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The Date
Something bad has happened to Alison Taylor.
Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.
By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognisable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.
Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognise the face staring back at her. She can’t recognise her friends and family. And she can’t recognise the person who is trying to destroy her…
Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.
By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognisable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.
Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognise the face staring back at her. She can’t recognise her friends and family. And she can’t recognise the person who is trying to destroy her…
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2018
4693 people are currently reading
10090 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,134 reviews
May 12, 2018
Well, I said somebody stump me and she did👏👏👏
Louise Jensen can write a thriller, man. She can write and she can write well. I love her use of descriptive language and building of suspense. I will forever read everything she writes.
This one requires a hefty, massive dose of suspension of disbelief right off the bat. It took me a few chapters, but once you get into the swing of things and accept it, it becomes a fast-paced, well-developed story. And the thing I really love about Jensen’s writing is how all the tiny, little pieces click into place seamlessly at the end.
At the end of the day, this is a complex story about love. But everything that is weaved around it will have your heart pounding and flipping the pages. And I was finally stumped, thank you Louise Jensen for putting my inner detective in her place!!!
A massive thank you to Bookouture and Louise Jensen for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Louise Jensen can write a thriller, man. She can write and she can write well. I love her use of descriptive language and building of suspense. I will forever read everything she writes.
This one requires a hefty, massive dose of suspension of disbelief right off the bat. It took me a few chapters, but once you get into the swing of things and accept it, it becomes a fast-paced, well-developed story. And the thing I really love about Jensen’s writing is how all the tiny, little pieces click into place seamlessly at the end.
At the end of the day, this is a complex story about love. But everything that is weaved around it will have your heart pounding and flipping the pages. And I was finally stumped, thank you Louise Jensen for putting my inner detective in her place!!!
A massive thank you to Bookouture and Louise Jensen for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2018
Talk about a date from Hell!
I will certainly never view a blind date the same way again. Ever!! Not after meeting Alison Taylor, the protagonist in this most intriguing and tension filled novel. The morning after her fateful date, she is trying to figure out what happened to her, and she realizes that it is not good.
I was questioning everything, wondering who the creepy date was and totally obsessed with finding out what happened! I'd finish one chapter, and get hit with another Tick Tock ending and would be hooked into reading another chapter, and another. I was seriously looking over my shoulder at times (or in the mirror).
This book seriously deprived me of sleep! I can't even believe someone came up with this story line- Louise Jensen is Brilliant!! Tick Tock! What are you waiting for? Read it!
Thanks to Bookouture for my ARC.
Review will also post to my blog https://dressedtoread.com/
June 26, 2018
Saturday night Allison Taylor had a date. She has recently separated from her husband and after some urging from her friends, she decides to meet a man at a local bar. Sunday morning her entire life has turned upside down. She instantly knows something is wrong when she wakes up. She is sore, has a huge bump on her head, and has no memory of what happened the evening before. One she manages to stumble into the bathroom she is shocked by what she sees in the mirror - a face she does not recognize. It's her face but.....
After her brother takes her to the hospital and she has some testing she learns she has Prosopagnosia also known as face blindness. Not only does she not recognize her own face, she doesn't recognize anyone in her life! Can you image how unsettling and frightening that would be? Couple that with having injuries and not knowing how you received them.
Then she begins receiving messages such as "Enjoy the date, bitch?" which sets her imagination into high gear. Just what happened on her date? Where is her roommate? Where is the man she met at the bar? Who is leaving her messages? Why has she been targeted? How does one navigate a world or interact with people when you do not recognize them, but they recognize you and tell you they are your friends? Who do you trust? How do you trust?
I tore through this book in one day! I couldn't read this fast enough! I love trying to figure out who is behind the notes which are terrorizing Allison. At one point I had suspected various people and then thought wouldn't it be funny if it was THIS person!?! ha! ha! Turns out it was THAT person and I was shocked. Then I felt a little let down.
Obviously, an edge of your seat page turner with some twists and turns which kept me turning the pages. The Author does a fantastic job of having the reader feel for the main character and her plight. Plus, the reader is given glimpses into her past and a secret she has been concealing. Past and present will come together in this book. As the plot thickens so does the suspense and feelings of dread.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
After her brother takes her to the hospital and she has some testing she learns she has Prosopagnosia also known as face blindness. Not only does she not recognize her own face, she doesn't recognize anyone in her life! Can you image how unsettling and frightening that would be? Couple that with having injuries and not knowing how you received them.
Then she begins receiving messages such as "Enjoy the date, bitch?" which sets her imagination into high gear. Just what happened on her date? Where is her roommate? Where is the man she met at the bar? Who is leaving her messages? Why has she been targeted? How does one navigate a world or interact with people when you do not recognize them, but they recognize you and tell you they are your friends? Who do you trust? How do you trust?
I tore through this book in one day! I couldn't read this fast enough! I love trying to figure out who is behind the notes which are terrorizing Allison. At one point I had suspected various people and then thought wouldn't it be funny if it was THIS person!?! ha! ha! Turns out it was THAT person and I was shocked. Then I felt a little let down.
Obviously, an edge of your seat page turner with some twists and turns which kept me turning the pages. The Author does a fantastic job of having the reader feel for the main character and her plight. Plus, the reader is given glimpses into her past and a secret she has been concealing. Past and present will come together in this book. As the plot thickens so does the suspense and feelings of dread.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
May 8, 2025
Well I can hardly believe that little ole me is sitting all by my lonesome in the Coulee!
All of the other Traveling Sisters absolutely loved this one except for me as I ended up thinking it was just okay. What’s up with that you might say? (or that is exactly what I said....LOL)
For me this was just not a good fit and it might have been because I was reading this book while on vacation and maybe I just wasn't totally getting it. I very much enjoyed the premise of this novel though and I quite enjoyed the twist. At the end I was left a little bit puzzled and underwhelmed. I wish I would have felt the desperation and frantic behaviour more from our main character here instead of feeling that it was more of the writing. I just didn't feel it and it did bother me a little bit.
I definitely still would recommend this novel though as I think it might have been just me and timing.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture, & Louise Jensen for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
All of the other Traveling Sisters absolutely loved this one except for me as I ended up thinking it was just okay. What’s up with that you might say? (or that is exactly what I said....LOL)
For me this was just not a good fit and it might have been because I was reading this book while on vacation and maybe I just wasn't totally getting it. I very much enjoyed the premise of this novel though and I quite enjoyed the twist. At the end I was left a little bit puzzled and underwhelmed. I wish I would have felt the desperation and frantic behaviour more from our main character here instead of feeling that it was more of the writing. I just didn't feel it and it did bother me a little bit.
I definitely still would recommend this novel though as I think it might have been just me and timing.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture, & Louise Jensen for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.
