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The Girlfriend
Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but she hasn't had the same opportunities as Daniel. And she wants Laura's life.
Cherry comes to the family wide-eyed and wants to be welcomed with open arms, but Laura suspects she's not all that she seems.
When tragedy strikes, an unforgiveable lie is told. It is an act of desperation, but the fall-out will change their lives forever.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2017
3443 people are currently reading
31307 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Frances
13 books766 followersMichelle's books have been published in 21 countries and have sold three quarters of a million copies worldwide. She is a USA Today bestseller and has charted at No. 1 on both Amazon Kindle and Apple UK.
Her first novel, The Girlfriend, became an international best seller. She is also the author of The Playground, The Boyfriend, Sisters, The Daughter and The Temp.
Find out more at http://michellefrancesbooks.com
Her first novel, The Girlfriend, became an international best seller. She is also the author of The Playground, The Boyfriend, Sisters, The Daughter and The Temp.
Find out more at http://michellefrancesbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,615 reviews
August 25, 2017
This review is featured on my Mini Review Monday segment:
I think this would be better suited as a domestic drama than being pushed as a thriller of any variety. I know that psychological thrillers are hot right now and the title sells books, but readers like me who go in with certain expectations will only feel lukewarm about this story. While it wasn't a bad read by any means, I'm afraid it wasn't great or anything I haven't read before. There were cliches abundant in this story and the pacing moves slowly and thoroughly with many unlikable characters that I felt hard to sympathize with. I will say that the story did manage to keep my attention and cause me to want to finish reading, so it wasn't a lack of interest here that was an issue. I think those readers looking for a slow burning family saga that leans more on the drama than the emotions will enjoy this novel. I'd like to add that both the US and the UK covers are gorgeous, intriguing, and draw the eye nicely. Recommended to those who maybe are new to the genre and enjoy their suspense fiction with more focus on the characterization than the plot progression.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
I think this would be better suited as a domestic drama than being pushed as a thriller of any variety. I know that psychological thrillers are hot right now and the title sells books, but readers like me who go in with certain expectations will only feel lukewarm about this story. While it wasn't a bad read by any means, I'm afraid it wasn't great or anything I haven't read before. There were cliches abundant in this story and the pacing moves slowly and thoroughly with many unlikable characters that I felt hard to sympathize with. I will say that the story did manage to keep my attention and cause me to want to finish reading, so it wasn't a lack of interest here that was an issue. I think those readers looking for a slow burning family saga that leans more on the drama than the emotions will enjoy this novel. I'd like to add that both the US and the UK covers are gorgeous, intriguing, and draw the eye nicely. Recommended to those who maybe are new to the genre and enjoy their suspense fiction with more focus on the characterization than the plot progression.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
July 21, 2019
4.25 slow burning stars🌟🌟🌟🌟.25
What do you get when the ultimate helicopter mom and the ultimate gold digger go head to head? You get a pretty spectacular book!
Laura is a true mama bear who cannot let go... her obsession with her only son borders on odd...Cherry grew up thinking she deserved so much more... and she will stop at nothing to get what she feels she deserves.... so who will be left standing at the end... the mom or the girlfriend?
The beginning of this book was a definite slow burn.... watching these two equally unlikable women manipulate each other and Daniel... was quite entertaining.... as a mother who has sons I tried to empathize with Laura.... but the woman just went WAY. TOO. fAR! I actually had more sympathy for Cherry during this book, there were times I truly felt she loved Daniel, maybe?
About halfway through, this book takes a crazy turn.... and the speed absolutely picks up.... I couldn’t wait to find out what woman did what next, it was crazy! Poor Daniel, he was basically screwed no matter what happened.... he should’ve locked them in a room and let them battle it out and then take off to Saint-Tropez....
This book is proof positive that you can like a book and not like the characters.... because even though Laura and Cherry were terribly unlikable they were extremely well developed.... by the end of this book I felt as though if I had run into either of these women walking down the street I would know who they were... then head quickly in the other direction!
Highly recommend! A crazy ride with a fresh approach and fabulously developed characters....
*** thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
What do you get when the ultimate helicopter mom and the ultimate gold digger go head to head? You get a pretty spectacular book!
Laura is a true mama bear who cannot let go... her obsession with her only son borders on odd...Cherry grew up thinking she deserved so much more... and she will stop at nothing to get what she feels she deserves.... so who will be left standing at the end... the mom or the girlfriend?
The beginning of this book was a definite slow burn.... watching these two equally unlikable women manipulate each other and Daniel... was quite entertaining.... as a mother who has sons I tried to empathize with Laura.... but the woman just went WAY. TOO. fAR! I actually had more sympathy for Cherry during this book, there were times I truly felt she loved Daniel, maybe?
About halfway through, this book takes a crazy turn.... and the speed absolutely picks up.... I couldn’t wait to find out what woman did what next, it was crazy! Poor Daniel, he was basically screwed no matter what happened.... he should’ve locked them in a room and let them battle it out and then take off to Saint-Tropez....
This book is proof positive that you can like a book and not like the characters.... because even though Laura and Cherry were terribly unlikable they were extremely well developed.... by the end of this book I felt as though if I had run into either of these women walking down the street I would know who they were... then head quickly in the other direction!
Highly recommend! A crazy ride with a fresh approach and fabulously developed characters....
*** thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
June 28, 2017
The Girlfriend was highly highly addictive. It's clever, unique, and fast paced!
What I liked about this psychological thriller is it's something that I haven't seen before. I feel like I've read quite a few thrillers over the last few months that have the SAME storyline. So, Michelle I commend you on creating an addictive and sassy thriller!
This little baby kept me on my TOES... like I'm talking almost falling off the edge anticipation to find out what happens between these two manipulative women.
We meet Daniel who is from a very wealthy family. Daniel meets Cherry who isn't exactly from his side of the tracks. Cherry has grown up poor and has strived to do better in life with more opportunities.
Daniel and Cherry fall in love quickly and things go well at the start. We meet Laura who almost (in my opinion) has a strange/dynamic relationship with her son Daniel... borderline obsessive type mother.
Laura... of course wants to LOVE her son's girlfriend and she starts to have a funny feeling that Cherry isn't who she appears to be.
Watch out my GR friends... here comes the TRAINWRECK of two women that are nasty, manipulative, and down right dirrrrrtyyyyyy. Who is going to survive?!!
I definitely recommend this! My only minor issue with this book was the ending. I felt that the author could have beefed up the ending just a little bit. I felt a tinsy winsy bit disappointed. BUT, overall this was a fantastic read!
I am looking forward to seeing what Michelle comes out with next.
4 stars!!
What I liked about this psychological thriller is it's something that I haven't seen before. I feel like I've read quite a few thrillers over the last few months that have the SAME storyline. So, Michelle I commend you on creating an addictive and sassy thriller!
This little baby kept me on my TOES... like I'm talking almost falling off the edge anticipation to find out what happens between these two manipulative women.
We meet Daniel who is from a very wealthy family. Daniel meets Cherry who isn't exactly from his side of the tracks. Cherry has grown up poor and has strived to do better in life with more opportunities.
Daniel and Cherry fall in love quickly and things go well at the start. We meet Laura who almost (in my opinion) has a strange/dynamic relationship with her son Daniel... borderline obsessive type mother.
Laura... of course wants to LOVE her son's girlfriend and she starts to have a funny feeling that Cherry isn't who she appears to be.
Watch out my GR friends... here comes the TRAINWRECK of two women that are nasty, manipulative, and down right dirrrrrtyyyyyy. Who is going to survive?!!
I definitely recommend this! My only minor issue with this book was the ending. I felt that the author could have beefed up the ending just a little bit. I felt a tinsy winsy bit disappointed. BUT, overall this was a fantastic read!
I am looking forward to seeing what Michelle comes out with next.
4 stars!!
