What would you do if you discover that your husband has an affair? After Rachel and her best friend, Suzie, discover that Rachel's husband has a meeting in a hotel, she decides to follow him without suspecting that her world will crash in front of her eyes...

This is the story of Rachel and Suzie, and how these two best friends with a stable life (one with husband and children and the other with a fiancée) see their lives changing forever thanks to their partners. The story is told between both of them; we will see how their friendship in the beginning is something reliable and as the plot starts twisting they start to hide their thoughts and feelings. Let me say that I don't think they are trying to hide what they are suffering but more the anxiety to tell all their fears out loud. Both of them are brave, and their characters feel real and natural making the story touchy and bittersweet, but a surprising read.
In the beginning I was a little disgusted with how the author shows us the men in the story, liars and cheaters, but as we start entering to the plot, we see how the author makes a 360 degree turn and our perspective of them changes completely, really putting us on their skin and question ourselves what would we do if it was our life...
There are a lot of interesting themes linked in the plot, but just telling them it would be revealing too much, so be prepared for a surprising book full of twists and surprises.
Let me say I really liked this read, how the story is written and evolves to a catharsis that there's no returning point, bittersweet, yes, but the best ending I've read lately.
What could be worse that finding your partner cheating on you?

Fantastic book, one of the best books I've read so far this year. It grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't have guessed where it was going, it just had me hooked. I loved it and highly recommend it.

It isn't often the I read a book, get to 36% of the way in and think to myself, 'this book has 5 stars written all over it'. But, I did and IT did! Of course it meant that the rest of the book had a lot to live up to, to match with the strong 36% I had already read. And you know what? Reader, it did!

Oh my goodness me! Rachel thought everything in her life was going swimmingly. She had started a new business with a new friend, her family seemed happy enough, with nothing that she couldn't fix if she needed to. However, Rachel's bubble burst far too quickly when she found some messages that weren't for her own eyes. Was her husband having an affair? It was time for Rachel to go incognito...

Not that she could go incognito when she ended up unintentionally witnessing something that she rather wished she didn't! Something that was going to change her life , and the lives of her loved ones...

'If He Wakes' blew my mind! What a fantastic, high energy, demanding, and twisted read which kept my eyes glued to the pages until the very end. I didn't want to pull my eyes away, even if I could have done, I wouldn't have! The storyline had me hooked straight away, especially as everything wasn't what it seemed, yet due to the way Rachel was reacting, even I started to question what I had read. Did I misinterpret what had happened? Did I miss a bit out? Did my imagination get the better of me and add additional words to Zoe Lea's storyline?

It wasn't only Rachel who seemed to draw the short straw in the 'see who's life sucks the most', her friend Suzie even got in on the action! I have to admit that the parts of the storyline which had Suzie are the forefront, were incredibly hard to read due to the theme they contained. That said, it was eye-opening because things like that do actually happen in real life. Shamefully. I thought the way the author incorporated it all into one big storyline was impressive, intense and extremely hard-hitting. There were moments where I did feel slightly uncomfortable, but I felt that I had to continue in the hope that who deserved it, got their comeuppance by the end of the book.

Zoe Lea has written an outstanding novel which is guaranteed to squeeze every breath out of your body like a popped balloon. With dark themes throughout, the storyline gripped hold of my wrists for the entire duration, glueing my eyes to each and every page the author had written. I cannot believe that this is Zoe Lea's debut novel!!

I really cannot recommend this book enough and I cannot WAIT to read more from this author if 'If He Wakes' is anything to go by!

I really enjoyed this thriller set in Chester in the UK. It had me flipping the pages of my Kindle App, desperate to know what the heck was going on with Rachel’s husband and Suzie’s fiancé.

I liked both Rachel and Suzie, although I did have my moments when I didn’t like them, or how they were reacting to their different circumstances. It definitely made me think of how I’d behave in similar circumstances!

This was a such twisty, turny book, with a fast plot, getting quite dark as it took several turns I wasn’t expecting at all. I did guess one of the reveals but I’m so glad I did, as I don’t think my emotions would have coped with another shocking twist!

