Beautiful Victim

by Claire C. Riley

The perfect villain… or the perfect victim?Growing up, Carrie was Ethan’s one true love, his fixation and his constant obsession. Friends to the bloody end, they were each other’s rocks whilst navigating through their dark and monstrous childhoods together. But then Carrie died and Ethan was almost destroyed by the secrets that were revealed in her wake. It’s now fifteen years later and Carrie is back from the dead… and Ethan is forced to confront a truth he’s tried to deny himself for all these years.With his obsession renewed, the situation rapidly spirals out of control as their story escalates towards a dark and startling conclusion. Because now Ethan has a singular focus;Keep the girl, no matter the consequences.The truth should set you free, but what happens when the truth is the one thing that can destroy you?Can Ethan’s obsession for the girl he’s always loved ever really be more than that? Or is the idea of her the only thing left to fight for…because perhaps, the illusion of Carrie was the only thing he ever really had.‘UNPUTDOWNABLE!The must-read book of 2018’New York Times Bestselling AuthorA. Meredith Walters‘Riley is AT HER FINEST in this darkly compelling book!’Speculative Fiction AuthorEli Constant‘INTENSE, DARK & INTRIGUING… I couldn’t put it down’Goodreads Reviewer'This book is a complete page turner; it grabs your attention right from the beginning and demands for you to read it in one setting.Readers who enjoy a good psychological thriller will enjoy this book.' - Loyda Crazies R Us Book Blog‘A FRESH VOICE & AN ADDICTIVE READ,I never saw the twist coming’Goodreads reviewer

Genres: Dark, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Fiction, Thriller Suspense, Mystery

334 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2018

About the author

Claire C. Riley is a USA Today and International bestselling author.

She lives in the United Kingdom with her husband, three daughters, and ridiculously naughty rescue beagle.

* Gryffindor * Targaryen * Zombie slayer *


MC ROMANCE:
Devil's Highwaymen Ride or Die Series (3 books)
The Devil's Highwaymen Nomad Series (4 books)
Tame his Beast duet (2 books)

MAFIA ROMANCE:
Deviant Prince #1
Twisted Princess #2
Royal Blood: The Brotherhood

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Beautiful Victim (standalone)
Fragments of Delores (standalone)

NA ROMANCE
WRATH #3 in the Elite Seven Series

POST-APOCALYPTIC
Odium The Dead Saga Series 8 books
Odium Origins Series 3 books
Out of the Dark (standalone)
Red Eye The Armageddon Series - co-authored with Eli Constant (3 books)
Thicker than Blood series - co-authored with Madeline Sheehan (3 books)

PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Limerence (The Obsession Series)
Twisted Magic (standalone)

ROMANCE
Shut Up & Kiss Me - Co-authored with Madeline Sheehan

HORROR
Blood Claim (standalone)

FIND ME
She can be stalked at any of the following and always welcomes any questions readers may have.

www.clairecriley.com
https://www.facebook.com/ClaireCRiley...
http://bit.ly/clairecrileyamazon/
https://twitter.com/ClaireCRiley
https://www.google.com/+ClaireCRiley
and redheadapocalypse on Instagram

Reviews

[Selene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre: Thriller
POV/s: First-person, singular

Ethan lives in a run-down apartment in a not so great neighborhood and takes the bus everyday to work. His thoughts revolve around his childhood love/crush/obsession, Carrie. He fantasizes about her having his children and them sharing a life together. The reader is constantly told how Carrie had a terrible upbringing and that Ethan frequently masturbates to his memories of her.

▣ Ethan rambled on in his thoughts and it bored me to pieces:

I’m invisible. I’m a ghost. I’m a shadow among men, and I sit in the dark, wet night all alone.

I put my things away when I’m done with them. I dust, I vacuum, and I mop my floors. I bleach my toilet after I take a shit and I keep my windows clean and shiny.

Outside is no better as a car honks its horn, a dog chases a cat, and a pimp slaps his ho. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

I stand at the sidewalk and I wait for the light to change so I can cross, because I don’t believe in jaywalking. I like to follow the rules.

I think about walking. I like walking; I walked here this morning. But I don’t like walking in the rain, even if I’m wearing a coat.