February 22, 2018
3.5*
It all starts with one little white lie - it can’t hurt anyone. Come on! No one will ever know. The problem is, just like potato chips, can you stop at just one. And exactly how many lies are
needed to get what you really want!
When Cherry meets David, maybe one tiny lie slipped out. Just enough to gain his attention. Oh, and maybe one more just to hold that attention. When she meets David’s mother, well you see where this is going!
The heart wants...what the heart wants...
Laura loves her son David, more than anything in this world. She will do whatever it takes to protect him from everything and more importantly from anyone! If that means telling a small lie...well then...
I actually ended up having a love - hate relationship with this book. There were certain parts that I found too unbelievable and left me rolling my eyes. Yet I did find it engaging and my curiosity was kept piqued wanting to see how this was going to play out! I’m glad I stayed with it to the end as I came out on the positive side! Hope you do too!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Michelle Frances for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.
It all starts with one little white lie - it can’t hurt anyone. Come on! No one will ever know. The problem is, just like potato chips, can you stop at just one. And exactly how many lies are
needed to get what you really want!
When Cherry meets David, maybe one tiny lie slipped out. Just enough to gain his attention. Oh, and maybe one more just to hold that attention. When she meets David’s mother, well you see where this is going!
The heart wants...what the heart wants...
Laura loves her son David, more than anything in this world. She will do whatever it takes to protect him from everything and more importantly from anyone! If that means telling a small lie...well then...
I actually ended up having a love - hate relationship with this book. There were certain parts that I found too unbelievable and left me rolling my eyes. Yet I did find it engaging and my curiosity was kept piqued wanting to see how this was going to play out! I’m glad I stayed with it to the end as I came out on the positive side! Hope you do too!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Michelle Frances for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2018
Take one overbearing mother and add in a young woman on the prowl for a rich husband. That sets the stage for the beginning of The Girlfriend. Laura lives for her only son. Her husband has golf and his own affair, so she is basically alone and unloved. But I couldn’t understand her making her son her “sun”, her be all and end all, around which her whole world revolved. I mean, the son is 24 and starting his doctoral internship. I didn’t find her sympathetic at all. But neither was Cherry, the girlfriend. Growing up poor, she has vowed to find a rich husband. It almost doesn’t matter whom. I loved that I disliked both of these women so that as each tries to screw the other over, it’s just fun to watch.
The book has a slow burn and initially, the tension builds slowly. Then, you get a real twist half way through and the speed picks up. I felt like a pinball being ricocheted, as the deceit and lies pick up. And as it goes on, the book gets darker and more twisted. It’s a wild ride that never lets up. Highly recommend!
My thanks to netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this novel.
February 18, 2018
3 Stars.
Laura loves her life: she has an amazing relationship with her son Daniel and she has an uber successful job. In an instant it comes crashing down and Laura doesn’t see it coming. It happens because of a girl Daniel has become smitten with: Cherry. She is a gorgeous gal who works in real estate, who is from the wrong side of the tracks. Laura is positive that she is after Daniel’s money and Daniel doesn’t see it. Immediately thereafter cracks start to emerge in Laura and Daniel’s relationship and Cherry is pleased. Very pleased. Cherry wants Daniel all to herself you see and she will do whatever she has to do to get him, Laura be damned.
“The Girlfriend” by Michelle Frances is a slow burning psychological family thriller that unfortunately for me just didn’t quite take off. In addition, it left me wanting more as it felt fairly predictable. That said, the author however, did a stellar job at making both Laura and Cherry extremely well developed and manipulative, though quite unlikeable. I found “The Girlfriend” to be a quick easy read (I tore through it) and would recommend it to people looking for an slow burning family suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Michelle Frances for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 2.11.18.
Laura loves her life: she has an amazing relationship with her son Daniel and she has an uber successful job. In an instant it comes crashing down and Laura doesn’t see it coming. It happens because of a girl Daniel has become smitten with: Cherry. She is a gorgeous gal who works in real estate, who is from the wrong side of the tracks. Laura is positive that she is after Daniel’s money and Daniel doesn’t see it. Immediately thereafter cracks start to emerge in Laura and Daniel’s relationship and Cherry is pleased. Very pleased. Cherry wants Daniel all to herself you see and she will do whatever she has to do to get him, Laura be damned.
“The Girlfriend” by Michelle Frances is a slow burning psychological family thriller that unfortunately for me just didn’t quite take off. In addition, it left me wanting more as it felt fairly predictable. That said, the author however, did a stellar job at making both Laura and Cherry extremely well developed and manipulative, though quite unlikeable. I found “The Girlfriend” to be a quick easy read (I tore through it) and would recommend it to people looking for an slow burning family suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Michelle Frances for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 2.11.18.
March 11, 2018
4 inventive and suspenseful stars to The Girlfriend! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Michelle Frances told quite the original tale. Laura is a mother who feels like she has it all. Until one day, her son, Daniel, with whom she is over-involved, brings home Cherry, a girl who Laura firmly believes is all wrong for Daniel. As Laura and Daniel’s relationship grows apart, Cherry relishes having Daniel all to herself.
Both Laura and Cherry are unlikable characters and jealous over each other’s relationship with Daniel. This actually kept me fully immersed in the story, as I had to see who would be the victor in the competition to “win” Daniel. My stomach somersaulted. My breathing was tight in my chest. The suspense was that good.
Overall, Michelle Frances wrote a spot-on, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat, debut. I loved it!
Thank you to Michelle Frances, Kensington Publishing, and Edelweiss for the complimentary copy.
Michelle Frances told quite the original tale. Laura is a mother who feels like she has it all. Until one day, her son, Daniel, with whom she is over-involved, brings home Cherry, a girl who Laura firmly believes is all wrong for Daniel. As Laura and Daniel’s relationship grows apart, Cherry relishes having Daniel all to herself.
Both Laura and Cherry are unlikable characters and jealous over each other’s relationship with Daniel. This actually kept me fully immersed in the story, as I had to see who would be the victor in the competition to “win” Daniel. My stomach somersaulted. My breathing was tight in my chest. The suspense was that good.
Overall, Michelle Frances wrote a spot-on, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat, debut. I loved it!
Thank you to Michelle Frances, Kensington Publishing, and Edelweiss for the complimentary copy.
February 2, 2018
EXCERPT: "You're deluded. Just let go, let go of him." He looked at her with a new distance, as if he didn’t know her. "Stop making excuses for your obsessive behavior. You've driven him away- you- and you've only got yourself to blame. "
THE BLURB: A girl. A boy. His mother. And the lie she'll wish she'd never told.
The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a gripping and chilling debut psychological thriller, based on the fall-out following an unforgiveable lie. It looks at the potentially charged relationship between girlfriend, boyfriend and his mother, which most women can identify with, and locates it in an extreme but believable setting.
Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but she hasn't had the same opportunities as Daniel. And she wants Laura's life.
Cherry comes to the family wide-eyed and wants to be welcomed with open arms, but Laura suspects she's not all that she seems.
When tragedy strikes, an unforgiveable lie is told. It is an act of desperation, but the fall-out will change their lives forever.
MY THOUGHTS: The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a good, but not great read. It is a little slow in places, and I was not particularly enthusiastic about the ending. The level of suspense varies, and I found that some situations that ought to have been suspenseful just weren't. The opening chapter, a scene from later in the book, didn't work for me. I imagine it was designed to increase the reader's anticipation, but it did nothing to increase mine. This is one book where the story should have just started at the beginning and continued to slowly build up the tension until the final denouement.
But, having said that, the characters are well portrayed. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Laura and Izzie, Laura's best friend. The close bonds between the two women, friends of old, is well depicted. As were the scenes where Laura and Cherry first meet. Cherry's social awkwardness just oozed from the page, and while Laura is doing everything to make Cherry feel welcome, Cherry is almost searching for things to take offense at. And everything escalates from there, with Laura trying to be friends and Cherry pushing her away, both from herself and Laura's adored only son, until Laura catches Cherry out in a lie and decides that there is more (or perhaps less) to her son's girlfriend than meets the eye.
