First Date

by Gemma Amor

Deciding to end years of loneliness, Amandine takes a leap of faith and enters the dating pool. After seemingly endless disappointments, it seems her luck has changed when she meets Connor, another lonely heart.

What starts as a dinner date ends in a night that will change their lives forever. For neither of them knows that they are being watched by a killer whose primary target is happy couples.

Soon, Amandine and Connor will find themselves fighting for their lives. Their only chance of survival lies in each other, but can they work as a team to escape before their time runs out?

And even if they do, will they ever be able to escape each other?

Genres: Horror

394 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2026

About the author

I'm a horror fiction author, podcaster, artist and voice actor from Bristol, in the U.K.

I write for the wildly popular NoSleep Podcast and various other horror fiction audio dramas. My traditionally published debut FULL IMMERSION is out from Angry Robot in September 2022.

Find me at @manylittlewords on Twitter and Insta.

Repped by Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.

Reviews

[Lady MacDeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Gimme more, Gemma Amor!) (*she chants*)

Oh my, this was my first experience reading a book by Gemma Amor, and it was a bloody fabulous, rollercoaster of a ride.
Not a lot scares me, but this book was a terrifying, visceral, horrific, brutal nightmare. Made even scarier for me, as I live in an isolated rural area, in England, such as the one, in which this horror story takes place.

I’m not going to tell you what the story is about, as you can read that in the synopsis, though for me, I like to be surprised, and man, was I. This is an intelligently written story which draws you completely in. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck, and I had to double check that my windows and doors were bolted, which I’ve never had to do, in the ten years I’ve lived here. This is a truly unsettling story, because there are psychopaths like LD out there. Gemma is a genius for cranking up the terror-o-meter, and I literally cannot wait to read more from her. For me, this has got to be my favourite horror book so far…and I’ve read a lot! From the first page until the last, I was totally involved, living each nightmarish moment with Amandine and Connor.

Thanks to Gemma Amor, Datura Books, and NetGalley, for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.

5 ⭐️

Available: 10th February 2026

[Gareth Is Haunted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma Amor is fast becoming a must read author of late.
This novel continues this trend and amps up the fear and gore factor.
The story follows a couple who are going on their first date. Unfortunately the date doesn't go to plan. Actually that's an understatement, it turns out to be the worst date in living history.
This novel does an amazing job of inter-weaving many modern day issues into such a taut and unsettling narrative. Things such as online blog, self help influencers, online dating and many issues that both help and hinder us in our modern lives.

My god, im glad im single.

Huge props to Gemma Amor, I can't wait to read her next story!

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to enjoy this one

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTh9JQd6E/

[Chelsea Sherridan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amandine has decided that it’s time to end her years of loneliness and have a go at some real dating. Herself and Connor, another lonely singleton, have been texting for a few weeks and finally decide to meet up for a romantic date night. Their date seems to be heading in the right direction, but little do they know there is a serial killer who targets happy couples eyeing them up across the restaurant. Could this be the date that changes their lives forever?

What an absolute sucker punch of a story this was. Gemma Amor has brilliantly crafted both a charismatic and witty tale, alongside a blood filled commentary of online dating, incel culture, and codependency. This book so easily draws in its reader with its honest writing when it displays the very relatable experiences of the modern realms of dating and the lived experiences of women. Despite this book being a complete blood bath and gore filled bonanza, it was easy to digest with its fast paced story telling. I almost felt like the inner monologues of Amandine read in a very Bridget Jones-esque manner - you know, if Bridget Jones was staring in the Valentine’s slasher Heart Eyes. I love when a writer is able to take a genre that’s purposefully bleak but still manages to use humour in a way that is as effective as this.

I was unable to put this book down despite being distressed on my journey through. I felt myself wanting to scream at these characters for so many different reasons, be it their actual personality or their way of navigating this horror. I really enjoyed how this book was able to elicit this reaction from me because it only made it all feel so much more human, I’ve always been a fan of a terribly flawed character because it makes it feel that much more real and relatable. These characters were not likeable, and that is what made this story what it is. Amor explores the toxicity of the human experience and the codependency that comes in many fraught relationships, it was an interesting dive into this social commentary and was beautifully backdropped with some real bloody violence.

