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The New Girlfriend
our Secrets. Her Lies.
Cassie stares at the woman on her doorstep in disbelief. Just months after losing her only son, Josh, here stands a stranger claiming to be Josh’s girlfriend. But it’s not only the woman Cassie is shocked by, it’s the baby nestled in Kim’s arms. Cassie’s grandchild.
I know what you did.
As Cassie tries to do what’s best for baby Samuel, she starts to receive threatening messages from someone from her past – someone Cassie has been hiding from for a long time. Cassie is frightened that her biggest secret is about to be revealed and she will lose everything, including her precious grandson.
You took everything from me. Now you need to pay.
As the messages get more sinister, Cassie realises the person behind them knows every detail about her life and she fears that she is being watched. Could Kim be the link between Cassie and the mysterious messenger? And is she in danger now that she has welcomed this woman and her baby into her home?
A truly gripping page-turner that will keep you reading well into the night, The New Girlfriend is prefect for fans of The Girl on the Train, My Lovely Wife and Gone Girl.
Cassie stares at the woman on her doorstep in disbelief. Just months after losing her only son, Josh, here stands a stranger claiming to be Josh’s girlfriend. But it’s not only the woman Cassie is shocked by, it’s the baby nestled in Kim’s arms. Cassie’s grandchild.
I know what you did.
As Cassie tries to do what’s best for baby Samuel, she starts to receive threatening messages from someone from her past – someone Cassie has been hiding from for a long time. Cassie is frightened that her biggest secret is about to be revealed and she will lose everything, including her precious grandson.
You took everything from me. Now you need to pay.
As the messages get more sinister, Cassie realises the person behind them knows every detail about her life and she fears that she is being watched. Could Kim be the link between Cassie and the mysterious messenger? And is she in danger now that she has welcomed this woman and her baby into her home?
A truly gripping page-turner that will keep you reading well into the night, The New Girlfriend is prefect for fans of The Girl on the Train, My Lovely Wife and Gone Girl.
298 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2020
992 people are currently reading
1138 people want to read
About the author
Sheryl Browne
38 books888 followersHi, I’m Sheryl Browne writing psychological thriller. My latest psychological thriller MY LOVING HUSBAND is published by fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I have several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where I completed my MA in Creative Writing. I live in Worcestershire with my partner and a variety of disabled dogs. According to readers of my thrillers, I also apparently make an excellent psychopath. ;) Follow my @Bookouture Mailing List and grab a FREE short: https://t.co/bIigwwALCs
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
August 6, 2020
A trio of women, Cassie, Kimberly, and Jemma, all with a cupboard full of skeletons and secrets, and what connects the trio is Josh. Josh is Cassie’s son, Kim’s on off boyfriend, (a tenuous relationship at best) and Jemma’s former boyfriend.
The story begins with Josh’s funeral after a tragic accident, where Cassie and her partner Adam, are struggling to get through the service. His death has sent them both into a downward spiral ( Adam wasn’t Josh’s biological father), but he loved him as if he were his own.
Some time after the funeral, a young woman called Kimberly turns up out of the blue, with a baby boy named (Samuel) who she claims is Josh’s baby, and finally, Cassie believes that she has something to live for after the devastation of Josh’s death. That is until she begins receiving threatening texts from someone, claiming to know what she did in the past - and we the reader aren’t privy to that revelation until much later on, but what occurs up to that point is truly riveting.
A well written, though complex psychological thriller. Some of the characters were easy to like, while others had the opposite effect. There were some great twists, due to expert use of smoke and mirrors, and all in all I have to say it was a real page turner.
*Thank you to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
The story begins with Josh’s funeral after a tragic accident, where Cassie and her partner Adam, are struggling to get through the service. His death has sent them both into a downward spiral ( Adam wasn’t Josh’s biological father), but he loved him as if he were his own.
Some time after the funeral, a young woman called Kimberly turns up out of the blue, with a baby boy named (Samuel) who she claims is Josh’s baby, and finally, Cassie believes that she has something to live for after the devastation of Josh’s death. That is until she begins receiving threatening texts from someone, claiming to know what she did in the past - and we the reader aren’t privy to that revelation until much later on, but what occurs up to that point is truly riveting.
A well written, though complex psychological thriller. Some of the characters were easy to like, while others had the opposite effect. There were some great twists, due to expert use of smoke and mirrors, and all in all I have to say it was a real page turner.
*Thank you to Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
Read
July 7, 2020DNF at 25%. Amateur hour.
June 29, 2020
Sheryl Browne is a master of the jaw dropping twist in her psychological thrillers. The New Girlfriend was no exception. My goodness this book is a page turner. I couldn’t put it down and read it in an afternoon. This time the twist had me gasping out loud, so much that I scared the dog 😂
I won’t go into the story too much so I don’t spoil the fun for anybody. All you need to know is that Cassie is mourning the sudden death of her son Josh when a woman knock she in the door. She claims to be Josh’s girlfriend and is holding a baby that is Cassie’s grandson. She is overjoyed and feels like she has another chance with baby Samuel. But at the same time she starts to receive threats via text and fears that the secrets of her past will be exposed.
It is twisty with unreliable characters and you will not know what the truth is. You need to read this book.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
I won’t go into the story too much so I don’t spoil the fun for anybody. All you need to know is that Cassie is mourning the sudden death of her son Josh when a woman knock she in the door. She claims to be Josh’s girlfriend and is holding a baby that is Cassie’s grandson. She is overjoyed and feels like she has another chance with baby Samuel. But at the same time she starts to receive threats via text and fears that the secrets of her past will be exposed.
It is twisty with unreliable characters and you will not know what the truth is. You need to read this book.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
August 9, 2020
What a book! Sheryl Browne this might be your best yet! Fast paced. Addictive. Twisted. Unpredictable. With a draw dropping ending. Cassie is devastated when her only son Josh is tragicly killed. When Kim shows up claiming to be Josh’s girlfriend Cassie is skeptical but so wants it to be true because Kim also has a baby she claims to be josh’s. Now Cassie has something to keep living for, but what’s up with these creepy messages. Someone seems to know everything about Cassie’s past and if the truth comes out Cassie’s future will be completely destroyed.
This book started off simply enough but then... BAM! Things went sideways and got complicated real quick. It was clear that both Cassie and Kim were hiding things. In fact everyone in this book seem to be hiding something with the exception of Adam. The narrative bounces back-and-forth in time. We see the events taking place after josh’s death as well as how the relationship developed between Josh and Kim. I’m not even certain I necessarily liked any of the characters in this book, but I sure did want to know what the heck was going on. Was Cassie going crazy? Was Kim honest? A riveting read with a ending that definitely shocked me! Well played Miss Browne!
This book in emojis 🚇 📱 👶🏼 📲 🧬
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***🤯
This book started off simply enough but then... BAM! Things went sideways and got complicated real quick. It was clear that both Cassie and Kim were hiding things. In fact everyone in this book seem to be hiding something with the exception of Adam. The narrative bounces back-and-forth in time. We see the events taking place after josh’s death as well as how the relationship developed between Josh and Kim. I’m not even certain I necessarily liked any of the characters in this book, but I sure did want to know what the heck was going on. Was Cassie going crazy? Was Kim honest? A riveting read with a ending that definitely shocked me! Well played Miss Browne!
