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All For You
‘A galloping pulse-pounder’ Heat ‘[A] gripping thriller . . . with perfectly observed emotions and red herrings that will boggle the mind’ Woman Home ‘A full-blown, brilliantly plotted and written novel, with a clarity and originality that is wonderfully unique’ On magazine‘You’ll be left open-mouthed by the turn of events’ Woman’s Weekly ‘A compelling page-turner’ Bella * * *MEET THE WALSH Loving mother. Devoted wife. And falling to Dedicated father. Faithful husband. And in too son. Loyal friend. But can never tell the truth.Everyone in this family is hiding something, but one secret will turn out to be the deadliest of all . . .Can this family ever recover when the truth finally comes out?* * *Readers are GRIPPED by All For You‘This book keeps you on your toes! It is an excellent psychological thriller, with the tension building up throughout . . . A well-deserved 5 stars from me’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Compelling and chilling. Louise is at the top of her game when it comes to writing a unputdownable psychological thriller’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Louise Jensen has done it again . . . The writing had the sheer talent of wanting me keep reading one more chapter deep into the night’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Full of suspense and edge-of-your-seat moments. If I could give more than 5 stars I would because this book is definitely one of my favourite reads’ NetGalley reviewer,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
416 pages, Paperback
Published August 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
July 3, 2021
It is with a huge sense of foreboding that Lucy Walsh races home, panic stricken about the well being of her eldest son, seventeen year old Connor especially after the disappearance in recent days of his friends Tyler and Ryan, dubbed ‘The Taken’. The family is weighed down with worries as thirteen year old son Kieron is a very poorly boy. The weather is terrible, there are roadworks and everything conspires against a quick journey so Lucy can put her mind at rest. What will she find at journeys end? The story is principally told by Lucy, husband Aidan and Connor and backtracks to days and weeks before the present day.
This poor family is really struggling, each of them feels a sack load of guilt about things which becomes clear as the plot unfolds. They’re all keeping secrets too - in fact, this family is a bubbling cauldron of them. There’s tension and fear which ramps up well throughout the book along with a sense of the claustrophobia of being watched which are all conveyed well. The situation with Kieron is done heartbreakingly well and is central to the storytelling. He has PSC, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a chronic liver disease and you appreciate the family’s terror of the worst possible outcome with all its consequences, to say nothing of how much Kieron suffers because of it. Connors point of view is especially good, he’s full of conflicted feelings typical of teenage but he’s also carrying a load which emerges a bit at a time enabling you to understand him. What is not in doubt is his love for his younger brother. There’s a growing sense of foreboding, the author does well to keep you puzzling about what has happened and is happening to each of them and there are some good red herrings.
However, I’m not particularly keen of the clipped sentence style or single words used. I can see why the author uses the tactic but it’s not one that works well for me but may work for others. It gets a bit repetitive and maybe overplayed and as for the ending!!! It’s, er, surprising??? You might even say a bit crazy?? It’s certainly extreme and I would suggest far fetched but it does serve to demonstrate how far people will go for their loved ones. Also, note to self, it is fiction, so anything goes!!
Overall, though despite the negatives, there is a lot that is really good in this novel and it’s certainly an entertaining read, just strap on those disbelief suspenders at the end!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This poor family is really struggling, each of them feels a sack load of guilt about things which becomes clear as the plot unfolds. They’re all keeping secrets too - in fact, this family is a bubbling cauldron of them. There’s tension and fear which ramps up well throughout the book along with a sense of the claustrophobia of being watched which are all conveyed well. The situation with Kieron is done heartbreakingly well and is central to the storytelling. He has PSC, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a chronic liver disease and you appreciate the family’s terror of the worst possible outcome with all its consequences, to say nothing of how much Kieron suffers because of it. Connors point of view is especially good, he’s full of conflicted feelings typical of teenage but he’s also carrying a load which emerges a bit at a time enabling you to understand him. What is not in doubt is his love for his younger brother. There’s a growing sense of foreboding, the author does well to keep you puzzling about what has happened and is happening to each of them and there are some good red herrings.
However, I’m not particularly keen of the clipped sentence style or single words used. I can see why the author uses the tactic but it’s not one that works well for me but may work for others. It gets a bit repetitive and maybe overplayed and as for the ending!!! It’s, er, surprising??? You might even say a bit crazy?? It’s certainly extreme and I would suggest far fetched but it does serve to demonstrate how far people will go for their loved ones. Also, note to self, it is fiction, so anything goes!!
