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The New Boyfriend
346 pages, Paperback
Published May 22, 2026
About the author
B.P. Walter
21 books564 followersB.P. Walter is the Sunday Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including The Dinner Guest, Hold Your Breath, The Garden Party and The Winter Visitor. He also writes scarier books under the names SG Hartnell and Barnaby Walter. His most recent novel is The New Boyfriend.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
May 26, 2026
This thriller was twisty, suspenseful, and extremely entertaining. I would recommend going in blind. I did, and I was completely shocked by the first big twist, along with those that followed. While mother and son, Serena and Art are on vacation, Serena helps a suicidal stranger. The tension and constant sense of unease escalate from there. I would recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrators brilliantly bring the characters and story to life, adding emotion, intrigue, and mystery. The perfect pacing kept me invested in the story from beginning to end. This thriller is gripping and addictive. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
May 23, 2026
This was a fantastic audiobook, great narrators, really added to the story.
Serena and her son Art seem to have a good relationship until one night Serena saves a stranger from a suicide attempt. This Stranger Paul then turns both of their lives upside down.
I loved how there was a twist early on in the story. I love when a story makes you think you've got it all worked out then suddenly it's going in a completely different direction, makes the story more juicy 😃
The twist at the very end was great, a little rushed maybe. Had a lot of action in the last part of the book. Short chapters, easy to follow. Likeable and also unlikeable characters. I found it fast paced, hooking me in straight away.
My first read from this author and what a read it was.
A four stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just a little caution ⚠️ going into this, mentions suicide, suicide attempts, self harm.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
Serena and her son Art seem to have a good relationship until one night Serena saves a stranger from a suicide attempt. This Stranger Paul then turns both of their lives upside down.
I loved how there was a twist early on in the story. I love when a story makes you think you've got it all worked out then suddenly it's going in a completely different direction, makes the story more juicy 😃
The twist at the very end was great, a little rushed maybe. Had a lot of action in the last part of the book. Short chapters, easy to follow. Likeable and also unlikeable characters. I found it fast paced, hooking me in straight away.
My first read from this author and what a read it was.
A four stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just a little caution ⚠️ going into this, mentions suicide, suicide attempts, self harm.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
May 30, 2026
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The New Boyfriend centres on Serena and the very close bond she shares with her son, which becomes the emotional backbone of the story. When Paul and Art begin dating, Serena’s growing skepticism sets the tone for the novel, and her suspicions slowly build the tension that drives the plot forward.
The story is well done, particularly in how it develops a sense of unease and intensity as Serena’s concerns deepen. The pacing keeps you engaged, and the escalating suspicion adds a layer of intrigue that makes you want to keep reading.
While the premise is strong and the execution solid, there were moments where I wanted a bit more depth in certain areas. Still, the emotional dynamic and rising tension make this an enjoyable and compelling read overall.
The New Boyfriend centres on Serena and the very close bond she shares with her son, which becomes the emotional backbone of the story. When Paul and Art begin dating, Serena’s growing skepticism sets the tone for the novel, and her suspicions slowly build the tension that drives the plot forward.
The story is well done, particularly in how it develops a sense of unease and intensity as Serena’s concerns deepen. The pacing keeps you engaged, and the escalating suspicion adds a layer of intrigue that makes you want to keep reading.
While the premise is strong and the execution solid, there were moments where I wanted a bit more depth in certain areas. Still, the emotional dynamic and rising tension make this an enjoyable and compelling read overall.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story is certainly a wild ride! I tend to avoid reading blurbs, so I was genuinely surprised by the plot and had no idea what twists awaited me.
Serena reflects on her past as she prepares for a ceremonial event. Dressed beautifully and masking her true feelings, she remembers a fateful encounter with a charming stranger whose actions have led her to a crucial moment. With thoughts of family protection looming, she steels herself for the day's events, including vows and celebrations, while planning to confront the challenges ahead.
The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view from Serena, Art, and Paul across dual timelines. The characters are dynamic, especially Serena, who embodies the quintessential protective mother. Her instinct to shield Art leads her to jump to conclusions and act impulsively. Any momma bear can relate. We’d go to great lengths to defend our children. On the other hand, Art, as a typical young adult and only child, feels stifled by his mother’s over-eagerness, and then there's Paul. Paul is a bit of a mystery. We don’t get much insight into him right away, which adds to the suspense as we gradually unravel his character.
The writing is gripping, making it hard to press pause during the audiobook. You're constantly drawn in, eager to uncover the truth! The author skillfully conceals layers of information and details about the events and characters, often delivering shocking revelations followed by subtle hints that keep you hanging on until the next clue is revealed. I truly appreciate this storytelling style! It left me breathless at times, eager to piece everything together.
Listening to the audiobook was a fantastic experience, especially since I love a well-executed duet narration. The chemistry between the narrators was spot on; they did a remarkable job bringing the characters and their personalities to life. The energy, mood, and overall atmosphere were just right, and the emotions they conveyed significantly enhanced the overall listening experience.
Overall, this audiobook is dark, eerie, and full of unexpected twists that are well-crafted and meticulously timed. If you're okay with themes of gaslighting, manipulation, and withheld details designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, this story is definitely for you. It serves as a metaphor for the skeletons we hide in our closets, or maybe it even implies some karmic retribution. So, prepare yourself for a journey filled with surprising turns and the challenge of piecing together the puzzle, because if you don't, who will?
Thank you, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Serena reflects on her past as she prepares for a ceremonial event. Dressed beautifully and masking her true feelings, she remembers a fateful encounter with a charming stranger whose actions have led her to a crucial moment. With thoughts of family protection looming, she steels herself for the day's events, including vows and celebrations, while planning to confront the challenges ahead.
The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view from Serena, Art, and Paul across dual timelines. The characters are dynamic, especially Serena, who embodies the quintessential protective mother. Her instinct to shield Art leads her to jump to conclusions and act impulsively. Any momma bear can relate. We’d go to great lengths to defend our children. On the other hand, Art, as a typical young adult and only child, feels stifled by his mother’s over-eagerness, and then there's Paul. Paul is a bit of a mystery. We don’t get much insight into him right away, which adds to the suspense as we gradually unravel his character.
The writing is gripping, making it hard to press pause during the audiobook. You're constantly drawn in, eager to uncover the truth! The author skillfully conceals layers of information and details about the events and characters, often delivering shocking revelations followed by subtle hints that keep you hanging on until the next clue is revealed. I truly appreciate this storytelling style! It left me breathless at times, eager to piece everything together.
