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Sorry For Your Loss
An unputdownable psychological thriller with a killer twist
___________________________________
The moment I catch eyes with Jack at grief group, I just know.
This is my second chance at love. He's charming, good-looking and newly available. In fact, his wife died the very same day I lost my partner. Coincidence? Maybe. Fate sounds more romantic.
Unfortunately, I do possess qualities that aren't always desirable. Usually, I can mask them, but sometimes the darkness slips through. And when it does, I wonder if I see that same darkness in Jack.
Could he also be hiding parts of himself? Perhaps we really are perfect for each other.
Perfect lovers. Perfect enemies. It's all the same in the end, right?
___________________________________
The moment I catch eyes with Jack at grief group, I just know.
This is my second chance at love. He's charming, good-looking and newly available. In fact, his wife died the very same day I lost my partner. Coincidence? Maybe. Fate sounds more romantic.
Unfortunately, I do possess qualities that aren't always desirable. Usually, I can mask them, but sometimes the darkness slips through. And when it does, I wonder if I see that same darkness in Jack.
Could he also be hiding parts of himself? Perhaps we really are perfect for each other.
Perfect lovers. Perfect enemies. It's all the same in the end, right?
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2026
100 people are currently reading
8195 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
March 31, 2026
Think ‘Baby Reindeer’ with a twizzle of Sweet Pea’ ( TV show as didn’t read the books ) and that gives an idea of this richly dark humorous yet unsettling read
I think, possibly this book has more ‘unexpected avenues’ ( not using twists ) than any book read and they just kept coming until the very last word
It’s all set within a ‘grief group’ and so naturally sadness is a big factor in the book but not as you will be expecting
The narrative writing is just powerfully wickedly on point and funny and sad and shocking and alive, for a book that’s about grief it is so alive
OCD is featured throughout and is not shied away from nor minimised but nor glorified
One of my fav books this year, poignant and irreverent yet has a tender side too
Outstandingly furiously brilliant
I think, possibly this book has more ‘unexpected avenues’ ( not using twists ) than any book read and they just kept coming until the very last word
It’s all set within a ‘grief group’ and so naturally sadness is a big factor in the book but not as you will be expecting
The narrative writing is just powerfully wickedly on point and funny and sad and shocking and alive, for a book that’s about grief it is so alive
OCD is featured throughout and is not shied away from nor minimised but nor glorified
One of my fav books this year, poignant and irreverent yet has a tender side too
Outstandingly furiously brilliant
August 15, 2025
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
If there is one thing I try not to ever do is dnf. As tempting as it may be, especially if a read is not working for me at all, I want to at least give the author the benefit of the doubt and a fighting chance, that maybe just maybe they may turn the tables and win me over. 🥺 And if a story is enough to make me feel like so....
Then I certainly count that as a welcome surprise. 🙂↕️😌
I had a really difficult time with Iris; as in she is a very difficult character to like or sympathize or empathize with. 😓 Obsessed with cleanliness, possessive to a dangerous fault, caustic with her thoughts, pointedly acerbic yet docile with her words, unapologetically unstable with her inner emotions - I experience a wave of fury so intense I am momentarily lightheaded with it - but persistent in her pursuit to always be in the right - she is a performance artist. 🥴
One that is determined to win the favor of those who she sets her eyes on, for sympathy is an intoxication that is the highest high. And when you're grieving, there is nothing sweeter than the taste of power that comes when someone expresses so compassionately Sorry for Your Loss so much so that the more you have coiled around your finger, the more you're in control --- until you aren't. 😓
We alternate between Iris' past with her family and her present where she tries and does everything to win the heart of hunk a hunk Jack the grieving widower, someone she meets during their grieving sessions - 'We don’t mess around here. This is a serious group for serious loss' - who she immediately latches onto for as much as he is stylishly attractive in his grief, they share an intimate bond of having both lost their loved ones on the same day. 😟
“Only those who have experienced true loss can know what it’s like to lose the one person who anchors you to this world.”
At first I was very much miffed that much of the story does take place in the past, so that the readers have a firm glimpse into the nature of Iris before we meet her in the now. 🙍🏻♀️ But as the pieces started to fall into place, I started to understand why it was necessary to see the person she became because of who she was and what she went through with her family, as it does play a significant part in the present.
I am not anything if not nosy, and my curiosity was determined to know who would bring about Iris' downfall, because gosh, it was painful to see how people were putty to her whims. And that air of mystery was always thrumming with life as I kept reading; compelling, for as much as there is a predictability to it, there is also this uncertainty to each step. As each key twisted, I was silently saying oh crap.
The story is set in London, but within a very limited scope, as we're only privy to it through what is of interest to benefit Iris' game. I mean, she is really not the most agreeable person. She's abrasive. And rude, and strange and a bit unstable at times, acting out of sorts so many times, that I was really annoyed with her and just wanted to give her a good shake, scream at her How dare you? You're not gonna get away with this --- this sneakery- and subterfuge of toying with people's emotions by playing the victim! 😭😭
But, is she really the victim or does she become one??? 🫨
“He has his flaws, but don’t we all? Haven’t we all been driven to the brink by love?”
And that's it. I really cannot say much more. 🤐 Is it the words or the perspective or is it simply that it played me on my most unforgiving nature of needing to know that kept me invested - not knowing what to trust or believe. The revelations the author steadily gave up - bit by bit - were convincingly compelling. 👍🏻
It is a messed up kind of psychological thriller, one that after much deliberation, I have to admit was not all that bad - Iris, though, yeah, she was a character. 🙄 With each step, I felt that she was getting closer to a victory when in fact she was really digging her own grave. In a subtlety that I actually overlooked, and when the ball dropped - multiple times - my jaw kept dropping even further to the floor. 😲
After I had finished it, I was about to start my evening. I had the following conversation with someone.
person x: what were you reading this fine Sunday afternoon?
me: *waves hands cuz still kinda reeling from it all* oh, just some book.
