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The Engagement
You thought you had escaped him. Until he proposed to your daughter.
‘There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s dressed in expensive-looking clothes – tan trousers and a fitted navy shirt. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my eighteen-year-old daughter’s waist.
I grab my husband’s arm to steady myself as my heart kicks into a thunderous gallop.
I’m frozen.
It’s as though I’m under water. The room spins around me.
I stare into his eyes – jet black. Nothing and everything hidden behind them.
Fear prickles my skin as I remember what he did.
How I only just escaped.
All the lies I’ve had to tell since.
‘I want you to meet Jack,’ Belle says, bouncing up and down with excitement. ‘He’s my fiancé.’ She rests her head on his shoulder. ‘Isn’t it exciting? We’re engaged!’
I have to stop this.
If I don’t, I’ll lose everything…
‘There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s dressed in expensive-looking clothes – tan trousers and a fitted navy shirt. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my eighteen-year-old daughter’s waist.
I grab my husband’s arm to steady myself as my heart kicks into a thunderous gallop.
I’m frozen.
It’s as though I’m under water. The room spins around me.
I stare into his eyes – jet black. Nothing and everything hidden behind them.
Fear prickles my skin as I remember what he did.
How I only just escaped.
All the lies I’ve had to tell since.
‘I want you to meet Jack,’ Belle says, bouncing up and down with excitement. ‘He’s my fiancé.’ She rests her head on his shoulder. ‘Isn’t it exciting? We’re engaged!’
I have to stop this.
If I don’t, I’ll lose everything…
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2023
2989 people are currently reading
7015 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Hayes
45 books1,421 followersHello!
Thanks for stopping by my Goodreads page!
My latest psychological thriller THE ENGAGEMENT is out on 10th January 2023 from Amazon, available in ebook, paperback and audio formats. I do hope you love it!
If you love a good 'domestic noir' thriller that will mess with your mind and keep you turning the pages, then my books are for you! You can check out all my titles on my Amazon page here:
https://amzn.to/3jZ83zU
I do hope you'll love getting stuck into my books and enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. And do let me know what you think - it's great to hear from readers! You can get in touch via my website where you'll find lots of info about me and my books - www.samanthahayes.co.uk or come and 'Like' my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor or follow me on Twitter too @samhayes or @samanthahayes.author on Instagram.
Happy reading!
Samantha xx
Thanks for stopping by my Goodreads page!
My latest psychological thriller THE ENGAGEMENT is out on 10th January 2023 from Amazon, available in ebook, paperback and audio formats. I do hope you love it!
If you love a good 'domestic noir' thriller that will mess with your mind and keep you turning the pages, then my books are for you! You can check out all my titles on my Amazon page here:
https://amzn.to/3jZ83zU
I do hope you'll love getting stuck into my books and enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. And do let me know what you think - it's great to hear from readers! You can get in touch via my website where you'll find lots of info about me and my books - www.samanthahayes.co.uk or come and 'Like' my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor or follow me on Twitter too @samhayes or @samanthahayes.author on Instagram.
Happy reading!
Samantha xx
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 614 reviews
January 13, 2023
Surprise, Surprise!
Hannah and Rob are throwing a surprise eighteenth birthday party for their daughter, Belle. They have everything planned but are shocked when Belle has a surprise of her own! This book is full of surprises. What, on the surface, seems like a straightforward story, soon becomes a twist filled journey full of secrets, lies and danger!
Belle brought home a much older man to meet her parents. A man, who she says, she is going to marry. Jaws drop, shock and confusion set in. Belle's fiancé is no stranger to Hannah, and she is frozen to her core with fear.
The engagement is a twist filled ride which kept me on my toes and shocked me with a jaw dropping twist. This is a psychological thriller which was clever, gripping and captivating.
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
Hannah and Rob are throwing a surprise eighteenth birthday party for their daughter, Belle. They have everything planned but are shocked when Belle has a surprise of her own! This book is full of surprises. What, on the surface, seems like a straightforward story, soon becomes a twist filled journey full of secrets, lies and danger!
Belle brought home a much older man to meet her parents. A man, who she says, she is going to marry. Jaws drop, shock and confusion set in. Belle's fiancé is no stranger to Hannah, and she is frozen to her core with fear.
The engagement is a twist filled ride which kept me on my toes and shocked me with a jaw dropping twist. This is a psychological thriller which was clever, gripping and captivating.
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
December 6, 2022
I requested this book after seeing the blurb. The premise was original and interesting: A mother is introduced to her daughters fiancé, and realizes she knows who he ist She knows he is a dangerous and terrible man, but she can’t tell her family.
The book had its strength and weaknesses. I decided on three stars as a way of balancing it out. First what I liked: The last chapters really hit the mark. I NEEDED to read on, the suspense was killing me. The twist was also a big and positive surprise that made completely sense, and the author masterfully disguised it until it suddenly became very clear. What I didn’t like was how slowly the book developed. The past was so painstakingly described that I felt my eyelids droop from boredom. The author could have gotten to the action much faster. We didn’t need all the details. The now was slightly more exciting, but here too I found myself wishing more would happen and for some reason I wasn’t too invested. The characters felt a bit bland and didn’t stand out for me.
Thanks to netgally and bookatoure for the arc
The book had its strength and weaknesses. I decided on three stars as a way of balancing it out. First what I liked: The last chapters really hit the mark. I NEEDED to read on, the suspense was killing me. The twist was also a big and positive surprise that made completely sense, and the author masterfully disguised it until it suddenly became very clear. What I didn’t like was how slowly the book developed. The past was so painstakingly described that I felt my eyelids droop from boredom. The author could have gotten to the action much faster. We didn’t need all the details. The now was slightly more exciting, but here too I found myself wishing more would happen and for some reason I wasn’t too invested. The characters felt a bit bland and didn’t stand out for me.
Thanks to netgally and bookatoure for the arc
August 3, 2023
"There's someone I want you to meet," Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He's tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He's dressed in expensive-looking clothes = tan trousers and a fitted navy shirt. He's not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth turns upwards as he slides his hand around my eighteen-year-old daughter's waist. I grab my husband's arm to steady myself as my heart kicks into a thunderous gallop. "I want you to meet Jack," Belle says bouncing up and down with excitement. "He's, my fiancé." I have to stop this. If I don't, I'll lose everything.
