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The Diary
‘I know all your secrets, Lauren.’
Lauren has spent years running away from her home town, her childhood and the memories of her best friend, Hannah.
Until the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s death forces her to return home and to the group of friends she abandoned there. It should be a quick visit, just so Lauren can pay her respects.
At home, Lauren finds Hannah’s old diary. A diary full of secrets. The terrible things Lauren did, the lies she’s told, the reason she ran away. And she receives a
‘I don’t know why you’re back, but I know why you left.’
But no-one else has seen the diary, and Hannah’s dead, isn’t she?
A suspenseful psychological thriller full of twists and turns – you won’t be able to stop turning the pages of The Diary. Perfect for fans of The Sister, The Girl on the Train and We Were Liars.
Lauren has spent years running away from her home town, her childhood and the memories of her best friend, Hannah.
Until the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s death forces her to return home and to the group of friends she abandoned there. It should be a quick visit, just so Lauren can pay her respects.
At home, Lauren finds Hannah’s old diary. A diary full of secrets. The terrible things Lauren did, the lies she’s told, the reason she ran away. And she receives a
‘I don’t know why you’re back, but I know why you left.’
But no-one else has seen the diary, and Hannah’s dead, isn’t she?
A suspenseful psychological thriller full of twists and turns – you won’t be able to stop turning the pages of The Diary. Perfect for fans of The Sister, The Girl on the Train and We Were Liars.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2018
576 people are currently reading
782 people want to read
About the author
Vikki Patis
14 books201 followersThis author is also published under the pen name Victoria Hawthorne.
Vikki Patis is an author of suspense novels with a gothic twist. Her latest novel, Return to Blackwater House, was published in March 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton, and her debut horror novel will be published in 2026.
She also writes historical fiction as Victoria Hawthorne. Her debut historical suspense novel, The House at Helygen, was published in April 2022 by Quercus and later became a bestseller. The Darkest Night was published in April 2024 and was the runner-up for the ADCI Literary Prize.
She lives in Scotland with her wife, two wild golden retrievers, and an even wilder cat.
Vikki Patis is an author of suspense novels with a gothic twist. Her latest novel, Return to Blackwater House, was published in March 2022 by Hodder & Stoughton, and her debut horror novel will be published in 2026.
She also writes historical fiction as Victoria Hawthorne. Her debut historical suspense novel, The House at Helygen, was published in April 2022 by Quercus and later became a bestseller. The Darkest Night was published in April 2024 and was the runner-up for the ADCI Literary Prize.
She lives in Scotland with her wife, two wild golden retrievers, and an even wilder cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
November 27, 2018
A juicy and compelling story full of secrets, misconceptions, and lies!
Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.
six girls, six secrets, 10 years,and a mystery...This book had a definite Pretty Little Liars vibe to it, and bonus you find out who “A” is in the first book! (Although her name is poly in this book, not A) Vikki Patis did a really good job of juggling six characters and two timelines... I was never confused, each girl had a distinct personality... additionally the teenagers acted like teenagers and when they were adults they acted like adults... you could definitely see the growth and changes in each and every girl... I also appreciated all the pop-culture references, I always enjoy those in books!
Lauren returneds home after being away for 10 years, to attend her childhood BFF Hanna’s memorial... Lauren already feels responsible for Hannah’s death, but when she starts receiving Messages from an unknown number suggesting that they know her secret, she begins to question her decision to return home... after running into her friends from the past she realizes she is not the only one receiving these messages... each girl has something to hide, something that Hannah knew, but who did Hannah share their secrets with? With everybody having things to hide and a diary filled with Hannah’s true thoughts, everybody is a possible suspect...
A well-crafted story that dealt with so many issues that so many teenagers face... I am certain everyone will be able to find something to relate to when it comes to the teenage angst in this book.... some of the subject matter was disturbing, but handled very well... Lauren was a very likable character and you felt her guilt and regret right along with her... The other characters weren’t quite as well fleshed out, but it’s hard with such a large cast... and I think they were all important to the story, because it really shows the true group dynamic of teenage friendships.... The ending was unexpected, but made complete sense! This is Vikki Patis’s debut, and I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us!
Absolutely recommend to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller with plenty of characters and a well constructed plot, I also believe this is a thriller that will appeal to fans of young adult...
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.
six girls, six secrets, 10 years,and a mystery...This book had a definite Pretty Little Liars vibe to it, and bonus you find out who “A” is in the first book! (Although her name is poly in this book, not A) Vikki Patis did a really good job of juggling six characters and two timelines... I was never confused, each girl had a distinct personality... additionally the teenagers acted like teenagers and when they were adults they acted like adults... you could definitely see the growth and changes in each and every girl... I also appreciated all the pop-culture references, I always enjoy those in books!
Lauren returneds home after being away for 10 years, to attend her childhood BFF Hanna’s memorial... Lauren already feels responsible for Hannah’s death, but when she starts receiving Messages from an unknown number suggesting that they know her secret, she begins to question her decision to return home... after running into her friends from the past she realizes she is not the only one receiving these messages... each girl has something to hide, something that Hannah knew, but who did Hannah share their secrets with? With everybody having things to hide and a diary filled with Hannah’s true thoughts, everybody is a possible suspect...
A well-crafted story that dealt with so many issues that so many teenagers face... I am certain everyone will be able to find something to relate to when it comes to the teenage angst in this book.... some of the subject matter was disturbing, but handled very well... Lauren was a very likable character and you felt her guilt and regret right along with her... The other characters weren’t quite as well fleshed out, but it’s hard with such a large cast... and I think they were all important to the story, because it really shows the true group dynamic of teenage friendships.... The ending was unexpected, but made complete sense! This is Vikki Patis’s debut, and I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for us!
Absolutely recommend to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller with plenty of characters and a well constructed plot, I also believe this is a thriller that will appeal to fans of young adult...
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
November 14, 2018
The Diary by Vikki Patis is a psychological thriller that digs for the secrets of the past. The story involves a teen suicide years before and flashes between the current and past to slowly build what happened all those years ago.
Lauren had been best friends with Hannah while growing up but the moment Hannah took her life Lauren ran from her home and hasn’t returned for ten years. Now on the anniversary of Hannah’s death Lauren returns to face the past.
However, after arriving back home Lauren begins to receive threatening text messages and as she slowly meets up with her circle of friends from the decade before she finds they all have been threatened. Finding Hannah’s diary Lauren is determined to find out who doesn’t want her to know about the past.
The Diary was another of those extremely slow building thrillers that unfortunately makes for one that is in danger of losing my attention. I do appreciate the author trying to touch on a relevant subject with teen bullying and suicide though. But I couldn’t help but think to myself again and again that the whole thing could have been solved rather quickly but instead was being dragged out so while the mystery wasn’t bad in the end it was just too slow getting there for me to enjoy it more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Lauren had been best friends with Hannah while growing up but the moment Hannah took her life Lauren ran from her home and hasn’t returned for ten years. Now on the anniversary of Hannah’s death Lauren returns to face the past.
However, after arriving back home Lauren begins to receive threatening text messages and as she slowly meets up with her circle of friends from the decade before she finds they all have been threatened. Finding Hannah’s diary Lauren is determined to find out who doesn’t want her to know about the past.