Person x: must have been good.
me: what makes you say that?
person x: when you stopped reading, you were smiling.
Oh.....
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“We don’t always say what we mean when we’re suffering a loss.”
If there is one thing I try not to ever do is dnf. As tempting as it may be, especially if a read is not working for me at all, I want to at least give the author the benefit of the doubt and a fighting chance, that maybe just maybe they may turn the tables and win me over. 🥺 And if a story is enough to make me feel like so....
Then I certainly count that as a welcome surprise. 🙂↕️😌
I had a really difficult time with Iris; as in she is a very difficult character to like or sympathize or empathize with. 😓 Obsessed with cleanliness, possessive to a dangerous fault, caustic with her thoughts, pointedly acerbic yet docile with her words, unapologetically unstable with her inner emotions - I experience a wave of fury so intense I am momentarily lightheaded with it - but persistent in her pursuit to always be in the right - she is a performance artist. 🥴
One that is determined to win the favor of those who she sets her eyes on, for sympathy is an intoxication that is the highest high. And when you're grieving, there is nothing sweeter than the taste of power that comes when someone expresses so compassionately Sorry for Your Loss so much so that the more you have coiled around your finger, the more you're in control --- until you aren't. 😓
We alternate between Iris' past with her family and her present where she tries and does everything to win the heart of hunk a hunk Jack the grieving widower, someone she meets during their grieving sessions - 'We don’t mess around here. This is a serious group for serious loss' - who she immediately latches onto for as much as he is stylishly attractive in his grief, they share an intimate bond of having both lost their loved ones on the same day. 😟
“Only those who have experienced true loss can know what it’s like to lose the one person who anchors you to this world.”
At first I was very much miffed that much of the story does take place in the past, so that the readers have a firm glimpse into the nature of Iris before we meet her in the now. 🙍🏻♀️ But as the pieces started to fall into place, I started to understand why it was necessary to see the person she became because of who she was and what she went through with her family, as it does play a significant part in the present.
I am not anything if not nosy, and my curiosity was determined to know who would bring about Iris' downfall, because gosh, it was painful to see how people were putty to her whims. And that air of mystery was always thrumming with life as I kept reading; compelling, for as much as there is a predictability to it, there is also this uncertainty to each step. As each key twisted, I was silently saying oh crap.
The story is set in London, but within a very limited scope, as we're only privy to it through what is of interest to benefit Iris' game. I mean, she is really not the most agreeable person. She's abrasive. And rude, and strange and a bit unstable at times, acting out of sorts so many times, that I was really annoyed with her and just wanted to give her a good shake, scream at her How dare you? You're not gonna get away with this --- this sneakery- and subterfuge of toying with people's emotions by playing the victim! 😭😭
But, is she really the victim or does she become one??? 🫨
“He has his flaws, but don’t we all? Haven’t we all been driven to the brink by love?”
And that's it. I really cannot say much more. 🤐 Is it the words or the perspective or is it simply that it played me on my most unforgiving nature of needing to know that kept me invested - not knowing what to trust or believe. The revelations the author steadily gave up - bit by bit - were convincingly compelling. 👍🏻
It is a messed up kind of psychological thriller, one that after much deliberation, I have to admit was not all that bad - Iris, though, yeah, she was a character. 🙄 With each step, I felt that she was getting closer to a victory when in fact she was really digging her own grave. In a subtlety that I actually overlooked, and when the ball dropped - multiple times - my jaw kept dropping even further to the floor. 😲
After I had finished it, I was about to start my evening. I had the following conversation with someone.
person x: what were you reading this fine Sunday afternoon?
me: *waves hands cuz still kinda reeling from it all* oh, just some book.
Person x: must have been good.
me: what makes you say that?
person x: when you stopped reading, you were smiling.
Oh.....
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2026
Sorry for Your Loss is one of those psychological thrillers that asks for a little patience upfront—but ultimately rewards it. The story leans heavily into Iris’s internal world early on, and I won’t lie, it can feel slow and a bit meandering at first. Her thoughts are messy, obsessive, and not always the easiest place to sit as a reader. At times, her motivations and decisions feel confusing or even slightly off, making the beginning feel almost disjointed. It’s the kind of opening that might have you questioning whether to stick with it.
But if you do, the payoff is absolutely there. As the story unfolds, the pacing tightens and the tension sharpens into a true cat and mouse dynamic between Iris and Jack. Their relationship is unpredictable, charged, and deeply unsettling in the best way. I genuinely never knew what direction things would take—or who was really in control—and the twists kept me guessing until the end. What initially felt like unnecessary buildup actually becomes essential, giving depth to Iris’s choices and making the unraveling that much more impactful.
By the time everything clicks into place, the story transforms into a gripping, twisty psychological game that’s equal parts eerie and compelling. It may not start strong, but it finishes in a way that makes the journey worth it. If you’re willing to push through a slower, character driven beginning, this one delivers a chilling and satisfying ride.
April 25, 2026
Iris is still reeling from the death of the love of her life when she meets Jack in a grief support group. Handsome and charming, he soon becomes her latest obsession. She’s not above scheming to win his heart, but she’ll need to hide her past. It’s a LOT messier than she’s been letting on.
