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‘Utterly addictive. Compulsive, twisty, tense.’ CLAIRE DOUGLAS, author of Local Girl Missing
Just how far is a mother willing to go?
When a mysterious note arrives for seven months pregnant nurse Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.
As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.
Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…
Just how far is a mother willing to go?
When a mysterious note arrives for seven months pregnant nurse Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.
As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.
Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews
January 16, 2019
Well if you read ‘Her Name Was Rose’ by the author earlier this year ( if you havent yet you should!) you will know this book was eagerly anticipated by reviewers keen to see if this book is as good, it is!
Eliana is pregnant and has mixed feelings as the last 7 months has not been easy with never ending sickness and general feelings of inadequacy....she wonders if she will be a good Mum....little knowing someone else is more than excited and is desperate for the baby to arrive....what joy the little bundle is going to bring!, little matter she has to destroy Eliana and her husband Martin to get this joy!
The ‘baddie’ ( who says prot wherever in the real word ) IS BAD, really bad and got me sneering and spitting feathers at her deviousness, I guessed fairly early on who it was but it didn’t matter at all and in fact imo added to the book with me shouting ‘ELIANAAAA DONT TRUST ........’ becoming more and more frequent 😃😃
The book also cleverly deals with Eliana’s young years and the shocking secret there, all becomes clear as the book starts to tie in and the audacity of it all sinks in
Eliana works in a hospice and I felt this and a description of an event there were very sensitively described and gave food for thought as a kinda added extra to the book
The characters range from lovely to vile but at all times are believable and in one case scarily so!
An involving enjoyable full on read that readily recommend
LOVED IT
10/10 5 Stars
Eliana is pregnant and has mixed feelings as the last 7 months has not been easy with never ending sickness and general feelings of inadequacy....she wonders if she will be a good Mum....little knowing someone else is more than excited and is desperate for the baby to arrive....what joy the little bundle is going to bring!, little matter she has to destroy Eliana and her husband Martin to get this joy!
The ‘baddie’ ( who says prot wherever in the real word ) IS BAD, really bad and got me sneering and spitting feathers at her deviousness, I guessed fairly early on who it was but it didn’t matter at all and in fact imo added to the book with me shouting ‘ELIANAAAA DONT TRUST ........’ becoming more and more frequent 😃😃
The book also cleverly deals with Eliana’s young years and the shocking secret there, all becomes clear as the book starts to tie in and the audacity of it all sinks in
Eliana works in a hospice and I felt this and a description of an event there were very sensitively described and gave food for thought as a kinda added extra to the book
The characters range from lovely to vile but at all times are believable and in one case scarily so!
An involving enjoyable full on read that readily recommend
LOVED IT
10/10 5 Stars
December 23, 2018
Eliana is seven months pregnant and still suffers from morning sickness and a fear that she won't be able to bond or love her unborn child. She is happily married to Martin until the anonymous letters start arriving telling her that Martin is cheating on her. Eliana's mother Angela will do anything to help and protect her daughter. Eliana is still working at the Hospice until an unfortunate event occurred and she had to go on maternity leave.
I did guess early on in the story who the villain was but I did only guess half of it right. The story is narrated by Eliana and Louise, a character we don't really know too much about. We also get some narration from Angela. This is another book you can't say too much about as it would waste the story for you. It's tense, gripping and an addictive read. I literally could not put this book down. There is a few unexpected twists along the way. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Claire Allan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did guess early on in the story who the villain was but I did only guess half of it right. The story is narrated by Eliana and Louise, a character we don't really know too much about. We also get some narration from Angela. This is another book you can't say too much about as it would waste the story for you. It's tense, gripping and an addictive read. I literally could not put this book down. There is a few unexpected twists along the way. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Claire Allan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2018
Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan ... what a fantastic book! I loved Her Name Was Rose so picking this one up was a no brainier for me. I was hooked straight away but I did have the villain sussed out fairly early on. But I was still intrigued and addicted. I love the way this author writes and would definitely recommend this book to lovers of this genre.
Elia a is 7 months pregnant and not really enjoying it at all. She is always ill, tired and bloated. When she receives a random note in her locker at work she starts to doubt everything in her life, her job, pregnancy and even her marriage. It doesn't end ther and she starts to think she is going to lose it all. The ending was great, I didn't completely guess the why.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Elia a is 7 months pregnant and not really enjoying it at all. She is always ill, tired and bloated. When she receives a random note in her locker at work she starts to doubt everything in her life, her job, pregnancy and even her marriage. It doesn't end ther and she starts to think she is going to lose it all. The ending was great, I didn't completely guess the why.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
December 31, 2018
I received a free e-copy of Apple Of My Eye by Claire Allan from NetGalley for my honest review.
A wonderfully creepy read filled with filled with suspense. Eliana Hughes is six months pregnant and married to Martin, who is an Architect. She suddenly starts receiving mean and nasty notes stating that not everything is as it seems in her marriage. Who is sending these notes? Are they true? Does Eliana really know her husband or are there things he is hiding from her? Is he having an affair?
Eliana, not sure who to trust or what to believe, flees to Belfast, her childhood home, to see her mother, Angela. Emotions high, stress from the pregnancy and so man lies. A psychological thriller that is sure to not disappoint.
A wonderfully creepy read filled with filled with suspense. Eliana Hughes is six months pregnant and married to Martin, who is an Architect. She suddenly starts receiving mean and nasty notes stating that not everything is as it seems in her marriage. Who is sending these notes? Are they true? Does Eliana really know her husband or are there things he is hiding from her? Is he having an affair?
Eliana, not sure who to trust or what to believe, flees to Belfast, her childhood home, to see her mother, Angela. Emotions high, stress from the pregnancy and so man lies. A psychological thriller that is sure to not disappoint.
