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Her Name Was Rose
The USA Today bestseller
‘AMAZING. I read it in one go. I was totally hooked.’ MARIAN KEYES
‘Utterly addictive. Compulsive, twisty, tense.’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS, author of Local Girl Missing
Her name was Rose. You watched her die. And her death has created a vacancy.
When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines that split second will change her life. But after Emily watches a car plough into the young mother – killing her instantly – she finds herself unable to move on.
And then she makes a decision she can never take back.
Because Rose had everything Emily had ever dreamed of. A beautiful, loving family, a great job and a stunning home. And now Rose’s husband misses his wife, and their son needs a mother. Why couldn’t Emily fill that space?
But as Emily is about to discover, no one’s life is perfect … and not everything is as it seems.
'A powerful and emotional psychological thriller that will keep you guessing and leave you breathless.' C. L. TAYLOR, author of The Fear
‘I devoured it in a couple of days. Claire Allan managed to maintain an unsettling sense of unease that started at the very beginning and didn't let up at all.’ ELLE CROFT, author of The Guilty Wife
‘A psychological thriller with a taut, emotionally challenging and unlike so many thrillers, each twist and turn is here because it deserves to be and not for the sake of it.’ JOHN MARRS, author of THE ONE
‘AMAZING. I read it in one go. I was totally hooked.’ MARIAN KEYES
‘Utterly addictive. Compulsive, twisty, tense.’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS, author of Local Girl Missing
Her name was Rose. You watched her die. And her death has created a vacancy.
When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines that split second will change her life. But after Emily watches a car plough into the young mother – killing her instantly – she finds herself unable to move on.
And then she makes a decision she can never take back.
Because Rose had everything Emily had ever dreamed of. A beautiful, loving family, a great job and a stunning home. And now Rose’s husband misses his wife, and their son needs a mother. Why couldn’t Emily fill that space?
But as Emily is about to discover, no one’s life is perfect … and not everything is as it seems.
'A powerful and emotional psychological thriller that will keep you guessing and leave you breathless.' C. L. TAYLOR, author of The Fear
‘I devoured it in a couple of days. Claire Allan managed to maintain an unsettling sense of unease that started at the very beginning and didn't let up at all.’ ELLE CROFT, author of The Guilty Wife
‘A psychological thriller with a taut, emotionally challenging and unlike so many thrillers, each twist and turn is here because it deserves to be and not for the sake of it.’ JOHN MARRS, author of THE ONE
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 990 reviews
July 9, 2018
EXCERPT: It should have been me. I should have been the one who was tossed in the air by the impact of a car that didn't stop. 'Like a ragdoll,' the papers said.
I had seen it. She wasn't like a ragdoll. A ragdoll is soft, malleable even. This impact was not soft. There were no cushions. No graceful flight through the air. No softness.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Her name was Rose. You watched her die. And her death has created a vacancy.
When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines that split second will change her life. But after Emily watches a car plough into the young mother – killing her instantly – she finds herself unable to move on.
And then she makes a decision she can never take back.
Because Rose had everything Emily had ever dreamed of. A beautiful, loving family, a great job and a stunning home. And now Rose’s husband misses his wife, and their son needs a mother. Why couldn’t Emily fill that space?
But as Emily is about to discover, no one’s life is perfect … and not everything is as it seems.
MY THOUGHTS: Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan starts slowly, slowly sucking the reader into a vortex where it is impossible to know who to trust, who to believe. Just having finished this read, I feel shaken, still not sure which way is up, like I have just fallen from a giant tumble drier. But wow! What a ride. I enjoyed every page more than the last and wish I could have read it in one sitting. There are a few implausibilities but honestly?, I was so invested in the story that they really didn't matter. That rarely happens to me; usually these things niggle away at me, detracting from my enjoyment, but not this time.
4.5 stars and I will be checking out this author's other books.
Thank you to Avon Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I had seen it. She wasn't like a ragdoll. A ragdoll is soft, malleable even. This impact was not soft. There were no cushions. No graceful flight through the air. No softness.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Her name was Rose. You watched her die. And her death has created a vacancy.
When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines that split second will change her life. But after Emily watches a car plough into the young mother – killing her instantly – she finds herself unable to move on.
And then she makes a decision she can never take back.
Because Rose had everything Emily had ever dreamed of. A beautiful, loving family, a great job and a stunning home. And now Rose’s husband misses his wife, and their son needs a mother. Why couldn’t Emily fill that space?
But as Emily is about to discover, no one’s life is perfect … and not everything is as it seems.
MY THOUGHTS: Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan starts slowly, slowly sucking the reader into a vortex where it is impossible to know who to trust, who to believe. Just having finished this read, I feel shaken, still not sure which way is up, like I have just fallen from a giant tumble drier. But wow! What a ride. I enjoyed every page more than the last and wish I could have read it in one sitting. There are a few implausibilities but honestly?, I was so invested in the story that they really didn't matter. That rarely happens to me; usually these things niggle away at me, detracting from my enjoyment, but not this time.
4.5 stars and I will be checking out this author's other books.
Thank you to Avon Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 13, 2018
4☆ Gripping Psychological thriller
Her Name was Rose is a chilling psychological thriller.
We have nearly all heard of the saying, we always want something we can't have!
Well this is exactly the case with this book.
Emily wants a new life. One that she feels loved and valued. You see she was in an abusive relationship.
So when she witnesses something awful.
She becomes obsessed with the victims life.
That victim would be Rose!
Emily becomes fixated/ infatuated with Rose's life. But not just discovering it in the background.
She wants Rose's life and is more than happy to take it, no matter what the cost is.
But not everything is as perfect behind closed doors!
Emily isn't exactly the most likeable character. But she's not meant to be. She's damaged and needy and that makes her unpredictable but the perfect character.
I really did enjoy this chilling psychological thriller. The pace is a little slower but as the plot thickens so does the pace.
There are plenty of twists that kept me guessing.
It's full of mystery, intrigue, suspense and it kept me gripped the whole time.
If you enjoy Pyschological Thrillers with a good dose of mystery, that makes for a compulsive read. Then you will want to make sure you read Her Name was Rose.
It's hard to believe this is CLAIRE ALLAN debut psychological thriller novel. I'm very excited to read more!
Thank you to Avon Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Her Name was Rose is a chilling psychological thriller.
We have nearly all heard of the saying, we always want something we can't have!
Well this is exactly the case with this book.
Emily wants a new life. One that she feels loved and valued. You see she was in an abusive relationship.
So when she witnesses something awful.
She becomes obsessed with the victims life.
That victim would be Rose!
Emily becomes fixated/ infatuated with Rose's life. But not just discovering it in the background.
She wants Rose's life and is more than happy to take it, no matter what the cost is.
But not everything is as perfect behind closed doors!