The basic storyline is good, and although The Girlfriend missed the mark with me, only just, I think that it is a good debut novel from new author Michelle Frances, and I will be a definite starter for her next book.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com page https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
THE BLURB: A girl. A boy. His mother. And the lie she'll wish she'd never told.
The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a gripping and chilling debut psychological thriller, based on the fall-out following an unforgiveable lie. It looks at the potentially charged relationship between girlfriend, boyfriend and his mother, which most women can identify with, and locates it in an extreme but believable setting.
Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but she hasn't had the same opportunities as Daniel. And she wants Laura's life.
Cherry comes to the family wide-eyed and wants to be welcomed with open arms, but Laura suspects she's not all that she seems.
When tragedy strikes, an unforgiveable lie is told. It is an act of desperation, but the fall-out will change their lives forever.
MY THOUGHTS: The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a good, but not great read. It is a little slow in places, and I was not particularly enthusiastic about the ending. The level of suspense varies, and I found that some situations that ought to have been suspenseful just weren't. The opening chapter, a scene from later in the book, didn't work for me. I imagine it was designed to increase the reader's anticipation, but it did nothing to increase mine. This is one book where the story should have just started at the beginning and continued to slowly build up the tension until the final denouement.
But, having said that, the characters are well portrayed. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Laura and Izzie, Laura's best friend. The close bonds between the two women, friends of old, is well depicted. As were the scenes where Laura and Cherry first meet. Cherry's social awkwardness just oozed from the page, and while Laura is doing everything to make Cherry feel welcome, Cherry is almost searching for things to take offense at. And everything escalates from there, with Laura trying to be friends and Cherry pushing her away, both from herself and Laura's adored only son, until Laura catches Cherry out in a lie and decides that there is more (or perhaps less) to her son's girlfriend than meets the eye.
The basic storyline is good, and although The Girlfriend missed the mark with me, only just, I think that it is a good debut novel from new author Michelle Frances, and I will be a definite starter for her next book.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com page https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 27, 2017
Addictive to the point that whilst on a two hour flight, I found myself wishing my flight was longer just so I could spend some more quality time with this gem.
I have mentioned before that I am very stingy with my 5 star ratings, only saving them for my absolute favourites and this one definitely fits into that category! When it grips you to the point that you can't help thinking about it and talking about it to all who will listen, then you know it's oh SO goooooooood!
I couldn't get enough of reading this masterpiece, yet at the same time I wanted to savour it, not wanting my entertainment to sadly come to an end. Oh, the dilemma! My curiosity would always get the better of me as I just had to find out how this would come to its conclusion.
Daniel is the ultimate catch - promising career as a doctor, wealthy upbringing yet still caring, considerate and down to earth.
Cherry is from the wrong side of the tracks and has made it her life's mission to right that misfortune, no matter what she has to do in order to get there .
When she meets Daniel, they quickly fall in love and Cherry's dreams are within reach. Until she meets Laura, Daniel's mom.
Laura has a very close ( almost too close) relationship with her son and she soon starts to question Cherry's motives for being with him.
And this my goodread friends is where we are enthralled with a highly captivating, explosive fireworks display with one jaw dropping bang after the next, as evidence of what happens when you put a protective mama bear up against someone whose got nothing to loose and everything to gain. It is here we witness the shocking lies, scheming and manipulation by both women that had me dying to know how this would play out.
Exciting, clever, fresh, chilling, disturbing, nail biting...I could go on and on.
Congratulations to Michelle Frances on this fantastic read. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of the same from this great author!
Needless to say this one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
I have mentioned before that I am very stingy with my 5 star ratings, only saving them for my absolute favourites and this one definitely fits into that category! When it grips you to the point that you can't help thinking about it and talking about it to all who will listen, then you know it's oh SO goooooooood!
I couldn't get enough of reading this masterpiece, yet at the same time I wanted to savour it, not wanting my entertainment to sadly come to an end. Oh, the dilemma! My curiosity would always get the better of me as I just had to find out how this would come to its conclusion.
Daniel is the ultimate catch - promising career as a doctor, wealthy upbringing yet still caring, considerate and down to earth.
Cherry is from the wrong side of the tracks and has made it her life's mission to right that misfortune, no matter what she has to do in order to get there .
When she meets Daniel, they quickly fall in love and Cherry's dreams are within reach. Until she meets Laura, Daniel's mom.
Laura has a very close ( almost too close) relationship with her son and she soon starts to question Cherry's motives for being with him.
And this my goodread friends is where we are enthralled with a highly captivating, explosive fireworks display with one jaw dropping bang after the next, as evidence of what happens when you put a protective mama bear up against someone whose got nothing to loose and everything to gain. It is here we witness the shocking lies, scheming and manipulation by both women that had me dying to know how this would play out.
Exciting, clever, fresh, chilling, disturbing, nail biting...I could go on and on.
Congratulations to Michelle Frances on this fantastic read. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of the same from this great author!
Needless to say this one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
October 28, 2017
Cherry has never known what it was like to have money coming from the poor side of town where her single mother worked for years in a supermarket with no hope of anything better. Cherry was determined that was not going to be how she spent her life and spent a few months making appointments for real estate showings only to learn the business and snag a job at a nice firm. In her new job she meets Daniel while showing him an apartment up for rent.
Daniel is from a very wealthy family and while he will never need for anything in his life with his trust fund on hand he has still gone to medical school and wants to become a doctor. When Daniel walked into the real estate office he never imagined meeting the woman of his dreams but as soon as he saw Cherry he knew he wanted to ask her out. Things move quickly between the pair and soon Daniel brings Cherry home to meet his parents.
Laura is Daniel's mother and she has spent her life making sure her son has the best of everything in the world. After suffering the loss of one child Laura vowed to always protect Daniel with everything she had and that he would never want for anything. When Laura first hears of Daniel's new love she's quite excited for the prospect of a daughter in law but things quickly seem to just not quite be right with Cherry putting Laura on edge.
The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is being sold as a psychological thriller but I'm almost hesitant to call it as such but possibly more of a suspenseful drama. Either way or what you choose to list it under this was easily one read that immediately hooked me in and didn't want to let go keeping the pages turning until the very end.
Laura and Cherry both have their flaws and make their mistakes along the way leaving them both characters that are easy to dislike at any point. On the flip side though each woman in Daniel's life had moments that I would also feel sorry for them and begin to root them on leaving me with a tug of war on how to even want this one to turn out. The manipulation and lies ooze from each page but underneath it all is a feeling that this story could very well really happen which made it all the more intense. In the end I'd definitely recommend picking up a copy of The Girlfriend and giving this one a read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Daniel is from a very wealthy family and while he will never need for anything in his life with his trust fund on hand he has still gone to medical school and wants to become a doctor. When Daniel walked into the real estate office he never imagined meeting the woman of his dreams but as soon as he saw Cherry he knew he wanted to ask her out. Things move quickly between the pair and soon Daniel brings Cherry home to meet his parents.
Laura is Daniel's mother and she has spent her life making sure her son has the best of everything in the world. After suffering the loss of one child Laura vowed to always protect Daniel with everything she had and that he would never want for anything. When Laura first hears of Daniel's new love she's quite excited for the prospect of a daughter in law but things quickly seem to just not quite be right with Cherry putting Laura on edge.
The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is being sold as a psychological thriller but I'm almost hesitant to call it as such but possibly more of a suspenseful drama. Either way or what you choose to list it under this was easily one read that immediately hooked me in and didn't want to let go keeping the pages turning until the very end.
Laura and Cherry both have their flaws and make their mistakes along the way leaving them both characters that are easy to dislike at any point. On the flip side though each woman in Daniel's life had moments that I would also feel sorry for them and begin to root them on leaving me with a tug of war on how to even want this one to turn out. The manipulation and lies ooze from each page but underneath it all is a feeling that this story could very well really happen which made it all the more intense. In the end I'd definitely recommend picking up a copy of The Girlfriend and giving this one a read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 6, 2017
5☆+ Review
I absolutely loved the girlfriend. It was fast paced, exciting, very clever, and a chilling in places.
