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New Hope #1
The Social Affair
In the tradition of Gone Girl and Behind Closed Doors comes a gripping, twisted, furiously clever read that demands your attention, and keeps you guessing until the very end. For fans of the anti-heroine and stories told in unorthodox ways, The Social Affair delivers us the perfect dark and provocative villain. The only question—who is it?
A timeless, perfect couple waltzes into the small coffee shop where Izzy Lewis works. Instantly enamored, she does what she always does in situations like these: she searches them out on social media.
Just like that—with the tap of a screen— she’s given a front row seat to the Dunns’ picturesque life. This time, she’s certain she’s found what she’s been searching for. This time, she'll go to whatever lengths it takes to ensure she gets it right—even if this means doing the unthinkable.
Intense and original, The Social Affair is a disturbing psychological thriller that explores what can ha
A timeless, perfect couple waltzes into the small coffee shop where Izzy Lewis works. Instantly enamored, she does what she always does in situations like these: she searches them out on social media.
Just like that—with the tap of a screen— she’s given a front row seat to the Dunns’ picturesque life. This time, she’s certain she’s found what she’s been searching for. This time, she'll go to whatever lengths it takes to ensure she gets it right—even if this means doing the unthinkable.
Intense and original, The Social Affair is a disturbing psychological thriller that explores what can ha
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2018
1207 people are currently reading
3107 people want to read
About the author
Britney King
72 books1,622 followersBritney King lives Texas with her family, two literary dogs, one ridiculous cat, and a partridge in a pear tree.
When she’s not wrangling these characters, Britney crafts psychological, domestic, and romantic thrillers that dive deep into the complexities of human nature.
You can find Britney online here:
Website ➜ https://britneyking.com
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/BritneyKingA...
TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@britneyking_
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/britneyking_/
BookBub ➜ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/britn...
Newsletter ➜ https://britneyking.com/newsletter/
When she’s not wrangling these characters, Britney crafts psychological, domestic, and romantic thrillers that dive deep into the complexities of human nature.
You can find Britney online here:
Website ➜ https://britneyking.com
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/BritneyKingA...
TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@britneyking_
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/britneyking_/
BookBub ➜ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/britn...
Newsletter ➜ https://britneyking.com/newsletter/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
September 22, 2022
I've been sitting here agonizing over what to write in my review of this book for three days now and I've come to the conclusion that I need to keep it brief for your benefit. No quotes, no plot specifics, NADA. If you're disciplined enough I would go so far as suggesting you don't even read the blurb before you dive in, just go for it. I keep circling back around to the fact that I have no words to fully describe was a breath of fresh air this experience was. There was no mainstream hype, no over-building of expectations like when I finally pick up something after months of salivating, it was just like every other "twisty domestic thriller" currently on the market. No, I was able to mostly go into this one blind, and I highly recommend that you do the same. The only warning I will give is that those sensitive to situations of domestic abuse and violence of all types may want to approach with caution. This is a dark tale with unsettling consequences.
Fun fact- while this book is a standalone novel, all of the author's books have ties to each other through characters that may be a brief snippet in one book and the focus of another. I most definitely will be going back to see how they all fit together and think that this is an absolutely brilliant strategy in creating unique tales. If you enjoy sexy thrillers that have a dash of mysterious cult in them, you should read this one. There was something that felt so realistic, current, and relatable about the story; the use of social media and the frightening power it can use to consume us was eye-opening. Trust me; you NEED this book. Do yourself the favor of purchasing it immediately. Don't give me that book buying ban excuse; it's only $3.99 (at the time of this writing) on kindle! You'll thank me later.
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy.
Fun fact- while this book is a standalone novel, all of the author's books have ties to each other through characters that may be a brief snippet in one book and the focus of another. I most definitely will be going back to see how they all fit together and think that this is an absolutely brilliant strategy in creating unique tales. If you enjoy sexy thrillers that have a dash of mysterious cult in them, you should read this one. There was something that felt so realistic, current, and relatable about the story; the use of social media and the frightening power it can use to consume us was eye-opening. Trust me; you NEED this book. Do yourself the favor of purchasing it immediately. Don't give me that book buying ban excuse; it's only $3.99 (at the time of this writing) on kindle! You'll thank me later.
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy.
January 24, 2018
So, I wonder how many likes this review will get? I hope I don’t turn into Josie anytime soon! I did a buddy read with a few girls for Social Affair by Britney King. I know some of the girls are still reading the book but I’m excited to see what they think!
This book is so relatable with social media these days. I’d be lying if I say I don’t check my numbers on “bookstagram”. (Okay, so maybe I am Josie). Anyways, this was a fast read with alternating POVs between Josie and Izzy.
Izzy is working at the coffee shop when Josie and Grant Dunn walk in. Immediately, Izzy is memorized. The Dunn’s look like the perfect couple, rich and beautiful. Josie is gorgeous, and Grant, also good looking, is obviously so in love with his wife. She decides she needs to know more of the couple, so she looks them up on instalook. She starts to check Josie’s instalook every second she can. Izzy needs to know every thing about Josie’s perfect life. She wants that life.
Josie and Grant Dunn have been married for years and have two teenagers. They believe in New Hope religion, Grant is one of its founders. There is an agreement and rules to be followed for this religion. I saw Chandra’s review and would agree it’s a cult. One I would never be apart of because I’m not about to drop to my knees on request. Josie is obsessed with showing off her things or where she goes on instalook. #blessed #besthusband. She has fans, girl 💅🏼.
BUT, I bet if you’re reading this... you have at least ONE friend on Instagram or Facebook that shows off and you know damn well they don’t actually live or stand by what they say 🙄. I mean, I don’t share personal information on my social media accounts. That’s awkward.
Oh, I also laughed out loud at the whole “Isabel” deal, ha
I really enjoyed the Social Affair. Izzy is #messyboots and quite the little stalker. One thing I wish we got a little more information on is Josh! I want to know what that crazy girl did! I recommend 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
This book is so relatable with social media these days. I’d be lying if I say I don’t check my numbers on “bookstagram”. (Okay, so maybe I am Josie). Anyways, this was a fast read with alternating POVs between Josie and Izzy.
Izzy is working at the coffee shop when Josie and Grant Dunn walk in. Immediately, Izzy is memorized. The Dunn’s look like the perfect couple, rich and beautiful. Josie is gorgeous, and Grant, also good looking, is obviously so in love with his wife. She decides she needs to know more of the couple, so she looks them up on instalook. She starts to check Josie’s instalook every second she can. Izzy needs to know every thing about Josie’s perfect life. She wants that life.
Josie and Grant Dunn have been married for years and have two teenagers. They believe in New Hope religion, Grant is one of its founders. There is an agreement and rules to be followed for this religion. I saw Chandra’s review and would agree it’s a cult. One I would never be apart of because I’m not about to drop to my knees on request. Josie is obsessed with showing off her things or where she goes on instalook. #blessed #besthusband. She has fans, girl 💅🏼.
BUT, I bet if you’re reading this... you have at least ONE friend on Instagram or Facebook that shows off and you know damn well they don’t actually live or stand by what they say 🙄. I mean, I don’t share personal information on my social media accounts. That’s awkward.
Oh, I also laughed out loud at the whole “Isabel” deal, ha
I really enjoyed the Social Affair. Izzy is #messyboots and quite the little stalker. One thing I wish we got a little more information on is Josh! I want to know what that crazy girl did! I recommend 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
January 18, 2018
Izzy Lewis is obsessed with social media. She uses it for life and fashion advice, but mostly to stalk people she admires. When Josie and Grant Dunn walk into the coffee shop where she works, she's immediately drawn to them. It's not long before she locates Josie on Instalook, and virtual admiration becomes real life interaction.
Josie and Grant look like the perfect couple. On the surface, Grant appears attentive and loving, but behind closed doors, he is domineering, manipulative, and violent. Josie tries her best to please him and lives in fear of what disappointing him means for her.
Public perception is everything to people like the Dunn family. Josie constantly posts on Instalook to show off her "perfect" life to her "friends". This just lures Izzy in even more and gives her all the information she needs to know to pursue the couple further.
The Social Affair is an intriguing psychological thriller full of mystery and suspense! I've read other books by Britney King before, and just like those, this one had me hooked right from the start! I couldn't put it down! The way the book begins, progresses, twists, and turns will have you speculating like crazy until the very end. When I finally thought I knew what was going to happen, I found out I wasn't even close!