Emily isn't exactly the most likeable character. But she's not meant to be. She's damaged and needy and that makes her unpredictable but the perfect character.
I really did enjoy this chilling psychological thriller. The pace is a little slower but as the plot thickens so does the pace.
There are plenty of twists that kept me guessing.
It's full of mystery, intrigue, suspense and it kept me gripped the whole time.
If you enjoy Pyschological Thrillers with a good dose of mystery, that makes for a compulsive read. Then you will want to make sure you read Her Name was Rose.
It's hard to believe this is CLAIRE ALLAN debut psychological thriller novel. I'm very excited to read more!
Thank you to Avon Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
July 8, 2018
Have you ever started a trip and you are sure you know the way? In fact, you don’t even GPS it because you tell yourself that it’s down this road but suddenly you see a street on your right and that seems like the way to go. So you make the right turn to get to your destination but that’s wrong so you turn again and while that road looks familiar, it is still not the way.
Eventually, you get there but your trip took a few detours because it turns out that you weren’t really as familiar with that path as you thought.
Claire Allan’s book, Her Name was Rose, is like that trip. It seems familiar at times but at the end it takes you down a few streets that are brand new.
Main character, Emily, witnesses the hit and run of a woman. Her name was Rose. Emily becomes obsessed with Rose and her life. She immerses herself into Rose’s world in a near stalkerlike fashion.
As Emily struggles to come to terms with her own troubled past and demons, she tries to learn everything about the seemingly perfect life of Rose. Looks can be deceiving and will Emily see the truth before it is too late.
Claire Allan’s psychological thriller was addictive, complex and full of all the twists and turns of a great book that you won’t want to put down.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book. This did not effect my review of this book. #netgalley #hernamewasrose #claireallan
Eventually, you get there but your trip took a few detours because it turns out that you weren’t really as familiar with that path as you thought.
Claire Allan’s book, Her Name was Rose, is like that trip. It seems familiar at times but at the end it takes you down a few streets that are brand new.
Main character, Emily, witnesses the hit and run of a woman. Her name was Rose. Emily becomes obsessed with Rose and her life. She immerses herself into Rose’s world in a near stalkerlike fashion.
As Emily struggles to come to terms with her own troubled past and demons, she tries to learn everything about the seemingly perfect life of Rose. Looks can be deceiving and will Emily see the truth before it is too late.
Claire Allan’s psychological thriller was addictive, complex and full of all the twists and turns of a great book that you won’t want to put down.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book. This did not effect my review of this book. #netgalley #hernamewasrose #claireallan
August 17, 2018
Emily is sharing a lift with stranger Rose and her son Jack, when the lift door opens Emily smiles and lets them exit the lift first, as they walk towards the road Emily sees Rose step into the path of a speeding car that knocks into her, killing her instantly. Emily thinks the car was meant to have hit her!!
Emily after splitting with her ex Ben has been using Anti Anxiety pills and alcohol as an emotional crutch, she becomes obsessed at looking at Rosie’s happy life on Facebook. From the outside they look like they had the perfect life and happy marriage,but as we all know we only see what people want us to see and with everybody sharing their happy memories on Facebook it is easy to see why people can become jealous of somebody else’s life!!!
A book that starts with the shocking scene of Rosie’s death,that keeps you fully immersed, there are loads of red herrings along the way to keep you guessing until the final page.
An easy reading book I read in 1 sitting and the ending has left me quite dizzy!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Emily after splitting with her ex Ben has been using Anti Anxiety pills and alcohol as an emotional crutch, she becomes obsessed at looking at Rosie’s happy life on Facebook. From the outside they look like they had the perfect life and happy marriage,but as we all know we only see what people want us to see and with everybody sharing their happy memories on Facebook it is easy to see why people can become jealous of somebody else’s life!!!
A book that starts with the shocking scene of Rosie’s death,that keeps you fully immersed, there are loads of red herrings along the way to keep you guessing until the final page.
An easy reading book I read in 1 sitting and the ending has left me quite dizzy!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
May 27, 2018
Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan was psychological thriller that keep me engaged all the way through. Emily witnesses a hit and run accident and it leaves her very shaken. She then becomes obsessed with the victim of the accident Rose and wants to find out everything about her life. This has far reaching consequences that means Emily becomes more and more involved with Rose's work colleagues and family. Quite a few twists and turns in this story and an ending I didn't see coming.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2018
HER NAME WAS ROSE is a psychological thriller by author Claire Allan. This is the first book that I requested and was approved on Edelweiss, a new site I recently joined. How exciting!
This was a commanding and emotional psychological thrill that keeps you guessing all the way through.
Her name was Rose. You watched her die. And her death has created a vacancy.
When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines that split second will change her life. But after Emily watches a car plough into the young mother – killing her instantly – she finds herself unable to move on.
And then the story takes off with a decision she can never change!
Emily is a needy individual who has come out of an abusive relationship feeling lost. She just wants to be loved!
Emily becomes obsessed with Rose’s life. Rose had everything Emily had ever wanted…a loving family, with a husband and a son living in a spectacular home. And Emily longs to fill that gap…but at what cost?
Emily will soon learn that no one’s life is perfect … and not everything is as it seems.
Claire Allan’s psychological thriller was addictive and full of twists and turns that make for a great book. I found that I was totally absorbed in this story, not just because it is a mystery but based on the well-developed characters that added strength to the novel.
Many thanks to Claire Allan, Avon (HarperCollins) and Edelweiss for my copy.
This was a commanding and emotional psychological thrill that keeps you guessing all the way through.
Her name was Rose. You watched her die. And her death has created a vacancy.
When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines that split second will change her life. But after Emily watches a car plough into the young mother – killing her instantly – she finds herself unable to move on.
And then the story takes off with a decision she can never change!
Emily is a needy individual who has come out of an abusive relationship feeling lost. She just wants to be loved!
Emily becomes obsessed with Rose’s life. Rose had everything Emily had ever wanted…a loving family, with a husband and a son living in a spectacular home. And Emily longs to fill that gap…but at what cost?
Emily will soon learn that no one’s life is perfect … and not everything is as it seems.
Claire Allan’s psychological thriller was addictive and full of twists and turns that make for a great book. I found that I was totally absorbed in this story, not just because it is a mystery but based on the well-developed characters that added strength to the novel.
Many thanks to Claire Allan, Avon (HarperCollins) and Edelweiss for my copy.
April 25, 2019
Reviews found on: www.booknerdtan.wordpress.com
MY FIRST READ OF 2019!!
I picked up this up after reading many good reviews about it during the summer/autumn last year and lets face it…the cover is pretty!
Emily witnessed Rose die right in front of her and cannot seem to shake the feeling that she was meant to be the one who was supposed to die instead of her. After the tragic accident, Emily becomes fixated on Rose and the life she led and slowly but surely slips into the life Rose left behind.