This book was so much fun! Iris is a likeable antihero, and watching her low-key stalk Jack was a blast. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I did guess some of the twists, but they were so interesting that I didn’t mind. This is a very bingeable, fast-paced book and would make a great beach read for the thriller girlies. I will definitely be checking out more from this author!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book.
This book was so much fun! Iris is a likeable antihero, and watching her low-key stalk Jack was a blast. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I did guess some of the twists, but they were so interesting that I didn’t mind. This is a very bingeable, fast-paced book and would make a great beach read for the thriller girlies. I will definitely be checking out more from this author!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can't help but be charmed and delighted by how casually unhinged this is!
I didn't read the full summary of this and I'm glad I went into this with little knowledge. It's a unique inner monologue of a woman who's pulling all the strings.. or so she thinks.
This was very well-written. It was unhinged and juicy without being cheesy and the main character develops naturally along the way. I liked how the past merged with the present. It kept me wanting more without feeling jerked around.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this author now. I really enjoyed her writing style!
I didn't read the full summary of this and I'm glad I went into this with little knowledge. It's a unique inner monologue of a woman who's pulling all the strings.. or so she thinks.
This was very well-written. It was unhinged and juicy without being cheesy and the main character develops naturally along the way. I liked how the past merged with the present. It kept me wanting more without feeling jerked around.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this author now. I really enjoyed her writing style!
October 2, 2025
At first, Sorry for Your Loss feels like a slow and uncertain book. The pacing drags, and for nearly half the story I couldn’t understand why Iris was so desperate to be close to Jack, or why he let her into his home and his life so quickly. Their connection felt rushed and almost unnatural, and the plot itself seemed to wander without a clear direction.
But as the story deepens, it becomes clear that both Iris and Jack are hiding much darker truths. Iris, who first seems fragile and open, slowly shows a side that is manipulative, unsettling, and dangerous. Jack, who at the beginning feels cold and guarded, reveals that he too is capable of violence. Both characters carry the weight of past killings, and the novel shifts from a story about grief into something far more disturbing: two sociopaths drawn to each other by secrets and blood.
This slow, strange build-up finally pays off in the second half. The conversations, the silences, and the awkward bond between them start to make sense in hindsight. By the time the ending arrives, the novel lands with force: chilling, surprising, and strangely satisfying.
It’s not a flawless book—the beginning nearly lost me—but the unsettling twist and powerful finale make it worth reading. Dark, eerie, and unforgettable.
But as the story deepens, it becomes clear that both Iris and Jack are hiding much darker truths. Iris, who first seems fragile and open, slowly shows a side that is manipulative, unsettling, and dangerous. Jack, who at the beginning feels cold and guarded, reveals that he too is capable of violence. Both characters carry the weight of past killings, and the novel shifts from a story about grief into something far more disturbing: two sociopaths drawn to each other by secrets and blood.
This slow, strange build-up finally pays off in the second half. The conversations, the silences, and the awkward bond between them start to make sense in hindsight. By the time the ending arrives, the novel lands with force: chilling, surprising, and strangely satisfying.
It’s not a flawless book—the beginning nearly lost me—but the unsettling twist and powerful finale make it worth reading. Dark, eerie, and unforgettable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2026
Many thanks to PRH audio for my #gifted copy.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS is an impressive debut. I throughly enjoyed this fast paced psychological thriller. It was mysterious and I couldn't quite stop listening to it. The narration was perfection! I highly recommend it if you're into twisty stories that will keep you up late at night.
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS is an impressive debut. I throughly enjoyed this fast paced psychological thriller. It was mysterious and I couldn't quite stop listening to it. The narration was perfection! I highly recommend it if you're into twisty stories that will keep you up late at night.
November 15, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the Arc.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The premise sounded intriguing—a dark, twisty story of grief and obsession—but the execution fell flat. The pacing dragged, the characters felt unlikeable and inconsistent, and the plot seemed to circle without any real tension or payoff. I tried to stay engaged, but by the midway point, I found myself losing interest completely. Sadly, a DNF for me.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The premise sounded intriguing—a dark, twisty story of grief and obsession—but the execution fell flat. The pacing dragged, the characters felt unlikeable and inconsistent, and the plot seemed to circle without any real tension or payoff. I tried to stay engaged, but by the midway point, I found myself losing interest completely. Sadly, a DNF for me.
April 17, 2026
⊹ ࣪ ˖𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
ᯓ★★★.17
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈
This started strong. The premise immediately pulled me in, and the opening had that quiet, unsettling tone that promises a good psychological spiral. But not long after, the pacing slowed and drifted into something that felt closer to general fiction. It took a while before the tension really kicked in.
And then there’s Iris.
She is not an easy character to sit with. Obsessive, abrasive, emotionally volatile, and deeply unreliable, she’s the kind of narrator that makes you question not just what’s happening, but why you’re still reading. There were moments I was genuinely frustrated with her, the way she clings, manipulates, insists on being right, and constantly positions herself as the victim. It’s uncomfortable being in her head.
But at the same time… I couldn’t look away.
What makes Iris interesting is how she treats grief almost like a performance. Sympathy becomes something she seeks, collects, even controls. There’s a disturbing kind of power in being the person everyone feels sorry for and the book leans into that idea in a way that’s both unsettling and oddly compelling.
The dynamic between Iris and Jack is where the story really finds its footing. Their relationship is built on shared loss, but also on secrecy, projection, and a constant undercurrent of “who is playing who.” The grief support group setting adds another layer to this, a space that should feel safe, but instead becomes something much more ambiguous, where vulnerability and manipulation blur together.
