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The Only Child
One little boy. One little lie. Where will it end?
Chantal and Stuart are a golden couple. She’s a high-flying divorce lawyer dealing with the biggest case of her career, and he’s the darling of daytime television, on the cusp of A list celebrity. Their seventeen-year old son Alex is a passionate environmentalist, the apple of his mother’s eye.
And it’s all built on a lie.
A lie told by Chantal.
When someone discovers her secret and starts to blackmail her, Chantal’s perfect life threatens to go into freefall. Her marriage, her career, and even her relationship with her son are at stake. She can’t let it happen!
She decides to fight fire with fire, but soon finds her actions have extreme - and unexpected - consequences. As she is pulled ever deeper into a web of lies and deceit, she has to ask the most terrifying question of all…
Where will it end?
Chantal and Stuart are a golden couple. She’s a high-flying divorce lawyer dealing with the biggest case of her career, and he’s the darling of daytime television, on the cusp of A list celebrity. Their seventeen-year old son Alex is a passionate environmentalist, the apple of his mother’s eye.
And it’s all built on a lie.
A lie told by Chantal.
When someone discovers her secret and starts to blackmail her, Chantal’s perfect life threatens to go into freefall. Her marriage, her career, and even her relationship with her son are at stake. She can’t let it happen!
She decides to fight fire with fire, but soon finds her actions have extreme - and unexpected - consequences. As she is pulled ever deeper into a web of lies and deceit, she has to ask the most terrifying question of all…
Where will it end?
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2021
About the author
Miranda Rijks
71 books1,125 followersMiranda Rijks is the bestselling author of 30 psychological thrillers, with over one MILLION copies sold. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and black Labrador.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 5, 2026
A fun one!
I love when I giggle along the way at certain characters actions! 😂
Chantal is a powerful divorce lawyer with a winning record in her firm. Her hubby, Stuart is a television morning show celebrity. Alex is their seventeen year old son who is a good kid.
What happened eighteen years ago?
Chantal is appointed to represent the husband in an extremely high profile divorce. Her co-worker, Kathleen is jealous of her position, Alex is upset because he believes her client's company is environmentally unpleasant. Someone out there is threatening Chantal and she is hell bent on finding out who before her big secret gets out!
Someone is living in fantasy land and it is all about to come to a crashing halt.
I really enjoyed this one from KU and it was under 300 pages. My 3rd by this author and they all have been 4 star reads for me.
I love when I giggle along the way at certain characters actions! 😂
Chantal is a powerful divorce lawyer with a winning record in her firm. Her hubby, Stuart is a television morning show celebrity. Alex is their seventeen year old son who is a good kid.
What happened eighteen years ago?
Chantal is appointed to represent the husband in an extremely high profile divorce. Her co-worker, Kathleen is jealous of her position, Alex is upset because he believes her client's company is environmentally unpleasant. Someone out there is threatening Chantal and she is hell bent on finding out who before her big secret gets out!
Someone is living in fantasy land and it is all about to come to a crashing halt.
I really enjoyed this one from KU and it was under 300 pages. My 3rd by this author and they all have been 4 star reads for me.
September 26, 2021
Author Miranda Rijks has become one of those authors that I know I can turn to for a good addictive read that will keep me flicking through the pages. If I am completely honest this one was a little different to the other books I have read by the author in that it took me a little longer to fully engage in it. The more I read the better it got.
Divorce attorney Chantal is married to TV news show presenter Stuart after getting together when they were both at college. They have a son named Alex who is seventeen and together with his girlfriend Luna they pursue environmental issues which tends to go against the wishes of Chantel. A storm is brewing when family problems accelerate, Alex is injured in an accident and Stuart is acting strangely which Chantel suspects may be an affair. Tensions rise and Alex moves in with his aunt and Chantel receives threatening messages. The anonymous intimidator states they know Chantel’s secret and will tell her family if they are not given money. Chantel is desperate to keep her secret but her actions could send her life out of control.
Good characters, interesting plot if not a little hard to believe but an entertaining read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Divorce attorney Chantal is married to TV news show presenter Stuart after getting together when they were both at college. They have a son named Alex who is seventeen and together with his girlfriend Luna they pursue environmental issues which tends to go against the wishes of Chantel. A storm is brewing when family problems accelerate, Alex is injured in an accident and Stuart is acting strangely which Chantel suspects may be an affair. Tensions rise and Alex moves in with his aunt and Chantel receives threatening messages. The anonymous intimidator states they know Chantel’s secret and will tell her family if they are not given money. Chantel is desperate to keep her secret but her actions could send her life out of control.
Good characters, interesting plot if not a little hard to believe but an entertaining read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2023
The Only Child by Miranda Jijks was an enjoyable read that went in a different direction than what I thought it was going. And I love it when a book does that as it keeps the reader more interested as you are not sure what might happen next.
A very enjoyable book with great characters, a thrilling plot that kept me guessing and an eye-catching cover. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review. Recommended.
A very enjoyable book with great characters, a thrilling plot that kept me guessing and an eye-catching cover. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review. Recommended.
September 25, 2021
Chantal is a well known divorce attorney, she is married to Stuart who works on a morning TV news show. They have been together since their college days. Their son Alex is 17 years old and he is an environmental activist. Alex's girlfriend Luna shares his views on the environment, but Chantal does not like her at all. Troubles start to brew when Alex is injured in an accident and goes to his aunt for help. Chantal suspects that Stuart is cheating on her and she suddenly starts to receive multiple threatening messages from someone stating that they "know her secret" and they are demanding money from Chantal to avoid exposing her secret. Chantal loses all control of her life.
This was a great little book. It is told in alternating points of view from Chantal and Alex. It also is told in Chantal's past and present view. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on with all these characters and time lines. I love a book with an unexpected conclusion and THE ONLY CHILD delivers a brilliant ending. I highly recommend this one and I look forward to reading more books by Miranda Rijks.
Many thanks to Inkubator books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This was a great little book. It is told in alternating points of view from Chantal and Alex. It also is told in Chantal's past and present view. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on with all these characters and time lines. I love a book with an unexpected conclusion and THE ONLY CHILD delivers a brilliant ending. I highly recommend this one and I look forward to reading more books by Miranda Rijks.
Many thanks to Inkubator books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
April 21, 2023
What starts out as a regular story about a successful woman seeing her world fall apart, turns out to be something quite different!