▣ This story was repetitive and Ethan had a tendency to overthink everything. I didn’t favor the author’s writing prose and the word blood was mentioned 108 times. The inner ramblings of a young man with a mental disorder pretty much sums this book up, but if you need to know more, then here you go . . . The gist of this book? It rains a lot, the narrator (Ethan) enjoys eating canned soup, one of his neighbors is a prostitute, and Carrie had a lice problem when she was a kid. When he finally meets up with the amazing Carrie again, they fight, he ties her up against her will, they have sex, she tells him that she never loved him, and he has more flashbacks to his childhood. Ethan finally accepts that he doesn’t need her at the end, despite waiting many years to reunite with her. Oh, and he’s on probation. The end.




▣ This story didn’t work for me but many other reviewers enjoyed it. Happy reading!

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★★★★Stars  
 

Genre:  Psychological Thriller/Suspense 
Type:  Standalone  
POV:  First Person – Male

 

Ethan had a perfect life growing up; well not as perfect but he had a happy life living with two loving parents and a good family routine.  He had OCD which ruled his life and made him a freak at school because of it.  That didn't stopped Ethan from trying to be happy and make good choices.

 

Carrie was Ethan's neighbor; they met when they were little and became best friends.  Her life was the complete opposite from Ethan but she kept it to herself at least she tried.  She found his company the only way to escape her horrible life of pain and abuse.

 

"We were opposite in every way - a strange combination of personalities and looks. But we worked. We went together perfectly."

 

This book is a complete page turner; it grabs your attention right from the beginning.  It demands for you to read it in one setting.  Trust me I made the mistake to start and had to stop to adult for a little bit and I honestly had the story in the back of my mind the entire time.  We meet this broken and lost character that is Ethan dealing with his OCD and trying to pick his life up after a tragic episode.  At first I had no idea how to feel about him.  I liked him but then I didn't and my feelings for him were mixed throughout the entire book.  When the author introduces Carrie I kind of felt a bit same towards her; I felt so sad but in her case I couldn't connect with her as much as I connected with Ethan.  

 

"Sometimes we do lose control when we don't mean to. Sometimes we hurt the ones we love, even when we don't want to. But sometimes, the ones we love the most hurt us the most, and we can't control ourselves."

 

Beautiful Victim is a Psychological Thriller full of suspense that will have readers devouring in one setting.  There were some poor choices made by both Ethan and Carrie that will have you hating and loving them.  I liked how the author kept me guessing until the very end.  Also, Claire managed to make my insides twist; seriously there were times I literally wanted to throw up and slapped the characters too.  I thought I was going to be so sick I had to take deep breaths.  We go back and forth from the present to the past when they were kids and to the now as adults.  I think this book is one of those that at the end only the reader will chose if these characters were redeemable or not.  Where they truly Victims or just tragic villains of life circumstance. 

 

"We all have our very own perhapses...They never end, unless we let them.  Because there is always more.  But better than that, there can always be more. As long as we want it.  Carrie was a victim, and her circumstance was life. And mine was thinking I could ever save her."

 

Overall; I enjoyed it from beginning to the very end and that epilogue left me sated. Like I would have not wanted to end any other way. It was perfection in my opinion.   This book would be appealing to readers who are not afraid to venture on very sad and tragic topics like rape and death, cruelty and vengeance.  Readers who enjoy a good psychological thriller will enjoy this book.

 

"Love is scary and wondrous. It's imperfect and perfect all at the same time."

Book Info:

Expected Publication Date March 30th 2018




For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

 

[Claire Riley]

I’m so excited for you to read this book! I love these gloriously messed up characters!

I'm giving away 10 ARC copies, and all you have to do is add the book to your bookshelf and contact me! I'd love a review afterwards, and of course if you feel it's something that you're friends would enjoy also it would be great if you could recommend it to them via the 'Goodreads recommend.'

Good luck!!!

[Betül · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**



"We were the imperfect ones. The ones that didn't fit in."

