His First Girlfriend

by Nora Valters, Lucy Paterson (Narrator)

Your son’s new girlfriend.

Your new worst enemy…?

My heart thuds as the front door swings open, and my precious son Seth walks in with his new girlfriend Lily on his arm. I’m so nervous. But she’s everything I hoped she’d be. Before long, she’s part of the family and staying every evening. We relax together and have long conversations. It’s a dream – Lily is like the daughter I never had.

But as our family dynamic shifts, the precious bond with my husband and son begins to change. I’m convinced they’re avoiding me and talking to me differently… Am I being paranoid, or is Lily turning my loved ones against me?

Then I receive a warning. It hints at a past I’ve tried so hard to erase. My carefully controlled world starts to unravel.

Is the secret I’ve tried so hard to bury about to destroy my perfect family?

And can I trust Lily? Or is my life and my son’s life in danger?

An utterly addictive psychological thriller that will have you gasping out loud. If you love None Of This Is True, John Marrs, T.M Logan and Freida McFadden you’ll be gripped by His First Girlfriend.

What readers are saying about Nora

‘Wow! This book was so crazy! You can’t trust ANYONE!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘By the end of chapter 2, my jaw was on the floor and my heart was in my mouth and it pretty much stayed there the whole time. The twists were explosive’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I finished this book at like 1am. When I say I was floored, I was floored. That twist I didn’t see coming at all’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A heart-pounding riveting book!! Really hooks you in and doesn’t let go. It has so many twists and turns that just when you think you’ve got it figured out then BAM, it goes in a different direction’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Psychological Thriller

Audiobook

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Nora Valters grew up in the New Forest in the south of England and has lived in London, Manchester, Bournemouth, Oxford and Dubai. She currently resides in Weston-super-Mare.

She studied English Literature and Language at Oxford Brookes University before embarking on a career in marketing and copywriting.

Her debut psychological thriller Her Biggest Fan was published in October 2020. Now You Know came out in June 2021, Here For You in January 2022, and The Party in November 2022. The New Girl was released in February 2024 and she’s currently writing her sixth novel, which will be out soon.

Nora loves to travel and has journeyed around the world. She enjoys exploring new places, knitting/crochet, painting, hiking, and is an avid reader. She’s also a bit obsessed with dogs!

Subscribe to be notified by email when Nora’s next novel is released, for giveaways, price promotions, book recommendations as well as exclusive extra content at www.noravalters.com/subscribe

Reviews

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

His First Girlfriend is a gripping and entertaining read filled with plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, another surprise was thrown in, making it hard to put down.

The audiobook narration deserves a special mention as she did a fabulous job bringing the characters and tension to life and truly engaging the listener throughout the story. The pacing was strong, the suspense was well done, and overall it was a very enjoyable experience.

[Robyn]

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc of His First Girlfriend in exchange for an honest review.

I completely ate this book up! I listened to the audiobook and I found myself racing towards the finish for all the right reasons. I had to know what happened! Nora Valters is a new author for me and this was the first book from her I’ve read. I will be definitely picking up more of her novels.

The premise intrigued me for the beginning. Jen, a mother with a seemingly perfect life who is coming to terms with the fact her only son, Seth, is growing up and found himself a seemingly perfect girlfriend. Although all is not how it originally seems and Seths girlfriend is as mysterious Jen’s past.

I was completely on the edge of my seat at points and loved all the red herrings throughout. The pacing was really consistent and the story didn’t lag or slow which is the type of novel I like. I also enjoyed the tension and inner turmoil the book employs. You can really feel the love Jen feels for her family. There really is no fiercer love than a mother’s.

I also have to commend the audiobook narrator, Lucy Paterson. I am a firm believer that the narrator can make or break an audiobook and I liked the emotion and tone throughout. Lucy held my attention for the whole book!

I’m only deducting a star as I found myself getting frustrated at the continued naivety of Jen’s family throughout. While probably intended there is a limit to the amount of times I can believe they would so oblivious!

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely be recommending to others!

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why have one crazy girlfriends when you can have two heheheheh. This was fast paced and my goodness the crazy twists and turns kept me racing to the end. This book did a great job telling a story that didn’t prolong the ending. The author did a great job developing the characters and rounding them out. Even I started doubting things!!! Thanks NetGalley!