I can’t talk about this book without praising the eerily atmospheric setting that Amor was able to display to us. Of course our serial killer was as ghastly and as awful as they come, but the setting around this nightmare is really what helps to set your teeth on edge. The way the elements are used within the story to add an extra bit of horror was a personal highlight for me, I think Amor is master of this dread filled craft. This book was just as frostbitten, damp, and isolated as the broads it was set amongst.

First Date publishes on the 10th of February, and if like me you are in need of a little horror for your valentines, then this might be the perfect way to spend it. Roses are red, violets are blue, a strange man in a restaurant may just be out to get you.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

2 for 2 for DNF for datura damnnn I usually love their books. Couldn’t get past the first few chapters. Just disgusting. 🫣 2 for 2 for this author too 🫠

[Teresa Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Date
Gemma Amor
02/10/2026
Datura

First Date by Gemma Amor begins with what should be a romantic evening and quickly descends into something far more sinister. Amandine and Conner meet for an intimate dinner, two lonely people navigating first date nerves, only to be hunted by a serial killer who targets happy couples. What follows is graphic, relentless survival horror told through multiple perspectives, including both victim and predator, which makes the tension feel inescapable. First date anxiety is pushed to an extreme as the story moves into brutal captivity and desperate attempts to survive, with vivid scenes that are deeply uncomfortable in exactly the way this book intends. The psychological strain never lets up, and Amandine’s neurodivergent experience and profound loneliness add an emotional depth that makes the terror feel personal rather than sensational.

You should read this if you want horror that commits fully to its darkness and is not interested in softening the blow. I am not one to ever need trigger warnings, but this is heavy and at times bleak, and that intensity is exactly what makes it work. The fear here is character driven, rooted in trauma, vulnerability, and the terrifying randomness of violence, which makes every moment feel raw and immediate. For anyone who rolls their eyes at Valentine’s Day romance, this feels like the ultimate antidote, twisting the idea of love and connection into something sharp and unsettling. It is brutal, immersive, and emotionally charged, perfect for readers who want their horror to challenge them, disturb them, and keep their pulse racing.

[Kamiye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/3.5

Well...That was dark and gory. Which I usually don't mind, but this book honestly disturbed me. The writing is on point (Gemma Amor for the win!) BUT I had trouble with the plot/story.

I had doubts when I started the book; I'm not a fan of the first pages.

The characters, well...
Lone Diner, the psycho killer, does the job.
Amandine pissed me off until 75% of the book, and then she pissed me off again at the end.
Connor was decent until I honestly thought dying would do him good.

I considered not finishing the book, but I got invested once the couple got kidnapped. The date "prep" description was a bit much for me and got me a bit meh. I don't know. I have an aftertaste after reading this book. This is my second book by Gemma Amor and I love her writing but this one didn't really do it for me. It's still a great read if you enjoy the genre.

Pick it up if you like:
- Date gone wrong
- Gory / horror / suspense (this is quite a graphic book, be warned)
- Cold ( why is it so cold while reading this book?)

Thank you to Datura | Datura Books via Netgalley for the eARC. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite but it was still interesting. This is told from three POVs, the couple and the killer. The couple were sweet and easy to root for, which made the contrast with the killer even more unsettling. His chapters were hard to get through at times because he was so vile. Literally the definition of an incel. He was pathetic, yet also very dangerous.

Despite being 400 pages, the super short chapters made this a fast read. It was genuinely harrowing in parts and while there is a conclusion, I wanted to know what happened afterwards. Overall, this was a quick and entertaining read, even if it didn’t completely blow me away.

[Blaiz Ferrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After ITCH!, Gemma Amor is officially an auto-read for me—and First Date did not disappoint. I’m so excited (and slightly traumatized) that I got an early copy of this one!

Y’all… this was disgustingly gory, graphic, and unhinged in the best way. If you were thinking about getting back into dating, this book might just keep you single forever. 😅

What starts as a hopeful first date quickly turns into an absolute nightmare. The tension hits fast and never lets up. It’s brutal, intense, and had me flying through the pages to see who would make it out alive.
Gemma’s writing is always so sharp and addictive. She knows exactly how to make you uncomfortable, keep your heart racing, and leave you wanting more.
The survival element, the desperation, the chaos—I ate this up.
If you love fast-paced horror, high tension, and aren’t afraid of the gore, you need this one.

Amandine finally takes a chance on dating and meets Connor, another lonely heart. But their first date turns deadly when they’re targeted by a killer who hunts happy couples. Now they’ll have to work together to survive the night… if they can.