The pace is on the slow side. We get character development on this mixed bunch of likeable and unlikable people. Some of the storyline you could see coming. The story is told from multiple points of view. It also has a dual timeline, the past - eighteen years ago and the present day. It tells how events that took place in the past can shape your future, but they can also come back and haunt you. There's lots of twists in this well written book. Each character has a secret. This is a gripping read and I never saw the end twist coming.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SamanthaHayes for my ARC of #TheEngagement in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is on the slow side. We get character development on this mixed bunch of likeable and unlikable people. Some of the storyline you could see coming. The story is told from multiple points of view. It also has a dual timeline, the past - eighteen years ago and the present day. It tells how events that took place in the past can shape your future, but they can also come back and haunt you. There's lots of twists in this well written book. Each character has a secret. This is a gripping read and I never saw the end twist coming.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SamanthaHayes for my ARC of #TheEngagement in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2023
Hard hitting, chilling and past secrets kept come home to roost.
I was literally glued to this book. The past of the Mother in this book through no fault of her own has a past that she doesn’t want or need revealed. It would change everything she’s built since.
She’s now a family of her own. A husband.
A saw the twist coming but it still made no difference as the book is written with such jest, with such reveals you just don’t know for sure just how it’s going to play out.
The amount of research gone into this was clear. The sex trade the way the girls are groomed and how one thing leads to another with more fear and control just beggars belief. I was totally blown away with Samantha Hayes writing. Of course over the years she’s written plenty of books I’ve read way before I started reviewing books. I loved her writing then and this book amazes me with how much talent and craft this author has.
Can’t wait for the next.
I was literally glued to this book. The past of the Mother in this book through no fault of her own has a past that she doesn’t want or need revealed. It would change everything she’s built since.
She’s now a family of her own. A husband.
A saw the twist coming but it still made no difference as the book is written with such jest, with such reveals you just don’t know for sure just how it’s going to play out.
The amount of research gone into this was clear. The sex trade the way the girls are groomed and how one thing leads to another with more fear and control just beggars belief. I was totally blown away with Samantha Hayes writing. Of course over the years she’s written plenty of books I’ve read way before I started reviewing books. I loved her writing then and this book amazes me with how much talent and craft this author has.
Can’t wait for the next.
December 7, 2022
Got to say the research into sex workers makes the book believable, not in what they do physically that was not gone into in vast detail but what they suffer emotionally and how this affects their current life….and future life, if and when they have one, the author has approached the subject sympathetically ( as is right ) and done a sterling job of bringing out empathy from the reader for the characters ( well some of them )
The psychological thriller aspects are more than amply catered for for any lover of secrets, lies, sordid pasts and unexpected happenings, this coupled together with a robust ending and flowing story made this a good, very good, thought provoking read
The psychological thriller aspects are more than amply catered for for any lover of secrets, lies, sordid pasts and unexpected happenings, this coupled together with a robust ending and flowing story made this a good, very good, thought provoking read
December 25, 2022
This review is going to be hard to write, as the synopsis tells about all that can be said. The rest is twist after twist and spoiler after spoiler! My jaw dropped quite a few times during this one…and my heartstrings were pulled a bit, too…
Hannah had a rough start at life (to say the least) but she now has a wonderful partner, Rob, a beautiful daughter named Belle, and her own successful business. She has never told anyone about her past, as she has secrets to keep (and they aren’t your typical thriller character secrets - this gets pretty deep).
This book is a fantastic psychological thriller, but it also delves into a very serious subject. When Belle comes home from a summer in France, she introduces a new, much older, man to her parents. They are engaged, and since Belle just turned 18, there isn’t anything they can do about it.
One problem: Hannah knows Jack, Belle’s new fiancé, and knows that their brief courtship was no chance meeting. This man is not only a fraud, but a very dangerous man. How can she tell her daughter the truth about Jack without divulging her past secrets? How can she make her understand that this is a potentiality deadly situation?
My only complaint about this was that it felt a bit long and drawn out. Otherwise, this was a great story - well, stories, told in both the past and the present. The story in the past is quite compelling, broaching a subject few authors do. The story in the present is bonkers, and there were a few great twists that shocked me. Overall, a very enjoyable 4.5 star read.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Samantha Hayes and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released January 10, 2023.)
Hannah had a rough start at life (to say the least) but she now has a wonderful partner, Rob, a beautiful daughter named Belle, and her own successful business. She has never told anyone about her past, as she has secrets to keep (and they aren’t your typical thriller character secrets - this gets pretty deep).
This book is a fantastic psychological thriller, but it also delves into a very serious subject. When Belle comes home from a summer in France, she introduces a new, much older, man to her parents. They are engaged, and since Belle just turned 18, there isn’t anything they can do about it.
One problem: Hannah knows Jack, Belle’s new fiancé, and knows that their brief courtship was no chance meeting. This man is not only a fraud, but a very dangerous man. How can she tell her daughter the truth about Jack without divulging her past secrets? How can she make her understand that this is a potentiality deadly situation?
My only complaint about this was that it felt a bit long and drawn out. Otherwise, this was a great story - well, stories, told in both the past and the present. The story in the past is quite compelling, broaching a subject few authors do. The story in the present is bonkers, and there were a few great twists that shocked me. Overall, a very enjoyable 4.5 star read.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Samantha Hayes and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released January 10, 2023.)
December 17, 2022
Hannah’s 18 year old daughter Belle returns home from a trip engaged to a man who is triple her age. When Hannah meets him, she is mortified to discover that she knows him. Jack was a part of her dark past - a part of her that her family knows nothing about.
The beginning and ending of this book were strong. I felt really intrigued by the book at the beginning, and couldn’t wait to see what happened. Then it became too much of a slow burn for me and I found myself losing interest. While I love some great foreshadowing, Hannah mentioned her past too frequently without giving enough detail to keep me fully engaged.
The ending was much better. There were a couple of twists in there, and one shocked me quite a bit!