Structurally, the story moves between past and present, gradually revealing how Iris became who she is. I wasn’t fully convinced by this at first, but as more pieces fell into place, it became clear why that context matters. It doesn’t excuse her behaviour, but it does make it more understandable.
Once the book hits its midpoint, it finally leans into its thriller side. The tension builds, the reveals come in steadily, and even when certain turns feel a bit predictable, there’s still enough uncertainty to keep the pages turning. It has that “just one more chapter” effect, driven less by attachment to the characters and more by a need to see how everything unravels.
And it does unravel, messily, sometimes dramatically, sometimes in ways that feel almost inevitable in hindsight. There were moments where I could see what was coming, and others that still managed to land with impact.
Overall, this is a dark, uneven, but ultimately compelling psychological thriller. It doesn’t always balance its pacing well, and the characters are more exhausting than likeable, but there’s something about its exploration of grief, control, and emotional manipulation that lingers.
If you enjoy thrillers with morally grey (or outright unlikeable) characters, messy relationships, and a strong psychological focus, this might work for you.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒐𝒏
╰┈➤blog ╰┈➤ instagram
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
15 days
# started: 03/04/2026
# finished: 17/04/2026
₊˚ʚ Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.
ᯓ★★★.17
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈
This started strong. The premise immediately pulled me in, and the opening had that quiet, unsettling tone that promises a good psychological spiral. But not long after, the pacing slowed and drifted into something that felt closer to general fiction. It took a while before the tension really kicked in.
And then there’s Iris.
She is not an easy character to sit with. Obsessive, abrasive, emotionally volatile, and deeply unreliable, she’s the kind of narrator that makes you question not just what’s happening, but why you’re still reading. There were moments I was genuinely frustrated with her, the way she clings, manipulates, insists on being right, and constantly positions herself as the victim. It’s uncomfortable being in her head.
But at the same time… I couldn’t look away.
What makes Iris interesting is how she treats grief almost like a performance. Sympathy becomes something she seeks, collects, even controls. There’s a disturbing kind of power in being the person everyone feels sorry for and the book leans into that idea in a way that’s both unsettling and oddly compelling.
The dynamic between Iris and Jack is where the story really finds its footing. Their relationship is built on shared loss, but also on secrecy, projection, and a constant undercurrent of “who is playing who.” The grief support group setting adds another layer to this, a space that should feel safe, but instead becomes something much more ambiguous, where vulnerability and manipulation blur together.
Structurally, the story moves between past and present, gradually revealing how Iris became who she is. I wasn’t fully convinced by this at first, but as more pieces fell into place, it became clear why that context matters. It doesn’t excuse her behaviour, but it does make it more understandable.
Once the book hits its midpoint, it finally leans into its thriller side. The tension builds, the reveals come in steadily, and even when certain turns feel a bit predictable, there’s still enough uncertainty to keep the pages turning. It has that “just one more chapter” effect, driven less by attachment to the characters and more by a need to see how everything unravels.
And it does unravel, messily, sometimes dramatically, sometimes in ways that feel almost inevitable in hindsight. There were moments where I could see what was coming, and others that still managed to land with impact.
Overall, this is a dark, uneven, but ultimately compelling psychological thriller. It doesn’t always balance its pacing well, and the characters are more exhausting than likeable, but there’s something about its exploration of grief, control, and emotional manipulation that lingers.
If you enjoy thrillers with morally grey (or outright unlikeable) characters, messy relationships, and a strong psychological focus, this might work for you.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒐𝒏
╰┈➤blog ╰┈➤ instagram
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆
15 days
# started: 03/04/2026
# finished: 17/04/2026
₊˚ʚ Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.
April 1, 2026
1.75; This book was more than a struggle for me to get through, especially in the first half. Iris, our lead, is introduced as someone who views herself as a victim of her own life, not the pretty sister, not the one her parents favored, not the girl boys chose. I understand why the author framed her this way, but the execution makes her come across as whiny rather than sympathetic, which made it difficult to stay connected to her.
That becomes the central issue throughout the book: the execution. The characters never feel fully developed, even though we spend the entire first half in what should be their emotional foundation. Without that grounding, the second half meant to deliver more tension and thrills doesn’t land as strongly as it could. The pacing feels off, and because Iris communicates so much through internal monologue, we rarely get to experience events in a fuller, more immersive way.
The twist is one I didn’t fully predict, and I’m not someone who tries to guess twists, so a more seasoned thriller reader might see it coming sooner. But even so, it felt lackluster to me because the pacing, the writing style, and the tendency to tell rather than show dulled its impact. Unfortunately, the book had one too many flaws for my taste, and I honestly would have DNF’d around the 25% mark if it hadn’t been an ARC. Many of the issues are common debut‑thriller missteps that can absolutely be improved, but the writing style itself just didn’t work for me.
But hey, you love some, you dislike some. It happens. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC provided via NetGalley.
That becomes the central issue throughout the book: the execution. The characters never feel fully developed, even though we spend the entire first half in what should be their emotional foundation. Without that grounding, the second half meant to deliver more tension and thrills doesn’t land as strongly as it could. The pacing feels off, and because Iris communicates so much through internal monologue, we rarely get to experience events in a fuller, more immersive way.
The twist is one I didn’t fully predict, and I’m not someone who tries to guess twists, so a more seasoned thriller reader might see it coming sooner. But even so, it felt lackluster to me because the pacing, the writing style, and the tendency to tell rather than show dulled its impact. Unfortunately, the book had one too many flaws for my taste, and I honestly would have DNF’d around the 25% mark if it hadn’t been an ARC. Many of the issues are common debut‑thriller missteps that can absolutely be improved, but the writing style itself just didn’t work for me.