This was a slow burning, engaging and easy to read little thriller. I think I would have given this a full 4 stars if I wouldn’t have worked out the plot as early on as I did! But I guess that’s my own fault for reading too many thrillers…! What I enjoyed the most about this cosy, domestic thriller was the continuous questioning as to how Emily is getting away with falling into Rose’s life so seamlessly- like when is someone going to catch her out!
I think the main downfall of this book for me personally was the characters being fairly insufferable the majority of the time. Between Emily and Cian I just couldn’t find a redeemable quality between the both of them and it made it hard to engage with fully. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for problematic characters however, I usually like them to have some character trait that I can sympathise with.
I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters that were from Roses’ perspective from when she was still alive. I thought it added great dimension to the story and allowed us to further speculate what actually happened to her in the end.
Overall, this is a mysterious slow-burner that’s entertaining enough. If you read enough books within this genre then it’s probably nothing new for you.
MY FIRST READ OF 2019!!
I picked up this up after reading many good reviews about it during the summer/autumn last year and lets face it…the cover is pretty!
Emily witnessed Rose die right in front of her and cannot seem to shake the feeling that she was meant to be the one who was supposed to die instead of her. After the tragic accident, Emily becomes fixated on Rose and the life she led and slowly but surely slips into the life Rose left behind.
This was a slow burning, engaging and easy to read little thriller. I think I would have given this a full 4 stars if I wouldn’t have worked out the plot as early on as I did! But I guess that’s my own fault for reading too many thrillers…! What I enjoyed the most about this cosy, domestic thriller was the continuous questioning as to how Emily is getting away with falling into Rose’s life so seamlessly- like when is someone going to catch her out!
I think the main downfall of this book for me personally was the characters being fairly insufferable the majority of the time. Between Emily and Cian I just couldn’t find a redeemable quality between the both of them and it made it hard to engage with fully. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for problematic characters however, I usually like them to have some character trait that I can sympathise with.
I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters that were from Roses’ perspective from when she was still alive. I thought it added great dimension to the story and allowed us to further speculate what actually happened to her in the end.
Overall, this is a mysterious slow-burner that’s entertaining enough. If you read enough books within this genre then it’s probably nothing new for you.
June 28, 2018
When Emily lets a stranger step out in front of her, she never imagines in that split second will change her life.
When Emily sees a car plough into a young mother, killing her instantly, she finds it hard to move on. The woman's name was Rose, and Rose had everything Emily desired. Emily starts looking at Rose's social media learning all she can about her. Emily's life is not what she would like it to be and she is quickly convincing herself that she can take Rose's place. But did Rose have the life Emily longed for?
This is another one of these books I feel you can't give too much away as it will definitely spoil the plot for you. It's tense, gripping and you just have to keep turning the pages as you just want to find out more. This roller coaster read will have you on the edge of your seat. Loved it from the beginning to the end. This is the first book I have read from this author but it will not be the last. I read this book in one sitting.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books and the author Claire Allan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Emily sees a car plough into a young mother, killing her instantly, she finds it hard to move on. The woman's name was Rose, and Rose had everything Emily desired. Emily starts looking at Rose's social media learning all she can about her. Emily's life is not what she would like it to be and she is quickly convincing herself that she can take Rose's place. But did Rose have the life Emily longed for?
This is another one of these books I feel you can't give too much away as it will definitely spoil the plot for you. It's tense, gripping and you just have to keep turning the pages as you just want to find out more. This roller coaster read will have you on the edge of your seat. Loved it from the beginning to the end. This is the first book I have read from this author but it will not be the last. I read this book in one sitting.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books and the author Claire Allan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2018
Excerpt: It should have been me. I should have been the one who was tossed in the air by the impact of a car that didn’t stop. “Like a rag doll”, the papers said.
The book opens with that paragraph and I was hooked!
Emily had smiled at Rose and told her to “go ahead” as the lift doors opened.
Rose had smiled back, not knowing what she was walking towards.
But despite being a witness, Emily did not want to talk to the police, because the police had had quite enough of her once before...
Desperate to learn more about the “hit and run” accident that she walks away from, Emily needs to figure out if the car that hit Rose, was a car that was meant to hit her.
As she reads everything that she can about the victim, it certainly seems like it had been a mistake. Rose Grahame seemed to have the perfect life..loving husband..new baby..great job...so tragic that her life was cut short...
Because now that husband is lonely.
That baby is motherless.
That job position needs to be filled.
Perhaps Emily could take Rose’s place?
I could not read fast enough.
Was the car meant for Emily or for Rose? Who was behind this “accident “ and why?
Although Emily is our protagonist, you will get to hear from Rose as well, as you read her “Facebook” posts from the past.
This was Claire Allen’s debut in the psychological thriller genre, having previously published several books of Women’s Fiction, and I must say..I REALLY ENJOYED reading it!
I will be keeping my 👀 open for her next novel of suspense...and WHEN I CROSS THE STREET....
The book opens with that paragraph and I was hooked!
Emily had smiled at Rose and told her to “go ahead” as the lift doors opened.
Rose had smiled back, not knowing what she was walking towards.
But despite being a witness, Emily did not want to talk to the police, because the police had had quite enough of her once before...
Desperate to learn more about the “hit and run” accident that she walks away from, Emily needs to figure out if the car that hit Rose, was a car that was meant to hit her.
As she reads everything that she can about the victim, it certainly seems like it had been a mistake. Rose Grahame seemed to have the perfect life..loving husband..new baby..great job...so tragic that her life was cut short...
Because now that husband is lonely.
That baby is motherless.
That job position needs to be filled.
Perhaps Emily could take Rose’s place?
I could not read fast enough.
Was the car meant for Emily or for Rose? Who was behind this “accident “ and why?
Although Emily is our protagonist, you will get to hear from Rose as well, as you read her “Facebook” posts from the past.
This was Claire Allen’s debut in the psychological thriller genre, having previously published several books of Women’s Fiction, and I must say..I REALLY ENJOYED reading it!
I will be keeping my 👀 open for her next novel of suspense...and WHEN I CROSS THE STREET....
August 18, 2018
***3.5 stars!***
April 5, 2021
Why didn’t I read this sooner!
Totally, absolutely totally hooked with this devious, twisted enthralling unraveling story.
The blurb makes no hidden secret that Rose leaves a gap in her life that someone else fills.
Rose husband is bringing up their child, a very odd character who I thought seemed creepy. But it transpired that there was another person to me who was hiding something but I couldn’t think what.
I was so engrossed with this.
Fabulous storytelling at its best to keep the readers attention.
Has this author written more books?
I’m going to check Claire Allan out as I loved this thriller so much!
My one regret.....I wish I had got to this sooner.
If you haven’t read it yet (like me) and you like a fast paced thriller, please pick this up.
Totally, absolutely totally hooked with this devious, twisted enthralling unraveling story.
