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The Bartender
Olive is a Los Angeles bartender who has been unlucky in love. She hopes that’s about to change when one of the best-looking men she’s ever seen walks into her bar. But he’s not what he seems.
Austin is tall, charismatic, and compellingly attractive. But unbeknownst to the smitten Olive, Austin is not dating her for her beauty, but merely for her usefulness. He and his childhood friend have set a depraved plan in motion.
Becca is a grifter and a con-artist looking for her one big score. She’s found out that Olive’s boss has hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at his house in the Pacific Palisades. Becca will do anything to make it hers.
Olive becomes the unknowing intermediary and Austin her willing co-conspirator, but both are instruments in Becca’s orchestration. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Not even murder.
The Bartender is a twisting, multi-narrative thriller told through the eyes of a brave heroine and unforgettable villains: Olive, the strong but innocent young woman dragged into something sinister. Austin, sensing this will all end horribly, but without the gumption to stop it. And Becca, dollar signs dancing in her eyes, with no regard for human life.
Austin is tall, charismatic, and compellingly attractive. But unbeknownst to the smitten Olive, Austin is not dating her for her beauty, but merely for her usefulness. He and his childhood friend have set a depraved plan in motion.
Becca is a grifter and a con-artist looking for her one big score. She’s found out that Olive’s boss has hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at his house in the Pacific Palisades. Becca will do anything to make it hers.
Olive becomes the unknowing intermediary and Austin her willing co-conspirator, but both are instruments in Becca’s orchestration. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Not even murder.
The Bartender is a twisting, multi-narrative thriller told through the eyes of a brave heroine and unforgettable villains: Olive, the strong but innocent young woman dragged into something sinister. Austin, sensing this will all end horribly, but without the gumption to stop it. And Becca, dollar signs dancing in her eyes, with no regard for human life.
278 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2021
About the author
Brian O'Sullivan
20 books1,592 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
February 27, 2026
For a full spoiler version of this review, please check out my blog, spoiledbooks.blogspot.com
4 stars
This was such a fun, twisty ride. The Bartender follows Olive, a 26-year-old bartender in Los Angeles who falls for a charming stranger — only to discover that not everyone who walks into your bar is there for a drink. What starts as a whirlwind romance slowly reveals itself to be something much darker, involving deception, manipulation, and a dangerous con.
I’m usually not a fan of multiple POVs, but they’re handled really clearly here, which made the cat-and-mouse tension even better. And I have to say — the steamy scenes were surprisingly well written. 👀
My only real issue was the prose itself; at times it felt a little amateurish. Still, the pacing and satisfying payoff made this a solid 4-star thriller for me.
4 stars
This was such a fun, twisty ride. The Bartender follows Olive, a 26-year-old bartender in Los Angeles who falls for a charming stranger — only to discover that not everyone who walks into your bar is there for a drink. What starts as a whirlwind romance slowly reveals itself to be something much darker, involving deception, manipulation, and a dangerous con.
I’m usually not a fan of multiple POVs, but they’re handled really clearly here, which made the cat-and-mouse tension even better. And I have to say — the steamy scenes were surprisingly well written. 👀
My only real issue was the prose itself; at times it felt a little amateurish. Still, the pacing and satisfying payoff made this a solid 4-star thriller for me.
October 23, 2022
didn’t finish
I couldn’t finish this book. Mostly due repetitive plot line, poor grammar and pretentious word choice. I admire you for self publishing but you need a reliable experienced editor.
I couldn’t finish this book. Mostly due repetitive plot line, poor grammar and pretentious word choice. I admire you for self publishing but you need a reliable experienced editor.
November 17, 2024
???? Did i read a different book from everyone else here????
This was… not good
This was… not good
January 15, 2023
3.5 stars. Points deducted for Becca constantly reminding readers what an evil genius she is and for Olive constantly reminding how pretty she is. So annoying!
September 2, 2024
Forced and ridiculous
Disappointed. I was trying a new author I'd heard great things about but wow this book was pretty bad. There was so much poor grammar, typos, and odd wording. Some of it sounded like it had just come out of a translator app or maybe a drunk AI. The whole book is so forced and contrived. Most of it goes like this:
"I'm the killer and I'm going to do this super secret thing so I won't get caught."
MC: "Ya know what? I bet the killer is doing this super secret thing. Ope, I'm right!"
"No one would ever suspect if I hide here!"
"I bet she's totally hiding in that one place I've never thought of before."
"I wonder if this person is doing this oddly specific, random thing."
*Person indeed does do that oddly specific, random thing*
Just so annoying how everyone knew just exactly what to do. And who tf edited this? Because damn. I had high hopes for this author but I'm not sure I can try another one of his books.