But hey, you love some, you dislike some. It happens. Thank you to the publisher for this ARC provided via NetGalley.
April 4, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
This started strong and had all the ingredients of a gripping psychological thriller, but it kind of lost me along the way and felt a bit uneven overall.
I was instantly intrigued by the premise, and the first chapter definitely pulled me in. But after that, it slowed down quite a bit and felt more like general fiction than a true psychological thriller, at least until about the halfway mark.
Once it picked up, though, the story really found its footing. The plot took a turn, the tension increased, and I found myself much more invested in where things were going.
Georgia McVeigh’s writing style didn’t fully stand out to me or feel especially accessible, but I wouldn’t rule out picking up something else by her down the line, just not an automatic grab.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did a solid job. Not a standout performance for me, but still enjoyable and easy to listen to.
Overall, this one took a while to get going, but ended up being more engaging in the second half.
This started strong and had all the ingredients of a gripping psychological thriller, but it kind of lost me along the way and felt a bit uneven overall.
I was instantly intrigued by the premise, and the first chapter definitely pulled me in. But after that, it slowed down quite a bit and felt more like general fiction than a true psychological thriller, at least until about the halfway mark.
Once it picked up, though, the story really found its footing. The plot took a turn, the tension increased, and I found myself much more invested in where things were going.
Georgia McVeigh’s writing style didn’t fully stand out to me or feel especially accessible, but I wouldn’t rule out picking up something else by her down the line, just not an automatic grab.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did a solid job. Not a standout performance for me, but still enjoyable and easy to listen to.
Overall, this one took a while to get going, but ended up being more engaging in the second half.
May 4, 2026
This girl was crazy af 😭 i had fun with this. I was scared that I was going into a reading slump after two back to back dnfs but this was good. It had it slow moments in the middle but the last 20%really made up for it. Some things I figured out pretty early on but I did drop my jaw once or twice.
April 8, 2026
Has left me feeling deeply unsettled
March 2, 2026
woah !
i liked this a lot more than i thought i would. i guessed some twists but certainly not all of them
i liked this a lot more than i thought i would. i guessed some twists but certainly not all of them
January 10, 2026
I’ve never read anything by Georgia McVeigh but I definitely will pick up more!
The story was extremely intriguing, although sometimes the pacing felt a bit off. Either way to slow or way to fast and unable to keep up.
I did enjoy the plot twists, some I did not see coming and I appreciate that.
Overall a good quick drama filled novel.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the chance to read and review :Sorry for your loss by Georgia McVeigh.
3.8/5⭐️ and I will definitely recommend this one!
The story was extremely intriguing, although sometimes the pacing felt a bit off. Either way to slow or way to fast and unable to keep up.
I did enjoy the plot twists, some I did not see coming and I appreciate that.
Overall a good quick drama filled novel.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the chance to read and review :Sorry for your loss by Georgia McVeigh.
3.8/5⭐️ and I will definitely recommend this one!
Want to Read
October 25, 2025A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I always love an unreliable narrator in a thriller. From the very beginning, I just had a feeling not to trust anyone!
April 4, 2026
3.5* rounded up
At first, I was super unsure of this book, even considered to DNF, because the start was dragging on so much, but I felt like I needed to push through the first few chapters, and honestly, I didn't regret it. Our main character, Iris, was one of the most insufferable characters (to be very honest, I disliked almost everyone in this book) I think I've read in a while, but it played a huge part in the plot, so props to Georgia McVeigh. Even with every bad thing that has happened to Iris, I could not get myself to sympathize with her, nor ever understand her actions, and as the story went on, I disliked her even more.
As for Jack's character, he was suspicious from the start. Iris's infatuation with him was so instant that it raised a lot of questions for me personally, so when his true colors started to show, it wasn't really that much of a surprise. Still, I will say, I feel like we didn't have much of an insight into his character, as we did with Iris, which kinda made the character fall flat for me because he just became your typical abusive, controlling man, that you see in many stories in this genre.
Now for the plot twists, they were mostly pretty predictable, for many reasons, but still, it didn't ruin my reading experience, so there's that. There were many in-your-face hints, from the beginning to the end, and even though they did not shock me that much, I was still pretty entertained by how the story concluded.
Thank you, Dutton and NetGalley, for this ARC!
At first, I was super unsure of this book, even considered to DNF, because the start was dragging on so much, but I felt like I needed to push through the first few chapters, and honestly, I didn't regret it. Our main character, Iris, was one of the most insufferable characters (to be very honest, I disliked almost everyone in this book) I think I've read in a while, but it played a huge part in the plot, so props to Georgia McVeigh. Even with every bad thing that has happened to Iris, I could not get myself to sympathize with her, nor ever understand her actions, and as the story went on, I disliked her even more.
As for Jack's character, he was suspicious from the start. Iris's infatuation with him was so instant that it raised a lot of questions for me personally, so when his true colors started to show, it wasn't really that much of a surprise. Still, I will say, I feel like we didn't have much of an insight into his character, as we did with Iris, which kinda made the character fall flat for me because he just became your typical abusive, controlling man, that you see in many stories in this genre.
Now for the plot twists, they were mostly pretty predictable, for many reasons, but still, it didn't ruin my reading experience, so there's that. There were many in-your-face hints, from the beginning to the end, and even though they did not shock me that much, I was still pretty entertained by how the story concluded.
