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The American Boyfriend
Phoebe Wong would do anything to escape a British winter. But it may cost her more than her airfare.
Sunsets, tacos and margaritas all sound perfect to exhausted forty-three-year-old single mum Phoebe with a dead-end job in Southwark. When her long-distance boyfriend in New York invites her to meet him in Florida, she couldn't wait to jump on a plane with her toddler. Arriving with her teething child at her boyfriend's Key West 'vacay home' before him, she is robbed on her first night. With no money, cards or passports, she is grateful for the support of friendly locals. At a BBQ, she meets an old expat British businessman. Her boyfriend arrives eventually, apologetic, and takes her out to a posh seafood dinner. But when the British expat is shot that night in the same restaurant's car park, Phoebe is trapped in a put-up job, and her boyfriend's delayed arrival is suspiciously timed. If this place has turned darker and chillier than London, she wants out.
Will she be able to pull herself and her daughter away from danger?
Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Jennifer Hillier and Colleen Hoover.
Sunsets, tacos and margaritas all sound perfect to exhausted forty-three-year-old single mum Phoebe with a dead-end job in Southwark. When her long-distance boyfriend in New York invites her to meet him in Florida, she couldn't wait to jump on a plane with her toddler. Arriving with her teething child at her boyfriend's Key West 'vacay home' before him, she is robbed on her first night. With no money, cards or passports, she is grateful for the support of friendly locals. At a BBQ, she meets an old expat British businessman. Her boyfriend arrives eventually, apologetic, and takes her out to a posh seafood dinner. But when the British expat is shot that night in the same restaurant's car park, Phoebe is trapped in a put-up job, and her boyfriend's delayed arrival is suspiciously timed. If this place has turned darker and chillier than London, she wants out.
Will she be able to pull herself and her daughter away from danger?
Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Jennifer Hillier and Colleen Hoover.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2023
10 people are currently reading
5373 people want to read
About the author
Ivy Ngeow
18 books78 followersIvy Ngeow was born and raised in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. She holds an MA in Writing from Middlesex University, where she won the 2005 Middlesex University Literary Press Prize out of almost 1500 entrants worldwide. The American Boyfriend, published by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia in 2023, was longlisted for the Avon x Mushens Entertainment Prize for Commercial Fiction Writers of Colour 2022 and the winner of the Singapore Book Awards 2024 for Best Marketing Campaign. Her debut, Cry of the Flying Rhino (2017), was awarded the International Proverse Prize in Hong Kong. Her novels include Heart of Glass (2018), Overboard (2020) and White Crane Strikes (2022). She is the commissioning editor of the Asian Anthology New Writing series. In Safe Hands was shortlisted for the Joffe Books Prize 2024. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 21, 2023
3.5
I’m a big fan of domestic psychological thrillers and when I was presented with the opportunity to review The American Boyfriend by Ivy Ngeow, I jumped at it. This fast paced novel had all the makings of a good thriller. We have our female protagonist whose choices leads her to certain dangerous situations from which she has to find a way out. The atmospheric setting of the story added a lot to the plot along with the myriad of characters thrown into the mix. But importantly, what I enjoyed the most was the slow burn experience of the book.
Phoebe Wong is a single mother who finds herself in Key West, a vacation spot chosen by her boyfriend, Carter. Their romance blossomed through social media and things quickly turned serious as they became increasingly close. But when Phoebe arrives with her daughter Jojo, everything goes topsy turvy. She realises that Carter won’t be meeting her anytime soon and is left alone in his summer house for six days. Ominous things start happening almost immediately, putting her on edge but she receives generous help from the locals. But the vacation house carries a mystery while the people in the town guard their secrets too well. She begins to wonder if she can actually trust her boyfriend and just then he arrives to meet her.
Ivy’s writing style is very easy to get acclimated to and combined with a thrilling storyline, it’s almost impossible to stop reading the book.The chapters are short, making me read it at a breakneck speed. But I had only two qualms with the book. One was the frequently used references to Jojo and the struggles of being a mother. It felt repetitive. The second was Phoebe’s personality. She didn’t behave rationally throughout the story even when she realised how her life was in danger. It seemed rather odd that she went along rather coolly in spite of many people warning her to be cautious. This didn’t sit well with me.
But I’m certain that I’d read more by Ivy hereon. Her knack for writing a gripping thriller is something that I really enjoyed.
I’m a big fan of domestic psychological thrillers and when I was presented with the opportunity to review The American Boyfriend by Ivy Ngeow, I jumped at it. This fast paced novel had all the makings of a good thriller. We have our female protagonist whose choices leads her to certain dangerous situations from which she has to find a way out. The atmospheric setting of the story added a lot to the plot along with the myriad of characters thrown into the mix. But importantly, what I enjoyed the most was the slow burn experience of the book.
Phoebe Wong is a single mother who finds herself in Key West, a vacation spot chosen by her boyfriend, Carter. Their romance blossomed through social media and things quickly turned serious as they became increasingly close. But when Phoebe arrives with her daughter Jojo, everything goes topsy turvy. She realises that Carter won’t be meeting her anytime soon and is left alone in his summer house for six days. Ominous things start happening almost immediately, putting her on edge but she receives generous help from the locals. But the vacation house carries a mystery while the people in the town guard their secrets too well. She begins to wonder if she can actually trust her boyfriend and just then he arrives to meet her.
Ivy’s writing style is very easy to get acclimated to and combined with a thrilling storyline, it’s almost impossible to stop reading the book.The chapters are short, making me read it at a breakneck speed. But I had only two qualms with the book. One was the frequently used references to Jojo and the struggles of being a mother. It felt repetitive. The second was Phoebe’s personality. She didn’t behave rationally throughout the story even when she realised how her life was in danger. It seemed rather odd that she went along rather coolly in spite of many people warning her to be cautious. This didn’t sit well with me.