Disappointed. I was trying a new author I'd heard great things about but wow this book was pretty bad. There was so much poor grammar, typos, and odd wording. Some of it sounded like it had just come out of a translator app or maybe a drunk AI. The whole book is so forced and contrived. Most of it goes like this:
"I'm the killer and I'm going to do this super secret thing so I won't get caught."
MC: "Ya know what? I bet the killer is doing this super secret thing. Ope, I'm right!"
"No one would ever suspect if I hide here!"
"I bet she's totally hiding in that one place I've never thought of before."
"I wonder if this person is doing this oddly specific, random thing."
*Person indeed does do that oddly specific, random thing*
Just so annoying how everyone knew just exactly what to do. And who tf edited this? Because damn. I had high hopes for this author but I'm not sure I can try another one of his books.
June 2, 2024
4 and half stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Haven’t read a book in a few months and wanted to get back on track, I wanted something that can hold my attention without being too complicated. Well this certainly held my attention. Nice character development and was pretty evenly paced in the beginning then it was pedal to the metal cat and mouse chase. I recommend! It held my interest and kept me wondering what will happen next.
Haven’t read a book in a few months and wanted to get back on track, I wanted something that can hold my attention without being too complicated. Well this certainly held my attention. Nice character development and was pretty evenly paced in the beginning then it was pedal to the metal cat and mouse chase. I recommend! It held my interest and kept me wondering what will happen next.
March 20, 2023
This was well written and interesting. I did think the amount of money involved wasn't that large enough for Becca to consider becoming a serial killer! Also she did go on and on about how evil she was and all the evil things she did and was going to do. A more mysterious villain would have been good. I also thought the police were portrayed as quite disinterested and incompetent. I think they may have looked into Becca more in real life after she’d been mentioned a few times, and maybe at least tried to connect the pseudonyms. I did like the fact that Olive was such a strong character and managed to foil some of Becca devious plans. The ending was good too and satisfying, although poor Olive did have to experience a lot of trauma to get there.
November 18, 2024
After reading the summary, I wasn’t sure if this book was right for me. However, I enjoy the author so much I decided to give it a go. There are some bad people in this book especially the female who has no values at all. Her actions are truly vile. But when she decided to mess with the bartender, she met her match! There are some sad scenes, one in particular that I thought was totally unnecessary, but there is also much needed satisfaction! This book was well written, and I enjoyed it!
July 8, 2024
Now three for three for five stars. Well done Brian O'Sullivan
October 7, 2025
Diabolical
Becca is one of those characters that you love to hate. What a conniving, diabolical, just plain crazy person. This is an entertaining, page-turner that will keep you shaking your head at her schemes and hoping Olive at some point gets a win.
Becca is one of those characters that you love to hate. What a conniving, diabolical, just plain crazy person. This is an entertaining, page-turner that will keep you shaking your head at her schemes and hoping Olive at some point gets a win.
March 21, 2024
In short, it wasn't believable for me. I didn't find any of the characters likable - both Olive and Becca had me cringing. The ending was deserved at least.
Read
March 25, 2022Probably my favorite novel that I've written. I love the multi-narrative aspect of it.
September 14, 2024
I really tried to read this book and in the end I had to end my misery. The writing was overall so poor, it was like reading a long, boring essay. As a woman reading the book it was creepy how the author is obsessed with skinny and young women, that was the theme throughout. In addition to that, the racism and the language describing non-whites was appalling. Brian, please take a walk outside your backyard, the world has progressed, and the richest person in the world is a non-white. Will never read a book by a sexist and racist author again.
May 5, 2025
Terrible. Was relieved to finish it. It dragged on for so long. Almost gave up but I’m not a quitter.
July 10, 2019
What a great read! The format was interesting and really worked for this book! Nice to have 1st person thoughts rotating between the main characters!
I started this book on a week that turned out to be exceptionally busy for me and I was devastated that it took me a week to read! I was always so impatient to get back to where I left off the previous day!
The characters were very well developed and the plot was a real nail-biter! I particularly enjoyed his nod to Nancy Drew (a favorite character of mine growing up)!
O'Sullivan is definitely one of my new favorite authors! All of his books have been "unputdownable"! I am anxiously awaiting his next book! Hurry up there Brian!
I started this book on a week that turned out to be exceptionally busy for me and I was devastated that it took me a week to read! I was always so impatient to get back to where I left off the previous day!
The characters were very well developed and the plot was a real nail-biter! I particularly enjoyed his nod to Nancy Drew (a favorite character of mine growing up)!
O'Sullivan is definitely one of my new favorite authors! All of his books have been "unputdownable"! I am anxiously awaiting his next book! Hurry up there Brian!
