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Behind Her Eyes
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2017)Why is everyone talking about the ending of Sarah Pinborough's Behind Her Eyes?
Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.
When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.
And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend, but she also just happens to be married to David. David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife, but then why is David so controlling, and why is Adele so scared of him?
As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong, but Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.
Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.
When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.
And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend, but she also just happens to be married to David. David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife, but then why is David so controlling, and why is Adele so scared of him?
As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong, but Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 26, 2017
14222 people are currently reading
235027 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Pinborough
81 books7,975 followersSarah Pinborough is a New York Times bestselling and Sunday Times Number one and Internationally bestselling author who is published in over 30 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres, her recent books include Behind Her Eyes, now a smash hit Netflix limited series, Dead To Her, now in development with Amazon Studios, and 13 Minutes and The Death House in development with Compelling Pictures. Sarah lives in the historic town of Stony Stratford, the home of the Cock and Bull story, with her dog Ted. Her next novel, Insomnia, is out in 2022. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at @sarahpinborough.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 29,601 reviews
March 6, 2017
This might be one of the most difficult reviews I’ve had to write in the entire time I’ve been writing reviews. How does one convey their thoughts on just how addicting, intriguing, and consuming of a book this was, without exposing all the delicious spoilers that make it such a fun read? Behind Her Eyes was the 200th book I’ve read this year, thus completing my Goodreads challenge early, so I guess you could say I’ve read quite a bunch of books in 2016. Out of all those books, this one will stand out for many reasons, but one of the largest would be due to the fact it is quite unlike anything I’ve read thus far in the genre.
I can’t rave enough about how compulsive a read this was. I found myself wandering in and out of rooms to avoid people so that I could sneak in “just a few more pages”. The slow building suspense was gripping and so incredibly well written. Sarah Pinborough has become of my top 10 favorite authors this year and for good reason. Earlier this year I read The Language of Dying and was blown away by her creation of something so beautiful yet disturbing; it absolutely wrecked me. Her talent can’t be confined to one genre; it’s too complex and excellent for that tiny box. She has taken the typical love triangle and made it anything but; there are multiple POVs and storylines intricately woven together to seem unrelated but, come on, we know better. She delicately brings each piece together until the precise moment she wants to drop the #WTFthatending moment. IMO there were really multiple twists that connect into one; the how/why/who was just as important separately as they were in one entity.
I read quite a few early reviews on this book, and while some chose to include elements that I view as spoiler material, I almost wish I had seen them prior to reading this book. I believe my expectations would have been altered and I could have accepted this for what it was; an excellent book with a clever, mind-blowing twist that shouldn’t be confined by genre. The best way I know how to explain what I mean is that it doesn’t play by the usual rules of a psychological thriller. If you’ve seen anything yet about this book, you are clearly aware that there is a shocking ending with a whopper of a twist. The catch 22 is that, if this particular element I’m referring to was hinted at via genre description, the surprise aspect of the book is spoiled. The entire ending and twist are dependent on this aspect being kept secret, so you can see the dilemma I’m facing. I take full responsibility for this as it’s a personal problem based on my expectations of something filed in the “psychological thriller” genre.
I can’t really say anything else without taking the fun out of reading this one; suffice it to say this is a must read. I think the most wonderful aspect of this book is that you don’t have to love how the plot works out to love reading the book. Whether you are drawn toward the ending or throw your book across the room, this is a story you must read if you call yourself a fan of any type of thriller. You might even need to read the beginning pages again for full clarity and comparison at just how beautifully Sarah Pinborough has slapped you across the face. This book buried into my brain so deeply that it was in all my waking thoughts and dreams for days; I couldn’t shake it. I’m just going to go ahead and let her take all my money; I’ll read anything she writes compulsively and will be sitting on pins and needles waiting for her next book.
Many thanks to Sarah and Flatiron Books for my treasured copy. She worked tirelessly to make sure my arc arrived and I’ll never forget that kindness. I’m paying it forward to Amy at Novelgossip so that we can discuss like ditzy school girls. ;)
I can’t rave enough about how compulsive a read this was. I found myself wandering in and out of rooms to avoid people so that I could sneak in “just a few more pages”. The slow building suspense was gripping and so incredibly well written. Sarah Pinborough has become of my top 10 favorite authors this year and for good reason. Earlier this year I read The Language of Dying and was blown away by her creation of something so beautiful yet disturbing; it absolutely wrecked me. Her talent can’t be confined to one genre; it’s too complex and excellent for that tiny box. She has taken the typical love triangle and made it anything but; there are multiple POVs and storylines intricately woven together to seem unrelated but, come on, we know better. She delicately brings each piece together until the precise moment she wants to drop the #WTFthatending moment. IMO there were really multiple twists that connect into one; the how/why/who was just as important separately as they were in one entity.
I read quite a few early reviews on this book, and while some chose to include elements that I view as spoiler material, I almost wish I had seen them prior to reading this book. I believe my expectations would have been altered and I could have accepted this for what it was; an excellent book with a clever, mind-blowing twist that shouldn’t be confined by genre. The best way I know how to explain what I mean is that it doesn’t play by the usual rules of a psychological thriller. If you’ve seen anything yet about this book, you are clearly aware that there is a shocking ending with a whopper of a twist. The catch 22 is that, if this particular element I’m referring to was hinted at via genre description, the surprise aspect of the book is spoiled. The entire ending and twist are dependent on this aspect being kept secret, so you can see the dilemma I’m facing. I take full responsibility for this as it’s a personal problem based on my expectations of something filed in the “psychological thriller” genre.
I can’t really say anything else without taking the fun out of reading this one; suffice it to say this is a must read. I think the most wonderful aspect of this book is that you don’t have to love how the plot works out to love reading the book. Whether you are drawn toward the ending or throw your book across the room, this is a story you must read if you call yourself a fan of any type of thriller. You might even need to read the beginning pages again for full clarity and comparison at just how beautifully Sarah Pinborough has slapped you across the face. This book buried into my brain so deeply that it was in all my waking thoughts and dreams for days; I couldn’t shake it. I’m just going to go ahead and let her take all my money; I’ll read anything she writes compulsively and will be sitting on pins and needles waiting for her next book.
Many thanks to Sarah and Flatiron Books for my treasured copy. She worked tirelessly to make sure my arc arrived and I’ll never forget that kindness. I’m paying it forward to Amy at Novelgossip so that we can discuss like ditzy school girls. ;)
February 7, 2017
A lot of readers are going to feel let down by this book. I'll try to explain without giving away any spoilers, but I will be talking about things revealed in the first few chapters.
Firstly, the book gives up too much too soon. It's about a beautiful, upper middle class couple - David and Adele - who on the outside appear to have the perfect marriage. Louise works for David, though her attraction to him, and her secret friendship with his wife, brings her closer and closer to the skeletons in their closet. The blurb itself screams "THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY APPEAR" and Louise is eventually going to find out just how crazy things really are. But we find out way before she does.
A couple of chapters in, the author reveals that Adele is not all she first seems and is an expert at sneaky manipulation. The possibility that David is controlling and Adele may be the victim of domestic violence is shot down almost instantly and Pinborough (sort of) shows her hand. For the most part, there's very little mystery. Through Adele and Louise's alternating points of view, we know that Adele is mentally ill and Louise is incredibly naive.
Comparisons to Gone Girl are pretty much guaranteed, though undeserved. What would Gone Girl have been if Amy Dunne had given up all her secrets in the first couple of chapters? Far less impressive, I would guess.
Louise behaves very foolishly throughout, to the point where she was kind of irritating. The plot pretty much relies on her idiocy. How can she be so stupid? Not only does she make a number of ridiculous choices that put her and her son in danger for silly reasons, but she also jumps to a huge conclusion in the later chapters of the book.
But most of all, I feel like many readers will feel let down by the twist at the end. I will be careful not to spoil anything, but let's just say that it is ludicrous. It's virtually impossible to guess because it's so outrageous and completely changes what you thought you were reading about. The marketing campaign for Behind Her Eyes used the hashtag #WTFThatEnding to promote the book, and WTF, indeed. Though I prefer my WTFs to be a little more convincing.
