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The New Boyfriend: An addictive and totally unputdownable psychological thriller
Perfect man. Perfect liar. Perfect killer?
I didn’t think I’d get a second chance at love. But then I meet handsome, charming Scott in my local bookshop and he makes me forget the mistakes of my past. I feel safe with him. As we talk about our future over a candle-lit dinner, I think he could be the one…
Everything is perfect until my ex-husband Jonathan hammers on my door late one night. My stomach drops when he yells, ‘Scott is a killer.’
At first, I don’t believe it. Surely my ex is just stirring up trouble?
Except when I question what Scott has told me about himself, I wonder if I know him as well as I think I do. Is my new boyfriend really who he says he is?
Then someone I know is found dead only a street away from where I live. And I start to receive threatening messages…
I don’t know who to trust.
Someone is lying. Someone is a killer.
But is it my ex-husband or my new boyfriend?
This pulse-pounding psychological thriller from bestselling author Mikayla Davids is a gripping, addictive page-turner that will make you question those closest to you – and have you glued to the pages! Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas, Lucy Foley and John Marrs.
Why readers love Mikayla
‘WHAT WAS THAT?!?! I didn't plan on staying up til 2am to finish this! It had me gripped from the start. I loved the characters and it kept me guessing until the very last pages! So good!!!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Talk about a binge read! I devoured this in one go… Wish I could give more than five stars because OH MY GOD those twists just kept coming!! ALL THE STARS!!!’ Bookywookman82,
‘Ahhhh loved it!!! Fantastic… One of my fav authors! Loved this gripping psych thriller!! I absolutely raced through it!!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I devoured this! Read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. I loved the suspense and the twists and turns… It really grabbed me!’ Lozzieloves, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fast-paced, gripping read, I honestly had no idea where it was going… I was so blindsided by the end…’ ericas_bookreviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brilliant book by this incredible author. You can never put her books down once you start reading them. Always gripping and constantly guessing and wondering who it could be. Just brilliant!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I didn’t think I’d get a second chance at love. But then I meet handsome, charming Scott in my local bookshop and he makes me forget the mistakes of my past. I feel safe with him. As we talk about our future over a candle-lit dinner, I think he could be the one…
Everything is perfect until my ex-husband Jonathan hammers on my door late one night. My stomach drops when he yells, ‘Scott is a killer.’
At first, I don’t believe it. Surely my ex is just stirring up trouble?
Except when I question what Scott has told me about himself, I wonder if I know him as well as I think I do. Is my new boyfriend really who he says he is?
Then someone I know is found dead only a street away from where I live. And I start to receive threatening messages…
I don’t know who to trust.
Someone is lying. Someone is a killer.
But is it my ex-husband or my new boyfriend?
This pulse-pounding psychological thriller from bestselling author Mikayla Davids is a gripping, addictive page-turner that will make you question those closest to you – and have you glued to the pages! Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas, Lucy Foley and John Marrs.
Why readers love Mikayla
‘WHAT WAS THAT?!?! I didn't plan on staying up til 2am to finish this! It had me gripped from the start. I loved the characters and it kept me guessing until the very last pages! So good!!!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Talk about a binge read! I devoured this in one go… Wish I could give more than five stars because OH MY GOD those twists just kept coming!! ALL THE STARS!!!’ Bookywookman82,
‘Ahhhh loved it!!! Fantastic… One of my fav authors! Loved this gripping psych thriller!! I absolutely raced through it!!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I devoured this! Read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. I loved the suspense and the twists and turns… It really grabbed me!’ Lozzieloves, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fast-paced, gripping read, I honestly had no idea where it was going… I was so blindsided by the end…’ ericas_bookreviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brilliant book by this incredible author. You can never put her books down once you start reading them. Always gripping and constantly guessing and wondering who it could be. Just brilliant!’ Goodreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
474 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
May 13, 2026
This is it. This might be the one that makes me take a break from reading thrillers. I’m convinced the author used AI for text filler. “The thing happened. The thing was bad. I was sad that the bad thing happened.” Unlikeable characters making dumb choices. And lastly, I can’t take an author seriously once they try to describe a steamy scene with the word “smooching”. (This is by no means means a steamy book but really? “Smooching”?)
June 14, 2026
The New Boyfriend by Mikayla Davids was an easy enough audiobook to get through, but unfortunately this just wasn’t for me .
The premise had potential, and I did end up listening to it in one sitting, but not because I was completely gripped or addicted to the story. In fact, I found myself struggling to stay engaged for much of it. The plot moved along steadily, but it felt very linear and lacked the tension and unpredictability I look for in a thriller.
