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Love You to Death
A dark, twisty YA thriller exploring obsession, stalking and toxic love that keeps you guessing to the very end!
Someone is obsessed with Mia Hawkins.
She's felt their gaze on the back of her neck. She's heard their footsteps, walking home in the dark. She’s glimpsed a shadowy figure and the flash of a camera.
Mia doesn't know Jade. But Jade knows everything about Mia. In fact, she's turned herself into Mia's doppelganger, from her long brown hair to the minute details of her outfits. She's so convincing that when Jade's body is found by the cliffs, everyone believes it's Mia.
But Mia can't work out why anyone would imitate her - or why they'd end up dead. As life as she knows it is decimated, she is left with no idea who to trust. or if she will be the next one to die.
- A heart-racing YA thriller with hints of You, Single White Female and Hitchock'sVertigo
- Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson, Karen M. McManus, Cynthia Murphy and Kathleen Glasgow
- Told with Gina Blaxill's trademark smart, feminist angle and a deftly crafted web of vivid characters
Someone is obsessed with Mia Hawkins.
She's felt their gaze on the back of her neck. She's heard their footsteps, walking home in the dark. She’s glimpsed a shadowy figure and the flash of a camera.
Mia doesn't know Jade. But Jade knows everything about Mia. In fact, she's turned herself into Mia's doppelganger, from her long brown hair to the minute details of her outfits. She's so convincing that when Jade's body is found by the cliffs, everyone believes it's Mia.
But Mia can't work out why anyone would imitate her - or why they'd end up dead. As life as she knows it is decimated, she is left with no idea who to trust. or if she will be the next one to die.
- A heart-racing YA thriller with hints of You, Single White Female and Hitchock'sVertigo
- Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson, Karen M. McManus, Cynthia Murphy and Kathleen Glasgow
- Told with Gina Blaxill's trademark smart, feminist angle and a deftly crafted web of vivid characters
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2023
24 people are currently reading
898 people want to read
About the author
Gina Blaxill
8 books64 followersGina Blaxill wanted to be an author from a very young age - she started writing properly when she was eight and has not stopped since.
Gina lives in Essex with her family and two imperious cats and edits as well as writes. Prior to that, she worked in schools liaison, helping teenagers puzzle out the mysteries of higher education.
Gina lives in Essex with her family and two imperious cats and edits as well as writes. Prior to that, she worked in schools liaison, helping teenagers puzzle out the mysteries of higher education.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
March 21, 2023
Mia Hawkins has a specific sense of style, Mori Girl (which is sort of like an ode to forestry, a bit similar to Cottagecore, but more greenery tones) and that makes her pretty unique. Except, until she isn’t. Enter Jade, a slightly younger girl that seems to be adapting her exact style, even though Mia’s clothes are mostly handmade. At one point, Mia is even sure Jade has stolen something of hers because it was one-of-a-kind. To make matters worse, Mia is being stalked by someone she believes is Jade. Her boyfriend Aaron is understanding and protective at first, but goes distant. Then Jade turns up dead at Mia and Aaron’s usual spot. Thinking her stalker would be gone now that Jade is dead, it throws Mia off course when the mystery isn’t even half over.
Spiralling into disarray when someone is arrested for Jade’s suspicious death, Mia doesn’t know who to turn to. Her best friends Leyla and Oliver are supportive, but feel as though Mia is getting too invested in solving the truth behind the murder. Jade’s new stepbrother—local tough guy, Quin—is more helpful though, despite everyone’s keenness that Mia not get close to him. But underneath his dark image, Mia sees something in him that makes her trust his help. Together, they throw feelers out at possible scenarios, from Mr. Ellison, Mia’s teacher, being behind it all, or maybe Riyad, Leyla’s brother. The nail-biting conclusion comes to a head when Mia realises too late exactly what happened and slowly works out why—but is it too late for her to be saved?
Overall, Love You To Death was everything I wanted and more. It takes a rare book to keep me up reading until two a.m.! I felt myself rallying for Mia, for her to feel safe despite the looming threats over her head. For all the dark things she went through and felt, from believing how she acted or what she wore could make her seen as “asking for it” and what being friendly could be construed as “flirting” with someone. Gina’s novels always have that striking feminist angle that feels haunting, making you think about the book, the words, long after it’s over. I truly felt each spinetingling sentence of realisation, clarity and angsty foreboding moments that Mia went through, rooting for her until the very last page. Gina has outdone herself yet again—an unquestionably five star, must-read novel!
Spiralling into disarray when someone is arrested for Jade’s suspicious death, Mia doesn’t know who to turn to. Her best friends Leyla and Oliver are supportive, but feel as though Mia is getting too invested in solving the truth behind the murder. Jade’s new stepbrother—local tough guy, Quin—is more helpful though, despite everyone’s keenness that Mia not get close to him. But underneath his dark image, Mia sees something in him that makes her trust his help. Together, they throw feelers out at possible scenarios, from Mr. Ellison, Mia’s teacher, being behind it all, or maybe Riyad, Leyla’s brother. The nail-biting conclusion comes to a head when Mia realises too late exactly what happened and slowly works out why—but is it too late for her to be saved?
Overall, Love You To Death was everything I wanted and more. It takes a rare book to keep me up reading until two a.m.! I felt myself rallying for Mia, for her to feel safe despite the looming threats over her head. For all the dark things she went through and felt, from believing how she acted or what she wore could make her seen as “asking for it” and what being friendly could be construed as “flirting” with someone. Gina’s novels always have that striking feminist angle that feels haunting, making you think about the book, the words, long after it’s over. I truly felt each spinetingling sentence of realisation, clarity and angsty foreboding moments that Mia went through, rooting for her until the very last page. Gina has outdone herself yet again—an unquestionably five star, must-read novel!
April 13, 2023
This was an amazing book. Love this author's books. This one was full of twists and turns. A must read. 5 stars. I really felt so invested in this story and the main character. Brilliant book.
May 23, 2023
Love You to Death is another fantastic read from the pen of Gina Blaxill. I’m always excited about her new books and I always have to binge read them immediately!