Daniel is from a very wealthy family. He meets the charming Cherry in an Estate Agents whilst looking for a place to buy.
Cherry is from a poorer family in Croydon. She dreams of living the wealthy lifestyle and strives to achieve bigger things
Then along comes wealthy Daniel. They have instant chemistry and things between them move very quickly.
Laura is Daniels Mother. She is in a loveless marriage, she is very unhappy as her husband is having a long term affair with he's work, the golf course & he's mistress!
Laura lost a little girl. She then fell pregnant with Daniel and vowed she would protect him and never let him out of her sight. But in doing so she appears to smother Daniel and in turn pushes her husband away due to their unbreakable bond.
When Laura finds out about Cherry she is hurt at first but then seems excited as she could be like the daughter she lost.
Laura doesn't even entertain that they are from different walks of lives.
Cherry quickly makes it obvious to the reader she has a problem with it. She has taken a disliking to their strong bond and asserts her place by simple actions. As we all know actions can speak louder than words!
Laura decides to throw Cherry an olive branch and invites her to their home in South of France. Cherry has no chance in going so she lies to her boss saying her grandmother is sick.
As the days goes on you see Cherry more determined to spend as little time with Laura as possible. Putting Daniel in awkward positions. He clearly adores he's mother but he has a new women in he's life and Cherry is about to spray her mark.
The day comes for Cherry to leave... But she spins off another lie saying her boss has told her to use all her holidays.
Laura is increasingly suspisuspicious and decides to do some snooping. It's here she discovers an open return ticket.
Cherry had no intentions of returning.
Cherry comes home and realises her things have been touched, and so the sinister and clever mind games start to unfold.... All at Lauras expense.
Cherry is very clever, she's so determined to have the richer lifestyle she will stop at nothing.
She gleefully admits to the reader getting into debt to purchase a painting for Daniel, Only for her to destroy it and pin the blame on Laura.
She's calculating and extremely clever.
I felt sorry for Laura in the beginning as she was really trying with Cherry. She never seemed to let her background interfere with getting to know her.
Cherry on the other hand, scared me... She was manipulative, calculating, cold and had me scared!!
Daniel was the victim as all he did was fall in love. At times I wanted to shake him, tell him to open he's eyes and see what was happening. He was so blinded by lust and love.
I don't want to give anymore away as I feel I've set the scene fairly well.
I urge you to read The Girlfriend to see what happens next. This is just the start and things get more chilling as the story develops.
I loved every minute of this book. I was reading till the early hours. It kept me on tender hooks and was 100% believable.
Women can and will go to extreme lengths to protect what's theirs especially when it comes to their children.
Which is what makes this book so great and very scary.
Great character development, very real characters and situations.
Loved the sinister twists and clever plotting from both women.
I highly recommend this book, it's a different take on a thriller. In some ways I feel this makes it even more chilling as it's more likely to happen.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
I absolutely loved the girlfriend. It was fast paced, exciting, very clever, and a chilling in places.
Daniel is from a very wealthy family. He meets the charming Cherry in an Estate Agents whilst looking for a place to buy.
Cherry is from a poorer family in Croydon. She dreams of living the wealthy lifestyle and strives to achieve bigger things
Then along comes wealthy Daniel. They have instant chemistry and things between them move very quickly.
Laura is Daniels Mother. She is in a loveless marriage, she is very unhappy as her husband is having a long term affair with he's work, the golf course & he's mistress!
Laura lost a little girl. She then fell pregnant with Daniel and vowed she would protect him and never let him out of her sight. But in doing so she appears to smother Daniel and in turn pushes her husband away due to their unbreakable bond.
When Laura finds out about Cherry she is hurt at first but then seems excited as she could be like the daughter she lost.
Laura doesn't even entertain that they are from different walks of lives.
Cherry quickly makes it obvious to the reader she has a problem with it. She has taken a disliking to their strong bond and asserts her place by simple actions. As we all know actions can speak louder than words!
Laura decides to throw Cherry an olive branch and invites her to their home in South of France. Cherry has no chance in going so she lies to her boss saying her grandmother is sick.
As the days goes on you see Cherry more determined to spend as little time with Laura as possible. Putting Daniel in awkward positions. He clearly adores he's mother but he has a new women in he's life and Cherry is about to spray her mark.
The day comes for Cherry to leave... But she spins off another lie saying her boss has told her to use all her holidays.
Laura is increasingly suspisuspicious and decides to do some snooping. It's here she discovers an open return ticket.
Cherry had no intentions of returning.
Cherry comes home and realises her things have been touched, and so the sinister and clever mind games start to unfold.... All at Lauras expense.
Cherry is very clever, she's so determined to have the richer lifestyle she will stop at nothing.
She gleefully admits to the reader getting into debt to purchase a painting for Daniel, Only for her to destroy it and pin the blame on Laura.
She's calculating and extremely clever.
I felt sorry for Laura in the beginning as she was really trying with Cherry. She never seemed to let her background interfere with getting to know her.
Cherry on the other hand, scared me... She was manipulative, calculating, cold and had me scared!!
Daniel was the victim as all he did was fall in love. At times I wanted to shake him, tell him to open he's eyes and see what was happening. He was so blinded by lust and love.
I don't want to give anymore away as I feel I've set the scene fairly well.
I urge you to read The Girlfriend to see what happens next. This is just the start and things get more chilling as the story develops.
I loved every minute of this book. I was reading till the early hours. It kept me on tender hooks and was 100% believable.
Women can and will go to extreme lengths to protect what's theirs especially when it comes to their children.
Which is what makes this book so great and very scary.
Great character development, very real characters and situations.
Loved the sinister twists and clever plotting from both women.
I highly recommend this book, it's a different take on a thriller. In some ways I feel this makes it even more chilling as it's more likely to happen.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
December 29, 2017
This novel, set in Kensington, England, pits the two women that love twenty-three-year-old medical student Daniel against each other: His mother Laura and his new girlfriend Cherry. Daniel never wanted for anything growing up. Cherry, on the other hand, lived in poverty and is desperate for a way out, even if it means lying a bit on her resume and pushing her mother out of her life as much as possible.
Both Cherry and Laura initially hope to have a great relationship with one another, but misunderstandings and awkwardness give way to simmering tension that just gets worse and worse. I could see things from both women’s perspective, but I found myself siding with the mother more. As their lies become more convoluted, they manage to destroy each other bit by bit—damaging the other woman’s career and other relationships, which leads to a wonderfully suspenseful ending.
I enjoyed this book, which will be RELEASED JANUARY 30, 2018. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Both Cherry and Laura initially hope to have a great relationship with one another, but misunderstandings and awkwardness give way to simmering tension that just gets worse and worse. I could see things from both women’s perspective, but I found myself siding with the mother more. As their lies become more convoluted, they manage to destroy each other bit by bit—damaging the other woman’s career and other relationships, which leads to a wonderfully suspenseful ending.
I enjoyed this book, which will be RELEASED JANUARY 30, 2018. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
April 4, 2017
Oh I so count myself lucky I got on with my Mother-in-law and that I am grounded.
This is a book you will start and be prepared you won't want to drag yourself away from. I stayed with it until I finished it the early hours of this morning.
Relationships
Yes, they are the hardest to keep, the hardest to keep steady but throw in an unsteady person, jealousy and then things crack.
Daniel and Cherry. The Girlfriend.
Daniel was raised in a well to do family his aim was to become a Doctor.
Cherry never had those kind of roots but she wants to become an Estate Agent.
They meet, they fall in love.
Things go well...
At the start.
Laura, the Mother-in-law likes Cherry......
Then believes that Cherry is only with her one and only son for his money.
So now the dynamics change.
