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Only Ever You
Jill Lassiter’s three-year-old daughter disappears from a playground only to return after 40 frantic minutes, but her mother’s relief is short-lived–there’s a tiny puncture mark on Sophia’s arm. When doctors can find no trace of drugs in her system, Jill accepts she’ll never know what happened, but at least her child is safe.
Except Sophia isn’t. Someone is watching the Lassiter home in an affluent Pennsylvania suburb, infiltrating the family’s personal and professional lives. While Jill struggles to balance building her photography business with parenting high-spirited Sophia, and David is distracted by pressure to make partner at his law firm, both of them are holding on in a marriage that’s already been rocked by loss.
Three months after the incident at the park, Sophia disappears again, but this time Jill and David become the focus of police and media scrutiny and suspicion. Facing every parent’s worst nightmare a second time, Jill discovers that someone doesn’t just want Sophia for her own, she wants to
destroy the entire family.
Except Sophia isn’t. Someone is watching the Lassiter home in an affluent Pennsylvania suburb, infiltrating the family’s personal and professional lives. While Jill struggles to balance building her photography business with parenting high-spirited Sophia, and David is distracted by pressure to make partner at his law firm, both of them are holding on in a marriage that’s already been rocked by loss.
Three months after the incident at the park, Sophia disappears again, but this time Jill and David become the focus of police and media scrutiny and suspicion. Facing every parent’s worst nightmare a second time, Jill discovers that someone doesn’t just want Sophia for her own, she wants to
destroy the entire family.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2016
207 people are currently reading
4307 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Drake
7 books293 followersRebecca Drake is an American author of psychological suspense. Her latest book, JUST BETWEEN US, was featured by O, The Oprah Magazine as a “compulsively readable thriller,” while Publisher’s Weekly and the Associated Press lauded it as “tense, bombshell laden and action-packed” and “twisty and compelling.”
Her previous novel ONLY EVER YOU, was chosen by Barnes & Noble as a top thriller and Library Journal’s starred review called it a “gripping domestic thriller.” She is also the author of DON’T BE AFRAID, THE NEXT KILLING and THE DEAD PLACE,as well as short fiction featured in the anthologies, PITTSBURGH NOIR, SWAMP KILLERS, and A THOUSAND DOORS.
A native New Yorker and Penn State grad, Rebecca has lived in eight cities, including Doha, Qatar, and was an instructor in Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction MFA program. She currently resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, two children, a large cat and a little dog.
Her previous novel ONLY EVER YOU, was chosen by Barnes & Noble as a top thriller and Library Journal’s starred review called it a “gripping domestic thriller.” She is also the author of DON’T BE AFRAID, THE NEXT KILLING and THE DEAD PLACE,as well as short fiction featured in the anthologies, PITTSBURGH NOIR, SWAMP KILLERS, and A THOUSAND DOORS.
A native New Yorker and Penn State grad, Rebecca has lived in eight cities, including Doha, Qatar, and was an instructor in Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction MFA program. She currently resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, two children, a large cat and a little dog.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 310 reviews
August 20, 2017
Jill Lassiter is at the park with her three-year-old daughter, Sophia when she sees a frazzled young mother trying to get one of her children into the swing while holding on to her other child. Jill helps her out and when she looks back just a few moments later, Sophia is nowhere to be found.
Thankfully, Sophia is found after 40 terrifying minutes. When Jill checks her over she finds what looks to her like a puncture wound on Sophia's arm. However, no one else seems concerned and the doctors find nothing to indicate that she was drugged or harmed in any way. Everyone else is positive that Sophia just wandered off as she tends to do sometimes and that the mark is just a bug bite. Jill is positive something isn't right but is thankful Sophia is safe.
But is Sophia really safe? Odd things start happening around the Lassister home. For example, a window is open when Jill is positive she closed it. But as they are both busy with work they don't notice when even stranger things start happening.
Someone has taken a very big interest in the Lassiter family and is watching everything they do.
That someone is waiting for just the right moment to execute their plan....
Three months after Sophia's first disappearance she disappears again. At first Jill is positive her rambunctious daughter has just wandered off again.
But this time the nightmare isn't over in 40 minutes....
As well as fighting to find their daughter, Jill and David are fighting to prove they have not harmed their daughter and have nothing to do with her disappearance. Every move they make is closely watched by the media, public and the police. When Jill doesn't cry during a press conference the media and public is all over her.
"Her mother is a cold woman-you can tell on the TV, the camera doesn't lie."
I think I've mentioned it before that it makes me question how quick to judgement we can be. I'm guilty of it myself. Although lately I'm trying not to be so quick to judge. It's sad to think that someone is going through something so horrible and on top of that they are attacked in the media and by the public. Of course in some cases it's warranted but until we know the entire story, judging someone on whether they cry or don't cry is of little help.
Jill is convinced her daughter is alive and is desperate to bring her home. However, as more and more people focus on her and David, she worries no one is looking hard enough to find her daughter.
"Did you kill your daughter?"
This book was pretty intense and held my interest from the beginning. The story is told from three points of view. Sophia's mother Jill, a woman named Bea, as well as an anonymous young woman's journal. There were times it took me a moment to catch up with whose point of view it was but usually I figured it out quite fast. Overall, the story flowed well. Quite a lot of information was given out early in the book and so it made it a bit easier to guess what might have happened. But there were still some great twists and turns and I was very anxious to see what would happen next.
"Parenting was more stressful than the rest of life, much more stressful".
I really liked the way the author portrayed the characters and their emotions. It felt quite realistic, the actions very genuine. For example the reactions of a mother with a child who's a bit of a handful. How sometimes a parent just wants a little bit more sleep or feel like they are at their wits end with a stubborn child. Honest feelings about parenting, marriage and the heartbreaking pain of loss and betrayal etc. Of course this a psychological thriller - a work of fiction, so not everything is supposed to be completely true to real life ....what fun would that be?
"It was strange how intense emotional pain could become physical".
I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be looking for more from Rebecca Drake.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thankfully, Sophia is found after 40 terrifying minutes. When Jill checks her over she finds what looks to her like a puncture wound on Sophia's arm. However, no one else seems concerned and the doctors find nothing to indicate that she was drugged or harmed in any way. Everyone else is positive that Sophia just wandered off as she tends to do sometimes and that the mark is just a bug bite. Jill is positive something isn't right but is thankful Sophia is safe.
But is Sophia really safe? Odd things start happening around the Lassister home. For example, a window is open when Jill is positive she closed it. But as they are both busy with work they don't notice when even stranger things start happening.
Someone has taken a very big interest in the Lassiter family and is watching everything they do.
That someone is waiting for just the right moment to execute their plan....
Three months after Sophia's first disappearance she disappears again. At first Jill is positive her rambunctious daughter has just wandered off again.
But this time the nightmare isn't over in 40 minutes....
As well as fighting to find their daughter, Jill and David are fighting to prove they have not harmed their daughter and have nothing to do with her disappearance. Every move they make is closely watched by the media, public and the police. When Jill doesn't cry during a press conference the media and public is all over her.
"Her mother is a cold woman-you can tell on the TV, the camera doesn't lie."