December 16, 2019
As Eliana is approaching the later stages of her pregnancy, the soon to be mum is riddled with sickness as she doesn’t feel like she will be a good parent.
So the last thing she needs is an anonymous note suggesting that her husband Martin is now cheating on her, a feeling of inadequacy and dispirit fuels Eli’s quest for the truth.
It was easily to sympathise with the books main protagonist as her heighten emotions almost over power her, their were times that I wished she’d reflex and put herself first - throwing herself into work wasn’t the best way to avoid her worries.
The writing was simple and effective and whilst the ending is pretty easy to spot, it was still a gripping and moving read.
So the last thing she needs is an anonymous note suggesting that her husband Martin is now cheating on her, a feeling of inadequacy and dispirit fuels Eli’s quest for the truth.
It was easily to sympathise with the books main protagonist as her heighten emotions almost over power her, their were times that I wished she’d reflex and put herself first - throwing herself into work wasn’t the best way to avoid her worries.
The writing was simple and effective and whilst the ending is pretty easy to spot, it was still a gripping and moving read.
October 8, 2025
Eliana Hughes is a nurse, who works in a local hospice providing palliative care. Eliana is also heavily pregnant with a baby and Eliana is confused about how she feels. Eliana is unsurprisingly feeling under pressure. She doesn’t think of her job as being particularly stressful. Eliana is not having an easy pregnancy as she feels sick most of the time and she can’t keep much down. This isn’t helped by the fact that her husband works away and he has been absent for a fair bit of the pregnancy. Eliana is feeling emotional enough as it is but her emotions run riot when she finds a note that indicates that her husband isn’t ‘working away’ but he is up to no good elsewhere. In Eliana’s mind this adds up because he has become increasingly distant of late. Eliana becomes even more paranoid and suspicious and it is this increased paranoia that leads her to make a mistake that could have far reaching consequences all round. At the same time, Eliana is being watched by somebody who is so desperate for a child that she will do practically anything to get the child that she so desires.
The story is told through three viewpoints; from Eli's, from someone called Louise and later from Eli's mother Angela.
The story is told through three viewpoints; from Eli's, from someone called Louise and later from Eli's mother Angela.
January 31, 2019
4.5 ⭐️
Having read Her Name was Rose, I was looking forward to reading Claire Allan’s latest psychological offering, Apple of my Eye and it’s fair to say it did not disappoint. Books classed as a psychological thriller are two a penny, so I’m always looking for something in a book of this genre that makes it standout from the crowd, it may be the characters, the plot or something entirely different. For me the one thing that makes this book memorable is the author’s ability to misdirect the reader at every turn of the page. Apple Of My Eye is a book that’s crammed with mystery, there’s an overwhelming sense of menace that radiates from the pages of this addictive read.
Being pregnant should be an enjoyable experience, a time to prepare for motherhood, unfortunately that’s not the case for Eliana, she spends her pregnancy crippled by self doubt. Adding to her anxiety is Eli’s distant relationship with her husband Martin. Matters aren’t helped when she receives a cryptic note suggesting that her husband is cheating on her. As jealousy, paranoia and tension build, an emotionally fragile Eli’s becomes suspicious of everyone around her. When her overbearing mother comes to stay, she convinces Eli to go back to Belfast with her, and it’s at this point the story takes a very disturbing turn.
Narrated from the POV of Eli, her mother Angela and the mysterious Louise, it’s the chapters told from Louise POV that add a sense of dread to the plot. Claire Allan creates suspicion and mistrust through her storytelling, you find yourself wary of those closest to Eli, looking for clues to the “who” is causing so much trouble for Eli. Halfway through reading this book I had a theory to the culprit and their motives and unfortunately I was correct, so the element of surprise I was expecting never materialised, but never the less I felt a frisson of excitement as the author finally revealed all. Apple Of My Eye is a psychological thriller with a dark heart, it’s a book that begs to be read in one hugely satisfying sitting. Highly recommended
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Having read Her Name was Rose, I was looking forward to reading Claire Allan’s latest psychological offering, Apple of my Eye and it’s fair to say it did not disappoint. Books classed as a psychological thriller are two a penny, so I’m always looking for something in a book of this genre that makes it standout from the crowd, it may be the characters, the plot or something entirely different. For me the one thing that makes this book memorable is the author’s ability to misdirect the reader at every turn of the page. Apple Of My Eye is a book that’s crammed with mystery, there’s an overwhelming sense of menace that radiates from the pages of this addictive read.
Being pregnant should be an enjoyable experience, a time to prepare for motherhood, unfortunately that’s not the case for Eliana, she spends her pregnancy crippled by self doubt. Adding to her anxiety is Eli’s distant relationship with her husband Martin. Matters aren’t helped when she receives a cryptic note suggesting that her husband is cheating on her. As jealousy, paranoia and tension build, an emotionally fragile Eli’s becomes suspicious of everyone around her. When her overbearing mother comes to stay, she convinces Eli to go back to Belfast with her, and it’s at this point the story takes a very disturbing turn.
Narrated from the POV of Eli, her mother Angela and the mysterious Louise, it’s the chapters told from Louise POV that add a sense of dread to the plot. Claire Allan creates suspicion and mistrust through her storytelling, you find yourself wary of those closest to Eli, looking for clues to the “who” is causing so much trouble for Eli. Halfway through reading this book I had a theory to the culprit and their motives and unfortunately I was correct, so the element of surprise I was expecting never materialised, but never the less I felt a frisson of excitement as the author finally revealed all. Apple Of My Eye is a psychological thriller with a dark heart, it’s a book that begs to be read in one hugely satisfying sitting. Highly recommended
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
May 10, 2019
Well-written psycho thriller with an eminently guessable twist aided by weak characterisation.