I did not like any of the characters either, I had trouble connecting with the any of them and Nancy was definitely the most frustrating character for me. She was simply too gullible, and some of the plot points felt rather implausible. While there were a few twists sprinkled throughout, most were fairly predictable. Even the “big shocking reveal” only manage to surprise me a little as it certainly wasn’t the jaw-dropping moment I was expecting.
That said, the ending was satisfying enough. And I absolutely have to praise the audiobook narrator, Siobhan Waring who did a fantastic job. Her narration added personality and emotion to the story and honestly, her performance was one of the highlights of the experience for me.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad thriller, but it wasn’t a particularly memorable one either. It was a quick, straightforward listen that never quite delivered the suspense, tension, or addiction factor I was hoping for.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
The premise had potential, and I did end up listening to it in one sitting, but not because I was completely gripped or addicted to the story. In fact, I found myself struggling to stay engaged for much of it. The plot moved along steadily, but it felt very linear and lacked the tension and unpredictability I look for in a thriller.
I did not like any of the characters either, I had trouble connecting with the any of them and Nancy was definitely the most frustrating character for me. She was simply too gullible, and some of the plot points felt rather implausible. While there were a few twists sprinkled throughout, most were fairly predictable. Even the “big shocking reveal” only manage to surprise me a little as it certainly wasn’t the jaw-dropping moment I was expecting.
That said, the ending was satisfying enough. And I absolutely have to praise the audiobook narrator, Siobhan Waring who did a fantastic job. Her narration added personality and emotion to the story and honestly, her performance was one of the highlights of the experience for me.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad thriller, but it wasn’t a particularly memorable one either. It was a quick, straightforward listen that never quite delivered the suspense, tension, or addiction factor I was hoping for.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 19, 2026
The New Boyfriend is an engaging and emotionally charged domestic thriller that kept me invested from beginning to end. The story follows Nancy, a recently divorced mother of two, who believes she is finally getting a second chance at happiness when she meets Scott. However, as their relationship develops, it becomes clear that not everything is as perfect as it seems, and Nancy's life takes a dark and unsettling turn.
Readers should be aware that the book contains scenes involving physical and mental abuse by a spouse, which may be difficult for some. These themes are handled seriously and contribute significantly to the emotional weight of the story.
While I found the plot compelling and suspenseful, there were a few moments where the pacing slowed, and some twists were somewhat predictable. Even so, the strong character work and emotional depth more than made up for these minor issues.
Readers should be aware that the book contains scenes involving physical and mental abuse by a spouse, which may be difficult for some. These themes are handled seriously and contribute significantly to the emotional weight of the story.
While I found the plot compelling and suspenseful, there were a few moments where the pacing slowed, and some twists were somewhat predictable. Even so, the strong character work and emotional depth more than made up for these minor issues.
June 8, 2026
Thank you to Mikayla Davids and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook.
3.75 Stars
I enjoyed the overall premise of the story and the twist at the end.
The story could have used a bit more character development for me to care about them as the FMC was a bit to naive and that annoyed me a bit.
The writing was good, the ending could have also ended a bit quicker after the climax, it just dragged a bit.
Okay read
3.75 Stars
I enjoyed the overall premise of the story and the twist at the end.
The story could have used a bit more character development for me to care about them as the FMC was a bit to naive and that annoyed me a bit.
The writing was good, the ending could have also ended a bit quicker after the climax, it just dragged a bit.
Okay read
June 14, 2026
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ The New Boyfriend by Mikayla Davids ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
• 3.5/5 ☆ •
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
There’s something immediately unsettling about this story. Not in a loud, over the top way, but in the kind of way that makes you suspicious of everyone from the start. The setup hooked me right away. New relationships, blended families, a boyfriend who seems almost too perfect, and a daughter who clearly doesn’t trust him. It taps into the kind of fears that feel realistic enough to make you uncomfortable.
What worked best for me was the psychology behind it all. The tension doesn’t come from huge twists or shocking moments. It comes from watching a woman try to convince herself everything is fine while the people around her keep setting off alarm bells. I spent a lot of the book waiting for the other shoe to drop. The boyfriend is charming in a way that feels rehearsed, and the daughter's discomfort had me questioning him from the beginning.
Some parts felt familiar, especially if you read a lot of domestic thrillers. A few of the beats didn't surprise me, but I was still invested in seeing how everything would play out. The pacing is quick, the chapters move fast, and it has that "just one more chapter" energy that kept me reading.
The audiobook narration by Siobhan Waring was fantastic. She does a great job capturing the unease running through the story, and her delivery made it easy to stay invested. She gives the characters distinct personalities without overdoing it, and I think the tension landed even better because of her performance.