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Date definitely gives you the desire to stay single, forever. There are some very odd people around, and you just have to hope you never cross paths with them.
Amandine has never been particularly successful with dating. After months of texting Connor, she decides to go on a date with him. And so starts perhaps the most awful experience of her life.
The date itself is a little awkward. But when they leave the pub, discover their phones are dead and they can’t call a cab things suddenly get very bad. What they didn’t realise was the lone diner near them in the pub is a very dangerous man who has plans for them.
Even though they hardly know each other, their chances of survival mean they have to depend on one another.
We never find out why he does this. The characters are not particularly likeable, and I can’t believe the police would not have tried a little harder to work out what had happened in these circumstances.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay so this one was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

it’s fast, tense, and definitely unsettling. the horror feels very grounded in real-life issues, which honestly makes it hit harder. there were moments where I was fully locked in and flipping pages because I needed to know what was about to happen.

but… it’s told in third person with three different POVs, and I personally struggle with that style. I’m a dual first-person girl through and through, so it made it harder for me to fully connect. the story had potential and I can see what it was going for, it just didn’t completely click for me.

if you like multi-POV horror with social commentary and a suspenseful vibe, this might work better for you than it did for me.

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for the arc opportunity 🖤📚

[LeAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a love story - it’s a self-love story. It’s a story of survival. It’s a story of nuance. It’s a story of being vulnerable enough to put yourself first.

The best word I can think of to describe this book is tense. It’s a literal live wire, shorting and sparking and flying around in your face. It’s impossible to not get singed.

The story follows Amandine and Connor - two honest depictions of modern dating, in all of its awkward and tiring glory. It also follows Lone Diner - a disturbing voyeur on Amandine & Connor’s first date.

What follows is upsetting, gory, hide-your-eyes nerve-racking. Author Gemma Amor’s writing is visceral, fast-paced, and in the moment, you as a reader feel just as trapped and overwhelmed as the couple the story is centered on.

This may not be a love story but for horror fans, this is the type of Valentine we were waiting on.

Triggers abound - happy to provide more info if you’re curious.

This book is out on shelves on Tuesday, February 10th! My thanks to NetGalley & Datura Books for this early ARC!

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Date by Gemma Amor is a horror novel filled with graphic and disturbing moments. The author does an excellent job vividly describing the gory scenes, making them feel intense and unsettling. However, the main characters make so many questionable decisions throughout the story that it often leaves you wanting to shake them. Despite that frustration, the book delivers effective horror and will appeal to readers who enjoy dark, visceral storytelling.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. 3.5 stars ⭐️

[Ed Crocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons I love the horror genre is that it can provoke emotions for a great book that in any other genre would signify a terrible one. A horror novel can be an "ordeal". That at times was "deeply stressful". And "hard work to get through". And yet you can rate it five stars and think about it a lot afterwards and recommend it to everyone as a must read. Enter Gemma Amor with First Date, which made me feel all of those emotions. Amor’s books are never easy reads. From her early work Dear Laura, a gruelling tale of a life ruined by a childhood trauma, to her most recent Itch, a slow-burn deeply disturbing folk–body horror, her books require you to carve through a grim cadaver to get to their beating heart of hope and resistance. But this… this tale of a first date gone horrifically wrong was something else; its fast pace intensifying the usual uncompromising Amor experience. It won’t be for everyone, just as skydiving isn’t as popular as Park Run. But I couldn’t look away, and the core message, of being real, for once in all our lives just being real to someone at any cost; that is worth feeling a little messed up by a book.

The set-up of First Date is simple. Thirty-somethings and lonely hearts Amandine and Connor have a first date at a restaurant in the Norfolk Broads, which, for any non-Brits unfamiliar with the very east of England is a beautiful expanse of waterways and wetlands, two descriptive terms that will quickly become very relevant in less beautiful ways. They’ve both been hurt by terrible dating experiences, making this a risky meeting. Unfortunately there’s also a killer in town, and soon they’ll have other things to worry about than conversation topics and wine selections, specifically escape from a fate that will supercharge their relationship in ways they probably didn’t want.

This, for me, was a book of two halves, both halves appallingly, compellingly stressful to read but for very different reasons. The first cause for stress is Amor’s phenomenally accurate take on how modern dating creates self-hating monsters of us all. We get POVs from both Amandine and Connor, and while their key issues are later revealed to be the product of their past, Amor still has a lot to say about the toxic dating dynamic.