I liked the way the story took a different direction, although I could have done with less talking about 'the way my parents ruined the Earth', because Alex sounds here not as a 17-year old but as someone who's reading from various sources on the Internet. I also found the way Stuart left Chantal a bit abrupt.
However, I was happy to read the unusual ending.
I liked the way the story took a different direction, although I could have done with less talking about 'the way my parents ruined the Earth', because Alex sounds here not as a 17-year old but as someone who's reading from various sources on the Internet. I also found the way Stuart left Chantal a bit abrupt.
However, I was happy to read the unusual ending.
October 15, 2023
Matrimonial Lawyer Chantal is married to TV News show presenter Stuart. They have been together since college and they have a son Alex who is seventeen and living with his girlfriend Luna.
All is well until Alex is injured in an accident and goes to his Aunt for help. Chantal suspects that Stuart is having an affair and she starts receiving threatening messages saying they "Know Her Secret" and are demanding money from her to avoid exposing her secret.
This great story is told from Chantal and Alex's alternating points of view.
An enjoyable read with great characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
All is well until Alex is injured in an accident and goes to his Aunt for help. Chantal suspects that Stuart is having an affair and she starts receiving threatening messages saying they "Know Her Secret" and are demanding money from her to avoid exposing her secret.
This great story is told from Chantal and Alex's alternating points of view.
An enjoyable read with great characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2021
Hmmm, so the is the second book in a row of Rijks’ that I’ve come away feeling a bit disappointed.
My frustration started right at the beginning where there were a few story inconsistencies. Firstly Chantal says she and Stuart have been married for 18 years, but the ‘then’ chapters start as 17 years ago, meaning they can’t have been married that long, or it was, in fact, 19 years ago since she went to Manchester (this would actually make more sense in regards to Alex’s age as well). Secondly, Jade says she can’t come back to clean as she has no other available slots. She then tells Chantal later that she is struggling to get a job and that she only cleans Chantal’s and the landlord’s place, meaning she would have lots of other slots available.
It is discrepancies like this that make me feel as a reader that the author herself isn’t invested in the story enough to have kept track of what her characters have said in pages gone by.
I tied to put these problems aside and enjoy the book and hoped the author’s proofreading and editing team would pick up these problems in the final round of edits before publication.
However, the book as a whole was just not enjoyable. Chantal makes some very questionable decisions. Her actions are sort of explained at the end, but even this doesn’t marry up with the Chantal we have been in the mind of.
It is hard to marry the ‘now’ and ‘then’ versions of Chantal as the same person, and I sometimes felt like I was reading two different stories.
The ending is bizarre. We have predominantly had Chantal’s point of view throughout the book with the odd chapter in Alex’s voice. However, when it comes to the conclusion, we don’t hear from Chantal again. I think it would have been nice to know what she thought when everything was revealed. I came away from the book feeling like I missed something or there should have been more. I felt like I hadn’t finished the book.
Even though the majority of strangeness that had occurred throughout the book is explained, there were a few things that just didn’t add up or make sense.
So, overall, not the most enjoyable book from Miranda Rijks. I enjoyed her books until the last two, but I feel like something has changed. I might have to take a break from reading her books and hope that she finds her groove again in the future.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
My frustration started right at the beginning where there were a few story inconsistencies. Firstly Chantal says she and Stuart have been married for 18 years, but the ‘then’ chapters start as 17 years ago, meaning they can’t have been married that long, or it was, in fact, 19 years ago since she went to Manchester (this would actually make more sense in regards to Alex’s age as well). Secondly, Jade says she can’t come back to clean as she has no other available slots. She then tells Chantal later that she is struggling to get a job and that she only cleans Chantal’s and the landlord’s place, meaning she would have lots of other slots available.
It is discrepancies like this that make me feel as a reader that the author herself isn’t invested in the story enough to have kept track of what her characters have said in pages gone by.
I tied to put these problems aside and enjoy the book and hoped the author’s proofreading and editing team would pick up these problems in the final round of edits before publication.
However, the book as a whole was just not enjoyable. Chantal makes some very questionable decisions. Her actions are sort of explained at the end, but even this doesn’t marry up with the Chantal we have been in the mind of.
It is hard to marry the ‘now’ and ‘then’ versions of Chantal as the same person, and I sometimes felt like I was reading two different stories.
The ending is bizarre. We have predominantly had Chantal’s point of view throughout the book with the odd chapter in Alex’s voice. However, when it comes to the conclusion, we don’t hear from Chantal again. I think it would have been nice to know what she thought when everything was revealed. I came away from the book feeling like I missed something or there should have been more. I felt like I hadn’t finished the book.
Even though the majority of strangeness that had occurred throughout the book is explained, there were a few things that just didn’t add up or make sense.
So, overall, not the most enjoyable book from Miranda Rijks. I enjoyed her books until the last two, but I feel like something has changed. I might have to take a break from reading her books and hope that she finds her groove again in the future.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
October 5, 2021
I have been a fan of Miranda Rijks ever since I read 'The Influencer' and so this book was an auto-select for me.
To an outsider, Chantal Lacey has got it all - a successful career as a top divorce attorney, the big house and flashy car and most importantly, her husband of 18 years, Stuart, a TV presenter, and their seventeen-year-old son, Alex. But Chantal alone knows all that she had to do, to have and hold this family together. So when a blackmailer threatens to expose her terrible secret, Chantal is prepared to, once again, do all that it takes to protect her family.
In her usual style, the author has delivered yet another fast-paced thriller that keeps the pages turning and adrenaline kicking into overdrive. Though the prologue was misleading, nothing prepared me for that plot twist. I had recently read another thriller with a similar premise and I must admit that I found the ending to this one more satisfying.
The plot is narrated through Chantal and Alex's POV. I love that the author doesn't shy away from casting her protagonists in shades of grey. Chantal is one kickass woman whom you would love to hate. While you do tend to feel sorry for Alex who is subjected to his mother's helicopter parenting, he was, to quite an extent, a spoilt brat. And I do wonder why we didn't get Stuart's POV since he was one of the core characters.
Overall, a quick, gratifying fix for the thriller junkie in me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
To an outsider, Chantal Lacey has got it all - a successful career as a top divorce attorney, the big house and flashy car and most importantly, her husband of 18 years, Stuart, a TV presenter, and their seventeen-year-old son, Alex. But Chantal alone knows all that she had to do, to have and hold this family together. So when a blackmailer threatens to expose her terrible secret, Chantal is prepared to, once again, do all that it takes to protect her family.
