noveldeelights's review
4.0
Ah, newly wedded bliss. Joys of joys and all that. Or not, as Sebastian and Lily will find out soon enough.
Lily’s first marriage to successful oncologist, Maxwell, was a bit of a nightmare. But now Lily has found love again with Sebastian, who is the polar opposite of her first husband. After a whirlwind romance, we meet Sebastian and Lily on their wedding day but little do they know, there is trouble ahead.
Just because Lily is now marrying someone else, that doesn’t mean Maxwell’s obsessive and controlling behaviour has come to an end. He’s decided he wants his family back and he’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.
The chapters alternate between Sebastian and Lily, giving the reader glimpses into what could possibly be going on while the characters remain clueless. While I was sometimes a little frustrated at their decisions and behaviour, it somehow all felt quite realistic and believable. It was fascinating to see how quickly trust, one of the foundations of a relationship, is blown to smithereens.
Now, I did figure out the “who”, but it didn’t ruin the reading experience for me one bit because I couldn’t at all predict their end game and there were still plenty of other twists to entertain me. Lucy Hay knows how to keep a reader hooked with intriguing characters and a scenario that will make you flip the pages faster as the tension builds up. And she most definitely knows how to set a scene, which always allows me to see things play out right in front of my eyes as if I was watching it on a screen.
Do No Harm is a devilish tale of manipulation and possessiveness with a disturbed and twisted individual calling the shots. Once again, Lucy Hay delivers a captivating, suspenseful and addictive page-turner that is sure to mess with your head!
Lily’s first marriage to successful oncologist, Maxwell, was a bit of a nightmare. But now Lily has found love again with Sebastian, who is the polar opposite of her first husband. After a whirlwind romance, we meet Sebastian and Lily on their wedding day but little do they know, there is trouble ahead.
Just because Lily is now marrying someone else, that doesn’t mean Maxwell’s obsessive and controlling behaviour has come to an end. He’s decided he wants his family back and he’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.
The chapters alternate between Sebastian and Lily, giving the reader glimpses into what could possibly be going on while the characters remain clueless. While I was sometimes a little frustrated at their decisions and behaviour, it somehow all felt quite realistic and believable. It was fascinating to see how quickly trust, one of the foundations of a relationship, is blown to smithereens.
Now, I did figure out the “who”, but it didn’t ruin the reading experience for me one bit because I couldn’t at all predict their end game and there were still plenty of other twists to entertain me. Lucy Hay knows how to keep a reader hooked with intriguing characters and a scenario that will make you flip the pages faster as the tension builds up. And she most definitely knows how to set a scene, which always allows me to see things play out right in front of my eyes as if I was watching it on a screen.
Do No Harm is a devilish tale of manipulation and possessiveness with a disturbed and twisted individual calling the shots. Once again, Lucy Hay delivers a captivating, suspenseful and addictive page-turner that is sure to mess with your head!
bibliobethreads's review
4.0
First of all, thank you so much to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and to the always fabulous Orenda Books for providing me with a copy of Do No Harm in exchange for an honest review. I'm adoring the new wave of psychological/domestic thrillers that are coming out at the moment and although sometimes I worry that they're going to be too similar, so far I haven't found any yet that aren't both unique and thrilling reads. This is definitely the case with Do No Harm, it has so much to recommend it - a compelling, twisty plot, fascinating and very readable characters and of course, those unexpected moments (I call them "gasp out louds") that cement the book in your memory and make it more likely you'll remember the story months down the line.
This is the story of a marriage, as you might have guessed. Actually, hang on a second, this is the story of TWO marriages. We have our main female lead, Lily and her new husband Sebastian who have recently married and are attempting to achieve full wedded bliss but are being hampered slightly (understatement of the year!) by the spectre of Lily's previous marriage with ex-husband, the very intense Maxwell. Lily and Maxwell both share a son and although they share custody fairly amicably, the boy becomes a perfect pawn for both finding out what is going on in the newlyweds' household and manipulating that situation for some other, more venomous motives. Lily and Sebastian are desperate to enjoy their new life as man and wife and Sebastian, to forge a relationship with his stepson but it's not long before the cracks start to show and the family are at breaking point. However, what they don't realise is exactly how out of hand and dangerous their lives are about to get.