July 14, 2018
Louise Jensen’s The Date is an absolute must-read book this year!!! I saw this book described as living in a nightmare, and I couldn’t say it better. This book got into my head! I found myself walking down the street and imagining what it would be like to have no idea whether the strangers passing me were people I know. Whether one of those people may hate me and wish me harm, but I wasn’t able to read that emotion on their face. A chilling, gripping, anxiety-inducing page-turner that has a shocking twist!!
About the Book
Ali is having a normal Saturday night for a single girl. She gets ready for the evening with her roommate, trying on outfits before deciding on her green dress. She does her hair and her make up. They head to the bar to meet her blind date. Ali is ready to start living a bit since the end of her marriage, and this is her first big step towards taking back her life.
But then Ali wakes up on Sunday morning with blood on her hands and no memory of the night before. What happened to her after she arrived at the bar? Was she drugged? Why is her head throbbing? And then she goes in the bathroom to wash up, only to discover the nightmare she is now living in… Ali can’t recognize her own face.
As Ali seeks answers, the nightmare only gets worse. Ali isn’t just having trouble recognizing herself, she can’t recognize any faces. And worse, someone seems to know what happened that night and they aren’t letting Ali forget it. What do you do when you’re being stalked by someone you can’t recognize?? Will Ali’s past finally catch up to her?
Reflection
This is quite possible the most unique premise for a thriller that I’ve read in 2018. As a doctoral student in psychology, I’ve heard of prosopagnosia. But using it as a key element in a thriller is fantastic and twisted! Prosopagnosia is a condition resulting from trauma or damage to the fusiform gyrus in your brain, which is the part of the brain responsible for processing and encoding faces. There’s a broader area right there called the Inferior Temporal Gyrus and it is actually responsible for all visual object recognition. Damage to that area is incredibly sad, because it impacts processing of visual information so much. In fact, if you’re interested you should look up the famous case that really brought this condition into the forefront of psychology, The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat.
But I digress.
I actually can’t even imagine how scary this would be to live with! Jensen uses this very real condition to create a twisted web of terror encompassing Ali. At any moment, Ali has no clue whether she knows her stalker, whether she would recognize them without this condition, or even whether her stalker is a male or female. Imagine if every face you saw could be the person who is trying to destroy your life, but you’d have no idea! There were a few scenes in this that literally gave me goosebumps imagining how scared Ali must be!
I loved the way Jensen went not only into the terror Ali felt at her situation, but also into the other life implications of living with prosopagnosia. At one point, Ali mentions that her doctor told her that developing social anxiety is incredibly common with prosopagnosia, because the individual worries that they aren’t recognizing someone they should and that they may not read emotions from people correctly and could respond inappropriately. This was such a great addition to the novel. It made me think outside of this thriller about what it would be like to live with prosopagnosia day in and out.
I read this as a Traveling Sisters read with Brenda, Norma, and Berit. Overall we loved it and had an amazing experience reading and discussing this one together! I am so excited by how well Louise Jensen is doing as a fairly new author, and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.
About the Book
Ali is having a normal Saturday night for a single girl. She gets ready for the evening with her roommate, trying on outfits before deciding on her green dress. She does her hair and her make up. They head to the bar to meet her blind date. Ali is ready to start living a bit since the end of her marriage, and this is her first big step towards taking back her life.
But then Ali wakes up on Sunday morning with blood on her hands and no memory of the night before. What happened to her after she arrived at the bar? Was she drugged? Why is her head throbbing? And then she goes in the bathroom to wash up, only to discover the nightmare she is now living in… Ali can’t recognize her own face.
As Ali seeks answers, the nightmare only gets worse. Ali isn’t just having trouble recognizing herself, she can’t recognize any faces. And worse, someone seems to know what happened that night and they aren’t letting Ali forget it. What do you do when you’re being stalked by someone you can’t recognize?? Will Ali’s past finally catch up to her?
Reflection
This is quite possible the most unique premise for a thriller that I’ve read in 2018. As a doctoral student in psychology, I’ve heard of prosopagnosia. But using it as a key element in a thriller is fantastic and twisted! Prosopagnosia is a condition resulting from trauma or damage to the fusiform gyrus in your brain, which is the part of the brain responsible for processing and encoding faces. There’s a broader area right there called the Inferior Temporal Gyrus and it is actually responsible for all visual object recognition. Damage to that area is incredibly sad, because it impacts processing of visual information so much. In fact, if you’re interested you should look up the famous case that really brought this condition into the forefront of psychology, The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat.
But I digress.
I actually can’t even imagine how scary this would be to live with! Jensen uses this very real condition to create a twisted web of terror encompassing Ali. At any moment, Ali has no clue whether she knows her stalker, whether she would recognize them without this condition, or even whether her stalker is a male or female. Imagine if every face you saw could be the person who is trying to destroy your life, but you’d have no idea! There were a few scenes in this that literally gave me goosebumps imagining how scared Ali must be!
I loved the way Jensen went not only into the terror Ali felt at her situation, but also into the other life implications of living with prosopagnosia. At one point, Ali mentions that her doctor told her that developing social anxiety is incredibly common with prosopagnosia, because the individual worries that they aren’t recognizing someone they should and that they may not read emotions from people correctly and could respond inappropriately. This was such a great addition to the novel. It made me think outside of this thriller about what it would be like to live with prosopagnosia day in and out.
I read this as a Traveling Sisters read with Brenda, Norma, and Berit. Overall we loved it and had an amazing experience reading and discussing this one together! I am so excited by how well Louise Jensen is doing as a fairly new author, and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.
July 13, 2018
I think we can all admit to enduring some disastrous dates at one time or another. Some more than others! Namely, poor Ali, who just had one doozy of a bad date that she now can’t distance herself from.
Ali is, in fact, still married and recently separated from her husband. With the encouragement and (not so gentle) prodding from her friends, Ali reluctantly decides to take a chance and try her luck at online dating. Big mistake!! – Thanks friends!
I am definitely in the minority on this one. I was so excited for the chance to read this book. But it just didn’t work for me. Most of the twists were too predictable. I patiently waited for something shocking to grab me and take me on a wild thrill ride, but it just fell flat.
There are a number of five star reviews for this book so if it’s on your shelf, OR thinking of adding it to your shelf, don’t let me sway you! This may work as the perfect thriller that just floors you. Just wish it would have done that for me!😞
A buddy read with Susanne that took me about twice as long to read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Louise Jensen for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Ali is, in fact, still married and recently separated from her husband. With the encouragement and (not so gentle) prodding from her friends, Ali reluctantly decides to take a chance and try her luck at online dating. Big mistake!! – Thanks friends!
I am definitely in the minority on this one. I was so excited for the chance to read this book. But it just didn’t work for me. Most of the twists were too predictable. I patiently waited for something shocking to grab me and take me on a wild thrill ride, but it just fell flat.
