The Girlfriend's Secret

by Daniel Hurst

My son thinks she’s perfect. But I know she’s here to destroy me…

From the moment I meet my son’s new girlfriend, I know she’s going to be trouble. Haven isn’t the kind of partner I imagined for my darling boy. Joel is sensitive and kind, whereas Haven is so loud and full of confidence. Her sun-kissed locks and gleaming smile are perfect… too perfect. She doesn’t belong here. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get rid of her…

Except Haven is smart. I underestimated her. I thought if I made life uncomfortable she’d leave my son alone. Instead, she’s somehow wormed her way into the heart of my family, and now she’s living under my roof.

I’m sure she’s not really here because she loves my son. I catch her staring at me with her big blue eyes. She smiles, like she knows something she shouldn’t. Like she knows my darkest secret. And my heart skips a beat.

Why is Haven really here? And how far will I go to protect my family…?

A completely addictive and twist-filled page-turner from the king of psychological thrillers and number one bestselling author Daniel Hurst. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, John Marrs and Freida McFadden

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2026

About the author

Daniel Hurst is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of fast paced psychological thrillers. His most popular titles include Til Death Do Us Part, The Passenger and The Doctor's Wife, the latter title reaching #1 on the Amazon UK Kindle store in February 2023. A regular KDP Select All Star since he became a full-time author in 2021, Daniel prides himself on writing fast, releasing stories often and engaging with his readers.

You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'

Reviews

[Darla]

If Grandma Valerie was pushed down the steps, whodunit?

Three narrators are telling the story--mom Liane (daughter of Valerie), girlfriend Haven, and brother Scott.

One of them wanted to get to Grandma's $$ ASAP. Who was the Greedy Gus?

Check out this new twisty read from Daniel Hurst. It entertained me from KC to JFK.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Available August 19, 2026.

[Jayne]

➡️ Are some of Daniel Hurst's books better than others?
Yes.

➡️ Is this one of his better books?
No.

➡️ Some "No secrets" about this "Secret" book.
It's no secret I am a huge Daniel Hurst fan. That said, my expectations were sky high, and I was expecting more.

➡️ WHY NOT 5 STARS?
Although the book's "Did someone push a wealthy grandmother down the staircase to profit from an inheritance?" premise was compelling, the execution fell short.

The title was deceiving since all the protagonists had far more secrets than the girlfriend. In addition, the major twist was revealed too early, draining the narrative of its suspense for the remainder of the book.

➡️ I listened to the audiobook expertly narrated by Joan Walker, Elizabeth Bower, and Nathaniel Priestley.
While I always enjoy full-cast narrations and the performances were superb, Joan Walker and Elizabeth Bower sounded far too similar. I would have preferred much more distinct vocal contrast between the two female narrators to make tracking character perspectives easier.

[daniela weber]

a nice slowburn: I had to endure
the middle section of petty family
intrigue but when the darkness
arrived it made my patience
worthwhile, cheers! =)

[Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer)]

PUBLISH DATE: Aug 29, 2026

I am thankful for the opportunity to READ & REVIEW this book from you. I WILL PROVIDE FEEDBACK when I am caught up; but I am currently behind on ARC books. I apologize for the delay in reading and reviewing and still hope we are able to continue working together in the future.

PUBLISH DATE: Aug 29, 2026
BOOK TITLE: The Girlfriends Secret
AUTHOR: Daniel Hurst
PUBLISHER: Bookoture
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES:
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[bella ✯]

Wow, what an incredible rollercoaster ride! Daniel Hurst delivers once again. I never could have guessed how this story would unfold. Hurst is a master of suspense, keeping you guessing right up to the final reveal. I was hooked from the very beginning and left breathless by the end. A genuine masterpiece!

[Cin (cinsnextchapter)]

The Girlfriend's Secret by Daniel Hurst is a fast-paced domestic thriller that kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.

Joel returns home from Australia to attend his grandmother's funeral, but much to his mother Liane's surprise and disapproval, he brings his girlfriend, Haven, with him. Liane is determined to get her out of the picture, but it doesn't take long to realize that Haven isn't the only one in the family keeping secrets.

The Girlfriend's Secret has the twists, family drama, and unhinged characters that Daniel Hurst is so well known for, making this yet another fun read from him!