In her usual style, the author has delivered yet another fast-paced thriller that keeps the pages turning and adrenaline kicking into overdrive. Though the prologue was misleading, nothing prepared me for that plot twist. I had recently read another thriller with a similar premise and I must admit that I found the ending to this one more satisfying.
The plot is narrated through Chantal and Alex's POV. I love that the author doesn't shy away from casting her protagonists in shades of grey. Chantal is one kickass woman whom you would love to hate. While you do tend to feel sorry for Alex who is subjected to his mother's helicopter parenting, he was, to quite an extent, a spoilt brat. And I do wonder why we didn't get Stuart's POV since he was one of the core characters.
Overall, a quick, gratifying fix for the thriller junkie in me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2021
This made for a really interesting buddy read with plenty of points for good discussion. Ethical dilemmas brought in to the equation as Chantal’s new client is everything her environmentalist son disapproves of. It’s exceptionally current with all that is going on regarding climate change and with extinction rebellion making daily news over their protests.
For the first three quarters of the book many questions were raised (not all of them answered and I will get on to that later). It was gripping and had lots of misdirection and red herrings, which is everything I like in a thriller. The characters were written well and given just enough edge to have you asking yourself is it them? Most are 50/50 so you really do distrust the majority of them. Some seem too good to be true while others seem so dodgy it makes them too obvious.
There is blackmail, affairs, debt, drug use, secrets, lies, and the desperation behind wanting a child that will drive you to depths beyond comprehension. It may seem like there is too much going on but really it all revolves around Alex and even he doesn’t know the truth.
Now this is where my review changes as the book took a sudden nose dive towards the end. One major incident that was made a big deal of was never answered and that is still driving me nuts. Then we come on to the ending and all I can say is what on earth was that about? Now I get what the author was trying to do but again it is frustrating and although completely unexpected, for me it just didn’t sit right. This was a solid 4 star read until the last bit of the book and unfortunately those issues dropped it down to a three for me.
For the first three quarters of the book many questions were raised (not all of them answered and I will get on to that later). It was gripping and had lots of misdirection and red herrings, which is everything I like in a thriller. The characters were written well and given just enough edge to have you asking yourself is it them? Most are 50/50 so you really do distrust the majority of them. Some seem too good to be true while others seem so dodgy it makes them too obvious.
There is blackmail, affairs, debt, drug use, secrets, lies, and the desperation behind wanting a child that will drive you to depths beyond comprehension. It may seem like there is too much going on but really it all revolves around Alex and even he doesn’t know the truth.
Now this is where my review changes as the book took a sudden nose dive towards the end. One major incident that was made a big deal of was never answered and that is still driving me nuts. Then we come on to the ending and all I can say is what on earth was that about? Now I get what the author was trying to do but again it is frustrating and although completely unexpected, for me it just didn’t sit right. This was a solid 4 star read until the last bit of the book and unfortunately those issues dropped it down to a three for me.
October 16, 2021
This book captured my attention with the cover and I was in the mood for a mystery read. However, this book got on my nerves and frustrated the heck out of me. The book starts with meeting Chantal who is a lawyer and her husband Stuart who has just been promoted to an awesome news reporter slot. Life has been great for them as they are finally at the top of their careers, however, their son Alex has different ideas as he has currently turned into a pro-environmentalist and his current target is the LALO clothing company which the husband is Chantal's client and with his dad now in the spotlight, the family is under pressure and Chantal is starting to crack. If that wasn't bad enough, she is being blackmailed as seventeen years ago she chose that if anyone finds out the truth, it could cause dangerous consequences and a ripple of events. As I was saying at the start, this book frustrated me as I hated the son Alex as he was a spoilt selfish brat and such an arrogant prick, and then when the blackmailer is revealed and the ending revealed it was like seriously WTF. If you like mysteries, then you may enjoy this as everyone loved Gone Girl and even that had the worst ending than this book.
October 28, 2021
Thank you Netgalley, Inkubator Books, and Author Miranda Rijks for this ARC.
I found this tale a bit hard to get into. I especially found the characters hard to get to know. But as I kept reading, I realized it was probably a good thing that the characters were a bit alien to me--not one of them was a good person. When the mysterious messages came into play, I was so intrigued.
There were quite a few minor plot holes and character discrepancies that I hope get caught and fixed in a final edit.
I found this tale a bit hard to get into. I especially found the characters hard to get to know. But as I kept reading, I realized it was probably a good thing that the characters were a bit alien to me--not one of them was a good person. When the mysterious messages came into play, I was so intrigued.
There were quite a few minor plot holes and character discrepancies that I hope get caught and fixed in a final edit.
September 24, 2021
Thank you to the publishers at Inkubator for sending me an e-ARC of The Only Child.
Chantal, along with her husband, Stuart, and their son, Alex, live in England. Chantal is a divorce lawyer, and Stuart is a TV newscaster. They have the perfect life, according to Chantal. But Alex and Stuart feel differently about their home life. Led to lead a life of activism, Alex begins seeing a fellow friend of the environment, Luna. Stuart begins staying out later and later, avoiding his wife at all costs.
While Chantal tries to keep everyone and everything under her control, things begin to slip further away. Her relationships break down, her job is threatened, and reality is beginning to slip away from her. And worst of all, someone knows Chantal’s most innermost secret, something she will do anything to keep under wraps, even if that means murder.
The Only Child is told from two POVs, Chantal and her son, Alex. This makes for an interesting dynamic, in which we see a mother and son relationship threatening to break at every turn. I really enjoyed the way this was pieced together. It felt realistic, but also sad.
TW: Murder, Blackmail, Kidnapping
The Only Child releases October 10th!
Chantal, along with her husband, Stuart, and their son, Alex, live in England. Chantal is a divorce lawyer, and Stuart is a TV newscaster. They have the perfect life, according to Chantal. But Alex and Stuart feel differently about their home life. Led to lead a life of activism, Alex begins seeing a fellow friend of the environment, Luna. Stuart begins staying out later and later, avoiding his wife at all costs.
While Chantal tries to keep everyone and everything under her control, things begin to slip further away. Her relationships break down, her job is threatened, and reality is beginning to slip away from her. And worst of all, someone knows Chantal’s most innermost secret, something she will do anything to keep under wraps, even if that means murder.
The Only Child is told from two POVs, Chantal and her son, Alex. This makes for an interesting dynamic, in which we see a mother and son relationship threatening to break at every turn. I really enjoyed the way this was pieced together. It felt realistic, but also sad.