Connor’s POV is particularly accurate; a man broken from previous dates whose solution to this is to torture himself waiting for text replies and build up the woman he’s never met in his head as this perfect specimen. I think this is the first male POV I’ve read from Amor in the four previous books I’ve read of hers, and it’s supernaturally accurate, as sympathetic as it is pathetic and toxic. Amandine’s POV, ultimately the book’s focus, continues a recurring motif of Amor’s: the female experience of trauma amidst a backdrop of men refusing to listen. Then there’s the unimaginably grim serial killer POV lurking in the background. Everything about this first half, whether in terms of body fluids or (vastly inappropriate) use of severed limbs or simply awkward dating reality, is inhumanly gross, an addictively unpleasant read.

The restaurant scene itself is a candidate for the best scene you’ll read in horror this year. The awkwardness as the two proto-lovers stumble to communicate, misreading each other masterfully, is written with atomic precision—and then suddenly the rug is pulled from the reader when one character attempts something my cynical dating-jaded self suspects could never happen: they take a risk and tell the other who they really are, warts and all. It’s a dialogue exchange as raw as it is unexpected, and caps a perfect scene. There’s another world in which this book is a pure romance, albeit in the realist mode, and part of me desperately wants to see what Amor would do with the rest of that book.

But, horror fans will be relieved to hear, First Date is not that tale, and the second half is a race for survival, unending in the tortures it inflicts on the characters. Its use of the elements of the Norfolk Broads reflect a continuation of Amor’s obsession with the dark flipside of Britain’s beautiful (until its not) landscape. It continues, albeit in much more explicit ways than the restaurant scene, to examine the theme of how to expose your true self to another person while somehow maintaining a connection with them, and whether it’s even possible. It’s also a story of trauma and the courage to survive. And it’s phenomenally hard to read, in the best spirit of you’re-in-this-one-way-or-another-don’t you-dare-stop-reading-horror. I think we need a new term for this; it’s a page-turner, but there’s a cost to turning those pages. A page burner? I’ll get back to you on that.

Overall, with First Date Amor has written the definitive (anti)dating tale about what it takes for someone to actually be real to another person and be accepted for it, and strapped it to a grim conveyor belt of survival horror that I couldn’t stop reading even as I died inside. Hard, necessary, addictive, slap-to-the-face horror.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com

WTAF did I just read? So, this book is categorised on the back cover as ‘crime/domestic suspense’. Well, yes. But it’s so much more than that. I would say it verges on horror, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, as I think Amor is best known for her horror fiction. I actually don’t know what I expected from this book. I mean, it says it’s ‘not a love story’ on the cover, that’s the tagline. Great. I’m really not a fan of romance in my crime fiction but blimey…! I don’t think I was expecting THAT!!

First Date is a gritty, unnerving, edgy novel. An intense battle for survival against a psychotic killer. There’s no prettying the situation up here. No blurring of the horrific edges. It’s a brutal nightmare, come terrifyingly true.

Amandine has never been lucky in love. In fact, she’s never really been in love. She doesn’t feel she ‘fits in’ as other people do. So when she gets talking online to Connor, the chemistry they share is impossible to ignore. Even if Connor is perhaps a little more into Amandine than Amandine is into Connor. The couple arrange to meet. But before the date, Amandine has an attack of the first date nerves. Her gut tells her to back out. She should have probably listened to her gut. Meeting at a secluded pub, deemed to be the most romantic pub in the Norfolk Broads, their date gets off to a nervous, uncomfortable start. In the dining room there is only one other diner. Otherwise, the place is empty (bar the three staff). During the meal, Amandine starts to feel uneasy about the lone diner. And so she should. Lone Diner is a deeply troubled individual who takes great pleasure in ending the loved-up happiness of couples in the most terrifying, humiliating way possible. And now he has his sights set on Amandine and Connor. As first dates go, this is probably going to be the worst one either of them has ever had…