The ending isn't mind blowing, but it worked for me. It ties things together in a satisfying way and gives a little extra weight to some of the earlier moments. Overall, this is a solid domestic thriller with plenty of tension, a creepy undercurrent, and enough suspicion and paranoia to keep the pages turning.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ domestic suspense
✔️ manipulative charmers
✔️ blended family tension
✔️ suspicious boyfriends
✔️ intuition vs reality
✔️ fast paced thrillers
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: Jun 14 2026 🎧
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Dreamscape Media. All opinions are my own.
• 3.5/5 ☆ •
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
There’s something immediately unsettling about this story. Not in a loud, over the top way, but in the kind of way that makes you suspicious of everyone from the start. The setup hooked me right away. New relationships, blended families, a boyfriend who seems almost too perfect, and a daughter who clearly doesn’t trust him. It taps into the kind of fears that feel realistic enough to make you uncomfortable.
What worked best for me was the psychology behind it all. The tension doesn’t come from huge twists or shocking moments. It comes from watching a woman try to convince herself everything is fine while the people around her keep setting off alarm bells. I spent a lot of the book waiting for the other shoe to drop. The boyfriend is charming in a way that feels rehearsed, and the daughter's discomfort had me questioning him from the beginning.
Some parts felt familiar, especially if you read a lot of domestic thrillers. A few of the beats didn't surprise me, but I was still invested in seeing how everything would play out. The pacing is quick, the chapters move fast, and it has that "just one more chapter" energy that kept me reading.
The audiobook narration by Siobhan Waring was fantastic. She does a great job capturing the unease running through the story, and her delivery made it easy to stay invested. She gives the characters distinct personalities without overdoing it, and I think the tension landed even better because of her performance.
The ending isn't mind blowing, but it worked for me. It ties things together in a satisfying way and gives a little extra weight to some of the earlier moments. Overall, this is a solid domestic thriller with plenty of tension, a creepy undercurrent, and enough suspicion and paranoia to keep the pages turning.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ domestic suspense
✔️ manipulative charmers
✔️ blended family tension
✔️ suspicious boyfriends
✔️ intuition vs reality
✔️ fast paced thrillers
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: Jun 14 2026 🎧
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Dreamscape Media. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2026
*audiobook
“He wants me to give up. He wants me to stay here and make myself small. He doesn’t want me to reach my full potential because he’s scared that he will no longer fit in my world. But if he truly loved me he’d support me in this.”
“I won’t give up on my dreams without a
fight.”
“Who is lying, my ex or my new boyfriend?”
Thanks to RB Media for my #gifted copy of this audiobook. I was so excited to be approved for this one.
There were a lot of characters and it definitely put you in a state of not wanting to trust anyone.
There was one character I did trust from start to finish and I’m glad that I did. The author did a really nice job of conveying authenticity for a certain character. I like how everything wrapped up in the end.
“He wants me to give up. He wants me to stay here and make myself small. He doesn’t want me to reach my full potential because he’s scared that he will no longer fit in my world. But if he truly loved me he’d support me in this.”
“I won’t give up on my dreams without a
fight.”
“Who is lying, my ex or my new boyfriend?”
Thanks to RB Media for my #gifted copy of this audiobook. I was so excited to be approved for this one.
There were a lot of characters and it definitely put you in a state of not wanting to trust anyone.
There was one character I did trust from start to finish and I’m glad that I did. The author did a really nice job of conveying authenticity for a certain character. I like how everything wrapped up in the end.
April 27, 2026
“The New Boyfriend “ is painful to read. You want to scream at the Nancy not to act stupidly. I think the author tried to emulate Frieda McFadden without success
April 22, 2026
The good: the book kept me engaged and I wanted to keep reading. It was an easy read.
The bad: Nancy just kept making poor decision after poor decision and it's hard to root for her when she's being so dumb.
Book club nicknamed this book "Jesus, Nancy!" because she just kept doing stupid things.
For them all to end up where they were at the end when she was looking for her son is actually of no surprise to me. It felt like she was blindly walking into a trap WITH HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER TAGGING ALONG! I don't think Nancy was thinking straight the entire book.
Someone else in our book club called it "dickmatized". Lol. Maybe she was blinded by the young good looking guy who seemed to really like her but that in itself is a kind of a red flag.
Not to be too harsh but it kinda feels like somebody just dumped all the thriller tropes into a chat GPT request to write a book. (Another book club observation.)
This would be a good book to read on an airplane or vacation if you don't think too deeply about it.
The bad: Nancy just kept making poor decision after poor decision and it's hard to root for her when she's being so dumb.
Book club nicknamed this book "Jesus, Nancy!" because she just kept doing stupid things.
For them all to end up where they were at the end when she was looking for her son is actually of no surprise to me. It felt like she was blindly walking into a trap WITH HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER TAGGING ALONG! I don't think Nancy was thinking straight the entire book.