Overall, though despite the negatives, there is a lot that is really good in this novel and it’s certainly an entertaining read, just strap on those disbelief suspenders at the end!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
March 10, 2023
I LOVED it. The story was engaging and suspenseful. I cared about the characters and found the relationship between them interesting. I was emotionally invested while also wondering what would happen next. The twist was unexpected, even if I had to hold back some skepticism. It made sense in a very messed up way;
February 4, 2023
All For You is the latest book by Louise Jensen, a thriller writer whose books I've enjoyed a bunch in the past. Lucy and Aidan are older parents who have two teenage sons. Their older one, Connor, was involved in a tragedy a year ago, and their younger son has an illness that makes him stop growing and often get bacterial infections. He likely will need a liver transplant in the future. The book chapters are before and after, revolving around the day Connor was taken. Readers aren't sure what that means quite yet, but by midbook, two friends of his were taken, and they were involved in the same tragedy as Connor. The headmaster doesn't like Connor. His girlfriend is either dead or missing. As it all comes together, we learn many boys were taken and someone's been lying for years. Unfortunately, so much of this plot revolved around intentionally keeping clues from the reader, so when it all came together, it felt like Jensen was just messing with us. For plot and mystery alone, it was great. But for overall continuity, reality, and character sympathy, I struggled a lot. Still gonna read Jensen's work but this one was a bit too far off the beaten path for me.
April 20, 2022
Whilst I didn't find this as strong as some of Jensen's other psychological thrillers, it was still a fun twisty read with plenty of shocks to keep me hooked.
The most interesting aspect of the novel is the Walsh family themselves as mother Lucy is trying to hold everything together as her youngest son Kieran has a terminal illness at the same time other son Connor has been abducted.
The chapters are short and follow various POV's but there is a need for a suspension of disbelief to continue to enjoy the twists.
The most interesting aspect of the novel is the Walsh family themselves as mother Lucy is trying to hold everything together as her youngest son Kieran has a terminal illness at the same time other son Connor has been abducted.
The chapters are short and follow various POV's but there is a need for a suspension of disbelief to continue to enjoy the twists.
January 11, 2022
Now I know some folk don’t like these words but they are the only words to describe this book…so here goes
‘Full of twists and turns’ sorry if offends but there is no better way to describe this fast snappy thriller, they pop up and keep popping up right to the very end, some a real game changer, some easier to predict but all making a massive part of this read
And it’s good ( am having a good year so far with books ) it has everything you could want in a story really, a fast and furious start, great characters that you ‘see’ immediately, easy welcoming writing and as say T’s and T’s in abundance
The parts that deal with childhood rare illnesses are done so very well and informatively and the crux of the book will challenge any parent….will say no more on that
A great read that lovers like me of this genre will enjoy and feel satisfied with
9/10
5 Stars
‘Full of twists and turns’ sorry if offends but there is no better way to describe this fast snappy thriller, they pop up and keep popping up right to the very end, some a real game changer, some easier to predict but all making a massive part of this read
And it’s good ( am having a good year so far with books ) it has everything you could want in a story really, a fast and furious start, great characters that you ‘see’ immediately, easy welcoming writing and as say T’s and T’s in abundance
The parts that deal with childhood rare illnesses are done so very well and informatively and the crux of the book will challenge any parent….will say no more on that
A great read that lovers like me of this genre will enjoy and feel satisfied with
9/10
5 Stars
March 13, 2022
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All for You by Louise Jensen. (2021).
Meet the Walsh family.
Lucy: mother, wife, falling to pieces....
Aidan: father, husband, in too deep...
Connor: son, friend, can never tell the truth...
Everyone in this family has something to hide, but what are they trying to protect, and at what cost?
I'm not going to lie, I was pretty disappointed by this one. It has really good reviews, but it didn't work for me. The simplest way I can explain why is that in my opinion the majority of the book is slow and vague, with the perspectives changing often so when something interesting does happen, you are immediately thrown to another character; maybe for some people this adds to the suspense, for me I think it didn't flow well. Then at the end we have a multitude of crazy events and twists and it's chaos; this is odd after being so slow. I had similar feelings about the author's previous novel (The Family) and again, I was in the minority where most readers really liked it.
Overall: I think I obviously just don't gel with this author's style - given the numerous positive reviews it's worth a go if the synopsis interests you.
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All for You by Louise Jensen. (2021).
Meet the Walsh family.
Lucy: mother, wife, falling to pieces....
Aidan: father, husband, in too deep...
Connor: son, friend, can never tell the truth...
Everyone in this family has something to hide, but what are they trying to protect, and at what cost?
I'm not going to lie, I was pretty disappointed by this one. It has really good reviews, but it didn't work for me. The simplest way I can explain why is that in my opinion the majority of the book is slow and vague, with the perspectives changing often so when something interesting does happen, you are immediately thrown to another character; maybe for some people this adds to the suspense, for me I think it didn't flow well. Then at the end we have a multitude of crazy events and twists and it's chaos; this is odd after being so slow. I had similar feelings about the author's previous novel (The Family) and again, I was in the minority where most readers really liked it.
Overall: I think I obviously just don't gel with this author's style - given the numerous positive reviews it's worth a go if the synopsis interests you.
October 22, 2021
Lucy, Aiden and their son Conor Walsh all have something to hide, but what are they trying to protect, and at what cost.
