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He Is Mine
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Expected 1 Mar 26Crystal has dreams. Rose has plans.
Crystal Tannenbaum moved to LA hoping to become a movie star. And she has finally landed a job in show business—but only as a nanny for film producer Daniel Mosswood and his wife, Rose.
At first Daniel and Rose seem like the perfect couple, but it soon becomes clear they are anything but. Life in their sprawling Hollywood Hills mansion is a powder keg of tension and mistrust.
When Daniel turns his attention to Crystal—the gifts, the promises, the whispered plans for their future together—she lets herself believe she's finally found a way to have the lifestyle she’s always craved. The house. The money. The children she's grown to love.
All she has to do is help Daniel divorce Rose while holding on to his fortune. But Crystal has no idea she's a pawn in a far more dangerous game. When it comes to sophisticated players like Daniel and Rose, she is hopelessly out of her depth.
And in a house where everyone is watching, everyone is lying, and everyone has their own agenda, innocence can be fatal.
He Is Mine - the chilling psychological thriller by the best-selling author of The Stepfather and Not My Mother.
Crystal Tannenbaum moved to LA hoping to become a movie star. And she has finally landed a job in show business—but only as a nanny for film producer Daniel Mosswood and his wife, Rose.
At first Daniel and Rose seem like the perfect couple, but it soon becomes clear they are anything but. Life in their sprawling Hollywood Hills mansion is a powder keg of tension and mistrust.
When Daniel turns his attention to Crystal—the gifts, the promises, the whispered plans for their future together—she lets herself believe she's finally found a way to have the lifestyle she’s always craved. The house. The money. The children she's grown to love.
All she has to do is help Daniel divorce Rose while holding on to his fortune. But Crystal has no idea she's a pawn in a far more dangerous game. When it comes to sophisticated players like Daniel and Rose, she is hopelessly out of her depth.
And in a house where everyone is watching, everyone is lying, and everyone has their own agenda, innocence can be fatal.
He Is Mine - the chilling psychological thriller by the best-selling author of The Stepfather and Not My Mother.
269 pages, ebook
Expected publication March 1, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
PUBLISH DATE: March 1, 2026
He Is Mine by Theo Baxter ⭐️⭐️ (DNF)
I decided to DNF this book very early on, after the first couple of chapters.
The story opens with the main character creating an OnlyFans account, followed quickly by explicit and inappropriate advances from men. While I understand this may be intentional and relevant to where the story is headed, it made me uncomfortable enough that I chose not to continue. This is more a matter of personal boundaries than a judgment on the writing or the author’s intent.
Because I didn’t make it very far, I can’t fairly assess the full plot, pacing, or character development beyond the opening setup. That said, the content focus in the beginning was not something I wanted to spend more time with, and I knew early on that this book wasn’t for me.
I’m rating this a 2 stars, which is generous given that I didn’t finish it, but I want to reflect that this may still work for readers who are comfortable with this type of content and enjoy darker psychological thrillers that explore sexuality, power dynamics, and online spaces. For readers who are sensitive to sexually explicit situations or uncomfortable with that framing early on, this may be something to approach with caution.
BOOK TITLE: He Is Mine
AUTHOR: Theo Baxter
PUBLISHER: Inkubator Books
FORMAT:ebook
PAGES:
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
He Is Mine by Theo Baxter ⭐️⭐️ (DNF)
I decided to DNF this book very early on, after the first couple of chapters.
The story opens with the main character creating an OnlyFans account, followed quickly by explicit and inappropriate advances from men. While I understand this may be intentional and relevant to where the story is headed, it made me uncomfortable enough that I chose not to continue. This is more a matter of personal boundaries than a judgment on the writing or the author’s intent.
Because I didn’t make it very far, I can’t fairly assess the full plot, pacing, or character development beyond the opening setup. That said, the content focus in the beginning was not something I wanted to spend more time with, and I knew early on that this book wasn’t for me.
I’m rating this a 2 stars, which is generous given that I didn’t finish it, but I want to reflect that this may still work for readers who are comfortable with this type of content and enjoy darker psychological thrillers that explore sexuality, power dynamics, and online spaces. For readers who are sensitive to sexually explicit situations or uncomfortable with that framing early on, this may be something to approach with caution.
BOOK TITLE: He Is Mine
AUTHOR: Theo Baxter
PUBLISHER: Inkubator Books
FORMAT:ebook
PAGES:
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 19, 2026
Sigh. This had big potential. Nothing you haven’t read before (think Housemaid-like and a million other stories like it) but I genuinely could not stand the characters. Hard to be invested when you detest the main people.
Crystal is in Hollywood to —yep—make herself a movie star and live the life of luxury. She is —yep—struggling and has to find another way to make money. Enter a nanny job. Cute kids, cuter husband and a moody wife. All pieces of the puzzle you have seen before. Of course the husband grooms her to “have the life you always wanted”. Of course she falls for it “he’s never loved anyone like this before” and it just was so hard to finish.
This genre of husbands who groom the nanny and give the best sex of their life are really over. I mean. Read the room —-if you bring the same old same old you better bring it hard and better than all those before you.
You ma live this if you’ve never read this here though.