Listening to the audiobook was a fantastic experience, especially since I love a well-executed duet narration. The chemistry between the narrators was spot on; they did a remarkable job bringing the characters and their personalities to life. The energy, mood, and overall atmosphere were just right, and the emotions they conveyed significantly enhanced the overall listening experience.
Overall, this audiobook is dark, eerie, and full of unexpected twists that are well-crafted and meticulously timed. If you're okay with themes of gaslighting, manipulation, and withheld details designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, this story is definitely for you. It serves as a metaphor for the skeletons we hide in our closets, or maybe it even implies some karmic retribution. So, prepare yourself for a journey filled with surprising turns and the challenge of piecing together the puzzle, because if you don't, who will?
Thank you, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2026
At no point in this story did I know what was happening next and I consider that a great thing. Don't read the synopsis, read it blind and get carried away in the riptide. I promise you it is worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author B.P. Walter, and Bookouture Audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author B.P. Walter, and Bookouture Audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
July 6, 2026
I wanted to love this one because the premise had so much potential, and to be fair, it grabbed my attention right away. The pacing is fast, the writing is solid, and B.P. Walter absolutely knows how to create tension.
Unfortunately, the story lost me the deeper I got into it.
My biggest issue wasn’t the relationship at the center of the book. It was that it felt like the marketing sold one story while the book delivered another. I went in expecting a psychological thriller built around a mysterious new boyfriend, but the novel takes a very different direction. If I’d known that beforehand, I probably would have adjusted my expectations.
The twists also didn’t land for me. I love thrillers where you can look back and appreciate all the breadcrumbs you missed. Here, the final reveal felt more like it appeared out of nowhere than something cleverly earned, so instead of feeling shocked, I felt disconnected.
That said, the emotional core between the mother and son was easily the strongest part of the book. Those relationships felt authentic, and I found myself much more invested in them than in the central mystery.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad book. Itjust wasn’t the thriller I was hoping to read. If you enjoy fast-paced domestic suspense and don’t mind a story that takes an unexpected route, this may work much better for you than it did for me.
⭐⭐ 2/5. Solid writing, but the marketing, the payoff, and the twists just didn’t come together for me.
Unfortunately, the story lost me the deeper I got into it.
My biggest issue wasn’t the relationship at the center of the book. It was that it felt like the marketing sold one story while the book delivered another. I went in expecting a psychological thriller built around a mysterious new boyfriend, but the novel takes a very different direction. If I’d known that beforehand, I probably would have adjusted my expectations.
The twists also didn’t land for me. I love thrillers where you can look back and appreciate all the breadcrumbs you missed. Here, the final reveal felt more like it appeared out of nowhere than something cleverly earned, so instead of feeling shocked, I felt disconnected.
That said, the emotional core between the mother and son was easily the strongest part of the book. Those relationships felt authentic, and I found myself much more invested in them than in the central mystery.
Overall, this wasn’t a bad book. Itjust wasn’t the thriller I was hoping to read. If you enjoy fast-paced domestic suspense and don’t mind a story that takes an unexpected route, this may work much better for you than it did for me.
⭐⭐ 2/5. Solid writing, but the marketing, the payoff, and the twists just didn’t come together for me.
June 1, 2026
Love her books and this one is a great thriller! Single mom, Serena lives with her young adult son, Art when she sees a hooded figure by the river and runs to save him before he jumps in. She brings him home to shower and hopefully get some help. But Art is drawn to him and there's something "off" but Serena can't figure out exactly what it is. We revisit the past as well and see the convoluted relationships that have brought them all to this place. Sooo good!
May 17, 2026
The New Boyfriend , the premise sounded good: revenge, family secrets, manipulation, and a seemingly perfect new relationship hiding darker intentions.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t really work for me. I found it predictable and not as twisty as I expected for a psychological thriller. The story moved quickly, but I never felt fully invested because the characters and their relationships weren’t developed enough for the emotional moments to really land.
It was an easy read, but overall it felt more generic than memorable for me.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t really work for me. I found it predictable and not as twisty as I expected for a psychological thriller. The story moved quickly, but I never felt fully invested because the characters and their relationships weren’t developed enough for the emotional moments to really land.
It was an easy read, but overall it felt more generic than memorable for me.
May 28, 2026
⭐️Review of advanced copy by NetGalley ⭐️
The New Boyfriend by B. P. Walter was a really gripping listen and kept me interested throughout. The story follows Serena as she looks back on the events that have led her to a major moment in her life. On the surface, she appears composed and ready for what is ahead, but underneath there is clearly so much emotion, fear and determination, especially when it comes to protecting her family.
I liked that the story was told through different perspectives, including Serena, Art and Paul, as this helped build the tension and gave a fuller picture of what was going on. The dual timeline also worked well, slowly revealing pieces of the past while keeping me guessing about how everything connected. Serena stood out to me the most because she felt very believable as a protective mother. At times she acts quickly and jumps to conclusions, but her choices come from a place of love and fear, which made her easy to understand. Art also felt realistic as a young adult trying to live his own life, while Paul remained more mysterious, which added to the suspense.
The writing was fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of twists and little clues dropped throughout. I found myself wanting to keep listening because each reveal made me question what I thought I knew. The author does a great job of building suspense without giving everything away too soon.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. The narrators brought the characters to life and helped create the right atmosphere for the story. Their voices added emotion and tension, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
Overall, I thought The New Boyfriend was a tense, addictive and well-written thriller. It had strong characters, an interesting structure and enough twists to keep me hooked until the end.
The New Boyfriend by B. P. Walter was a really gripping listen and kept me interested throughout. The story follows Serena as she looks back on the events that have led her to a major moment in her life. On the surface, she appears composed and ready for what is ahead, but underneath there is clearly so much emotion, fear and determination, especially when it comes to protecting her family.
I liked that the story was told through different perspectives, including Serena, Art and Paul, as this helped build the tension and gave a fuller picture of what was going on. The dual timeline also worked well, slowly revealing pieces of the past while keeping me guessing about how everything connected. Serena stood out to me the most because she felt very believable as a protective mother. At times she acts quickly and jumps to conclusions, but her choices come from a place of love and fear, which made her easy to understand. Art also felt realistic as a young adult trying to live his own life, while Paul remained more mysterious, which added to the suspense.
