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The Bestseller
YOU TOLD HER YOUR DARKEST SECRETS.
NOW MILLIONS WILL READ THEM . . .
Therapist Helena Salve knows that client confidentiality is the number one unbreakable rule of her job. But the constant stories of coercive control and threat she hears from her client Belle about her dangerous husband have been wearing her down. One night over too many glasses of wine, she tells her best friend Tala everything that Belle has told her.
The problem is, Tala is a down-on-her-luck novelist who is looking for an idea for her new thriller.
Months later, Tala is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher is saying this is going to be her biggest book ever. The story is Belle's story. Not only is Helena's job on the line, but if Belle's husband is as dangerous as she says, her life is too...
Why would Tala do this to Helena? She knows what's at stake.
Your friends are meant to protect you... aren't they?
NOW MILLIONS WILL READ THEM . . .
Therapist Helena Salve knows that client confidentiality is the number one unbreakable rule of her job. But the constant stories of coercive control and threat she hears from her client Belle about her dangerous husband have been wearing her down. One night over too many glasses of wine, she tells her best friend Tala everything that Belle has told her.
The problem is, Tala is a down-on-her-luck novelist who is looking for an idea for her new thriller.
Months later, Tala is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher is saying this is going to be her biggest book ever. The story is Belle's story. Not only is Helena's job on the line, but if Belle's husband is as dangerous as she says, her life is too...
Why would Tala do this to Helena? She knows what's at stake.
Your friends are meant to protect you... aren't they?
Audible Audio
Published June 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
➡️ "The Bestseller" was not one of my besties.
➡️ WHY? I was not the right reader for this book. I prefer fast-paced thrillers without repetitive text and too many tangents.
➡️ The book's premise was unique and compelling:
A therapist breaches confidentiality by revealing the sordid details of a client's troubled marriage to her best friend, who then turns that juicy real-life drama into her next book.
I lost track of how many times the therapist expressed regret over her decision. Yes, the guilt was real, but this repetitive text and melodrama slowed the momentum.
I would have enjoyed the book more had it stayed locked onto its central premise instead of constantly veering off course.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Charlotte Worthing. Although Charlotte Worthing's performance was 10-star, the book would have benefited from multiple narrators since it unfolded from multiple POVs and timelines.
This was a very impressive debut with uneven pacing that failed to deliver the thriller punch I was seeking.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2026
I could listen to the narrator, Charlotte Worthing, all day. Her voice is soothing, like a warm bath after a hard day. The plot was clever, original, and unpredictable. Most of the story reads like a deadly cat-and-mouse game, with the roles constantly shifting as twists and turns accumulate. There were so many twists at the end, my head was spinning. The epilogue is chilling and the perfect conclusion to a mesmerizing, jaw-dropping tale. Thank you, NetGalley, and Headline Audio for my audiobook.
June 4, 2026
This is a debut? Wow! Jenny Knightsby is an author to watch. The Bestseller had me hooked from the very beginning and my jaw dropping at the end. What did I just read?
A story of complicated relationships and the things people do for love. Helena is a therapist who is seeing Bella, a woman who doesn’t really believe that there is a problem with her marriage but is seeing her to shit her sister up. Helena can see what is really happening and is scared for her patients safety. She mentions the case to her best friend Tala, knowing that she shouldn’t but really needing someone to talk to. Months later, Talas new book comes out about a toxic relationship that is the mirror of Bella’s life. And this is just the beginning of her troubles.
I loved the tension throughout this book, it really did make you feel like everyone was in danger and scared. Through dual timelines of the past and present, we learn more about Helena and Talas relationship and past and a see why each woman has the issues that they do.
I thought that I had this one all worked out, and I was so happy to be wrong. The twists in this one were so clever, it was a very bingeable story. It is emotional as you would imagine, and some parts are hard to read. The narrator Charlotte Worthing did a fantastic job of telling the story, with all the emotion and tension in play.
Thank you to Headline Audio for my early copy of this great book to reread and listen to.
A story of complicated relationships and the things people do for love. Helena is a therapist who is seeing Bella, a woman who doesn’t really believe that there is a problem with her marriage but is seeing her to shit her sister up. Helena can see what is really happening and is scared for her patients safety. She mentions the case to her best friend Tala, knowing that she shouldn’t but really needing someone to talk to. Months later, Talas new book comes out about a toxic relationship that is the mirror of Bella’s life. And this is just the beginning of her troubles.
I loved the tension throughout this book, it really did make you feel like everyone was in danger and scared. Through dual timelines of the past and present, we learn more about Helena and Talas relationship and past and a see why each woman has the issues that they do.
I thought that I had this one all worked out, and I was so happy to be wrong. The twists in this one were so clever, it was a very bingeable story. It is emotional as you would imagine, and some parts are hard to read. The narrator Charlotte Worthing did a fantastic job of telling the story, with all the emotion and tension in play.
Thank you to Headline Audio for my early copy of this great book to reread and listen to.
June 6, 2026
The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby is an intense, fast-paced thriller that completely pulled me in from start to finish. The story follows Helena, a therapist who becomes deeply involved in her client Belle’s life as she tries to help her escape a dangerous and abusive marriage. What starts as a professional relationship quickly spirals into something far more complicated and morally grey.
As Helena confides in her best friend Tala about Belle’s situation, things take a shocking turn when Tala writes a book that appears to mirror Belle’s life a little too closely. From that moment on, the tension ramps up, and Helena is left questioning whether she has betrayed her client’s trust in the worst possible way.
This book truly felt like a roller coaster—I couldn’t put it down. The twists kept coming, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the story shifted again. The emotional weight of the characters’ choices and the ethical dilemmas Helena faces added depth to the suspense.
That said, this is definitely a heavy read at times. The story includes trigger warnings for infertility, abuse, rape, drugs, and murder, which may be difficult for some readers. However, these elements are woven into the story in a way that heightens the stakes and keeps you fully invested.
Overall, The Bestseller is a gripping and addictive read that explores trust, boundaries, and the consequences of blurred lines. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with plenty of twists, this one is well worth picking up.
As Helena confides in her best friend Tala about Belle’s situation, things take a shocking turn when Tala writes a book that appears to mirror Belle’s life a little too closely. From that moment on, the tension ramps up, and Helena is left questioning whether she has betrayed her client’s trust in the worst possible way.
This book truly felt like a roller coaster—I couldn’t put it down. The twists kept coming, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the story shifted again. The emotional weight of the characters’ choices and the ethical dilemmas Helena faces added depth to the suspense.
That said, this is definitely a heavy read at times. The story includes trigger warnings for infertility, abuse, rape, drugs, and murder, which may be difficult for some readers. However, these elements are woven into the story in a way that heightens the stakes and keeps you fully invested.
Overall, The Bestseller is a gripping and addictive read that explores trust, boundaries, and the consequences of blurred lines. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with plenty of twists, this one is well worth picking up.
