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I Know You

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You trust her.

You shouldn’t.

That picture you just posted on Instagram? I’ve seen it.
The location you tagged? I’ve been there.

You haven’t been careful enough, have you?
Because I know all about you.

But when I meet you, I won’t tell you that.
I’ll pretend. Just like you do.

You’ll like me though. You’ll trust me enough to let me into your life.

And then I’ll destroy it.

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2018

98 people are currently reading
2035 people want to read

About the author

Annabel Kantaria

11 books159 followers
Annabel Kantaria is a British journalist who’s written prolifically for publications throughout the Middle East. She lives in Dubai with her husband and two children.

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5 stars
559 (19%)
4 stars
1,259 (44%)
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809 (28%)
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156 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 reviews
Profile Image for Shirley Revill.
1,197 reviews286 followers
September 5, 2018
I don't think I will ever look at social media in the same way again. You just never know who is watching you online and what the consequences could be. You share your life online even posting pictures of your home,your kids and your family for all to see. This knowledge in the wrong hands could cost you everything you hold dear but you just didn't think at the time when you shared your life with the world.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The story really makes you think about what you share online with complete strangers. Lot's of twists and turns in this story and an ending that I didn't expect. I'm looking forward to reading more stories from this author as I enjoyed this book so much.
Profile Image for Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings).
1,799 reviews307 followers
August 27, 2018
What a thoroughly absorbing thriller "I Know You" is! From the gripping start it had me hooked and I was constantly picking it up any free time I had, to continue reading it.
I've read a couple of social media stories of late but by far this was the most realistic, entertaining and compelling. I really thought throughout the story that I had the plot worked out but oh no I was so wrong and the thrilling ending had me glued to the pages reading with my eyes on stalks!
Everyone knows these days that there are some very dubious people stalking social media sites and it is becoming increasing more difficult to spot these imposters so I liked how the author made this so authentic to a point I'd have probably interacted the same way on the sites. There's a lot of secrets in this book and it's difficult for the reader to know who to trust themselves without the characters doubting each other too but this just adds to the intrigue and tension keeping you right on the edge of your seat. The well executed story has been fantastically plotted and thought out - I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological themed thriller and thought it one of the best I've read. It truly is an ongoing worry, wondering who you are making friends with, online and in real life, since there are so many fake profiles being created these days. I thought the pacy, creepy and addictive writing was just superb for this type of story, it oozed paranoia and distrust and I highly recommend this to all readers of psychological fiction, I guarantee you'll be intrigued from the very beginning.
I'm embarassed to say that I've never heard of the author Annabel Kantaria and therefore not read any of her very popular books, however I will remedy this and read "The One That Got Away" in the near future and hopefully read her others very soon too.

A well earned 5 stars for a fabulously entertaining book!
Profile Image for Katie B.
1,738 reviews3,174 followers
April 29, 2019
3.5 stars

This is a good example of a book that has unlikable characters and a creepy storyline but yet you have this compelling need to find out what is going to happen next and can't flip the pages fast enough to get answers. Even though it has some flaws here and there at the end of the day it accomplishes what I assume was one of the goals of the author, which is to entertain the reader.

Taylor Watson has recently moved with her husband from California to the London suburbs and is feeling lonely and is desperate to make some friends. Even though she is pregnant, she isn't interested in joining a parenting group and instead signs herself up for a walking group as well as a book club. But as she gets to know new people, Taylor can't help but feel more and more uneasy. Something bad is about to go down, but what?

This book was a nice mix of a classic 'everyone is a suspect" plot but also had this modern feel to it with the way the author incorporated social media into the story. Now even though the book held my interest, I wouldn't say the story is jammed pack with twists and turns. That's not to say I was able to guess everything correctly but other than one minor detail, I don't think anything came out of nowhere especially if you read books in this genre quite often. I did strongly dislike the big final dramatic scene as it just felt lame and not very original. But overall, I did have a good time reading this one and if you like books in this genre, you might consider checking this one out.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Holly  B .
951 reviews2,911 followers
May 26, 2019
3.5 STARS ~

A quick psychological thriller read that was filled with hashtags that felt relevant to the huge social media platform we are all aware of today. #nomnom #newfriends #reading

The story had a creepy feel and the hubby of one of the characters claimed that her three best friends were "Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram." I had the feeling that something sinister was coming, but wasn't sure how it would play out.

