Unreliable Narrator

by Araminta Hall

"Unreliable Narrator is clever, beautifully written and next-level creepy. I loved it to death." —Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of Don't Let Him In

It's his story. But it's her life.

When twenty-three-year-old Hope Jenkins arrives at the isolated, otherworldly Shadowlands estate, she’s certain her life is finally about to begin.

Hope is eager to spend her summer assisting the up-and-coming literary star Ambrose “Rosie” Glencourt, but at Shadowlands, art and danger blur into one. Rosie and his enigmatic wife, Delia, preside over a circle of glittering guests with morals as questionable as their wealth. Hope is transfixed—by their beauty, their brilliance, and by Tom, the elusive young man who resides on the sprawling property and has captured Hope’s heart for the very first time. Hope quickly realizes she’s willing to do anything to secure her place among them—even if it ends in fatal disaster.

Ten years later, Hope lives in self-imposed exile. She has no family, no friends, and no future . . .until she opens Rosie’s runaway bestseller and discovers it’s an almost exact retelling of her the work, the sex, and the gunshot that ended it all. It is everything Hope swore to keep hidden, dragged out onto center stage. But this time, Hope isn’t going to stay quiet.

Riveting, compulsively readable, and surprisingly tender, Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall explores revenge, obsession, and the dangerous stories we tell to survive.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Araminta Hall began her career in journalism as a staff writer on teen magazine Bliss, becoming Health and Beauty editor of New Woman. On her way, she wrote regular features for the Mirror's Saturday supplement and ghost-wrote the super-model Caprice's column.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4-5 rounded up
Hopes 23-year-old younger self lands the job of her dreams working for author Ambrose Glencourt at his Somerset home, Shadowlands. Here, she‘s quickly drawn into an exotic bohemian world which revolves around the author, his wife Delia and honorary son, Tom. However, things do not go to plan, disaster strikes and the fatal secret is buried deep. Hope shuts herself off from the world as a form of punishment but also to protect Ambrose, who is known as Rosie. Ten years on, Hope remains isolated and lonely, she’s shut down but she’s safe and has kept her promise. To her shock and horror it seems that Rosie hasn’t, as it’s the subject of his latest book. Her journal from the time tells her version and his novel tells his – so who is the unreliable narrator? Part one of this excellent novel is from Hope’s perspective, part two is jointly between Hope and DI Nat Evans, and part three is Delia and Hope.


First of all, as with all of Araminta Halls books, this is very well written and takes the reader on an intriguing journey. The first part which is Hope’s journal, is quite slow and as languid as the summer heat of her arrival at Shadowlands. However, it does set the intense scene beautifully, enabling easy visualisation of the chaotic, magical, seductive house and the exotic, confusing inhabitants. Shadowlands feels like a character in its own right and seems to be a place where anything is possible. As for the occupants, Tom is the most likeable and he has his finger on the claustrophobic pulse of the place, it’s atmosphere being everything from desire, exhilaration, joy and laughter to anger, pain, fear and paranoia. The relationship between Delia and Rosie is like a power tug of war at times or perhaps even a game of poker.

It becomes particularly fascinating once the other contradictory points of view enter the plot. Both sound so plausible and believable that it’s a real conundrum trying to figure out whose narrative is the truth. Imagine how tricky that makes DI Nat Evans job?? As the storyline builds in intensity, I’m completely gripped and there are several moments where the twists blow my mind.

Overall, this has an excellent and thought-provoking premise. Whose version is the most credible? Who has told it better? Because that’s where the “ truth” lies even if it’s not the whole truth, as after all aren’t we all unreliable narrators, even unwittingly? One thing however, is definitely true. At least one of the cast of characters has utterly transformed. A psychological thriller that makes you think – what could be better?

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and I'm a hard sell on an unreliable narrator.

I primarily dislike this trope because I find it lazy, they almost always centre women and we've been portrayed as unstable, untrustworthy and unreliable for centuries. It's boring.