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Firstly, the book gives up too much too soon. It's about a beautiful, upper middle class couple - David and Adele - who on the outside appear to have the perfect marriage. Louise works for David, though her attraction to him, and her secret friendship with his wife, brings her closer and closer to the skeletons in their closet. The blurb itself screams "THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY APPEAR" and Louise is eventually going to find out just how crazy things really are. But we find out way before she does.
A couple of chapters in, the author reveals that Adele is not all she first seems and is an expert at sneaky manipulation. The possibility that David is controlling and Adele may be the victim of domestic violence is shot down almost instantly and Pinborough (sort of) shows her hand. For the most part, there's very little mystery. Through Adele and Louise's alternating points of view, we know that Adele is mentally ill and Louise is incredibly naive.
Comparisons to Gone Girl are pretty much guaranteed, though undeserved. What would Gone Girl have been if Amy Dunne had given up all her secrets in the first couple of chapters? Far less impressive, I would guess.
Louise behaves very foolishly throughout, to the point where she was kind of irritating. The plot pretty much relies on her idiocy. How can she be so stupid? Not only does she make a number of ridiculous choices that put her and her son in danger for silly reasons, but she also jumps to a huge conclusion in the later chapters of the book.
But most of all, I feel like many readers will feel let down by the twist at the end. I will be careful not to spoil anything, but let's just say that it is ludicrous. It's virtually impossible to guess because it's so outrageous and completely changes what you thought you were reading about. The marketing campaign for Behind Her Eyes used the hashtag #WTFThatEnding to promote the book, and WTF, indeed. Though I prefer my WTFs to be a little more convincing.
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May 23, 2021
*4.5 stars*...Sickeningly delicious storytelling!
Boom. That ending. That "WTF-Ending" heard ‘round the world, or at least, the social media book-reading community.
It feels like this author just said, “Know what? Screw this, I’m doin’ it”, and then she did it.
Seriously. She WENT for it.
It’s been a while since I’ve been legitimately shocked as a reader, and I don’t care how much this ending can be reduced down to utter nonsense, I’m embracing the hell out of it and you can’t stop me.
Because the fact is, when I swiped those last few virtual pages, my tired eyes narrowed, my offended guts twisted, and my lips tightened into a little opening, spewing a whispered what the fuck? declaration. And there is was.
Sarah Pinborough’s writing is strong, and she paints a picture well without having to tell us the colors she’s using. There were no holes in this plot, no loose ends left untied; everything made sense, even when it somehow didn’t.
The perspectives shifted between characters, and the narratives sometimes switched from first and third person at random. It’s as though this story unveils itself from every angle possible, and yet still it goes and throws me off my feet.
I know some readers couldn't get past some of the farfetched scenarios in this one, and I get it. I really do. I'm not one who readily ingests an over-the-top idea if there's not enough conviction behind it. In fact, I typically hate when I'm forced to suspend too much disbelief for an idea to "work". But this story was clever enough to become an exception.
I can’t tell you details of the plot because I am your friend and I won’t ruin it for you. But I can tell you this: Soften your critical eye (if possible) when going into this one, so you can just enjoy the journey. Because it really is one hell of a ride...
Update: Loved seeing this play out on film, but the BOOK, for me, was a far more enjoyable experience! (No shock there, though;)
Boom. That ending. That "WTF-Ending" heard ‘round the world, or at least, the social media book-reading community.
It feels like this author just said, “Know what? Screw this, I’m doin’ it”, and then she did it.
Seriously. She WENT for it.
It’s been a while since I’ve been legitimately shocked as a reader, and I don’t care how much this ending can be reduced down to utter nonsense, I’m embracing the hell out of it and you can’t stop me.
Because the fact is, when I swiped those last few virtual pages, my tired eyes narrowed, my offended guts twisted, and my lips tightened into a little opening, spewing a whispered what the fuck? declaration. And there is was.
Sarah Pinborough’s writing is strong, and she paints a picture well without having to tell us the colors she’s using. There were no holes in this plot, no loose ends left untied; everything made sense, even when it somehow didn’t.
The perspectives shifted between characters, and the narratives sometimes switched from first and third person at random. It’s as though this story unveils itself from every angle possible, and yet still it goes and throws me off my feet.
I know some readers couldn't get past some of the farfetched scenarios in this one, and I get it. I really do. I'm not one who readily ingests an over-the-top idea if there's not enough conviction behind it. In fact, I typically hate when I'm forced to suspend too much disbelief for an idea to "work". But this story was clever enough to become an exception.
I can’t tell you details of the plot because I am your friend and I won’t ruin it for you. But I can tell you this: Soften your critical eye (if possible) when going into this one, so you can just enjoy the journey. Because it really is one hell of a ride...
Update: Loved seeing this play out on film, but the BOOK, for me, was a far more enjoyable experience! (No shock there, though;)
February 10, 2017
I suppose I really shouldn't be surprised that, in an era where Donald Trump becomes president and Britain exits the European Union, that this book is lauded as one of the top psychological thrillers of the year. I could have overlooked the pedestrian prose, the utterly unlikeable (and unconvincing) characters and the plodding plot (done much better by other writers a billion times before) because I was looking forward to the twist of the year.
To give an indication of just quite how bad it actually is - an insult to every reader's intelligence - I'll give you a few examples of how it could work in other books:
Pride and Prejudice: Mr Darcy is actually really haughty and stand-offish because HE'S A ROBOT
To Kill a Mocking Bird: Atticus Finch is a really great lawyer because HE'S TIME-TRAVELLED FROM THE FUTURE
Jane Eyre: Mr Rochester is moody and troubled because HE'S A SHAPE-SHIFTING WEREWOLF
I'm sure you get my point. This book is ridiculous and I suppose I should have known better, given that I'm currently living in a surreal dream-world.
To give an indication of just quite how bad it actually is - an insult to every reader's intelligence - I'll give you a few examples of how it could work in other books:
Pride and Prejudice: Mr Darcy is actually really haughty and stand-offish because HE'S A ROBOT
To Kill a Mocking Bird: Atticus Finch is a really great lawyer because HE'S TIME-TRAVELLED FROM THE FUTURE
Jane Eyre: Mr Rochester is moody and troubled because HE'S A SHAPE-SHIFTING WEREWOLF
I'm sure you get my point. This book is ridiculous and I suppose I should have known better, given that I'm currently living in a surreal dream-world.
December 5, 2016
2.5 stars
Behind Her Eyes is very readable; I couldn’t put it down and I was constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen. However, once all was finally revealed, I came to the conclusion that I did not like this book.
It’s nearly impossible to write a summary of the events of this book without giving too much away, so I am just going to keep it as this: A man, his wife, and his secretary get caught up in a tangled web.
I know that I am in the minority with my feelings about this one. I found it gimmicky and the twists ruined it for me. It's just not my cup of tea.
Behind Her Eyes is very readable; I couldn’t put it down and I was constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen. However, once all was finally revealed, I came to the conclusion that I did not like this book.
It’s nearly impossible to write a summary of the events of this book without giving too much away, so I am just going to keep it as this: A man, his wife, and his secretary get caught up in a tangled web.
I know that I am in the minority with my feelings about this one. I found it gimmicky and the twists ruined it for me. It's just not my cup of tea.
December 11, 2018
Haha fuck yes
February 21, 2017
2.5 Stars
If I had known then what I know now I may not even have bothered reading this Novel as I felt it strayed from psychological thriller to Fantasy/Paranormal which didn't work for me.
I have a hard time suspending disbelief at the best of times in books and therefore stay away from novels where fantasy or magic realism play a role but I do like a good well written Psychological thriller and have read a couple this year that I really enjoyed. While Behind Her Eyes is unique and well written and there is no doubt the author holds your attention throughout but I did find a find myself having to seriously suspend disbelief and there was a lot of eye rolling not to mention a couple of choice words mouthed close to the end of the book for reasons that are best left unsaid.
I would probably have rated the book 4 stars for suspenseful and original plot, great character development but what a let down the belief element was. I know I am in the minority on this one and so many readers have loved it but this is just my reaction to the book.
I listened to this one on audio and the narration was excellent.
An enjoyable read just not one for my favourites list.
If I had known then what I know now I may not even have bothered reading this Novel as I felt it strayed from psychological thriller to Fantasy/Paranormal which didn't work for me.