Blimey! What a highly readable, stress-inducing book First Date is. You think it can’t get any worse for Amandine and Connor, but it does. Time and time again. Amandine, with her spidey-senses, has Lone Diner almost worked out from the first time their eyes meet in the pub. He gives her the heebie-jeebies; he’s antagonistic, but only Amandine can see just how unpleasant, how utterly vile he is. Connor can’t work out why his date (a date he’s built up in his mind to epic proportions!) is so distracted and dismisses Lone Diner as some lonely, harmless creep. By this point, the reader has already been completely repulsed by Lone Diner’s actions. We’re 100% on Amandine’s side. We know that what the couple are dealing with is a lot more dangerous than Connor anticipates. This really isn’t going to end well.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. First Date is packed to the brim with relentless, palpable tension. This is a book that will get under your skin. It’s psychological horror written by an author who really knows what she’s doing. I cannot wait to read more by Gemma Amor. Amandine and Connor are both beautifully flawed. Unapologetically so, and I loved their authenticity. Connor frustrated me on multiple occasions by being blind to Amandine’s concerns. If only he had listened and acted differently! Lone Diner is beyond vile. He physically made my skin crawl. Ugh! Brilliantly written though. All in all, First Date is a consuming, uncomfortable, unsettling read, perfect for fans of survival horror or ramped up, darker than average domestic suspense. Not one for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure. Engrossing, nerve-racking, tension-laden, and pretty darn brutal! Wow. Recommended.

[michelle ࣪ ִֶָ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to rate this so low, because I absolutely love everything else I've read by Gemma Amor. ITCH was one of my favorite reads this month, which was why I was so excited going into this one, and maybe why I'm so disappointed that it didn't work for me.

The writing itself was still well done. Gemma can build tension so well, and paint a gross picture beautifully. Dark and way more gruesome than I was expecting. Some parts did kind of feel like maybe they were overly vulgar just for the sake of it, which I didn't love, but it wasn't a huge issue overall for me. It wasn't extreme enough to bother me, and I think those parts of it will be a selling factor for some.

It really dragged in the first half, but I expected that things would pick up once the date began and they crossed paths with the antagonist finally. But it didn't, not really. It was /less/ slowly paced, but still, I think this book could have been so much shorter than it was and would have maybe worked better as a novella.

I don't mind multi POV in books, but I find them difficult to get through when only one of the POV's is enjoyable, like in this case. After finishing, I still can't tell if I was meant to like Connor or not. (I didn't.) Both of them were flawed characters, but I did like Amandine despite this. I kind of wish the book had just been her solo narration instead.

Okay, mild spoilers ahead now.

This is just personal preference, but I didn't find the Lone Diner's POV necessary. Some of his chapters towards the start were fine, and not hard to get through, but it got to a point where they were. There's a chapter at the end where Amandine talks about how she doesn't want to go to the police, because she doesn't want him getting the attention he wanted, and didn't want him getting his story told, or people trying to understand him or feel for him. And while there's a lot we never learn about him, lending to that point, I think it could have been driven home better if we hadn't had to sit through his gross narrations at all. It also just didn't offer much. He wasn't that nuanced or interesting, he hated women and got off on torture, we could have guessed that. We could have easily found things out about him through Amandine's POV instead. But again, perhaps this is just my own preference.

I also am not sure if I was meant to care about her and Connor as a couple or not at the end. (Again, I did not.) I was shocked they got together after all that, not shocked it didn't work, and then shocked again at the hint that maybe they would after all. But that's just a nitpicky thing, not a huge complaint.

Overall, I wanted to like this, but it wasn't for me, unfortunately. I'll absolutely still read anything new from this author, because like I said, I've loved their other work. This was just an outlier.

Thank you to NetGalley and Datura for the ARC.

[Candi Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I love about Gemma Amor: she does not give a f@#! as evidenced by the opening paragraphs of First Date.
In as many words as I’m taking for this review, she subverts sex, beautiful sunsets over the water, and even good old-fashioned run of the mill serial killing. But she does it using language (for the most part) that lulls you into believing you’re reading classical literature. Don’t fall for it! She’s here to take us on a delightfully disturbing ride.
Cut to: PoVs of a couple about to go on a First Date: Amandine and Connor, and we are looking at both of them through their own as well as each other’s eyes as they get to know each other through text messaging then make the leap to a date IRL (in real life), the first for both of them in a long time (or ever!)
Of course, their date was doomed from the start; even if they hadn’t brought their own baggage, they soon find themselves at the mercy of a sadistic kidnapper and in a fight for survival.
First Date is a novel about trauma - the ingrained trauma from childhoods with abusive or absent parents, the trauma of being different, of loneliness, of the need for connection with another human - in the trappings of a survival horror, in Amor’s hands, an anxiety-inducing thrill ride of its own.
Besides writing a legitimately thrilling survival horror, in First Date, Gemma Amor creates three distinct characters and puts us in their shoes, and even though it’s going to disturb us to varying degrees, she makes us feel what they feel, to the point of making us question all their motives at any given time, which just serves to increase the tension and have me turn the pages even faster to get to the conclusion - well worth the ride.
Randomlings
* Nice Watchmen reference
* Where would modern horror be if people didn’t keep their phones at nearly 0% battery for some reason?
* The most stressful part of an overall tense novel is when Connor dismisses Amandine’s “women’s intuition” about the villain.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE never go on a First Date like this....