When I read the blurb I was really excited to get my hands on this book. I love dark suspenseful books, and I know that Claire does an incredible job in writing these type of stories. Right from the start I knew I would be in an unpredictable emotional rollercoaster, and I wasn't wrong about that. I was hooked and couldn't wait to see how the story would unfold. The book starts with Ethan following his daily routine and giving the reader a look into his thoughts. I didn't know if he was a good or bad guy. His actions and thoughts gave me mixed feelings, and had me guessing until the end. The author also did a great job in giving glimpses into Ethan's past and showing the reader how and why he turned out the way he did.

"I couldn't tell you why I fell in love with Carrie Brown. It could have been because she was beautiful and broken. Or it could have been that she knew I was weird but told me it was okay to be so."

I will not go into any details, because you'll enjoy this book the most if you go in blind. There were so many twists and turns, which resulted in me changing my thoughts about the characters several times. Who is the 'victim' and who is the 'villain'? I had no idea! The author wrote this book in a way that confuses the reader in a good wat. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, and hooked until the end to figure out what is going on. One moment I felt bad for Ethan and other times I thought he lost his mind. But one thing I know for sure and that is that both Ethan and Carrie are broken. They both go through things that no person should go through, and it broke my heart to read how it changed them. I also think the ending was fitting but it did leave me wanting more. Hopefully Claire will write more Psychological Thrillers!

"Carrie was a victim, and her circumstance was life. And mine was thinking I could ever save her."

[A. Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good god, where to start? Darkly romantic yet intensely creepy, Beautiful Victim has it ALL. It's absolutely, 100% unputdownable. The characters are intricately drawn to the point that you can't forget about them when you finish. The plot is well thought out and steadily builds until the ultimate breaking point. You can feel the dread, the panic, the obsession. It consumes you from page one.

If you read one book this year, make it this one.

[Nay · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4-1/2 Stars**

I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written and thought out, and I loved the way that the story moved forward from the present while the understanding of what was going on moved forward from the past. In the end, I so appreciated the formula the author used to make it all work as she kept me guessing about the reasons for Ethan's obsession along with what would happen next. And although it's no easy task to make the reader feel sorry for or even root for a hero who's completely messed up in the head, she managed to make me want Ethan to get out of this finding love and having a happy life.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a thought-provoking thriller about obsession and the lengths that some will go to for love.

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an engrossing story that was. I was living in those pages right along with Ethan, who I never once didn't like. Yeah, he was messed up, he did some bad and unforgivable things, he was first in line on the busy to Crazytown, but I really plain felt sorry for him. There's not much I can say about the story, as you really do need to read without knowing what it's about. That's 80% of the experience of this book - just watching it unfold. I was so anxious throughout, thinking I had it figured out, then rethinking it, then second-guessing it. Until I finally just said to myself...tighten your seatbelt, sit back, and just let it all play out...because you really have NO idea what is going on or who or what to believe.

[Eli Constant · Rating 5 out of 5]

To date, this is my favorite book by Claire C. Riley. It's dark and demands attention. 'Beautiful Victim' is compelling in a way that I've not experienced in a long while of reading. There's a strength in the writing, a maturity that threads through the plot and stitches it together so tightly that it holds deep, destructive obsessions in a thoughtful, carefully constructed way. It's not contrived or forced, not wanting for roundness of character and flow. It moved along swiftly, disturbingly, until I reached the end that felt both right and wrong. Yet, the contradiction was delicious. In the way that chocolate cake is delicious. I'm a second slice sort of gal, so I truly hope there's more books like this on the horizon from Riley.

[Timitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected Beautiful Victim to be dark, it was good but I wouldn't necessarily call it dark fucked up on the other hand is an apt description for it.

Ethan the main character isn't very likeable yet somehow I felt sorry for him several times. As a matter of fact none of the characters are very likeable, they engender varying levels of a
pity, annoyance, anger and wanting to cause bodily harm.

I found this book quite enjoyable despite it being slow in the beginning.



ARC won in a contest hosted by author

[Karen Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed emotions with this book, but an amazing read loved Ethan’s character, not so much Carrie tho

[Picky_Book_B1tch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even know how to feel about this book or about these characters. Hell, this book is fucked up, no matter how you look at it. Ethan and Carrie are both complete train wrecks that you can't look away from. Their story isn't pretty. In fact, it's an ugly, twisted mess that I couldn't not help being transfixed by.