The ending may have left me with some questions that I would have loved answers to, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. If you're looking for a thriller that keeps you flipping pages and guessing the whole way through, this might be the book for you!
P.S. I would love a bonus scene of the complete interview and even a prequel about what happened with Josie's previous "husband." Anybody else?
ARC generously provided for an honest review.
January 25, 2018
Since Goodreads LOST my review, I guess I will have to rewrite this. 2018 and we can have lambs growing in plastic bag embryos, but I lose my review... alright.
The Social Affair is a quick, engagingly dark read that I was so happy to start reading for my TBR January 2018 list! When I saw all the buzz on social media about this book, I knew that I had to get my hands on it before I was the last stooge reading it #fomo (fear of missing out). Britney King's unorthodox storytelling in this novel is so deeply captivating to me—I was hooked from the very first page. We start off with a prologue, a whole bunch of chaos, and we are left to pick up the pieces. We open with Izzy Lewis, barista and server at a local coffee shop. Izzy pseudo-manages her boss Sharon's business, while also whipping up frappuccinos and artisan sandwiches to customers. Izzy is just continuing on with her day-to-day when she is hypnotized by the perfect couple—Grant and Josie Dunn. The Dunns are waiting on-line for their order, but Izzy is completely and totally spellbound by this couple. After they leave the shop, Izzy does what any normal millennial would do in this case, "research" (hehe) them on social media. The social media outlet of choice in this novel is Instalook. Izzy ends up finding Josie's account and is drawn in by her "perfect life". Josie has the relationship, the lifestyle, and the #goals of Izzy's dreams. Izzy has been depressed ever since her husband Joshua passed away, but this new couple is giving her hope to move on. As Izzy investigates further (I love using polite synonyms for stalking), she quickly becomes immersed in the Dunn's lives.
Josie Dunn has the family, the money, the husband, the body—she has it all! Josie is a stay-at-home wife and mother to renowned plastic surgeon Grant, daughter Avery, and son James. The family is literally #lifegoals. When Josie isn't catching up with the Girls Tribe, she is posting about her perfect American Dream life on Instalook. The family also belongs to this new church called New Hope. New Hope is a new congregation that has formed by the Dunn family and their friends and it offers a new perspective on life. While New Hope possibly had good intentions, the rules and guidelines formed after its inception would be deemed by many as radical. Josie has the life that people only fantasize about, but is it worth losing her freedom for?
Ok Ms. King, we need to chat. This book was seriously so intoxicating. So intoxicating in fact, that I'm re-writing this review and actually can remember most of the points that I made in my initial review (Bye Goodreads). I really enjoyed how the story opens as an action-packed thriller and as time goes on it turns more psychological. We really don't know who to trust at first. Do I like Izzy? Do I like Grant? Do I like Josie? Heck, do I like Beth?! Who do I root for? I think it's really entertaining when you learn bits and pieces of a puzzle without deterring far from the story and The Social Affair does that well. We get right into the meat and potatoes, skip the salad! Well, unless that's what you'd rather have, but I digress. As the story progressed, things were so not what they seemed and I felt like I was a fly on the wall in these peoples's lives. I think as a reader, if you enjoyed BA Paris's Behind Closed Doors, Roz Nay's Our Little Secret or the television show Black Mirror, then you will love this book. We get an original domestic thriller, some psychological aspects, and a philosophical lesson on how social media has completely taken over our lives.
The Social Affair is a quick, engagingly dark read that I was so happy to start reading for my TBR January 2018 list! When I saw all the buzz on social media about this book, I knew that I had to get my hands on it before I was the last stooge reading it #fomo (fear of missing out). Britney King's unorthodox storytelling in this novel is so deeply captivating to me—I was hooked from the very first page. We start off with a prologue, a whole bunch of chaos, and we are left to pick up the pieces. We open with Izzy Lewis, barista and server at a local coffee shop. Izzy pseudo-manages her boss Sharon's business, while also whipping up frappuccinos and artisan sandwiches to customers. Izzy is just continuing on with her day-to-day when she is hypnotized by the perfect couple—Grant and Josie Dunn. The Dunns are waiting on-line for their order, but Izzy is completely and totally spellbound by this couple. After they leave the shop, Izzy does what any normal millennial would do in this case, "research" (hehe) them on social media. The social media outlet of choice in this novel is Instalook. Izzy ends up finding Josie's account and is drawn in by her "perfect life". Josie has the relationship, the lifestyle, and the #goals of Izzy's dreams. Izzy has been depressed ever since her husband Joshua passed away, but this new couple is giving her hope to move on. As Izzy investigates further (I love using polite synonyms for stalking), she quickly becomes immersed in the Dunn's lives.
Josie Dunn has the family, the money, the husband, the body—she has it all! Josie is a stay-at-home wife and mother to renowned plastic surgeon Grant, daughter Avery, and son James. The family is literally #lifegoals. When Josie isn't catching up with the Girls Tribe, she is posting about her perfect American Dream life on Instalook. The family also belongs to this new church called New Hope. New Hope is a new congregation that has formed by the Dunn family and their friends and it offers a new perspective on life. While New Hope possibly had good intentions, the rules and guidelines formed after its inception would be deemed by many as radical. Josie has the life that people only fantasize about, but is it worth losing her freedom for?
Ok Ms. King, we need to chat. This book was seriously so intoxicating. So intoxicating in fact, that I'm re-writing this review and actually can remember most of the points that I made in my initial review (Bye Goodreads). I really enjoyed how the story opens as an action-packed thriller and as time goes on it turns more psychological. We really don't know who to trust at first. Do I like Izzy? Do I like Grant? Do I like Josie? Heck, do I like Beth?! Who do I root for? I think it's really entertaining when you learn bits and pieces of a puzzle without deterring far from the story and The Social Affair does that well. We get right into the meat and potatoes, skip the salad! Well, unless that's what you'd rather have, but I digress. As the story progressed, things were so not what they seemed and I felt like I was a fly on the wall in these peoples's lives. I think as a reader, if you enjoyed BA Paris's Behind Closed Doors, Roz Nay's Our Little Secret or the television show Black Mirror, then you will love this book. We get an original domestic thriller, some psychological aspects, and a philosophical lesson on how social media has completely taken over our lives.
May 15, 2020
Reviews can be found at: www.booknerdtan.wordpress.com
Izzy becomes infatuated by what she deems as the perfect couple when they come into the coffee shop that she works in one day and she is determined to attain that and by any means. Immediately, she finds them on Instagram and becomes obsessed with their lavish, picture perfect lifestyle. Turns out, that it was just 'picture' perfect.
I went into this book solely due to the fact the cover screamed at me and I didn't even read the blurb before I started reading and man, I'm so glad I didn't! It was crazy going into it without knowing anything!I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and it honestly deserves more. I was absolutely gripped from the get go and it was the definition of a page turner. To be honest, I'm left wondering why I haven't heard more hype surrounding this book on Goodreads but kind of glad there wasn't because my expectations were exceeded.
The twisted, cultish psychological thriller is told in a fast paced and engaging way through alternate perspectives and allows real insight into these disturbed characters minds. The short chapters make this so easy to fly through and not once will you find yourself checking the page number to see how much you have left.
For some reason I always love a book that manages to incorporate the perceived 'perfectness' of people online and how the reality can be so far from the dark truth of what is really occurring and King does this so perfectly I'm in awe of her writing. Also, the way in which she writes the characters in this book is so great that I hated the villains with such conviction that they may as well have been real.
I think Britney King is going to become one of my new favourite go to thriller authors if this is anything to go by; will 100% be looking forward to reading more from her very soon!
Izzy becomes infatuated by what she deems as the perfect couple when they come into the coffee shop that she works in one day and she is determined to attain that and by any means. Immediately, she finds them on Instagram and becomes obsessed with their lavish, picture perfect lifestyle. Turns out, that it was just 'picture' perfect.
I went into this book solely due to the fact the cover screamed at me and I didn't even read the blurb before I started reading and man, I'm so glad I didn't! It was crazy going into it without knowing anything!I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and it honestly deserves more. I was absolutely gripped from the get go and it was the definition of a page turner. To be honest, I'm left wondering why I haven't heard more hype surrounding this book on Goodreads but kind of glad there wasn't because my expectations were exceeded.
The twisted, cultish psychological thriller is told in a fast paced and engaging way through alternate perspectives and allows real insight into these disturbed characters minds. The short chapters make this so easy to fly through and not once will you find yourself checking the page number to see how much you have left.
For some reason I always love a book that manages to incorporate the perceived 'perfectness' of people online and how the reality can be so far from the dark truth of what is really occurring and King does this so perfectly I'm in awe of her writing. Also, the way in which she writes the characters in this book is so great that I hated the villains with such conviction that they may as well have been real.
I think Britney King is going to become one of my new favourite go to thriller authors if this is anything to go by; will 100% be looking forward to reading more from her very soon!
January 25, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 CREEPY stalker stars.
The Social Affair is a binge fest for sure, I read this book all in one day and it engulfed my whole world once I started. I think this might be the fastest I have EVER finished a book. For that reason alone I couldn't really give it less than 4 stars, even though I did have a few issues with it (we'll get to that later).
I loved the short chapters in this book and the dual viewpoints between Izzy and Josie #thebestever. Izzy works at a coffee/sandwich shop and Josie is the wife of a plastic surgeon named Grant. Grant and Josie walk into the coffee shop while Izzy is working looking like a golden couple, and the obsession begins.
Izzy was one #hotmess. She was super naive and quite the stalker. She has made plenty of mistakes in the past and she seemed content on continuing those mistakes. She also lives paycheck to paycheck and can't always pay her bills. She really seems like the quintessential college student, only she isn't in college. At least that's the college student I used to be! (Embarrassing fact time about me apparently). She also maxes out her credit cards all in the name of #more. I used to max out my credit cards too, but not exactly for the same reasons as her. (Another embarrassing fact about me!).
The Social Affair really makes you think about how big of an impact social media has on our lives these days. The app both Izzy and Josie are on is called "Instalook" and it seems to be all about the perfect hashtags and the perfect pictures. I'm assuming this app is a cross between Facebook and Instagram, with a large emphasis on Instagram. Everywhere you look there's someone that has something you want, and in Izzy's case, drives you to max out your credit cards for said things. And of course the idea that we can see everyone's lives all the time because of social media. What they want you to see anyway....
Josie is all about checking how many likes she's gotten on Instalook, and posting the perfect pictures with the perfect hashtags. Which is, dare I say, reminiscent of how a lot of us are with our Bookstagram accounts?? I know I'm guilty.
Josie's husband Grant practically had me nauseated every time I read about him because he was so annoying and terrible. Britney King really made you hate that guy. I wasn't really sure what to think of Josie though. There's a lot of back and forth in this book with how I felt about characters. You really don't know who to trust either, or what is actually going on for that matter. Grant seemed like he was fine when they first got married (we see this in Josie's thoughts), but then he turned into this evil person and King doesn't tell you why or how it happened.
Josie and Grant are part of a church/religion called New Hope which is essentially a cult. Lots of rules (mostly for the women of course). The women are forced to have weigh ins, always on a diet and exercise regimen, must never turn their husbands down for sex, that sort of thing. All the lovely controlling rules that cults tend to have. Unfortunately, other than that you don't really find out what any of the rules are OR how New Hope came to be a cult in the first place. There is an agreement the women need to sign, but do we find out what exactly is in that agreement? No.
I also saw elements that were similar to both The Last Mrs. Parrish and Exquisite. I don't love being reminded of other books when I read something, but there were still plenty of elements to this book that I didn't see coming, and things that were still very different.
Besides the lack of information on the church turned cult (although I hear King has a book coming out that will talk all about it), it also bugged me that you never really learn anything about Josh. He just seemed to be a character that isn't really explored, and you basically know nothing about him other than he is someone from Izzy's past.
Also, I was very frustrated that there aren't any indications of ages or really even what any of the characters look like. All I basically know is body types for both Izzy and Josie, and that Josie has red hair (and even that was a fleeting description). Not enough to go on in my opinion. I don't need a ton of background, but at least tell me how old people are and what they look like. I think that actually detracted from the story for me just because I like having those details.
Final Thought: I read this book as a buddy read with four other girls and only two of us gave it a 4, the other three ladies only gave it a 3. That being said, even though there are lots of stunning reviews for this book, it's not going to be a slam dunk for everyone. I know I definitely want to read more books by King though. If all her books are as binge-worthy as this one, they are worth reading in my opinion. I also heard that all her books are kind of connected so it might be helpful to start with her first book and go from there. I may end up doing that. Even though I have some qualms with this book, I was willing to overlook most of them because this was such a fast and consuming read. I still think it's worth checking out, but maybe read her other books first.
*This title was published on 17 Jan 2018*
The Social Affair is a binge fest for sure, I read this book all in one day and it engulfed my whole world once I started. I think this might be the fastest I have EVER finished a book. For that reason alone I couldn't really give it less than 4 stars, even though I did have a few issues with it (we'll get to that later).
I loved the short chapters in this book and the dual viewpoints between Izzy and Josie #thebestever. Izzy works at a coffee/sandwich shop and Josie is the wife of a plastic surgeon named Grant. Grant and Josie walk into the coffee shop while Izzy is working looking like a golden couple, and the obsession begins.
Izzy was one #hotmess. She was super naive and quite the stalker. She has made plenty of mistakes in the past and she seemed content on continuing those mistakes. She also lives paycheck to paycheck and can't always pay her bills. She really seems like the quintessential college student, only she isn't in college. At least that's the college student I used to be! (Embarrassing fact time about me apparently). She also maxes out her credit cards all in the name of #more. I used to max out my credit cards too, but not exactly for the same reasons as her. (Another embarrassing fact about me!).
The Social Affair really makes you think about how big of an impact social media has on our lives these days. The app both Izzy and Josie are on is called "Instalook" and it seems to be all about the perfect hashtags and the perfect pictures. I'm assuming this app is a cross between Facebook and Instagram, with a large emphasis on Instagram. Everywhere you look there's someone that has something you want, and in Izzy's case, drives you to max out your credit cards for said things. And of course the idea that we can see everyone's lives all the time because of social media. What they want you to see anyway....
Josie is all about checking how many likes she's gotten on Instalook, and posting the perfect pictures with the perfect hashtags. Which is, dare I say, reminiscent of how a lot of us are with our Bookstagram accounts?? I know I'm guilty.
Josie's husband Grant practically had me nauseated every time I read about him because he was so annoying and terrible. Britney King really made you hate that guy. I wasn't really sure what to think of Josie though. There's a lot of back and forth in this book with how I felt about characters. You really don't know who to trust either, or what is actually going on for that matter. Grant seemed like he was fine when they first got married (we see this in Josie's thoughts), but then he turned into this evil person and King doesn't tell you why or how it happened.
Josie and Grant are part of a church/religion called New Hope which is essentially a cult. Lots of rules (mostly for the women of course). The women are forced to have weigh ins, always on a diet and exercise regimen, must never turn their husbands down for sex, that sort of thing. All the lovely controlling rules that cults tend to have. Unfortunately, other than that you don't really find out what any of the rules are OR how New Hope came to be a cult in the first place. There is an agreement the women need to sign, but do we find out what exactly is in that agreement? No.
I also saw elements that were similar to both The Last Mrs. Parrish and Exquisite. I don't love being reminded of other books when I read something, but there were still plenty of elements to this book that I didn't see coming, and things that were still very different.
Besides the lack of information on the church turned cult (although I hear King has a book coming out that will talk all about it), it also bugged me that you never really learn anything about Josh. He just seemed to be a character that isn't really explored, and you basically know nothing about him other than he is someone from Izzy's past.
Also, I was very frustrated that there aren't any indications of ages or really even what any of the characters look like. All I basically know is body types for both Izzy and Josie, and that Josie has red hair (and even that was a fleeting description). Not enough to go on in my opinion. I don't need a ton of background, but at least tell me how old people are and what they look like. I think that actually detracted from the story for me just because I like having those details.
Final Thought: I read this book as a buddy read with four other girls and only two of us gave it a 4, the other three ladies only gave it a 3. That being said, even though there are lots of stunning reviews for this book, it's not going to be a slam dunk for everyone. I know I definitely want to read more books by King though. If all her books are as binge-worthy as this one, they are worth reading in my opinion. I also heard that all her books are kind of connected so it might be helpful to start with her first book and go from there. I may end up doing that. Even though I have some qualms with this book, I was willing to overlook most of them because this was such a fast and consuming read. I still think it's worth checking out, but maybe read her other books first.
*This title was published on 17 Jan 2018*
January 18, 2018
Part Cult. Part Stalker. Utterly addicting.
It's always a little nerve wracking when someone you consider your friend gives you the honor of reading an early release copy of her book. However, I've read her before so I was 99.9% sure I was going to love this new standalone novel and guess what? I DO!
Izzy leads a worker's life. She barely makes rent, hardly has an appetite and still mourning the death of Jake, she makes bad decisions and just trudges through day to day. That is, until Josie and Grant Dunn walk into the coffee shop she works at. This gorgeous couple is everything she dreams of. As she's prone to do, she scours Instalook and maxes out her credit cards buying things those with a large social media presence promote. As she starts stalking Josie, she decides she needs to immerse her life into Josie's... and nothing is going to stop her.
Josie and Grant appear to be the perfect couple As long as she adhere's to the rules, her life runs smoothly. Beautiful house, clothes, jewelry and a successful surgeon of a husband. Add two kids and what could possibly be wrong with this picture? A LOT. The question is, is there a way out of it?
I love anything that's even remotely cultish and bringing in New Hope church and the Dunns' involvement within this culture was creepy and intriguing to learn about. What I really liked was King's incorporation of modern day stalking. In the real world, we can pretty much look into the lives of anyone with any social media presence - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.. and in this book, Instalook. The representation of Josie constantly posting, hashtagging and continually checking her phone for how many likes she received, how to engage her followers, etc. was extremely realistic. It also goes to show, again, how what you see on the internet isn't always a true representation of what happens behind closed doors. After all, we all want people to think we are happy, right? Just how much of your self esteem comes from your online presence?
Then there's the ending - I truly did NOT see that coming and that is always such a nice surprise. EEK - it's Britney, bitch! She got me! At under 300 pages, this book really packs a punch. Throughout my read I had some questions... but then they all got answered and I am completely satisfied with this. Having read prior work, I'm not surprised in the slightest. And here's a fun fact - her books all interconnect in one way or another. See if you can figure out how. 😉
Put this on your TBR and thank me later.
Thank you, Britney, for my copy!
It's always a little nerve wracking when someone you consider your friend gives you the honor of reading an early release copy of her book. However, I've read her before so I was 99.9% sure I was going to love this new standalone novel and guess what? I DO!
Izzy leads a worker's life. She barely makes rent, hardly has an appetite and still mourning the death of Jake, she makes bad decisions and just trudges through day to day. That is, until Josie and Grant Dunn walk into the coffee shop she works at. This gorgeous couple is everything she dreams of. As she's prone to do, she scours Instalook and maxes out her credit cards buying things those with a large social media presence promote. As she starts stalking Josie, she decides she needs to immerse her life into Josie's... and nothing is going to stop her.
Josie and Grant appear to be the perfect couple As long as she adhere's to the rules, her life runs smoothly. Beautiful house, clothes, jewelry and a successful surgeon of a husband. Add two kids and what could possibly be wrong with this picture? A LOT. The question is, is there a way out of it?
I love anything that's even remotely cultish and bringing in New Hope church and the Dunns' involvement within this culture was creepy and intriguing to learn about. What I really liked was King's incorporation of modern day stalking. In the real world, we can pretty much look into the lives of anyone with any social media presence - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.. and in this book, Instalook. The representation of Josie constantly posting, hashtagging and continually checking her phone for how many likes she received, how to engage her followers, etc. was extremely realistic. It also goes to show, again, how what you see on the internet isn't always a true representation of what happens behind closed doors. After all, we all want people to think we are happy, right? Just how much of your self esteem comes from your online presence?
Then there's the ending - I truly did NOT see that coming and that is always such a nice surprise. EEK - it's Britney, bitch! She got me! At under 300 pages, this book really packs a punch. Throughout my read I had some questions... but then they all got answered and I am completely satisfied with this. Having read prior work, I'm not surprised in the slightest. And here's a fun fact - her books all interconnect in one way or another. See if you can figure out how. 😉
Put this on your TBR and thank me later.
Thank you, Britney, for my copy!
February 4, 2018
Woooo... this one is not to miss! 4.25 creepy stars. Review to come :).
June 21, 2020
I read a quote once that said...a true mark of maturity is when someone hurts you, and you try to understand their situation instead of trying to hurt them back.
The Social Affair
by Britney King
Ohhwee! After a few three and low four star books, I get..The Social Affair. And it was such a good read.
This really is a powerful cautionary tale. The Social Affair was a delightful surprise to me because it started slow for me and I almost did a DNF. I hung in there though and at about 20 percent, it really starts heating up.
The story is told from the prospective of two different women. There is Josie. And there is Izzy.
Josie is beautiful. Like in drop dead beautiful. The girl who gets everything she wants as she sails through life with no issues at all. Wow.
You know that isn't true, don't you? Because this is life. And nobody makes it out of here without scars.
Josie only shows what she wants people to see, cheerfully posting inaccurate and untruthful social media posts about how wonderful her life is as she silently hopes others wallow in envy. And they do.
Izzy. Lady number two. Quiet. Sad. works as a Barrista, while silently scolding herself for being unworthy of love or happiness or anything good. She hates people. Her customers. She hates children. She even hates her cat. (Now..THAT..I cannot understand)!
No animal cruelty though in this book.
So Izzy hates and schemes . And then one day, Josie walks into the coffee house. Izzy is entranced with Josie and her seemingly perfect life. She is also entranced with Josie's hubby Grant.
Josie meanwhile has way more issues than she lets on. What are all the mysterious "rules" that she lives under? Why did her friend die so mysteriously? Why does her husband refer to sex as "wanting to lay with you"?
Both these women are addicted to social media in different ways. Izzy in stalking Josie. Josie in making others think she is the most perfect woman in the world.
What happens when the paths of these two women collide?
So..I loved this. It combines "The Stepford Wives" with "Girl on a Train" with..well let's just say it has so much of what makes a book really worth reading. One does not know what is going on half the time or where the plot will take you and there is genuine surprise when one finds out.
Two negatives. One is I hated everyone in this book and pretty sure you will too.
The other is..I so wish more had been included about the rules and other members of this crazy Stepford society. I would love..LOVE..it if the writer wrote another book maybe about other people living under these rules. It is creepy and well written stuff and The Stepford Wives is one of my all time favorites and this book does remind me in a way of that one.
4.5 stars. Recommended by the wonderful Dita and I ask all my GR friends who dig dark and creepy stories to check this one out.
The Social Affair
by Britney King
Ohhwee! After a few three and low four star books, I get..The Social Affair. And it was such a good read.
This really is a powerful cautionary tale. The Social Affair was a delightful surprise to me because it started slow for me and I almost did a DNF. I hung in there though and at about 20 percent, it really starts heating up.
The story is told from the prospective of two different women. There is Josie. And there is Izzy.
Josie is beautiful. Like in drop dead beautiful. The girl who gets everything she wants as she sails through life with no issues at all. Wow.
You know that isn't true, don't you? Because this is life. And nobody makes it out of here without scars.
Josie only shows what she wants people to see, cheerfully posting inaccurate and untruthful social media posts about how wonderful her life is as she silently hopes others wallow in envy. And they do.
Izzy. Lady number two. Quiet. Sad. works as a Barrista, while silently scolding herself for being unworthy of love or happiness or anything good. She hates people. Her customers. She hates children. She even hates her cat. (Now..THAT..I cannot understand)!
No animal cruelty though in this book.
So Izzy hates and schemes . And then one day, Josie walks into the coffee house. Izzy is entranced with Josie and her seemingly perfect life. She is also entranced with Josie's hubby Grant.
Josie meanwhile has way more issues than she lets on. What are all the mysterious "rules" that she lives under? Why did her friend die so mysteriously? Why does her husband refer to sex as "wanting to lay with you"?
Both these women are addicted to social media in different ways. Izzy in stalking Josie. Josie in making others think she is the most perfect woman in the world.
What happens when the paths of these two women collide?
So..I loved this. It combines "The Stepford Wives" with "Girl on a Train" with..well let's just say it has so much of what makes a book really worth reading. One does not know what is going on half the time or where the plot will take you and there is genuine surprise when one finds out.
Two negatives. One is I hated everyone in this book and pretty sure you will too.
The other is..I so wish more had been included about the rules and other members of this crazy Stepford society. I would love..LOVE..it if the writer wrote another book maybe about other people living under these rules. It is creepy and well written stuff and The Stepford Wives is one of my all time favorites and this book does remind me in a way of that one.