I think I've mentioned it before that it makes me question how quick to judgement we can be. I'm guilty of it myself. Although lately I'm trying not to be so quick to judge. It's sad to think that someone is going through something so horrible and on top of that they are attacked in the media and by the public. Of course in some cases it's warranted but until we know the entire story, judging someone on whether they cry or don't cry is of little help.
Jill is convinced her daughter is alive and is desperate to bring her home. However, as more and more people focus on her and David, she worries no one is looking hard enough to find her daughter.
"Did you kill your daughter?"
This book was pretty intense and held my interest from the beginning. The story is told from three points of view. Sophia's mother Jill, a woman named Bea, as well as an anonymous young woman's journal. There were times it took me a moment to catch up with whose point of view it was but usually I figured it out quite fast. Overall, the story flowed well. Quite a lot of information was given out early in the book and so it made it a bit easier to guess what might have happened. But there were still some great twists and turns and I was very anxious to see what would happen next.
"Parenting was more stressful than the rest of life, much more stressful".
I really liked the way the author portrayed the characters and their emotions. It felt quite realistic, the actions very genuine. For example the reactions of a mother with a child who's a bit of a handful. How sometimes a parent just wants a little bit more sleep or feel like they are at their wits end with a stubborn child. Honest feelings about parenting, marriage and the heartbreaking pain of loss and betrayal etc. Of course this a psychological thriller - a work of fiction, so not everything is supposed to be completely true to real life ....what fun would that be?
"It was strange how intense emotional pain could become physical".
I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be looking for more from Rebecca Drake.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 9, 2016
Thank you Netgalley for my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This novel ratcheted my anxiety sky high, as I believe it was intended to. As a mother of littles, it was hard reading about a child being taken, not once, but twice in a 3 month period. This was not a pleasant read, but it was intriguing and the story grasped my attention throughout. There was no fluff here; just straight up tension and psychological thrills.
Sophia disappears at the park and after a group search and about 45 minutes, she returns appearing to be unharmed aside from a small spot on her skin that her mother, Jill, believes to be a pin prick from a needle, not a bug bite as the paramedics suggest. Life appears to go on as normal until 3 months later Sophia is taken from her bedroom, which threatens to not only end David and Jill's marriage, but puts Jill in suspicion of committing the crime. Jill decides to do whatever it takes to get her daughter back, no matter the cost.
Again, this read was intense and disturbing but gripping and fascinating. The story wasn't overly predictable but it wasn't uniquely memorable either. I think the only thing keeping this from a 5* read for me was that I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Everyone seemed selfish and a bit obnoxious which was slightly distracting from the story and prohibited me from really diving in fully. A great read that was fairly short at around 300 pages; I'd still recommend and am interested in checking out some of the author's other novels.
This novel ratcheted my anxiety sky high, as I believe it was intended to. As a mother of littles, it was hard reading about a child being taken, not once, but twice in a 3 month period. This was not a pleasant read, but it was intriguing and the story grasped my attention throughout. There was no fluff here; just straight up tension and psychological thrills.
Sophia disappears at the park and after a group search and about 45 minutes, she returns appearing to be unharmed aside from a small spot on her skin that her mother, Jill, believes to be a pin prick from a needle, not a bug bite as the paramedics suggest. Life appears to go on as normal until 3 months later Sophia is taken from her bedroom, which threatens to not only end David and Jill's marriage, but puts Jill in suspicion of committing the crime. Jill decides to do whatever it takes to get her daughter back, no matter the cost.
Again, this read was intense and disturbing but gripping and fascinating. The story wasn't overly predictable but it wasn't uniquely memorable either. I think the only thing keeping this from a 5* read for me was that I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Everyone seemed selfish and a bit obnoxious which was slightly distracting from the story and prohibited me from really diving in fully. A great read that was fairly short at around 300 pages; I'd still recommend and am interested in checking out some of the author's other novels.
March 29, 2016
I think maybe I have read my quota of missing children thrillers lately. Very unlikable characters in this one, plus the circumstances that make up the plot just stuck me as unrealistic. That said I do have to mention, and is why I gave this three stars, that the writing is very good. So will definitely give this author another try.
ARC from Netgalley.
ARC from Netgalley.
March 21, 2016
I would like to thank Rebecca Drake, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The story begins three months before the kidnapping of Sophia Lassiter. She and her mother, Jill, are spending a day in the park when Sophia suddenly disappears only to reappear forty minutes later. There is a small mark on the inside of Sophia's elbow that looks like a puncture wound. Jill insists for Sophia to be examined by a doctor but nothing is found and Jill spends the next three months feeling like a paranoid, overprotective mother. Then in the middle of the night Sophia really does go missing and all the evidence points to Jill and her husband David having something to do with that disappearance.
I don't personally have children; so, it is difficult for me to truly understand the fear a parent feels when his or her child goes missing. When I watch news stories and press conferences of parents with missing children, I always think it's odd when the parents don't show emotion. I cannot imagine myself going cold and stone faced. It's easy to not trust people who shut down in public in the midst of such a tragic situation, but this story offers a glimpse from the perspective of a parent who does just that - shuts down in public. This is one of the main reasons I believe the public turned against Jill and David in the story. Everyone assumes you will become an emotional wreck after losing a child and believes you shouldn't be able to hold it together.
I honestly thought I had this entire book figured out about 25% of the way in - and I did for the most part. The pace is very fast throughout the entire story which keeps the reader's attention. The identity of Sophia's kidnapper isn't exactly hidden as the story is told from multiple perspectives including that of the kidnapper; however, you aren't given all of the details right away. As I stated before, most of this book is very predictable. Not much happened that I didn't anticipate until about the last 10% of the book. I always like books that surprise me, and this one did in the end!
The story begins three months before the kidnapping of Sophia Lassiter. She and her mother, Jill, are spending a day in the park when Sophia suddenly disappears only to reappear forty minutes later. There is a small mark on the inside of Sophia's elbow that looks like a puncture wound. Jill insists for Sophia to be examined by a doctor but nothing is found and Jill spends the next three months feeling like a paranoid, overprotective mother. Then in the middle of the night Sophia really does go missing and all the evidence points to Jill and her husband David having something to do with that disappearance.
I don't personally have children; so, it is difficult for me to truly understand the fear a parent feels when his or her child goes missing. When I watch news stories and press conferences of parents with missing children, I always think it's odd when the parents don't show emotion. I cannot imagine myself going cold and stone faced. It's easy to not trust people who shut down in public in the midst of such a tragic situation, but this story offers a glimpse from the perspective of a parent who does just that - shuts down in public. This is one of the main reasons I believe the public turned against Jill and David in the story. Everyone assumes you will become an emotional wreck after losing a child and believes you shouldn't be able to hold it together.
I honestly thought I had this entire book figured out about 25% of the way in - and I did for the most part. The pace is very fast throughout the entire story which keeps the reader's attention. The identity of Sophia's kidnapper isn't exactly hidden as the story is told from multiple perspectives including that of the kidnapper; however, you aren't given all of the details right away. As I stated before, most of this book is very predictable. Not much happened that I didn't anticipate until about the last 10% of the book. I always like books that surprise me, and this one did in the end!