The Diary was another of those extremely slow building thrillers that unfortunately makes for one that is in danger of losing my attention. I do appreciate the author trying to touch on a relevant subject with teen bullying and suicide though. But I couldn’t help but think to myself again and again that the whole thing could have been solved rather quickly but instead was being dragged out so while the mystery wasn’t bad in the end it was just too slow getting there for me to enjoy it more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 30, 2024
3 Stars
First of all, you see that title? Well, that “Diary” wasn’t really important and wasn't useful really! Second, the story itself was so repetitive, and asking repetitive questions over and over without revealing anything was on my nerves (in a bad way)! And it was a bit over the top, in my opinion! I’m not saying it was that bad, but it wasn’t really good either! Told in single POV, 1st person. Overall, it was an okay read for me and I hope you like it more than me!
Thanks to Vikki Patis, Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
First of all, you see that title? Well, that “Diary” wasn’t really important and wasn't useful really! Second, the story itself was so repetitive, and asking repetitive questions over and over without revealing anything was on my nerves (in a bad way)! And it was a bit over the top, in my opinion! I’m not saying it was that bad, but it wasn’t really good either! Told in single POV, 1st person. Overall, it was an okay read for me and I hope you like it more than me!
Thanks to Vikki Patis, Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
December 4, 2018
EXCERPT: 'Lauren, please!' Her cries followed me out of the front door. They haunted me in the days after her death. They followed me to Plymouth, to Cornwall. They live inside my head. Hannah talks to me in my sleep; she lies down beside me and whispers in my ear. She comes back over and over again to remind me of what I did. Because I don't deserve to forget.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: ‘I know all your secrets, Lauren.’
Lauren has spent years running away from her home town, her childhood and the memories of her best friend, Hannah.
Until the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s death forces her to return home and to the group of friends she abandoned there. It should be a quick visit, just so Lauren can pay her respects.
At home, Lauren finds Hannah’s old diary. A diary full of secrets. The terrible things Lauren did, the lies she’s told, the reason she ran away. And she receives a message:
‘I don’t know why you’re back, but I know why you left.’
But no-one else has seen the diary, and Hannah’s dead, isn’t she?
MY THOUGHTS: There was the occasional flash of brilliant writing in The Diary, but mostly I found it slow, repetitive and overly angst-ridden. I applaud the author's motivation for writing this book - she features the eternal problems of bullying and suicide, but I found her treatment of them somewhat heavy-handed.
The premise for the plot was good, but it just never seemed to develop its full potential. Likewise there was little in the way of character development. The characters remained one dimensional, and I had trouble feeling anything for any of them. The fact that it took me 4 days to read this relatively short book is also telling.
I was going to rate this book 2.5 stars. But for those very occasional flashes of brilliance which, at one point, had me briefly convinced that the author had found her stride, that is the rating it would have received. Those moments earned an extra 0.5 star.
Despite my criticism, I think this author shows promise and I will be putting my hand up for her next book.
😐😐😐
Love the cover!
THE AUTHOR: Vikki Patis is an author and blogger, as well as an avid reader and book reviewer. When she isn’t working as a Regulatory Affairs Manager, she can usually be found drinking tea, baking cakes, or taking walks in the Hertfordshire countryside. She lives with her partner and two cats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Diary by Vikki Patis 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: ‘I know all your secrets, Lauren.’
Lauren has spent years running away from her home town, her childhood and the memories of her best friend, Hannah.
Until the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s death forces her to return home and to the group of friends she abandoned there. It should be a quick visit, just so Lauren can pay her respects.
At home, Lauren finds Hannah’s old diary. A diary full of secrets. The terrible things Lauren did, the lies she’s told, the reason she ran away. And she receives a message:
‘I don’t know why you’re back, but I know why you left.’
But no-one else has seen the diary, and Hannah’s dead, isn’t she?
MY THOUGHTS: There was the occasional flash of brilliant writing in The Diary, but mostly I found it slow, repetitive and overly angst-ridden. I applaud the author's motivation for writing this book - she features the eternal problems of bullying and suicide, but I found her treatment of them somewhat heavy-handed.
The premise for the plot was good, but it just never seemed to develop its full potential. Likewise there was little in the way of character development. The characters remained one dimensional, and I had trouble feeling anything for any of them. The fact that it took me 4 days to read this relatively short book is also telling.
I was going to rate this book 2.5 stars. But for those very occasional flashes of brilliance which, at one point, had me briefly convinced that the author had found her stride, that is the rating it would have received. Those moments earned an extra 0.5 star.
Despite my criticism, I think this author shows promise and I will be putting my hand up for her next book.
😐😐😐
Love the cover!
THE AUTHOR: Vikki Patis is an author and blogger, as well as an avid reader and book reviewer. When she isn’t working as a Regulatory Affairs Manager, she can usually be found drinking tea, baking cakes, or taking walks in the Hertfordshire countryside. She lives with her partner and two cats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Diary by Vikki Patis 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/...
November 23, 2018
Nothing gets my goat more than books that are misleadingly titled and genre labelled and The Diary violates both of these quite spectacularly. For starters, the diary that is alluded to as playing a substantive part in the plot is rather elusive and quite frankly irrelevant to the story. It feels like a desperate attempt to muster some intrigue, although it appears I am one of only a few to have realised. It is never going to end well when a reader feels they've spent time, money or both on something that has duped them when they could've spent it reading something more to their tastes. Secondly, labelling it as a psychological thriller is highly inaccurate. We all make mistakes that we may go on to rue and regret, but if reliving past mistakes and missed opportunities now counts as inspiration for a psychological thriller then I don't hold out much hope for the genre.
What the author does do well is create an emotional journey and a timeline that moves seamlessly between past and present and goes some way to building a tense atmosphere. She also explores some prevalent real-life issues sensitively and compassionately. However, it was rather slow moving and extremely repetitive with certain phrases and questions being repeated countless times. The characters were very one-dimensional with little in the way of differing traits which made distinguishing them from one another a struggle, and despite them all being adults they come across as immature and are more than a tad annoying as a result. I also found it difficult to maintain my interest and only finished after pushing myself. If you are looking for a thriller, of which this claims to be, then I would advise you to look elsewhere as there are plenty of fantastic ones out there. If you enjoy women's fiction or stories about the impact of school life, bullying and mental health on a persons life choices then pick this one up.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
What the author does do well is create an emotional journey and a timeline that moves seamlessly between past and present and goes some way to building a tense atmosphere. She also explores some prevalent real-life issues sensitively and compassionately. However, it was rather slow moving and extremely repetitive with certain phrases and questions being repeated countless times. The characters were very one-dimensional with little in the way of differing traits which made distinguishing them from one another a struggle, and despite them all being adults they come across as immature and are more than a tad annoying as a result. I also found it difficult to maintain my interest and only finished after pushing myself. If you are looking for a thriller, of which this claims to be, then I would advise you to look elsewhere as there are plenty of fantastic ones out there. If you enjoy women's fiction or stories about the impact of school life, bullying and mental health on a persons life choices then pick this one up.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
January 1, 2019
Secrets, secrets and more secrets! This book is packed full of surprises. Vikki Patis does a fantastic job of capturing teenager drama that goes terribly wrong.