There are a number of five star reviews for this book so if it’s on your shelf, OR thinking of adding it to your shelf, don’t let me sway you! This may work as the perfect thriller that just floors you. Just wish it would have done that for me!😞
A buddy read with Susanne that took me about twice as long to read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Louise Jensen for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2022
4.5 stars to the thrilling mystery novel, The Date, written by Louise Jensen and published in 2018. I always look forward to savoring a creepy and well-written suspenseful story, and this one definitely delivered a strong and fantastic punch. Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy.
Have you ever woken up and forgotten what happened the night before? I'm sure it's happened to all of us at some point. Most of the time we recover those memories. Then again, most of the time we also recognize our own face in the mirror. Unfortunately for Ali, neither is happening when she wakes up one morning after a date with some online mystery man that her friends convinced her to finally take a chance with. She's separated from her husband, trying to figure out how to move forward after some problems, and suffers from something traumatic in her childhood. All three of these things remain center stage as Ali tries to piece together the night without telling her friends or brother that she doesn't have a full memory or can't recognize people's faces anymore. Something happened to her and the blood and head wound must be the place to start.
This is a psychological horror of a novel -- in a good way. It's well-written and not medically technical on any level. Enough details are explained so readers know why she can't remember and what type of reality this is in the world. Although rare, if a certain part of the brain is injured, it's possible to not continue to remember what someone looks like. Ali's other senses need to step up, but it doesn't seem to be happening quickly enough. When her roommate disappears, Ali starts wondering if maybe she's the one who did something bad and not the other way around. Even the police grow suspicious, but she continues to receive support from 3 or 4 people. We all know one of them is lying, but it's not easy to tell what's happened behind the scenes. Is it the brother? The aunt? The best friend? The guy next door? The hypnotist? The soon-to-be husband? Or someone else lurking in the night and scaring her with notes and messages all over the house.
I read this book all in one day. I started in the morning before the gym and assumed I'd read 30 or 40 pages to see if I liked the book. Next thing I know, I'm 200 pages in and late for the gym. I had to finish reading later in the afternoon and I've held off writing the review because it's so hard determining what to say without giving away the plot. I kinda figured out what was going on, or at least who was behind it all. But the reason blew me away. I wasn't expecting to find out the true details of the past so late in the game, but as soon as they were revealed, the whole story made sense to me. Great job, Jensen. I'm definitely going to be reading more of your novels.
Have you ever woken up and forgotten what happened the night before? I'm sure it's happened to all of us at some point. Most of the time we recover those memories. Then again, most of the time we also recognize our own face in the mirror. Unfortunately for Ali, neither is happening when she wakes up one morning after a date with some online mystery man that her friends convinced her to finally take a chance with. She's separated from her husband, trying to figure out how to move forward after some problems, and suffers from something traumatic in her childhood. All three of these things remain center stage as Ali tries to piece together the night without telling her friends or brother that she doesn't have a full memory or can't recognize people's faces anymore. Something happened to her and the blood and head wound must be the place to start.
This is a psychological horror of a novel -- in a good way. It's well-written and not medically technical on any level. Enough details are explained so readers know why she can't remember and what type of reality this is in the world. Although rare, if a certain part of the brain is injured, it's possible to not continue to remember what someone looks like. Ali's other senses need to step up, but it doesn't seem to be happening quickly enough. When her roommate disappears, Ali starts wondering if maybe she's the one who did something bad and not the other way around. Even the police grow suspicious, but she continues to receive support from 3 or 4 people. We all know one of them is lying, but it's not easy to tell what's happened behind the scenes. Is it the brother? The aunt? The best friend? The guy next door? The hypnotist? The soon-to-be husband? Or someone else lurking in the night and scaring her with notes and messages all over the house.
I read this book all in one day. I started in the morning before the gym and assumed I'd read 30 or 40 pages to see if I liked the book. Next thing I know, I'm 200 pages in and late for the gym. I had to finish reading later in the afternoon and I've held off writing the review because it's so hard determining what to say without giving away the plot. I kinda figured out what was going on, or at least who was behind it all. But the reason blew me away. I wasn't expecting to find out the true details of the past so late in the game, but as soon as they were revealed, the whole story made sense to me. Great job, Jensen. I'm definitely going to be reading more of your novels.
July 8, 2018
3 Stars.
When Alison Taylor wakes up from an online date she has a helluva headache. Then she touches her hand to her face, it comes away bloody. As if that wasn’t shocking enough - when she goes to look in the mirror, she doesn’t recognize her own reflection. Whatever happened to Ali Taylor on her date, it wasn’t good. She can’t remember a thing and she doesn’t recognize any of her family or her friends and as it turns out, it’s permanent. WHAT the HECK?!
Upon her return home, things go from bad to worse, as Ali receives a text message from an unknown number which says “Enjoy the date, B&tch?” It gets worse and worse and she knows she’s in big trouble. Who is targeting her and why? Ali is scared to find out and the problem of course is that she can’t trust anyone.
“The Date” is a fast paced suspense novel with a very unique storyline, which I personally felt was a bit far-fetched. Though I guessed part of the ending I tore through it. This is a good mystery/suspense for anyone looking for something a little different.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. :)
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Louise Jensen for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 7.8.18.
When Alison Taylor wakes up from an online date she has a helluva headache. Then she touches her hand to her face, it comes away bloody. As if that wasn’t shocking enough - when she goes to look in the mirror, she doesn’t recognize her own reflection. Whatever happened to Ali Taylor on her date, it wasn’t good. She can’t remember a thing and she doesn’t recognize any of her family or her friends and as it turns out, it’s permanent. WHAT the HECK?!
Upon her return home, things go from bad to worse, as Ali receives a text message from an unknown number which says “Enjoy the date, B&tch?” It gets worse and worse and she knows she’s in big trouble. Who is targeting her and why? Ali is scared to find out and the problem of course is that she can’t trust anyone.
“The Date” is a fast paced suspense novel with a very unique storyline, which I personally felt was a bit far-fetched. Though I guessed part of the ending I tore through it. This is a good mystery/suspense for anyone looking for something a little different.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey. :)
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Louise Jensen for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 7.8.18.
June 17, 2018
A full 5* from me.
My thanks to Bookoutour via Net Galley for my copy.
This was an “on the edge of your seat bite your fingernails” read.
There is nothing like a creepy book when you visualise yourself walking along or actually being the main character who has to forever look over her shoulder. Is she being watched or is she going mad?
After a separation from her husband she was urged to go on a date. Get out there, move on.
Against her better judgement she agrees.
The book is centred around ‘that date’ the date where she sustained injuries and one that would forever stay with her. Face Blindness.
I had never heard of this before (it does have a medical name) and I couldn’t help but realise that Louise Jensen has enraptured me in awe of her ability to take something in reality and make it a novel based story that is mixed with a fact.