I have a hard time suspending disbelief at the best of times in books and therefore stay away from novels where fantasy or magic realism play a role but I do like a good well written Psychological thriller and have read a couple this year that I really enjoyed. While Behind Her Eyes is unique and well written and there is no doubt the author holds your attention throughout but I did find a find myself having to seriously suspend disbelief and there was a lot of eye rolling not to mention a couple of choice words mouthed close to the end of the book for reasons that are best left unsaid.
I would probably have rated the book 4 stars for suspenseful and original plot, great character development but what a let down the belief element was. I know I am in the minority on this one and so many readers have loved it but this is just my reaction to the book.
I listened to this one on audio and the narration was excellent.
An enjoyable read just not one for my favourites list.
February 12, 2019
Holy shite balls people!!!
Okay, so I checked my Overdrive this morning and it said this book was going back in 4 hours so I thought I would try it right quick. I COULDN'T put it down! Funny to think I probably wouldn't like it!
Let me tell you, this freaking book blew my little mind! Just right out into space!!!
There are mixed reviews about the book like there are many books but I don't give a rats behind because this book was AMAZEBALLS. Talk about crazy train!!!
So, Louise is a single mom that works part time at a psych office. She works three days a week. One day she gets a new boss and it turns out it's the same dude she made out with the night before. Seriously? And he's married. Well, isn't this all happy day news for Louise. Idiot.
Adele is David's wife and her and Louise become friends. NOT A GOOD IDEA PEOPLE! Leave work, leave town, never come back!
There are secrets that David and Adele are keeping but what are they? Why is Adele so freaking terrified of David?
That's all I'm going to say because this book is one you need to read. Yeah, you might not like it but it was freaking awesome!
I started to become aware what was going on toward the end of the book and thought it was pretty cool. And then . . . .
THAT ENDING!
I loved it!
There are seriously no words. I'm still blown out into space over this book!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Okay, so I checked my Overdrive this morning and it said this book was going back in 4 hours so I thought I would try it right quick. I COULDN'T put it down! Funny to think I probably wouldn't like it!
Let me tell you, this freaking book blew my little mind! Just right out into space!!!
There are mixed reviews about the book like there are many books but I don't give a rats behind because this book was AMAZEBALLS. Talk about crazy train!!!
So, Louise is a single mom that works part time at a psych office. She works three days a week. One day she gets a new boss and it turns out it's the same dude she made out with the night before. Seriously? And he's married. Well, isn't this all happy day news for Louise. Idiot.
Adele is David's wife and her and Louise become friends. NOT A GOOD IDEA PEOPLE! Leave work, leave town, never come back!
There are secrets that David and Adele are keeping but what are they? Why is Adele so freaking terrified of David?
That's all I'm going to say because this book is one you need to read. Yeah, you might not like it but it was freaking awesome!
I started to become aware what was going on toward the end of the book and thought it was pretty cool. And then . . . .
THAT ENDING!
I loved it!
There are seriously no words. I'm still blown out into space over this book!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
February 4, 2018
2 Stars
Um No. I've had little think and I've come to the conclusion I did not like this book after all. Its very "readable" as I flew through it and enjoyed the read during the process, but afterwards it left a bad taste in my mouth and the more I pondered what I just read the more I was just irritated and felt cheated.
Behind Her Eyes is a perverse menage trois type deal between unhappily married husband and wife, Dave and Adele. And the single mother Louise that drunkenly kisses Dave one night and becomes close friends with Adele a few days later. I think Louise and my feelings on Louise can be summed up by this simple question Dave asks her "Why, Why would you do that Louise?" The entire novel was just me being baffled by the ridiculousness of Louise's behaviour, and frankly irritated by her childish manner. Every time she poked her nose into someone's business, or created unnecessary drama with her duplicitous behaviour, or just straight out didn't think about her child's safety I had to re-read the beginning chapter because I couldn't believe the author said this woman was 34 years old. NO she must be an idiot 20 year old or even teenager with how she behaved.
The entire time Louise goes on about what a mess she's involved in then promptly declares she needs to find out more. Literally, all I could think is you're a single mother don't you have better things to be doing then nosing into someone else's marriage? Honestly the most psychotic person in this novel to me is Louise our supposed protagonist. Louise keeps saying how much she loves her baby boy but then continually says I can't deal with him today, then falls in love with a married alcoholic, and then puts herself in the middle of a crazy marriage that could spill back on her son's life. It's like my god and the mother of the year award goes to...
All the characters were extremely unlikable. From a wet drip of a man Dave to ridiculous Louise to smug ass Adele. Honestly Adele was so irritating in her smugness declaring everything is going according to plan every two freaking minute. HOW?? How is anything going according to plan, it's all based on human interaction and error you can't predict people's behaviour (although apparently Adele can) but honestly if any other person was in Louise's shoes they would have blown up any of these so called "plans" because everything Louise did was absurdly illogical!!
But the thing that mostly clinched this book as a disappointing read for me was the ending, the reveal the fucking ludicrous ending!
Overall I wouldn't recommend this infuriating read to anyone that say's they want a thriller or specifically a domestic thriller novel because lets face it two-thirds in, this novel decides to jump ship genre-wise and leave it's readers thinking What the fuck?!
Um No. I've had little think and I've come to the conclusion I did not like this book after all. Its very "readable" as I flew through it and enjoyed the read during the process, but afterwards it left a bad taste in my mouth and the more I pondered what I just read the more I was just irritated and felt cheated.
Behind Her Eyes is a perverse menage trois type deal between unhappily married husband and wife, Dave and Adele. And the single mother Louise that drunkenly kisses Dave one night and becomes close friends with Adele a few days later. I think Louise and my feelings on Louise can be summed up by this simple question Dave asks her "Why, Why would you do that Louise?" The entire novel was just me being baffled by the ridiculousness of Louise's behaviour, and frankly irritated by her childish manner. Every time she poked her nose into someone's business, or created unnecessary drama with her duplicitous behaviour, or just straight out didn't think about her child's safety I had to re-read the beginning chapter because I couldn't believe the author said this woman was 34 years old. NO she must be an idiot 20 year old or even teenager with how she behaved.
The entire time Louise goes on about what a mess she's involved in then promptly declares she needs to find out more. Literally, all I could think is you're a single mother don't you have better things to be doing then nosing into someone else's marriage? Honestly the most psychotic person in this novel to me is Louise our supposed protagonist. Louise keeps saying how much she loves her baby boy but then continually says I can't deal with him today, then falls in love with a married alcoholic, and then puts herself in the middle of a crazy marriage that could spill back on her son's life. It's like my god and the mother of the year award goes to...
All the characters were extremely unlikable. From a wet drip of a man Dave to ridiculous Louise to smug ass Adele. Honestly Adele was so irritating in her smugness declaring everything is going according to plan every two freaking minute. HOW?? How is anything going according to plan, it's all based on human interaction and error you can't predict people's behaviour (although apparently Adele can) but honestly if any other person was in Louise's shoes they would have blown up any of these so called "plans" because everything Louise did was absurdly illogical!!
But the thing that mostly clinched this book as a disappointing read for me was the ending, the reveal the fucking ludicrous ending!
Overall I wouldn't recommend this infuriating read to anyone that say's they want a thriller or specifically a domestic thriller novel because lets face it two-thirds in, this novel decides to jump ship genre-wise and leave it's readers thinking What the fuck?!
January 2, 2018
I read BEHIND HER EYES a few months ago when I received the paper ARC unexpectedly in my mail. Thank you Flatiron Books! I appreciate the hard work that you do to promote authors and new books. Having said that, I am always a bit leery of books that are sent out to the social media world with such grandiosity and heavy-handed publicity. Can't a great book get footing on its own? Sadly, maybe not. Oh well, never mind that thought.
I am somewhat of a realist, but I'm open-minded and curious about subjects like lucid dreaming, mainly for the psychological aspects that may pertain to a murder mystery. You are led as a reader to think this book is traveling the byways of memories, dreams, affairs and murders. The pages fly fast and I was so involved in this story - until the abrupt end. The publishers strongly encouraged all the ARC readers to discuss the book with the hypey #WTFthatending. Well, I guess that is an appropriate hashtag, but it goes either way. I detest the ending. Such a cheap gimmick. It's like having your mouth all set for a T-bone steak and it morphs right on the grill into a shape-shifting slice of frozen pizza.