June 23, 2026
Yikes! I give this one 3.75⭐️’s round up. This one gets you from the very beginning and then it’s a slow burn, but one that will have you a little anxious for more but when it heats up hold on to your knickers 😂 Honestly this one should come with some trigger warnings it’s heavy with behavior health disorders, sexual abuse with minor, and sexual assault. I mean, it is a psychological thriller with behavioral health being at the center. It can be a little repetitive, but still entertaining all the more.
Looking for your next deep dive, psychological thriller, with lots of toxic people and good old fashioned gaslighting? Then stop right here! Great storytelling with a satisfying ending and for that I say…thank you!
Looking for your next deep dive, psychological thriller, with lots of toxic people and good old fashioned gaslighting? Then stop right here! Great storytelling with a satisfying ending and for that I say…thank you!
June 8, 2026
3.5⭐️
I’d had this one on my radar for months after seeing it absolutely everywhere on Bookstagram during its UK release. The marketing campaign for this book was fantastic and definitely did its job because I was intrigued long before I picked it up.
I listened to this on audio and found it a really easy book to get through. The premise immediately grabbed me: a therapist breaches confidentiality, her novelist best friend publishes a suspiciously familiar story, and suddenly everyone’s lives start unravelling.
The opening was strong and had me hooked straight away. I also thought some of the reveals were clever, particularly as more of Helena and Tala’s history came to light. The friendship dynamics were probably the most interesting part of the book for me.
That said, the pacing dipped a bit through the middle and there were a few moments that felt a little hard to believe. Not enough to stop me enjoying it, but enough that I occasionally found myself questioning how realistic certain developments were.
The ending ramped things back up again though, and I flew through the final section.
Overall, a bingeable psychological thriller with a great premise, a dramatic finish and enough twists along the way to keep me listening.
I’d had this one on my radar for months after seeing it absolutely everywhere on Bookstagram during its UK release. The marketing campaign for this book was fantastic and definitely did its job because I was intrigued long before I picked it up.
I listened to this on audio and found it a really easy book to get through. The premise immediately grabbed me: a therapist breaches confidentiality, her novelist best friend publishes a suspiciously familiar story, and suddenly everyone’s lives start unravelling.
The opening was strong and had me hooked straight away. I also thought some of the reveals were clever, particularly as more of Helena and Tala’s history came to light. The friendship dynamics were probably the most interesting part of the book for me.
That said, the pacing dipped a bit through the middle and there were a few moments that felt a little hard to believe. Not enough to stop me enjoying it, but enough that I occasionally found myself questioning how realistic certain developments were.
The ending ramped things back up again though, and I flew through the final section.
Overall, a bingeable psychological thriller with a great premise, a dramatic finish and enough twists along the way to keep me listening.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OMG.
I will never ever look at my therapist the same way again. Sorry, not sorry. In this day and age, most of us have talk therapy covered by insurance, so we drop in, tell all, and blissfully go on our merry way. telling our form of truth.......
Not judging here, but we all have secrets, some deep and dark. We trust our therapist to keep those........ privacy acts and all....... But what if the secrets aren't really um.......
A therapists job is to listen. NOT TELL.
Nuff said.
Since this is my opinion, and Im not doing spoilers, Im just gonna say, damn, why didn't I write this book? Oh yeah, cause Im not that good.
Full of angst, twists, turns and hate (oh yeah that was mine), this is one of the most unputdownable books so far. Trust no one...... And set an alarm so you get some rest before you have to go to your therapy appointment tomorrow morning
😉
I will never ever look at my therapist the same way again. Sorry, not sorry. In this day and age, most of us have talk therapy covered by insurance, so we drop in, tell all, and blissfully go on our merry way. telling our form of truth.......
Not judging here, but we all have secrets, some deep and dark. We trust our therapist to keep those........ privacy acts and all....... But what if the secrets aren't really um.......
A therapists job is to listen. NOT TELL.
Nuff said.
Since this is my opinion, and Im not doing spoilers, Im just gonna say, damn, why didn't I write this book? Oh yeah, cause Im not that good.
Full of angst, twists, turns and hate (oh yeah that was mine), this is one of the most unputdownable books so far. Trust no one...... And set an alarm so you get some rest before you have to go to your therapy appointment tomorrow morning
😉
June 22, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
An excellent debut. That was very nearly a 4 star rating from me, I’m extremely hard to please when it comes to psychological thrillers for no real reason other than it was previously my go to genre and therefore I’ve read so many that I practically always have it figured out. Not quite, this time, I definitely guessed some of the twists, but not how they’d play out. I liked the characters, I loved the premise and the narration was excellent. I did find things to be slightly repetitive at times but it wasn’t a killer for me.
I can’t wait to see where the author goes next.
Huge thanks to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
An excellent debut. That was very nearly a 4 star rating from me, I’m extremely hard to please when it comes to psychological thrillers for no real reason other than it was previously my go to genre and therefore I’ve read so many that I practically always have it figured out. Not quite, this time, I definitely guessed some of the twists, but not how they’d play out. I liked the characters, I loved the premise and the narration was excellent. I did find things to be slightly repetitive at times but it wasn’t a killer for me.
I can’t wait to see where the author goes next.
Huge thanks to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
May 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
An enjoyable read. A little predictable I found but I read it easily and enjoyed a couple of smaller twists. Great writing and story.
An enjoyable read. A little predictable I found but I read it easily and enjoyed a couple of smaller twists. Great writing and story.
February 24, 2026
Big thanks to Netgalley for approving my request for an E arc of this book!! I did find that the story was dragging on a bit for me. It seemed like I was waiting for too long to figure out what happened in the past. (I also was able to figure out the twists in this book not that that bothers me necessarily I still enjoyed the read.) However, I did love the ending of this the last 15-20% of the book was so good!
June 3, 2026
As someone who loves psychological thrillers built around secrets and unreliable memories, The Bestseller was an enjoyable read. The premise immediately hooked me: a therapist makes one mistake by sharing details about a client's troubled marriage with her best friend, only for that story to end up in a bestselling novel. From there, the tension keeps building as the consequences begin to spiral.
The present and day storyline was intriguing, but the flashbacks to Helena and Tala's university years were my favorite parts of the book. With each flashback, more pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and I found myself constantly questioning what had really happened in the past and who could be trusted. The friendship between Helena and Tala felt layered and complicated, and I liked how the story explored loyalty, betrayal, and the secrets people keep to protect themselves and others.
The pacing was a little slow for me in the beginning, and while I guessed part of the twist before the reveal, I still enjoyed watching everything unfold. The final chapters tied the different timelines together well.
The present and day storyline was intriguing, but the flashbacks to Helena and Tala's university years were my favorite parts of the book. With each flashback, more pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and I found myself constantly questioning what had really happened in the past and who could be trusted. The friendship between Helena and Tala felt layered and complicated, and I liked how the story explored loyalty, betrayal, and the secrets people keep to protect themselves and others.