4.5 stars. Recommended by the wonderful Dita and I ask all my GR friends who dig dark and creepy stories to check this one out.
January 21, 2018
When a gorgeous couple walks into the coffee shop that Izzy works in, she can't stop thinking about how perfect they seem. Thoughts of the couple consume Izzy to the point where she begins to stalk the wife, Josie, on social media in order to analyze every aspect of her life. Izzy is so captivated with Josie and Grant that she'll do anything to insert herself into their lives.
Told in alternating perspectives between Izzy and Josie, The Social Affair is a dark, twisty, psychological thriller that delves into the darkest aspects of marriage and obsession.
As soon as I read the premise for The Social Affair, I knew I had to read it immediately! If you've followed my blog or have been friends with me on Goodreads for a while, you'll know that I'm a HUGE fan of books that involve some element of stalking, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one!
I was immediately gripped from the very first page, where the reader is thrown into an adrenaline-pumping situation with no context, and then is tossed back in time so we can see what led up to the current events. The way everything came together was phenomenal - Britney King is an amazing storyteller! I absolutely loved the way the story was told, especially seeing two sides of the same coin between Izzy and Josie's perspectives.
Last year I read a book called The Marriage Pact, which focused on a cult-like group of people that assigned rules to marriages that must be followed, and I absolutely loved it. The Social Affair definitely had elements of that, and I was totally engaged with that secondary plot line. I started the book at night, and read about 15% before I went to sleep, and then I read the remainder of the book in one sitting the following day because I was so hooked! Fans of psychological or domestic thrillers told by anti-heroines, along the lines of Gone Girl, will eat this one up!
Lastly, without spoiling anything, I will say that I actually really liked that by the end of the book the reader was left to connect the dots in a way. I think so often authors underestimate the intelligence of their readers and offer up a super clean ending with everything laid out neatly, and that's fine, but that's not always how real life works, so the fact that all of the answers weren't written out was refreshing to me.
All in all, this was a five star read for me, and Britney King has a new fan in me! I'll definitely be checking out her other books ASAP! Lastly, if you liked Behind Closed Doors, I'd highly recommend this book - it's out now, so go grab your copy!
Told in alternating perspectives between Izzy and Josie, The Social Affair is a dark, twisty, psychological thriller that delves into the darkest aspects of marriage and obsession.
As soon as I read the premise for The Social Affair, I knew I had to read it immediately! If you've followed my blog or have been friends with me on Goodreads for a while, you'll know that I'm a HUGE fan of books that involve some element of stalking, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one!
I was immediately gripped from the very first page, where the reader is thrown into an adrenaline-pumping situation with no context, and then is tossed back in time so we can see what led up to the current events. The way everything came together was phenomenal - Britney King is an amazing storyteller! I absolutely loved the way the story was told, especially seeing two sides of the same coin between Izzy and Josie's perspectives.
Last year I read a book called The Marriage Pact, which focused on a cult-like group of people that assigned rules to marriages that must be followed, and I absolutely loved it. The Social Affair definitely had elements of that, and I was totally engaged with that secondary plot line. I started the book at night, and read about 15% before I went to sleep, and then I read the remainder of the book in one sitting the following day because I was so hooked! Fans of psychological or domestic thrillers told by anti-heroines, along the lines of Gone Girl, will eat this one up!
Lastly, without spoiling anything, I will say that I actually really liked that by the end of the book the reader was left to connect the dots in a way. I think so often authors underestimate the intelligence of their readers and offer up a super clean ending with everything laid out neatly, and that's fine, but that's not always how real life works, so the fact that all of the answers weren't written out was refreshing to me.
All in all, this was a five star read for me, and Britney King has a new fan in me! I'll definitely be checking out her other books ASAP! Lastly, if you liked Behind Closed Doors, I'd highly recommend this book - it's out now, so go grab your copy!
June 20, 2018
3.5 Stars
This story was reaaaaally obvious! I mean you can guess it right from the first, at least it was like that for me! So there wasn’t any "guessing until the very end" (as it said in the blurb). And I can’t tell you anything about the story itself, afraid of spoiling it. It didn't really thrilled me or excited me. But I should say the writing was enough good that with knowing everything it still held my interest till the end! Told in dual POV, 1st person. It's a standalone novel, well-written but unfortunately without a great plot. Overall, it was an okay read for me and hope you enjoy it!
This story was reaaaaally obvious! I mean you can guess it right from the first, at least it was like that for me! So there wasn’t any "guessing until the very end" (as it said in the blurb). And I can’t tell you anything about the story itself, afraid of spoiling it. It didn't really thrilled me or excited me. But I should say the writing was enough good that with knowing everything it still held my interest till the end! Told in dual POV, 1st person. It's a standalone novel, well-written but unfortunately without a great plot. Overall, it was an okay read for me and hope you enjoy it!
January 10, 2018
So color me surprised, but this one was way better than I expected. I'll be honest I wasn't too sure about it as it took me some time to get into it. The writing at first felt a bit clunky, and the flow wasn't great. That said, somewhere along the way I found myself enthralled with this story and I could not put it down. And that ending...wowza...DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. This was a fantastic psychological thriller for sure.
So deets...as I mentioned above the writing in this one took some getting used to. Maybe because it uses a first person POV. I am not really sure. It just felt a bit clunky at the start. That said, the more I read the more I got pulled into the story. The pace was perfect and there wasn't any lag in the story. The plot was super engaging and had me flipping the pages like a crazy person. The only smallish issue I did have was that I wish we had gotten more info about the church and what precisely happened to June. There is a story waiting to be told with both those storylines (IMO). I didn't particularly care for any of the characters. None of them were remotely likable and all of them were unreliable narrators. But I don't always have to like the characters or relate to them to enjoy a book. In fact, some of my favorite books are full of despicable people. I find they make the most interesting of characters. Last, the ending of this one was awesome. I have mentioned numerous times I am fantastic at sherlocking out baddies and twists in books and I simply did not see that ending coming. I should have dammit...I really should have! So extra kudos go to the author for springing that one on me.
SIDE NOTE: OK, so I have to admit I found the whole "INSTALOOK" thing a tad cheesy. Can you not use "INSTAGRAM" in a book?? I mean it is very obvious that is what everyone was using. I am sure I have read brand names in books before. Using "INSTALOOK" just came across like I said, a bit cheesy.
February 22, 2018
You never know what goes on behind people’s closed doors. They may seem to have a perfect marriage, a perfect family. They may post photos of a perfect happy life on social media; but all that, may be just a façade, a polished surface to hide the ugliness beneath.
This was a dark, super-fast-paced and enjoyable psychological thriller. You wouldn’t want to put it down till the end.
This was a dark, super-fast-paced and enjoyable psychological thriller. You wouldn’t want to put it down till the end.
January 25, 2018
4.5/5
Well hello Britney King, where have you been all of my life?! I love nothing more than supporting an indie author and when I find one that writes exactly the type of books I like it’s like unearthing a buried treasure. Britney King is that type of author for me now, The Social Affair was an intoxicating read, I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly having never read the author before and what I received was unexpected in the best possible way.
I’m sure you guys are getting a little tired of seeing me say that I don’t want to discuss the plot of a book or to go in blind, I’m sorry in advance but my solid advice stands. Not knowing which direction a story will head from minute to minute is one of my favorite parts about reading and I promise you that if you like the description of this one, I bet you’ll like it even more than you think.
Here’s what I will say, this had a hip, edgy and current vibe that felt fresh and bold. It revolves around social media and the appeal and dangers it can hold and it was so relevant for me. If you’ve read The Marriage Pact and enjoyed it, grab this one because it was vaguely reminiscent but I liked this one more, it wasn’t as odd as that one but had the same great cult like vibes.
The Social Affair in three words: Slick, Disturbing and Shocking.
Well hello Britney King, where have you been all of my life?! I love nothing more than supporting an indie author and when I find one that writes exactly the type of books I like it’s like unearthing a buried treasure. Britney King is that type of author for me now, The Social Affair was an intoxicating read, I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly having never read the author before and what I received was unexpected in the best possible way.
I’m sure you guys are getting a little tired of seeing me say that I don’t want to discuss the plot of a book or to go in blind, I’m sorry in advance but my solid advice stands. Not knowing which direction a story will head from minute to minute is one of my favorite parts about reading and I promise you that if you like the description of this one, I bet you’ll like it even more than you think.