Is it possible to run away from your past or is it going to resurface to haunt you no matter how long it has been? Lauren is soon to find out the answer to that as she returns to her small home town. This is a fantastic debut psychological thriller that addresses some serious issues. We are allowed into the past and the present with alternating chapters helping us fill in the gaps of what had happened all those years ago.
Even though this is a slow burn for me, it kept me interested the entire time. I found it to be a very realistic portrayal of issues that teenagers face each day. The mean girl drama, suicide, trying to fit in, gossip and secrets spread that can destroy lives. Underage drinking, parties and much more. As adults these girls are trying to come to terms with their past and things they have done. Can someone really change?
This book hooked me from the start and kept me intrigued the entire way. So excited she has a new book coming out March 8th! Count me in for that one!
Is it possible to run away from your past or is it going to resurface to haunt you no matter how long it has been? Lauren is soon to find out the answer to that as she returns to her small home town. This is a fantastic debut psychological thriller that addresses some serious issues. We are allowed into the past and the present with alternating chapters helping us fill in the gaps of what had happened all those years ago.
Even though this is a slow burn for me, it kept me interested the entire time. I found it to be a very realistic portrayal of issues that teenagers face each day. The mean girl drama, suicide, trying to fit in, gossip and secrets spread that can destroy lives. Underage drinking, parties and much more. As adults these girls are trying to come to terms with their past and things they have done. Can someone really change?
This book hooked me from the start and kept me intrigued the entire way. So excited she has a new book coming out March 8th! Count me in for that one!
November 23, 2018
I loved this book!! The secrets of the past are coming back to haunt a group of high school friends...in a big way!!
Lauren left home 10 years ago - after the suicide of her best friend Hannah. She returns home for first time for the 10th anniversary of her death. She is reunited with friends from school, all of whom are hiding secrets of what really happened at that time. When Lauren finds Hannah's diary hidden away in her old bedroom she realises how little she really knew her friend. Then she starts to receive threatening text messages...
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Lauren left home 10 years ago - after the suicide of her best friend Hannah. She returns home for first time for the 10th anniversary of her death. She is reunited with friends from school, all of whom are hiding secrets of what really happened at that time. When Lauren finds Hannah's diary hidden away in her old bedroom she realises how little she really knew her friend. Then she starts to receive threatening text messages...
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
December 1, 2018
I think, to be fair, I need to mention that maybe reading this book was a case of "it's not you, it's me". It's not a bad book nor very long, yet it took me AGES to finish. I think my mind wasn't in the right place for this one. I had read The Blackhouse before and it was so atmospheric and engaging, I think I was still mentally there instead of fully into The Diary. That being said, if it had been phenomenally gripping, I am sure I would have been turning those pages more quickly. I did guess at the ending, and found it fairly unspectacular, I'm sorry to say. I also thought the characters were not fully fleshed out, as they should have been, given the premise of the book. Nonetheless, I don't feel right giving it less than three stars, because I think, had this one not followed a book I would put of my "best of 2018" list, I probably would have liked it better.
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of The Diary in exchange for an honest review.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Thanks to Netgalley for supplying me with a copy of The Diary in exchange for an honest review.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
November 25, 2018
This is a compelling story about sisterhood and how tenuous and easily broken the ties are between us and the people who are important to us. It's a story about the mistakes we make when we are younger. We all have things that we did or said in the past that we would love to do differently,I know I have. It's about the different types of abuse that are endured everyday by people of all ages,in many different situations,environments and sectors of society. It's about friendship,judgement,revenge,redemption,forgiveness, misconceptions and how we can only move on with our futures if we find a way to let go of our pasts.
Lauren White has spent years running away from her past,her home town,her childhood and memories of her beloved best friend Hannah.
But Lauren has been forced to return home to the small town of Hitchin because her Dad has asked her if she will go with him to the memorial service that is being held at Lauren`s old school to mark the tenth anniversary of Hannah's death. Lauren doesn't plan to stay long,just a few days,long enough to pay her respects.
At home,Lauren is shocked when she discovers Hannah's old diary.A diary full of Lauren and Hannah's friend's secrets. The terrible things Lauren did,the lies she told,the reason she ran away.
Then Lauren and some of her old group of friends start receiving threatening text messages.
Someone else knows their secrets but no-one else knows about the diary,and Hannah is dead,isn't she?
This enthralling story is voiced entirely by Lauren and told in chapters that flip back and forth between the present and the past. Lauren was a likeable character but I struggled to understand why she put Hannah on such a high pedestal and thought she was so amazing when Hannah seemed to do nothing but treat her badly. Why do we put so much time and effort into being accepted by people who mistreat us. That friend that suddenly stops talking to you and is slagging you off behind your back but who you would happily still be friends with if they decided to start talking to you again. Even Hannah's friends said that Hannah was mean and cruel,a fact that was proven by some of the comments that Hannah had written in her diary. Who was the real Hannah,was she the cruel person she appeared to be or was she just scared to let herself get too attached to people because of things that had happened in her past? The characters in this book were a mixed bag of vivid,realistic personalities,some likeable,some not so and most of whom had hidden secrets. My favourite parts of the story were the chapters set in the present day. Who was sending the threatening messages? How did the person or person`s know the group's secrets?
The Diary is a mesmerising,very well written debut thriller that had me hooked in from the first page. The story flows with ease in both times frames and no parts come across as unnecessary or added to pad out the story. The author states in the notes at the back of the book that she has been affected personally by some of the issues raised in this story and I hope that writing this book has helped her start the journey towards moving on even if it's only in a small way. There are some hard hitting issues covered in this book that would raise some heated discussions if it was read by a book group. Highly recommended,I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Lauren White has spent years running away from her past,her home town,her childhood and memories of her beloved best friend Hannah.
But Lauren has been forced to return home to the small town of Hitchin because her Dad has asked her if she will go with him to the memorial service that is being held at Lauren`s old school to mark the tenth anniversary of Hannah's death. Lauren doesn't plan to stay long,just a few days,long enough to pay her respects.
At home,Lauren is shocked when she discovers Hannah's old diary.A diary full of Lauren and Hannah's friend's secrets. The terrible things Lauren did,the lies she told,the reason she ran away.
Then Lauren and some of her old group of friends start receiving threatening text messages.
Someone else knows their secrets but no-one else knows about the diary,and Hannah is dead,isn't she?
This enthralling story is voiced entirely by Lauren and told in chapters that flip back and forth between the present and the past. Lauren was a likeable character but I struggled to understand why she put Hannah on such a high pedestal and thought she was so amazing when Hannah seemed to do nothing but treat her badly. Why do we put so much time and effort into being accepted by people who mistreat us. That friend that suddenly stops talking to you and is slagging you off behind your back but who you would happily still be friends with if they decided to start talking to you again. Even Hannah's friends said that Hannah was mean and cruel,a fact that was proven by some of the comments that Hannah had written in her diary. Who was the real Hannah,was she the cruel person she appeared to be or was she just scared to let herself get too attached to people because of things that had happened in her past? The characters in this book were a mixed bag of vivid,realistic personalities,some likeable,some not so and most of whom had hidden secrets. My favourite parts of the story were the chapters set in the present day. Who was sending the threatening messages? How did the person or person`s know the group's secrets?
