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The Man
"Fiercely intelligent and deeply chilling. . . . The perfect book club read." —Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines
From the highly acclaimed author of How Can I Help You, a New York Times Best Thriller of the a singular take on the domestic suspense novel that follows a 1960s housewife turned amateur photographer who begins to fear for her life when she notices the dark silhouette of a man in the background of her self-portraits.
The photos Judith Stanley takes are just for her, a private passion to fill her suburban days. But when she shares them with Paul Sorenson, her new photography instructor, she's unprepared to hear his astonished praise. "Stunning," he calls her photos. "Extraordinary." She has an uncanny eye, he says, and should consider publication. He could help. Except Judith has no interest in sharing her work; in fact, the mere idea of it frightens her.
Still, emboldened by Paul’s encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighborhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he's an attacker from her past. She doesn't know why he has returned, but she's sure of his the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can't; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith’s story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.
Chilling and heart-poundingly propulsive, The Man is a phenomenal and timely novel exploring the inescapable fear of living as a woman, the tantalizing seduction of artistic freedom, and the very real dangers that lurk both inside and outside the confines of the mind. The Man marks Laura Sims as an extraordinary talent at the top of her game; and this, her third novel, is her greatest achievement yet.
From the highly acclaimed author of How Can I Help You, a New York Times Best Thriller of the a singular take on the domestic suspense novel that follows a 1960s housewife turned amateur photographer who begins to fear for her life when she notices the dark silhouette of a man in the background of her self-portraits.
The photos Judith Stanley takes are just for her, a private passion to fill her suburban days. But when she shares them with Paul Sorenson, her new photography instructor, she's unprepared to hear his astonished praise. "Stunning," he calls her photos. "Extraordinary." She has an uncanny eye, he says, and should consider publication. He could help. Except Judith has no interest in sharing her work; in fact, the mere idea of it frightens her.
Still, emboldened by Paul’s encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighborhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he's an attacker from her past. She doesn't know why he has returned, but she's sure of his the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can't; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith’s story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.
Chilling and heart-poundingly propulsive, The Man is a phenomenal and timely novel exploring the inescapable fear of living as a woman, the tantalizing seduction of artistic freedom, and the very real dangers that lurk both inside and outside the confines of the mind. The Man marks Laura Sims as an extraordinary talent at the top of her game; and this, her third novel, is her greatest achievement yet.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Laura Sims
15 books611 followersLaura Sims’s third novel, THE MAN, is due out from Putnam in July of 2026. Her novels HOW CAN I HELP YOU (2023) and LOOKER (2019) have been on Best Books lists in The New York Times, Vogue, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, Publishers Weekly, and more. An award-winning poet, Sims has published four poetry collections; her essays and poems have appeared in The New Republic, Boston Review, Lit Hub, and Electric Lit. She lives in New Jersey, where she works part-time as a children’s librarian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
February 25, 2026
It’s the 1960s, and Judith Stanley carries her Nikon camera with her, taking pictures for her own satisfaction. She joins a photography class and Paul, her teacher, describes her work as stunning and that she has an uncanny knack of knowing when to snap the shutter. Encouraged by his interest and positive feedback, she ventures out to take more and starts to notice a shadow in the corner of one of her unusual self portraits. Judith is sure it’s The Man. The man who leaves her physically scarred and mentally haunted as a 16-year-old. Common sense should tell her to stop but she won’t, until one night when he emerges from the shadows.
This is a chilling and haunting novel, which has me constantly questioning what’s real and what an illusion but wherever the truth lies it’s certain to be very disturbing. It’s a shocker in more ways than one as ambition overcomes scruples and so it becomes a very twisted and obsessive tale. I’m caught up in the storytelling and find it hard to put down.
It has a black and white movie feel perhaps from the 1940s. The shadow on the photographs strongly reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock’s own shadow but also his use of shadows to create a very unsettling effect, exactly what the author achieves here– it’s very clever and creepy.
This novel would be a great book club choice and would lead to many questions and interesting discussions about Judith, Paul and the enigmatic ending. Does anyone really know Judith? What do her photographs tell us about her? What exactly happens to her as a 16-year-old? What about Paul?
This is an excellent psychological suspense novel which explores the impact of trauma and also what ambition can lead to. I think Laura Sims has written another best seller.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to VERVE Books for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
July 7, 2026
I don’t know how to quite explain what I just read, but I liked it! It was dark! It also had a character in it that I absolutely despised. Not one redeeming quality. And I think that’s what made it so good!
Hoping to improve upon her photography skills, Judith enrolls in a photography class. One day after class, her professor, Paul, pulls her aside to examine her photos and is astonished with how good they are. He thinks they are so good they could be put in a magazine, but she politely declines.
After a busy day of taking pictures, Judith develops the film to discover that a few of her photos have what at first she thinks is a smudge on them. The more she looks at them, however, she is convinced someone is following her. Could this person following her be related to an assault she had when she was a teenager? Is this stalker just a random person? Or is Judith seeing something in the pictures that isn’t there?
The novel is broken into two parts and they both equally are good… Really good! I found the second half to be more disturbing than the first half. This is one of those novels where you think you know where it’s going and then it completely switches directions. It keeps you on your toes that’s for sure! This is definitely going to leave the reader with a ton of questions. At least it did for me. Usually this makes me a bit frustrated but in this case I found the speculation works well.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy and exchange for an honest review.
Hoping to improve upon her photography skills, Judith enrolls in a photography class. One day after class, her professor, Paul, pulls her aside to examine her photos and is astonished with how good they are. He thinks they are so good they could be put in a magazine, but she politely declines.
After a busy day of taking pictures, Judith develops the film to discover that a few of her photos have what at first she thinks is a smudge on them. The more she looks at them, however, she is convinced someone is following her. Could this person following her be related to an assault she had when she was a teenager? Is this stalker just a random person? Or is Judith seeing something in the pictures that isn’t there?