This time Blaxill turns her attention to the subject of stalking. Fifteen year old Mia discovers that she has a double. Another girl who looks the same and dresses the same. Another girl who has modelled herself on Mia, right down to the tiniest detail. If that wasn’t bad enough, when her double turns up dead, it seems that an even more dangerous presence is lurking.
I thought that the story presented the theme of stalking in such a way to make the reader feel the claustrophobia, fright and the feeling of intrusion that stalking can bring to its victim. It was interesting to see how powerless the police are to do anything about it and how it means that the person ends up living in a constant state of alertness.
I really felt the sense of oppression and fear that Mia experiences throughout the book. As the plot unravels, there is a high level of suspense and I began to suspect everyone. It made it difficult to put the book down!
The ending was cleverly plotted and I loved the final exposition. A brilliant read which I would highly recommend.
This time Blaxill turns her attention to the subject of stalking. Fifteen year old Mia discovers that she has a double. Another girl who looks the same and dresses the same. Another girl who has modelled herself on Mia, right down to the tiniest detail. If that wasn’t bad enough, when her double turns up dead, it seems that an even more dangerous presence is lurking.
I thought that the story presented the theme of stalking in such a way to make the reader feel the claustrophobia, fright and the feeling of intrusion that stalking can bring to its victim. It was interesting to see how powerless the police are to do anything about it and how it means that the person ends up living in a constant state of alertness.
I really felt the sense of oppression and fear that Mia experiences throughout the book. As the plot unravels, there is a high level of suspense and I began to suspect everyone. It made it difficult to put the book down!
The ending was cleverly plotted and I loved the final exposition. A brilliant read which I would highly recommend.
September 11, 2023
ngl I never usually like mysteries like this but woah i liked this one
quin stole my heart ngl, and oliver would have too if he wasnt such a prick...
quin stole my heart ngl, and oliver would have too if he wasnt such a prick...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2023
Overall I thought this was a good book, it started off so well and the writing and storyline was so captivating for the first half. I was just so disappointed with the ending. Everything was so well thought out, the ending just seemed rushed and didn’t add up in places. I know Mia is a teenage girl and she’s fictional but it annoyed me how she jumped so quickly from one boy to another without any worry at all. Also annoyed me how she treated her parents and assumed her mum and dad would be disappointed in her for the silliest things.
As disappointing the ending was for me I enjoyed the rest of the book and was creeped out at how real the situation felt. I was even scared at points to be driving home in the dark.
As disappointing the ending was for me I enjoyed the rest of the book and was creeped out at how real the situation felt. I was even scared at points to be driving home in the dark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2024
I love it when a book grips me by the shoulders and just commands my full, unwavering attention. Gina Blaxill's Love You to Death did just that.
Mia Hawkins doesn't believe herself to be particularly special. She's not a model, or an actress. She's not the popular girl in school. But somebody is obsessed with her. When her double turns up dead, it is only the beginning of the nightmare that Mia will go through.
This book was so compelling and fundamentally important in hitting the nail on the head with what it feels like for girls and young women everywhere. I'm not saying every girl is stalked, but the numbers don't lie in terms of how unsafe it is to be a woman. And generally we do turn on each other instead of leaning on each other. Mia's experience will feel very real to many who read it. Blaxill captures just how unsettling and serious stalking is. And she also brings to light just how little can be done to stop it until something happens. Our policing system shouldn't work like that, shouldn't be dismissive of genuine anxiety and fear that people have when being stalked.
Everything about this book was important, and the characters were so fleshed out and multilayered. They were people with real flaws and trying to work on them - Quin especially.
Honestly, best book I've read this year thus far!
Mia Hawkins doesn't believe herself to be particularly special. She's not a model, or an actress. She's not the popular girl in school. But somebody is obsessed with her. When her double turns up dead, it is only the beginning of the nightmare that Mia will go through.
This book was so compelling and fundamentally important in hitting the nail on the head with what it feels like for girls and young women everywhere. I'm not saying every girl is stalked, but the numbers don't lie in terms of how unsafe it is to be a woman. And generally we do turn on each other instead of leaning on each other. Mia's experience will feel very real to many who read it. Blaxill captures just how unsettling and serious stalking is. And she also brings to light just how little can be done to stop it until something happens. Our policing system shouldn't work like that, shouldn't be dismissive of genuine anxiety and fear that people have when being stalked.
Everything about this book was important, and the characters were so fleshed out and multilayered. They were people with real flaws and trying to work on them - Quin especially.
Honestly, best book I've read this year thus far!
December 1, 2023
A crime book with added romance? Yes please.
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Mia.
I liked Mia´s character throughout the book and I liked how she "changed" with the course of action. I loved her brave side and I liked how she started to be wary of basically everybody, I feel like that was a way more natural reaction than continuing to trust people. I have to say that for the age mentioned (15 years), their actions feel more grown up and not that teenager like. I feel like the book would´ve done better with the main characters being 18-20.
Regarding side characters I really liked Quin and I was rooting for him and Mia to get together the whole time. I loved that he got a good background story like most of the characters. I didn´t feel like any of them were "just there for the plot".
The pacing of the book is really well done, I read it in one sitting. The only thing that I would critique is that the start is a bit slow. I love the elements of the "crime book" the stalking, the copycat Mia had and all the mystery around it; being combined with romance and especially the "Fake Dating" trope, which was surprising to me. I feel like the actual stalker was guessable, but I still had good fun with the book and the author actually managed to fool me once in the middle of the book.
trigger warnings: stalking, death/murder, drugs
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Mia.
I liked Mia´s character throughout the book and I liked how she "changed" with the course of action. I loved her brave side and I liked how she started to be wary of basically everybody, I feel like that was a way more natural reaction than continuing to trust people. I have to say that for the age mentioned (15 years), their actions feel more grown up and not that teenager like. I feel like the book would´ve done better with the main characters being 18-20.
Regarding side characters I really liked Quin and I was rooting for him and Mia to get together the whole time. I loved that he got a good background story like most of the characters. I didn´t feel like any of them were "just there for the plot".