TW: Murder, Blackmail, Kidnapping
The Only Child releases October 10th!
September 30, 2021
This domestic thriller was highly addictive and can easily be read in a couple of sittings.
We follow Chantal’s POV in the past and the present as well as Alex’s present POV, which all fit together really well.
Although the characters are unlikeable at times, they were interesting and I could understand why they behaved in the ways they did.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it had me hooked and felt very fast paced. However, I’m not sure how I feel about the ending, although reading the authors note about why she wrote this book helped me understand why she chose the ending she did.
I also felt it wrapped up slightly too quickly for me personally, but overall it was an enjoyable book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We follow Chantal’s POV in the past and the present as well as Alex’s present POV, which all fit together really well.
Although the characters are unlikeable at times, they were interesting and I could understand why they behaved in the ways they did.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it had me hooked and felt very fast paced. However, I’m not sure how I feel about the ending, although reading the authors note about why she wrote this book helped me understand why she chose the ending she did.
I also felt it wrapped up slightly too quickly for me personally, but overall it was an enjoyable book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2021
This year, I started branching out to Psychological Thrillers. Surprisingly, I actually like this genre.😀
This book caught my attention on NetGalley because of its cover and synopsis.
This is the story of Chantal and her seemingly perfect life with her husband Stuart and son Alex.
This was a fast read for me and there's no slow parts on the story which made me enjoy reading this. I love guessing what will happen next and who did what or the approaching plot twist. I have lots of speculations but not one of which hit the mark.😅
Chantal is a very strong character. She knows what she wants and will do everything to achieve it. At times she overthink things.😅
Stuart is a bit on the background here maybe because we don't have his POV. But I kinda like him on the latter part.
Alex is on his rebellious stage and quite impulsive on a lot of things. His POVs are quite authentic for his age. He tends to do stupid things but he has his views and very vocal about them.
All in all, it was a good read for me. The mystery is interesting and kept me reading till the end. The pacing is just right and I like how the story kept throwing plot twists on my face.
I was just a bit underwhelmed on the great reveal and how things wrapped up for the 'villain'. But I still enjoyed reading this. Recommended for fans of Psychological Thrillers.❤👍
*Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for review via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.*
This book caught my attention on NetGalley because of its cover and synopsis.
This is the story of Chantal and her seemingly perfect life with her husband Stuart and son Alex.
This was a fast read for me and there's no slow parts on the story which made me enjoy reading this. I love guessing what will happen next and who did what or the approaching plot twist. I have lots of speculations but not one of which hit the mark.😅
Chantal is a very strong character. She knows what she wants and will do everything to achieve it. At times she overthink things.😅
Stuart is a bit on the background here maybe because we don't have his POV. But I kinda like him on the latter part.
Alex is on his rebellious stage and quite impulsive on a lot of things. His POVs are quite authentic for his age. He tends to do stupid things but he has his views and very vocal about them.
All in all, it was a good read for me. The mystery is interesting and kept me reading till the end. The pacing is just right and I like how the story kept throwing plot twists on my face.
I was just a bit underwhelmed on the great reveal and how things wrapped up for the 'villain'. But I still enjoyed reading this. Recommended for fans of Psychological Thrillers.❤👍
*Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for review via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.*
October 11, 2021
Chantal is a prominent divorce lawyer with a minor celebrity husband who features on a morning news show. They have a teenage son, Alex, who has been pushing his boundaries, most recently skipping school to be with his new tattooed and pierced older girlfriend, Luna. Their tendency to stage protests for saving the environment causes Chantal trouble at work - the client for her biggest case yet is the owner of a company notorious for environmental pollution and unsafe working conditions. When her son’s actions start to affect the divorce case, she angrily blames him and Luna for interfering. That’s not all that causes tension - she hardly sees her husband, Stuart, as it is, and now he’s up for a huge promotion. Not only that, but Stuart doesn’t support her discipline of Alex and tends to let him off too easily, in her opinion.
Right as Chantal starts to buckle under the stress of it all, she receives mysterious text messages alluding to a dark secret from her past. She’s determined to uncover who could possibly be threatening her now, when it’s been many years since that troubled time in her life. But will she discover who the culprit is before they spill the secret she’s so desperate to keep?
The story is told in alternating viewpoints, mostly Chantal’s and Alex’s. This helps later on when the reliability of some of the characters comes into question. It also alternates between Chantal’s narrative in the present and in the past, almost two decades ago. It’s not hard to see where that timeframe leads and why someone would choose now to reveal what she’s been hiding.
Unfortunately, if you prefer stories where you empathize with the characters, or at least like them in any way, this one’s not for you. We’re supposed to sympathize with Alex about how Chantal is hard on Luna, but Luna really is a terrible influence on him and he’s too blind to see it. So is everyone else except Chantal, apparently. It’s not due to her looks, it’s the fact that she’s rude, engages with criminals, and tries to turn Alex against his parents. He doesn’t even care when he’s arrested due to incorrect information on her part – he doesn’t even bring that up!
Likeable characters aren’t a necessity, but it’s hard to enjoy this book, otherwise. I couldn’t root for anyone specifically and found I was just waiting to see when and how everything would explode. The author is great with pacing, as I found myself racing through the pages towards the conclusion. But upon reaching it, I thought, this is it?? There’s a narrative sorely lacking from the epilogue. If that been included, I would be much more satisfied with the ending and I believe other readers will feel the same.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Right as Chantal starts to buckle under the stress of it all, she receives mysterious text messages alluding to a dark secret from her past. She’s determined to uncover who could possibly be threatening her now, when it’s been many years since that troubled time in her life. But will she discover who the culprit is before they spill the secret she’s so desperate to keep?
The story is told in alternating viewpoints, mostly Chantal’s and Alex’s. This helps later on when the reliability of some of the characters comes into question. It also alternates between Chantal’s narrative in the present and in the past, almost two decades ago. It’s not hard to see where that timeframe leads and why someone would choose now to reveal what she’s been hiding.
Unfortunately, if you prefer stories where you empathize with the characters, or at least like them in any way, this one’s not for you. We’re supposed to sympathize with Alex about how Chantal is hard on Luna, but Luna really is a terrible influence on him and he’s too blind to see it. So is everyone else except Chantal, apparently. It’s not due to her looks, it’s the fact that she’s rude, engages with criminals, and tries to turn Alex against his parents. He doesn’t even care when he’s arrested due to incorrect information on her part – he doesn’t even bring that up!