The Diary is a mesmerising,very well written debut thriller that had me hooked in from the first page. The story flows with ease in both times frames and no parts come across as unnecessary or added to pad out the story. The author states in the notes at the back of the book that she has been affected personally by some of the issues raised in this story and I hope that writing this book has helped her start the journey towards moving on even if it's only in a small way. There are some hard hitting issues covered in this book that would raise some heated discussions if it was read by a book group. Highly recommended,I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
October 25, 2018
This book started off as a thriller with a dead girl, a ten year anniversary of her death, the gang of girls who were alive, each harboring a secret, and the sword that held them to the edge - The Diary!!
Lauren came home for the death anniversary of her best friend & sister, Hannah, and someone started sending her threatening text messages, almost as if it were coming from Hannah. The author Vikki Patis, started the book with a scorching mystery. Lauren met up with the girls slowly one by one, all of them having received these messages.
The author's writing cast a doubt on all the characters, the plot had the turns where Lauren was betrayed badly by these close friends, so she was a wreck in the times she met up with them. The initial part had no clear sense of direction. The story unfolded giving glimpses of the past, all the time hinting at the diary, which Lauren did find, but never found the guts to read. I felt Lauren was like the waves, she would advance to read the diary and then retreat without reading. This happened in most of the story where one reading of that dang diary would have solved the mystery. She totally frustrated me!!
The book had its niggles, Lauren ran away all the time, none of the girls were really friends, in the past they just drank and drank and drank. In the present, most of them smoked and smoked during tension filled scenes. And none of them were likable.
Why did I read/finish the book? The book then became an emotional read where Hannah's torturous abuse was revealed. It had me fighting my tears, a lot of pain was hidden in her which caused her to act out. And the last bit had me empathising with all of them and their juvenile mistakes. Their selfish and judgmental teenage selves destroyed lives, but it was nice to see them rallying together as grown women to fight the veiled stalker!!
Lauren came home for the death anniversary of her best friend & sister, Hannah, and someone started sending her threatening text messages, almost as if it were coming from Hannah. The author Vikki Patis, started the book with a scorching mystery. Lauren met up with the girls slowly one by one, all of them having received these messages.
The author's writing cast a doubt on all the characters, the plot had the turns where Lauren was betrayed badly by these close friends, so she was a wreck in the times she met up with them. The initial part had no clear sense of direction. The story unfolded giving glimpses of the past, all the time hinting at the diary, which Lauren did find, but never found the guts to read. I felt Lauren was like the waves, she would advance to read the diary and then retreat without reading. This happened in most of the story where one reading of that dang diary would have solved the mystery. She totally frustrated me!!
The book had its niggles, Lauren ran away all the time, none of the girls were really friends, in the past they just drank and drank and drank. In the present, most of them smoked and smoked during tension filled scenes. And none of them were likable.
Why did I read/finish the book? The book then became an emotional read where Hannah's torturous abuse was revealed. It had me fighting my tears, a lot of pain was hidden in her which caused her to act out. And the last bit had me empathising with all of them and their juvenile mistakes. Their selfish and judgmental teenage selves destroyed lives, but it was nice to see them rallying together as grown women to fight the veiled stalker!!
December 4, 2018
A relatable psychological thriller that stirs up the memories of high school peer pressure and drama, including bullying and the effects of Social Media. While the story was interesting, it was rather slow-paced.
Chapters alternate between past and present, as Lauren returns home for a memorial, at her father’s request. Old memories come flooding back as she returns to her childhood home—where her best friend’s suicide took place—and Lauren reunites with old friends.
They all start receiving anonymous texts and threatening messages, and discover that Hannah kept a diary detailing everyones deepest, darkest secrets.
It was a good read, but I didn’t consider it a real page-turner. Anyone who enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, will probably enjoy this.
Chapters alternate between past and present, as Lauren returns home for a memorial, at her father’s request. Old memories come flooding back as she returns to her childhood home—where her best friend’s suicide took place—and Lauren reunites with old friends.
They all start receiving anonymous texts and threatening messages, and discover that Hannah kept a diary detailing everyones deepest, darkest secrets.
It was a good read, but I didn’t consider it a real page-turner. Anyone who enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, will probably enjoy this.
November 22, 2018
Lauren has moved away from the place she grew up and has tried to forget all the bad things that happened when she was younger. She’s now living with her girlfriend and enjoying life.
She then receives an invite to a memorial for her friend who died when she was a teenager.
Lauren hasn’t been back since she left over ten years ago and soon bumps into people who she grew up with.
Her Dad is happy to have her stay but knows something is worrying Lauren.
Through a series of flashbacks we learn what happened to Lauren and Hannah.
When Lauren starts to feel more comfortable back home she receives more messages relating to the past and then finds out that her other friends have been getting them too.
The story comes to a dramatic conclusion and is a real page turner.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
She then receives an invite to a memorial for her friend who died when she was a teenager.
Lauren hasn’t been back since she left over ten years ago and soon bumps into people who she grew up with.
Her Dad is happy to have her stay but knows something is worrying Lauren.
Through a series of flashbacks we learn what happened to Lauren and Hannah.
When Lauren starts to feel more comfortable back home she receives more messages relating to the past and then finds out that her other friends have been getting them too.
The story comes to a dramatic conclusion and is a real page turner.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
November 4, 2018
The story flicks between now and then. In the present, Lauren makes the hard decision to return back to her family home for the ten year anniversary of Hannah's death. The past we get to see more of Lauren and Hannah's relationship as well as what life was like back when they were in their teens and the build up to Hannah's untimely death.
This book is packed full of secrets and who doesn't love a good secret? Hannah I kind of had mixed feelings about. In a way she is very much like a big sister to Lauren, always looking out for her, but in the same breath, at times it felt like a bit to much. It almost felt like rediscovering who someone really is. Hannah's diary certainly opens a whole can of worms and even has Lauren questioning how well she truly knew her.
You can definitely feel the build up of tension as the story progresses. I really enjoyed reading of Lauren and her dads relationship and it felt like the bond between them was growing tighter which I loved. It was also interesting to see how Lauren's relationship with her old school friends differed. All of them have their own secrets that they don't want to get out and I couldn't wait to find out just who was behind it all.
The Diary hooks you in from the start and kept me there until the very end. It makes you think about just how well you really know people. I thought the conclusion was very satisfying and well worth the build up of suspense. An enthralling page turner of a read.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
This book is packed full of secrets and who doesn't love a good secret? Hannah I kind of had mixed feelings about. In a way she is very much like a big sister to Lauren, always looking out for her, but in the same breath, at times it felt like a bit to much. It almost felt like rediscovering who someone really is. Hannah's diary certainly opens a whole can of worms and even has Lauren questioning how well she truly knew her.
You can definitely feel the build up of tension as the story progresses. I really enjoyed reading of Lauren and her dads relationship and it felt like the bond between them was growing tighter which I loved. It was also interesting to see how Lauren's relationship with her old school friends differed. All of them have their own secrets that they don't want to get out and I couldn't wait to find out just who was behind it all.