While there are elements of that here, I really like what the author is doing with it. Spinning it around, playing with it and with a backdrop of what happening today, it feels very much like social commentary.

Plus, a book within a journal within a book. Fantastic.

A perfectly paced thriller which I believe will remain memorable as it gives us a lot of think about. Who gets the narrate whose story and in turn who becomes unreliable?

Five stars - brilliant.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“We're all such bloody unreliable narrators.”

There are two sides to every story; but in Hope Jenkins' case, there are three, one where art imitates life to create such a complicated muddle of her present-day self, that she questions the validity of her memories spent at Shadowlands - hobnobbing with Rosie and Delia that ends with the mysterious and unexplainable disappearance of Tom, a recovering drug addict she had started a promising relationship with.

I pretty much surmised what Rosie's intentions were with Hope - a master manipulator with actions and words who thrives on others weaknesses and words to create a shadow - a hint of a doubt of stretching the figment of one's imagination in believing the version of the truth with the lies. It was heartbreaking to see the results of his own twisted mind games - the ones who paid the price. 🙎🏻‍♀️

“Life doesn't come looking for us: we have to find our moment and this has to be mine.”

The writing is visceral in Hope's mental breakdown, compulsive at skillfully vacillating between the three different perspectives presented to DI Nat in her investigation into Tom's disappearance - a twist to each of the narratives that fit their appeal and agenda - which one had come first, what was reality and what just inspiration. 😟 It's a sad reflection of how damning and damaging it can be to allow one person so much control over your life.

That lingering question of being caught in a lie or not - that web of deceit and betrayal and the horrifying realization of being an unwitting participant in their twisted game. 😥 It's jarring and crude being in Hope's journal, wondering just how much of an Unreliable Narrator she is. But when Part Two opens to Nat's own conflicted marriage, Hope's plea for help, it descends into a dark awakening - or rather a breakthrough with results that made Hope's growth - commendable.

“Every single thing any of us does is, in the end, of our own making.”

Delia and Rosie's background was a bit shoddy and shady - one where I do ask why Delia chose to stay in a marriage that inflicted so many questionable choices and such a conflicted state of conscience. Despite the allure and grandeur of Shadowlands, a place of imagination - between reality and fantasy - of spirits and thought and allowing free rein to your darkest fantasies. I suppose, in a way, that does explain it. 🤔

In spite of the ultimate crackdown which lacked fanfare and some unresolved questions, for Hope, at least, I felt she did receive a somewhat satisfying outcome. 😤 Years of her pitiful self gave her purpose to rise above her defeat, when she has nothing to lose for already lost too much. To take her weakness as her strength, to turn the tables and in a way give back something to someone that they had lost speaks volumes of her own character growth.

“Who we choose to love isn't an accident. It's either someone who will help us forget who we are, or who will make us confront it.”

Whether it was Nat and Kira realizing the bittersweet truths of themselves - that loneliness can be defeated, or for poor precious Charlie, that help can come to those too afraid to speak it - to Delia, who had lost a virtue wrongfully stolen from her. We don't solve the puzzle of ourselves until it becomes imperative. It made me sad, but it was also a bittersweet cathartic moment to see Hope reclaim what had always been rightfully true. 🥺

The prevailing theme that lingered asking, why do we do the things we do for love, a contradictory emotion, united but separate, that somehow only makes sense to ourselves, and even that seems unlikely kept replaying in my mind. It is also perhaps at the core what the basis of the plot had truly been. 🪷

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of feminist revenge, again with a cast of dislikeable characters, and our crusading protagonist Hope trying to reclaim her identity from a self serving author. I thought this was okay overall but did get frustrated by the sometimes meandering narrative and the fact that I didn’t really care about these people who seemed incredibly self serving and solipsistic. Just okay.

[Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Stars

Clever and disturbing.

Hope lives a life under the radar. Ten years ago, she worked and lived with Ambrose 'Rosie' Glencourt, an up-and-coming author at the time. But something happened, and Hope swore never to tell anyone. The secret became too much for her, however, and she became a drinking recluse. Then, by accident, she discovers that Rosie has written another book which tells the story she has kept secret all these years.