This book in emojis 🚇 📱 👶🏼 📲 🧬
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***🤯
July 29, 2020
Cassie's son, Josh had died a few months ago. Now a stranger is standing on her doorstep claiming she had been Josh's girlfriend and the baby she is holding is Cassie's grandson. Cassie is also receiving messages from someone from her past - someone Cassie has been hiding from for a long time. Cassie is frightened that her biggest secret is about to be revealed and she will loose everything. As the messages get more sinister, Cassie realised the person behind them knows all about her life.
Wow, where do I start? I could go on and on about this book but I'd definitely spoil it for potential readers. The story is told from multiple points if view. The pace is steady. The story is full of secrets, lies, and twists. There's a mixed bunch of characters who are either likable or unlikable. The story is well written, tense and cleverly crafted. The ending hi didn't see coming but I did guess some parts correctly. What a roller coaster read this is. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough and I couldn't pit the book down. This is my favourite Sheryl Browne book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sheryl Browne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
Cassie's son, Josh had died a few months ago. Now a stranger is standing on her doorstep claiming she had been Josh's girlfriend and the baby she is holding is Cassie's grandson. Cassie is also receiving messages from someone from her past - someone Cassie has been hiding from for a long time. Cassie is frightened that her biggest secret is about to be revealed and that she will loose everything. As the messages get more sinister, Cassie realised that the person behind them knows all about her life.
Wow. Where do I start? I could go on about this book but I would definitely spoil it for potential readers. The story is told from multiple points if view. The pace is steady. The story is full of secrets, lies and twists. There is a mixed bunch of characters who are either likable or unlikable. This story is well written, tense and cleverly crafted. The ending I didn't see coming but I did guess some parts correctly. What a thrilling roller coaster read this book is. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough and I couldn't put this book down. This is my favourite Sheryl Browne book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sheryl Browne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, where do I start? I could go on and on about this book but I'd definitely spoil it for potential readers. The story is told from multiple points if view. The pace is steady. The story is full of secrets, lies, and twists. There's a mixed bunch of characters who are either likable or unlikable. The story is well written, tense and cleverly crafted. The ending hi didn't see coming but I did guess some parts correctly. What a roller coaster read this is. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough and I couldn't pit the book down. This is my favourite Sheryl Browne book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sheryl Browne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
Cassie's son, Josh had died a few months ago. Now a stranger is standing on her doorstep claiming she had been Josh's girlfriend and the baby she is holding is Cassie's grandson. Cassie is also receiving messages from someone from her past - someone Cassie has been hiding from for a long time. Cassie is frightened that her biggest secret is about to be revealed and that she will loose everything. As the messages get more sinister, Cassie realised that the person behind them knows all about her life.
Wow. Where do I start? I could go on about this book but I would definitely spoil it for potential readers. The story is told from multiple points if view. The pace is steady. The story is full of secrets, lies and twists. There is a mixed bunch of characters who are either likable or unlikable. This story is well written, tense and cleverly crafted. The ending I didn't see coming but I did guess some parts correctly. What a thrilling roller coaster read this book is. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough and I couldn't put this book down. This is my favourite Sheryl Browne book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sheryl Browne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Disappointing. This story had so much promise, but didn’t deliver. Most of the plot is somewhat predictable. It took me a while to get into and a little longer to finish than usual because of the lack of suspense. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t very good either. Most of the characters were
unlikeable and many plot points seemed unnecessary. Many of the twists weren’t terribly surprising. I also had issues with the plausibility of the actions and reactions the characters had throughout the story. This one missed the mark for me.
Merged review:
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Disappointing. This story had so much promise, but didn’t deliver. Most of the plot is somewhat predictable. It took me a while to get into and a little longer to finish than usual because of the lack of suspense. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t very good either. Most of the characters were
unlikeable and many plot points seemed unnecessary. Many of the twists weren’t terribly surprising. I also had issues with the plausibility of the actions and reactions the characters had throughout the story. This one missed the mark for me.
unlikeable and many plot points seemed unnecessary. Many of the twists weren’t terribly surprising. I also had issues with the plausibility of the actions and reactions the characters had throughout the story. This one missed the mark for me.
Merged review:
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Disappointing. This story had so much promise, but didn’t deliver. Most of the plot is somewhat predictable. It took me a while to get into and a little longer to finish than usual because of the lack of suspense. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t very good either. Most of the characters were
unlikeable and many plot points seemed unnecessary. Many of the twists weren’t terribly surprising. I also had issues with the plausibility of the actions and reactions the characters had throughout the story. This one missed the mark for me.
July 3, 2020
Cassie and Adam are mourning the tragic death of her son Josh. After his funeral Kimberly turns up at their house with baby Samuel claiming to be Josh’s girlfriend. Cassie now has a reason to carry on and is desperate to get to know her grandson. Why hadn’t Josh mentioned Kimberly?
Cassie receives mystery texts threatening to tell her past secrets. What is she hiding?
I loved the flow of the book and how it goes back to when Josh and Kimberly first met and how their relationship pans out. The two timelines help build the suspense and will keep you hooked.
There are twists and secrets galore. The ending left me with my mouth open and I had to read it twice before it sunk in!!
A must read book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Cassie receives mystery texts threatening to tell her past secrets. What is she hiding?
I loved the flow of the book and how it goes back to when Josh and Kimberly first met and how their relationship pans out. The two timelines help build the suspense and will keep you hooked.
There are twists and secrets galore. The ending left me with my mouth open and I had to read it twice before it sunk in!!
A must read book.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
June 29, 2020
If an author mentions a P/T Cruiser in their book then it’s always going to be a hit with me ( ours is called Tom, I dont think I have ever seen one in a book before ) 😁
Seriously though this is a fine psychological thriller with hints of a whodunit that is based around Josh and his Mum and Dad, an ex girlfriend and a baby that is left without a Dad when Josh mysteriously dies
There is deceit and lies, intrigue, and a lot, a real lot of twists, couple all that with a look at OCD, grief at his rawest and a vengeful stalker and you begin to get the picture
The author always writes for the reader and again this book welcomes you in, gets you settled and then BAM strikes with an exciting and ever moving plot
A different to the usual themes read that will make you wonder who is telling the truth and 1 character in particular you will love to loathe
A good enjoyable and interesting concept read
10/10
5 Stars
Seriously though this is a fine psychological thriller with hints of a whodunit that is based around Josh and his Mum and Dad, an ex girlfriend and a baby that is left without a Dad when Josh mysteriously dies
There is deceit and lies, intrigue, and a lot, a real lot of twists, couple all that with a look at OCD, grief at his rawest and a vengeful stalker and you begin to get the picture
The author always writes for the reader and again this book welcomes you in, gets you settled and then BAM strikes with an exciting and ever moving plot
A different to the usual themes read that will make you wonder who is telling the truth and 1 character in particular you will love to loathe
A good enjoyable and interesting concept read
10/10
5 Stars
July 13, 2020
Actual Rating 3.5
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Brown for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The wound of losing her son is still so fresh when one day Kim knock Cassie’s door with to tell her about the grandson. Kim is a girlfriend, josh never talked about. But the resemblance of Samuel to his father is uncanny to think otherwise. I don’t want to go into the story.