Thank you, Dutton and NetGalley, for this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2026
Less than fifty pages in, I smelled a delulu POV and I already knew I would enjoy this book! 😂
So we have Iris- she lost her fiance and joined a grief support group to help her cope. Jack - a widower- joins them one day and Iris immediately feels drawn to him and that’s pretty much the story!
This book does have jumping timelines between Iris’ past and how it relates to how she is now in the present and let me tell you, the sibling rivalry between her and her sister is sooo toxic and stressful to read 😅
It also makes the story a bit of a slow burn. I do struggle with slow pacing but the delulu-ness still makes it entertaining for me so I kept reading!
The narrator did a good job with bringing the unhinged character to life!! So I would recommend going the audiobook route also!
I loved the cat and mouse, who’s the predator/ who’s the prey situation and the twists at the ending makes the buildup worth it!!
For those of you who love thrillers about obsession and love an unhinged POV, this is definitely for you! It comes out next Tuesday!!
Just note of some trigger warnings before reading: weaponizing grief, domestic abuse, loss of a significant other, mentions of suicide.
Thank you @duttonbooks for the free book! Thanks @prhaudio for the free audiobook!
💭 What are you guys reading??
☕️ I always take forever to choose my next read after I finish a book. Anyone else? 😅 But I just started Bridge Back to You and I’m liking it!
So we have Iris- she lost her fiance and joined a grief support group to help her cope. Jack - a widower- joins them one day and Iris immediately feels drawn to him and that’s pretty much the story!
This book does have jumping timelines between Iris’ past and how it relates to how she is now in the present and let me tell you, the sibling rivalry between her and her sister is sooo toxic and stressful to read 😅
It also makes the story a bit of a slow burn. I do struggle with slow pacing but the delulu-ness still makes it entertaining for me so I kept reading!
The narrator did a good job with bringing the unhinged character to life!! So I would recommend going the audiobook route also!
I loved the cat and mouse, who’s the predator/ who’s the prey situation and the twists at the ending makes the buildup worth it!!
For those of you who love thrillers about obsession and love an unhinged POV, this is definitely for you! It comes out next Tuesday!!
Just note of some trigger warnings before reading: weaponizing grief, domestic abuse, loss of a significant other, mentions of suicide.
Thank you @duttonbooks for the free book! Thanks @prhaudio for the free audiobook!
💭 What are you guys reading??
☕️ I always take forever to choose my next read after I finish a book. Anyone else? 😅 But I just started Bridge Back to You and I’m liking it!
April 2, 2026
This book reminds me of TV series titled “YOU” especially in season 3. I could say that the FMC and MMC both are crazy, delusional, and obsessive toward someone they liked. They are truly a match made in heaven 😂
The story begins as Iris, the FMC, met Jack in a local grief group and she started to get obsessed with him. She will literally do anything to be with him, stalking, creating a scenario and creating new personality so that Jack likes her. I didn’t expect that she also has few accounts in social media with different personalities to be used in each occasion 🤯
But then.. Jack is the same. Even worse than Iris and she doesn’t even know it towards the very end of the book.
I love this book, though you should have a bit of a patience while reading it. The paced is quite slow, and sometimes I got confused because the author likes to tell Iris’ past story in a middle of recent story. I think it’ll be even better if author wrote from Jack’s POV too. But is it worth to read? I must say yes. You’ll love the plot twists because there are so many twists in this book!
*Note: Thank you for Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC novel*
The story begins as Iris, the FMC, met Jack in a local grief group and she started to get obsessed with him. She will literally do anything to be with him, stalking, creating a scenario and creating new personality so that Jack likes her. I didn’t expect that she also has few accounts in social media with different personalities to be used in each occasion 🤯
But then.. Jack is the same. Even worse than Iris and she doesn’t even know it towards the very end of the book.
I love this book, though you should have a bit of a patience while reading it. The paced is quite slow, and sometimes I got confused because the author likes to tell Iris’ past story in a middle of recent story. I think it’ll be even better if author wrote from Jack’s POV too. But is it worth to read? I must say yes. You’ll love the plot twists because there are so many twists in this book!
*Note: Thank you for Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC novel*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
Menacing and twisty!
Iris joins a local grief group after her boyfriend unexpectedly and tragically dies. There, she meets Jack, who is grieving the loss of his wife. Jack is handsome and kind and Iris is smitten. After a failed date with Jack, Iris becomes obsessive and begins to stalk Jack. But lines become blurred and it’s hard to tell who is stalking who.
I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller! It was not the sad, grief story I was expecting and it was highly entertaining and filled with surprises.
Thank you Netgalley, Dutton, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on March 31, 2026
Iris joins a local grief group after her boyfriend unexpectedly and tragically dies. There, she meets Jack, who is grieving the loss of his wife. Jack is handsome and kind and Iris is smitten. After a failed date with Jack, Iris becomes obsessive and begins to stalk Jack. But lines become blurred and it’s hard to tell who is stalking who.
I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller! It was not the sad, grief story I was expecting and it was highly entertaining and filled with surprises.
Thank you Netgalley, Dutton, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on March 31, 2026
March 30, 2026
The story of two people, both as magnetic as they are dangerous, who get caught in an electric game of cat and mouse
I enjoyed this book Edgy, intricately plotted, and totally chilling, Sorry for Your Loss is a blistering psychological thriller for fans of Ashley Elston, Ana Reyes, and Ashley Audrain
I enjoyed this book Edgy, intricately plotted, and totally chilling, Sorry for Your Loss is a blistering psychological thriller for fans of Ashley Elston, Ana Reyes, and Ashley Audrain
April 29, 2026
A psychological thriller about two grieving strangers whose connection quickly turns into a dangerous game of secrets and obsession.