Both become vindictive, controlling and darn right nasty women.
Here comes a train wreck.
But who is going to survive?
Things happen to both women. I took some glee from some consequences as both females were so unlikeable you just couldn't help yourself.
There are some really good, nail biting, on the edge of your seat mind blowing tummy churning moments in this read. I was absolutely hooked!
Hold on to your seat belt.
This is a debut.
Yes, the authors very first book.
If this is anything to go by, I cannot wait for future books from her.
What a journey!
Thank you Pan Macmillan via Netgalley for my copy
This is a book you will start and be prepared you won't want to drag yourself away from. I stayed with it until I finished it the early hours of this morning.
Relationships
Yes, they are the hardest to keep, the hardest to keep steady but throw in an unsteady person, jealousy and then things crack.
Daniel and Cherry. The Girlfriend.
Daniel was raised in a well to do family his aim was to become a Doctor.
Cherry never had those kind of roots but she wants to become an Estate Agent.
They meet, they fall in love.
Things go well...
At the start.
Laura, the Mother-in-law likes Cherry......
Then believes that Cherry is only with her one and only son for his money.
So now the dynamics change.
Both become vindictive, controlling and darn right nasty women.
Here comes a train wreck.
But who is going to survive?
Things happen to both women. I took some glee from some consequences as both females were so unlikeable you just couldn't help yourself.
There are some really good, nail biting, on the edge of your seat mind blowing tummy churning moments in this read. I was absolutely hooked!
Hold on to your seat belt.
This is a debut.
Yes, the authors very first book.
If this is anything to go by, I cannot wait for future books from her.
What a journey!
Thank you Pan Macmillan via Netgalley for my copy
February 12, 2018
It can be hard for a mother to let her son go... to relinquish her place as the woman in their life. It's hard to imagine no longer being the first person they go to for comfort, for congratulations, for support. But what happens when that is made even more difficult by a bad feeling in regards to the woman your son has fallen in love with? There's just something wrong with her... something a bit dark, something calculated and manipulative. How do you deal with that?
I would certainly recommend this one if you want a domestic drama with some thriller aspects that's very juicy. The rivalries in this one are intense, and there's no limit to what these two women will do to both keep and protect the same man. It's not a short book, but I flew through it in just a few sittings. It's very gripping. While I thought the main character Laura would be hard to identify with because of her immense wealth and success in life, I felt for her so much. Even when her actions seem tinged with insanity and desperation, you feel for her. Cherry is the opposite of Laura. Her calculated actions are intended only to benefit herself, hardly ever worrying about anyone else. She's a fascinating character, but not one who I would want to meet.
Daniel is in every sense of the word, a catch. He's training to be a doctor, and he's compassionate and caring. Though he was lucky enough to be born into money, he hasn't let that affect his ambition and drive to make something of himself. When he meets Cherry, he's smitten. Though she was never afforded the same opportunities as he was, she too seems driven and ambitious... but is that just a cover for the gold-digger who lies underneath?
This is a crazy book who manages to go off the rails but still make it possible to suspend your disbelief a bit and enjoy the ride. I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read it, having had it on my to read list for some time.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Kensington Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
I would certainly recommend this one if you want a domestic drama with some thriller aspects that's very juicy. The rivalries in this one are intense, and there's no limit to what these two women will do to both keep and protect the same man. It's not a short book, but I flew through it in just a few sittings. It's very gripping. While I thought the main character Laura would be hard to identify with because of her immense wealth and success in life, I felt for her so much. Even when her actions seem tinged with insanity and desperation, you feel for her. Cherry is the opposite of Laura. Her calculated actions are intended only to benefit herself, hardly ever worrying about anyone else. She's a fascinating character, but not one who I would want to meet.
Daniel is in every sense of the word, a catch. He's training to be a doctor, and he's compassionate and caring. Though he was lucky enough to be born into money, he hasn't let that affect his ambition and drive to make something of himself. When he meets Cherry, he's smitten. Though she was never afforded the same opportunities as he was, she too seems driven and ambitious... but is that just a cover for the gold-digger who lies underneath?
This is a crazy book who manages to go off the rails but still make it possible to suspend your disbelief a bit and enjoy the ride. I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read it, having had it on my to read list for some time.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Kensington Books, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
July 27, 2017
4.25 Stars
"A mother thought their child more perfect than anyone … but mothers also knew their children better than anyone else did."
Well, for her first book it was damn great!! Such a thrilling story! So compelling! She enraged me with those characters! Howard for his damn coolness about his family! Actually I think his family didn’t matter to him! Daniel with all his naivety that chose his NEW girlfriend above his MOTHER! Oh, Cherry!!! I liked her (she was so smart) and at the same time I despised her! She was quite a character! There was little money when Cherry was growing up. She wanted to escape from her poverty life. She was jealous of everything, most about people with money. She couldn't bear other reject her for some reasons. And when she met Daniel, she takes this opportunity to save herself. And Laura! I really liked her. Of course she did something really wrong but at that moment maybe she thinks it was the best thing to do, she was so desperate for being with her son. I liked that with everything Cherry did, she didn’t stop confronting her. Even though Daniel was an adult, she did everything she thought was right to protect him. I loved that. My only complaint is about the ending. It was slow and simple, I expected something more exciting for the ending!
The story is told in multiple POV, 3rd person. It’s a stand-alone novel. It was fast-paced. The story was really well-written and the characters were perfect and definitely a page-turner. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I hope you like it as well!
"A mother thought their child more perfect than anyone … but mothers also knew their children better than anyone else did."
Well, for her first book it was damn great!! Such a thrilling story! So compelling! She enraged me with those characters! Howard for his damn coolness about his family! Actually I think his family didn’t matter to him! Daniel with all his naivety that chose his NEW girlfriend above his MOTHER! Oh, Cherry!!! I liked her (she was so smart) and at the same time I despised her! She was quite a character! There was little money when Cherry was growing up. She wanted to escape from her poverty life. She was jealous of everything, most about people with money. She couldn't bear other reject her for some reasons. And when she met Daniel, she takes this opportunity to save herself. And Laura! I really liked her. Of course she did something really wrong but at that moment maybe she thinks it was the best thing to do, she was so desperate for being with her son. I liked that with everything Cherry did, she didn’t stop confronting her. Even though Daniel was an adult, she did everything she thought was right to protect him. I loved that. My only complaint is about the ending. It was slow and simple, I expected something more exciting for the ending!
The story is told in multiple POV, 3rd person. It’s a stand-alone novel. It was fast-paced. The story was really well-written and the characters were perfect and definitely a page-turner. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I hope you like it as well!
January 16, 2018
4.5 freakishly scary stars
Can money buy happiness?
Laura has what seems to be everything, money, a gorgeous home, a wealthy husband, and a wonderfully loving and handsome son, Daniel They live in a gorgeous home and even have a villa in the south of France. Life, it seems, is wonderful.
Then Daniel meets Cherry, a young real estate agent, and things start to click between them. Cherry has never had much. She grew up poor and is ever so embarrassed by her roots. She wants more, a lot more, and sees Daniel as a possible a way into the lifestyle she feels she so deserves. She feels herself falling for him and the fact that he is rich only adds to his allure.
However, tragedy strikes and a lie is told. As the repercussions of that lie happen, we see the ways in which the characters react and how it changes the direction of their lives.
Ms Frances has written a wonderfully engrossing psychological thriller which propels the reader into the minds and hearts of her characters. This was one of those hard to put down stories that often keep one up burning the midnight oil. However, the ending did seem slightly rushed but overall this was quite the exciting read.
Many thanks to Michelle Frances, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this novel.
Can money buy happiness?
Laura has what seems to be everything, money, a gorgeous home, a wealthy husband, and a wonderfully loving and handsome son, Daniel They live in a gorgeous home and even have a villa in the south of France. Life, it seems, is wonderful.