I know there are thousands of reviews out there on this book and my opinion appears to be in the minority. Not gonna lie, the ending of the story was like a sucker punch to the gut and I actually got angry. I tossed the book on the floor and didn't even bother writing a review for it. I felt used and abused as a reader.
I live for plot twists. I love when authors write from different points of view. Heck, I want SHE LOVED PLOT TWISTS written on my tombstone. Not only that, but BEHIND HER EYES has a couple of unreliable narrators- my absolute favorite literary device! How could all these elements be in this one book, yet go so wrong?
The ending of this book is more of a deus ex machina than anything else. Deus ex machina is a Latin term meaning "god out of the machine." It refers to an unexpected, artificial or improbable character, device or event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction to resolve a situation or untangle a plot. It is disappointing to me that a writer of Sarah Pinborough's caliber would end such a great story with a cheap plot device. There is barely a hint of where the book is going until the last few pages and then ridiculously, hideously its over. CRAZY TOWN!!
November 26, 2016
Who's a clever girl then? No not me! The author Sarah Pinborough. When I say she's pulled a blinder with the conclusion of this book I'm not exaggerating.
Louise is a single mum on a rare night out when she meets a man in a bar. They share a drunken kiss and then he leaves, but Louise can't stop thinking about him, she felt a connection during their very short flirtation. When she arrives at the office after the weekend she's introduced to her new boss, and yes it's 'the man in the bar' David. It would be crazy to get involved with your boss especially as he's married right? Well Louise does become involved but oh boy she sure is going to regret it!
When Louise accidentally bumps into Adele (David's wife) she finds herself pulled into a friendship with her that is bound to end in disaster, considering she's seeing David behind Adele's back.
There was everything you could want in 'Behind Her Eyes'. It had an air of menace throughout in this twisted tale of love and obsession, and the plot was SO different, with even a touch of the supernatural. Just try to keep an open mind.
I've read more than my fair share of psychological thrillers but I have NEVER come across such a complex and clever ending. I kept trying to pre-guess where this story was going but I had no chance - what a twist, I could never have created such a corker of a finish. Wow!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Louise is a single mum on a rare night out when she meets a man in a bar. They share a drunken kiss and then he leaves, but Louise can't stop thinking about him, she felt a connection during their very short flirtation. When she arrives at the office after the weekend she's introduced to her new boss, and yes it's 'the man in the bar' David. It would be crazy to get involved with your boss especially as he's married right? Well Louise does become involved but oh boy she sure is going to regret it!
When Louise accidentally bumps into Adele (David's wife) she finds herself pulled into a friendship with her that is bound to end in disaster, considering she's seeing David behind Adele's back.
There was everything you could want in 'Behind Her Eyes'. It had an air of menace throughout in this twisted tale of love and obsession, and the plot was SO different, with even a touch of the supernatural. Just try to keep an open mind.
I've read more than my fair share of psychological thrillers but I have NEVER come across such a complex and clever ending. I kept trying to pre-guess where this story was going but I had no chance - what a twist, I could never have created such a corker of a finish. Wow!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
February 28, 2017
Umm, seriously? What did I just read?
Sarah Pinborough's new book, Behind Her Eyes is one crazy book, one that at different times had me totally hooked, rolling my eyes, predicting (incorrectly) how the plot would be tied together, and then, ultimately, re-reading the last few chapters a few times to make sure what I thought happened actually did.
So, let's see how to review this.
"Secrets, secrets, secrets. People are filled to the brim with them if you look closely."
Louise is a single mother to a young son. She works part-time as a secretary at a psychiatry office, and for the most part, spends her evenings caring for her son and drinking a little too much wine, and at times suffers from night terrors she can't explain. She'd love to meet a new man but doesn't really want to make the effort.
Then she meets him. Smart, funny, handsome, seems completely interested in her. They spend a somewhat drunken evening in a bar, and clearly there's chemistry between the two of them. After a passionate kiss, he flees, but she feels heartened that finally, someone special took an interest in her. Then on Monday, Louise discovers that this man is David, her new boss. Oh, and he's married, to a beautiful, elegant woman. Bollocks.
Louise bravely tries to soldier on despite her disappointment and David's occasionally flirtatious nature, but she is determined not to be one of those women. One day, while walking near her office, she (literally) runs into Adele, a beautiful, lonely woman clearly in need of a friend. And then, Louise quickly realizes Adele is David's wife. Adele starts to encourage Louise on ways to improve herself—cut back on the wine, quit smoking, join a gym.
When David's interest in Louise starts to intensify, she doesn't know what to do. She definitely has feelings for David, but she likes having Adele as a friend, even under the circumstances. She knows the secrets she's keeping from each of them are wrong, but she can't break up with either of them. And it appears both of them need her, in their own ways, as much as she needs them.
If you think you know what's going to happen from here, you're probably right—and you're utterly wrong. Pinborough combines elements of your typical love triangle and the story of the marriage that no one understands with some seriously bizarre, suspend-your-disbelief plot elements. When it works, the book practically hums with finesse and intrigue, and when it doesn't work, it's one of two things—you just can't wrap your head around what is allegedly happening, or you feel the book has fallen into such stereotypical territory it annoys you.
Ultimately, why this book worked for me (despite having to suspend my disbelief) is Pinborough's storytelling. These aren't likable characters, the plot jumps back and forth between narrators and time periods, and sometimes you wonder how the characters know what's going on. But Pinborough's writing mesmerized me, and the originality she demonstrates helps the positive outweigh the negative.
This will not be a book for everyone. But if you want to go on a crazy ride with some crazy characters, pick this one up. Because when a book comes with a hashtag, #wtfthatending , you know you need to give it a try.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
November 22, 2017
Get ready for a wild ride! This was not what I expected, though I wasn’t even sure what was in store for me when I started this read. But I’d read enough reviews to know there was an off-the-charts spin at the end. Even forewarned, it still stopped me in my tracks!
Told from 2 points of view.
Adele - married to David since she was a teenager. She is beautiful, ethereal, with a hint of vulnerability that draws people to her. Only she may have something hiding beneath the surface. (Well, of course!)
Louise – adjusting to being newly single, raising her young son. Working as a secretary for Adele’s husband, David.
When the paths of these three characters cross into a distorted love triangle, you just know that no one’s going to come out of this unscathed! One of them has an agenda! And one of them has vowed to never be stopped! But which one?
Oh this cannot end well!
I think this is one of those books that it will either work for you and will absolutely love it. Or you will walk away saying “what did I just read!” Personally...It totally exceeded my expectations and I loved it! After reading so many thrillers, I wanted something original! Careful what you ask for! I got it...in spades! A completely different take on a domestic thriller. Keep an open mind and you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Told from 2 points of view.
Adele - married to David since she was a teenager. She is beautiful, ethereal, with a hint of vulnerability that draws people to her. Only she may have something hiding beneath the surface. (Well, of course!)
Louise – adjusting to being newly single, raising her young son. Working as a secretary for Adele’s husband, David.
When the paths of these three characters cross into a distorted love triangle, you just know that no one’s going to come out of this unscathed! One of them has an agenda! And one of them has vowed to never be stopped! But which one?
Oh this cannot end well!
I think this is one of those books that it will either work for you and will absolutely love it. Or you will walk away saying “what did I just read!” Personally...It totally exceeded my expectations and I loved it! After reading so many thrillers, I wanted something original! Careful what you ask for! I got it...in spades! A completely different take on a domestic thriller. Keep an open mind and you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
February 7, 2017
This is a character driven psychological thriller. It is well written enough to keep the reader engaged. The three main characters of Louise, David and Adele are unlikeable. Louise finds herself involved with David who turns out to be her new boss. She runs into his wife, Adele, and a cloying, claustrophobic, but close and secretive relationship develops between them. Since her divorce, Louise has had a stagnant and isolated personal life, and she needs the attention she has begun to receive. David is the first man she has a sexual affair with since her husband. Despite the guilt she feels, she gets drawn to and more closely entwined with Adele. A sinister and toxic image of Adele and David's marriage emerges.