I enjoyed the multiple POVs & different timelines. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters until the end of the story.
I wish there would have been less of a slow burn, and more action. It also would have been interesting to get more background on Hannah & Molly’s experience and their friendship. I felt that was a bit lacking!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The beginning and ending of this book were strong. I felt really intrigued by the book at the beginning, and couldn’t wait to see what happened. Then it became too much of a slow burn for me and I found myself losing interest. While I love some great foreshadowing, Hannah mentioned her past too frequently without giving enough detail to keep me fully engaged.
The ending was much better. There were a couple of twists in there, and one shocked me quite a bit!
I enjoyed the multiple POVs & different timelines. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters until the end of the story.
I wish there would have been less of a slow burn, and more action. It also would have been interesting to get more background on Hannah & Molly’s experience and their friendship. I felt that was a bit lacking!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 7, 2025
For a thriller, nothing at all was thrilling about it 🤭👉🏼👈🏼
The blurb was attention grabbing, but that's the most exciting thing about this book. We start with the bang, and quickly go downhill from there🫣
There were secondary characters that served no purpose, they were such a distraction from the little plot that we had.
Without giving any major spoilers, i have to say that most of the twists were predictable. Plus, the motivation of the "bad guy" were so badly planned and even worse executed. Like...wdym he left and stopped all contact with the daughter? 🤡🤣 And then that dum dum goes and does this MAJORLY STUPID THING that she does at the end?
I have no idea if the author planned to write the characters in a way, where I ended up either DESPISING THEM or NOT CARRYING ABOUT THEM AT ALL? 🤔🤷🏼♀️ And I'm talking about the supposed "good guys" here 🤣🆘
The chapters from the daughter's POV were the best contraception ad ever. The level of stupidity that girl proudly demonstrated every step of the way was honestly impressive. I had no sympathy for her whatsoever. There were instances were she behaved like a spoiled brat to such extremes, I wasn't sure if it's a difference in cultures, or life experiences or what...BUT I COULDN'T BELIVE THE AUDACITY OF THAT GIRL🤬🚨😱
The main heroine, the mother of the idiot, was kind if okay-ish, but the way she acted was devoid of any logic.
And the big bad evil...🙈 Lol what a plan. He was lucky the daughter had not an ounce of logic in her whole body, otherwise his plan would've died at it's inception.
The blurb was attention grabbing, but that's the most exciting thing about this book. We start with the bang, and quickly go downhill from there🫣
There were secondary characters that served no purpose, they were such a distraction from the little plot that we had.
Without giving any major spoilers, i have to say that most of the twists were predictable. Plus, the motivation of the "bad guy" were so badly planned and even worse executed. Like...wdym he left and stopped all contact with the daughter? 🤡🤣 And then that dum dum goes and does this MAJORLY STUPID THING that she does at the end?
I have no idea if the author planned to write the characters in a way, where I ended up either DESPISING THEM or NOT CARRYING ABOUT THEM AT ALL? 🤔🤷🏼♀️ And I'm talking about the supposed "good guys" here 🤣🆘
The chapters from the daughter's POV were the best contraception ad ever. The level of stupidity that girl proudly demonstrated every step of the way was honestly impressive. I had no sympathy for her whatsoever. There were instances were she behaved like a spoiled brat to such extremes, I wasn't sure if it's a difference in cultures, or life experiences or what...BUT I COULDN'T BELIVE THE AUDACITY OF THAT GIRL🤬🚨😱
The main heroine, the mother of the idiot, was kind if okay-ish, but the way she acted was devoid of any logic.
And the big bad evil...🙈 Lol what a plan. He was lucky the daughter had not an ounce of logic in her whole body, otherwise his plan would've died at it's inception.
February 5, 2023
Gripping psychological thriller
The story starts out as a normal story with a perfect past. However as it begins to unfold the secrets Hannah has tucked away, her previous life leaves you feeling at the life she had to leave, things gradually take a turn with a fantastic twist taking us on a deeply twisting journey as we slide easily from the present to the past to hear Hannah's story and what she will do, to save her daughter's life. I really couldn't put this book down and it's definitely one of the top five books I've read over the last two years. I will be addicted to read ALL Samantha Hayes books.
Kerry Kennedy Author
The story starts out as a normal story with a perfect past. However as it begins to unfold the secrets Hannah has tucked away, her previous life leaves you feeling at the life she had to leave, things gradually take a turn with a fantastic twist taking us on a deeply twisting journey as we slide easily from the present to the past to hear Hannah's story and what she will do, to save her daughter's life. I really couldn't put this book down and it's definitely one of the top five books I've read over the last two years. I will be addicted to read ALL Samantha Hayes books.
Kerry Kennedy Author
February 24, 2023
3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Every time I start a Samantha Hayes book, I immediately have high expectations that it will compare to the first one I ever read - Date Night. None of them have come close to how much I loved that one. Maybe I need to try and stop doing that!
This was a decent, psychological thriller. I really enjoyed the first half, but towards the middle it felt like it just lagged. It was predictable and slow at times. I’m not a fan of slow burn thrillers. I want teasers to give some clues - something to keep me on the edge of my seat. This book didn’t do that.
There are a couple of dark topics in this book - including human trafficking.
Recommended for those who enjoy a slower thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Samantha Hayes for my advanced copy to read and review.
Every time I start a Samantha Hayes book, I immediately have high expectations that it will compare to the first one I ever read - Date Night. None of them have come close to how much I loved that one. Maybe I need to try and stop doing that!
This was a decent, psychological thriller. I really enjoyed the first half, but towards the middle it felt like it just lagged. It was predictable and slow at times. I’m not a fan of slow burn thrillers. I want teasers to give some clues - something to keep me on the edge of my seat. This book didn’t do that.
There are a couple of dark topics in this book - including human trafficking.
Recommended for those who enjoy a slower thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Samantha Hayes for my advanced copy to read and review.