There’s plenty of “who can you trust?” moments—but definitely leans into a more unhinged side of the genre.
There’s plenty of “who can you trust?” moments—but definitely leans into a more unhinged side of the genre.
April 2, 2026
If you want to go into a book knowing that you will be taken on a ride, then this might be the book for you.
I'll admit that Iris is a hard person to like. She was a twin and not treated equally, not even when her sister passed away. It is hard when you aren't the favorite. This sets her up for who she becomes, and while at times I felt sympathetic towards her, when all is revealed in the end, I sat here with my jaw on the floor, surprised at the details. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised, considering how she acts, but even she sank to new lows.
Jack is not any better. While we think we know what is going on in their "relationship," there are so many details revealed in the end that might surprise you. Perhaps Jack and Iris are perfect for each other if they weren't self-destructive.
This book took me on a rollercoaster ride at the end. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I was jerked out of my comfort zone and thrown into a new loop.
We give this book 4 paws up.
I'll admit that Iris is a hard person to like. She was a twin and not treated equally, not even when her sister passed away. It is hard when you aren't the favorite. This sets her up for who she becomes, and while at times I felt sympathetic towards her, when all is revealed in the end, I sat here with my jaw on the floor, surprised at the details. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised, considering how she acts, but even she sank to new lows.
Jack is not any better. While we think we know what is going on in their "relationship," there are so many details revealed in the end that might surprise you. Perhaps Jack and Iris are perfect for each other if they weren't self-destructive.
This book took me on a rollercoaster ride at the end. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I was jerked out of my comfort zone and thrown into a new loop.
We give this book 4 paws up.
Did Not Finish
April 27, 2026DNF @ 25%
i think this is supposed to be a thriller but im a quarter through the book and im not feeling thrilled at ALL
i think this is supposed to be a thriller but im a quarter through the book and im not feeling thrilled at ALL
April 28, 2026
Bij momenten spannend maar te voorspelbaar om een goeie thriller te zijn. Om over de bordkartonnen karakters maar te zwijgen 😉
April 6, 2026
Sorry for my time wasted. Meh.
September 25, 2025
Very well written, kept me guessing! Loved the characters ❤️
April 20, 2026
For the most part it was an interesting story and it didn’t end like I thought it would (I really wasn’t sure how it would). I wasn’t sure while reading if this was a crazy person or unreliable narrator. There were some things you can figure out as you but aren’t for sure until the end. At times it felt like it was going slow then as it got close to the end it started picking up. Overall it was a decent psychological thriller. Thanks NetGalley and Dutton Books for an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Georgia McVeigh's addictive and gripping psychological thriller debut, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, centers around a dark and twisty "cat-and-mouse" game between two damaged individuals who meet in a grief support group, highlighting the pitfalls of manipulation, constantly shifting the roles of "predator and prey".
A dark, cautionary tale that subverts the typical healing narrative of grief. Rather than finding light in the darkness, the story explores what happens when you let the darkness WIN.
Highlights...
The premise is as simple as it is unsettling: Iris, a woman with a propensity for obsession, meets Jack, whose wife died on the same day she lost her own partner. Convinced they are 'perfect for each other,' Iris begins a calculated pursuit. However, as the narrative weaves through dual timelines—exposing Iris’s traumatic childhood and her current deceptions—the story shifts from a dark romance into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game where every reveal is a hairpin twist.
My thoughts...
From the moment Iris and Jack lock eyes across a circle of chairs at a grief support group, you know you’re in for something dangerously electric.
Georgia McVeigh’s debut is a blistering, razor-sharp psychological thriller that takes the 'unreliable narrator' trope to a dazzling, unhinged new level. It’s a story where fate and coincidence blur, and 'sorry for your loss' is less a sympathy and more a chilling warning.
The author cleverly uses dual timelines, alternating between the present-day escalation of their relationship and past chapters about Iris's childhood. These flashbacks reveal the trauma that molded her into the "unhinged" person she is today in this dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Who is in control?
Electrifying! With unreliable narrators, the novel explores themes of stalking, grief, obsession, and how past trauma dictates current behavior. Exploring how grief is not a straightforward path and can fundamentally change a person's identity, delving into romantic obsession and the extreme, sometimes "unhinged" lengths individuals go to for attention and connection.
Characters...
Iris is a masterpiece of self-invention and mimicry, a protagonist you’ll love to hate as her 'dark soul' slowly slips through her carefully constructed mask.
Jack is her perfect foil— positively dashing and charming, yet possessing a cagey darkness that suggests he is hiding just as many 'dirty secrets' as she is. Their chemistry isn't just romantic; it’s predatory, making it impossible to tell who is the hunter and who is the prey until the very end.
Themes...
McVeigh cleverly explores the non-linearity of grief with a sharp, precise voice that avoids sentimentality. The book delves deep into the pitfalls of manipulation, using the shared trauma of bereavement as a backdrop for a battle of wits. While the beginning is slower— building the characters— the tension eventually tightens into an addictive, fast-paced game that keeps you teetering on your toes.
Both main characters harbor "dirty secrets," using a grief support group as a backdrop for a game of hidden motives. The narrative toys with the idea of being "bound by fate" versus simple, dark coincidences.
A cautionary tale, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS serves as a chilling reminder that vulnerability is a double-edged sword. While we often look for healing in shared trauma, McVeigh shows us that predators are just as likely to find us in our darkest moments as healers are.