Likeable characters aren’t a necessity, but it’s hard to enjoy this book, otherwise. I couldn’t root for anyone specifically and found I was just waiting to see when and how everything would explode. The author is great with pacing, as I found myself racing through the pages towards the conclusion. But upon reaching it, I thought, this is it?? There’s a narrative sorely lacking from the epilogue. If that been included, I would be much more satisfied with the ending and I believe other readers will feel the same.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 10, 2021
This is an author I need to keep in my radar, this was a brilliant psychological thriller that really packed a punch. It had me hooked from the first page and I raced through it at lightening speed as I wanted to find out what was going to happen. Every chapter leaves you wanting a bit more so you don't want to put it down. I liked the story line and I felt as the story flowed well throughout. The characters were a great bunch some with relatable issues. The story is about Chantal and her family, Chantal has a big secret that no one knows, but when that secret gets into the wrong hands, there are some severe consequences for Chantal and her family. But can she get herself out of it before it is too late? The story draws you further in with the twists and some of them made me gasp. The ending you won't even believe. I really enjoyed this story and I will be looking out for more of Miranda's books in the future. I would definitely recommend this book too.
October 21, 2021
Now that was a twist.
Another great read by Miranda Rijks! At first this book confused me a little since it was hard to figure out who to dislike, but it didn't take me very long to decide. I thought I had it all figured out, until I was wrong. Sometimes I'm surprised by just how good this author writes. I definitely have her on my short list of authors that I can count on for a shocking twist.
Another great read by Miranda Rijks! At first this book confused me a little since it was hard to figure out who to dislike, but it didn't take me very long to decide. I thought I had it all figured out, until I was wrong. Sometimes I'm surprised by just how good this author writes. I definitely have her on my short list of authors that I can count on for a shocking twist.
January 21, 2022
The Only Child
I gave this book 4 stores it was a very good book it kept me reading from the beginning to the. Awesome book.
I gave this book 4 stores it was a very good book it kept me reading from the beginning to the. Awesome book.
October 20, 2021
Wow, wow, wow! This is my first book by this author and certainly won’t be my last. This story was so well laid out with the systematic and methodical unraveling of a family, it was hard to put this one down. Thank you to Netgalley, Inkubator Books, and Miranda Rijks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 18, 2021
The main character in this story is Chantal Lacey who works as a divorce lawyer for Egerton Brook Steading and is married to Stuart Heaton. They have one son, Alex who is almost eighteen. Stuart works as a TV presenter and is about to get a promotion and Alex is into environmental issues in a big way. They seem like the golden couple, but it wasn’t always that way. The story shifts between the current day and a period in Chantal’s life, before Alex was born and she was working on a placement in Manchester, whilst Stuart had gone abroad for a year, wanting a time out from their relationship. They had agreed to not contact each other until the year was up and then see how or if their relationship would go on. But Chantal has no intention of not getting her man back and circumstances soon lead her to make one split second decision that will alter her life forever. Their happy family nearly eighteen years later has been built upon a single lie, a lie of Chantal’s making, that is soon about to explode in her face!
Just as Stuart is distancing himself from her, possibly from the stress of his upcoming promotion that will put the whole family into the public eye, and Alex is keeping company with a determined young environmental activist called Luna, Chantal receives an anonymous text, followed by a blackmail demand. What the person knows should be impossible and she is determined to find out who this person is, getting more out of it with her accusations as time progresses. She can’t afford to lose everything she has worked so hard for all these years, as well as her marriage and even her relationship with her son Alex, so she decides to fight back with everything she can. This is a psychological thriller where you don’t know where this character will go next. She is out of control and the extreme actions she starts to take have some deadly consequences. What the final outcome of this blackmail situation and hopes she addresses it, will leave her sanity unravelling at an alarming rate and her actions becoming more and more dangerous to those around her. A thrilling read that leaves you guessing until the very last minute! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, but bought it for myself whilst at a good price and I can’t wait to read some more from this author. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Just as Stuart is distancing himself from her, possibly from the stress of his upcoming promotion that will put the whole family into the public eye, and Alex is keeping company with a determined young environmental activist called Luna, Chantal receives an anonymous text, followed by a blackmail demand. What the person knows should be impossible and she is determined to find out who this person is, getting more out of it with her accusations as time progresses. She can’t afford to lose everything she has worked so hard for all these years, as well as her marriage and even her relationship with her son Alex, so she decides to fight back with everything she can. This is a psychological thriller where you don’t know where this character will go next. She is out of control and the extreme actions she starts to take have some deadly consequences. What the final outcome of this blackmail situation and hopes she addresses it, will leave her sanity unravelling at an alarming rate and her actions becoming more and more dangerous to those around her. A thrilling read that leaves you guessing until the very last minute! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, but bought it for myself whilst at a good price and I can’t wait to read some more from this author. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
November 2, 2021
Chantal is obsessed with appearances - as a hot-shot divorce lawyer, married to an up and coming TV anchorman, she lives in the perfect house, with her perfect son and enjoys working out (repeatedly) in her purpose-built home gym.
Frankly, she's a tedious and quite unlikable character.
Which is why it's nice to know someone's out to get her and bring her wonderful rub-it-in-everyone's-faces life crumbling down around her.
The only problem is, this is such a painfully slow burner. Told via "then" and "now chapters, predominantly from Chantal's POV, this story slowly unravels to show the lies Chantal has told, and the depths she has gone to create this idyllic lifestyle.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure I'm entirely sold on her style. As I said, I didn't like the main character, and the others were equally annoying. There was no real grit or depth to any of the relationships, largely because I found the dialogue to be exceptionally clunky and unrealistic. I cringed on more than a handful of occasions (I thought this was a debut novel). Equally, there are a lot of inconsistencies with the characters and the timeline which I found distracting.
Despite lots of opportunity to (there are more red herrings in this book than a fish market) I never felt as though the tension really built. I couldn't get to a stage where I was desperate to read one more chapter to find out what happened next. I was never "worried" about any of the characters ... vaguely interested at times, bored at others.
The ending felt insanely rushed, too. A quick wham-bam, vague explanation and a cop out "One Year Later ..." chapter to tie it off. If I'm honest, it felt as though the author wasn't entirely invested in this story. As a result, in parts I felt it got away from her, and she lacked the desire to really tidy it up.
A vaguely intriguing story, executed poorly. Very disappointing.
Frankly, she's a tedious and quite unlikable character.
