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marilynw's review
4.0
All I See Is You by Charlotte Barnes (Author), Penelope Rawlins (Narrator)
M is an odd duck. She thinks she rubbish at so many things but in reality the head honcho at her work thinks she is the best at her job as a Social Media Manager. She avoids her co-workers other than for appearance's sake and she is very vague about her dating life. She is seeing someone, Caleb, but he doesn't know it. Once a week M makes a nice dinner, wears something appropriate for the mood, puts on some music, moves her dining room table to the living room window, and has her meal while she watches Caleb in the apartment across from hers.
What is it with people in novels not ever closing their curtains and blinds? M gets an eyeful from Caleb, especially since Caleb's sexual escapades all seem to take place in his living room. You'd think the women he's with might want some privacy but maybe sex that can be seen by anyone in the apartment across from you is better than private sex. These are smart people, surely they'd realize that people can see in, if they can see out.
Anyway, M is a stalker deluxe. There's this one time when she's stalking Caleb to a bar and she's just four steps behind him and then she sits two stools over from him. She's got it bad for Caleb but he has no idea, especially since Caleb has a regular hookup with a blond. Things don't look serious at first but then it appears that they might make their thing public.
Oh yeah, M has memory problems and takes meds and sees a specialist who is helping her to retrieve her memories. Once she starts getting some of them back, breaking down what's real and what is misplaced, she seems to get worse with her gaps in her memories. Her parents are no help, they don't want her to remember what she can't remember. And, where is Caleb?
M is smart, funny, sarcastic, and a liar. The narration really fits M well and I liked that I could picture M because of the creepy book cover. Except for the stalking and lying, M seems so nice, but is she really?
Published May 4, 2021
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
M is an odd duck. She thinks she rubbish at so many things but in reality the head honcho at her work thinks she is the best at her job as a Social Media Manager. She avoids her co-workers other than for appearance's sake and she is very vague about her dating life. She is seeing someone, Caleb, but he doesn't know it. Once a week M makes a nice dinner, wears something appropriate for the mood, puts on some music, moves her dining room table to the living room window, and has her meal while she watches Caleb in the apartment across from hers.
What is it with people in novels not ever closing their curtains and blinds? M gets an eyeful from Caleb, especially since Caleb's sexual escapades all seem to take place in his living room. You'd think the women he's with might want some privacy but maybe sex that can be seen by anyone in the apartment across from you is better than private sex. These are smart people, surely they'd realize that people can see in, if they can see out.
Anyway, M is a stalker deluxe. There's this one time when she's stalking Caleb to a bar and she's just four steps behind him and then she sits two stools over from him. She's got it bad for Caleb but he has no idea, especially since Caleb has a regular hookup with a blond. Things don't look serious at first but then it appears that they might make their thing public.
Oh yeah, M has memory problems and takes meds and sees a specialist who is helping her to retrieve her memories. Once she starts getting some of them back, breaking down what's real and what is misplaced, she seems to get worse with her gaps in her memories. Her parents are no help, they don't want her to remember what she can't remember. And, where is Caleb?
M is smart, funny, sarcastic, and a liar. The narration really fits M well and I liked that I could picture M because of the creepy book cover. Except for the stalking and lying, M seems so nice, but is she really?
Published May 4, 2021
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
rodeorocks13's review
5.0
Review
All I see is you is one of those stories that sucks you in from the beginning and keeps you there until the end. The twists and turns really kept me enthralled. The story itself is well put together in a way that you can't guess what is going to happen next. The plot switches back and forth from the past to the present throughout the story in a way to keep the suprises just that.
M is one of those characters that keeps you on your toes because you never know what she's thinking or what she will do next. Mix in her parents and coworkers and you have a great character dynamic for this story.
Overall I loved this story. It was intense at times and I did not see a lot of things coming. Exactly how I expect thrillers to be.
Narration review.
I wasn't sure about how the narrator made the main character voice at first. I really didn't like the voice that the narrator used until I got more into the story. It started to fit the character the longer I listened. It was also easy to tell between narratives because the narrator was very talented at doing different voices. I really enjoying this as an audiobook version in the end and I recommend it as a way to enjoy all I see is you.
I received an audiobook version through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
All I see is you is one of those stories that sucks you in from the beginning and keeps you there until the end. The twists and turns really kept me enthralled. The story itself is well put together in a way that you can't guess what is going to happen next. The plot switches back and forth from the past to the present throughout the story in a way to keep the suprises just that.
M is one of those characters that keeps you on your toes because you never know what she's thinking or what she will do next. Mix in her parents and coworkers and you have a great character dynamic for this story.
Overall I loved this story. It was intense at times and I did not see a lot of things coming. Exactly how I expect thrillers to be.
Narration review.
I wasn't sure about how the narrator made the main character voice at first. I really didn't like the voice that the narrator used until I got more into the story. It started to fit the character the longer I listened. It was also easy to tell between narratives because the narrator was very talented at doing different voices. I really enjoying this as an audiobook version in the end and I recommend it as a way to enjoy all I see is you.