But I’m certain that I’d read more by Ivy hereon. Her knack for writing a gripping thriller is something that I really enjoyed.
September 30, 2023
DISCLAIMER: i am, in all honesty, a little biased here. This is one of the most ambitious projects that i am handling as a publicist and marketer to make this book big because as someone who doesn’t necessarily read a lot of thriller/suspense books, this kept me glued until the very end of the pdf.
i envisioned the campaign for this book across multiple outlets and channels, encompassing several markets — even when some of these are territories i don’t have a lot of inroads in.
If you are reading this, please feel free to reach out to me at csrivastava@penguinrandomhouse.in for any thoughts, feedback, or your take on the book! I’d love to hear what you thought because at the end of this day, all i/we want for this book is to find its right audience in this big and beautiful world.
Thanks, and have a good read!
i envisioned the campaign for this book across multiple outlets and channels, encompassing several markets — even when some of these are territories i don’t have a lot of inroads in.
If you are reading this, please feel free to reach out to me at csrivastava@penguinrandomhouse.in for any thoughts, feedback, or your take on the book! I’d love to hear what you thought because at the end of this day, all i/we want for this book is to find its right audience in this big and beautiful world.
Thanks, and have a good read!
Read
August 1, 2023THE AMERICAN BOYFRIEND by Ivy Ngeow is a zippy breezy summer read about a 40-something woman who visits Key West, Florida to meet up with her long distance boyfriend, Carter. Things start going wrong the moment she arrives, and as she meets people in the neighborhood, each one seems just a bit more suspicious than the next. I feel like there should be context in that this is being published by PRH SEA, so the American setting probably feels even more vacation-y to the SEA reader! It’s fun and gives you a humid fever dream adventure. A perfect read in the sun, if I might add. It’s published this month, just in time to round off the summer!
Thank you to the author and @penguinbookssea for the ebook! It feels like quite the honor to be able to read a book from a SEA publisher! ❤️😭
Thank you to the author and @penguinbookssea for the ebook! It feels like quite the honor to be able to read a book from a SEA publisher! ❤️😭
January 23, 2024
Imagine being a single mother on vacation with your boyfriend of 11 months, only to find yourself in danger at every turn. That's exactly what happens to Phoebe Wong in the mystery novel set in Key West, Florida.
The story follows Phoebe Wong, a single mother who travels to Key West from London with her child, Jojo, for a lovely vacation with her long-distance American boyfriend, Carter. However, things turn for the worse when she arrives and finds herself alone in the vacation house, with alarming events unfolding. With Carter constantly delayed, Phoebe has to navigate the dangerous situations herself, all while trying to protect her daughter and figure out who she can trust.
This slow-to-medium burn thriller will keep you guessing until the very end. The story builds slowly, adding layer upon layer of tension and unease until the final plot twist you won't see coming. That ending caught me off guard. The plot twists were impressive. I was highly suspicious of almost everyone and was convinced that my predictions about the course of events were accurate. However, my expectations were completely off.
While reading, I found myself engrossed in the story. Ivy's writing style is gripping, and the short chapters make for a quick and thrilling read. I appreciated how the author provided insights into different characters, which added depth to the story. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but feel that Phoebe was too trusting of the people she had only recently met, even though I found the gradual development of Phoebe's relationship with the new people quite intriguing and well-portrayed.
Overall, I found the book to be a good mystery thriller that successfully kept me engaged. Although it did slow down a bit in the middle, the short chapters made it easy to read, and the various suspicions kept me hooked. I would recommend it to other readers who enjoy the genre.
Thank you, Times Reads, for sending me the review copy ✨
The story follows Phoebe Wong, a single mother who travels to Key West from London with her child, Jojo, for a lovely vacation with her long-distance American boyfriend, Carter. However, things turn for the worse when she arrives and finds herself alone in the vacation house, with alarming events unfolding. With Carter constantly delayed, Phoebe has to navigate the dangerous situations herself, all while trying to protect her daughter and figure out who she can trust.
This slow-to-medium burn thriller will keep you guessing until the very end. The story builds slowly, adding layer upon layer of tension and unease until the final plot twist you won't see coming. That ending caught me off guard. The plot twists were impressive. I was highly suspicious of almost everyone and was convinced that my predictions about the course of events were accurate. However, my expectations were completely off.
While reading, I found myself engrossed in the story. Ivy's writing style is gripping, and the short chapters make for a quick and thrilling read. I appreciated how the author provided insights into different characters, which added depth to the story. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but feel that Phoebe was too trusting of the people she had only recently met, even though I found the gradual development of Phoebe's relationship with the new people quite intriguing and well-portrayed.
Overall, I found the book to be a good mystery thriller that successfully kept me engaged. Although it did slow down a bit in the middle, the short chapters made it easy to read, and the various suspicions kept me hooked. I would recommend it to other readers who enjoy the genre.
Thank you, Times Reads, for sending me the review copy ✨
September 20, 2023
What a thrill this book was! The American Boyfriend sounds like a fluffy and light read, but let me save you from that notion because it's definitely not cute. Following Phoebe and her trip to America, this book took me a bit of time to get into, but once it did, I couldn't stop. The pacing turned out to be just about perfect especially if you're someone who looks deep into things and love playing the guessing game at every turn of the page like me. There were interconnected plotlines of the characters and this was a very refreshing take, so well executed too (you only have to be aware of the timelines). For a 200 page long book, I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns and it was honestly an amazing surprise. The author served the "whodunnit" dish so superbly here. Even though I was able to guess some reveals, I'm still jaw-slacked by that ending. I didn't see the ending coming and it definitely was the icing on the cake. My only complaint here is not being able to feel for the characters, but that can certainly be expected in a thriller book. This is definitely a must read for people who love psychological thrillers.