What a gripping, page turning and well written book this is. I could not put this book down, I had to keep reading to find out exactly what had happened. The youngest son has liver disease and the eldest son is abducted. That's about all I can tell you. The rest of the book, you're better off going in blind. You won't be disappointed. This is a tense and thrilling read that held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #LouiseJensen for my ARC of #AllForYou in exchange for an honest review.
What a gripping, page turning and well written book this is. I could not put this book down, I had to keep reading to find out exactly what had happened. The youngest son has liver disease and the eldest son is abducted. That's about all I can tell you. The rest of the book, you're better off going in blind. You won't be disappointed. This is a tense and thrilling read that held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #LouiseJensen for my ARC of #AllForYou in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2022
Imagine serving up a plate of spaghetti pasta. As you go to eat it, you twist the pasta around your fork, creating a larger and larger bundle. What started as a mass of individual strands becomes a cohesive bundle that you can eat. Well, bear this metaphor in mind as I think this describes the narrative of this amazing book perfectly!
The story began with what I thought was a rather thrilling yet straight-forward narrative. Counting down the days to Connor’s disappearance, readers meet the Walsh family, who are under considerable strain. With Connor suffering from guilt about an accident that happened a few months ago at the school residential, Lucy trying to hold the family together, it’s a recipe for secrets and suspicions. Lucy is stretched to the wire, caring for her youngest son, Kieron, who has a life-threatening illness. At the same time, she is incredibly conscious of Connor as he struggles to return to school after the accident. Add in the belief that they, or at least, Lucy, is being stalked by someone in a white car, Lucy does not feel she nor her family are safe. And if that wasn’t enough, it appears that husband, Aiden, is also harbouring a few secrets himself.
So, I return to the spaghetti metaphor once more: each strand of narrative develops, growing longer, simultaneously revealing that there is more to each part than initially seen. However, as the story progresses, I could not help but be surprised by further revelations. Jensen keeps the reader guessing throughout, as the plot snowballs into ‘forkfuls’ of connections and truths. I was awestruck as I went further into the book and found I could not put it down, anticipating the next set of revelations would remain unpredictable and thrilling.
There are a lot of chapters in this book and I like how it reflects the intensity of the drama taking place. Switching between different character perspectives was interesting, particularly when Jensen immediately carries on the action in the following chapter. It made the plot flow and it felt pacey, adding to the fact that I was intrigued by how the story would develop.
As well as being a thrilling, surprising read, there was a lot of emotion too. The illness that Kieron suffers with has been narrated in a sensitive way and I think the writer perfectly presents the anguish felt by helpless parents that can do little to ease a child’s pain. In addition, the emotions that Connor experiences were akin to PTSD and I felt so sorry by how lonely and isolated he feels from the accident. As more information is revealed about that fateful night, and Connor and his friends’ involvement, it is evident that Connor needs more than just supportive parents to overcome his feelings. Indeed, the closing truths revealed about Connor made me want to give him a big hug to console him, because he has so much weight on his shoulders.
I was really surprised by this book in the end. Not just by the unexpected plot twists, but the fact that key information was revealed ahead of the closing chapters. Anticipating that the ending would be prolonged, Jensen instead maintains the adrenaline rush that was established by the entire story. It’s my first read by this author and an unforgettable one at that. A great way to start the new year!
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story began with what I thought was a rather thrilling yet straight-forward narrative. Counting down the days to Connor’s disappearance, readers meet the Walsh family, who are under considerable strain. With Connor suffering from guilt about an accident that happened a few months ago at the school residential, Lucy trying to hold the family together, it’s a recipe for secrets and suspicions. Lucy is stretched to the wire, caring for her youngest son, Kieron, who has a life-threatening illness. At the same time, she is incredibly conscious of Connor as he struggles to return to school after the accident. Add in the belief that they, or at least, Lucy, is being stalked by someone in a white car, Lucy does not feel she nor her family are safe. And if that wasn’t enough, it appears that husband, Aiden, is also harbouring a few secrets himself.
So, I return to the spaghetti metaphor once more: each strand of narrative develops, growing longer, simultaneously revealing that there is more to each part than initially seen. However, as the story progresses, I could not help but be surprised by further revelations. Jensen keeps the reader guessing throughout, as the plot snowballs into ‘forkfuls’ of connections and truths. I was awestruck as I went further into the book and found I could not put it down, anticipating the next set of revelations would remain unpredictable and thrilling.
There are a lot of chapters in this book and I like how it reflects the intensity of the drama taking place. Switching between different character perspectives was interesting, particularly when Jensen immediately carries on the action in the following chapter. It made the plot flow and it felt pacey, adding to the fact that I was intrigued by how the story would develop.
As well as being a thrilling, surprising read, there was a lot of emotion too. The illness that Kieron suffers with has been narrated in a sensitive way and I think the writer perfectly presents the anguish felt by helpless parents that can do little to ease a child’s pain. In addition, the emotions that Connor experiences were akin to PTSD and I felt so sorry by how lonely and isolated he feels from the accident. As more information is revealed about that fateful night, and Connor and his friends’ involvement, it is evident that Connor needs more than just supportive parents to overcome his feelings. Indeed, the closing truths revealed about Connor made me want to give him a big hug to console him, because he has so much weight on his shoulders.