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom)]

The Girlfriend’s Secret had all the elements for a juicy psychological thriller. But instead of leaning into darker, twist‑heavy theme, it settled more firmly into domestic suspicion, maternal paranoia, and escalating tension that didn’t always hit the mark.

I liked the uneasy dynamic between Haven and the mother: the staring, confidence, and sense that something is off. But the plot leaned more on familiar beats, and the “darkest secret” angle felt more predictable than shocking.

Likes:
• Creepy girlfriend dynamic
• Fast pacing that makes it easy
• Solid tension in the mother’s POV

Let Down:
• Predictable twists
• Repetitive suspicion that drags in places
• Characters felt surface‑level

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 3⭐
• Characters: 3⭐
• Writing: 3⭐
• Message: 2⭐
• Overall: 3⭐

Overall Thoughts:
Even though this delivered the tension and domestic unease I was looking for, it didn’t quite rise above the familiar tropes of the genre. The mother’s paranoia is engaging, and Haven’s too‑perfect presence adds a fun layer of creepiness, but the twists didn’t surprise me and the emotional depth felt thin. It’s a solid, quick thriller if you enjoy messy family dynamics, but if you’re craving something more shocking, you might want to reach for a heavier psychological punch.

Huge thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture, and author Daniel Hurst for my copy.

~JaNnA~

[Danielle]

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley & Daniel Hurst for an ARC of ‘The girlfriend’s secret’

Another fast-paced popcorn thriller by Daniel Hurst. Right away we are being thrown into the drama, Liane’s son, Joel, has come back early from travelling to attend Liane’s mother’s funeral, but he brings a guest with him, his new girlfriend Haven. Liane immediately is suspicious of Haven and they instantly begin to bump heads. After the funeral, Haven & Joel move into Liane’s & Liane’s husband house and trouble quickly ensues.

Shortly after I started this novel, I thought I had already read something extremely similar to it and I was worried that this novel would be predictable/lackluster for me. And although I did find it lacked the twists of a Daniel Hurst novel, I do feel like the main conflict in the novel shifted about halfway through which I enjoyed.

This novel was fast-paced and quick, however I feel like it lacked the suspense and plot twists that I enjoy when reading a Daniel Hurst novel. Although this isn’t my favourite novel of his, I’m still glad I read it.

[Rachiebo]

As you can tell by my reading list. Daniel hurst is on there a fair amount. I believe that just goes to show how much of a Daniel Hurst fan that I am. As much as I’d like to say that I devoured this book and soaked up every page, this one through me for a bit of a loop as much as I love the overall premise of the book. This book fell short and didn’t seem like a regular her book where it kept you involved. There were a lot of moving parts and it was difficult to get through, but overall, Daniel Hurst creates this scenery that you just can’t put down. I ha k you NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc. I appreciate the entertainment!

[Melody McNamara]

2.5 stars. I finished this book a long time ago but never posted a review. I'm usually up for a good Daniel Hurst book, but this one didn't work for me. I had a hard time just getting into the story. The plot was a bit stale, the characters were annoying, and the twists were predictable. The book dragged on too long and I found myself getting bored. Not my favorite by this author.

[Abbey Cox]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5 Stars

The Girlfriend’s Secret by Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst has officially become one of my favorite thriller authors, and The Girlfriend’s Secret is another reason why!

This book immediately pulled me in with the death of a grandmother who supposedly died in a tragic accident after falling down the stairs. At first, it seems like a heartbreaking but straightforward accident… until little pieces begin to surface that make you question everything. What really happened that night? And, more importantly, who is telling the truth?

What I loved most about this thriller was how often it made me change my mind. Just when I thought I had figured out what was happening, another twist would come along and completely change the way I looked at the characters and the story. I swear I changed my theory about a million times! 😂 Hurst does such a great job of planting little clues while keeping you guessing about who can actually be trusted.

The story is filled with secrets, suspicious behavior, unexpected turns, and that constant feeling that there is something much bigger hiding beneath the surface. The closer I got to the truth, the more I wanted to keep reading because I needed to know who was responsible—and why.