The novel is broken into two parts and they both equally are good… Really good! I found the second half to be more disturbing than the first half. This is one of those novels where you think you know where it’s going and then it completely switches directions. It keeps you on your toes that’s for sure! This is definitely going to leave the reader with a ton of questions. At least it did for me. Usually this makes me a bit frustrated but in this case I found the speculation works well.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy and exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2026
Laura Sims was a new-to-me author, and while The Man didn't completely win me over, it was a strong first introduction to her writing. The premise immediately caught my attention, and from the opening chapters there was an unsettling feeling hanging over the story right through to the end.
Judith is a gifted photographer whose self-portraits begin capturing the image of a mysterious man lurking in the background. As her fixation on him grows, so too does the uncertainty over whether she's uncovering something genuinely sinister or confronting long-buried trauma that's resurfacing in unexpected ways.
The atmosphere was easily my favourite part of the novel, and the ominous, unsettling feeling never really disappeared. It captures that uncomfortable sensation of being watched, only to turn around and find no one there, while even the quieter moments carry the feeling that something is just a little bit off. The plot itself wasn't perfect for me, but Laura Sims certainly succeeded in making me think, both while I was reading and long after I'd turned the final page.
Judith is a compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed seeing her talent as a photographer woven into the story. It naturally brings out the observer in her, shaping both the mystery and the way she views the world around her. As more of her past comes to light, her choices and motivations begin to make more sense, giving me a much deeper understanding of her by the end.
What I found particularly clever was the way the title changes meaning as the story unfolds. What initially seems to refer to one very specific person comes to represent something much broader by the end, and I thought that was one of the novel's strongest ideas, giving me plenty to think about afterwards.
I also appreciated that this doesn't fit neatly into a single genre. It's part psychological suspense, part literary fiction and part exploration of trauma, and while that blend didn't completely land for me, I admired what Laura Sims was trying to do. The same ambiguity that gives the story its unsettling atmosphere also lingers after the final page, making it one of those books that's difficult to stop thinking about. All in all, this was a solid 3.5⭐ read, and I'm already keen to explore more of Laura Sims' work, with How Can I Help You looking like the perfect place to start.
Judith is a gifted photographer whose self-portraits begin capturing the image of a mysterious man lurking in the background. As her fixation on him grows, so too does the uncertainty over whether she's uncovering something genuinely sinister or confronting long-buried trauma that's resurfacing in unexpected ways.
The atmosphere was easily my favourite part of the novel, and the ominous, unsettling feeling never really disappeared. It captures that uncomfortable sensation of being watched, only to turn around and find no one there, while even the quieter moments carry the feeling that something is just a little bit off. The plot itself wasn't perfect for me, but Laura Sims certainly succeeded in making me think, both while I was reading and long after I'd turned the final page.
Judith is a compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed seeing her talent as a photographer woven into the story. It naturally brings out the observer in her, shaping both the mystery and the way she views the world around her. As more of her past comes to light, her choices and motivations begin to make more sense, giving me a much deeper understanding of her by the end.
What I found particularly clever was the way the title changes meaning as the story unfolds. What initially seems to refer to one very specific person comes to represent something much broader by the end, and I thought that was one of the novel's strongest ideas, giving me plenty to think about afterwards.
I also appreciated that this doesn't fit neatly into a single genre. It's part psychological suspense, part literary fiction and part exploration of trauma, and while that blend didn't completely land for me, I admired what Laura Sims was trying to do. The same ambiguity that gives the story its unsettling atmosphere also lingers after the final page, making it one of those books that's difficult to stop thinking about. All in all, this was a solid 3.5⭐ read, and I'm already keen to explore more of Laura Sims' work, with How Can I Help You looking like the perfect place to start.
July 24, 2026
A claustrophobic page-turner that made me feel watched the entire time I was reading, The Man was the epitome of a well-drawn genre-bending novel. Flawlessly combining a tale of psychological suspense with a literary thriller feel and a historical 1960s setting, the result was as hauntingly beautiful as the thought-provoking meaning behind the words. Taking a deep dive into art, ambition, obsession, and gender, I was stunned into silence after I flipped the last page. You see, the constant low-level fear brought to mind what it feels like to live as a woman all while making me wonder about what was still coming in the next chapter. Using unresolved childhood trauma, morally gray behavior, and a stalker potentially hiding in the wings, I was absolutely floored by the big, giant twist halfway through this unforgettable read. After all, it completely changed how I looked at what I’d read so far and also shocked me but good.
I do have to warn you, however, that this isn’t your typical psychological thriller. Missing the fast pace and rapid-fire twists, it instead leaned heavily on a sublime character study of this small cast and the tense, anxiety-inducing atmosphere that simply oozed from the pages. Thanks to them both, I was utterly blown away. It was the symbolic use of photography, though, that touched me the most. Using it as a mirror to expose uncomfortable truths, the metaphor also has me asking some truly deep questions. This helped me settle my brain calmly around the divisive throw-the-book-across-the-room ending. After all, it allowed me to interpret it as I saw fit while shining a light on the themes. So, in spite of how it concluded, I loved this novel completely. Immersive, intentional, and simmering with well-crafted emotion, it is sure to live rent-free in my head for a very long time as I ponder this read. Rating of 4.75 stars (upgraded).
BRIEF BLURB:
For those of you who don’t want even an inkling of a spoiler concerning what’s in this story (if you don’t care, keep reading past the warning and you’ll find the full publisher-provided synopsis), all you need to know is that the overarching premise is about a 1960s housewife-slash-amateur photographer who begins to see a man in the background of the self-portraits she’s been taking of herself. Despite how unnerved she begins to feel, she shows them to the professor of her photography class, who calls them extraordinary and uncanny. While he pushes her to take more photos in her free time, things begin to unravel for her at home and she starts to feel hunted. From there, the plot takes a sharp left turn that I never expected.
I do have to add that due to its brilliant execution and the unbridled dread, I couldn’t stop myself from finishing the book in one single sitting despite the late hour. So please give this one a try. After all, both the slow-boiling suspense and the thought-provoking themes were an absolute grand slam of literary skills. Be sure, though, not to check out any other reviews if you’re trying to avoid finding out any details about this one-sitting read. I quickly found myself so very glad that I personally went into it mostly blind when I checked a handful of them out after I posted my review online.