July 24, 2023
(My first ever ARC!!!) I got really excited after seeing the book trailer in Instagram, so when I got the offer to read it, why not?! This bookworm is ecstatic to comply.
I had trouble at the beginning because the build up to the suspense was rather slow. I was somehow looking forward to an outright presentation of the source of mystery or thrill but instead there were much details on the characters and the settings.
I got overwhelmed due to several key persons in the story plus their back stories. At the back of my mind I’ve been on full alert on which part of the story will I have to be suspicious of anyone - especially THE boyfriend. Another origin of my confusion may have been the switching POVs of the characters that initially felt unnecessary.
It was not until the middle part (around Chapters 16-18) that the story took off. There was the guessing I’ve been looking for. Somehow the characters I thought who were dimensionless in relation to the plot took more weight and volume.
Somehow, it was also at this point that the plot seemed chaotic for me and difficult to follow. It felt like watching fireworks go off in various locations that I cannot choose where to focus. I thought to myself how might the author wrap all of these up? How will all these make sense and perhaps be connected?
I expected yet again that there is one string of conclusions. However, it turns out that there’s a branching out to several - tying up queries such as the relevance of the other characters and IT WAS MIND-BLOWING. I enjoyed the end half despite nearly dropping it in the first half. Glad I still finished it. 🌻
I had trouble at the beginning because the build up to the suspense was rather slow. I was somehow looking forward to an outright presentation of the source of mystery or thrill but instead there were much details on the characters and the settings.
I got overwhelmed due to several key persons in the story plus their back stories. At the back of my mind I’ve been on full alert on which part of the story will I have to be suspicious of anyone - especially THE boyfriend. Another origin of my confusion may have been the switching POVs of the characters that initially felt unnecessary.
It was not until the middle part (around Chapters 16-18) that the story took off. There was the guessing I’ve been looking for. Somehow the characters I thought who were dimensionless in relation to the plot took more weight and volume.
Somehow, it was also at this point that the plot seemed chaotic for me and difficult to follow. It felt like watching fireworks go off in various locations that I cannot choose where to focus. I thought to myself how might the author wrap all of these up? How will all these make sense and perhaps be connected?
I expected yet again that there is one string of conclusions. However, it turns out that there’s a branching out to several - tying up queries such as the relevance of the other characters and IT WAS MIND-BLOWING. I enjoyed the end half despite nearly dropping it in the first half. Glad I still finished it. 🌻
July 25, 2023
This story had me guessing the whole time. I have a baby around the same age as JoJo and the nuances of life with a toddler were spot on.
This has some of my favorite thriller tropes like isolation and being stranded. I'd consider this a domestic thriller but with a cozy mystery feel to it. The relationships between characters were layered and the character development of MC Phoebe was great.
I had a hard time connecting to some of the supporting characters like boyfriend Carter and bff Ellie. Other characters like Posh and Alanzo I vibed with right away.
This is a fast paced and easy going. It takes place in Key West and would be a nice beach read. 😎
This has some of my favorite thriller tropes like isolation and being stranded. I'd consider this a domestic thriller but with a cozy mystery feel to it. The relationships between characters were layered and the character development of MC Phoebe was great.
I had a hard time connecting to some of the supporting characters like boyfriend Carter and bff Ellie. Other characters like Posh and Alanzo I vibed with right away.
This is a fast paced and easy going. It takes place in Key West and would be a nice beach read. 😎
December 28, 2023
I was fortunate enough to win this in a giveaway. I thought it was a decent thriller. A little slow in the middle, but I appreciated how a few chapters gave you glimpses into different characters and it had some good twists at the end.
Read
May 12, 2023In The American Boyfriend, we follow Phoebe and her toddler, Jojo, as they travel to meet her long-distance boyfriend, Carter, in the sunny city of Florida. Upon arrival, Phoebe is pleasantly surprised to find that their vacation home is even more beautiful than she had dreamed. However, her dream vacation soon turns into a nightmare when Carter is delayed, and strange occurrences begin to take place in the house. With warnings about her safety and future in mind, Phoebe must ask herself whether she can trust the American Boyfriend.
This story has all the elements of a classic mystery novel: intriguing characters, an eerie setting, and a gripping narrative. It's the perfect book to devour over a weekend, as it will keep you hooked from start to finish. While the first half of the book may be slow-paced, it sets the tone for the mystery that gradually builds up. As a mystery fan, I longed for a good investigation and was hooked as I watched the mystery unravel. The character's quest for answers will keep you invested in the story, and their inability to uncover the truth only adds to the tension.
The author's has used a third-person narrative style, which provides readers with insights into the perspectives of various characters. However, the story's twists and turns may shatter any assumptions you make about the characters and their motivations. As the mystery gradually unfolds, the intrigue, drama, and thrill builds up, making for an incredibly entertaining read. You'll find yourself engrossed in the story, eagerly anticipating what will happen next. The author's skillful writing keeps the tension high, ensuring that you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel with unexpected plot twists.
This story has all the elements of a classic mystery novel: intriguing characters, an eerie setting, and a gripping narrative. It's the perfect book to devour over a weekend, as it will keep you hooked from start to finish. While the first half of the book may be slow-paced, it sets the tone for the mystery that gradually builds up. As a mystery fan, I longed for a good investigation and was hooked as I watched the mystery unravel. The character's quest for answers will keep you invested in the story, and their inability to uncover the truth only adds to the tension.
The author's has used a third-person narrative style, which provides readers with insights into the perspectives of various characters. However, the story's twists and turns may shatter any assumptions you make about the characters and their motivations. As the mystery gradually unfolds, the intrigue, drama, and thrill builds up, making for an incredibly entertaining read. You'll find yourself engrossed in the story, eagerly anticipating what will happen next. The author's skillful writing keeps the tension high, ensuring that you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel with unexpected plot twists.