Which is why it's nice to know someone's out to get her and bring her wonderful rub-it-in-everyone's-faces life crumbling down around her.
The only problem is, this is such a painfully slow burner. Told via "then" and "now chapters, predominantly from Chantal's POV, this story slowly unravels to show the lies Chantal has told, and the depths she has gone to create this idyllic lifestyle.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure I'm entirely sold on her style. As I said, I didn't like the main character, and the others were equally annoying. There was no real grit or depth to any of the relationships, largely because I found the dialogue to be exceptionally clunky and unrealistic. I cringed on more than a handful of occasions (I thought this was a debut novel). Equally, there are a lot of inconsistencies with the characters and the timeline which I found distracting.
Despite lots of opportunity to (there are more red herrings in this book than a fish market) I never felt as though the tension really built. I couldn't get to a stage where I was desperate to read one more chapter to find out what happened next. I was never "worried" about any of the characters ... vaguely interested at times, bored at others.
The ending felt insanely rushed, too. A quick wham-bam, vague explanation and a cop out "One Year Later ..." chapter to tie it off. If I'm honest, it felt as though the author wasn't entirely invested in this story. As a result, in parts I felt it got away from her, and she lacked the desire to really tidy it up.
A vaguely intriguing story, executed poorly. Very disappointing.
October 21, 2021
Chantal and Stuart had met and fallen in love when they were young. He got a chance to go abroad so Chantal got a transfer to Manchester. She managed to come back to meet Stuart with a baby boy, Alex, in tow...it was a surprise for everyone! Stuart was over the moon, he proposed and they got married. Just what Chantal had wanted.
Almost eighteen years later, Chantal had become a top divorce lawyer and Stuart was appearing on daytime television. Alex was a passionate environmentalist. Then Stuart got his big break and got asked to do Breakfast TV, Alex got arrested at a protest and a big divorce case that Chantal was covering was under threat due to Alex’s behaviour. Chantal felt that her perfect life was under threat and then the blackmail started!
Someone knew her biggest secret but who could it be? She hadn’t even shared it with her sister. Who could have tracked her down? Then she remembered that Stuart was now a celebrity and there had been an article about the divorce case in the paper, someone could have seen that, the price of fame...she thought. She took off for Manchester as things weren’t great at home and thought she would see if she could at least find the girls, see if they were involved in the blackmail. Little did she know what consequences her actions would have…..
This book was such a fantastic read, it was full of tension and suspense. A really good psychological thriller. I love the descriptive, easy writing style of this author. It makes the book easier to read and the plot makes you just want to keep turning the pages over to find out what is happening next. I feel like I’m living the story when reading it. This book was written in the ‘now’ and ‘then’ style which I really enjoy plus it was a narrative from Chantal and Alex so it was told from two sides. This is now the third book from this author which I have really enjoyed reading.
Almost eighteen years later, Chantal had become a top divorce lawyer and Stuart was appearing on daytime television. Alex was a passionate environmentalist. Then Stuart got his big break and got asked to do Breakfast TV, Alex got arrested at a protest and a big divorce case that Chantal was covering was under threat due to Alex’s behaviour. Chantal felt that her perfect life was under threat and then the blackmail started!
Someone knew her biggest secret but who could it be? She hadn’t even shared it with her sister. Who could have tracked her down? Then she remembered that Stuart was now a celebrity and there had been an article about the divorce case in the paper, someone could have seen that, the price of fame...she thought. She took off for Manchester as things weren’t great at home and thought she would see if she could at least find the girls, see if they were involved in the blackmail. Little did she know what consequences her actions would have…..
This book was such a fantastic read, it was full of tension and suspense. A really good psychological thriller. I love the descriptive, easy writing style of this author. It makes the book easier to read and the plot makes you just want to keep turning the pages over to find out what is happening next. I feel like I’m living the story when reading it. This book was written in the ‘now’ and ‘then’ style which I really enjoy plus it was a narrative from Chantal and Alex so it was told from two sides. This is now the third book from this author which I have really enjoyed reading.
October 3, 2021
Chantal and Stuart are living happily with their son Alex. Little do Stuart and Alex know that their whole life is based on a lie which has true potential to destroy their lives. Stuart and Chantal consider it a miracle to have their son as Chantal was diagnosed with severe endometriosis and was told the chances of her having a child were next to impossible, now 17 years later here they are living the perfect life, her as a high flying solicitor, Stuart as a news presenter and Alex in a private school about to complete his A-levels and start university.
Just as things seem to be going so well for her family things soon change when strange things start to happen to Chantal, her car gets vandalised, she’s being blackmailed and starts receiving threats. Chantal is terrified that someone knows her secrets and that her nasty little Pandora’s box is about to be blown wide open.
Determined to find out who it is who’s blackmailing her Chantal will go to extreme circumstances to discover who is behind it. Soon Chantal starts to look at her colleagues, family and friends is there anyone she can trust as one by one she starts to doubt them all.
Although I enjoyed this book I did find it a little tedious is places and I did find it quite predictable. I liked the twist at the end of the book as I didn’t see it coming and I always enjoy an unexpected conclusion. I also love that endometriosis got a mention in this book and the fact the difficulty to conceive because of this condition is explored and as someone who suffers I felt sorry for Chantal when she was experiencing the extreme pain from the condition.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
Just as things seem to be going so well for her family things soon change when strange things start to happen to Chantal, her car gets vandalised, she’s being blackmailed and starts receiving threats. Chantal is terrified that someone knows her secrets and that her nasty little Pandora’s box is about to be blown wide open.
Determined to find out who it is who’s blackmailing her Chantal will go to extreme circumstances to discover who is behind it. Soon Chantal starts to look at her colleagues, family and friends is there anyone she can trust as one by one she starts to doubt them all.
Although I enjoyed this book I did find it a little tedious is places and I did find it quite predictable. I liked the twist at the end of the book as I didn’t see it coming and I always enjoy an unexpected conclusion. I also love that endometriosis got a mention in this book and the fact the difficulty to conceive because of this condition is explored and as someone who suffers I felt sorry for Chantal when she was experiencing the extreme pain from the condition.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
July 7, 2026
The Only Child by Miranda Rijks is a gripping, fast-paced, and utterly frantic psychological thriller that delves into the toxic nature of motherhood, family guilt, and a web of unpredictable secrets.
