Samantha Downing is a thriller queen!!! I never know where her story will take me, but I know it will shock me and thrill me! This thriller has romance and domestic drama but every bit of it keeps you intrigued! 5/5🤩

Two twisted love birds hide a deadly secret in Samantha Downing’s new psychological thriller, a TWISTED LOVE STORY.

As an avid fan of MY LOVELY WIFE and HE STARTED IT, I had high expectations for this latest. Downing has such a unique style—a proclivity for dramatic flair that’s made her stories diabolically fun to read. Unfortunately, I had a tough time getting through this one.

We meet Wes and Ivy, whose relationship is undeniably twisted and toxic. From rages of jealousy and calculated vengeance to grand gestures and inseparability, their relationship swings between love and catastrophic breakups. They are unlikeable as people and impossible to relate to in their madness. Those characteristics, however, were not the issue for me.

Wes and Ivy share a dark secret—one that left a person dead. That secret begins to unravel in the story, and this is where I struggled. I had hoped this central fulcrum would raise the stakes of what was feeling like monotonous pacing, but that never happened. I read it all the way through, and it was clever in parts, but this just wasn’t one I loved unfortunately. Hoping this was just a slip in her repertoire.

Another twisty Samantha Downing for your reading pleasure! I liked this one, great characters and it kept me guessing!

This book was intriguing, it kept me wanting more. The characters were so toxic, they definitely didn’t belong together. The entire store was the characters making a mountain out of a molehill and ignoring the true problem, themselves. It was a good read, Downing’s writing is engaging as always. It wasn’t my favorite but it was definitely worth the read.

Thank you so much @BerkleyPub for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 18 July 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Ivy & Wes have a toxic on-again / off-again relationship spanning 10 years & whilst their passion runs high, so does their tempers. Ivy goes to the police after receiving multiple creepy notes & gifts naming Wes as a potential suspect to look into, however the police detective begins to uncover a lot more about their past.

WHAT I LIKED:
- gripping writing that kept me turning the pages
- multiple POVs to drive the story forward

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- whilst I was originally invested in Ivy & Wes's relationship I quickly found their drama to be repetitive & tiresome
- considering their relationship is described as "twisted", I actually found a lot of their mind games pretty tame & dare I say boring
- severely lacking explanations, far too many coincidences & a very convenient ending
- another book with a whole host of unlikeable characters

Much like Downing’s 2019 release “My Lovely Wife,” this book is filled with unlikable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing. Even if you think you know how it will end (and there are plenty of clues to point you in the right direction) the last 20% of this book will surprise you. I wanted a bit more resolution in the end but that’s not a deal breaker for me. This is a compelling thriller that I think some readers will struggle with due to the main characters and how awful they are.

There are a few authors whose distinctive writing styles have left an impression on me, and among them is Samantha Downing. Once again, the reigning queen of twisted relationships has created characters with hidden depths to their cunning intentions that enthrall me from start to finish.

Ivy and Wes's relationship captivated me with their cunning wit that had me laughing out loud and their skillful manipulation that had me on my toes trying to figure out what they would do next. Their dynamic is like a tornado that you can’t run from, pulling those around them into their messy whirlwind of deceit. Samthana delves into the complexity of Ivy and Wes's relationship, opening up questions about what constitutes toxicity within a relationship. She has all those exciting elements of obsession, manipulation, vengefulness, and deception in love at play. She creates plenty of suspense about what might constitute as toxic in their relationship as she drops those clues that come together in that unexpected way she is known for, delivering a satisfying payoff that had me thinking about it well after I finished.

A traveling friend read that gave us plenty to talk about.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

3.5 stars

This was all about the secondary characters for me!

Wes and Ivy have a heavy history. Their relationship has been on and off again for years and they can’t seem to give each other up. Their relationship drama takes twisted to a whole new level in this shocking and binge-worthy story.

I think there is a sense of connection that many readers will find in having been in relationships that have tested us, changed us and/or made us question if it was worth staying. This relatability will speak to many and these drama filled pages will keep the reader curious about how things will play out.

The secondary characters were far more appealing than the main characters for me. The secondary characters add tension and suspense to the storyline that really pull the plot forward. I loved what they added to the novel and that it was multilayered in the narrative.

The first half was much stronger than the second half. I didn’t like the main characters but was satisfied with following them along on their dramatic journey in the first half of the story. After the halfway point, I felt the relationship drama became repetitive causing my investment and connection to lessen. There were also several over the top plot points near the end that felt overdone to me.

I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. I am definitely the outlier as there are countless 4-5 star raving reviews so please check those out!

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

I requested this eARC because I've heard good things about Samantha Downing's other books, and a psychological thriller about a toxic relationship seemed intriguing. I disliked all of the characters here--especially Ivy and Wes--but Downing's ability to parcel out aspects of the plot is strong enough to prompt me to keep reading to find out what happened. After a while, though, the mind games and crimes started to wear thin and become less interesting; while there are some small twists, I expected more daring ones. The culprit at the very end of the novel is also predictable.