Here’s what I will say, this had a hip, edgy and current vibe that felt fresh and bold. It revolves around social media and the appeal and dangers it can hold and it was so relevant for me. If you’ve read The Marriage Pact and enjoyed it, grab this one because it was vaguely reminiscent but I liked this one more, it wasn’t as odd as that one but had the same great cult like vibes.
The Social Affair in three words: Slick, Disturbing and Shocking.
January 19, 2018
This book was a fun, fast, wild ride! Recommended if you're looking for a dark, twisted psychological thriller to get lost in for a few hours.
January 22, 2018
Thanks to the author and publisher for an advanced ebook copy and blog tour spot in exchange for my honest review!
I've heard so many amazing things about Britney King floating around Bookstagram and I'm embarrassed to say that this was my first book by her. Better late than never! THE SOCIAL AFFAIR was amazing in every way for a thriller fan. Intense, stalkers, cults - what more could we ask for?
I'm always hesitant when I see that a book is being compared to GONE GIRL or BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, because lets face it, most don't come close. I was not disappointed and this can definitely hang with the big thriller titles! I was sucked in from the first page and didn't stop until it was over. Be warned, this is a binge-read, so clear some time in your schedule!
Izzy is down on her luck and barely making end's meet. After Jake passed away she's been blindly going through life making one bad decision after the next. Until one day she meets Josie and Grant Dunn. The perfect couple that has it all. She is instantly enamored with them and goes to social media to find them, once she does she finds herself completely immersed in their lives and wanting to be just like them. As we all know, the picture-perfect family and life is never what it seems. We are introduced to the New Hope church and we learn the Dunn's involvement with them and the lengths they must go to in order to keep their perfect life.
One thing I loved about this book was the element of the present-day stalking. Come on, we've all done it on social media. You find yourself searching all over Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for certain people or events. The obsession that can come with having social media profiles is so relevant - constantly checking notifications, likes on a photo or status, number of followers, etc. It's so easy to get sucked into your phone. With this book being just under 300 pages, it really packs a punch at the end. Most people that love thrillers can typically predict the endings, but this one, you will definitely not see that ending coming!
Overall, if you want a unique and engrossing thriller, then you need to pick up THE SOCIAL AFFAIR. I've already ordered more of Britney King's books and can't wait to start!
I give this 5/5 stars!
I've heard so many amazing things about Britney King floating around Bookstagram and I'm embarrassed to say that this was my first book by her. Better late than never! THE SOCIAL AFFAIR was amazing in every way for a thriller fan. Intense, stalkers, cults - what more could we ask for?
I'm always hesitant when I see that a book is being compared to GONE GIRL or BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, because lets face it, most don't come close. I was not disappointed and this can definitely hang with the big thriller titles! I was sucked in from the first page and didn't stop until it was over. Be warned, this is a binge-read, so clear some time in your schedule!
Izzy is down on her luck and barely making end's meet. After Jake passed away she's been blindly going through life making one bad decision after the next. Until one day she meets Josie and Grant Dunn. The perfect couple that has it all. She is instantly enamored with them and goes to social media to find them, once she does she finds herself completely immersed in their lives and wanting to be just like them. As we all know, the picture-perfect family and life is never what it seems. We are introduced to the New Hope church and we learn the Dunn's involvement with them and the lengths they must go to in order to keep their perfect life.
One thing I loved about this book was the element of the present-day stalking. Come on, we've all done it on social media. You find yourself searching all over Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for certain people or events. The obsession that can come with having social media profiles is so relevant - constantly checking notifications, likes on a photo or status, number of followers, etc. It's so easy to get sucked into your phone. With this book being just under 300 pages, it really packs a punch at the end. Most people that love thrillers can typically predict the endings, but this one, you will definitely not see that ending coming!
Overall, if you want a unique and engrossing thriller, then you need to pick up THE SOCIAL AFFAIR. I've already ordered more of Britney King's books and can't wait to start!
I give this 5/5 stars!
June 18, 2018
Izzy Lewis is blown away when the perfect couple walks through the doors of the coffee shop where she works. Instantly she needs to know more about this couple and naturally Googles them and begins stalking the wife, Josie Dunn, on Instalook. Josie is not only one half of a perfect couple, but also lives the perfect life. Her photos show a woman who is clearly adored by her husband, glamorous outfits, exciting get togethers with friends, wonderful children, and all the things that could make an average person jealous. Izzy is unable to look away and focusing on this couple is just what she needs to lift up her depressing life that has taken a toward spiral after the death of her husband, Joshua.
Josie Dunn lives the life you want, just ask her social media presence! She is the face of perfection and her family are the poster children for a new church known as New Hope. The congregation of New Hope was founded by the Dunn family and their close friends as a place where religion leads the guidelines of life. As the guidelines have become stricter over time the group has started to be perceived as radical and cult-like. Is gaining the life Josie has really worth losing who you are as a person in order to fit the picturesque mold of New Hope?
THE SOCIAL AFFAIR is an addictive read straight into the minds of two women and the tangled webs they weave, which bring their lives closer and closer together. King alternates chapters between Izzy and Josie narrating, so that the reader is able to see the multiple sides of the story that is unfolding. At points you want to cheer for everyone, but in the end I was left wondering if I truly liked any of the characters. At some point you learn that these characters all have wildly unlikeable characteristics about them, but you can’t tear your eyes away from the car crash that is life happening in front of your eyes. I was instantly immersed and invested in THE SOCIAL AFFAIR to the point where I was pages away from finishing the book after a flight (darn you pesky guy in the seat next to me for wanting to chat!). I’m eager to check out King’s latest novel, THE REPLACEMENT WIFE, as it focuses on characters you meet in THE SOCIAL AFFAIR, but from a fresh storyline and more emphasis on the New Hope cult.
Josie Dunn lives the life you want, just ask her social media presence! She is the face of perfection and her family are the poster children for a new church known as New Hope. The congregation of New Hope was founded by the Dunn family and their close friends as a place where religion leads the guidelines of life. As the guidelines have become stricter over time the group has started to be perceived as radical and cult-like. Is gaining the life Josie has really worth losing who you are as a person in order to fit the picturesque mold of New Hope?
THE SOCIAL AFFAIR is an addictive read straight into the minds of two women and the tangled webs they weave, which bring their lives closer and closer together. King alternates chapters between Izzy and Josie narrating, so that the reader is able to see the multiple sides of the story that is unfolding. At points you want to cheer for everyone, but in the end I was left wondering if I truly liked any of the characters. At some point you learn that these characters all have wildly unlikeable characteristics about them, but you can’t tear your eyes away from the car crash that is life happening in front of your eyes. I was instantly immersed and invested in THE SOCIAL AFFAIR to the point where I was pages away from finishing the book after a flight (darn you pesky guy in the seat next to me for wanting to chat!). I’m eager to check out King’s latest novel, THE REPLACEMENT WIFE, as it focuses on characters you meet in THE SOCIAL AFFAIR, but from a fresh storyline and more emphasis on the New Hope cult.
January 19, 2018
The reality of who someone is online and the reality of who that person is in real life are often two different things.' - Izzy, The Social Affair
Britney King's The Social Affair is so realistic it's frightening. This is likely my favorite Britney King novel to date. She pushes the boundaries without going too far. We follow the lives of seemingly the perfect couple and their family, as well as an outside character who becomes obsessed with following their lives on social media. Does the obsession end there? I have a feeling you can guess the answer to that question. The Social Affair is about more than cyber stalking though. It reveals how easy it is to find someone based off their social media posts, the horrors that are cyber bullying and how the 'perfect marriage' or the 'perfect life' is often anything but perfect. This tale of obsession will have you hooked and catch you off guard. There were more than a few moments that left me furious with some of the characters and their behaviors. In true book-lover-fashion I was left wanting a bit more. I will say that I absolutely loved the ending, I felt as though she wrapped up the dose of karma I wanted to personally dish out with a messy bow. However, there were other aspects of the story that I became fascinated with and I would love to have gone deeper into those. I know, I'm selfish. I can admit it. I wanted to know more about the church cult they attended and more about Josh, Izzy's previous partner. However, those are just two aspects that I personally want to know more about and not knowing them doesn't at all take away from the story.
Please be advised that spousal abuse is present in this novel.
I give The Social Affair 4.5 obsessive stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author, Britney King, for providing me with a free review copy. All opinions are my own.
