like you're walking in her shoes as she navigates dating after almost-divorce. And you'll also be rooting for her to have her happy ending. But first - find the stalker! There are twists and turns, and some white-knuckle moments, but that ending caught me by surprise!
Thank you so much to Love Books Tours, for indulging my Mikayla addiction with this advance reader's copy of The New Boyfriend!
I have read so many Mikayla Davids books. So many. And every time I go in thinking "she can't POSSIBLY have done it again, can she?" And the answer is always "Yes. Yes she can". And The New Boyfriend is no exception. As usual, Mikayla creates believable and oftentimes relatable characters which is her way of drawing you into her web and with alarming speed you are invested and hooked. Which funnily enough is kind of how the story starts. This is my favourite kind of psychological thriller- not one with shock and horror but one that fills you with a growing sense of unease at every page turn. The "joys" of 21st century dating. As always with Mikayla the misdirection is rife and if you think you have it all figured out you most definitely don't. Short snappy chapters made this a really easy read but a really good satisfying one. However as always I want more. How long till the next book Mikayla?? Trust me you don't want to miss this. One of the best from my favourite thriller writer.
Mikayla has written another great thriller here with The New Boyfriend. I found it really interesting, intriguing and gripping. The chapter layout was great with Nancy’s narrative in the present day and also some back in her teenage years. I also really enjoyed the addition of Ella’s chapters giving her view on events happening.
I suspected and worked some of the twists out but I was definitely left shocked by the final few and never saw that them coming at all. It was such an interesting concept with the dating and how it all tied up together with the events in the story. It was really a story of who could the reader really trust which I really enjoyed.
Definitely a great read for any thriller fan and I can’t wait to pick up another of Mikayla’s novels soon.
Firstly, just look at that cover! I was drawn to that straight away. This author is an automatic read for me so was anticipating an intriguing rollercoaster of a ride, and I was not disappointed!
As ever with this author’s books, you never quite know just who to trust and the surprises just keep on coming right up until the end.
I love the way the author misdirects you, has you sure you know who someone really is or what’s really going on, only to blind side you with another twist you just didn’t seem coming.
The author weaves together the characters pasts and present really well, at a good pace to keep you turning the pages.
So definitely a must read. If you haven’t read anything from this author before, now is definitely the time to start.
This book caught me hook line and sinker and I absolutely ate this book up!
This novel follows Nancy and her broken marriage, she gets encouraged to start dating by her friend. Nancy gets stood up by Brad but ends up having a date with a guy called Scott.
Her new found relationship seems too good to be true, but is Scott who she thinks she is?
The way this author has created this storyline and the characters inside it is simply brilliant!
There are twists and turns in this novel! Which were amazing and made you want to read more.
This thriller is one of my favourite thrillers for 2026 so far!
This isn't the first novel by this authors I have read and I can hands down say it will not be the last.
The New Boyfriend is a gripping psychological thriller that explores trust, deception, and the dark side of seemingly perfect relationship. As always Davids creates a story that keeps readers questioning every character's motives until he very end.
One of the greatest strengths is it's tension. Davids cleverly builds suspense through uncertainty and paranoia. Another point is the theme of deception in relationships. It e explores how easily people can hide their true identities and how love can be blinding.
The New Boyfriend is an entertaining, fast-paced and a suspenseful read.
Oh my lord! I think this is the best book I have read by Mikayla. I loved her other books but this one is on another level. It's about Nancy who is in the dating world and she starts seeing a guy called Scott after her date doesn't show up. Strange things start happening and she isn't sure who is involved is it her ex husband or her new beau. I finished this in a single sitting because once you start you are totally hooked. The twists hit me hard and fast. I had not predicted any. A tense psychological thriller.
This author’s writing style always pulls me in quickly. The story is told in dual timelines and occasional multiple POV. The short chapters keep you turning the pages.
Some of the things were obvious and there were other twists I didn’t guess.
My main issue with this story is that the FMC was so naive. I tend to not like stories where the main character has to be ridiculous to keep the story moving.
I have read several books by this author and I do tend to find she write page turning popcorn thrillers.
WOW! The newest psychological thriller by Mikayla Davids had me curious the whole book.