February 25, 2017
Quick review for a quick read. "Only Ever You" by Rebecca Drake is the first novel I've read in this author's bibliography. It was definitely a page turner. I found it difficult to tear myself away from this book wanting to know what happened next in the overarching mystery. The story centers around the disappearance of a girl named Sophia, causing a downward spiral on an already testy household for her parents Jill and David.
Jill is one of the narrators in this novel, and one can tell how flawed her character is from the beginning of the book. She has a hectic time as a mother and trying to make ends meet in the career she's set for herself while her husband's job keeps him away for long stretches of time and social engagements. She's at her wits end in some respects. A near miss kidnapping involving Sophia has Jill and David on high alert, but there are other secrets that keep their tentative relationship on its ends.
It's when Sophia disappears that everything falls apart. The second perspective in the novel is Bea, a woman whose identity isn't clear from the beginning, but the reader can tell she's the one who abducted Sophia. The question remains as to why. Combine that with confessional letters that are interspersed through the narrative from an unknown source, and you have the three perspectives that compose this novel. It flows very smoothly, and the tension between the characters is very palpable. There were quite a few times when I found it hard to suspend my disbelief in the way certain things happened (not so much in that they might occur as it was the WAY they occurred in succession). I suspected that someone close to Jill's family had something to do with Sophia's disappearance, but the narrative threw a number of curveball revelations, some of which did quite well in the context of the novel. But I think the number curveballs were one too many in the end, to the point where the story somewhat suffered under the weight/mass of them.
I did like the novel on the whole though, and it makes me curious to read more of Rebecca Drake's work.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher.
Jill is one of the narrators in this novel, and one can tell how flawed her character is from the beginning of the book. She has a hectic time as a mother and trying to make ends meet in the career she's set for herself while her husband's job keeps him away for long stretches of time and social engagements. She's at her wits end in some respects. A near miss kidnapping involving Sophia has Jill and David on high alert, but there are other secrets that keep their tentative relationship on its ends.
It's when Sophia disappears that everything falls apart. The second perspective in the novel is Bea, a woman whose identity isn't clear from the beginning, but the reader can tell she's the one who abducted Sophia. The question remains as to why. Combine that with confessional letters that are interspersed through the narrative from an unknown source, and you have the three perspectives that compose this novel. It flows very smoothly, and the tension between the characters is very palpable. There were quite a few times when I found it hard to suspend my disbelief in the way certain things happened (not so much in that they might occur as it was the WAY they occurred in succession). I suspected that someone close to Jill's family had something to do with Sophia's disappearance, but the narrative threw a number of curveball revelations, some of which did quite well in the context of the novel. But I think the number curveballs were one too many in the end, to the point where the story somewhat suffered under the weight/mass of them.
I did like the novel on the whole though, and it makes me curious to read more of Rebecca Drake's work.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher.
March 7, 2016
When Jill Lassiter turns her back for a few brief minutes at a public park it begins what is every mother's worst nightmare, Jill's three year old daughter Sophia is missing. The police are called with everyone searching for the little girl but less than an hour later Sophia comes wandering out of the trees alone.
When questioned she says she saw a doggie so everyone assumes the girl had just wandered off. Jill isn't too sure that something more didn't happen but she eventually assumes it's her imagination getting the best of her. A few months later Jill's nightmare returns, Sophia is again missing.
Only Ever You is a wonderfully written, engaging psychological thriller that will have a reader hooked from the very beginning. The characters were wonderful, just the right amount of emotional investment, drama and intrigue into their lives to keep me wanting to know more. As the story unfolds there are some touching moments with Jill and what she and her family have been through that were just heartbreaking.
My one complaint came with the fact that I thought for sure I had the entire story figured out early on. I wasn't quite on the money with my theory as there were a few extra twists I didn't count on but even thinking that I knew what would happen I still didn't want to put this book down and never got bored with it. In the end I decided on 4.5 stars as there were some predictable elements but still a completely engaging story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When questioned she says she saw a doggie so everyone assumes the girl had just wandered off. Jill isn't too sure that something more didn't happen but she eventually assumes it's her imagination getting the best of her. A few months later Jill's nightmare returns, Sophia is again missing.
Only Ever You is a wonderfully written, engaging psychological thriller that will have a reader hooked from the very beginning. The characters were wonderful, just the right amount of emotional investment, drama and intrigue into their lives to keep me wanting to know more. As the story unfolds there are some touching moments with Jill and what she and her family have been through that were just heartbreaking.
My one complaint came with the fact that I thought for sure I had the entire story figured out early on. I wasn't quite on the money with my theory as there were a few extra twists I didn't count on but even thinking that I knew what would happen I still didn't want to put this book down and never got bored with it. In the end I decided on 4.5 stars as there were some predictable elements but still a completely engaging story.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 3, 2016
Jill gets the nightmare of her life when her daughter Sophia goes misssing. It took only a second of her looking away to find her child missing from her presence. As any loving mother does, she panics, frantically searching where her innocent child should be. Lurking around the last place she find her, her husband starts to worry about thier child disappearance as well. Luckily they find their child safe and sound, but with a mark on her arm. Jill is convinced that she was drugged, but her husband thinks she is making a big deal out of nothing.
Doctors clears Sophie of anything drug related, but Jill is still not convinced. Jill's marriage is hanging in the balance when her husband thinks that his Jill is losing her mind. However when Jill goes missing for the second time, then peers wonder if she had anthing to do with it. Could it be that Jill got tired of being a mother and wanted time alone? Maybe it is the people she loved the most that took Sophie hostage. The police investigate that something is not adding up and Jill reputation could be tarnished down the road.
I read this in one day, it pulled me in from the first page and had me hooked immediately. I really loved the character of Jill, she really loved her daughter Sophia. Although I questioned her actions, I did not for one second thought she was a bad mother. Honestly I thought she was behaving rationally, unlike her friends around her.
Remarkable characterization, consistency and amazing ending.
Highly reccommended to all!
Doctors clears Sophie of anything drug related, but Jill is still not convinced. Jill's marriage is hanging in the balance when her husband thinks that his Jill is losing her mind. However when Jill goes missing for the second time, then peers wonder if she had anthing to do with it. Could it be that Jill got tired of being a mother and wanted time alone? Maybe it is the people she loved the most that took Sophie hostage. The police investigate that something is not adding up and Jill reputation could be tarnished down the road.
I read this in one day, it pulled me in from the first page and had me hooked immediately. I really loved the character of Jill, she really loved her daughter Sophia. Although I questioned her actions, I did not for one second thought she was a bad mother. Honestly I thought she was behaving rationally, unlike her friends around her.
Remarkable characterization, consistency and amazing ending.
Highly reccommended to all!
January 2, 2018
ONLY EVER YOU by Rebecca Drake is a compelling domestic suspense psychological thriller--an emotional saga of a mother’s steadfast love for her daughter. A search for answers and a lovable dog, named Cosmo.