[Tara Bawdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing from the start! A rollercoaster of questions that keep you wanting to continue and follow along for answers. The characters are not very likable and at times frustrating. Story was a bit exaggerated and unrealistic.
Overall was fun and keeps you needing to know where the story is going.

Narrator, Lucy Paterson, is wonderful. Clear soft tone with great pacing.

[Jacklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read! I often found my heart racing and so many questions swirling around my mind. My attention was grabbed in the beginning and held to the very end. The tense atmosphere held throughout the story and when I thought I had it all figured out, I was proven wrong. The narrator, Lucy Paterson, did an excellent job bringing this story to life! I'm looking forward to reading more of Nora Valters work!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Sarah MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to get an advanced audiobook copy of this book and I devoured it! It reminded me of the show, “The Girlfriend” which I equally devoured. Was it riveting? No. Was it far-fetched at times? Yes. But it was extremely entertaining and I loved it. Solid thriller with good twists!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Mick B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid middle buried between slow start and chaotic ending

"I'm suspicious...I need to keep my eye and ear on my son's girlfriend...but it is Lily who has made this smell, and she doesn't belong here. Doesn't belong in my kitchen, using my things and baking for my family. I don't trust what she cooks or that her intentions are to nurture and show love by making delicious food. Lily is clearly very comfortable in my kitchen and it makes me uncomfortable. She's encroaching on my home, taking over."

Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Valters, and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Murder, assault, violence, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, alcohol, being held against will, online stalking, manipulation of others to force a character to look mentally unwell

Nora Valters's His First Girlfriend is about Jen, whose son Seth brings home his girlfriend Lily. Everything seems fine at first. Lily fits in with the family. Then things start changing. Jen becomes convinced Lily is doing something, but she can't get anyone to believe her. Add in secrets from Jen's past that could come out, and you've got the setup.

Lucy Paterson reads the audiobook. I like her tone and the voices she gives the different characters. They work for this story. Her pacing ran slow for me so I sped it up, but that's my thing. The narration itself is good.

The story uses two timelines woven together. One shows what's happening with Lily and the family now. The other shows the past and what Jen is hiding. I liked this. It kept me interested in both threads.

I connected with Jen and the other family members. They felt like actual people to me. The way the book builds Jen's paranoia is really well done. You watch her get more and more suspicious while her family keeps telling her she's wrong. That tension works. The manipulation and gaslighting Lily does is impressive. Professional level stuff. That's one of the strongest parts of the book.

The first half drags. It takes too long to get things moving. I wasn't really hooked until about halfway through. Once the pace picked up though, I was in. The second half is much better.

My biggest problem is how much gets crammed into the last 10%. There are so many twists thrown at you all at once. It stops feeling surprising and starts feeling like too much. If those reveals had been spread out more, they would have hit harder.

The character behavior doesn't track. The book tells us Jen has this strong marriage and close relationship with her son. But once Lily shows up and friction develops between Jen and Lily, the family just takes Lily's side. They completely dismiss everything Jen says. That doesn't make sense. If the family bonds are as strong as we're told, they wouldn't immediately side with someone they just met over Jen.

There's also a moment around the middle where a serious accusation gets made that should completely change the family dynamic. Instead, everyone just moves past it and goes back to acting normal. That's not how people work. Something that serious should have lasting consequences, not just get brushed aside.

The murder from 18 years ago gets mentioned way too many times. I kept getting reminded of it over and over. I would have rather had one chapter showing that murder and one chapter showing the attempted murder, both from the past. Give me the information once and trust me to remember it instead of bringing it up constantly.

Despite all of this, I had a good time reading it. It was entertaining. The premise interested me. The writing is easy to follow. Once I got hooked, I wanted to keep going. I love stories where secrets from the past come back. That always works for me.

This is for people who want thrillers that move fast once they get going, readers who like watching someone get gaslit and manipulated, anyone into stories about the past catching up with you, and people who can ignore some logic problems to enjoy the ride. If you need characters to act like real humans would act, this will annoy you. If you're fine overlooking that for the entertainment, you'll probably have fun with it.

Entertaining even when it doesn't make complete sense.

[Becky Geller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of His First Girlfriend by Nora Valters and found it to be an engaging psychological thriller, though not without some frustrations along the way.

The story maintained a steady sense of tension throughout. While I initially thought I had the plot figured out, there were moments toward the end that surprised me and helped pull the story together.