IF YOU DON’T WANT ANY SPOILERS AT ALL, STOP READING RIGHT NOW!
Perfect for readers who love:
- Short, addictive chapters
- Cerebral novels
- An underlying sense of dread
- Literary thrillers
- Character-driven mysteries
- Historical settings
- An unsettling atmosphere
- Unreliable narrators
- Twisted tales full of obsession
- A stalking-centered plot
- Character studies
- Atmospheric slow-burns
- Female paranoia
- Open-ended conclusions
- Feminist fiction
- Thought-provoking themes
SYNOPSIS:
From the highly acclaimed author of How Can I Help You, a New York Times Best Thriller of the Year: a singular take on the psychological suspense novel that follows a 1960s housewife turned amateur photographer who begins to fear for her life when she notices the dark silhouette of a man in the background of her self-portraits.
The photos Judith Stanley takes are just for her, a private passion to fill her suburban days. But when she shares them with Paul Sorenson, her new photography instructor, she's unprepared to hear his astonished praise. "Stunning," he calls her photos. "Extraordinary." She has an uncanny eye, he says, and should consider publication. He could help. Except Judith has no interest in sharing her work; in fact, the mere idea of it frightens her.
Still, emboldened by Paul’s encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighborhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he's an attacker from her past. She doesn't know why he has returned, but she's sure of his presence: the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can't; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith’s story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.
Thank you Laura Sims and Putnam Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 7, 2026
Content warning: grief, stalking, murder/suicide, violence, sexual content, alcohol use, mention of: sexual assault, molestation, stroke, animal death, knife violence
I do have to warn you, however, that this isn’t your typical psychological thriller. Missing the fast pace and rapid-fire twists, it instead leaned heavily on a sublime character study of this small cast and the tense, anxiety-inducing atmosphere that simply oozed from the pages. Thanks to them both, I was utterly blown away. It was the symbolic use of photography, though, that touched me the most. Using it as a mirror to expose uncomfortable truths, the metaphor also has me asking some truly deep questions. This helped me settle my brain calmly around the divisive throw-the-book-across-the-room ending. After all, it allowed me to interpret it as I saw fit while shining a light on the themes. So, in spite of how it concluded, I loved this novel completely. Immersive, intentional, and simmering with well-crafted emotion, it is sure to live rent-free in my head for a very long time as I ponder this read. Rating of 4.75 stars (upgraded).
BRIEF BLURB:
For those of you who don’t want even an inkling of a spoiler concerning what’s in this story (if you don’t care, keep reading past the warning and you’ll find the full publisher-provided synopsis), all you need to know is that the overarching premise is about a 1960s housewife-slash-amateur photographer who begins to see a man in the background of the self-portraits she’s been taking of herself. Despite how unnerved she begins to feel, she shows them to the professor of her photography class, who calls them extraordinary and uncanny. While he pushes her to take more photos in her free time, things begin to unravel for her at home and she starts to feel hunted. From there, the plot takes a sharp left turn that I never expected.
I do have to add that due to its brilliant execution and the unbridled dread, I couldn’t stop myself from finishing the book in one single sitting despite the late hour. So please give this one a try. After all, both the slow-boiling suspense and the thought-provoking themes were an absolute grand slam of literary skills. Be sure, though, not to check out any other reviews if you’re trying to avoid finding out any details about this one-sitting read. I quickly found myself so very glad that I personally went into it mostly blind when I checked a handful of them out after I posted my review online.
IF YOU DON’T WANT ANY SPOILERS AT ALL, STOP READING RIGHT NOW!
Perfect for readers who love:
- Short, addictive chapters
- Cerebral novels
- An underlying sense of dread
- Literary thrillers
- Character-driven mysteries
- Historical settings
- An unsettling atmosphere
- Unreliable narrators
- Twisted tales full of obsession
- A stalking-centered plot
- Character studies
- Atmospheric slow-burns
- Female paranoia
- Open-ended conclusions
- Feminist fiction
- Thought-provoking themes
SYNOPSIS:
From the highly acclaimed author of How Can I Help You, a New York Times Best Thriller of the Year: a singular take on the psychological suspense novel that follows a 1960s housewife turned amateur photographer who begins to fear for her life when she notices the dark silhouette of a man in the background of her self-portraits.
The photos Judith Stanley takes are just for her, a private passion to fill her suburban days. But when she shares them with Paul Sorenson, her new photography instructor, she's unprepared to hear his astonished praise. "Stunning," he calls her photos. "Extraordinary." She has an uncanny eye, he says, and should consider publication. He could help. Except Judith has no interest in sharing her work; in fact, the mere idea of it frightens her.
Still, emboldened by Paul’s encouragement, Judith ventures out beyond her quiet neighborhood to the city in search of increasingly striking images. When she starts to notice the dark shape of a man in the corner of her self-portraits, Judith is certain he's an attacker from her past. She doesn't know why he has returned, but she's sure of his presence: the hoarse sound of his breathing, his hard grip on her elbow. Perhaps it would appease the man if she were to put her camera down and give up her private passion. But she can't; she refuses. Until one night when the man finally emerges from the shadows, and Judith’s story suddenly and irrevocably becomes his own.
Thank you Laura Sims and Putnam Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 7, 2026
Content warning: grief, stalking, murder/suicide, violence, sexual content, alcohol use, mention of: sexual assault, molestation, stroke, animal death, knife violence
July 10, 2026
3.5 stars - I really liked the first part of this, which centered on poor, grieving photog Judith who was being stalked, liked the eerie creepiness and vibe. But I really disliked the second part with the POV shift to self-centered a-hole Paul and struggled with it & him a lot, and the pay-off felt unsatisfactory. Just an okay read for me
July 13, 2026
I’m a huge fan of Laura Sims’
Looker
and How Can I Help You, both of which I recommend often. The Man is much more straightforwardly a historical suspense novel – brisker, hookier and easier to pitch in a single sentence (a housewife-turned-photographer becomes obsessed with a mysterious figure appearing in her pictures). The 60s setting lends the whole thing a certain aesthetic, and Judith’s paranoia is initially effective, if a little repetitive. The first half of the story, especially, occupies similar territory of feminine unravelling and repression as Virginia Feito’s Mrs March. I raced through it very quickly.