Some twists and unexpected turns made this a steady read, however, the conclusion left me feeling a little underwhelmed. Honestly, I enjoyed the build-up much much more than the ending.

I would recommend to fans of the genre and thought it was a good one. I'll look out for more from this author.

Out June 28,2019 Thank you NG for a review copy!
Profile Image for Tahera.
745 reviews281 followers
June 23, 2019
Even if we don't want to admit it, we all are social media junkies to some extent. We just can't stop ourselves from posting tid bits about our personal lives on all the major social media sites whether it be photographs, check ins, personal updates about our lives, etc. etc. It's all fun and fine but what we forget to realise is that just like we can't trust everyone who cross our paths in real life and have to be on our guard, the same applies to our online life as well.

I Know You is a fast paced and absorbing thriller that revolves around exactly this point of view. A pregnant Taylor has just moved to Croydon, England from California with her husband Jake to try and salvage their marriage after Jake is caught having an affair very early on in their marriage. Taylor is a social media junkie and has more online friends than real ones. To beat the boredom of her new life in a quiet town, Taylor tries to make some real friends for a change by joining a walking group and a book club and meets Simon and Anna (walking group) and Susan and Caroline (book club). Taylor soon finds out that all of them are as much active social media users as herself and a bit looney too in in their own way. What she never counted for is how one of her friendship with one person in the group would lead to disastrous consequences.

This story is told in the form of a dual narrative...one is Taylor's and the other one is of the person who is hell bent on destroying her. The identity of this person is a secret till the perfect moment in the book when it is finally disclosed. The disclosure and the ensuing climax really doesn't disappoint.

This is one fast paced and addictive thriller. I tried to finish reading this book in one day by staying up way way past my bed time but had to put it down for the next day when my eyes started pleading to me that they needed rest😵!

My thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author Annabel Kantaria for giving me an e-ARC of this book. So good!
Profile Image for Michelle .
1,078 reviews1,882 followers
June 21, 2019
"Be choosy with your clothes, be choosy with your make up, be choosy with what you put in your mouth and with whom you share a bed, but most of all, be choosy with whom you make friends."

If only Taylor had taken her mothers advice.

Taylor recently moved from California to a London suburb with her husband Jake. Turns out life here isn't as glamorous as she had hoped. With Jake away for work most of the time she finds herself pregnant and lonely and wishing the time away until Jake's return. All of that changes when she decides to join a walking group and book club.

Now that Taylor has found a group of friends (Anna, Simon, Sarah, and Caroline) life begins looking up again. The only problem is that someone is watching Taylor very, very closely and they want to destroy her life and it could be anyone. When you post every detail of your life on social media that information could fall into the wrong hands. Dangerous hands.

This book held my interest from beginning to end so that is a huge plus. Is it without flaws? Of course not. I had a few issues along the way but none of those issues were enough to ruin the reading experience. It's a fast, easy read that I was able to finish in just over a day and while I may not remember this months down the road it was still an enjoyable reading experience. Toss this one in your beach bag! 3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for proving me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Suzy.
466 reviews437 followers
May 28, 2019
4 super strong stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I Know You is a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller with a fast paced storyline that kept me flipping the pages with lightning speed! Seriously, I was not bored once while reading this book. I read it pretty quick (fast for me) and couldn’t wait to find out what happened. Full of suspense, twists, turns and STALKING - everything I love in a thriller!

Although I had my suspicions about who the stalker was (it could’ve been any of the shady, unlikeable characters), the ending was jaw dropping, surprising and very satisfying!

I Know You really makes you think twice about your social media presence, what you post online and the consequences that could result from “oversharing”.

#fullofhashtags
#creepy
#canttrustanyone
#highlyrecommend

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Annabel Kantaria for the advanced copy to read and review.
Profile Image for Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo).
1,561 reviews4,586 followers
April 24, 2019
Well....that was fun!