First Date is one of those books where you keep muttering “oh, this is unhinged” under your breath as you flip the pages. And somehow (and worst of all at times) each chapter ups the ante. Readers Beware The Lone Diner! Absolutely terrifying. His chapters are some of the creepiest I’ve read in a while, getting inside that warped, predatory mindset made my skin crawl. It was stomach turning, terrifying, and disgusting (but I loved it)! The way he watches, stalks, fixates… it’s deeply unsettling, and the brutality he inflicts on his victims turns the tension into something razor‑sharp. What I love is how the book lets you sit in that horror from multiple angles, giving the predator’s perspective in a way that feels like you’ve walked into a room you weren’t supposed to enter.

Then you get our main characters, Amandine & Connor. And honestly? Both main characters are quirky, different, and make for great reading. That’s part of what makes the whole thing so compulsively readable. Amandine is a strange little chaos cloud: neurodivergent, isolated, and full of questionable decisions, even before the nightmare begins. Connor, meanwhile, feels like he’s one bad day away from becoming a problem himself. But the beauty is that these traits don’t detract from the experience; they heighten it. These two messy people stumbling through terror together works. And that ending? Completely wild. Equal parts shocking and darkly humorous, the kind of finale that leaves you blinking at the page like, “Wait… did we really just go there?” It’s unhinged, it’s grisly, it’s weirdly funny, and I had an absolute blast!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Date is a brutal, atmospheric ride that takes the most ordinary of modern experiences—a slightly awkward dinner with a stranger—and twists it into something terrifying. Gemma Amor has a real talent for blending raw emotion with razor‑sharp suspense, and this story showcases that beautifully.

Amandine and Connor are such compelling misfits. Both lonely, both a little bruised by life, both hoping this date might finally be the start of something good. Their early interactions feel tender and real, which makes the sudden shift into horror all the more jarring. When they’re kidnapped and dragged into the wilds of the Norfolk Broads, the book becomes a tense, claustrophobic fight for survival.

What really elevates the story is how much heart Amor weaves into the gore and terror. The killer’s obsession with “happy couples” is chilling, but it’s Amandine and Connor’s uneasy, reluctant partnership that keeps you turning pages. Watching them learn to trust each other under the worst possible circumstances adds emotional weight to every frantic moment.

The setting is wonderfully eerie—isolated, damp, and full of the kind of natural darkness that makes you feel watched even when you’re alone. The pacing is tight, the violence is vivid without feeling gratuitous, and the final question—whether these two strangers can ever truly escape what happened to them—lingers long after the last chapter.

A tense, gory, and unexpectedly moving thriller that fans of character‑driven horror will devour.

With thanks to Gemma Amor, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Catharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic. Gruesome. Gripping.

“First Date” really should have been shelved under Horror as well as Mystery & Thriller. I wouldn’t have touched it had it been—and that would have been a mistake. An entirely self-protective, sensible mistake, but a mistake nonetheless.

I got no enjoyment whatsoever from reading most of this book, but damned if I could stop. This is the literary equivalent of watching something through your fingers while whispering oh no every few pages.

Gemma Amor has an unpleasantly effective gift for putting the reader exactly where they don’t want to be: in the Broads, on the jetty, in the car, steeped in that sour, creeping smell of wrong. Her descriptions are visceral to the point of rudeness—graphic, relentless, and absolutely not interested in your comfort. My stomach turned more than once, and not metaphorically.

I am not a Horror reader, and nothing here has converted me. What it has done is make it abundantly clear that Gemma Amor knows precisely what she’s doing. This is horror wielded with confidence and control, and that’s arguably worse.

Deeply unpleasant, ruthlessly effective, and proof that Gemma Amor knows exactly how to ruin your evening.

My thanks to NetGalley and Datura for the DRC of “First Date” by Gemma Amor.
“First Date” is due to be published and available on Amazon 10 February 2026.