This story rotates around mother, stepfather, girlfriends and baby. It also focuses on Abusive family background, protective family, OCD, grief, guilt a brittle relationship, eagerness, stalking, dark secrets and many many twists and turns. I hope you get my point.
It is a dark and sad story which made me angry a lot of times. The character development was beautiful but the characters were so grey. I couldn’t guess any of the twists so yeah I enjoyed it. I had a bit problem with pace first half of the book didn’t offer much but the second half was good.
The suspense was on point.
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Brown for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The wound of losing her son is still so fresh when one day Kim knock Cassie’s door with to tell her about the grandson. Kim is a girlfriend, josh never talked about. But the resemblance of Samuel to his father is uncanny to think otherwise. I don’t want to go into the story.
This story rotates around mother, stepfather, girlfriends and baby. It also focuses on Abusive family background, protective family, OCD, grief, guilt a brittle relationship, eagerness, stalking, dark secrets and many many twists and turns. I hope you get my point.
It is a dark and sad story which made me angry a lot of times. The character development was beautiful but the characters were so grey. I couldn’t guess any of the twists so yeah I enjoyed it. I had a bit problem with pace first half of the book didn’t offer much but the second half was good.
The suspense was on point.
September 9, 2020
Cassie and Adam are still getting over the tragic death of their only son Josh when Kimberly turns up at their house with baby Samuel claiming to be Josh’s girlfriend. Cassie is skeptical but wants it to be true and is desperate to get to know her grandson. Soon though she starts receiving sinister texts threatening to expose her past secrets which might end up completely destroying her
The New Girlfriend By Sheryl Browne is a dark twisty psychological read. It is a fast paced well written book made even more interesting due to the unlikable characters, lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending that I didn't see coming
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The New Girlfriend By Sheryl Browne is a dark twisty psychological read. It is a fast paced well written book made even more interesting due to the unlikable characters, lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending that I didn't see coming
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
July 31, 2020
Review coming soon.
February 20, 2021
The New Girlfriend by Sheryl Browne is a psychological thriller novel full of lies and deception, so much so that at times it becomes difficult to keep track of all the false statements being made throughout.
The author fails to carry forward the well-executed beginning till the end. One of the major twists becomes predictable midway, but the overall writing still keeps the interest in the story intact.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
The author fails to carry forward the well-executed beginning till the end. One of the major twists becomes predictable midway, but the overall writing still keeps the interest in the story intact.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: One time read.
August 5, 2020
ARC provided by Bookouture and Sheryl Browne via NetGalley. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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08-05: Wow.. 'The New Girlfriend' by Sheryl Browne is a wild ride. The kind where you need a scorecard just to keep up with all the moves being made and the lies being told.
Opening with a bang.. or in this case.. practically the screech of metal and the weight of shock and disbelief, Cassie's only son is killed. Just a few short months later, a stranger appears on her doorstep.. claiming to be his girlfriend and bearing a baby in her arms that is clearly her grandchild.
In the wake of her loss, Cassie is struggling to cope with the changes that have come at her full speed ahead. The idea that her neurosis drove her son out of the house.. leaving her somehow at fault for his death.. paired with what appears to be a serious relationship he never shared with her or his stepdad, Adam.. has her reeling.
Attempting to do what she can for her grandson and his mother, she begins to get cryptic texts in threatening tones referring to a big secret she's been keeping. Someone knows what she's been hiding, a potentially life altering act that she'd do anything to protect.
Honestly, this story throws a lot at you. Many of the characters are embroiled in their own nest of secrets, each with something big to lose. While Josh, Cassie's son, actually seems like a basically good guy.. he's far from perfect himself and the result is a handful of people who all might have reason to be involved at least peripherally in anything bad that might have befallen him.
I really only found one of the characters to draw any investment from me.. any concern for their well-being, and that was Adam. He's a kind, genuine man.. who seems to try to do his best for pretty much anyone who enters his sphere of existence, even if they aren't entirely kind to him. And I'm pretty sure the author intended it to be that way.
It definitely feels as if the other characters are meant to have somewhat ambiguous moral codes to begin with. Most of them seem to make their decisions from a selfish place with little regard to the collateral damage they might cause. I don't think Browne means for us to feel sorry for them, even if the things they deal with are a bit soul-crushing at times.
The author did a great job at keeping the ball moving.. so your eyes never lingered too long on any one possibility. Though in the end.. the answers are compounded. I was vindicated in my beliefs to a point, but surprised by the addition of some other parts to the puzzle. There was one plot point that felt out of place, unnecessary.. as if it was thrown in simply for a 'gotcha' moment, but the story as a whole is a solid read if you enjoy a good mystery.
PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | GOOGLEPLAY BOOKS | KOBO
July 27, 2020
Just months after losing her only son, Josh, Cassie is shocked to find a girl standing at her doorstep claiming to be Josh’s girlfriend. But it’s not only the girl Cassie is shocked by, it’s the baby nestled in Kim’s arms. Cassie’s grandchild.
As Cassie tries to do what’s best for baby Samuel, she starts to receive threatening messages from someone from her past – someone Cassie has been hiding from for a long time. Cassie is frightened that her biggest secret is about to be revealed and she will lose everything, including her precious grandson.
This is my first book by this author and I actually liked it, so I shall definitely go back and read all her other works!
I was immediately attracted to this book because of its cover and premise. and I wasn't disappointed. I knew something fishy was going on right from the start! Although I kind of guessed early on most of what was going on, there were still some nice twists and surprises. And the ending was totally unexpected.
Overall, this is a well written twisted psychological thriller, with an edge of your seat conclusion!!
Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!!
As Cassie tries to do what’s best for baby Samuel, she starts to receive threatening messages from someone from her past – someone Cassie has been hiding from for a long time. Cassie is frightened that her biggest secret is about to be revealed and she will lose everything, including her precious grandson.
This is my first book by this author and I actually liked it, so I shall definitely go back and read all her other works!
I was immediately attracted to this book because of its cover and premise. and I wasn't disappointed. I knew something fishy was going on right from the start! Although I kind of guessed early on most of what was going on, there were still some nice twists and surprises. And the ending was totally unexpected.
Overall, this is a well written twisted psychological thriller, with an edge of your seat conclusion!!
Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!!
July 29, 2020
The New Girlfriend by Sheryl Brone
Pub Date 08/03/2020
Thriller
Cassie's only son died in a tragic accident a couple months ago. Now standing on her door step is a girl claiming to be Josh's girlfriend and is holding a child that is a spitting image of her dead son.