The Diary hooks you in from the start and kept me there until the very end. It makes you think about just how well you really know people. I thought the conclusion was very satisfying and well worth the build up of suspense. An enthralling page turner of a read.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
November 6, 2018
After ten years away from her childhood home, Lauren returns home. It’s the anniversary of Hannah’s death. Hannah committed suicide and Lauren is the one that found her. The story continues going back in forth in time, we learn about Hannah, Lauren and her friends and the events that led up to her death and meeting them ten years later and how all their lives have changed.
I was looking forward to read this and I liked the premise of this story but, this book just didn’t do it for me. There were no likeable characters and I felt that the story was so repetitive. Also this is described as suspenseful psychological thriller. I didn’t feel it like that, just an ok read.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of The Diary by Vikki Pattis.
I was looking forward to read this and I liked the premise of this story but, this book just didn’t do it for me. There were no likeable characters and I felt that the story was so repetitive. Also this is described as suspenseful psychological thriller. I didn’t feel it like that, just an ok read.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of The Diary by Vikki Pattis.
November 25, 2018
The Diary is a atmospheric slow-burner of a novel that is full of suspense but also an enjoyable, easy read - it would be perfect to take on holiday and completely loose yourself in!
The characters are a real mix - though some are less likable than others, all are entertaining to read about and Lauren herself seems like a great character. Her sister Hannah - who we only learn about through Lauren's memories and some limited diary entries - seemed to be a tricky character when she was alive; many aspects of her personality jarred with me, but she had her own problems which I like - none of the characters are too black and white or overly simplified. I think that Vikki Patis has a great knack for creating realistic characters who you can imagine as actual people.
The plot is packed full of secrets and mystery, which I really liked; there are also some really complex issues laid out within The Diary's pages. I don't want to give too much away about the story, but I'm sure a lot of readers - especially females - can probably relate to at least some of the experiences that Lauren, Hannah, and their friends talk about or experience. It also had some great pop-culture references, and with Lauren being a similar age to me I recognised lots of references from films and TV programmes that I loved growing up, which was an added enjoyable element.
This was a fun, easy read with a definite touch of darkness lurking underneath the drama. I raced through it in no time and would definitely read future novels by Vikki Patis.
The characters are a real mix - though some are less likable than others, all are entertaining to read about and Lauren herself seems like a great character. Her sister Hannah - who we only learn about through Lauren's memories and some limited diary entries - seemed to be a tricky character when she was alive; many aspects of her personality jarred with me, but she had her own problems which I like - none of the characters are too black and white or overly simplified. I think that Vikki Patis has a great knack for creating realistic characters who you can imagine as actual people.
The plot is packed full of secrets and mystery, which I really liked; there are also some really complex issues laid out within The Diary's pages. I don't want to give too much away about the story, but I'm sure a lot of readers - especially females - can probably relate to at least some of the experiences that Lauren, Hannah, and their friends talk about or experience. It also had some great pop-culture references, and with Lauren being a similar age to me I recognised lots of references from films and TV programmes that I loved growing up, which was an added enjoyable element.
This was a fun, easy read with a definite touch of darkness lurking underneath the drama. I raced through it in no time and would definitely read future novels by Vikki Patis.
December 15, 2018
Wow, that was a powerful emotional ride and it really got me thinking about how horrible teenagers can be to each other and what a lasting impact that can have on someone's life! The author does a fantastic job of building up the tension in this story, mixing the past, which is ten years ago, and the present, until we find out exact what happened and how it has shaped the events of the present day.
Hannah died ten years ago and it is a memorial event that pulls all of the characters back to the place where it happened, bringing back powerful memories of the events leading up to her death.
The storyline covers a couple of serious topics, which I won't go into detail about in case I spoil the story for readers, but the author handles them with care and depth and weaves an emotional atmosphere that pulls the reader in. I loved the main character (and her dad!) and the story broke my heart in places and got me really fired up in others. I questioned who I could trust, who was telling lies, who was being genuine. It definitely had me puzzling over what was really going on. Loved it!
Hannah died ten years ago and it is a memorial event that pulls all of the characters back to the place where it happened, bringing back powerful memories of the events leading up to her death.
The storyline covers a couple of serious topics, which I won't go into detail about in case I spoil the story for readers, but the author handles them with care and depth and weaves an emotional atmosphere that pulls the reader in. I loved the main character (and her dad!) and the story broke my heart in places and got me really fired up in others. I questioned who I could trust, who was telling lies, who was being genuine. It definitely had me puzzling over what was really going on. Loved it!
August 29, 2019
The Diary is centred around secrets from the past. The memorial of a teen suicide ten years earlier is the catalyst for secrets to be unearthed and faced.
I liked the alternating past and present views, building up to the truth about what really happened that day so night. Why did our main character leave town all those years ago and never return until now? Who is sending the anonymous text messages?
I found this to be a slow building thriller touching on relevant subjects such as bullying and suicide. But I do feel that the mystery was a little prolonged and perhaps could have been rounded up a little sooner.
A good story which I enjoyed and finished quickly. I can't wait to read Patis' second book.
I liked the alternating past and present views, building up to the truth about what really happened that day so night. Why did our main character leave town all those years ago and never return until now? Who is sending the anonymous text messages?
I found this to be a slow building thriller touching on relevant subjects such as bullying and suicide. But I do feel that the mystery was a little prolonged and perhaps could have been rounded up a little sooner.
A good story which I enjoyed and finished quickly. I can't wait to read Patis' second book.
February 20, 2019
E-ARC supplied by NetGalley
Release date: Nov. 26, 2018
This is disjointed, repetitive and full of teen angst... both “Then” and “Now” as the story flips from teen years (then) to adult angst (now), 10 years later. Grown women acting like teenagers all over again, all hiding secrets and guessing who did what to whom. After a point, like over 50% into the novel, I didn’t even care. It was 10 years ago, for heavens sake. Teens do stupid things.
I found most of the characters unlikable, especially all the targeted women. Heck, I even had trouble liking Lauren, and it’s her story. How many times did Lauren call deceased Hannah her “sister” and they weren’t even really related. Yes, I get “sisterly” love between BFF’s, but this was so over the top and repetitive. I wanted to yell at her and say, “we get it.. move on!”
What I don’t get is all the 5-star ratings. I read a lot of psychological thrillers and I just wouldn’t even call this one a thriller, maybe a little psycho, but it was like the author was trying too hard, jumping around to build suspense where there really wasn’t any. Yes, there were the mysterious texts coming to all the women who were once teenagers together, trying to intimidate them about past secrets. No one knows from who, but I guessed it long before it was disclosed.
This was just not my cup of tea. This felt aimed at the followers of the “Me Too” movement, for whom I do have empathy, but I just didn’t like the presentation here of that topic. I trudged along with this anxious to finish it up, which thankfully I did... hallelujah, and therefore submit this unbiased review in thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the e-ARC, but I can’t really say I’d recommend it to any of my fellow reading companions. I’m being generous with the 2 stars I gave it.
Release date: Nov. 26, 2018
This is disjointed, repetitive and full of teen angst... both “Then” and “Now” as the story flips from teen years (then) to adult angst (now), 10 years later. Grown women acting like teenagers all over again, all hiding secrets and guessing who did what to whom. After a point, like over 50% into the novel, I didn’t even care. It was 10 years ago, for heavens sake. Teens do stupid things.
