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Stalked: A Dangerous Predator. A Life Lived in Fear. A Terrifying True Story
Alison Hewitt was in the midst of training to be a family doctor when she met Al Amin Dhalla through an exclusive dating agency. He was a seemingly respectable businessman from Canada, so attentive and caring it was easy to ignore the warning signs - until he started, step by step, to take over her life. Six months after they first met Al Amin's web of lies started to unravel and Alison became aware that he had a sinister dark side. When she tried to end the relationship, the unthinkable happened and she found herself the victim of an escalating campaign of terror. Even when Al Amin was found with knives and guns, the police had no powers to detain him. Nobody could have imagined the events that were to follow, as Alison was left fearing for her life. It would take all her strength to survive. Brave and gripping, Stalked tells of one young woman's fight against the man who terrorized her, and her determination to defeat the fear and live a normal life.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2014
33 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
February 26, 2019
Honest, perceptive, and eerie!
Stalked is the first-hand, harrowing story of Alison Hewitt’s relationship with Al Amin Dhalla, a charming fellow who quickly went from being a kind, considerate gentleman she met through a dating service, to a crazed, obsessed, armed ex-boyfriend.
The writing is clear and fluid. The characters are tormented and scarred, as well as relentless and vicious. And the plot, using first-person narration, unfolds chronologically, building tension and intrigue as it unravels all the personalities, behaviours, actions, and relationships within it.
Stalked is, ultimately, a true story of deception, fixation, harassment, fear, desperation, manipulation, recklessness, and vengeance that’s a frightening reminder that we only see what people want us to see and they are often, unfortunately, not whom they seem.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Stalked is the first-hand, harrowing story of Alison Hewitt’s relationship with Al Amin Dhalla, a charming fellow who quickly went from being a kind, considerate gentleman she met through a dating service, to a crazed, obsessed, armed ex-boyfriend.
The writing is clear and fluid. The characters are tormented and scarred, as well as relentless and vicious. And the plot, using first-person narration, unfolds chronologically, building tension and intrigue as it unravels all the personalities, behaviours, actions, and relationships within it.
Stalked is, ultimately, a true story of deception, fixation, harassment, fear, desperation, manipulation, recklessness, and vengeance that’s a frightening reminder that we only see what people want us to see and they are often, unfortunately, not whom they seem.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2019
Thanks to PGC Books for a free copy of this book for review. This is the true story of Alison Hewitt and her terrifying experience of being stalked. Alison is an intelligent young woman in the middle of completing her medical residency. She has been so consumed with work and has neglected her social life. On the advice of a friend she joins a reputable dating service. She meets Al through the dating service and finds herself very compatible with him. They enter into a relationship and Al increasingly wants them to move faster. He insists on moving in and slowly starts to take control of her life. Her family, luckily, begins to become suspicious and uncomfortable about Al’s intentions and bring these concerns to Alison’s attention.She initially defends him but then starts to become aware of his controlling behaviour. As this escalates Alison describes the terror she had to live through. It is horrifying to see the lengths Al went to in his attempt to continue the relationship and then to become vindictive. This is a definitely a cautionary tale for women.
May 8, 2019
Stalked is an account of one woman’s relationship that turns into something completely one-sided, obsessive, and abusive. It is terrifying and brutally honest. In her thirties, Alison is somewhat settled in Brighton in her later years of medical school, and she decides she is ready to start dating. Through a high-end dating website, she meets Al Dhalla. The two get on really well and start a relationship. Soon after that he is moving in with her, and pushing for marriage. She is happy for a few months but still feels as if she never had the chance to evaluate her feelings properly. It gets worse when Al is caught in lies, and secrets are revealed about his dark past. Unfortunately, Alison ends up in a very dangerous situation, where her and her family members are at risk.