Then Daniel meets Cherry, a young real estate agent, and things start to click between them. Cherry has never had much. She grew up poor and is ever so embarrassed by her roots. She wants more, a lot more, and sees Daniel as a possible a way into the lifestyle she feels she so deserves. She feels herself falling for him and the fact that he is rich only adds to his allure.
However, tragedy strikes and a lie is told. As the repercussions of that lie happen, we see the ways in which the characters react and how it changes the direction of their lives.
Ms Frances has written a wonderfully engrossing psychological thriller which propels the reader into the minds and hearts of her characters. This was one of those hard to put down stories that often keep one up burning the midnight oil. However, the ending did seem slightly rushed but overall this was quite the exciting read.
Many thanks to Michelle Frances, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this novel.
April 15, 2022
O Alvo
As Personagens:
Laura — uma mulher de meia-idade com um casamento rico em ruínas que fez do filho o Sol da sua vida
Cherry — uma beldade de berço pobre e espertalhufa capaz de tudo para ascender socialmente
Danny — o querido; o bom rapaz; o adorável menino da mamã conhece finalmente a tal, e... a história começa:
Laura e Cherry poderiam muito bem ser amigas, mas não! Tudo as separa exceto um alvo — Danny. E ambas irão bater-se desalmadamente por ele numa luta feroz onde só falta um ringue e luvas de boxe 🥊 🥊 😉
“A Namorada” é uma leitura psicologicamente rica. As personagens são complexas e deveras credíveis:
Não há mães leoas capazes do que podem e não podem, para proteger os filhos de relacionamentos supostamente tóxicos?!
E não há namoradas pouco escrupulosas que não olham a meios para preservar as presas armadilhadas nas suas garras ambiciosas?!
Enfim!.... Infernos da vida real onde alguns humanos caem e imperceptivelmente investem!...
E...tendo em conta que os desígnios de Belzebu são insondáveis, recomendo este livro sobretudo às mães com filhos machos, não vá o Destino eventualmente surpreendê-las com alguma Cherry particularmente maquiavélica 😉
As Personagens:
Laura — uma mulher de meia-idade com um casamento rico em ruínas que fez do filho o Sol da sua vida
Cherry — uma beldade de berço pobre e espertalhufa capaz de tudo para ascender socialmente
Danny — o querido; o bom rapaz; o adorável menino da mamã conhece finalmente a tal, e... a história começa:
Laura e Cherry poderiam muito bem ser amigas, mas não! Tudo as separa exceto um alvo — Danny. E ambas irão bater-se desalmadamente por ele numa luta feroz onde só falta um ringue e luvas de boxe 🥊 🥊 😉
“A Namorada” é uma leitura psicologicamente rica. As personagens são complexas e deveras credíveis:
Não há mães leoas capazes do que podem e não podem, para proteger os filhos de relacionamentos supostamente tóxicos?!
E não há namoradas pouco escrupulosas que não olham a meios para preservar as presas armadilhadas nas suas garras ambiciosas?!
Enfim!.... Infernos da vida real onde alguns humanos caem e imperceptivelmente investem!...
E...tendo em conta que os desígnios de Belzebu são insondáveis, recomendo este livro sobretudo às mães com filhos machos, não vá o Destino eventualmente surpreendê-las com alguma Cherry particularmente maquiavélica 😉
August 18, 2022
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read and review this amazing book by Michelle Francis! Wow! This book was fabulously juicy! One of those great drama-filled tales that reminded me a bit of GONE GIRL in the twistedness of it all. First the players. We have Laura, the rich and overly involved mom. Daniel, the doctor in training and son of millionaires with a trust fund. And Cherry, the girl from the poor side of town who very much wants to move up in the world, no matter what she has to do in order to make that happen.
Some mother in law and girl their son is dating relationships go great. Others are quite tension-filled. This one is off the charts as author Frances slowly ratchets up the tension. But what’s beautifully done is the rationalization as we’re in both their heads. Things start off fairly reasonably, and the psychological motivation is so well planned out here you just can’t put the book down, but have to keep turning the page as Laura and Cherry twist the knife deeper and deeper, each determined to win out in their battle for control over Daniel. This was an awesome read!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Some mother in law and girl their son is dating relationships go great. Others are quite tension-filled. This one is off the charts as author Frances slowly ratchets up the tension. But what’s beautifully done is the rationalization as we’re in both their heads. Things start off fairly reasonably, and the psychological motivation is so well planned out here you just can’t put the book down, but have to keep turning the page as Laura and Cherry twist the knife deeper and deeper, each determined to win out in their battle for control over Daniel. This was an awesome read!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
January 6, 2018
3.5 stars
Though it took me a while to finish, I thought The Girlfriend was a solid mystery. It was cleverly plotted, if a little slow paced, and the characters were intriguing and multi-dimensional. It had certain predictable aspects, which made me guess the ending fairly early on, but I didn't really mind. That being said, 450 pages is too long for this story. it could easily have been told in 300. All the same, it was a good read and I'll keep my eye out for this author's futures books.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Though it took me a while to finish, I thought The Girlfriend was a solid mystery. It was cleverly plotted, if a little slow paced, and the characters were intriguing and multi-dimensional. It had certain predictable aspects, which made me guess the ending fairly early on, but I didn't really mind. That being said, 450 pages is too long for this story. it could easily have been told in 300. All the same, it was a good read and I'll keep my eye out for this author's futures books.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
June 20, 2017
Neither gripping or thrilling......
After seeing some amazing reviews on this book- I had to buy it and dive straight in......
And it was a case of I was caught up in the hype- as for me it was a disappointing read.
First of all there was the dreadful characters.
They were stuck up- unrelatable- and quite frankly as dumb as they come.
The Mother- an awful snobbish stereotype- had a serious obsession with her son- so much so at one point in the beginning of the book it almost felt like she was thinking about a lover and not her grown up child.
Daniel whom is apparently very smart and extremely well educated is as dumb as a rock......but you know he's perfect....handsome, rich, smart, caring.....but can't see his girlfriend is using him for money??
As soon as you feel like the story is picking up it falls back into the same pattern- lots of dull internal monologue. Which was also very muddled- you were flitting from one point of view to another at a blink of an eye......
As for the ending......??? Well after reading 200 pages of dragging you'd think it may have been long winded? Wrong again.....2 pages- done-finished.....the end???
Feels like it was finished in a massive rush- and was very unsatisfying
After seeing some amazing reviews on this book- I had to buy it and dive straight in......
And it was a case of I was caught up in the hype- as for me it was a disappointing read.
First of all there was the dreadful characters.
They were stuck up- unrelatable- and quite frankly as dumb as they come.
The Mother- an awful snobbish stereotype- had a serious obsession with her son- so much so at one point in the beginning of the book it almost felt like she was thinking about a lover and not her grown up child.
Daniel whom is apparently very smart and extremely well educated is as dumb as a rock......but you know he's perfect....handsome, rich, smart, caring.....but can't see his girlfriend is using him for money??
As soon as you feel like the story is picking up it falls back into the same pattern- lots of dull internal monologue. Which was also very muddled- you were flitting from one point of view to another at a blink of an eye......
As for the ending......??? Well after reading 200 pages of dragging you'd think it may have been long winded? Wrong again.....2 pages- done-finished.....the end???
Feels like it was finished in a massive rush- and was very unsatisfying
February 26, 2017
The Girlfriend was highly addictive – a read in one sitting tale of the divide between a girl and her boyfriend’s mother – or in this case two rather unlikable manipulative women each trying to one up each other, a scenario that doesn’t end particularly well for anyone.
I loved the character dynamics in this – seriously twisted, I’m not sure if I’m talking about the Mother or the Girlfriend to be honest – it is also quite an intriguing little take on how money divides us. The haves and the have not’s, how just a little bit of jealousy can turn into an untenable situation. Especially if you are not exactly the steady grounded type to begin with.