Young Hope had wanted to become an author herself. So she was thrilled when her mother showed her a job offer to be Rosie's live-in secretary. Rosie and his wife Delia live a bohemian life, to which Hope is immediately drawn. She falls under the spell of this glamorous couple, not to mention the handsome young man who also lives with them and provides a potential love interest. Rosie, Delia, and their beautiful house are irresistible. Hope wishes she could stay forever. But everything ended in disaster, and all of Hope's plans crumbled.

In the first half of the book, we see what happened ten years ago through Hope’s eyes. We also see her miserable life today. She has achieved nothing. She lives alone and doesn't take care of herself. Rosie, on the other hand, is a successful author because he shared her story with the world. Even a film was made about it. Hope lived so secluded that she was unaware of this. But now, upon learning that Rosie has written a follow-up, something snaps inside her. She wants to come clean about what happened that summer.

This is an elaborate and complex story. I must admit that, initially, I did not expect to give this book 4.5 stars. I found it a bit slow, and I was irritated by Hope’s idealisation of Rosie and Delia. However, as soon as I got to the second half of the book, everything made more sense. The story shifts, revealing the deep abyss lurking beneath.

I admire how the author developed this dark narrative. Perhaps the side stories about little Charlie and the police officer's personal life were a little too much and maybe not necessary for the main plot but they make it all whole and put extra layers onto this already intense story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a young woman, Hope, who gets the chance to work with an award-winning author. He requires an assistant to help with transcribing his Dictaphone notes. Ambrose is known as Rosie is married to Delia. He is the author, she is an artist. They live in a large house and grounds with Tom, someone whom they have been helping.

Things appear fine from the outset. Hope settled into her role, has a nice room, and has free time, although the housekeeper and cook don't really like her. She gets along well with everyone else there. They seem flamboyant and lively, but Rosie is prone to mood swings. Tom is more down-to-earth, like Hope herself is.

When I say things start well, that doesn't mean they end well. It is 10 years in the future when Rosie finally releases a sequel to the book he published after Hope's departure. It is only now that she has read it that she realises some similarities. She decides to go to the police and see what they can do.

This story is mainly about the main characters, with a focus on women and how they settle for what they have and what they have been told they are like. But once the cat is out of the bag and things start joining and some basic realisations are made, then it becomes something deeper. Revenge and control, a chance to turn the tables and regain control.

The characters in this book, I am sorry to say, are not very likeable. They do, however, fit well with the traits the author has given them, so in some ways this is quite fitting. There were times that they felt maudlin; again, it is fitting.

The characters and the storyline show a world where patriarchy and knowing the right people are more important than revealing a truth, credibility and reputation are paramount. Others' feelings don't even come into it. There is a mystery to be opened and explored, but when you can't trust your own memories and recollections, it becomes difficult to know what is real and what is fiction.

An interesting story that is a mix of thriller, mystery and fiction. Interesting concepts and quite addictive. I would be very happy to recommend this.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bit of a strange book. Most of the way through I was wondering where we'd end up. We start in the past with a young Hope who has just landed her dream job, working as an assistant to an author - the delightfully named Ambrose Glencourt. She fully immerses herself into their world which consisted of Ambrose (known as Rosie), his wife Delia and Tom, a young man, an addict, who they treat as their son. We follow her version of what happened, up to a point. A fatal incident. One which caused her to break down and return home, never to speak of again.
Back in the present and she is reading Rosie's latest book and is flummoxed to find that it is based around her time with him. Although, the incidents in the book definitely do not match those in her journal. We also hear from DI Nat Evans when Hope approaches her to share her side of what really happened, so desperate she is to confess. But who is telling the truth, and what part do Rosie's previous assistants play...?
This is both a book of two halves, as well as being a book within a book, and a big game of he said she said. All of which are deliciously wrapped up in a compelling storyline that gripped me from the off. We see how what happened has affected Hope some ten years later, and how she gets angry that she kept her side of the keeping quiet and he didn't, compelling her to tell her version. Which version is the truth? Well... I'm not saying... Suffice to say that for the majority, I was totally up in the air with my thoughts. Changing my mind about people and events several times along the way, until, eventually we got to the truth. I'd like to say more about Nat but her part is complicated, as is her personal life, so I will have to leave you to discover all that yourself too.
All in all, another winner from another author now firmly cemented on my watch list. Her back catalogue is a rather eclectic mix so I am intrigued as to what she will serve up for me for net time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Manuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where I kept thinking, “I really like what this is trying to do”, even when the reading experience itself didn’t fully click for me.

