EXCERPT: I don't know who I am any more. The pressure inside my head mounts and a shard of memory drives itself into my consciousness. Shouting. Screaming. 'I know. I know what you did.' Crying. Begging. 'Please.' Hands on me. Pain. Blackness. 'You deserve everything you get.' And the hope that Saturday night was an accident, or even a random attack by a stranger, turns to ashes. 'You have blood on your hands.' Oh God, what have I done? What have I done again?

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Something bad has happened to Alison Taylor.

Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.

By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognisable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.

Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognise the face staring back at her. She can’t recognise her friends and family. And she can’t recognise the person who is trying to destroy her…

MY THOUGHTS: Terrifying. Imagine looking in the mirror and not recognising the face staring back at you. . . Not recognising anyone, your brother, your husband, your friends, your work colleagues. Never knowing, never being quite sure who these people are, walking past them on the street. We all fail to recognize people out of context, away from where we normally see them, but this is infinitely worse. Even more terrifying when someone is stalking you. If you do see them, you won't recognise them...

Even more scary when you have a secret, a secret buried deep in your past, one that you can't escape, that you will carry with you always, a secret that you have learned to live with, but one that someone else now knows. 'It doesn't work, does it, burying secrets? They always become unearthed: dark and dirty and ready to destroy.'

As I said, terrifying. But you are going to have to suspend belief to really enjoy The Date. And I did while I was reading. I tore through the pages. Breathless. Unable to stop to even think. Every possibility, every scenario drew me in. Imagine being trapped inside a kaleidoscope lined with distorting fun fair mirrors. That is how I felt as I was reading.

But when I had finished, little inconsistencies began to niggle at me. I wasn't so sure any more. I have never had this happen before. I have had the opposite happen. I have read books where, having finished them, they have continued to grow on me. Whereas my pleasure in The Date diminished a little the more I thought about it.

Don't get me wrong. This was an incredible read, one that I won't hesitate to recommend. But there was a worm in my apple. One that, try as I might, I just can't identify.

☆☆☆☆

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Date by Louise Jensen for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

How do you know the book you've read was a really good one? Well, the best indication for that is, when you start reading a book and the next thing you know it's time to go to bed. And you don't even know how that could be, because you just had breakfast and sat down to read a few chapters. And this is how I feel after reading "The Date" in one sitting. Intense, heart breaking and fast paced, the story about Ali and her unusual brain condition, commonly known as Face Blindness, was all I could ask for in a book. Five stars and highly recommended! I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture !

Louise Jensen never ceases to amaze. She can take any topic, interesting diverse topics, and turn them into twisted heart stopping thrillers that you just can't put down. THE DATE is no different. This one the topic she introduces is Face Blindness.
The Date is a book that gives you a sense of unease throughout the whole book. Not only can Ali not remember what happened on her date but since the head injury from that night she also can't recognize anyone, not even the people she loves. Then she starts getting packages, someone is following her and threatening her from the night she remembers nothing about.
I couldn't put this book down. I read the first half in one night, I wanted to finish it but never wanted it to end. The Date made me anxious and unnerved about what would happen next and wanting to know who was following her. What did they know that she couldn't remember? Did she do something or was something done to her? You won't see this one coming. 
I'm always so excited to hear about Louise Jensen releasing another book. We've read all her books and they always surprise and thrill us. She tells a story you find yourself lost in. THE DATE was unforgettable and we loved every thrilling second. THE DATE, like everything from this wonderful author, is amazing and we can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I loved The Sister,thought The Gift was ok,was totally mind blown by The Surrogate and therefore was really pleased when I was approved to read an arc of The Date.It started off so encouragingly,loads of twists and turns,danger,suspense and multiple suspects. I love how Louise Jensen uses different concepts and plot devices in her thrillers and Prosopagnosia (face blindness) is most definitely something that I have never heard of. It must be absolutely terrifying to realise that you don't recognise the faces of the people around you including your loved ones. It's certainly a different slant on the usual amnesia that is used so often in books and films and is not something that I am going to dismiss as nonsense just because I have never heard of it