But I also think the tradeoff for that increased marketability is depth of character. The main reason Sims’ previous books worked so well for me was that their protagonists felt psychologically layered; here both Judith and Paul are noticeably thinner. Perhaps as a natural consequence of the structure, they’re a little bit one-note, and I unfortunately thought it was pretty obvious very early on where the story was heading with both of them. The historical setting helps contextualise some of the novel’s ideas about gender and power, but it also removes nuance; the story’s relationship to its themes doesn’t have enough space to evolve. Still, even though this one was much less to my personal taste than her earlier work, I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if it ends up being Sims’ biggest book yet. It has that very readable book-club type of energy where, even when I found myself wishing for more substance, I nevertheless kept turning the pages.
I received an advance review copy of The Man from the publisher through Edelweiss.
But I also think the tradeoff for that increased marketability is depth of character. The main reason Sims’ previous books worked so well for me was that their protagonists felt psychologically layered; here both Judith and Paul are noticeably thinner. Perhaps as a natural consequence of the structure, they’re a little bit one-note, and I unfortunately thought it was pretty obvious very early on where the story was heading with both of them. The historical setting helps contextualise some of the novel’s ideas about gender and power, but it also removes nuance; the story’s relationship to its themes doesn’t have enough space to evolve. Still, even though this one was much less to my personal taste than her earlier work, I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if it ends up being Sims’ biggest book yet. It has that very readable book-club type of energy where, even when I found myself wishing for more substance, I nevertheless kept turning the pages.
I received an advance review copy of The Man from the publisher through Edelweiss.
August 3, 2026
➡️ Man Oh Man......
I wanted to love this "Man" book.
The author had wowed me with "How Can I Help You?, so expectations were sky high.
➡️ Compelling Premise.
The hook was undeniably strong: a 1960s housewife, haunted by a brutal teenage rape and branding, turns to photography to channel her creativity—only to spot a sinister silhouette stalking her self-portraits.
Yes, a perfect setup for a deeply atmospheric thriller.
➡️ Why 2.5 Stars?
Waaay too much internal monologue and introspective narrative. The excessive internal commentary bogged down the pacing and compromised the storyline.
➡️ Brilliant narration.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Will Damron. The book unfolded from two POVs, and the superb full-cast narration elevated the listening experience. Will Damron's performance was outstanding.
➡️ Unfortunately, this "Man" book was not for this woman.
2.5 stars.
July 7, 2026
I’d keep the pictures hidden away in old shoeboxes on the top shelf of my closet and sit cross-legged on the floor of my room to flip through them, seeing how I’d captured and remade the world in each small rectangle, how I’d controlled the wild edges of things. It flooded me with relief: proof of this small power I had.
The Man is one of those novels that will greatly reward knowing as little about the plot as possible going in, so I recommend skipping the synopsis, which in my opinion gives too much away. You only need to know this: Judith Stanley is a 1960s housewife who’s taking a photography class to fill her time since her son left home. While developing some self-portraits she took for a class assignment, she notices the shadowy shape of a man in the corner of each image. The same figure appears in every subsequent self-portrait she takes, and Judith becomes convinced he’s someone from her past, back to traumatize her again.
Narratively, The Man surprised me in the best way. You’re going along, thinking you’re reading one type of story, but then Laura Sims upends everything and you realize it’s a different kind of book entirely. The first half is a slow burn psychological thriller exploring the power and value of artistic expression, agency, trauma, mid-century womanhood, and the inherent fear that comes with living as a woman (from the ‘60s to today, sadly, not much has changed in that regard). The second half of the book is a change-up, introducing a new perspective with thought-provoking themes surrounding ethics and morality, ambition and failure, repression and possession. If you’re a fan of unlikable characters, you’re going to have a good time with the second half of this book. The direction the narrative took reminded me of a few other novels I love, but I don’t want to be specific to avoid spoilers.
In the end, The Man asks lots of questions, and Laura Sims doesn’t answer all of them cleanly; much is left open to interpretation, although I do think there are enough clues for readers to pick up on the truth of everything. I’ve read both of Sims’ previous novels, and The Man is my favorite of the three. With all her books, Sims has displayed a willingness to engage overtly with the darkest aspects of human nature, and I can’t wait to read whatever pitch-black journey she takes me on next. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the early reading opportunity.
July 23, 2026
This is one of those books where you read until the end-even if it's a little boring-just so you know how it plays out.
This is also one of those books where NOTHING happens and the ending makes you realize you just wasted hours of your life.
The cover features reviews that say "deeply chilling" or "dripping with dread" and I just want ya'll to know those are lies and propaganda.
This is also one of those books where NOTHING happens and the ending makes you realize you just wasted hours of your life.
The cover features reviews that say "deeply chilling" or "dripping with dread" and I just want ya'll to know those are lies and propaganda.
December 5, 2025
4.5 stars
✨Wow! This is a truly haunting and disquieting, yet quite powerful, read. It’s an absolute page-turner delivered with a pervasive sense of dread and a point of view shift that left me with my jaw on the floor.
✨The book is suspenseful thriller, but it’s also a scathing examination of female agency and gender power dynamics that confronts the ways vulnerable women are exploited or dismissed. While the timeline is 1960s, the themes continue to ring true today.
✨Complex topics like mental health, untreated trauma and women in middle age heightened the tension and have me thinking on this book days after turning the last page.
✨I think this is a book everyone will be talking about when it comes out July 7.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Domestic suspense
✨Psychological thrillers
✨Historical fiction
✨1960s era
✨Photography
✨Atmospheric tension
✨The art world
✨Wow! This is a truly haunting and disquieting, yet quite powerful, read. It’s an absolute page-turner delivered with a pervasive sense of dread and a point of view shift that left me with my jaw on the floor.