September 25, 2023
3 stars-This book has such an interesting premise, but it was SO DULL! I may be in the minority here but I felt like nothing was really happening until about halfway through (and the book is only 205 pages.) Then when it did happen, it was so slow. To many convenient loose ends are tied up in the end, but by that point I just didn’t care anymore.
May 15, 2023
Didn't see that plot twist coming. That person was not even on my list of suspects. Wtf
September 5, 2023
The American Boyfriend | Ivy Ngeow
Perfect thriller!
"American Boyfriend" is a perfect recipe of identity and belonging along with ample amount of thrilling moments. Ngeow's narrative unfolds with a unique blend of cultural authenticity and emotional resonance of being a mother, stranded in a helpless situation to protect her daughter as well as make the situation better, overall making it a standout novel.
The story revolves around the Phoebe Wong’s visiting her boyfriend of 11 months to America with her daughter. And this explores a quest for truth discovery as she navigates the complexities of being a tourist in a foreign land and uncovering the I’ll-paced events during her course of stay. Ngeow's storytelling prowess shines through as she weaves together the lives of diverse characters, each with their own compelling stories.
I totally liked the novel’s way of examining the immigrant experience by Phoebe, shedding light on the challenges faced by those trying to find their place in a new culture, especially if they are from a multiethnic family already. This theme adds depth and relevance to the narrative, offering us a glimpse into the intricate web of human relationships and cultural adaptation. It also talks in snippets about how Asian culture vaguely differs from the western through anecdotes that Phoebe remembers her mother quoting time and again.
The novel's pacing is dynamic, with moments of intense drama followed by more introspective part about a mother daughter relationship.
This is a a very addictive novel from start to end, perfectly paced and keeps you on the edge. Ivy’s storytelling is both engaging and evocative. I loved reading it! If you love thrillers you should definitely try it out.
Perfect thriller!
"American Boyfriend" is a perfect recipe of identity and belonging along with ample amount of thrilling moments. Ngeow's narrative unfolds with a unique blend of cultural authenticity and emotional resonance of being a mother, stranded in a helpless situation to protect her daughter as well as make the situation better, overall making it a standout novel.
The story revolves around the Phoebe Wong’s visiting her boyfriend of 11 months to America with her daughter. And this explores a quest for truth discovery as she navigates the complexities of being a tourist in a foreign land and uncovering the I’ll-paced events during her course of stay. Ngeow's storytelling prowess shines through as she weaves together the lives of diverse characters, each with their own compelling stories.
I totally liked the novel’s way of examining the immigrant experience by Phoebe, shedding light on the challenges faced by those trying to find their place in a new culture, especially if they are from a multiethnic family already. This theme adds depth and relevance to the narrative, offering us a glimpse into the intricate web of human relationships and cultural adaptation. It also talks in snippets about how Asian culture vaguely differs from the western through anecdotes that Phoebe remembers her mother quoting time and again.
The novel's pacing is dynamic, with moments of intense drama followed by more introspective part about a mother daughter relationship.
This is a a very addictive novel from start to end, perfectly paced and keeps you on the edge. Ivy’s storytelling is both engaging and evocative. I loved reading it! If you love thrillers you should definitely try it out.
July 30, 2023
"Now she was in her dream, except it was a nightmare."
📖
Phoebe, a middle aged British single mother travels across the ocean to Florida, with her toddler, Jojo, to visit her new boyfriend, Carter, who she met over the Internet. Ever since her arrival to the foreign land, strange things start happening to her such as getting mysteriously robbed on the very first night and Carter not being there already to receive them. As the days pass, she discovers unpleasant secrets leading her to think if she really knows her "American Boyfriend".
📝
With a well paced plot, the book grabbed my attention from the word go and remained unpredictable till the final page. The first half of the book was the necessary buildup and the second half was unputdownable with so much happening. What I loved about the book was that the author never strayed from the main storyline even with multiple narratives, so many characters and events intersecting with each other. I applaud her for being able to maintain the mystery throughout by unraveling it at the perfect pace without any over complication.
To conclude, I can only say that I absolutely loved the book and would highly recommend it to everyone, specially thriller lovers.
📖
Phoebe, a middle aged British single mother travels across the ocean to Florida, with her toddler, Jojo, to visit her new boyfriend, Carter, who she met over the Internet. Ever since her arrival to the foreign land, strange things start happening to her such as getting mysteriously robbed on the very first night and Carter not being there already to receive them. As the days pass, she discovers unpleasant secrets leading her to think if she really knows her "American Boyfriend".
📝
With a well paced plot, the book grabbed my attention from the word go and remained unpredictable till the final page. The first half of the book was the necessary buildup and the second half was unputdownable with so much happening. What I loved about the book was that the author never strayed from the main storyline even with multiple narratives, so many characters and events intersecting with each other. I applaud her for being able to maintain the mystery throughout by unraveling it at the perfect pace without any over complication.
To conclude, I can only say that I absolutely loved the book and would highly recommend it to everyone, specially thriller lovers.
August 6, 2023
Don't let the title fool you, it's not the cute, cheesy romance book it sounds.
This book kept me hooked from beginning to end. It had this eerie vibe from the starting. Its very fast pacing from the starting but gets a little slow in the middle and then picks up it's pace again. I sort of guessed one of the twists in the book because it all seems too good to be so my trust issues picked up those bits (LOL). Phoebe character irritated me a little bit because she was still careless (a bit) after all that happened to her. I wanted to see Carter and her relationship dynamic more and also the relationship between Carter and Jojo. But as the romance was a subplot, it's all understandable. Loved the interconnected plot lines. This book is only 200 pages long, which is the perfect length for me. The writing is very flowy and easy to read. The end twist had me staring at the wall and that's why it gets 5 star because I had never expected it in my wildest dreams.