January 19, 2023
This was a great psychological thriller with so many twists and turns. It had a unique storyline and I certainly didn’t know what to expect. My only grumble why I never gave it 5 stars was how naive and stupid belle came across which really annoyed me so much! Otherwise a great book
October 15, 2025
✨Que livro! Empolgante, enervante, e impressionante! Uma viagem pelo mundo do tráfico e exploração de mulheres, com descrições de como a mulher é usada como um objeto, uma propriedade, uma coisa.
✨Um grande exemplo de um thriller psicológico que nos cria uma ânsia por respostas.
✨Uma história de resiliência, coragem, vingança, onde nada parece o que é, e onde as reviravoltas fazem tudo o sentido.
✨ Não estava à espera do final, fui apanhada de surpresa, mas muito adequado.
✨Um grande exemplo de um thriller psicológico que nos cria uma ânsia por respostas.
✨Uma história de resiliência, coragem, vingança, onde nada parece o que é, e onde as reviravoltas fazem tudo o sentido.
✨ Não estava à espera do final, fui apanhada de surpresa, mas muito adequado.
December 1, 2022
Hannah is now married and has two daughters. Her oldest daughter, Belle, is turning 18 and Hannah and her husband, Rob, want to throw a surprise 18th birthday party for her. They are in for quite a shock when she returns home from traveling with a man named Jack. He is much older than Belle, and Belle tells them they are engaged to be married. What is worse is that Hannah knows this man who says his name is Jack. Who is he really and what does he want from Hannah?
This was another engaging read from Samantha Hayes. I always look forward to her new novels, and she surprised me with the conclusion of THE ENGAGEMENT. I really didn't see that coming. If you are looking for another great book to read, pick up a copy of this one!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
This review will be shared to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This was another engaging read from Samantha Hayes. I always look forward to her new novels, and she surprised me with the conclusion of THE ENGAGEMENT. I really didn't see that coming. If you are looking for another great book to read, pick up a copy of this one!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review
This review will be shared to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
December 7, 2022
Hannah is devastated when her daughter Belle gets engaged to on her eighteenth birthday to a man old enough to be her father. Hannah knows this man from years ago and will stop at nothing to get him away from her family.
I enjoyed parts of this book but found it predictable and slow in parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed parts of this book but found it predictable and slow in parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2023
Hannah's eighteen-year-old daughter comes back from vacation engaged. To a man more than twice her age. A man Hannah knows. A man from her dark past . . .
Yikes! I was totally engrossed in this story, until . . . Hannah's past was mentioned over and over like a teaser but without any clues or info. I was frustrated. Teasers have to give something to the reader--a clue, a redherring, a twist, a reveal. SOMETHING! Along with this, the story gradually slows which is the opposite of how it should go. I nearly put it down but held out hope because the first half was so good. It ended up all right. Not great but okay.
Yikes! I was totally engrossed in this story, until . . . Hannah's past was mentioned over and over like a teaser but without any clues or info. I was frustrated. Teasers have to give something to the reader--a clue, a redherring, a twist, a reveal. SOMETHING! Along with this, the story gradually slows which is the opposite of how it should go. I nearly put it down but held out hope because the first half was so good. It ended up all right. Not great but okay.
January 9, 2023
The Engagement is one of the most thrilling books I've read. The suspense keeps building until you can't take it anymore and you'll be reading far longer than you anticipated. Samantha Hayes does a masterful job of creating a story that will keep you on edge with characters you deeply care about but can't quite figure out how the past and present fit together. The book is told in two timelines and you get little pieces of what happened back then before it bounces forward to current day. Sometimes I don't like books presented that way, but it made this one even more exciting as you're constantly guessing what happened.
Hannah had a rough start in life, but now has a partner and two daughters that she loves with all her heart. Hannah and Rob have been together for years and have a daughter Amber together. Belle is the older daughter that Hannah had before she met Rob. She doesn't talk much about the father and just says he's not around. Rob has stepped up and been a father to Belle in every sense of the word. They're a very happy family. When Belle is in France for 2 months as part of her language program she's not doing what her parents think she is. Belle met a man, Jack, before she left for France and he goes to France with her. Belle falls head over heels in love with Jack even though he's 20 years older. Belle is 18 years old and has her senior year to finish before graduating. Jack convinces Belle that she doesn't need to finish school and that she can come work for him.
At home, Hannah and Rob are planning a surprise party for Belle's 18th birthday. The party is the day after Belle is scheduled to return from France. All of the family and her friends are coming and it's at a fancy club and has cost a lot of money. Hannah and Rob have splurged on Belle's gift, getting her a diamond ring, necklace, and bracelet. They had some disagreements about spending so much on her gift and the party, but in the end decided to do it. The day that Belle is to return, she lets Hannah know that she won't be returning until the next day. Hannah is panicked as that's the day of the party and everyone is already coming!! She also tells Hannah that she has big news. Belle tells Hannah she'll take a cab home from the airport. When she arrives with an older man that is close in age to her parents, Hannah and Rob have many concerns.
Belle then tells her parents and sister that they're engaged!!!! Why is Jack interested in an 18 year old girl? Why does Hannah turn cold and almost faint when she sees who Jack really is? Why is he calling himself Jack when that's not his name? Will Hannah's past come back to ruin her life? Is Jack here to get revenge? Is he going to hurt her daughter because of what she did? Will Hannah be able to keep her past a secret or will she have to go to the police? Will Rob find out what she did when she was younger? Will he stay? Rob is also hiding things from his past. What are the secrets he's keeping? Will they be able to keep Belle from marrying Jack? Who is the man that is following Rob? What does he want?
This book is amazing and I highly recommend that you read it. Be warned, you will want time to read, so start it on a day you have free time. I rate The Engagement 5 stars. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. #TheEngagement
Hannah had a rough start in life, but now has a partner and two daughters that she loves with all her heart. Hannah and Rob have been together for years and have a daughter Amber together. Belle is the older daughter that Hannah had before she met Rob. She doesn't talk much about the father and just says he's not around. Rob has stepped up and been a father to Belle in every sense of the word. They're a very happy family. When Belle is in France for 2 months as part of her language program she's not doing what her parents think she is. Belle met a man, Jack, before she left for France and he goes to France with her. Belle falls head over heels in love with Jack even though he's 20 years older. Belle is 18 years old and has her senior year to finish before graduating. Jack convinces Belle that she doesn't need to finish school and that she can come work for him.