The pacing was a little slow for me in the beginning, and while I guessed part of the twist before the reveal, I still enjoyed watching everything unfold. The final chapters tied the different timelines together well.
March 22, 2026
What would you do if your best friend went against privacy violations of your patient and in a few weeks will publish everything to the world? Helena Salve is a couples therapy therapist who has some harsh methods but they work. When Helena has a new patient, everything changes. Julius- Belles husband is a monster. Slowly through therapy sessions, Helena discovers the truths that make him out to be a horrible man who abuses his wife mentally, and physically. When her best friend releases a book with all the details she spilled, Helena has to make sure Julius doesn’t get his hands on a copy. Read to find out what unfolds chapter after chapter in this crazy suspenseful thriller. I like the 2 settings back in university and present day. The last 25% of the book got so good I couldn’t put it down!
June 19, 2026
Therapist Helena makes a serious mistake by sharing a client's personal information with her best friend, Tala. What follows is a series of events that could potentially turn her life upside down.
I found this one engaging from the start. The pacing was on the slower side, but I enjoyed the way the story unfolded and found myself invested in what was happening. At times, it felt a little repetitive, though.
I also liked the dual timelines and thought they worked well to build the story. The way everything came together in the end was satisfying. I also enjoyed the audiobook narration, which added to the overall experience.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio | Mountain Leopard Press for the ALC.
February 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-read ARC. It has been a while since I have read a psychological thriller but this one kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I had an inkling of where the climax of this book would go but I was completely surprised by the twists and turns and the ending. The friendship between Tala and Helena kept the story relatable while the tension between Tala and Helena’s husband had you questioning a hidden incident. So, so good. Would definitely make a great movie.
July 1, 2026
I love a good thriller and this book did not disappoint 👏🏼👏🏼 I was immediately interested from when I first read the blurb and really loved the storyline! The story unfolded so well and the twists involving Dylan as a husband as well as Julian/Leo was so well written, I was gripped from start until finish!
Thank you to Netgalley as well as Jenny Knightsby for allowing me to read and review an arc of this book! 4 stars! ⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley as well as Jenny Knightsby for allowing me to read and review an arc of this book! 4 stars! ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I always enjoy a good psychological thriller and this did not disappoint. Following Helena through not only her professional but personal turmoil and fall out was a fascinating perspective. I enjoyed how you could almost look back and see her spiraling more and more. I particularly appreciated how the twists kept coming till the very last pages. I enjoyed the flashback elements although sometimes I got a little confused as I'd overlooked the jump in timeline. These were a great way to build up a picture of effectively what started it all though. I wish we'd got to see more of Tala, she was a really interesting character who didn't get enough page time in the current timeline. I'd love to see the whole story and writing the bestseller from her perspective. Dylan and Julias were well written and it was very clever how the two aspects of abusive relationships were portrayed, one obvious and arguably what most people would imagine with a controlling relationship, what much quieter and more psychological.
Overall a very enjoyable read that I couldn't stop turning the page on! I can't wait to read more by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mountain Leopard Press (Headline) for an ARC of this book.
Overall a very enjoyable read that I couldn't stop turning the page on! I can't wait to read more by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mountain Leopard Press (Headline) for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
A quick, captivating read that I couldn’t put down. The dual POVs and the past-and-present timelines tied together really well and kept the story moving. There were lots of twists..while many were somewhat predictable, it was still an overall enjoyable read.
I also appreciated how the book portrayed two different types of abusive relationships: one that is more obvious and one that happens more behind the scenes. That contrast felt realistic and highlighted how subtle abuse can be overlooked, even by the people experiencing it.
A quick, captivating read that I couldn’t put down. The dual POVs and the past-and-present timelines tied together really well and kept the story moving. There were lots of twists..while many were somewhat predictable, it was still an overall enjoyable read.
I also appreciated how the book portrayed two different types of abusive relationships: one that is more obvious and one that happens more behind the scenes. That contrast felt realistic and highlighted how subtle abuse can be overlooked, even by the people experiencing it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed The Bestseller, check out any trigger warnings prior as some darker themes in the story! It was a slower start then really picked up pace towards the end! And some twists I didnt see coming!
March 14, 2026
Thank you to Headline Books and Netgalley for this eARC!
Helena, a happily married woman, with University best friend Tala by her side, is a relationships therapist. When her new client Belle, a confident woman, playful and in control, diminishes under her husband's shadow, Helena finds her mind fixated on Belle's abusive relationship. Over a glass of wine, she shares details of the client with Tala, sharing more over the year. When Tala's new book comes out, Helena finds obvious links between the story and the details she shared with Tala in private. As Belle's husband begins to extend his control over Belle, trying to pull her back under his control, will he recognise himself in Tala's best selling, most talked about book? And if he does, what will this mean for Helena?
I was drawn to this book instantly from just the blurb. I had to know what happened and it didn't disappoint. Helena is a very stoic character, she learns when to stay silent, when to push her clients, and taught herself to recognise social signs in order to understand people and her clients better. I found this worked well, and even though Helena's character isn't exactly the most enticing character on paper, Knightsby handles her well. Helena is a likeable character and I found myself rooting for her throughout. Tala is also a very likeable character, and we even get some flashbacks from her point of view mixed in with the present. I found some of the flashbacks quite drawn out, hinting towards something but seemingly never getting closer!
This book utilises twists and secrets in order to keep you guessing and add suspense. I did find that the build up in some parts was very very heavy, and quite drawn out. Believability was also a minor issue, I could excuse some of it due to character's own motives and fears, etc, but the time frame between certain *events* did make it a lot less plausible in my mind. Despite that, I found it was something I was willing to forgive as the book was just so engaging!
I was hooked instantly, and I really enjoyed Knightsby's writing style. It felt smooth, easy to read and exciting. I kept staying up late to read this, and longing for my break at work so I could read more! There is some minor issues in the book for me, but for others I could see it putting them off. If you like thrillers and can forgive a few *less plausible* character actions/inactions, then I would highly recommend this book.
Helena, a happily married woman, with University best friend Tala by her side, is a relationships therapist. When her new client Belle, a confident woman, playful and in control, diminishes under her husband's shadow, Helena finds her mind fixated on Belle's abusive relationship. Over a glass of wine, she shares details of the client with Tala, sharing more over the year. When Tala's new book comes out, Helena finds obvious links between the story and the details she shared with Tala in private. As Belle's husband begins to extend his control over Belle, trying to pull her back under his control, will he recognise himself in Tala's best selling, most talked about book? And if he does, what will this mean for Helena?