I thoroughly recommend this if you enjoy thrillers involving dark family secrets and shocking discoveries!

I don't often describe a book as 'a real pageturner' but in this case it's true - I was so engrossed towards the end that I was almost late for work. There were lots of twists and turns, some of which you see coming and some that come as a real surprise. For me though, I enjoyed the relationship between the two friends, Rachel and Suzie, as they both have their lives torn apart. It was interesting to see the two threads come together quite spectacularly at the end but I'm saying no more as I don't want to spoil it. A truly engrossing read with characters that leap off the page so that you are still thinking about them weeks later.

For a first book I thought this was very good, it kept you enthralled in the story trying to work out what was going on. Will these two friends recover and at what cost? With these two story lines and the detail it has been written very clear and you begin to know the characters but not what to expect. I love a good mystery and this will make an excellent read for the summer evenings.

Initially the two female leads in the story annoyed me with their self absorption and lack of effective communication. As the story progressed they seemed to grow up a bit but still had communication problems although that was because they both had so much more on their minds. There is an unexpected twist in the middle of the story which brings together their disparate strands of the storyline. The fear and confusion each woman is experiencing as a consequence of other people's actions is well written and draws the reader in. I was getting really involved in the story when suddenly, it came to an end.

I wasn't overly impressed by the epilogue as it seemed, to me at least, a slightly clumsy and rushed way of wrapping up the loose ends which could have been done mush more neatly.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for my review.
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me guessing at every turn. Every initial impression it gives you is incorrect, and I had so much fun trying to pick apart the threads as I went along and solve the mystery! It was much more twisted than I had imagined (which I liked). Slightly reminiscent of Karin Slaughters writing style. I will definitely be seeking out more books by this author now. The distinctly British feel the book had added to the fun for me. Pick this one up for sure if you like to unravel a good mystery!

This novel is a topical and dramatic story with an unexpected, controversial twist. Rachel and Suzie are friends. Initially, I thought Rachel was an unstable, hysterical and neurotic woman and Suzie seemed selfless and more discerning, but even she was finally tripped up. Rachel is married to Phil with two teenage daughters and believes all is well in her life. Suzie is engaged to the love of her life, Adam. Both have put their trust in their men but become increasingly anxious that their men have hoodwinked them. The dynamics change when their men's behaviour becomes erratic. A twitter message and lies make Rachel panic that her husband is unfaithful. An absence of text messages, an empty bank account and threats from unknown sources trouble Suzie. As the two women investigate in an attempt to join the dots on the dilemmas, they uncover some alarming facts. My only doubt about the novel was that there was an overload of analysis and repetition of thoughts, reflections and facts. This style slowed down the plot and made my interest dip at times. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable, compelling read. Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo.

An absorbing, believable first chapter perfectly sets the scene for what is to come, in this tense and shocking psychological thriller. Told from Rachel and Suzie's points of view the two friends both experience increasingly disturbing events in their otherwise ordinary lives that leave them doubting everything they previously believed; threatening, their friendship and sanity.

The plot cleverly conceals more than it reveals and just when you think you've solved the mystery, you find another twist. Authentic characters complement the realistic storyline in a readable mix of action and introspection. The genuinely chilling factor of this story is it could happen and probably has, real nail-biting, what if it happened to me? Experience the nightmare without the consequences when you read this book.

I received a copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This debut novel is a dramatic treat. The chapters are split between the two lead characters, Suzie and Rachel who are friends, starting a new business together. Their lives are shattered by a dramatic event, witnessed by Rachel and the ripple effect resonates throughout the family and deeply impacts their friendship.

The tension begins immediately in chapter one and grows as the story unravels. It kept my interest throughout.

Congratulations to Zoe Lea and many thanks to net galley and Canelo for the opportunity to preview this great debut.

Rachel Farrell opens her laptop and sees a provocative tweet that she believes is between her husband and another woman, planning a tryst. When she surreptitiously shows up at the location close to the appointed time, she witnesses a terrible hit and run accident and has her own minor one out of shock from what else she sees.