Claire Allan’s second psychological thriller is as much standard women’s fiction as any kind of twisty thrill ride and whilst undoubtedly well-written and reasonably engaging there will be few shocks in store for the majority of readers. In fact the villain of the piece and the first twist is eminently guessable well before the halfway mark largely due to the hammed up characterisation of one of the main players in the story. The story itself explores the lengths that a mother will go to for her child and the desperate things people do in the pursuit of motherhood.
Seven and a half months pregnant senior staff hospice nurse, Eliana (Eli) Hughes, is having a less than pleasant experience with her first child. Suffering with hyperemesis she is beleagured by severa nausea, starting to resent the whole pregnancy experience and taking out her anger and frustration on husband, Martin. Ten years after they met the couple live in a dream home on the outskirts of Derry designed by architect Martin and Eli has never had cause to previously question her marriage and is more concerned with bonding with her unborn child. The last thing she expects is to receive an anonymous note implying that Martin has been cheating, but with his frequent business trips, her paranoia and missing her fiercely protective sixty-two-year-old mother, Angela, who is lives some three hours commute away in Belfast it sets her thinking and worrying.
After vowing to ignore the note it becomes impossible when she discovers it is just the first in a series with the person behind it determined to send the message home and drive a wedge between the happy couple. With the messages implicating her work colleague as Martin’s other woman and violently invading her home, Eli is forced to confront her fears. Setting in motion a cycle of stress, anxiety and poor concentration on top of the physical effects of her hyperemesis it leads to an error of judgement at work and the start of her enforced maternity leave. Nevertheless her supportive and overbearing single mother, Angela, is determined to protect her child and as the distance between Martin and Eli grows and Eli contemplates how her marriage and career have been thrown into jeopardy within a matter of weeks she descends into turmoil.
In a second narrative strand Louise knows she deserves to be a mother and after a string of miscarriages and a still birth she is determined to make her dream come true. Watching, waiting and using religion to justify the drastic action she is planning to take the psychological damage that her grief has engendered is obvious, Three women narrate the story all told in the first-person with Eliana and mentally unstable grieving mother, Louise, planning to become a mother, even if it means stealing another woman’s child. The second half of the story gives Eliana’s mother, Angela, a voice and allows the reader to form a clearer sense of what’s going on behind the supportive facade that she shows her daughter. It is at this juncture that the shocking twist in store becomes undeniably obvious and does a fair job of making the sucker punch into the close less revelatory and a gasp out loud moment that it might otherwise be.
Disappointingly the reader never gets to hear from husband, Martin, and together with his bland characterisation he never really emerges into a meaningful part of the story. Excluding the early parts set in the hospice where Eliana works, the story pretty much exclusively focuses on Eliana and her mother, Angela, making poor old Martin, the father of the unborn baby feel like a big part player. Whilst Eliana is lacking in personality, mother Angela could well have been to acting school although I doubt she’d win any awards. The story does touch upon sensitive issues such as miscarriages, still births and grief but also the difficulties of bonding with an unborn child especially in the case of a difficult pregnancy such as Eliana’s and it is much more a story of the ways in which a mothers love, and the loss of a baby, can compel them to act.
A very readable story with a consistent pace, however stronger characterisation and a bigger cast would have made for a more compelling read. Having said that tension builds into the denouement and the expressive writing is far superior to many of the current crop of psychological/women’s fiction novels. I doubt it will rock the world of any hardcore psychological thriller fans but Apple of My Eye is decent enough to garner three stars from me.
Claire Allan’s second psychological thriller is as much standard women’s fiction as any kind of twisty thrill ride and whilst undoubtedly well-written and reasonably engaging there will be few shocks in store for the majority of readers. In fact the villain of the piece and the first twist is eminently guessable well before the halfway mark largely due to the hammed up characterisation of one of the main players in the story. The story itself explores the lengths that a mother will go to for her child and the desperate things people do in the pursuit of motherhood.
Seven and a half months pregnant senior staff hospice nurse, Eliana (Eli) Hughes, is having a less than pleasant experience with her first child. Suffering with hyperemesis she is beleagured by severa nausea, starting to resent the whole pregnancy experience and taking out her anger and frustration on husband, Martin. Ten years after they met the couple live in a dream home on the outskirts of Derry designed by architect Martin and Eli has never had cause to previously question her marriage and is more concerned with bonding with her unborn child. The last thing she expects is to receive an anonymous note implying that Martin has been cheating, but with his frequent business trips, her paranoia and missing her fiercely protective sixty-two-year-old mother, Angela, who is lives some three hours commute away in Belfast it sets her thinking and worrying.
After vowing to ignore the note it becomes impossible when she discovers it is just the first in a series with the person behind it determined to send the message home and drive a wedge between the happy couple. With the messages implicating her work colleague as Martin’s other woman and violently invading her home, Eli is forced to confront her fears. Setting in motion a cycle of stress, anxiety and poor concentration on top of the physical effects of her hyperemesis it leads to an error of judgement at work and the start of her enforced maternity leave. Nevertheless her supportive and overbearing single mother, Angela, is determined to protect her child and as the distance between Martin and Eli grows and Eli contemplates how her marriage and career have been thrown into jeopardy within a matter of weeks she descends into turmoil.
In a second narrative strand Louise knows she deserves to be a mother and after a string of miscarriages and a still birth she is determined to make her dream come true. Watching, waiting and using religion to justify the drastic action she is planning to take the psychological damage that her grief has engendered is obvious, Three women narrate the story all told in the first-person with Eliana and mentally unstable grieving mother, Louise, planning to become a mother, even if it means stealing another woman’s child. The second half of the story gives Eliana’s mother, Angela, a voice and allows the reader to form a clearer sense of what’s going on behind the supportive facade that she shows her daughter. It is at this juncture that the shocking twist in store becomes undeniably obvious and does a fair job of making the sucker punch into the close less revelatory and a gasp out loud moment that it might otherwise be.