The pacing felt fairly even overall. It kept my interest, especially as the story moved into its final quarter. Throughout the book, a series of strange and unsettling events begin happening to the main character, and I appreciated how the story leaned into the main characters growing confusion and paranoia, as she tried to make sense of what was going on around her. At times, the story felt slightly confusing due to repeated references to a murder that occurred many years earlier. At first it felt a bit disjointed but those references were ultimately explained by the end and did make sense within the context of the story. It did add to the overall feeling of the book being slightly more far-fetched.

I found the characters somewhat frustrating, but that felt intentional rather than accidental. In particular, the way the mother spoke about her son often drove me a bit bonkers, though it added to the tension and unease surrounding the family dynamics. Overall, the characters’ behavior heightened the suspense, even if it occasionally tested my patience as a reader.

By the time I reached the ending, the story delivered multiple twists that reframed much of what came before. While those twists were surprising and did help tie the story together, they also contributed to the book feeling a bit over the top for me overall. Because of that, the ending didn’t fully click for me, despite being memorable.

Overall, this was an engaging read with steady tension and an eventful ending that will likely appeal to fans of character-driven psychological thrillers.

[Kristen Him · Rating 3 out of 5]

His First Girlfriend is a psychological drama by Nora Valters that centers on Jen, an ordinary mother whose life is upended when her college-aged son Seth introduces his first girlfriend, Lily, to the family. Initially, Lily appears to be an ideal match—charming, personable, and seemingly the perfect addition to their household. The family welcomes her warmly, and everything seems harmonious.

However, the facade gradually begins to crack. Lily reveals a darker side—manipulative, controlling, and volatile—but only in her interactions with Jen. When Jen attempts to warn her husband and son about

Lily's true nature and the threat she poses to the family, they dismiss her concerns entirely, leaving Jen isolated and increasingly fearful.

Complicating matters further is Jen's own mysterious past. She harbors a deeply guarded secret that has driven her to avoid being photographed in public and to maintain no social media presence whatsoever.

The nature of this secret remains unclear, as does whether Lily is aware of it and how it might factor into her disturbing behavior.

As the narrative unfolds, shocking revelations emerge: both Jen and her husband are concealing significant secrets from their past, and Lily's vendetta against them is deliberate and calculated. She is determined to make them answer for their past actions. The story builds to a climax where no character is as they initially appeared, and the true motivations behind Lily's campaign of psychological torment are finally revealed.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of His First Girlfriend.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

His First Girlfriend is one of those twisty, unsettling reads that pulls you in from the very first chapter. The setup feels deceptively simple: a proud mum meeting her son’s first serious girlfriend. But the author wastes no time turning that cosy moment into something far more claustrophobic and emotionally charged.

Lily is the perfect guest—sweet, attentive, eager to fit in—and it’s easy to see why the narrator is instantly smitten with her. But as Lily becomes part of the furniture, the atmosphere shifts in subtle, clever ways. The tension builds beautifully as the family dynamic starts to warp, and you can feel the narrator’s anxiety creeping in. Is she imagining things, or is Lily quietly pulling the strings?

The story really kicks into gear when a warning arrives, hinting at a past the narrator has tried desperately to bury. From that point on, the book becomes a compulsive blend of paranoia, secrets, and the fear that the people closest to you might not be who you think they are. The author does a great job keeping the reader off balance—every time you think you’ve figured out what’s going on, another layer peels back.

It’s fast‑paced, emotionally messy in all the right ways, and packed with the kind of twists that make you mutter “just one more chapter” until you realise you’ve finished the whole thing. Fans of Freida McFadden and T.M. Logan will feel right at home.

A gripping, binge‑worthy thriller about trust, obsession, and the danger of letting someone new into your life.

With thanks to Nora Valters, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy of His First Girlfriend.

The domestic thriller and mystery markets are incredibly saturated right now, and to be fair, there are only so many new twists under the sun. Many authors in the space seem to be chasing the same high-stakes formula we see from big names like Freida McFadden. (And I say this with love as someone who does enjoy McFadden!) But what struck me about His First Girlfriend was that it didn’t feel mass-produced or trend-chasing. Instead, it had a more classic mystery sensibility, almost Agatha Christie in spirit, but grounded in a modern setting with striking originality.

