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A Perfect Stranger
Two marriages. Three little lies. Someone’s going to die...
I hold my breath as my handsome husband walks through the door. I’ve planned the perfect surprise birthday party for him. Our friends are gathered and the champagne is flowing. But when I catch the look in his deep brown eyes, I realise I’ve got this horribly wrong.
All evening my stomach is churning. And I can’t help but notice Danielle Baines speaking with Aiden. With her salon-styled hair, diamonds glittering on her ring finger and married to a rich businessman she has the kind of lifestyle I can only dream of. I’ve never liked her. And I know the feeling is mutual.
So why is she here and what is she saying to my husband?
Now it’s the end of the party and the man I love is confessing a secret that shocks me to the core. But it’s not what I was afraid of. It’s much worse.
He says we have to take our son and leave the place we call home because our lives are in danger.
I thought I knew everything about my husband. But suddenly he feels like a stranger. Should I trust him with my life?
From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally gripping psychological thriller will have you guessing until the last jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.
I hold my breath as my handsome husband walks through the door. I’ve planned the perfect surprise birthday party for him. Our friends are gathered and the champagne is flowing. But when I catch the look in his deep brown eyes, I realise I’ve got this horribly wrong.
All evening my stomach is churning. And I can’t help but notice Danielle Baines speaking with Aiden. With her salon-styled hair, diamonds glittering on her ring finger and married to a rich businessman she has the kind of lifestyle I can only dream of. I’ve never liked her. And I know the feeling is mutual.
So why is she here and what is she saying to my husband?
Now it’s the end of the party and the man I love is confessing a secret that shocks me to the core. But it’s not what I was afraid of. It’s much worse.
He says we have to take our son and leave the place we call home because our lives are in danger.
I thought I knew everything about my husband. But suddenly he feels like a stranger. Should I trust him with my life?
From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally gripping psychological thriller will have you guessing until the last jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.
260 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2021
2397 people are currently reading
1637 people want to read
About the author
Shalini Boland
41 books3,442 followersShalini Boland is the USA-Today bestselling author of twenty psychological thrillers. With three million copies sold, her titles are published by Amazon Publishing, Audible, Bookouture, and Grand Central Publishing.
Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).
She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series.
www.shaliniboland.com
Now available:
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
THE HONEYMOON
THE SCHOOL REUNION
THE SILENT BRIDE
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A PERFECT STRANGER
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS
MY LITTLE GIRL
THE WIFE
ONE OF US IS LYING
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SILENT SISTER
THE CHILD NEXT DOOR
THE SECRET MOTHER
THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
THE BEST FRIEND
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA
The OUTSIDE SERIES - a thrilling dystopian adventure
The VAMPIRES OF MARCHWOOD series - a romantic fantasy adventure
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - an evacuee timeslip adventure
Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).
She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series.
www.shaliniboland.com
Now available:
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
THE HONEYMOON
THE SCHOOL REUNION
THE SILENT BRIDE
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A PERFECT STRANGER
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS
MY LITTLE GIRL
THE WIFE
ONE OF US IS LYING
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SILENT SISTER
THE CHILD NEXT DOOR
THE SECRET MOTHER
THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
THE BEST FRIEND
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA
The OUTSIDE SERIES - a thrilling dystopian adventure
The VAMPIRES OF MARCHWOOD series - a romantic fantasy adventure
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - an evacuee timeslip adventure
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 523 reviews
June 22, 2022
Shalini Boland’s books never fail to entertain me, and this was no exception!
Emily is married to Aiden, has a son, and is pregnant with their second child. She thinks things are going pretty well in their lives, even if Aiden has been acting a little strange lately. Her feelings change when Aiden tells her a secret he’s been trying to deal with…one that will have dangerous consequences.
Meanwhile, Dani is married to Marcus, Aiden’s boss at a car dealership. Rich and living the fabulous life, she has ALMOST everything she could ever want. Then, Marcus starts acting out of character. What is he hiding? What she finds out is something she would never suspect.
I haven’t had as much reading time as of late, and I have to say it almost physically pained me every time I had to set this one aside. The story is smooth and gripping, and the revolving POVs intrigued me at each and every chapter. However, I do wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt. I also don’t think the last “twist” chapter added anything to the story.
Still, this is a standout from Boland, and I think fans new and old will really enjoy the ride. It’s always a good sign when you want to rush through a book, and yet don’t want it to end. That was the situation here.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 7/11/22.
Emily is married to Aiden, has a son, and is pregnant with their second child. She thinks things are going pretty well in their lives, even if Aiden has been acting a little strange lately. Her feelings change when Aiden tells her a secret he’s been trying to deal with…one that will have dangerous consequences.
Meanwhile, Dani is married to Marcus, Aiden’s boss at a car dealership. Rich and living the fabulous life, she has ALMOST everything she could ever want. Then, Marcus starts acting out of character. What is he hiding? What she finds out is something she would never suspect.
I haven’t had as much reading time as of late, and I have to say it almost physically pained me every time I had to set this one aside. The story is smooth and gripping, and the revolving POVs intrigued me at each and every chapter. However, I do wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt. I also don’t think the last “twist” chapter added anything to the story.
Still, this is a standout from Boland, and I think fans new and old will really enjoy the ride. It’s always a good sign when you want to rush through a book, and yet don’t want it to end. That was the situation here.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 7/11/22.