The only book I’ve yet to read is Sister.
The other two books I’ve read by the author just blew me away. It’s only time that has got in the way, but, I shall certainly be making room for Sister.
An author that flew on my favourite shelf overnight.
It’s creepy, it’s chilling, it makes you anxious.
You know someone is doing and has already done all of this but who? Just who?
I didn’t guess for one minute. The cast in this book is so well thought out, they are so rounded, everyone is mixed in and intertwined with each other. I couldn’t untangle them.
This has had to go into my top reads 2018.
Fab, just pure and utter wonderment at this authors talent.
June 16, 2018
Yes, I know that I said all my June ARCs were read, but the good reviews made me click "request." Let me tell you, I was not disappointed This was a satisfying read about a woman that wakes up to a terrifying set of circumstances. At the 48% mark, I thought I had it all figured out, but the story actually unraveled not quite how I expected.
All in all, The Date made for a very intense story that was impossible to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review
All in all, The Date made for a very intense story that was impossible to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review
May 29, 2018
Louise Jensen's The Date is a suspenseful psychological thriller that will keep you guessing to the end. It all starts when Ali Taylor wakes up battered and bruised after a date she doesn't remember. Recently separated from her husband she was reluctant to go on the date with a man she had been talking to on line and now she's woken up to a nightmare. Not only is she covered in blood but she has a bad head injury and can no longer recognise her own face or those of anyone else, including her family and friends. As if that isn't bad enough someone is leaving her hateful messages and threats.
The psychological tension builds as Ali tries to work out what happened that night and who would hate her enough to be threatening her. There are plenty of people for us to suspect and a quite a few twists in the story as all is slowly revealed and a web of secrets and lies is exposed. Thrilling stuff!
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of the book to read.
The psychological tension builds as Ali tries to work out what happened that night and who would hate her enough to be threatening her. There are plenty of people for us to suspect and a quite a few twists in the story as all is slowly revealed and a web of secrets and lies is exposed. Thrilling stuff!
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of the book to read.
July 5, 2018
It's one thing to face the music the next day.
It's another thing when you can't even remember the song.
Alison Taylor shifts back and forth on the rocky seas of a monster hangover. Under a mountain of pillows and blankets, she reaches toward the side of her head to try and stem the source of her pain. Even with blurred eyes, Alison notices blood on her hands and a huge knot on her head. Her stomach revolts to the movement and Alison rushes to the bathroom just in time. While splashing water on her face, the reflection staring back is someone more in the realm of a prizefighter who took a bad, bad hit. Whatever happened to Alison last night?
Louise Jensen presents a story filled with uncertainty, secrets, stalking, and a shaky life going down a big black hole. Jensen's main character Alison has separated from her husband, Matt, after being married for only a short time. She moves in with Chrissy whom she has just met. Chrissy encourages Alison to check out a dating site. She agrees to meet this new prospect at a nearby club. But our girl Alison has no recollection whatsoever of what transpired the night before. Chrissy, herself, hasn't shown up at the house since that night either. But Chrissy is known to hook up with many a guy afterwards.
Soon Alison begins to receive notes, flowers, and spray paint on her door. This "date" was the date from hell. Louise Jensen drums up quite the tension here with Alison drawing blanks around every curve. She can't remember a thing and can't even recall the face of that man who left physical and emotional marks on her.
All in all, The Date is dipped heavily in psychological twists and turns and has you turning pages just to see who "the who" is. The process is ladened with quite a bit of footwork to get to the story's climax. Even though you may have guessed who the individual is, you still need the how and the why. Louise Jensen seals the deal.
I'm looking forward to more from this author after having read "The Sister" as well. More crazy and creepy on the horizon......
It's another thing when you can't even remember the song.
Alison Taylor shifts back and forth on the rocky seas of a monster hangover. Under a mountain of pillows and blankets, she reaches toward the side of her head to try and stem the source of her pain. Even with blurred eyes, Alison notices blood on her hands and a huge knot on her head. Her stomach revolts to the movement and Alison rushes to the bathroom just in time. While splashing water on her face, the reflection staring back is someone more in the realm of a prizefighter who took a bad, bad hit. Whatever happened to Alison last night?
Louise Jensen presents a story filled with uncertainty, secrets, stalking, and a shaky life going down a big black hole. Jensen's main character Alison has separated from her husband, Matt, after being married for only a short time. She moves in with Chrissy whom she has just met. Chrissy encourages Alison to check out a dating site. She agrees to meet this new prospect at a nearby club. But our girl Alison has no recollection whatsoever of what transpired the night before. Chrissy, herself, hasn't shown up at the house since that night either. But Chrissy is known to hook up with many a guy afterwards.
Soon Alison begins to receive notes, flowers, and spray paint on her door. This "date" was the date from hell. Louise Jensen drums up quite the tension here with Alison drawing blanks around every curve. She can't remember a thing and can't even recall the face of that man who left physical and emotional marks on her.
All in all, The Date is dipped heavily in psychological twists and turns and has you turning pages just to see who "the who" is. The process is ladened with quite a bit of footwork to get to the story's climax. Even though you may have guessed who the individual is, you still need the how and the why. Louise Jensen seals the deal.
I'm looking forward to more from this author after having read "The Sister" as well. More crazy and creepy on the horizon......
May 28, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
After much persuasion by her friends, Ali goes out on a Saturday night, hoping to meet the handsome stranger she has been chatting with online. When she wakes up on Sunday morning, she has no recollection of what happened the night before, her clothing is covered in blood and she has, literally, lost her memory. Her friends, family and those closest to her are completely unrecognizable to her and no one seems to be able to answer any questions about what happened that night. As the days go on, her best friend, Chrissy, is deemed to be a “missing person” and soon the cops are asking questions. Questions that Ali can’t answer.
“The Date” by Louise Jensen has taken all of my expectations and blown them out of the water. I never did get around to reading Jensen’s three other novels, and I am surely kicking myself for it now.
“The Date” is completely and totally un-putdownable. Every chapter ends with a cliff hanger that left me desperate to keep reading, and the suspense-fueled plotline kept me on the edge of my seat.
This novel is creepy on many different levels, and has everything that a psychological thriller should have. The “whodunit” component is there of course, and the path to the actual ending is full of twists and turns, speculation and questioning. When the end arrives, it wraps itself up in a nice, succinct package, and is both unpredictable and completely satisfying.
Hands down, this novel took me by surprise in all the best ways. My next move will be to immediately check out the rest of Jensen’s novels.
After much persuasion by her friends, Ali goes out on a Saturday night, hoping to meet the handsome stranger she has been chatting with online. When she wakes up on Sunday morning, she has no recollection of what happened the night before, her clothing is covered in blood and she has, literally, lost her memory. Her friends, family and those closest to her are completely unrecognizable to her and no one seems to be able to answer any questions about what happened that night. As the days go on, her best friend, Chrissy, is deemed to be a “missing person” and soon the cops are asking questions. Questions that Ali can’t answer.