The book opens three months prior, July 2013, in Pittsburgh, PA---Jill Lassiter (professional photographer), with her three-year-old daughter, Sophia at the park. A distraction. Her daughter is gone.
The police called. Jill is frantic. Forty minutes pass and Sophia suddenly appears. Her husband, David arrives. She found a doggie. She loves dogs. What did the heck happen?
A mark. A tiny red pinprick with a slight swelling of the skin around it. Did someone inject her? Was she drugged? A bug bite? All Sophia says is that she found the doggie. They go to the hospital. No answers.
Nothing would ever happen to Sophia again—the worst was over. However, Jill may be wrong. Strange things start happening.
Three months later Sophia goes missing again. The suspicion turns to the parents.
Jill thinks her daughter is still alive. Now she is the number one suspect. However, she knows she is innocent-- the real killer is still out there. A motive?
Does Jill know David?
Jill is tenacious. How could she have missed the signs?
An accident. Payback. Motivation. A journal. A connection. A past. Twenty- three days. Who can she trust? A monster. A surprise twisted ending.
Throughout the novel, the author flashes back and forth to journal entries (identity not revealed). A man and woman. An affair. A breakup. How do the pieces fit together?
While none of the characters are particularly likable, the author keeps you reading the complex suburban domestic suspense to the final riveting conclusion. My first book by the author and look forward to reading more!
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
Add Just Between Us to your TBR list. A domestic suspense thriller (5 stars) in the theme of Big Little Lies, coming Jan 9, 2018. One not to be missed.
The book opens three months prior, July 2013, in Pittsburgh, PA---Jill Lassiter (professional photographer), with her three-year-old daughter, Sophia at the park. A distraction. Her daughter is gone.
The police called. Jill is frantic. Forty minutes pass and Sophia suddenly appears. Her husband, David arrives. She found a doggie. She loves dogs. What did the heck happen?
A mark. A tiny red pinprick with a slight swelling of the skin around it. Did someone inject her? Was she drugged? A bug bite? All Sophia says is that she found the doggie. They go to the hospital. No answers.
Nothing would ever happen to Sophia again—the worst was over. However, Jill may be wrong. Strange things start happening.
Three months later Sophia goes missing again. The suspicion turns to the parents.
Jill thinks her daughter is still alive. Now she is the number one suspect. However, she knows she is innocent-- the real killer is still out there. A motive?
Does Jill know David?
Jill is tenacious. How could she have missed the signs?
An accident. Payback. Motivation. A journal. A connection. A past. Twenty- three days. Who can she trust? A monster. A surprise twisted ending.
Throughout the novel, the author flashes back and forth to journal entries (identity not revealed). A man and woman. An affair. A breakup. How do the pieces fit together?
While none of the characters are particularly likable, the author keeps you reading the complex suburban domestic suspense to the final riveting conclusion. My first book by the author and look forward to reading more!
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
Add Just Between Us to your TBR list. A domestic suspense thriller (5 stars) in the theme of Big Little Lies, coming Jan 9, 2018. One not to be missed.
July 30, 2016
I was going to 5 start this novel until I got to the climax. The ending just seemed to go off the rails. It felt like it was deus ex machina after deus ex machina. And the way the big-bad was dealt with was so anti-climatic that I literally sat there and thought "That's it? Seriously?". It was such a strange choice. Also, I was thrilled by how unpredictable I thought this novel was going to be, until the ending proved to be the most obvious twist ending that I guessed within the first few chapters. Disappointing.
The idea was a great one, but I felt the cliches really brought the whole thing down. Though I did enjoy it for a while, the feeling that I'm left with makes me really not recommend it.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
The idea was a great one, but I felt the cliches really brought the whole thing down. Though I did enjoy it for a while, the feeling that I'm left with makes me really not recommend it.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
February 29, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this electronic ARC.
“Only Ever You” is a gripping page turner by Rebecca Drake. It starts off with a three year old girl disappearing from a public park. When she is finally discovered, her harried mother Jill is convinced that the child has puncture marks on her arms. When no one else believes her, her and her husband go back to their normal lives. Until three months later when little Sophia is taken right from her bedroom. When the police start investigating the parents, and the evidence is adding up against them, Jill decides to go and get her daughter back- no matter what the cost.
There are several surprises in Drake’s novel, and it is most definitely not a predictable read. The ending is surprising without being complicated, and there are no visible plot holes (which is difficult to attain in a novel of this genre). Drake’s gripping storyline and encompassing plot make the novel difficult to put down. Jill and her husband David face a harrowing struggle throughout the novel in a genuine and heart-wrenching way, and just as a reader is becoming comfortable with the storyline—wham—Drake throws in another surprising twist.
I will not give away many spoilers, but I will say that this novel had a satisfying ending. The character of Andrew and his contribution to the ending of the plot was a bit out of left field and seemed random. I would’ve liked to explore this a little more as I was unclear of Andrew’s intentions (perhaps because he was so manipulative?) and I wasn’t sure if he was trustworthy or not.
Drake was unfamiliar to me as an author, and I am thrilled to discover she has more works under her belt. She is a passionate and creative writer, with obvious talent.
“Only Ever You” is a gripping page turner by Rebecca Drake. It starts off with a three year old girl disappearing from a public park. When she is finally discovered, her harried mother Jill is convinced that the child has puncture marks on her arms. When no one else believes her, her and her husband go back to their normal lives. Until three months later when little Sophia is taken right from her bedroom. When the police start investigating the parents, and the evidence is adding up against them, Jill decides to go and get her daughter back- no matter what the cost.
There are several surprises in Drake’s novel, and it is most definitely not a predictable read. The ending is surprising without being complicated, and there are no visible plot holes (which is difficult to attain in a novel of this genre). Drake’s gripping storyline and encompassing plot make the novel difficult to put down. Jill and her husband David face a harrowing struggle throughout the novel in a genuine and heart-wrenching way, and just as a reader is becoming comfortable with the storyline—wham—Drake throws in another surprising twist.
I will not give away many spoilers, but I will say that this novel had a satisfying ending. The character of Andrew and his contribution to the ending of the plot was a bit out of left field and seemed random. I would’ve liked to explore this a little more as I was unclear of Andrew’s intentions (perhaps because he was so manipulative?) and I wasn’t sure if he was trustworthy or not.
Drake was unfamiliar to me as an author, and I am thrilled to discover she has more works under her belt. She is a passionate and creative writer, with obvious talent.
June 7, 2016
I hated "Gone Girl" so bear that in mind when reading this review.
Maybe there ARE women this stupid running around getting played by evil, horrible men but I don't want to waste my time reading about them. This suspense novel was infuriating because the story had me JUST enough to make me skim through it to get to the ending but not nearly good enough to justify truly reading it. After the first few chapters you realize you are dealing with mystery-lite.
It reads like a Lifetime Original Movie script and the characters were all fairly despicable. The sex felt thrown in like some editor told her; "Better put in some smut" so Drake threw in some f-bombs and crass sex scenes that felt out of place and forced.
I think there is better writing to be had by this author but this novel was sorely lacking.