Okay this was the first time reading this author so I don't know about her other books, but this book was so repetitive and all characters were unlikable. I was so close to not finishing this book. I leave it at that.⭐⭐.5 rounded down.
A big thanks to the publisher and to #netgalley for the free copy for an honest review.
Pub Date 08/03/2020
Thriller
Cassie's only son died in a tragic accident a couple months ago. Now standing on her door step is a girl claiming to be Josh's girlfriend and is holding a child that is a spitting image of her dead son.
Okay this was the first time reading this author so I don't know about her other books, but this book was so repetitive and all characters were unlikable. I was so close to not finishing this book. I leave it at that.⭐⭐.5 rounded down.
A big thanks to the publisher and to #netgalley for the free copy for an honest review.
July 22, 2020
The New Girlfriend by Sheryl Browne is the first book from the author that I have read, and I heard good things about them.
Cassie and Stepfather Adam are still getting over their sons’ Josh’s death in a tragic accident. Josh is Cassie’s only child. She is devasted. When the get a knock on the door. There is a woman Kimberley on the doorstep with a child in her arms, claiming to be Josh girlfriend and Samuel her son is Josh’s son. They are surprised as anything as Josh never mentioned her before he died. Cassie has reservations about Kimberley. But Adam sympathises with Kimberley, worming her way into the family. Cassie tries to confide her doubts to Adam, but he thinks that it’s all her head and that Cassie is ill as, she has had some mental health problems in the past.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of The New girlfriend. This is a twisty thriller with many POV’s, but unlikeable characters. To me they all had their own agenda’s. I did like the idea of this story, but I thought in the last third of the book it got a bit confusing and thought that Cassie and Adam were quite gullible in the terms of Kimberley. Three stars from me.
Cassie and Stepfather Adam are still getting over their sons’ Josh’s death in a tragic accident. Josh is Cassie’s only child. She is devasted. When the get a knock on the door. There is a woman Kimberley on the doorstep with a child in her arms, claiming to be Josh girlfriend and Samuel her son is Josh’s son. They are surprised as anything as Josh never mentioned her before he died. Cassie has reservations about Kimberley. But Adam sympathises with Kimberley, worming her way into the family. Cassie tries to confide her doubts to Adam, but he thinks that it’s all her head and that Cassie is ill as, she has had some mental health problems in the past.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of The New girlfriend. This is a twisty thriller with many POV’s, but unlikeable characters. To me they all had their own agenda’s. I did like the idea of this story, but I thought in the last third of the book it got a bit confusing and thought that Cassie and Adam were quite gullible in the terms of Kimberley. Three stars from me.
August 4, 2020
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Sheryl Browne's latest thriller THE NEW GIRLFRIEND.
I had one word to describe this book upon finishing it - WOW! What a ride! OK, so that's four, but WOW! was definitely the primary emotion...if it could be described as such. Honestly, this book has to be Sheryl's best by far. It is certainly the best I have read, of which have been the last four she's released. It puts her up there with the likes of Shalini Boland and Kim Slater, both of whom are my favourite go-to authors. But after this...so is Sheryl. But then again, I've always enjoyed her very twisted tales. I've just enjoyed this one so much more.
Cassie has a seemingly perfect life married to Adam but that illusion is shattered when a tragic incident occurs, resulting in her beloved son Josh's death. Now Cassie struggles with her grief, regrets and coming to terms with the events surrounding his death. Josh, whilst on the phone at the time, had fallen from a train platform but Cassie and Adam do not believe it was suicide, as the authorities had determined. Then at his funeral, Cassie catches a glimpse of a heavily pregnant woman at a distance but when she turns to speak to her, the woman has gone.
Four weeks later on the day of what would have been Josh's 24th birthday, Cassie opens the door to a young woman with striking red hair and a baby in her arms. Enter Kim and baby Samuel. The baby, Kim says, is their grandson. Cassie knows immediately that this is the woman she saw at Josh's funeral. But is the baby really Josh's? One look at baby Samuel gave them their answer as he was the spitting image of Josh at that age.
But who is Kim? And why have they never met her, let alone heard of her? If Josh was as serious about Kim as she says they were, surely he would have mentioned her to them. Despite there being a rift between Josh and his mother at the time, Josh surely would have confided in Adam as the two were incredibly close. Now Adam is worried that Kim may be after something or scamming them. After all, she is but a stranger. But Cassie doesn't agree. She is overjoyed that there is a tiny part of Josh left for her to care for.
Despite her husband's misgivings, they welcome Kim into their home and their lives. And that's when things begin to unravel. Cassie starts receiving threatening texts alluding to a secret from her past that, if exposed, would destroy her marriage and her world. Desperate to keep those skeletons locked firmly in her closet, Cassie attempts to hunt down the person she believes responsible. But what is she going to do when she tracks them down?
Pushing the past from her mind, Cassie focuses on baby Samuel and begins to buy up every baby item known to man to furnish their spare room with as well as the new cottage Kim has just moved into. With a few things in disrepair in her new place, Adam offers his services and building knowledge to fix all that needs repairing. But in the process, the gap between Cassie and Adam widens as the texts become more frequent and Cassie becomes consumed with obsession, paranoia and anxiety. She believes that Adam and Kim are becoming too close and that she can see Kim for what she really is, drawing Adam into her tangled web. But is Kim who she says she is? Or is Cassie just becoming paranoid? Is Kim the innocent victim she claims to be or is she a clever manipulator? With secrets and lies at stake and the two women vowing to protect them at all costs, who will become the biggest loser when all is revealed?
This addictive tale is written in the alternate narratives of Cassie and Kim - two complex women who are both strong willed and determined. Neither woman will back down in their own personal quests leaving the reader questioning their true motives. Are Cassie and Kim both who they appear to be? Or are they hiding deeper darker secrets? Both women are clearly unhinged, begging the question are they then responsible for their behaviour and, ultimately, their actions resulting from said behaviour? And what of Adam? Where did he fit into all this? Was he really the rare breed of man we don't often see, a genuine nice guy? Or was that just a facade as well? With a couple of chapters in Adam's voice and a few by a woman called Jemma, the reader is given pause to wonder how much of the picture are we actually being given? Are these just red herrings? Is everything a subterfuge? Is anyone who they appear to be in this book?
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND is compelling and addictive from start to finish. It is fast paced throughout, never letting up in this gripping tale of secrets, lies and maniuplation. The characters were brilliantly developed, even if unreliable as narrators but that just adds to the complexities of the story.
I cannot rave enough about this book, which I think is Sheryl's best so far to date (that I've read, mind you). From the shocking prologue to the startling end, THE NEW GIRLFRIEND is a psychological and domestic thriller like no other. It was completely addictive and I could not put it down!
If you haven't read Sheryl Browne before, I urge you to do so. Her tales have a twisted perspective and an array of unreliable characters, some of whom you love to hate. But this one takes the cake! THE NEW GIRLFRIEND puts Sheryl up there with the likes of domestic thriller queen of the killer twist Shalini Boland and Kim Slater.
Overall, a very very enjoyable read and very very highly recommended!