Disappointingly the reader never gets to hear from husband, Martin, and together with his bland characterisation he never really emerges into a meaningful part of the story. Excluding the early parts set in the hospice where Eliana works, the story pretty much exclusively focuses on Eliana and her mother, Angela, making poor old Martin, the father of the unborn baby feel like a big part player. Whilst Eliana is lacking in personality, mother Angela could well have been to acting school although I doubt she’d win any awards. The story does touch upon sensitive issues such as miscarriages, still births and grief but also the difficulties of bonding with an unborn child especially in the case of a difficult pregnancy such as Eliana’s and it is much more a story of the ways in which a mothers love, and the loss of a baby, can compel them to act.
A very readable story with a consistent pace, however stronger characterisation and a bigger cast would have made for a more compelling read. Having said that tension builds into the denouement and the expressive writing is far superior to many of the current crop of psychological/women’s fiction novels. I doubt it will rock the world of any hardcore psychological thriller fans but Apple of My Eye is decent enough to garner three stars from me.
January 31, 2023
Three and a half stars.
Eliana Hughes, seven moths pregnant with her first child receives a mysterious note that starts her questioning her marriage to Martin. He does see, to be too often away. Is it as the note implies that he is having an affair? Then the notes escalate. Eli is on edge, struggling with pregnancy symptoms and her lack of maternal feeling, while trying to keep working as a nurse of the terminally ill. Mistakes occur but through it all her mother, Angela is there as always to help. The stratus is told from both Eli and Angela’s points of view. But there is also a third voice, that of Louise who desperately wants a baby of her own and is prepared to do whatever is necessary to bring that about.
This is an interesting tale that maintained my attention. It makes the reader question a lot of things. I found it an interesting read as it looks at love and relationships, even though I had figured out fairly early on who was responsible and why.
An easy read story about the bonds between husband and wife, mother and child, the sorrow of miscarriages, work relationships with the dying and friendship. This is my first book by this author and I did enjoy it. Would be interested to read another by this author. The picture on the cover is misleading.
Eliana Hughes, seven moths pregnant with her first child receives a mysterious note that starts her questioning her marriage to Martin. He does see, to be too often away. Is it as the note implies that he is having an affair? Then the notes escalate. Eli is on edge, struggling with pregnancy symptoms and her lack of maternal feeling, while trying to keep working as a nurse of the terminally ill. Mistakes occur but through it all her mother, Angela is there as always to help. The stratus is told from both Eli and Angela’s points of view. But there is also a third voice, that of Louise who desperately wants a baby of her own and is prepared to do whatever is necessary to bring that about.
This is an interesting tale that maintained my attention. It makes the reader question a lot of things. I found it an interesting read as it looks at love and relationships, even though I had figured out fairly early on who was responsible and why.
An easy read story about the bonds between husband and wife, mother and child, the sorrow of miscarriages, work relationships with the dying and friendship. This is my first book by this author and I did enjoy it. Would be interested to read another by this author. The picture on the cover is misleading.
January 24, 2019
Apple of My Eye is the follow-up to 2018s Her Name Was Rose, which was a fabulously gripping experience, and it turns out that this is a pretty decent read. The characters are believable and relatable, and many of them are devious with much to hide. The big twist of the story was unfortunately obvious from very early on, so I would've liked a little more action and unpredictability. That said. It is well written, and I feel it will be enjoyable to those who haven't read a great deal within this genre, but for those who have, it'll be relatively easy to work out what is going on.
Many thanks to Avon for an ARC.
Many thanks to Avon for an ARC.
January 21, 2019
The conclusion was quite satisfying, I just wish it didn’t take so long to get there. At about 60%, I found myself skimming as the story become a bit monotonous. I was annoyed with Eli but I was determined to finish. Readers of twisty thrillers might want to pick this one up but be prepared to slog through a few chapters mid-way. Thanks to Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2019
4.5*
Eliana is nearly 7 months pregnant and it should be a happy experience. Instead she is suffering from hyperemesis and constantly being sick, can’t eat, is fearful about impending motherhood and also worrying about her husband Martin who is increasingly distant, both mentally and physically. She knows that his business is keeping him busy but even the lovely new house he had built for them doesn’t bring her joy.
When she starts receiving anonymous notes indicating that she shouldn’t trust Martin, her feelings of insecurity and fear increase. Her job as a hospice nurse leaves her feeling tired and exhausted and the consequences of an error of judgement bring even more pressure.
The book begins with a chilling prologue by a character called Louise. It soon becomes clear that Louise is deranged with grief; she is watching and waiting and she is intent on taking something that she badly wants.
This was such a gripping read. It made me fearful and it also made me angry. Angry that someone felt they had the right to take something that wasn’t theirs. Whatever misfortune life throws at you, you don’t get to take what you want from someone else.
Told by Eliana (Eli), Louise and Angela, the tension is there from the first page and doesn’t let up for the entire book. At some point I did work it out and I couldn’t wait to see if I was right but what a deliciously twisted read this was. With characters ranging from the gullible and emotionally fragile to the manipulative and controlling, I was suspicious of everyone and trusted no-one. I did feel for Eli, I really did, her emotional state was precarious enough but all the same I did wish she would show a little backbone and stand up for herself more.
I enjoyed the author’s previous debut thriller Her Name was Rose but for me, this was even better. Drama and suspense with a dark and chilling undertone. Recommended.