June 11, 2022
I can’t say too much about this one but from the shocking prologue I was gripped and just devoured this book.
Emily and Dani (Danielle) are two women from different socio-economic backgrounds whose lives collide a way neither of them would have thought. Emily works as medical receptionist and her husband, Aidan, is a salesman of prestigious cars. They have a young son, Josh, and live in a modest but nice rental in a good area. Dani doesn’t work. Her husband Marcus owns the prestige car business and is Aidan’s boss. They are very wealthy.
Aidan starts to behave strangely. He is always on his laptop and has kind of zoned out of family life. It all comes to a head one day when he finally admits to Emily what has been going on. They need to move, disappear, change their names.
Marcus has also been acting strangely. He has been inviting a rowdy bunch of strangers to their home. Buttoned up Dani does not like this one little bit. Marcus says he is training up some new guys for the business but Dani is not convinced.
All these lives intersect in a shocking way one night. I’m not going to give away any more than that. But if you like a psychological thriller this may very well be the book for you. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was excellent and there was a sense of growing dread throughout. The characters were well drawn, I could really relate to Emily, her tension was palpable. Dani was not very likeable at the start but she grew on me after a while and turned out to be a good sort after all. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Emily and Dani (Danielle) are two women from different socio-economic backgrounds whose lives collide a way neither of them would have thought. Emily works as medical receptionist and her husband, Aidan, is a salesman of prestigious cars. They have a young son, Josh, and live in a modest but nice rental in a good area. Dani doesn’t work. Her husband Marcus owns the prestige car business and is Aidan’s boss. They are very wealthy.
Aidan starts to behave strangely. He is always on his laptop and has kind of zoned out of family life. It all comes to a head one day when he finally admits to Emily what has been going on. They need to move, disappear, change their names.
Marcus has also been acting strangely. He has been inviting a rowdy bunch of strangers to their home. Buttoned up Dani does not like this one little bit. Marcus says he is training up some new guys for the business but Dani is not convinced.
All these lives intersect in a shocking way one night. I’m not going to give away any more than that. But if you like a psychological thriller this may very well be the book for you. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was excellent and there was a sense of growing dread throughout. The characters were well drawn, I could really relate to Emily, her tension was palpable. Dani was not very likeable at the start but she grew on me after a while and turned out to be a good sort after all. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
June 3, 2022
3.5 stars: Audible Originals have become my perfect audio filler. I have found them to be reliably good if not better. “A Perfect Stranger” by Shalini Boland, narrated by Alison Campbell, Tamsin Kennard, and Claran Saward is an engaging domestic thriller that Audible Originals published.
The story is narrated by two women and one unknown, creepy man. Emily is pregnant with her second child, and her husband Aidan works at a luxury car dealership. Dani is the wife of Marcus, who is Aidan’s boss. Dani wants to be pregnant and is putting significant strain on Marcus to get pregnant.
When Emily learns that Aidan is in some serious financial trouble, she finds a way to temporarily alleviate the stress. Meanwhile, Dani grows further frustrated with Marcus and his evasive ways.
Beyond the men’s working relationship, their worlds collide in unexpected ways. What I enjoyed is the pacing and the twists, many that I did not see!
The final twist is a beauty! Highly recommended! It’s free and it’s a solid thriller!
The story is narrated by two women and one unknown, creepy man. Emily is pregnant with her second child, and her husband Aidan works at a luxury car dealership. Dani is the wife of Marcus, who is Aidan’s boss. Dani wants to be pregnant and is putting significant strain on Marcus to get pregnant.
When Emily learns that Aidan is in some serious financial trouble, she finds a way to temporarily alleviate the stress. Meanwhile, Dani grows further frustrated with Marcus and his evasive ways.
Beyond the men’s working relationship, their worlds collide in unexpected ways. What I enjoyed is the pacing and the twists, many that I did not see!
The final twist is a beauty! Highly recommended! It’s free and it’s a solid thriller!
June 20, 2022
The prologue had me hooked! Shalini Boland expertly creates characters that I care about and forces me to become invested in their journey. The story is told from the perspectives of Dani and Emily. Each woman’s life has an underlying sense of foreboding and betrayal. Secrets may be deadly as truths are revealed. I enjoyed this twisty tale where things are not always as they appear. This domestic thriller hit every mark and I couldn’t put it down. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 11, 2022
Two marriages, secrets and lies...
How well do you know someone? What happens when the person you think you know turns into a perfect stranger? This book took me by surprise and had me turning the pages to see just what was going to happen!
Emily is a pregnant woman with a young son. She is married to Aiden and looking forward to the birth of her child. Aiden has not been himself lately and Emily is getting worried.
Dani is married to Marcus. She is friendly with Emily and Marcus is Aiden's employer. Dani is doing everything she can to be healthy and wishes Marcus would follow suit. Marcus has been acting strangely lately and Dani is getting worried.
Boland has done it again! She had me wanting to know more as I flew through the pages. I enjoyed both Emily's and Dani's POV's as we learn more about each woman, her marriage, her doubts, fears, and thoughts. Both are equally interesting, and I was equally invested in learning about each.
Boland keeps readers on their toes with plenty of twists, turns, and drama in this book. I love books with tension and this one had it flowing throughout.
Fans of Boland will devour this book! If you have not read her work before, this is a great place to start!