After the first chapter, I could not put this book down. I had to know what happens to Alison in the end. I truly commend her for sharing this difficult story. She is open throughout the novel about the signs she missed later in the relationship, and times where she should have taken a stronger stance or asked for help but felt mentally trapped. Though it is difficult to read these harrowing details about a true story, it is suspenseful and thrilling in a way. The relationship turns dark very suddenly, and it is a good reminder to take time in getting to know people and to make sure you are comfortable and on your own terms in relationships. This is a story that I won’t easily forget.
Thank you to Publisher’s Group Canada for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
After the first chapter, I could not put this book down. I had to know what happens to Alison in the end. I truly commend her for sharing this difficult story. She is open throughout the novel about the signs she missed later in the relationship, and times where she should have taken a stronger stance or asked for help but felt mentally trapped. Though it is difficult to read these harrowing details about a true story, it is suspenseful and thrilling in a way. The relationship turns dark very suddenly, and it is a good reminder to take time in getting to know people and to make sure you are comfortable and on your own terms in relationships. This is a story that I won’t easily forget.
Thank you to Publisher’s Group Canada for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2019
I’ve recently re discovered my love for biographies specifically memoirs. The very first memoir book I read when I was ten years old was a child called it, it opened me up to a world where I never knew such cruelty can exist.
I really enjoyed this memoir and empathised about what Alison went through with her sociopath ex Al, the extremes he went to hell bent on revenge was terrifying I can’t imagine what Alison and her family went through, I felt drawn to Alison’s kind and down to earth personality she is truly a lovely and an inspiration. It’s deeply saddening that there is so many women and men who suffer from domestic abuse, if you’re looking for a heartfelt memoir this one will not disappoint.
I really enjoyed this memoir and empathised about what Alison went through with her sociopath ex Al, the extremes he went to hell bent on revenge was terrifying I can’t imagine what Alison and her family went through, I felt drawn to Alison’s kind and down to earth personality she is truly a lovely and an inspiration. It’s deeply saddening that there is so many women and men who suffer from domestic abuse, if you’re looking for a heartfelt memoir this one will not disappoint.
July 24, 2017
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL WOMEN ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGEST who are on online dating or are consider to try it. Alison is training to become a doctor, and this has an impact on her social life. Her friend recommended her to try a dating site, and she does, not knowing that her life will change forever. This is a true story.
November 1, 2014
An okish book if only to highlight the trauma etc of stalking.I did get very irritated at what I felt was Alisons stupidity and dragging this relationship out.That said I also feel it might be so easy to get trapped in these things and feel helpless as to what to do.
February 28, 2022
Enthralling insight into how being stalked affects someone, the signs of narcissistic personality disorder and how people overlook things. I wish it could have been higher but the ending felt sudden and the masses of grammatical errors throughout the book sometimes made it difficult to read. I want in no way to belittle this story due to it being true, and I emphasise completely with Hewitt, I just feel I wasn’t emotionally connected with Alison, yet I felt so strongly my dislike towards Al - strange how I formed emotional feelings towards the antagonist yet nothing for the ‘protagonist’. Could have easily been 5-stars if the book was more thoroughly checked for spelling and punctuation before publishing, and (although I understand it must have been awful to write this book and re-live her experiences) the ending have more emotive writing so I could feel some kind of joy FOR Alison. The epilogue is great news though and I’m happy everything worked out for Alison and Al 2.0 lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2021
An excellent and terrifying account of being stalked and when relationships go wrong. And the dangers of online dating.
September 20, 2014
A busy doctor decides to join an upmarket dating agency to find a possible life partner. One of the first people she meets is Al - nice looking, considerate, fun to be with and interested in her. So far so good and it seemed as though the author had found someone she could consider sharing her life with. But she wants to take things slowly and when Al wants to move in with her she resists until he presents her with a fait accompli.
That is just the start. The author's family had reservations about Al from the start and felt he was hiding something. They were so concerned they engaged a private investigator to look into his background. This is just the start of a nightmare which involves both the author and her family. Al is continually trying to pressure Alison into marriage - even go so far as to send out invitations even though she has told him she isn't sure about marriage. He starts showing a different side of himself - sulky and petulant if he doesn't get his own way. Always wanting to know what Alison is doing and reading her e-mails as well as checking her phone for messages.