Absolutely recommend, if you love thrillers with a dash of romance.
This book kept me hooked from beginning to end. It had this eerie vibe from the starting. Its very fast pacing from the starting but gets a little slow in the middle and then picks up it's pace again. I sort of guessed one of the twists in the book because it all seems too good to be so my trust issues picked up those bits (LOL). Phoebe character irritated me a little bit because she was still careless (a bit) after all that happened to her. I wanted to see Carter and her relationship dynamic more and also the relationship between Carter and Jojo. But as the romance was a subplot, it's all understandable. Loved the interconnected plot lines. This book is only 200 pages long, which is the perfect length for me. The writing is very flowy and easy to read. The end twist had me staring at the wall and that's why it gets 5 star because I had never expected it in my wildest dreams.
Absolutely recommend, if you love thrillers with a dash of romance.
January 16, 2024
i had the pleasure of receiving a copy of the author’s debut novel, “the american boyfriend” from penguin SEA and all throughout, i had subtle chill running down my spine and all my red flags raised. the author’s attention to developing such a picturesque setting took center stage, while the thrill and eeriness of the mystery itself snuck up on me like a bad omen lingering by the doorway.
despite its relatively fast pace, the american boyfriend doesn’t scrimp on detail and utilises an interesting range of characters to make key west as lively as it is sketchy. the switching points of views felt like playing out a law and order episode as a cluedo board game. it confused me enough to make me miss the signs, but sprinkled just enough foretelling to make the big reveal shocking but still very satisfying.
though, i will admit that my attention span made it hard to get through some of the longer-winded descriptions and scenes.
but if you’re like me and female lead, phoebe wong—aka in need of an escape and is drawn to romantic whims that are low key red flaggish—this novel is inviting you to fly over to west and experience one heck of a vacation!
despite its relatively fast pace, the american boyfriend doesn’t scrimp on detail and utilises an interesting range of characters to make key west as lively as it is sketchy. the switching points of views felt like playing out a law and order episode as a cluedo board game. it confused me enough to make me miss the signs, but sprinkled just enough foretelling to make the big reveal shocking but still very satisfying.
though, i will admit that my attention span made it hard to get through some of the longer-winded descriptions and scenes.
but if you’re like me and female lead, phoebe wong—aka in need of an escape and is drawn to romantic whims that are low key red flaggish—this novel is inviting you to fly over to west and experience one heck of a vacation!
August 16, 2023
Wow I did not see that coming 👀 RTC
August 20, 2023
Ramdam na ramdam ko ang taranta at rindi na pinagdadaanan ng main character natin dealing with the burglary, her child that needs attention, and all the aberya that she's experiencing to this dapat-masaya-lang vacation. Yung dapat pag-uwi sa pinanggalingan niya ang solusyon pero she can't do that kasi wala siyang pera at passport. She's helpless and that radiates through the pages of this book.
The beginning of this book is kinda slow mystery-wise and mali din ako sa pag-aakala na na-late lang ng ilang oras ang jowa niya sa date nila because after reading this, nalaman kong 6 days pala inabot bago sila magkita sa Florida!!! Kaloka! Anyway, that slowness naman in the beginning was used to introduce characters and all that so goods lang.
Everything started to pick up nung chapter 16 ata? Nagsimula nang magtapon ng mga mystery si Mima Ivy that excites me pero as the mystery piled up, nagsimula na ring magbuhol-buhol ang mga loose ends sa utak ko! Hindi ko na alam kung saan titingin. Naging convulated na siya. Sumama pa sa pagkagulo ng utak ko 'yung biglang palit sa first person POV after the 3rd person's POV, tho bihira naman nangyari, nakakadisorient lang. Nakukulangan din ako sa reaksyon ng mga characters sa mga certain shocking info or scenario. Kulang ang arte nila kumbaga. Chill lang sila sa mga scenes na if I am in their position, baka nagpanic na ako.
But all in all, this is good. It keeps me guessing. PLUS, that BIG plot twits in the end is delicious for me. I like that. Yum!
Entertaining and fast-read 'to so bongga. Thank you Penguin SEA for sending me a copy of this book. Naenjoy ko siya. :)
The beginning of this book is kinda slow mystery-wise and mali din ako sa pag-aakala na na-late lang ng ilang oras ang jowa niya sa date nila because after reading this, nalaman kong 6 days pala inabot bago sila magkita sa Florida!!! Kaloka! Anyway, that slowness naman in the beginning was used to introduce characters and all that so goods lang.
Everything started to pick up nung chapter 16 ata? Nagsimula nang magtapon ng mga mystery si Mima Ivy that excites me pero as the mystery piled up, nagsimula na ring magbuhol-buhol ang mga loose ends sa utak ko! Hindi ko na alam kung saan titingin. Naging convulated na siya. Sumama pa sa pagkagulo ng utak ko 'yung biglang palit sa first person POV after the 3rd person's POV, tho bihira naman nangyari, nakakadisorient lang. Nakukulangan din ako sa reaksyon ng mga characters sa mga certain shocking info or scenario. Kulang ang arte nila kumbaga. Chill lang sila sa mga scenes na if I am in their position, baka nagpanic na ako.
But all in all, this is good. It keeps me guessing. PLUS, that BIG plot twits in the end is delicious for me. I like that. Yum!
Entertaining and fast-read 'to so bongga. Thank you Penguin SEA for sending me a copy of this book. Naenjoy ko siya. :)
May 13, 2023
The American Boyfriend - the title seems like a romantic novel that's all that cheesy and cute. But it's not! It's a medium-paced thriller with a whodunnit!