✨The book is suspenseful thriller, but it’s also a scathing examination of female agency and gender power dynamics that confronts the ways vulnerable women are exploited or dismissed. While the timeline is 1960s, the themes continue to ring true today.
✨Complex topics like mental health, untreated trauma and women in middle age heightened the tension and have me thinking on this book days after turning the last page.
✨I think this is a book everyone will be talking about when it comes out July 7.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Domestic suspense
✨Psychological thrillers
✨Historical fiction
✨1960s era
✨Photography
✨Atmospheric tension
✨The art world
July 27, 2026
4.5⭐️
If there’s one thing I’d recommend before picking up The Man, it’s going in as blind as possible.
Judith has always been passionate about photography, so when she enrols in an evening photography class, she’s hoping to continue honing her craft. But when a mysterious man begins appearing in the background of her photographs, what starts as an unsettling psychological thriller slowly becomes something far more than I was expecting.
This is definitely a slower-burn thriller, but it never felt like it was dragging. Instead, there was this constant feeling that something wasn’t quite right, and Laura Sims kept that sense of unease simmering in the background from beginning to end. I also loved how photography wasn’t just something Judith enjoyed - it became such an important part of the mystery itself and made for a really unique premise.
Then Part Two happened.
Without spoiling anything, it completely turned the entire book on its head. I found myself looking back at everything I’d already read in a completely different way, and suddenly all these little moments I’d almost forgotten about clicked into place. I absolutely love when an author can pull that off, and Laura Sims did it brilliantly.
Part Two completely elevated this book for me and is the reason it ended up being a 4.5⭐️ read.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that slowly build before delivering a payoff that’s worth the wait, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up. Just do yourself a favour and go in blind.
If there’s one thing I’d recommend before picking up The Man, it’s going in as blind as possible.
Judith has always been passionate about photography, so when she enrols in an evening photography class, she’s hoping to continue honing her craft. But when a mysterious man begins appearing in the background of her photographs, what starts as an unsettling psychological thriller slowly becomes something far more than I was expecting.
This is definitely a slower-burn thriller, but it never felt like it was dragging. Instead, there was this constant feeling that something wasn’t quite right, and Laura Sims kept that sense of unease simmering in the background from beginning to end. I also loved how photography wasn’t just something Judith enjoyed - it became such an important part of the mystery itself and made for a really unique premise.
Then Part Two happened.
Without spoiling anything, it completely turned the entire book on its head. I found myself looking back at everything I’d already read in a completely different way, and suddenly all these little moments I’d almost forgotten about clicked into place. I absolutely love when an author can pull that off, and Laura Sims did it brilliantly.
Part Two completely elevated this book for me and is the reason it ended up being a 4.5⭐️ read.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that slowly build before delivering a payoff that’s worth the wait, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up. Just do yourself a favour and go in blind.
July 8, 2026
I was really excited to read The Man by Laura Sims because the premise sounded so creepy and unique. I’d heard it was about a woman who keeps discovering this mysterious man lurking in the background of her photos, even though she has no idea who he is or why she can’t see him in real life. That alone had me hooked.
The problem is…the book barely focuses on that. Part one had me interested and I thought it was building toward something really unsettling, but then part two completely lost me. It went in a direction I didn’t enjoy at all, and by the end I was just waiting for it to be over.
The ending was so anticlimactic that I just sat there thinking, “That’s it?” For a psychological thriller, it wasn’t very thrilling, and it never lived up to the creepy premise that made me pick it up in the first place. Overall, it was a huge disappointment and felt like a waste of time.
The problem is…the book barely focuses on that. Part one had me interested and I thought it was building toward something really unsettling, but then part two completely lost me. It went in a direction I didn’t enjoy at all, and by the end I was just waiting for it to be over.
The ending was so anticlimactic that I just sat there thinking, “That’s it?” For a psychological thriller, it wasn’t very thrilling, and it never lived up to the creepy premise that made me pick it up in the first place. Overall, it was a huge disappointment and felt like a waste of time.
February 24, 2026
”Photography is an art, and art can be a razor blade, peeling back layers of civility to reveal stark truths…”
I really enjoyed this- couldn’t put it down! ‘The Man’ is the second book I’ve read by Laura Sims now, and I’ve enjoyed them both equally. She’s definitely an author to watch.
‘The Man’ is a dark thriller full of atmosphere, with themes of creativity, ethics, and gender dynamics. The story is set in the 1960s, and focuses on Judith Stanley, a middle-aged housewife who has taken up an evening photography class to try and rediscover herself. Judith has quite a talent, but shuns the spotlight as she’s hiding from a traumatic past - but she finds great comfort and joy in her newfound hobby, until she starts seeing a dark figure appear in the background of all her self-portraits.
The POV shifts unexpectedly half-way through the novel, taking the story in a whole new direction - and opening up a lot of moral questions, like how far is it acceptable to go for the sake of art? Or whose right is it to tell a person’s story? I was pleasantly surprised by this twist, and it reminded me a lot of one of my favourite books, ‘A Ladder to the Sky’ by John Boyne.
I found it very interesting how the concept of ‘The Man’ could be seen as literal, or quite figurative, manifesting in different ways throughout the story. I also loved how well the author captured the inner lives of the two main characters, helping us to understand their actions (even if nefarious at points). The ending leaves things open to interpretation - we don’t get all the answers, which some readers may find frustrating.
Overall, very enjoyable- I’d highly recommend to thriller fans. ‘The Man’ is published by VERVE books and will be out in the UK 23rd July 2026. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
I really enjoyed this- couldn’t put it down! ‘The Man’ is the second book I’ve read by Laura Sims now, and I’ve enjoyed them both equally. She’s definitely an author to watch.
‘The Man’ is a dark thriller full of atmosphere, with themes of creativity, ethics, and gender dynamics. The story is set in the 1960s, and focuses on Judith Stanley, a middle-aged housewife who has taken up an evening photography class to try and rediscover herself. Judith has quite a talent, but shuns the spotlight as she’s hiding from a traumatic past - but she finds great comfort and joy in her newfound hobby, until she starts seeing a dark figure appear in the background of all her self-portraits.