Louise has night terrors which Adele wants to help her with. She gives the mysterious notebook of the elusive Rob to guide her to counter those terrors. In a tale that takes in cats, fires and constant relocations of David and Adele, Louise may find that she has bitten off more than she can chew as she enters the uncharted waters of David and Adele's marriage. I am aware that many really love this novel, unfortunately I am not one of them. For me, the story developed does not segue well into the twists that unfold at the end. The dissonance I experienced between the rabbits pulled out of the hat at the close of the novel, felt like the author had arrived at calculated intellectual solutions which fail to match the revealed storyline. The character of David feels underdeveloped, and I did not have sufficient reasons to believe in his and Louise's relationship. However, I am sure the majority of readers will like this book. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Louise has night terrors which Adele wants to help her with. She gives the mysterious notebook of the elusive Rob to guide her to counter those terrors. In a tale that takes in cats, fires and constant relocations of David and Adele, Louise may find that she has bitten off more than she can chew as she enters the uncharted waters of David and Adele's marriage. I am aware that many really love this novel, unfortunately I am not one of them. For me, the story developed does not segue well into the twists that unfold at the end. The dissonance I experienced between the rabbits pulled out of the hat at the close of the novel, felt like the author had arrived at calculated intellectual solutions which fail to match the revealed storyline. The character of David feels underdeveloped, and I did not have sufficient reasons to believe in his and Louise's relationship. However, I am sure the majority of readers will like this book. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Read
April 9, 2018I was so convinced I had this one figured out. I was wrong.
March 15, 2020
SO DUMB SO DUMB SO DUMB
i read 13 thrillers in 13 days here's what happened
i read 13 thrillers in 13 days here's what happened
February 23, 2021
2.5 ⭐
decepcionante, mas eu meio que recomendo?
decepcionante, mas eu meio que recomendo?
December 31, 2024
What? Ugh! Seriously?
Oh my I don’t even know how to rate this one let alone review it! So for now 3.5 stars rounded down.
Did this novel pull me in? Most definitely! I was hooked right away and absolutely could not put this book down. It totally consumed me and I was constantly trying to figure out what the heck was going on! Was it him…..was it her….and then the ending….oh brother, seriously! That is what my thoughts were exactly after reading!
BEHIND HER EYES by SARAH PINBOROUGH was an intriguing, gripping, exciting, and compulsive psychological thriller that grabbed my attention from the very first chapter and had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation for that ever so exciting and unforgettable ending that everyone seems to be talking about. Except after finishing reading this book I was a little disappointed about that ending. Sorry!
And here is why…..trying not to reveal too much of why this didn’t work for me and spoiling the ending for someone else I will try to explain myself. Simply I seen it coming and I didn’t want it to go there. You might ask how did I see it coming? Well, I have a really overactive imagination and like to see things in a different light and what might be seen as eccentric. If I didn’t see where the author was going with it would it have still been surprising? Absolutely! Was it a good read? Absolutely!
I must say that BEHIND HER EYES is an absolutely brilliant title for this book! Absolutely brilliant!
SARAH PINBOROUGH does deliver an extremely gripping story here that was well-written and had me totally engaged in the slow-building suspenseful story-line with a few good twists that had me questioning and guessing what was actually happening until I actually figured it all out. I think if I didn’t figure it out it might have been a much better read for me!
To sum it all up it was an entertaining, enjoyable, suspenseful, fast-paced, quick and easy read with a twist ending. Would recommend!!
Oh my I don’t even know how to rate this one let alone review it! So for now 3.5 stars rounded down.
Did this novel pull me in? Most definitely! I was hooked right away and absolutely could not put this book down. It totally consumed me and I was constantly trying to figure out what the heck was going on! Was it him…..was it her….and then the ending….oh brother, seriously! That is what my thoughts were exactly after reading!
BEHIND HER EYES by SARAH PINBOROUGH was an intriguing, gripping, exciting, and compulsive psychological thriller that grabbed my attention from the very first chapter and had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation for that ever so exciting and unforgettable ending that everyone seems to be talking about. Except after finishing reading this book I was a little disappointed about that ending. Sorry!
And here is why…..trying not to reveal too much of why this didn’t work for me and spoiling the ending for someone else I will try to explain myself. Simply I seen it coming and I didn’t want it to go there. You might ask how did I see it coming? Well, I have a really overactive imagination and like to see things in a different light and what might be seen as eccentric. If I didn’t see where the author was going with it would it have still been surprising? Absolutely! Was it a good read? Absolutely!
I must say that BEHIND HER EYES is an absolutely brilliant title for this book! Absolutely brilliant!
SARAH PINBOROUGH does deliver an extremely gripping story here that was well-written and had me totally engaged in the slow-building suspenseful story-line with a few good twists that had me questioning and guessing what was actually happening until I actually figured it all out. I think if I didn’t figure it out it might have been a much better read for me!
To sum it all up it was an entertaining, enjoyable, suspenseful, fast-paced, quick and easy read with a twist ending. Would recommend!!
April 30, 2025
Okaaay! I was binge-watching that intriguing British series on Netflix and for the first time I didn’t check the writers credit! I was so focused on watching sexy images of Tom Bateman and enjoying his sexy Scottish accent but as I reach the second episode I kept asking myself why this story was so familiar! Think Nilufer! Stop drooling over Tom and focus on the storyline! Look at the credits God dammit!
Then I realized! I read this book! And I remembered something was terribly wrong with the ending, wasn’t it?
I found the book from my library and I realized I haven’t written a proper review about it so I reread it as fast as I could.
Here are my opinions:
At first I have to apologize the admirers of this book but I’m unpopular reviewer right now because i couldn’t connect with the characters and interestingly the script adaptation was more successful than the original read!
First of all: I hate Louise a lot ( at least Louise character the writers portrayed was easy to sympathize. Of course Simona Brown’s brilliant performance helped us a lot to connect with the character) she acted foolish, irresponsible, naive from the beginning. And it was so obvious Adele’s real motives from the beginning. The author gave us so much away!
And the ending was not WTH ending for me. Was it weird? Yes! Was it nonsense? Hell, yes!
You know what: the first time I’ve read it was on April Fool’s day ( which is also my birthday) and I really believed my friends pulled a real prank on me by giving the wrong copy of the book! ( that’s why I’m still rejecting to get books as birthday presents)
But at the series that eerie ending worked a little bit better. Not the favorite kind of conclusion we expect but at least I didn’t give the same reaction I did for the book( throwing against the wall and screaming: what the hell?”)
So I’m giving my two stars. I respect to the readers who love this book passionately. I wish o could enjoy it as much as they did. But entire premise, characterization and the unsatisfying wrapping up were the reasons I couldn’t engage with the book!
Then I realized! I read this book! And I remembered something was terribly wrong with the ending, wasn’t it?
I found the book from my library and I realized I haven’t written a proper review about it so I reread it as fast as I could.
Here are my opinions:
At first I have to apologize the admirers of this book but I’m unpopular reviewer right now because i couldn’t connect with the characters and interestingly the script adaptation was more successful than the original read!
First of all: I hate Louise a lot ( at least Louise character the writers portrayed was easy to sympathize. Of course Simona Brown’s brilliant performance helped us a lot to connect with the character) she acted foolish, irresponsible, naive from the beginning. And it was so obvious Adele’s real motives from the beginning. The author gave us so much away!
And the ending was not WTH ending for me. Was it weird? Yes! Was it nonsense? Hell, yes!
You know what: the first time I’ve read it was on April Fool’s day ( which is also my birthday) and I really believed my friends pulled a real prank on me by giving the wrong copy of the book! ( that’s why I’m still rejecting to get books as birthday presents)
But at the series that eerie ending worked a little bit better. Not the favorite kind of conclusion we expect but at least I didn’t give the same reaction I did for the book( throwing against the wall and screaming: what the hell?”)
So I’m giving my two stars. I respect to the readers who love this book passionately. I wish o could enjoy it as much as they did. But entire premise, characterization and the unsatisfying wrapping up were the reasons I couldn’t engage with the book!
February 20, 2021
NOW I understand the Title!
You have to read until the very last page to learn the final "twist". I really enjoyed this mystery/psychological thriller and wanted to find out what was going on in Adele and David's marriage. I "had" to find out! I was turning pages quickly and very interested in what Adele was "up to" . Was she hiding something?
I was so curious about Adele and wondering if something was really wrong with her! She is quite the actress .I was totally invested in the story until the end. It is full of "secrets" and I just wanted answers. I had to keep reading to try to figure out who the manipulator was and this is a must for a good book for me.
This is one you won't want to "skim" or you might miss something! You won't be disappointed. I kept thinking "what if this could happen" while trying to fall asleep the first night that I finished the book. Terrifying!! The thought stayed with me for many weeks! I loved this thriller, Shocking end!! It is in my top reads of 2017.