Forty three year old single mother Phoebe, who's Malaysian-Chinese and living in London, is all set to visit her long-distance boyfriend of eleven months, Carter, in Florida. Arriving with her teething child at her boyfriend's Key West 'vacay home' before him, she is robbed on her first night. Left with no money, cards or passports, she is grateful for the support of friendly locals. At a BBQ, she meets an old expat British businessman. Carter eventually arrives six days later and takes her out to a dinner where the British expat is shot! While Phoebe's been warned that her boyfriend isn't who she thinks he is, and about an old incident that happened with a woman at the same vacay home, she's now stuck in an unavoidable situation with really a dilemma on whom to trust.
The book is a wonderful escape, a pleasure to read. I instantly got hooked to the book as soon as I began reading and I just had to finish it in a couple of days. It begins real fast and then gets a bit slow. The characters are well-written and seem real. Although Phoebe got on my nerves sometimes for not taking care of locking all doors and windows even after the burglary, still she was quite brave to survive in a strange country with her toddler, all on her own. The book is only around 200 pages, making it crisp and devoid of filler. It's the perfect length to keep the readers engaged and to maintain the thrill of what's about to happen next. It's interesting and it somehow manages to make a connection with Phoebe, that we root for her and expect her miseries to end. Altogether it's a beautiful book that one won't regret picking up!
Forty three year old single mother Phoebe, who's Malaysian-Chinese and living in London, is all set to visit her long-distance boyfriend of eleven months, Carter, in Florida. Arriving with her teething child at her boyfriend's Key West 'vacay home' before him, she is robbed on her first night. Left with no money, cards or passports, she is grateful for the support of friendly locals. At a BBQ, she meets an old expat British businessman. Carter eventually arrives six days later and takes her out to a dinner where the British expat is shot! While Phoebe's been warned that her boyfriend isn't who she thinks he is, and about an old incident that happened with a woman at the same vacay home, she's now stuck in an unavoidable situation with really a dilemma on whom to trust.
The book is a wonderful escape, a pleasure to read. I instantly got hooked to the book as soon as I began reading and I just had to finish it in a couple of days. It begins real fast and then gets a bit slow. The characters are well-written and seem real. Although Phoebe got on my nerves sometimes for not taking care of locking all doors and windows even after the burglary, still she was quite brave to survive in a strange country with her toddler, all on her own. The book is only around 200 pages, making it crisp and devoid of filler. It's the perfect length to keep the readers engaged and to maintain the thrill of what's about to happen next. It's interesting and it somehow manages to make a connection with Phoebe, that we root for her and expect her miseries to end. Altogether it's a beautiful book that one won't regret picking up!
August 23, 2023
Rating: 3.5
The American Boyfriend is a romantic suspense thriller I think everybody’s going to love! It completely blew my mind and there’s nothing more satisfying than reading a thriller book with a surprising plot twist.
I personally enjoyed reading about the characters in this book. They were all interesting and the way they were introduced was very subtle you wouldn’t notice there’s a new character in the picture—truly commendable writing style! The first few chapters, however, were a little slow because of all the introductions and suspense building. But trust me, these pages are essential and the ending is really worth it!
Overall, I enjoyed reading this debut book and I look forward to reading more Ivy Ngeow! I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
The American Boyfriend is a romantic suspense thriller I think everybody’s going to love! It completely blew my mind and there’s nothing more satisfying than reading a thriller book with a surprising plot twist.
I personally enjoyed reading about the characters in this book. They were all interesting and the way they were introduced was very subtle you wouldn’t notice there’s a new character in the picture—truly commendable writing style! The first few chapters, however, were a little slow because of all the introductions and suspense building. But trust me, these pages are essential and the ending is really worth it!
Overall, I enjoyed reading this debut book and I look forward to reading more Ivy Ngeow! I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
August 27, 2023
phoebe and her daughter, jojo, want to leave london and experience the summer in florida. they seized the opportunity when phoebeʼs estranged american boyfriend invited them to his house in allamanda grove. phoebe expected her boyfriend to be there on the first day; however, he said he would be late due to work. alone and anxious, phoebe and jojo didnʼt know anyone in town. phoebe got robbed on their first night, a person was killed, and things became even more mysterious because these unfortunate events might be interconnected. phoebe doesnʼt know who to trust anymore, and all she can think of was to get out.
this mystery unfolded slowly, involving numerous characters. as someone who has read many domestic thrillers, i would consider this a good choice for beginners—classic whodunnit elements were evident. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 used a third-person perspective that switched between different characters and timeframes, enhancing the storyʼs engagement. nothing has happened much in the first half (except for the robbing & plot building, of course), but the pace picked up in the latter part. ivy ngeow expertly sprinkled cliffhanger plot twists after each chapter, which i thoroughly enjoyed—my jaw was dropped, my mouth formed an o shape kind of enjoyment. i appreciate it when an author manages to play with me like that!
whatʼs different, and what i also liked, was that we got a strong female asian lead! although her dating a man she met on linkedin (seriously, who does that?) was kind of stupid, her actions throughout the story were driven by a motherly instinct. there were other strong female leads here i liked, and of course, i canʼt spoil on what made them awesome, but one character had a “they say i did something bad, then whyʼs it feel so good?” energy.
the only thing keeping me from giving it a full five stars was that it felt somewhat basic. the characters lacked depth, and i didnʼt connect with them profoundly. naturally, these nitpicks are subjective, considering my history of reading thrillers. however, if youʼre seeking a lighter, riley sager-esque style with surprising twists, i believe youʼd enjoy this.
it’s cool because i only realized that the cover served as a clue to the main mystery here. 🤯
this mystery unfolded slowly, involving numerous characters. as someone who has read many domestic thrillers, i would consider this a good choice for beginners—classic whodunnit elements were evident. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 used a third-person perspective that switched between different characters and timeframes, enhancing the storyʼs engagement. nothing has happened much in the first half (except for the robbing & plot building, of course), but the pace picked up in the latter part. ivy ngeow expertly sprinkled cliffhanger plot twists after each chapter, which i thoroughly enjoyed—my jaw was dropped, my mouth formed an o shape kind of enjoyment. i appreciate it when an author manages to play with me like that!