At home, Hannah and Rob are planning a surprise party for Belle's 18th birthday. The party is the day after Belle is scheduled to return from France. All of the family and her friends are coming and it's at a fancy club and has cost a lot of money. Hannah and Rob have splurged on Belle's gift, getting her a diamond ring, necklace, and bracelet. They had some disagreements about spending so much on her gift and the party, but in the end decided to do it. The day that Belle is to return, she lets Hannah know that she won't be returning until the next day. Hannah is panicked as that's the day of the party and everyone is already coming!! She also tells Hannah that she has big news. Belle tells Hannah she'll take a cab home from the airport. When she arrives with an older man that is close in age to her parents, Hannah and Rob have many concerns.
Belle then tells her parents and sister that they're engaged!!!! Why is Jack interested in an 18 year old girl? Why does Hannah turn cold and almost faint when she sees who Jack really is? Why is he calling himself Jack when that's not his name? Will Hannah's past come back to ruin her life? Is Jack here to get revenge? Is he going to hurt her daughter because of what she did? Will Hannah be able to keep her past a secret or will she have to go to the police? Will Rob find out what she did when she was younger? Will he stay? Rob is also hiding things from his past. What are the secrets he's keeping? Will they be able to keep Belle from marrying Jack? Who is the man that is following Rob? What does he want?
This book is amazing and I highly recommend that you read it. Be warned, you will want time to read, so start it on a day you have free time. I rate The Engagement 5 stars. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. #TheEngagement
January 18, 2023
Great book to end and start the year with. So much going on in this book with the ending that was so good!!! Not where I saw this going.
A definite page turner that draws you right in.
4.5 stars!!.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book is.
A definite page turner that draws you right in.
4.5 stars!!.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book is.
March 4, 2025
Estoy en período THRILLER, y se nota😏
Hayes ha sido toda una sorpresa. No la conocía, pero la sinopsis me atrapó y me decidí a leerla. ¡Y qué acierto!
Este libro está escrito a dos voces (termina con una tercera, pero no quiero adelantar acontecimientos). Ambas se columpian entre el pasado y el presente, pero la autora lo hace con acierto. Un capítulo del pasado explica los acontecimientos de uno o varios del presente, así que no te pierdes en ningún momento, además de que te enganchas a la trama.
El final es completamente inesperado. Pero Hayes no se confirma con eso y le da otro giro más en la sinopsis. ¡Menudo plot twist, madre mía! Desde luego, a mí me ha dejado KO.
Sí os diré que a mí me ha faltado algo, de ahí que solo le dé cuatro estrellas, pero no significa que a vosotros el libro no os parezca brutal.
Contadme: ¿La habéis leído? ¿Os ha gustado? ¿Conocíais a la autora? ¿Habéis leído algo más de ella? ¿Alguna recomendación?
Hayes ha sido toda una sorpresa. No la conocía, pero la sinopsis me atrapó y me decidí a leerla. ¡Y qué acierto!
Este libro está escrito a dos voces (termina con una tercera, pero no quiero adelantar acontecimientos). Ambas se columpian entre el pasado y el presente, pero la autora lo hace con acierto. Un capítulo del pasado explica los acontecimientos de uno o varios del presente, así que no te pierdes en ningún momento, además de que te enganchas a la trama.
El final es completamente inesperado. Pero Hayes no se confirma con eso y le da otro giro más en la sinopsis. ¡Menudo plot twist, madre mía! Desde luego, a mí me ha dejado KO.
Sí os diré que a mí me ha faltado algo, de ahí que solo le dé cuatro estrellas, pero no significa que a vosotros el libro no os parezca brutal.
Contadme: ¿La habéis leído? ¿Os ha gustado? ¿Conocíais a la autora? ¿Habéis leído algo más de ella? ¿Alguna recomendación?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2023
The Engagement
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 1/10/23
Author: Samantha Hayes
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 335
GR: 4.09
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: This book checks all of the boxes of a psychological thriller, it is gripping, intense, captivating, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is narrated in past and present tense with multiple POVs. I love the past building interweaved with the present, however, at times, some of it did not seem necessary. All of the characters are hiding something from their past and when they explode, they explode big.
The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, secretive, and very creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, twisty, suspenseful, thought provoking, and kept me engaged the entire story. The author does a brilliant job at building and developing the characters, developing the plots is various twists, while some are predictable, the ending I did not see coming and it was a fantastic ending!
The author did a fantastic job in the research of sex workers, it felt authentic and draws you in. This was a gripping and captivating psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge until the very end. The plot was well written and the last twist took me by surprise. Even though it is a bit slow, you can’t help but continue to read. I do highly recommend picking up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 1/10/23
Author: Samantha Hayes
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 335
GR: 4.09
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: This book checks all of the boxes of a psychological thriller, it is gripping, intense, captivating, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is narrated in past and present tense with multiple POVs. I love the past building interweaved with the present, however, at times, some of it did not seem necessary. All of the characters are hiding something from their past and when they explode, they explode big.
The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, secretive, and very creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, twisty, suspenseful, thought provoking, and kept me engaged the entire story. The author does a brilliant job at building and developing the characters, developing the plots is various twists, while some are predictable, the ending I did not see coming and it was a fantastic ending!
The author did a fantastic job in the research of sex workers, it felt authentic and draws you in. This was a gripping and captivating psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge until the very end. The plot was well written and the last twist took me by surprise. Even though it is a bit slow, you can’t help but continue to read. I do highly recommend picking up.
December 10, 2022
This is a parent’s worst nightmare - your daughter comes home from a holiday abroad, head over heels in love and engaged to a man who’s all wrong for her.
Why is this a nightmare? Well, her fiance is the last man on earth you’d ever want her to marry. He’s the man you escaped from yourself years ago….
Intrigued? I certainly was and this, mixed with the great cover and a new-to-me author, had me excited to uncover the truth.