We begin at the accident and I found it interesting how without context I didn’t know how to take it all in. The story is told in first-person narrative from Rachel’s point of view and third-person narrative from Suzie’s, Rachel’s friend and business partner. That was initially a little odd but as the story progressed, it actually felt like a clever device to position the issues, reactions and reveals. What began as a potential marital conflict evolved into so much more and twisted terribly.

I liked this story, quite a bit, but would have enjoyed it more if the pacing had been tighter. Those times where significant action was unfolding, either Rachel or Suzie (more often) would often muse over inconsequential details or downright minutiae that did nothing but aggravate. Otherwise, the plot was really good and the convergence of Rachel and Suzie’s worlds was nicely done. Despite my issues, I flew through the story about 40% in and liked how it developed. I’d read more by this author. 3.5 stars

An easy to read book that I devoured in more or less one go. I don't know if I could define this a psychological thriller, there is not much of a thriller in it but there are a few twists and a bit of mystery, enough to keep you going and read on.
Rachel and Suzie were good friends when young, lost touch for years and recently rekindled their friendship so much that they decided to start a business organising events together.
Rachel is happily married to Phil and has two daughters while Suzie is engaged to Adam, a photographer. One day, Rachel finds her a Twitter account still logged in on her laptop and in it a saucy message. Rachel suspects that the account belongs to Phil and that it is evidence that he is having an affair. She follows him with her car but she sees something she does not expect.
Meanwhile Suzie's bank cards are declined and can't get in touch with her fiance. Initially she does not worry too much but things get complicated and very very unpleasant for all involved.
The book deals with a very delicate subject but I don't think it is done with bad taste, it is sadly something that happens and need to be discussed. Although, it might be disturbing I don't have a problem with a book dealing with difficult subjects.
Overall it is not a book that has changed my life but in the realm of psychological thrillers, it fares quite well.

This is the story of two friends, whose lives fall apart simultaneously. The characters, with their flaws are credible and likeable. Their situations are scarily realistic. It is a truely gripping read, but I found the long passages of their thoughts to be a bit long winded so only 4 stars.
It shows understanding of how women can easily be manipulated.
I will definitely look out for other books by Zoe Lea.

I read this book in one sitting. Hubby had to go to the fish n' chip shop to get dinner because I was just not putting it down. FABULOUS. Loved it from start to finish. I have already recommended it to several people.

A fast-paced, tense thriller. Rachel and Suzie run a business together, but it soon becomes clear that their lives are entangled in more ways than they know. As we see both sides of the story, we realise what is going wrong far more quickly than the characters do. Nevertheless I was only just ahead of the final twist.
Highly recommended
And thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

OMG, what a great book this is! Rachel and Suzie are running an events business and have a big event coming up. Rachel thinks her husband, Phil, is cheating on her and follows him. Suzie's fiance' Adam suddenly goes missing with all of Suzie's money. What happens after this is a real page-turner with lots of twists, turns with an ending I did not see coming. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thriller.

Rachel and Suzie are best friends. One day Rachel, when going on her laptop, notices that a Twitter account has been left open and she reads the provocative private messages the account contains. Horrified because she knows it's not her daughters, Jessica and Katie, as they aren't allowed on Twitter which leaves only her husband Phil. How could he betray her like this?

Meanwhile, newly engaged Suzie attempts to use her debit card only to have it declined. Going to the bank in frustration she finds out that the account is in overdraft and it has been frozen. Adam, her fiance, handles all the finances. She calls Adam, who is on location for a photo shoot, only to receive no response to her many messages and texts. Where the heck has Adam gone?

The beginning of this book started a little slow for me. Yes, I was curious as to what was going on but some of the chapters in the first half were a bit repetitive. Once I hit the half way mark things definitely started to pick up and I was determined to see how this all played out. When the first part of the twist was revealed I automatically knew the 2nd part of the twist. I also found the ending to be satisfying. A solid 3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review this book.
It is a book that grabbed my attention immediately and continued to do so until the end. well done

This book, wow! It took me a while to get into it but once I did I couldn’t stop reading. The way the stories interweaved was genius. I can’t say too much without giving away spoilers but it was a brilliant story and I recommend you read it.