I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNewGirlfriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I had one word to describe this book upon finishing it - WOW! What a ride! OK, so that's four, but WOW! was definitely the primary emotion...if it could be described as such. Honestly, this book has to be Sheryl's best by far. It is certainly the best I have read, of which have been the last four she's released. It puts her up there with the likes of Shalini Boland and Kim Slater, both of whom are my favourite go-to authors. But after this...so is Sheryl. But then again, I've always enjoyed her very twisted tales. I've just enjoyed this one so much more.
Cassie has a seemingly perfect life married to Adam but that illusion is shattered when a tragic incident occurs, resulting in her beloved son Josh's death. Now Cassie struggles with her grief, regrets and coming to terms with the events surrounding his death. Josh, whilst on the phone at the time, had fallen from a train platform but Cassie and Adam do not believe it was suicide, as the authorities had determined. Then at his funeral, Cassie catches a glimpse of a heavily pregnant woman at a distance but when she turns to speak to her, the woman has gone.
Four weeks later on the day of what would have been Josh's 24th birthday, Cassie opens the door to a young woman with striking red hair and a baby in her arms. Enter Kim and baby Samuel. The baby, Kim says, is their grandson. Cassie knows immediately that this is the woman she saw at Josh's funeral. But is the baby really Josh's? One look at baby Samuel gave them their answer as he was the spitting image of Josh at that age.
But who is Kim? And why have they never met her, let alone heard of her? If Josh was as serious about Kim as she says they were, surely he would have mentioned her to them. Despite there being a rift between Josh and his mother at the time, Josh surely would have confided in Adam as the two were incredibly close. Now Adam is worried that Kim may be after something or scamming them. After all, she is but a stranger. But Cassie doesn't agree. She is overjoyed that there is a tiny part of Josh left for her to care for.
Despite her husband's misgivings, they welcome Kim into their home and their lives. And that's when things begin to unravel. Cassie starts receiving threatening texts alluding to a secret from her past that, if exposed, would destroy her marriage and her world. Desperate to keep those skeletons locked firmly in her closet, Cassie attempts to hunt down the person she believes responsible. But what is she going to do when she tracks them down?
Pushing the past from her mind, Cassie focuses on baby Samuel and begins to buy up every baby item known to man to furnish their spare room with as well as the new cottage Kim has just moved into. With a few things in disrepair in her new place, Adam offers his services and building knowledge to fix all that needs repairing. But in the process, the gap between Cassie and Adam widens as the texts become more frequent and Cassie becomes consumed with obsession, paranoia and anxiety. She believes that Adam and Kim are becoming too close and that she can see Kim for what she really is, drawing Adam into her tangled web. But is Kim who she says she is? Or is Cassie just becoming paranoid? Is Kim the innocent victim she claims to be or is she a clever manipulator? With secrets and lies at stake and the two women vowing to protect them at all costs, who will become the biggest loser when all is revealed?
This addictive tale is written in the alternate narratives of Cassie and Kim - two complex women who are both strong willed and determined. Neither woman will back down in their own personal quests leaving the reader questioning their true motives. Are Cassie and Kim both who they appear to be? Or are they hiding deeper darker secrets? Both women are clearly unhinged, begging the question are they then responsible for their behaviour and, ultimately, their actions resulting from said behaviour? And what of Adam? Where did he fit into all this? Was he really the rare breed of man we don't often see, a genuine nice guy? Or was that just a facade as well? With a couple of chapters in Adam's voice and a few by a woman called Jemma, the reader is given pause to wonder how much of the picture are we actually being given? Are these just red herrings? Is everything a subterfuge? Is anyone who they appear to be in this book?
THE NEW GIRLFRIEND is compelling and addictive from start to finish. It is fast paced throughout, never letting up in this gripping tale of secrets, lies and maniuplation. The characters were brilliantly developed, even if unreliable as narrators but that just adds to the complexities of the story.
I cannot rave enough about this book, which I think is Sheryl's best so far to date (that I've read, mind you). From the shocking prologue to the startling end, THE NEW GIRLFRIEND is a psychological and domestic thriller like no other. It was completely addictive and I could not put it down!
If you haven't read Sheryl Browne before, I urge you to do so. Her tales have a twisted perspective and an array of unreliable characters, some of whom you love to hate. But this one takes the cake! THE NEW GIRLFRIEND puts Sheryl up there with the likes of domestic thriller queen of the killer twist Shalini Boland and Kim Slater.
Overall, a very very enjoyable read and very very highly recommended!
I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNewGirlfriend in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 5, 2020
Skillfully drawn characters are showcased amid a well-plotted narrative. Twists and turns, lies and secrets, kept me glued to this thriller from the very first page to the very last amazingly surprising conclusion.
Cassie and her husband, Adam buried their son, Josh, a few months ago. Today a strange woman is at their door introducing not only herself, but the baby she is holding as her son's child.
But as Cassie tries to bond with the baby, she starts receiving threatening messages from someone in her past ... someone she's been hiding from for a very long time. Cassie is terrified that if her secret comes out, she will lose her husband, her home, everything including her precious grandson.
As the messages get more sinister, Cassie realizes the person behind them knows every detail about her life and she fears that she is being watched.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Cassie and her husband, Adam buried their son, Josh, a few months ago. Today a strange woman is at their door introducing not only herself, but the baby she is holding as her son's child.
But as Cassie tries to bond with the baby, she starts receiving threatening messages from someone in her past ... someone she's been hiding from for a very long time. Cassie is terrified that if her secret comes out, she will lose her husband, her home, everything including her precious grandson.
As the messages get more sinister, Cassie realizes the person behind them knows every detail about her life and she fears that she is being watched.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 19, 2020
I found the events in this book quite surprising, in the sense of ''My God, how, but most importantly WHY, would she come up with that!''. It was such a mess, and I have to say, I don't care for messes at all, in general. I love my structure and I'm proud of that. However, I'm going to give this one 2 stars rather than 1. I have to consider giving her A for effort, just in case it was really her intention to write such a mess. You never know!
August 5, 2020
WHAT. THE. FREAK. I tell ya author Sheryl Browne has evil synapses in her brain cells. She could twist a simple scene with her words, making it convoluted, wicked, and all time shivery. I kept swaying like a pendulum. To believe or not to believe the characters…
It was a simple straightforward story. Josh died on the tracks. His parents Cassie and Adam were heartbroken. On their doorstep stood a woman with a child claiming him to be Josh’s son. That started the story…
Having read all books by this author, I could see how far she had come. Evil came in various forms, and one of them was Sheryl Browne. She gave me unreliable characters, really weird ones, who appeared nice, but I was never sure of them. Then she gave me a plot which inverted over itself midway. The one I liked became the one I was scared of. Then she gave me reveals, not those tiny ones, but huge earth shaking…err…book-shaking ones.
The book would change directions frequently. I was kept on the back foot the whole time, not knowing what was happening. There were parts I guessed, rather I hoped the author would write in. And I was blown away when I was right… I think I would make a cool wicked character.