The POV shifts unexpectedly half-way through the novel, taking the story in a whole new direction - and opening up a lot of moral questions, like how far is it acceptable to go for the sake of art? Or whose right is it to tell a person’s story? I was pleasantly surprised by this twist, and it reminded me a lot of one of my favourite books, ‘A Ladder to the Sky’ by John Boyne.
I found it very interesting how the concept of ‘The Man’ could be seen as literal, or quite figurative, manifesting in different ways throughout the story. I also loved how well the author captured the inner lives of the two main characters, helping us to understand their actions (even if nefarious at points). The ending leaves things open to interpretation - we don’t get all the answers, which some readers may find frustrating.
Overall, very enjoyable- I’d highly recommend to thriller fans. ‘The Man’ is published by VERVE books and will be out in the UK 23rd July 2026. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
July 30, 2026
If you want to read a book with a whole bunch of questions and zero answers this book is for you. This book is a big waste of time, the most boring “thriller”I’ve ever read.
July 1, 2026
3.5
#ad much love for my finished copy @putnambooks #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
🆃🅷🅴 🅼🅰🅽
< @laurasims2121 >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴊᴜʟʏ 𝟩, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦, 𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘴… (14).
Judith has always found the beauty in life through the lens of her camera. When she decides to take a photography class at the local community college, she has no idea that this one choice will alter the trajectory of her life forever.
Her professor, Paul, shows great interest in Judith’s work and is always praising her for it. Because her husband couldn’t care less about her photography, Judith finds a smidge of pleasure when her professor shows interest. She feels more confident about her abilities more than ever now.
But there’s someone who keeps appearing in Judith’s photos. A shadow, a blur, a man. Someone is following her, someone wants her to know they’re following her - or is it all just in her head? This is the mystery of the book.
I love Sims writing and enjoyed her last book How Can I Help You, but I think this one might be my favorite. I liked how we got Judith’s perspective for the first half of the book and the man’s perspective for the last half.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and def recommend the audio too. Will Damron and Cassandra Campbell made the perfect duo for this one - always love when there’s a change in perspective - another side to the story.
I also liked how the story plays out under the lens of trauma and how it never leaves us. It’s always there in the back of our minds - no matter how much people tell us to get over it or that we made it all up.
Explores marriage, trauma, identity, obsession, isolation, fear & paranoia. It’s a slower paced read, but as the story builds so does the tension.
#ad much love for my finished copy @putnambooks #partner
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC
🆃🅷🅴 🅼🅰🅽
< @laurasims2121 >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴊᴜʟʏ 𝟩, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦, 𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘴… (14).
Judith has always found the beauty in life through the lens of her camera. When she decides to take a photography class at the local community college, she has no idea that this one choice will alter the trajectory of her life forever.
Her professor, Paul, shows great interest in Judith’s work and is always praising her for it. Because her husband couldn’t care less about her photography, Judith finds a smidge of pleasure when her professor shows interest. She feels more confident about her abilities more than ever now.
But there’s someone who keeps appearing in Judith’s photos. A shadow, a blur, a man. Someone is following her, someone wants her to know they’re following her - or is it all just in her head? This is the mystery of the book.
I love Sims writing and enjoyed her last book How Can I Help You, but I think this one might be my favorite. I liked how we got Judith’s perspective for the first half of the book and the man’s perspective for the last half.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and def recommend the audio too. Will Damron and Cassandra Campbell made the perfect duo for this one - always love when there’s a change in perspective - another side to the story.
I also liked how the story plays out under the lens of trauma and how it never leaves us. It’s always there in the back of our minds - no matter how much people tell us to get over it or that we made it all up.
Explores marriage, trauma, identity, obsession, isolation, fear & paranoia. It’s a slower paced read, but as the story builds so does the tension.
July 22, 2026
📸 𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
This story had so much potential but quickly fell flat and disappointed me.
This book is set up with two different POV’s and I loved the first POV of Judith.
I felt for her and her sadness and I almost wasn’t sure if i was going to be able read this book because she was dealing with grief from the loss of her dog. Nothing was descriptive as far as graphic or anything but she kept having moments I looking for her dog and exaplin how she missed her. (That’s hard for me). I felt so many emotions for Judith. I also loved the representation of women artist.
Paul is pov number two. You aren’t supposed to love his character and they sure do a good job of making sure you don’t but a whooooole lot of nothing really happens after Judiths pov that goes anywhere or gives any answers. If that was the books intentions these kinds of books aren’t for me because you are left with so many things unanswered that to believe it’s all up for the reader to interpret blows my mind.
We don’t really get answers of what happened to Judith we don’t really get answers as to what Pauls real involvement is in all this.
And the book just abruptly ends.
For a book on art and photography instead of getting the whole picture I feel like we were left with clippings of bits and pieces of film strips and it’s up to us to decide where they all go and how they fit together.
For me that’s the authors job to tell me the reader what they are trying to convey and if ambiguity is what I was supposed to take away then I guess they succeeded.
🎧 𝑨𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
A decent audiobook with dual narration
🩷 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑰𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆
Being confused
A lot of things left unanswered
This story had so much potential but quickly fell flat and disappointed me.
This book is set up with two different POV’s and I loved the first POV of Judith.
I felt for her and her sadness and I almost wasn’t sure if i was going to be able read this book because she was dealing with grief from the loss of her dog. Nothing was descriptive as far as graphic or anything but she kept having moments I looking for her dog and exaplin how she missed her. (That’s hard for me). I felt so many emotions for Judith. I also loved the representation of women artist.
Paul is pov number two. You aren’t supposed to love his character and they sure do a good job of making sure you don’t but a whooooole lot of nothing really happens after Judiths pov that goes anywhere or gives any answers. If that was the books intentions these kinds of books aren’t for me because you are left with so many things unanswered that to believe it’s all up for the reader to interpret blows my mind.
We don’t really get answers of what happened to Judith we don’t really get answers as to what Pauls real involvement is in all this.
And the book just abruptly ends.
For a book on art and photography instead of getting the whole picture I feel like we were left with clippings of bits and pieces of film strips and it’s up to us to decide where they all go and how they fit together.