When a book is full of characters who are just straight-up mental, it's such a bizarre reading experience. On one hand, you're flying through the pages because the pacing is great, and you're just waiting for the entire trainwreck to explode. On the other hand, you're screaming at the pages because nobody is likeable or logical!
The story unfolds through alternating viewpoints, primarily focusing on Chantal and her teenage son, Alex, whose seemingly perfect domestic life with her husband, Stuart, is entirely a facade. The narrative thrives on a chaotic energy in which empathy is hard to come by; the reader is caught between a suffocating maternal dynamic and Alex's frustratingly blind devotion to Luna—a notoriously bad influence who entangles him in crime and legal trouble. Because the entire cast feels deeply flawed and unlikable, the suspense morphs into a tense waiting game, leaving the reader racing through the pages simply to see when and how the domestic unit will self-destruct.
While the pacing is brilliantly executed and packed with a dizzying array of red herrings, making anyone a villain in disguise, the conclusion leaves a slight structural void. The epilogue notably lacks a critical narrative perspective that would have offered a more rounded, satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, it remains a highly entertaining, twisty, and breathless exploration of a family unravelling, earning 4 mad stars.
When a book is full of characters who are just straight-up mental, it's such a bizarre reading experience. On one hand, you're flying through the pages because the pacing is great, and you're just waiting for the entire trainwreck to explode. On the other hand, you're screaming at the pages because nobody is likeable or logical!
The story unfolds through alternating viewpoints, primarily focusing on Chantal and her teenage son, Alex, whose seemingly perfect domestic life with her husband, Stuart, is entirely a facade. The narrative thrives on a chaotic energy in which empathy is hard to come by; the reader is caught between a suffocating maternal dynamic and Alex's frustratingly blind devotion to Luna—a notoriously bad influence who entangles him in crime and legal trouble. Because the entire cast feels deeply flawed and unlikable, the suspense morphs into a tense waiting game, leaving the reader racing through the pages simply to see when and how the domestic unit will self-destruct.
While the pacing is brilliantly executed and packed with a dizzying array of red herrings, making anyone a villain in disguise, the conclusion leaves a slight structural void. The epilogue notably lacks a critical narrative perspective that would have offered a more rounded, satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, it remains a highly entertaining, twisty, and breathless exploration of a family unravelling, earning 4 mad stars.
November 17, 2021
What's one little lie in exchange for everything you've ever wanted? Chantal has it all. The man of her dreams, the child she hoped for, and she's at the peak of her career. Everything is perfect until she starts receiving messages that cause her carefully curated existence to unravel one web of lies at a time.
Alex wants to save the planet, one protest and eco-friendly choice at a time. If only his parents weren't so rich, famous and gorgeous, living in an idyllic (and so not environmentally) home in the Sussex countryside. Soooo embarrassing, right? He's a typical teenager, who genuinely means well and just can't figure out why his mother is acting more and more unhinged and his dad is barely around anymore. He's questioning everything, all while studying for his A Levels and trying to keep his cool girlfriend happy.
The Only Child is a story about motherhood, family, guilt and the toxic nature of secrets and lies. I thought it was a gripping thriller. I loved getting to the grit of the story through both Chantal and Alex's eyes. They had such different perspectives. While some of the plot points were somewhat predictable, there were red herrings at every turn. Really, anyone could be a bad guy in disguise. It was fun to be kept on my toes. I enjoyed the writing, pace, characters and the interesting twist at the end. I would definitely recommend and read more of Miranda Rijks' work.
Alex wants to save the planet, one protest and eco-friendly choice at a time. If only his parents weren't so rich, famous and gorgeous, living in an idyllic (and so not environmentally) home in the Sussex countryside. Soooo embarrassing, right? He's a typical teenager, who genuinely means well and just can't figure out why his mother is acting more and more unhinged and his dad is barely around anymore. He's questioning everything, all while studying for his A Levels and trying to keep his cool girlfriend happy.
The Only Child is a story about motherhood, family, guilt and the toxic nature of secrets and lies. I thought it was a gripping thriller. I loved getting to the grit of the story through both Chantal and Alex's eyes. They had such different perspectives. While some of the plot points were somewhat predictable, there were red herrings at every turn. Really, anyone could be a bad guy in disguise. It was fun to be kept on my toes. I enjoyed the writing, pace, characters and the interesting twist at the end. I would definitely recommend and read more of Miranda Rijks' work.
September 26, 2021
"Guilt is the thief of life", Anthony Hopkins said. You remember reading Poe's classic short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" back in school, right? If so, you remember that guilt is oppressive, powerful, and damning to the soul.
Chantal is a successful attorney who lives with her equally successful husband Stuart, a news broadcaster, and their teenage son Alex. From all outward appearances, they are the golden family; wealthy, happy, and successful.
But it's all a facade. Chantal is hiding a dark secret from her past that has resurfaced. Someone is threatening to tell her secret, the secret that she will go to any lengths to protect.
I loved the way the story came together. First, it's told in alternating points of view from Chantal and Alex, so the reader really gets the experience of what this relationship is like from both sides. I thought it was curious that Stuart's POV was left out, but you'll see why. Also, the story alternates between Chantal then and now, which was a great way to highlight her downward spiral.
I've learned to always read the author's note at the end of all her books because she usually shares her inspiration for the story. Another winner from Miranda that is NOT to be missed. Releases October 10.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chantal is a successful attorney who lives with her equally successful husband Stuart, a news broadcaster, and their teenage son Alex. From all outward appearances, they are the golden family; wealthy, happy, and successful.
But it's all a facade. Chantal is hiding a dark secret from her past that has resurfaced. Someone is threatening to tell her secret, the secret that she will go to any lengths to protect.
I loved the way the story came together. First, it's told in alternating points of view from Chantal and Alex, so the reader really gets the experience of what this relationship is like from both sides. I thought it was curious that Stuart's POV was left out, but you'll see why. Also, the story alternates between Chantal then and now, which was a great way to highlight her downward spiral.
I've learned to always read the author's note at the end of all her books because she usually shares her inspiration for the story. Another winner from Miranda that is NOT to be missed. Releases October 10.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 29, 2021
I've just finished 'The Visitors' by the same author which I really enjoyed. However, I found 'The only child' even more gripping, engaging and intriguing.
Chantal (divorce lawyer) lives with her husband, Stuart (TV presenter) and their teenage son, Alex. Alex and his mother have a difficult relationship, especially when his eco protests and his girlfriend, Luna interfere with Chantal's career. Coupled with the fact that she suspects her husband of having an affair and she is being blackmailed, her life seems to be falling to pieces.