I found most of the characters unlikable, especially all the targeted women. Heck, I even had trouble liking Lauren, and it’s her story. How many times did Lauren call deceased Hannah her “sister” and they weren’t even really related. Yes, I get “sisterly” love between BFF’s, but this was so over the top and repetitive. I wanted to yell at her and say, “we get it.. move on!”
What I don’t get is all the 5-star ratings. I read a lot of psychological thrillers and I just wouldn’t even call this one a thriller, maybe a little psycho, but it was like the author was trying too hard, jumping around to build suspense where there really wasn’t any. Yes, there were the mysterious texts coming to all the women who were once teenagers together, trying to intimidate them about past secrets. No one knows from who, but I guessed it long before it was disclosed.
This was just not my cup of tea. This felt aimed at the followers of the “Me Too” movement, for whom I do have empathy, but I just didn’t like the presentation here of that topic. I trudged along with this anxious to finish it up, which thankfully I did... hallelujah, and therefore submit this unbiased review in thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the e-ARC, but I can’t really say I’d recommend it to any of my fellow reading companions. I’m being generous with the 2 stars I gave it.
December 22, 2018
I always want to love every book I read because I can only imagine how much work is needed and how an author wants to please the readers. Nobody likes their 'baby' not to being liked, but unfortunately I have to admit this one was not my cup of tea.
I loved the cover and I was really looking forward to reading it, but there were so many characters that it became confusing. Somehow I could not seem to remember who was who.
I liked the way the story had alternating chapters in the 'now' and 'then' and I did not mind it being slow paced. I do feel that when the tension started to build up, it was not exactely the kind of plot I was waiting and hoping for.
I had the feeling that I did not know a lot more at the end of the book than what I knew at the beginning.
The pattern reminded me of 'Pretty little liars' and there was a feeling of suspense the whole way through. Here it felt like sometimes I did not remember what it was all about. I thought the title would explain everything, but I was kept hanging.
In my opinion it was a story full op potential, but it was not up my alley. I would suggest you read the book by yourself and make up your own mind.
I, for sure, am looking forward to reading the next book written by this author. This one gets 3 stars.
Thank you, Vikki Patis, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
I loved the cover and I was really looking forward to reading it, but there were so many characters that it became confusing. Somehow I could not seem to remember who was who.
I liked the way the story had alternating chapters in the 'now' and 'then' and I did not mind it being slow paced. I do feel that when the tension started to build up, it was not exactely the kind of plot I was waiting and hoping for.
I had the feeling that I did not know a lot more at the end of the book than what I knew at the beginning.
The pattern reminded me of 'Pretty little liars' and there was a feeling of suspense the whole way through. Here it felt like sometimes I did not remember what it was all about. I thought the title would explain everything, but I was kept hanging.
In my opinion it was a story full op potential, but it was not up my alley. I would suggest you read the book by yourself and make up your own mind.
I, for sure, am looking forward to reading the next book written by this author. This one gets 3 stars.
Thank you, Vikki Patis, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
November 14, 2018
After ten years away Lauren returns to her small hometown it’s the anniversary of her childhood friend Hannah’s death. Hannah committed suicide and Lauren had been the one that found her. Lauren and Hannah had been like sisters. So after Hannah’s death Lauren couldn’t handle it so she moves away. Lauren’s father was the one who convinced her to come back for the anniversary. Once she arrives back home Lauren is overcome with memories. Lauren starts to receive anonymous texts and the first one scares her “I don’t know why your back, but I know why you left”. The book goes back and forth in time, we learn about Hannah , Lauren and her friends and the events that led up to her death. This book is packed full of secrets! When Lauren discovers Hannah’s hidden diary that opens a whole can of worms and Lauren starts to question how well she truly knew Hannah. There definitely is a build up of tension and the story progresses it appears that everyone had secrets that they didn’t want to get out so trying to figure out who was sending Lauren the anonymous texts was hard to figure out which I enjoyed. The diary hooks you in from the beginning and held me there until the very last page. It makes you question how well you really know people and I was happy with the ending. The suicide part may not be for everyone so giving a heads up about that. Many thanks to netgalley and bookouture for my advanced copy!
November 26, 2018
Absolutely brilliant! A well thought out, spine tingling, thrilling and fast paced story that I absolutely loved! One of the best books I've read this year! An incredibly assured debut from an author to watch!
November 25, 2018
Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.
Lauren does the one thing she never, ever wanted to do. She responds to her father’s plea to visit him. Lauren had left her home in Hitchin years ago after her best friend Hannah committed suicide. When Lauren left, her friend’s loss was only one of the bad memories that she was escaping.
It is the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s death and Lauren is reluctantly reunited with her friends from school. Not only are they all hiding secrets, they begin receding terrifying and threatening text messages. Shockingly, Lauren unearths a diary that Hannah had hidden. This diary, coupled with the messages, are certain to topple over the careful world Lauren has built. She really thought her carefully constructed life could erase the tragic memories of her past.
The Diary is delivered from Lauren’s first person point of view and is told in both the present and the past. Her story reveals how she and Hannah got to know on another and in so doing details much about the angst-ridden young life that she and Hannah experienced. The tragic reasons and result of this teen suicide is sadly recounted. While Lauren’s past is replayed, the circumstances involving her high school friends and their lives then and now are presented and is more than often quite tragic.
I found The Diary to be a compelling read. Not only is the story very tragic, it is rather thrilling with a definite edge of danger to Lauren and her former friends. It was very sad to see that Lauren’s memories of Hannah were even more dismal than she ever had imagined. It was also rather shocking to see the secrets and lies this group of young people shared while growing up, all while presently trying to bury such an awful past.
It was indeed quite a mystery to imagine whoever could have been sending the horrible text messages and I was on the edge of my seat truly wondering if Lauren or any of the other characters that made up part of the group of people would experience even more tragedy.
To discover that the author, Vikki Patis, is a debut writer was a true delight. She has a very persuasive manner of writing that kept me riveted to this story. It was well-paced, well-written. It is of interest to note that the author explains at the end of the book that she herself dealt with some similar experiences while she was growing up. Of course, this adds a touching sense of realism for her own life’s experiences to be fictionalized as she has done here. Vikki Patis is definitely an author to watch.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Lauren does the one thing she never, ever wanted to do. She responds to her father’s plea to visit him. Lauren had left her home in Hitchin years ago after her best friend Hannah committed suicide. When Lauren left, her friend’s loss was only one of the bad memories that she was escaping.
It is the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s death and Lauren is reluctantly reunited with her friends from school. Not only are they all hiding secrets, they begin receding terrifying and threatening text messages. Shockingly, Lauren unearths a diary that Hannah had hidden. This diary, coupled with the messages, are certain to topple over the careful world Lauren has built. She really thought her carefully constructed life could erase the tragic memories of her past.
The Diary is delivered from Lauren’s first person point of view and is told in both the present and the past. Her story reveals how she and Hannah got to know on another and in so doing details much about the angst-ridden young life that she and Hannah experienced. The tragic reasons and result of this teen suicide is sadly recounted. While Lauren’s past is replayed, the circumstances involving her high school friends and their lives then and now are presented and is more than often quite tragic.