The writing was fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of twists and little clues dropped throughout. I found myself wanting to keep listening because each reveal made me question what I thought I knew. The author does a great job of building suspense without giving everything away too soon.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration. The narrators brought the characters to life and helped create the right atmosphere for the story. Their voices added emotion and tension, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
Overall, I thought The New Boyfriend was a tense, addictive and well-written thriller. It had strong characters, an interesting structure and enough twists to keep me hooked until the end.
June 6, 2026
This is a high quality audio book which grabs you from the start, with spot on narration for multiple characters. The thing i loved most about this was the way it lead to believe it was going one way and then bang complete 360. The beginning a seemingly act of kindness towards a suicidal stranger than then later exploded your lives. Its clear from the off this is so binge worthy and full of twists and turns with complex and flawed characters you never really know whats real and whats imagined . The action and the ending came and went too quickly for me, it felt like there was more to this story and it was cut short to ensure the listener and reader kept interested. This deals with a lot of tough and highly trigger subjects so this world we live might mean this could benefit from warnings. The plot seemed simplistic at its core you help a stranger stay alive and then hes in your life and things change in other relationships. You don't trust him but everyone thinks you are just being irrational. The only reason this is a 4 and not a 5 for me is the ending. Thank you netgallery, publisher, author and narration team. This is so enjoyable
May 20, 2026
The New Boyfriend is a promising thriller full of revelations. I was initially engrossed and the book had my undivided attention. However, halfway through it, I found myself disengaged and uninterested anymore. I felt like the tension was building up and then boom I was a bit disappointed. The twist on the first part of the book was unexpected because if I knew that this was under this certain sub genre, I wouldn't have requested for it. Overall, it was a pretty decent story with intereSting characters.
May 26, 2026
ARC REVIEW
3⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book started off really strong for me and had me hooked at the beginning, but it lost a bit of momentum as the story went on. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it overall — I just think I was expecting a little more from it.
3⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book started off really strong for me and had me hooked at the beginning, but it lost a bit of momentum as the story went on. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it overall — I just think I was expecting a little more from it.
May 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This thriller had me questioning everything for a good portion of the book. I enjoyed the mother son dynamic in the book and how it played into the overall story. Paul was a very odd character and I questioned his motives throughout the book. Overall this was such a quick and entertaining read.
This thriller had me questioning everything for a good portion of the book. I enjoyed the mother son dynamic in the book and how it played into the overall story. Paul was a very odd character and I questioned his motives throughout the book. Overall this was such a quick and entertaining read.
June 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and B.P. Walter for providing me with a copy of The New Boyfriend in exchange for my honest review.
I read this about a month ago and apparently my brain did what the title suggests—found a new boyfriend in the form of distraction and completely forgot I needed to come back and review this one. Which, honestly… might be a little telling.
This was one of those reads where I had a very specific expectation going in, and the book said, “Cute idea… but no.” It veers off in a direction I genuinely did not see coming, and while I can respect a plot twist that tries to keep things unpredictable, this one left me more confused than impressed.
I liked it… and I didn’t. And that’s really the best way I can sum it up without spiraling into a full-blown identity crisis over it. The premise had potential, but the execution felt a bit off for me personally, like I was reading two different books trying to occupy the same space and neither one fully committed.
There were moments where I thought, okay, this is about to pick up, and then it would pivot again and leave me back at square one. The pacing and direction just didn’t fully land for me, and I never quite locked into the story the way I wanted to.
It wasn’t terrible—it just wasn’t it for me.
Final Verdict
The New Boyfriend is a psychological thriller that tries to surprise the reader at every turn, but in my case, it ended up feeling more disjointed than gripping. Interesting idea, uneven execution, and ultimately a story that didn’t quite deliver on its promise.
Final rating: 2 stars — not a disaster, just not a match.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and B.P. Walter for providing me with a copy of The New Boyfriend in exchange for my honest review.
I read this about a month ago and apparently my brain did what the title suggests—found a new boyfriend in the form of distraction and completely forgot I needed to come back and review this one. Which, honestly… might be a little telling.
This was one of those reads where I had a very specific expectation going in, and the book said, “Cute idea… but no.” It veers off in a direction I genuinely did not see coming, and while I can respect a plot twist that tries to keep things unpredictable, this one left me more confused than impressed.
I liked it… and I didn’t. And that’s really the best way I can sum it up without spiraling into a full-blown identity crisis over it. The premise had potential, but the execution felt a bit off for me personally, like I was reading two different books trying to occupy the same space and neither one fully committed.
There were moments where I thought, okay, this is about to pick up, and then it would pivot again and leave me back at square one. The pacing and direction just didn’t fully land for me, and I never quite locked into the story the way I wanted to.
It wasn’t terrible—it just wasn’t it for me.
Final Verdict
The New Boyfriend is a psychological thriller that tries to surprise the reader at every turn, but in my case, it ended up feeling more disjointed than gripping. Interesting idea, uneven execution, and ultimately a story that didn’t quite deliver on its promise.
Final rating: 2 stars — not a disaster, just not a match.
May 26, 2026
The synopsis & the actual story felt like two completely different books & I do think my expectations were heavily shaped by that because I went into this expecting something completely different. That said, I still flew through it & finished it in one sitting. Even though I guessed the twists I still had a genuinely enjoyable time reading it.
I also thought the mother/son relationship was really believable & well written. The author did an amazing job creating unlikeable characters because I genuinely hated nearly everyone 😭
I listened to the audiobook version & the narrators did really brought the story to life & honestly made the experience even better for me.
✨ THREE STARS
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review
I also thought the mother/son relationship was really believable & well written. The author did an amazing job creating unlikeable characters because I genuinely hated nearly everyone 😭
I listened to the audiobook version & the narrators did really brought the story to life & honestly made the experience even better for me.
✨ THREE STARS
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 22, 2026
Right off the bat, this book hit me with twists and turns I couldn’t have seen coming. Don’t underestimate the author… they’ll leave you shocked, asking what the heck just happened.
June 21, 2026
Serena and her son Art are on a holiday over the Christmas days, when Serena takes a night time stroll through the fresh snow and meets a man who is about to end his own life. Serena is always trying to help, so immediately steps in and talks Paul down, then invites him into their rented cottage - but things get a little weird soon, when Paul seemingly starts flirting with her, just shortly after having his life saved. Or is he even doing anything of the sort? When they return home, Serena complains to her friend Meryll about Paul's behaviour and when she goes to show her his messages, they're all just normal..? Things aren't quite adding up, yet Paul is here to stay.