I thought Chantal was very harsh in the way she punished Alex. At almost eighteen years old, cancelling his gap year plans and confiscating his car seemed a bit dramatic. I liked the fact that Auntie Debbie provided a safe space for Alex and always looked out for him.
I thought alternating between then and now worked well at the beginning, as it let us see how Chantal came to have Alex. I wasn't sure about the chapters from Alex's perspective. His dialogue didn't always sound authentic for a teen.
The book was well plotted and I was shocked by the reveal at the end. This would make a great TV drama/film.
I will be recommending this book and look forward to reading more by Miranda Rijks.
Thanks indeed to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Chantal (divorce lawyer) lives with her husband, Stuart (TV presenter) and their teenage son, Alex. Alex and his mother have a difficult relationship, especially when his eco protests and his girlfriend, Luna interfere with Chantal's career. Coupled with the fact that she suspects her husband of having an affair and she is being blackmailed, her life seems to be falling to pieces.
I thought Chantal was very harsh in the way she punished Alex. At almost eighteen years old, cancelling his gap year plans and confiscating his car seemed a bit dramatic. I liked the fact that Auntie Debbie provided a safe space for Alex and always looked out for him.
I thought alternating between then and now worked well at the beginning, as it let us see how Chantal came to have Alex. I wasn't sure about the chapters from Alex's perspective. His dialogue didn't always sound authentic for a teen.
The book was well plotted and I was shocked by the reveal at the end. This would make a great TV drama/film.
I will be recommending this book and look forward to reading more by Miranda Rijks.
Thanks indeed to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
September 28, 2021
We follow a quaint little family, Chantal, Stuart, and Alex. Chantal is a prominent divorce lawyer and her husband is a morning news show host. Their son Alex, has begun pushing his boundaries with his parents and his actions start to cause trouble for Chantal at work. She has begun experiencing other stressors throughout the novel including seeing less of her husband and their disagreement on how to discipline Alex.
Chantal then begins to receive mysterious text messages threatening to expose a dark secret from her past. She gets pulled deeper and deeper into her web of lies and starts questing everything around her. What was once a perfect life, starts to unravel.
*
*
This was the first book that I have read by Miranda Rijks and it was sent to me from Netgalley! Overall I thought it was a pretty decent and fast read. The beginning did start off a bit slow and the ending was anticlimactic. The story is told from alternating points of view between both Chantal and Alex. I personally would have enjoyed the POV of both Debbie and Stuart because I think that could have added a lot into the storyline. This book kept me fully engaged and at the end of the day I would definitely try another novel written by Miranda.
Chantal then begins to receive mysterious text messages threatening to expose a dark secret from her past. She gets pulled deeper and deeper into her web of lies and starts questing everything around her. What was once a perfect life, starts to unravel.
*
*
This was the first book that I have read by Miranda Rijks and it was sent to me from Netgalley! Overall I thought it was a pretty decent and fast read. The beginning did start off a bit slow and the ending was anticlimactic. The story is told from alternating points of view between both Chantal and Alex. I personally would have enjoyed the POV of both Debbie and Stuart because I think that could have added a lot into the storyline. This book kept me fully engaged and at the end of the day I would definitely try another novel written by Miranda.
September 28, 2021
"Oh how the mighty have fallen" could be the theme of this book by Miranda Rijks. Take two people focused on their careers, throw in a rebellious teenager, and mix in one deep, dark secret (or two), and you have The Only Child.
This book was a bit of departure from her previous books, but no less dark. The story takes you into the mind of Chantal, a driven divorce lawyer who makes a decision early in her life that will affect her future, and her son Alex, an environmentalist who is so wrapped up in his teenage beliefs that he falls to see the impact his actions will have on his Mom and Dad's careers. Thank goodness for Debbie, Chantal's sister and "voice of reason" who is probably the only likeable character in the book. And that's okay, because Rijks accomplishes what she set out to do, show you the escalating breakdown of this seriously flawed family. The ending accelerates at warp speed and will require suspension of disbelief, but just enjoy the ride!
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an advance reader's copy.
This book was a bit of departure from her previous books, but no less dark. The story takes you into the mind of Chantal, a driven divorce lawyer who makes a decision early in her life that will affect her future, and her son Alex, an environmentalist who is so wrapped up in his teenage beliefs that he falls to see the impact his actions will have on his Mom and Dad's careers. Thank goodness for Debbie, Chantal's sister and "voice of reason" who is probably the only likeable character in the book. And that's okay, because Rijks accomplishes what she set out to do, show you the escalating breakdown of this seriously flawed family. The ending accelerates at warp speed and will require suspension of disbelief, but just enjoy the ride!
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an advance reader's copy.
October 10, 2021
The only child by Miranda Rijks.
One little boy. One little lie. Where will it end?
Chantal and Stuart are a golden couple. She’s a high-flying divorce lawyer dealing with the biggest case of her career, and he’s the darling of daytime television, on the cusp of A list celebrity. Their seventeen-year old son Alex is a passionate environmentalist, the apple of his mother’s eye.
And it’s all built on a lie.
A lie told by Chantal.
When someone discovers her secret and starts to blackmail her, Chantal’s perfect life threatens to go into freefall. Her marriage, her career, and even her relationship with her son are at stake. She can’t let it happen!
She decides to fight fire with fire, but soon finds her actions have extreme - and unexpected - consequences. As she is pulled ever deeper into a web of lies and deceit, she has to ask the most terrifying question of all…
Where will it end?
This was a very good read with some great characters. This is my first book by this author but it won't be the last. 4*.
One little boy. One little lie. Where will it end?
Chantal and Stuart are a golden couple. She’s a high-flying divorce lawyer dealing with the biggest case of her career, and he’s the darling of daytime television, on the cusp of A list celebrity. Their seventeen-year old son Alex is a passionate environmentalist, the apple of his mother’s eye.
And it’s all built on a lie.
A lie told by Chantal.
When someone discovers her secret and starts to blackmail her, Chantal’s perfect life threatens to go into freefall. Her marriage, her career, and even her relationship with her son are at stake. She can’t let it happen!
She decides to fight fire with fire, but soon finds her actions have extreme - and unexpected - consequences. As she is pulled ever deeper into a web of lies and deceit, she has to ask the most terrifying question of all…
Where will it end?
This was a very good read with some great characters. This is my first book by this author but it won't be the last. 4*.
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