Tense, dramatic and well thought out!
#APerfectStranger #NetGalley
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
How well do you know someone? What happens when the person you think you know turns into a perfect stranger? This book took me by surprise and had me turning the pages to see just what was going to happen!
Emily is a pregnant woman with a young son. She is married to Aiden and looking forward to the birth of her child. Aiden has not been himself lately and Emily is getting worried.
Dani is married to Marcus. She is friendly with Emily and Marcus is Aiden's employer. Dani is doing everything she can to be healthy and wishes Marcus would follow suit. Marcus has been acting strangely lately and Dani is getting worried.
Boland has done it again! She had me wanting to know more as I flew through the pages. I enjoyed both Emily's and Dani's POV's as we learn more about each woman, her marriage, her doubts, fears, and thoughts. Both are equally interesting, and I was equally invested in learning about each.
Boland keeps readers on their toes with plenty of twists, turns, and drama in this book. I love books with tension and this one had it flowing throughout.
Fans of Boland will devour this book! If you have not read her work before, this is a great place to start!
Tense, dramatic and well thought out!
#APerfectStranger #NetGalley
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 18, 2022
This book by one of my favourite authors shouldn’t have taken me this long to read. It’s short. A couple of days at most.
By the 4th day I was cussing myself as to why I hadn’t finished it as I was obviously enjoying it.
Reflecting on this, I can honestly say it didn’t urge me forward in the first half of it, then when certain things started to happen I was, oh, this is silly, then all of a sudden POW, I was thrown right into a whirlpool spinning around and around. The thoughts in my head started to tumble in on me, the unanswered questions.
If you are looking for a fast thriller, this isn’t it unless you stay with it until that…..POW.
It’s steady, it’s entertaining, it’s slow and steady giving the reader time to think.
There are two couples here.
Alternating chapters.
The last few chapters made it for me though from a 3 to a 4.
By the 4th day I was cussing myself as to why I hadn’t finished it as I was obviously enjoying it.
Reflecting on this, I can honestly say it didn’t urge me forward in the first half of it, then when certain things started to happen I was, oh, this is silly, then all of a sudden POW, I was thrown right into a whirlpool spinning around and around. The thoughts in my head started to tumble in on me, the unanswered questions.
If you are looking for a fast thriller, this isn’t it unless you stay with it until that…..POW.
It’s steady, it’s entertaining, it’s slow and steady giving the reader time to think.
There are two couples here.
Alternating chapters.
The last few chapters made it for me though from a 3 to a 4.
July 12, 2022
“SHE TRUSTED HER HUSBAND. SHE SHOULDN’T HAVE”
This is the first book I have read by this well-established author in the genre of psychological thrillers, but it definitely won’t be my last. First impressions are that this story was never going to be action-packed, nor was it going to change the world. However, the plot was solid, I really enjoyed the writing style, and the characters were well defined and developed.
To elaborate on the premise without giving away any spoilers, is going to be hard going, but I’ll give it a try…
…
Emily and Aidan are on their way to having the textbook family of 2.4 children, with four-year-old son Josh and a new baby due very soon. Emily believes that Aidan is successful in his job as a luxury car salesman, in fact the owner of the dealership, Marcus and his wife Dani are known to the couple socially. However, as time goes on, Emily suspects that not everything is rosy in the garden, she is convinced that Aidan has something to hide and is lying to her to cover it up. When she finally manages to drag the secret from him, it is far worse than she imagined and has the potential to change their lives irrevocably, maybe even fatally, as it later transpires that even now, despite the increased danger, he still hasn’t revealed the full truth to her.
Marcus and Dani are wealthy and want for nothing, except the addition of a baby to complete their domestic idyll. Dani is continually destined to be disappointed and whilst Marcus would do anything to make her dream come true, she is unaware of the extreme lengths to which he would go and how low he might stoop, to make it happen. The car showroom is the respectable front for the more lucrative dealings he conducts behind the scenes and Marcus thinks nothing of taking full advantage of a vulnerable Aidan, then being quite prepared to take extreme and ultimate measures, to ensure the debt is repaid.
An increasingly suspicious Dani does some investigating of her own and when she realises exactly how much of a low life her husband has become, his equally reprehensible attempts to make them a family, with the addition of a baby, leave her totally destroyed and prepared to see him locked up for a very long time.
Marcus tracks down Aidan and Emily, who have fled their home, and has one of his thugs exact retribution for the unpaid debt. Dani has a plan to make Marcus pay and when the dust has settled and both she and Emily have the babies they both so desire, she understandably believes that the recent past can be laid to rest.
But there is just one more untold secret, which might remain that way, and probably should!
…
This intense, atmospheric and textured, multi-layered storyline, is told in short, crisp and fluent chapters, generally narrated seamlessly in alternating voices by Emily and Dani, with some random interspersions by an unnamed third party (although these were probably a little superfluous).
At its outset, this slowly evolving and disturbing storyline has three separate strands, which are skilfully woven together during the course of time. I had worked out quite early on how two of them might be linked, however the third connection I definitely never saw coming. I always enjoy a well-structured, suspenseful and complex plot, which has me thinking outside of the box, but in this story, everyone has a secret, and each is revealed in stages as the plot evolves and unfolds, saving the dirtiest and most twisted for last, just as you would expect. However, the character who holds the prized ace card, is probably the one I least expected!