I received an audiobook version through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
khoar's review
2.0
"M suffers from memory lapses and has established an unhealthy relationship with Caleb across the street. Caleb doesn’t know M exists… "
This was a pretty run of the mill psychological thriller with pretty good narration. I didn't think that the story was fleshed out very well and the characters were pretty shallowly put together. It felt a bit like "You", but not as well-written. This may just be because of the first person narration.
(NETGALLEY AUDIOBOOK – I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY ADVANCED READER COPY OF THIS BOOK THROUGH NETGALLEY. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE COMPLETELY MY OWN.)
This was a pretty run of the mill psychological thriller with pretty good narration. I didn't think that the story was fleshed out very well and the characters were pretty shallowly put together. It felt a bit like "You", but not as well-written. This may just be because of the first person narration.
(NETGALLEY AUDIOBOOK – I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY ADVANCED READER COPY OF THIS BOOK THROUGH NETGALLEY. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE COMPLETELY MY OWN.)
reader_mom_mn's review
4.0
I literally read this book in practically one setting! This book was amazing! I loved every bit of it. I will admit I was starting to get a little nervous when the “crazy” started happening.
M forgets things, what happens when she does? Who does she become? I loved the story line and the edge of your seat tension as the story starts to come together. I have never read anything by this author but I would for sure check out her other works now!
M forgets things, what happens when she does? Who does she become? I loved the story line and the edge of your seat tension as the story starts to come together. I have never read anything by this author but I would for sure check out her other works now!
bwagner's review
4.0
I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites. I enjoyed being pulled in to the story from the start. This is a fast paced story that is engaging and full of action. It is a well written story that has characters that bring the story to life on each page. Find out what happens when M has memory lapses about things that have happened. What will happen when some of those memories start coming to light? Are they better left unknown? The characters are relateable and made the story for me. I enjoyed them and how relateable they are. This is a great story that I highly recommend.
kaz_loves_books's review
4.0
M lives in a block of flats in Birmingham which is walking distance from her workplace. She has a job in publishing promoting authors, their new books and publication dates with any launches via social media. M’s very good at her job and is usually very organised plus full of good ideas. Her mum and dad have been separated for ages although her dad has a new partner. She sees or talks to them both but her mum thinks it’s only rarely with her dad!
Where M lives, she can see straight into the flat of the block opposite hers. She doesn’t take much notice till a dishy young man, Caleb moves in and she develops a bit of a crush. Then she starts regularly watching him when he is home, arranging nights to suit his schedule once she’s tracked him down on social media which he usually updates fairly often.
M goes to see a therapist sometimes once a week as it seems she suffers blackouts, something she has done since she was younger. He is now getting her to try some memory recall exercises which she finds hard. Also, her mum brings over some stuff from her childhood which includes a scrapbook. Whilst looking at the pictures, she can’t remember all the names of her friends in them. She works out who she does know then friends them on Facebook and gets help from there. She then asks her mum and dad about the girl again plus finds out there is a book written about her too. M orders a copy but by the time it arrives, she doesn’t even remember ordering it.
Unfortunately, combined with the memory recall exercises and reading the true crime book about her friend’s murder which she has totally blocked out, this sends M over the edge...her worst blackout since she was younger. What does she do?
I found this slow going to start with but I was gripped halfway through till the end! M was a complicated character so took a while to build a profile through small chapters all sensibly titled and relevant. It was well written with a good descriptive style and covered a subject I didn’t know much about which I found interesting. This is a new author for me and I would like to read more of her work.
Where M lives, she can see straight into the flat of the block opposite hers. She doesn’t take much notice till a dishy young man, Caleb moves in and she develops a bit of a crush. Then she starts regularly watching him when he is home, arranging nights to suit his schedule once she’s tracked him down on social media which he usually updates fairly often.
M goes to see a therapist sometimes once a week as it seems she suffers blackouts, something she has done since she was younger. He is now getting her to try some memory recall exercises which she finds hard. Also, her mum brings over some stuff from her childhood which includes a scrapbook. Whilst looking at the pictures, she can’t remember all the names of her friends in them. She works out who she does know then friends them on Facebook and gets help from there. She then asks her mum and dad about the girl again plus finds out there is a book written about her too. M orders a copy but by the time it arrives, she doesn’t even remember ordering it.
Unfortunately, combined with the memory recall exercises and reading the true crime book about her friend’s murder which she has totally blocked out, this sends M over the edge...her worst blackout since she was younger. What does she do?
I found this slow going to start with but I was gripped halfway through till the end! M was a complicated character so took a while to build a profile through small chapters all sensibly titled and relevant. It was well written with a good descriptive style and covered a subject I didn’t know much about which I found interesting. This is a new author for me and I would like to read more of her work.
readingwithbuddy's review
5.0
This is a slow burner but when it gets going it is engrossing. I really rooted for M to get her memories back. (I was confused part of the way whether M was female or male). I haven't read a book like this in a long time it really grew with time and I needed to know what happened.
I read this in two settings - one the first bit (then read the reviews and decided to continue) and then I got hooked.
I was given an advance copy by Bloodhound books but the review is entirely my own.
I read this in two settings - one the first bit (then read the reviews and decided to continue) and then I got hooked.
I was given an advance copy by Bloodhound books but the review is entirely my own.
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