I was really surprised by this book in the end. Not just by the unexpected plot twists, but the fact that key information was revealed ahead of the closing chapters. Anticipating that the ending would be prolonged, Jensen instead maintains the adrenaline rush that was established by the entire story. It’s my first read by this author and an unforgettable one at that. A great way to start the new year!
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2022
Lucy Walsh is a loving wife and mother. Until recently she had been working as an orthopedic surgeon and her husband, Aidan, is a veterinarian. They have two sons: 17-year-old Connor and 13-year-old Kieron, who is very ill with a chronic liver disease. Her oldest son, Connor, is also struggling. Something occurred at the school residential that he is finding difficult to process, and he is struggling to return to school. Lucy believes that someone is stalking her, sitting outside the family home in a white car. She believes her whole family are at risk. We also learn that her husband, Aiden is struggling with secrets of his own.
The realities of their problems unravel slowly. Each chapter is told from an individual’s perspective and that is how you find out exactly what is going on with the characters. The insight you get as a reader feels intense, as it allows you to put together exactly what is happening. The book has a lot of twists and turns and secrets, which kept me engrossed.
The realities of their problems unravel slowly. Each chapter is told from an individual’s perspective and that is how you find out exactly what is going on with the characters. The insight you get as a reader feels intense, as it allows you to put together exactly what is happening. The book has a lot of twists and turns and secrets, which kept me engrossed.
December 20, 2021
I had previously read ‘The Gift’ by Louise Jenson which I thoroughly enjoyed so was keen to read this one. If I am honest I didn’t find it as compelling as ‘The Gift’ but it as certainly a good read. Well written with some interesting characters building the suspense up throughout.
The Walsh family are troubled and all of them are hiding their own secrets, but one of them has a secret that threatens to rip the family apart. Lucy and Aiden have a loving marriage and a hard working son named Connor. Everything on the surface looks rosy but they are all hiding something.
The book is full of suspense and emotion and a good read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and HQ for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Walsh family are troubled and all of them are hiding their own secrets, but one of them has a secret that threatens to rip the family apart. Lucy and Aiden have a loving marriage and a hard working son named Connor. Everything on the surface looks rosy but they are all hiding something.
The book is full of suspense and emotion and a good read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and HQ for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2021
I have been in a super reading slump. Not even being able to get into books by my favourite authors. So of course, I jump into a Louise Jensen. Because let's be honest, we all know that she's going to grab you with a story full of family and secrets.
Well this new psychological thriller by Louise is absolutely no different. I loved following the story, there was emotion, secrets, lies and pure losing your mind twists and turns you haven't a clue what's going on. At times I felt like I was stuck in a huge maze and the way out was closed off, thinking I had found the light and then Louise throws in another banger and knocks me into a hedge.
Louise never fails to astound me with her writing. It just gets better and better. What I would do to be around for the conversations you have with your son!
Well this new psychological thriller by Louise is absolutely no different. I loved following the story, there was emotion, secrets, lies and pure losing your mind twists and turns you haven't a clue what's going on. At times I felt like I was stuck in a huge maze and the way out was closed off, thinking I had found the light and then Louise throws in another banger and knocks me into a hedge.
Louise never fails to astound me with her writing. It just gets better and better. What I would do to be around for the conversations you have with your son!
January 24, 2022
Holy moly what an absolute rollercoaster this book took me on! Poor Lucy races home to discover her son has gone missing just days after his two best friends have disappeared too. We soon discover that every character in this book has something to hide and would go to great lengths to make sure their secrets stay hidden. So who has taken the boys; Connor, Ryan and Tyler? Who is stalking the family home? What on earth has happened to Hailey, Connor’s girlfriend who seems to have suffered a tragic accident? Well you’ll have to read the book to figure it all out.
This book was an absolutely fantastic read which had me gripped from start to finish. I instantly needed to know who had kidnapped the boys, and did it have something to do with Hailey’s accident? I did not guess the culprit behind the kidnapping because all the people I had guessed had very shady issues. I thought it could be Connor’s dad, Aidan, as he was meeting up with a woman which was witnessed by Tyler and he had to pay him off to keep him quiet. A couple of days after that Tyler goes missing. Aidan was always out of the house when the boys were taken… but he wouldn’t take his own son, would he?
There are so many secrets revealed in this book that my head spun and I gasped out loud more times than I can count. You’ll finish this book understanding the whole story, and how each of the characters are connected to each other, and absolutely reeling from the events you’ve just witnessed.
Thank you so much to HQ and Tandem Collective UK for having me on this readalong.
Trigger warning: kidnap, dead animals, torture scene.
