sbougeard's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
mandyherbet's review
1.0
Full disclosure: I skimmed the last third of this book because it was so awful. And by awful I mean self-published (I assume), two-dimensional and flat throughout. So, yes, awful. I hate-read it simply to be able to "finish" it and warn everyone else in my friends list to stay away.
Let's begin with the plot, which is actually the one redeeming feature of this book. There's a murder (or are there two murders? NOT TELLING) - Emma Fern, bestselling author and literary prize nominee has killed her best friend, author Beatrice. This is not a secret - we're told this in the first chapter so I'm not spoiling everything for you. How she comes to have killed her is the tale we're told from Emma's perspective.
Emma is a mild-mannered shop owner who comes from poverty and now lives with her super-smart economist husband, Jim, and enjoys a boring life until she meets her FAVOURITE author, Beatrice, one day in her shop. What follows is a request from Beatrice (who quickly becomes Emma's BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD) to pretend to have written a book by Beatrice and be her stand-in because the book is totally different to anything she's ever written and no agent will take it seriously. Obviously Emma descends into a spiral of jealousy and delusion which culminates in murder. Interesting, right?
EXCEPT all the characters are completely flat and so two-dimensional that they'll give you paper cuts. Emma is obviously unhinged from the beginning so there's no descent into delusion that would be necessary to make the day she "snaps" believable. Her husband Jim obviously detests her from the start despite the author trying to tell us that their marriage was super happy and perfect. Beatrice is so craven and rude that you actually want to reach in and throttle her and, well, the story is told in such a way that you might think you're reading the outline instead of the fleshed out book.
And this is before I even talk about the dialogue, because AWFUL. There are no words but I'll try find them: stilted like a stick man walking on stilts does not even come close. I'd come up with examples but just trust me, awful.
Let's begin with the plot, which is actually the one redeeming feature of this book. There's a murder (or are there two murders? NOT TELLING) - Emma Fern, bestselling author and literary prize nominee has killed her best friend, author Beatrice. This is not a secret - we're told this in the first chapter so I'm not spoiling everything for you. How she comes to have killed her is the tale we're told from Emma's perspective.
Emma is a mild-mannered shop owner who comes from poverty and now lives with her super-smart economist husband, Jim, and enjoys a boring life until she meets her FAVOURITE author, Beatrice, one day in her shop. What follows is a request from Beatrice (who quickly becomes Emma's BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD) to pretend to have written a book by Beatrice and be her stand-in because the book is totally different to anything she's ever written and no agent will take it seriously. Obviously Emma descends into a spiral of jealousy and delusion which culminates in murder. Interesting, right?
EXCEPT all the characters are completely flat and so two-dimensional that they'll give you paper cuts. Emma is obviously unhinged from the beginning so there's no descent into delusion that would be necessary to make the day she "snaps" believable. Her husband Jim obviously detests her from the start despite the author trying to tell us that their marriage was super happy and perfect. Beatrice is so craven and rude that you actually want to reach in and throttle her and, well, the story is told in such a way that you might think you're reading the outline instead of the fleshed out book.
And this is before I even talk about the dialogue, because AWFUL. There are no words but I'll try find them: stilted like a stick man walking on stilts does not even come close. I'd come up with examples but just trust me, awful.
amiramariex's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
llwilliams080117's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
ashleysumm's review against another edition
5.0
It's the perfect deal... or is it?
Emma is delighted to meet Beatrice Johnson Greene, one of her favourite authors. They form a fast friendship, and Emma is over the moon. As an aspiring writer herself, Emma would love to publish a novel. Luckily for her, Beatrice is looking for an unknown author to be the public name and face behind her next novel. Too famous to switch genres, Beatrice asks Emma if she will do her this favour. In return, they will split the proceeds of the sales and Emma will gain some notoriety, and receive writing mentorship from Beatrice. The book is an instant hit, and Emma is soaking up her newfound fame. Now that she's had a taste of success, she's not willing to risk giving it up...
This novel had me hook, line, and sinker from the very first chapter, which has been my overall experience with Natalie Barelli's books so far. I love any thriller that begins with a bargain, and Until I Met Her did not disappoint. I listened to the audiobook and I really felt that I could picture each character based on how the narrator portrayed them. She absolutely nailed Beatrice's pretentious personality and Emma's transformation from self-conscious to confident. I recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers and suspense novels!
Emma is delighted to meet Beatrice Johnson Greene, one of her favourite authors. They form a fast friendship, and Emma is over the moon. As an aspiring writer herself, Emma would love to publish a novel. Luckily for her, Beatrice is looking for an unknown author to be the public name and face behind her next novel. Too famous to switch genres, Beatrice asks Emma if she will do her this favour. In return, they will split the proceeds of the sales and Emma will gain some notoriety, and receive writing mentorship from Beatrice. The book is an instant hit, and Emma is soaking up her newfound fame. Now that she's had a taste of success, she's not willing to risk giving it up...
This novel had me hook, line, and sinker from the very first chapter, which has been my overall experience with Natalie Barelli's books so far. I love any thriller that begins with a bargain, and Until I Met Her did not disappoint. I listened to the audiobook and I really felt that I could picture each character based on how the narrator portrayed them. She absolutely nailed Beatrice's pretentious personality and Emma's transformation from self-conscious to confident. I recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers and suspense novels!
nursenell's review
4.0
Emma is leading an ordinary life, she owns a small specialty home decor shop, and considers herself happy in her marriage. Then she meets a best selling author of crime books, and her life is turned upside down. I did not see the end coming at all. The book definitely held my interest.
sakshikodwani's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mrs_george's review
4.0
Solid psychological thriller. I would've liked a bit more tension but it definitely didn't go in the directions I was expecting.
cassiecat's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5⭐️ 🎧
A debut thriller.
A debut thriller.
I had the audiobook read by Kate Rudd, an excellent performance, with great distinct voices.
Emma strikes up a friendship with her favourite author Beatrice Johnson-Greene who asks her to publish her latest novel under her name. It becomes a huge success, leaving Emma wanting more, and she’ll stop at nothing to get it.
I do like a book within a book premise. It’s got a really easy light sarcastic tone.
I can’t say I found either of the main characters likeable, but that didn’t stop me totally engaging with the story.
It’s got a great pace, lots going on throughout, I enjoyed how the plot unfolded, it’s not a complex plot but it has neat twists and turns. It’s very entertaining.
I loved it, and look forward to the sequel.