Alison decides she wants to end the relationship but Al doesn't want to. He bombards her with texts, phone calls, letters and presents. He waits for her outside work and forces his way into her car. She has to get her step father and brother to persuade him to move it. Before long the police are involved.
Anyone - male or female - will find this book frightening and disturbing. It shows there is a very fine line between a caring relationship and one in which one partner dominates and controls the other to the extent that they lose touch with their friends and family.
The book takes you into the author's life and allows you to feel her fear and terror as well as the feeling of helplessness which can result if the person responsible for the harassment is also a charming and plausible individual. It shows how a career can potentially be destroyed by lies if someone is determined to do it. The book also shows how the police pulled out all the stops to prevent a fatal outcome.
As gripping as any thriller I recommend it to anyone who thinks they could never become the victim of a stalker.
That is just the start. The author's family had reservations about Al from the start and felt he was hiding something. They were so concerned they engaged a private investigator to look into his background. This is just the start of a nightmare which involves both the author and her family. Al is continually trying to pressure Alison into marriage - even go so far as to send out invitations even though she has told him she isn't sure about marriage. He starts showing a different side of himself - sulky and petulant if he doesn't get his own way. Always wanting to know what Alison is doing and reading her e-mails as well as checking her phone for messages.
Alison decides she wants to end the relationship but Al doesn't want to. He bombards her with texts, phone calls, letters and presents. He waits for her outside work and forces his way into her car. She has to get her step father and brother to persuade him to move it. Before long the police are involved.
Anyone - male or female - will find this book frightening and disturbing. It shows there is a very fine line between a caring relationship and one in which one partner dominates and controls the other to the extent that they lose touch with their friends and family.
The book takes you into the author's life and allows you to feel her fear and terror as well as the feeling of helplessness which can result if the person responsible for the harassment is also a charming and plausible individual. It shows how a career can potentially be destroyed by lies if someone is determined to do it. The book also shows how the police pulled out all the stops to prevent a fatal outcome.
As gripping as any thriller I recommend it to anyone who thinks they could never become the victim of a stalker.
April 4, 2019
I randomly picked up this book a few years ago and I finally read it this week.
This story is gripping from start to finish. I felt for Alison and she was able to explain her life at that time very well. It is obvious that she is not a writer at heart and sometimes the prose pulled me out of the story, but the brutal honesty was what kept me going.
This book is important as it raises awareness of what is still a massive problem in our society and as portrayed in this book the law does little to portrect the victims.
Side note: I actually found Alison's experiences as a training GP in the NHS also incredibly interesting.
This story is gripping from start to finish. I felt for Alison and she was able to explain her life at that time very well. It is obvious that she is not a writer at heart and sometimes the prose pulled me out of the story, but the brutal honesty was what kept me going.
This book is important as it raises awareness of what is still a massive problem in our society and as portrayed in this book the law does little to portrect the victims.
Side note: I actually found Alison's experiences as a training GP in the NHS also incredibly interesting.
June 3, 2019
It is a horrendous thing that happened to Alison, but this book was painful to read. From the multiple grammar mistakes to her almost talking in third-person as if it happened to someone else, but she still used "me" and "I" like in first-person. She used the word "had" way too many times and in sentences that made more sense without the unnecessary use of the word "had". This is a traumatic experience and she almost writes it as if she is writing a grocery list, emotionless. There were parts of the book I enjoyed but overall I would not recommend.
June 11, 2019
Repetitive. Slow. Anti-climatic. Ugh. It is horrible to say these things about someone's work of art, let alone the story they tell about their life but unfortunately, I don't feel it was necessary to share this story over a whole book. An article - sure. A one-hour documentary - okay. Interviews on daytime TV to tell your story and spread awareness - great. A 304-page account of exactly what happened, repeated so many times you start to wonder if you have read that page before - extremely boring.