The authors depictions of the main character Ali`s fear and solitude as she struggled to cope with not only the Prosopagnosia but also with the threats and intimidation from her mysterious tormentor or tormentors came across as realistic and believable.As Ali tries to work out what happened to her in the club that fateful Saturday night,why she woke up at home,hurt and alone and why she has no memory of what happened,she begins to doubt everyone around her. Who can she trust and why has her house mate and best friend Chrissy suddenly disappeared? I struggled to feel any sympathy or form any connection with Ali and the more the story progressed the more annoying she became.Actually most of the characters in this story are untrustworthy,manipulative and unlikable.Ali`s tormentor or tormentors could have been anyone out of a number of characters,the mystery of that person or person`s identity keep me guessing and I was genuinely surprised when the truth was revealed.My personal issue with the story was the parts that covered Ali`s past,I felt these parts dragged at times and at one point I was tempted to not finish the book.I get frustrated when a story is flowing alone nicely and holding my attention and then a character suddenly flashes back to an incident in the past and you suddenly find yourself reading pages and pages of back story that break the flow of the events happening in the present day.

So unfortunately I enjoyed certain parts of this story more than others and was left feeling a bit disappointed but that won't stop me eagerly waiting for Louise Jensen`s next book or any other books that she releases in the future.

I nearly didn’t read this book with its billing as “An unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist” . My pet hate is books that tell you there’s going to be a twist - I’m not stupid - I like to go where a book takes me with the story - and not be waiting for THE twist.
However this was definitely worth reading and I really enjoyed the many twists (was that THE twist??) and turns the story took. Highly recommended. And four and a half stars from me - would have been 5 if I hadn’t been waiting for that flipping “breathtaking twist”.
Will definitely be reading more Louise Jensen

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Ali may be separated from her husband, but she isn't ready to let go. She still loves him, and holds onto a little hope they'll reconcile. In the meantime, her friends encourage her to check out other options. What harm could one date with a man off a dating website do? As we all know... lots. The morning after, Ali doesn't have a story about a pleasant date or a rude man she shared no chemistry with. She doesn't have a story about violence either, though she's clearly been assaulted. She has no story at all... because she doesn't remember. She doesn't remember that night, and when she looks in the mirror... she doesn't remember her own face.

Ali brought something back home with her... face blindness, a result of her injuries. (Which is a real thing.) She now cannot recognize the faces of her loved ones, let alone her date from that night. Her life has been completely and irrevocably changed, but someone isn't done with her yet... the friend she's been staying with has vanished, and she starts to receive strange threats. How can she protect herself from danger when she won't see it coming?

Twisted and unnerving, this book is undeniably gripping. This is definitely a story the reader will have fun trying to guess what is going on. It doesn't let up on the tension, and only ramps it up at the end. Some parts are hard to believe, but the whole story is woven together so well it doesn't suffer from it. Every little bit comes together at the end, making me shake my head and wonder why I hadn't gotten it before!

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

What would it be like to wake up one morning, realize you've been assault but can't remember anything. Then to discover you no longer have the ability to recognize anyone just by looking at them. That is the nightmare Ali must face after going on an internet date.
This was a great read because you can feel Ali's frustration. Just thinking about what it would be like not to recognize people, even your own family is frightening but to know someone is out to harm you is worse. This book kept me turning pages long into the night.

Louise has "wowed" me again with her latest thriller The Date! There are thriller books out there, and then there are Louise thrillers! A total category of their own because they're just THAT good! She takes you on unexpected journeys and twists and just when you think that nothing else could possibly happen, BAM, she does it again!

Oh....my.....goodness...me. OMG! Can I get away with just writing 'OMG' over and over again for my review? I don't know what else I can say except, you guessed it, OMG.

I had never heard of Ali's diagnosis before, and at first I thought my leg was being pulled. I had no idea that it was indeed a 'thing'! I can't even begin to imagine how scary it would be to live a life-like Ali, feeling as though every single person you meet is a stranger, regardless of whether you had met them before.

From start to finish, Louise Jensen has the intensity level on full blast, never faltering despite the hurdles Ali finds herself jumping over. In fact, it seemed that the more hurdles Ali did indeed face, the more intense the storyline became. To be honest, I thought it had reached its limit, but it didn't take me long to realise that the intensity and suspense surrounding Louise Jensen's characters, had absolutely no limit whatsoever. It just kept on giving.