Suspense kept the prose flowing and secrets made it more intriguing. The story never let up until the last line when truth was revealed to me at last. It was not the characters but the author who had given in to the darkness within. Damn! A shiver sure coursed down my back as a strand of my hair caressed my cheek. Sheryl, pun intended.
Wicked… Wicked… Wicked!!
It was a simple straightforward story. Josh died on the tracks. His parents Cassie and Adam were heartbroken. On their doorstep stood a woman with a child claiming him to be Josh’s son. That started the story…
Having read all books by this author, I could see how far she had come. Evil came in various forms, and one of them was Sheryl Browne. She gave me unreliable characters, really weird ones, who appeared nice, but I was never sure of them. Then she gave me a plot which inverted over itself midway. The one I liked became the one I was scared of. Then she gave me reveals, not those tiny ones, but huge earth shaking…err…book-shaking ones.
The book would change directions frequently. I was kept on the back foot the whole time, not knowing what was happening. There were parts I guessed, rather I hoped the author would write in. And I was blown away when I was right… I think I would make a cool wicked character.
Suspense kept the prose flowing and secrets made it more intriguing. The story never let up until the last line when truth was revealed to me at last. It was not the characters but the author who had given in to the darkness within. Damn! A shiver sure coursed down my back as a strand of my hair caressed my cheek. Sheryl, pun intended.
Wicked… Wicked… Wicked!!
August 4, 2020
Cassie feels as if she's lost all hope. Her only son, Josh, has died and she is simply trying to hold on. Previously, Cassie had dealt with a serious illness so she often wonders if her husband Adam will stay around. They never had children together, and although Adam was a wonderful stepfather to Josh, now that he is gone, she worries as to what is left for her and Adam.
She gets the surprise of her life, however, when a young woman she briefly saw at Josh's funeral shows up on her doorstep with a young baby in tow. Not only does the woman, Kim, tell her that the Josh was the father, baby Samuel is the spitting image of Josh. Then, she said the two recently became engaged! Who is the girl, and why had Josh never mentioned her? Cassie hardly has time to think about that. She now has something to live for - a connection to Josh! And just maybe her insecurities concerning Adam will go away.
Meanwhile, a lot of matters begin to come to light. First of all, Josh's death was suspicious. Also, Kim seems more than a bit off. What is more is that Cassie has a huge secret she has kept hidden for years. She is now getting notes and such that talk about her "lie". What lie is this? What does it have to do with her, Josh and Adam? Also, why is she now being haunted now that Josh is dead and Kim has shown up?
Let me tell you, this book was a whopper! Without spoiling the book I just want to say that my head was spinning when it came to Kim. But she was not the only one. So, the question comes to mind: who can the reader trust in this story - Cassie, Kim, Adam, or even Josh? With the various points of view, even those of Josh before he died, let's just say that this story is filled with shocking twists that kept me tapping my Kindle from beginning to end. I love when I can get behind the motivations of characters, and then trying to sort out whether or not they are redeemable.
I have read several books by Sheryl Browne, and whenever one of her books comes up for review, it is an easy Yes. I always know that I am going to be taken on a wild ride. She definitely succeeded with The New Girlfriend. I can't wait to see what she next has in store for her readers.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
She gets the surprise of her life, however, when a young woman she briefly saw at Josh's funeral shows up on her doorstep with a young baby in tow. Not only does the woman, Kim, tell her that the Josh was the father, baby Samuel is the spitting image of Josh. Then, she said the two recently became engaged! Who is the girl, and why had Josh never mentioned her? Cassie hardly has time to think about that. She now has something to live for - a connection to Josh! And just maybe her insecurities concerning Adam will go away.
Meanwhile, a lot of matters begin to come to light. First of all, Josh's death was suspicious. Also, Kim seems more than a bit off. What is more is that Cassie has a huge secret she has kept hidden for years. She is now getting notes and such that talk about her "lie". What lie is this? What does it have to do with her, Josh and Adam? Also, why is she now being haunted now that Josh is dead and Kim has shown up?
Let me tell you, this book was a whopper! Without spoiling the book I just want to say that my head was spinning when it came to Kim. But she was not the only one. So, the question comes to mind: who can the reader trust in this story - Cassie, Kim, Adam, or even Josh? With the various points of view, even those of Josh before he died, let's just say that this story is filled with shocking twists that kept me tapping my Kindle from beginning to end. I love when I can get behind the motivations of characters, and then trying to sort out whether or not they are redeemable.
I have read several books by Sheryl Browne, and whenever one of her books comes up for review, it is an easy Yes. I always know that I am going to be taken on a wild ride. She definitely succeeded with The New Girlfriend. I can't wait to see what she next has in store for her readers.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
December 23, 2020
The New Girlfriend was a gripping book for the most part, then it just went & got all predictable. The book began with a compelling chapter & kept the tension going for quite some time. I loved that sense of foreboding that keeps you turning the pages furiously. However, I lost interest at the point Cassie started making repeated illogical choices borne out of knee-jerk reactions. Which is also why I found the ending very surprising! The end was sinisterly good & kind of made up for the interest I lost during the course of the book.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Sheryl Browne for an arc!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Sheryl Browne for an arc!
August 2, 2020
Cassie's seemingly perfect life had recently been shattered into a million pieces when a tragic incident had resulted in the death of her beloved son Josh.
Struggling with her feelings of grief, regret and the age old question What if? Cassie is shocked when a pretty young women called Kim appears on her doorstep with a young baby who she insists is Josh's son..
Overjoyed to still have a tiny part of her son to take care of, Cassie and her husband Adam welcome the mysterious stranger into their home and their lives.
But after Cassie starts receiving threatening text messages her mind becomes consumed with feelings of obsession, paranoia and anxiety.
The more out of control her behaviour becomes, the wider the gap between her and Adam becomes. Are Adam and Kim becoming too close?. Is he cheating on her? Is Kim the innocent victim she pretends to be or is she a clever manipulator with a end game that only she knows about? Who will be the biggest loser when all the secrets and lies are eventually revealed?
This captivating tale is written mainly from the perspectives of Cassie and Kim, two complex, strong willed ladies who both suffered from various mental health issues. These issues raised some important questions, how much control did they actually have over their actions and behaviour? is our behaviour and the way we bring up our own children influenced in any way by our own upbringing? And did those issues influence how the reader felt about their characters? Were Cassie's actions and behaviour understandable and dare I say it, in a couple instances justifiable? There was some chapters that were voiced from the perspective of poor, loveable Adam appeared to be one of the rare breed of male that you don't find very often in the fiction world, a genuine nice guy, but was he as nice as he appeared or had I been cleverly manipulated into believing that he was something that he really wasnt? .Interspersed throughout the story was chapters that slipped back in time and took the reader through the events leading up to Josh's death. There was also chapters that were voiced from the perspective of a character called Jenna but who was she and how did she fit into the story?I
I love Sheryl Browne's thrillers and The New Girlfriend was no exception, it is a incredibly well written page turner,a gripping tale of secrets, lies and manipulation that as always had me hooked in from the first page. The characters were vivid, well rounded and relatable, there was some unexpected twists and turns and a spine chilling, shocking conclusion that had just a tiny dash of situational irony. Sheryl Browne is very talented and one of my favourite author's. A very very enjoyable read and very very highly recommended.