Someone else in our book club called it "dickmatized". Lol. Maybe she was blinded by the young good looking guy who seemed to really like her but that in itself is a kind of a red flag.
Not to be too harsh but it kinda feels like somebody just dumped all the thriller tropes into a chat GPT request to write a book. (Another book club observation.)
This would be a good book to read on an airplane or vacation if you don't think too deeply about it.
April 25, 2026
I can’t put my finger on it but I didn’t like the flow of this book. It felt very amateurish and very repetitive which I found a little boring. I did like the start and thought it was going to be really gripping but it fell flat. Most of the book I thought was very predictable. There were a couple of things I didn’t see coming.
April 29, 2026
Quick read that kept me turning pages, but there were so many plot holes and loose ends, many of which the author attempted to tie up in the epilogue but the explanations didn’t make much sense to me. One star taken off for many grammatical and spelling errors because we all know I can’t handle those. 😅
May 12, 2026
4.5! Great writing. Lots of twists and turns, and I could not put it down. Plot twists were a little bit predictable by the time they happened but overall I really really enjoyed this one.
July 5, 2026
i haven’t read a thriller in a while so i’m little out of practice here but this was fun! it wasn’t as twisty as i’d like it to be tho. it’s a great story don’t get me wrong, it definitely had potential but i crave when reading a thriller is getting captured and invested to the point where i can’t even put the book down. but this one just wasn’t it.
June 16, 2026
Unsettling stalker incidents, a divorce and a difficult manager at work threatening her job… Nancy‘s life isn’t going great, with the exception of her new, over-enthusiastic and charming boyfriend, Scott, who seems too good to be true. When her ex, Jonathan, shows up one day claiming Scott is a killer, Nancy is left questioning who she can really trust.
I feel like this was a bit of a slow burn to begin with, but I still devoured it in a day. It kept me listening and the payoff was so worth it when the mystery started to unravel at the end; I did not see that coming!! I loved the chapters that covered Nancy’s past and uncovered secrets, those from her daughters pov which added extra depth, and the epilogue, which wrapped things up nicely. A great, suspenseful read that will keep you hooked and guessing!
Thank you Dreamscape Media, Mikayla Davids and NetGalley for access to this ALC! All opinions are my own.
I feel like this was a bit of a slow burn to begin with, but I still devoured it in a day. It kept me listening and the payoff was so worth it when the mystery started to unravel at the end; I did not see that coming!! I loved the chapters that covered Nancy’s past and uncovered secrets, those from her daughters pov which added extra depth, and the epilogue, which wrapped things up nicely. A great, suspenseful read that will keep you hooked and guessing!
Thank you Dreamscape Media, Mikayla Davids and NetGalley for access to this ALC! All opinions are my own.
April 12, 2026
Predictable. Typos. Unlikable characters. 👎
July 25, 2026
If this was a movie I would have been throwing popcorn at the screen, screaming "girl, are you dumb?" Because let me tell you -girl is dumb. It seems so obvious to the reader that the boyfriend is not what he seems- who gets engaged after a month? I will admit I didn't realize how far this went, but when Ella found evidence I knew exactly what was happening. Despite that I found the journey to be fun and then ending to be worthwhile.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Mikayla Davids, and Dreamscape media for my copy of this audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Mikayla Davids, and Dreamscape media for my copy of this audiobook.
July 10, 2026
A divorcing mother starts dating a new guy, who's handsome and younger and very much infatuated by her. She also starts getting scary texts, calls and threats. Despite all the crazy stalker incidents, she for some reason refuses to acknowledge that it might all be connected to this new boyfriend.
I found it hard to root for Nancy when she just keeps making ridiculous choices. At some point, her 16 year old daughter had more common sense than her.
Over all, it's a quick read with short chapters, but the mystery part was lacking in depth as the suspects were quite obvious.
I found it hard to root for Nancy when she just keeps making ridiculous choices. At some point, her 16 year old daughter had more common sense than her.
Over all, it's a quick read with short chapters, but the mystery part was lacking in depth as the suspects were quite obvious.
June 4, 2026
WOW!! What an unexpected ending😳😳!! I thought I had the twists all figured out but I was so unbelievably surprised that there were a few I didn’t know. Especially the one at the end!!
This was a fantastic, fun, exciting, crazy, unputdownable story that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller!! Don’t miss out on this one!!
Read and Enjoy😊😊!!
This was a fantastic, fun, exciting, crazy, unputdownable story that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller!! Don’t miss out on this one!!
Read and Enjoy😊😊!!
May 26, 2026
Woooooooooow. I predicted a couple of things correct but this book was a great palate cleanser for sure. This author kind of reminds me of Freida McFadden, simple and straight to the point. The main character was hella aggravating and everyone in her life was questionable the entire time except Liam. Chloe ….. SHES SUS IDC
March 12, 2026
Oh. My. Days! This was fantastic. I was absolutely hooked from the start including the short, simple prologue that caused instant intrigue.