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

and Connor. Two lonely hearts that meet up on a first date. A quiet pub restaurant where they slowly get to know each other. It’s going well - apart from a disturbingly odd lone diner sitting near them. His behaviour is making Amandine feel uncomfortable; there’s something very strange and unsettling about him. Thankfully the weirdo soon gets kicked out, and Amandine and Connor’s romantic rendezvous can recommence. But their happiness will be short lived as this is going to be a first date like no other…

What a book! First Date is dark, deadly and also absolutely bloody brilliant! It’s instantly captivating as the author starts to reveal the characters of Amandine and Connor; their history, their idiosyncrasies, oh and their first date nerves... These are two pretty average people, looking for love and instead what they get is an evening which will tie them together (literally and metaphorically) and have them fighting for survival.

It was brilliant! I know I’ve already said that but I need to reiterate. 😂 I simply could not put this one down, but nor did I want it to end.

Gemma Amor truly is a force to be reckoned with. If you want a fast paced thriller that will keep you right on the edge of your seat (and that will make you deeply suspicious of anyone eating alone in a restaurant in the future) well look no further. You can thank me when you’re done.

Bon appétit! 😋

[Missy (myweereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What's the worst thing that could happen in fifteen minutes?"

Gemma Amor's novel is about Amandine. After years of loneliness she takes a leap of faith and enters the dating pool. After many disappointments, it seems her luck has changed when she meets Connor, another lonely heart. What begins as a dinner date ends in a night they will never forget. A serial killer has them pinned as his target. He has a thing for happy couples and wants to act upon his depraved desires. This becomes a race for survival for Amandine and Connor, the biggest question is will they survive if they are able to escape?

This is a fast paced thriller that did have me repulsed at the serial killer's antics and motives. The main couple in this story share more than they realise, their pasts are relatable including the struggles they are trying to face and move forward from.

The author does great work in presenting the darker parts of the characters backstories. The atmosphere of dread is forever present, it's like the reader is waiting for it to get worse and worse which is truly does.

Overall this was a fast paced horror thriller that would appeal to many readers.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @daturabooks for the copy.

[Rachel M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world of modern dating is a very strange place. You never actually know who you’re talking to. We can alter our pictures, we can say everything we think the other person wants to hear, we can get along perfectly on the other end of a device. But when it comes to actually meeting, in person, it could become a whole different experience. Amandine & Connor have been chatting for a while, but both decide to take the plunge and go on that 1st date. Both are worried the other may not be what they seem or end up being a disappointment like all their previous partners or potential partners. However the date seems to go well, with the exception of one “lone diner”. He gives off bad vibes from the moment they enter the restaurant, he’s rude, he stares, he smells, he watches inappropriate things on his phone. He ends up being asked to leave the restaurant, leaving the happy couple to carry on with their 1st date. Their date has come to an end, but they don’t want their night to end so plan to go home together and carry on their evening. Here’s where things take a dark turn, the date does carry on………… but not how Amandine and Connor want it to! It ends up a fight for survival, and they sure do put up a fight! The question is will it be enough of a fight?

[Eloise Mohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, this book is a lot more graphic than I initially anticipated. Once I got over the initial disgust and accepted that, the story was extremely captivating.

Amandine and Connor decide that after months of texting, its time to meet face to face on a proper date. However, the date seems to be observed by a lone man who sets off a lot of alarm bells for Amandine. The night progresses and things take a turn for the worst, the date becomes a fight for their lives.

This books is disturbed and twisted, and definitely not for the faint hearted. I didn't particularly like any character in this book; the lone diner was obviously repulsive, but I found both Amandine and Connor equally frustrating at times. Although there were times I could sympathise with them and understand their thought processes.
The pace of First Date increases dramatically the further in you get, and I ended up binging the last 150 pages. The chapter become short and snappy, and the tensions rise quickly.

I have mixed opinions on the ending, it became a little too out of touch from reality for me.
Overall,  this wasn't what I expected, but it was an interesting read, for sure

[Megan Magee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amandine and Connor start this book out going on their first date together- and let me just tell you, neither of these people are ever particularly likeable. When they find themselves at one of their town's most top-rated couples restaurants, they're extremely put off by a leering weirdo watching pornography in public. That is the total vibe through and through this one, and I think I'd have personally enjoyed it more if it were marketed as more extreme horror/ slasher fiction? It didn't hit for me as a "thriller" because the descriptions were horrific and the prose was undoubtedly VERY crass like covering all 3 characters really? I'm all for that, but it certainly felt jarring in what I expected to read as a thriller. Either way, buckle up and view this as a super demented February/ Valentine's read like I did and you'll probably have a jolly time! This is unhinged in the highest order of depravity in the best way. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Gemma Amor, and Datura Books for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Norrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I enjoyed this would be bloody weird, considering the story we are dealing with here. My toes curled in disgust and I shuddered at the savagery. All good signs of a great horror story.