I found myself genuinely drawn into the story, invested in the outcome, and connecting with the characters on an emotional level. I don’t often say something kept me “on the edge of my seat” because the phrase is so overused, but in this case, the tension felt real without ever becoming ridiculous or implausible. The premise feels unsettling precisely because it’s believable, the kind of situation where you pause and think: Wow, that could actually happen.

This was my first novel by Nora Valters, so I can’t speak to how it compares to her other work, but I was genuinely impressed. If this is representative of her storytelling style, then I’m excited to read more. This book gripped me from start to finish and held my interest all the way through.

For readers who love domestic thrillers and mystery novels, His First Girlfriend is absolutely not to be missed!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast read, albeit a little ridiculous. The story centers on Jen, who is living her dream life with her husband Todd and son Seth when Seth brings home a new girlfriend named Lily. Weird things start happening almost immediately and Jen suspects Lily is behind them, but why? The story is told entirely from Jen’s POV, with some chapters in between referencing a seemingly unrelated murder from 18 years ago.

There was something about the writing style that didn’t sit really well with me- it was a lot of describing things versus then actually happening and because it was told from Jen’s vantage point, it made her seem off. She also was a little too quick to trust and to jump to conclusions and I found myself shaking my head at times. Lastly, I find it hard to believe that a family who loved her so much would blow off her concerns about Lily. This being said, there were some good twists in the story and even when I had mostly figured out what was going on, the author did a good job of mixing it up a bit. There were almost too many twists at the end, and while it made for an exciting read, it definitely was far-fetched, also throwing in some surprises that the reader could have never seen coming.

Overall, this was a decent read but was just a little over the top for me, and I had trouble relating to the writing style. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bodies in the Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars from me means that I think the author has achieved their aims and it's a good book, but that I personally just didn't fall in love with it.

I'd recommend this novel to anyone who loves a page-turner that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief. The main character is married to a footballer, and there's a long tradition of OTT stories about footballers' wives and girlfriends that have made it onto the screen. I can imagine that this one will make a better TV show than it did novel - it would have worked better for me if it were told in third person, because I simply disliked being inside the head of the first person narrator throughout the entire novel.

I think that her actions would actually be easier to accept if we were observing third person, because there are always people in real life we see reacting emotionally to things without knowing why. So, I really look forward to seeing this on screen and hope that it does get optioned for adaptation - the set-up of someone running away from a brush with the law and ending up with someone else who has a similar secret and one of them is famous is a really, really good one, and the plot would make excellent Friday or Saturday night drama.

Thanks very much to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this one. I will definitely look out for other titled by Nora Walters, and hope that I simply warm to the main character a little bit more than I did here.

[Jazz Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to His First Girlfriend as an audiobook from NetGalley (thank you NetGalley and Bookouture). Overall, I enjoyed the story (even though I may have guessed a good chunk of the twist fairly early on).

This story leans hard into gaslighting. Jen is a frustrating but compelling main character. She makes some wild choices, but considering how deeply she’s being manipulated and dismissed at every turn, it’s easy to understand how she ends up there. Watching her spiral while no one truly believes her was genuinely unsettling.

The plot itself is fast-paced and engaging, even when it becomes predictable. I guessed some of the plot twists by around chapter seven, there were still enough unanswered questions and smaller reveals to keep me listening. Everyone feels suspect, the tension stays high throughout, and the story keeps momentum.

The audiobook narration was especially strong. The narrator captured Jen’s fear, anger, and unraveling mental state incredibly well, which added emotional weight to moments that might have felt repetitive on the page. Even when I thought I knew where things were headed, the performance kept me invested.

This would have been a solid four-star read for me if I hadn’t been able to piece things together early on. Still, it was entertaining and worth finishing!

If you enjoy thrillers centered on unreliable perspectives, family secrets, and being gaslit to hell and back, this one is worth the read!

[Aklima R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Nora Valters and I am very impressed and will definitely be adding more by this author to my tbr!

The book got straight into the plot within the first few chapters which just sucked me into the story. At the end of the first chapter, the author wrote “She’ll never have to scrub clean her past like I just scrubbed stains from the carpet.”. Initially I thought the shift in tone from the rest of the chapter one was very drastic, however, after reading the novel, it set the tone for unexpected twists and turns in the rest of the book. Just when you think you know where the story is going, you’re wrong. So I guess the placement of the sentence was ideal.