I think this took me longer to read because I kept stopping to tab/highlight anything from key moments, favourite moments and my suspicions and theories, of which I had a lot. lol Especially surrounding the “chair incident” which made me think of the JLo film, Enough but I won’t say anymore.
It’s told mainly from Nancy’s point of view including a dual timeline featuring events of the past but what I thought was really clever was the chapters told from Ella’s perspective. It added a whole new level that had my mind conjuring up even more theories.
I was right about a few things (one in particular made me shout out “I knew it!”) but that didn’t take away from my enjoyable especially as I love when my guesses are right (I like to be smart! lol) and even more when I didn’t get the brilliant twist at the end. Very clever.
This is the second book I’ve read by Mikayla Davids and definitely won’t be my last. I feel I’ve found a new favourite psychological thriller author.
I love her writing style, the story was clever and intricate without being overly complex and had riveting chapters that kept me wanting more.
A true just-one-more-chapter kind of book.
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
I think this took me longer to read because I kept stopping to tab/highlight anything from key moments, favourite moments and my suspicions and theories, of which I had a lot. lol Especially surrounding the “chair incident” which made me think of the JLo film, Enough but I won’t say anymore.
It’s told mainly from Nancy’s point of view including a dual timeline featuring events of the past but what I thought was really clever was the chapters told from Ella’s perspective. It added a whole new level that had my mind conjuring up even more theories.
I was right about a few things (one in particular made me shout out “I knew it!”) but that didn’t take away from my enjoyable especially as I love when my guesses are right (I like to be smart! lol) and even more when I didn’t get the brilliant twist at the end. Very clever.
This is the second book I’ve read by Mikayla Davids and definitely won’t be my last. I feel I’ve found a new favourite psychological thriller author.
I love her writing style, the story was clever and intricate without being overly complex and had riveting chapters that kept me wanting more.
A true just-one-more-chapter kind of book.
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
May 26, 2026
Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ a twisty, truly unputdownable read that will leave u nearly in tears
Firstly, I have to commend the writer bcus her style made me feel personally involved in everything going on. I flew through this piece by piece every day, mostly on my commute, and let me just say: I loved it. She didn't lie when she said it was unputdownable. I found myself randomly wondering at odd times, "So...what’s the deal with Scott?" and then I’d just have to go read another few chapters.
The story follows Nancy rebuilding her life after a divorce from Jonathan (who is pining for her and claiming he "didn't do" what she said he did: cheating). Then she meets Scott, who is handsome & too good to be true, and they end up in this whirlwind romance that moves so fast. I felt gaslighted and just as frustrated as Nancy during the book and I wanted to get to the bottom of it just like her. I legitimately did not know who the culprit was because the author is a master at throwing the reader off.
The ending was amazing and well written. I suspected that twist with Jonathan's affair from the jump, but I’m still so happy with how it ended. My eyes were actually burning during the action packed finale because I was so scared a certain person (no spoilers) would die. Five stars!
Firstly, I have to commend the writer bcus her style made me feel personally involved in everything going on. I flew through this piece by piece every day, mostly on my commute, and let me just say: I loved it. She didn't lie when she said it was unputdownable. I found myself randomly wondering at odd times, "So...what’s the deal with Scott?" and then I’d just have to go read another few chapters.
The story follows Nancy rebuilding her life after a divorce from Jonathan (who is pining for her and claiming he "didn't do" what she said he did: cheating). Then she meets Scott, who is handsome & too good to be true, and they end up in this whirlwind romance that moves so fast. I felt gaslighted and just as frustrated as Nancy during the book and I wanted to get to the bottom of it just like her. I legitimately did not know who the culprit was because the author is a master at throwing the reader off.
The ending was amazing and well written. I suspected that twist with Jonathan's affair from the jump, but I’m still so happy with how it ended. My eyes were actually burning during the action packed finale because I was so scared a certain person (no spoilers) would die. Five stars!
July 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this ALC for review.
I ultimately decided to DNF this book because what the story wanted me to care about never aligned with what kept me reading.
The premise hooked me immediately. A seemingly perfect new relationship, an ex-husband accusing the new boyfriend of being a killer, threatening messages, and a stalking mystery all made for a compelling start. The writing was easy to follow, and I enjoyed trying to piece together the clues as they appeared.
Where the book lost me was in its priorities. Rather than allowing the mystery to drive the story forward, the narrative repeatedly returned to the FMC’s internal processing of her relationships with both her ex-husband and her new boyfriend. Every time the suspense began to build, the story circled back to those relationship dynamics instead of advancing the investigation. I never became invested enough in those relationships for those sections to feel rewarding, so they ultimately slowed the momentum for me.
