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sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
I've read a few books by this author now which I have enjoyed all of them but personally I think The Mistake I Made is one of the authors best books so far.
To me The Mistake I Made did bring to mind two films that I have previously seen, Indecent Proposal and Fatal Attraction, which I both loved.
Roz is a great female lead character, unfortunately for her she has got herself into a financial mess and can see no way out of it. Being a single parent certainly is not easy especially when the father isn't giving Roz a penny to help provide for their little boy, George.
After bailiffs call at the house and practically empty it of all furniture and a letter from her landlord giving her an eviction notice, Roz finds herself in a desperate situation with no one and no where to turn, so when Scott, her sisters friend's husband comes up with a proposal which will benefit Roz financially she feels she has no choice but to accept.
The Mistake I made is a edge of your seat read that had me hooked from the start. As with the film Indecent Proposal, this book also makes you think about what you would do if you were offered money that could change your life in exchange for sex. In Roz's situation though she is desperate just to be able to provide some stability for her son George and as a parent it does make you think how far you would go just to provide a decent enough lifestyle for your child.
There are certainly a few surprises in store for the reader in this book and even though parts were quite obvious it still made for a really enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
To me The Mistake I Made did bring to mind two films that I have previously seen, Indecent Proposal and Fatal Attraction, which I both loved.
Roz is a great female lead character, unfortunately for her she has got herself into a financial mess and can see no way out of it. Being a single parent certainly is not easy especially when the father isn't giving Roz a penny to help provide for their little boy, George.
After bailiffs call at the house and practically empty it of all furniture and a letter from her landlord giving her an eviction notice, Roz finds herself in a desperate situation with no one and no where to turn, so when Scott, her sisters friend's husband comes up with a proposal which will benefit Roz financially she feels she has no choice but to accept.
The Mistake I made is a edge of your seat read that had me hooked from the start. As with the film Indecent Proposal, this book also makes you think about what you would do if you were offered money that could change your life in exchange for sex. In Roz's situation though she is desperate just to be able to provide some stability for her son George and as a parent it does make you think how far you would go just to provide a decent enough lifestyle for your child.
There are certainly a few surprises in store for the reader in this book and even though parts were quite obvious it still made for a really enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
mfeibel's review against another edition
4.0
Really, really excellent book. Fast paced and suspenseful. I could've done with a more climactic ending but I wasn't totally disappointed. Can't wait to read other books by Paula Daly.
comedywriter's review against another edition
5.0
Daly delivers a LOT of story at a fast pace. Beliveable, well written. Loved it!
snazzybooks's review against another edition
5.0
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com.
I didn’t really know what to expect from The Mistake I Made as I’ve never read any of Paula Daly’s novels before and I’d purposefully not read up a lot about it before reading (I’ve been trying to do this with more books recently as I really enjoy reading novels without my own assumptions or expectations). I’d only very quickly scanned the synopsis. I didn’t necessarily expect to enjoy this book as much as I did- which was so much!
The main character Roz certainly made some questionable choices but Daly writes so well that I completely understood her desperation and kind of understood why she did it. Other characters were also really well developed too and the novel certainly provoked strong feelings from me as I read!
You can see where the story is going from a mile off, but I felt like that’s surely the point- readers can guess pretty well which direction Roz’s life is heading from this one mistake. There was still surprise and tension as I didn’t know exactly what was going to come of it, which meant it was really interesting and enjoyable to read, but I could tell things were going to get messy! With some novels like this I just feel frustrated with the characters who make such bad choices, but as I mentioned before, Paula Daly writes very convincingly and I therefore didn’t feel the same annoyance and irritation as I usually do, I just felt really bad for her whilst still warming to her as a character!
The story is really interesting as it prompts you to think how you might react in a similar situation, and how your family and friends would respond to finding out about it, as Roz’s did. The desperation she felt as a mother must ring true for many families sadly and I feel that Paula Daly did a really good job of putting character Roz’s feelings and reasons across without it becoming too preachy either way.
I would definitely recommend this brilliant novel and hope to read more of Paula Daly!
** Many thanks to the publisher who provided a copy of this novel in return for an honest review **
I didn’t really know what to expect from The Mistake I Made as I’ve never read any of Paula Daly’s novels before and I’d purposefully not read up a lot about it before reading (I’ve been trying to do this with more books recently as I really enjoy reading novels without my own assumptions or expectations). I’d only very quickly scanned the synopsis. I didn’t necessarily expect to enjoy this book as much as I did- which was so much!
The main character Roz certainly made some questionable choices but Daly writes so well that I completely understood her desperation and kind of understood why she did it. Other characters were also really well developed too and the novel certainly provoked strong feelings from me as I read!
You can see where the story is going from a mile off, but I felt like that’s surely the point- readers can guess pretty well which direction Roz’s life is heading from this one mistake. There was still surprise and tension as I didn’t know exactly what was going to come of it, which meant it was really interesting and enjoyable to read, but I could tell things were going to get messy! With some novels like this I just feel frustrated with the characters who make such bad choices, but as I mentioned before, Paula Daly writes very convincingly and I therefore didn’t feel the same annoyance and irritation as I usually do, I just felt really bad for her whilst still warming to her as a character!
The story is really interesting as it prompts you to think how you might react in a similar situation, and how your family and friends would respond to finding out about it, as Roz’s did. The desperation she felt as a mother must ring true for many families sadly and I feel that Paula Daly did a really good job of putting character Roz’s feelings and reasons across without it becoming too preachy either way.