Britney King's The Social Affair is so realistic it's frightening. This is likely my favorite Britney King novel to date. She pushes the boundaries without going too far. We follow the lives of seemingly the perfect couple and their family, as well as an outside character who becomes obsessed with following their lives on social media. Does the obsession end there? I have a feeling you can guess the answer to that question. The Social Affair is about more than cyber stalking though. It reveals how easy it is to find someone based off their social media posts, the horrors that are cyber bullying and how the 'perfect marriage' or the 'perfect life' is often anything but perfect. This tale of obsession will have you hooked and catch you off guard. There were more than a few moments that left me furious with some of the characters and their behaviors. In true book-lover-fashion I was left wanting a bit more. I will say that I absolutely loved the ending, I felt as though she wrapped up the dose of karma I wanted to personally dish out with a messy bow. However, there were other aspects of the story that I became fascinated with and I would love to have gone deeper into those. I know, I'm selfish. I can admit it. I wanted to know more about the church cult they attended and more about Josh, Izzy's previous partner. However, those are just two aspects that I personally want to know more about and not knowing them doesn't at all take away from the story.
Please be advised that spousal abuse is present in this novel.
I give The Social Affair 4.5 obsessive stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author, Britney King, for providing me with a free review copy. All opinions are my own.
February 10, 2019
When you tell friends you're a fan of psychological thrillers and they gift books, you have to read them. This had some good elements that piqued my interest but there were also some problem areas that left me unsatisfied by the book's end. The social media take was an interesting one as a cautionary tale for two types of users. I'm neither type and thought both Josie and Izzy foolish in their usage.
I liked that it was told in two perspectives but Josie and Izzy's voices were not distinct enough, which they should have been. Surprisingly, the teenage Dunns didn't add much to the story at all. Avery seemed only used to give Izzy another inroad to the Dunns lives and the son (whose name I can't even remember even though I just finished the book yesterday) was even less relevant and may just have been around to round out the Dunns to a family of four. Grant was one of the better constructed characters as he's shown through both women's eyes.
I never felt that the case was made as to what it was about Izzy that interested Grant nor make him feel he could have her as a replacement of Josie. If Josie couldn't keep up the New Hope expectations and agreements, there was no hope Izzy could. I couldn't even picture him in her apartment because the state of disorder, unkemptness and likely smell she existed in. She was also unpredictable and unstable. It just never tracked for me
Funnily enough, the New Hope church was the thing that bothered me most here (and that's saying something because the domestic violence was terrifying). Very little information is given about it but it's arguably the thing that the Dunns life hangs on. There isn't one scene of them actually at church or interacting in any way with it outside of conspicuous consumption, social media and wives being in service of keeping other wives in line. And whatever tenants are, the only ones related have to do with women acceding to sex on demand, deference to husbands always and stringent exercise regimens to keep their weight in line. I never understood what the wives were getting in the agreement other than material comfort because it didn't seem any husband of the church presented here were bothering to be fidelitous, the battery was fine and they were open to murder if a wife proved too difficult to manage. That more than anything else makes me want to read the next book (and since I have it, I will). There's only one character here that I care to see again and that's Beth. She's got some Serena Joy thing going on and that is interesting.
I found it a very quick read and just about unputdownable because I wanted to know more. As psychological thrillers go, I'd call this a starter book. If you're looking for a taste of the genre it's fine. If you're a fan and read more polished types of the genre, this one is likely to just be okay.
I liked that it was told in two perspectives but Josie and Izzy's voices were not distinct enough, which they should have been. Surprisingly, the teenage Dunns didn't add much to the story at all. Avery seemed only used to give Izzy another inroad to the Dunns lives and the son (whose name I can't even remember even though I just finished the book yesterday) was even less relevant and may just have been around to round out the Dunns to a family of four. Grant was one of the better constructed characters as he's shown through both women's eyes.
I never felt that the case was made as to what it was about Izzy that interested Grant nor make him feel he could have her as a replacement of Josie. If Josie couldn't keep up the New Hope expectations and agreements, there was no hope Izzy could. I couldn't even picture him in her apartment because the state of disorder, unkemptness and likely smell she existed in. She was also unpredictable and unstable. It just never tracked for me
Funnily enough, the New Hope church was the thing that bothered me most here (and that's saying something because the domestic violence was terrifying). Very little information is given about it but it's arguably the thing that the Dunns life hangs on. There isn't one scene of them actually at church or interacting in any way with it outside of conspicuous consumption, social media and wives being in service of keeping other wives in line. And whatever tenants are, the only ones related have to do with women acceding to sex on demand, deference to husbands always and stringent exercise regimens to keep their weight in line. I never understood what the wives were getting in the agreement other than material comfort because it didn't seem any husband of the church presented here were bothering to be fidelitous, the battery was fine and they were open to murder if a wife proved too difficult to manage. That more than anything else makes me want to read the next book (and since I have it, I will). There's only one character here that I care to see again and that's Beth. She's got some Serena Joy thing going on and that is interesting.
I found it a very quick read and just about unputdownable because I wanted to know more. As psychological thrillers go, I'd call this a starter book. If you're looking for a taste of the genre it's fine. If you're a fan and read more polished types of the genre, this one is likely to just be okay.
February 19, 2018
This book was very reminiscent of “The Memory Watcher” by Minka Kent. Although the writing engaged me, I felt like the story sometimes jumped in time without explanation, and often lost focus, leaving many things unanswered, so, it was just ok for me.
January 24, 2018
The Social Affair is kind of like The Last Mrs. Parrish meets 50 Shades of Grey (not the BDSM stuff, but the way Ana and Christian interact). This story has a ton of interesting aspects - stalking, dramatic relationships, secrets, and a cult-like religion.
This story was confusing at times. It may have just been me, but I felt like it read like more information would be given about the past later on. This information never came - little tidbits were thrown to keep me very intrigued, and then I got to the ending, and still had a ton of questions about the background information.
It went in a bit of a predictable direction, but there have just been a lot of domestic thrillers with stalking storylines released in the last year, so I may just be getting burned out.
Overall, I did like it, and was very interested in seeing where it was going to go. I just wish there would have been more background information because there were so many promising ideas that could have been expanded upon.
This story was confusing at times. It may have just been me, but I felt like it read like more information would be given about the past later on. This information never came - little tidbits were thrown to keep me very intrigued, and then I got to the ending, and still had a ton of questions about the background information.
It went in a bit of a predictable direction, but there have just been a lot of domestic thrillers with stalking storylines released in the last year, so I may just be getting burned out.
Overall, I did like it, and was very interested in seeing where it was going to go. I just wish there would have been more background information because there were so many promising ideas that could have been expanded upon.
April 13, 2023
I have had my eye on Britney King for some time now and what I found in The Social Affair is so much more than I expected. At first, I was disappointed, thinking I had either read it before, or a book just like it, or seen something like it on a TV show. BUT, by the time I was done, I was amazed. She took this disturbing, dark, psychological thriller to a place I didn’t see coming. The twists and turn kept me on my toes and left me with a big smile on my face. I hope you don’t judge me unkindly, but the darker, more evil the plot, the more I get lost in the villains and victims, and the things that will be done to them, and I LOVED IT! Fabulous ending and one that was a total surprise. The excellent writing and pacing kept me flipping pages until the last page was turned.
March 7, 2018
There's something about a thriller being told in 2 points of view...I get sucked in and cannot put it down!! This was just that. Josie and Izzy kept me hooked! BUT, I always cringe a bit when a writer includes harsh domestic violence circumstances (and not to *spoil* but one scene in particular is rather disturbing). This book is a good lesson in today's social media obsessed culture. There are definitely Josie's and Izzy's living among us...
March 3, 2018
"I read a quote once that said...a true mark of maturity is when someone hurts you, and you try to understand their situation instead of trying to hurt them back. This seems idealistic now. I wish someone had warned me. Enough of that kind of thinking will get you killed."
Britney King's The Social Affair is a sizzling psychological thriller that oozes with tension and suspense. Izzy is a coffee shop barista unhappy with her minimum wage job. When the beautiful and charming Grant and Josie Dunn walk into her coffee shop, Izzy sees a way out of her lackadaisical life.
Grant and Josie appear to have everything Izzy desires but lacks: they are confident, wealthy beyond measure, and, from all appearances, madly in love with one another. They have two adoring children and a towering mansion. They are heavily involved in a church, and appear to be upstanding citizens to the community. They are the perfect family....or so it seems.