Maybe there ARE women this stupid running around getting played by evil, horrible men but I don't want to waste my time reading about them. This suspense novel was infuriating because the story had me JUST enough to make me skim through it to get to the ending but not nearly good enough to justify truly reading it. After the first few chapters you realize you are dealing with mystery-lite.
It reads like a Lifetime Original Movie script and the characters were all fairly despicable. The sex felt thrown in like some editor told her; "Better put in some smut" so Drake threw in some f-bombs and crass sex scenes that felt out of place and forced.
I think there is better writing to be had by this author but this novel was sorely lacking.
March 11, 2016
I received an ARC from Netgalley. I'd actually give it ~3.5 stars....it was kind of one of those books that parts were 3 stars, parts were 4 stars. It was a book that I did like but didn't love. It kept me entertained and I wanted to keep reading, but it wasn't anything shocking. It was well written but there were a few areas that had some dull filler that I started to skim to get to the point. A good book that's worth a read but also not a must read. So in conclusion, I think of this as an average-good book but I will likely forget the plot in a couple months.
March 6, 2016
4.5 stars
Excellent all around. This was a real look at how challenging it is to raise a child. Motherhood is messy and Drake captured the tensions perfectly. It definitely kept you on the edge of your seat for the entire book.
Excellent all around. This was a real look at how challenging it is to raise a child. Motherhood is messy and Drake captured the tensions perfectly. It definitely kept you on the edge of your seat for the entire book.
February 13, 2018
This is my very first audio book. I am so confused with all the journal entries and flashbacks that I can’t go on. Not sure I’m going to try audio again. Unless I’m driving on a long trip or something?
July 24, 2016
I will start off by saying I seriously enjoyed this book, but there were far too many that got under my skin to rate it more than 3 stars. The words farfetched and stupid came to mind often as the story played out.
Only Ever You is one of those books where it's hard to dig up much sympathy for the main characters, the side characters are irritating, and the cops are jackasses.
I get that the police have to be on their guard, but the ones featured here were absurdly eager to slap handcuffs on Jill and David, and both the female and male detective were out for Jill's blood in particular. The townspeople were just as awful, some were chomping at the bit to chase Jill out of a grocery store and brand her a murderer when they didn't have squat for proof.
David's mother and Jill's friend Tania were not going to win any personality awards. I did eventually let Tania off the hook because even though I found her behavior to be unprofessional and unpleasant, Jill was extremely judgmental of her and too ready to accuse Tania's latest boyfriend of having something to do with Sophia's disappearance just based on how he looked.
I didn't like that important information was dispersed far into the story. It would have been nice if certain things had been revealed earlier on, but I guess that was the only way the author could keep the twists coming. It does irk me when I feel the author goes out of their way to hoodwink readers in order to pull off a twist.
There was way too much time spent beating around the bush when it came to David and Jill's son, Ethan. It wasn't hard to guess what had happened to him, but for some reason tiny details were spread out over numerous chapters like there was a big mystery.
Sophia...there is a lot that could be said about Sophia. The kid was cute, and I loved the way she baby-talked. She was obsessed with doggies and would say adorable things like do you has a doggie? Unfortunately, Sophia was one of the biggest brats I have ever come across in a book or movie.
Sophia's brattiness was epic. I did feel sorry for Jill on that end, there was practically nothing she could do with that kid. If Sophia did not get her way, she would scream at the top of her lungs, cry nonstop, and kick you in the face. The kid simply would not listen. She practically dived off a cliff chasing after a doggie and fought Jill when she tried to save her.
David's rich and influential friend Andrew and his wife Paige had a Halloween party, and there was a pony for the kids to ride. Sophia insisted on riding the pony even though it was lightning and raining. She would not take no for an answer and chaos ensued. The situation was extremely embarrassing for Jill, and as usual, she was stuck trying to handle Sophia alone while the father schmoozed.
Sophia's out of this world behavior did come in handy when she was in the hands of the baddie, but it was a bit hard to swallow. In the start, the principal of Sophia's school informed Jill that Sophia was too immature for preschool, and that the 3-year-old should be kept at home or in daycare because she was also uncontrollable and disruptive. It was so bad that the class would be sitting in a circle for story time, and Sophia would be busy playing in the toy kitchen like class wasn't in session.
Sophia suddenly turned into a shrewd and calculating child when she was in captivity. She was able to come and go whenever she got the chance. The baddie even described her as looking at them with suspicious adult-like eyes. I couldn't see how a child who was supposedly so immature that she didn't even understand she needed to sit in the circle during story time, or that it wasn't a good idea to chase a doggie off a cliff, was capable of even coming close to outsmarting a cunning adult.
The book took a page from an old gothic novel near the end. Jill, who wasn't necessarily that bright to begin with, turned into the brain-dead heroine. Why do so many characters feel the need to let on that they figured everything out? There was another character besides Jill who did the exact same thing!
The bad guy will have no idea at all that they have been busted, but the brain-dead idiot has to stand there and tell them, and of course things go down hill for them after that, and they have the nerve to act shocked when they are being shot at or knocked over the head. I'm like, what did you expect brain-dead idiot?
Anyway, it's a trying story, but was worth my time, and that is all I can ask for these days with the junk I have been struggling to read.
Only Ever You is one of those books where it's hard to dig up much sympathy for the main characters, the side characters are irritating, and the cops are jackasses.
I get that the police have to be on their guard, but the ones featured here were absurdly eager to slap handcuffs on Jill and David, and both the female and male detective were out for Jill's blood in particular. The townspeople were just as awful, some were chomping at the bit to chase Jill out of a grocery store and brand her a murderer when they didn't have squat for proof.
David's mother and Jill's friend Tania were not going to win any personality awards. I did eventually let Tania off the hook because even though I found her behavior to be unprofessional and unpleasant, Jill was extremely judgmental of her and too ready to accuse Tania's latest boyfriend of having something to do with Sophia's disappearance just based on how he looked.
I didn't like that important information was dispersed far into the story. It would have been nice if certain things had been revealed earlier on, but I guess that was the only way the author could keep the twists coming. It does irk me when I feel the author goes out of their way to hoodwink readers in order to pull off a twist.
There was way too much time spent beating around the bush when it came to David and Jill's son, Ethan. It wasn't hard to guess what had happened to him, but for some reason tiny details were spread out over numerous chapters like there was a big mystery.
Sophia...there is a lot that could be said about Sophia. The kid was cute, and I loved the way she baby-talked. She was obsessed with doggies and would say adorable things like do you has a doggie? Unfortunately, Sophia was one of the biggest brats I have ever come across in a book or movie.
Sophia's brattiness was epic. I did feel sorry for Jill on that end, there was practically nothing she could do with that kid. If Sophia did not get her way, she would scream at the top of her lungs, cry nonstop, and kick you in the face. The kid simply would not listen. She practically dived off a cliff chasing after a doggie and fought Jill when she tried to save her.
David's rich and influential friend Andrew and his wife Paige had a Halloween party, and there was a pony for the kids to ride. Sophia insisted on riding the pony even though it was lightning and raining. She would not take no for an answer and chaos ensued. The situation was extremely embarrassing for Jill, and as usual, she was stuck trying to handle Sophia alone while the father schmoozed.