Crystal is in Hollywood to —yep—make herself a movie star and live the life of luxury. She is —yep—struggling and has to find another way to make money. Enter a nanny job. Cute kids, cuter husband and a moody wife. All pieces of the puzzle you have seen before. Of course the husband grooms her to “have the life you always wanted”. Of course she falls for it “he’s never loved anyone like this before” and it just was so hard to finish.
This genre of husbands who groom the nanny and give the best sex of their life are really over. I mean. Read the room —-if you bring the same old same old you better bring it hard and better than all those before you.
You ma live this if you’ve never read this here though.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I finished this book in one sitting. It’s only 220 pages and very easy to fly through.
.
Crystal is the main character, and honestly...how naive can she be 🙄 Sometimes I felt like she was so stupid. But at the same time, I get it. She fell in love, and love makes people do very stupid things. So I was annoyed with her, but also kind of understood her.
.
The story is fast paced. No dragging, no long boring parts. It’s the kind of book you pick up "just for a bit" and suddenly you’re done. I really loved the ending. It wrapped things up in a satisfying way.
.
Yes, the plot is a bit cliche, the nanny falling for the husband. We’ve seen this before. But somehow, this one was still a fun and addictive read for me. Easy, messy, dramatic, and entertaining.
.
Side note: Imelda the helper is my favourite character. I loved her presence so much.
.
Thank you @netgalley for the advance copy.
This book will be published on 1st March 2026
.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
.
Crystal is the main character, and honestly...how naive can she be 🙄 Sometimes I felt like she was so stupid. But at the same time, I get it. She fell in love, and love makes people do very stupid things. So I was annoyed with her, but also kind of understood her.
.
The story is fast paced. No dragging, no long boring parts. It’s the kind of book you pick up "just for a bit" and suddenly you’re done. I really loved the ending. It wrapped things up in a satisfying way.
.
Yes, the plot is a bit cliche, the nanny falling for the husband. We’ve seen this before. But somehow, this one was still a fun and addictive read for me. Easy, messy, dramatic, and entertaining.
.
Side note: Imelda the helper is my favourite character. I loved her presence so much.
.
Thank you @netgalley for the advance copy.
This book will be published on 1st March 2026
.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 9, 2026
He is Mine by Theo Baxter is a thriller about a down in her luck women named Crystal who wants to be an actress. Crystal gets a live in nanny position with a family that seems perfect on the outside but there are many secrets held inside the house. The father, Daniel starts to pay Crystal more attention than appropriate and is pulling into the drama and needs to help Daniel divorce his wife Rose.
I rated this story a 3 as it really wasn’t my cup of tea in terms of writing style and personality of FMC but yet it was a good story. I would say give it a try, especially if you are new to thrillers, as the twists weren’t super predictable and tension was pretty good throughout.
The pacing was good in the beginning, dragged in the middle a bit then picked up at the end. I was suspicious of all characters so that was an entertaining journey.
The book is a thriller and while I enjoyed the premise of the book along with the actually suspense, the FMC was so naive throughout the whole thing that I was just kind of annoyed at her character. As a woman reading this was frustrating at times when she wouldn’t listen to her intution at all. Part of this naivety is in part to her age but she is continually seeking all validation and attention from external sources and not taking responsibility for her decisions.
I feel like I didn’t vibe with the FMC which hindered my experience within the story. While others may have a different experience, I found the description of being a nanny unrealistic in terms of energy needed to keep up with children that are four years old. I know I am being overly critical of this part but some of the actions of said 4 year olds weren’t indicative of where 4 year olds would be developmentally. I only say this as a mother with a four year old. Yes, children are all different but their actions and speech seemed more in line with a 7 year old in terms of independence. Long story short , this is one aspect that detracted from the story for me.
This book is for readers that enjoy a thriller book with good tension throughout and an easy engaging read. Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
I rated this story a 3 as it really wasn’t my cup of tea in terms of writing style and personality of FMC but yet it was a good story. I would say give it a try, especially if you are new to thrillers, as the twists weren’t super predictable and tension was pretty good throughout.
The pacing was good in the beginning, dragged in the middle a bit then picked up at the end. I was suspicious of all characters so that was an entertaining journey.
The book is a thriller and while I enjoyed the premise of the book along with the actually suspense, the FMC was so naive throughout the whole thing that I was just kind of annoyed at her character. As a woman reading this was frustrating at times when she wouldn’t listen to her intution at all. Part of this naivety is in part to her age but she is continually seeking all validation and attention from external sources and not taking responsibility for her decisions.
I feel like I didn’t vibe with the FMC which hindered my experience within the story. While others may have a different experience, I found the description of being a nanny unrealistic in terms of energy needed to keep up with children that are four years old. I know I am being overly critical of this part but some of the actions of said 4 year olds weren’t indicative of where 4 year olds would be developmentally. I only say this as a mother with a four year old. Yes, children are all different but their actions and speech seemed more in line with a 7 year old in terms of independence. Long story short , this is one aspect that detracted from the story for me.
This book is for readers that enjoy a thriller book with good tension throughout and an easy engaging read. Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
He Is Mine has all the right ingredients for a juicy psychological thriller, but the execution is uneven and a little too pleased with itself. Theo Baxter clearly knows how to hook a reader, yet this one settles firmly into the “fine but frustrating” category.