The blurb makes no hidden secret that Rose leaves a gap in her life that someone else fills.
Rose husband is bringing up their child, a very odd character who I thought seemed creepy. But it transpired that there was another person to me who was hiding something but I couldn’t think what.
I was so engrossed with this.
Fabulous storytelling at its best to keep the readers attention.
Has this author written more books?
I’m going to check Claire Allan out as I loved this thriller so much!
My one regret.....I wish I had got to this sooner.
If you haven’t read it yet (like me) and you like a fast paced thriller, please pick this up.
July 17, 2018
This book was such a positive surprise! I admit, I went into it thinking it might be another ho-hum thriller, the plot and characters of which I would regrettably quickly forget (there have been a few of those lately, hence my initial negativity). Well, I am very happy to say I was wrong. Her Name Was Rose is about a woman, Emily, dealing with regret and a loss of identity and wanting so badly to find some happiness. Somewhat naively, she inserts herself in a role that isn't really hers, and gets wrapped up in a twisted mystery in the process. I won't say more about the plot, because you don't want any of the twists spoiled for you, but I will say, it kept me on my toes. I guessed one part of the reveal fairly early on, but it didn't really matter, because there were plenty more aspects of the mystery to come. That being said, for me, the reason I felt engrossed in this story wasn't so much the plot but the characters. If you are a character-driven reader like me, you might enjoy this as well.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
April 28, 2018
“In all the wild world, there is no more desperate a creature, than a human being on the verge of losing love.”
~Atticus
It may be unusual to quote anyone else but the author when writing a book review but I feel like those words needed to be said so you can understand that there is a very thin, almost invisible line between pathetic and desperate, but a line nonetheless.
Rose has a picture perfect life, a handsome and successful husband that adores her, a beautiful baby boy, her job and friends that love her.
Emily has nothing.
She’s broke, lost contact with her family, her only friend moved to the States and she can’t break free from the demons in her past that are still haunting her.
When she witnesses Rose getting hit by a car that kills her instantly, she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to wake up as Rose and take over her life, finally leaving past where it belongs.
There are no words wasted in this book, it’s polished to perfection and I’m amazed that this is a first psychological thriller written by the author. It feels like this is what she was born to do. It feels like it’s her home. This is one of the best domestic abuse themed novels I have ever read, it’s right up there with “Into the darkest corner” and “Behind closed doors”.
I predict this is going to be a huge 2018 hit and I can’t wait til i have an actual copy in my hands so i can devour it all over again.
~Atticus
It may be unusual to quote anyone else but the author when writing a book review but I feel like those words needed to be said so you can understand that there is a very thin, almost invisible line between pathetic and desperate, but a line nonetheless.
Rose has a picture perfect life, a handsome and successful husband that adores her, a beautiful baby boy, her job and friends that love her.
Emily has nothing.
She’s broke, lost contact with her family, her only friend moved to the States and she can’t break free from the demons in her past that are still haunting her.
When she witnesses Rose getting hit by a car that kills her instantly, she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to wake up as Rose and take over her life, finally leaving past where it belongs.
There are no words wasted in this book, it’s polished to perfection and I’m amazed that this is a first psychological thriller written by the author. It feels like this is what she was born to do. It feels like it’s her home. This is one of the best domestic abuse themed novels I have ever read, it’s right up there with “Into the darkest corner” and “Behind closed doors”.
I predict this is going to be a huge 2018 hit and I can’t wait til i have an actual copy in my hands so i can devour it all over again.
May 31, 2018
An engaging read from the first page to the last - it does start out as a slow-burn but picks up pace towards the end, and I couldn't put it down. A powerful and emotional psychological thriller, it keeps you guessing right the way through. It had me fully engaged and had an ending that I didn't predict. The book does tackle the sensitive subject of domestic violence in a respectful way, which I admired. Emily, the protagonist, is a character I could not warm up to. I don't wish to reveal anything to potential readers so I will just say that she is a teeny bit cray cray!
HER NAME WAS ROSE gives the author plenty of room to grow into her next fiction novel, I would read her next book although it wouldn't be at the top of my to-be-read pile.
A big thank you to Claire Allan, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
HER NAME WAS ROSE gives the author plenty of room to grow into her next fiction novel, I would read her next book although it wouldn't be at the top of my to-be-read pile.
A big thank you to Claire Allan, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2019
I think we all sometimes look at someone else and feel envy. Maybe it's the way they look, or the way they command a room. Maybe it's their success, or their attractive significant other. Maybe it's their whole life. Rose has a different sort of envy. The woman she's admiring is already dead. She saw it happen... and it should have been her.
Emily doesn't have much going for her, but she does have a shiny new obsession. She becomes obsessed with the woman named Rose, reading her social media and attending her funeral. She can't help but notice that Rose had it all... a happy work life, a husband who doted on her, and the most adorable little boy. Things Emily wants, but how could she get them? And was Rose's life just as perfect as it seems?
This book was a pleasant surprise. The main character is fun to read about, and there's plenty of suspense. Some things you will likely see coming, but how we get there is interesting enough to keep us reading. I liked how the author incorporated how our lives look to others. Social media gives us a window into someone else's world, but we're only seeing what we're allowed to see. It makes a nice contrast with getting into Emily's head... which is a bit of a roller coaster.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Avon Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Emily doesn't have much going for her, but she does have a shiny new obsession. She becomes obsessed with the woman named Rose, reading her social media and attending her funeral. She can't help but notice that Rose had it all... a happy work life, a husband who doted on her, and the most adorable little boy. Things Emily wants, but how could she get them? And was Rose's life just as perfect as it seems?
This book was a pleasant surprise. The main character is fun to read about, and there's plenty of suspense. Some things you will likely see coming, but how we get there is interesting enough to keep us reading. I liked how the author incorporated how our lives look to others. Social media gives us a window into someone else's world, but we're only seeing what we're allowed to see. It makes a nice contrast with getting into Emily's head... which is a bit of a roller coaster.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Avon Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
December 11, 2018
Emily is in a lift, on her way home from shopping
Rose is in the same lift, with her son Jack in his pram
They leave the lift
Then they get to the exit door of the shopping centre
Emily holds the door open for Rose
Rose thanks her and
Steps into the road
And is instantly killed by a car speeding past.....
And the story starts...Emily has had a previous abusive relationship, she craves love, a good job, a loving partner, a baby, a wonderful house.....in fact everything that Rose had......would it be really bad to take what Rose had now shes gone?.......
Be careful what you wish for Emily!!! All that glitters is NOT gold, silver or even bronze!