whatʼs different, and what i also liked, was that we got a strong female asian lead! although her dating a man she met on linkedin (seriously, who does that?) was kind of stupid, her actions throughout the story were driven by a motherly instinct. there were other strong female leads here i liked, and of course, i canʼt spoil on what made them awesome, but one character had a “they say i did something bad, then whyʼs it feel so good?” energy.
the only thing keeping me from giving it a full five stars was that it felt somewhat basic. the characters lacked depth, and i didnʼt connect with them profoundly. naturally, these nitpicks are subjective, considering my history of reading thrillers. however, if youʼre seeking a lighter, riley sager-esque style with surprising twists, i believe youʼd enjoy this.
it’s cool because i only realized that the cover served as a clue to the main mystery here. 🤯
October 30, 2023
Name : The American Boyfriend
Author : Ivy Ngeow
Genre : Domestic suspense
My 💭 :
Finally got to read this bookstagram favourite book!
This is probably the first time I am reading a thriller with an Asian woman as the protagonist and I absolutely LOVED reading from her POV! Phoebe's way of talking and thinking and treating people goes down to her Asian roots and it showed! I could totally relate to most of them. Specially, how much we Asian women are subconsciously always rubbed off of our mothers, even when we avoid it specifically 😭. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this realisation! But at the end of the day, mothers are mothers and we, their daughters, love them to the bone 🤎.
Now, about the plot. I have always LOVED domestic and romantic suspense separately, now mix it together, it was a gem! The plot seemed very intriguing right from the start. I finished it in one sitting only, the length being only two hundred something pages. But A LOT happened! The person I originally suspected WAS indeed revealed as the culprit in the end but a few turn of events had confused me a little. Specially because of Phoebe's impulsive actions, which irritated me somewhat. The unexpected twist at the very end of the book made up for it though!
All the women characters in this story were very strong and of distinctive nature in their own rights 🙌. Even though the book brings forth a dark plot vibe, but the wholesome nature of the characters' friendships mellowed it down to a great extent.
This read was a good way to escape my dire reality today. That's what good books are for right?
Author : Ivy Ngeow
Genre : Domestic suspense
My 💭 :
Finally got to read this bookstagram favourite book!
This is probably the first time I am reading a thriller with an Asian woman as the protagonist and I absolutely LOVED reading from her POV! Phoebe's way of talking and thinking and treating people goes down to her Asian roots and it showed! I could totally relate to most of them. Specially, how much we Asian women are subconsciously always rubbed off of our mothers, even when we avoid it specifically 😭. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this realisation! But at the end of the day, mothers are mothers and we, their daughters, love them to the bone 🤎.
Now, about the plot. I have always LOVED domestic and romantic suspense separately, now mix it together, it was a gem! The plot seemed very intriguing right from the start. I finished it in one sitting only, the length being only two hundred something pages. But A LOT happened! The person I originally suspected WAS indeed revealed as the culprit in the end but a few turn of events had confused me a little. Specially because of Phoebe's impulsive actions, which irritated me somewhat. The unexpected twist at the very end of the book made up for it though!
All the women characters in this story were very strong and of distinctive nature in their own rights 🙌. Even though the book brings forth a dark plot vibe, but the wholesome nature of the characters' friendships mellowed it down to a great extent.
This read was a good way to escape my dire reality today. That's what good books are for right?
June 26, 2023
3.5 stars
Phoebe Wong would do anything to escape a British winter. But it may cost her more than her airfare.
Sunsets, tacos and margaritas all sound perfect to exhausted forty-three-year-old single mum Phoebe with a dead-end job in Southwark. When her long distance boyfriend in New York invites her to meet him in Florida, she couldn’t wait to jump on a plane with her toddler. Arriving with her teething child at her boyfriend’s Key West ‘vacay home’ before him, she is robbed on her first night.
With no money, cards or passports, she is grateful for the support of friendly locals. At a BBQ, she meets an old expat British businessman. Her boyfriend arrives eventually, apologetic, and takes her out to a posh seafood dinner. But when the British expat is shot that night in the same restaurant’s car park, Phoebe is trapped in a put-up job, and her boyfriend’s delayed arrival is suspiciously timed. If this place has turned darker and chillier than London, she wants out. Will she be able to pull herself and her daughter away from danger?
This was definitely a slow burner where you could feel the internal tension in Phoebe building with each thing that goes wrong and each time that Carter is delayed. I don’t know how I would’ve coped with a young child travelling to the US on my own - to meet a guy you’ve met a total of 4 times!
I did get to the point that I was suspicious of everyone and I felt that phoebe was definitely too trusting with the people she met over such a short amount of time.
I did find the twists at the end - which came thick and fast - came quite out of the blue. Usually I’m pretty good at getting an inkling of what’s going to happen and with this book I certainly didn’t.
I enjoyed her writing style and found it a breeze to read in around 24 hours!
Phoebe Wong would do anything to escape a British winter. But it may cost her more than her airfare.
Sunsets, tacos and margaritas all sound perfect to exhausted forty-three-year-old single mum Phoebe with a dead-end job in Southwark. When her long distance boyfriend in New York invites her to meet him in Florida, she couldn’t wait to jump on a plane with her toddler. Arriving with her teething child at her boyfriend’s Key West ‘vacay home’ before him, she is robbed on her first night.
With no money, cards or passports, she is grateful for the support of friendly locals. At a BBQ, she meets an old expat British businessman. Her boyfriend arrives eventually, apologetic, and takes her out to a posh seafood dinner. But when the British expat is shot that night in the same restaurant’s car park, Phoebe is trapped in a put-up job, and her boyfriend’s delayed arrival is suspiciously timed. If this place has turned darker and chillier than London, she wants out. Will she be able to pull herself and her daughter away from danger?