Taylor Watson is a retired Delta flight attendant who has just relocated from Santa Monica, Ca to London, with her often traveling husband, Jake. Pregnant, and lonely, she joins a 'walking group" and meets Simon and Anna.

Shortly thereafter, she's invited to join a "book club" hosted by her neighbor, Sarah, and her friend Caroline.

As, Taylor's narrative opens, we learn that she is recounting HER STORY to us...…

BUT then the narrative changes, to the voice of a "mystery narrator"...
"I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE" (You think you're so discreet, don't you?)

Returning to our main protagonist, Taylor, we continue to learn more about her new life and blossoming friendships.

BUT single chapter "revelations" from our "mystery narrator" interspersed sporadically become more personal, and more menacing...

"I KNOW WHAT YOU READ" (and we're actually friends on GoodReads)

Someone is being stalked.
Someone is the stalker.

And, ANY of the five characters could be either one.

Each character was a master of "barbed comments" AND the more subtle " innuendos", causing me to revise my "guess" every few chapters.

Cleverly written, I was completely engaged in the story from page one!

If you enjoy books that use "social media" accounts as the "weapons" they can be, and psychological thrillers with plenty of viable suspects...….mark your calendars for the U.S. release date of this book-June 11, 2019!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Annabel Kantaria for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review!

I look forward to reading more from this author!
182 reviews10 followers
November 7, 2018
Wow this book was incredible. It was one of them books you are desperate to keep reading to find out what’s going to happen but you also don’t want to finish it as it’s so good. It was a brilliant story with all interesting characters. I was really interested on who was writing the I know you.... parts. When I found out I was surprised but in a good way. It was a very well written book and I definitely can’t wait to read more of the authors books. This is easily one of my favourite books. Definitely recommended to anyone. It was an amazing book.
Profile Image for 8stitches 9lives.
2,853 reviews1,724 followers
June 15, 2018
"You trust her. You shouldn’t".

Excellent, another great thriller that revolves around technology, namely social media and how we believe that what we see online is to be trusted. But what we must realise is that most of what is on the internet has been put there by someone, and just as you cannot trust everyone in real life, you have to be even more careful with who and what you trust online.

One of my massive bugbears is when a book has a fantastic concept or premise but the author falls short in terms of execution. It always feels as though they've missed a trick. There was no such issue here though.

"I Know You" is a thoroughly absorbing thriller. From the first couple of pages Kantaria had me hooked and I kept on reading way past my bedtime, eventually placing it down at 4am as my eyes would no longer stay open. The characters are all well-developed and relatable as well as realistic and likable. I particuarly enjoyed the finale, unlike a lot of thrillers I have read of late, that have very disappointing endings.

This book highlights the risks of sharing via social media and as a result is a thought-provoking and provocative read. I hope it makes people think before posting information about themselves online, I am certainly very careful as to what details I provide, not just because of the type of people who may see it, but because of the social media companies themselves, who have filled news headlines recently with regards to members privacy.

This is well worth your time and would be the perfect beach read this summer. Recommended.

Many thanks to HQ for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo).
1,561 reviews4,586 followers
June 16, 2019
Well....that was fun!

Taylor Watson is a retired Delta flight attendant who has just relocated from Santa Monica, Ca to London, with her often traveling husband, Jake. Pregnant, and lonely, she joins a 'walking group" and meets Simon and Anna.

Shortly thereafter, she's invited to join a "book club" hosted by her neighbor, Sarah, and her friend Caroline.

As, Taylor's narrative opens, we learn that she is recounting HER STORY to us...…

BUT then the narrative changes, to the voice of a "mystery narrator"...
"I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE" (You think you're so discreet, don't you?)

Returning to our main protagonist, Taylor, we continue to learn more about her new life and blossoming friendships.

BUT single chapter "revelations" from our "mystery narrator"continue to be interspersed sporadically and each becomes more personal, and more menacing than the last...

"I KNOW WHAT YOU READ" (and we're actually friends on GoodReads)

Someone is being stalked.
Someone is the stalker.