This book was an absolutely fantastic read which had me gripped from start to finish. I instantly needed to know who had kidnapped the boys, and did it have something to do with Hailey’s accident? I did not guess the culprit behind the kidnapping because all the people I had guessed had very shady issues. I thought it could be Connor’s dad, Aidan, as he was meeting up with a woman which was witnessed by Tyler and he had to pay him off to keep him quiet. A couple of days after that Tyler goes missing. Aidan was always out of the house when the boys were taken… but he wouldn’t take his own son, would he?
There are so many secrets revealed in this book that my head spun and I gasped out loud more times than I can count. You’ll finish this book understanding the whole story, and how each of the characters are connected to each other, and absolutely reeling from the events you’ve just witnessed.
Thank you so much to HQ and Tandem Collective UK for having me on this readalong.
Trigger warning: kidnap, dead animals, torture scene.
January 6, 2022
I loved this twisty book. It was full of tension and kept me reading right until the last page. I didn’t like the characters very much but, it added to the book. I’ve read a few of Louise Jensen’s books and this one I think was one of her best. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
August 19, 2023
"Something is wrong. I've a deep, primal instinct screaming that I need to get home to Connor. It isn't just because of the row we'd had. The horrible, hurtful things he had said, it's something else. A knowing that, despite being seventeen, I should never have left my son alone."
You know when you read a book, trying to figure out who did what and why, but you get every single thing wrong? Well this was that for me. I spent the first 60% of the book very confused because we jump into the story after an awful event has happened, but no one is talking about what it was. There were a lot of questions needing to be answered and I had a few ideas for all of them, but every single one ended up being wrong. I was not expecting that ending at all.
This was a really great read, and Louise Jensen is becoming a fast favourite. Highly recommend.
You know when you read a book, trying to figure out who did what and why, but you get every single thing wrong? Well this was that for me. I spent the first 60% of the book very confused because we jump into the story after an awful event has happened, but no one is talking about what it was. There were a lot of questions needing to be answered and I had a few ideas for all of them, but every single one ended up being wrong. I was not expecting that ending at all.
This was a really great read, and Louise Jensen is becoming a fast favourite. Highly recommend.
February 17, 2024
Totally enjoyed this thriller!! Too many twists to count 😲
October 10, 2024
Chyba się jednak nie polubię z twórczością autorki. Zbyt wiele wątków, które potem się ze sobą łączą - nie gra mi to. Mało realne, a w thrillerach lubię realizm.
September 11, 2023
Lucy Walsh races home panic stricken about the whereabouts of her son Connor, especially after the disappearance of his two friends Tyler and Ryan, dubbed "The Taken."
Her other son Kieran is suffering with a deteriorating liver and will eventually need a transplant.
Connor had recently been involved in a tragic incident whilst on a school residential.
Lucy, Aiden, and Connor are all hiding big secrets which will unravel before their very eyes.
The story counts down to the day that Connor is taken and it is told from several POV's.
I loved this book. Everything came together so seamlessly at the end in a way that I could never had predicted.
A must read!!!
An author I love and I cannot wait for her next book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Her other son Kieran is suffering with a deteriorating liver and will eventually need a transplant.
Connor had recently been involved in a tragic incident whilst on a school residential.
Lucy, Aiden, and Connor are all hiding big secrets which will unravel before their very eyes.
The story counts down to the day that Connor is taken and it is told from several POV's.
I loved this book. Everything came together so seamlessly at the end in a way that I could never had predicted.
A must read!!!
An author I love and I cannot wait for her next book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2022
WHAT A BOOK! I am a massive fan of this author and have read and loved all her previous books. When I received the email from Tandem I signed up for this one immediately and my god I was not disappointed.
This is a fast paced, intriguing and dynamic thriller, told from multi character perspectives of members of the same family. Everyone is hiding something, everyone is highly suspicious and the twists keep on coming. I couldn’t put this down and was pulled in from the very first chapter. The main twist and ending was completely unexpected and it floored me. I can’t say any more for spoilers but if you love a good high impact thriller that keeps you guessing pick this one up straight away!
This is a fast paced, intriguing and dynamic thriller, told from multi character perspectives of members of the same family. Everyone is hiding something, everyone is highly suspicious and the twists keep on coming. I couldn’t put this down and was pulled in from the very first chapter. The main twist and ending was completely unexpected and it floored me. I can’t say any more for spoilers but if you love a good high impact thriller that keeps you guessing pick this one up straight away!
January 9, 2022
3.5 stars
This is a good read.
Lucy, Aidan and their son Connor are all hiding something.
The family is struggling to communicate as each of them is trying to keep their secrets hidden.
It’s clear something happened last Summer and Connor blames himself.
Aidan is meeting a woman behind his wife’s back and can’t get away from her.
It’s not clear until later what Lucy is hiding, and I certainly wasn’t expecting it.
This is a good read but the flow of the story is a bit fragmented due to the way the chapters chop and change in perspective and timeline.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a good read.
Lucy, Aidan and their son Connor are all hiding something.
The family is struggling to communicate as each of them is trying to keep their secrets hidden.
It’s clear something happened last Summer and Connor blames himself.