I found The Diary to be a compelling read. Not only is the story very tragic, it is rather thrilling with a definite edge of danger to Lauren and her former friends. It was very sad to see that Lauren’s memories of Hannah were even more dismal than she ever had imagined. It was also rather shocking to see the secrets and lies this group of young people shared while growing up, all while presently trying to bury such an awful past.
It was indeed quite a mystery to imagine whoever could have been sending the horrible text messages and I was on the edge of my seat truly wondering if Lauren or any of the other characters that made up part of the group of people would experience even more tragedy.
To discover that the author, Vikki Patis, is a debut writer was a true delight. She has a very persuasive manner of writing that kept me riveted to this story. It was well-paced, well-written. It is of interest to note that the author explains at the end of the book that she herself dealt with some similar experiences while she was growing up. Of course, this adds a touching sense of realism for her own life’s experiences to be fictionalized as she has done here. Vikki Patis is definitely an author to watch.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 16, 2018
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE DIARY by Vikki Patis in exchange for my honest review.***
2.5 STARS
On the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s suicide, Lauren, her best friend/pseudo sister, returns home to the scene of the tragedy, her father’s house. Lauren and her former friends receive ominous texts, threatening to reveal secrets only Hannah knew. Lauren finds her friend’s old diary which offers new questions and no answers.
Lauren was an interesting and complex character. I loved her relationship with Kate and wished for more Kate in the story. Lauren’s heart was in the right place, she gave Hannah more chances than her friend deserved and always tried to do the right thing. I’d love to see Vikki Patis write a mystery/thriller sequel with Lauren and Kate as protagonists.
I had a difficult time connecting to THE DIARY. While I liked and empathized with Lauren, I never felt like I understood her. The writing, plot and characters lacked the tension to make me feel like real jeopardy existed. I didn’t see the positive aspects of Hannah that would have drawn people to her and had a difficult time separating the former friends.
THE DIARY is an interesting psychological story, with less emphasis on the thriller aspect than I would have liked.
2.5 STARS
On the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s suicide, Lauren, her best friend/pseudo sister, returns home to the scene of the tragedy, her father’s house. Lauren and her former friends receive ominous texts, threatening to reveal secrets only Hannah knew. Lauren finds her friend’s old diary which offers new questions and no answers.
Lauren was an interesting and complex character. I loved her relationship with Kate and wished for more Kate in the story. Lauren’s heart was in the right place, she gave Hannah more chances than her friend deserved and always tried to do the right thing. I’d love to see Vikki Patis write a mystery/thriller sequel with Lauren and Kate as protagonists.
I had a difficult time connecting to THE DIARY. While I liked and empathized with Lauren, I never felt like I understood her. The writing, plot and characters lacked the tension to make me feel like real jeopardy existed. I didn’t see the positive aspects of Hannah that would have drawn people to her and had a difficult time separating the former friends.
THE DIARY is an interesting psychological story, with less emphasis on the thriller aspect than I would have liked.
March 27, 2020
This is the first book that I’ve read by Vikki Patis, and I can’t wait to read more! I took away 1 star because I half-guessed the ending. I wasn’t 100% sure that my prediction was right, but I just had a feeling that I knew how it was going to end. Unfortunately my prediction was right. Apart from that I really loved this book. I liked all of the characters, loved the relationship between Lauren and her dad, and I liked the storyline. It definitely had me hooked, and I read the whole book in a day and a half. I feel like there were no big surprises in this one, but that’s probably because I guessed how it was going to end. Some sensitive subjects are included in the storyline, but I feel like those parts were written well, and key to the storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and definitely recommend it!
December 31, 2018
Lauren returns home after 10 years on the death anniversary of her best friend Hannah. However on return she starts to receive threatening text messages along with the rest of her friends. When Lauren finds Hannah’s diary she realizes that all of them had secrets to hide and maybe she didn't really know her Hannah after all
The Diary by Vikki Patis is a slow building thriller going back and forth between the past and the present that definitely has a “Pretty Little Liars “ theme to it. A few twists and turns but not exactly a psychological thriller as the antagonist was easy to guess and not too much of a suspense./
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com
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June 15, 2019The diary was one-part psychological thriller and one-part women’s fiction, dealing with serious topics like sexual assault, bullying, and suicide. To my surprise, I enjoyed the serious subject matter more than the thriller portion, which is why I initially picked up the book! I was invested in seeing the story unfolds between the girls, how they got from then to now, and really enjoyed the overall message of sisterhood that sort of developed by the end.
**Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2018
The Diary is a suspenseful and great book. Lauren comes home to her old town to visit her dad She hasn’t been there since her nest friend Hannah died 10 years earlier. It’s a edge of your seat thriller.
October 29, 2018
A haunting FIVE star book!
I loved this so much and couldn’t put it down! Wow, so many secrets, lies, games, deception and Sadness.. Again, my kind of book...things from High School coming back to haunt the present. So much fun!
This book was Gossip Girl, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars and a dash of Cruel Intentions all packed into one. So dark, so deep and everyone trying to keep their secrets hidden.
Thank you #NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! Bookouture never ever disappoints!!!! Five stars!
I loved this so much and couldn’t put it down! Wow, so many secrets, lies, games, deception and Sadness.. Again, my kind of book...things from High School coming back to haunt the present. So much fun!
This book was Gossip Girl, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars and a dash of Cruel Intentions all packed into one. So dark, so deep and everyone trying to keep their secrets hidden.
Thank you #NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! Bookouture never ever disappoints!!!! Five stars!
December 26, 2018
If there’s one thing this Ginger Book Geek likes, it’s discovering new authors and Vikki Patis is certainly a new author to me. I read the synopsis for ‘The Diary’ and it sounded like just my kind of read. I couldn’t wait to start reading. Oh my word, ‘The Diary’ is one fantastic book and I had real trouble believing that it was Vikki’s debut novel, as it is so well written and polished. I absolutely loved reading ‘The Diary’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to be honest and say that I didn’t take to any of these characters but then I didn’t exactly hate any of them at the same time. There was something not quite right about a couple of the characters but I wasn’t sure exactly what the problem was and I can safely say that I wouldn’t trust said characters as far as I could throw them. I was intrigued as to why Lauren was so reluctant to go back to her home town. I thought that there had to be more to it and there was. Lauren seems particularly haunted by what she experienced in her home town but it isn’t immediately obvious what is haunting her. Bit by bit, the truth begins to emerge and it was more shocking than I had imagined. Lauren doesn’t seem to have many if any friends and she has kept those she knew from her home town at arms length and then some for a matter of years. It’s as if Lauren has imposed self isolation in a way although she does have a partner, who she is very happy with but even then Lauren hasn’t told her partner the full story. So Lauren is definitely keeping secrets, she is lying and she wants to hide from her past.