I felt sorry for Daniel and for his Dad but as for the other two, the best thing about The Girlfriend was my distinct tendency to be really gleeful when horrible things happened to either of them. Cherry was strangely sympathetic at times, Laura was incredibly not so for much of it, but as they were both bringing it on themselves with their own actions, it was a strange kind of pleasure to watch them both get into hot water at various times during the telling.
Who wins in the end? In The Girlfriend it’s a bit like who might be the lesser of two evils and you’ll have to read it to find out but it is a genuine page turner so I don’t think you’ll find that to be much of a chore.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. It appealed to my wicked side.
I loved the character dynamics in this – seriously twisted, I’m not sure if I’m talking about the Mother or the Girlfriend to be honest – it is also quite an intriguing little take on how money divides us. The haves and the have not’s, how just a little bit of jealousy can turn into an untenable situation. Especially if you are not exactly the steady grounded type to begin with.
I felt sorry for Daniel and for his Dad but as for the other two, the best thing about The Girlfriend was my distinct tendency to be really gleeful when horrible things happened to either of them. Cherry was strangely sympathetic at times, Laura was incredibly not so for much of it, but as they were both bringing it on themselves with their own actions, it was a strange kind of pleasure to watch them both get into hot water at various times during the telling.
Who wins in the end? In The Girlfriend it’s a bit like who might be the lesser of two evils and you’ll have to read it to find out but it is a genuine page turner so I don’t think you’ll find that to be much of a chore.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. It appealed to my wicked side.
October 4, 2017
3.75 Stars. The Girlfriend is a fast paced, well written mystery by Michelle Frances. It’s a bit predictable with an abrupt ending that left me wanting more…maybe an epilogue from Daniel’s point of view. Overall it was a good read and I would not hesitate to read more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
January 10, 2018
This book was not was I was expecting but I don’t mean that in a negative way, I guess I was thinking it would be fast paced, intense and twisty and instead it was slower, with a subtle intensity and while it definitely had some surprises it wasn’t as twisty as I had imagined it would be. I do think it’s best to go into this knowing as little as possible about the plot so I won’t be delving into that too much, you really need to discover things on your own to fully appreciate this book.
This is a slow burn, it opens with an intriguing beginning and then it flips back in time. You hear from Laura, her son Daniel and his new girlfriend Cherry and there sections sometimes overlap and aren’t clearly labeled which is usually a popular choice. This wasn’t an issue for me, I actually found myself appreciating this structure and found the switches in narratives to be smooth and uncomplicated. I didn’t find either woman to be likable but they were very entertaining, there was a real feeling of cat and mouse and I was always wondering who would do what next, that aspect was unpredictable though there were some minor plot points that I saw coming. I wasn’t bothered by this though as the writing was so strong and there was a powerful, palpable sense of anticipation and apprehension that steadily increased as the story unfolded.
Read this if you’re looking for a character driven drama about manipulation with chilling moments and are able to be patient enough to wait awhile before the story really heats up. There was something intoxicating about being drawn in slowly instead of hit in the face with a crazy, action packed plot that worked well for me. As strong as things were by the last quarter of the book I do have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed by the ending, it was a little weak. But I can overlook it this time because I was addicted and throughly entertained by most of it.
This is a slow burn, it opens with an intriguing beginning and then it flips back in time. You hear from Laura, her son Daniel and his new girlfriend Cherry and there sections sometimes overlap and aren’t clearly labeled which is usually a popular choice. This wasn’t an issue for me, I actually found myself appreciating this structure and found the switches in narratives to be smooth and uncomplicated. I didn’t find either woman to be likable but they were very entertaining, there was a real feeling of cat and mouse and I was always wondering who would do what next, that aspect was unpredictable though there were some minor plot points that I saw coming. I wasn’t bothered by this though as the writing was so strong and there was a powerful, palpable sense of anticipation and apprehension that steadily increased as the story unfolded.
Read this if you’re looking for a character driven drama about manipulation with chilling moments and are able to be patient enough to wait awhile before the story really heats up. There was something intoxicating about being drawn in slowly instead of hit in the face with a crazy, action packed plot that worked well for me. As strong as things were by the last quarter of the book I do have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed by the ending, it was a little weak. But I can overlook it this time because I was addicted and throughly entertained by most of it.
October 13, 2020
A suspenseful family drama that explores the relationship between a mother and her son's girlfriend. Both women are manipulative and determine to be the most important person in Daniel's life. Who will win? Laura, the possessive mother who has it all, or Cherry, the girlfriend who is willing to do whatever it takes to marry a rich man?
I enjoyed this book very much. It was well-written, chilling, and had me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was well-written, chilling, and had me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
August 31, 2017
When I was approved for The Girlfriend from NetGalley, I was giddy with excitement. I waited for the perfect time to dig in. Right away I'm sucked in. A few pages in and I'm telling my husband about the mother that's obsessed with her son and feeling a little put off by the new girlfriend...He interrupts me, "Like you?" ha, ha very funny. If he thought that was going to curb my enthusiasm from telling him more, he was so wrong. I couldn't stop talking about it.
Ok, ok, so Daniel is from a wealthy family and Cherry is not. There is instant attraction and soon Cherry has dinner at Daniel's parents' house. Laura is Daniel's mother and she is very friendly and accommodating to Cherry, but Cherry senses a possessiveness that Laura has with Daniel. There is a little undercurrent of jealousy on both of their parts.
They all go on a vacation to the family villa. It's extravagant and the only thing Cherry wants is to be alone with Daniel without the mother tagging along. Laura is doing everything she can to plan outings so she can get to know Cherry better, but she's met with them disappearing. Don't leave a shunned mother alone to find things to do. Innocently enough she finds out a little something about Cherry that doesn't sit well with her. THIS IS THE END OF MY BOOK. The suspense is killing me. I have to wait until 1/18 to read the rest. Ugh. 3 stars because I haven't read the whole book.
I appreciate the publisher Kensington and NetGalley for allowing me to get a sample of what I'm absolutely sure is going to be a fantastic read!
Ok, ok, so Daniel is from a wealthy family and Cherry is not. There is instant attraction and soon Cherry has dinner at Daniel's parents' house. Laura is Daniel's mother and she is very friendly and accommodating to Cherry, but Cherry senses a possessiveness that Laura has with Daniel. There is a little undercurrent of jealousy on both of their parts.
They all go on a vacation to the family villa. It's extravagant and the only thing Cherry wants is to be alone with Daniel without the mother tagging along. Laura is doing everything she can to plan outings so she can get to know Cherry better, but she's met with them disappearing. Don't leave a shunned mother alone to find things to do. Innocently enough she finds out a little something about Cherry that doesn't sit well with her. THIS IS THE END OF MY BOOK. The suspense is killing me. I have to wait until 1/18 to read the rest. Ugh. 3 stars because I haven't read the whole book.
I appreciate the publisher Kensington and NetGalley for allowing me to get a sample of what I'm absolutely sure is going to be a fantastic read!
January 8, 2018
2.5 stars
I'm not a big fan of books that overly explain characters inner thoughts or feelings. This story was told from 3 POV's, so unfortunately this style of writing was everywhere. I almost gave up, but it reads fast, so I decided to see how things played out.
The only POV I cared for was Daniel, but he was a minor player compared to his Mother and his girlfriend Cherry. Both of these two characters deserved each other. Fake, narcissistic, emotionally needy, manipulative, and selfish are just a few words to describe what they are made of.
What unfolds here is a poor representation of women who behave badly when it comes to getting what they want.
ARC provided by NetGalley
I'm not a big fan of books that overly explain characters inner thoughts or feelings. This story was told from 3 POV's, so unfortunately this style of writing was everywhere. I almost gave up, but it reads fast, so I decided to see how things played out.
The only POV I cared for was Daniel, but he was a minor player compared to his Mother and his girlfriend Cherry. Both of these two characters deserved each other. Fake, narcissistic, emotionally needy, manipulative, and selfish are just a few words to describe what they are made of.