This wasn’t a case of “nothing happened,” and it wasn’t because the writing itself was poor. There was plenty happening, and the mystery had genuine potential. It simply became a mismatch between what the novel prioritized and what I wanted from the reading experience. By the halfway point, I found myself less interested in the FMC’s emotional processing and more eager to return to the stalking mystery that initially drew me in.
📖 DNF at approximately 50%.
Who Should Read This?
Readers who enjoy domestic thrillers with a strong emphasis on relationship dynamics and psychological uncertainty may have a different experience. If you’re looking for a thriller where the interpersonal relationships are just as important as the central mystery, this may be a good fit.
I ultimately decided to DNF this book because what the story wanted me to care about never aligned with what kept me reading.
The premise hooked me immediately. A seemingly perfect new relationship, an ex-husband accusing the new boyfriend of being a killer, threatening messages, and a stalking mystery all made for a compelling start. The writing was easy to follow, and I enjoyed trying to piece together the clues as they appeared.
Where the book lost me was in its priorities. Rather than allowing the mystery to drive the story forward, the narrative repeatedly returned to the FMC’s internal processing of her relationships with both her ex-husband and her new boyfriend. Every time the suspense began to build, the story circled back to those relationship dynamics instead of advancing the investigation. I never became invested enough in those relationships for those sections to feel rewarding, so they ultimately slowed the momentum for me.
This wasn’t a case of “nothing happened,” and it wasn’t because the writing itself was poor. There was plenty happening, and the mystery had genuine potential. It simply became a mismatch between what the novel prioritized and what I wanted from the reading experience. By the halfway point, I found myself less interested in the FMC’s emotional processing and more eager to return to the stalking mystery that initially drew me in.
📖 DNF at approximately 50%.
Who Should Read This?
Readers who enjoy domestic thrillers with a strong emphasis on relationship dynamics and psychological uncertainty may have a different experience. If you’re looking for a thriller where the interpersonal relationships are just as important as the central mystery, this may be a good fit.
June 21, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of The New Boyfriend…even if it took me forever to finally sit down and listen to it. Life has been way too busy lately, and honestly, I'm sick of it. But enough complaining from me.
The New Boyfriend follows a woman whose seemingly perfect new relationship quickly begins to unravel, leaving her questioning everything, and everyone, around her. Secrets, lies, and mounting paranoia make it impossible to know who can really be trusted.
Now doesn't that sound delicious?
As for the actual review, don't worry, I won't spoil a thing. But wow, I genuinely had such a great time with this one. From start to finish, I was constantly questioning what was real, who was telling the truth, and what was actually going on. The twists and turns were absolutely delicious in my opinion, and I found myself fully invested in the mystery.
As for the audiobook, I loved it. No complaints on my end whatsoever. The narration kept me engaged and made it incredibly easy to stay immersed in the story.
As someone who's still pretty new to the thriller game, I will admit that I managed to figure out part of the mystery before the reveal. However, let me tell you, I was absolutely gagged by the ending. The way my jaw practically unhinged itself and hit the floor. Maybe that's because I'm newer to thrillers, but goddamn, I did not see THAT coming.
If you're looking for a fast paced thriller packed with tension, twists, and plenty of moments that make you question everything, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a shot.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of The New Boyfriend…even if it took me forever to finally sit down and listen to it. Life has been way too busy lately, and honestly, I'm sick of it. But enough complaining from me.
The New Boyfriend follows a woman whose seemingly perfect new relationship quickly begins to unravel, leaving her questioning everything, and everyone, around her. Secrets, lies, and mounting paranoia make it impossible to know who can really be trusted.
Now doesn't that sound delicious?
As for the actual review, don't worry, I won't spoil a thing. But wow, I genuinely had such a great time with this one. From start to finish, I was constantly questioning what was real, who was telling the truth, and what was actually going on. The twists and turns were absolutely delicious in my opinion, and I found myself fully invested in the mystery.
As for the audiobook, I loved it. No complaints on my end whatsoever. The narration kept me engaged and made it incredibly easy to stay immersed in the story.
As someone who's still pretty new to the thriller game, I will admit that I managed to figure out part of the mystery before the reveal. However, let me tell you, I was absolutely gagged by the ending. The way my jaw practically unhinged itself and hit the floor. Maybe that's because I'm newer to thrillers, but goddamn, I did not see THAT coming.
If you're looking for a fast paced thriller packed with tension, twists, and plenty of moments that make you question everything, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a shot.
July 8, 2026
Nancy believes that she has met the perfect man in her new boyfriend Scott. But then her ex-husband accuses Scott of being a killer. Who will Nancy believe?