The pacing of the book is really well done, I read it in one sitting. The only thing that I would critique is that the start is a bit slow. I love the elements of the "crime book" the stalking, the copycat Mia had and all the mystery around it; being combined with romance and especially the "Fake Dating" trope, which was surprising to me. I feel like the actual stalker was guessable, but I still had good fun with the book and the author actually managed to fool me once in the middle of the book.
trigger warnings: stalking, death/murder, drugs
July 14, 2024
They got me at the end 😭 I really thought.
August 23, 2023
Gina has done it again and this time WOOOOOOW this book was so good that I couldn’t put it down all I wanted was the best for our main character Mia who she founds someone being obsessed with her so bad that she wants to know who it is and however it was her own friend Oliver and everything made a lot of sense from there!
This book Blaxill didn’t shy away from the toxic themes in ya thrillers that’s why I called her the queen of toxic themes in ya thrillers because she knows how to write themes in the most careful and delicate way that makes me in love I also adored Quinlan the way Blaxill writes him made me feel for her bad boy character because everyone thinks he’s a psycho but really he’s a sweetie deep down I love how Blaxill made him someone relatable and showing the reader that boys aren’t always bad as they seem some like Quin have issues they don’t talk about and I feel Blaxill made this a discuss that parents with sons need to talk about the toxic boyhood society plays on our males today and the next generation of boys and men
So I really loved this book a lot that I can’t wait to what she writes next she’s so good in ya thrillers.
This book Blaxill didn’t shy away from the toxic themes in ya thrillers that’s why I called her the queen of toxic themes in ya thrillers because she knows how to write themes in the most careful and delicate way that makes me in love I also adored Quinlan the way Blaxill writes him made me feel for her bad boy character because everyone thinks he’s a psycho but really he’s a sweetie deep down I love how Blaxill made him someone relatable and showing the reader that boys aren’t always bad as they seem some like Quin have issues they don’t talk about and I feel Blaxill made this a discuss that parents with sons need to talk about the toxic boyhood society plays on our males today and the next generation of boys and men
So I really loved this book a lot that I can’t wait to what she writes next she’s so good in ya thrillers.
September 1, 2023
At first I wasn't sure what I thought of this book, but after only a few chapters I was literally hooked. It's a YA mystery that's dark and exciting, it reminded me a bit of the last two AGGGTM books, although it is distinctly different from that series and other similar books, in a way I can't really explain. Throughout this whole book there were so many questions that I was constantly trying to answer, but ultimately I definitely didn't see the ending coming at all. I definitely want to read other books by this author because I loved this one so much, and I would definitely recommend it for fans of Holly Jackson etc.
September 25, 2023
4.5 stars! // I KNEW IIIIIIT!!!!!
I. KNEW. IT. Ohh I enjoyed this so much!
Had me HOOKED!
I. KNEW. IT. Ohh I enjoyed this so much!
Had me HOOKED!
June 6, 2023
I dont remember the last time I stayed up until 3am to finish a book
I’m crowning Gina the queen of YA thriller 👑
I was gripped from the first page and then never wanted to put the book down and all I could think about when I wasn’t reading it was what will happen next
THAT ENDING 😱 This is the best book I’ve read this year
Absolutely amazing go get a copy now
❤️💙💚💜🧡
I’m crowning Gina the queen of YA thriller 👑
I was gripped from the first page and then never wanted to put the book down and all I could think about when I wasn’t reading it was what will happen next
THAT ENDING 😱 This is the best book I’ve read this year
Absolutely amazing go get a copy now
❤️💙💚💜🧡
August 31, 2024
Oh my god. Wow, what a read. The ever-increasing suspense, bombshells, twists and turns and dark, thrilling fear is what kept me so incredibly gripped by this book. Much like its predecessor, "You Can Trust Me", this was a very intense, thrilling, dark, tense, enthralling and suspenseful story, with a looming mystery being that of the identity of a ruthless criminal who has harmed or is harming one of the main characters. This was perhaps even more spine-tingling and unsettling than that book though I'd have said, as you have to watch the poor protagonist getting relentlessly and seriously stalked for pretty much the entire book, and that was really scary to read and follow.
Obviously the identity reveal of the stalker doesn't come until towards the very end, just before the climax, but since it was the part that of course left me the most shocked (and probably did a lot of people) I will get it off my chest now: WOW, what a twist. I honestly did not see that coming I must say. Well, okay I did have a tiny inkling that it could be Oliver, as the way Mia's doubts that it could be him were brushed off so easily and the way it had the guy who was dressed up as the supposed stalker appear while he was there, as if to rule him out, did seem a bit too obvious a red herring to me, but god there were so many damn red herrings that it was hard to be sure and that was no doubt what the author was going for, and to be honest he seemed like such a nice guy and genuine friend that I really didn't want it to be him, so that was pretty disappointing to see, but of course that is what made it one heck of a surprise and twist. It definitely became more obvious as well the way the stalker suddenly started acting angry with Mia, texting her saying she'd betrayed him, literally just as Oliver had basically claimed Mia had broken his heart, but like I say with all the red herrings there were it was hard to tell and I was thrown off. I honestly thought it would be Kris, the nerdy gamer guy who literally only appears briefly in a scene or two and has no plot relevance, because I kept thinking why else would they keep randomly inserting him into these scenes when he has no other purpose, and of course because he seemed like a totally harmless, innocent nerdy guy, and it always ends up being the ones who seem the most harmless and innocent. I was so certain it was him once that Harper girl, who was Jade's friend, said that Jade's boyfriend had been going on about a computer game, which is exactly what this Kris guy had been doing when he first appeared, but of course this was yet another red herring, which was even symbolised by having him dress up and pretend to be the stalker in front of Mia for Oliver.
I also knew that it obviously definitely wasn't going to be Riyad or Mr Ellison, because they were the identified prime suspects already and of course as per mystery novel it is NEVER the prime suspects, as in the in-universe prime suspects who are identified as suspects by the characters, because that would obviously be way too obvious and just screams red herring. That being said the actual stalker was identified as a possible culprit himself, but that was only briefly and dismissed very briefly too. But honestly they were ruled out straight away once they were identified as suspects.