I had a good time with this book - twisty, dark, always with the feeling of a shadow looming, things about to go sour. It's one of those books where you know something is wrong, one of the characters is convinced things aren't right, but things just keep progressing and someone continues marching into their own demise no matter what you do.
The plot is set up quite nicely because the first twist comes along pretty early on and it's a great one and that just sets the tone for the whole book. Plus, you get mainly two point of views, Art and his mother Serena tell the story, and yet the twist works anyway because it's just built in so well. Then, as the story continues, things get darker and more and more desperate because what are you supposed to do in a situation like that? I've got to say though, at some point I went from understanding to just being annoyed with how blind the character was to anything and everything around them.. Things felt like it was done on purpose, no one can be that dumb and if they are, well, maybe they deserve the consequences. And yet, when the trap finally closed and the finale came along, I still felt that. Guess it wasn't deserved after all.
There's little snippets of a long ago history in between the main plot chapters and they were placed well and gave away enough to keep things interesting - I've got to say though, I wasn't the biggest fan of the final big reveal there, it just didn't quite feel like enough of a reason to me. That said, I love how even all of those details were built into the whole plot, just to make certain actions in the present make extra sense in a way. They tie the story together, making you be able to understand the character's thinking and their behaviour and I do think that's the mark of a good book - things just make sense. I'm being vague on purpose though because there's so many layers to this story, so many secrets to explore, so many loose ends that turn out to not be loose at all.. The puzzling the plot together part in the end was great fun.
I did listen to the audio book for this one and that was done quite well - it took me a little bit to get into, but after that things went smoothly. The narration is split up so that a female voice reads Serena's parts and a male does Art's and that way it's really easy to tell who's point of view you're following - although I never really had issues with that throughout the book because both of their thoughts are very different from each other.
Overall, a fun domestic thriller with a lot of layers to it, twists, questions, and a tense finale that finally hands you all the pieces of the story.
Thank you Bookouture Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I had a good time with this book - twisty, dark, always with the feeling of a shadow looming, things about to go sour. It's one of those books where you know something is wrong, one of the characters is convinced things aren't right, but things just keep progressing and someone continues marching into their own demise no matter what you do.
The plot is set up quite nicely because the first twist comes along pretty early on and it's a great one and that just sets the tone for the whole book. Plus, you get mainly two point of views, Art and his mother Serena tell the story, and yet the twist works anyway because it's just built in so well. Then, as the story continues, things get darker and more and more desperate because what are you supposed to do in a situation like that? I've got to say though, at some point I went from understanding to just being annoyed with how blind the character was to anything and everything around them.. Things felt like it was done on purpose, no one can be that dumb and if they are, well, maybe they deserve the consequences. And yet, when the trap finally closed and the finale came along, I still felt that. Guess it wasn't deserved after all.
There's little snippets of a long ago history in between the main plot chapters and they were placed well and gave away enough to keep things interesting - I've got to say though, I wasn't the biggest fan of the final big reveal there, it just didn't quite feel like enough of a reason to me. That said, I love how even all of those details were built into the whole plot, just to make certain actions in the present make extra sense in a way. They tie the story together, making you be able to understand the character's thinking and their behaviour and I do think that's the mark of a good book - things just make sense. I'm being vague on purpose though because there's so many layers to this story, so many secrets to explore, so many loose ends that turn out to not be loose at all.. The puzzling the plot together part in the end was great fun.
I did listen to the audio book for this one and that was done quite well - it took me a little bit to get into, but after that things went smoothly. The narration is split up so that a female voice reads Serena's parts and a male does Art's and that way it's really easy to tell who's point of view you're following - although I never really had issues with that throughout the book because both of their thoughts are very different from each other.
Overall, a fun domestic thriller with a lot of layers to it, twists, questions, and a tense finale that finally hands you all the pieces of the story.
Thank you Bookouture Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have so many books by this author just sitting there on my bookshelf still waiting to be read - and every time I pick up a new one, I'm determined to catch up - because although this is only my second read, I have absolutely loved both this and The Winter Visitor which I read back in September.
What I've noticed in both these reads is that what I have expected from the covers, titles and first few chapters is absolutely not what is going to happen.
After making my initial theories in this plot, I was shocked to find that this takes a whole new turn at around 20%.
Having been completely hooked right from the start, this set me off in a new direction that had my mind whirling with new theories about what was happening and how things were going to play out.
I think this threw me off just enough and although we absolutely know that something is going on, I had no clue why this was happening not did I work outany of the twists.....and there were lots along the way.
I was completely invested in all the characters and it was really hard to make my mind up about who to trust and who to be suspicious of - although I was definitely feeling uneasy throughout, I did keep holding back and feeling sorry for even those I was uncomfortable with.
This story sets off running and really never lets up. There were no dull or slow moments and I was desperate to keep reading to find out just what was going to happen in the end.
The writing style was tense and I'm pretty sure I didn't blink for the last few chapters.
This was a brilliant, fast paced read and just reminds me that I really should grab those books off my shelf and catch up now - until the next one.....
What I've noticed in both these reads is that what I have expected from the covers, titles and first few chapters is absolutely not what is going to happen.
After making my initial theories in this plot, I was shocked to find that this takes a whole new turn at around 20%.
Having been completely hooked right from the start, this set me off in a new direction that had my mind whirling with new theories about what was happening and how things were going to play out.
I think this threw me off just enough and although we absolutely know that something is going on, I had no clue why this was happening not did I work outany of the twists.....and there were lots along the way.
I was completely invested in all the characters and it was really hard to make my mind up about who to trust and who to be suspicious of - although I was definitely feeling uneasy throughout, I did keep holding back and feeling sorry for even those I was uncomfortable with.
This story sets off running and really never lets up. There were no dull or slow moments and I was desperate to keep reading to find out just what was going to happen in the end.
The writing style was tense and I'm pretty sure I didn't blink for the last few chapters.
This was a brilliant, fast paced read and just reminds me that I really should grab those books off my shelf and catch up now - until the next one.....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5✨
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - May 26, 2026
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- psychological thriller
- revenge plot
- family secrets
- past & present timeline
- manipulation
- emotional trauma
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
The New Boyfriend follows Serena, a mother trying to protect her son Art, when one night she saves a man named Paul from taking his life at the edge of a lake. She brings him home, and soon he becomes part of their world. Serena thinks Paul is interested in her, but the truth is far more twisted. Paul and Art are secretly involved, and what looks like love slowly turns into something much darker as old secrets from twenty years ago come back to destroy everything.