The premise is solid. Crystal, an aspiring actress turned nanny, steps into a glamorous Hollywood household and immediately into a minefield of obsession, jealousy, and manipulation. The setup promises danger and moral rot beneath the shiny surface, and to be fair, the atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting. Los Angeles wealth and entitlement are always good fuel for suspense, and Baxter uses that backdrop well.
The problem is that the tension never quite sharpens. The power struggle between Crystal, Daniel, and Rose should feel volatile, but too often it just circles the same emotional beats. The pacing drags in places where it should tighten, while the big twists arrive wearing name tags. If you read a lot of domestic or psychological thrillers, you will see several of them coming well before the book seems to think you will.
Character motivations are another weak spot. Everyone is dramatic, secretive, and morally questionable, but not always in ways that feel earned. At times it feels like the characters act irrationally because the plot demands it, not because their psychology naturally leads them there. For a genre built on mind games, that is a noticeable letdown.
That said, it is not a bad book. It is readable, occasionally tense, and it will probably keep you turning pages even while you roll your eyes. Fans of Baxter’s work will recognize his familiar style, though this one does not hit as hard as his stronger titles.
He Is Mine is a serviceable thriller with flashes of intrigue that never fully commit to the chaos it hints at. Entertaining enough for a quick read, but ultimately forgettable once the final twist lands.
The premise is solid. Crystal, an aspiring actress turned nanny, steps into a glamorous Hollywood household and immediately into a minefield of obsession, jealousy, and manipulation. The setup promises danger and moral rot beneath the shiny surface, and to be fair, the atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting. Los Angeles wealth and entitlement are always good fuel for suspense, and Baxter uses that backdrop well.
The problem is that the tension never quite sharpens. The power struggle between Crystal, Daniel, and Rose should feel volatile, but too often it just circles the same emotional beats. The pacing drags in places where it should tighten, while the big twists arrive wearing name tags. If you read a lot of domestic or psychological thrillers, you will see several of them coming well before the book seems to think you will.
Character motivations are another weak spot. Everyone is dramatic, secretive, and morally questionable, but not always in ways that feel earned. At times it feels like the characters act irrationally because the plot demands it, not because their psychology naturally leads them there. For a genre built on mind games, that is a noticeable letdown.
That said, it is not a bad book. It is readable, occasionally tense, and it will probably keep you turning pages even while you roll your eyes. Fans of Baxter’s work will recognize his familiar style, though this one does not hit as hard as his stronger titles.
He Is Mine is a serviceable thriller with flashes of intrigue that never fully commit to the chaos it hints at. Entertaining enough for a quick read, but ultimately forgettable once the final twist lands.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story starts with a struggling actress, Crystal, who is barely scraping by. She is trying to find as many gigs (and ways of upping her income) as possible, so she can catch up on her rent payments. She lives with her friend, Lizzie, who has been helping her out for the past couple of months. When Lizzie's boyfriend makes a pass at Crystal and Lizzie is confronted with this inrofmation, she tells Crystal that she needs to move out in 30 days. This event leads to Crystal looking for live-in nanny positions- one of which being with the Mosswoods. They seem picture perfect at first glance, with their two twin boys, but things are never as they seem online.
Overall, I would rate this story 3 stars. I was drawn in by the writing style and thought that it was off to a great start. I truly was feeling invested in Crystal and wondering what she would make of her life and career. The vibes in this book reminded me of the Housemaid, in a good way. Once I got to the 20% mark, I started to feel less invested. I thought that the plot was moving a little too quickly with the affair. I also found it odd that Lizzie was checking in on her after giving her the silent treatment for so long... it was unexpected and I wondered if she had alterior motives. She sure did seem to be approving of Crystal and Daniel! I was shocked with how willing Crystal was to go along with everything (for example, the gun range). I think it was also hard to tell how much time was passing by. Overall the pacing, flow, and ending felt a bit choppy and, at times, unrealistic.
Side note- I was intrigued by Imelda's character and was satisfied with how she tied in to the storyline. I couldn't quite guess what was going on with her.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for giving me an advanced reader's copy of He is Mine!
Overall, I would rate this story 3 stars. I was drawn in by the writing style and thought that it was off to a great start. I truly was feeling invested in Crystal and wondering what she would make of her life and career. The vibes in this book reminded me of the Housemaid, in a good way. Once I got to the 20% mark, I started to feel less invested. I thought that the plot was moving a little too quickly with the affair. I also found it odd that Lizzie was checking in on her after giving her the silent treatment for so long... it was unexpected and I wondered if she had alterior motives. She sure did seem to be approving of Crystal and Daniel! I was shocked with how willing Crystal was to go along with everything (for example, the gun range). I think it was also hard to tell how much time was passing by. Overall the pacing, flow, and ending felt a bit choppy and, at times, unrealistic.
Side note- I was intrigued by Imelda's character and was satisfied with how she tied in to the storyline. I couldn't quite guess what was going on with her.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for giving me an advanced reader's copy of He is Mine!
Review of advance copy
Review: He Is Mine by Theo Baxter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I went into this one expecting a standard "nanny falls for the boss" domestic thriller, but Theo Baxter clearly had much more sinister plans. If you enjoy stories where every character is at least 20% more sociopathic than they first appear, this is going to be your new obsession.