Another tense psychological thriller which had me addicted to the story, characters and wanting to know the outcome
At first a touch confusing as Rose ( although dead ) and Emily went back and forth from the past to the present but nothing major and the odd ‘getting it right in my head ‘ soon cleared up any ‘mixing up who was who’
I enjoyed the references to Facebook and how the author put into the book just what Facebook actually does to us all to get those ‘likes’
The book is set in Derry but I liked that unlike some books the descriptive bits of the area were not OTT with an authors love of their home town etc but kept its short, punchy and of interest and relevance to the book
I note that this is the authors first book as a thriller writer as previous she wrote woman’s fiction, I hope she stays in this genre as this ticks every box in the thriller, mystery psychological ‘must read’ box!!
A scarily fascinating idea and book that I found compulsive reading and really really enjoyed
10/10 5 stars
Rose is in the same lift, with her son Jack in his pram
They leave the lift
Then they get to the exit door of the shopping centre
Emily holds the door open for Rose
Rose thanks her and
Steps into the road
And is instantly killed by a car speeding past.....
And the story starts...Emily has had a previous abusive relationship, she craves love, a good job, a loving partner, a baby, a wonderful house.....in fact everything that Rose had......would it be really bad to take what Rose had now shes gone?.......
Be careful what you wish for Emily!!! All that glitters is NOT gold, silver or even bronze!
Another tense psychological thriller which had me addicted to the story, characters and wanting to know the outcome
At first a touch confusing as Rose ( although dead ) and Emily went back and forth from the past to the present but nothing major and the odd ‘getting it right in my head ‘ soon cleared up any ‘mixing up who was who’
I enjoyed the references to Facebook and how the author put into the book just what Facebook actually does to us all to get those ‘likes’
The book is set in Derry but I liked that unlike some books the descriptive bits of the area were not OTT with an authors love of their home town etc but kept its short, punchy and of interest and relevance to the book
I note that this is the authors first book as a thriller writer as previous she wrote woman’s fiction, I hope she stays in this genre as this ticks every box in the thriller, mystery psychological ‘must read’ box!!
A scarily fascinating idea and book that I found compulsive reading and really really enjoyed
10/10 5 stars
September 16, 2018
Emily let’s a woman and her child walk in front of her which ends up the woman being killed by an oncoming car.Unable to move on from witnessing the tragedy Emily becomes obsessed with the murder victim , Rose’s life. Emily who had just broken up from a relationship wants everything that Rose had, a happy content family life with lots of love and friendship but Emily soon realizes that not everything is as perfect as it seems
Her Name Was Rose is an addictive psychological read with lots of twists and turns and well developed characters that makes it difficult to put down once started.
I would like to thank Edelweiss+ and the publishers for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
Her Name Was Rose is an addictive psychological read with lots of twists and turns and well developed characters that makes it difficult to put down once started.
I would like to thank Edelweiss+ and the publishers for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
July 18, 2018
When Emily lets a young mother step in-front of her when leaving the lift she never imagined that she would follow her onto the street and witness her murder. This woman took her place and has become the most recent headline horror story as the victim of a hit-and-run. But as this woman took her place, perhaps, Emily reasons, she could take hers in return?
Emily provided such an interesting psyche in which to peer at the world through. She was not without her flaws and the dark secrets that haunted her past made her as unreliable as any other character, and this provided further puzzlement about who was to trust and who was to fear. Without even the protagonist for proper guidance, the reader was left to unravel the web of lies and secrets alone, that have a woman's death at the heart of it.
Rose, the woman who lost her life, was not without her own buried secrets. Chirpy online statuses only reveal so much and the truth behind the emojis was left for the living to decipher. The incorporation of social media into this already convoluted story-line added another layer of intrigue. It was scary how easily any one could access the personal information of a stranger and to see the ease in which Emily accessed Rose's life was eerily terrifying and yet accurately believable.
Whilst the story provided many points of intrigue I found, as a whole, things started to unravel for me the further the story progressed. There were too many secrets and too many lies and not all had a bearing in the outcome of the murder. Whilst the red herrings did muddy the waters and make me sleuth all the harder, they also made this a little overwhelmingly dense for such a sort book and the lack of truth and goodness made this appear a little unbelievable.
Emily provided such an interesting psyche in which to peer at the world through. She was not without her flaws and the dark secrets that haunted her past made her as unreliable as any other character, and this provided further puzzlement about who was to trust and who was to fear. Without even the protagonist for proper guidance, the reader was left to unravel the web of lies and secrets alone, that have a woman's death at the heart of it.
Rose, the woman who lost her life, was not without her own buried secrets. Chirpy online statuses only reveal so much and the truth behind the emojis was left for the living to decipher. The incorporation of social media into this already convoluted story-line added another layer of intrigue. It was scary how easily any one could access the personal information of a stranger and to see the ease in which Emily accessed Rose's life was eerily terrifying and yet accurately believable.
Whilst the story provided many points of intrigue I found, as a whole, things started to unravel for me the further the story progressed. There were too many secrets and too many lies and not all had a bearing in the outcome of the murder. Whilst the red herrings did muddy the waters and make me sleuth all the harder, they also made this a little overwhelmingly dense for such a sort book and the lack of truth and goodness made this appear a little unbelievable.
August 17, 2018
Emily lets a woman and her child step out in front of her and then watches a car plow into her, killing her instantly. Her name was Rose.
Emily is certain that it was her fault ... she should have been the one hit by a car ... the one who died.
She gets mired in Rose's life. She follows her facebook pages, she even applies for the job that Rose had held. She makes Rose's friends her own. She wants the happiness that Rose lost .. a handsome man who treasured her, a child she loved passionately, good friends, family. All the things that Emily had never had.
But you know what they say ... be wary of what you wish for ... you just might get it.
This is a peek into a woman's life who wants more ... she wants what someone else has had. She also carries a secret with her .. a secret past that she definitely is hiding. And she's not the only one with a secret. But someone else's secret could be deadly.
This was suspenseful, although just a tad predictable. The ending did come as a surprise, though. This is the first I've read of this author, but would not hesitate to read her others.
Many thanks to the author / Avon Books UK / Netgalley / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Emily is certain that it was her fault ... she should have been the one hit by a car ... the one who died.
She gets mired in Rose's life. She follows her facebook pages, she even applies for the job that Rose had held. She makes Rose's friends her own. She wants the happiness that Rose lost .. a handsome man who treasured her, a child she loved passionately, good friends, family. All the things that Emily had never had.
But you know what they say ... be wary of what you wish for ... you just might get it.
This is a peek into a woman's life who wants more ... she wants what someone else has had. She also carries a secret with her .. a secret past that she definitely is hiding. And she's not the only one with a secret. But someone else's secret could be deadly.
This was suspenseful, although just a tad predictable. The ending did come as a surprise, though. This is the first I've read of this author, but would not hesitate to read her others.