This was definitely a slow burner where you could feel the internal tension in Phoebe building with each thing that goes wrong and each time that Carter is delayed. I don’t know how I would’ve coped with a young child travelling to the US on my own - to meet a guy you’ve met a total of 4 times!
I did get to the point that I was suspicious of everyone and I felt that phoebe was definitely too trusting with the people she met over such a short amount of time.
I did find the twists at the end - which came thick and fast - came quite out of the blue. Usually I’m pretty good at getting an inkling of what’s going to happen and with this book I certainly didn’t.
I enjoyed her writing style and found it a breeze to read in around 24 hours!
October 27, 2023
A single mum from London travels to Key West with her toddler in tow for a holiday with her mysterious American boyfriend she met through social media, but, surprise, he's not there...yet. Suffice it say, it quickly turns into the vacation from hell.
You have to hand it to author Ivy Ngeow for turning a sunny tropical locale into a gothic melodrama setting. And not only does she pull off that feat, but she also pulls off not one...not two...but three shocking plot twists...none of which I saw coming, and I consider myself pretty astute when it comes to plotting.
This is Ngeow's first book with Penguin Random House, but I've been a fan of hers from her indie days. It's not quite up there with Cry of the Flying Rhino and Overboard, but it is a fun, rock-solid, psychological thriller. Whether you are familiar with her previous work or not, you're bound to be entertained. Highly recommended.
You have to hand it to author Ivy Ngeow for turning a sunny tropical locale into a gothic melodrama setting. And not only does she pull off that feat, but she also pulls off not one...not two...but three shocking plot twists...none of which I saw coming, and I consider myself pretty astute when it comes to plotting.
This is Ngeow's first book with Penguin Random House, but I've been a fan of hers from her indie days. It's not quite up there with Cry of the Flying Rhino and Overboard, but it is a fun, rock-solid, psychological thriller. Whether you are familiar with her previous work or not, you're bound to be entertained. Highly recommended.
August 6, 2023
“An online romance leads to a deadly trap for a single mother.”
Overall enjoyed this ARC- it will keep you guessing the whole time!
The chapters are nice and short for a quick and enjoyable read. The build up of suspense was a bit slow in the beginning, but then it really picked up speed and the ending was great! There were even a couple twists that caught me off guard!
There were times where it was a little confusing especially as it switched between a lot of different POVs. Ultimately though it made sense having them all as it did lead to you questioning each character and their involvement as you tried to figure out who the culprit was.
If you like a who-dun-nit mystery under 300 pages, then recommend checking this one out.
Thank you @authorivyngeow and @penguinbookssea for the gifted copy!🫶🏼
Overall enjoyed this ARC- it will keep you guessing the whole time!
The chapters are nice and short for a quick and enjoyable read. The build up of suspense was a bit slow in the beginning, but then it really picked up speed and the ending was great! There were even a couple twists that caught me off guard!
There were times where it was a little confusing especially as it switched between a lot of different POVs. Ultimately though it made sense having them all as it did lead to you questioning each character and their involvement as you tried to figure out who the culprit was.
If you like a who-dun-nit mystery under 300 pages, then recommend checking this one out.
Thank you @authorivyngeow and @penguinbookssea for the gifted copy!🫶🏼
July 6, 2023
This was quite a great thriller! When Phoebe and her daughter travel to Florida from Britain, Phoebe doesn't realize the danger she is in! Phoebe boyfriend is late arriving and Phoebe is robbed her first night there. Finally her boyfriend arrives, but trust me his arrival may not be a good thing! This was a great thriller with exciting twists that I read in one day. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
July 19, 2023
This was the perfect beach read while I was on vacation. There were just enough secrets to keep the pace on the quicker side for the majority of the story. There were a couple slower moments but the changes in POV created mini cliffhangers during the as I learned about the characters pasts. I liked how Phoebe didn’t brush off the things that were happening as coincidence but she also was blinded by love a little bit with Carter. The only met a handful of times in person and I would have left the house and stayed somewhere else for the trip. I would have never guessed who was behind certain things and I loved how the ending was done.
Thank you @penguinbookssea and @authorivyngeow for the gifted copy
Thank you @penguinbookssea and @authorivyngeow for the gifted copy
September 25, 2023
Author Ivy Ngeow is magnificent at creating an unforgettable story with vivid descriptions, accuracy with details filled with an intricate plot and unforseen twists. I was unable to put the book down. It was a short fast-paced read with a beautiful setting. The characters are well developed and complex allowing the reader to feel a connection with them. The ending was unexpected a x executed beautifully
September 29, 2023
Ivy Ngeow builds up the tension in this fast-paced thriller, turning it like a screw until we reach an explosive climax. Couple this with beautiful locations like Key West, which I love, and London in Winter this is a perfect holiday read. The characterisation is excellent as is the plotting in this novel which is so tight and packed with twists and turns. I highly recommend The American Boyfriend!
January 15, 2025
This book was so dull. Nothing happened in the first half, and by the time something "interesting" happened, I wasn't really invested anymore. The synopsis sounded way more interesting and darker than it actually was. The synopsis mentions a murder, but the murder doesnt happen until halfway through the book, so the first half is just the main character waiting on her boyfriend to arrive. Overall, the story was okay but forgettable.
August 12, 2023
okay i did not expect that ending. that was actually a pretty good plot twist.
i have to admit, though— i actually got bored with the writing style and had to drag my eyes through the first half just so the book could get to the good parts. oh well, i enjoyed it anyway tho. full review to come soon!
i have to admit, though— i actually got bored with the writing style and had to drag my eyes through the first half just so the book could get to the good parts. oh well, i enjoyed it anyway tho. full review to come soon!
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