Izzy quietly stalks Josie Dunn's "Instalook" (aka Instagram) posts. Josie has a large following who desire her lavish lifestyle and to die for looks. The reader is told that Izzy's husband just passed away, and that she is in mourning. Izzy begins to daydream about Josie's life, imagining herself in Josie's shoes. Josie shows up again at the coffee shop, allowing Izzy to further inch her way into Josie's family life. Izzy claws deeper and deeper into every facet of the Dunns' life, becoming Grant's lover behind Josie's back.
Is Izzy being played by the Dunns, or is she playing them?
I can't reveal much more of the plot without revealing the plot twist, but it was surprising to me even as a seasoned psychological thriller and suspense reader. I love supporting indie authors, so I was excited to see this book being discussed by other book bloggers! Thank you to Chelsea of The Suspense is Thrilling Me for alerting me to this book - so glad I purchased a copy. I will warn those of you who are triggered by domestic violence that this might not be a good book for you, but most domestic thrillers involve violence.
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram
Britney King's The Social Affair is a sizzling psychological thriller that oozes with tension and suspense. Izzy is a coffee shop barista unhappy with her minimum wage job. When the beautiful and charming Grant and Josie Dunn walk into her coffee shop, Izzy sees a way out of her lackadaisical life.
Grant and Josie appear to have everything Izzy desires but lacks: they are confident, wealthy beyond measure, and, from all appearances, madly in love with one another. They have two adoring children and a towering mansion. They are heavily involved in a church, and appear to be upstanding citizens to the community. They are the perfect family....or so it seems.
Izzy quietly stalks Josie Dunn's "Instalook" (aka Instagram) posts. Josie has a large following who desire her lavish lifestyle and to die for looks. The reader is told that Izzy's husband just passed away, and that she is in mourning. Izzy begins to daydream about Josie's life, imagining herself in Josie's shoes. Josie shows up again at the coffee shop, allowing Izzy to further inch her way into Josie's family life. Izzy claws deeper and deeper into every facet of the Dunns' life, becoming Grant's lover behind Josie's back.
Is Izzy being played by the Dunns, or is she playing them?
I can't reveal much more of the plot without revealing the plot twist, but it was surprising to me even as a seasoned psychological thriller and suspense reader. I love supporting indie authors, so I was excited to see this book being discussed by other book bloggers! Thank you to Chelsea of The Suspense is Thrilling Me for alerting me to this book - so glad I purchased a copy. I will warn those of you who are triggered by domestic violence that this might not be a good book for you, but most domestic thrillers involve violence.
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram
January 12, 2018
I was gifted this book by the author, and I'm so glad that I was! I've read several of Britney's books now- her Bedrock Series, and her Water Under the Bridge trilogy, and I've enjoyed them all. But this book is quite possibly the most shocking and twisted psychological thriller she has written yet. Izzy is a barista at a local shop, and the perfect couple Grant and Josie comes into her shop. But things are not always as they may seem. Check this out for a thrilling, edge of your seat suspense read. And be sure to read Britney's other thrillers too.
February 6, 2018
Release Date: January 18, 2018
Genre: Psychological Thriller. Domestic Thriller.
I picked up this book based on a fellow bloggers recommendation and I am really glad I did. This book is everything I crave in a psychological thriller/ domestic thriller with twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I didn't know which characters to trust, which ones to feel sorry for, or which ones were being honest within the story. It is purely mind-boggling and intense to read. Now, you may be wondering why I didn't go ahead and give it a 5 star rating because it seems like it deserves it. And this may be true- it does deserve it. However, I have recently read something a bit similar and think I was confusing the two stories in certain moments. This is why I went down a star (or technically, a half a star). But for all intents and purposes, this is a very good thriller and one that I would highly recommend to fellow readers who enjoy the genre. This is certainly going to be on the top of my favorites list for 2018.
MORE ABOUT THE STORY
The Social Affair is told in two perspectives, one of a wife and mother and the other a woman who wants her life. But there are things going on behind closed doors and what appears to be a fantastic life may be anything but. It's too bad Izzy doesn't know this though before "stalking" her way into someones life.
I won't go into too many details about this one because it would spoil the entire story, but I will say that people you think you are going to hate are going to slowly make their way into your heart. Furthermore, those you may think you love will suddenly make your blood run cold.
OVERALL THOUGHTS OF THE BOOK
Overall, I really REALLY liked this book. It is my first read from the author and won't be my last based on this novel. It's interesting, fairly original, and have a great cast of characters that will make your head spin.
If you like psychological thrillers and/or domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators and mind blowing twists and turns then I would recommend this one to you. It's priced great too as it is only $3.99 on kindle (nothing like the other new thrillers out there that are twelve dollars and above!).
RECOMMENDED READ. 4.5 STARS
PURCHASE A COPY
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2GUaMm9
Amazon Print: http://amzn.to/2E6ySwb
Want more book reviews, recommendations, sales, upcoming releases, and other bookish stuff?? You can find all of this on my blog >> http://bit.ly/2zWy7QJ
LET'S CONNECT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettylittle...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrettyLilBooks
Genre: Psychological Thriller. Domestic Thriller.
I picked up this book based on a fellow bloggers recommendation and I am really glad I did. This book is everything I crave in a psychological thriller/ domestic thriller with twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I didn't know which characters to trust, which ones to feel sorry for, or which ones were being honest within the story. It is purely mind-boggling and intense to read. Now, you may be wondering why I didn't go ahead and give it a 5 star rating because it seems like it deserves it. And this may be true- it does deserve it. However, I have recently read something a bit similar and think I was confusing the two stories in certain moments. This is why I went down a star (or technically, a half a star). But for all intents and purposes, this is a very good thriller and one that I would highly recommend to fellow readers who enjoy the genre. This is certainly going to be on the top of my favorites list for 2018.
MORE ABOUT THE STORY
The Social Affair is told in two perspectives, one of a wife and mother and the other a woman who wants her life. But there are things going on behind closed doors and what appears to be a fantastic life may be anything but. It's too bad Izzy doesn't know this though before "stalking" her way into someones life.
I won't go into too many details about this one because it would spoil the entire story, but I will say that people you think you are going to hate are going to slowly make their way into your heart. Furthermore, those you may think you love will suddenly make your blood run cold.
OVERALL THOUGHTS OF THE BOOK
Overall, I really REALLY liked this book. It is my first read from the author and won't be my last based on this novel. It's interesting, fairly original, and have a great cast of characters that will make your head spin.
If you like psychological thrillers and/or domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators and mind blowing twists and turns then I would recommend this one to you. It's priced great too as it is only $3.99 on kindle (nothing like the other new thrillers out there that are twelve dollars and above!).
RECOMMENDED READ. 4.5 STARS
PURCHASE A COPY
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2GUaMm9
Amazon Print: http://amzn.to/2E6ySwb
Want more book reviews, recommendations, sales, upcoming releases, and other bookish stuff?? You can find all of this on my blog >> http://bit.ly/2zWy7QJ
LET'S CONNECT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettylittle...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrettyLilBooks
January 30, 2018
Another satisfying thriller! I didn't see the twist coming really.
January 26, 2018
Oh my dayz. I have read two trilogies by this author and loved them. My expectations were high for this story and Britney has exceeded my expectations with this gripping read.
I’m not going to go into the storyline. I advise you just go in blind as this story has a brilliant storyline.
This is a disturbing psychological thriller that had me gripped from start to finish. I literally inhaled this story yet I didn’t want it to end. No matter how I tried I couldn’t predict how the story was going to enfold. Great praise to the author. I hope she’s busy writing more as this was incredible.
I’m not going to go into the storyline. I advise you just go in blind as this story has a brilliant storyline.
This is a disturbing psychological thriller that had me gripped from start to finish. I literally inhaled this story yet I didn’t want it to end. No matter how I tried I couldn’t predict how the story was going to enfold. Great praise to the author. I hope she’s busy writing more as this was incredible.
February 3, 2018
This was such a fun and addictive read and I killed it in an afternoon. It was also very disturbing and psychologically manipulative - I was literally itchy during some scenes of the book because I felt so suffocated by characters' horrible actions. It kept me guessing the entire book. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2018
Honest to god... I’m speechless!!! This book kept me on edge through the whole story... then BAM, I was dropped was off a cliff. That wasn’t an ending I had even contemplated... and I LOVED IT!!!! Wow... just WOW.
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