October 15, 2017
I love the book. Although it’s a bit psycho but it somehow has shown us how annoying an insecured person can be. Al has gone insane all because of he is too much in love but due to the level of the intensity of his mentality is too strong that he could not control himself, those love has turned to a disaster!
October 7, 2025
The story itself is terrifying, and I have so much admiration for Alison and her family for surviving something like this and then having the courage to share it with the world.
That said, I struggled a bit with the writing. I almost wished she had let someone else tell her story, because at times it didn’t fully capture the strength behind what she went through. Sometimes the narrative felt like it worked against the impact instead of amplifying it.
I know that when people who aren’t natural writers share their own story, the rawness can be powerful — but it can also feel clumsy or frustrating, especially when you’re used to tightly written thrillers. I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend who also introduced me to the *4MK Series* , which I absolutely loved! So I think my expectations for polish and craft were probably too high, and that made me feel a bit disappointed.
I also get that memoirs or personal accounts often lack structure because the author is recounting lived trauma rather than shaping a suspense arc. In this case, I felt the writing didn’t fully convey the complexity of abuse, stalking, or manipulation, which made it harder for me to connect with the story as deeply as I’d hoped.
Even so, I keep reminding myself: bravery doesn’t always come in perfect sentences. Sometimes, it’s simply in choosing to share at all.
That said, I struggled a bit with the writing. I almost wished she had let someone else tell her story, because at times it didn’t fully capture the strength behind what she went through. Sometimes the narrative felt like it worked against the impact instead of amplifying it.
I know that when people who aren’t natural writers share their own story, the rawness can be powerful — but it can also feel clumsy or frustrating, especially when you’re used to tightly written thrillers. I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend who also introduced me to the *4MK Series* , which I absolutely loved! So I think my expectations for polish and craft were probably too high, and that made me feel a bit disappointed.
I also get that memoirs or personal accounts often lack structure because the author is recounting lived trauma rather than shaping a suspense arc. In this case, I felt the writing didn’t fully convey the complexity of abuse, stalking, or manipulation, which made it harder for me to connect with the story as deeply as I’d hoped.
Even so, I keep reminding myself: bravery doesn’t always come in perfect sentences. Sometimes, it’s simply in choosing to share at all.
February 12, 2020
Good book
September 15, 2014
I went through a phase a couple of years ago of reading loads of those true story books, about child abuse or people who had come from a bad upbringing only to overcome it and go on and live their life. They can often be somewhat depressing and it's weird to think how well they sell. What's the reason for reading them? Often they can go into far too much detail that it's almost perverse to read them.
Stalking in particular I think is quite scary because it can come in many different forms. In the age of the internet it is incredibly easy to spy on people without their knowledge. I'm sure we've all got those Facebook friends that tell you when they burp, fart, yawn, blink and leave their homes. There's a couple on mine that I could glance at and tell you where they are at almost any time of the day. It's hard to pick out any positives in social media when it can be used in this way, obviously the fault is the users but at the same time these companies are giving us the tools to ultimately allow people a look at our lives that would otherwise not be possible without Facebook and the like. And really why do we feel the need to tell everybody our business? We managed pretty well years ago without sharing photos of our kids all day long. Anyway I digress...
The stalking in this book goes well beyond a simple bit of Facebook browsing and is actually quite horrifying and disturbing to read. It is uncomfortable in parts and at times you do have to sit back and remember this is somebody's life that you are reading about and not another gruesome crime fiction novel about an innocent young woman being stalked by a bad guy. The bad guy is bad, and he's real. We read about a confident young woman becoming scared and terrified because of the actions of one man.
Nine times out of ten however these kinds of books do go on to have a happy ending (or as happy an ending can be after what the person has been through) so you read in the hope that that will happen for Alison. As always for the outsider looking in there's times you think Alison could've walked away but her stalker was a master manipulator, at times even the police could do nothing. It's times like these you question just how this man was able to get away with so much and why he couldn't be stopped sooner.