Unreliable Narrator has a genuinely strong premise at its core: it’s interested in power, prestige, and who gets to tell the story - especially when a young woman’s life and trauma are absorbed, reframed, and monetised by someone with far more cultural capital. That critique really works, and it’s the reason I stayed engaged even when the pacing tested my patience.

I enjoyed the use of an unreliable first-person voice in theory, but in practice it was a bit hit or miss for me. I understood why Hope sounds the way she does, but that didn’t stop her perspective from being mildly irritating at times. The book is also split into distinct sections across different timelines, and while I get what Hall was aiming for, the momentum just didn’t flow for me. The tension builds slowly, then disappears just as it starts getting interesting, and by the time everything is coming together, the ending feels rushed.

Speaking of the ending: I saw it coming pretty early (around a third of the way in), which made the middle stretch feel longer than it needed to be. It’s satisfying on a conceptual level, but I wanted the execution to hit harder and at a more precise moment.

All that said, I didn’t dislike this book. It’s readable, thoughtful, and clearly ambitious - it just didn’t quite land as sharply as it could have. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with a literary edge and some social commentary, rather than nonstop twists or high-stakes suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC :)

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was brilliant. Told in three parts the book opens with Hope watching Ambrose ‘Rosie’ Glencourt on television talking about the sequel to his book The Ruined Girl which was a massive success ten years earlier. There is a second thread to the book involving one of the children that Hope befriends when she works as a school secretary and a third thread involving DI Nat Evans who Hope approaches with her, what appears to Nat to be, fanciful story.

Briefly, Shadowlands June 2016 and 23 year old Hope has landed her dream job working for Rosie as his assistant. She is to live in, as the property is remote, with Rosie and his wife Delia. They lead a very bohemian lifestyle and as well as a cleaner and housekeeper who live out they have a young man called Tom living with them. Life seems quite idyllic. Rosie doesn’t need her much of the day so Hope spends time with Tom, swimming in the pool and sunbathing. They become very close but then tragedy strikes and with Hope becoming very sick her mother comes to take her home.

Ten years later Hope is a mess, drinking, not taking care of herself and with no friends but she finally reads Rosie’s book and gets up the courage to face the events that resulted in her leaving Shadowlands. Part one is fairly slow building and felt quite gothic, but part two really ramped up and I was glued to the book, as for part three a big yay! The plot was so good and despite guessing a few twists I loved it. This is a story about control and coercion and how someone with connections and power can manipulate the truth. As for the unreliable narrator you need to read it to see who that is. A fantastic and compulsive literary mystery thriller.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unreliable Narrator is a dark, layered psychological thriller that had me guessing what to believe most of the time. This is a novel that digs deep into the murky space between memory and manipulation, and asks whether truth is ever as objective as we believe.

Hope is young, eager, and hungry for the kind of life she has only glimpsed from afar. When she becomes assistant to rising literary star Ambrose Glencourt, she is swept into a glamorous world of art, privilege, and intoxicating attention. The gravitational pull of the Glencourt household, where Ambrose’s magnetic wife and their enigmatic protégé Tom draw Hope in until she no longer knows where she ends and they begin.

When a tragedy occurs, a secret is buried, and Hope’s life becomes a penance resulting in a self-imposed exile meant to protect Ambrose, because that’s the deal they made. Ambrose has now broken the agreement by releasing his latest novel which bares a striking resemblance to their story.