And, ANY of the five characters could be either one.

Each character was a master of "barbed comments" AND the more subtle " innuendos", causing me to revise my "guess" every few chapters.

Cleverly written, I was completely engaged in the story from page one!

If you enjoy books that use "social media" accounts as the "weapons" they can be, and psychological thrillers with plenty of viable suspects...add this to your TBR! Available now!!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Annabel Kantaria for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review!

I look forward to reading more from this author!
Profile Image for Yna from Books and Boybands.
863 reviews403 followers
June 16, 2019
‘Be choosy with your clothes, be choosy with your make-up, be choosy with what you put in your mouth and with whom you share your bed. But most of all,’ she would say, ‘be choosy with whom you make friends.’
Buy This Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble 📖 Kobo

Much thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.

📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: Mystery/Thriller
📚 POV: First/Second
📚 Cliffhanger: No.

⚠ Content Warnings: Stalking. Infidelity. Abduction.
⚠ Read if: you're looking for a good domestic mystery.

Are you someone a little too eager about posting on social media? Pressured about the likes, always taking Instagram photos and checking on the comments, too? I Know You is a mystery/thriller approach on how social media can actually bring you closer to harm and invasion of your privacy.

It's my first book of the author, Annabel Kantaria, whose writing style I really enjoyed. If it wasn't a busy weekend, I would have devoured this book faster.

This story is about Taylor, a pregnant ex-flight attendant who moved to Croydon, UK from California, USA. She is very lonely since she was uprooted and planted to a town where she knows no one plus a husband always working late. This book unfolds on her showing something bad happened, but not telling what, just showing her version of the events.

I thought my hunches were right, for once, but I was crazily shook by the plot twists of this storyline. Though the book is filled with juicy secrets unfolded throughout, the jaw-dropping revelations towards the end still took me by surprise!

Definitely an enjoyable read! Draws you in, then gets you hooked!

☁ THE CRITERIA ☁

🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Thrill Factor:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐

☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.9/5 ☁

Review also appears on my blog.
Profile Image for Brandy.
415 reviews47 followers
February 9, 2019
“You trust me. You shouldn’t.”

And with that quote - let the madness and mayhem ensue!

I Know You, is a dark, leathery, vexing,!tale that checks all of my “must have” boxes when it comes to being a good thriller. It was a read that drew me in like a stranger offering candy- I was enticed by it’s sweetness and held captive like a prisoner up until the last page.

What can I say, other than, I’m a sucker for a tale that limelight’s a psychotic villain hell bent on getting revenge! So, with that said, I give I Know You, 5 bright shining stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Danielle (The Blonde Likes Books).
680 reviews435 followers
May 24, 2019
I added I Know You to my to-read list last year when it was released in the UK, so I was really excited to read it now that it's releasing in the US! The book starts off with a chapter detailing an unknown person printing and laminating pictures of another unknown person, and I was immediately hooked. 

Our main character, Taylor, is pregnant and new to the city she lives in, and just wants to make new friends. She joins a walking group and hits it off with several of the members, so a lot of the story follows Taylor in her day to day life, but each chapter ends with a message from someone stalking her. This person knows details of her past, and is clearly watching her. I was curious to see how these things would connect by the end of the book. I really loved how Taylor's character was developed, and I enjoyed reading about her new friendships. As someone who relocated to a new city as an adult, I can really relate to her struggle to make friends. 

I Know You held my attention the entire time, and I had a hard time putting it down! I was dying to find out the ending. I had some theories about how the book would end, but definitely didn't figure everything out. Several of the thrillers I've read lately had disappointing endings (in my opinion), so I was so happy that I absolutely loved the ending of this one! 