I also really enjoyed the way the mystery centers around people who are supposed to be close to one another. Sometimes the most dangerous secrets are hiding right in front of you, and this book definitely plays with that idea. The reveal was not who I expected, and I loved being caught off guard.

If you enjoy fast-paced domestic thrillers, family secrets, unreliable characters, unexpected twists, and endings that make you rethink everything you just read, definitely add this one to your TBR!

Daniel Hurst continues to prove why he has become a top favorite thriller author for me. His books have that perfect “just one more chapter” quality that makes it very difficult to put them down.

4.5 stars from me! ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Rosie Lee]

Well done Daniel Hurst another great read

[Thrillerswineandchill]

🏡 T H R I L L E R T H U R S D A Y review 🏡 featuring “The Girlfriend’s Secret” by Daniel Hurst!

Liane and her family are grieving over the sudden death of their mother/grandmother Valerie. Much to her dismay, Liane found her mother at the bottom of her staircase after falling to her death ☠️!

Liane is over the moon that her youngest son Joel is travelling home from Australia for the funeral and wake. Except that Joel is not alone, and instead he has brought home his new girlfriend Haven.

On edge and riddled with grief, Liane is making the most out of having a stranger in her home during such a difficult time. She is open to having Haven stay with them at the house, but draws the line when it comes time for the reading of the will. Liane wants to keep it a family matter, but Joel isn’t budging …

Grandma Valerie was very careful with her money throughout the years and is leaving a small fortune to the family. Is it possible that Haven is after her son’s inheritance money? Liane is determined to put a wedge between Haven and Joel before her son makes the biggest mistake of his life. However, Haven is on Liane’s level and has no problem fighting with fire 🔥!

💭 Daniel Hurst is the master of hooking you in from the very first chapter! This psychological thriller is a wild tornado of lies, deception and manipulation … and the dangers of letting a stranger inside of your home. The game of cat and mouse between Liane and Haven is deliciously dark and devious and goes from zero to one hundred with no warning! This year I have read more of Daniel’s books than any other author and I always RUN to request his upcoming releases as soon as they hit Netgalley! Please make sure you check him out!

Thank you kindly to @danielhurstbooks @bookouture @hachetteuk @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on August 19, 2026!

[VickydpBooks]

This book pulled me in from the very beginning! The story follows a mother who instantly distrusts her son’s new girlfriend, Haven. She is convinced Haven isn’t right for her sensitive and kind-hearted son, Joel, and will do anything to get rid of her. But Haven is far more intelligent and determined than she first appears.

What starts as suspicion quickly turns into a tense psychological game filled with secrets, manipulation and plenty of twists. I loved the feeling that there was always something lurking beneath the surface, and I constantly found myself questioning who could actually be trusted.

The tension really kept me turning the pages, especially as Haven becomes more involved with the family and begins living under the same roof. The unsettling glances, hidden motives and hints about a dark secret created an atmosphere that kept me guessing right until the end.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with family drama, secrets, twists and unreliable characters, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, John Marrs and Freida McFadden.

A gripping and addictive read that had me questioning everyone! 📚✨

[Eileen Cassells]

2.5*

There was a real sense of intrigue for the first part of the book, curious about who had killed Liane’s Mum. At first I was confused by her hostility towards Haven, but it was written well to link it to her just being an over protective mother.

When the first revelation happens I was a bit shocked as I wasn’t expecting it and due to that characters lack of involvement so far I was confused. Then the more that version of events was relayed, the less likely it seemed true and nobody believed what they had been told. .

Eventually, Haven manages to break apart the first revelation and uncover the truth about what happened. I think this was done well, she knew something wasn’t right and I did like how strong minded she was. I had a sneaky feeling all along that this was what the ‘big secret’ was going to be.

I didn’t feel any connection to the characters or feel that the story gripped me in a way I thought it would. It lacked the suspense and tension I was hoping for.

Saying that, I read it within a day, it is an easy book to binge and was easy to read and follow. Frederick was such a lovely man and he definitely deserved more page time.

[Abbey ♡︎]

This is my second book by Daniel Hurst and I was not disappointed.

I really enjoy Daniel’s writing. He has a real talent for keeping his readers engaged and delivering a timeline of events that is perfectly paced.

He is now one of my favourite thriller authors and I feel like I have struck gold in discovering him.