Aidan is meeting a woman behind his wife’s back and can’t get away from her.
It’s not clear until later what Lucy is hiding, and I certainly wasn’t expecting it.
This is a good read but the flow of the story is a bit fragmented due to the way the chapters chop and change in perspective and timeline.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
January 31, 2022
Kto jak kto, ale Louise Jensen potrafi budować napięcie i utrzymywać je na dobrym poziomie przez całą książkę. Nieustannie czułam ciarki na plecach. Ponadto autorka porusza różne istotne tematy, więc to też na plus. Niemniej cała historia jest tak chaotycznie poprowadzona, że momentami można pogubić się w tym, co dzieje się w tej chwili, a co już miało miejsce. Co więcej, fabuła prowadzona jest dość leniwie, a pod koniec książki wszystko zaczyna pędzić. Do tego zakończenie jest zbyt cukierkowe, biorąc pod uwagę dotychczasowe wydarzenia - wszyscy sobie wybaczają, żyjąc długo i szczęśliwie... Takie finały tylko w bajkach.
"To wszystko dla ciebie" jest książką skłaniającą do refleksji nad tym, ile człowiek jest w stanie poświęcić dla swoich najbliższych. Sporo tu moralnych dylematów, które pokazują, że łatwo ferować wyroki, jeśli jest się jedynie obserwatorem stojącym z boku, bo kiedy już konkretny problem nas dotknie, wtedy potrafimy zmienić zdanie odnośnie słusznego postępowania. Poza tym owa historia pokazuje, że czasami warto dać drugą szansę człowiekowi, nie oceniając go zbyt pochopnie, ponieważ w tej chwili może on walczyć ze swoimi demonami.
Nie jest to najlepszy thriller, jaki czytałam, zwłaszcza że wiem, iż sama autorka potrafiła stworzyć "Surogatkę" - jedną z moich ulubionych książek w tym gatunku, także stać ją na więcej. Jeżeli ktoś nie sięga zbyt często po thrillery albo nie ma zbyt wysokich wymagań, to powinien być bardziej usatysfakcjonowany. Niemniej będę miło wspominała tę historię, wyczekując kolejnej, nieco bardziej dopracowanej książki Jensen.
"To wszystko dla ciebie" jest książką skłaniającą do refleksji nad tym, ile człowiek jest w stanie poświęcić dla swoich najbliższych. Sporo tu moralnych dylematów, które pokazują, że łatwo ferować wyroki, jeśli jest się jedynie obserwatorem stojącym z boku, bo kiedy już konkretny problem nas dotknie, wtedy potrafimy zmienić zdanie odnośnie słusznego postępowania. Poza tym owa historia pokazuje, że czasami warto dać drugą szansę człowiekowi, nie oceniając go zbyt pochopnie, ponieważ w tej chwili może on walczyć ze swoimi demonami.
Nie jest to najlepszy thriller, jaki czytałam, zwłaszcza że wiem, iż sama autorka potrafiła stworzyć "Surogatkę" - jedną z moich ulubionych książek w tym gatunku, także stać ją na więcej. Jeżeli ktoś nie sięga zbyt często po thrillery albo nie ma zbyt wysokich wymagań, to powinien być bardziej usatysfakcjonowany. Niemniej będę miło wspominała tę historię, wyczekując kolejnej, nieco bardziej dopracowanej książki Jensen.
July 20, 2021
The Walsh family are not finding life easy. The mother is living on her nerves, worried for her oldest son and the consequences of his past actions and her youngest sons health problems.
I found this story depressing and the characters hard to focus on.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I found this story depressing and the characters hard to focus on.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2022
The plot was too unbelievable and far fetched!
Fraternal twins don’t share a placenta.
Fraternal twins don’t share a placenta.
February 7, 2022
Having read other novels by Louise Jensen I had some idea what to expect from this one, All For You, and I wasn't wrong as from the outset it was a wonderful read for me.
About the Book:
MEET THE WALSH FAMILY
Lucy: Loving mother. Devoted wife. And falling to pieces.
Aidan: Dedicated father. Faithful husband. And in too deep.
Connor: Hardworking son. Loyal friend. But can never tell the truth.
Everyone in this family is hiding something, but one secret will turn out to be the deadliest of all... Can this family ever recover when the truth finally comes out?
My Thoughts:
Lucy Walsh is a loving wife and mother working as an orthopaedic surgeon until just recently. Her husband, Aidan is a vet. They have two sons, 17-year-old Connor, and 13-year-old Kieron, who has a life-threatening illness. The story is told from varying viewpoints and I loved the way secrets were slowly unveiled and the clever building of suspense and weaving of deflection. In this compelling and taut tale, Louise Jensen writes so well about emotions and I soon found myself completely immersed in the lives of these people. This is an incredibly engrossing and shocking read with real depth, style and maturity in the writing. There is so much to keep the reader turning the pages and guessing and it was a riveting right through to the remarkable, dark ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ via NetGalley at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
About the Book:
MEET THE WALSH FAMILY
Lucy: Loving mother. Devoted wife. And falling to pieces.