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. The writing was sharp, addictive, and full of tension. Every chapter made me want to keep going because I needed to know what Paul was hiding. The dual timeline was done so well, and every little reveal added more weight to the story.
Paul’s character was written so brilliantly because I kept trying to figure him out, and when the truth came out, it hit hard. The revenge plot felt painful and personal, not just shocking. Serena was flawed but real, and I felt her fear, guilt, and desperation so deeply.
The ending was intense, emotional, and honestly heartbreaking. I was not expecting to feel this much.
I actually cried reading this because it made me realize 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.
I highly recommend to all my bestie!!
Thank you bookoutour for the ARC!
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - May 26, 2026
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- psychological thriller
- revenge plot
- family secrets
- past & present timeline
- manipulation
- emotional trauma
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
The New Boyfriend follows Serena, a mother trying to protect her son Art, when one night she saves a man named Paul from taking his life at the edge of a lake. She brings him home, and soon he becomes part of their world. Serena thinks Paul is interested in her, but the truth is far more twisted. Paul and Art are secretly involved, and what looks like love slowly turns into something much darker as old secrets from twenty years ago come back to destroy everything.
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. The writing was sharp, addictive, and full of tension. Every chapter made me want to keep going because I needed to know what Paul was hiding. The dual timeline was done so well, and every little reveal added more weight to the story.
Paul’s character was written so brilliantly because I kept trying to figure him out, and when the truth came out, it hit hard. The revenge plot felt painful and personal, not just shocking. Serena was flawed but real, and I felt her fear, guilt, and desperation so deeply.
The ending was intense, emotional, and honestly heartbreaking. I was not expecting to feel this much.
I actually cried reading this because it made me realize 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.
I highly recommend to all my bestie!!
Thank you bookoutour for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The New Boyfriend is a slick, unsettling psychological thriller that hooks you from the very first line and never loosens its grip. The novel opens on a wedding day—sunlight, champagne, a beautiful dress—and a narrator who is holding herself together by sheer force of will. Something is wrong, and the tension of that unspoken truth hums beneath every page.
The story then winds back to where it all began: a chance meeting with a handsome stranger whose charm feels effortless, whose vulnerability seems disarming, and whose attention lands with the intensity of someone who sees straight through you. It’s only later that the narrator realises nothing about that night was accidental. The slow dawning of that awareness is one of the book’s most compelling threads.
As anonymous threats begin to surface and the walls of her carefully rebuilt life start to close in, the sense of dread builds beautifully. The author captures the claustrophobia of being watched, manipulated, and cornered with a deft, almost elegant touch. Every message, every glance, every shift in behaviour feels loaded with danger.
What makes the novel so gripping is its emotional core: a woman trying to protect her family while navigating a situation that spirals far beyond her control. The wedding day framing device adds a delicious layer of suspense—you know she’s preparing to do something drastic, but not what, or why, or how far she’s willing to go.
Twisty, tense, and impossible to put down, The New Boyfriend is a sharp exploration of obsession, revenge, and the terrifying power of someone who refuses to let go.
With thanks to BP Walter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The story then winds back to where it all began: a chance meeting with a handsome stranger whose charm feels effortless, whose vulnerability seems disarming, and whose attention lands with the intensity of someone who sees straight through you. It’s only later that the narrator realises nothing about that night was accidental. The slow dawning of that awareness is one of the book’s most compelling threads.
As anonymous threats begin to surface and the walls of her carefully rebuilt life start to close in, the sense of dread builds beautifully. The author captures the claustrophobia of being watched, manipulated, and cornered with a deft, almost elegant touch. Every message, every glance, every shift in behaviour feels loaded with danger.
What makes the novel so gripping is its emotional core: a woman trying to protect her family while navigating a situation that spirals far beyond her control. The wedding day framing device adds a delicious layer of suspense—you know she’s preparing to do something drastic, but not what, or why, or how far she’s willing to go.
Twisty, tense, and impossible to put down, The New Boyfriend is a sharp exploration of obsession, revenge, and the terrifying power of someone who refuses to let go.
With thanks to BP Walter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
May 29, 2026
Perfect (audio)book for the beach if you prefer a thriller instead of a romance. Even though the theme is dark, it's easy to read, it's quite enjoyable and you don't need to use all of your brain power to keep up with the story - you can just relax and enjoy it.
We are introduced to a mother - son duo in a remote location, trying to distract themselves from recent traumatic events and then a stranger appears. When Serena is out on a walk in the freezing weather, she spots a young man trying to take his own life; even though Serena doesn't know Paul, it's very obvious to her that he just needs some kindness and she offers just that.
A little down the road, Serena starts to regret ever inviting him in, but unfortunately Paul is here to stay.
I really enjoyed the twists even though they were fairly predictable to me (that has never stopped me enjoying a book) and I didn't quite click with the characters - Serena was quick to conclusions and over exaggeration too early on, and Art was behaving too childish for my taste. It suited the characters well, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
The literal last part of the book I did not expect! I'm very glad that the author made that decision, because, to me, that really wrapped everything in a nice bow and showed the lengths the main character will go to.
Also to add: The book is written from a dual POV and since I listen to it, I can say that not only are the voice actors very well suited, but they do a marvellous job! I highly recommend it!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
We are introduced to a mother - son duo in a remote location, trying to distract themselves from recent traumatic events and then a stranger appears. When Serena is out on a walk in the freezing weather, she spots a young man trying to take his own life; even though Serena doesn't know Paul, it's very obvious to her that he just needs some kindness and she offers just that.
A little down the road, Serena starts to regret ever inviting him in, but unfortunately Paul is here to stay.
I really enjoyed the twists even though they were fairly predictable to me (that has never stopped me enjoying a book) and I didn't quite click with the characters - Serena was quick to conclusions and over exaggeration too early on, and Art was behaving too childish for my taste. It suited the characters well, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
The literal last part of the book I did not expect! I'm very glad that the author made that decision, because, to me, that really wrapped everything in a nice bow and showed the lengths the main character will go to.
Also to add: The book is written from a dual POV and since I listen to it, I can say that not only are the voice actors very well suited, but they do a marvellous job! I highly recommend it!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
June 6, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ALC opportunity to listen to The New Boyfriend.
2.5 ⭐ rounded down.