* Now a NEW Netflix series! 2/2021
February 11, 2017
"Love dies hard, you know?"
And that eye, fully dilated and widely on alert, says it all.
Now, let me just say that this one is not gonna be on everyone's radar. Having read Mayhem and The Language of Dying, Behind Her Eyes ventures into a deep psychological pond. The fish swimming there seem to glide against the tide of reality. You really wouldn't want to go wading into that pool of murky water on your own.
Louise, a single mom and a part-time employed secretary, dips her toes into that pond one night. She shares a passionate kiss with a man at a crowded bar. That kiss still lingers as she comes to find out the next day that he is her new boss, David, the latest psychiatrist in her office. That kiss should also have come with a High Voltage warning. David and Louise can't get enough of one another and so it begins......
And in walks Adele, David's beautiful wife. Strangely, Louise and Adele become friends and even share outings to a gym together. Let the games begin. David knows nothing of this bonding by the women. And Adele seems to know nothing about these two enamored fish. Oh, and Louise? She's certainly not saying much these days.
This is a real cat and mouse tale told through chapters entitled "Then" and the shift back into the present. None of these characters are likeable for a multitude of reasons that will be revealed. But you find yourself unable to look away. Which one is more unstable than the other?
Sarah Pinborough presents a story that is driven on a curvy road by these characters. I kept looking in the rearview mirror to see if I should have gotten off at the last exit. The last chapters will either hang your mouth open in shock or will tap on the brillance beacon.
Sideline anything you've read before. This one dabbles in strange, very strange waters. So consider all things before taking this one on. The water's fine for some, but not for all.
And that eye, fully dilated and widely on alert, says it all.
Now, let me just say that this one is not gonna be on everyone's radar. Having read Mayhem and The Language of Dying, Behind Her Eyes ventures into a deep psychological pond. The fish swimming there seem to glide against the tide of reality. You really wouldn't want to go wading into that pool of murky water on your own.
Louise, a single mom and a part-time employed secretary, dips her toes into that pond one night. She shares a passionate kiss with a man at a crowded bar. That kiss still lingers as she comes to find out the next day that he is her new boss, David, the latest psychiatrist in her office. That kiss should also have come with a High Voltage warning. David and Louise can't get enough of one another and so it begins......
And in walks Adele, David's beautiful wife. Strangely, Louise and Adele become friends and even share outings to a gym together. Let the games begin. David knows nothing of this bonding by the women. And Adele seems to know nothing about these two enamored fish. Oh, and Louise? She's certainly not saying much these days.
This is a real cat and mouse tale told through chapters entitled "Then" and the shift back into the present. None of these characters are likeable for a multitude of reasons that will be revealed. But you find yourself unable to look away. Which one is more unstable than the other?
Sarah Pinborough presents a story that is driven on a curvy road by these characters. I kept looking in the rearview mirror to see if I should have gotten off at the last exit. The last chapters will either hang your mouth open in shock or will tap on the brillance beacon.
Sideline anything you've read before. This one dabbles in strange, very strange waters. So consider all things before taking this one on. The water's fine for some, but not for all.
October 30, 2019
The ending for this made me so annoyed I regretted even wasting my time reading it.
For 90% of the book nothing happens. Louise is having an affair with her boss, David. David is married to the beautiful Adele, who appears to suffer from some psychological issues following trauma in her past. Really, Adele comes across as a psychopath. Louise comes across as a naive idiot. And David appears to have some kind of Jekyll and Hyde personality whereby one minutes he's all nice, and the next he's shouting and screaming for no apparent reason. I hated them all. After about 60% I had to skim read because I was bored. The characters just seemed so fake, with little depth to their personalities. They were very one dimensional.
The ending itself is ridiculous. It's so ludicrous no one will ever guess it, and it made NO SENSE. It left me deeply confused, frustrated and irritated. That's not how I want to feel after finishing a book.
I'm so annoyed. Thank God I didn't buy this.
For 90% of the book nothing happens. Louise is having an affair with her boss, David. David is married to the beautiful Adele, who appears to suffer from some psychological issues following trauma in her past. Really, Adele comes across as a psychopath. Louise comes across as a naive idiot. And David appears to have some kind of Jekyll and Hyde personality whereby one minutes he's all nice, and the next he's shouting and screaming for no apparent reason. I hated them all. After about 60% I had to skim read because I was bored. The characters just seemed so fake, with little depth to their personalities. They were very one dimensional.
The ending itself is ridiculous. It's so ludicrous no one will ever guess it, and it made NO SENSE. It left me deeply confused, frustrated and irritated. That's not how I want to feel after finishing a book.
I'm so annoyed. Thank God I didn't buy this.
July 11, 2017
This is how you write a psychological thriller!!!!! Holy Hell! I DID NOT SEE that ending coming. Please, Please, Please, READ this book but do not read ahead!!!! Do not peek (or scroll) to those last remaining pages, Don't spoil it for yourself. I LOVE when a book can take me by surprise. I read A LOT and when a book can pull off a Mind Fuck like that - I love it!!!! First off, this book grabbed me from page one and did not let go and by then end I was excited - not sure if this is correct. I was elated that this book totally blew me away.
Louise is a single Mom who does not have much excitement in her life. I wanted to whisper in her ear for her to strap herself in because things are going to get real interesting real quick. She goes to a bar one night and meets an interesting man, David. It is not like her to flirt but they hit things off instantly and they shared a passionate kiss. Finally she has meet someone!
Her excitement is dashed when her new boss starts work the next morning and she quickly learns that her new MARRIED boss is David, the man from the bar with whom she felt an instant connection. Embarrassed they both acknowledge what happened between them and agree to have a professional working relationship.
But then, Lousie runs into (literally and physically) David's elegant and beautiful,wife, Adele. To make things even more complicated she also feels a connection to Adele. Adele and Louise become friends. It appears that both women have sleep issues and helps cement their bond. Louise really enjoys their friendship. Adele seems to really enjoy Lousie's friendship.
Talk about being torn, Louise can't keep her eyes and her hands off David. David can't keep his hands off Louise. David and Adele clearly have a strained and toxic relationship. David, who seems so warm and loving to Louise, is controlling and hostile to Adele. Adele seems fragile and afraid of David.
As Lousie attempts to have a relationship with both - without the other's knowledge - it becomes obvious that not everything is as it seems. Who is telling the truth? Something is very, very wrong in David's and Adele's marriage. What will happen when the "truth" comes out?
I thought I knew what was happening and how the book was going to end. Boy, oh boy was I shocked. Not everything or everyone is as they seem. Just when I felt I know what was happening, the Author picked up the plot and shook it up a couple of times. There are parts where the reader needs to suspend disbelief. Things get a little out-there in a metaphysical sci-fi way. But DO NOT let that stop you.
I would not have picked up this book if not for a book club challenge (thank you KUYH). I LOVED this book. It was my first book by this Author and it will NOT be my last.
I HIGHLY recommend this book! Books like this one are why I love reading so MUCH! The suspense was spot on. This was a delightfully dark page turner for me.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Louise is a single Mom who does not have much excitement in her life. I wanted to whisper in her ear for her to strap herself in because things are going to get real interesting real quick. She goes to a bar one night and meets an interesting man, David. It is not like her to flirt but they hit things off instantly and they shared a passionate kiss. Finally she has meet someone!
Her excitement is dashed when her new boss starts work the next morning and she quickly learns that her new MARRIED boss is David, the man from the bar with whom she felt an instant connection. Embarrassed they both acknowledge what happened between them and agree to have a professional working relationship.
But then, Lousie runs into (literally and physically) David's elegant and beautiful,wife, Adele. To make things even more complicated she also feels a connection to Adele. Adele and Louise become friends. It appears that both women have sleep issues and helps cement their bond. Louise really enjoys their friendship. Adele seems to really enjoy Lousie's friendship.
Talk about being torn, Louise can't keep her eyes and her hands off David. David can't keep his hands off Louise. David and Adele clearly have a strained and toxic relationship. David, who seems so warm and loving to Louise, is controlling and hostile to Adele. Adele seems fragile and afraid of David.