Many thanks to the author / Avon Books UK / Netgalley / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
April 25, 2023
Emily, a lonely young woman who has been trying to make a new start after a nasty relationship break-up, finds herself struggling with demons from her past when she becomes an unwilling spectator to a woman’s fatal hit and run accident. Guilt-stricken, she remembers how she prompted the victim to step out in front of her, only to see her being brutally mown down. With dread, she is wondering: was Emily the intended victim? Has she unwittingly sent the young woman to her death? Unable to put her doubts to rest, she looks for the victim’s profile on facebook – a perfect mother, a happy young wife. Everything Emily has ever wanted for herself. In a fit of longing for this perfect life, she applies for the dead woman’s old job, and discovers that it is not all that difficult to slip into someone else’s life ....
Her Name Was Rose starts off with a hidden sense of danger and menace that had me instantly hooked, and I was keen to find out more about Emily’s fate. The premise of someone slipping into a dead woman’s shoes sounded very intriguing, and I was keen to see how the author would play this.
I soon discovered that Emily was in many ways an infuriating, tormented characters (I am not completely sure whether I mean this in a good or a bad way). As a person who possesses at least what you can call rudimentary self-preservation skills (ok, not counting the times I precariously clamber around on slippery rocks to get that perfect bookstagram photo), I found it very difficult to understand Emily’s decision making processes (or lack thereof). This is a character who stumbles from one stupid decision to another, never taking pause to think and evaluate, even as her despairing friends and family advise caution. If it had been down to natural selection, Emily would not have made it to adulthood. The author did try to make Emily out to be a troubled soul, seeking refuge in sedatives and alcohol, falling apart under pressure and rushing into decisions that would get her into trouble. The concept of normal people finding themselves in extraordinary situations makes for a good premise for a thriller, but I felt that Emily’s dark side needed a bit more depth to make her character more credible and better fit the mould of unreliable narrator she is supposed to present.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers and like them best dark and twisty, messing with my mind. According to the author, she is new to the thriller genre, which is perhaps why some aspects of the story read more like a relationship drama to me, making me long for a bit more suspense and mystery. Without coming across too critical or a smart-arse (I’m trying for constructive feedback), these were the elements that did not work so well for me:
Enough said. Allan writes well, and addresses some very topical themes in her novel, Fans of the author’s earlier work or readers who enjoy a character driven drama will undoubtedly enjoy this story of dysfunctional relationships, but those (like me) who crave dark psychological suspense may find themselves a little bit unsatisfied. However, this was a fast and entertaining read, and I will definitely keep my eyes out for the author’s future books to see whether she fully crosses over to the “dark side”.
2.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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Her Name Was Rose starts off with a hidden sense of danger and menace that had me instantly hooked, and I was keen to find out more about Emily’s fate. The premise of someone slipping into a dead woman’s shoes sounded very intriguing, and I was keen to see how the author would play this.
I soon discovered that Emily was in many ways an infuriating, tormented characters (I am not completely sure whether I mean this in a good or a bad way). As a person who possesses at least what you can call rudimentary self-preservation skills (ok, not counting the times I precariously clamber around on slippery rocks to get that perfect bookstagram photo), I found it very difficult to understand Emily’s decision making processes (or lack thereof). This is a character who stumbles from one stupid decision to another, never taking pause to think and evaluate, even as her despairing friends and family advise caution. If it had been down to natural selection, Emily would not have made it to adulthood. The author did try to make Emily out to be a troubled soul, seeking refuge in sedatives and alcohol, falling apart under pressure and rushing into decisions that would get her into trouble. The concept of normal people finding themselves in extraordinary situations makes for a good premise for a thriller, but I felt that Emily’s dark side needed a bit more depth to make her character more credible and better fit the mould of unreliable narrator she is supposed to present.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers and like them best dark and twisty, messing with my mind. According to the author, she is new to the thriller genre, which is perhaps why some aspects of the story read more like a relationship drama to me, making me long for a bit more suspense and mystery. Without coming across too critical or a smart-arse (I’m trying for constructive feedback), these were the elements that did not work so well for me:
Enough said. Allan writes well, and addresses some very topical themes in her novel, Fans of the author’s earlier work or readers who enjoy a character driven drama will undoubtedly enjoy this story of dysfunctional relationships, but those (like me) who crave dark psychological suspense may find themselves a little bit unsatisfied. However, this was a fast and entertaining read, and I will definitely keep my eyes out for the author’s future books to see whether she fully crosses over to the “dark side”.
2.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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July 23, 2018
The old adage “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” constantly sprung to mind whilst reading Her Name Was Rose by Claire Allan. Emily becomes obsessed with Rose’s life after witnessing a tragic hit and run accident which leaves Rose dead. Emily then spends every waking minute learning more about Rose’s life through her Facebook page, friends and work colleagues, she realises she wants Rose’s “perfect” life for herself. As you can imagine as this is a psychological thriller nothing is as it first seems, with an unreliable narrator and untrustworthy characters it’s one that will keep you guessing and questioning your own assumptions.
Emily is very much a “marmite” character I can see reader’s being divided, at first I felt some sympathy for her, but as the story progressed and she planted herself firmly into Rose’s old life I couldn’t help but become irritated by her choices, don’t get me wrong she’s not a bad person, misguided maybe, needy definitely, and you can’t help questioning how reliable she is as a narrator. Never the less Emily’s story made for a compelling read and I pretty much read this book in a couple of sittings.
Her Name Was Rose is a psychological thriller that’s predictable in parts, but in the author’s defence I should point out I do read a lot of books in this genre so where I guessed what was coming next plot wise, other readers may miss the signs and be surprised by the twists. Claire Allan tackles some difficult subjects, but she does so with sensitivity, it never felt like she was exploiting uncomfortable subjects to make the story more thrilling. I’m sure Her Name Is Rose is going to be a very popular read this summer, and I can see why it has all the hallmarks of best seller with themes of jealousy, abuse, obsession and secrecy at its core. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers with a leaning towards domestic noir then Her Name Is Rose is definitely one to add to your TBR pile.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Emily is very much a “marmite” character I can see reader’s being divided, at first I felt some sympathy for her, but as the story progressed and she planted herself firmly into Rose’s old life I couldn’t help but become irritated by her choices, don’t get me wrong she’s not a bad person, misguided maybe, needy definitely, and you can’t help questioning how reliable she is as a narrator. Never the less Emily’s story made for a compelling read and I pretty much read this book in a couple of sittings.
Her Name Was Rose is a psychological thriller that’s predictable in parts, but in the author’s defence I should point out I do read a lot of books in this genre so where I guessed what was coming next plot wise, other readers may miss the signs and be surprised by the twists. Claire Allan tackles some difficult subjects, but she does so with sensitivity, it never felt like she was exploiting uncomfortable subjects to make the story more thrilling. I’m sure Her Name Is Rose is going to be a very popular read this summer, and I can see why it has all the hallmarks of best seller with themes of jealousy, abuse, obsession and secrecy at its core. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers with a leaning towards domestic noir then Her Name Is Rose is definitely one to add to your TBR pile.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
July 3, 2018
Here is one of life’s lessons. Things aren’t always what they seem. If you think life behind those glossy filtered Facebook pictures is all flowers and sunshine, think again. A smile can hide a multitude of things.