I would say then that the enjoyment if any that comes from reading books of this nature is about the individual overcoming what they have faced and coming out the other side with their life and sanity in tact. I applaud Alison for telling her story, it can't have been easy and it's always brave for someone to share their story with the world especially as openly and honestly as Alison has done here but as they say if even only one person can take courage from this story and change their life too then it's worth writing.
Thanks to Busy Bee PR for the review copy.
Stalking in particular I think is quite scary because it can come in many different forms. In the age of the internet it is incredibly easy to spy on people without their knowledge. I'm sure we've all got those Facebook friends that tell you when they burp, fart, yawn, blink and leave their homes. There's a couple on mine that I could glance at and tell you where they are at almost any time of the day. It's hard to pick out any positives in social media when it can be used in this way, obviously the fault is the users but at the same time these companies are giving us the tools to ultimately allow people a look at our lives that would otherwise not be possible without Facebook and the like. And really why do we feel the need to tell everybody our business? We managed pretty well years ago without sharing photos of our kids all day long. Anyway I digress...
The stalking in this book goes well beyond a simple bit of Facebook browsing and is actually quite horrifying and disturbing to read. It is uncomfortable in parts and at times you do have to sit back and remember this is somebody's life that you are reading about and not another gruesome crime fiction novel about an innocent young woman being stalked by a bad guy. The bad guy is bad, and he's real. We read about a confident young woman becoming scared and terrified because of the actions of one man.
Nine times out of ten however these kinds of books do go on to have a happy ending (or as happy an ending can be after what the person has been through) so you read in the hope that that will happen for Alison. As always for the outsider looking in there's times you think Alison could've walked away but her stalker was a master manipulator, at times even the police could do nothing. It's times like these you question just how this man was able to get away with so much and why he couldn't be stopped sooner.
I would say then that the enjoyment if any that comes from reading books of this nature is about the individual overcoming what they have faced and coming out the other side with their life and sanity in tact. I applaud Alison for telling her story, it can't have been easy and it's always brave for someone to share their story with the world especially as openly and honestly as Alison has done here but as they say if even only one person can take courage from this story and change their life too then it's worth writing.
Thanks to Busy Bee PR for the review copy.
July 14, 2017
This was one of the crappest books I've read in a while! Pretty boring for the most part. The hardest thing about it was the amount of spelling and grammar Mistakes. There were up to five per page every three or so pages. It's the worst produced book I've ever read.
I didn't think the way the so called doctor referred to people with personality disorder as crazy was acceptable. Having mental health has its labels certainly but referring to people with that condition as crazy I thought was narrow minded and for a so called medical profession unacceptable.
Yes the perpetrators behaviour was dangerous and irrational, and clearly he was mentally unwell but to refer to people with a condition as crazy just made me disgusted in the medical profession to be honest.
I suffer with mental health and they are wondering if it is BPD however I have worked in nursing, as a prison officer and in the police so I am far from 'crazy' as she puts it and have held down a normal and functioning life. I got the impression she thought she was better than others and I didn't think this made for good reading.
There's no doubt the 'doctor' went through a nasty experience and that the justice system failed her to some degree. Certainly the security systems failed allowing this man into the U.K. In the first place.
As far as books go though it was badly written, boring and full to the max with mistakes that made reading it a chore!
I didn't think the way the so called doctor referred to people with personality disorder as crazy was acceptable. Having mental health has its labels certainly but referring to people with that condition as crazy I thought was narrow minded and for a so called medical profession unacceptable.
Yes the perpetrators behaviour was dangerous and irrational, and clearly he was mentally unwell but to refer to people with a condition as crazy just made me disgusted in the medical profession to be honest.
I suffer with mental health and they are wondering if it is BPD however I have worked in nursing, as a prison officer and in the police so I am far from 'crazy' as she puts it and have held down a normal and functioning life. I got the impression she thought she was better than others and I didn't think this made for good reading.
There's no doubt the 'doctor' went through a nasty experience and that the justice system failed her to some degree. Certainly the security systems failed allowing this man into the U.K. In the first place.
As far as books go though it was badly written, boring and full to the max with mistakes that made reading it a chore!