Hope decides to tell her side of the story, which raises the question of whose version of events will the world believe? And how much is she willing to risk to finally reclaim her voice?

The deeper I got into this novel the more I enjoyed it, all the time not knowing who to trust and believe. This is a very good psychological thriller, full of suspense and a haunting reminder that truth isn’t just told, it’s controlled.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan MacMillan for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea Knowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*

Unreliable Narrator follows Hope who is selected to work for an up-and-coming author at his Somerset home. The world the author inhabits feels sophisticated and exclusive. The author is Ambrose Glencourt known as Rosie and he is captivating. Unfortunately her time at the house ends in disaster and she hasn’t been able to tell anyone what happened. Ten years later, Hope’s life isn’t great and she hasn’t achieved anything. On the other hand, Ambrose has never been better and he is now a successful author. Hope believes Ambrose has written about what happened at the house but Ambrose denies it. This leaves the reader to wonder who the unreliable narrator is and what really happened that summer at Somerset.

This book is really compelling, the writing is easy to read and I read this quite quickly. The story was interesting and I liked following Hope. With this book being called Unreliable Narrator I didn’t know who to trust and I enjoyed just letting the story unfold. I guessed one of the twists but the rest were really interesting and I will be recommending this. It was enjoyable, fast-paced and had a lot of different plot points.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I read Araminta's book One of the Good Guys, and whilst I thought it was okay, I wasn't overly enamoured by it. But I never give up on an author after one book and this one sounded intriguing.

There's a sort of he-said-she-said vibe about it, who to trust, who to believe, which I found interesting.

It's a relatively small cast of characters and they're not all likeable. This will sound weird but go with it. There seemed to be a lot about them, lots of detail and whatnot, and yet at the same time they felt really distant and I just didn't care about any of them.

My main issue with it was that it was too long. I love a detailed book and detail can obviously make a book interesting, but there were moments where I felt like she was writing all this detail just to reach a word count, rather than because it was necessary for the plot. Having said that, it didn't feel as slow as I expected it to. I refer books 300-400 pages, so at nearly 450 I thought this would drag, but it did flow quite well, at least to begin with, and it did start to dwindle as it went on.

It is the epitome of a psychological thriller and whilst it wasn't perfect, there were some good bits. But it is too long, too detail heavy, with questionable characters, but parts of it were engaging and intriguing and it did pass quicker than I thought.

I'm still not sure if she's an author for me. Both books have been.....just okay. I probably would try one more but I may have to accept that she's just not for me.

[Nicola Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Araminta Hall’s first book, Everything and Nothing, back in 2011, I commented that I hoped the author would write more great reads like that one in the future. She certainly did, perhaps most notably her most recent book, One of the Good Guys, which I thought was brilliant. Now she’s done it again with Unreliable Narrator which drew me right into the world of Hope Jenkins and didn’t let me go until the end.

Hope takes a job as assistant to author, Ambrose Glencourt. As an aspiring writer herself it sounds ideal and she is soon fully assimiliated into the glamorous and dazzling life at Shadowlands with Ambrose and his wife. Hope tells her story in the form of a journal, but is she an unreliable narrator?

Hall’s skilled writing enables the reader to view events from an independent standpoint, less blinkered by the Glencourts’ allure or by Hope’s naivity. I still didn’t know the truth of the matter (although I had a good idea) but I loved every minute I spent finding it out. The second half of the book has a different style to it, leading to an ending which was poignant, ingenious and feministic, and which rounded off the story perfectly.

I thought Unreliable Narrator was extremely well-written, a first-rate story of subtle manipulation through one intense summer and its rippling effect over the following ten years.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a young woman, the brief and glorious time that Hope spent with Ambrose Glencourt and his family - and her opportunity to be part of a very different social set than the one to which she was accustomed - ended, to put it mildly, rather badly.

She has lived an isolated life since then, having made her exit from the home of the Glencourts after reaching an agreement with Ambrose that was aimed at damage limitation.