Whilst the physical footprint of the story isn’t actually very large, some excellent, detailed narrative and dialogue, which is totally immersive and very descriptive, really helps to establish a genuine and highly visual, sense of time and place. This is a part of the country I actually know quite well, as it is my husband’s home turf, so to speak. However, it is always nice to be able to sit back, relax and enjoy an ‘armchair journey’, without needing to leave the comfort of my own home.
The complex, unreliable and volatile characters; are all singularly selfish, self-centred and duplicitous; so you couldn’t, or shouldn’t, trust a word they say, or any actions they take, which makes them excellent for their roles in this wicked hotbed of lies and deceit.
“Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”
...
A complimentary kindle download of this book for review, was made available by the publisher, Bookouture, and was supplied by NetGalley.
Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion, and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article which promotes the book or its author.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review!
This is the first book I have read by this well-established author in the genre of psychological thrillers, but it definitely won’t be my last. First impressions are that this story was never going to be action-packed, nor was it going to change the world. However, the plot was solid, I really enjoyed the writing style, and the characters were well defined and developed.
To elaborate on the premise without giving away any spoilers, is going to be hard going, but I’ll give it a try…
…
Emily and Aidan are on their way to having the textbook family of 2.4 children, with four-year-old son Josh and a new baby due very soon. Emily believes that Aidan is successful in his job as a luxury car salesman, in fact the owner of the dealership, Marcus and his wife Dani are known to the couple socially. However, as time goes on, Emily suspects that not everything is rosy in the garden, she is convinced that Aidan has something to hide and is lying to her to cover it up. When she finally manages to drag the secret from him, it is far worse than she imagined and has the potential to change their lives irrevocably, maybe even fatally, as it later transpires that even now, despite the increased danger, he still hasn’t revealed the full truth to her.
Marcus and Dani are wealthy and want for nothing, except the addition of a baby to complete their domestic idyll. Dani is continually destined to be disappointed and whilst Marcus would do anything to make her dream come true, she is unaware of the extreme lengths to which he would go and how low he might stoop, to make it happen. The car showroom is the respectable front for the more lucrative dealings he conducts behind the scenes and Marcus thinks nothing of taking full advantage of a vulnerable Aidan, then being quite prepared to take extreme and ultimate measures, to ensure the debt is repaid.
An increasingly suspicious Dani does some investigating of her own and when she realises exactly how much of a low life her husband has become, his equally reprehensible attempts to make them a family, with the addition of a baby, leave her totally destroyed and prepared to see him locked up for a very long time.
Marcus tracks down Aidan and Emily, who have fled their home, and has one of his thugs exact retribution for the unpaid debt. Dani has a plan to make Marcus pay and when the dust has settled and both she and Emily have the babies they both so desire, she understandably believes that the recent past can be laid to rest.
But there is just one more untold secret, which might remain that way, and probably should!
…
This intense, atmospheric and textured, multi-layered storyline, is told in short, crisp and fluent chapters, generally narrated seamlessly in alternating voices by Emily and Dani, with some random interspersions by an unnamed third party (although these were probably a little superfluous).
At its outset, this slowly evolving and disturbing storyline has three separate strands, which are skilfully woven together during the course of time. I had worked out quite early on how two of them might be linked, however the third connection I definitely never saw coming. I always enjoy a well-structured, suspenseful and complex plot, which has me thinking outside of the box, but in this story, everyone has a secret, and each is revealed in stages as the plot evolves and unfolds, saving the dirtiest and most twisted for last, just as you would expect. However, the character who holds the prized ace card, is probably the one I least expected!
Whilst the physical footprint of the story isn’t actually very large, some excellent, detailed narrative and dialogue, which is totally immersive and very descriptive, really helps to establish a genuine and highly visual, sense of time and place. This is a part of the country I actually know quite well, as it is my husband’s home turf, so to speak. However, it is always nice to be able to sit back, relax and enjoy an ‘armchair journey’, without needing to leave the comfort of my own home.
The complex, unreliable and volatile characters; are all singularly selfish, self-centred and duplicitous; so you couldn’t, or shouldn’t, trust a word they say, or any actions they take, which makes them excellent for their roles in this wicked hotbed of lies and deceit.
“Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive”
...
A complimentary kindle download of this book for review, was made available by the publisher, Bookouture, and was supplied by NetGalley.
Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion, and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article which promotes the book or its author.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review!
June 23, 2022
This was another great psychological thriller by Shalini Boland. Dani is consumed with her struggle with infertility. She’s sure her husband Marcus, who owns a car dealership, is keeping secrets from her. Emily is married to Aidan and has a young son named Josh. She’s pregnant with their second child. Aidan, who works for Marcus at his car dealership, reveals to Emily that he is in deep trouble and has been lying to Emily. This entire novel was built upon characters lying to each other, layer after layer, and it was very well told. The beginning of the novel moved a little bit more slowly as the author set the characters up, but once things got established, it was impossible to put down. It’s hard to say too much without giving away spoilers, but Aidan comes home one night with shocking news. He and Emily have to leave suddenly in the night, assume new identities, live off the grid. And someone is hunting for them. What started off as a fairly innocuous… hmm… I wonder what is going to happen here… got CRAZY intense fast and I was on the edge of my seat and things never let up after that. There are even more twists that happen all the way to the end of the book!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley for review purposes.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley for review purposes.