I rated this one 5/5 stars, and definitely recommend it for fans of domestic suspense books, or books that involve an element of stalking (which are my favorites!). The US release for I Know You is June 21, 2019, so mark your calendars! I'd like to thank Crooked Lane Books for my copy of the novel. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
Profile Image for Nicki.
620 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2018
I wonder how many readers out there remember the old song from Sesame Street? you know the one that goes,One of these things is not like the others,one of these things is not quite the same. Well almost all the relatable,vivid characters in this twist packed thriller have secrets,lie and are totally untrustworthy. But one of them is so many sandwiches short of a picnic,they need to be thrown into a padded cell and the key conveniently lost somewhere were no one will ever find it,ever,ever again.What the reader has to figure out is which one of our cast of characters is the victim and which one or is it more than one is our psychopath. We have Taylor who had recently moved to the UK from the USA,she is married to handsome Jake and is heavily pregnant with their first child.Then there's Taylor's new BFF Anna, they met after Taylor decided to join a walking group,hoping to do exactly what she did do,find a new best friend.Anna is married to Rob and is also pregnant.Taylor also becomes friendly with another walker called Simon.There is also Sarah and Caroline,two women that Taylor becomes friendly with after Sarah invites her to join their book club.

Most of the story is voiced by Taylor,a complex character who I struggled to like at times. I had my doubts and suspicions about all of the characters as this riveting story unfolded,the misdirections and suspicious behaviour of the characters certainly keep the reader guessing. The feelings of tension and anxiety increasing as the story moves towards the final shocking,nail biting confrontation. Throughout the book there are chapters that give the reader a insight into the twisted mind of the devious,cunning,manipulative antagonist.It was really scary and eye opening how much this person was able to learn about their intended victims life through that person's activity on social media. You don't stop and think how much you are giving away just by posting that innocent picture of the tree or plant in your driveway that also includes a shot of your car or front door.The selfie that you post as you enter a park,shop,pub,hotel or any other location,the selfie that informs any potential stalker exactly where you are. Anything that we post on line gives people who intend to harm us a open window into our lives.

This thriller is not fast paced but it is #creepy,#intense and #Thoughtprovoking. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last.
#HappyReader #HighlyRecommended #EndOfReview

Many thanks to HQ for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Darinda.
9,202 reviews157 followers
October 16, 2019
Taylor and her husband recently moved to the London suburbs from California. Her husband is gone a lot for work, and Taylor finds herself lonely and wanting friends. To make new friends, she joins a local walking group and a neighborhood book club. She makes a few friends, but as time progresses, Taylor learns that everyone is keeping secrets.

Taylor is a young woman in a marriage that has had some ups and downs, and now she's expecting her first child. When she and her husband move to London, she's hoping for a fresh start. The downside is that she doesn't have any friends in their new town. When she starts to make friends, it seems all is great. Then things start to go wrong, and it seems everyone is a suspect.

I enjoyed the social media aspect of the story. With most everyone having some involvement on social media, it's scary how easily people can be watched. This novel did a good job of incorporating current trends into a suspenseful tale of a stalking. With so many secrets, this psychological thriller is a guessing game of who has done what. A quick and entertaining read.

I received a free advance digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,710 followers
January 5, 2019

Taylor Watson and her husband, Jake, have recently moved from th US to London. With her husband away from home for 1 - 2 weeks at a time, and with her being pregnant, that she really misses her friends and family. Finally, after joining a walking group and a book club, does she start making friends.

Taylor's new friends are Anna, Sarah, Simon and Caroline .. but after awhile she suspects that they all have secrets of one sort or another. One member of the group seems to have a thing for Taylor's husband. As he was caught cheating early in their marriage, Taylor is not especially pleased. And Simon .. the token man ... harbors some feelings for Taylor.

This story is told by Taylor's perspective. However, there is another voice ... one who is stalking someone in the group. From the beginning, we learn the stalker is following very closely the posts on Instagram and Facebook. The book revolves around the use of social media and how we allow people to know everything about our lives, without actually knowing anything about them.

I KNOW YOU is a fast, addictive read that will genuinely make you reconsider what you put out there on social media. Multiple suspects keep the reader engaged and guessing ... until the very end.

How well do YOU know your friends?

Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Book available 6/11/19
Profile Image for Evi.
107 reviews10 followers
March 4, 2019
2.5 stars

First of all: I’m so disappointed! I liked this book right until the last 2 chapters. And then… wow. And this is not a good wow.