I would definitely recommend this brilliant novel and hope to read more of Paula Daly!
** Many thanks to the publisher who provided a copy of this novel in return for an honest review **
starscattered's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alissamarie88's review against another edition
3.0
The book was slow-moving, with a lot of unnecessary details about the main character's job. Not a lot of build-up to the main event, I felt like, and what build-up there was, was lacking in intensity. Somewhat predictable and unbelievable, and then it all ended with a nice little bow on top, which I don't usually enjoy. I like some unresolved issues. Anyway, 3/5 because I enjoy Paula Daly as an author and feel like maybe this book was just a one-off.
gudzilla's review against another edition
2.0
Rating:
2 stars
Cover:
Meh
Trigger:
None
Short review:
I am feeling conflicted about this book. Maybe I would have enjoyed this when it was released originally back in 2015 when I was young and naive and new to the psychological thriller genre. Scratch that young and naive comment and maybe also psychological as well. It is a thriller book but it is more of a domestic thriller than any other.
We have introduced to series of characters and there was no reason to speculate. There is your bad guy, and this is the damsel in distress and no one to save her. boohoo. Insert a lot of pity party and sarcastic supposedly, oh so funny, comments and you have this. The book doesn't pick up until 70% and then it takes so unpredictable turns, my brain begins to hurt.
Maybe after reading so many awesome psychological thrillers, I was expecting something different, more relevant and more sinister. Like I said, I would have enjoyed in back in 2015, but now my mind is already blown by some amazing thriller, it cannot be re-blow.
Review in image/gif:
To make my point, I present to you, Sheldon Lee Cooper
Recommended:
Meh
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
Meh
2 stars
Cover:
Meh
Trigger:
None
Short review:
I am feeling conflicted about this book. Maybe I would have enjoyed this when it was released originally back in 2015 when I was young and naive and new to the psychological thriller genre. Scratch that young and naive comment and maybe also psychological as well. It is a thriller book but it is more of a domestic thriller than any other.
We have introduced to series of characters and there was no reason to speculate. There is your bad guy, and this is the damsel in distress and no one to save her. boohoo. Insert a lot of pity party and sarcastic supposedly, oh so funny, comments and you have this. The book doesn't pick up until 70% and then it takes so unpredictable turns, my brain begins to hurt.
Maybe after reading so many awesome psychological thrillers, I was expecting something different, more relevant and more sinister. Like I said, I would have enjoyed in back in 2015, but now my mind is already blown by some amazing thriller, it cannot be re-blow.
Review in image/gif:
To make my point, I present to you, Sheldon Lee Cooper
Recommended:
Meh
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
Meh
bookbuyingaddict's review against another edition
5.0
Sooooo much better than the recent tv series , excellent psychological thriller the best Iv read for w very long time . How come I hadn’t heard of this author before now ??!! Can’t wait to read her others fingers crossed they’ll be just as gripping - highly recommended for addictive reading
itsallaboutthebooksuk's review against another edition
5.0
* Thank you to Random House UK and Netgalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review *
My thoughts : I feel like one of the only people in the world that hasn't read a book by Paula Daly before this one. And why haven't I? I can't believe I haven't come across this fabulous author before.
The Mistake I Made had me totally gripped from the start. We meet Roz a single parent bringing up her 9 year old son George. Roz works as a physiotherapist but is struggling money wise after losing her business and being left in terrible debt by her ex husband Winston. On top of that George is playing up at school and things look very bleak for Roz until she gets an offer she can't refuse.
I loved Roz, she was a very realistic character. My heart broke for her being in the situation she was in. Trying to do the best for herself and her son, it was like taking two steps forward and three steps back. I found myself wondering what I would do if placed in her situation and when you find yourself doing this you know you've got a good book.
All the characters were well described and it makes you feel like you know them, like they could just jump out the page. Also the descriptiveness of The Lake District where its set was just brilliant, it's made me want to go and visit.
I don't want to give too much away about the story but it was gripping, thrilling, sad, funny and just thoroughly brilliant. Paula Daly has wrote a cracker of story that left me completely satisfied. It had twists and turns and I couldn't put it down.
I'm now looking forward to reading What Kind of Mother Are You and Keep Your Friends Close by Paula and I look forward to more from this fab author in the future x
5 stars from me x
My thoughts : I feel like one of the only people in the world that hasn't read a book by Paula Daly before this one. And why haven't I? I can't believe I haven't come across this fabulous author before.
The Mistake I Made had me totally gripped from the start. We meet Roz a single parent bringing up her 9 year old son George. Roz works as a physiotherapist but is struggling money wise after losing her business and being left in terrible debt by her ex husband Winston. On top of that George is playing up at school and things look very bleak for Roz until she gets an offer she can't refuse.
I loved Roz, she was a very realistic character. My heart broke for her being in the situation she was in. Trying to do the best for herself and her son, it was like taking two steps forward and three steps back. I found myself wondering what I would do if placed in her situation and when you find yourself doing this you know you've got a good book.
All the characters were well described and it makes you feel like you know them, like they could just jump out the page. Also the descriptiveness of The Lake District where its set was just brilliant, it's made me want to go and visit.
I don't want to give too much away about the story but it was gripping, thrilling, sad, funny and just thoroughly brilliant. Paula Daly has wrote a cracker of story that left me completely satisfied. It had twists and turns and I couldn't put it down.
I'm now looking forward to reading What Kind of Mother Are You and Keep Your Friends Close by Paula and I look forward to more from this fab author in the future x
5 stars from me x
tomallen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0