November 24, 2021
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
August 18, 2022
This story is all over the place, difficult to follow and ending up making little sense. 2 of 10 stars
June 9, 2022
Another exciting psychological thriller by the very consistent author Shalini Boland. Her novels are always fast paced page turners that keep you reading to the very end. This was a very enjoyable read and full of suspense, thrills and twists.
Written from the POV’s of Emily and Dani as we follow their marriages to Aidan and Marcus respectively. Emily and Aiden are burdened by a secret that threatens to completely shatter their family. Marcus works in the car trade and is Aidan’s boss but his something is not quite right in his life at the moment as he has started to mix with some very suspicious characters. His wife Dani longs to get pregnant but Marcus’s lifestyle is beginning to worry her and is putting a strain on their relationship.
I always devour Shalini Boland novels quickly as I find them exciting, well written and full of thrills and twists. Often they push the boundaries of belief to the limits but I am willing to live with that as they make excellent reading.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Written from the POV’s of Emily and Dani as we follow their marriages to Aidan and Marcus respectively. Emily and Aiden are burdened by a secret that threatens to completely shatter their family. Marcus works in the car trade and is Aidan’s boss but his something is not quite right in his life at the moment as he has started to mix with some very suspicious characters. His wife Dani longs to get pregnant but Marcus’s lifestyle is beginning to worry her and is putting a strain on their relationship.
I always devour Shalini Boland novels quickly as I find them exciting, well written and full of thrills and twists. Often they push the boundaries of belief to the limits but I am willing to live with that as they make excellent reading.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2021
I think my 3 stars are generous, considering the fact that I found the ending unsatisfactory, Emily was left hanging there without any closure. Overall, the female protagonists were incredibly naive and did we ever get a good explanation for the male narrator, what was the point of him stating the obvious? I Will redraw my last star. It is not badly written, but the author could have done so much better. I kept thinking that there must be more to Emily's back story, the troubled relationship with her parents, I should have liked to know more about that.
Still, it is another free listen from Audible, so I am not complaining😀
Still, it is another free listen from Audible, so I am not complaining😀
July 14, 2022
I inhaled this book! A truly gripping read that I couldn't put down.
Two couples seemingly unrelated apart from the husband of one couple working for the other couple.
Straight from the prologue, we know there is a death but we have no idea why. Even two thirds through the book, I couldn't predict the reason, and it was stunning. I actually gasped when the penny dropped.
I finished this in only a few days, it was a really compulsive read that I couldn't wait to get back to when I had to put it down.
My new favourite Boland book!
Two couples seemingly unrelated apart from the husband of one couple working for the other couple.
Straight from the prologue, we know there is a death but we have no idea why. Even two thirds through the book, I couldn't predict the reason, and it was stunning. I actually gasped when the penny dropped.
I finished this in only a few days, it was a really compulsive read that I couldn't wait to get back to when I had to put it down.
My new favourite Boland book!
July 6, 2022
# this title started out as an Audible release in 2021 and that version is available via Audible! #
This is my 14th book I have read by the author and am borrowing something I read written by a friend re this author and this book that sums it up ….’she has never let me down yet with one of her books’ ….( thanks Carol ) this is 100% true, again we have a tense psychological thriller with good sturdy characters and a story of lies, mis-trust, addiction, secrets and mystery BUT with a menacing undertone throughout that we only find out the truth about at the very end, it’s there, all the way through, niggling away that there is something more behind this already thrilling thriller and as say right at the end we find out, and what a truth it is 😎
Spun as always by the author magically and you have no choice but to keep turning page after page
Brilliantly done
I loved the reason this book came to be that is mentioned in the acknowledgements 🤗
10/10
5 Stars
This is my 14th book I have read by the author and am borrowing something I read written by a friend re this author and this book that sums it up ….’she has never let me down yet with one of her books’ ….( thanks Carol ) this is 100% true, again we have a tense psychological thriller with good sturdy characters and a story of lies, mis-trust, addiction, secrets and mystery BUT with a menacing undertone throughout that we only find out the truth about at the very end, it’s there, all the way through, niggling away that there is something more behind this already thrilling thriller and as say right at the end we find out, and what a truth it is 😎
Spun as always by the author magically and you have no choice but to keep turning page after page
Brilliantly done
I loved the reason this book came to be that is mentioned in the acknowledgements 🤗
10/10
5 Stars
June 5, 2022
3.5 Rounded Up. Told from two different perspectives we get to know Emily's family and also Dani's family. While Emily has a little boy and another baby on the way, Dani is struggling to get pregnant.
This book has such a great pace that you can easily devour it in one sitting. I do wish it was just a little bit longer. Great character development and a good plot line.
You have no idea going into this story of how it will unfold. We receive a pretty good drama that throws in that little suspense factor. Overall a really good read.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Publishers for this ARC.
This book has such a great pace that you can easily devour it in one sitting. I do wish it was just a little bit longer. Great character development and a good plot line.
You have no idea going into this story of how it will unfold. We receive a pretty good drama that throws in that little suspense factor. Overall a really good read.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Publishers for this ARC.
July 9, 2022
I hold my breath as my handsome husband walks through the door. I've planned the perfect surprise birthday party for him. Our friends are gathered and the champagne is flowing. But when I catch the look in his deep brown eyes, I realise I've got this horribly wrong. Now it's the end of the party and the man I love is confessing a secret that shocks me to the core. But it's not what I was afraid of. It's much worse.