Hannah and Rob had been planning a surprise gift for their daughter’s 18th birthday. How ironic that Belle surprised them instead! Jack is NOT the type of man they’d imagined for their daughter. You’ll read about a mom who will stop at nothing to prevent history from repeating itself. Yes, the plot does develop slowly as the author sets up the background, but there’s a fantastic range of characters and the twists are unpredictable. The book ends with an epilogue that is a terrific finish to a wild ride.
I was hesitant when a fellow reviewer warned me the book touched on trafficking and my reasons for it were met with unpalpable unease. Hayes takes us to a place that we’d never choose to see and shines a bright spotlight on what we want to put a blanket over and ignore. I had to put the book down and take time to appreciate my life before picking it up again, knowing that I’d be confronted with slimy people with despicable motives. The emotional toll on these victims is shocking and the journey to healing is long. Be forewarned; in addition to the wonderful highlight on friendship and familial bonds, there’s also a dark focus on human trafficking, drug use, death, and deception.
This is my first introduction to Samantha Hayes’ writing. I loved her ability to surprise me, keep me on the edge of my seat, appeal to my emotions, and wow me with her wonderful character development. Most of all, she left me with plenty to think about…making this a book I won’t forget for some time.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Why is this a nightmare? Well, her fiance is the last man on earth you’d ever want her to marry. He’s the man you escaped from yourself years ago….
Intrigued? I certainly was and this, mixed with the great cover and a new-to-me author, had me excited to uncover the truth.
Hannah and Rob had been planning a surprise gift for their daughter’s 18th birthday. How ironic that Belle surprised them instead! Jack is NOT the type of man they’d imagined for their daughter. You’ll read about a mom who will stop at nothing to prevent history from repeating itself. Yes, the plot does develop slowly as the author sets up the background, but there’s a fantastic range of characters and the twists are unpredictable. The book ends with an epilogue that is a terrific finish to a wild ride.
I was hesitant when a fellow reviewer warned me the book touched on trafficking and my reasons for it were met with unpalpable unease. Hayes takes us to a place that we’d never choose to see and shines a bright spotlight on what we want to put a blanket over and ignore. I had to put the book down and take time to appreciate my life before picking it up again, knowing that I’d be confronted with slimy people with despicable motives. The emotional toll on these victims is shocking and the journey to healing is long. Be forewarned; in addition to the wonderful highlight on friendship and familial bonds, there’s also a dark focus on human trafficking, drug use, death, and deception.
This is my first introduction to Samantha Hayes’ writing. I loved her ability to surprise me, keep me on the edge of my seat, appeal to my emotions, and wow me with her wonderful character development. Most of all, she left me with plenty to think about…making this a book I won’t forget for some time.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 3, 2022
If you are looking for a book to keep you on your toes and not want to put down, then this is the book for you! This book had me hooked from the beginning and had an ending that I was not expecting!
Hannah and Rob have two daughters, Belle and Amber. Belle traveled to France and is returning home for a surprise 18th birthday party from her her parents. Little does Hannah and Rob know that they are in for quite a shock when she comes home and has been traveling with a man named Jack. Belle shocks her parents and says she is engaged to be married to him. Hannah realizes she knows Jack as soon as she sees him and her past is back to haunt her. Who is Jack really and what does he want from Hannah?
Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This review has been posted to my blog - lovelybooktique.wordpress.com
Hannah and Rob have two daughters, Belle and Amber. Belle traveled to France and is returning home for a surprise 18th birthday party from her her parents. Little does Hannah and Rob know that they are in for quite a shock when she comes home and has been traveling with a man named Jack. Belle shocks her parents and says she is engaged to be married to him. Hannah realizes she knows Jack as soon as she sees him and her past is back to haunt her. Who is Jack really and what does he want from Hannah?
Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This review has been posted to my blog - lovelybooktique.wordpress.com
August 8, 2023
This book made you think that an alll out MURDER happened. Are we really not going to talk about how the mom AND the daughter had sex with the same man? I don’t care what secrets you hold as a mother, if your DAUGHTER is in danger of a grooming sex trafficker, you speak UP and protect her. Hannah’s motives and reasonings to stay quiet and not share her story were absolutely bizarre to me, I cannot STAND a meek and idiotic woman character. Storyline kept me flipping through the pages to see if Hannah aka Molly was going to redeem herself and she didn’t. Would not recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2023
It’s unbearably awful. Horribly predictable plot, the most annoying characters out to page. Adults behaving like children and an end twist that is eye rollingly stupid. No suspense, nothing surprising. Avoid.
January 11, 2023
Belle shows up back home a day later than expected. However, after being gone for a few months in France, she comes home with a fiancé in tow, Jack. Her parents, especially her mother, are shocked. Why is her mother even more shocked that her father? Aside from the fact that Jack is at least twice Belle’s age, her mother Hannah recognizes him from her disturbing past, and the man she never hoped to see again is not named Jack.
While Hannah struggles to determine how this man ended up with her eighteen-year-old daughter and what his end game is, her dark past is slowly revealed. Hannah has kept this past a secret, one she never expected to face. It slowly becomes clear that Hannah‘s past was that she was deeply involved in the sex work business. How she came from that to where she is now with what has been a happy marriage with two children and a good life does not even seem possible. Lies and secrets had been working for Hannah but the truth is certain to come to light, and the level of danger that now faces Hannah is certain to upset her carefully orchestrated life.
Samantha Hayes has written a banger of a story, one dark and devastating, full of twists and turns that captured my attention from the very start. This book was impossible to put down, especially when the reader is forced to balance Hannah‘s past with her present while seeing in what ways Jack planned on exposing something she never thought would be revealed. This powerful book delivered a hard punch and came to a close with a shocking ending. Kudos to Ms. Hayes for writing such an effective story.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/rjypDbu7TOc
While Hannah struggles to determine how this man ended up with her eighteen-year-old daughter and what his end game is, her dark past is slowly revealed. Hannah has kept this past a secret, one she never expected to face. It slowly becomes clear that Hannah‘s past was that she was deeply involved in the sex work business. How she came from that to where she is now with what has been a happy marriage with two children and a good life does not even seem possible. Lies and secrets had been working for Hannah but the truth is certain to come to light, and the level of danger that now faces Hannah is certain to upset her carefully orchestrated life.