The 'moral' here isn't about recovery; it’s a dark warning against projecting our own fantasies onto strangers. Iris and Jack are a haunting example of what happens when two people with 'dirty secrets' collide, proving that sometimes, the person who says 'I understand your pain' is actually just measuring your weaknesses. It's a viscerally gripping look at the masks we wear and the high price of letting a stranger behind them.
Takeaway message...
The core takeaway of Sorry for Your Loss is a chilling exploration of the masks we wear during grief and the danger of seeking salvation in a stranger.
When two individuals, both carrying their own wounds and scars, come together, the encounter doesn’t always lead to healing. Instead, it can become a competitive struggle, where each person tries to outmaneuver the other in a game of emotional resilience.
In essence, the narrative cautions that the phrase "sorry for your loss" can serve dual purposes; it may offer solace and compassion, but it can also veer into a predatory tactic, concealed behind the guise of empathy, ready to exploit vulnerability.
Be careful who you let into your life when you are at your most vulnerable, because predators recognize brokenness just as easily as healers do
Recs...
If you enjoyed the chilling obsessions of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, Alice Feeney's His and Hers, Beautiful Ugly, or Sometimes I Lie, You by Caroline Kepnes, or the dark wit of My Sister, The Serial Killer, this is a must-read. The conclusion is a visceral, jaw-dropping payoff that proves Georgia McVeigh is a dazzling new talent in the genre.
Special thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDColins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 31, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
March Newsletter
A dark, cautionary tale that subverts the typical healing narrative of grief. Rather than finding light in the darkness, the story explores what happens when you let the darkness WIN.
Highlights...
The premise is as simple as it is unsettling: Iris, a woman with a propensity for obsession, meets Jack, whose wife died on the same day she lost her own partner. Convinced they are 'perfect for each other,' Iris begins a calculated pursuit. However, as the narrative weaves through dual timelines—exposing Iris’s traumatic childhood and her current deceptions—the story shifts from a dark romance into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game where every reveal is a hairpin twist.
My thoughts...
From the moment Iris and Jack lock eyes across a circle of chairs at a grief support group, you know you’re in for something dangerously electric.
Georgia McVeigh’s debut is a blistering, razor-sharp psychological thriller that takes the 'unreliable narrator' trope to a dazzling, unhinged new level. It’s a story where fate and coincidence blur, and 'sorry for your loss' is less a sympathy and more a chilling warning.
The author cleverly uses dual timelines, alternating between the present-day escalation of their relationship and past chapters about Iris's childhood. These flashbacks reveal the trauma that molded her into the "unhinged" person she is today in this dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Who is in control?
Electrifying! With unreliable narrators, the novel explores themes of stalking, grief, obsession, and how past trauma dictates current behavior. Exploring how grief is not a straightforward path and can fundamentally change a person's identity, delving into romantic obsession and the extreme, sometimes "unhinged" lengths individuals go to for attention and connection.
Characters...
Iris is a masterpiece of self-invention and mimicry, a protagonist you’ll love to hate as her 'dark soul' slowly slips through her carefully constructed mask.
Jack is her perfect foil— positively dashing and charming, yet possessing a cagey darkness that suggests he is hiding just as many 'dirty secrets' as she is. Their chemistry isn't just romantic; it’s predatory, making it impossible to tell who is the hunter and who is the prey until the very end.
Themes...
McVeigh cleverly explores the non-linearity of grief with a sharp, precise voice that avoids sentimentality. The book delves deep into the pitfalls of manipulation, using the shared trauma of bereavement as a backdrop for a battle of wits. While the beginning is slower— building the characters— the tension eventually tightens into an addictive, fast-paced game that keeps you teetering on your toes.
Both main characters harbor "dirty secrets," using a grief support group as a backdrop for a game of hidden motives. The narrative toys with the idea of being "bound by fate" versus simple, dark coincidences.
A cautionary tale, SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS serves as a chilling reminder that vulnerability is a double-edged sword. While we often look for healing in shared trauma, McVeigh shows us that predators are just as likely to find us in our darkest moments as healers are.
The 'moral' here isn't about recovery; it’s a dark warning against projecting our own fantasies onto strangers. Iris and Jack are a haunting example of what happens when two people with 'dirty secrets' collide, proving that sometimes, the person who says 'I understand your pain' is actually just measuring your weaknesses. It's a viscerally gripping look at the masks we wear and the high price of letting a stranger behind them.
Takeaway message...
The core takeaway of Sorry for Your Loss is a chilling exploration of the masks we wear during grief and the danger of seeking salvation in a stranger.
When two individuals, both carrying their own wounds and scars, come together, the encounter doesn’t always lead to healing. Instead, it can become a competitive struggle, where each person tries to outmaneuver the other in a game of emotional resilience.
In essence, the narrative cautions that the phrase "sorry for your loss" can serve dual purposes; it may offer solace and compassion, but it can also veer into a predatory tactic, concealed behind the guise of empathy, ready to exploit vulnerability.
Be careful who you let into your life when you are at your most vulnerable, because predators recognize brokenness just as easily as healers do
Recs...
If you enjoyed the chilling obsessions of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, Alice Feeney's His and Hers, Beautiful Ugly, or Sometimes I Lie, You by Caroline Kepnes, or the dark wit of My Sister, The Serial Killer, this is a must-read. The conclusion is a visceral, jaw-dropping payoff that proves Georgia McVeigh is a dazzling new talent in the genre.
Special thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDColins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 31, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
March Newsletter
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