Emily and Aiden have a young son, Josh, and they have a baby on the way. Emily works as a doctors receptionist while Aiden is a car salesman. Aiden's boos Marcus' wife Dani has everything she wants, except a baby.
This story is told in alternating points of view from Emily and Dani. Aiden and Marcus have both been hiding secrets from their wives. This fast paced read drew me in at the prologue and kept my attention throughout. There's also a mystery character we hear from but we learn more about them towards the end of the book. It's tense, well written and I liked how the story ended.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #Bookouture and the author #ShaliniBoland for my ARC of #APerfectStranger in exchange for an honest review.
Emily and Aiden have a young son, Josh, and they have a baby on the way. Emily works as a doctors receptionist while Aiden is a car salesman. Aiden's boos Marcus' wife Dani has everything she wants, except a baby.
This story is told in alternating points of view from Emily and Dani. Aiden and Marcus have both been hiding secrets from their wives. This fast paced read drew me in at the prologue and kept my attention throughout. There's also a mystery character we hear from but we learn more about them towards the end of the book. It's tense, well written and I liked how the story ended.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #Bookouture and the author #ShaliniBoland for my ARC of #APerfectStranger in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2021
First of all congrats to the writer for getting a book accepted,written and published but that’s as far as the praise goes…
The book is juvenile,petty,silly,flimsy and chaotic (and not in a good way)
The characters are completely unlikeable,foolish,childish and one dimensional.
(Spoiler alert) But who goes on the run to the next county (30miles) and stays in a house owned by a family member thinking you won’t be found???
All whilst hoping the safe house has those blinds you like??? Girl, you’re on the run?! Where’s the perspective?
And don’t get me started on the ‘lodger’ you met for 90seconds - who appeared out of thin air and you assumed it was safe to move him in ( a strange man moving in with you and two children?? Ummm OK) Did I mention they’re on the run??? Where’s the logic?
The women in the book are written as materialistic weak, jealous idiots and the men… are these weird watery parodies of masculinity no one has a personality - they just do stuff
The main protagonists oldest child gave nothing to the plot- and was extremely annoying -I believe he added nothing to the overall story and should’ve been swapped out for a dog - writers do this often they write children into plots to give characters reason and you can feel the child becoming cumbersome and adding nothing (especially dialogue) to the story whilst constantly needing to be accounted for.
The ‘ rich’ people in the book are so unbelievable because their habits and tastes are so cheesy and bad… (is that intentional I don’t know - they’re upwardly mobile) but who wears high heels (wedges) and a white mini dress and a smoky eye for breakfast??? None of the “rich” women I know - the descriptions of ‘taste’ in the book sounded so silly it felt like the reader hadn’t met any of the wealthy people of Poole/Dorset or done any research/character development… (I lived in the area for a few years and didn’t know the book was about this area when I started it but it just made it so cringey)
Theres a total lack of suspense in the run up to the final act of the book,the plot ‘ twist’ at the end was silly,unnecessary and obvious (Spoiler) the hitman/antagonists character could’ve have been explored - we could’ve gone in to his past/given him some sort of pathology but nothing!- This book is a complete no - this is the first review I’ve actually written on audible just because it was so bad!
The book is juvenile,petty,silly,flimsy and chaotic (and not in a good way)
The characters are completely unlikeable,foolish,childish and one dimensional.
(Spoiler alert) But who goes on the run to the next county (30miles) and stays in a house owned by a family member thinking you won’t be found???
All whilst hoping the safe house has those blinds you like??? Girl, you’re on the run?! Where’s the perspective?
And don’t get me started on the ‘lodger’ you met for 90seconds - who appeared out of thin air and you assumed it was safe to move him in ( a strange man moving in with you and two children?? Ummm OK) Did I mention they’re on the run??? Where’s the logic?
The women in the book are written as materialistic weak, jealous idiots and the men… are these weird watery parodies of masculinity no one has a personality - they just do stuff
The main protagonists oldest child gave nothing to the plot- and was extremely annoying -I believe he added nothing to the overall story and should’ve been swapped out for a dog - writers do this often they write children into plots to give characters reason and you can feel the child becoming cumbersome and adding nothing (especially dialogue) to the story whilst constantly needing to be accounted for.
The ‘ rich’ people in the book are so unbelievable because their habits and tastes are so cheesy and bad… (is that intentional I don’t know - they’re upwardly mobile) but who wears high heels (wedges) and a white mini dress and a smoky eye for breakfast??? None of the “rich” women I know - the descriptions of ‘taste’ in the book sounded so silly it felt like the reader hadn’t met any of the wealthy people of Poole/Dorset or done any research/character development… (I lived in the area for a few years and didn’t know the book was about this area when I started it but it just made it so cringey)
Theres a total lack of suspense in the run up to the final act of the book,the plot ‘ twist’ at the end was silly,unnecessary and obvious (Spoiler) the hitman/antagonists character could’ve have been explored - we could’ve gone in to his past/given him some sort of pathology but nothing!- This book is a complete no - this is the first review I’ve actually written on audible just because it was so bad!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2022
I have loved all of Shalini Boland’s previous books but this one I had a hard time following. It held my interest and I was still asking myself at the end “what did I just read?” Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
January 10, 2023
Emily is convinced her husband Aidan is having problems but she’s shocked when he tells her that together with their four-year-old son Josh they have to move away from their home to somewhere far away and start again with new identities. Aiden says his boss Marcus has made him redundant from his prestige car showroom but it doesn’t make sense to Emily and when he eventually confesses his secret and says their lives are in danger it’s even worse than she’d anticipated.