This story is told solely from Ethan's POV and I'll tell you, his mind is not any easy one to wonder around in. Usually, I love nothing better than to get into the mind of a fucked up character and figure out how they work. But Ethan, he made me squirm, over-think, and just plain uncomfortable. Not that it was a bad thing, really. I just didn't know what to think of him. Was he a good or bad? Was he a victim or a villain? It didn't take long to figure out whatever he was, he wasn't quite right. There wasn't a box I could comfortably fit him in and that's what was so fascinating. In this book world where there are so few characters that are truly original and unique, it was exciting to read one that defied definition.

Beautiful Victim is not a comfortable read. It will make you question, think and sit with your mouth hanging open for long WTF moments. Claire is one of those authors that doesn't always color inside the lines and I applaud her for it. It's what has me coming back for more, time after time. If you are comfortable with stories that will make you uncomfortable and don't fit neatly in a box, then what are you waiting for?......Get clicking.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this very creepy psychological suspense, dark and twisted and totally addictive, I could not put it down. That's all I'm going to say, you need to go in blind.

*ARC won in competition held by author

[Nadia Debowska-Stephens (Obsessed by Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The world is dark and rich and filled with velvety fluid rage. The world welcomes me back to it with open arms. The world has missed me, and I have missed it. I am there now, at the point of no control. No turning back from this, or that. No denying what must happen.”

Blurred lines, innocence stripped and twisted by circumstance can anyone really win when your a victim of evils of life? Children with their lives shaped by the darkest desires of adults who know better but feed their demons with the pain of others. Survival of the fitness and consequences be damned can the manipulated ever be free?

Without spoilers this story is brilliantly dark and really plays with reality, who is the victim in this story is there a hero or are they both the villains in this tale of misplaced trust, love and desire? This story captivated me as Ethan may not be mainstream ‘normal’ as deemed by society by that kid falls hard and fast for the lost soul next door. He is addicted and she is his drug of choice. Unable to fight his need for her he has lived his whole life controlled by desire to have her. Wrong choices, poor decisions and a crippling need drives him to the edge of sanity. She is a soul that has become blackened by all that she has endured and slowly the truth of the past is revealed as their reunion takes a sinister and heart breaking turn. Beautiful victims or tragic villains of circumstance.. only you as a reader can decide.

I loved this story it’s nuances and character development sucked me in and captivated me. I desperately wanted Ethan to be free and just maybe he is...the ending is ambiguous and left me filled with hope for him. I urge you to one click this broodingly dark and twisty love story, everything he does he does for her and I fell for the boy who couldn’t see what was in front of him, a road that led him to his own downfall but maybe his salvation too. Humanity seeks to destroy the light in those who are pure and then punishes those that are no longer weak... it’s a powerfully emotive story that I couldn’t put down.

~*~ Reviewed on behalf of Obsessed by Books ~*~

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing book this was. I devoured it in one day!

This is the first Claire Riley book I’ve read and it blow me away from the very first page.

It’s dark which is my favourite genre and any dark genre fan, this will be totally up your street.

I don’t want to say to much as I don’t want to spoil it but trust me.... YOU.NEED to read this!

A very well deserved 5 star read.

[Charlotte Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to follow

[Diz Reads 4TLOReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot and will not go into any detail regarding this book as I feel it’s unfair to you as a reader ! You need to go in blind ! You need to read this without another’s perspective !

What I will say is that, Claire is a new to me author and from what I have just read, has a masterful way with her writing and a tone that I enjoyed !

The constant guessing and sitting on the edge of my seat, think one way and then being taken another is what you need when reading a psychological suspense !

I will definitely be looking at other works by this author xx

4 Stars

Diz
4TLOReading

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a deliciously dark and beautifully thrilling tale written into life by Claire C. Riley. One of my most favorite aspects of 'Beautiful Victim' is the slow burn unraveling of Ethan and Carries story. And although, Ethan is probably one of the most screwed up, broken characters I have ever read about. I found myself feeling sorry for him at times. And then a few pages later I hated him with everything I could muster. Riley never ceases to amaze me with her uncanny ability to make you love and hate a character, you know wouldn't be socially acceptable in the real world.

'Beautiful Victim' will take you for a dark and chilling ride, and will leave you losing sleep long after you've closed the last page. I was left up at night when finishing this story. My mind trying to process everything I eagerly read.