Do No Harm is a gripping tale where you really never know what's coming next. I've read so many novels in this genre and I can't help myself trying to predict what's going to happen but with this novel? I failed miserably. I kept thinking I had figured it all out and feeling quite smug and clever then my bubble was well and truly burst when L V Hay pulled that metaphorical rug right out from under me and completely twisted everything round beyond all recognition. I thought it was going to be obvious. It's not obvious. I thought it was going to be predictable. Nope, definitely not predictable. I love when an author surprises me and refuses to submit to a cliché and Do No Harm does this time and time again. I've also had the misfortune to be in an obsessive, negative and manipulative relationship and the author describes the uncomfortable, confusing nature of this perfectly. Expect the unexpected with this exciting novel and just enjoy being taken along for a ride where ANYTHING could happen.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
This is the story of a marriage, as you might have guessed. Actually, hang on a second, this is the story of TWO marriages. We have our main female lead, Lily and her new husband Sebastian who have recently married and are attempting to achieve full wedded bliss but are being hampered slightly (understatement of the year!) by the spectre of Lily's previous marriage with ex-husband, the very intense Maxwell. Lily and Maxwell both share a son and although they share custody fairly amicably, the boy becomes a perfect pawn for both finding out what is going on in the newlyweds' household and manipulating that situation for some other, more venomous motives. Lily and Sebastian are desperate to enjoy their new life as man and wife and Sebastian, to forge a relationship with his stepson but it's not long before the cracks start to show and the family are at breaking point. However, what they don't realise is exactly how out of hand and dangerous their lives are about to get.
Do No Harm is a gripping tale where you really never know what's coming next. I've read so many novels in this genre and I can't help myself trying to predict what's going to happen but with this novel? I failed miserably. I kept thinking I had figured it all out and feeling quite smug and clever then my bubble was well and truly burst when L V Hay pulled that metaphorical rug right out from under me and completely twisted everything round beyond all recognition. I thought it was going to be obvious. It's not obvious. I thought it was going to be predictable. Nope, definitely not predictable. I love when an author surprises me and refuses to submit to a cliché and Do No Harm does this time and time again. I've also had the misfortune to be in an obsessive, negative and manipulative relationship and the author describes the uncomfortable, confusing nature of this perfectly. Expect the unexpected with this exciting novel and just enjoy being taken along for a ride where ANYTHING could happen.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
ljwrites85's review
5.0
(rounded up from 4.5)
The story begins with Lily and Sebastian’s wedding after a whirlwind romance, followed by an exotic honeymoon in Mauritius but the second they return everything starts to go wrong…
Wow this is one of those books that I got so absorbed in that hours could pass and I didn’t even notice.
The first book I read by Lucy V Hay was very different to this one but like Proof Positive I still found myself pulled in by the characters, I got slightly too emotionally involved to be honest!
Sebastian and Lily are quite normal characters, both teachers, you know someone you might pass in the street. Both have baggage, Lily, her possessive ex Maxwell and her BBF Triss and Sebastian his mother who he seems to have quite a complicated relationship with. Lily’s six year old son adds another layer to the story, he also has issues with Sebastian's and Lily’s marriage and starts wetting the bed. So many things go wrong for them throughout the story, it could even test a couple that had been together longer than they had.
I did start to get a little frustrated with the characters and their decisions as the end neared and I’m still not sure whether I liked the ending or not but I can’t stop thinking about it!
Overall Do No Harm is an original and engrossing novel that you won’t forget once you’ve read it.
The story begins with Lily and Sebastian’s wedding after a whirlwind romance, followed by an exotic honeymoon in Mauritius but the second they return everything starts to go wrong…
Wow this is one of those books that I got so absorbed in that hours could pass and I didn’t even notice.
The first book I read by Lucy V Hay was very different to this one but like Proof Positive I still found myself pulled in by the characters, I got slightly too emotionally involved to be honest!
Sebastian and Lily are quite normal characters, both teachers, you know someone you might pass in the street. Both have baggage, Lily, her possessive ex Maxwell and her BBF Triss and Sebastian his mother who he seems to have quite a complicated relationship with. Lily’s six year old son adds another layer to the story, he also has issues with Sebastian's and Lily’s marriage and starts wetting the bed. So many things go wrong for them throughout the story, it could even test a couple that had been together longer than they had.
I did start to get a little frustrated with the characters and their decisions as the end neared and I’m still not sure whether I liked the ending or not but I can’t stop thinking about it!
Overall Do No Harm is an original and engrossing novel that you won’t forget once you’ve read it.
dave_holwill's review
5.0
Excellent, cleverly plotted story. Was convinced I'd figured it out and was the cleverest of all the readers, but got played again.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
steph1rothwell's review
5.0
Do No Harm is the follow-up novel to the excellent The Other Twin and is one of the more malevolent novels I have read. From the opening chapters you could see the venomous thoughts and the wish that the marriage between Lily and Sebastian would fail.