As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, I had a very hard time believing that this was Vikki’s debut novel, as her writing is so polished and she writes in a very confident manner. ‘The Diary’ is very well written. The author’s writing style is such that she engages you from the first word on the first page and much like a fisherman reeling in a catch, the author reels you in and before you know it you are hooked (no pun intended). I found that ‘The Diary’ kept my attention all the way through, which is unusual for me. I usually have the attention span of a gnat and my mind wanders half way through but not with this book it didn’t. I think that could partly be because there was that much going on in the story that I didn’t want to miss a thing and so I couldn’t break off from reading. I didn’t realise just how quickly I was reading this book until I happened to look up from my Kindle to see that I had read 43% of the book. I was loving everything about the book from the writing to the storylines to the characters and so on and so forth. I desperately tried to ration how much I read at once because I didn’t want to finish the book too quickly. That intention soon went out of the window because I found it nigh on impossible to put the book down. If I did have to put the book down for any reason, then I looked forward to picking the book back up again. Another thing I liked about this book was the fact that it felt as though I was catching up with some major gossip. Let’s be honest and say who doesn’t like finding out gossip and realising that some characters are not as good as they think that they are?
Reading this book was much like being on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. There were also some shocks and surprises along the way that crept up on me unexpectedly and left me speechless (that doesn’t often happen) or left me feeling as though I had been punched in the gut.
To conclude, I absolutely, totally and utterly adored reading ‘The Diary’. I love a good psychological thriller that messes with your head a fair bit and challenges your beliefs or preconceived ideas. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.. I can’t wait to read what Vikki comes up with next and here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a whoppingly well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have to be honest and say that I didn’t take to any of these characters but then I didn’t exactly hate any of them at the same time. There was something not quite right about a couple of the characters but I wasn’t sure exactly what the problem was and I can safely say that I wouldn’t trust said characters as far as I could throw them. I was intrigued as to why Lauren was so reluctant to go back to her home town. I thought that there had to be more to it and there was. Lauren seems particularly haunted by what she experienced in her home town but it isn’t immediately obvious what is haunting her. Bit by bit, the truth begins to emerge and it was more shocking than I had imagined. Lauren doesn’t seem to have many if any friends and she has kept those she knew from her home town at arms length and then some for a matter of years. It’s as if Lauren has imposed self isolation in a way although she does have a partner, who she is very happy with but even then Lauren hasn’t told her partner the full story. So Lauren is definitely keeping secrets, she is lying and she wants to hide from her past.
As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, I had a very hard time believing that this was Vikki’s debut novel, as her writing is so polished and she writes in a very confident manner. ‘The Diary’ is very well written. The author’s writing style is such that she engages you from the first word on the first page and much like a fisherman reeling in a catch, the author reels you in and before you know it you are hooked (no pun intended). I found that ‘The Diary’ kept my attention all the way through, which is unusual for me. I usually have the attention span of a gnat and my mind wanders half way through but not with this book it didn’t. I think that could partly be because there was that much going on in the story that I didn’t want to miss a thing and so I couldn’t break off from reading. I didn’t realise just how quickly I was reading this book until I happened to look up from my Kindle to see that I had read 43% of the book. I was loving everything about the book from the writing to the storylines to the characters and so on and so forth. I desperately tried to ration how much I read at once because I didn’t want to finish the book too quickly. That intention soon went out of the window because I found it nigh on impossible to put the book down. If I did have to put the book down for any reason, then I looked forward to picking the book back up again. Another thing I liked about this book was the fact that it felt as though I was catching up with some major gossip. Let’s be honest and say who doesn’t like finding out gossip and realising that some characters are not as good as they think that they are?
Reading this book was much like being on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. There were also some shocks and surprises along the way that crept up on me unexpectedly and left me speechless (that doesn’t often happen) or left me feeling as though I had been punched in the gut.
To conclude, I absolutely, totally and utterly adored reading ‘The Diary’. I love a good psychological thriller that messes with your head a fair bit and challenges your beliefs or preconceived ideas. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.. I can’t wait to read what Vikki comes up with next and here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a whoppingly well deserved 5* out of 5*.
October 26, 2018
I thought this was a good read by Vikki Patis. This is my first read by her and I can say that she will be added to my list of author's that I will read again! The twists in the plot will keep you guessing as to what is going on for sure. I thought at one point I had it figured out, but I was wrong in the end.
We start out with Hannah being dead and Lauren is going back to her hometown for the first time in forever to Hannah's 10th Anniversary of her death, which is also Hannah's birthday. Lauren has not kept in contact with any of her friends from school and is sort of anxious as to how things will go once she sees everyone at the memorial. Lauren is living with her partner now and no one really has any clue about the life that she leads now. Lauren is anxious to see her dad though.
We soon learn that Lauren and Hannah had been friends since Lauren was born. Their friendship is so close that they actually call each other sisters. Hannah is always at Lauren's house and is mesmerized by how her family functions and how her parent's treat her. When Luren's mom is tragically killed in a car accident, Hannah and her mom Tracey end up moving in with Lauren and her dad to get away from Gary, Hannah's dad.
With Lauren and Hannah being in the same house, they share the same group of friends when they are in school. They try the usual teenage things and have secrets that are kept between them, or so they think. When some secrets are leaked, things begin to change between the group of friends. Who could have done these awful things? The book alters between the past and the present and gives us a glimpse of what really happened and why there are feelings that are talked about in the present.
When Lauren gets to her dad's house and is getting ready to attend the memorial, she starts getting these crazy text messages. The messages are things that only someone close to Hannah would have know. Is Hannah really dead? Who is this crazy texter? Not only does Lauren get the texts, but so do the girls from the circle of friends from high school. Lauren has got to figure out who this is! There is mention of a Diary that Hannah had when they were growing up, but Lauren knew nothing of it and they lived in the same house.
You will get caught up in this story and not be able to put it down until you have finished it. Vikki Patis knows how to grab your attention and keep it from beginning to end. I enjoyed this read and look forward to more from Vikki Patis in the future!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy!
We start out with Hannah being dead and Lauren is going back to her hometown for the first time in forever to Hannah's 10th Anniversary of her death, which is also Hannah's birthday. Lauren has not kept in contact with any of her friends from school and is sort of anxious as to how things will go once she sees everyone at the memorial. Lauren is living with her partner now and no one really has any clue about the life that she leads now. Lauren is anxious to see her dad though.
We soon learn that Lauren and Hannah had been friends since Lauren was born. Their friendship is so close that they actually call each other sisters. Hannah is always at Lauren's house and is mesmerized by how her family functions and how her parent's treat her. When Luren's mom is tragically killed in a car accident, Hannah and her mom Tracey end up moving in with Lauren and her dad to get away from Gary, Hannah's dad.
With Lauren and Hannah being in the same house, they share the same group of friends when they are in school. They try the usual teenage things and have secrets that are kept between them, or so they think. When some secrets are leaked, things begin to change between the group of friends. Who could have done these awful things? The book alters between the past and the present and gives us a glimpse of what really happened and why there are feelings that are talked about in the present.
When Lauren gets to her dad's house and is getting ready to attend the memorial, she starts getting these crazy text messages. The messages are things that only someone close to Hannah would have know. Is Hannah really dead? Who is this crazy texter? Not only does Lauren get the texts, but so do the girls from the circle of friends from high school. Lauren has got to figure out who this is! There is mention of a Diary that Hannah had when they were growing up, but Lauren knew nothing of it and they lived in the same house.
You will get caught up in this story and not be able to put it down until you have finished it. Vikki Patis knows how to grab your attention and keep it from beginning to end. I enjoyed this read and look forward to more from Vikki Patis in the future!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy!
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