This is a twisted book. Samantha Downing does it again as to bringing the twist to this one.
How far will you go for love. In this book we see just how far these characters will go.
The twist are crazy and the emotion in this book is high.
You love and hate the Main Characters through out the book.

I highly recommend this one

From the dedication of Twisted Love Story, it’s apparent that this is not going to be a story about love and respect between two people:
For the man who inspired this book
You're damn right I wrote about you

Samantha Downing is the queen of books about couples who are beyond troubled and Twisted Love Story is no exception.

Wes and Ivy are madly, deeply, and passionately obsessed with each other.
When things are going well, this devotion is amazing. When things are less than perfect, this devotion turns dark.

I was obsessed with this book during the first half. I loved the crazy that developed between Wes and Ivy as they alternated between love and revenge. The second half was less exciting for me and I had to push myself to finish.

Will Samantha ever let me down? So far that is a resounding no. Going on my shelf as another favorite this totally toxic love story is one for the books.

HOLY BINGE! I started this one on audio on my way to work and knew immediately I was going to be spending a good amount of my day trying to sneak read every chance I got.

This is my first Samantha Downing book and to say I am now a loyal fan, is an understatement! Her writing is captivating with the perfect amount of detail and anticipation. There is strong character development, my favorite, and short chapters that make this the perfect beach read.

Here’s another read that I do not want to give too much detail about as I went in blind and am so glad I did but the gist is, Ivy and Wes met in college and have been toxically dating on and off for ten years. There are highs and lows to their relationship, like all relationships, but the lows between Wes and Ivy are deadly. You will love the twists and turns and at first both were very unlikeable to me, but by the end I was weirdly rooting for them.

I also really enjoy the multiple points of view of the story and how much deeper this story is than just one about twisted love. You get to meet a pretty determined and sassy detective named Karen and where her story line goes was very intriguing.

I highly recommend the audio of this book as well. I transitioned back and forth with the physical and audio copy and Karissa Vacker’s narration was perfection. Definitely one of my favorite thrillers of the summer!

Wow! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning each page to see what happens next. Wes and Ivy are madly in love but the whole relationship is so toxic. Ivy will go to any length to destroy Wes. Both of these characters are carrying so much baggage and have been involved in some pretty sketchy things during the relationship. This book will make for a great book club read as the discussion questions will keep coming.

Thank you Berkley for the gifted copy of this book.

Samantha Downing has been an auto buy author for me since My Lovely Wife, and that won't change after this book. A Twisted Love Story wasn't my favorite, and in fact it took me way longer than usual to read it, but by the end I was racing through to find out what the HECK was happening!

Ivy and Wes have an on again off again relationship that is quite fiery. Yet, they can't seem to stay away from each other. Is it partly because of a secret they have about something that happened 7 years ago?

Karen Colglazier is a detective that is determined to keep Ivy and Wes apart. She thinks Wes is abusive, and spends her time investigating him and looking for something to nail him for.

Bianca is an admin in Wes's office, and is investigating him too. She's quite the nosy one, and once she catches wind that a detective is talking to Wes, she wants to know why.

So all these pieces start getting dropped on us as we read, and as we slowly start fitting everything together, the story increases in intensity and that's when I started racing to the end.

Well done, but I do prefer my thrillers to be faster paced with more "WHAT" moments. Still a good read and I will snap up her next book the second I hear it's available.

So, I finished this book so long ago and haven't written this review until now. A Twisted Love Story is a psychological thriller about a couple who revolves around toxic mind games with one another.

Wes and Ivy have been on and off for 10 years and have been playing endless mind games with one another time and time again. They break up and make up constantly. Until they past crimes with their mind games start to catch up to one another.

I was intrigued by the drama associated between Wes and Ivy in the beginning but then it was just too much and wanted it to be over already.

Downing has a talent for creating fascinating and complex dysfunctional characters. Ivy and Wes are also in this category. I found their games to be repetitive, over the top, and boring. The ending I felt was over the top and just fell flat for me.

This was probably one of the least favorite novels by Downing that I've read.

3/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 7/18/23
Published to GR: 8/5/23

Samantha Downing is one of my favorite contemporary writers for an easy, delicious thriller that doesn't take too much brain power to get through but certainly doesn't feel cheap or trite. This did not disappoint! A fascinating exploration of an unusual (to say the least) couple.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
A juicy, scandalous, and soap opera-ish psychological thriller that is skillfully entertaining. Samantha Downing is one of my fav authors! Everything I’ve read so far has been 5 stars. This one didn’t quite hit that mark, but it was highly entertaining!

Wes and Ivy are one of those toxic couples that can bring out the worst in each other but they also have terrific periods. They say you can’t help who you fall in love with and this couple is a perfect example! They’ve spent ten years in an intense and stormy on-and-off-again relationship. Doing anything to get the other’s attention.