I was drawn to this book instantly from just the blurb. I had to know what happened and it didn't disappoint. Helena is a very stoic character, she learns when to stay silent, when to push her clients, and taught herself to recognise social signs in order to understand people and her clients better. I found this worked well, and even though Helena's character isn't exactly the most enticing character on paper, Knightsby handles her well. Helena is a likeable character and I found myself rooting for her throughout. Tala is also a very likeable character, and we even get some flashbacks from her point of view mixed in with the present. I found some of the flashbacks quite drawn out, hinting towards something but seemingly never getting closer!
This book utilises twists and secrets in order to keep you guessing and add suspense. I did find that the build up in some parts was very very heavy, and quite drawn out. Believability was also a minor issue, I could excuse some of it due to character's own motives and fears, etc, but the time frame between certain *events* did make it a lot less plausible in my mind. Despite that, I found it was something I was willing to forgive as the book was just so engaging!
I was hooked instantly, and I really enjoyed Knightsby's writing style. It felt smooth, easy to read and exciting. I kept staying up late to read this, and longing for my break at work so I could read more! There is some minor issues in the book for me, but for others I could see it putting them off. If you like thrillers and can forgive a few *less plausible* character actions/inactions, then I would highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Bestseller is a sharp, unsettling, and compulsively readable psychological thriller that digs into the fragile boundaries between friendship, ambition, and betrayal. From the opening chapters, there’s a creeping sense of inevitability—one small breach of trust that spirals into something far more dangerous than anyone expects.
Helena is a brilliantly drawn protagonist: steady, compassionate, and deeply committed to her work as a therapist. Her sessions with Belle are some of the most emotionally charged moments in the novel, filled with tension, fear, and the heavy weight of someone trying to escape a life of coercive control. It’s easy to understand how Helena, worn down by the stories she hears, makes one terrible mistake. And it’s even easier to feel the shock when that mistake becomes the backbone of her best friend’s new “fictional” thriller.
Tala is equally fascinating—ambitious, frustrated, and desperate for a breakthrough. Her decision to use Belle’s story is both horrifying and heartbreakingly human, and the novel excels at showing how ambition can warp even the closest relationships. The dynamic between Helena and Tala becomes a taut, emotional battleground, full of guilt, anger, and the dawning realisation that their friendship may never have been as solid as Helena believed.
The tension escalates beautifully as the book within the book becomes a sensation. The stakes rise on every front: Helena’s career, Belle’s safety, and the terrifying possibility that Belle’s husband will recognise himself in the pages. The author handles the theme of coercive control with sensitivity, keeping the focus on emotional truth rather than sensationalism.
What makes the story especially gripping is its moral complexity. No one is entirely innocent, yet everyone is painfully human. The novel asks uncomfortable questions about loyalty, responsibility, and the stories we claim as our own—and it refuses to offer easy answers.
Twisty, emotionally charged, and impossible to put down, The Bestseller is a smart, character‑driven thriller that lingers long after the final page. It’s a reminder that the most dangerous betrayals often come from the people we trust most.
With thanks to Jenny Knightsby, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Helena is a brilliantly drawn protagonist: steady, compassionate, and deeply committed to her work as a therapist. Her sessions with Belle are some of the most emotionally charged moments in the novel, filled with tension, fear, and the heavy weight of someone trying to escape a life of coercive control. It’s easy to understand how Helena, worn down by the stories she hears, makes one terrible mistake. And it’s even easier to feel the shock when that mistake becomes the backbone of her best friend’s new “fictional” thriller.
Tala is equally fascinating—ambitious, frustrated, and desperate for a breakthrough. Her decision to use Belle’s story is both horrifying and heartbreakingly human, and the novel excels at showing how ambition can warp even the closest relationships. The dynamic between Helena and Tala becomes a taut, emotional battleground, full of guilt, anger, and the dawning realisation that their friendship may never have been as solid as Helena believed.
The tension escalates beautifully as the book within the book becomes a sensation. The stakes rise on every front: Helena’s career, Belle’s safety, and the terrifying possibility that Belle’s husband will recognise himself in the pages. The author handles the theme of coercive control with sensitivity, keeping the focus on emotional truth rather than sensationalism.
What makes the story especially gripping is its moral complexity. No one is entirely innocent, yet everyone is painfully human. The novel asks uncomfortable questions about loyalty, responsibility, and the stories we claim as our own—and it refuses to offer easy answers.
Twisty, emotionally charged, and impossible to put down, The Bestseller is a smart, character‑driven thriller that lingers long after the final page. It’s a reminder that the most dangerous betrayals often come from the people we trust most.
With thanks to Jenny Knightsby, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby
Narrated by Charlotte Worthing
Length : About 12 hours at 1x or about 8 hours at 1.5 x
Genres: Debut, Psychological Suspense
BOUNDARIES
Although therapist Helena Salve knows the importance of client confidentiality, after too many glasses of wine one night, she tells her best friend, Tala, about one of her clients, a woman named Belle. The examples of coercive control that Belle has shared, although of course she doesn’t see it as such, are the most shocking that Helena has ever heard.
BETRAYALS
Months later, Tala, a down on her luck novelist, is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher believes her next book will be her break-out novel. Usually, she shares an ARC (advanced reader copy) with Helena, but this time she has been very secretive about her book “Your Enemies Close”.
Once Helena reads it, she understands why. It seems to be Belle’s story.
If Belle, or worse, her husband Julius, were to read it, Helena's career would be jeopardized. And, if Belle's husband is as dangerous as she claims, she and Belle could be in danger as well. Helena cannot believe that Tala could betray her confidence like this.
I’m drawn to PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS with therapists and those that challenge boundaries, so, impulsively, I added this DEBUT. It ended up being so much more COMPLEX than what it initially sounded like.
I was completely ENGAGED as this entertaining story unfolds through alternating PAST and PRESENT chapters, giving us background on the complicated friendship that Helena and Tala share, as well as the relationships that they each share with their own significant others, and how these play into what happens with Belle.
The author takes her time revealing SO MANY SECRETS but then the ending has three time jumps, making it feel rushed, and at 400 pages (12 hours) the story feels a little bit long. Despite these pacing issues, it is a SOLID DEBUT, and I will definitely pick up whatever Jenny Knightsby pens next!
3.75 stars ⭐️
Expected release date: June 18, 2026
Thank You to Mountain Leopard Press for the Audible Audio provided through NetGalley Shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Narrated by Charlotte Worthing
Length : About 12 hours at 1x or about 8 hours at 1.5 x
Genres: Debut, Psychological Suspense
BOUNDARIES
Although therapist Helena Salve knows the importance of client confidentiality, after too many glasses of wine one night, she tells her best friend, Tala, about one of her clients, a woman named Belle. The examples of coercive control that Belle has shared, although of course she doesn’t see it as such, are the most shocking that Helena has ever heard.