For me that’s the authors job to tell me the reader what they are trying to convey and if ambiguity is what I was supposed to take away then I guess they succeeded.
🎧 𝑨𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
A decent audiobook with dual narration
🩷 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑰𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆
Being confused
A lot of things left unanswered
June 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC.
Release Date: July 7, 2026
I’ll start by saying I loved How Can I Help You by this author, which is exactly why I was so excited to request this one.
Unfortunately, this ended up being a complete miss for me. The first half had potential, but after that it felt like nothing happening after nothing happening. Even when the “big” moment came, it kind of just happened and then the story moved on without much impact.
I found myself extremely bored to the point where I started skimming, and by the end, I was just waiting for it to be over.
I did appreciate the short chapters, but overall, this one just wasn’t for me.
Release Date: July 7, 2026
I’ll start by saying I loved How Can I Help You by this author, which is exactly why I was so excited to request this one.
Unfortunately, this ended up being a complete miss for me. The first half had potential, but after that it felt like nothing happening after nothing happening. Even when the “big” moment came, it kind of just happened and then the story moved on without much impact.
I found myself extremely bored to the point where I started skimming, and by the end, I was just waiting for it to be over.
I did appreciate the short chapters, but overall, this one just wasn’t for me.
July 23, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
BLURB:
Judith Stanley, an empty nester, taking photography classes becomes convinced the man who assaulted her years ago is stalking her and appearing in the background of her photographs.
REVIEW:
This is the first book I’ve read from Laura Sims, and it initially caught my eye because of the striking cover and, even more so, because it’s narrated by two of my go-tos, Will Damron and Cassandra Campbell. This is a slow-burn thriller that reminded me of Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra early on. It has the same reality-versus-perception vibe built around an unreliable narrator FMC. In this case, it’s Judith Stanley, a 1960s housewife taking an amateur photography class who notices the figure of a man in her photos, and there’s lots od creeping dread and mounting paranoia. From the very start, I was wondering whether someone was really watching her or if everything was unfolding in her mind.
This is a dual-POV that’s cleverly structured into two equally long parts. Part 1 follows Judith, who clearly has unresolved trauma. Almost all of her interactions are with her husband (who’s recovering from a stroke) and her photography professor, Paul—so it’s very easy to follow, and most scenes are highly atmospheric. The pacing in Part 1 is quite slow, but I stayed engaged because I enjoyed following Judith on her photography outings in town and in NYC, her discussing photos with Paul after class, and the eerie appearances of the mysterious man, whether as a shadow in photos or suddenly confronting her in public. That said, these scenes began to feel repetitive, and I was happy when the story shifted POV in Part Two and suddenly had much better pacing. It’s told from Paul’s POV, and he’s also an unreliable narrator, but much more morally gray. Without giving anything away, Paul repeatedly makes decisions that you’ll question, but he’s also fascinating to follow because he’s so unpredictable. His inner monologue is filled with dark humor, insecurity, and moments that make him seem unhinged. I also loved that I never knew where this half of the story was headed until close to the end.
With the short chapters, immersive writing, and small cast, you can easily multitask while listening, but I would recommend listening at a slower speed, especially in the 2nd half, so you don’t miss any key dialogue or entertaining unhinged scenes. By the end, you can see the parallel character arcs of Judith and Paul, despite how different they were early on. My only minor complaint is that the story feels like it’s heading toward an explosive climax, but it never really happens until literally the final pages when it feels rushed. The ending cuts off abruptly, leaving it open to interpretation. Personally, I wanted just a little more resolution, but it makes this a great book club or buddy read pick, as there’s lots to discuss! I can also see why the ratings for this book have been a bit all over the place, but I’m definitely a fan of the author’s writing and will be reading more of her books!
BLURB:
Judith Stanley, an empty nester, taking photography classes becomes convinced the man who assaulted her years ago is stalking her and appearing in the background of her photographs.
REVIEW:
This is the first book I’ve read from Laura Sims, and it initially caught my eye because of the striking cover and, even more so, because it’s narrated by two of my go-tos, Will Damron and Cassandra Campbell. This is a slow-burn thriller that reminded me of Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra early on. It has the same reality-versus-perception vibe built around an unreliable narrator FMC. In this case, it’s Judith Stanley, a 1960s housewife taking an amateur photography class who notices the figure of a man in her photos, and there’s lots od creeping dread and mounting paranoia. From the very start, I was wondering whether someone was really watching her or if everything was unfolding in her mind.
This is a dual-POV that’s cleverly structured into two equally long parts. Part 1 follows Judith, who clearly has unresolved trauma. Almost all of her interactions are with her husband (who’s recovering from a stroke) and her photography professor, Paul—so it’s very easy to follow, and most scenes are highly atmospheric. The pacing in Part 1 is quite slow, but I stayed engaged because I enjoyed following Judith on her photography outings in town and in NYC, her discussing photos with Paul after class, and the eerie appearances of the mysterious man, whether as a shadow in photos or suddenly confronting her in public. That said, these scenes began to feel repetitive, and I was happy when the story shifted POV in Part Two and suddenly had much better pacing. It’s told from Paul’s POV, and he’s also an unreliable narrator, but much more morally gray. Without giving anything away, Paul repeatedly makes decisions that you’ll question, but he’s also fascinating to follow because he’s so unpredictable. His inner monologue is filled with dark humor, insecurity, and moments that make him seem unhinged. I also loved that I never knew where this half of the story was headed until close to the end.
With the short chapters, immersive writing, and small cast, you can easily multitask while listening, but I would recommend listening at a slower speed, especially in the 2nd half, so you don’t miss any key dialogue or entertaining unhinged scenes. By the end, you can see the parallel character arcs of Judith and Paul, despite how different they were early on. My only minor complaint is that the story feels like it’s heading toward an explosive climax, but it never really happens until literally the final pages when it feels rushed. The ending cuts off abruptly, leaving it open to interpretation. Personally, I wanted just a little more resolution, but it makes this a great book club or buddy read pick, as there’s lots to discuss! I can also see why the ratings for this book have been a bit all over the place, but I’m definitely a fan of the author’s writing and will be reading more of her books!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unsettling!