Nancy has split from her husband after she found he had been cheating on her. She is determined to live simply with work, a few friends and her 2 kids to keep her life full.
Her friend convinces her to put herself out there and try dating again. She develops a whirlwind relationship with a kind man with similar interests.
That's when the strangest things start happening. Texts and phone calls bordering on harassment, destruction of her property and constantly feeling like she's being followed are haunting her daily life.
Just when you think you know who is responsible, the author drops another little breadcrumb to make you think (or rethink) the circumstances.
Told from multiple points of view and multiple timelines, you are continually getting clues. But as the reader you just can't quite place them all together as the storyline progresses.
Thank you to Mikayla Davids and Love Books Tours for the gifted copy of this book.
I was hooked from the very beginning and absolutely devoured this. Told mainly from the FMC's POV, with a few from her daughters. I liked her perspective on things. I liked the flashback chapters of Nancy's past. With some great twists, that make you not able to put this down. The family relationships throughout the book were great and I felt they brought realism to the story.
I really enjoy Mikayla's writing and have read quite a few of her books. Need to go and check which others I need to read.
This is gripping psychological thriller by Mikayla Davids. It is not the first book I have read by this author - I love all her books I’ve read so far so knew I had to read this one.
I really felt sorry for Nancy, all she wanted was a bit of romance in her life after splitting with her ex but she is not destined to have a quiet life!
The short chapters and suspenseful plot really kept me turning the pages, I could not stop reading. Highly recommend for any psychological thriller reader.
The New Boyfriend by Mikayla Davids. This was a really good read. I love this author. This is the 6th book I've read. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I got into it straight away. I did like the short chapters. I liked the writing style and the story. I wasn't sure how I felt about Scott. I didn't trust him. I did like Nancy. I was sort of surprised by the ending. I certainly didn't see that coming. I definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to LBT for having me on this book review tour and for my gifted copy of this epub.
I absolutely love this author and her writing and her work. Anytime she has something come out I am quick to sign up for it because it’s a must and I know it’s gonna be so good !!
Oooo was I write this book was amazing. I loved this one was much. I hope this comes out with an audio cause I will be the first one to be purchasing.
This I think is one of the top books well I dunno they all are so that’s hard to say !!! Anyways we follow Nancy who is newly divorced and het friend Chloe convinces her to sing up for online dating she does and goes out on a date only to be stood up I mean that would suck to put yourself out there only to be stood up. Not sure I could handle that but I feel like it was kinda meant to be she meets Scott in a bookstore and they are so cute( but I sensed some warnings ) and he asks her on another date. Personally I would love to have a date in a bookstore. Would be so much fun !!!
Nancy though is getting nasty threatening messages who she has no idea would he sending them. Scott said her ex husband but Nancy isn’t so sure.
It’s crazy she has a lot of people around her and o just didn’t know who to trust I didn’t any of them at all nope.
I loved how fast paced this book was like you didn’t get a moment to think you just had to keep going cause you had to know. That was me. I just had to keep going !!!
Overall this was the best book and it has me reeling for more from this author asap !!!
Yall if you haven’t checked out this author you should !!!
So this was good enough that I'll try another by this author. I figured out part of the problem early on, but the other part was a surprise. What I didn't like was how she never listened to her husband's side and distrusted him above all others. And I really. find it aggravating when the leading lady says she should go to the police, but never does.
I love Mikayla Davids’ writing style. The only problem I have is that the moment I start reading I am very unwilling to stop! The New Boyfriend quickly pulled me into the twisty and mysterious plot and I devoured it in one evening.
The story is mainly told from the perspective of Nancy. Almost divorced, venturing into online dating and then she meets a man at a bookstore. The red flags are there from the start and only increase as their whirlwind romance gets more and more intense. But she’s blindsided by this younger man showing her so much love and care.
The pacing is so fast in this book. You hardly get a moment to breathe before the plot twists again in a way you don’t expect. Nancy is naive but likeable and there are so many people around her. It’s impossible to know who to trust.
We also get flashbacks into Nancy’s own dark and rather dubious past. I desperately raced through so that I could finally get answers. A really intense thriller with a satisfying conclusion.
I enjoyed this book and it was a good easy read. It went pretty much how I thought it would, but it didn't take away from the story. Would definitely read this author again.