During one of their splits, Ivy goes overboard with one of her attention-seeking stunts. She reports a stalker to the police and names Wes as a suspect. Her tactic works and they get back together. Unfortunately, the detective on her case, Karen, is very thorough at her job and good at spotting a victim. She’s sure Ivy is a victim that needs her help. She starts doing some digging that links Wes and Ivy to an unsolved case and their lives become more explosive.

It’s much more interesting to read about toxic relationships than watching them in real life. Ivy and Wes are so detestable, they’re almost likable. I couldn’t quit reading about this destructive relationship!

Sincere thanks to Berkley and PRH for providing this complimentary copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

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This was an exposé of some truly horrible people living very complicated lives and the police officer determined to catch them in their lies. It was fast-paced with lots of twists and turns but a little too intense and far-fetched at times.

I’ve known an unfortunately non-zero number of couples in toxic relationships, but reading Samantha Downing’s scintillating new novel is probably the closest I’ll ever get to figuring out why a couple who are clearly bad for each other decide to stay together. The worst (or perhaps best?) part of this book is how I was actually rooting for these crazy kids by the end of it all. I’m only glad that this is fiction so that I don’t feel worse about sympathizing with an unhealthily twisted love story.

Ivy and Wes met at a party in college. It wasn’t exactly a meet cute, and they kept breaking up and getting back together over the course of the decade that followed. They’ve actually been apart for a significant amount of time when Ivy decides that she’s had enough and goes to the cops, complaining that Wes is stalking her.

Detective Karen Colglazier catches the case. While there isn’t much that she can do besides give Wes a stern talking to, she’s found that that’s often enough to nip bad behavior in the bud. Unfortunately, she’s never gotten in the middle of a couple quite like Ivy and Wes before.

After Karen stops by his office to warn him off of stalking Ivy, Wes immediately gets in touch with his ex. Ivy has been expecting this, and the two quickly rekindle their torrid love affair. Even from the restart, they do little to be agreeable to one another. Ivy is, in fact, secretly pleased that Wes hasn’t changed from the contrarian, combative man she knows and loves:

QUOTE
Ever since she mentioned the beard thing, he has shaved every single day.

Good.

She would never tell him, but it would’ve been so disappointing if he had started growing a beard. Someone who does everything you say is too boring. Tedious. No backbone, no opinion–just following orders like a robot programmed to obey.

Not Wes. He never budged. Not once, not even when he was trying to make up for something else he had done.

She liked that. Until it annoyed her.
END QUOTE

So far, so typically volatile. But Ivy has made a terrible mistake in drawing police attention to her relationship with Wes, as Karen refuses to stay out of their business, uncovering secrets that the twosome would much prefer remain buried.

Karen is the kind of detective who stays in Sex Crimes because she genuinely cares about people who are or who have been the target of abuse. Even though she doesn’t need to, she stays in touch with the victims who come her way, providing them with what support she can. At the very least, she provides a sympathetic ear when they call her for help in dealing with their own terrible choices:

QUOTE
“I did it again,” he says. A tiny voice, like a child admitting he broke something. Darren is a thirty-six-year-old man who has obviously returned to Alaina, his girlfriend. For the third time. Staying out of an abusive relationship can be harder than getting out. [...]

Alaina doesn’t hit Darren. She is possessive, manipulative, degrading, and controlling–which is a problem, because most emotional abuse isn’t illegal. Even when it crosses the line, it’s hard to prove in criminal court. The DA won’t even try those cases, because making a jury understand the difference between something said in anger and a real threat isn’t easy. Alaina knows that.
END QUOTE

Convinced that Ivy is Wes’ victim just as much as Darren is Alaina’s, Karen becomes borderline obsessed with them. Unaware of Ivy’s active role in the toxic relationship, Karen decides that the only way she can help is by digging into Wes’ life and background. In her mind, if she can find something incriminating on him, she can use that to strong arm him away from Ivy. When a hideous death rocks his workplace, it gives her further opportunities to investigate. What she discovers soon persuades her that Wes has committed a terrible crime. If she can convict him of it, maybe Ivy will finally be free.

Of course, Ivy has no intention of ever being free of her lover again. Our dreadful duo find themselves going to great lengths in order to ensure that they stay together, despite the odds against them. But will their own difficult and demanding natures be their undoing?

Compelling, funny and disturbingly realistic, A Twisted Love Story not only provides readers with an entertaining thriller but also delves deep into the seductive underbelly of a distressingly unhealthy relationship. The frustration of being unable to help people escape from such situations is palpable, making Karen just as integral to this story as the central couple is. Speaking of whom, while I wasn’t at all sympathetic to Wes and Ivy’s self-sabotage, Ms Downing’s prose certainly helped me understand why they made their terrible decisions – and by extension gave me better insight into the baffling choices of some of the people I know in real life.