I read a lot of so-called domestic thrillers nowadays, there are plenty of them. This one was promising. Taylor and her husband Jake moved from the States (California) to London suburbs, so she lost all of her relationships, no family or friends she could talk to in person, Jake travels all the time because of his work, so pregnant Taylor got lonely in their new home and her only connection to the outside world is social media. To make new friends, she joins a walking group and a book club, she meets Anna, Sarah, Caroline and Simon. But these friendships are complicated and it seems like everybody has secrets…

Although the characters are flat and stereotypical, and I found out the main twist around the third of the book, it didn’t bore me, it was a quick read, and I liked it. BUT. What the hell was that last 2 chapters? WHAT? This was such a lame ending…! It’s so disappointing. It’s rushed, sloppy, and way to easy. The ending ruined everything for me.

*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for Liz Barnsley.
3,769 reviews1,074 followers
August 30, 2018
I Know You was a fast, addictive read that will genuinely make you reconsider what you put out there on social media.
Taylor has moved to London with her husband Jake to try and rebuild their marriage following infidelity. Pregnant and lonely, Taylor looks for new friends with the tenacity of a limpet – but maybe she would have been better off solo…
Its a cleverly woven narrative in which we hear Taylor’s story and also know that there’s nefarious intent – but from whom and towards whom we cannot be sure.
I liked the characterisation here – Taylor is a little obsessive, a little dismissive and our unknown “bad guy” is chillingly engaging. The relationship dynamics of all parties are highly intriguing, it’s a page turner for sure.
Overall a very good psychological thriller- one you sink into and the read is excellent throughout and delivers a very satisfying ending.
Recommended.
Profile Image for Melissa In The City.
260 reviews34 followers
February 13, 2019
UNPUTDOWNABLE. ADDICTIVE. TWISTY. FULL OF WTF MOMENTS!
All the Stars!

Fast moving story with characters we really got to know. There was nothing in this book that wasn't needed or didnt lend itself to the plot. Everything and everyone were somewhere intertwined.
I absolutely loved every minute of this book. The big twist was an added bonus to an already addicting story!!
I recommend this book with 10 stars! It was so good i finished it in one night!

Thank you #NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to read this book which comes out in June. Will also post to goodreads.
Profile Image for Cara.
477 reviews21 followers
January 21, 2019
The most irritating books are those that aren’t well researched and/or assume the reader is dense. While the story itself is marginally entertaining, I found too many faults to enjoy the little unexpected drama I did find. First off, it is terribly difficult to believe that the narrator is American, as all of her dialogue is rife with British slang, and any “American-ness” is dismally absent. This indicates to me that the writer wasn’t proficient in her structure and research. Secondly, the plot mostly flounders about, with stereotypes for characters. The ending - abrupt, unsatisfying, weak. I was disappointed by this read. I received this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Misty.
337 reviews331 followers
January 8, 2019
British author Annabel Kantaria has written what is sure to be one of the most talked about books of the year. I Know You is a suspense novel that features not only rich characters and a brilliant plot but also writing that catapults the reader into the action almost as if an active participant in what unfolds.

Taylor and Jake are an attractive young married couple, recently transplanted from sunny California to the grey skies of Jake’s hometown—Croydon, England. As the novel opens, it is revealed that the couple is in the UK seeking a fresh start after Taylor discovered that Jake was having an affair. England, however, isn’t all that the then pregnant Taylor thought it would be. Her husband is gone for long periods of time with his work, and she is bored, lonely and desperate for friends. She immerses herself in social media, recording and sharing every moment of her life in an effort to feel more connected. When she joins both a walking group and a book club, Taylor begins to build what she hopes will be lifelong relationships. Not all is as it seems, however, and she is about to learn that the old cliche “be careful what you wish for” is far more accurate a warning than she could have ever imagined.

The structure of the novel is that of a first person narrative, though it’s clear from the start that chapters alternate between at least two different perspectives. On one hand, Taylor tells the straight forward tale of what transpired during her pregnancy. She is, however, painted as perhaps an unreliable narrator, which adds to ever-building tension. The second narrator isn’t identified until the denouement, but the writing in those chapters is wicked, gritty and full of anger and resentment. The author moves fluidly between the two voices in an ebb and flow that rocks from comfort to unease and back again.