We join Amandine and Connor on their first date where they get to know each other better after weeks of texting, flirt a bit, open up about their self confessed weirdness. All very cute, until they get kidnapped at the end and find themselves in a car with a deranged man.

Things go from bad to worse, and suddenly we are dealing with blood and guts, frostbites and imminent death. Gemma Amor doesn’t spare the graphic details, the gore and the descriptions of the sub zero temperatures made me want to grab an extra blankie. We also get an intimate experience of being in these two people’s inner thoughts, the desperation, frustration and darkness within.

This is not a love story. Be prepared. Coming out on 10th February, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

I received the book from the publisher via Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

[RavenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book. And I mean single sitting, fork and knife, couldn’t put it down devoured. If you liked the idea behind the movie Heart Eyes, do yourself a favor and read this instead, because Gemma Amor executes this concept far better in every possible way.

As always, Amor’s pacing is razor sharp. From the first chapter, she has you hooked, flipping pages faster and faster, desperate to see where things are headed. Who are these flawed people? The tension never lets up, and every reveal lands with purpose.

What really elevates First Date, though, is the psychological depth. The character work and emotional manipulation on display here is a master class in how to blend horror with psychological thriller. It’s unsettling, smart, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way.

This is Gemma Amor at the top of her game with intense, compulsively readable, and proof that she knows exactly how to get under your skin and stay there.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gemma Amor, and Datura Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[VDKeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’ALL! First Date starts with rom-com jitters and then absolutely chooses violence. 😬🔪🍷 And wow, does it commit.

Amandine is lonely, over it, and finally brave enough to try again. Connor is awkward-sweet and quietly hopeful. Their dinner date crackles with nerves and please-let-this-work energy—until they realize they’re being watched by a killer who targets happy couples. What a way to start a first date.

Gemma Amor’s writing is tight, tense, and drenched in atmosphere—you can taste the wine, feel the sweat, and hear every ominous sound in the dark. Watching Amandine and Connor decide whether to trust each other feels like trying to outrun a tornado with someone you just met at Applebee’s. 🌪️

Uncomfortable, sharp, and oddly intimate—like biting into potato salad at a church picnic and realizing it’s spicy. Unexpected, messy, and it lingers. 😏📚

Thanks to Datura Books for this advance copy of this book via #NetGalley #FirstDate #NewRelease #PsychologicalThriller #SerialThrillerKiller

[Gerika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's the story of two people going on a first date (Amandine and Connor) and it goes basically horribly wrong. I felt the author was very creative with the characters... Amandine, Connor, and the killer...and it was unique that the author had a killer's point of view, because that was rare in a book. The characters were well thought of--they had their own backstories, fears, values, and why they are what they are and throughout the book, especially at the beginning (or as it progresses) it sets you up for the climax or the second part of the novel. It's a good book when we are really either rooting for the characters, annoyed, and/or just repulsed by the actions or one or more of the characters.

The plot was what made me want to read the ARC and it did not underdeliver. It kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to keep reading. The book has some dark and graphic scenes, so be warned, but I like that in as a thriller/horror fan. I would really recommend this book as a read if you're looking for a good thriller.

[CY Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s difficult to put into words about how it feels to go through this book. But i will try. First Date is not what it seems, as it says on the cover, this is not a love story. The first 2 chapters of the book were so descriptive in ways i have never ever read in other books, that made my face cringe and scrunch up in pure disgust; Gemma Amor’s writing is phenomenal in a sense that it completely painted the scene in my head, i could see and smell what she wrote. The plot was completely terrifying and it scared me a little because it is not far from what can actually happen/have happened to some people. 4.75 stars for the book which i devoured really quickly. The post incident chapters were a little slow to me, because it took Amandine and Conner a year to set things right, felt like an after-thought. Nonetheless, a phenomenally-terrifying book! (Ironic that i finished this book on Valentine’s Day 🫠)

Thank you for Netgalley for the ARC!