But now Ambrose, a celebrated writer, has decided to renege on that bargain by using experience as fodder for his next literary effect. And this, on top of everything else, proves too much to bear...

A twisty and unpredictable story with a memorable protagonist, Araminta Hall deliverys yet again with this latest offering. It easily earns 3.5 stars and a recommendation to read it.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself struggling to get fully immersed in the story, mainly, I think, due to the wholly unlikeable characters. Normally, with a book of this nature, there is something to like within at least one of the main characters, but these people were more than just “unreliable narrators”, they were messed up, selfish and deluded.

The narrative was a little slow and sometimes meandering and repetitive, which made me struggle for motivation to read, which is very unlike me.

I think I get what the author was trying to do, and I like what she was trying to do, but despite the very strong premise, the execution didn’t quite work for me.

I did really enjoy the ending though and this redeemed the slow pace somewhat, leaving me feeling at more satisfied that I was expecting to be.

I would recommend this book for readers who prefer a slow burn, literary feel to their thrillers.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5

Yep. Accurate name. Unreliable narrator.

She's unreliable in a manipulative way, we see her manipulate people around her when it comes to someone's disappearance and recalling what has happened. It's almost like she can't help it, it's like a compulsion or something. She has to manipulate and control the people around her.

We do get multiple perspectives in this book, seeing the situation from different angles.

Everyone in this book is a bit shady, to be honest. That does make it strange to read because it's hard to find someone to root for. But I do think that's the point of this book. They're all unreliable narrators in one way or another, some are just more obviously unreliable and shady.

I didn't love this because I do like to like characters. I get a bit confused when they're unlikable (and not in a fun way). I just couldn't get invested in them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with an intriguing proposition. At what cost do you take control of the narrative of your own life?
There's plenty of research that suggests our recollection of memories changes over time and can indeed be manipulated.
Hope has an idyllic summer at the lavish, shabby chic mansion of Ambrose "Rosie"Glencourt and his dazzling wife. Hope falls for Tom, a frequent visitor to the estate. Araminta Hall captures well the lazy, hazy days of a hot British summer experienced by highly attractive people who are variously attracted to each other. Personally I would have run a mile from a set up where witty but cruel Rosie is perceived as amusing for taking people down.
I found the story quite slow. There are very few likeable characters and lots of chaos.

[Linda Wilson]

I really enjoyed this book. The first part tells the story of Hope, a young woman who takes a job as secretary to Ambrose Glencourt, an author who lives with his glamorous wife on a beautiful country estate in Somerset. Hope falls in love with the whole set up and way of life but her time there ends in tragedy and she leaves there a broken woman. Now 10 years later Ambrose has just had a book published which, to Hope, is telling the story of what happened to her, even though the Glencourts swore her to secrecy. But did things really happen as she remembers? She decides she has to confront the past and find out the truth. This is a real page turner that will keep you guessing to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRC from Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's Sons / Penguin Random House
The story opens with the narrator reading a quote and claiming it is hers. Flashback to ten years. Hope Jenkins needs a fresh start and when a job working for famous author Ambros “Rosie” Glencourt opens up, she grabs it. She is just what they, Rosie and his wife Delia, are looking for. Young, naive, and malleable. Rosie and Delia live in an estate called Shadowlands. They are deathly, connected to all the right people, and somewhat immoral. What follows is a summer of parties, gaslighting, danger, and the end to Rosie’s writing slump. Back to the present, Hope is now barely living. She questions her sanity as does everyone else. When she sees a copy of Rosie’s book, she realizes it is her story. Will anyone believe her? At what point do we become the narrators of our own story? At what point do we take control of the ending? A story of revenge, obsession, and the stories we tell.