Samantha Hayes has written a banger of a story, one dark and devastating, full of twists and turns that captured my attention from the very start. This book was impossible to put down, especially when the reader is forced to balance Hannah‘s past with her present while seeing in what ways Jack planned on exposing something she never thought would be revealed. This powerful book delivered a hard punch and came to a close with a shocking ending. Kudos to Ms. Hayes for writing such an effective story.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/rjypDbu7TOc
January 21, 2023
Keep you up all night obsession, it was. The first word that comes to mind is intense. As in, the stomach tied in knots type of intensity. The second word is… dark. Black. I tend to go into books without reading the blurb, that way I never know what’s coming. If I did, I probably would’ve skipped this book due to a BIG piece of the content.
This book is the epitome of WHEN YOUR PAST COMES BACK TO HAUNT YOU. I struggled through the trafficking/sex work parts. They were really hard for me to get past and nearly turned me off of the book completely. After one particular chapter (I read mostly at night), I was taken over by anxiety and just a gross feeling. Icky. Struggled to sleep. I feel so bad for the girls lost and left behind by the people who should’ve loved them, thrust into a world of being used, treated like objects… like property. As teenagers and young girls, having to see just how ugly and awful the world can be. It made me sad. I felt disgusted, knowing that this happens every single day to so many girls/women. As for the rest of the story, it was well written and much of it I did NOT see coming. The twists are waiting at the end more than anywhere else, a huge WOW factor. Not once, but twice.
This is a good thriller. I was DEFINITELY thrilled. Stomach turned inside out. Felt sick. Moved. Shocked. Surprised. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. The ending will make perfect sense and surprise you beyond what you could’ve ever thought of yourself. This author knows how to write. Unputdownable but also contains hard subject matter. Check trigger warnings.
This is so much MORE than An Engagement. It’s deadly. You see a ring on the cover, but it should really be a knife. The blood is fitting. Nothing is what it seems.
This book is the epitome of WHEN YOUR PAST COMES BACK TO HAUNT YOU. I struggled through the trafficking/sex work parts. They were really hard for me to get past and nearly turned me off of the book completely. After one particular chapter (I read mostly at night), I was taken over by anxiety and just a gross feeling. Icky. Struggled to sleep. I feel so bad for the girls lost and left behind by the people who should’ve loved them, thrust into a world of being used, treated like objects… like property. As teenagers and young girls, having to see just how ugly and awful the world can be. It made me sad. I felt disgusted, knowing that this happens every single day to so many girls/women. As for the rest of the story, it was well written and much of it I did NOT see coming. The twists are waiting at the end more than anywhere else, a huge WOW factor. Not once, but twice.
This is a good thriller. I was DEFINITELY thrilled. Stomach turned inside out. Felt sick. Moved. Shocked. Surprised. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. The ending will make perfect sense and surprise you beyond what you could’ve ever thought of yourself. This author knows how to write. Unputdownable but also contains hard subject matter. Check trigger warnings.
This is so much MORE than An Engagement. It’s deadly. You see a ring on the cover, but it should really be a knife. The blood is fitting. Nothing is what it seems.
January 18, 2023
This is my sixth read by the talented author, Samantha Hayes. Belle is turning 18 and Hannah and her husband, Rob, want to throw a surprise birthday party for her. But Belle isn't the only one with surprises in store... With a strong start, I was intrigued and gripped by what was happening and immensely keen to read on. A surprising, shocking story about deceit, regret and family among other things. Intense, intoxicating, rich in drama with a superb ending, and very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 30, 2025
Novela que se lee rápida y se olvida igual de rapido.
ideal para escuchar en audiolibro mientras se pasea al perro
ideal para escuchar en audiolibro mientras se pasea al perro
January 12, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Engagement' by Samantha Hayes.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Samantha Hayes, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 10th January 2022.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Trapped Wife' which I would highly recommend!!
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestseller that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and have you gasping at the twists. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will be flipping pages all night long!' I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Samantha and if this book is half as good as 'The Trapped Wife' it is guaranteed to be a page turner! I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 50 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in London and Bristol, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have actually visited both places recently and only live a couple of hours from Bristol so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any areas mentioned.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Hannah, Belle and Molly. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
'The Engagement' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Samantha discusses/includes exploitation of women and prostitution.
OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THOSE TWISTS!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!!
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Samantha!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, shocks, suspense, regrets, lies, friendship, tension, deceit and family. There were at least not one, not two but three explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is scarily realistic and what happens in the book and what Molly and Hannah went through happens to thousands of girls, if not more all over the world. It is a heartbreaking story and a parents worse nightmare!! The fact that Samantha has done her research absolutely shines through so a huge WELL done Samantha!! There is nothing worse than an author not doing even basic research on the subject they choose to write about as it can completely ruin a book of it is littered with unnecessary mistakes. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I really liked Molly and Hannah and felt so sorry on them throughout the book. Sadly, like many they felt they had no choice to do what they did after being manipulated and brought into their lives under false pretences. Hannah spends her whole life hiding her secrets and blaming herself but is she the only one with secrets? My heart broke for her with everything that was going on with her daughter Belle and as a parent myself I could feel my heart going a million miles an hour with hers. I'm not going to say too much about the other characters as I don't want to risk giving anything away. I could not stand Darren who was a horrible, twisted and sick person but again, strong and realistic and Samantha portrayed what many men in this world are like through him and what he does to the girls and how he treats them and the lies he says is exactly how these girls get dragged into these lives and caught in the webs that ruin them. My heart went out to Rob who was an absolutely amazing Dad to Belle and was worried about his family. I am not going to say anything about any of the other characters as it isn't worth the risk of dropping any hints but there was definitely mixed feelings with some of them and some major shocks to be had!! If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline.
Welcome to my top author Club Samantha and your book is one of the best psychological thrillers I have EVER READ!! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the prologue of Samantha's 'Date Night' ' which promises to be another explosive page turner and one I am looking forward to reading myself!!
Overall an absolutely heart racing, nerve wracking, emotional unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!