The narrative comes from Lily, Sebastian, and an unknown narrator. You read about how happy Lily is to get away from her controlling ex husband Maxwell, how Sebastian wants to do the best he can for Lily and her son Denny, and how all the unknown narrator wants is for the marriage to fail. I changed my mind constantly about who this person could be. The only two I didn’t suspect were Lily, because it was so evident that it couldn’t be her, and Denny because he was only six years old. These two were also the most likeable in the novel.
At times I found it very unsettling, more so at the beginning when the unexplained events were less life threatening and more mind games. The acts that involved Denny left me feeling tense. Anybody who could manipulate a situation that could cause anxiety to a six year old child must have no remorse or compassion.
I did eventually realise who was responsible quite late on in the novel, I have to admit I was convinced it was somebody else. Obviously I can’t say who.
A brilliant, even though disturbing novel that I recommend highly.
The narrative comes from Lily, Sebastian, and an unknown narrator. You read about how happy Lily is to get away from her controlling ex husband Maxwell, how Sebastian wants to do the best he can for Lily and her son Denny, and how all the unknown narrator wants is for the marriage to fail. I changed my mind constantly about who this person could be. The only two I didn’t suspect were Lily, because it was so evident that it couldn’t be her, and Denny because he was only six years old. These two were also the most likeable in the novel.
At times I found it very unsettling, more so at the beginning when the unexplained events were less life threatening and more mind games. The acts that involved Denny left me feeling tense. Anybody who could manipulate a situation that could cause anxiety to a six year old child must have no remorse or compassion.
I did eventually realise who was responsible quite late on in the novel, I have to admit I was convinced it was somebody else. Obviously I can’t say who.
A brilliant, even though disturbing novel that I recommend highly.
shelleyann01's review
5.0
There’s a thin line between love and hate.
This book is full of so many twists. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I discovered I was wrong. It was so hard to put this book down, as I wanted to keep reading, and finished in one sitting. An avid fan of psychological thrillers, Do No Harm, definitely had me on the edge of my seat. In the beginning I made the mistake of trying to guess who was doing what to whom. Don't make the same mistake, you'll be dead wrong!
This book starts off with an ominous prologue. It peaks your interest and doesn't let up until the final page. This is a quick and enthralling read, and it will make you question those you surround yourself with, wary of everyone's actions and motives.
The ending was totally unexpected and the book is fast-paced, and I needed to finish the book and find out what happened. If you’re looking for a new read that will grab you from the start, this is one to add to your list.
As soon as I cracked the cover on this one I knew I had a long night ahead of me, barely a chapter into it and the words took a hold of me, and didn't want to let go, it was downright riveting. The story line was absorbing, the characters were exquisitely crafted and easy to connect to, and the ending actually was a twist I didn't see coming. I look forward to reading many more from this talented writer. Do No Harm is a psychological thriller at its finest.
Thank you NetGalley, Trafalgar Square Publishing, Orenda Books, and Lucy V. Hay for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#DoNoHarm #NetGalley
All my reviews can be found on my blog: https://shelleyann01.blogspot.com/
This book is full of so many twists. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I discovered I was wrong. It was so hard to put this book down, as I wanted to keep reading, and finished in one sitting. An avid fan of psychological thrillers, Do No Harm, definitely had me on the edge of my seat. In the beginning I made the mistake of trying to guess who was doing what to whom. Don't make the same mistake, you'll be dead wrong!
This book starts off with an ominous prologue. It peaks your interest and doesn't let up until the final page. This is a quick and enthralling read, and it will make you question those you surround yourself with, wary of everyone's actions and motives.
The ending was totally unexpected and the book is fast-paced, and I needed to finish the book and find out what happened. If you’re looking for a new read that will grab you from the start, this is one to add to your list.
As soon as I cracked the cover on this one I knew I had a long night ahead of me, barely a chapter into it and the words took a hold of me, and didn't want to let go, it was downright riveting. The story line was absorbing, the characters were exquisitely crafted and easy to connect to, and the ending actually was a twist I didn't see coming. I look forward to reading many more from this talented writer. Do No Harm is a psychological thriller at its finest.