[Lydia Hephzibah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

setting: UK
rep: lesbian POV character

I ummed and ahhed a lot with this rating - it feels more of a 3.5 than a 3.25, though rounding it up to 4 feels a bit too generous because I did have a few issues with it. but on the other hand it kept me reading and guessing and interested. it had definite high potential at the start, but by the end that had come to a bit of a drizzly uncertain conclusion and I feel there were a lot of unanswered questions. that's probably the point when the book is literally about unreliable narrators. I wish we'd had less of Nat's POV. love the queer rep but her life was so depressing and I hated how she treated her wife

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possible spoilers

Another good one from Ms Hall here.
Whilst there might be two sides to every story, this one adds a third.
From early on it was obvious Rosie was not the nice guy he seemed.
But you get sucked into the picture postcard perfect world of Shadowlands.
As much as I enjoyed the main story, of not knowing what the truth actually was,the highlight for me was Nat.
So conflicted on life, love, work.
The realities of kids and a marriage that isn't quite working due to issues from childhood.
I wish we had more on that.
It was a one sit read for me on a rainy day.
I think one sit read is high praise.


Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best psychological drama's I've read this year because it doesn't take the path of least resistance. Rather than unpredictable it is more unnerving and absolutely compelling from first page to last.

The characters are larger than life and this story digs deep into the ways we frame our own existence whilst telling an intelligent and very entertaining story.

We are all the unreliable narrators of our own stories. This was a lot of fun to read and made you think about things. Warning: may cause an existential crisis. But in a good way.

Recommended.

[Tiyasha Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Araminta's stories and was excited to read this one. And rightly so. The synopsis and title added to my curiosity to dive right in.

Two versions. Who's telling the truth. A book written by a character about a version of the story. A conflicting narrative that we are told. The story keeps one on their toes. The characters are all interesting and it is well woven to keep the reader gripped. Absolutely recommend!

Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine some of the best days of your life ended in a tragedy and your world has spiraled out of control ever since that moment. Now imagine you lived years never knowing a book existed about that time and you are the main character. This 5 star novel was a slow burn for me.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Putnam (the Publisher), for providing me with a complimentary advance digital / e-copy of Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall coming out on July 14, 2026 in exchange for my honest review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, this is Araminta Hall at her best! One of the best books I have read this year, it's suspenseful and intrigung. It's a psychological thriller set in a house, written in three parts. The clue is in the title, who/what is the reader to believe? I loved the bohemian characters who are interesting and unpredictable. Highly recommended.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawn in to the bohemian life of author Rosie and his wife Della, Hope is by turn fascinated and bemused by their life and choices.
Events take a darker turn and years later Hope is living a lonely existence when Rosie turns his version of events in to a book.
I found the first part of the book very slow going.

[Becky. ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Sadly this one was a bit of a miss for me. I really loved the authors previous book ‘One of the good guys’ but this one was a much slower pace and I wasn’t as invested in the characters or overall plot.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy. Sadly this book was not for me. I found it slow and boring, and the characters were just awful people. I can see from other reviews that it’s going to do very well. We can’t help how we feel, can we?

[Lost Vegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and intoxicating.

A fantastic read. Hope finds a job with a beloved writer at his gorgeous estate Shadowlands. Hope is running away from an indiscretion and Shadowlands chews her up. Rosie the author and his wife Delia manage to seem so welcoming before you see those sharp teeth.

This is a breathtaking novel, where you can see so easily how one might find themselves in a situation like this. Heady location mixed with wealth and glamour make this a read you won’t forget.

Absolutely perfect

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Sue Purbrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first part of this book a little slow, but the second part blew me away. A young, ambitious girl with dreams of becoming a writer takes a job as secretary to a famous author. She moves to live with him and his wife at their beautiful, idyllic home in the country. The couple is fairly weird, to say the least, but Hope falls under their spell. I couldn’t get to grips with who they were, or why they behaved as they did. It all felt a little unbelievable and I couldn’t relate to the characters or what was going on. And then came the second part – and I realised that author, Araminta Hall, had made me feel exactly as I was supposed to feel. A little uncomfortable. A little confused. Not sure who to believe. Suddenly my doubts turn to serious mistrust. Who is telling the truth? Whose side should I take? Did things play out the way they clearly had in my mind? I was kept guessing, and ultimately really enjoyed this read.