The story is told in alternating points of view from Emily and Dani. Aiden and Marcus have both been hiding secrets from their wives.
The story is told in alternating points of view from Emily and Dani. Aiden and Marcus have both been hiding secrets from their wives.
December 6, 2021
The dumbest book I’ve ever read.
June 19, 2022
Name of Book: The Perfect Stranger
Author: Shalini Boland
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: July 11, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
This is my seventh novel by Shalini Boland. I am a fan. My fav is The Family Holiday which I read somewhat recently March 2022 and loved it ~ also loved an older one The Girl from the Sea.
This story is from the POV’s of ~
• Emily who is married to Aidan and
• Dani who is married to Marcus.
• Unknown nasty person
Emily and Aiden have a secret that threatens to shatter their family. We readers discover that secret rather quickly in this story. I was on the edge of seat hoping they would get away!
Marcus works in the car trade and is Aidan’s boss.
Dani longs to get pregnant however, Marcus recently has been hanging around with suspicious characters. This situation is worrisome and also is putting a strain on their marriage.
I am a big psychological thriller fan. I go into each story with certain expectations.
Expect twists and turns!
Be suspicious of everyone!
The most obvious person didn’t do it!
There will be many secrets!
I was sure I had it figured out….WRONG!!
Shalini Boland does NOT disappoint!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July11, 2022
Author: Shalini Boland
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: July 11, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
This is my seventh novel by Shalini Boland. I am a fan. My fav is The Family Holiday which I read somewhat recently March 2022 and loved it ~ also loved an older one The Girl from the Sea.
This story is from the POV’s of ~
• Emily who is married to Aidan and
• Dani who is married to Marcus.
• Unknown nasty person
Emily and Aiden have a secret that threatens to shatter their family. We readers discover that secret rather quickly in this story. I was on the edge of seat hoping they would get away!
Marcus works in the car trade and is Aidan’s boss.
Dani longs to get pregnant however, Marcus recently has been hanging around with suspicious characters. This situation is worrisome and also is putting a strain on their marriage.
I am a big psychological thriller fan. I go into each story with certain expectations.
Expect twists and turns!
Be suspicious of everyone!
The most obvious person didn’t do it!
There will be many secrets!
I was sure I had it figured out….WRONG!!
Shalini Boland does NOT disappoint!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July11, 2022
August 13, 2022
I enjoy this author and this book was no exception- it's a quick read that I finished in one setting. The story centers on 2 women, Emily and Dani, and the chapters alternate between their POVs. Emily's husband works for Dani's husband, but as the story continues, you find out that there is more to the story than just that. I actually didn't feel liike the synopsis explained the book well, but maybe it was intended to mislead.
Emily and Dani were both believable characters, for the most part; I found myself frustrated with Emily for not asking for help when she needed it, and frustrated with Dani for not talking to her husband when he started acting out of character, but overall I felt like I could understand where they are coming from. I thought that Emily and Aidan were SUPER naive in how they thought they could run away and start new lives, but it's not like they were criminal masterminds so perhaps this is how anyone would be when thrust into a situation like that.
The book was tense and the ending was good, though there were a couple things that came to light late in the book where I wish the trail had been laid a little bit more. EIther way, I was satisfied with the ending.
Overall, another fun read from Boland and I'm already looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Note, I read the book vs the Audible verion, but the Audible version was the only one to which I could post a review.
Emily and Dani were both believable characters, for the most part; I found myself frustrated with Emily for not asking for help when she needed it, and frustrated with Dani for not talking to her husband when he started acting out of character, but overall I felt like I could understand where they are coming from. I thought that Emily and Aidan were SUPER naive in how they thought they could run away and start new lives, but it's not like they were criminal masterminds so perhaps this is how anyone would be when thrust into a situation like that.
The book was tense and the ending was good, though there were a couple things that came to light late in the book where I wish the trail had been laid a little bit more. EIther way, I was satisfied with the ending.
Overall, another fun read from Boland and I'm already looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Note, I read the book vs the Audible verion, but the Audible version was the only one to which I could post a review.
September 26, 2023
Contrary to most of the reviews I've seen, this book is far from a page-turner. Really long and drawn out that didn't thrill at all. This one didn't do it for me.
March 8, 2022
This stayed consistently interesting the entire time. I didn't see the twist coming and it was pretty wild! It was wrapped up with a nice ending. Great book, especially for an Audible Plus offering. The narration was wonderful too.
My one thing is.. why was the guy narrator necessary?? 😂 I had to laugh at that a little.
My one thing is.. why was the guy narrator necessary?? 😂 I had to laugh at that a little.
July 2, 2022
Never disappointed in Boland books. Again got this one from Netgalley ... soon to be released on July 11th .....put it on your TBR list now. Two families - Emily (pregnant) and Aidan with their son Josh; Dani (unable to get pregnant) and Marcus.....Aidan is heavy in debt to the wrong people and we find ourselves going back and forth between these two families.