What I Loved
The atmosphere in that Hollywood Hills mansion is absolutely suffocating. From the moment Crystal enters the Mosswood home, I could feel the "powder keg" Baxter describes in the blurb.
• The Power Dynamics: I found myself screaming at Crystal to run, while simultaneously understanding why she stayed. She’s desperate for the "LA Dream," and Daniel is a master at dangling that carrot.
• The "Perfect" Couple: Daniel and Rose are fascinating. Watching their marriage unspool—and seeing how they both use Crystal as a weapon against the other—made for a genuinely tense read.
• The Pace: The first half builds the dread beautifully, but the second half is a total sprint. I finished the last 30% in one sitting because I had to know who was actually holding the strings.
My Take
I’ll admit, Crystal is a classic "naive protagonist," which can be frustrating at times. There were moments I wanted to shake her and tell her that movie producers don’t just hand out mansions out of the goodness of their hearts! However, that’s exactly the point—she’s out of her depth, and the book does a great job of making you feel that vulnerability.
Final Verdict: A twisty, dark, and highly addictive look at the price of ambition. It’s The Nanny Diaries meets Gone Girl, but with more expensive champagne and much deadlier secrets.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I went into this one expecting a standard "nanny falls for the boss" domestic thriller, but Theo Baxter clearly had much more sinister plans. If you enjoy stories where every character is at least 20% more sociopathic than they first appear, this is going to be your new obsession.
What I Loved
The atmosphere in that Hollywood Hills mansion is absolutely suffocating. From the moment Crystal enters the Mosswood home, I could feel the "powder keg" Baxter describes in the blurb.
• The Power Dynamics: I found myself screaming at Crystal to run, while simultaneously understanding why she stayed. She’s desperate for the "LA Dream," and Daniel is a master at dangling that carrot.
• The "Perfect" Couple: Daniel and Rose are fascinating. Watching their marriage unspool—and seeing how they both use Crystal as a weapon against the other—made for a genuinely tense read.
• The Pace: The first half builds the dread beautifully, but the second half is a total sprint. I finished the last 30% in one sitting because I had to know who was actually holding the strings.
My Take
I’ll admit, Crystal is a classic "naive protagonist," which can be frustrating at times. There were moments I wanted to shake her and tell her that movie producers don’t just hand out mansions out of the goodness of their hearts! However, that’s exactly the point—she’s out of her depth, and the book does a great job of making you feel that vulnerability.
Final Verdict: A twisty, dark, and highly addictive look at the price of ambition. It’s The Nanny Diaries meets Gone Girl, but with more expensive champagne and much deadlier secrets.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
He Is Mine is a deliciously tense and twisty read—one of those psychological thrillers that pulls you in with glamour and promise before revealing the rot beneath the surface. Theo Baxter crafts a world of Hollywood privilege that feels glossy on the outside and deeply unsettling once you step inside.
Crystal is a fascinating narrator: hopeful, ambitious, and painfully easy to root for, even as she makes choices you want to reach into the page and stop. Her dream of stardom, her loneliness, and her hunger for a better life make her vulnerable in ways that feel heartbreakingly real. When she becomes nanny to Daniel and Rose Mosswood, the cracks in their perfect façade appear quickly—and Baxter leans into that tension with expert timing.
Daniel’s charm is as intoxicating as it is dangerous, and watching Crystal fall under his spell is both compelling and deeply uncomfortable. Rose, meanwhile, is far more complex than she first appears, and the shifting power dynamics between the three of them give the novel its sharpest edge. Everyone is lying. Everyone is performing. And Crystal has no idea she’s wandered into a game she was never equipped to play.
The Hollywood Hills setting adds a wonderful sense of isolation and menace—sunlit pools, sprawling rooms, and a house where every corner seems to hold a secret. As the stakes rise, the story becomes a taut dance of manipulation, ambition, and survival.
Fast‑paced, atmospheric, and packed with tension, He Is Mine is a gripping psychological thriller about the cost of wanting more and the danger of trusting the wrong people. A compulsive read from start to finish.
My thanks to Theo Baxter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Crystal is a fascinating narrator: hopeful, ambitious, and painfully easy to root for, even as she makes choices you want to reach into the page and stop. Her dream of stardom, her loneliness, and her hunger for a better life make her vulnerable in ways that feel heartbreakingly real. When she becomes nanny to Daniel and Rose Mosswood, the cracks in their perfect façade appear quickly—and Baxter leans into that tension with expert timing.
Daniel’s charm is as intoxicating as it is dangerous, and watching Crystal fall under his spell is both compelling and deeply uncomfortable. Rose, meanwhile, is far more complex than she first appears, and the shifting power dynamics between the three of them give the novel its sharpest edge. Everyone is lying. Everyone is performing. And Crystal has no idea she’s wandered into a game she was never equipped to play.
The Hollywood Hills setting adds a wonderful sense of isolation and menace—sunlit pools, sprawling rooms, and a house where every corner seems to hold a secret. As the stakes rise, the story becomes a taut dance of manipulation, ambition, and survival.
Fast‑paced, atmospheric, and packed with tension, He Is Mine is a gripping psychological thriller about the cost of wanting more and the danger of trusting the wrong people. A compulsive read from start to finish.