BETRAYALS
Months later, Tala, a down on her luck novelist, is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher believes her next book will be her break-out novel. Usually, she shares an ARC (advanced reader copy) with Helena, but this time she has been very secretive about her book “Your Enemies Close”.
Once Helena reads it, she understands why. It seems to be Belle’s story.
If Belle, or worse, her husband Julius, were to read it, Helena's career would be jeopardized. And, if Belle's husband is as dangerous as she claims, she and Belle could be in danger as well. Helena cannot believe that Tala could betray her confidence like this.
I’m drawn to PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS with therapists and those that challenge boundaries, so, impulsively, I added this DEBUT. It ended up being so much more COMPLEX than what it initially sounded like.
I was completely ENGAGED as this entertaining story unfolds through alternating PAST and PRESENT chapters, giving us background on the complicated friendship that Helena and Tala share, as well as the relationships that they each share with their own significant others, and how these play into what happens with Belle.
The author takes her time revealing SO MANY SECRETS but then the ending has three time jumps, making it feel rushed, and at 400 pages (12 hours) the story feels a little bit long. Despite these pacing issues, it is a SOLID DEBUT, and I will definitely pick up whatever Jenny Knightsby pens next!
3.75 stars ⭐️
Expected release date: June 18, 2026
Thank You to Mountain Leopard Press for the Audible Audio provided through NetGalley Shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A psychological thriller with a main character who is a psychologist was too intriguing for me to pass up. I love exploring the forces that drive character behavior and this debut author being brave enough to tackle that particular bear had me curious. There were some snags with the pacing, this didn't need to be a 400-page brick, but I enjoyed the premise, so it wasn't a huge deal.
📙📙📙📙
A psychologist spilling drunken secrets to a bestie could cost her career.
🍷🍷🍷🍷
Could you trust her to protect those confidences?
🤐🤐🤐🤐
What if she used your story of a client's controlling husband as a template for her newest novel instead?
✍🏻✍🏻✍🏻✍🏻
This is the scenario Helena finds herself in. Betrayed by her best friend Tala, she finds herself worried about her job and her client Belle whose husband Julian is a twisted monster. With the upcoming novel poised to hit the bestseller list Helena feels compelled to circle the wagons and protect those around her. Her fear is that if the novel receives the projected success, the violent Julian could recognize his actions bared to the world.
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
However, the more we see of Helena I wondered if she was able to see the forest for the trees in her own life. The story soon becomes more in depth with a past timeline that details events occurring during Helena's and Tala's college years. It opened the doors to deeper mental exploration as both young women had issues as did the guys they were dating.
🦎🦎🦎🦎
Some of these characters read like every slimy person I've met that had enough charisma to draw people in. You have to pay attention to see the mask slip, but once that happens you can't unsee it. The repetition got old even though I acknowledge that these swirling thoughts would plague a person much in this fashion in real life. However, as a narrative it caused the pace to drag. Charlotte Worthing's narration was immersive the way she brought the cast to life was memorable.
🎧🎧🎧🎧
I'm looking forward to what Jenny Knightsby creates next!
Thank you to Headline Audio | Mountain Leopard Press for providing an ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
📙📙📙📙
A psychologist spilling drunken secrets to a bestie could cost her career.
🍷🍷🍷🍷
Could you trust her to protect those confidences?
🤐🤐🤐🤐
What if she used your story of a client's controlling husband as a template for her newest novel instead?
✍🏻✍🏻✍🏻✍🏻
This is the scenario Helena finds herself in. Betrayed by her best friend Tala, she finds herself worried about her job and her client Belle whose husband Julian is a twisted monster. With the upcoming novel poised to hit the bestseller list Helena feels compelled to circle the wagons and protect those around her. Her fear is that if the novel receives the projected success, the violent Julian could recognize his actions bared to the world.
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
However, the more we see of Helena I wondered if she was able to see the forest for the trees in her own life. The story soon becomes more in depth with a past timeline that details events occurring during Helena's and Tala's college years. It opened the doors to deeper mental exploration as both young women had issues as did the guys they were dating.
🦎🦎🦎🦎
Some of these characters read like every slimy person I've met that had enough charisma to draw people in. You have to pay attention to see the mask slip, but once that happens you can't unsee it. The repetition got old even though I acknowledge that these swirling thoughts would plague a person much in this fashion in real life. However, as a narrative it caused the pace to drag. Charlotte Worthing's narration was immersive the way she brought the cast to life was memorable.
🎧🎧🎧🎧
I'm looking forward to what Jenny Knightsby creates next!
Thank you to Headline Audio | Mountain Leopard Press for providing an ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Bestseller follows therapist Helena, who knows that confidentiality is one unbreakable rule of her job. But the constant stories of coercive control from her client Belle about her husband have been wearing her down. One night, she tells her best friend Tala, a struggling novelist, everything. Months later, Tala is excited about her biggest book yet - except it’s Belle's story. Not only is Helena's job on the line, but if Belle's husband is as dangerous as she says, her life is too...
The Bestseller is an engaging debut built on an intriguing premise, that unfolds as a slow-burn, psychological story that rewards patience and cleverly blurs the line between fiction and reality.
Jenny Knightsby doesn’t shy away from depicting some truly horrifying examples of coercive control, yet she approaches the subject with sensitivity. Rather than sensationalising it, she explores its emotional and psychological toll with care. Combined with the thoughtful exploration of friendship, ethical responsibility, complicity, and consequence, it creates a layered, intimate, and unsettling story.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its morally tangled narrative. The chapters set in the past added depth, keeping me invested in uncovering what had happened, whilst the morally complex characters left me constantly second guessing who was actually in the wrong. I did guess some of the twists, however they were so satisfying and well executed that they felt rewarding and poetic rather than just predictable.
The pacing is very much a slow burn, and often repetitive, but this ultimately fed into the claustrophobic sense of inevitability that runs through the story. The second half is where the pace picks up - the tension sharpens, the truth teeters on a knife edge, and the sense of betrayal becomes palpable. Then, the ending delivers a powerful karmic justice that was very satisfying - but I won’t say anymore!
Thank you so much to Headline Books for having me on the Netgalley readalong! My opinions are my own.
The Bestseller is an engaging debut built on an intriguing premise, that unfolds as a slow-burn, psychological story that rewards patience and cleverly blurs the line between fiction and reality.
Jenny Knightsby doesn’t shy away from depicting some truly horrifying examples of coercive control, yet she approaches the subject with sensitivity. Rather than sensationalising it, she explores its emotional and psychological toll with care. Combined with the thoughtful exploration of friendship, ethical responsibility, complicity, and consequence, it creates a layered, intimate, and unsettling story.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its morally tangled narrative. The chapters set in the past added depth, keeping me invested in uncovering what had happened, whilst the morally complex characters left me constantly second guessing who was actually in the wrong. I did guess some of the twists, however they were so satisfying and well executed that they felt rewarding and poetic rather than just predictable.