This story is about a 21-year-old guy who had some trouble at University and is taking some time off. His mom thinks he was mugged in the park, however there was something more sinister at play. While on a getaway in the woods, they find a suicidal man and invite him into their home to save him from himself. This man then weaves himself into the lives of the mother and son. The son loves him, the mom thinks there is something sketchy about the guy and is trying to derail the very fast progressing relationship with her son.
I really enjoyed B. P. Walter's writing style. How the words flowed, the ease of the story being told. the beginning was interesting and had my attention, I veered off in the middle. I did not like any of the characters; I wasn't invested in them or care about the storyline. Both the mother and the son were insufferable, not very likable and very over the top. Her with being a helicopter, mom, and him acting like a 15-year-old. I was not invested in them or the story.
While the twist at the end wasn't what I expected, it didn't make me feel any type of way. I actually went back and re-listened to the last 5 chapters in case I'd missed something, but I didn't. I was left a bit perplexed and underwhelmed. Not enough depth for a psychological thriller.
The narrators selected were pretty bad. The woman was dull and not engaging at all. The equivalent to watching paint dry. The man's voice sounded, much older than early twenties and made it hard to remember that the son was only 21-22 years old.
I have no doubt that this book has a target audience and there are people who absolutely ate it up, and will continue to love it. Unfortunately it just didn't 'hit' for me.
IG @lit.fic.lani
2.5 ⭐ rounded down.
This story is about a 21-year-old guy who had some trouble at University and is taking some time off. His mom thinks he was mugged in the park, however there was something more sinister at play. While on a getaway in the woods, they find a suicidal man and invite him into their home to save him from himself. This man then weaves himself into the lives of the mother and son. The son loves him, the mom thinks there is something sketchy about the guy and is trying to derail the very fast progressing relationship with her son.
I really enjoyed B. P. Walter's writing style. How the words flowed, the ease of the story being told. the beginning was interesting and had my attention, I veered off in the middle. I did not like any of the characters; I wasn't invested in them or care about the storyline. Both the mother and the son were insufferable, not very likable and very over the top. Her with being a helicopter, mom, and him acting like a 15-year-old. I was not invested in them or the story.
While the twist at the end wasn't what I expected, it didn't make me feel any type of way. I actually went back and re-listened to the last 5 chapters in case I'd missed something, but I didn't. I was left a bit perplexed and underwhelmed. Not enough depth for a psychological thriller.
The narrators selected were pretty bad. The woman was dull and not engaging at all. The equivalent to watching paint dry. The man's voice sounded, much older than early twenties and made it hard to remember that the son was only 21-22 years old.
I have no doubt that this book has a target audience and there are people who absolutely ate it up, and will continue to love it. Unfortunately it just didn't 'hit' for me.
IG @lit.fic.lani
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and B P Walter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The New Boyfriend was such an addictive psychological thriller that completely pulled me in from the start. The short chapters and multiple POVs made this incredibly bingeable, and I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” right up until the end.
The story follows Serena and her son Art after they rescue a mysterious stranger, Paul, during a holiday in Northumberland. What starts as an act of kindness quickly spirals into something much darker, filled with manipulation, secrets and tension. I loved the unsettling atmosphere throughout the book and how suspicious every character felt at different points.
B P Walter does a great job building tension and making you question everyone’s motives. The dual timeline added extra depth to Serena’s character and slowly revealed how the past connects to the present. Some twists I guessed along the way, but there were still a few reveals that genuinely surprised me.
I will say that Serena frustrated me at times, and some of the characters were definitely unlikeable, but honestly that added to the messy, dramatic tension of the story. Paul especially gave me such an uneasy feeling the entire time.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, entertaining thriller packed with secrets, lies, toxic relationships and revenge. If you enjoy twisty psychological thrillers with unreliable characters and constant tension, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
The New Boyfriend was such an addictive psychological thriller that completely pulled me in from the start. The short chapters and multiple POVs made this incredibly bingeable, and I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” right up until the end.
The story follows Serena and her son Art after they rescue a mysterious stranger, Paul, during a holiday in Northumberland. What starts as an act of kindness quickly spirals into something much darker, filled with manipulation, secrets and tension. I loved the unsettling atmosphere throughout the book and how suspicious every character felt at different points.
B P Walter does a great job building tension and making you question everyone’s motives. The dual timeline added extra depth to Serena’s character and slowly revealed how the past connects to the present. Some twists I guessed along the way, but there were still a few reveals that genuinely surprised me.
I will say that Serena frustrated me at times, and some of the characters were definitely unlikeable, but honestly that added to the messy, dramatic tension of the story. Paul especially gave me such an uneasy feeling the entire time.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, entertaining thriller packed with secrets, lies, toxic relationships and revenge. If you enjoy twisty psychological thrillers with unreliable characters and constant tension, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
June 2, 2026
The New Boyfriend by B. P. Walter is a slick, unsettling psychological thriller that hooked me from the beginning and never let go. Opening on a wedding day filled with sunlight, champagne, and quiet tension, the story immediately creates the sense that something is deeply wrong beneath the polished surface. From there, the novel moves back through the events that brought Serena to this moment, gradually revealing a story shaped by fear, obsession, and a fierce determination to protect her family.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its structure. The dual timeline works beautifully, slowly uncovering the past while building suspense around the present, and the multiple perspectives—particularly Serena, Art, and Paul—add depth and tension to the story. Serena stood out to me the most as a believable and compelling character: protective, emotionally driven, and sometimes quick to act, but always understandable in her choices. Art also felt realistic as a young adult trying to live his own life, while Paul’s more mysterious presence added an extra layer of unease.
The writing is fast-paced and engaging, with twists and subtle clues that kept me second-guessing what I thought I knew. The author captures the growing claustrophobia of being watched, manipulated, and cornered with real skill, and every revelation adds to the sense of dread. What makes the novel especially gripping, though, is its emotional core—a woman trying to hold her family together while everything around her spirals further out of control.
Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its structure. The dual timeline works beautifully, slowly uncovering the past while building suspense around the present, and the multiple perspectives—particularly Serena, Art, and Paul—add depth and tension to the story. Serena stood out to me the most as a believable and compelling character: protective, emotionally driven, and sometimes quick to act, but always understandable in her choices. Art also felt realistic as a young adult trying to live his own life, while Paul’s more mysterious presence added an extra layer of unease.
The writing is fast-paced and engaging, with twists and subtle clues that kept me second-guessing what I thought I knew. The author captures the growing claustrophobia of being watched, manipulated, and cornered with real skill, and every revelation adds to the sense of dread. What makes the novel especially gripping, though, is its emotional core—a woman trying to hold her family together while everything around her spirals further out of control.
Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC
June 16, 2026
The audio quality of the audiobook was excellent, and the narration was one of the strongest parts of the experience. Both narrators did a fantastic job bringing the different characters to life, and their performances kept me engaged with the story. The pacing at the beginning of the book was especially strong it immediately pulled me in and had me questioning who a certain character really was, what his intentions were, and whether he was mentally stable, while also making me question the main female characters sanity and if she had dreamt most of their interactions up. All of it remained good until maybe around the 30-to-40% mark, and that's when things shifted, and the pace slowed down. One thing that really stood out to me was the way the plot shifted and went into a different direction almost like the author changed their mind mid story. Which I’m sure was supposed to be the psychological aspect, but in my opinion it left plot holes. Some of the details that were setup from the beginning didn't seem to match what was later revealed and when the pace finally did pick back up, the rest of the story seemed very rushed. I did enjoy some aspects of this one like the dual timeline that revealed a past connection to some of the characters and the way the plot did leave me guessing till the end. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs. Though I did enjoy parts of it and I remained curious enough to finish it, it was still a bit of a struggle and mainly the pace and the shift in the plot is what made me decide it wasn’t my cup of tea.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The New Boyfriend is an unsettling psychological thriller that hooks you from the very first line and never loosens its grip. I really enjoy BP Walter's books and this was another fab one to add to the list.
Whilst on holiday in Northumberland, Serena finds a young man, Paul, out in the snow on his own, seemingly about to take his own life. She brings him back into the cottage she’s sharing with her son, Art. It all seems innocent enough on the surface. Paul is given a lift back to London when they leave Northumberland and that should have been the end of his presence in their lives. But Paul and Serena bump into each other in London and they begin a friendship. But Paul's behaviour is suspicious and he drives a wedge between Serena and her son, especially when Paul and Art start a romantic relationship together. But what does Paul want? Did he really randomly appear in their lives or is there more the story?
The reader is completely pulled into the charms of this handsome stranger. The drip drip drip of niggling doubt as we develop an awareness that something isn't right? Paul seems to good to be true. The excellent writing really brings you into the middle of the relationship between Serena and Art, Serena and Paul, and Art and Paul.
But then how reliable it Serena as a character? We are taken back to Serena's life 20 years ago and she is preparing to give birth to her son. She is 16 years old. The book then flip flops over a dual timeline, 20 years ago and the present day and how these two stories and characters in the book are threaded together. The book is also told through multiple POVs, which I really love. It definitely adds depth to a book and we see things from different perspectives. We get to see the motives and mindset of the characters.
There is a palpable sense of danger and dread as we read this one. The author captures the claustrophobia of being watched, manipulated, and gaslighted with a beautiful touch. The vibe is creepy and tense. You are constantly questioning the unhinged behaviours and the suspicious character.
The chapters are short and sharp. Perfect for a thriller book. Full of twists and tension, and impossible to put down, The New Boyfriend was quick and very readable book. I really enjoyed it.
With thanks to BP Walter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Whilst on holiday in Northumberland, Serena finds a young man, Paul, out in the snow on his own, seemingly about to take his own life. She brings him back into the cottage she’s sharing with her son, Art. It all seems innocent enough on the surface. Paul is given a lift back to London when they leave Northumberland and that should have been the end of his presence in their lives. But Paul and Serena bump into each other in London and they begin a friendship. But Paul's behaviour is suspicious and he drives a wedge between Serena and her son, especially when Paul and Art start a romantic relationship together. But what does Paul want? Did he really randomly appear in their lives or is there more the story?
The reader is completely pulled into the charms of this handsome stranger. The drip drip drip of niggling doubt as we develop an awareness that something isn't right? Paul seems to good to be true. The excellent writing really brings you into the middle of the relationship between Serena and Art, Serena and Paul, and Art and Paul.
But then how reliable it Serena as a character? We are taken back to Serena's life 20 years ago and she is preparing to give birth to her son. She is 16 years old. The book then flip flops over a dual timeline, 20 years ago and the present day and how these two stories and characters in the book are threaded together. The book is also told through multiple POVs, which I really love. It definitely adds depth to a book and we see things from different perspectives. We get to see the motives and mindset of the characters.
There is a palpable sense of danger and dread as we read this one. The author captures the claustrophobia of being watched, manipulated, and gaslighted with a beautiful touch. The vibe is creepy and tense. You are constantly questioning the unhinged behaviours and the suspicious character.
The chapters are short and sharp. Perfect for a thriller book. Full of twists and tension, and impossible to put down, The New Boyfriend was quick and very readable book. I really enjoyed it.
With thanks to BP Walter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: The New Boyfriend
Author: B. P Walter
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Kristin Atherton and Matthew Biddulph
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: May 26, 2026
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages: 348
Prologue opens on a wedding day—sunlight, champagne, a beautiful dress—and Serena is holding herself together by sheer force of will. She wishes she could go back to how it all started seven months ago.
Story begins when Serena and her twenty-year-old son Art are on holiday in Northumberland, Serena finds Paul in the woods, and it appears he wants to take his life. She talks him into going back to the cottage where they are staying.
In a few days they will be heading back to London and Paul goes back with them. However, it doesn’t end there as later Serena bumps into Paul and a friendship begins.
But soon Paul’s behavior worries Serena. She worries Paul’s arrival in their lives may not have been random.
I am a big audiobook fan, but I had a hard time liking these characters especially Serena – not sure if my reaction is more from the narrator’s performance of her or not.
I hung in there, but I never got to the point of loving it.
However, I want to try this author again.
I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 26, 2026.
Author: B. P Walter
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Kristin Atherton and Matthew Biddulph
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: May 26, 2026
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages: 348
Prologue opens on a wedding day—sunlight, champagne, a beautiful dress—and Serena is holding herself together by sheer force of will. She wishes she could go back to how it all started seven months ago.
Story begins when Serena and her twenty-year-old son Art are on holiday in Northumberland, Serena finds Paul in the woods, and it appears he wants to take his life. She talks him into going back to the cottage where they are staying.
In a few days they will be heading back to London and Paul goes back with them. However, it doesn’t end there as later Serena bumps into Paul and a friendship begins.
But soon Paul’s behavior worries Serena. She worries Paul’s arrival in their lives may not have been random.
I am a big audiobook fan, but I had a hard time liking these characters especially Serena – not sure if my reaction is more from the narrator’s performance of her or not.
I hung in there, but I never got to the point of loving it.
However, I want to try this author again.
I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 26, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5⭐ Oh my goodness, what whiplash! Plot twists and turns that continuously keep you turning pages and asking, "what in the world!??". The big reveal and denouement absolutely make the book, addressing every point and tying up strings you didn't even realize were loose!
Serena saves a young man, Paul, and brings him back to her holiday rental, hoping she can turn his perspective around. Her son Art is very nervous and doesn't trust Paul- at first. Serena's friend offers the best advice: you should take him to the hospital for an evaluation, but be careful, you don't know him. If only she heeded the warning....
Now, Serena finds herself miserable, powerless to control the people around her, knowing lies are spreading faster than she can disprove them- but why? Is there any truth here? Surely her son is blinded and will be hurt if he ignores her warnings? Art is all this momma has left and she's not going to give him up without a fight. Serena's inability to cut the apron strings help drive this book and keep the mystery of the real driving force hidden from readers. Can you pick up on all the clues and unravel the logic before the big reveal? I didn't!
Troupes: helicopter/dependent parent, big reveal, backstabbing, "you deserved it" twist
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Gore: 1/5 🩸
Language: 1/5 👀
Triggers: gaslighting, manipulation, abuse, assault and battery, faked relationship/betrayed after sex, murder
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!
Serena saves a young man, Paul, and brings him back to her holiday rental, hoping she can turn his perspective around. Her son Art is very nervous and doesn't trust Paul- at first. Serena's friend offers the best advice: you should take him to the hospital for an evaluation, but be careful, you don't know him. If only she heeded the warning....
Now, Serena finds herself miserable, powerless to control the people around her, knowing lies are spreading faster than she can disprove them- but why? Is there any truth here? Surely her son is blinded and will be hurt if he ignores her warnings? Art is all this momma has left and she's not going to give him up without a fight. Serena's inability to cut the apron strings help drive this book and keep the mystery of the real driving force hidden from readers. Can you pick up on all the clues and unravel the logic before the big reveal? I didn't!
Troupes: helicopter/dependent parent, big reveal, backstabbing, "you deserved it" twist
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Gore: 1/5 🩸
Language: 1/5 👀
Triggers: gaslighting, manipulation, abuse, assault and battery, faked relationship/betrayed after sex, murder
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!
May 23, 2026
The setup...
Serena and her college-aged son Art are on holiday in the woods while Art recovers from a traumatic event at college. On a walk through the woods, Serena finds a young man (Paul) about to end his life by jumping in a river. She brings him back to the holiday cabin and helps calm him down.
The heart of story...
Serena finds Paul to be attractive, but is 10 years her junior. She thinks he is interested in her, and after they come from the cabin they begin to text each other regularly. On what she thinks is a date with him, Paul blurts out that he has been sleeping with her son Art! Serena is horrified, and feels betrayed. For months, she agonizes over whether or not Paul is truly interested in her son, or interested in his inheritance. Art feels like Serena is just jealous of the attention from Paul.
The narration...
The story is told, mostly, from Serena and Art's point of view. The audiobook narrators were wonderful and truly captured the passion and fear in both characters.
The bottom line...
This was a fun twist on the "gaslighting" or paranoia thriller! I've read hundreds of psychological thrillers and never encountered one where the mother and son were competing for the affection of the same man! And the alternation between Art being afraid of Paul, and Serena being afraid of Paul, chef's kiss! You really don't see the ending coming. I enjoyed this! Four Stars!
Serena and her college-aged son Art are on holiday in the woods while Art recovers from a traumatic event at college. On a walk through the woods, Serena finds a young man (Paul) about to end his life by jumping in a river. She brings him back to the holiday cabin and helps calm him down.
The heart of story...
Serena finds Paul to be attractive, but is 10 years her junior. She thinks he is interested in her, and after they come from the cabin they begin to text each other regularly. On what she thinks is a date with him, Paul blurts out that he has been sleeping with her son Art! Serena is horrified, and feels betrayed. For months, she agonizes over whether or not Paul is truly interested in her son, or interested in his inheritance. Art feels like Serena is just jealous of the attention from Paul.
The narration...
The story is told, mostly, from Serena and Art's point of view. The audiobook narrators were wonderful and truly captured the passion and fear in both characters.
The bottom line...
This was a fun twist on the "gaslighting" or paranoia thriller! I've read hundreds of psychological thrillers and never encountered one where the mother and son were competing for the affection of the same man! And the alternation between Art being afraid of Paul, and Serena being afraid of Paul, chef's kiss! You really don't see the ending coming. I enjoyed this! Four Stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The New Boyfriend by B.P. Walter is a gripping, twisty psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The premise is immediately intriguing; a seemingly perfect new boyfriend enters the picture, but of course, things are far from what they appear, and Walter does an excellent job building tension right from the start.
What really stood out to me was the pacing. The story moves quickly, with short chapters and well-timed reveals that make it incredibly easy to keep turning pages. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the plot shifted in a way that made me question everything I’d read before. The multiple perspectives added depth and helped create that unsettling feeling that no one can be fully trusted.
The characters were compelling, if not always likable, which worked well for the tone of the book. I especially appreciated how the author explored themes of trust, perception, and the facades people maintain in relationships.
The reason this is a four-star rather than a five-star read for me is that some twists felt slightly over-the-top, and I would have liked a bit more emotional depth in certain moments. Even so, it didn’t take away from the overall suspense and enjoyment.
If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers full of secrets, unreliable characters, and unexpected turns, The New Boyfriend is definitely worth picking up.
What really stood out to me was the pacing. The story moves quickly, with short chapters and well-timed reveals that make it incredibly easy to keep turning pages. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the plot shifted in a way that made me question everything I’d read before. The multiple perspectives added depth and helped create that unsettling feeling that no one can be fully trusted.
The characters were compelling, if not always likable, which worked well for the tone of the book. I especially appreciated how the author explored themes of trust, perception, and the facades people maintain in relationships.
The reason this is a four-star rather than a five-star read for me is that some twists felt slightly over-the-top, and I would have liked a bit more emotional depth in certain moments. Even so, it didn’t take away from the overall suspense and enjoyment.
If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers full of secrets, unreliable characters, and unexpected turns, The New Boyfriend is definitely worth picking up.
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