Judith Stanley is a new empty nester and her constant companion, Rosie, her little dog, has recently died. To recover from her grief, Judith takes a college photography class and spends her days taking photos to fill her time. Her professor tells Judith that she has an ‘uncanny eye’ and her pictures may be worth submitting for publication. She is happy for the praise but reluctant to put her work out for possible rejection. While doing an assignment on self portraits, she notices a mysterious man in the background of her photos. Worse, she is receiving menacing phone calls that are starting to scare her. Is there really a man stalking her or is Judith losing her mind?
This is a highly atmospheric novel and the tension is unnerving. And let’s just take a moment to admire this stunning cover!
Thank you Netgalley, Putnam Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on July 7, 2026
Judith Stanley is a new empty nester and her constant companion, Rosie, her little dog, has recently died. To recover from her grief, Judith takes a college photography class and spends her days taking photos to fill her time. Her professor tells Judith that she has an ‘uncanny eye’ and her pictures may be worth submitting for publication. She is happy for the praise but reluctant to put her work out for possible rejection. While doing an assignment on self portraits, she notices a mysterious man in the background of her photos. Worse, she is receiving menacing phone calls that are starting to scare her. Is there really a man stalking her or is Judith losing her mind?
This is a highly atmospheric novel and the tension is unnerving. And let’s just take a moment to admire this stunning cover!
Thank you Netgalley, Putnam Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on July 7, 2026
August 4, 2026
Thank you so much for sending me a copy!!!
3.75⭐ rounded to 4
I actually really liked this. Not only did it kept me wanting to read to find out wth was gonna happen but it made me was to get back to developing my own film & printing it in a darkroom.
Any book about photography I will devour 🤣
Will say the first half kept my interest more maybe because of the unsettling feelings Judith was having, we see her feel happy comfortable doing her photography, grieving her dog Rosie, worried about her husband Tom, and also think about her past and her fucking rude grandmother.
The photography in this was what made it for me as it felt real, correct, and I could sense my own excitement/happiness when I do photography coming through Judith.
Until The Man appears. The mystery was interesting, I had qualms right away about someone that just seemed to build up AND LOW AND BEHOLD THAT FUCKERR looool🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
There's a comment someone makes in the book about the brand of cameras vs the skills and almost the expectation that comes with having a certain camera rather than skill of the photographer was mentioned and it was MWAH!!!! 💯😘
Anyway, wanted to throw my book at the end because I honestly wanted more for the whole build up & wtf had happened to that point BUT I had a great time 👏
July 5, 2026
Outstanding. Unsettling, chilling. One of those books where you need to turn back to page one and start all over after you’ve finished reading. Laura Sims is just amazing.
June 17, 2026
I was very excited for this as I’d loved How Can I Help You? Unfortunately this doesn’t quite get off the ground. There are lots of intriguing ideas here but it may have worked better as a short story because it grew fairly redundant. Halfway through there’s a nice shift in the narrative that drew me back in but ultimately it suffered the same fate of feeling redundant.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
July 21, 2026
This was just okay. It was gripping from the start - I was genuinely interested and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The pace quickly slowed and I thought that maybe it was going to be a slow burn. But then the last quarter of this book just seemed repetitive and ended up being a disappointment.
July 12, 2026
Somewhat of a page turner but unsatisfying after turning all the pages.
January 15, 2026
The Man is about a woman, Judith Stanley, a photography student that keeps seeing a man in all her self portraits. It’s based on real life stalking cases from the 1960s, but it is also about so much more than that.
“Photography is art, and art can be a razor blade, peeling back layers of civility to reveal stark truths.”
The stark truth of this novel explores the inescapable fear of living as a woman with the tension of artistic freedom. The push and pull of this thriller examines identity, agency, and often blurs the lines between past trauma and present dangers. It’s also about men, and what they think they deserve/are entitled to.
This was a thoughtful and impactful story. My only complaint was too much time spent on Paul’s POV and not Judith’s.
✨4 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this e-arc. The Man comes out July 7, 2026.
“Photography is art, and art can be a razor blade, peeling back layers of civility to reveal stark truths.”
The stark truth of this novel explores the inescapable fear of living as a woman with the tension of artistic freedom. The push and pull of this thriller examines identity, agency, and often blurs the lines between past trauma and present dangers. It’s also about men, and what they think they deserve/are entitled to.
This was a thoughtful and impactful story. My only complaint was too much time spent on Paul’s POV and not Judith’s.
✨4 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this e-arc. The Man comes out July 7, 2026.
July 14, 2026
The Man by Laura Sims is a well-written novel about a woman who is a photographer as a hobby, and “the man” who appears in the background of her photos. Told in two parts and set in the 1960s, we see Judith Stanley as a housewife who loves taking photos and takes a course at a local college with her instructor, Paul, who is always encouraging her to publish her work. Judith doesn’t want to, and this is the true spark of the novel.
This book was very different than I thought it would be, but entertaining nonetheless! Its two part structure is what threw me but I did really like the direction it took. It’s a little bit of a thriller. Sims is an incredibly gifted writer, I was especially taken by how modern this book set in the 1960s felt while still being true to the times. Thanks Putnam for the ARC!
This book was very different than I thought it would be, but entertaining nonetheless! Its two part structure is what threw me but I did really like the direction it took. It’s a little bit of a thriller. Sims is an incredibly gifted writer, I was especially taken by how modern this book set in the 1960s felt while still being true to the times. Thanks Putnam for the ARC!
July 23, 2026
4.25/5
Don’t read a single review and risk spoilers, just read it. I went in totally blind and am sooo glad I did. It’s fantastic.
Don’t read a single review and risk spoilers, just read it. I went in totally blind and am sooo glad I did. It’s fantastic.
July 31, 2026
Laura Sims does it again! Read it in a day ☺️
August 10, 2026
2.5 stars rounded up
August 1, 2026
genuinely would be a great pick for a book club. so much to dissect about when women’s autonomy is violated in life and death. also very good plot!
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