Genres covered in this book include Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction and Psychological Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, 'Housemaid', 'Gone Girl' and 'The Girl on the Train', Rachel Abbot and anyone who loves an explosive ending!!!
365 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
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Review for 'The Engagement' by Samantha Hayes.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Samantha Hayes, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 10th January 2022.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Trapped Wife' which I would highly recommend!!
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestseller that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and have you gasping at the twists. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will be flipping pages all night long!' I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Samantha and if this book is half as good as 'The Trapped Wife' it is guaranteed to be a page turner! I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 50 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in London and Bristol, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have actually visited both places recently and only live a couple of hours from Bristol so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any areas mentioned.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Hannah, Belle and Molly. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
'The Engagement' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Samantha discusses/includes exploitation of women and prostitution.
OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THOSE TWISTS!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!!
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Samantha!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, shocks, suspense, regrets, lies, friendship, tension, deceit and family. There were at least not one, not two but three explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is scarily realistic and what happens in the book and what Molly and Hannah went through happens to thousands of girls, if not more all over the world. It is a heartbreaking story and a parents worse nightmare!! The fact that Samantha has done her research absolutely shines through so a huge WELL done Samantha!! There is nothing worse than an author not doing even basic research on the subject they choose to write about as it can completely ruin a book of it is littered with unnecessary mistakes. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I really liked Molly and Hannah and felt so sorry on them throughout the book. Sadly, like many they felt they had no choice to do what they did after being manipulated and brought into their lives under false pretences. Hannah spends her whole life hiding her secrets and blaming herself but is she the only one with secrets? My heart broke for her with everything that was going on with her daughter Belle and as a parent myself I could feel my heart going a million miles an hour with hers. I'm not going to say too much about the other characters as I don't want to risk giving anything away. I could not stand Darren who was a horrible, twisted and sick person but again, strong and realistic and Samantha portrayed what many men in this world are like through him and what he does to the girls and how he treats them and the lies he says is exactly how these girls get dragged into these lives and caught in the webs that ruin them. My heart went out to Rob who was an absolutely amazing Dad to Belle and was worried about his family. I am not going to say anything about any of the other characters as it isn't worth the risk of dropping any hints but there was definitely mixed feelings with some of them and some major shocks to be had!! If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline.
Welcome to my top author Club Samantha and your book is one of the best psychological thrillers I have EVER READ!! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the prologue of Samantha's 'Date Night' ' which promises to be another explosive page turner and one I am looking forward to reading myself!!
Overall an absolutely heart racing, nerve wracking, emotional unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!
Genres covered in this book include Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction and Psychological Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, 'Housemaid', 'Gone Girl' and 'The Girl on the Train', Rachel Abbot and anyone who loves an explosive ending!!!
365 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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October 13, 2025
É o terceiro livro que leio da autora, e acho que este não me conquistou como os outros.
A ideia parecia super interessante e fora da caixa, Belle apresenta o noivo (Jack) aos pais. Jack é mais de duas décadas mais velho, e a mãe dela reconhece-o. Hannah, sabe que jack não é quem diz ser, mas revelar esta informação pode desturir a sua imagem, a sua reputação e a sua família!
Uma vez mais a investigação por parte da autora sobre o trabalho da indústria da prostituição é impecável e imaculado. O que falhou para mim foi o ritmo da história em si. o início fantástico, o final foi viciante... o meio, podia ter saltado o livro todo que nao haveria um único inconveniente. Foi bastante aborrecido e previsível. Em relação aos ourros da autora, achei-o menos viciante.
Depois da "Mãe da noiva" a fasquia estava super elevada, este acabou por não lhe conseguir chegar.
A ideia parecia super interessante e fora da caixa, Belle apresenta o noivo (Jack) aos pais. Jack é mais de duas décadas mais velho, e a mãe dela reconhece-o. Hannah, sabe que jack não é quem diz ser, mas revelar esta informação pode desturir a sua imagem, a sua reputação e a sua família!
Uma vez mais a investigação por parte da autora sobre o trabalho da indústria da prostituição é impecável e imaculado. O que falhou para mim foi o ritmo da história em si. o início fantástico, o final foi viciante... o meio, podia ter saltado o livro todo que nao haveria um único inconveniente. Foi bastante aborrecido e previsível. Em relação aos ourros da autora, achei-o menos viciante.
Depois da "Mãe da noiva" a fasquia estava super elevada, este acabou por não lhe conseguir chegar.
January 11, 2023
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was incredible! Although I caught on to a few things early in the book, what made this absolutely shocking for me was the unthinkable ending. I did not pick up on it at all although after reading it all, it suddenly seemed so obvious.
I liked the past and present back and forth style of writing which kept the reader's interest intact. There were quite a few moments when Belle annoyed me a lot but I had to keep reminding myself that she was just a teenager and did not know any better. The past scenes with Hannah's life in prostitution was written really well. Without going into any physical details of the profession, the author managed to draw out the emotional pain these girls go through when forced into such a things.
Some things, or shall I say secrets were way too obvious catering to the fact that the book was a bit drawn out at the middle and I felt like things could have been escalated quicker but there were also elements that kept me hooked - especially Rob. He seemed genuine since the beginning but there was also something mysterious about him that one simply quite put their finger on.
Well, turns out I was smart to continue with the book because the ending made it all worth it.
4 stars.
This was incredible! Although I caught on to a few things early in the book, what made this absolutely shocking for me was the unthinkable ending. I did not pick up on it at all although after reading it all, it suddenly seemed so obvious.
I liked the past and present back and forth style of writing which kept the reader's interest intact. There were quite a few moments when Belle annoyed me a lot but I had to keep reminding myself that she was just a teenager and did not know any better. The past scenes with Hannah's life in prostitution was written really well. Without going into any physical details of the profession, the author managed to draw out the emotional pain these girls go through when forced into such a things.
Some things, or shall I say secrets were way too obvious catering to the fact that the book was a bit drawn out at the middle and I felt like things could have been escalated quicker but there were also elements that kept me hooked - especially Rob. He seemed genuine since the beginning but there was also something mysterious about him that one simply quite put their finger on.
Well, turns out I was smart to continue with the book because the ending made it all worth it.
4 stars.
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