September 6, 2014
I was really gripped by this book, read it in just over 24 hrs - unusual for me as I am a slow reader. I really felt for the victim and her family although I have to say, as an outsider following the story, Alison did seem a little naive for a 35 year old professional woman as it did seem to me that there were frequent warning signs that all was not well in the relationship and she was being conned / manipulated. I also couldn't understand why, despite all this, she chose to go to Canada with him later in the year ( don't want to say any more for fear of spoiling the story). A great read though at times I couldn't put it down.
October 7, 2025
What an absolutely brilliant, brilliant book. I absolutely loved reading it and found it hard to put down at times. How Alison got through this part of her life is so very admirable. Her family and herself now deserve all the happiness they can get after coming through such an ordeal. They are all a great inspiration to others and thank you for sharing the harrowing story.
I would definitely recommend it as a really, really good read.
I would definitely recommend it as a really, really good read.
January 3, 2016
Stalking has always fascinated me as a topic. How someone could be that way inclined to become so obsessive over someone that it affects every aspect of their life. This true story is shocking and gut wrenching and it will not cease to amaze you how far one man will go. A must read and a great start to the reading year.
Read
June 5, 2016A true story which held me and would make most women think before going online for a date.
The writer showed true guts not to let him ruin her life completely
September 1, 2019
Overall an interesting story, but it was so poorly written that it was a struggle to get through. Easy quick read.
December 29, 2019
This is a memoir about a British doctor who meets a man named Al on an exclusive dating service. Al seems sweet and thoughtful. He plans them nice dates, he cooks her dinners and he buys he gifts. Overall, he seems like a perfect gentlemen. However things start to get intense. After he proposes only a few months into their relationship Alison starts to realize he wants to move a lot faster than she wants. Then things get weird and then things get scary. This is Allison's story of being stalked before it was considered a criminal offense. This book is frustrating at times and you want to yall at Alison for poor decisions, however, as she acknowledges at the end of the book, hindsight is always 20/20. I had to remind myself while reading that I may have made the same poor decisions had I been in the same situation, not as a bystander reading a book about stalking. There were parts of this book, beyond frustrating decisions she made, that I found kind of annoying. She seems to be overly dramatic about some things but at the same time is very lassiez faire in other aspects of her life. She talks about a lot of irrelivant plot points in the book. And she complains a lot. Despite this it was definitely a page turner, as I desperately wanted to know what happened.
March 6, 2019
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is an incredible read. It shows so many aspects as to why you shouldn’t use online dating to find someone. It also shows how important it is to take your time getting to really know someone before moving in with them. Learn beliefs, about their family, dating history, friends, work acquaintances, etc. Take your time!
This story builds as you read on, the tension grows to alarming heights and it’s just hard to fathom that a woman like Alison could become entangled with someone like this man, but it happens more than anyone would like to admit.
Young ladies need to read this book. They need to the world through Alison’s eyes to appreciate the dangers out there. Exotic is not always good.
I highly recommend this book.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is an incredible read. It shows so many aspects as to why you shouldn’t use online dating to find someone. It also shows how important it is to take your time getting to really know someone before moving in with them. Learn beliefs, about their family, dating history, friends, work acquaintances, etc. Take your time!
This story builds as you read on, the tension grows to alarming heights and it’s just hard to fathom that a woman like Alison could become entangled with someone like this man, but it happens more than anyone would like to admit.
Young ladies need to read this book. They need to the world through Alison’s eyes to appreciate the dangers out there. Exotic is not always good.
I highly recommend this book.
March 27, 2019
Thank you, PGC Books for my copy of this gripping non-fiction read, in exchange for my honest review. This title released March 1.
This was one of my first non-fiction reads, in a while. I needed some time to process my thoughts on this one after reading. I read tons of suspense, domestic thrillers (these tend to be my jam) but none have shook me the way this story has, because of it being someone's actual reality and not just a fictional tale.
The terror that Alison lived through is scary and what's worse is knowing that this probably happens more than we like to think. Here you have an educated young woman simply looking for love and what she ends up with is unthinkable.