But god this was one scary and unsettling read, seeing just how intense and serious Mia's stalker was, but also because of how unfortunately and disturbingly relevant it is to real life, and I'm sure will resonate with many young women out there, being far too close to home. While I have never actually been stalked, I have still had unpleasant experiences with creepy men, just recently even with a random guy on Instagram IMing me to say how beautiful I was and like a model and knew which university I had been to (he must have looked me up because even though I had this profile photo of me in my cap and gown, it was not at all obvious what uni I went to, with no logo in sight nor was there any building in sight either to indicate as such). Apparently this is quite a common thing on Instagram too, and an apparent scam, but it's still a creepy experience nevertheless, and while it of course isn't anything like on the level of what Mia experienced in this book, it was still the same kind of unsettled feeling of having someone claim to be madly attracted to you and harass you in such a way.
But oh my god, to think that Mia was actually spending time with her stalker throughout the whole book but didn't know it, and that it was actually her best male friend, who always seemed so loyal and lovely and supportive of her, that was indeed a very creepy feeling. I admire as well that they actually addressed him having serious mental health disorders, such as psychosis and erotomania, rather than just having it be like "Oh they seemed good but they're actually evil can you believe". I was worrying that it was going to be Quinn once they started dropping more hints, but again of course that was yet another red herring, and I think I knew it couldn't be him really as they seemed to be really making a point of his character being a complex and misunderstood one with hidden depths who was going to redeem with the help of the female protagonist, much like Xander in the previous book. Honestly, the amount of red herrings in this was almost ridiculous, definitely more than in "You can trust me", which while makes your mind all over the place it also makes it all the more thrilling, suspenseful and intense of course.
The scene where Mia is kidnapped by her stalker, while still not knowing who the hell he is and having been blindfolded so she wouldn't know of course, was bloody terrifying I must say. I was honestly hoping it was a nightmare, as it is the exact kind of nightmare one would have, having had similar nightmares myself, but god it was so damn scary and creepy, the way Mia could feel her stalker stroking her and sexually assaulting her without even knowing who the hell he was. That was so bloody terrifying, I don't know why Mia even got a taxi to check on Quinn's family anyway if she had called the police, just putting herself in further danger.
I think the only thing that actually niggled me about this book was the lack of closure on the culprit's repercussions, much like the previous book, with Oliver having been suspected to get only 2-3 years in prison and a restraining order after everything he did, with burning the cinema down being part of that, which was kind of annoying because it almost tried to overshadow and get in the way of his stalking and murder which were much more serious of course. That being said I guess it was meant to be a realistic depiction of how useless and rubbish the criminal justice system really is, but it was still really annoying nevertheless-I wish they'd at least shown Oliver's repercussions even if they weren't enough. But surely since they knew about his attempted murder of Mia from the Instagram post they would have given him a longer sentence than that? That's something else that annoyed me here, like they seemed to address his burning down the cinema as being the bigger crime than the attempted murder suicide which was ridiculous, I mean would you really only get 2-3 years for attempted murder?! Unless they meant a custodial sentence, though this wasn't really specified or elaborated on. I guess restraining orders do seem to be the most common form of punishment for stalkers, even if its to the extreme degree of Oliver's stalking to Mia, which is frustrating of course, as I guess all they can say is that if they haven't actually harmed anyone physically then they can't really put them in prison. It's mad though to think people who commit victimless crimes get it way worse than this.
Honestly, such an amazing, exciting, gripping and thrilling read, definitely had a major impact on me!
Ohh and one more thing: I was so relieved when the cat turned out to be fine, as I was so worried when she went missing and was thought to have been killed by the stalker, as much like Mia I also get really upset and distressed seeing missing cat posters and hearing if they've been run over! If Dotty had died, especially by murder, then I would have had to probably dock a star, so thank goodness for that!
Obviously the identity reveal of the stalker doesn't come until towards the very end, just before the climax, but since it was the part that of course left me the most shocked (and probably did a lot of people) I will get it off my chest now: WOW, what a twist. I honestly did not see that coming I must say. Well, okay I did have a tiny inkling that it could be Oliver, as the way Mia's doubts that it could be him were brushed off so easily and the way it had the guy who was dressed up as the supposed stalker appear while he was there, as if to rule him out, did seem a bit too obvious a red herring to me, but god there were so many damn red herrings that it was hard to be sure and that was no doubt what the author was going for, and to be honest he seemed like such a nice guy and genuine friend that I really didn't want it to be him, so that was pretty disappointing to see, but of course that is what made it one heck of a surprise and twist. It definitely became more obvious as well the way the stalker suddenly started acting angry with Mia, texting her saying she'd betrayed him, literally just as Oliver had basically claimed Mia had broken his heart, but like I say with all the red herrings there were it was hard to tell and I was thrown off. I honestly thought it would be Kris, the nerdy gamer guy who literally only appears briefly in a scene or two and has no plot relevance, because I kept thinking why else would they keep randomly inserting him into these scenes when he has no other purpose, and of course because he seemed like a totally harmless, innocent nerdy guy, and it always ends up being the ones who seem the most harmless and innocent. I was so certain it was him once that Harper girl, who was Jade's friend, said that Jade's boyfriend had been going on about a computer game, which is exactly what this Kris guy had been doing when he first appeared, but of course this was yet another red herring, which was even symbolised by having him dress up and pretend to be the stalker in front of Mia for Oliver.
I also knew that it obviously definitely wasn't going to be Riyad or Mr Ellison, because they were the identified prime suspects already and of course as per mystery novel it is NEVER the prime suspects, as in the in-universe prime suspects who are identified as suspects by the characters, because that would obviously be way too obvious and just screams red herring. That being said the actual stalker was identified as a possible culprit himself, but that was only briefly and dismissed very briefly too. But honestly they were ruled out straight away once they were identified as suspects.