Struggling with her feelings of grief, regret and the age old question What if? Cassie is shocked when a pretty young women called Kim appears on her doorstep with a young baby who she insists is Josh's son..
Overjoyed to still have a tiny part of her son to take care of, Cassie and her husband Adam welcome the mysterious stranger into their home and their lives.
But after Cassie starts receiving threatening text messages her mind becomes consumed with feelings of obsession, paranoia and anxiety.
The more out of control her behaviour becomes, the wider the gap between her and Adam becomes. Are Adam and Kim becoming too close?. Is he cheating on her? Is Kim the innocent victim she pretends to be or is she a clever manipulator with a end game that only she knows about? Who will be the biggest loser when all the secrets and lies are eventually revealed?
This captivating tale is written mainly from the perspectives of Cassie and Kim, two complex, strong willed ladies who both suffered from various mental health issues. These issues raised some important questions, how much control did they actually have over their actions and behaviour? is our behaviour and the way we bring up our own children influenced in any way by our own upbringing? And did those issues influence how the reader felt about their characters? Were Cassie's actions and behaviour understandable and dare I say it, in a couple instances justifiable? There was some chapters that were voiced from the perspective of poor, loveable Adam appeared to be one of the rare breed of male that you don't find very often in the fiction world, a genuine nice guy, but was he as nice as he appeared or had I been cleverly manipulated into believing that he was something that he really wasnt? .Interspersed throughout the story was chapters that slipped back in time and took the reader through the events leading up to Josh's death. There was also chapters that were voiced from the perspective of a character called Jenna but who was she and how did she fit into the story?I
I love Sheryl Browne's thrillers and The New Girlfriend was no exception, it is a incredibly well written page turner,a gripping tale of secrets, lies and manipulation that as always had me hooked in from the first page. The characters were vivid, well rounded and relatable, there was some unexpected twists and turns and a spine chilling, shocking conclusion that had just a tiny dash of situational irony. Sheryl Browne is very talented and one of my favourite author's. A very very enjoyable read and very very highly recommended.
November 24, 2020
Psychological Thrillers / Women's Fiction / Contemporary
Publication date : August 3, 2020
Prologue of THE NEW GIRLFRIEND was dramatic and sad as we witness Josh's last moments. Then the story switch to Josh's grieving mother Cassandra. Cassie's husband Adam is there for her but she struggle to go on with her life. One day she opens the door and find there a strange woman and a baby. The strange woman claims that she's Josh's girlfriend and the baby is Josh's son. Cassie is surprised because she hasn't heard anything about this new girlfriend nor the baby. The baby looks so much like Josh, so she want to get to know him. Adam is more doubtful of the stranger and suspicious of her sudden appearance.
Started off well but it was pretty tiring to follow the story as it started to switch between different narrators (Cassie, Kim, Josh, Jemma, Adam) and timelines. I hate the way we are constantly hinted at some events and secrets but its unclear what they are. Instead of building suspense and tension, holding back information become tiresome and nuisance.
I'm dissapointed that non of the female characters are interesting or likeable. Cassie should have been symphatetic protagonist but it was difficult to feel for her grief when it was not clear what secret she was hiding or if she had something to do with Josh's death. I prefer books where author make the reader care about the characters, especially the main one, but in this one they all sounded shady and guilty of something. With so many characters you really won't get to know any of them and there is not much character development.
If you enjoy stories with secrets, lies, deception and won't mind flawed and crazy characters, then here's another story to add to your reading list.
Publication date : August 3, 2020
Prologue of THE NEW GIRLFRIEND was dramatic and sad as we witness Josh's last moments. Then the story switch to Josh's grieving mother Cassandra. Cassie's husband Adam is there for her but she struggle to go on with her life. One day she opens the door and find there a strange woman and a baby. The strange woman claims that she's Josh's girlfriend and the baby is Josh's son. Cassie is surprised because she hasn't heard anything about this new girlfriend nor the baby. The baby looks so much like Josh, so she want to get to know him. Adam is more doubtful of the stranger and suspicious of her sudden appearance.
Started off well but it was pretty tiring to follow the story as it started to switch between different narrators (Cassie, Kim, Josh, Jemma, Adam) and timelines. I hate the way we are constantly hinted at some events and secrets but its unclear what they are. Instead of building suspense and tension, holding back information become tiresome and nuisance.
I'm dissapointed that non of the female characters are interesting or likeable. Cassie should have been symphatetic protagonist but it was difficult to feel for her grief when it was not clear what secret she was hiding or if she had something to do with Josh's death. I prefer books where author make the reader care about the characters, especially the main one, but in this one they all sounded shady and guilty of something. With so many characters you really won't get to know any of them and there is not much character development.
If you enjoy stories with secrets, lies, deception and won't mind flawed and crazy characters, then here's another story to add to your reading list.
August 4, 2020
This, my fourth novel by the talented author Sheryl Browne was as absorbing and exhilarating as the previous ones, including The Marriage Trap and The Perfect Sister.
In The New Girlfriend the reader is privy to an exciting and intriguing prologue that hooked me in immediately. I was introduced to Cassie, who opens her front door one day to a young woman named Kim, claiming to be Cassie's recently deceased son's girlfriend. But Kim is not alone - she has baby Samuel in her arms. Still grieving for Josh, Cassie's overjoyed when Kim announces that Samuel is Josh's son, but then, as she starts to receive threats, Cassie is terrified that her long-held secrets are about to be uncovered...
The New Girlfriend is a brilliant and cracking story with a solid fast-paced plot, together with shedloads of mystery and drama. A psychological thriller full of secrets, no one escaped this story unscathed and the excitement and twists that I didn't predict made this novel interesting and unexpected. The chapters were short and snappy, giving me a dreadful case of just one more chapter syndrome. The different strands in this cleverly written, complex story eventually came together at the end. The unique way with the narrative that Sheryl Browne possesses made this hair-raising and enthralling story stand out from many of the others in this genre.
Thanks Sheryl Browne for this fantastic book!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
In The New Girlfriend the reader is privy to an exciting and intriguing prologue that hooked me in immediately. I was introduced to Cassie, who opens her front door one day to a young woman named Kim, claiming to be Cassie's recently deceased son's girlfriend. But Kim is not alone - she has baby Samuel in her arms. Still grieving for Josh, Cassie's overjoyed when Kim announces that Samuel is Josh's son, but then, as she starts to receive threats, Cassie is terrified that her long-held secrets are about to be uncovered...
The New Girlfriend is a brilliant and cracking story with a solid fast-paced plot, together with shedloads of mystery and drama. A psychological thriller full of secrets, no one escaped this story unscathed and the excitement and twists that I didn't predict made this novel interesting and unexpected. The chapters were short and snappy, giving me a dreadful case of just one more chapter syndrome. The different strands in this cleverly written, complex story eventually came together at the end. The unique way with the narrative that Sheryl Browne possesses made this hair-raising and enthralling story stand out from many of the others in this genre.