The pacing is very much a slow burn, and often repetitive, but this ultimately fed into the claustrophobic sense of inevitability that runs through the story. The second half is where the pace picks up - the tension sharpens, the truth teeters on a knife edge, and the sense of betrayal becomes palpable. Then, the ending delivers a powerful karmic justice that was very satisfying - but I won’t say anymore!
Thank you so much to Headline Books for having me on the Netgalley readalong! My opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review: The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby
The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby is a psychological thriller that exceeded my expectations.
The story follows therapist Helena Salve, a woman who is exceptional at her job until one of her newest patients awakens something deeply unsettling within her. In a moment of vulnerability, Helena shares parts of her confidential sessions with her best friend, fully aware that she should not. Soon after, her best friend releases a new novel, and the plot mirrors Helena’s patient’s story far too closely to be a coincidence.
As panic sets in, Helena fears not only for her career but also for her patient’s safety, especially when it comes to the patient’s husband. She struggles to understand how her best friend could betray her trust so completely, and the tension escalates from there.
This is a powerful, thought-provoking story that lingered in my mind long after I finished it. It raises unsettling questions:
Who can we truly trust?
Do we really know the people closest to us?
Are we seeing reality, or only what we want to see?
The plot is gripping and immersive, pulling me in from the very first page. The characters feel deeply human, flawed, and real, which made it easy to connect with them. Their struggles reflect real-life issues, and that realism added emotional weight to the story. My favorite moments were when Helena finally began to piece everything together and, especially, the final revelation, which was both shocking and satisfying.
Please note that the book includes mentions of abuse, which may be triggering for some readers.
Overall, this would be an excellent pick for a book club, as it invites discussion and reflection. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that explore trust, betrayal, and moral boundaries, I highly recommend The Bestseller.
The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby is a psychological thriller that exceeded my expectations.
The story follows therapist Helena Salve, a woman who is exceptional at her job until one of her newest patients awakens something deeply unsettling within her. In a moment of vulnerability, Helena shares parts of her confidential sessions with her best friend, fully aware that she should not. Soon after, her best friend releases a new novel, and the plot mirrors Helena’s patient’s story far too closely to be a coincidence.
As panic sets in, Helena fears not only for her career but also for her patient’s safety, especially when it comes to the patient’s husband. She struggles to understand how her best friend could betray her trust so completely, and the tension escalates from there.
This is a powerful, thought-provoking story that lingered in my mind long after I finished it. It raises unsettling questions:
Who can we truly trust?
Do we really know the people closest to us?
Are we seeing reality, or only what we want to see?
The plot is gripping and immersive, pulling me in from the very first page. The characters feel deeply human, flawed, and real, which made it easy to connect with them. Their struggles reflect real-life issues, and that realism added emotional weight to the story. My favorite moments were when Helena finally began to piece everything together and, especially, the final revelation, which was both shocking and satisfying.
Please note that the book includes mentions of abuse, which may be triggering for some readers.
Overall, this would be an excellent pick for a book club, as it invites discussion and reflection. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that explore trust, betrayal, and moral boundaries, I highly recommend The Bestseller.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Bestseller is a compelling psychological thriller that thrives on the uneasy space between trust, ambition, and moral failure. What begins as a single lapse in judgment, a therapist sharing a client’s terrifying story over wine, unravels into a chain reaction that neither woman can control. The novel wastes no time establishing a sense of creeping dread: the moment Helena confides in her best friend Tala, you can feel the ground shift beneath them, even before Tala turns that confession into the plot of her next blockbuster novel.
The story’s power lies in how intimately it explores coercive control, secrecy, and the emotional fallout of betrayal. Rather than sensationalising abuse, the book handles it with a careful, empathetic touch, showing the psychological erosion that comes from living under threat. At the same time, it digs into the complicated dynamics of female friendship, loyalty, envy, blind spots, and the quiet ways people justify crossing a line.
The dual timelines add depth, slowly revealing the fractures in Helena and Tala’s relationship while keeping the reader guessing about who is manipulating whom. Even when I suspected some of the twists, they landed with a satisfying inevitability, the kind that feels earned rather than predictable. The second half tightens the tension considerably: secrets sharpen, motives blur, and the sense of betrayal becomes almost claustrophobic. The final reveal delivers a punch of poetic justice that lingers long after the last page.
This is a thriller that stays with you, not just because of its twists, but because it asks unsettling questions about trust, responsibility, and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love. Highly enjoyable.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
The story’s power lies in how intimately it explores coercive control, secrecy, and the emotional fallout of betrayal. Rather than sensationalising abuse, the book handles it with a careful, empathetic touch, showing the psychological erosion that comes from living under threat. At the same time, it digs into the complicated dynamics of female friendship, loyalty, envy, blind spots, and the quiet ways people justify crossing a line.
The dual timelines add depth, slowly revealing the fractures in Helena and Tala’s relationship while keeping the reader guessing about who is manipulating whom. Even when I suspected some of the twists, they landed with a satisfying inevitability, the kind that feels earned rather than predictable. The second half tightens the tension considerably: secrets sharpen, motives blur, and the sense of betrayal becomes almost claustrophobic. The final reveal delivers a punch of poetic justice that lingers long after the last page.
This is a thriller that stays with you, not just because of its twists, but because it asks unsettling questions about trust, responsibility, and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love. Highly enjoyable.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one had me side-eyeing my friends, my therapist, and honestly anyone who’s ever said trust me with a glass of wine in hand.
The premise is so juicy it feels a little dangerous even summarizing it. A therapist spills client secrets to her best friend, and then that best friend turns around and turns those secrets into a bestselling thriller. And suddenly it’s like… wait. That is not what friendship is supposed to do. Right?
I really enjoyed how quickly things spiral. It starts off feeling kind of intimate and grounded, like you’re just listening in on messy adult life decisions, and then it slowly turns into this uncomfortable what have you done situation where everyone is holding secrets they absolutely should not have shared. The moral messiness is honestly half the fun here.
Helena is such an interesting main character because she’s not flashy or overly dramatic, she just feels like someone trying very hard to keep her professional and personal life from collapsing at the same time. And then Tala… girl. Tala is giving creative chaos energy in the most stressful way possible. I had very strong opinions about her at all times.
What I liked most is how the book plays with trust. Not just in big dramatic betrayal ways, but in the smaller, everyday ones. Who you confide in. What counts as harmless oversharing. Whether you can ever really take words back once they’ve left your mouth. It’s kind of unsettling in a very addictive way.
It’s not a perfect, clean thriller where everything clicks neatly, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s messy, a little uncomfortable, and very readable. I kept wanting to know just how far things would go and honestly I got exactly that.
Definitely one of those reads that makes you rethink group chats for a minute.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The premise is so juicy it feels a little dangerous even summarizing it. A therapist spills client secrets to her best friend, and then that best friend turns around and turns those secrets into a bestselling thriller. And suddenly it’s like… wait. That is not what friendship is supposed to do. Right?