But god this was one scary and unsettling read, seeing just how intense and serious Mia's stalker was, but also because of how unfortunately and disturbingly relevant it is to real life, and I'm sure will resonate with many young women out there, being far too close to home. While I have never actually been stalked, I have still had unpleasant experiences with creepy men, just recently even with a random guy on Instagram IMing me to say how beautiful I was and like a model and knew which university I had been to (he must have looked me up because even though I had this profile photo of me in my cap and gown, it was not at all obvious what uni I went to, with no logo in sight nor was there any building in sight either to indicate as such). Apparently this is quite a common thing on Instagram too, and an apparent scam, but it's still a creepy experience nevertheless, and while it of course isn't anything like on the level of what Mia experienced in this book, it was still the same kind of unsettled feeling of having someone claim to be madly attracted to you and harass you in such a way.
But oh my god, to think that Mia was actually spending time with her stalker throughout the whole book but didn't know it, and that it was actually her best male friend, who always seemed so loyal and lovely and supportive of her, that was indeed a very creepy feeling. I admire as well that they actually addressed him having serious mental health disorders, such as psychosis and erotomania, rather than just having it be like "Oh they seemed good but they're actually evil can you believe". I was worrying that it was going to be Quinn once they started dropping more hints, but again of course that was yet another red herring, and I think I knew it couldn't be him really as they seemed to be really making a point of his character being a complex and misunderstood one with hidden depths who was going to redeem with the help of the female protagonist, much like Xander in the previous book. Honestly, the amount of red herrings in this was almost ridiculous, definitely more than in "You can trust me", which while makes your mind all over the place it also makes it all the more thrilling, suspenseful and intense of course.
The scene where Mia is kidnapped by her stalker, while still not knowing who the hell he is and having been blindfolded so she wouldn't know of course, was bloody terrifying I must say. I was honestly hoping it was a nightmare, as it is the exact kind of nightmare one would have, having had similar nightmares myself, but god it was so damn scary and creepy, the way Mia could feel her stalker stroking her and sexually assaulting her without even knowing who the hell he was. That was so bloody terrifying, I don't know why Mia even got a taxi to check on Quinn's family anyway if she had called the police, just putting herself in further danger.
I think the only thing that actually niggled me about this book was the lack of closure on the culprit's repercussions, much like the previous book, with Oliver having been suspected to get only 2-3 years in prison and a restraining order after everything he did, with burning the cinema down being part of that, which was kind of annoying because it almost tried to overshadow and get in the way of his stalking and murder which were much more serious of course. That being said I guess it was meant to be a realistic depiction of how useless and rubbish the criminal justice system really is, but it was still really annoying nevertheless-I wish they'd at least shown Oliver's repercussions even if they weren't enough. But surely since they knew about his attempted murder of Mia from the Instagram post they would have given him a longer sentence than that? That's something else that annoyed me here, like they seemed to address his burning down the cinema as being the bigger crime than the attempted murder suicide which was ridiculous, I mean would you really only get 2-3 years for attempted murder?! Unless they meant a custodial sentence, though this wasn't really specified or elaborated on. I guess restraining orders do seem to be the most common form of punishment for stalkers, even if its to the extreme degree of Oliver's stalking to Mia, which is frustrating of course, as I guess all they can say is that if they haven't actually harmed anyone physically then they can't really put them in prison. It's mad though to think people who commit victimless crimes get it way worse than this.
Honestly, such an amazing, exciting, gripping and thrilling read, definitely had a major impact on me!
Ohh and one more thing: I was so relieved when the cat turned out to be fine, as I was so worried when she went missing and was thought to have been killed by the stalker, as much like Mia I also get really upset and distressed seeing missing cat posters and hearing if they've been run over! If Dotty had died, especially by murder, then I would have had to probably dock a star, so thank goodness for that!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2023
Griping
October 27, 2023
I regretted paying for this book. It started off okay, but then the writing and plot devolved into something akin to fanfiction, with superficial feminist elements thrown in. Sure, all the themes brought up are relevant to our times, but they are not explored in depth. Our heroine cowers in fear of her stalker, but then she keeps putting herself in dangerous situations and jumping to conclusions.
Then there are the boys/love interests. None of them are really three-dimensional, they literally were the "good boy but not really", "super nice best friend who secretly has a crush", "bad boy who is misunderstood", and "fuckboi". Even her so-called best friend just felt like she was there to argue with her.
Then there are the boys/love interests. None of them are really three-dimensional, they literally were the "good boy but not really", "super nice best friend who secretly has a crush", "bad boy who is misunderstood", and "fuckboi". Even her so-called best friend just felt like she was there to argue with her.
October 13, 2023
** 3.75 stars **
Spoiler that is something you definitely want to know going into this book: (spoiler) The cat survives! (/spoiler)
I really liked this book and, unfortunately, many elements of it were realistic, especially in how the police reacted to the stalking case. The many twists and turns in the plot are insane, and even though I did guess the identity of the stalker, it was still a wild ride.
The one thing that kept me from rating this higher, though, was a few decisions that Mia made, and the final act was a little disappointing.
Overall, still a good book and an easy read that will keep you hooked!
Spoiler that is something you definitely want to know going into this book: (spoiler) The cat survives! (/spoiler)
I really liked this book and, unfortunately, many elements of it were realistic, especially in how the police reacted to the stalking case. The many twists and turns in the plot are insane, and even though I did guess the identity of the stalker, it was still a wild ride.
The one thing that kept me from rating this higher, though, was a few decisions that Mia made, and the final act was a little disappointing.
Overall, still a good book and an easy read that will keep you hooked!
November 30, 2024
Wow I loved this!!! I just finished reading this racy, thriller(with a touch of romance) book and I have loved every second of it.
I bought this book because I loved the cover and the description seemed intriguing and it exceeded all my expectations. It is exactly as the description says ‘a dark twisty YA thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the very end’ and it is executed so fricking well!!!
Although it does the heart racing thriller genre very well and some aspects are terrifying it also explores a lot of very deep themes that you maybe wouldn’t expect. Feminism, Law injustice, the poor support for stalking victims, how murder victims aren’t always treated like people, grief, toxic love, victim blaming, female vulnerability, sexual assault, sexism, obsession and the supposedly perfect relationships.
I could not put this book down!! I was constantly guessing who the stalker/killer was right up until the very end. It’s done extremely cleverly, the main character is smart and quite quickly thinks who the suspects are but as we suspect literally half the characters you don’t know who to trust and it makes it very interesting to read. While reading this you are constantly on your toes and guessing who it could be. This is a book that you will be thinking about all day long.