What unfolds here is a poor representation of women who behave badly when it comes to getting what they want.
ARC provided by NetGalley
August 26, 2017
3.5 - 4 stars
The Girlfriend is a wild and somewhat predictable ride, but it certainly held my attention. The story is entertaining but unfolded a little differently than I was expecting, partly I think because I was expecting an unreliable narrator type tale when instead it is more suspense and family drama. I didn’t love any of the characters, but I think that is frequently the case in these type of stories because they do things I would never dream of doing, and that is what makes the book enjoyable. My biggest takeaway from the story is that when my son is older I am going to carefully vet anyone he dates! I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts’ Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.
The Girlfriend is a wild and somewhat predictable ride, but it certainly held my attention. The story is entertaining but unfolded a little differently than I was expecting, partly I think because I was expecting an unreliable narrator type tale when instead it is more suspense and family drama. I didn’t love any of the characters, but I think that is frequently the case in these type of stories because they do things I would never dream of doing, and that is what makes the book enjoyable. My biggest takeaway from the story is that when my son is older I am going to carefully vet anyone he dates! I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts’ Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2018
This book promises a “gripping and chilling debut psychological thriller”. It is gripping but it isn’t any of the other things. If you know that going in and you love reading about horrible people as much as I do, you’ll likely enjoy it much more. I requested it so long ago that I didn’t remember a thing about the blurb until I just went back and read it now and I’m glad of that!
Laura’s life is one of wealth and privilege but her marriage is devoid of warmth and love. She’s focused all of her love on her grown son Daniel. He loves his mom and seems to be a decent son, despite her smothering, but when a new girlfriend enters the picture Laura quickly decides that Cherry is nothing but a pretty, little gold-digger and she does not like her.
The first half or so of this book is an intense character study of Cherry and Laura. We get to know them, their motives, their desires, their vicious inner thoughts and their incredible flaws. You can see a true mess in the making and it so much fun to read. As things progress, you realize just how far these two women will go to have things go their way. They are both deviously awful humans. One is smothering, selfish, mean-spirited, and more than a little evil. The other is shallow, materialistic, vindictive, and totally evil. Horrid, terrible people and I loved reading about them.
Even though there are really no true surprises here and not a lot happens in the first half, the book is incredibly infectious. Once I started reading I just had to keep going to find out what nasty thing was going to be said and done next. When a whopper of a lie is told by one of the women, the book spirals into a pit of doom and from that point thereafter I read it straight through until the end.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley but it was only the first 13 chapters. Why would they do that to anyone?! I ended up getting my copy from my local library but had to wait a few months before my number was called.
Laura’s life is one of wealth and privilege but her marriage is devoid of warmth and love. She’s focused all of her love on her grown son Daniel. He loves his mom and seems to be a decent son, despite her smothering, but when a new girlfriend enters the picture Laura quickly decides that Cherry is nothing but a pretty, little gold-digger and she does not like her.
The first half or so of this book is an intense character study of Cherry and Laura. We get to know them, their motives, their desires, their vicious inner thoughts and their incredible flaws. You can see a true mess in the making and it so much fun to read. As things progress, you realize just how far these two women will go to have things go their way. They are both deviously awful humans. One is smothering, selfish, mean-spirited, and more than a little evil. The other is shallow, materialistic, vindictive, and totally evil. Horrid, terrible people and I loved reading about them.
Even though there are really no true surprises here and not a lot happens in the first half, the book is incredibly infectious. Once I started reading I just had to keep going to find out what nasty thing was going to be said and done next. When a whopper of a lie is told by one of the women, the book spirals into a pit of doom and from that point thereafter I read it straight through until the end.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley but it was only the first 13 chapters. Why would they do that to anyone?! I ended up getting my copy from my local library but had to wait a few months before my number was called.
March 12, 2018
Riveting, complex, and well crafted!
The Girlfriend is a character-driven, domestic thriller that delves into the embattled relationship that can occur between a mother and her son's significant other when they're both ruthlessly determined to be the most important woman in his life.
The writing is precise and intense. The characters are self-absorbed, troubled, devious, and at times despicable. And the plot, told from multiple perspectives, starts with a bang and continues to ratchet up the tension as it subtly unravels all the personalities, histories, and motivations within it.
The Girlfriend is a chilling, intriguing, page-turner that at its core is a novel about family, manipulation, jealousy, deception, and obsession. It's a wonderful debut for Frances, and I can't wait to read what she comes up with next.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
The Girlfriend is a character-driven, domestic thriller that delves into the embattled relationship that can occur between a mother and her son's significant other when they're both ruthlessly determined to be the most important woman in his life.
The writing is precise and intense. The characters are self-absorbed, troubled, devious, and at times despicable. And the plot, told from multiple perspectives, starts with a bang and continues to ratchet up the tension as it subtly unravels all the personalities, histories, and motivations within it.
The Girlfriend is a chilling, intriguing, page-turner that at its core is a novel about family, manipulation, jealousy, deception, and obsession. It's a wonderful debut for Frances, and I can't wait to read what she comes up with next.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
July 3, 2017
I probably couldn’t have chosen a worse week to read The Girlfriend as my own nest finally became empty this weekend after 25 years and I’m feeling very emotional and redundant at present! But thankfully my situation is very different to Laura’s as I have daughter’s and not sons so the first thing that came to mind when I started The Girlfriend was that old saying “A son’s a son till he takes a wife, a daughter’s a daughter for all of her life”. Unfortunately for Laura, her family circumstances made her much more vulnerable to an extreme reaction to her son moving on with his new life. She is devastated but instead of turning it into a positive and thinking “I’m not losing a son, I’m gaining a daughter” Laura decides that Cherry isn’t good enough for her precious boy and starts looking for ways to discredit her.
I wasn’t too sure to begin with here who’s side I was supposed to be on! Laura may have had a fabulous job and a wonderfully close relationship with her only child, her son Daniel, but I found myself feeling sorry for her as she seemed so incredibly lonely! At a time in her life where she should have been free to start living a relaxed existence with her husband in their financially secure lifestyle, she has to deal with the girlfriend from hell! Or is she? Cherry seems like a lovely young girl, intelligent and wanting to better herself in life and there’s nothing wrong with that…..is there?!
The Girlfriend grabbed me from the start and it’s gripping storyline had me totally mesmorised as I watched both women bring out the worst in each other, all for the love of Daniel whom I actually found to a very weak willed and rather uninspiring character at the best of times!! He seemed to be totally besotted by Cherry, blind to all the clues that she was obviously hiding secrets and her true feelings from him so I got terribly frustrated by him!
This is a fabulous debut, creepily realistic with a whole cast of characters that I really didn’t like but couldn’t tear my eye away from.The perfect ending topped off this thoughtfully written thriller and left me feeling thoroughly satisfied, if a bit sad that it had all come to an end.
I wasn’t too sure to begin with here who’s side I was supposed to be on! Laura may have had a fabulous job and a wonderfully close relationship with her only child, her son Daniel, but I found myself feeling sorry for her as she seemed so incredibly lonely! At a time in her life where she should have been free to start living a relaxed existence with her husband in their financially secure lifestyle, she has to deal with the girlfriend from hell! Or is she? Cherry seems like a lovely young girl, intelligent and wanting to better herself in life and there’s nothing wrong with that…..is there?!
The Girlfriend grabbed me from the start and it’s gripping storyline had me totally mesmorised as I watched both women bring out the worst in each other, all for the love of Daniel whom I actually found to a very weak willed and rather uninspiring character at the best of times!! He seemed to be totally besotted by Cherry, blind to all the clues that she was obviously hiding secrets and her true feelings from him so I got terribly frustrated by him!
This is a fabulous debut, creepily realistic with a whole cast of characters that I really didn’t like but couldn’t tear my eye away from.The perfect ending topped off this thoughtfully written thriller and left me feeling thoroughly satisfied, if a bit sad that it had all come to an end.
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