This book was such a rollercoaster! It was full of suspense, twists and turns and a plot you won’t see coming.
I was locked and loaded from the beginning and gasping in disbelief by the end of the book.

[Liam Reads]

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

Another easy read from Hurst. Solid enough plot. The dynamic between Haven and Liane started out strong and eerie, and had a satiafying resolution.. I just felt there was so much potential for it to go darker and thus more thrilling.

Some characters felt shoe horned into the plot as a device to make a twist work rather than being fully fleshed out, but the twist itself was good and therefore it felt like it paid off for me.

Onto my next in the Hurst backlist sooon!

[Emma]

A good, light thriller that kept me hooked! It could have been a lot darker or twistier, but the more I got into the book, the more invested I became. By the end, I needed to know how it was all going to play out!
If you love Freida McFadden, I think you’ll definitely enjoy Daniel Hurst. A quick, easy and addictive read!

[Emily Read]

2.5

[Jknick]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. This was an okay psychological thriller but super predictable in my opinion. Will I continue to read his books? Yes.It was a quick read and fast-paced but was just hoping for a bit more.

[Christine Ervin]

This was a very good mystery of who is the real killer with a British spin. It was a quick but engaging story that has you wondering. The author did a good job of layering the story so that you think you know but then you don't but still wonder if there is another layer to solve!

[Ana]

Daniel Hurst is absolutely incredible and I will stand ten toes down for his books! If you like the fast paced psychological thriller vibes that Frieda gives off, you’ll love Daniel.

Another brilliant read. Every single character was so fully fleshed out and interesting. The back stories had me on the floor and I was not expecting where this book was going at all. I absolutely loved it.

[Kim]

Not bad but not good ( little bit unrealistic according to my culture)

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle]

Liane meets her son’s girlfriend at her mother’s funeral and decides, before this woman has properly entered the house, that she is a gold-digging threat to the bloodline. Haven has barely arrived from Australia with Joel and Liane is already mentally changing the locks, checking the silverware, and wondering whether airport security missed something. There is no grace period. No cautious optimism. Haven smiles once and Liane’s entire nervous system files a restraining order.

To be fair, Valerie has just died after falling down the stairs, the family is gathering for the funeral, and Liane is grieving while also clinging to the fantasy that Joel coming home means everything might briefly feel normal again. Then he appears with a gorgeous, confident girlfriend nobody has met, and Liane reacts like he brought home a suspicious package marked OPEN NEAR INHERITANCE. Joel is sensitive, sweet, and clearly besotted. His mother looks at Haven and sees a hostile takeover in excellent hair.

Haven does not help by refusing to perform the timid little girlfriend routine Liane clearly ordered in advance. She is loud. She is comfortable. She has opinions. She stays close to Joel. She somehow settles into the family home without spending every second apologizing for existing in it. Liane keeps waiting for her to understand that she is an outsider, while Haven keeps behaving like Joel invited her because he actually wants her there. The nerve.

Then Valerie’s will enters the conversation, and Liane’s suspicion develops a pension plan. Now Haven did not simply travel home to support her boyfriend after his grandmother died. No. In Liane’s mind, this woman crossed continents because she smelled money in the English air. Every glance becomes strategy. Every question becomes research. Every moment alone with Joel becomes manipulation. Liane could watch Haven butter toast and conclude she was testing the family’s asset liquidity.

And the perspective changes kept exposing exactly how much information everyone was withholding. I would sit inside Liane’s head thinking, you know what, Haven IS weird. That smile lasted too long. She knows something. Somebody check her luggage. Then the story would switch viewpoints and reveal that Liane had presented the situation with all the journalistic integrity of a woman defending herself in family court. Suddenly Haven’s behavior looked different, and Liane looked like she had been quietly setting traps between funeral arrangements.

Nobody else in this family is helping. Joel is defending Haven because he loves her and also because his mother is behaving like a border agent. Scott has his own angle. Frederick is trying to survive the household with the depleted expression of a man who knows every sentence could become evidence later. Valerie is dead, money is floating around, and everyone has at least one secret they are protecting with the confidence of people who have never watched a thriller before.