Riley pushed the boundaries of love and tragedy in her new book. And I fully believe this is one of her absolute BEST works to this date! I now know, without a doubt, that no matter what genre the author decides to try her hand in. She is going to nail it every single time! I loved this book so much! And I know this will be a story that I will gladly revist over and over again!!

[✰ Charlie ✰ Chisholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what can I say about this book?

#thriller #suspense #romance #stalker #obsession #psychological

I have to say I loved this book once I started I could not put it down. Ethan and Carrie's story is not an easy one.
The perfect villain… or the perfect victim? I will let you decide because I am still trying to work it out for myself.

Ethan has always been in love with Carrie growing up so much happens and he will do anything for her. However, something happens (not going say spoilers) 15 years later and Carrie is alive but Ethan has believed for the last 15 years she had died. Ethan’s obsession with Carrie and his love for her will not let him leave her alone he believes they are meant to be together... So much happens you have to read this book for yourself I cannot do this book any justice with this review you have to live through the words.

I loved the story, I loved the plot, I love I am still trying to work it out in my head. I loved the writing. If you love a good stalker book this is the one for you.

[Shannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t stop reading this! So intense!! You did it again ClaireBear!

[Brandi Aga · Rating 4 out of 5]

You hurt the ones you love, whether you mean to or not.

I love a good thriller that leaves you thinking WTF?!

Ethan certainly does just that. I love a good villain, an underdog, a psychopath. They don’t get enough credit!

I kept waiting for the big twist, the big turn to change the whole game. I was completely wrong! I had my doubts about Ethan and what was going on with him but I never figured it out till Claire spelled it out for me and I had so much fun reading this!

Being inside Ethan’s Head was great. He made me laugh with his morbid thoughts. He was just always so proud of himself in the most sick ways. Good one, Ethan.

The epilogue has me crossing my fingers that maybe we can see more Ethan in the future. It is after all, just his beginning, right? ;)

[Ela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounding up... Not sure what to think of this ride. It feels like something is missing or was missed. The book starts out confusing and mysterious until it wasn't, and I think that is my issue.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review will come a bit later

*ARC for honest review*

[Melanie Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is wow. This isn’t the kind of book I’m used to from Claire C. Riley, but I’m blown away. Beautiful Victim is both disturbing and exciting at the same time. The writing itself flows with the grace of a shark through water, seeking the seal it’s about to devour for breakfast.

Ethan is one of those characters who you aren’t quite sure if you should pity or fear. At times, his character reminded me of the “The Narrator” character from Chuck Palahniuk’s book Fight Club that was played by Edward Norton in the movie. Essentially, some of his thought and speaking patterns were similar in some ways, which could give insight as to his mental state. He felt to me like a quite unreliable narrator, though I do understand do a degree why he was the way he was and it makes sense for him to be that way.

I’m still not sure what I think of Carrie. I feel bad for her in some ways, but in other ways, I’d really like to stab her. I feel like a lot of what was going on was her fault but didn’t necessarily start out that way. She caused things to be a self-fulling prophecy of sorts. In many ways, she’s a product of her upbringing, but that still is no excuse for her behavior.

Overall this was an amazing read. Thrilling and surprising throughout, and while I didn’t feel like I knew what was going on until the very end, it wasn’t in a confusing way; It was more of a “I know all the answers will appear in time” sort of thing. I recommend it to anyone looking for a great psychological thriller.

[B. O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been contemplating how to write a review for this dark, yet truly unique book since I finished it last night. It certainly is not a read that left me with good feelings, because the main character is such a sad and twisted soul. However, after reflecting a little on the true brilliance of this book (and considering that I am still shaken by his journey-a discovery of truth), I realized that this is not a four star read, it is a solid five stars. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys layered, complex characters and who likes psychological dramas.