Aidan: Dedicated father. Faithful husband. And in too deep.
Connor: Hardworking son. Loyal friend. But can never tell the truth.
Everyone in this family is hiding something, but one secret will turn out to be the deadliest of all... Can this family ever recover when the truth finally comes out?
My Thoughts:
Lucy Walsh is a loving wife and mother working as an orthopaedic surgeon until just recently. Her husband, Aidan is a vet. They have two sons, 17-year-old Connor, and 13-year-old Kieron, who has a life-threatening illness. The story is told from varying viewpoints and I loved the way secrets were slowly unveiled and the clever building of suspense and weaving of deflection. In this compelling and taut tale, Louise Jensen writes so well about emotions and I soon found myself completely immersed in the lives of these people. This is an incredibly engrossing and shocking read with real depth, style and maturity in the writing. There is so much to keep the reader turning the pages and guessing and it was a riveting right through to the remarkable, dark ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ via NetGalley at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 17, 2022
What a fabulous book. I started reading this and actually thought the first half of the book was fairly slow but all of a sudden it got really interesting! This is obviously clever writing on the part of the author as she reels you in and builds her characters slowly. I thought, and I’m sure I’m not alone, I knew where this was going and who was the “taker”. However a massive curveball was then thrown and knocked me completely out of the park! The only reason it was four stars instead of five is that I nearly gave up in the first half but I am so so glad I didn’t!
June 22, 2021
Review to come.
January 23, 2022
Review
I've got a couple of Louise's books on my shelf that I've not read yet and for that I can only apologise. I'm binge reading them in February!
This book is so unbelievably powerful. I've been on an incredible journey with the Walsh Family.
The book is split into 3 parts and at the end of Part 1, I actually gasped at what I was reading, thought I had everything nailed (I was very very wrong!!)
I read it in two sittings and it was an amazing start to my Louise Jensen journey.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I've got a couple of Louise's books on my shelf that I've not read yet and for that I can only apologise. I'm binge reading them in February!
This book is so unbelievably powerful. I've been on an incredible journey with the Walsh Family.
The book is split into 3 parts and at the end of Part 1, I actually gasped at what I was reading, thought I had everything nailed (I was very very wrong!!)
I read it in two sittings and it was an amazing start to my Louise Jensen journey.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 2, 2021
I hate to write a critical review because I usually really enjoy Louise Jensen's books but this one didn't live up to the standard I've come to expect from her. Much as I did with Steve Cavanagh's 'Twisted', I came away feeling that the author had tried to throw in as many plot swerves as possible and that the narrative suffered as a result.
The first half of the book is full of hints about secrets and obvious red herrings to the point where it becomes mildly irritating. It also lacks any real story progression. Once things start happening and the pace picks up, it draws you in successfully and becomes more the sort of thing you'd expect to get from Jensen. But then it all goes wrong again in the denouement, where it feels like everything the adult characters are doing or are revealed to have done in the past is far-fetched. I'm all for some willing suspension of disbelief, but there are limits.
This was compounded for me by the style this novel is written in not being to my taste. I don't mind split narratives, but when you have chapters that are only a few lines long before the perspective changes again, you have to think that there must have been a better way. There were also a lot of errors in tense and spelling; I appreciate this is an advanced copy and so not the final edited version, but some of these are things which I would have expected to have been picked up on the first proof-read and they did jar, which didn't help with immersing myself in the story.
There are elements to like here - Connor's character arc in particular is really well handled and satisfying for the reader and the mystery around the residential was suspenseful and intriguing. Overall though, for me, this isn't one of Jensen's best.
My thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The first half of the book is full of hints about secrets and obvious red herrings to the point where it becomes mildly irritating. It also lacks any real story progression. Once things start happening and the pace picks up, it draws you in successfully and becomes more the sort of thing you'd expect to get from Jensen. But then it all goes wrong again in the denouement, where it feels like everything the adult characters are doing or are revealed to have done in the past is far-fetched. I'm all for some willing suspension of disbelief, but there are limits.
This was compounded for me by the style this novel is written in not being to my taste. I don't mind split narratives, but when you have chapters that are only a few lines long before the perspective changes again, you have to think that there must have been a better way. There were also a lot of errors in tense and spelling; I appreciate this is an advanced copy and so not the final edited version, but some of these are things which I would have expected to have been picked up on the first proof-read and they did jar, which didn't help with immersing myself in the story.
There are elements to like here - Connor's character arc in particular is really well handled and satisfying for the reader and the mystery around the residential was suspenseful and intriguing. Overall though, for me, this isn't one of Jensen's best.
My thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 4, 2023
Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Walsh family Lucy and Aidan are struggling to cope with a very sick son, and the older son who's feeling a bit neglected and unloved and also dealing with some past issues. Lucy (the mum) is, worried for him and her younger son as he is extremely sick so has recently stopped working to look after him and other family issues to deal with. The family is on the brink due to friends being "taken" recently and all seems very troubling and if I'm honest, a bit depressing. Everyone has their secrets and all are feeling very guilty. There's lots of secrets that take quite a while to come out. Worth a read, but not one of my favs.