I really enjoyed how quickly things spiral. It starts off feeling kind of intimate and grounded, like you’re just listening in on messy adult life decisions, and then it slowly turns into this uncomfortable what have you done situation where everyone is holding secrets they absolutely should not have shared. The moral messiness is honestly half the fun here.
Helena is such an interesting main character because she’s not flashy or overly dramatic, she just feels like someone trying very hard to keep her professional and personal life from collapsing at the same time. And then Tala… girl. Tala is giving creative chaos energy in the most stressful way possible. I had very strong opinions about her at all times.
What I liked most is how the book plays with trust. Not just in big dramatic betrayal ways, but in the smaller, everyday ones. Who you confide in. What counts as harmless oversharing. Whether you can ever really take words back once they’ve left your mouth. It’s kind of unsettling in a very addictive way.
It’s not a perfect, clean thriller where everything clicks neatly, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s messy, a little uncomfortable, and very readable. I kept wanting to know just how far things would go and honestly I got exactly that.
Definitely one of those reads that makes you rethink group chats for a minute.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A huge thank you to Headline Books and NetGalley for this review copy. Let me say upfront — I absolutely loved this book. It is brilliant, gripping, and an easy five-star read for me.
The Bestseller by Jenny Knight tackles powerful and deeply unsettling themes, including coercive control, emotional abuse, and how people — particularly women — can find themselves excusing harmful behaviour rather than recognising it for what it truly is.
The story follows Helena Salve, a dedicated therapist who specialises in couples’ counselling. On the surface, Helena seems to have a stable and fulfilling life, with a loving husband, Dylan, and a long-standing friendship with her best friend from college, Tala Trestle. However, things begin to unravel when Helena takes on a new client, Belle.
Belle quickly gets under Helena’s skin in a way no other client has before. She is trapped in a deeply troubling marriage to Julian, whose behaviour is clearly manipulative and abusive — yet Belle continually defends him, offering excuses for even his worst actions. Helena’s growing frustration and emotional involvement feel incredibly real, and you can sense her internal conflict as she struggles to maintain professional boundaries.
One evening, after a few too many glasses of wine, Helena makes a life-altering mistake: she confides in Tala, sharing Belle’s story in detail. What follows is every therapist’s worst nightmare. Months later, Tala publishes a novel — and Helena realises, with horror, that it is based entirely on Belle and Julian’s relationship.
The consequences are immediate and devastating. Helena fears for her career, her reputation, and, most importantly, Belle’s safety. What makes it even more shocking is Tala’s apparent lack of concern, raising questions about loyalty, betrayal, and the true nature of their friendship.
The narrative unfolds through a dual timeline, weaving between the present day and Helena and Tala’s college years. At first, these flashbacks seem to simply provide background, showing how their friendship formed and how Dylan came into Helena’s life. But with each return to the past, more layers are revealed, gradually exposing truths about the characters that completely shift your understanding of them.
Helena is a fascinating character — a natural fixer who wants to help everyone around her. This trait defines her relationships, including her marriage to Dylan, whom she believes she has “fixed.” But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that this need to help others may also be her greatest vulnerability.
The author does an excellent job of exploring how difficult it can be to see the people closest to us clearly, and how love, loyalty, and history can blur the truth. The tension builds steadily throughout, and just when you think you have everything figured out, the story takes a turn you don’t see coming.
The final reveal is genuinely heartbreaking and incredibly well executed — subtle, powerful, and completely unexpected.
This is a brilliantly written, well-paced thriller with perfectly timed twists that keep you guessing until the very end. It’s thought-provoking, emotional, and utterly compelling.
You do not want to miss this one.
https://featzreviews.com/review-the-b...
The Bestseller by Jenny Knight tackles powerful and deeply unsettling themes, including coercive control, emotional abuse, and how people — particularly women — can find themselves excusing harmful behaviour rather than recognising it for what it truly is.
The story follows Helena Salve, a dedicated therapist who specialises in couples’ counselling. On the surface, Helena seems to have a stable and fulfilling life, with a loving husband, Dylan, and a long-standing friendship with her best friend from college, Tala Trestle. However, things begin to unravel when Helena takes on a new client, Belle.
Belle quickly gets under Helena’s skin in a way no other client has before. She is trapped in a deeply troubling marriage to Julian, whose behaviour is clearly manipulative and abusive — yet Belle continually defends him, offering excuses for even his worst actions. Helena’s growing frustration and emotional involvement feel incredibly real, and you can sense her internal conflict as she struggles to maintain professional boundaries.
One evening, after a few too many glasses of wine, Helena makes a life-altering mistake: she confides in Tala, sharing Belle’s story in detail. What follows is every therapist’s worst nightmare. Months later, Tala publishes a novel — and Helena realises, with horror, that it is based entirely on Belle and Julian’s relationship.
The consequences are immediate and devastating. Helena fears for her career, her reputation, and, most importantly, Belle’s safety. What makes it even more shocking is Tala’s apparent lack of concern, raising questions about loyalty, betrayal, and the true nature of their friendship.
The narrative unfolds through a dual timeline, weaving between the present day and Helena and Tala’s college years. At first, these flashbacks seem to simply provide background, showing how their friendship formed and how Dylan came into Helena’s life. But with each return to the past, more layers are revealed, gradually exposing truths about the characters that completely shift your understanding of them.
Helena is a fascinating character — a natural fixer who wants to help everyone around her. This trait defines her relationships, including her marriage to Dylan, whom she believes she has “fixed.” But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that this need to help others may also be her greatest vulnerability.
The author does an excellent job of exploring how difficult it can be to see the people closest to us clearly, and how love, loyalty, and history can blur the truth. The tension builds steadily throughout, and just when you think you have everything figured out, the story takes a turn you don’t see coming.
The final reveal is genuinely heartbreaking and incredibly well executed — subtle, powerful, and completely unexpected.
This is a brilliantly written, well-paced thriller with perfectly timed twists that keep you guessing until the very end. It’s thought-provoking, emotional, and utterly compelling.
You do not want to miss this one.
https://featzreviews.com/review-the-b...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
‘The Bestseller’ was an unsettling twisty thriller that had me on the edge of my seat, up until the very last page!
This review will contain spoilers.
Following therapist Helena and her friend, author Tala we go through an insane journey of self discovery, control and understanding between the two friends who could not be more different, but were exactly what they needed.
I loved our side character Belle, who we only see through the eyes of Helena and her therapy sessions. We see that Belle is confident, but it’s hidden away due to years of abuse, and I absolutely loved how Belle’s story ended, with newfound friendships and self love.