Eliana is nearly 7 months pregnant and it should be a happy experience. Instead she is suffering from hyperemesis and constantly being sick, can’t eat, is fearful about impending motherhood and also worrying about her husband Martin who is increasingly distant, both mentally and physically. She knows that his business is keeping him busy but even the lovely new house he had built for them doesn’t bring her joy.
When she starts receiving anonymous notes indicating that she shouldn’t trust Martin, her feelings of insecurity and fear increase. Her job as a hospice nurse leaves her feeling tired and exhausted and the consequences of an error of judgement bring even more pressure.
The book begins with a chilling prologue by a character called Louise. It soon becomes clear that Louise is deranged with grief; she is watching and waiting and she is intent on taking something that she badly wants.
This was such a gripping read. It made me fearful and it also made me angry. Angry that someone felt they had the right to take something that wasn’t theirs. Whatever misfortune life throws at you, you don’t get to take what you want from someone else.
Told by Eliana (Eli), Louise and Angela, the tension is there from the first page and doesn’t let up for the entire book. At some point I did work it out and I couldn’t wait to see if I was right but what a deliciously twisted read this was. With characters ranging from the gullible and emotionally fragile to the manipulative and controlling, I was suspicious of everyone and trusted no-one. I did feel for Eli, I really did, her emotional state was precarious enough but all the same I did wish she would show a little backbone and stand up for herself more.
I enjoyed the author’s previous debut thriller Her Name was Rose but for me, this was even better. Drama and suspense with a dark and chilling undertone. Recommended.
September 10, 2019
7-months pregnant Eli is struggling with every ailment pregnancy brings and is ready to have her daughter and hopefully form a loving bond with her. Eli works at a hospice center as a nurse and one day receives a mysterious letter in the post—an anonymous note warning Eli that her husband isn’t to be trusted.
This note makes Eli second guess her marriage. Sure, they’ve been fighting more frequently since getting pregnant, but that’s normal, right? But then Eli starts receiving more mysterious notes and even worse, the perpetrator also attempted to break into her home.
So Eli moves in with her mother temporarily to sort out her feelings with her husband and for her safety at home. But while living with her mom, Eli discovers her mom has been keeping some secrets of her own. And now Eli isn’t so sure who she can trust after all.
Meanwhile, a woman named Louise has been stalking a heavily pregnant woman and has plans to steal her baby after birth. For years, Louise has struggled with infant loss and is convinced that she deserves this innocent woman’s baby.
We’re left wondering how these two stories connect and the lengths a woman is willing to go to in order to have a baby of their own...
Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan is a stand-alone twisty mystery. I had high hopes for this book, as I enjoyed her latest book, Forget Me Not. This story was well written and I didn’t find it hard to get through. In the middle, I felt the story wasn’t progressing much and it became a little boring. But even still, I enjoyed the storyline and Claire Allan’s writing. What lowered my enjoyment of this story was that I guessed the major plot twist from the very start. If I hadn’t of guessed it, I think I would’ve liked it more. I still would recommend this book, even though I spoiled the story for myself! 3.5/5 stars.
This note makes Eli second guess her marriage. Sure, they’ve been fighting more frequently since getting pregnant, but that’s normal, right? But then Eli starts receiving more mysterious notes and even worse, the perpetrator also attempted to break into her home.
So Eli moves in with her mother temporarily to sort out her feelings with her husband and for her safety at home. But while living with her mom, Eli discovers her mom has been keeping some secrets of her own. And now Eli isn’t so sure who she can trust after all.
Meanwhile, a woman named Louise has been stalking a heavily pregnant woman and has plans to steal her baby after birth. For years, Louise has struggled with infant loss and is convinced that she deserves this innocent woman’s baby.
We’re left wondering how these two stories connect and the lengths a woman is willing to go to in order to have a baby of their own...
Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan is a stand-alone twisty mystery. I had high hopes for this book, as I enjoyed her latest book, Forget Me Not. This story was well written and I didn’t find it hard to get through. In the middle, I felt the story wasn’t progressing much and it became a little boring. But even still, I enjoyed the storyline and Claire Allan’s writing. What lowered my enjoyment of this story was that I guessed the major plot twist from the very start. If I hadn’t of guessed it, I think I would’ve liked it more. I still would recommend this book, even though I spoiled the story for myself! 3.5/5 stars.
April 28, 2020
Set in Ireland, this is the tale of a mother to be, Eliana Hughes, a hospice nurse who begins receiving letters that hint that her perfect marriage really isn't. It's certainly the kind of book that kept me turning the pages but be very careful it's not the type of book you want to give your mother for mother's day.
Goodreads review published 28/04/20
Goodreads review published 28/04/20
January 30, 2019
Short Summary
A suspenseful, twisty and well-written psychological thriller! The final twist is AMAZING!
My thoughts
This is the second book I’ve ready by this author and she’s one I recommend. She has a wonderful way of pulling you into her stories. I was on the edge of my seat—my mind spinning as I tried to guess the next twist.
The story is told by the POV of three very interesting characters:
Eli (Eliana)—Seven months into a pregnancy that’s draining the life out of her. Exhausted and constantly nauseated, she doesn’t feel bonded to the baby growing inside her.
Louise—She desperately wants a baby after several heart-wrenching miscarriages that have left her mentally unstable.
Angela—Eli’s mother. Eli is her only child and she will do anything to protect her.
Likes
I loved all the emotional turmoil that was thrown into this book and felt connected to Eli.
Dislikes
None!
Recommend: YES!!!
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️’s
Published: January 24th 2019 by Avon
Pages: 400
Excerpts/Phrases/Words I loved:
Thank you to NetGalley / Avon Books UK / Claire Allan for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#NetGalley #AppleOfMyEye
Book Blurb
Just how far is a mother willing to go?