Sophia's out of this world behavior did come in handy when she was in the hands of the baddie, but it was a bit hard to swallow. In the start, the principal of Sophia's school informed Jill that Sophia was too immature for preschool, and that the 3-year-old should be kept at home or in daycare because she was also uncontrollable and disruptive. It was so bad that the class would be sitting in a circle for story time, and Sophia would be busy playing in the toy kitchen like class wasn't in session.
Sophia suddenly turned into a shrewd and calculating child when she was in captivity. She was able to come and go whenever she got the chance. The baddie even described her as looking at them with suspicious adult-like eyes. I couldn't see how a child who was supposedly so immature that she didn't even understand she needed to sit in the circle during story time, or that it wasn't a good idea to chase a doggie off a cliff, was capable of even coming close to outsmarting a cunning adult.
The book took a page from an old gothic novel near the end. Jill, who wasn't necessarily that bright to begin with, turned into the brain-dead heroine. Why do so many characters feel the need to let on that they figured everything out? There was another character besides Jill who did the exact same thing!
The bad guy will have no idea at all that they have been busted, but the brain-dead idiot has to stand there and tell them, and of course things go down hill for them after that, and they have the nerve to act shocked when they are being shot at or knocked over the head. I'm like, what did you expect brain-dead idiot?
Anyway, it's a trying story, but was worth my time, and that is all I can ask for these days with the junk I have been struggling to read.
May 17, 2018
I really liked this "thriller". I know it's in an overly saturated sub-genre of missing/ kidnapped children but it was well executed so I'm rating it between 4 and 4.5 stars. Other than the fact the book was well written and flowed smoothly my biggest reason for the high rating is the character building. I really feel this author did a fantastic job of creating well-rounded and believable characters. I often times read books like this and have to roll my eyes at the unbelievable stupidity of (usually) the female lead character. It doesn't seem to matter if said character is a victim or a villain it seems the author thinks pure stupidity is the only recourse to getting away with their contrived plots. I'm so happy to say this book did NOT go there. The mother/ lead character was not a whiny, sniveling imbecile. She acted like a "normal" person with a fair head on her shoulders might in a similar situation. Now, before anyone beats me up about "how a person should act" I realize I'm inserting my own probable reactions and I know there are people in this world who definitely respond and act differently. I suppose that is why I connected with this book so well. Also the author wrote a pretty good villain (kidnapper) too. I even found myself sympathizing with her on a few occasions. Obviously not entirely but again, I think this demonstrates excellent character control. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick easy read when they have not already overdosed on similar type thrillers.
4*/3.83
4*/3.83
March 22, 2016
I was given an ARC of Only Ever You for an honest review and this is my review.
This book is one twisted book. I am not big on spoilers so there really is not a lot I can say without giving a lot of the plot away but if you enjoy psychological thrillers this is an excellent book.
So many things are going on in Jill's life she does not know who to trust especially when her daughter is taken and the police believe she killed her. If you want a book with all kind of twist and turns and an ending that just may shock you this is a great book to pick up and read. It had me on the edge of my seat from the start.
I am giving Only Ever You four out of five stars.
This book is one twisted book. I am not big on spoilers so there really is not a lot I can say without giving a lot of the plot away but if you enjoy psychological thrillers this is an excellent book.
So many things are going on in Jill's life she does not know who to trust especially when her daughter is taken and the police believe she killed her. If you want a book with all kind of twist and turns and an ending that just may shock you this is a great book to pick up and read. It had me on the edge of my seat from the start.
I am giving Only Ever You four out of five stars.
September 30, 2016
I wanted to read this book because the author, along with two other local (Pittsburgh) authors will be speaking at the library where I work this week. This one was a real page turner for me and despite my limited down time hours in which I can read, I made every effort to squeeze it in whenever I could. It was a really good story with a lot of excellent twists and turns! I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be sure to take a look at her other titles. I've already recommended it to several people at work. I love to support my local hometown authors and it's always an extra bonus when I find that I really enjoy their work. Yea Pittsburgh!
March 28, 2016
!!!!@#$%!!!!
I need to gather my thoughts.
UPDATE:
I know you're supposed to be careful about reading/reviewing books by people you're connected to (we're agent-sisters!). The blurb sounded right up my alley but I didn't want to put pressure on myself to love it, so I cautiously started to read the sample. When I reached the end, I clicked BUY on my kindle without a moment's hesitation.
This book has a quiet start. And the cover suggests women's fiction, but don't be fooled. It sucks you in and the second part is surprisingly fast-paced and action-packed. In my mind, an ideal mystery/thriller lets the reader guess a part of the solution (to make her feel nice and clever, heh) while still reserving a few surprises for the end, and ONLY EVER YOU delivered both these things. There are several converging narratives that you put together in your head like a puzzle, and there are discoveries and reveals but nothing comes out of left field.
But what really struck me was how it had that grip on me that very few books manage. Even the slower passages kept me impatiently poking at my kindle screen, eager to find out what the next twist will be. And all this, without car chases or explosions: just a slow burn of intricate character studies and details that seem insignificant but fall into place in the end.
It's really rare that I finish a book in one sitting, but this is definitely one of those.
I need to gather my thoughts.
UPDATE:
I know you're supposed to be careful about reading/reviewing books by people you're connected to (we're agent-sisters!). The blurb sounded right up my alley but I didn't want to put pressure on myself to love it, so I cautiously started to read the sample. When I reached the end, I clicked BUY on my kindle without a moment's hesitation.
This book has a quiet start. And the cover suggests women's fiction, but don't be fooled. It sucks you in and the second part is surprisingly fast-paced and action-packed. In my mind, an ideal mystery/thriller lets the reader guess a part of the solution (to make her feel nice and clever, heh) while still reserving a few surprises for the end, and ONLY EVER YOU delivered both these things. There are several converging narratives that you put together in your head like a puzzle, and there are discoveries and reveals but nothing comes out of left field.
But what really struck me was how it had that grip on me that very few books manage. Even the slower passages kept me impatiently poking at my kindle screen, eager to find out what the next twist will be. And all this, without car chases or explosions: just a slow burn of intricate character studies and details that seem insignificant but fall into place in the end.
It's really rare that I finish a book in one sitting, but this is definitely one of those.
March 22, 2016
Having your child taken is one of the biggest fears that parents can have. Author Rebecca Drake has written a suspenseful psychological thriller that brings these fears and emotions to life. But it was the idea of this child being taken twice within a short period of time that really intrigued me.
Drake uses flashbacks and diary entries (of an unknown person) throughout the book to help tell the story and these additions flow well with the plot and keep the reader actively trying to figure out 'whodunnit'. I liked the fact that I, as a reader, knew more about what was going on than Jill and yet I still didn't know everything because Drake throws loads of red herrings at her readers to steer them off course. Seeing Jill piece together the lies and deception to find her child proved to be quite a nail-biting read.
While I figured out some things early on the bigger twists surprised me. The author gives the reader various scenarios as to whom the culprit could be and I liked that I continued to waiver on the identity of that person. While the plot was detailed it wasn't fussy or confusing and the pieces slowly fit together for the reader until an action packed final scene.