November 16, 2024
I really hoped I would love this book; it’s talked about so much on book forums. The story dragged on and it really felt like the author was throwing in descriptive words just to meet a word count. The story read as very juvenile writing, as if a teenager wrote this for a creative writing assignment. I skimmed the last half just to see how the book ended. For an easy read I should have been done this in a day but it took me forever to push through as it didn’t grab me. I wish I had DNF it in the first 10%.
January 31, 2025
I didn’t love the writing style, felt pretty shallow and hard to connect with.
May 3, 2026
Holy Crap!!! Becca Poe, this woman is a serial killer who has gone off the rails.
She is pure evil which started in high school and continues through her young life.
Olive is a bartender at The Belly Flop in LA, who one day meets this good looking guy named Austin who stopped in for a drink. Austin went to high school with Becca in Roswell, GA.
Becca starts a stream of events throughout the whole read to destroy Olive.
I like Brian O’Sullivan’s writing. Please write more thrillers.
She is pure evil which started in high school and continues through her young life.
Olive is a bartender at The Belly Flop in LA, who one day meets this good looking guy named Austin who stopped in for a drink. Austin went to high school with Becca in Roswell, GA.
Becca starts a stream of events throughout the whole read to destroy Olive.
I like Brian O’Sullivan’s writing. Please write more thrillers.
June 4, 2025
3.75⭐️
October 14, 2024
I couldn’t put this down. I will say that it’s probably my first ever cat and mouse type of book. I loved it.
I’ve been shown a whole new world and I can’t wait to start reading every single other book written by this amazing author.
The ending is 🤩👩🍳💋
A MUST read…. Unputdownable, edge of your seat, legit thrill ride!!! I loved how we get a view from every character’s perspective.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve been shown a whole new world and I can’t wait to start reading every single other book written by this amazing author.
The ending is 🤩👩🍳💋
A MUST read…. Unputdownable, edge of your seat, legit thrill ride!!! I loved how we get a view from every character’s perspective.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 11, 2026
So repetitive
July 27, 2024
4.5⭐️
My first book by this author and won’t be my last.
My first book by this author and won’t be my last.
August 8, 2024
Wow! This book! Halfway through I thought it was over but nope and then the ending!!! Just wow!
January 16, 2025
The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars is because Rory deserved better 😭😭😭😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2026
honestly a really nice palette cleanser for my rf kuang marathon..
cute little easy read about a crazy psycho named becca…
spent most of the night reading it..
really pulls you in.. definitely needs more editing though 🥲
cute little easy read about a crazy psycho named becca…
spent most of the night reading it..
really pulls you in.. definitely needs more editing though 🥲
April 20, 2026
This was a fun easy read. Brian does a great job writing strong female MCs and you know they’ll always win in the end. 😊
September 3, 2026
A great read! Fast paced, engaging, clever. A worthwhile Kindle Unlimited selection. I’ve been curious to try one of Brian’s books after seeing all of his positive engagement on Facebook. Glad to support an indie author!
October 6, 2024
Really good, lots of action. Keeps you guessing!
October 1, 2025
Finally finished and thank God! I have this thing where I can’t NOT finish books but I really wish I had DNF this one.
I applaud people who write books and self-publish but you MUST have an editor! From the smaller things like having characters in their 20s/30s use the phrase “hunky dory”, to the repetitive and pointless ways the characters would talk about themselves and others (one character talked about “dirty minorities” multiple times throughout), to have a character named “Mable” also be “Mabel” in the surrounding paragraphs, to the bigger things like constant character and plot holes and absurd actions being taken for even more absurd reasons…… this book was bad.
On the back cover the author claims, “The Bartender is a twisting, multi-narrative thriller in the vein of Gone Girl. Only better.” This should have been the bigger red flag. The story is NOTHING like Gone Girl — not in the same vein let alone better than Gone Girl.
Glad I’m done this one.
I applaud people who write books and self-publish but you MUST have an editor! From the smaller things like having characters in their 20s/30s use the phrase “hunky dory”, to the repetitive and pointless ways the characters would talk about themselves and others (one character talked about “dirty minorities” multiple times throughout), to have a character named “Mable” also be “Mabel” in the surrounding paragraphs, to the bigger things like constant character and plot holes and absurd actions being taken for even more absurd reasons…… this book was bad.
On the back cover the author claims, “The Bartender is a twisting, multi-narrative thriller in the vein of Gone Girl. Only better.” This should have been the bigger red flag. The story is NOTHING like Gone Girl — not in the same vein let alone better than Gone Girl.
Glad I’m done this one.
December 2, 2024
My god. This book was absolutely horrible. I thought it never was going to end. It got so ridiculous. It jumped the shark so many damn times. I really think this book was growing pages just to make me mad. 😡 how can someone write a book so bad. I will never read this author ever again, this was truly a horrendous experience.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews