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You Can Stay
She's the perfect host. He's the perfect prey.
Someone is hunting Connor. While taking part in Selection, the elite Special Forces training programme, he must evade capture by a squad of paratroopers for several days in the wilderness of Bodmin Moor. When he's offered proper rest and recuperation by the owner of a local farmhouse, he knows he is breaking the rules. But what's the harm in accepting the kindness of strangers? Especially as his training partner Dele appears to have deserted him in the dead of night.
Eilidh is an impeccable host. Connor can barely bring himself to leave her charming farmhouse, though he's running out of time to make his next rendezvous and re-join his partner. But he doesn't realise what he's walked into - because the choice isn't his to make.
This isn't Eilidh's first kidnapping. She's done this before, but they never came as close to perfection as Connor. Why would she let him leave?
Someone is hunting Connor. While taking part in Selection, the elite Special Forces training programme, he must evade capture by a squad of paratroopers for several days in the wilderness of Bodmin Moor. When he's offered proper rest and recuperation by the owner of a local farmhouse, he knows he is breaking the rules. But what's the harm in accepting the kindness of strangers? Especially as his training partner Dele appears to have deserted him in the dead of night.
Eilidh is an impeccable host. Connor can barely bring himself to leave her charming farmhouse, though he's running out of time to make his next rendezvous and re-join his partner. But he doesn't realise what he's walked into - because the choice isn't his to make.
This isn't Eilidh's first kidnapping. She's done this before, but they never came as close to perfection as Connor. Why would she let him leave?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2022
29 people are currently reading
2024 people want to read
About the author
Elle Connel
2 books8 followersElle Connel is the pseudonym of Lucy Ribchester, whose previous novels, The Hourglass Factory and The Amber Shadows, were historical thrillers. She has a first class degree in English from the University of St Andrews and a Masters in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
February 22, 2022
Connor is in the final stage of the gruelling selection process for special forces on Bodmin Moor. Exhaustion is setting in before he and fellow soldier Deli need to check in at the rendezvous point. They settle for a brief respite in a bothy and when an offer to recover is offered by Eilidh, Connor is tempted because he’s at a low ebb and accepts, wrong though he knows this is.
First of all the author credits Stephen King and Misery with the inspiration for this and it does resonate throughout so as an homage it’s ticking the box. It soon becomes odd, tense and takes on an almost surreal turn. A very dangerous game ensues and there are some horrifying and shocking discoveries. The characters are mostly awful with Eilidh being the one that is most vividly portrayed as we witness her chilling , sinister and vicious actions. I can’t pretend it’s pretty reading because it’s not, at times it’s positively gross in its bleak darkness. However, it’s unquestionably well written, with some original metaphors and good descriptions of Bodmin.
My reservations about the book first of all lie in the fact that it starts extremely slowly, I don’t find the army stuff at the beginning at all interesting but it does feel authentic as you get a sense of the toughness and grit required. I daresay we all know that anyway. My biggest problem is that this is a soldier in the final stages of SAS training taking place on Bodmin and it’s the third of an unbelievably challenging and rigorous process. Really? Would an individual so close to the finishing line risk potential failure by accepting “you can stay“? I think not.
If you can suspend disbelief this is certainly a page turner that’s for sure even if every now and again you mutter ‘yuck’.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline/Wildfire for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
First of all the author credits Stephen King and Misery with the inspiration for this and it does resonate throughout so as an homage it’s ticking the box. It soon becomes odd, tense and takes on an almost surreal turn. A very dangerous game ensues and there are some horrifying and shocking discoveries. The characters are mostly awful with Eilidh being the one that is most vividly portrayed as we witness her chilling , sinister and vicious actions. I can’t pretend it’s pretty reading because it’s not, at times it’s positively gross in its bleak darkness. However, it’s unquestionably well written, with some original metaphors and good descriptions of Bodmin.
My reservations about the book first of all lie in the fact that it starts extremely slowly, I don’t find the army stuff at the beginning at all interesting but it does feel authentic as you get a sense of the toughness and grit required. I daresay we all know that anyway. My biggest problem is that this is a soldier in the final stages of SAS training taking place on Bodmin and it’s the third of an unbelievably challenging and rigorous process. Really? Would an individual so close to the finishing line risk potential failure by accepting “you can stay“? I think not.
If you can suspend disbelief this is certainly a page turner that’s for sure even if every now and again you mutter ‘yuck’.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline/Wildfire for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 15, 2022
Someone is hunting Connor. While taking part in Selection, the elite Special Forces training programme, he must evade capture by a squad of paratroopers for several days in the wilderness of Bodmin Moor. When he's offered proper rest and recuperation by the owner of a local farmhouse, he knows he's breaking the rules. But what's the harm in accepting the kindness of strangers?
especially as his training partner Dele appears to have deserted him in the dead of night. Ellidh is an impeccable host. Connor can barely bring himself to leave her charming farmhouse, though he's running out of time to make it to his next rendezvous and rejoin his partner. But he doesn't realise what he's walked into - because the choice isn't his to make.
Some of the chapters are creepy and the pace is slow to begin with. The storyline reminded me too much of Stephen King's Misery. This is a dark and gruesome psychological thriller. Ellidh was unlikeable but a perfectly written character. There are parts that are far fetched. The ending came a little abruptly. It was as if everything came together at once, but there was not enough time to tweak it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Headline and the author #ElleConnel for my ARC of #YouCanStay in exchange for an honest review.
especially as his training partner Dele appears to have deserted him in the dead of night. Ellidh is an impeccable host. Connor can barely bring himself to leave her charming farmhouse, though he's running out of time to make it to his next rendezvous and rejoin his partner. But he doesn't realise what he's walked into - because the choice isn't his to make.
Some of the chapters are creepy and the pace is slow to begin with. The storyline reminded me too much of Stephen King's Misery. This is a dark and gruesome psychological thriller. Ellidh was unlikeable but a perfectly written character. There are parts that are far fetched. The ending came a little abruptly. It was as if everything came together at once, but there was not enough time to tweak it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Headline and the author #ElleConnel for my ARC of #YouCanStay in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2022
Connor is on Army training on Bodmin Moor. He meets a local woman who offers him a hot meal and a place to rest. He knows that this is against the rules but decides to take her up on the offer.
When he tries to go back on duty she won’t let him leave.
A slow moving story with an unbelievable ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
When he tries to go back on duty she won’t let him leave.
A slow moving story with an unbelievable ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
Connor is on the final stage of a special forces exercise on Bodmin Moor, he is cold and wet when he stumbles upon a farmhouse. He is invited in by Eilidth to have some food, warm clothes and rest, even though he knows this is against the rules.
Connor cannot resist her charms and they end up sleeping together. But when he tries to leave she has him trapped.
A dangerous game commences where there are horrifying and shocking discoveries. This is not Elidth's first kidnapping. She has done this before but they weren't as perfect as Connor. Why would she let him leave?
A solid page turner but I did find it at times to be unbelievable,
that a soldier in the final stages of SAS training, would he really
risk failing the course by accepting help from a stranger?
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Connor cannot resist her charms and they end up sleeping together. But when he tries to leave she has him trapped.
A dangerous game commences where there are horrifying and shocking discoveries. This is not Elidth's first kidnapping. She has done this before but they weren't as perfect as Connor. Why would she let him leave?
A solid page turner but I did find it at times to be unbelievable,
that a soldier in the final stages of SAS training, would he really
risk failing the course by accepting help from a stranger?
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2022
Eilidh lives in a farmhouse on Bodmin Moor. Connor is taking part in the elite Special Forces training programme. Exhaustion is setting in for Connor but he and fellow soldier, Dele Oduro need to check in at the next rendezvous point. Eilidh convinces Connor to rest at her place though he knows he's wrong to do so as he's breaking the rules. But what is Eilidh's plan for Connor?
Riveting and disturbing, You Can Stay was a great read. The outcome was nigh on impossible to guess so I didn't try. Gritty and intense with good characterisation, I highly recommend it.
This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Headline, Wildfire via NetGalley.
Riveting and disturbing, You Can Stay was a great read. The outcome was nigh on impossible to guess so I didn't try. Gritty and intense with good characterisation, I highly recommend it.
This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Headline, Wildfire via NetGalley.
February 12, 2022
This was a tough one, both to read and to review.
It was atmospheric read; deliciously dark and gritty. The characters were unlikeable, which I think should have only applied to one instead of the whole cast. It made it hard to connect, to really care about what was happening to them. Some parts were a bit boring but I think that had less to do with the writing and more to do with my emotional connection--or rather lack thereof. The ending . . . it freaking sucked. I hated it. Actually hated it.
It was atmospheric read; deliciously dark and gritty. The characters were unlikeable, which I think should have only applied to one instead of the whole cast. It made it hard to connect, to really care about what was happening to them. Some parts were a bit boring but I think that had less to do with the writing and more to do with my emotional connection--or rather lack thereof. The ending . . . it freaking sucked. I hated it. Actually hated it.
February 21, 2023
This looked like a 2 star review for a long time until I read the epilogue. No, just no.
August 26, 2022
Hi and welcome to my review of You Can Stay!
I decided to pick up You Can Stay because of the blurb, which made me think I was in for a tense thriller. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling rather unsatisfied. Note that this review may contain mild spoilers as I try to explain why it didn’t work for me.
You Can Stay is told from the perspectives of Connor, who is partaking in an elite Special Forces training programme on Bodmin Moor, and Eilidh, who lives in a farmhouse there.
I have to admit, You Can Stay and I got off on the wrong foot when Connor was forced to kill a lamb he had first befriended. All part of the training and people gotta eat, yada yada, I get all that, but first of all, the whole befriending thing seemed a tad weird and rather implausible and secondly, the killing did not need to be so detailed. Did it need to be included at all, for that matter? I personally don’t see the added value of this rather repulsive scene. If we were meant to learn something about Connor, I missed it in my righteous indignation about what was happening to the lamb. It does have some significance later on, but Connor’s a military man and he’s killed people in the line of duty, so I feel there was no need for the lamb.
I contemplated throwing in the towel there and then but I decided to give it a second chance. As I read, You Can Stay started to give me Misery vibes. However, where I felt compassion for Stephen King’s abused protagonist, I felt nothing of the sort for Connor. I kinda felt like he brought it on himself. Seriously, if this man were Special Forces, the country would be screwed. Moreover, where I absolutely loved King’s obsessed and batshit crazy antagonist, Eilidh is just… meh. She’s obviously mad as a hatter, no doubt about it, but not in a way that drew me in. If that makes any sense at all. I need to either love or love to hate my characters, but both Connor and Eilidh just annoyed me.
While I’m at it, I had another issue with the story and the characters, namely the frequent mentions of sex and the fact that Eilidh is quite clearly rather obsessed, while also using her body to get what she wants. This is by no means erotica, that’s not what I mean, and I’m fine with a few sex scenes, but all the mentions got real old real soon. Eilidh can hardly see (or hear, or smell) a man without thinking about what he might do to her, or she to him. One soldier looks to her like he needs some oats and a spanking 🤨🤔 I do wonder what that looks like. And I personally wouldn’t even think of comparing blood and the fact that it gets everywhere to sand after sex on the beach, but that’s the comparison Eilidh chooses to make. Also, she steams her vagina? “To maintain her edge against any competition, past or present.” What the what now? Firstly, is that an actual thing? Secondly, even if it is, I don’t want to read about it. Thirdly, it’s things like this that kept yanking me out of the story. I presume it’s supposed to attest to Eilidh’s character? But we readers aren’t stupid, we get it, we got it 150 pages ago, move on already.
Despite me actively disliking the main characters and most of their thoughts and actions, I did push through because a part of me did want to know how it would all end. I was also hoping for a very dramatic finish that might redeem what came before. And I’m just very stubborn when it comes to finishing books. Anyway, I don’t think I would have missed much had I just thrown in the towel after the lamb 😬
I really did think I would enjoy this book and I’m really sorry that I didn’t, not just for me, but for the author as well. I don’t like to dislike books, which is why I’m rather picky about what I read, but we all know you can’t love them all, and this one just didn’t work for me.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I decided to pick up You Can Stay because of the blurb, which made me think I was in for a tense thriller. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling rather unsatisfied. Note that this review may contain mild spoilers as I try to explain why it didn’t work for me.
You Can Stay is told from the perspectives of Connor, who is partaking in an elite Special Forces training programme on Bodmin Moor, and Eilidh, who lives in a farmhouse there.
I have to admit, You Can Stay and I got off on the wrong foot when Connor was forced to kill a lamb he had first befriended. All part of the training and people gotta eat, yada yada, I get all that, but first of all, the whole befriending thing seemed a tad weird and rather implausible and secondly, the killing did not need to be so detailed. Did it need to be included at all, for that matter? I personally don’t see the added value of this rather repulsive scene. If we were meant to learn something about Connor, I missed it in my righteous indignation about what was happening to the lamb. It does have some significance later on, but Connor’s a military man and he’s killed people in the line of duty, so I feel there was no need for the lamb.
I contemplated throwing in the towel there and then but I decided to give it a second chance. As I read, You Can Stay started to give me Misery vibes. However, where I felt compassion for Stephen King’s abused protagonist, I felt nothing of the sort for Connor. I kinda felt like he brought it on himself. Seriously, if this man were Special Forces, the country would be screwed. Moreover, where I absolutely loved King’s obsessed and batshit crazy antagonist, Eilidh is just… meh. She’s obviously mad as a hatter, no doubt about it, but not in a way that drew me in. If that makes any sense at all. I need to either love or love to hate my characters, but both Connor and Eilidh just annoyed me.
While I’m at it, I had another issue with the story and the characters, namely the frequent mentions of sex and the fact that Eilidh is quite clearly rather obsessed, while also using her body to get what she wants. This is by no means erotica, that’s not what I mean, and I’m fine with a few sex scenes, but all the mentions got real old real soon. Eilidh can hardly see (or hear, or smell) a man without thinking about what he might do to her, or she to him. One soldier looks to her like he needs some oats and a spanking 🤨🤔 I do wonder what that looks like. And I personally wouldn’t even think of comparing blood and the fact that it gets everywhere to sand after sex on the beach, but that’s the comparison Eilidh chooses to make. Also, she steams her vagina? “To maintain her edge against any competition, past or present.” What the what now? Firstly, is that an actual thing? Secondly, even if it is, I don’t want to read about it. Thirdly, it’s things like this that kept yanking me out of the story. I presume it’s supposed to attest to Eilidh’s character? But we readers aren’t stupid, we get it, we got it 150 pages ago, move on already.
Despite me actively disliking the main characters and most of their thoughts and actions, I did push through because a part of me did want to know how it would all end. I was also hoping for a very dramatic finish that might redeem what came before. And I’m just very stubborn when it comes to finishing books. Anyway, I don’t think I would have missed much had I just thrown in the towel after the lamb 😬
I really did think I would enjoy this book and I’m really sorry that I didn’t, not just for me, but for the author as well. I don’t like to dislike books, which is why I’m rather picky about what I read, but we all know you can’t love them all, and this one just didn’t work for me.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2022
Creepy atmospheres and harsh climates come together in 'You Can Stay' by Elle Connel. Written in a full third voice narrative, this novel chronicles the journey of Connor, who we meet facing his next challenge in Bodmin Moor, England, in an overall training exercise to become a member of the elite Special Forces team. We learn about his background in the military; and also his separation from his partner Michelle, which ended with him being kicked out of the family home, also furthering his isolation from his daughter, Ivy. Soon, Connor meets with other training members and is partnered with Dele, where they all disperse into the Moor, with one main objective- "Don't get caught." After several mishaps, they stumble upon a shed, where they seek shelter for the night. When Connor awakens in the morning, he finds Dele missing, and a local named Eilidh offers him some rest and food at her home. However, all is not as it seems with Eilidh, and we are soon ensconced in a twisted and devious tale, with many hair-raising moments.
In the afterword, the author credits Stephe King as inspiration for this book, and I could definitely tell this. The writing was dark and gritty, with a plot that was oftentimes disturbing and intense. Despite that, or maybe because of it, I had to keep reading to see how it would all end.
Alternatively, it did take me a while to get into the swing of this, as I found the first few chapters a bit tedious. The amount of background we got on Connor's life in the military was slightly excessive and made it difficult for me to become engaged in the story at first. I am glad that I pushed through though, as it did get better with time. The biggest issue I had with this novel overall was the lack of believability when it came to Connor's behavior- many of his actions did not jibe with his personality as it was introduced at the start. For instance, we heard from him often how much he wanted to graduate to Special Forces; why then would he jeopardize that by breaking one of the biggest rules about not seeking help from locals? Other little inconsistencies like this bothered me and made it hard to connect with him as the main protagonist.
Overall, I give this a rating of 3.5 stars as I think the potential for an awesome book was there, but it just fell a little short for me. Eilidh as an antagonist was totally convincing and I loved that Connel portrayed a feminine 'bad guy' and not the typical male one. She was creepy and psychotic, and seeing things from her point of view made it even more disconcerting. I recommend this for persons who love thrillers, as this was believable as a thriller, more so than many novels I have recently read with the same title. It is suitable for persons eighteen and older due to troubling and vivid scenes of violence and erotic acts. Triggers include: death, graphic violence, and torture. I had never read anything by Connel before this, but she has now made a fan of me, and I plan on seeing what else she has to come!
*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Elle Connel, and Headline for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
In the afterword, the author credits Stephe King as inspiration for this book, and I could definitely tell this. The writing was dark and gritty, with a plot that was oftentimes disturbing and intense. Despite that, or maybe because of it, I had to keep reading to see how it would all end.
Alternatively, it did take me a while to get into the swing of this, as I found the first few chapters a bit tedious. The amount of background we got on Connor's life in the military was slightly excessive and made it difficult for me to become engaged in the story at first. I am glad that I pushed through though, as it did get better with time. The biggest issue I had with this novel overall was the lack of believability when it came to Connor's behavior- many of his actions did not jibe with his personality as it was introduced at the start. For instance, we heard from him often how much he wanted to graduate to Special Forces; why then would he jeopardize that by breaking one of the biggest rules about not seeking help from locals? Other little inconsistencies like this bothered me and made it hard to connect with him as the main protagonist.
Overall, I give this a rating of 3.5 stars as I think the potential for an awesome book was there, but it just fell a little short for me. Eilidh as an antagonist was totally convincing and I loved that Connel portrayed a feminine 'bad guy' and not the typical male one. She was creepy and psychotic, and seeing things from her point of view made it even more disconcerting. I recommend this for persons who love thrillers, as this was believable as a thriller, more so than many novels I have recently read with the same title. It is suitable for persons eighteen and older due to troubling and vivid scenes of violence and erotic acts. Triggers include: death, graphic violence, and torture. I had never read anything by Connel before this, but she has now made a fan of me, and I plan on seeing what else she has to come!
*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Elle Connel, and Headline for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
August 3, 2022
The premise was a bit like Misery but I am afraid that that is where the similarities end. It was so slow and I could not relate to any of the characters. The tension and suspense was staggered and in places darn right unbelievable. This book had so much promise but it did even raise my pulse. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
July 23, 2022
This one is a bit of a slow burn (for me at least) and needs to be read with a sense of zero logic. It baffles me that an army individual so close to reaching the end of their activity would even CONSIDER the possibility of failing because the host tells them “you can stay”. It just wouldn’t happen. I really loved the authors last book so I was expecting to love this one but it’s left me with conflicting feelings on whether or not I like the book, I certainly didn’t like the characters or the ending.
Thank you to Headline books for sending me a copy of this.
Thank you to Headline books for sending me a copy of this.
August 1, 2022
What an intriguing read this proved to be,
Filled with discomfort and mystery.
With potential Special Forces recruits on exercise
Against paratroopers, dogs and whatever danger they can devise!
Connor set off in a group of four
Two were captured, they knew the score.
When he's rescued by a lady farmer he's pleased
As she offers him shelter and the opportunity to feed.
However, though initially charming, there's another side,
One that his host, Eilidh, seems unable to hide.
As she makes it clear she wants him to stay
He starts to wonder how she'll make him pay.
Get ready for a sinister, tense psychological thriller
With an unexpected serial killer.
Can Connor escape this chilling drama alive
Will fate enable him to survive?
A story with so many twists and turns
As this officer for his future dreams yearns.
It isn't a comfortable read, that is true,
But could it be just the book for you?
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.
Filled with discomfort and mystery.
With potential Special Forces recruits on exercise
Against paratroopers, dogs and whatever danger they can devise!
Connor set off in a group of four
Two were captured, they knew the score.
When he's rescued by a lady farmer he's pleased
As she offers him shelter and the opportunity to feed.
However, though initially charming, there's another side,
One that his host, Eilidh, seems unable to hide.
As she makes it clear she wants him to stay
He starts to wonder how she'll make him pay.
Get ready for a sinister, tense psychological thriller
With an unexpected serial killer.
Can Connor escape this chilling drama alive
Will fate enable him to survive?
A story with so many twists and turns
As this officer for his future dreams yearns.
It isn't a comfortable read, that is true,
But could it be just the book for you?
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.
February 7, 2022
First of all, I wanted to thanks Netgalley and Headline for Advance Review Copy in return for an honest review.
I would love to give this book more stars, but I honestly can't because I didn't click with the book or the characters not even a minute. It was really hard for me to get into the story because the first part, where we got to know Connor's background, was really boring to me and I had zero interest knowing his life as a soldier. The book got better when he was kidnapped, but still didn't feel intrigued about what was happening. None of the characters where likeable so I didn't feel invest with any of them. And the end of the story told me... Nothing.
I'm not saying is a bad book and I get why people would like it; I loved the plot before starting to read. It just wasn't for me.
I would love to give this book more stars, but I honestly can't because I didn't click with the book or the characters not even a minute. It was really hard for me to get into the story because the first part, where we got to know Connor's background, was really boring to me and I had zero interest knowing his life as a soldier. The book got better when he was kidnapped, but still didn't feel intrigued about what was happening. None of the characters where likeable so I didn't feel invest with any of them. And the end of the story told me... Nothing.
I'm not saying is a bad book and I get why people would like it; I loved the plot before starting to read. It just wasn't for me.
January 31, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a free Advance Review Copy of this book.
I haven’t read anything by this author previously, but the cover and book description intrigued me. This is a dark, gritty, and sad read. The ending is not at all what I expected, or wanted, but the story is thoroughly enjoyable all the same.
“She can see nothing beyond her fingers. Darkness smothers the moor.” … from this intriguing opening line, the reader is taken into the darkness that fills Eilidh (pronounced Ay-Lee). And the lesser but still dubious demons that lurk within Conner.
The characterisation was done brilliantly, and even though they’re not likeable people, you still find yourself rooting for them, and personally, the two I really wanted to succeed were Conner and Julie. Bodmin Moor, known and loved by me, was so well described it came alive and resembled a menacing character in its own right. Below are some lines that stood out for me in particular …
“The reflux from his empty stomach had only lubricated his bloody mindedness.”
And …
“He saw his mind slipping away, escaping through one of his eyeballs.”
And …
“A terror that was not rational but made up of the dark, the cold, the peaks, their indifference.”
I could go on, as the writing was so superb. As you may have guessed, You Can Stay gets a solid five stars from me.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I haven’t read anything by this author previously, but the cover and book description intrigued me. This is a dark, gritty, and sad read. The ending is not at all what I expected, or wanted, but the story is thoroughly enjoyable all the same.
“She can see nothing beyond her fingers. Darkness smothers the moor.” … from this intriguing opening line, the reader is taken into the darkness that fills Eilidh (pronounced Ay-Lee). And the lesser but still dubious demons that lurk within Conner.
The characterisation was done brilliantly, and even though they’re not likeable people, you still find yourself rooting for them, and personally, the two I really wanted to succeed were Conner and Julie. Bodmin Moor, known and loved by me, was so well described it came alive and resembled a menacing character in its own right. Below are some lines that stood out for me in particular …
“The reflux from his empty stomach had only lubricated his bloody mindedness.”
And …
“He saw his mind slipping away, escaping through one of his eyeballs.”
And …
“A terror that was not rational but made up of the dark, the cold, the peaks, their indifference.”
I could go on, as the writing was so superb. As you may have guessed, You Can Stay gets a solid five stars from me.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
March 8, 2023
I chose to read this book because the description was very different from what I usually read.
I have heard of the training that happens in the moors so I was intrigued to read it.
When Conner and Dele are in the final stages of training, exhausted too Conner wakes to find Dele gone, in his place is a woman who invites him to her home. He decides to go but then things take a turn.
This book was quite chilling and I did enjoy the most part. Getting to the end I thought okay, not a bad ending. Then the epilogue happened. I did not like that at all.
Overall, it was a good read.
I have heard of the training that happens in the moors so I was intrigued to read it.
When Conner and Dele are in the final stages of training, exhausted too Conner wakes to find Dele gone, in his place is a woman who invites him to her home. He decides to go but then things take a turn.
This book was quite chilling and I did enjoy the most part. Getting to the end I thought okay, not a bad ending. Then the epilogue happened. I did not like that at all.
Overall, it was a good read.
March 11, 2024
3.5 stars
Entertaining read but all the characters seemed a tad hard to relate too. Overall quick and easy read. Haven’t read Misery before but this book had very similar themes to the movie at least.
Entertaining read but all the characters seemed a tad hard to relate too. Overall quick and easy read. Haven’t read Misery before but this book had very similar themes to the movie at least.
February 7, 2024
This wasn't what I expected at all. I thought certain parts were good and the tension was built well but I was soo disappointed with the ending. Like that was it... It's a shame because the plot and idea had so much potential.
August 8, 2022
I’ve not read anything by Elle Connel before but was drawn to the description here. I’m not sure what I was expecting but I found this book quite a challenging read as I really didn’t care for any of the main characters. I felt guilty for not siding with the ‘victim’ Connor but he just didn’t warrant it. I note that the author took inspiration from Misery and there was definitely a nod to it here. I stuck with it to the end, curious to see how the author would resolve things and to put it lightly it didn’t end how I would have chosen. I do think there’s a skill involved in creating dislikable characters and the author definitely has that. This didn’t quite hit the spot for me but it has left me thinking about it.
August 25, 2024
This book was a mid for me, I liked that the writing had me curious to know how it would all play out. …but the characters were a bit annoying & not in a fun “love to hate them” type of way.
The main character was in Special Forces training and I kept thinking WHY doesn’t he over power this petite woman and run away!! DUDE , you are literally in the middle of your Evade and Escape training ….so escape!!
Then the main villain is delusional, sex crazed and annoying.
The ending irked me . If ANY medical person examined both women, they would have been able to figure out the truth. Plus there’s so much evidence that contradicts whatever the villain claimed….
1. The baby gates; how could Julie use them with her arthritis?
2. The video blogs that have “hundreds” of viewers; if she were a hostage and had access to a phone, she could have called for help.
3. Numerous ppl in town have seen the villain shopping ALONE. If she could have driven to town by herself, why didn’t she just drive away and escape?
4. If they did and autopsy on Conner and medical exam on Julie , they would’ve noticed that they both had similar crippling injuries to their legs but NOT the villain.
The main character was in Special Forces training and I kept thinking WHY doesn’t he over power this petite woman and run away!! DUDE , you are literally in the middle of your Evade and Escape training ….so escape!!
Then the main villain is delusional, sex crazed and annoying.
The ending irked me . If ANY medical person examined both women, they would have been able to figure out the truth. Plus there’s so much evidence that contradicts whatever the villain claimed….
1. The baby gates; how could Julie use them with her arthritis?
2. The video blogs that have “hundreds” of viewers; if she were a hostage and had access to a phone, she could have called for help.
3. Numerous ppl in town have seen the villain shopping ALONE. If she could have driven to town by herself, why didn’t she just drive away and escape?
4. If they did and autopsy on Conner and medical exam on Julie , they would’ve noticed that they both had similar crippling injuries to their legs but NOT the villain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2022
I really wanted to enjoy You Can Stay bus sadly this book wasn’t for me. The place was too slow, I didn’t particularly like any of that characters and found parts of the plot unrealistic. Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.
August 9, 2022
3.5-4
Well I can honestly say that this book was not what I was expecting. A team of want-to-be special forces recruits set off on the final stage of their assessment. Two are quickly caught, two manage to evade capture, only to find themselves subject to a far worse form of torture than they would have faced at the hands of the recruiters. This is a story in which the interpretation of affection takes a very dark turn and in which, from the outset, carries a very sinister and unexpected edge. There are echoes of another, rather well known novel and movie adaptation within these pages, and the author does acknowledge that influence on her writing. Perhaps because of that, and the fact that the author in question was one of the biggest influences over my reading habits as a teenager, I’m not sure that I ever fully settled into You Can Stay as I found myself drawing regular comparisons between the two, perhaps a touch unfairly. This is a unique story, an enhanced take on a classic and with some very unexpected twists and turns, but I think the similarities were just too strong to ignore. There is a lot of tension in the book, moments when the author takes us right to the edge of our seats and makes us wonder just how far the tormentor in this story is prepared to go. We are soon to learn that this is really quite far and that they will stop at nothing to get what they want - in this case the love and company of others, even if they are less than enthused by the prospect themselves. Characters are caught between enforced imprisonment and Stockholm syndrome and it makes them all somewhat unpredictable which in turn elevates the tension> Speaking of the characters, I’ll be honest - I didn’t much care for any of them. There is clearly something very unbalanced about Eilidh, a kind of instability that is slowly revealed in a way that makes us question how much is deliberate and how much an accident. Connor is someone I felt initial sympathy toward but his actions later in the book soon changed my opinions. Do I think he deserved his fate - perhaps not. Do I think he’d have passed selection? Not if the Navy had their wits about them … As for the third character in the mix, you need to read the book to understand her place in the story and then decide for yourselves if she deserves sympathy. If I were to feel anything for any of the characters, she is the closest I came to it when her own story was finally revealed. You do need suspend disbelief a touch when reading this book as it is hard to believe that two highly trained, highly skilled soldiers much come unstuck in such a way. This is the one way in which the stories - You Can Stay and it’s inspiration - differ, and I’ll be honest, the original is more plausible. But when you get into the heart of the story, events that came to pass had my reactions ranging from incredulous to angry to a touch nauseous and everything in between. The author doesn’t away from some very definite descriptions of what is going on, some scenes which may offend the prudish of nature, but there is nothing I would call particularly graphic. It just all comes down to story. If I had been more attached to the characters I might have overlooked the implausibility of what came to pass or the nature of the ending which I know will polarise readers. There is no doubting the authors talent for writing and creating atmosphere and tension - the descriptions of the wild and remote nature of Bodmin really made the scenes live so vividly I can almost feel the dew that comes from the morning mists. It just all comes back to that believability angle which has been sitting somewhat uncomfortably on the fence. Or may be that should be a short stone wall … Would it put me off reading the author again? No. The story kept me engaged even when it irritated but this wan’t quite the story for me this time around.
Well I can honestly say that this book was not what I was expecting. A team of want-to-be special forces recruits set off on the final stage of their assessment. Two are quickly caught, two manage to evade capture, only to find themselves subject to a far worse form of torture than they would have faced at the hands of the recruiters. This is a story in which the interpretation of affection takes a very dark turn and in which, from the outset, carries a very sinister and unexpected edge. There are echoes of another, rather well known novel and movie adaptation within these pages, and the author does acknowledge that influence on her writing. Perhaps because of that, and the fact that the author in question was one of the biggest influences over my reading habits as a teenager, I’m not sure that I ever fully settled into You Can Stay as I found myself drawing regular comparisons between the two, perhaps a touch unfairly. This is a unique story, an enhanced take on a classic and with some very unexpected twists and turns, but I think the similarities were just too strong to ignore. There is a lot of tension in the book, moments when the author takes us right to the edge of our seats and makes us wonder just how far the tormentor in this story is prepared to go. We are soon to learn that this is really quite far and that they will stop at nothing to get what they want - in this case the love and company of others, even if they are less than enthused by the prospect themselves. Characters are caught between enforced imprisonment and Stockholm syndrome and it makes them all somewhat unpredictable which in turn elevates the tension> Speaking of the characters, I’ll be honest - I didn’t much care for any of them. There is clearly something very unbalanced about Eilidh, a kind of instability that is slowly revealed in a way that makes us question how much is deliberate and how much an accident. Connor is someone I felt initial sympathy toward but his actions later in the book soon changed my opinions. Do I think he deserved his fate - perhaps not. Do I think he’d have passed selection? Not if the Navy had their wits about them … As for the third character in the mix, you need to read the book to understand her place in the story and then decide for yourselves if she deserves sympathy. If I were to feel anything for any of the characters, she is the closest I came to it when her own story was finally revealed. You do need suspend disbelief a touch when reading this book as it is hard to believe that two highly trained, highly skilled soldiers much come unstuck in such a way. This is the one way in which the stories - You Can Stay and it’s inspiration - differ, and I’ll be honest, the original is more plausible. But when you get into the heart of the story, events that came to pass had my reactions ranging from incredulous to angry to a touch nauseous and everything in between. The author doesn’t away from some very definite descriptions of what is going on, some scenes which may offend the prudish of nature, but there is nothing I would call particularly graphic. It just all comes down to story. If I had been more attached to the characters I might have overlooked the implausibility of what came to pass or the nature of the ending which I know will polarise readers. There is no doubting the authors talent for writing and creating atmosphere and tension - the descriptions of the wild and remote nature of Bodmin really made the scenes live so vividly I can almost feel the dew that comes from the morning mists. It just all comes back to that believability angle which has been sitting somewhat uncomfortably on the fence. Or may be that should be a short stone wall … Would it put me off reading the author again? No. The story kept me engaged even when it irritated but this wan’t quite the story for me this time around.
August 26, 2022
WOW! What an astounding read this is!
Talk about creepy and totally captivating!
Connor and his colleague are out on Bodmin Moor, on selection training. It’s cold and wet. They’re freezing, hungry, and exhausted. When a local woman offers Connor warm refuge at her cottage, he decides it’s worth the risk for a few hours of comfort. Eilidh seems nice enough and assures him she won’t give up his location for the £50 reward. Connor soon wishes she had!
Eilidh is an intriguing character who put me on edge from the very beginning. She is fascinating from a psychological point of view. You never call tell what goes on in someone else’s head and what might go on behind closed doors!
This story is as gripping as they get. I was glued to my kindle at every opportunity. It’s one of those books I was thinking about whenever I rudely had to do other stuff which prevented me from reading it. I couldn’t wait to find out how it was all going to turn out.
OH. MY. GOODNESS! That ending!!! It made my blood run cold. Very, very clever writing!
I highly recommend!
This book reminded me so much of a very well-known book which I won’t mention as I don’t want to give anything away. I wasn’t surprised to see it mentioned in the acknowledgements at the end of the book!
I’ve added this author’s other books to my reading list.
**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/08/2...
Talk about creepy and totally captivating!
Connor and his colleague are out on Bodmin Moor, on selection training. It’s cold and wet. They’re freezing, hungry, and exhausted. When a local woman offers Connor warm refuge at her cottage, he decides it’s worth the risk for a few hours of comfort. Eilidh seems nice enough and assures him she won’t give up his location for the £50 reward. Connor soon wishes she had!
Eilidh is an intriguing character who put me on edge from the very beginning. She is fascinating from a psychological point of view. You never call tell what goes on in someone else’s head and what might go on behind closed doors!
This story is as gripping as they get. I was glued to my kindle at every opportunity. It’s one of those books I was thinking about whenever I rudely had to do other stuff which prevented me from reading it. I couldn’t wait to find out how it was all going to turn out.
OH. MY. GOODNESS! That ending!!! It made my blood run cold. Very, very clever writing!
I highly recommend!
This book reminded me so much of a very well-known book which I won’t mention as I don’t want to give anything away. I wasn’t surprised to see it mentioned in the acknowledgements at the end of the book!
I’ve added this author’s other books to my reading list.
**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/08/2...
May 9, 2022
This is a dark and atmospheric thriller that held me in its grip throughout. It is also a bit of a Hansel and Gretel fairy tale, albeit without Gretel and a happy ending. Hansel, alias Connor is a Marine Corporal competing in a Selection Process to join the Elite Special Forces. In the woods (Bodmin Moor), he encounters Eilidh, who turns out to be a right witch and who lures him into her (ginger bread) house where she feeds the senses of the warmth-, food- and love starved Marine. Connor realises too late that he is trapped and that his captor’s intentions are anything but benevolent.
It is also a study about exercising ultimate power over another person and how mind and body resist and comply in the struggle for survival. Given that Connor is a highly trained Marine, it is no mean feat for Eilidh to stay in control but she has one advantage over him: she is a psychopath and as such does not have to deal with feelings of empathy and guilt. I found it fascinating how both, captor’s and captive’s actions were determined by their own inner daemons, which they must exorcise in order to stay on top of this mental and physical power struggle. Nail-biting until the very end with a big twist waiting for the reader in the epilogue.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Headline Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is also a study about exercising ultimate power over another person and how mind and body resist and comply in the struggle for survival. Given that Connor is a highly trained Marine, it is no mean feat for Eilidh to stay in control but she has one advantage over him: she is a psychopath and as such does not have to deal with feelings of empathy and guilt. I found it fascinating how both, captor’s and captive’s actions were determined by their own inner daemons, which they must exorcise in order to stay on top of this mental and physical power struggle. Nail-biting until the very end with a big twist waiting for the reader in the epilogue.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Headline Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2022
Everything about this book drew me in, from the promise of a dark and disturbing thriller with an original twist to the isolated Cornish setting. And for the most part, You Can Stay is a gripping and twisted read with a really uncomfortable setting, and I enjoyed how Connel made a generic thriller feel so unique.
Normally, this is the kind of book I absolutely love. But sadly, it didn't all pay off for me and I feel a little gutted about that. It wasn't so much the atmosphere or situation as I'm all for violence and gore, so it's usually the darker the better for me. But I just found a lot of You Can Stay crude, which is one thing I can't handle. There were sections of dialogue making me shudder in their cringe-worthiness, so this really put a dampener on my reading experience.
And then we come to the ending, which I'm not sure how I feel about yet. I like the twist itself, but I think everything came to end too abruptly, meaning there wasn't enough time for everything to be pieced together completely.
For me, there were a few things that restricted my enjoyment of this story for me, but I'm sure they won't bother most readers and the atmosphere is definitely there, so I'd still recommend this to others.
Normally, this is the kind of book I absolutely love. But sadly, it didn't all pay off for me and I feel a little gutted about that. It wasn't so much the atmosphere or situation as I'm all for violence and gore, so it's usually the darker the better for me. But I just found a lot of You Can Stay crude, which is one thing I can't handle. There were sections of dialogue making me shudder in their cringe-worthiness, so this really put a dampener on my reading experience.
And then we come to the ending, which I'm not sure how I feel about yet. I like the twist itself, but I think everything came to end too abruptly, meaning there wasn't enough time for everything to be pieced together completely.
For me, there were a few things that restricted my enjoyment of this story for me, but I'm sure they won't bother most readers and the atmosphere is definitely there, so I'd still recommend this to others.
November 27, 2022
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
You Can Stay is the first book I’ve read by Elle Connel. I was intrigued by the description and couldn’t wait to pick it up.
The story is told from the perspective of Connor, who is taking part in the elite Special Forces training forces on Bodmin Moor. As part of the final stage of training, Connor must survive on limited resources as well as evade a squad of paratroopers who are hunting him down. Everything seems to be going ok until he meets Eilidh who lives in an isolated cottage on the moor. She offers him food and a place to rest knowing this is against the rules he accepts the offers, and that’s when things start going wrong for Connor as Eilidh holds him hostage.
You Can Stay is well written but I did almost give up on it at the beginning as I found the start really slow, but glad I didn’t give up as the pace picked up and I flew through the rest of the book.
I thought the characters were well drawn and although I couldn’t relate to them and found them unlikeable I still ended up rooting for them, especially Conner.
Overall a good read and I look forward to giving some of Connel’s other books a go soon.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher’s Headline for my eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
You Can Stay is the first book I’ve read by Elle Connel. I was intrigued by the description and couldn’t wait to pick it up.
The story is told from the perspective of Connor, who is taking part in the elite Special Forces training forces on Bodmin Moor. As part of the final stage of training, Connor must survive on limited resources as well as evade a squad of paratroopers who are hunting him down. Everything seems to be going ok until he meets Eilidh who lives in an isolated cottage on the moor. She offers him food and a place to rest knowing this is against the rules he accepts the offers, and that’s when things start going wrong for Connor as Eilidh holds him hostage.
You Can Stay is well written but I did almost give up on it at the beginning as I found the start really slow, but glad I didn’t give up as the pace picked up and I flew through the rest of the book.
I thought the characters were well drawn and although I couldn’t relate to them and found them unlikeable I still ended up rooting for them, especially Conner.
Overall a good read and I look forward to giving some of Connel’s other books a go soon.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher’s Headline for my eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
March 10, 2022
Connor is on a Special forces exercise on Bodmin Moor. It’s cold and it’s wet. So, when he comes to a local farmhouse or ‘Bothy’ He is invited in to take rest. He jumps at the chance to get into the warm. His superiors will never no, right? And his buddy Dele has deserted him.
So, when he is invited in by a woman called Eilidh something happens to them both and he can’t resist her charms and they end up in bed. But when he tries to leave, she has him trapped.
Thank you Headline for a copy of You can Stay by Elle Connel. I was looking forward to reading this after the interesting blurb. But after reading this I am afraid this isn’t for me. The first half of the book telling me about his life in the forces made it authentic, but after that I found the storyline to be unrealistic and just querying everything. Connor is supposed to be an Elite soldier, but he can unravel himself from one woman. Also, if a soldier is on and Elite training program and he is supposed to hiding from someone than why is he going shopping in a Petrol station? My mind boggles. I found this to be so bad I couldn't finish it. 2 stars from me.
August 9, 2022
You Can Stay was a book I didn’t know what to expect as it has quite mixed reviews but I did enjoy this dark and tense read even though the ending could have been much better.
Connor is out on Bodmin moor on an exercise for the elite special forces, he mustn’t be caught or he fails but the paratroopers and their dogs are getting closer until he bumps into a local woman, Eilidh, she offers him shelter and food for a few hours until night falls and he can get to the checkpoint. He knows he should not accept the offer, it’s been drilled into him that you never involve the locals but he’s in desperate need of food and warmth so he accepts her offer only to find it’s the worst thing he could have done.
This was a dark read that was tense at times, it covers everything from sex to murder with all types of horror in between. Julie the woman Eilidh is helping at the farmhouse was the only person I rooted for the other two characters Eilidh and Connor were both extremely unlikeable and twisted.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Connor is out on Bodmin moor on an exercise for the elite special forces, he mustn’t be caught or he fails but the paratroopers and their dogs are getting closer until he bumps into a local woman, Eilidh, she offers him shelter and food for a few hours until night falls and he can get to the checkpoint. He knows he should not accept the offer, it’s been drilled into him that you never involve the locals but he’s in desperate need of food and warmth so he accepts her offer only to find it’s the worst thing he could have done.
This was a dark read that was tense at times, it covers everything from sex to murder with all types of horror in between. Julie the woman Eilidh is helping at the farmhouse was the only person I rooted for the other two characters Eilidh and Connor were both extremely unlikeable and twisted.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2022
Reading Stuff 'n' Things
This is one of those books that you will either enjoy or not ... I thought it was quite good, not fantastic but not bad either.
There is a nod to Stephen King's Misery to this story, which is acknowledged by the author, as it's got some similar themes and has that creepy and growing sense of tension feel to it.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but they are well developed and although I don't think it mattered too much whether Eilidh was 'nice' or not, I did feel it was important for Connor to have some redeemable qualities alas I didn't think he did and therefore wasn't bothered what befell him which resulted in me not investing as much into the story as I could have.
The pace started off a little slow but grew as things moved on; the ending was quite satisfying if a little quick and although you have to suspend belief as to how Connor came to be in his position in the first place, it's a pretty good read.
Many thanks to Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of You Can Stay.
This is one of those books that you will either enjoy or not ... I thought it was quite good, not fantastic but not bad either.
There is a nod to Stephen King's Misery to this story, which is acknowledged by the author, as it's got some similar themes and has that creepy and growing sense of tension feel to it.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but they are well developed and although I don't think it mattered too much whether Eilidh was 'nice' or not, I did feel it was important for Connor to have some redeemable qualities alas I didn't think he did and therefore wasn't bothered what befell him which resulted in me not investing as much into the story as I could have.
The pace started off a little slow but grew as things moved on; the ending was quite satisfying if a little quick and although you have to suspend belief as to how Connor came to be in his position in the first place, it's a pretty good read.
Many thanks to Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of You Can Stay.
October 19, 2025
Connor is being hunted. While undergoing selection for an elite Special Forces training programme, he must evade capture by a squad of paratroopers, surviving for days in the remote wilderness of Bodmin Moor. When he’s offered shelter and rest by the owner of a nearby farmhouse, he knows he’s breaking the rules—but what harm could it do? Especially with his training partner, Dele, mysteriously gone in the middle of the night.
His host, Eilidh, is warm and welcoming—almost too perfect. Connor finds it increasingly difficult to tear himself away from the comfort of the farmhouse. But with time running out and his next rendezvous looming, he begins to realise things are not as they seem. What exactly has he walked into? And is getting out even a choice anymore?
The story begins slowly but soon picks up pace, evolving into a dark, unsettling psychological thriller. There are moments of real creepiness, and while the ending feels a little rushed, the book overall is gripping and atmospheric. It’s a chilling read that keeps the pages turning.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #Headline for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
His host, Eilidh, is warm and welcoming—almost too perfect. Connor finds it increasingly difficult to tear himself away from the comfort of the farmhouse. But with time running out and his next rendezvous looming, he begins to realise things are not as they seem. What exactly has he walked into? And is getting out even a choice anymore?
The story begins slowly but soon picks up pace, evolving into a dark, unsettling psychological thriller. There are moments of real creepiness, and while the ending feels a little rushed, the book overall is gripping and atmospheric. It’s a chilling read that keeps the pages turning.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #Headline for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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