“The Date” by Louise Jensen has taken all of my expectations and blown them out of the water. I never did get around to reading Jensen’s three other novels, and I am surely kicking myself for it now.
“The Date” is completely and totally un-putdownable. Every chapter ends with a cliff hanger that left me desperate to keep reading, and the suspense-fueled plotline kept me on the edge of my seat.
This novel is creepy on many different levels, and has everything that a psychological thriller should have. The “whodunit” component is there of course, and the path to the actual ending is full of twists and turns, speculation and questioning. When the end arrives, it wraps itself up in a nice, succinct package, and is both unpredictable and completely satisfying.
Hands down, this novel took me by surprise in all the best ways. My next move will be to immediately check out the rest of Jensen’s novels.
September 26, 2018
I started reading The Date on 6/29/18 and finished it on 7/7/18. This book is an okay read for me. I like the suspense of finding out who is behind it all. I like the ending because I couldn’t guess who it was. I like that there are many potential suspects. The story started out interesting but it fizzles out for me.
This book is told in the first person point of view following Alison (Ali) Taylor as she prepares to go on a date with a guy she found on a dating app. She has been separating from her husband Matt and been living with her friend Chrissy. Her younger brother, Ben, comes to her rescue and takes her to the hospital for examination the next day after her date. Something happened on her date but Ali could not remember it. When she wakes up the next day, the visible signs left on her body appears to tell a story and worser is when she couldn’t recognize anyone’s faces including her own. This book is organized by days of the week following her date. There is a mystery italicize narrative after every few chapters and a mystery to Ali’s past that she keeps it a secret. Following the days after her date, she started receiving threatening messages in different forms: a package, texts, notes, etc. It scares her but she couldn’t report to the police because of her secret.
The Date is well written and it introduces readers to a new but not rare medical condition that will keep readers turning the pages. I haven’t heard of Face Blindness before so it’s interesting for me to read about it. I like the mystery with Ali’s family. At first I didn’t think the daddy issues would have anything to do with the story and the read was not very interesting to me. Ali’s friends, neighbor, and Matt are mundane as well. I do like the twists though so it definitely helps spin the story around.
Pro: fast paced, cover, suspense, mystery, medical condition, dating
Con: too much narrative for my liking
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the publisher Bookouture, author Louise Jensen, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book is told in the first person point of view following Alison (Ali) Taylor as she prepares to go on a date with a guy she found on a dating app. She has been separating from her husband Matt and been living with her friend Chrissy. Her younger brother, Ben, comes to her rescue and takes her to the hospital for examination the next day after her date. Something happened on her date but Ali could not remember it. When she wakes up the next day, the visible signs left on her body appears to tell a story and worser is when she couldn’t recognize anyone’s faces including her own. This book is organized by days of the week following her date. There is a mystery italicize narrative after every few chapters and a mystery to Ali’s past that she keeps it a secret. Following the days after her date, she started receiving threatening messages in different forms: a package, texts, notes, etc. It scares her but she couldn’t report to the police because of her secret.
The Date is well written and it introduces readers to a new but not rare medical condition that will keep readers turning the pages. I haven’t heard of Face Blindness before so it’s interesting for me to read about it. I like the mystery with Ali’s family. At first I didn’t think the daddy issues would have anything to do with the story and the read was not very interesting to me. Ali’s friends, neighbor, and Matt are mundane as well. I do like the twists though so it definitely helps spin the story around.
Pro: fast paced, cover, suspense, mystery, medical condition, dating
Con: too much narrative for my liking
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the publisher Bookouture, author Louise Jensen, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
June 7, 2018
The Date by Louise Jensen is one of those books that is just all kinds of weird but a good kind of weird that only a psychological thriller can give you. From the very first few pages I knew I was going to be in for one heck of a ride.
The story starts as Ali is waking up from a night that she cannot remember to save her life. Ali knows that she had been planning on going out with her friend/roommate to head to a club and meet a blind date from then out it’s a blank. No idea of what happened or how she came to be home at all.
Now waking up with no memory is enough to gain a slight interest sure but as Ali is coming to terms with no knowing she heads to a mirror and sees a face looking back that she doesn’t recognize at all….. WHAT? How can she not know her own reflection? I’ve heard of black market organ stealing but is Ali the victim of being drugged and someone performing plastic surgery? Attention skyrocketing….
But the next thing in the story is someone coming to the door and Ali afraid to answer. It’s most definitely a man but Ali realizes her purse and keys are missing so is this whoever drugged and left her here??? No, in walks Ali’s own brother who she can’t recognize at all either! Mind starts going 100 MPH.
So as you can tell this one is already falling into the WTH did I just read category on the opening pages. To explain all of this comes a really big medical term I had not ever heard of and a condition I honestly thought the author was making up….not possible, right? Calling Uncle Google I need answers now!
“Prosopagnosia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. Prosopagnosia is also known as face blindness or facial agnosia. … Prosopagnosia is not related to memory dysfunction, memory loss, impaired vision, or learning disabilities.”
Alrighty, so it is real. And Louise Jensen has taken this very interesting medical condition and written a book around it which had me turning the pages frantically to find out what the heck would happen. As the story unfolded I really could not put it down and kept rearranging my theories (when I could even think of something) all the way to the end. So yes, I enjoyed the book and I also learned something!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story starts as Ali is waking up from a night that she cannot remember to save her life. Ali knows that she had been planning on going out with her friend/roommate to head to a club and meet a blind date from then out it’s a blank. No idea of what happened or how she came to be home at all.
Now waking up with no memory is enough to gain a slight interest sure but as Ali is coming to terms with no knowing she heads to a mirror and sees a face looking back that she doesn’t recognize at all….. WHAT? How can she not know her own reflection? I’ve heard of black market organ stealing but is Ali the victim of being drugged and someone performing plastic surgery? Attention skyrocketing….
But the next thing in the story is someone coming to the door and Ali afraid to answer. It’s most definitely a man but Ali realizes her purse and keys are missing so is this whoever drugged and left her here??? No, in walks Ali’s own brother who she can’t recognize at all either! Mind starts going 100 MPH.
So as you can tell this one is already falling into the WTH did I just read category on the opening pages. To explain all of this comes a really big medical term I had not ever heard of and a condition I honestly thought the author was making up….not possible, right? Calling Uncle Google I need answers now!
“Prosopagnosia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. Prosopagnosia is also known as face blindness or facial agnosia. … Prosopagnosia is not related to memory dysfunction, memory loss, impaired vision, or learning disabilities.”
Alrighty, so it is real. And Louise Jensen has taken this very interesting medical condition and written a book around it which had me turning the pages frantically to find out what the heck would happen. As the story unfolded I really could not put it down and kept rearranging my theories (when I could even think of something) all the way to the end. So yes, I enjoyed the book and I also learned something!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 26, 2018
EXCERPT: I don't know who I am any more. The pressure inside my head mounts and a shard of memory drives itself into my consciousness. Shouting. Screaming. 'I know. I know what you did.' Crying. Begging. 'Please.' Hands on me. Pain. Blackness. 'You deserve everything you get.' And the hope that Saturday night was an accident, or even a random attack by a stranger, turns to ashes. 'You have blood on your hands.' Oh God, what have I done? What have I done again?
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Something bad has happened to Alison Taylor.
Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.
By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognisable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.
Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognise the face staring back at her. She can’t recognise her friends and family. And she can’t recognise the person who is trying to destroy her…
MY THOUGHTS: Terrifying. Imagine looking in the mirror and not recognising the face staring back at you. . . Not recognising anyone, your brother, your husband, your friends, your work colleagues. Never knowing, never being quite sure who these people are, walking past them on the street. We all fail to recognize people out of context, away from where we normally see them, but this is infinitely worse. Even more terrifying when someone is stalking you. If you do see them, you won't recognise them...
Even more scary when you have a secret, a secret buried deep in your past, one that you can't escape, that you will carry with you always, a secret that you have learned to live with, but one that someone else now knows. 'It doesn't work, does it, burying secrets? They always become unearthed: dark and dirty and ready to destroy.'
As I said, terrifying. But you are going to have to suspend belief to really enjoy The Date. And I did while I was reading. I tore through the pages. Breathless. Unable to stop to even think. Every possibility, every scenario drew me in. Imagine being trapped inside a kaleidoscope lined with distorting fun fair mirrors. That is how I felt as I was reading.
But when I had finished, little inconsistencies began to niggle at me. I wasn't so sure any more. I have never had this happen before. I have had the opposite happen. I have read books where, having finished them, they have continued to grow on me. Whereas my pleasure in The Date diminished a little the more I thought about it.
Don't get me wrong. This was an incredible read, one that I won't hesitate to recommend. But there was a worm in my apple. One that, try as I might, I just can't identify.
☆☆☆☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Date by Louise Jensen 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/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Something bad has happened to Alison Taylor.
Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.
By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognisable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.
Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognise the face staring back at her. She can’t recognise her friends and family. And she can’t recognise the person who is trying to destroy her…
MY THOUGHTS: Terrifying. Imagine looking in the mirror and not recognising the face staring back at you. . . Not recognising anyone, your brother, your husband, your friends, your work colleagues. Never knowing, never being quite sure who these people are, walking past them on the street. We all fail to recognize people out of context, away from where we normally see them, but this is infinitely worse. Even more terrifying when someone is stalking you. If you do see them, you won't recognise them...
Even more scary when you have a secret, a secret buried deep in your past, one that you can't escape, that you will carry with you always, a secret that you have learned to live with, but one that someone else now knows. 'It doesn't work, does it, burying secrets? They always become unearthed: dark and dirty and ready to destroy.'
As I said, terrifying. But you are going to have to suspend belief to really enjoy The Date. And I did while I was reading. I tore through the pages. Breathless. Unable to stop to even think. Every possibility, every scenario drew me in. Imagine being trapped inside a kaleidoscope lined with distorting fun fair mirrors. That is how I felt as I was reading.
But when I had finished, little inconsistencies began to niggle at me. I wasn't so sure any more. I have never had this happen before. I have had the opposite happen. I have read books where, having finished them, they have continued to grow on me. Whereas my pleasure in The Date diminished a little the more I thought about it.
Don't get me wrong. This was an incredible read, one that I won't hesitate to recommend. But there was a worm in my apple. One that, try as I might, I just can't identify.
☆☆☆☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Date by Louise Jensen 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/...
July 10, 2018
Norma and I were lost in a coulee reading The Date with two of our Traveling Sisters and for the first time ever Norma was left in a coulee all by herself feeling quite differently from the rest of us about this story.
The Date was a fast-paced, entertaining yet frightening - the good kind we love in thrillers that left us on the edge of the coulee ready to jump out in fright and run and hide from some of the chilling scenes our main character Ali was up against. Nothing is the same for Ali after she wakes up the morning after a date that she remembers nothing about and things are not right for her.
Louise Jensen does a great job creating a terrifying situation here for Ali with her not knowing who she is being terrorized by but knows they want to destroy her. Not only does she have no idea who it is or why she is now unable to recognize anyone.
Norma who was on vacation at the time we were reading this one couldn’t fully engage with us in our discussion and she ended up not feeling the same way about the story as we did. She felt the story was written a little too frantic but that could have just been because things can get a little frantic when you are visiting family. Thinking this one might not be the best vacation read. We recommend finding a nice quiet place maybe with a blanket to hide under while reading this story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lousie Jensen for a copy to read and review.
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review and it can be found posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley. Coulee references are symbolic to our reading experience
The Date was a fast-paced, entertaining yet frightening - the good kind we love in thrillers that left us on the edge of the coulee ready to jump out in fright and run and hide from some of the chilling scenes our main character Ali was up against. Nothing is the same for Ali after she wakes up the morning after a date that she remembers nothing about and things are not right for her.
Louise Jensen does a great job creating a terrifying situation here for Ali with her not knowing who she is being terrorized by but knows they want to destroy her. Not only does she have no idea who it is or why she is now unable to recognize anyone.
Norma who was on vacation at the time we were reading this one couldn’t fully engage with us in our discussion and she ended up not feeling the same way about the story as we did. She felt the story was written a little too frantic but that could have just been because things can get a little frantic when you are visiting family. Thinking this one might not be the best vacation read. We recommend finding a nice quiet place maybe with a blanket to hide under while reading this story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lousie Jensen for a copy to read and review.
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review and it can be found posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley. Coulee references are symbolic to our reading experience
July 12, 2018
So irritating. With zero suspense.
Five-word sentences with Jensen writing the same words intermittently. Allison/Sarah, the main character, was not someone I liked or could empathise with and all that nonsense about losing the ability to recognise faces was preposterous and certainly a big glaring deus ex machina.
WHY DOES THIS HAVE SO MANY 5 STARS? Stopped at 56% but read the last two chapters which basically confirmed everything I’d suspected since chapter one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
and intense twisty and twisted thriller that will keep you up past your bedtime!
Full disclosure I read this book quite a while ago, I am currently trying to get caught up on reviews.... but when I took a look at this title it brought back all the frantic feelings that this book evoked.... I really think it says something that this book has really stayed with me for too many months and many many books! A unique thriller with staying power, that is for sure!
Imagine looking in the mirror and not recognizing the face looking back at you... this is what Allison is going through, turns out she has a condition causing her to have face blindness.... One minute she is getting ready for a hot date, and the next minute she cannot even recognize her own face.... The tension is ramped up even more when she begins to receive messages referring to that dreaded date... what happened that night? Who is sending her these messages? What has she done to deserve this?
The pace of this story was frenzied, I was on heightened alert throughout... I really felt Allison’s fear, confusion, and helplessness throughout this entire book.... i’d imagine not being able to recognize people or read social cues would be highly stressful, especially before you learned to use your other senses.... and then to have somebody pretty much stalking you on top of that, must be terribly unsettling.... this is a book that will keep you off balance throughout the Book ,second-guessing everything and everyone, never knowing what is coming next... twists and turns everywhere with an innocent unreliable narrator.... and that ending! What? Well played Louise Jensen!
This is a must read thriller! A unique premise, crazy twists and turns, and a pace like no other! Absolutely recommend!
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
Full disclosure I read this book quite a while ago, I am currently trying to get caught up on reviews.... but when I took a look at this title it brought back all the frantic feelings that this book evoked.... I really think it says something that this book has really stayed with me for too many months and many many books! A unique thriller with staying power, that is for sure!
Imagine looking in the mirror and not recognizing the face looking back at you... this is what Allison is going through, turns out she has a condition causing her to have face blindness.... One minute she is getting ready for a hot date, and the next minute she cannot even recognize her own face.... The tension is ramped up even more when she begins to receive messages referring to that dreaded date... what happened that night? Who is sending her these messages? What has she done to deserve this?
The pace of this story was frenzied, I was on heightened alert throughout... I really felt Allison’s fear, confusion, and helplessness throughout this entire book.... i’d imagine not being able to recognize people or read social cues would be highly stressful, especially before you learned to use your other senses.... and then to have somebody pretty much stalking you on top of that, must be terribly unsettling.... this is a book that will keep you off balance throughout the Book ,second-guessing everything and everyone, never knowing what is coming next... twists and turns everywhere with an innocent unreliable narrator.... and that ending! What? Well played Louise Jensen!
This is a must read thriller! A unique premise, crazy twists and turns, and a pace like no other! Absolutely recommend!
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
May 12, 2018
The Date by Louise Jenson is a psychological thriller that has plenty of action. Ali has been on a blind date and wakes up the following morning to find that she has been hurt but has no memory of the incident. She has a head injury and it turns out she is now left with a condition that makes her unable to recognise faces, not even her own. She begins to believe that the person who attacked her is now planning to hurt her even more and is now terrified and can trust no one. This book has quite a few twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2018
Don’t believe everything you see…
“In a desperate situation, are we all capable of monstrous acts? It’s incomprehensible we can reach inside the darkest depths of someone else’s mind, when we ignore the blackness lurking in our own.”
Ali has been on a blind date last night. But when she wakes up the next morning with ripped cloths, bruises on her body, blood on her hands and no memory of the date, she realizes her nightmares have just begun.
To top it all, as a result of her head injury she has developed Prosopagnosia or face blindness. She can’t recognize faces. Not even her own!
All hell breaks loose when she begins receiving threatening messages, including a box with her bloody gloves inside.
Who is behind all this? Can she recognize her date if she sees him again? Has she really committed a crime? Where is her roommate and why doesn’t she answer her phone?
And then the police knocks on her door…
Thanks to Louise Jensen, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.
“In a desperate situation, are we all capable of monstrous acts? It’s incomprehensible we can reach inside the darkest depths of someone else’s mind, when we ignore the blackness lurking in our own.”
Ali has been on a blind date last night. But when she wakes up the next morning with ripped cloths, bruises on her body, blood on her hands and no memory of the date, she realizes her nightmares have just begun.
To top it all, as a result of her head injury she has developed Prosopagnosia or face blindness. She can’t recognize faces. Not even her own!
All hell breaks loose when she begins receiving threatening messages, including a box with her bloody gloves inside.
Who is behind all this? Can she recognize her date if she sees him again? Has she really committed a crime? Where is her roommate and why doesn’t she answer her phone?
And then the police knocks on her door…
Thanks to Louise Jensen, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy.
June 27, 2018
Read this one yesterday, and it was fantastic! I am usually awesome at sherlocking out twists, but this one surprised me. That said, I DID think the twist was a little weak. I didn't quite understand (or buy into) the motivation behind the persons' actions OR the level of animosity they displayed, Overall though, it was a cracking good read, and I will definitely be checking out this authors' other books.
July 14, 2018
I know I'm in the minority here but I didn't care for this book at all. It started really well but then it became mundane and repetitive. The same thing kept happening over and over and over. The same actions, the same thoughts. I became bored very quickly and started reading another book, coming back to this one for a few more chapters at a time only because I wanted to see how it ended and lo and behold the big reveal was EXACTLY what I had figured out 20% into the book.
June 25, 2018
Ali may be separated from her husband, but she isn't ready to let go. She still loves him, and holds onto a little hope they'll reconcile. In the meantime, her friends encourage her to check out other options. What harm could one date with a man off a dating website do? As we all know... lots. The morning after, Ali doesn't have a story about a pleasant date or a rude man she shared no chemistry with. She doesn't have a story about violence either, though she's clearly been assaulted. She has no story at all... because she doesn't remember. She doesn't remember that night, and when she looks in the mirror... she doesn't remember her own face.
Ali brought something back home with her... face blindness, a result of her injuries. (Which is a real thing.) She now cannot recognize the faces of her loved ones, let alone her date from that night. Her life has been completely and irrevocably changed, but someone isn't done with her yet... the friend she's been staying with has vanished, and she starts to receive strange threats. How can she protect herself from danger when she won't see it coming?
Twisted and unnerving, this book is undeniably gripping. This is definitely a story the reader will have fun trying to guess what is going on. It doesn't let up on the tension, and only ramps it up at the end. Some parts are hard to believe, but the whole story is woven together so well it doesn't suffer from it. Every little bit comes together at the end, making me shake my head and wonder why I hadn't gotten it before!
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Ali brought something back home with her... face blindness, a result of her injuries. (Which is a real thing.) She now cannot recognize the faces of her loved ones, let alone her date from that night. Her life has been completely and irrevocably changed, but someone isn't done with her yet... the friend she's been staying with has vanished, and she starts to receive strange threats. How can she protect herself from danger when she won't see it coming?
Twisted and unnerving, this book is undeniably gripping. This is definitely a story the reader will have fun trying to guess what is going on. It doesn't let up on the tension, and only ramps it up at the end. Some parts are hard to believe, but the whole story is woven together so well it doesn't suffer from it. Every little bit comes together at the end, making me shake my head and wonder why I hadn't gotten it before!
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
May 24, 2018
What would you do if you wake up one day not able to recognize any of your friends or your own reflection in the mirror?
“The date” is a character driven psychological thriller that will make you question your own sanity!