Within this unusual format, Kantaria develops her characters in a way that makes them easily believable, even if not particularly likable. Through their dialogue and actions we learn that they are all in some way flawed, which is perhaps why they are so engaging. There’s no doll-house facade here, as the true nature of each is portrayed, raw and uncensored. Taylor is obsessive, short tempered and needy. Jake is flirtatious, aloof and lacks self-awareness. Even the more minor characters are exposed as imperfect human beings who are sometimes victims of circumstance and other times just victims. It’s clear that Kantaria understands what makes people tick, and she moves forward manipulating that knowledge, making us squirm as we catch glimpses of ourselves.

My single complaint was in the fact that although Taylor is presented as an American, she uses British terminology and spelling. She calls her friends “mates”, a cooler becomes a “chiller” and in the narration “favorite” is spelled with a u. There are myriad examples of this throughout, and it is these oversights that kept this from being a five star read.

Overall, this is a wonderful book that gains momentum as it moves toward a finish that, while possibly predictable, is nonetheless exciting. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a suspenseful thriller that keeps the pages turning. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this for review!
Profile Image for Amy.
173 reviews17 followers
May 24, 2019
*** 5 Stars ***
Publication Date: June 21, 2019

ALL THE STARS!!!! I needed this after being in a little reading slump and I could not put this down. The writing was perfect; extremely descriptive, enthralling, without being too wordy.
Taylor is pregnant and recently moved to London with her husband who was recently unfaithful and she is desperate to make new friends. She ends up making two friends through a walking group, Anna and Simon. She also joins a book club adding Caroline and Sarah to the mix.
My favorite thing about this was between some chapters there were these "I know you" chapters where you could tell some crazy was watching someone and knew some very intimate details, but you don't know who is being watched or who is doing the watching.
I won't go into any details because I don't do spoilers. I love when I'm blown away by an ending after thinking I have it figured out.. Highly recommend when this publishes June 21, 2019.

Special thanks to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Danielle.
828 reviews285 followers
October 25, 2022
It was pretty good and stayed consistently interesting even though it wasn't very exciting until the end and the ending left something to be desired. It was too abrupt.
Profile Image for Shelby.
1,185 reviews699 followers
February 7, 2019
Taylor and her husband, Jake, just moved from the USA to the UK for a fresh start. Jake’s busy with work, while Taylor stays at home, nearly 7-months pregnant. She spends her days online, interacting with other soon-to-be moms on Twitter and posting random selfies on Instagram. Jake recommends Taylor make some real friends so she joins a walking group at the local park.

That’s where Taylor meets Anna. She’s convinced Anna and her could be the best of friends. Not only is Anna also a former flight attendant, but she’s also pregnant, like Taylor. Taylor finally feels like she’s found a friend beyond the internet. And better yet, her new neighbor, Sarah, invites Taylor to join her book club. Taylor’s lonely life looks like it’s turning around. Maybe this fresh start will turn out to be a good thing after all.

But there’s someone watching their every moves online. Stalking them, figuring out where they live, who they interact with, their personal details. People like Taylor and Anna share everything online without thinking about the consequences. About who might be looking at their pages. And what they share online might be what puts them in danger.

The story alternates between the perspectives of lonely housewife, Taylor, and our sinister, unknown stalker. We know this story cannot end well, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But we don’t know who to trust. Taylor is clearly desperate for friendship, but are the people she surrounds herself with more harmful than she could’ve ever imagined? Were these people actually her friends or just strangers she made the mistake of trusting?

I Know You by Annabel Kantaria is a paranoia-filled psychological suspense, with a cast of highly flawed, unlikable characters. I kept teetering back and forth about whether or not Taylor is the antagonist, or if she’s innocent after all. This story left me questioning every character and their actions. I love an unreliable narrator and Taylor for the bill to a tee. I think the creepiest aspect of this book is the role of social media. How private are our lives truly when we are posting our personal lives online for everyone to see? Not a fast-paced thriller by any means, but an enjoyable psychological suspense nonetheless—4/5 stars.

