YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell, three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.

Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

This is the 13th book I've read from this author. She is an auto-buy for me, and I really enjoy her writing style. Starting now, so I have enough time to finish before August 31.

Starting a little early here. Opening chapters have me (intentionally, I think) confused.

Karen wrote: "Starting a little early here. Opening chapters have me (intentionally, I think) confused."

Very intentional. It sorts out very quickly. The setup for the characters and locations is starting and important information for the storyline. It stays very clear throughout once everything has been established.

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and join early too! Thrillers are not my usual genre but I'm trying to branch out into them so we will we how this goes, but I'm keen!

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[ Okay I'm intrigued, I think it's quite clear that Nick or whatever his actual name is is dating multiple women and that he killed Paddy as well. Beyond that though, I have no idea! (hide spoiler)]

First quarter. Now the various characters are more established it’s less confusing. I’m liking Ash, and am hopeful she’ll act on her suspicions about Nick before it’s too late.

Second quarter. While I feel bad for what is happening to these women I’m stunned by how easily they are taken in. The extreme levels of money they’re being conned out of should have alarm bells ringing.

Third quarter. Decidedly dark turn. (view spoiler)[ The lies and theft are bad enough, but the murders seem to take it to a whole new level. (hide spoiler)]

Finished. Review on home page. If this were a film I’d have been switched off very early on. Exaggerated and wholly improbable. A quick read and it offered an entertaining diversion.

Lara wrote: "I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and join early too! Thrillers are not my usual genre but I'm trying to branch out into them so we will we how this goes, but I'm keen!

Chapter 10: [spoilers remo..."

(view spoiler)[ Trying to get my head round the different names/set-ups was definitely tricky at the beginning.

It definitely took some getting used to. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Second quarter. While I feel bad for what is happening to these women I’m stunned by how easily they are taken in. The extreme levels of money they’re being conned out of should have alarm bells ri..."

(view spoiler)[ The first instance of the con was upsetting, then as the story progressed, I felt it was becoming so redundant and stupid with all the women. I too was alarmed by the amount. We're talking 100,000s of pounds/dollars. I'm seeing a much larger issue of these women feeling the need to be "loved" and in a relationship, no matter what, which I guess touches on the loneliness, no sense of worth and prevalent kinds of abuse other than physical in marriages, but didn't feel like the story really delved deep enough for my liking in understanding WHY these women stayed and never called the police. I really want to watch the docuseries on Netflix The Tinder Swindler to get a better understanding of how someone can be conned this badly. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Finished. Review on home page. If this were a film I’d have been switched off very early on. Exaggerated and wholly improbable. A quick read and it offered an entertaining diversion."

Same thoughts. It was very ridiculous, and my empathy waned as I progressed further into the story.

I just passed chapter 30, so far I'm finding this okay. Not as thrilling as I expected it to be, but I'm sure it will get there.

(view spoiler)[ Also Nick: is it really only about the money? Like obviously there’s also the whole stalker thing he has going on and he definitely gets a kick out of swindling these women but the money is taking on a much more prominent role than I would have expected it to! I thought it would be something more interesting.

Seeing him try and pitch the same location and business venture to two different women back to back is also wild, crazy that they do not see right through him! Especially Martha, like GIRL there are so many red flags, get yourself out of there!! (hide spoiler)]

I’m making a guess about the ending and for once I feel like I really might be onto something! Currently up to chapter 61 and what I’m thinking is: (view spoiler)[Finding out about Ash going crazy really made me question some things, and whether she was a reliable narrator but then that didn’t quite add up. So I think that she was manipulated by Nick and he was the one who sent the letters pretending to be her boss, because he overheard her talking to her friends while he was stalking her! I think that really explains it, and he didn’t have a problem with murder so this is definitely within the realm of possibility! (hide spoiler)]

My thoughts about the ending, spoilers beware: (view spoiler)[ I’m so impressed with myself about guessing that Nick wrote the letters to Ash!

Overall though I do feel like the ending was a bit predictable. And really why they assembled everyone together but not the police is just ridiculous!

So proud of Jane for turning him in, finally someone in this book showing a little bit of common sense!! (hide spoiler)]

Here I was thinking I was early by starting it a day early haha.

Karen wrote: "Starting a little early here. Opening chapters have me (intentionally, I think) confused."

Agreed karen, I'm trying to keep all the women and locations straight because its obvious it will be important but i feel like the chapters are so short that we barely get anytime to learn anything

End of part 2: (view spoiler)[ at this point im just frustrated, maybe its because i know hes a con man but i dont find his lies all that believable. Esp since the author makes it a point to say these women were strong and self sufficient before he came into their lives - so why are they now just believing this crap and giving him all their money? I mean Martha caught him in a straight up lie about the gym/hotel but whatever (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Third quarter. Decidedly dark turn. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ the murder was very over the top. This amanda woman is completely dumb, im sorry. I really dont get how anyone can believe his lies, theyre so bad (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Karen wrote: "Third quarter. Decidedly dark turn. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah I honestly do not understand how these women just kept on falling for it, honestly seemed like an unrealistic amount of gullible! It really does become hard to root for them at some points because you really start to lose empathy when they just keep believing him again and again (hide spoiler)]

Lara wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Karen wrote: "Third quarter. Decidedly dark turn. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ it's so hard to root for them! At this point im only rooting for Ash as she seems to be the only person who actually thinks he's off (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Um yeah this was not my favorite from this author. I had a lot of issues. While I'm glad that ultimately Amanda turned on him at the very end, I find it extremely hard that this man convinced this woman - who thought he was dead - to not only accept him back in her life, but to also dismember someone and then leave her children behind to go wait for him in the middle of nowhere for 4 years. So much of this story was just so out there that I could not get behind it (hide spoiler)]