Emily witnesses a young mother being run over and killed instantly by a joyrider. Her name was Rose and she’s left a vacancy. Because Rose has everything Emily dreams off. A charming and handsome husband, a stunning home, a great job and a cute baby. Maybe Emily could take her place. But we all know the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side, don’t we?
Emily is damaged, carries quite a lot of baggage from a previous relationship and is slightly naive. Yet, despite often rolling my eyes at her actions and decisions, I found myself firmly on her side, hoping she’d find a way to move on and find happiness. We are also introduced to Rose via diary chapters, revealing the truth behind the Facebook updates. And then there’s Rose’s husband Cian, who is dealing with his grief, trying to find a way to move on and raise his baby son on his own.
Full of suspense and intrigue, this addictive page-turner had me hooked from start to finish. My Name Is Rose is an intensely gripping psychological thriller, which I found remarkably hard to put down. I did worry about a certain level of predictability and figuring a few things out, but I felt that was always the author’s intention. Even if it wasn’t, it didn’t bother me because the story remained fabulously tense and had me on the edge of my seat. There were enough surprises and twists that completely threw me off and kept me glued to the pages, not at all able to figure out how things would end.
This is Claire Allan’s first foray into the psychological thriller genre and hoo boy, does this promise brilliant things from her in figure! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next but if this is anything to go by, I have no doubt it’ll be fantastic. One to watch for sure!
Emily witnesses a young mother being run over and killed instantly by a joyrider. Her name was Rose and she’s left a vacancy. Because Rose has everything Emily dreams off. A charming and handsome husband, a stunning home, a great job and a cute baby. Maybe Emily could take her place. But we all know the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side, don’t we?
Emily is damaged, carries quite a lot of baggage from a previous relationship and is slightly naive. Yet, despite often rolling my eyes at her actions and decisions, I found myself firmly on her side, hoping she’d find a way to move on and find happiness. We are also introduced to Rose via diary chapters, revealing the truth behind the Facebook updates. And then there’s Rose’s husband Cian, who is dealing with his grief, trying to find a way to move on and raise his baby son on his own.
Full of suspense and intrigue, this addictive page-turner had me hooked from start to finish. My Name Is Rose is an intensely gripping psychological thriller, which I found remarkably hard to put down. I did worry about a certain level of predictability and figuring a few things out, but I felt that was always the author’s intention. Even if it wasn’t, it didn’t bother me because the story remained fabulously tense and had me on the edge of my seat. There were enough surprises and twists that completely threw me off and kept me glued to the pages, not at all able to figure out how things would end.
This is Claire Allan’s first foray into the psychological thriller genre and hoo boy, does this promise brilliant things from her in figure! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next but if this is anything to go by, I have no doubt it’ll be fantastic. One to watch for sure!
June 22, 2018
Her Name was Rose was an addictive story that had me staying up reading far too late. I really got sucked into it and had to keep reading.
Emily does something nice for the mother with the pram by letting them out of the lift first... . And then the mother is knocked down in a hit and run and killed. Her Name was Rose. Emily has a troubled past and is convinced that it should have been her. She becomes obsessed with learning all she can about Rose, and finds that Rose had the perfect life.. husband, baby, job and nice house. Emily has nothing and wonders why she can,t have it all and tries to become Rose. But looks can be deceiving. Will Emily learn the truth before it is too late for her.
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions
Emily does something nice for the mother with the pram by letting them out of the lift first... . And then the mother is knocked down in a hit and run and killed. Her Name was Rose. Emily has a troubled past and is convinced that it should have been her. She becomes obsessed with learning all she can about Rose, and finds that Rose had the perfect life.. husband, baby, job and nice house. Emily has nothing and wonders why she can,t have it all and tries to become Rose. But looks can be deceiving. Will Emily learn the truth before it is too late for her.
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions
November 28, 2018
'Her Name was Rose’ seems aimed at the Girl on a Train market and yet it's largely devoid of suspense . There’s not much ‘grip’ in this ‘lit’. In fact, the only scene that was at all exciting turned out to be all a dream!
March 21, 2018
Her Name Was Rose was one of those read in one sitting books because you need to get to the end and see what exactly is what - Emily is an engaging and easy to follow main protagonist who gets herself all tied up in knots after witnessing a death. Embedding herself into every aspect of the dead woman's life in an attempt to find her own, she ends up in very hot water...
I liked this mostly for Emily because I wanted a happy ending for her, that's what I was after and it kept me reading to see if she got one. Well obviously you'll have to read this yourself to see if I got my wish, but that was the main interest of this story for me.
The psychological elements, the mystery parts if you like were, for this reader, way too predictable but I would caution that this is an ongoing thing for me now with this type of novel and doesn't really mean much to the next person coming in. This is well written and well plotted - the themes explored are currently relevant and therefore always interesting to read an angle on.
If I had one slight bugbear it was that I found the character of Cian to be a little caricature, but overall Her Name Was Rose was a highly enjoyable, entertaining and a classic example of it's kind.
Recommended for psychological thriller fans.
I liked this mostly for Emily because I wanted a happy ending for her, that's what I was after and it kept me reading to see if she got one. Well obviously you'll have to read this yourself to see if I got my wish, but that was the main interest of this story for me.
The psychological elements, the mystery parts if you like were, for this reader, way too predictable but I would caution that this is an ongoing thing for me now with this type of novel and doesn't really mean much to the next person coming in. This is well written and well plotted - the themes explored are currently relevant and therefore always interesting to read an angle on.
If I had one slight bugbear it was that I found the character of Cian to be a little caricature, but overall Her Name Was Rose was a highly enjoyable, entertaining and a classic example of it's kind.
Recommended for psychological thriller fans.
August 27, 2018
3.5 Stars!
Sometimes you pick up a story and are immediately just drawn to it. To the story and mystery that is slowly unfolding. To the what ifs and the complete mystery of it all. Such was the case of Her Name Was Rose.
I love something that will not only completely captivate me but keep me on edge guessing right up until the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out the author would throw in a twist or turn that would have me second guessing everything and I couldn't of loved it more.
With it's slightly sinister feel Her Name Was Rose will have you eagerly turning the pages wondering what crazy and unexplained thing will happen next. You will be completely wrapped up in the story after the very first chapter and as the story progresses, that power it holds over you will only get worse. You will forget everything and become completely consumed with the story, eager to get to the very last page.
Sometimes you pick up a story and are immediately just drawn to it. To the story and mystery that is slowly unfolding. To the what ifs and the complete mystery of it all. Such was the case of Her Name Was Rose.