Thank you NetGalley, Trafalgar Square Publishing, Orenda Books, and Lucy V. Hay for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#DoNoHarm #NetGalley
All my reviews can be found on my blog: https://shelleyann01.blogspot.com/
krisis86's review
4.0
I didn't love the POV switching but everything else was great. Awesome twists and turns and just a fun great mystery.
brookerachel's review
3.0
*Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!*
This wasn't my favorite thriller that I've read. The story was good and well written, but I think too much was given away early on and it made the ending fairly predictable. I like to write down what I think the answer is at different points in the book, and at 16% I had 2 predictions - 1 was what you were supposed to think and the other is what it was. So while I essentially was wrong in my guess, it tried too hard to sway you one way to a point where you knew it just wasn't the case.
This wasn't my favorite thriller that I've read. The story was good and well written, but I think too much was given away early on and it made the ending fairly predictable. I like to write down what I think the answer is at different points in the book, and at 16% I had 2 predictions - 1 was what you were supposed to think and the other is what it was. So while I essentially was wrong in my guess, it tried too hard to sway you one way to a point where you knew it just wasn't the case.
toofondofbooks's review
4.0
This review was originally posted on my blog: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/
I read Lucy Hay’s previous thriller, The Other Twin, last year and loved it (you can read my review at the above link if you’d like to) so I was excited to be invited to read Do No Harm for the blog tour and immediately said yes!
This book is so gripping! I picked it up and it grabbed me from the start. It starts with Lily’s wedding day; she’s marrying Sebastian who seems to be a lovely man and the total opposite to Lily’s ex-husband Maxwell. There is a sense from the start that there is someone around the couple who has horrible intentions but you don’t know who or why. The obvious suspect to begin with is Maxwell but the book takes you on such a twisty journey and you’ll be constantly re-assessing who you suspect and who you can trust!
The chapters alternate between Lily and Sebastian’s perspectives, and in between there are short sections from someone who seems to have malicious intentions but creepily we don’t know who it is. This is such a great way of building tension and it had me suspecting nearly everyone in this novel and my thoughts on who was doing all the horrible stuff to Lily and Sebastian changed so many times. Ultimately, I did stick with suspecting one person and I was right but I didn’t work out how or why they did what they did. I’m sure I only worked it out in the end because a long time ago I had someone in my life who did something that this person did so my gut was screaming at me that the character was not to be trusted.
This book is a really compelling read. It’s such a great psychological thriller but it’s also such a well-written and well-researched book about the lengths and the ways that people will go to to manipulate and harm others. It’s very prescient with the gaslighting; the making people doubt their own thoughts and memories of things, and it gave me chills at times. The tension builds and builds as the novel progresses and at one point I was literally on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen!
Lucy Hay is a brilliant writer; The Other Twin was the first novel I read by her and it was so good but Do No Harm is even better so I’m already excited to see what Lucy writes next! Do No Harm is a sophisticated, disturbing and an utterly unputdownable psychological thriller! I urge you to grab a copy and read it right away!
I read Lucy Hay’s previous thriller, The Other Twin, last year and loved it (you can read my review at the above link if you’d like to) so I was excited to be invited to read Do No Harm for the blog tour and immediately said yes!
This book is so gripping! I picked it up and it grabbed me from the start. It starts with Lily’s wedding day; she’s marrying Sebastian who seems to be a lovely man and the total opposite to Lily’s ex-husband Maxwell. There is a sense from the start that there is someone around the couple who has horrible intentions but you don’t know who or why. The obvious suspect to begin with is Maxwell but the book takes you on such a twisty journey and you’ll be constantly re-assessing who you suspect and who you can trust!
The chapters alternate between Lily and Sebastian’s perspectives, and in between there are short sections from someone who seems to have malicious intentions but creepily we don’t know who it is. This is such a great way of building tension and it had me suspecting nearly everyone in this novel and my thoughts on who was doing all the horrible stuff to Lily and Sebastian changed so many times. Ultimately, I did stick with suspecting one person and I was right but I didn’t work out how or why they did what they did. I’m sure I only worked it out in the end because a long time ago I had someone in my life who did something that this person did so my gut was screaming at me that the character was not to be trusted.
This book is a really compelling read. It’s such a great psychological thriller but it’s also such a well-written and well-researched book about the lengths and the ways that people will go to to manipulate and harm others. It’s very prescient with the gaslighting; the making people doubt their own thoughts and memories of things, and it gave me chills at times. The tension builds and builds as the novel progresses and at one point I was literally on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen!
Lucy Hay is a brilliant writer; The Other Twin was the first novel I read by her and it was so good but Do No Harm is even better so I’m already excited to see what Lucy writes next! Do No Harm is a sophisticated, disturbing and an utterly unputdownable psychological thriller! I urge you to grab a copy and read it right away!