The plot isn’t something I have come across in a thriller yet, and I was eager to find out what happened next. By the revelation at the end of the book I was at the edge of my seat itching to know everything and then I was hit with another twist. The articles in between chapters really kept me wondering how it impacted the story and every theory I had was completely wrong.

In terms of the characters, I liked how there was just enough to make the storyline work but also represent Jen’s small circle of family/friends. Very well thought out.

Overall, the style of writing is very easy to follow and I was engaged throughout the book.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This domestic thriller follows Jen, a mother whose excitement over her son’s new girlfriend quickly curdles into unease as strange incidents begin to surround her family. Lily slips easily into their household, but Jen soon feels pushed to the margins, her once steady relationships shifting in ways she can’t explain. As unsettling reminders of a long buried past begin to surface, Jen’s growing paranoia becomes the engine of the story, blurring the line between genuine threat and her own spiraling fears. The novel leans into that tension, weaving in news articles, past secrets, and a steady drip of misdirection that keeps the reader guessing.

While the plot occasionally veers into melodrama, the pacing is brisk and the twists arrive with satisfying frequency. The characters can be exasperating, but their flaws heighten the claustrophobic family dynamics that drive the suspense. By the final chapters, the narrative delivers several sharp turns, some surprising, others intentionally over the top that reframe everything that came before. It’s a fast, compulsively readable story perfect for readers who enjoy thrillers that are twisty, dramatic, and just a little unhinged, offering pure escapism from start to finish.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Keith Wayne Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me an ARC of this title. My first expectation based upon the title alone is in the form of question. “Who is going to need to be unalived or committed to a long-term facility for psychoanalysis”? This is not a spoiler but the book starts off with the mom making warm peanuts with a honey rosemary drizzle. This lets me know it’s going to be sweet at times and a little crunchy at other times. I am pleasantly amazed that the book gives a steady medium-paced tone to flow throughout the book to develop the characters.

One of the greatest strengths in the audiobook is the narrator, Lucy Paterson. She gives great strength to the voices of each character, both male and female, and we are able to differentiate between whose speaking and who is being spoken to. I sense a British accent but it did not overpower the narrative. This is a wonderful example of the audio does strengthen the overall experience of the book.

As this is a thriller, you can expect to get slapped in the face with some reveals. In this book, you will have a mark on your face and some bruises after the slap from these twists. You might have to put the book down for a minute and wonder how Nora do it. If you love John Marrs or Freida McFadden, you will want to pull up a seat at the table with His First Girlfriend.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

His First Girlfriend had me hooked from the very first chapter. The writing style is conversational and deceptively simple — the kind that draws you in quickly before tightening the suspense with every page. I was instantly uneasy, side-eyeing every character, and desperate to unravel what was really going on behind the polite smiles and family dinners.

What starts as a seemingly wholesome meet-the-girlfriend moment spirals into a psychological chess game full of paranoia, secrets, and shifting family dynamics. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the book pulled the rug out from under me — more than once. The tension is relentless, and I truly could not stop listening.

Lucy Paterson’s narration is excellent. Her expressive delivery added another layer of emotion and unease to the story — I could feel every moment of doubt, fear, and unraveling just through her voice.

If you like domestic thrillers with an unsettling edge, twisty turns, and a narrator you’re not sure you can trust, this one delivers. A fast-paced, breath-holding listen I devoured in a single sitting.

Thanks to Nora Valters, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ALC! His First Girlfriend will be available for purchase on February 3rd, 2026

[Aimee | aimeeds.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jen loves her life and her two best guys: her husband and her son, Seth. She would do anything for Seth and when he brings home new girlfriend, Lily, it seems like a dream match for her perfect boy. Lily is like the daughter she never had and when Lily needs a place to stay, Jen has no hesitation to her moving into the family home. But slowly, Jen starts to feel the family dynamic changing. Her once close and tight knit group now feels distant. Is Jen being paranoid or is there something more sinister behind Lily's motives with Seth? When a long-hidden secret seems to start making an appearance, Jen will do anything to protect her perfect son.

This audiobook had great narration and that kept me listening. At about 45% in there didn't seem to be much momentum and I was losing interest a little bit, but a good narrator can make or break an audiobook and I kept with it. While the second half got more twisted and picked up a bit, overall, it was a slower paced popcorn thriller. The characters were a bit unlikable and frustrating, so you didn't really have someone you wanted to cheer for. Most of the big reveals come in the last 10% of the book and it kind of dragged to get there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook for review.

[Catharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted and Tortuously Tangled

I thoroughly enjoyed this frenetically paced, highly entertaining thriller. Yes, it’s occasionally ludicrously far-fetched, but I wasn’t pausing to interrogate the logic — I was far too busy tearing through the pages to see what fresh chaos was about to unfold.

The characters are great fun. Todd, in particular, feels a little… plastic. But given that he’s a footballer rather than a fully functioning adult human, that may well be the point. Either way, it worked for me — even if I did roll my eyes in his general direction more than once.

There are some properly sharp zingers scattered throughout, and overall this is a well-written thriller with a definite comedic edge (intentional or not — I’m choosing to believe intentional). It knows exactly what it is and never takes itself too seriously, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

Perfect for readers who like their thrillers fast, fun, and slightly unhinged, or who simply want a couple of hours of pure escapism without needing a flowchart. I’ll absolutely be picking up another Nora Valters.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of “His First Girlfriend” by Nora Valters.

[Bhuku · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. A fun little romp involving modern tech in good old-fashioned drama!

Premise - Her son Seth's new girlfriend, Lily, seems like a blessing. She immediately slots right into the family, becoming like a daughter. But before long things start going wrong. Is Lily sabotaging her? She's no angel herself, and a dark secret from her past comes back to haunt her...

There were several big twists, so every time I thought I’d figured it out I was wrong! Valters’ voice has the sort of intimate, confessional tone that best suits domestic thrillers, so I absolutely binged this. What fun!

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lucy Paterson. She did a brilliant job with the read and has one of those voices that makes psychopath-level drama feel cozy (but without losing the tension at all). I ran an extra two miles just so I wouldn’t have to hit pause.😂

For readers of:
🚪 The Stranger at No. 6 by Gemma Rogers
🖊️ The Assistant by Amanda Reynolds
🤫 One More Lie by Sheryl Browne

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Meddings_Musings: Erin Meddings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dangerous. Deceitful. Deadly.

This FIVE STAR story hooked me with the thought of the dark web, a hit list, and not knowing who is friend or foe.

Imagine this, a stranger phones you, insisting on meeting you in a public place. She’s working on a documentary about the dark web and ran across your name on a hit list. Telling you to take precautions and to remember most people are killed by a loved one, she wishes you luck as you stumble out of the meeting place wondering what the heck is going on.

This is what happens to Jen, a wife and mother, who works part time at a shelter for abused women. She strives to stay out of the public eye which is no small feat considering she’s married to Todd, a retired pro-footballer. Raising their 18 year old son, Seth, Jen can’t believe anyone would want her dead.

Well not unless someone has dug into her past. If that’s the case, Jen’s family will be ripped apart.

Thank you NetGalley, Nora Valters, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of the proposed February 3, 2026 release date.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your adult child brings their first love home, it naturally brings a certain amount of stress for everyone involved. Will the parents approve of the choice, or will tensions arise immediately? Does the partner feel welcome, or would they prefer to avoid the “in-laws” as much as possible?

These, and many other, questions run through the minds of our characters, but it quickly becomes clear that all the worry was unnecessary. It doesn’t take long for the atmosphere to become delightful—but as we know, all good things don’t always last…

Not just one, but several people have hidden agendas, and that’s when the drama really kicks off. This is the perfect setup for a psychological thriller.

At first, only a small hint is revealed, but gradually, more and more comes to light.

Did I sense early on that something was off with one of the characters? Absolutely—but I had no idea what this person was capable of, or why.

For me, this was a highly successful book that really drew me in. The concept itself may not have been the most original, but I found it creatively executed.

I’m a fan, and I’m happy to give it five stars.

Thank you.

[A Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

His First Girlfriend by Nora Valters is a dark and twisty psychological thriller. A fast paced suspense story, it had me glued to my chair rapidly turning the pages to get to the end.

The lies and secrets of one's past seem to always have a way of catching up with us. Jen and Todd are no different, both hiding past misdeeds they are not proud of. When their son Seth brings home his first girlfriend, Lily, they are ecstatic and welcome her warmly. When dangerous situations start, Jen becomes convinced Lily is behind it all and vows to figure out what her hidden agenda is.