Personally, some of the twists I did guess but I didn’t mind this! And that’s simply because the other twists, were SO shocking that it made up for it! Our friendship foursome of Helena, her boyfriend Dylan, Tala, and her boyfriend Jed was so fun to read through the past years, until the shocking twist that Dylan’s mum was in prison for being a paedophile who raped Jed - this was INSANE and I had to put the book down and pick my jaw up. And Jenny Knightsby did this incredibly well, to connect that Dylan is also a rapist, who raped Helena and Belle - another big shocking twist! I did guess extremely early on that Tala’s book was about Dylan and how he treats Helena, but how this was unraveled was very enjoyable!
For a debut novel, this was thoroughly enjoyable and I would definitely recommend this to fellow thriller lovers. The plot was so different to a lot of thriller books that are out there, and that’s what made it so much more interesting for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Knightsby and Mountain Leopard Press for the ARC. All opinions, views and comments are my own.
This review will contain spoilers.
Following therapist Helena and her friend, author Tala we go through an insane journey of self discovery, control and understanding between the two friends who could not be more different, but were exactly what they needed.
I loved our side character Belle, who we only see through the eyes of Helena and her therapy sessions. We see that Belle is confident, but it’s hidden away due to years of abuse, and I absolutely loved how Belle’s story ended, with newfound friendships and self love.
Personally, some of the twists I did guess but I didn’t mind this! And that’s simply because the other twists, were SO shocking that it made up for it! Our friendship foursome of Helena, her boyfriend Dylan, Tala, and her boyfriend Jed was so fun to read through the past years, until the shocking twist that Dylan’s mum was in prison for being a paedophile who raped Jed - this was INSANE and I had to put the book down and pick my jaw up. And Jenny Knightsby did this incredibly well, to connect that Dylan is also a rapist, who raped Helena and Belle - another big shocking twist! I did guess extremely early on that Tala’s book was about Dylan and how he treats Helena, but how this was unraveled was very enjoyable!
For a debut novel, this was thoroughly enjoyable and I would definitely recommend this to fellow thriller lovers. The plot was so different to a lot of thriller books that are out there, and that’s what made it so much more interesting for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Knightsby and Mountain Leopard Press for the ARC. All opinions, views and comments are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
After a therapist shares a client’s darkest secrets with her best friend, she’s shocked to discover those secrets have become the plot of a bestselling novel.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The narrator matched the vibe of the story, making it easy to follow. It’s a straightforward production that lets the story take center stage.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
It took me a while to get a handle on this story. It’s not gritty or light, but there’s a sense of dread running throughout. Something bigger is lurking beneath the surface, but the slow pace meant I spent a lot of the book waiting to find out what that “something” was.
Helena was a tricky FMC for me. She’s not a great communicator and doesn’t come across as a particularly good or ethical therapist. Tala, her BFF, and Belle, her patient, both had much stronger personalities.
Marital abuse is a central part of both the story and the bestseller novel. I wish we’d gotten excerpts because it would have been an interesting way to learn more of the backstory and get some action. As it was, there were very few details, which left me feeling like I was missing an emotional connection and understanding to that part of the story.
I appreciated the wrap up, but it felt quick compared to the build up, and I wasn’t particularly surprised by any of the twists or reveals.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
This is a slow simmer rather than explosive high drama. I appreciate the thoughtful approach to some difficult themes and think readers who enjoy a slower, more psychological style of suspense may connect with it more than I did.
Thank you Headline Audio and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Charlotte Worthing
📖 Release 06•18•26 | 400 pages | 12h 28m
After a therapist shares a client’s darkest secrets with her best friend, she’s shocked to discover those secrets have become the plot of a bestselling novel.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The narrator matched the vibe of the story, making it easy to follow. It’s a straightforward production that lets the story take center stage.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
It took me a while to get a handle on this story. It’s not gritty or light, but there’s a sense of dread running throughout. Something bigger is lurking beneath the surface, but the slow pace meant I spent a lot of the book waiting to find out what that “something” was.
Helena was a tricky FMC for me. She’s not a great communicator and doesn’t come across as a particularly good or ethical therapist. Tala, her BFF, and Belle, her patient, both had much stronger personalities.
Marital abuse is a central part of both the story and the bestseller novel. I wish we’d gotten excerpts because it would have been an interesting way to learn more of the backstory and get some action. As it was, there were very few details, which left me feeling like I was missing an emotional connection and understanding to that part of the story.
I appreciated the wrap up, but it felt quick compared to the build up, and I wasn’t particularly surprised by any of the twists or reveals.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
This is a slow simmer rather than explosive high drama. I appreciate the thoughtful approach to some difficult themes and think readers who enjoy a slower, more psychological style of suspense may connect with it more than I did.
Thank you Headline Audio and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Charlotte Worthing
📖 Release 06•18•26 | 400 pages | 12h 28m
June 25, 2026
I came to this book expecting a psychological thriller and found myself reading something altogether more layered. The Best Seller weaves in elements of family saga and literary fiction, and while that wasn’t quite what I’d anticipated, it made for a richer and more thought-provoking read than I’d expected.
At its heart, the story follows four friends from their university days — two couples, with the female protagonists being close best friends. Helena, a psychologist and counsellor, is the emotional anchor of the narrative. In the present-day timeline, set approximately twenty years after we first meet the group, Helena is working with a survivor of domestic abuse. When she inadvertently shares details of her client with her best friend — a struggling author — the consequences begin to spiral. The author’s subsequent novel bears an uncomfortably close resemblance to what Helena has confided, and from there, the story takes on a quietly devastating momentum.
What sets this apart from a straightforward thriller, though, is the depth of what lies beneath. The dual timeline gradually peels back some very dark relationships and significant events from the past, and the plot is far more complex and nuanced than the central premise might suggest. This is not a book that telegraphs its punches.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it — particularly to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a darker edge.
A note on the audiobook experience: the female narrator is excellent. Her delivery is assured, natural, and very easy to listen to, and she does full justice to the emotional weight of the story.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this audiobook in exchange for an advance copy.
At its heart, the story follows four friends from their university days — two couples, with the female protagonists being close best friends. Helena, a psychologist and counsellor, is the emotional anchor of the narrative. In the present-day timeline, set approximately twenty years after we first meet the group, Helena is working with a survivor of domestic abuse. When she inadvertently shares details of her client with her best friend — a struggling author — the consequences begin to spiral. The author’s subsequent novel bears an uncomfortably close resemblance to what Helena has confided, and from there, the story takes on a quietly devastating momentum.
What sets this apart from a straightforward thriller, though, is the depth of what lies beneath. The dual timeline gradually peels back some very dark relationships and significant events from the past, and the plot is far more complex and nuanced than the central premise might suggest. This is not a book that telegraphs its punches.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it — particularly to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a darker edge.
A note on the audiobook experience: the female narrator is excellent. Her delivery is assured, natural, and very easy to listen to, and she does full justice to the emotional weight of the story.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this audiobook in exchange for an advance copy.
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