When a mysterious note arrives for seven months pregnant nurse Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.
As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds, she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.
Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…
A suspenseful, twisty and well-written psychological thriller! The final twist is AMAZING!
My thoughts
This is the second book I’ve ready by this author and she’s one I recommend. She has a wonderful way of pulling you into her stories. I was on the edge of my seat—my mind spinning as I tried to guess the next twist.
The story is told by the POV of three very interesting characters:
Eli (Eliana)—Seven months into a pregnancy that’s draining the life out of her. Exhausted and constantly nauseated, she doesn’t feel bonded to the baby growing inside her.
Louise—She desperately wants a baby after several heart-wrenching miscarriages that have left her mentally unstable.
Angela—Eli’s mother. Eli is her only child and she will do anything to protect her.
Likes
I loved all the emotional turmoil that was thrown into this book and felt connected to Eli.
Dislikes
None!
Recommend: YES!!!
My Rating: 4.5 ⭐️’s
Published: January 24th 2019 by Avon
Pages: 400
Excerpts/Phrases/Words I loved:
”Every one of my friends was firing out babies like they were shelling peas. A baby in their belly, another on their hip and a tribe around their feet.”
Thank you to NetGalley / Avon Books UK / Claire Allan for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#NetGalley #AppleOfMyEye
Book Blurb
Just how far is a mother willing to go?
When a mysterious note arrives for seven months pregnant nurse Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.
As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds, she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.
Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…
February 20, 2019
I really enjoyed Claire Allan’s debut novel, Her Name Was Rose, and have eagerly been awaiting her next offering ever since. And here it is! Second novels are always a tad tricky, or so they say, so I couldn’t wait to see if Claire Allan managed to come up with another brilliant plot.
Eliana is six months pregnant when mysterious notes start to show up, making her question everything about her life. Who is sending these notes and what do they want? Struggling with her pregnancy and unsure about impending motherhood, now she also has to face the fact that her husband may be a cheating you-know-what. And that’s all I’m telling you about this storyline because you really need to discover the rest for yourself.
Now, I read a lot in this genre and I’m also extremely suspicious by nature, which meant that I quite early on figured out what was going on. However, that didn’t impact my enjoyment of this book at all and I was eager to keep on reading to see if I was right or wrong. It’s a testament to Claire Allan’s writing that I never once felt like giving up on it because even though the element of surprise was gone for me, the journey to get there was still just as thrilling.
Apple of my Eye touches on some sensitive topics, like miscarriages and still-births. The impact those have on a character’s life is threaded throughout the story. Watching their struggle made for some uncomfortable reading sometimes and in an odd sort of way, that’s exactly what I like in my psychological thrillers lately. This kind of emotional level you don’t always get, that maybe makes you sympathise with the wrong character because you feel their pain even though you don’t necessarily agree with their actions.
This is another suspenseful, gripping and addictive page-turner from Claire Allan. She’s an author who should be on your radar for sure. Apple of my Eye didn’t disappoint at all with its intriguing characters and compelling storyline. I can’t wait to see what Claire Allan comes up with next!
Eliana is six months pregnant when mysterious notes start to show up, making her question everything about her life. Who is sending these notes and what do they want? Struggling with her pregnancy and unsure about impending motherhood, now she also has to face the fact that her husband may be a cheating you-know-what. And that’s all I’m telling you about this storyline because you really need to discover the rest for yourself.
Now, I read a lot in this genre and I’m also extremely suspicious by nature, which meant that I quite early on figured out what was going on. However, that didn’t impact my enjoyment of this book at all and I was eager to keep on reading to see if I was right or wrong. It’s a testament to Claire Allan’s writing that I never once felt like giving up on it because even though the element of surprise was gone for me, the journey to get there was still just as thrilling.
Apple of my Eye touches on some sensitive topics, like miscarriages and still-births. The impact those have on a character’s life is threaded throughout the story. Watching their struggle made for some uncomfortable reading sometimes and in an odd sort of way, that’s exactly what I like in my psychological thrillers lately. This kind of emotional level you don’t always get, that maybe makes you sympathise with the wrong character because you feel their pain even though you don’t necessarily agree with their actions.
This is another suspenseful, gripping and addictive page-turner from Claire Allan. She’s an author who should be on your radar for sure. Apple of my Eye didn’t disappoint at all with its intriguing characters and compelling storyline. I can’t wait to see what Claire Allan comes up with next!
November 9, 2018
Eli, pregnant with her first child and suffering continual sickness, is finding life difficult, not least because of husband Martin’s frequent absences. Luckily her mum, Angela, is there to provide support. But when Eli starts to receive anonymous notes alleging Martin is having an affair, she doesn’t know what to believe. Things get weird fast.
(As a minor aside, the main character’s name, Eli, initially confused me as it felt more like a male name with a different pronunciation and though I soon realised it was actually “Ellie”, short for Eliana, I still kept pronouncing it wrong in my head.)
Claire Allan’s previous book, Her Name Was Rose, proved very popular - while I enjoyed it and thought it well written, though, I did have some reservations. For me, Apple of My Eye felt like a big improvement on that - the story genuinely grabbed and intrigued me, even if it did all get a bit far fetched.
That said, I did guess about a third of the way in where the plot was going (though not the details), and I enjoyed the first half of the book slightly more than the second. I loved the strand about Eli’s job as a palliative care nurse in a hospice and felt this was realistically portrayed. I did find Eli convincing as a character who was generally independent and competent, but rendered more vulnerable by a difficult pregnancy.
A good read, recommended.
February 14, 2019
I thought this book was excellent. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It wasn’t a book which had twists and turns as most were revealed halfway through but I found this book to be a very interesting and enjoyable read. The story was addictive and I really liked the Eli/Angela/Louise chapters. I definitely recommend this book.