Liane had me torn between “trust your instincts” and “ma’am, step away from the girlfriend.” Once she decides Haven is dangerous, she cannot absorb any information that does not support the case. Haven smiles, suspicious. Haven stays quiet, even more suspicious. Haven loves Joel, obviously calculated. Haven breathes near the will, call the authorities. The maddening part is that Liane is not completely wrong about everything, which means her paranoia keeps receiving just enough validation to become unbearable.

Then Haven starts pushing back, and I understood why Liane hated her so much. Haven is not scared of her. She sees the passive-aggressive little tests, the territorial behavior, the attempts to make her uncomfortable, and instead of leaving, she settles in harder. Their relationship becomes two women smiling through clenched teeth while Joel wanders nearby believing love can fix this. It cannot, Joel. Your mother and girlfriend are conducting psychological warfare over biscuits.

Underneath all of that, Liane’s grief landed. Her mother is gone. Her son has built a life far away from her. Her days have gotten quieter, and every change feels like another person leaving. She cannot control death, distance, or Joel growing up, so she tries to control Haven. That does not make her choices less unhinged. It just makes the panic underneath them painfully obvious.

Once the secrets started spilling, this family became impossible to trust in the most entertaining way. Every reveal changed who looked guilty, who looked ridiculous, and who had apparently been lying since before Haven entered the country. By the end I had accused nearly everyone, withdrawn several accusations, and considered reopening the case against people I had cleared three chapters earlier. The Girlfriend’s Secret gets 4 stars from me. Quick, messy, twisty, and powered almost entirely by one mother deciding her son’s girlfriend must be stopped before she has gathered any usable evidence.

Whodunity Award: For Turning “My Son Brought His Girlfriend to the Funeral” Into a Full Domestic Counterterrorism Operation

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC, and for inviting me into a home where grief is fresh, the inheritance is pending, nobody trusts the new girlfriend, and every cup of tea comes with an implied accusation. I enjoyed my visit tremendously and will be blocking the entire family afterward.

[Penny]

The Girlfriend’s Secret by Daniel Hurst

Well… Haven certainly knows how to make an entrance!

This was a decent-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages, or, more accurately, tapping away on my Kindle. There were no real dull lulls, and the story kept me interested enough to want to know what was actually going on.

The basic premise was good: Joel’s new girlfriend, Haven, has his mother Liane immediately suspicious. She’s convinced Haven is trouble and will do whatever she can to get rid of her. But Haven is smart, confident and seemingly determined to worm her way into the family… so naturally, everyone starts behaving like sensible, emotionally mature adults.

Oh, wait. No they don't.

The character dynamics was okay, We’re clearly meant to like certain characters and hate others, and I could see what the author was trying to do. However, I don't think it was always executed as effectively as it could have been. At times, I felt there wasn't quite enough groundwork or evidence behind some of the characters' behaviour to make me feel strongly about them. I was being told who I should trust or dislike rather than always being given enough to reach that conclusion myself.

The characters were okay for this level of thriller, but they weren't particularly in-depth. I didn't really become invested in any of their individual stories, which meant that when things started going sideways, I was more interested in finding out what would happen than emotionally invested in who it happened to.

Interestingly, Haven actually annoyed me more than Liane. I could sort of understand why Liane behaved the way she did, even if she was hardly winning Mother of the Year. Haven, on the other hand, didn't always feel particularly believable to me. She came across as a bit too much of a goody-two-shoes, considering the amount of drama she caused, and then somehow everyone seemed to just… go along with her, regardless of her being wrong or right. I was sitting there thinking, Really? Nobody's questioning this? Just me then?

I also felt that Haven's backstory could have been explored more. There was clearly an attempt to give her some additional depth, but ultimately it didn't feel particularly relevant to the story and didn't add as much as I expected it to.

The story itself was good and definitely kept me interested, but the big flip/twist felt quite abrupt. I was waiting for that proper OH MY GOD moment, and unfortunately it didn't quite land that way for me. I'm not sure whether it happened too quickly although quite late into the book, or whether I just needed a little more build-up and groundwork beforehand. Either way, it didn't have quite the impact I was hoping for.

That said, this was still an enjoyable and easy read. The pacing worked well, there was always something happening, and I never found myself wanting to put it down because nothing was happening which is a big plus for me.

Overall, I'd give this 3 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

A decent, fast-paced domestic thriller that kept me tapping the Kindle, with enough secrets and drama to keep me entertained. I just wanted a little more depth from the characters, a more believable Haven, and a twist that packed a slightly bigger punch.

And honestly, if everyone in this family had just communicated properly for five minutes, we'd have had a very short book. 😂

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Barbara Schultz]

Title: The Girlfriend’s Secret
Author: Daniel Hurst
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: August 19, 2026
My Rating: 4.3 Stars
Pages: 323


The blurb lets us know from the beginning that Joel’s mother Liane is not happy with his new girlfriend Haven.
She believes she is phony as she appears too perfect. Liane doesn’t want her around, but she seems to be working her way in.

Story starts when Grandmother Valerie, Liane’s mum died from a fall down her stairs. Liane has the wake at her home and, of course, her sons Joel and Scott attend but Joel’s girlfriend Haven also attends, stating she knew Grandmother Valerie. Something Liane cannot believe. Haven goes on to say Valerie commented on one of Joel and Haven posts and they continued to communicate.
Even more shocking to Liane is when Haven turns up for the reading of Valerie’s Will which concerns her estate and who gets what.

Everyone is surprised and pleased with the amount left to them. Scott is a mechanic and has a small repair shop and states the money will allow him to expand his business. Haven chimes in that Joel’s money will allow them to live in a local town house apartment with a pool and gym. Again Liane believes this is not appropriate for Haven not only be there but to bost how Joel’s money is going to be used.

Story is told mostly from Liane’s POV but we do hear from and Haven and a chapter or two from Joel’s brother Scott.

This psychological thriller was packed with manipulation, deception, and of course a bit of mystery!
I am a big Danny fan. He is an entertaining writer; this is my thirty-seventh thriller! I am always ready to read his next story! I never really know what his group of psychos will have in store for me!

I went into it with no expectations – well yea I was expecting a surprise but was sad when I found out whodunit. But I love this author and his stories.

As always, I read the author’s note as it is something that I enjoy especially when they reveal their motivation for the story. Hmmm I am still curious about his motivation for this one!

However, once again, Danny did NOT disappoint.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 19, 2026.

[Megan Willmott]

🚨 THE ULTIMATE PLOT TWIST OF THE CENTURY 🚨

This book is mostly told from Liane’s POV and starts off with such a suspenseful introduction. A woman who was dearly loved is found dead someone larger than life, who’s always active and full of energy ultimately leaving everyone questioning how she died and whether it really was an accident…

Then we meet Liane, Joel’s mum, who is grieving the loss of her own mother and immediately gets a bad gut feeling about Joel’s girlfriend, Haven.

And honestly Haven does not exactly help herself

Turning up to a funeral dressed in BLUE when everyone else is wearing black? ✔️
Smiling at a funeral? ✔️
Seeming like the only person who’s actually happy to be there? ✔️
Like read the room your attending the funeral

At first, I thought maybe Liane was simply being a grieving mother, worried about losing her son to this woman after just losing her mother and therefore picking apart everything Haven did and as the plot thickened I truly thought Liane was right because you know what they say MUM KNOWS BEST. 👀

When the murder starts pointing towards Haven, I was truly convinced that Haven had done it.

I was genuinely shocked to my core when I read the plot twist. I was SO convinced it was Haven right up until the twist and then came the twist upon twist and I genuinely sat there thinking this is genius.

I NEVER suspected who actually did it. Not even for a second.

My immediate reaction was quite literally WOW!

I absolutely loved Haven the way I questioned her at first and believed she had the most motive but she soon blossomed into my favourite character of the book with such depth about her that I wanted to learn more about.

This psychological thriller was packed with twists, turns and some seriously gasp-worthy moments. I was suspicious of EVERYONE and yet somehow still managed to be completely blindsided by the real perpetrator

High recommend this book due for publication on the 19th of August 2026 it is a seriously twisty, addictive psychological thriller that had me questioning everything.

Huge thank you to Daniel Hurst, Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC 💛

[Carrie Shields]

...𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠.

Liane is convinced her son Joel's new girlfriend is trouble from the moment they meet after Liane's mother dies from a tragic fall down the stairs in her home. Haven is beautiful, confident, and somehow manages to charm everyone around her, except the one person determined to see through her. As Liane's attempts to drive Haven away spectacularly backfire, the young woman becomes more deeply embedded in the family, and Liane starts to suspect she isn't there for Joel at all. She believes Haven knows a secret that could destroy everything, and suddenly the question isn't whether someone is lying. It's who is lying the most.

This book completely lost the plot, and I mean that as a compliment. Every time I thought I'd finally figured out where it was going, it gleefully grabbed the steering wheel, cranked it ninety degrees, and drove straight through somebody's living room. Liane is the definition of an unreliable narrator, and spending time inside her head is like watching a smoke detector have a nervous breakdown. I kept changing sides, changing theories, changing my mind. There were moments where I actually laughed out loud because of the sheer audacity of what I had just read. You absolutely have to suspend your disbelief here and accept that this story is operating on pure chaos.

This is one of those books where trying to predict the ending is a complete waste of energy because the author is playing an entirely different game than you are. Is it believable? Absolutely not. Did I care? Also absolutely not. Sometimes a thriller doesn't need to be realistic. Sometimes it just needs to be completely, gloriously unhinged. This one understood the assignment. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early copy that will publish August 19, 2026.

[Leanne]

The Girlfriend’s Secret is a wonderfully tense psychological thriller that leans into obsession, maternal instinct, and the creeping dread of knowing something is wrong long before anyone else sees it. From the moment Haven steps into the narrator’s home, there’s a crackle of unease — she’s bright, confident, impossibly perfect, and absolutely not the partner the mother imagined for her gentle, sensitive son. That clash sets the tone beautifully.

The story thrives on its close, claustrophobic perspective. Watching Haven slip deeper into the family — charming Joel, winning over relatives, settling under the same roof — creates a slow, unsettling shift. The mother’s discomfort grows into suspicion, then fear, and the book captures that escalation with sharp precision. Haven’s lingering looks, her too‑knowing smiles, her uncanny ability to be in the right place at the wrong time… it all builds a steady pressure that makes you question every interaction.

The tension really spikes when the narrator becomes convinced Haven knows her darkest secret. That moment reframes the entire story, turning it from simple dislike into a battle of wills. The question of why Haven is really there — and what she wants — becomes the driving force, and the twists that follow are timed perfectly to keep the reader off balance.

This is one of those thrillers where the domestic setting becomes its own trap. The house feels smaller, the walls closer, and every conversation carries a hint of danger. The final reveals land with satisfying impact, tying together the threads of manipulation, fear, and long‑buried guilt.

Twisty, addictive, and packed with tension, The Girlfriend’s Secret delivers exactly what fans of domestic psychological thrillers crave. A sharp, unsettling read that keeps you turning pages to the very end.

With thanks to Daniel Hurst, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Allie]

The Girlfriend's Secret will keep you on the edge of your seat until you have read the final page and look up at the clock and see it's 5 AM. A death in Liane's family reunites her with her son Joel who has been traveling in Australia until he heard the news about his grandmother's death which called him back home. The news that Joel would be coming back to the UK to attend his grandmother's funeral made Liane happy because she would be reunited with her son again until she learns that Joel will not be attending the funeral alone. I would recommend The Girlfriend's Secret to thriller fans who love unreliable narrators. Liane's character intrigued and frustrated me all at the same time. Her character reminded me of all my exes mothers that I have experienced in the past where they want to protect their child from the world by shielding them from any experience that could lead to a potential bad outcome. If you have personal experience with a bad mother-in-law in your life, you have already met Liane's character. On one hand, I understood where Liane was coming from because all a mother wants is to see their child be happy and protect them from anything bad coming their way but the ending made me view her as a parent in a new light. How the author set up the book with alternating POVs is what pulled me in because I didn't know who to trust until other sides of the story started being revealed after Liane told her side. The only issue that I noticed that did affect my enjoyment was the story becoming repetitive near the 50% mark. Conversations between the characters read like one of the characters suddenly had a case of amnesia because one character would forget that the other character told them x and so x would be revealed again as if the reveal wasn't already mentioned in conversation a page ago.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this release in exchange for my honest review! The Girlfriend's Secret is set to be released August 19, 2026.