Thanks Sheryl Browne for this fantastic book!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 3, 2020
Oh my goodness this book. I felt that I had entered crazy town and was looking for a sign that said beware all ye who enter here. My head was close to exploding with all the shenanigans going on.
Cassie is deep in grief and pushing away her patient husband Adam after the tragic loss of her son Josh. She is becoming obsessive and neurotic and strange texts are escalating her paranoia.
Then Kim enters their lives with baby Samuel who she claims to be Josh’s and that they were in love.
This is when the crazy really ramps up and you as a reader learn little snippets of information regarding all the characters from varying perspectives. My brain was scrambled trying to figure it all out alongside Cassie and was she even really a reliable narrator? Truthfully I didn’t know what to think or who to trust and that is the genius with this book.
Perfect for armchair detectives as there are clues carefully hidden for you to decipher and when all is revealed you will grin with admiration at the way things were cleverly concealed. The only thing I have left to say is to the author, that epilogue wow it knocked my little socks off.
Cassie is deep in grief and pushing away her patient husband Adam after the tragic loss of her son Josh. She is becoming obsessive and neurotic and strange texts are escalating her paranoia.
Then Kim enters their lives with baby Samuel who she claims to be Josh’s and that they were in love.
This is when the crazy really ramps up and you as a reader learn little snippets of information regarding all the characters from varying perspectives. My brain was scrambled trying to figure it all out alongside Cassie and was she even really a reliable narrator? Truthfully I didn’t know what to think or who to trust and that is the genius with this book.
Perfect for armchair detectives as there are clues carefully hidden for you to decipher and when all is revealed you will grin with admiration at the way things were cleverly concealed. The only thing I have left to say is to the author, that epilogue wow it knocked my little socks off.
July 5, 2020
this author never disappoint her readers very twisty mind Josh falls in front of a train police say suicide but his mum and step dad think not Josh is in love with a woman he cant have . then he meets Kimberley on the train who so wants him for her own Adam Josh stepdad does not know if to trust Kimberley when she turns up on there doorstep with Josh s baby boy this story is about lies deceit and secrets a must read
Merged review:
this author never disappoint her readers very twisty mind Josh falls in front of a train police say suicide but his mum and step dad think not Josh is in love with a woman he cant have . then he meets Kimberley on the train who so wants him for her own Adam Josh stepdad does not know if to trust Kimberley when she turns up on there doorstep with Josh s baby boy this story is about lies deceit and secrets a must read
Merged review:
this author never disappoint her readers very twisty mind Josh falls in front of a train police say suicide but his mum and step dad think not Josh is in love with a woman he cant have . then he meets Kimberley on the train who so wants him for her own Adam Josh stepdad does not know if to trust Kimberley when she turns up on there doorstep with Josh s baby boy this story is about lies deceit and secrets a must read
July 30, 2020
This is a great psychological thriller that had me racing through the pages.
Cassie and Adam are still grieving following the death of their son, Josh. A few weeks after the funeral a young girl turns up on their doorstep with a newborn baby and says Josh is the father.
Cassie and Adam are suspicious at first but soon realise they need to get to know Kim so they can see their grandson.
Kim is a strange character who I immediately disliked and even more so as the story is revealed about her relationship with Josh.
Cassie is vulnerable as she’s still deeply grieving for her son and Kim exploits this.
This is quite a complex psychological thriller especially at the end when the truth comes out from all different angles.
A great read that will definitely have you hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Cassie and Adam are still grieving following the death of their son, Josh. A few weeks after the funeral a young girl turns up on their doorstep with a newborn baby and says Josh is the father.
Cassie and Adam are suspicious at first but soon realise they need to get to know Kim so they can see their grandson.
Kim is a strange character who I immediately disliked and even more so as the story is revealed about her relationship with Josh.
Cassie is vulnerable as she’s still deeply grieving for her son and Kim exploits this.
This is quite a complex psychological thriller especially at the end when the truth comes out from all different angles.
A great read that will definitely have you hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 11, 2020
3.8
A nice enough twisty thriller. Glad to have read it.
A nice enough twisty thriller. Glad to have read it.
August 3, 2020
If you're a fan of Claire McGowan and Lisa Jewell, The New Girlfriend could be for you...
When Joshua dies suddenly in a tragic accident, his parents, Cassie and Adam, are left behind trying to comprehend the sudden loss of their only son. In the wake of Josh's death, Kimberley turns up on Cassie and Adam's doorstep claiming she is Josh's girlfriend and that the baby in her arms is his son. Cassie and Adam are stunned at this revelation and left wondering why Josh never mentioned his pregnant girlfriend to them. Soon after this, Cassie starts to receive texts from an unknown person saying they know her biggest secret. With everything that is happening, Cassie is left worrying about the stability of her relationship and future.
Will Cassie be exposed? Is she the only one keeping dangerous secrets? Was her son's death an accident?
I won't say anything more about the book's plot for fear of giving anything away 🤐
From the start, Sheryl Browne had me fully invested in all of the characters, feeling all that they felt in full force - it is rare for a book to make me feel such strong emotions within the first two chapters! The book is written from several points of view, and skips between the past and present, so we get a thorough breakdown of the story as told by each character. I also felt strongly towards the characters, whether that be sympathy or disgust, Sheryl Browne really does know how to evoke emotions and reactions in her readers. Having said this, I do feel that the plot wasn't as strong as the character development and was a bit slow in parts, but I think that the plot's faults are redeemed by the well-written characters. This is the first book of Sheryl Browne's I have read, but I will definitely be checking out her other books!
*I received this book as a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
When Joshua dies suddenly in a tragic accident, his parents, Cassie and Adam, are left behind trying to comprehend the sudden loss of their only son. In the wake of Josh's death, Kimberley turns up on Cassie and Adam's doorstep claiming she is Josh's girlfriend and that the baby in her arms is his son. Cassie and Adam are stunned at this revelation and left wondering why Josh never mentioned his pregnant girlfriend to them. Soon after this, Cassie starts to receive texts from an unknown person saying they know her biggest secret. With everything that is happening, Cassie is left worrying about the stability of her relationship and future.
Will Cassie be exposed? Is she the only one keeping dangerous secrets? Was her son's death an accident?
I won't say anything more about the book's plot for fear of giving anything away 🤐
From the start, Sheryl Browne had me fully invested in all of the characters, feeling all that they felt in full force - it is rare for a book to make me feel such strong emotions within the first two chapters! The book is written from several points of view, and skips between the past and present, so we get a thorough breakdown of the story as told by each character. I also felt strongly towards the characters, whether that be sympathy or disgust, Sheryl Browne really does know how to evoke emotions and reactions in her readers. Having said this, I do feel that the plot wasn't as strong as the character development and was a bit slow in parts, but I think that the plot's faults are redeemed by the well-written characters. This is the first book of Sheryl Browne's I have read, but I will definitely be checking out her other books!
*I received this book as a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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