The characters were a varied, though not an overly likeable bunch, and I can't say that I totally connected to Jill. She sometimes felt quite selfish to me but that slight disconnect didn't interfere with me getting quite absorbed with this book.
Drake has written a very suspenseful and sometimes emotional read that will have readers riveted throughout. Recommended.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Thomas Dunne Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Drake uses flashbacks and diary entries (of an unknown person) throughout the book to help tell the story and these additions flow well with the plot and keep the reader actively trying to figure out 'whodunnit'. I liked the fact that I, as a reader, knew more about what was going on than Jill and yet I still didn't know everything because Drake throws loads of red herrings at her readers to steer them off course. Seeing Jill piece together the lies and deception to find her child proved to be quite a nail-biting read.
While I figured out some things early on the bigger twists surprised me. The author gives the reader various scenarios as to whom the culprit could be and I liked that I continued to waiver on the identity of that person. While the plot was detailed it wasn't fussy or confusing and the pieces slowly fit together for the reader until an action packed final scene.
The characters were a varied, though not an overly likeable bunch, and I can't say that I totally connected to Jill. She sometimes felt quite selfish to me but that slight disconnect didn't interfere with me getting quite absorbed with this book.
Drake has written a very suspenseful and sometimes emotional read that will have readers riveted throughout. Recommended.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Thomas Dunne Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 31, 2017
I don't typically read suspense thrillers like this one, for a simple reason: GOOD ONES GIVE ME NIGHTMARES. I started this one back in May, read far enough to see that she'd taken a parent's worst nightmare and then MADE IT WORSE, and put it aside to finish when I had more courage.
I finally pulled it together and finished this fine novel this last week. It's a page-turner, actually, a quick read. If, that is, you can bear to find out what happens next.
Also, as an instructor in writing novels, I can say that if you're writing a suspense thriller, this would be a good model for exactly how to do it. It's got a wonderful inciting incident scene, it foreshadows brilliantly, it takes things from bad to worse to I-really-wish-we-hadn't-gone here, and the only thing that distracts from the main drama is other drama. It tortures the main characters beyond the breaking point. It does things I won't mention in public (buttonhole me sometime), because they would be spoilers. I can tell you that this one racks up a respectable body count; more than you'd expect in a child-under-threat story.
Yep, seriously, if you want to study how the thing is done, break this one down, carefully, and watch how it works.
I suppose one ought to wonder if the book can induce permanent PTSD in its readers, but perhaps nobody wants to ask that question... I'm expecting to need lots of ice cream and therapy in the coming year, and plan to read only cuddly, happy things, like military history, for months to come.
Other than the 5 grimaces in the text (one of them possibly allowable under the Esaias Rule), my only quibble was with part of the epilogue (though NOT the excellent letter with which the book ends), and that's purely a matter of taste in character justice.
Recommended.
I finally pulled it together and finished this fine novel this last week. It's a page-turner, actually, a quick read. If, that is, you can bear to find out what happens next.
Also, as an instructor in writing novels, I can say that if you're writing a suspense thriller, this would be a good model for exactly how to do it. It's got a wonderful inciting incident scene, it foreshadows brilliantly, it takes things from bad to worse to I-really-wish-we-hadn't-gone here, and the only thing that distracts from the main drama is other drama. It tortures the main characters beyond the breaking point. It does things I won't mention in public (buttonhole me sometime), because they would be spoilers. I can tell you that this one racks up a respectable body count; more than you'd expect in a child-under-threat story.
Yep, seriously, if you want to study how the thing is done, break this one down, carefully, and watch how it works.
I suppose one ought to wonder if the book can induce permanent PTSD in its readers, but perhaps nobody wants to ask that question... I'm expecting to need lots of ice cream and therapy in the coming year, and plan to read only cuddly, happy things, like military history, for months to come.
Other than the 5 grimaces in the text (one of them possibly allowable under the Esaias Rule), my only quibble was with part of the epilogue (though NOT the excellent letter with which the book ends), and that's purely a matter of taste in character justice.
Recommended.
November 13, 2017
Three year-old Sophia disappears from a playground in the time it takes for her mother, Jill, to help another parent. She's only gone for 40 minutes and seems unharmed, other than what looks like a needle mark on her arm.
Months later, Sophia disappears again. This time, it's her parents, Jill and David, who are focus of police scrutiny. Who took Sophia? Will Jill ever get her daughter back?
This is an intense, twisty tale. We immediately get three women's perspectives: Jill, an older woman named Bea, and an at first unnamed woman's journal entries. It takes a bit of time to unravel what's going on, and how the puzzle pieces fit. That said, I'm almost disappointed that I figured everything out halfway through the book; it made me feel that Jill wasn't catching on quickly enough.
I felt for Jill, who is still mourning the death of her first child, but other than that, had no sympathy for any of the other characters (except for Sophia, of course). There's a lot of not-great people surrounding Jill, and unfortunately, it takes her daughter's abduction to figure this out. Ultimately, I felt that all of the characters, even Jill, were one-dimensional.
I was excited that this novel takes place in Pittsburgh, in suburban neighborhoods I'm familiar with. But I felt the setting was flat and largely unexplored - it could have been any smaller city in America.
Months later, Sophia disappears again. This time, it's her parents, Jill and David, who are focus of police scrutiny. Who took Sophia? Will Jill ever get her daughter back?
This is an intense, twisty tale. We immediately get three women's perspectives: Jill, an older woman named Bea, and an at first unnamed woman's journal entries. It takes a bit of time to unravel what's going on, and how the puzzle pieces fit. That said, I'm almost disappointed that I figured everything out halfway through the book; it made me feel that Jill wasn't catching on quickly enough.
I felt for Jill, who is still mourning the death of her first child, but other than that, had no sympathy for any of the other characters (except for Sophia, of course). There's a lot of not-great people surrounding Jill, and unfortunately, it takes her daughter's abduction to figure this out. Ultimately, I felt that all of the characters, even Jill, were one-dimensional.
I was excited that this novel takes place in Pittsburgh, in suburban neighborhoods I'm familiar with. But I felt the setting was flat and largely unexplored - it could have been any smaller city in America.
May 16, 2016
Lately it was as if all her senses were lost, as if the only things she could taste and feel were fear and longing.
The greatest fear of a child abduction becomes a reality in the Lassiter family. Jill and David Lassiter, a successful family, living the American dream until their daughter is suddenly taken from them. The dream becomes a nightmare when they are accused of their daughter's disappearance and apparent murder. In order to save herself and her family, Jill takes matters in her own hands. What she uncovers is all that she knows that is true, is now deception and deceit.
Jill & David have a past of great loss and this only leads to more suspicion to the authorities. The abduction becomes personal and deadly. Will Sophie be found in time and will their marriage survive?
A real page turner as you guess the why and the who and still come out a little surprised.
A Special Thank You to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
The greatest fear of a child abduction becomes a reality in the Lassiter family. Jill and David Lassiter, a successful family, living the American dream until their daughter is suddenly taken from them. The dream becomes a nightmare when they are accused of their daughter's disappearance and apparent murder. In order to save herself and her family, Jill takes matters in her own hands. What she uncovers is all that she knows that is true, is now deception and deceit.