January 2, 2019
The book had a fabulous blurb which grabbed my eyeballs and tweaked my interest... Mysterious notes in pregnancy about the husband and his deception.
My second book by Claire Allen had me pretty excited. The main story started with a hand-written note delivered to the desk of the main character Eli which acted as an accelerant in the destruction of trust. After the Christmas Reads of cozy books, this made me rub my hands in glee and cackle with wicked laughter. And yes, I needed that kind of debauchery to keep my literary heart beating in time. Lub-dub Lub-dub, my pulse raced.
The three POVs, main character, mother, and a stranger, made me scramble around gathering clues and trying to make them all fit. Till I had the A-HA moment, wherein I could guess the path of the story. It was my time to scream Eureka, and I found myself right at the mid-point of the book. Sheesh!! It was just too soon!! The suspense was not maintained till the end of the book.
The pages soon proved me right, and I realized I should have screamed Deja-vu instead. My niggles came at me loud and strong, the main character distrusts her husband strongly but no reason shown other than pregnancy hormones. The whole story had been done before many times. It was quite obvious and formulaic.
Overall, a good morning spent in the book proving my theory right.
My second book by Claire Allen had me pretty excited. The main story started with a hand-written note delivered to the desk of the main character Eli which acted as an accelerant in the destruction of trust. After the Christmas Reads of cozy books, this made me rub my hands in glee and cackle with wicked laughter. And yes, I needed that kind of debauchery to keep my literary heart beating in time. Lub-dub Lub-dub, my pulse raced.
The three POVs, main character, mother, and a stranger, made me scramble around gathering clues and trying to make them all fit. Till I had the A-HA moment, wherein I could guess the path of the story. It was my time to scream Eureka, and I found myself right at the mid-point of the book. Sheesh!! It was just too soon!! The suspense was not maintained till the end of the book.
The pages soon proved me right, and I realized I should have screamed Deja-vu instead. My niggles came at me loud and strong, the main character distrusts her husband strongly but no reason shown other than pregnancy hormones. The whole story had been done before many times. It was quite obvious and formulaic.
Overall, a good morning spent in the book proving my theory right.
February 12, 2019
Book Review: Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan
5 Word Review: Family, secrets, love, lies, danger.
I knew from the moment that I picked this book up that I was going to enjoy it. The very first chapter hooked me in, and I didn't want to put it down. It's definitely gripping.
I loved the way the narrative switched between Eliana and Louise (with an occasional view from Angela), how both perspectives were explored. I think that Louise was actually my favourite to read, she had an extra layer of complexity brought on by her duplicity as a character, her desperation for a baby to love. But I also felt so much for Eliana, I was so empathetic towards her. I cared about what was going to happen, my heart broke with hers.
It wasn't until just before the reveal that I even guessed what it would be, I was pleased that this book kept me guessing. It's a pretty tense read, I was always wondering who was behind it all, if it was even the same person behind everything that was happening or if there were other parties involved.
I couldn't get enough of the writing style so I am now going back and reading the author's other psychological thriller, Her Name Was Rose. I'd definitely recommend this for people who are fans of psychological and domestic thrillers.
5 Word Review: Family, secrets, love, lies, danger.
I knew from the moment that I picked this book up that I was going to enjoy it. The very first chapter hooked me in, and I didn't want to put it down. It's definitely gripping.
I loved the way the narrative switched between Eliana and Louise (with an occasional view from Angela), how both perspectives were explored. I think that Louise was actually my favourite to read, she had an extra layer of complexity brought on by her duplicity as a character, her desperation for a baby to love. But I also felt so much for Eliana, I was so empathetic towards her. I cared about what was going to happen, my heart broke with hers.
It wasn't until just before the reveal that I even guessed what it would be, I was pleased that this book kept me guessing. It's a pretty tense read, I was always wondering who was behind it all, if it was even the same person behind everything that was happening or if there were other parties involved.
I couldn't get enough of the writing style so I am now going back and reading the author's other psychological thriller, Her Name Was Rose. I'd definitely recommend this for people who are fans of psychological and domestic thrillers.
September 12, 2020
C-R-E-E-P-Y!!! This book had me on the edge of my seat most of the time. Just as I thought I’d figured it out, then wham!!! Out of the blue something happened making me scratch my head and say “what the heck????” I found myself racing to the end. Such a great psychological thriller! From beginning to end!! Wow!
January 26, 2019
Fabulous. As I sit here writing this review I’m getting those feels back for when I was reading this for the first time.
The story is told through three points of view... Eli, her mum Angela and Louise. All three characters are likeable and relatable.
I’m wary about writing about the story as I don’t want to spoil this read for anyone.
This is a brilliantly written gripping read from start to finish. I literally couldn’t put it down.
The story is told through three points of view... Eli, her mum Angela and Louise. All three characters are likeable and relatable.
I’m wary about writing about the story as I don’t want to spoil this read for anyone.
This is a brilliantly written gripping read from start to finish. I literally couldn’t put it down.
February 14, 2019
Wow! What a totally gripping read. There are so many books being released in this genre that it is difficult to find something with an original plot but I felt this novel definitely achieved that. Full of tension and twists. I couldn’t put it down!
February 21, 2019
This is the second book I've read by Claire Allan. I enjoyed Her Name was Rose so was looking forward to reading this. Another thriller, Apple of my Eye is mainly told from the viewpoint of Eliana Hughes, a hospice nurse who lives in her dream home with her husband and is expecting her first baby. She has suffered throughout her pregnancy with severe morning sickness, so when she receives an anonymous note at work, suggesting her husband is deceiving her it makes her worried. When a second note suggests he is cheating on her, Eli finds she isn't even able to trust her own instincts.