Thank you to Net Galley, Crooked Lane Books and Annabel Kantaria for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Maggie61.
787 reviews3 followers
August 21, 2018
I can never get enough of this genre of books. This psychological thriller is a 4 1/2 for me.
When Taylor and her husband Jake move to England from the states, it was supposed to be a fresh start, leaving his infidelity behind and soon to be a family of three. Taylor involved herself in a walking group in order to have some friends and not be so isolated.
But Taylor has a hard time letting her suspicions rest. Jake travels a lot for work and she sees potential unfaithfulness everywhere. Is it Caroline, a blast from his past? Or maybe Sarah, she throws herself at him all time? Her one constant is Anna, also pregnant and they quickly become friends
But someone is targeting Taylor. Or is it Anna they are targeting? We never really know as clue by clue, we are given little hints. But who would target either of them and why? Maybe someone a little too interested in one of them?
I wavered a couple of times on who that second narrated voice was and what he/she wanted. This was a quick read for me and I loved the twist. I will be looking for me by this author.
Profile Image for Leona.
1,515 reviews
July 15, 2018
I have to admit when I started this book I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it . However after a few chapters I got sucked right into it and by the end I absolutely loved it . A disturbing psychological thriller that I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Mellisa.
601 reviews158 followers
November 5, 2021
Have you ever thought about who could be watching your social media? Checking your location, screenshotting your photos, obsessing over every post... Taylor didn't either. But someone is watching Taylor, they know every post, every secret....and they are planning to destroy her.

This is such a creepy, thought provoking book! It ready does make you think about how much you post on social media, the types of people out there who could become obsessive. I loved how little clues were hidden to point to different people, so it wasn't obvious who the stalker was until near the end. The twist at the end was good, finding out why they were stalking her! I love social media style stories, and this was a good one.
Profile Image for Ingstje.
761 reviews18 followers
May 12, 2019
I Know You is a cleverly written novel where the threat is unmistakenly present but hidden from view. Who exactly is lurking in the shadows, checking every trace, every picture and every comment on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, effectively getting to know someone better than you can imagine? It’s a complete mystery and a very creepy one indeed.

What I loved about this book is that not only you don’t know who the voice is in the chapters labelled I Know You, you also don’t know who they’re keeping tabs on, and best of all, the character in the novel that is the center of all the attention is completely unaware as well.

The novel creates a false sense of safety at first and almost reads like a contemporary novel with Taylor looking to make a friend after her move with hubby Jake from the US to the UK. She meets Anna at the local walking club and they hit it off right away. Taylor and Anna, Anna and Taylor, they become the bestest of friends and I was delighted with the blossoming of their warm friendship. There are other characters surrounding them, friends they make at the local walking club and book club, namely Simon, Sarah and Caroline, but they all have something about them that seemed off meaning one of them might have an ulterior motive and could be that menacing voice that starts to pop up. These extra chapters were brilliant and didn’t leave room about the evil intentions of this mysterious person. What the anonymous voice intended to do was kept for the very end though and not something I had foreseen. Every time I read these chapters dispersed throughout the novel my thoughts drifted off to my own digital footprint and I was examining if I didn’t leave too much information about myself too. Yes people know which restaurants I visit and what books I like to read, but I hope I’m doing a better job at keeping the rest to myself and I sure hope nobody is interested as much as well.

Who’s after who? Who’s the false friend, and are they after Taylor or after Anna, or someone else entirely and why? The author made it very difficult to be sure about anything because most of what was revealed could be applied to both women. Very very slowly I started to have an idea though where the why was perhaps a little easier to determine than who. I can’t say I had anything to go or any hard proof to build my case but I thought I had figured out how this particular puzzle fit together. I was still quite surprised when I found out I was right though, although the shock one of the characters gets when finding out that someone’s keeping an eye on them was probably a million times worse.

This novel might very well be a wake up call to many about what you post online and what a window to your life it can be and for that (and the great story too) I highly recommend it!
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