The writing style is so immersive and the characters feel (or at least the main few) like real people with their own quirks and their own flaws. The main character is a 16 year old British teenager who is simply trying to find out who she is and I relate a lot to her. At the beginning she is quite timid and people pleasing but throughout the book she becomes stronger and trusts herself more. At times she makes some very frustrating decisions but she is a very accurate teen character who is just trying to figure things out.
I love the character development!!! Also I feel like it is a great depiction of a strong female character who maybe doesn’t feel strong and isn’t invincible.
What I loved!!!
- how the obsession is portrayed and how the stalking impacts her daily life
- the characters feel very real
- the main character and her character development
- realistic depictions of teenagers
- the cutest little romance
- the frightening parts are written so well
- the themes of feminism and victim blaming
- the unfortunate accuracy of how the police and justice system handle it
- the family dynamics
- how all the characters have their own lives outside of the plot
- the detective element (I love how we’re kept guessing until the very end!!!
- how immersive the writing style is
- the setting
- the portrayal of grief
- I never knew what was gonna happen next
- the incorporation of social media
- the ending!!!
What I didn’t like as much
- Some of the dialogue didn’t feel very natural
- some parts felt a little rushed/glossed over
- the pacing was a little uneven (really fast at times and sometimes a little slow)
- at one point it felt like it had suddenly become a romance novel
However despite all this I loved this book and I’m so glad I picked it up despite never having heard of it and now I’m going to recommend it to all my friends!!! This is a must read for any thriller lovers 😁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Trigger warnings
Mentions of pedophilia, attempted suicide, attempted sexual assault, mentions of rape, murder, law injustice, drug abuse, stalking, threatening letters and texts, attempted kidnapping, abusive love, home breaking in, burning building, panic attacks, violence, some swearing and mentions of severe bullying.
I bought this book because I loved the cover and the description seemed intriguing and it exceeded all my expectations. It is exactly as the description says ‘a dark twisty YA thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the very end’ and it is executed so fricking well!!!
Although it does the heart racing thriller genre very well and some aspects are terrifying it also explores a lot of very deep themes that you maybe wouldn’t expect. Feminism, Law injustice, the poor support for stalking victims, how murder victims aren’t always treated like people, grief, toxic love, victim blaming, female vulnerability, sexual assault, sexism, obsession and the supposedly perfect relationships.
I could not put this book down!! I was constantly guessing who the stalker/killer was right up until the very end. It’s done extremely cleverly, the main character is smart and quite quickly thinks who the suspects are but as we suspect literally half the characters you don’t know who to trust and it makes it very interesting to read. While reading this you are constantly on your toes and guessing who it could be. This is a book that you will be thinking about all day long.
The writing style is so immersive and the characters feel (or at least the main few) like real people with their own quirks and their own flaws. The main character is a 16 year old British teenager who is simply trying to find out who she is and I relate a lot to her. At the beginning she is quite timid and people pleasing but throughout the book she becomes stronger and trusts herself more. At times she makes some very frustrating decisions but she is a very accurate teen character who is just trying to figure things out.
I love the character development!!! Also I feel like it is a great depiction of a strong female character who maybe doesn’t feel strong and isn’t invincible.
What I loved!!!
- how the obsession is portrayed and how the stalking impacts her daily life
- the characters feel very real
- the main character and her character development
- realistic depictions of teenagers
- the cutest little romance
- the frightening parts are written so well
- the themes of feminism and victim blaming
- the unfortunate accuracy of how the police and justice system handle it
- the family dynamics
- how all the characters have their own lives outside of the plot
- the detective element (I love how we’re kept guessing until the very end!!!
- how immersive the writing style is
- the setting
- the portrayal of grief
- I never knew what was gonna happen next
- the incorporation of social media
- the ending!!!
What I didn’t like as much
- Some of the dialogue didn’t feel very natural
- some parts felt a little rushed/glossed over
- the pacing was a little uneven (really fast at times and sometimes a little slow)
- at one point it felt like it had suddenly become a romance novel
However despite all this I loved this book and I’m so glad I picked it up despite never having heard of it and now I’m going to recommend it to all my friends!!! This is a must read for any thriller lovers 😁
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Trigger warnings
Mentions of pedophilia, attempted suicide, attempted sexual assault, mentions of rape, murder, law injustice, drug abuse, stalking, threatening letters and texts, attempted kidnapping, abusive love, home breaking in, burning building, panic attacks, violence, some swearing and mentions of severe bullying.
March 13, 2023
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
LOVE YOU TO DEATH is another brilliantly unsettling thriller about obsession and the awfulness of being stalked.
It's a really claustrophobic feeling book. Stalking is horrible, making you feel unsafe everywhere, and the book captures that so well. It also is something the police don't do anything about (they claim they can't, which doesn't help matters.) The tension and squeezed-in feeling rachets across the book as every last vestige of safety is brutally stripped away.
The rising tension makes it so hard to put down because the tension doesn't give up. It makes you need the release of it being over, the ability to breathe and trust that Mia is safe.
Once again, I had a very hard time working out who it was. There are a lot of presented suspects, and I absolutely didn't want it to be any of them - too nice, too unsettling if it had been them, and so on. It's a nice balance of having enough suspects to really drive home the isolating fear but not too many that they don't get enough time built up.
This book also looks at toxic relationships and control. One of the major topics is how the world can condition people (particularly girls) into believing that changing yourself for another is the right thing to do in order to maintain a relationship. I liked how subtle the red flags were at the start, mirroring how much Mia can't see them and believes the relationship to be fine.
I hope there's another thriller in the works so I can binge another book by Gina!
LOVE YOU TO DEATH is another brilliantly unsettling thriller about obsession and the awfulness of being stalked.
It's a really claustrophobic feeling book. Stalking is horrible, making you feel unsafe everywhere, and the book captures that so well. It also is something the police don't do anything about (they claim they can't, which doesn't help matters.) The tension and squeezed-in feeling rachets across the book as every last vestige of safety is brutally stripped away.
