#The Pact
#NetGalley
27 Feb 2018

I enjoyed reading The Pact by S E Lynes. It took me a while to get into it because the point of view kept changing between the three main characters: Toni (the mother), Rosie (daughter) and Bridget Toni’s sister. The two sisters made a pact between them quite some time ago and it takes a long time until the reader finds out what that is all about. Hints keep being given and maybe I was too slow to figure them out. I think I was about halfway through the book when I finally figured out what was going on and I probably would have stop before then if I didn’t have to write a review but #NetGalley kindly sent me the book in exchange for my unbiased review. I would not recommend this book even though it gets a lot better at the end. The beginning is just too long.

Wow, wow, wow! S E Lynes just gets better! I absolutely devoured this book, loving the characters and the plot. I guessed what was going on in some of the storyline, but there was so much more that came as a surprise or a shock. I enjoyed the telling of the story from different perspectives, and the premise of how two of the main characters tried to protect each other. As usual, a high standard of writing and storytelling, and an ending I loved. I cannot wait for the author’s next novel! This is an absolute must-read, and I think will be in my top ten books of 2018.

I hate writing reviews like this. I LOVED Valentina and really liked Mother, yet this one didn't do as well for me. I liked the two plots, because there pretty much are two, but I have no clue how it all tied together in the end and would have liked the two story lines (Toni's past and Rosie's present) to be interwoven more. I really thought it was going to go a different way and explain more about Toni and what happened.

SE Lynes has soon become one of my must read authors. I have loved her previous books so was delighted to get my hands on The Pact. Every book has a different feel/theme to it and the running one in this book is family secrets, social media and the lies we tell each other and ourselves to get through life and the tough times.

I loved the central characters of Toni, Rosie and Auntie Bridget in the story, they work really well together in their disjointed family unit of survivors. Auntie Bridget is the actual "bridge" between young Rosie and her over protective mum Toni. The language and behaviour of teenage Rosie is spot on; as a mum of a 15 year old daughter I recognised the eye-rolls, teen speak and the intonations that drive me up the wall at times. This relationship is described brilliantly and really touched my mothering nerves. You want your children to do great things but not put themselves in danger, you want them to know they are unique and beautiful but to respect themselves and be careful in the big, wide world. The social media aspect is terrifying - how much do you know your teen and the people that they are speaking with, people they are desperate to impress and their acute need to be "liked" via all the apps?

I'm loathe to give any spoilers so I'll simply say to clear your diary and settle down with The Pact; once you start there's no stopping. Another belter of a book!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

The book was a disappointment and far from a psychological thriller. Although the topic of on line sexual predators is a serious issue the way is was presented was awkward and ridiculous at times. The author’s style of reading was difficult to follow at times.