I listened to this book via an audiobook and it came in at just under 8 hours. I would describe this as a slow burn thriller, with the pace picking up as the story progressed.
The storyline included mystery, intrigue and at times was quite unsettling. Especially when strange events started to occur.
The story is told in a dual timeline format moving between the past and the present. In the present Nancy meets and starts dating Scott and in the past the reader is taken back to the 1990’s and a secret that Nancy has been hiding. As the story progresses Nancy’s secret is slowly revealed and it was one I wasn’t expecting.
When we meet Nancy, she is someone who has given up on love. She is separated from her husband, once the love of her life, who she discovers has cheated on her. When she goes on a date, but her date doesn’t turn up, she meets Scott and he seems like the perfect boyfriend. Attentive and caring. But as Nancy and Scott’s relationship deepens things take a strange turn. Nancy starts being watched and stalked, her window is smashed, she starts receiving ominous and threatening messages and a local woman is found murdered. Then Jonathan accuses Scott of being a killer. I can understand why Nancy feels torn. Should she believe the man that she has known most of her life or her new boyfriend who has been nothing but caring. Nancy also starts to question if Jonathan’s intentions are as good as they seem. Is he trying to get back into her life despite cheating on her and ending their marriage or is he looking out for her. Especially because other than calling Scott a killer Jonathan provides no other information or evidence of what Scott has allegedly done.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with lots of twists and turns this is one to add to your list.
I listened to this book via an audiobook and it came in at just under 8 hours. I would describe this as a slow burn thriller, with the pace picking up as the story progressed.
The storyline included mystery, intrigue and at times was quite unsettling. Especially when strange events started to occur.
The story is told in a dual timeline format moving between the past and the present. In the present Nancy meets and starts dating Scott and in the past the reader is taken back to the 1990’s and a secret that Nancy has been hiding. As the story progresses Nancy’s secret is slowly revealed and it was one I wasn’t expecting.
When we meet Nancy, she is someone who has given up on love. She is separated from her husband, once the love of her life, who she discovers has cheated on her. When she goes on a date, but her date doesn’t turn up, she meets Scott and he seems like the perfect boyfriend. Attentive and caring. But as Nancy and Scott’s relationship deepens things take a strange turn. Nancy starts being watched and stalked, her window is smashed, she starts receiving ominous and threatening messages and a local woman is found murdered. Then Jonathan accuses Scott of being a killer. I can understand why Nancy feels torn. Should she believe the man that she has known most of her life or her new boyfriend who has been nothing but caring. Nancy also starts to question if Jonathan’s intentions are as good as they seem. Is he trying to get back into her life despite cheating on her and ending their marriage or is he looking out for her. Especially because other than calling Scott a killer Jonathan provides no other information or evidence of what Scott has allegedly done.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with lots of twists and turns this is one to add to your list.
June 13, 2026
After her husband’s affair, Nancy is ready to start dating. She meets Scott, who seems to be everything a woman could want. However, her soon-to-be ex-husband, Jonathan, believes Scott is responsible for killing women in the neighborhood. Is Jonathan jealous, or is Scott a killer?
This is a fast-paced thriller filled with twists, turns, and plenty of details to keep you hooked. Nancy’s internal dialogue made the story drag a bit. Although she didn't always take the most logical steps, her focus on protecting herself and her children was something I appreciated. I just wanted Nancy to listen more and ask more questions. I also enjoyed the dual timelines and different perspectives, which helped move the story forward and kept me wanting more. Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit far-fetched. I wish there had been a stronger reason behind the twist. The narration was good and I would recommend the audiobook. It’s a quick popcorn read that you can finish in a day. This book is definitely worth reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this ARC!
This is a fast-paced thriller filled with twists, turns, and plenty of details to keep you hooked. Nancy’s internal dialogue made the story drag a bit. Although she didn't always take the most logical steps, her focus on protecting herself and her children was something I appreciated. I just wanted Nancy to listen more and ask more questions. I also enjoyed the dual timelines and different perspectives, which helped move the story forward and kept me wanting more. Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit far-fetched. I wish there had been a stronger reason behind the twist. The narration was good and I would recommend the audiobook. It’s a quick popcorn read that you can finish in a day. This book is definitely worth reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this ARC!
June 26, 2026
*audio version*
I will say, the narration was phenomenal! The voice very much so fit the character & had so much emotion throughout the read; one of the best narrations I’ve experienced to fit its book thus far.
Considering this is in the psychological thriller genre, i do wish there was more suspense. I was able to predict most things pretty quickly. I feel as though it was just a quickly told story that could have had more to it to create more suspense, it felt rushed in a way. I was satisfied with the ending, there was a twist that I did not predict and it was a nice surprise!