Cant say more or I will give the story away, but there is a twist at the end I did not see coming or even had an inkling about. Sometimes you never know who your friends are and what your believe is not so. A great read....as all her books are! #fivestars #netgalley
Cant say more or I will give the story away, but there is a twist at the end I did not see coming or even had an inkling about. Sometimes you never know who your friends are and what your believe is not so. A great read....as all her books are! #fivestars #netgalley
November 26, 2021
5 stars audio
3.25 stars story.
3.25 stars story.
June 26, 2022
It’s been so long since I’ve read one, that I’m happy to say this book is a bonafide page-turner! The prologue leads you right into the action, and into getting to know our two protagonists: Emily and Dani.
Emily is a pregnant mom with a four-year-old and a husband who works at a car dealership. They scrimp and save, and barely have enough to get by, but they are happy with life … until one day, when her husband, Aidan, turns their world upside down. They have to leave town and change their identities - why?
Dani is a woman who seems to have it all, from the outside. Fancy house, fancy clothes, a gorgeous husband who owns the car dealership that Emily’s husband works for, a full house staff … but she still doesn’t have everything she wants.
The book is narrated by these two women, and for much of the book, you wonder what their connection is outside of the car dealership. They are both having issues with their husbands, but otherwise, they may as well live in different worlds due to their economic and social differences. Only at the end do you discover the truth about everything and how these two women are connected - and it’s good!
With many leading statements, I found myself having a hard time putting this book down. You know from the prologue that something bad is going to happen, but how and why will (most likely) evade you along the way. I’m happy to give this domestic thriller four stars; it was very entertaining!
(Thank you to Bookouture, Shalini Boland, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Emily is a pregnant mom with a four-year-old and a husband who works at a car dealership. They scrimp and save, and barely have enough to get by, but they are happy with life … until one day, when her husband, Aidan, turns their world upside down. They have to leave town and change their identities - why?
Dani is a woman who seems to have it all, from the outside. Fancy house, fancy clothes, a gorgeous husband who owns the car dealership that Emily’s husband works for, a full house staff … but she still doesn’t have everything she wants.
The book is narrated by these two women, and for much of the book, you wonder what their connection is outside of the car dealership. They are both having issues with their husbands, but otherwise, they may as well live in different worlds due to their economic and social differences. Only at the end do you discover the truth about everything and how these two women are connected - and it’s good!
With many leading statements, I found myself having a hard time putting this book down. You know from the prologue that something bad is going to happen, but how and why will (most likely) evade you along the way. I’m happy to give this domestic thriller four stars; it was very entertaining!
(Thank you to Bookouture, Shalini Boland, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
June 17, 2022
I’m always thankful for the opportunity to read another Boland book!
Boland examines the ripple effect of breaking a promise and the danger of putting our future in another’s hands. She highlights the secrets we keep from each other and how they become hurdles, not only for ourselves, but for those we love.
I was surprised how difficult it was to become engrossed in this novel as I’m usually swept away within pages. I think the large cast of characters might have had something to do with it. I also wonder if my lack of attachment to the characters added to my difficulty in keeping them straight. I also had to push myself several times to accept the unbelievable. Like other reviewers, I do agree that the prologue gave too much away.
While I appreciated the secrets, the twist and the insightful cottage name, I’ll admit that this one wasn’t one of my favourites by this author.
Boland examines the ripple effect of breaking a promise and the danger of putting our future in another’s hands. She highlights the secrets we keep from each other and how they become hurdles, not only for ourselves, but for those we love.
I was surprised how difficult it was to become engrossed in this novel as I’m usually swept away within pages. I think the large cast of characters might have had something to do with it. I also wonder if my lack of attachment to the characters added to my difficulty in keeping them straight. I also had to push myself several times to accept the unbelievable. Like other reviewers, I do agree that the prologue gave too much away.
While I appreciated the secrets, the twist and the insightful cottage name, I’ll admit that this one wasn’t one of my favourites by this author.
November 13, 2022
A Perfect Stranger
By: Shalini Boland
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to the Audible version. Narrated by two women and a man with a very creepy voice.
Emily and Aidan are married with one child and another on the way. Aidan works at a luxury car dealer. Marcus is Aidan’s boss and his wife Dani wants to be pregnant. They have been trying a long time.
Emily and Aidan’s marriage has become stressful as Emily finds out a huge secret that he has been sharing. They made a decision that is life changing.
The two families lives are so entwined that things happen that I never saw coming. Well done Boland! She is a relatively new author for me, and I cannot wait to read some of her older novels. I have read three and plan to read more.
#audible, #audiobook, #shaliniboland, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50, #booksconnectus
By: Shalini Boland
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to the Audible version. Narrated by two women and a man with a very creepy voice.
Emily and Aidan are married with one child and another on the way. Aidan works at a luxury car dealer. Marcus is Aidan’s boss and his wife Dani wants to be pregnant. They have been trying a long time.
Emily and Aidan’s marriage has become stressful as Emily finds out a huge secret that he has been sharing. They made a decision that is life changing.
The two families lives are so entwined that things happen that I never saw coming. Well done Boland! She is a relatively new author for me, and I cannot wait to read some of her older novels. I have read three and plan to read more.
#audible, #audiobook, #shaliniboland, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50, #booksconnectus
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