Louise Jensen never fails to amaze me with her talent and infinite imagination and I get lost in her words so easily, I feel like I’m a part of every story she tells.
It’s a tour de force of psychological suspense where nothing is as it seems, no way of knowing who you can trust when all you can see is a jumble of individual facial parts. Your husband is not your husband anymore, your best friend is a stranger, your dog is just a fluffy pile of black and white, do you even exist If you can’t recognize your own reflection in the mirror?
“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon...”
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC i recieved through Netgalley
“The date” is a character driven psychological thriller that will make you question your own sanity!
Louise Jensen never fails to amaze me with her talent and infinite imagination and I get lost in her words so easily, I feel like I’m a part of every story she tells.
It’s a tour de force of psychological suspense where nothing is as it seems, no way of knowing who you can trust when all you can see is a jumble of individual facial parts. Your husband is not your husband anymore, your best friend is a stranger, your dog is just a fluffy pile of black and white, do you even exist If you can’t recognize your own reflection in the mirror?
“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon...”
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC i recieved through Netgalley
June 7, 2018
Alison Taylor had been separated from her husband Matt for only a short while, and when her friend Chrissie pressured her into a blind date, she was reluctant. She still loved Matt and couldn’t bear the thought of another man. But when Ali woke the following morning, she had a violent headache; she ached all over and was covered in blood. And she had no memory of what had happened the night before.
But worse was to come when Ali glanced in the mirror in the bathroom – she had no idea who the person was looking back at her. What was going on? Ali was terrified – and when the messages, taunts and graffiti began to appear, Ali didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t go to the police – she had no memory, so they wouldn’t believe her. And then there was the past…
The Date is my second by author Louise Jensen and she does a psychological thriller very well! Gripping, fast paced suspense, littered with fear and guilt, and all buried in a myriad of secrets – what more could you want! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
But worse was to come when Ali glanced in the mirror in the bathroom – she had no idea who the person was looking back at her. What was going on? Ali was terrified – and when the messages, taunts and graffiti began to appear, Ali didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t go to the police – she had no memory, so they wouldn’t believe her. And then there was the past…
The Date is my second by author Louise Jensen and she does a psychological thriller very well! Gripping, fast paced suspense, littered with fear and guilt, and all buried in a myriad of secrets – what more could you want! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
July 22, 2018
3.5 *
The opening pages of this book grabs you from the beginning. Alison Taylor wakes up the morning after a blind date confused and physically hurt. What has happened? She is fully clothed and in her own bedroom. There appears to be no one with her and she can't remember anything about the previous night.
It was a pretty fast paced story. There was always something going on and new clues appearing. There was a "different" type of twist with this story. Perhaps you must suspend your disbelief and just go with it. The writing is good but something seemed to be missing for me. I'm not quite clear as to what it was. Perhaps it was just my mood or I didn't get a clear liking to the main character, Alison. I know for many this will be a juicy thriller with a lot of surprises. If it's on your TBR shelf do pick it up. There are many five star ratings that out weigh mine. I liked it but just did not love it.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy.
The opening pages of this book grabs you from the beginning. Alison Taylor wakes up the morning after a blind date confused and physically hurt. What has happened? She is fully clothed and in her own bedroom. There appears to be no one with her and she can't remember anything about the previous night.
It was a pretty fast paced story. There was always something going on and new clues appearing. There was a "different" type of twist with this story. Perhaps you must suspend your disbelief and just go with it. The writing is good but something seemed to be missing for me. I'm not quite clear as to what it was. Perhaps it was just my mood or I didn't get a clear liking to the main character, Alison. I know for many this will be a juicy thriller with a lot of surprises. If it's on your TBR shelf do pick it up. There are many five star ratings that out weigh mine. I liked it but just did not love it.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy.
June 8, 2018
Another slam dunk-er from the talented Louise Jensen. Ali wakes up one Sunday morning unable to recognise herself in the mirror. She can't recognise anyone else either, including friends and family. She knows that her friends had encouraged her to go on a date on the night before to help move her life forward after separating from her husband. She has no recollection of the date, the new man, or anything else.
This was a terrifying and tense read. Truly an exceptional novel, it had me turning those pages frantically trying to discover what was about to happen or be revealed. I appreciated the misdirection as well as the intelligent plot and emotional pull. An easy read, perfect for the summer months or any other time of year if you're a fan of psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This was a terrifying and tense read. Truly an exceptional novel, it had me turning those pages frantically trying to discover what was about to happen or be revealed. I appreciated the misdirection as well as the intelligent plot and emotional pull. An easy read, perfect for the summer months or any other time of year if you're a fan of psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 4, 2018
The Date by Louise Jensen was just brilliant! I was lost for words when I finished reading it... what an ending! I have loved all of this authors books and this one was no exception.
Ali is separated from her husband and is convinced by a friend to go on a blind date. The next morning she wakes with no memory of what happened the night before. She also does not recognise her own face in the mirror, or that of any of her family or friends. You might think you have this one all figured out.. I assure you I thought the same...and I was wrong so many times.
A very big thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
Ali is separated from her husband and is convinced by a friend to go on a blind date. The next morning she wakes with no memory of what happened the night before. She also does not recognise her own face in the mirror, or that of any of her family or friends. You might think you have this one all figured out.. I assure you I thought the same...and I was wrong so many times.
A very big thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy in exchange for my honest opinions
June 22, 2018
I received a free e-copy of The Date by Louise Jensen from NetGalley for my honest review.
Ali, who recently separated from her husband, Matt decides to go on a date after signing up on a dating app. The next morning she wakes up alone in the house she shares with her friend, Chrissy. She can't remember anything about the night of the date other than she is hurt and she can't recognize people. Her head hurts, she is bruised and her eyesight is jumbled. Also, where is Chrissy?
Ali decides to investigate what happened the night of the date but things start to go very, very wrong. She starts receiving notes, disturbing texts, etc that lead her to believe that maybe she hurt someone and someone else knows and wants her to pay. The closer she gets to finding out the truth the more danger she is in.
This fast moving, psychological thriller stumped me to the end. I thought I had it all figured out but nothing is as it seems.
Ali, who recently separated from her husband, Matt decides to go on a date after signing up on a dating app. The next morning she wakes up alone in the house she shares with her friend, Chrissy. She can't remember anything about the night of the date other than she is hurt and she can't recognize people. Her head hurts, she is bruised and her eyesight is jumbled. Also, where is Chrissy?
Ali decides to investigate what happened the night of the date but things start to go very, very wrong. She starts receiving notes, disturbing texts, etc that lead her to believe that maybe she hurt someone and someone else knows and wants her to pay. The closer she gets to finding out the truth the more danger she is in.
This fast moving, psychological thriller stumped me to the end. I thought I had it all figured out but nothing is as it seems.
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