The rising tension makes it so hard to put down because the tension doesn't give up. It makes you need the release of it being over, the ability to breathe and trust that Mia is safe.
Once again, I had a very hard time working out who it was. There are a lot of presented suspects, and I absolutely didn't want it to be any of them - too nice, too unsettling if it had been them, and so on. It's a nice balance of having enough suspects to really drive home the isolating fear but not too many that they don't get enough time built up.
This book also looks at toxic relationships and control. One of the major topics is how the world can condition people (particularly girls) into believing that changing yourself for another is the right thing to do in order to maintain a relationship. I liked how subtle the red flags were at the start, mirroring how much Mia can't see them and believes the relationship to be fine.
I hope there's another thriller in the works so I can binge another book by Gina!
May 10, 2023
Such a twisty gripping book, it had me on the edge of my seat until the end which was unbelievably tense. Gina Blaxhill is queen of the intense endings! Love You To Death is written in a similar vein to her previous book You Can Trust Me, in that both are intelligent thrillers which explore societal issues alongside pacy murder mysteries. I really liked this added layer which makes them more than simple thrillers and has you thinking about them long after you've turned the last page. I think teenages will find this story very relevant and relatable, and it will also make them think.
Without any spoilers, the plot was not the usual obsession story I expected. It goes in an unexpected direction and I genuinely had no idea who to trust. There were so many twists I did not see coming. But where Love You To Death really shines is in its characters. In thrillers characterisation can often take a backseat to plot but the characters in this one were well-developed people I could actually see existing outside of the plot. I really felt for Mia as the escalation of stalking suffocated her. I also loved the strong romantic subplot and found its resolution both sweet and satisfying.
5/5 stars, truly recommended to adults and teenagers alike, and I cannot wait to see what Gina Blaxhill has coming next!
Without any spoilers, the plot was not the usual obsession story I expected. It goes in an unexpected direction and I genuinely had no idea who to trust. There were so many twists I did not see coming. But where Love You To Death really shines is in its characters. In thrillers characterisation can often take a backseat to plot but the characters in this one were well-developed people I could actually see existing outside of the plot. I really felt for Mia as the escalation of stalking suffocated her. I also loved the strong romantic subplot and found its resolution both sweet and satisfying.
5/5 stars, truly recommended to adults and teenagers alike, and I cannot wait to see what Gina Blaxhill has coming next!
June 19, 2023
I think you can now count me a Gina Blaxill fan.
I loved 'You Can Trust Me', and actually wrote an essay about it for my English degree. What I loved most about it is the way Gina seamlessly weaves wider social commentary into brilliant prose, YA thrillers which are realistic and entertaining, but so educational and important. Going into her next book, I wasn't sure what to expect.
Bold writing, and feisty characters. Themes which make you uncomfortable... stalking and grooming and murder. 'Love You to Death' is unapologetically modern, loud, abstract. Mia is a likeable protagonist, and every other character isn't to be trusted. In a way not unlike Sue Wallman's writing, I didn't expect the ending; every theory I had about the killer was quickly put to bed.
I couldn't give the book five stars because of nit-picky details like the way Mia appears slighhhtly self-righteous at points, making big, often unnecessary statements about the world and the variety of social issues she cares about, which kind of made me want to slap her. She encompasses the stereotype of a morally-superior not-so-quiet vegan.
But if you're looking for a brilliant thriller which will really make you think, this is the book for you - and I'm beyond excited to read Gina's next works.
I loved 'You Can Trust Me', and actually wrote an essay about it for my English degree. What I loved most about it is the way Gina seamlessly weaves wider social commentary into brilliant prose, YA thrillers which are realistic and entertaining, but so educational and important. Going into her next book, I wasn't sure what to expect.
Bold writing, and feisty characters. Themes which make you uncomfortable... stalking and grooming and murder. 'Love You to Death' is unapologetically modern, loud, abstract. Mia is a likeable protagonist, and every other character isn't to be trusted. In a way not unlike Sue Wallman's writing, I didn't expect the ending; every theory I had about the killer was quickly put to bed.
I couldn't give the book five stars because of nit-picky details like the way Mia appears slighhhtly self-righteous at points, making big, often unnecessary statements about the world and the variety of social issues she cares about, which kind of made me want to slap her. She encompasses the stereotype of a morally-superior not-so-quiet vegan.
But if you're looking for a brilliant thriller which will really make you think, this is the book for you - and I'm beyond excited to read Gina's next works.
April 28, 2023
Mia has a stalker. There’s another girl at school who is imitating Mia’s style, stealing her clothes and following her in the streets. But when Mia’s copycat turns up dead, she realises that there is something more sinister going on and that her own life might be in danger. When the police fail to take Mia’s concerns seriously she teams up with an unlikely ally to investigate the murder.
I bought a copy of ‘Love You To Death’ at Gina’s book launch, but as soon as I got home it was swiped by my 16-year-old so I had to wait for her to finish reading it first. When I finally got hold of it, I couldn’t put it down and read it one day.
‘Love You To Death’ is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns that will have you suspecting literally everyone in the book and it kept me guessing right up until the end. Gina Blaxill is excellent at creating creepy situations – Mia is always foolishly dashing off into deserted areas by herself in the middle of the night. (Why are you getting off the bus Mia? Stay on the bus!)
In addition to the suspenseful thriller elements, the book also includes a powerful message about the way women’s voices are ignored when it comes to stalking, about society’s tendency to blame the victims of stalking, and how male violence escalates.
‘Love You To Death’ is a dark, thrilling read about obsession and murder, perfect for fans of Karen McManus.
I bought a copy of ‘Love You To Death’ at Gina’s book launch, but as soon as I got home it was swiped by my 16-year-old so I had to wait for her to finish reading it first. When I finally got hold of it, I couldn’t put it down and read it one day.
‘Love You To Death’ is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns that will have you suspecting literally everyone in the book and it kept me guessing right up until the end. Gina Blaxill is excellent at creating creepy situations – Mia is always foolishly dashing off into deserted areas by herself in the middle of the night. (Why are you getting off the bus Mia? Stay on the bus!)