Jill & David have a past of great loss and this only leads to more suspicion to the authorities. The abduction becomes personal and deadly. Will Sophie be found in time and will their marriage survive?
A real page turner as you guess the why and the who and still come out a little surprised.
A Special Thank You to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
July 28, 2016
Great read by Rebecca Drake one of the best psychological thrillers I have read this summer. If this is not on your to be read list you need to add it on now! This story follows Jill Lassiter who loses her daughter Sophia in the park one afternoon. Sophia returns after a short while and seems fine. Until Jill wakes up one day and Sophia has vanished. With her daughter missing and herself being the number one suspect, Jill's world has been turned upside down. Just when you think you've figured out the story you'll learn soon enough you had no idea. This is a page turner that will keep you up all night!
March 13, 2016
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley-thank you!
I will be surprised if this doesn't end up being one of the best books I read this year. A mother loses her child for 45 minutes...only for her to be taken again three months later. Soon, the parents become the prime suspects. The whole book was suspenseful with many twists and turns. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, it surprised me. If you love psychological thrillers, this is a great read.
I will be surprised if this doesn't end up being one of the best books I read this year. A mother loses her child for 45 minutes...only for her to be taken again three months later. Soon, the parents become the prime suspects. The whole book was suspenseful with many twists and turns. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, it surprised me. If you love psychological thrillers, this is a great read.
January 14, 2023
For me, 2023, is the year I am trying to focus on clearing my ebooks off my kindle, and even joined a few to tackle my TBR and Netgalley reading challenges. So far, they have been motivating in helping me achieve my goals. For example, this book I received this from Netgalley in 2016 and finally got around to reading it and clearing it off my shelf. This book had one of my favourite tropes - missing children. The first incident took place at the park, but Sophie was only gone for a few minutes. Now months later, Jill hasn't let her daughter out of her sight as she is afraid it will happen again. That's not the only thing that has changed, Sophie's personality is different- she is no longer the happy girl she was before the incident and her teachers have noticed a change. Jill knows something is off but can't put her finger on it, whereas her husband tells her she is overreacting. A mother knows best and knows when something's not quite right. The thing we come to learn when Sophie is taken a second time is that Jill and David aren't Sophie's biological parents and that she was adopted as an infant. Has her birth family come for her? Only Ever You flicks between past/present in the form of diary entries and storytelling as we learn about Sophie's real mother and the lead-up to her birth and then the two sides of the coin - of Jill and David being questioned for Sophie's disappearance and then the story of who has Sophie and why? Will Sophie be reunited with Jill and David or will she be lost forever?
Find out in this family drama saga that reminded me similar to authors like Jodi Picoult, Kristen Hannah, and Barbara Delinskey - Only Ever You by Rebecca Drake.
Find out in this family drama saga that reminded me similar to authors like Jodi Picoult, Kristen Hannah, and Barbara Delinskey - Only Ever You by Rebecca Drake.
dnf
August 25, 2022I made it halfway through Only Ever You and found myself skimming through the pages and chapters. I struggled to keep interested in the book and have decided it's not worth putting myself through torture to finish.
April 30, 2019
So many crazy twists and turns!!! I couldn't put it down for the last 100 pages!
March 17, 2016
I received a copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 Stars
When Jill's three year old daughter Sophia disappears from a neighborhood park, Jill gets the scare of a lifetime. Thankfully, Sophia returns 40 minutes later explaining that she wanted to pet the puppy she saw. When a small puncture is found on her arm, Jill immediately has doctors searching for any kind of drugs or something that may have been injected, but the results show that Sophia is perfectly fine. But Jill is still on edge. Three months later, Jill has become somewhat of an overprotective parent, so she cannot believe it when she wakes up and Sophia is gone. While Jill and her husband frantically search their home and neighborhood, they are disappointed to find no trace of the girl. The police are brought in, but the investigators turn their focus to the parents when some horrifying evidence is found that Jill and her husband cannot explain away. With the whole community turned against her, Jill must solve the mystery on her own if she wants to bring her daughter back home safely.
The best thing that Only Ever You has going for it is the fact that Rebecca Drake provides the reader with more knowledge over the series of events than the characters involved have. It's a fantastic tool for leaving the reader in constant suspense, and so terribly heartbreaking when you know the characters are so close to solving the conflict you just want to yell at them and tell them what to do.
The characters feel very real and you can really relate and sympathize with them. Jill is, understandably, a completely broken mother after her daughter disappears from her own bedroom, and there is so much more to Jill than just being a suburban housewife with a lawyer husband. Jill has been through a lot having her first child pass away in his crib from SIDS, and her grief has inspired her to reach out to other families to help them through the loss of their children. That has a huge impact on the story when suddenly the scrutiny is on the Lassiter family and nobody in the community really stands up for them. Even the villain of the story will have you a little sympathetic when the full story comes to light (but you'll still be seething too hard to change your opinion of them by that point).
Even the ending of this story throws you for a loop. The whole read you are trying to piece together all the facts to understand what you think is true, and just when you think you understand, that certainty is taken away from you.
Only Ever You is a fantastic psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat through page after page.
4/5 Stars
When Jill's three year old daughter Sophia disappears from a neighborhood park, Jill gets the scare of a lifetime. Thankfully, Sophia returns 40 minutes later explaining that she wanted to pet the puppy she saw. When a small puncture is found on her arm, Jill immediately has doctors searching for any kind of drugs or something that may have been injected, but the results show that Sophia is perfectly fine. But Jill is still on edge. Three months later, Jill has become somewhat of an overprotective parent, so she cannot believe it when she wakes up and Sophia is gone. While Jill and her husband frantically search their home and neighborhood, they are disappointed to find no trace of the girl. The police are brought in, but the investigators turn their focus to the parents when some horrifying evidence is found that Jill and her husband cannot explain away. With the whole community turned against her, Jill must solve the mystery on her own if she wants to bring her daughter back home safely.
The best thing that Only Ever You has going for it is the fact that Rebecca Drake provides the reader with more knowledge over the series of events than the characters involved have. It's a fantastic tool for leaving the reader in constant suspense, and so terribly heartbreaking when you know the characters are so close to solving the conflict you just want to yell at them and tell them what to do.
The characters feel very real and you can really relate and sympathize with them. Jill is, understandably, a completely broken mother after her daughter disappears from her own bedroom, and there is so much more to Jill than just being a suburban housewife with a lawyer husband. Jill has been through a lot having her first child pass away in his crib from SIDS, and her grief has inspired her to reach out to other families to help them through the loss of their children. That has a huge impact on the story when suddenly the scrutiny is on the Lassiter family and nobody in the community really stands up for them. Even the villain of the story will have you a little sympathetic when the full story comes to light (but you'll still be seething too hard to change your opinion of them by that point).
Even the ending of this story throws you for a loop. The whole read you are trying to piece together all the facts to understand what you think is true, and just when you think you understand, that certainty is taken away from you.
Only Ever You is a fantastic psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat through page after page.
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