As well as Eli, we here from Louise, who devastated by the loss of her pregnancies is watching and waiting. Desperate to have a baby to call her own, she will go to any lengths to become a mother, even if that means taking someone else's child.
This might be the fastest I've ever read a book - less than 24 hours. Luckily I had a couple of train journeys because I didn't want to stop reading. I felt so desperately sorry for Eli - feeling sick during pregnancy must be awful, she doesn't feel attractive and so when it is suggested her husband is cheating, it doesn't take much to convince her. I found it frustrating that she would believe an anonymous note over the husband, but I think that is also perfectly believable and I expect I would do the same! Louise's story is sad - hearing how she wants to become a mother more than anything is heart-wrenching.
As you'd expect with a good thriller, there are twists and turns aplenty and this book made me gasp in horror. A great read, the sort of book you fly through because you want to know what will happen next.
As well as Eli, we here from Louise, who devastated by the loss of her pregnancies is watching and waiting. Desperate to have a baby to call her own, she will go to any lengths to become a mother, even if that means taking someone else's child.
This might be the fastest I've ever read a book - less than 24 hours. Luckily I had a couple of train journeys because I didn't want to stop reading. I felt so desperately sorry for Eli - feeling sick during pregnancy must be awful, she doesn't feel attractive and so when it is suggested her husband is cheating, it doesn't take much to convince her. I found it frustrating that she would believe an anonymous note over the husband, but I think that is also perfectly believable and I expect I would do the same! Louise's story is sad - hearing how she wants to become a mother more than anything is heart-wrenching.
As you'd expect with a good thriller, there are twists and turns aplenty and this book made me gasp in horror. A great read, the sort of book you fly through because you want to know what will happen next.
February 16, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
APPLE OF MY EYE by Claire Allan is a gripping psychological thriller that made me squirm in my seat and, as a mother, made my heart race.
Eliana Hughes is stressed out over work, over her relationship with her husband, and over her pregnancy which is making her ill all the time. But when she begins to receive anonymous notes about her husband, Eli's life will never be the same again. For someone wants what she has and will do whatever it takes to get it.
The concept of this story made my skin crawl and as I got into the character's minds, this creepy sensation never left me. There is plenty of tension and suspense from start to finish and I found myself both horrified and annoyed at times, as the plot played out. I had a suspicion as to what may happen and I couldn't read it fast enough as I wanted to uncover the truth.
With APPLE OF MY EYE, Claire Allan has definitely established herself as a psychological thriller writer of huge merit and I cannot wait to see what she has for us readers in the future.
APPLE OF MY EYE by Claire Allan is a gripping psychological thriller that made me squirm in my seat and, as a mother, made my heart race.
Eliana Hughes is stressed out over work, over her relationship with her husband, and over her pregnancy which is making her ill all the time. But when she begins to receive anonymous notes about her husband, Eli's life will never be the same again. For someone wants what she has and will do whatever it takes to get it.
The concept of this story made my skin crawl and as I got into the character's minds, this creepy sensation never left me. There is plenty of tension and suspense from start to finish and I found myself both horrified and annoyed at times, as the plot played out. I had a suspicion as to what may happen and I couldn't read it fast enough as I wanted to uncover the truth.
With APPLE OF MY EYE, Claire Allan has definitely established herself as a psychological thriller writer of huge merit and I cannot wait to see what she has for us readers in the future.
November 20, 2018
Apple Of My Eye is about a pregnant woman name Eli, her husband martin and her mother Angela. Edge of your seats writing. Very spensful and full of surprises. Rally enjoyed this book.
January 11, 2021
Another fantastic Claire Allan thriller!
I really loved this book. The concept and the premise was really interesting.
I found myself guessing throughout this book where the story was going but I definitely did not guess the ending.
This book was very well written. It was well paced and very engaging.
If you are looking for fast paced, twisty, dark domestic thrillers then I really recommend you check this one out!
I listened to this on audiobook and the narrators did a fantastic job.
Highly recommend if you'll looking for a dark domestic thriller
TW: violence, suicide attempt and still birth
I really loved this book. The concept and the premise was really interesting.
I found myself guessing throughout this book where the story was going but I definitely did not guess the ending.
This book was very well written. It was well paced and very engaging.
If you are looking for fast paced, twisty, dark domestic thrillers then I really recommend you check this one out!
I listened to this on audiobook and the narrators did a fantastic job.
Highly recommend if you'll looking for a dark domestic thriller
TW: violence, suicide attempt and still birth
November 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this one. It kept my attention throughout and although I guessed the main twist as to who the woman watching the pregnant lady was it still managed to surprise me in places and shock me in parts. I also enjoyed the ending which isn’t always the case in the thriller genre.
March 25, 2019
Okay, I liked this one.
It’s funny because I knew ‘who’ was behind everything very early in the book. I just didn’t care! I was so thoroughly entertained and I loved the characters. I just kept hoping that everything would work out okay.
It’s not too twisty – of course maybe that’s because I didn’t need the reveal – yet it’s still suspenseful and a very good read!
Enjoyed this one!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
It’s funny because I knew ‘who’ was behind everything very early in the book. I just didn’t care! I was so thoroughly entertained and I loved the characters. I just kept hoping that everything would work out okay.
It’s not too twisty – of course maybe that’s because I didn’t need the reveal – yet it’s still suspenseful and a very good read!
Enjoyed this one!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
February 5, 2019
I loved Her Name Was Rose so I was looking forward to reading this one. Claire did not disappoint with the plot on this one, it was gritty and well developed. I didn't realise who the 'baddie' was until the end of the book and I loved the three different narrators.
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