My thanks to Theo Baxter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
He Is Mine – Theo Baxter
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC via NetGalley)
This was my first book by Theo Baxter, and while it wasn’t a new favorite for me, it was still an engaging psychological thriller.
The story follows Crystal, an aspiring actress who takes a live-in nanny job for a family that appears perfect on the surface. As she settles in, cracks begin to show, secrets start piling up, and boundaries are crossed—especially when the father of the household begins giving her attention that quickly turns inappropriate.
The tension was solid throughout, and I genuinely didn’t know who to trust. I was suspicious of pretty much every character, which made the reading experience entertaining. The pacing started strong, slowed a bit in the middle, and then picked back up toward the end. It’s also a quick read—I finished it in one sitting.
That said, I struggled with the FMC. Crystal’s constant need for validation and her repeated dismissal of her instincts made it hard for me to fully connect with her. I understand that her age and emotional vulnerability play into her choices, but her naivety became frustrating and pulled me out of the story at times.
I also found parts of the nanny dynamic unrealistic, particularly in how the children were portrayed, which stood out to me as a parent. While not a dealbreaker, it did affect my overall immersion.
Overall, this is a decent pick for readers who enjoy domestic thrillers, messy dynamics, and steady tension—especially if you’re newer to the genre. The twists weren’t overly predictable, and the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC via NetGalley)
This was my first book by Theo Baxter, and while it wasn’t a new favorite for me, it was still an engaging psychological thriller.
The story follows Crystal, an aspiring actress who takes a live-in nanny job for a family that appears perfect on the surface. As she settles in, cracks begin to show, secrets start piling up, and boundaries are crossed—especially when the father of the household begins giving her attention that quickly turns inappropriate.
The tension was solid throughout, and I genuinely didn’t know who to trust. I was suspicious of pretty much every character, which made the reading experience entertaining. The pacing started strong, slowed a bit in the middle, and then picked back up toward the end. It’s also a quick read—I finished it in one sitting.
That said, I struggled with the FMC. Crystal’s constant need for validation and her repeated dismissal of her instincts made it hard for me to fully connect with her. I understand that her age and emotional vulnerability play into her choices, but her naivety became frustrating and pulled me out of the story at times.
I also found parts of the nanny dynamic unrealistic, particularly in how the children were portrayed, which stood out to me as a parent. While not a dealbreaker, it did affect my overall immersion.
Overall, this is a decent pick for readers who enjoy domestic thrillers, messy dynamics, and steady tension—especially if you’re newer to the genre. The twists weren’t overly predictable, and the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a digital ARC of this book from Inkubator Books via NetGalley. When I read the premise of the story, I was immediately intrigued and excited to read what was described as a thriller. While there were some moments that pulled me into the fmc’s emotions, I unfortunately didn’t feel the suspense, curiosity, and excitement that I expected. Many of the scenes could have been elaborated and described in more detail. For example, I didn’t feel the attraction between the fmc and Daniel because there was no build-up of their growing interest in one another. The story would jump too drastically without much explanation or descriptive words to immerse you in the moment.
I appreciated the first person point of view and I could tell the fmc was truly struggling with all the dilemmas she was experiencing. However, there did come a point where almost every page had her asking herself a question. It became a little excessive. Also, it would’ve been nice to see the fmc figure some things on her own rather than always go to someone else for their advice (i.e., her best friend and the maid).
Overall, this thriller did not have that “thrill” factor. There weren’t really any shocking moments or suspenseful scenes. I needed more depth, build-up, and character development.
Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest feedback on this ARC.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Inkubator Books via NetGalley. When I read the premise of the story, I was immediately intrigued and excited to read what was described as a thriller. While there were some moments that pulled me into the fmc’s emotions, I unfortunately didn’t feel the suspense, curiosity, and excitement that I expected. Many of the scenes could have been elaborated and described in more detail. For example, I didn’t feel the attraction between the fmc and Daniel because there was no build-up of their growing interest in one another. The story would jump too drastically without much explanation or descriptive words to immerse you in the moment.
I appreciated the first person point of view and I could tell the fmc was truly struggling with all the dilemmas she was experiencing. However, there did come a point where almost every page had her asking herself a question. It became a little excessive. Also, it would’ve been nice to see the fmc figure some things on her own rather than always go to someone else for their advice (i.e., her best friend and the maid).
Overall, this thriller did not have that “thrill” factor. There weren’t really any shocking moments or suspenseful scenes. I needed more depth, build-up, and character development.
Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest feedback on this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC!
as ever, I feel bad giving ARCs one star, especially when they have this few reviews, but... I gotta be honest. and I really did not like this book at all, unfortunately. I think the opening chapters had some promise, some tension building up, and better writing than the rest of the book. unfortunately, it all fell apart after that. things happened at a breakneck pace, but not in a good thriller way, in a way where I was constantly saying, "well, that hasn't been established." when shit started going down, it was all incredibly predictable. the protagonist was just annoyingly dumb, between the trusting everyone and having long conversations about the serious flaws and misdeeds of her employers... right there in her employers' house. also had many moments of "I don't think the law works like that" toward the end.
there was also a certain writing style that popped up kind of a lot. once I saw it I couldn't stop seeing it. hopefully people know what I'm getting at here. but it could just be the author's style, idk.
I was going to give this two stars because the relationship between the protagonist and the two kids she nannied was really sweet and not something you see a lot in thrillers, but in the end, I felt that was brushed away too.
as ever, I feel bad giving ARCs one star, especially when they have this few reviews, but... I gotta be honest. and I really did not like this book at all, unfortunately. I think the opening chapters had some promise, some tension building up, and better writing than the rest of the book. unfortunately, it all fell apart after that. things happened at a breakneck pace, but not in a good thriller way, in a way where I was constantly saying, "well, that hasn't been established." when shit started going down, it was all incredibly predictable. the protagonist was just annoyingly dumb, between the trusting everyone and having long conversations about the serious flaws and misdeeds of her employers... right there in her employers' house. also had many moments of "I don't think the law works like that" toward the end.
there was also a certain writing style that popped up kind of a lot. once I saw it I couldn't stop seeing it. hopefully people know what I'm getting at here. but it could just be the author's style, idk.
I was going to give this two stars because the relationship between the protagonist and the two kids she nannied was really sweet and not something you see a lot in thrillers, but in the end, I felt that was brushed away too.
February 18, 2026
*He Is Mine* follows Crystal, a struggling aspiring actress who takes a live-in nanny job with a family that appears picture-perfect. Behind closed doors, though, the household is filled with secrets. The father, Daniel, begins giving Crystal inappropriate attention, pulling her deeper into the family’s unraveling marriage and a web of manipulation, jealousy, and deception.
The pacing started off strong and really hooked me in the beginning. The middle dragged a bit, but it did pick back up toward the end. I will say, I liked that I was suspicious of pretty much every character at some point — that made the journey entertaining and kept me guessing. That said, while I enjoyed the premise and the overall suspense, I struggled with the FMC. She was so naive throughout the story that it became frustrating. As a woman reading this, it was hard watching her ignore her intuition over and over again. I understand that some of it can be attributed to her age, but she constantly sought validation and attention from others instead of taking accountability for her choices. It made it difficult to root for her fully. Overall, it’s a decent thriller with an intriguing setup and some solid suspense, but the character frustration and a somewhat predictable ending kept it from being a standout for me.
Thank you, Inkubator Books and Netgallery, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The pacing started off strong and really hooked me in the beginning. The middle dragged a bit, but it did pick back up toward the end. I will say, I liked that I was suspicious of pretty much every character at some point — that made the journey entertaining and kept me guessing. That said, while I enjoyed the premise and the overall suspense, I struggled with the FMC. She was so naive throughout the story that it became frustrating. As a woman reading this, it was hard watching her ignore her intuition over and over again. I understand that some of it can be attributed to her age, but she constantly sought validation and attention from others instead of taking accountability for her choices. It made it difficult to root for her fully. Overall, it’s a decent thriller with an intriguing setup and some solid suspense, but the character frustration and a somewhat predictable ending kept it from being a standout for me.
Thank you, Inkubator Books and Netgallery, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received as an ARC through Netgalley, this is an honest review.
Thank you goes out to Inkubator Books four posting this book to read.
He As Mine is an absolute wild ride that author Theo Baxter weaves for Crystal Tannenbaum discovers taking a job as a nanny to a well off couple would spiral into something so much more dangerous.
Taking the job was a point of desperation as the desire to be an actress isn't panning our; and Crystal's back ground with children made the job easy to take on and Rose and Daniel seemed liked good people with young twin boys that Crystal could adore.
The more time spent with the family, the perfection seen on the surface hides a lot of trouble, Crystal finds herself getting embroiled into dark personal trauma that makes Crystal wonder how much more deeper she can dig herself into a position that could cost her everything that's being dangled in front of her... if Crystal is willing to do what's required to achieve it. And is she willing to accept the fiery consequences that come out from that.
Highly recommended.
Thank you goes out to Inkubator Books four posting this book to read.
He As Mine is an absolute wild ride that author Theo Baxter weaves for Crystal Tannenbaum discovers taking a job as a nanny to a well off couple would spiral into something so much more dangerous.
Taking the job was a point of desperation as the desire to be an actress isn't panning our; and Crystal's back ground with children made the job easy to take on and Rose and Daniel seemed liked good people with young twin boys that Crystal could adore.
The more time spent with the family, the perfection seen on the surface hides a lot of trouble, Crystal finds herself getting embroiled into dark personal trauma that makes Crystal wonder how much more deeper she can dig herself into a position that could cost her everything that's being dangled in front of her... if Crystal is willing to do what's required to achieve it. And is she willing to accept the fiery consequences that come out from that.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy
While reading this book, I was instantly reminded of another title that recently received a movie adaptation. Many parts of the general plot felt so familiar that I had a pretty good sense of what to expect early on.
We follow our “damsel in distress,” who needs money and a job. She becomes the nanny for a wealthy family and immediately hits it off with the husband. Being young and somewhat naïve, she becomes quickly smitten. She falls for him, believes everything he promises, and has no idea what she’s truly getting herself into. When everything finally falls apart, she realizes the reality of what she agreed to.
The story is easy to read and even a bit addictive, but also predictable in many ways. It doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the genre, but if you’re looking for something similar to The Housemaid - just a bit tamer -you’ll likely enjoy this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
We follow our “damsel in distress,” who needs money and a job. She becomes the nanny for a wealthy family and immediately hits it off with the husband. Being young and somewhat naïve, she becomes quickly smitten. She falls for him, believes everything he promises, and has no idea what she’s truly getting herself into. When everything finally falls apart, she realizes the reality of what she agreed to.
The story is easy to read and even a bit addictive, but also predictable in many ways. It doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the genre, but if you’re looking for something similar to The Housemaid - just a bit tamer -you’ll likely enjoy this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of this book from Inkubator Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The characters were completely one-dimensional. The only person we really know anything about is Crystal, but her poor choices and disregard for other people's feelings does not make her sympathetic. Daniel basically seems like a caricature, and we know nothing at all about Rose.
I thought it was very unrealistic that Lizzie would support Crystal's poor choices and destructive behavior. It was also very unrealistic that 4-year-olds would take two naps a day and seemingly never misbehave.
I thought the author was leading us towards some sort of twist with one or both of the supporting characters; this never came.
The writing was not skilled and honestly seemed like a high schooler's creative writing. I am actually really surprised to see this author has written so many previous books.
I thought it was very unrealistic that Lizzie would support Crystal's poor choices and destructive behavior. It was also very unrealistic that 4-year-olds would take two naps a day and seemingly never misbehave.
I thought the author was leading us towards some sort of twist with one or both of the supporting characters; this never came.
The writing was not skilled and honestly seemed like a high schooler's creative writing. I am actually really surprised to see this author has written so many previous books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review: He Is Mine by Theo Baxter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
He Is Mine is a fast-paced, high-concept psychological thriller that dives straight into the dark side of obsession. It’s a classic "popcorn" thriller—perfect for a quick, one-sitting read if you enjoy domestic noir with a claustrophobic edge.
The Good: The premise is immediately hooking, and the "cat-and-mouse" tension between the characters kept me turning the pages. Baxter is great at maintaining a sense of unease throughout the story.
The Not-So-Good: I struggled to connect with the characters, whose motivations often felt thin. Additionally, some of the plot twists required a heavy suspension of disbelief, trading logic for shock value.
Final Verdict: An entertaining, twisty ride that delivers on drama but lacks the psychological depth to make it truly stand out in a crowded genre. A solid choice for fans of obsessive-love tropes.
Thanks to Inkubator and NetGalley for the ARC.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
He Is Mine is a fast-paced, high-concept psychological thriller that dives straight into the dark side of obsession. It’s a classic "popcorn" thriller—perfect for a quick, one-sitting read if you enjoy domestic noir with a claustrophobic edge.
The Good: The premise is immediately hooking, and the "cat-and-mouse" tension between the characters kept me turning the pages. Baxter is great at maintaining a sense of unease throughout the story.
The Not-So-Good: I struggled to connect with the characters, whose motivations often felt thin. Additionally, some of the plot twists required a heavy suspension of disbelief, trading logic for shock value.
Final Verdict: An entertaining, twisty ride that delivers on drama but lacks the psychological depth to make it truly stand out in a crowded genre. A solid choice for fans of obsessive-love tropes.
Thanks to Inkubator and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: He is Mine
Author: Theo Baxter
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟
Publication Date: March 1, 2026
This was your typical popcorn thriller "nanny has an affair with the husband" story. Let's be honest; nothing good ever comes from that.
The storyline of this book just annoyed me. Attempting to have a relationship with a married man is obviously wrong, but your best friend encouraging the relationship makes it ten times worse. This type of behavior shouldn't be normalized/sensationalized.
This book honestly didn't feel like a psychological thriller. At least, it didn't until approximately half way through the book. That's when things finally started to pick up. I found the end to be pretty predictable, with the exception of Imelda's part in the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
Author: Theo Baxter
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟
Publication Date: March 1, 2026
This was your typical popcorn thriller "nanny has an affair with the husband" story. Let's be honest; nothing good ever comes from that.
The storyline of this book just annoyed me. Attempting to have a relationship with a married man is obviously wrong, but your best friend encouraging the relationship makes it ten times worse. This type of behavior shouldn't be normalized/sensationalized.
This book honestly didn't feel like a psychological thriller. At least, it didn't until approximately half way through the book. That's when things finally started to pick up. I found the end to be pretty predictable, with the exception of Imelda's part in the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
February 2, 2026
It’s a tale as old as time - a live in nanny that immediately starts sleeping with the husband. Because he’s rich, charming, and attractive. Because with you, “it’s different. HE’S different” but……is it? Is he?
Crystal has a MAJOR case of DBS. She thinks because she loves the house, the man, & the kids, she’s gonna insert herself into Daniel’s life. & it goes just about how you’d expect. But even as annoying & dumb as Crystal is, this was a fun read. It kept me pulled into the story, whether it was because the plot had me stressed, just laughing at the decisions these people made, or because it was just so ridiculous.
Some stuff was kinda out there & didn’t make sense, but all in all, still a fun read.
Crystal has a MAJOR case of DBS. She thinks because she loves the house, the man, & the kids, she’s gonna insert herself into Daniel’s life. & it goes just about how you’d expect. But even as annoying & dumb as Crystal is, this was a fun read. It kept me pulled into the story, whether it was because the plot had me stressed, just laughing at the decisions these people made, or because it was just so ridiculous.
Some stuff was kinda out there & didn’t make sense, but all in all, still a fun read.
February 7, 2026
He Is Mine is a twisty domestic thriller that I really enjoyed. Theo Baxter leans into the nanny trope in a way that kept me hooked, and I
flew
through this one!
Crystal heads to LA with big dreams of becoming an actress, but ends up working as a nanny for a wealthy couple whose picture-perfect Hollywood life soon begins to crumble. As she gets pulled deeper into their world, it quickly becomes obvious that everyone is a little shady and they’re all hiding their own secrets and lies. Can anyone be trusted??
Poor Crystal is really naive throughout, which definitely had me shaking my head at times. The police and courtroom scenes also require a bit of suspension of disbelief. Still, I couldn’t put it down and ended up totally loving the ride. Five stars!
Crystal heads to LA with big dreams of becoming an actress, but ends up working as a nanny for a wealthy couple whose picture-perfect Hollywood life soon begins to crumble. As she gets pulled deeper into their world, it quickly becomes obvious that everyone is a little shady and they’re all hiding their own secrets and lies. Can anyone be trusted??
Poor Crystal is really naive throughout, which definitely had me shaking my head at times. The police and courtroom scenes also require a bit of suspension of disbelief. Still, I couldn’t put it down and ended up totally loving the ride. Five stars!
February 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
He is Mine by Theo Baxter is a fast-paced thriller that is hard to put down, thanks to its short, punchy chapters. The story follows Crystal, who becomes a live-in nanny for the Mosswood twins and catches the eye of Daniel, the father. As she navigates Rose’s instability and befriends the live-in maid, who has secrets of her own, tension and suspense build with every chapter. Some of the writing felt a bit repetitive, and parts of the storyline were predictable if you are an avid mystery or thriller reader like me, but I still really enjoyed the story overall. Baxter’s pacing and intrigue make it a compelling read.
Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for the ARC.
He is Mine by Theo Baxter is a fast-paced thriller that is hard to put down, thanks to its short, punchy chapters. The story follows Crystal, who becomes a live-in nanny for the Mosswood twins and catches the eye of Daniel, the father. As she navigates Rose’s instability and befriends the live-in maid, who has secrets of her own, tension and suspense build with every chapter. Some of the writing felt a bit repetitive, and parts of the storyline were predictable if you are an avid mystery or thriller reader like me, but I still really enjoyed the story overall. Baxter’s pacing and intrigue make it a compelling read.
Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is going to be page tuner for me for sure like I didn’t see that outcome coming at all in this story. Like I knew as soon as the event took place something was up and thing started adding up to me when I think about the character like how they kind of set the nanny up for everything but she had a some backup that was doing thing behind the scenes to help her out. I’m glad that she didn’t get away with anything and that nanny got to go live her house and that the kids are in place that can show them all the love in the world.
February 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of He Is Mine by Theo Baxter.
This one just wasn’t for me. I’m not a fan of the cheating trope, and I didn’t feel much of a connection to the characters, which made it hard to stay invested. While the writing was solid, the story never fully pulled me in.
Readers who enjoy messy relationship dynamics may still enjoy this, but it wasn’t my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of He Is Mine by Theo Baxter.
This one just wasn’t for me. I’m not a fan of the cheating trope, and I didn’t feel much of a connection to the characters, which made it hard to stay invested. While the writing was solid, the story never fully pulled me in.
Readers who enjoy messy relationship dynamics may still enjoy this, but it wasn’t my favorite.
February 10, 2026
Thank you Inkubator Books and Netgalley for the ARC!
I was initially drawn in to the book but unfortunately very quickly, it became a challenge to not dnf. The MC was shallow and naive, not someone you wanted to root for. The characters were poorly fleshed out, I knew nothing about them apart from they were insufferable. I hate the cheating trope so that really tainted my opinion of the FMC. I felt the book was very strangely paced, the plot twists were very meh. 2**
I was initially drawn in to the book but unfortunately very quickly, it became a challenge to not dnf. The MC was shallow and naive, not someone you wanted to root for. The characters were poorly fleshed out, I knew nothing about them apart from they were insufferable. I hate the cheating trope so that really tainted my opinion of the FMC. I felt the book was very strangely paced, the plot twists were very meh. 2**
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
With her acting career going nowhere and problems with her roommate Celeste needs a miracle. She lands a job as a live in nanny of adorable twin boys and thinks her luck is changing but is it. Affairs, lies and deception take over and nothing is as perfect as it seemed. Will she lose everything or will she be able to free herself from the nightmare she’s created.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read an advanced copy from Netgalley. Not my cup of tea. The story just drug on and on going nowhere. I usually really like books from this author but I found this one boring
February 17, 2026
When Crystal has a hard time trying to make it as an actress she takes a live in nanny position for a rich and prominent couple. Everything is not as it seems when the husband starts putting the moves on Crystal when his wife isn’t around. Are these feelings real or is there something nefarious lurking just under the surface?
I love Theo Baxter’s writing!! You get completely sucked in and the characters are just SO compelling and beautifully written. I was so hooked on this that I finished it in just a few hours. It was insanely fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat to find out what happened next.
I love Theo Baxter’s writing!! You get completely sucked in and the characters are just SO compelling and beautifully written. I was so hooked on this that I finished it in just a few hours. It was insanely fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat to find out what happened next.
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