[Pheebz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a leap down the rabbit hole of insanity.
A dark entanglement of perception interpretation. It was well written and is not meant for those who oppose foul language and graphic sex. (It had more than I care for, that I didn't feel worked to advanced the story.)
That being said. Ethan & Carrie have a very complicated relationship that started when they were children.The mind is a funny thing, it remembers what it wants to and twist the facts when it is too painful to remember.
Ethan has drempth of how his and Carrie's life would be once he finds her again. He never stopped to question if she would want what he has dreamed of for years. There was a deed that had bound them together for life that happened when they were young.
Claire C. Riley is a versatile Author, she has many award-winning books and is not afraid to try new genre's or tough topics. She is a brilliant storyteller from the UK. Check out her other books.

[San · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Story Of Two Minds Lost Before They Grew

This is a well written and thought out book. This won’t be a story for everyone because it is pretty dark, disturbing and touches on things that are uncomfortable. Saying that, Claire, has written a book that challenges you to question so many thing. The actions of the main characters, Ethan and Carrie throughout the book are shocking, questionable and thought provoking. As the story unfolds you try to break down Ethan and Carrie’s past to try and understand the things that unfold in the present. It’s a tumultuous ride, This story pushes the boundaries of love and shows how powerfully cruel it can be.

Another brilliantly written book. One that should be on the top of your to read list.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the style of writing. The plot and characters were definitely a mindfuck.

It was interesting enough to keep reading because that's what mystery and thrillers do to me - I HAVE to find out what happens.

Some parts of the plot were too unbelievable or disjointed for me so 3 stars. If it didn't have the mystery aspect, it might almost have been a DNF but like I said, I had to find out what happened so I finished it.

[buzy_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story pulls you in. From the very beginning you are aware that something dark and sinister happens to these characters. Ethan is narrating this story sharing past memories. It’s in these past memories where we learn the truth about this darkness.
Ethan is a complicated character who is unstable. I could go either way with my feelings towards Ethan. Depending on the situation Ethan came across as polite and good, yet I knew something dark lurked inside of him.
Carrie had me confused. She pulled the wool over my eyes. She was a victim of circumstance, yet she allowed this circumstance to ruin her. She is full of trickery.
We get to see what life was like for Ethan and Carrie as children. Carrie lived a different life from Ethan. Ethan was aware, yet not really aware of the dirty dingy world that Carrie lived in. Ethan allowed her disease to spread into his soul becoming blinded by her sickness.

I loved when he reassured himself that his actions were for the better good. He’d tell himself, “I’m thoughtful and considerate like that.” It broke my heart when Ethan had to remind himself that not all people are bad with this statement, “I like people being nice, considerate.”

The story begins where it ends yet it’s not quite the beginning or the end. It’s a point of reference where the trouble begins but doesn’t end.

This is a love story about a boy broken by the lies of a girl he worshipped. The young boy is blinded by this dirty girl. He sees a beautiful girl despite her dirty exterior. But on the inside she is bad. He was manipulated by the illusion of love too young to understand that this girl is trouble.

Ethan lived in an illusionary world of which Carrie was his obsession. Ethan’s perception is blurry living in a state of confusion.
This is a dark story about two characters whose childhood was ripped out from underneath them. Carrie is the bad dirty girl who ruins lives. Ethan is the blinded fool who falls for all the dirty tricks. He had the perfect life or so he thought. She had the miserable abusive life that everyone turned a blind eye towards. She wanted to be free from her imperfect world.

Claire demonstrates how Ethan is a good boy. His mother taught him to have manners and to be polite. As he got older he showed signs of OCD tendencies. He needed order, rules, and routine. He’s still polite and good. However, he developed a temper which he learned to cope with. The story is written well. It flows further and further into an alluring direction.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Victim is an Oxymoron of a book.
Full of twists, turns and the darkest parts of life. When you are the cast out ones of society you band together don’t you to survive?

The novel follows Ethan; odd, quirky and fixated, his tendencies and compulsions make you loathed to like him, but, as Claire puts at the end “it’s like marmite you’ll either love or hate it” that same ethos goes for Ethan. Then there is Carrie: delicate, pained, broken and all she needed was a friend to care for her, wasn’t it?

What follows is what happens when you become obsessed with the idea of ‘us’ and what lengths will you go to when blinded by love.

I absolutely adored this book, I was enthralled, obsessed and fixated until the end. Thank you Claire for feeding my dark side.

[Shelby P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this all in one sitting and enjoyed it!


It was dark, suspenseful and edgy. I was never able to guess what was going to happen next.