I feel there is not so much character development here either, the FMC was so naive and made SO many poor decisions, it just made the next move so obvious and easy to predict.
Thank you NetGalley for the audio version of this book.
I will say, the narration was phenomenal! The voice very much so fit the character & had so much emotion throughout the read; one of the best narrations I’ve experienced to fit its book thus far.
Considering this is in the psychological thriller genre, i do wish there was more suspense. I was able to predict most things pretty quickly. I feel as though it was just a quickly told story that could have had more to it to create more suspense, it felt rushed in a way. I was satisfied with the ending, there was a twist that I did not predict and it was a nice surprise!
I feel there is not so much character development here either, the FMC was so naive and made SO many poor decisions, it just made the next move so obvious and easy to predict.
Thank you NetGalley for the audio version of this book.
June 15, 2026
Nancy is in the process of splitting with her husband because she’s convinced he’s cheated on her. She goes on a date and the guy doesn’t show up, but she ends up meeting another man, Scott, and they hit it off. He seems to be a nice guy, but her soon to be ex husband says he’s dangerous.
There is a plot twist that was pretty good, but I found this to be redundant. Nancy seems to be constantly wishy- washy about who she wants to be with and makes terrible decisions as if she is clueless. I just couldn’t get behind this one. The narrator did a good job, but this was just not for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kindle Edition for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
There is a plot twist that was pretty good, but I found this to be redundant. Nancy seems to be constantly wishy- washy about who she wants to be with and makes terrible decisions as if she is clueless. I just couldn’t get behind this one. The narrator did a good job, but this was just not for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kindle Edition for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2026
Thank you Mikayla Davids, RB Media and LBT Tour for allowing me to listen and be apart of the Audiobook Tour for The New Boyfriend and for the gifted audiobook#ad.
Before I talk about the audiobook, I have to say Siobhan Wearing is an absolutely amazing Audiobook narrator.
Now onto the story, as a big fan of psychological thrillers it did start off a bit slow for me, but once it gone into it, I was gripping and guessing at who was to blame, which I kept changing and was nearly always wrong 😂.
But the ending was what definitely sold this book to me.
I won't say anymore, you'll have to experience The New Boyfriend for yourself.
Before I talk about the audiobook, I have to say Siobhan Wearing is an absolutely amazing Audiobook narrator.
Now onto the story, as a big fan of psychological thrillers it did start off a bit slow for me, but once it gone into it, I was gripping and guessing at who was to blame, which I kept changing and was nearly always wrong 😂.
But the ending was what definitely sold this book to me.
I won't say anymore, you'll have to experience The New Boyfriend for yourself.
June 15, 2026
This was a decent thriller that I enjoyed for the most part. The beginning of the story had me hooked, but that mellowed out quickly once it delved deeper. The main character, Nancy, was fine for me until the very end where her naivety annoyed me. Even with all the evidence and the glaringly obvious truth her apprehension was frustrating. There were some points in the story that I didn’t understand why they were there even when the book wrapped up. Maybe they were just trying to be red herrings but they felt weak. It was still a decent read that did surprise me somewhat at the end.
June 13, 2026
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. This story was just okay. I honestly could not put it down due to i wanted to know where it went and how it ended.
I don't really think this story was anything great. I don't even think the story plot could be considered a thriller.
I had to keep reminding myself that the MFC was in her 40's she acted like she was 18 or in college. I could not believe how stupid she was and her decisions she made.
I am not quite sure why the parts with her daughter. I thought it would be that the mother and daughter were dating the same guy.... that just didn't go anywhere and was not important to the story.
I predicted the ending and where the story was going early on. ..so all in all i was just not impressed with this story or the plot or any of the characters.
I don't really think this story was anything great. I don't even think the story plot could be considered a thriller.
I had to keep reminding myself that the MFC was in her 40's she acted like she was 18 or in college. I could not believe how stupid she was and her decisions she made.
I am not quite sure why the parts with her daughter. I thought it would be that the mother and daughter were dating the same guy.... that just didn't go anywhere and was not important to the story.
I predicted the ending and where the story was going early on. ..so all in all i was just not impressed with this story or the plot or any of the characters.
July 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The New Boyfriend by Mikayla Davids in exchange for an honest review.
This thriller was an easy but predictable read. It was simple and engaging, but wasn’t unique in the genre - I have read many books like this before so knew where the twists were going.
This was not my favourite thriller but it wasn’t bad by any means. I’d recommend this to people looking to get into the thriller genre.
This thriller was an easy but predictable read. It was simple and engaging, but wasn’t unique in the genre - I have read many books like this before so knew where the twists were going.
This was not my favourite thriller but it wasn’t bad by any means. I’d recommend this to people looking to get into the thriller genre.
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