As Lousie attempts to have a relationship with both - without the other's knowledge - it becomes obvious that not everything is as it seems. Who is telling the truth? Something is very, very wrong in David's and Adele's marriage. What will happen when the "truth" comes out?
I thought I knew what was happening and how the book was going to end. Boy, oh boy was I shocked. Not everything or everyone is as they seem. Just when I felt I know what was happening, the Author picked up the plot and shook it up a couple of times. There are parts where the reader needs to suspend disbelief. Things get a little out-there in a metaphysical sci-fi way. But DO NOT let that stop you.
I would not have picked up this book if not for a book club challenge (thank you KUYH). I LOVED this book. It was my first book by this Author and it will NOT be my last.
I HIGHLY recommend this book! Books like this one are why I love reading so MUCH! The suspense was spot on. This was a delightfully dark page turner for me.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
March 3, 2017
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough is a 2017 Flatiron publication.
The reviews for this book were amazing for the most part, so I was eagerly awaiting my copy from the library. In the meantime, I got acquainted with the author by reading “Mayhem”, which was pretty good, and made me even more excited about delving into this one.
The book gets off to a sinister start because Adele and David are obviously having a hard time in their marriage. David appears to be the classic abusive control freak, while Adele is the docile, reclusive, stay at home wife.
Enter, Louise, David’s new secretary and suddenly a highly unusual triangle develops between the three of them. Louise suffers from night terrors and Adele helps her find a way to control them as their friendship continues to develop, despite the fact that Louise and David are carrying on together. As Louise gets more involved with the couple, she begins to understand there is something very wrong going on and finds herself caught in their web.
If you have read any other reviews of this book, you will have no doubt heard about the surprise, ‘what just happened’ ending. While the majority of people have praised the conclusion,and I admit it was a total shock, I was mostly irritated by it, although as crazy as it was, it was also pretty chilling.
The buildup of suspense was very effectual, and the characters were well drawn for the most part. I was fully engaged in the story, which is certainly a mind trip, even before the ultimate shock ending, but I have to say that instead of feeling wowed, I was underwhelmed by the sucker punch twist. Still, I have to give the author kudos for pulling it off without a hitch, and I do ‘get’ why some people were impressed by it and why they have been raving about this book.
The writing is stellar, but while I would love to say I really enjoyed this one, sadly I did not. So overall, this on gets a 2.5 rounded to 3.
The reviews for this book were amazing for the most part, so I was eagerly awaiting my copy from the library. In the meantime, I got acquainted with the author by reading “Mayhem”, which was pretty good, and made me even more excited about delving into this one.
The book gets off to a sinister start because Adele and David are obviously having a hard time in their marriage. David appears to be the classic abusive control freak, while Adele is the docile, reclusive, stay at home wife.
Enter, Louise, David’s new secretary and suddenly a highly unusual triangle develops between the three of them. Louise suffers from night terrors and Adele helps her find a way to control them as their friendship continues to develop, despite the fact that Louise and David are carrying on together. As Louise gets more involved with the couple, she begins to understand there is something very wrong going on and finds herself caught in their web.
If you have read any other reviews of this book, you will have no doubt heard about the surprise, ‘what just happened’ ending. While the majority of people have praised the conclusion,and I admit it was a total shock, I was mostly irritated by it, although as crazy as it was, it was also pretty chilling.
The buildup of suspense was very effectual, and the characters were well drawn for the most part. I was fully engaged in the story, which is certainly a mind trip, even before the ultimate shock ending, but I have to say that instead of feeling wowed, I was underwhelmed by the sucker punch twist. Still, I have to give the author kudos for pulling it off without a hitch, and I do ‘get’ why some people were impressed by it and why they have been raving about this book.
The writing is stellar, but while I would love to say I really enjoyed this one, sadly I did not. So overall, this on gets a 2.5 rounded to 3.
May 11, 2017
Brilliant! Just brilliant! This novel! Wow! Just wow! If you like unpredictable thrillers than you should check out "Behind Her Eyes"!
I listened to the audio version. The audio is awesome. The last 10 minutes turned this book from a 4 Star to a 4.5 Star for me! What a freaking ending! I was worried that I would figure out the ending because I read a bunch of reviews. Nope! Complete shocker! I love crazy endings!
Great audio! Would make a great first listen. Wonderful narrators.
Highly recommended to people who can suspend disbelief and like thrillers.
That's all I'm going to say. Stop reading reviews and check it out!
I listened to the audio version. The audio is awesome. The last 10 minutes turned this book from a 4 Star to a 4.5 Star for me! What a freaking ending! I was worried that I would figure out the ending because I read a bunch of reviews. Nope! Complete shocker! I love crazy endings!
Great audio! Would make a great first listen. Wonderful narrators.
Highly recommended to people who can suspend disbelief and like thrillers.
That's all I'm going to say. Stop reading reviews and check it out!
September 19, 2018
oooh, goodreads choice awards semifinalist for best mystery! what will happen?
some years back, i was at BEA with greg, and we were on line for something or other, and he’d wandered off to a nearby booth while i held our place. there was a gaggle of librarians behind me in line, and the boy-librarian was holding court, impressing all the girl-librarians* with his game of thrones knowledge by giving a highly detailed and booming synopsis of everything that happens in A Storm of Swords, which i had not yet read, but i knew from greg was the book with all the stuff and things. once i realized what was happening, i made the emphatic but unobtrusive clicking noise that means “come here now, please,” developed during many years of working in the bookstore trenches together, and the moment he returned to my side, i bounced outta earshot without a word of explanation.
in a perfectly executed choreography of facial expressions and ASL (which only one of us has studied, rendering it a gesture more decorative than useful), we established when it was safe for me to come back. which, for the record, was much longer than it should have taken - that nerd was on fire with detail.
i’ve since read the book and seen the show and i’m safe as safe can be from that particular spoiler-landmine, but the world is as full of twist endings as it is incautious booknerds, and with Behind Her Eyes, pretty much the only thing i knew about it was that it was ALL ABOUT THE TWIST, and OMG, and i approached all reviews of it gingerly, not wanting to tempt fate or the spoiler monster.
i succeeded, but i wasn’t, of course, able to escape the knowledge that there was a twist, which comes with its own set of reader-distractions - finding myself subconsciously squinting for clues and developing theories while reading, which i 100% did not want to do, but every time i had to put the book down for any reason, my mind would slink into investigative/analytical mode and try to work out the twist without my consent. fortunately, investigative karen is a moron, and it’s a fast enough read that i was able to push most of life off to the side and gulp this down pretty quickly, and i figured out some things, but not that half-twist jab that comes after the main twist, which was a fun “hey now!” that tied up some lingering questions, but also created new ones.
here's the thing - in this case, the twist IS the book’s selling point. it’s a fun glossy pageturner; the book-equivalent of clickbait that sucks you right in (LGM) with its promise of YOU’LL NEVER GUESS, and YOU WON’T SEE IT COMING, and it’s an entertaining read, although peppered with implausible character behavior inspiring many “who would DO that?” eyerolls, but the momentum is all driving towards this promise of JUST YOU WAIT that, granted, delivers what it promises and is an unusual deviation from other books in this genre. however, it's not a tightly-fitting lid, and there's a lot left unresolved, sloppily explained, or significance overemphasized. paint color is just paint color, after all.
it's fun fluff, but i'll take fun over tedious any day.