In addition to the suspenseful thriller elements, the book also includes a powerful message about the way women’s voices are ignored when it comes to stalking, about society’s tendency to blame the victims of stalking, and how male violence escalates.
‘Love You To Death’ is a dark, thrilling read about obsession and murder, perfect for fans of Karen McManus.
January 8, 2024
stop aging your books grrrrr nobody wants to read about this girls sailor moon obsession and the fact she dresses in Mori Girl fashion which is so different and quirky….
I feel like the author changed their mind about who the culprit actually was at the last second. If they had stuck with the original person, I feel like it would have wrapped up decently. But it just didnt all add up after the final twist. And also, this girl is literally traumatised from two men already and does not need a boyfriend at the end. Let this woman rest :/
It was a fast paced and decent enough mystery tho. I jusy hate it when authors feel like they HAVE to be smarter than us and twist at the very last moment. Couldn’t have left it any later!
I feel like the author changed their mind about who the culprit actually was at the last second. If they had stuck with the original person, I feel like it would have wrapped up decently. But it just didnt all add up after the final twist. And also, this girl is literally traumatised from two men already and does not need a boyfriend at the end. Let this woman rest :/
It was a fast paced and decent enough mystery tho. I jusy hate it when authors feel like they HAVE to be smarter than us and twist at the very last moment. Couldn’t have left it any later!
August 15, 2024
If i could, i would definitely give this book 4.5 stars!
I absolutely loved this book and I got totally immersed in it - so much that i finished it in a day. The story was way more intense than I expected it to be, and I loved how the author makes you question literally EVERYONE. It added so much intensity and depth to Mia’s paranoia and understandable distrust.
I’m going to be fully honest, the ending caught me pretty off-guard. When the author immerses you so much into the theory of someone being suspicious, it’s hard seeing this differently.
Thus, to the author: thank you for creating this amazingly thrilling story! It genuinely made me gasp and even laugh multiple times, and because of the plot thickening more and more every chapter, I was glued to the pages.
I absolutely loved this book and I got totally immersed in it - so much that i finished it in a day. The story was way more intense than I expected it to be, and I loved how the author makes you question literally EVERYONE. It added so much intensity and depth to Mia’s paranoia and understandable distrust.
I’m going to be fully honest, the ending caught me pretty off-guard. When the author immerses you so much into the theory of someone being suspicious, it’s hard seeing this differently.
Thus, to the author: thank you for creating this amazingly thrilling story! It genuinely made me gasp and even laugh multiple times, and because of the plot thickening more and more every chapter, I was glued to the pages.
August 13, 2023
4.5 stars.
Really enjoyed this book, it kept me interested throughout and it was fun trying to figure out the who and why etc. I found myself looking over my shoulder as I read, I felt the fear that Mia was feeling which wasn't pleasant but its something a lot of us have felt. I thought the crushing fear of being stalked was well described, it really felt as if I was there with her.
My only slight issue was that the story seemed a bit rushed towards the end, it didn't leave the same impact with me that the majority of the book did. How Mia was with guys also bothered me at first but then I remembered how I was as a teenager!
I definitely plan on reading more of her books.
Really enjoyed this book, it kept me interested throughout and it was fun trying to figure out the who and why etc. I found myself looking over my shoulder as I read, I felt the fear that Mia was feeling which wasn't pleasant but its something a lot of us have felt. I thought the crushing fear of being stalked was well described, it really felt as if I was there with her.
My only slight issue was that the story seemed a bit rushed towards the end, it didn't leave the same impact with me that the majority of the book did. How Mia was with guys also bothered me at first but then I remembered how I was as a teenager!
I definitely plan on reading more of her books.
October 15, 2024
Great story/plot but painfully obvious the author is american, trying to write a story based in brighton, using american figures of speech and having movie theatres be that red and gold button up american style, the author also made the main character into a completely devoted and loyal gf to her bf but also attracted to every other male character, every time she saw one of em she would realise how hunky they are for the first time or something it was weird. She was 15 and in an awful scary situation, she would definitely not be thinking that. cringed at times due to it but the plot was great
October 24, 2023
I am a sucker for mystery books - especially ones that feature stalkers - but unfortunately, they are rarely done well. For me, this book was one of the rare books which featured stalkers and mystery and was executed well.
Key to a good mystery, this book had many potential suspects - all of whom, at some point, seemed to be the stalker. But in this book, these characters all seem to be complex and have many layers and motives, leaving the female lead with many clues and leads to follow - more realistically than other books I've read. I really enjoyed trying to unravel the mystery with the narrator.
Overall, it's a really good mystery that kept me hooked until the end. Would definitely recommend ❤.
Key to a good mystery, this book had many potential suspects - all of whom, at some point, seemed to be the stalker. But in this book, these characters all seem to be complex and have many layers and motives, leaving the female lead with many clues and leads to follow - more realistically than other books I've read. I really enjoyed trying to unravel the mystery with the narrator.
Overall, it's a really good mystery that kept me hooked until the end. Would definitely recommend ❤.
February 19, 2024
I'm not usually a massive fan of YA thrillers as they don't usually have enough thrills, if you know what I mean🤣
However, I flew through this book, and I couldn't wait to find out who was behind it all! The whole time, I was convinced I knew who the stalker was, but I was so SO wrong!!
This was a super twisty book, and it kept me guessing throughout.
My first 5 star YA read🤩
I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go! I can't wait to check out some more of Gina's work😍
However, I flew through this book, and I couldn't wait to find out who was behind it all! The whole time, I was convinced I knew who the stalker was, but I was so SO wrong!!
This was a super twisty book, and it kept me guessing throughout.
My first 5 star YA read🤩
I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go! I can't wait to check out some more of Gina's work😍
March 13, 2024
I won’t lie, this book took me quite a while to get into but it was damn worth it. Oh my word. This book is a masterpiece. That’s literally what I said when I closed it. The ending, the huge plot twist (that I low key saw coming), like this book was amazing. To be fair though, I was a little sceptical of you-know-who about halfway into the book, but I didn’t expect what you-know-who does at the end! A must read and must recommend from me.
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