I love something that will not only completely captivate me but keep me on edge guessing right up until the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out the author would throw in a twist or turn that would have me second guessing everything and I couldn't of loved it more.
With it's slightly sinister feel Her Name Was Rose will have you eagerly turning the pages wondering what crazy and unexplained thing will happen next. You will be completely wrapped up in the story after the very first chapter and as the story progresses, that power it holds over you will only get worse. You will forget everything and become completely consumed with the story, eager to get to the very last page.
July 24, 2018
3 1/2 ⭐️’s! The author stated this was her first psychological thriller and it had a little too much romance for me. But it was well written and the twists and secrets kept me turning pages!
“When a person dies young, we so often say they had so much more to give.”
It was an awful hit and run and she was killed instantly...her name was Rose.
The story is told through the eyes of Rose and Emily. Rose was killed as she was pushing her young son — Jake — across the street in his buggy. Emily witnessed the tragic event and becomes obsessed with Rose. She attends her funeral and starts stalking her social media account.
Rose had a job she loved and coworkers that adored her. Emily has a dead-end job and a shit-show life — so she drinks too much.
Rose was a young mother — married to an attractive and successful author — with a gorgeous toddler. Emily is sad and spends her nights alone.
Rose lived in a stunningly beautiful house, while Emily rents a small flat she can barely afford.
Emily wants more. She successfully gets a job where Rose worked. Then she meets the grieving widower — Cian. She offers to lend an ear if he ever needs to talk, and is thrilled when he invites her over for tea. The house is spectacular — even though Rose’s cheerful face and her radiant smile are plastered everywhere. And little Jack is so adorable, with his delightful laugh that is infectious. Emily can see herself living here. She yearns for the picture-perfect life Rose had.
“When a person dies young, we so often say they had so much more to give.”
It was an awful hit and run and she was killed instantly...her name was Rose.
The story is told through the eyes of Rose and Emily. Rose was killed as she was pushing her young son — Jake — across the street in his buggy. Emily witnessed the tragic event and becomes obsessed with Rose. She attends her funeral and starts stalking her social media account.
Rose had a job she loved and coworkers that adored her. Emily has a dead-end job and a shit-show life — so she drinks too much.
Rose was a young mother — married to an attractive and successful author — with a gorgeous toddler. Emily is sad and spends her nights alone.
Rose lived in a stunningly beautiful house, while Emily rents a small flat she can barely afford.
Emily wants more. She successfully gets a job where Rose worked. Then she meets the grieving widower — Cian. She offers to lend an ear if he ever needs to talk, and is thrilled when he invites her over for tea. The house is spectacular — even though Rose’s cheerful face and her radiant smile are plastered everywhere. And little Jack is so adorable, with his delightful laugh that is infectious. Emily can see herself living here. She yearns for the picture-perfect life Rose had.
April 7, 2018
Loved this! I give it 4 🌹🌹🌹🌹!
Perfect example of “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence” as we watch Emily, one of the main characters, step into Rose’s life or into her shoes so to speak. She’s kind of a sad lonely girl and not reliable but I felt bad for her and found myself rooting for her to get a good break in life, even though I wanted to shake the crazy out of her 😂
I actually think Rosè was a main character as well because this whole story revolves around her and her life even though she was deceased.
I enjoyed the way Rose’s story was told with her past Facebook updates followed by her story.
Really, no one was reliable here and covered by Facades, “perfect” life Facebook statuses, even clothing styles that were someone else’s.
Definitely a page turner!
Thank you #NewGalley, the publisher and Clair Allen for the generous ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!! 🌹wishing you best success when this is released June 28thhhh
Perfect example of “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence” as we watch Emily, one of the main characters, step into Rose’s life or into her shoes so to speak. She’s kind of a sad lonely girl and not reliable but I felt bad for her and found myself rooting for her to get a good break in life, even though I wanted to shake the crazy out of her 😂
I actually think Rosè was a main character as well because this whole story revolves around her and her life even though she was deceased.
I enjoyed the way Rose’s story was told with her past Facebook updates followed by her story.
Really, no one was reliable here and covered by Facades, “perfect” life Facebook statuses, even clothing styles that were someone else’s.
Definitely a page turner!
Thank you #NewGalley, the publisher and Clair Allen for the generous ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!! 🌹wishing you best success when this is released June 28thhhh
January 26, 2019
Control. Jealousy. Domestic abuse. Twisted. Affairs. Social Media. Murder.
The beginning of the book sets the tone for the rest of the story, and the writing, as a cause and effect, works itself backwards in time. The gruesome auto accident and death of a young mother pushing her son in a pram is the effect. The cause is pretty much the remainder of the book; that’s where we get all the backstory.
The main character, Emily, already has issues from a previous abusive relationship. She has low self-esteem, high anxiety and struggles with alcohol and over dosing anti-anxiety meds. She is estranged from her family and has few friends. “Normal” life is a challenge for her. She doesn’t trust herself in many situations, yet she is a shoe-in to be taken advantage of, manipulated again, by people who seek out her weaknesses and benefit themselves from it. She is not of a strong character, and she is lured easily, into false situations that only get her in trouble and entangled in affairs that can be incriminating. It happens again and again and again. I could only hope she would get herself out of what she got into, at least, by the end of the book for goodness’ sakes!
I expected more from this book based on previous reader ratings. It was a good psychological thriller featuring a very weak and damaged main character. There were a few surprises at the end but they were not earth shattering in nature. If they were, I might have upped my review by a half star. This story took its time unfolding, but once it got going, it did pull you in.
The beginning of the book sets the tone for the rest of the story, and the writing, as a cause and effect, works itself backwards in time. The gruesome auto accident and death of a young mother pushing her son in a pram is the effect. The cause is pretty much the remainder of the book; that’s where we get all the backstory.
The main character, Emily, already has issues from a previous abusive relationship. She has low self-esteem, high anxiety and struggles with alcohol and over dosing anti-anxiety meds. She is estranged from her family and has few friends. “Normal” life is a challenge for her. She doesn’t trust herself in many situations, yet she is a shoe-in to be taken advantage of, manipulated again, by people who seek out her weaknesses and benefit themselves from it. She is not of a strong character, and she is lured easily, into false situations that only get her in trouble and entangled in affairs that can be incriminating. It happens again and again and again. I could only hope she would get herself out of what she got into, at least, by the end of the book for goodness’ sakes!
I expected more from this book based on previous reader ratings. It was a good psychological thriller featuring a very weak and damaged main character. There were a few surprises at the end but they were not earth shattering in nature. If they were, I might have upped my review by a half star. This story took its time unfolding, but once it got going, it did pull you in.
February 5, 2019
This book grabbed me from the very first page. I enjoyed this psychological thriller and it had me engaged throughout. Every time i thought I knew how it was going to go, I found out I was wrong. It was a pretty good book!
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