This was definitely an engaging read with a very descriptive terror that will make you shudder. Although it was tough reading about the reality of Alison's terror, I am glad I read this book as it really puts things into perspective for you and it definitely took me out of my reading comfort zone. She showed great strength in persevering through and has been able to heal and find light again at the end of the tunnel.
If you are a fan of non-fiction and don't scare easily, I recommend you add this one to your reading list.
This was one of my first non-fiction reads, in a while. I needed some time to process my thoughts on this one after reading. I read tons of suspense, domestic thrillers (these tend to be my jam) but none have shook me the way this story has, because of it being someone's actual reality and not just a fictional tale.
The terror that Alison lived through is scary and what's worse is knowing that this probably happens more than we like to think. Here you have an educated young woman simply looking for love and what she ends up with is unthinkable.
This was definitely an engaging read with a very descriptive terror that will make you shudder. Although it was tough reading about the reality of Alison's terror, I am glad I read this book as it really puts things into perspective for you and it definitely took me out of my reading comfort zone. She showed great strength in persevering through and has been able to heal and find light again at the end of the tunnel.
If you are a fan of non-fiction and don't scare easily, I recommend you add this one to your reading list.
July 29, 2019
I highly recommend this memoir to young women on the dating scene. What an impactful reminder to watch for any warning signs of an unhealthy relationship and to get out early! This was a (near) worst case scenario in which a mother's intuition was spot on in the early stages! Another lesson...listen to your mother!
The writing was fluid but, as a Canadian, I did find some words, phrases and shortforms unfamiliar to me that must be common in the UK. This was not problematic since context was helpful. I was, however, disappointed in the editing since words like learnt and smelt were used as verbs in the past tense instead of learned and smelled (note that smelt is fish) and I caught several typos.
Overall this was a great read!
The writing was fluid but, as a Canadian, I did find some words, phrases and shortforms unfamiliar to me that must be common in the UK. This was not problematic since context was helpful. I was, however, disappointed in the editing since words like learnt and smelt were used as verbs in the past tense instead of learned and smelled (note that smelt is fish) and I caught several typos.
Overall this was a great read!
August 5, 2020
My only real complaint is the spelling errors you normally don't get so many and it was a bit offputting.That being said despite the editing mistakes, I think this is a really important story to illustrate how quickly things can escalate when you have an unhinged person in your life who doesn't really act the way normal people do and how women end up in these situations. The thing that really struck me was how lucky Alison was to have money and a supportive family to help her out of the situation. What do you think happens to the women, and men as well, who don't have strong support networks and money? It's rather alarming to consider, and I'm glad Alison is able to share her story.
December 12, 2023
It's OK
Things get dragged out a lot and I feel too much background was given on irrelevant things to pad out the word number count. At times this read got frustrating by the sheer stupidity and naivety of the author. She brought a lot of the drama upon herself and even though what she went through was horrendous....I couldn't help but think at times she played the victim card. Overall a decent read but not that great.
Things get dragged out a lot and I feel too much background was given on irrelevant things to pad out the word number count. At times this read got frustrating by the sheer stupidity and naivety of the author. She brought a lot of the drama upon herself and even though what she went through was horrendous....I couldn't help but think at times she played the victim card. Overall a decent read but not that great.
March 31, 2024
Her intuition told her it was wrong from the moment her friend mentioned a dating website. It also told her it was wrong many many times along the way but she ignored it. She dragged it out and procastinated ending it. Then all of a sudden she was really scared and scared for life. Jumps from the past/present, repetetive. Clearly boring as a book I thought I would finish on two airplane rides took a month to read.
July 28, 2024
This book was amazing right from the first page! I read it in two days and I am no someone who typically reads until my eyes are burning or I’m fighting to stay awake, however, I could not stop reading this book and had to give myself a couple snacks on the cheeks when I felt myself dosing off before the chapter I was on was finished. This book was amazing and I’m so glad I was able to find time for two nights in a row to finish it!
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