The Walsh family Lucy and Aidan are struggling to cope with a very sick son, and the older son who's feeling a bit neglected and unloved and also dealing with some past issues. Lucy (the mum) is, worried for him and her younger son as he is extremely sick so has recently stopped working to look after him and other family issues to deal with. The family is on the brink due to friends being "taken" recently and all seems very troubling and if I'm honest, a bit depressing. Everyone has their secrets and all are feeling very guilty. There's lots of secrets that take quite a while to come out. Worth a read, but not one of my favs.
February 24, 2022
I don’t usually write reviews but the plot of this book was so ridiculous that I feel I have no choice. The characters are unlikeable and make unbelievable choices, the flow was stilted, and the ‘twists’ were so try-hard that an eye roll was the only response when they arose. Eugh.
July 7, 2021
All For You is an incredibly twisty thriller that explores the fragility of a person’s mind, and what a seemingly ordinary person is capable of when driven to despair. Narrated from three different perspectives, the novel pushes the sub-genre of domestic noir not only into that of crime but also borders on the gothic.
Lucy is an orthopaedic surgeon who has given up her career to care for her sick teenage son, Kieron. She is characterised as a caring wife and mother, and with her perspective being delivered through a first-person narrative, is the character that the reader becomes mostly invested in. But like most first-person narratives, it is what is left out that makes this narrator so unreliable. How far can we trust her?
Aiden is a vet, and Lucy’s husband. With his own dedicated chapters, his perspective is told through a focalised third-person narrator. We learn very early on that he’s hiding a secret – but this isn’t as obvious as it first appears. As the anonymous person behind Aiden’s secret is revealed - as well as the secret itself – you won’t be able to turn those pages fast enough to discover what is going on! Although my first thought as to who this person was turned out to be wrong, it was relevant to something much further in the past. I’m not saying any more than that! Omg this is sooo twisty, you wouldn’t believe!
Connor is Lucy’s eldest son. He also has his own focalised third-person chapters. The novel’s prologue reveals something terrible has happened to Connor, and with his two best friends (Ryan and Tyler) recently having gone missing, it is the events leading up to Connor’s disappearance that the story centres around.
As the narrative flashes back in time, we see Connor, Ryan, and Tyler starting back at sixth form. It is revealed that whilst away at summer camp, a teenage dare went wrong and something terrible happened to Connor’s girlfriend, Hailey. I don’t want to include any spoilers so won’t say what happens or who exactly Hailey is – but it is the events surrounding the accident and what Connor and his friends did that summer that give a sense of unease and feeling that something even worse is about to happen. However, as the novel reaches its conclusion, its title All for You becomes even more significant. As somebody who devours psychological thrillers by the bucket load, there aren’t many twists that I don’t see coming – but I can honestly say this shocking conclusion left me gobsmacked.
I would recommend this book for anybody who enjoys a really twisty read, where the absurd and the possible merge.
Lucy is an orthopaedic surgeon who has given up her career to care for her sick teenage son, Kieron. She is characterised as a caring wife and mother, and with her perspective being delivered through a first-person narrative, is the character that the reader becomes mostly invested in. But like most first-person narratives, it is what is left out that makes this narrator so unreliable. How far can we trust her?
Aiden is a vet, and Lucy’s husband. With his own dedicated chapters, his perspective is told through a focalised third-person narrator. We learn very early on that he’s hiding a secret – but this isn’t as obvious as it first appears. As the anonymous person behind Aiden’s secret is revealed - as well as the secret itself – you won’t be able to turn those pages fast enough to discover what is going on! Although my first thought as to who this person was turned out to be wrong, it was relevant to something much further in the past. I’m not saying any more than that! Omg this is sooo twisty, you wouldn’t believe!
Connor is Lucy’s eldest son. He also has his own focalised third-person chapters. The novel’s prologue reveals something terrible has happened to Connor, and with his two best friends (Ryan and Tyler) recently having gone missing, it is the events leading up to Connor’s disappearance that the story centres around.
As the narrative flashes back in time, we see Connor, Ryan, and Tyler starting back at sixth form. It is revealed that whilst away at summer camp, a teenage dare went wrong and something terrible happened to Connor’s girlfriend, Hailey. I don’t want to include any spoilers so won’t say what happens or who exactly Hailey is – but it is the events surrounding the accident and what Connor and his friends did that summer that give a sense of unease and feeling that something even worse is about to happen. However, as the novel reaches its conclusion, its title All for You becomes even more significant. As somebody who devours psychological thrillers by the bucket load, there aren’t many twists that I don’t see coming – but I can honestly say this shocking conclusion left me gobsmacked.
I would recommend this book for anybody who enjoys a really twisty read, where the absurd and the possible merge.
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