* presumably.
come to my blog!
some years back, i was at BEA with greg, and we were on line for something or other, and he’d wandered off to a nearby booth while i held our place. there was a gaggle of librarians behind me in line, and the boy-librarian was holding court, impressing all the girl-librarians* with his game of thrones knowledge by giving a highly detailed and booming synopsis of everything that happens in A Storm of Swords, which i had not yet read, but i knew from greg was the book with all the stuff and things. once i realized what was happening, i made the emphatic but unobtrusive clicking noise that means “come here now, please,” developed during many years of working in the bookstore trenches together, and the moment he returned to my side, i bounced outta earshot without a word of explanation.
in a perfectly executed choreography of facial expressions and ASL (which only one of us has studied, rendering it a gesture more decorative than useful), we established when it was safe for me to come back. which, for the record, was much longer than it should have taken - that nerd was on fire with detail.
i’ve since read the book and seen the show and i’m safe as safe can be from that particular spoiler-landmine, but the world is as full of twist endings as it is incautious booknerds, and with Behind Her Eyes, pretty much the only thing i knew about it was that it was ALL ABOUT THE TWIST, and OMG, and i approached all reviews of it gingerly, not wanting to tempt fate or the spoiler monster.
i succeeded, but i wasn’t, of course, able to escape the knowledge that there was a twist, which comes with its own set of reader-distractions - finding myself subconsciously squinting for clues and developing theories while reading, which i 100% did not want to do, but every time i had to put the book down for any reason, my mind would slink into investigative/analytical mode and try to work out the twist without my consent. fortunately, investigative karen is a moron, and it’s a fast enough read that i was able to push most of life off to the side and gulp this down pretty quickly, and i figured out some things, but not that half-twist jab that comes after the main twist, which was a fun “hey now!” that tied up some lingering questions, but also created new ones.
here's the thing - in this case, the twist IS the book’s selling point. it’s a fun glossy pageturner; the book-equivalent of clickbait that sucks you right in (LGM) with its promise of YOU’LL NEVER GUESS, and YOU WON’T SEE IT COMING, and it’s an entertaining read, although peppered with implausible character behavior inspiring many “who would DO that?” eyerolls, but the momentum is all driving towards this promise of JUST YOU WAIT that, granted, delivers what it promises and is an unusual deviation from other books in this genre. however, it's not a tightly-fitting lid, and there's a lot left unresolved, sloppily explained, or significance overemphasized. paint color is just paint color, after all.
it's fun fluff, but i'll take fun over tedious any day.
* presumably.
come to my blog!
February 7, 2017
Perhaps "Behind Her Eyes" is a solid four and 1/2 stars, however the round up is necessary so as not to round down, in order to not give a false impression that this book is a fantastic read. Ms. Pinborough is a fun, sly and smart author when all is said and done.
So why quibble over that half a star ? To be honest I had some slight issues with the beginning of the book, which were overcome the further the story unfolded. My fear was what I call "The Gone Girl" syndrome, where you have this apprehension that the author is just flat out messing with the reader.
However Ms.. Pinborough is much more cleaver than your run of the mill word scribe. She has inserted enough clues into her narrative to give the reader the clues necessary not to feal swindled by unfolding events.
The book is part family relationship drama with twosoms and threesoms, part mystery, part horror, layered and unfolded like an onion finally exploding with a creative and unique ending. Applause to Ms. Pinborough.
So why quibble over that half a star ? To be honest I had some slight issues with the beginning of the book, which were overcome the further the story unfolded. My fear was what I call "The Gone Girl" syndrome, where you have this apprehension that the author is just flat out messing with the reader.
However Ms.. Pinborough is much more cleaver than your run of the mill word scribe. She has inserted enough clues into her narrative to give the reader the clues necessary not to feal swindled by unfolding events.
The book is part family relationship drama with twosoms and threesoms, part mystery, part horror, layered and unfolded like an onion finally exploding with a creative and unique ending. Applause to Ms. Pinborough.
May 2, 2020
Well I certainly am late to the party on this one. In fact I missed the party, the after party...I mean what took me so long? I have never, ever seen a book that has caused such a commotion. People either LOVE it or HATE it! The feelings are intense too!
So I have picked what side of the fence I have landed on and it is the side of liking it. Honestly this probably would have been a hands down 5 star for me, except I wasn't as shocked as I would've been had I read this...say like ..umm 4 years ago. By now I have heard snippets of spoilers so it wasn't as shocking as I thought it would be. Simply because...I had been warned.
I can see both sides to this argument about this book. I thought it was brilliant. I thought it was creative, well thought out..just clever. I will say one thing that numbed the crazy, shocking value of this was I recently read a book that had hints of this in it..unfortunately. That book was written long after this one. SO I wished I had picked this one up first. Overall I find the author's writing to be suspenseful and riveting. She has that writing style that grips me from page one.
Many of my book friends loved this book and many despised it! I didn't love, love, love it but I did enjoy it!
So I have picked what side of the fence I have landed on and it is the side of liking it. Honestly this probably would have been a hands down 5 star for me, except I wasn't as shocked as I would've been had I read this...say like ..umm 4 years ago. By now I have heard snippets of spoilers so it wasn't as shocking as I thought it would be. Simply because...I had been warned.
I can see both sides to this argument about this book. I thought it was brilliant. I thought it was creative, well thought out..just clever. I will say one thing that numbed the crazy, shocking value of this was I recently read a book that had hints of this in it..unfortunately. That book was written long after this one. SO I wished I had picked this one up first. Overall I find the author's writing to be suspenseful and riveting. She has that writing style that grips me from page one.
Many of my book friends loved this book and many despised it! I didn't love, love, love it but I did enjoy it!
January 16, 2025
Gasp! Are you looking for a series of WTF twists? Brilliant mind-trickery at its finest with plenty of blind turns? Well, look no further than Behind Her Eyes and all of its shocking reveals. I don’t know how she does it, but Ms. Pinborough crafted yet another pitch-perfect plot. But I’m getting ahead of myself…let me build up to all of its utterly perfect flawlessness first. You see, this psychological thriller began as one dynamite tale of domestic suspense. With an even pace and plenty of plot charging drama, I was 100% game right from the beginning. I mean, who doesn’t love an enigmatic history or a deliciously conniving villain? And then that first mind-blowing twist came onto the scene…
Alright, now it’s time to expound on this authors true genius. You see, despite a premise that required a definite suspension of all disbelief, it all felt so incredibly real so I gave my armchair sleuthing self a loose rein. Despite this, however, I hadn’t a clue. Thanks to past and present timelines and dual POVs, this stunner of a plot evaded every single one of my well-thought-out guesses. Don’t get me wrong, you’re going to have to go with this one for a while and throw your over-the-top meter aside. I can’t explain why without providing one heck of a spoiler, but just know that it was quite possibly the best twist I’ve ever read…or at least very nearly.
All in all, it was—to be brief—a total mind-f*** of a book. Without a plot hole in sight, the two delicious perspectives unfurled quite the jaw-dropping tale. Just don’t skim or read ahead even a little. After all, that conclusion had my shocked eyes popping right out of my head. Dark, twisted, and perfectly plotted, nothing and no one was as it seemed. At the same time, it all felt so real. The second book by Pinborough to blow me away, I had a feeling that I was going to be shocked, but even Insomnia couldn’t have prepared me for this. With edge-of-your-seat writing, delightfully unlikeable characters, and a speech-stealing ending, you’re not going to want to miss this glorious crazy train ride. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.
When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.
And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend. But she also just happens to be married to David. And if you think you know where this story is going, think again, because Behind Her Eyes is like no other book you’ve read before.
David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife. But then why is David so controlling? And why is Adele so scared of him?
As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.
Trigger warning: alcohol abuse, infidelity, smoking, marijuana use, gaslighting, suicide, mention of: animal death, house fire
Alright, now it’s time to expound on this authors true genius. You see, despite a premise that required a definite suspension of all disbelief, it all felt so incredibly real so I gave my armchair sleuthing self a loose rein. Despite this, however, I hadn’t a clue. Thanks to past and present timelines and dual POVs, this stunner of a plot evaded every single one of my well-thought-out guesses. Don’t get me wrong, you’re going to have to go with this one for a while and throw your over-the-top meter aside. I can’t explain why without providing one heck of a spoiler, but just know that it was quite possibly the best twist I’ve ever read…or at least very nearly.
All in all, it was—to be brief—a total mind-f*** of a book. Without a plot hole in sight, the two delicious perspectives unfurled quite the jaw-dropping tale. Just don’t skim or read ahead even a little. After all, that conclusion had my shocked eyes popping right out of my head. Dark, twisted, and perfectly plotted, nothing and no one was as it seemed. At the same time, it all felt so real. The second book by Pinborough to blow me away, I had a feeling that I was going to be shocked, but even Insomnia couldn’t have prepared me for this. With edge-of-your-seat writing, delightfully unlikeable characters, and a speech-stealing ending, you’re not going to want to miss this glorious crazy train ride. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.
When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.
And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend. But she also just happens to be married to David. And if you think you know where this story is going, think again, because Behind Her Eyes is like no other book you’ve read before.
David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife. But then why is David so controlling? And why is Adele so scared of him?
As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.
Trigger warning: alcohol abuse, infidelity, smoking, marijuana use, gaslighting, suicide, mention of: animal death, house fire
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