The premise of this story was so good. The writing was sharp and the characters were well developed. I loved that Jen and Todd acted as a single unit for most of the story, and family was their priority. There were many twists peppered throughout with one final big one as the ending. This was a great domestic thriller and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

[Chasity Trimble · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely had a slow start and it took me a while to really get into it. The beginning focused a lot on setting up the family and the situation, which I understand, but I wasn’t fully hooked and had to push through those early chapters.

Things started to get more interesting around the middle when the tension picked up and you could feel that something wasn’t right. From there, the story held my attention more and I was actually curious to see how everything would unfold. The uneasiness builds and I liked how the book made you question people’s intentions without being too obvious about it.

Overall, I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it either. It got better as it went on and the second half was definitely stronger than the first. If you enjoy slower, domestic psychological thrillers and don’t mind a gradual build, this might work for you, it just wasn’t a standout read for me. Would recommend for others though.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy His First Girlfriend and I think if you can take everything the author throws into the mix of the story and just go with it, it’s quite a fun ride. The positives were that I was never bored. I didn’t know where the story would go next, I didn’t guess a single one of the twists and the pace and narration were great. The negatives were that the whole thing felt completely over the top, entirely suspended belief and those twists I didn’t guess were chucked in like banana skins on the floor in a bad comedy. The fmc is hiding something from 18 years ago and that’s a fact that you won’t miss because it’s mentioned so many times you could use it as one of those drinking games. However having said all of that, it was still a nice little distraction of a book, I would recommend it and I’ll probably read more from the author.

Many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Larytha · Rating 4 out of 5]

His First Girlfriend is about a Mother who meets her 18 year olds son’s first girlfriend. At first it seems so pleasant and beautiful but once the new girlfriend is homeless, Mum welcomes Lily (son’s girlfriend) into their home with open arms. Everything starts to change and no one believes mum. If anything, she is the “crazy one”. With twist and turns waiting to see if Mum is overthinking and hallucinating or if she is right, Lily is trying to ruin her and her family. The pace was decent and the ending was not fast but came together by piecing information so it’s not a full shock. Enough thrill to keep me listening and thoroughly enjoyed the narration being a British person since I haven’t listened to an audiobook with that. I recommend this book if you like the past catching up to you or solving a mystery. Based around Halloween if you want a spooky read as well!

[Korey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked immediately. The conversational style pulled me in fast, and from there the tension just kept tightening. Every chapter made me more uneasy, more suspicious, and more desperate for answers. I could not read this fast enough.

This book had me holding my breath, side-eyeing everyone, and mentally screaming more than once. Just when I thought I had a handle on where things were going, it threw a curveball that gave me actual chills. The paranoia, confusion, and mounting dread were so well done.

I was stressed, frustrated, panicked, and completely obsessed… in the best way. Everything added to the mystery, and the execution from start to finish was spot-on.

Unhinged, tense, and impossible to put down.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of His First Girlfriend, and overall this was an engaging and intriguing read. The story itself was very interesting and kept me hooked from the beginning. I was genuinely invested and eager to see how everything would unfold.
I appreciate that the author went for a big, bold twist at the end. Unfortunately, the execution did not quite work for me. There were simply too many twists packed into the ending, and it ended up feeling far fetched rather than surprising. If the conclusion had been more restrained, this easily would have been a four star read for me.
That said, the buildup was strong and the pacing kept me turning pages. Readers who enjoy twist heavy stories may appreciate the direction the author took, even if the ending felt overstuffed.

[Mrs Edmonds Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏠 NEW REVIEW: HIS FIRST GIRLFRIEND 🏠
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Your son’s new girlfriend. Your new worst enemy? 😱

His First Girlfriend by Nora Valters is a total "one-sitting" read. It’s a twisty, domestic thriller that plays on every mother's worst nightmare.

Why you should grab it:
• The Hook: A mother is convinced her son's new flame has a dark, familiar past. Is she crazy, or is her family in danger?
• The Pace: It moves fast. Perfect for getting out of a reading slump!
• The Ending: That "heart-stopping twist" on the cover? It actually delivers. 🤯

Final Verdict: If you love domestic suspense and messy family secrets, add this to your shelf!

What’s the last book that kept you up past your bedtime? 😴👇