Seeing as the author allows her readers to be on the same journey as Ali, it was incredible to watch her trying to piece her life back together, despite having only a few of the puzzle pieces left in her memory bank. I say incredible as in surreal, obviously I felt for her - she couldn't remember a large portion of an evening and had found herself with more questions than answers. How scary is that? 

The more of the book I read, the better picture I had created of who I thought was the culprit of Ali's situation. Hmm, better doesn't always mean correct. I couldn't have been further from the truth if I tried! I was gobsmacked....literally. Yes, I slapped my hand to my gob in shock, and seeing as it seemed to take up residence around my mouth, I went to bed sporting a lovely sweaty face with a red mark around my chops. Classy!

I know that I read fast, but it honestly felt that I had just picked up the book to read when it reached its conclusion - honestly, it really is THAT type of read. You know, the one where you're feeling as though you're suspended in the air, dropping to the floor when you least expect it. Not that has actually happened to me, but I can guess what that would feel like seeing as my mind was racing with endless possibilities regarding Ali's situation.

What a mind-blowing, phenomenally written, toe curling, spine tingling, and all round 'OMG' worthy, read this is. I knew that Louise Jensen was an outstanding writer after reading her previous novels, but after reading 'The Date'? She has exceeded my expectations beyond belief. THIS is the addictive, gritty and highly suspenseful novel that I have been waiting for - OMG what a read. What a read, indeed.

The Date started off a little slow but I stuck with it since it had so many raving reviews on Goodreads and NetGalley. I’m glad I did as it was so much more of a thriller than I was anticipating!! Lots of twists and turns and that’s what makes for a great psychological thriller. I really enjoyed the back story of Ali and her family growing up. It brought so much more to the story. And that ending! What just happened? Whoa!! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this copy of the ARC for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cover love at first sight. Roses have thorns, we should never forget this. Ali learns it the hardest way. I was surprised that The Date actually started AFTER the date! But I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I felt unnerved and ill at ease from the start. Not because of the writing or anything. No. Just like the main character, I knew something was wrong.

Opening a book from Louise Jensen is like jumping into a movie. You get sucked into the action, you find yourself right there, and you actually live the story. There is no escape, you can’t avoid the magnificent narrative style which firmly but gently pushes you into another world. And from experience, you never regret it.

Ali’s confusion at the beginning of The Date was frightening but oh so intriguing! It did take me longer than usual to connect with her, but I blame it on her condition. How do you learn how to bond with a character when said character doesn’t recognize herself, doesn’t know how she feels, and most importantly, is in muddy waters that you have to help her clear to get a better picture?

Page after page, as I was going through the motions with her, I warmed to Ali. I wanted to protect her. I admired her. I was moved by this unknown and completely scary situation. We grew together, we learned together. You can feel all the efforts and care Louise Jensen has put into her story to make it resonate with her readers. Although still so unknown to most of us, face blindness took form, Louise shaped a picture, explained without info-dumping us. Instead, she makes you feel what it is like to live Ali’s life. This is the truest form of writing for me. Louise doesn’t show, she turns emotions into words, something we often struggle with! I know I do!

As if having your life changed forever by a medical condition was not enough, someone is after Ali. Imagine not recognising the people you love, your neighbours, the postman. Walking down the street and having no idea if you’ve just past someone you know. Someone who cares about you. Or someone you wants to hurt you. I was cold to the bone throughout the story, wondering how much strength it took to keep on living, to rely on details, to take care of yourself, without ever being sure of who is next to you.

On top of being surrounded by faces you don’t know, tension oozes from every turned page as you look for who was this date, this turning point in Ali’s life, getting clues that make no sense, not getting any comfort from anyone. Ali’s loneliness broke my heart in tiny pieces, but her strength and her determination, so genuine and full of doubt, so human, moved me more than words can say. I was clinging to my e-reader, barely breathing, hoping, searching, and praying the bookish gods to break Ali free from her nightmare.

Who? Has never been a more nerve-wracking question!!!

The Date masterfully combines the psychological and the thriller side of the coin with a roller-coaster of emotions and a heart-stopping ending that leaves you open-mouthed, filled with a giant bag of emotions that will take you days to put back in order!!! A brilliant piece of writing with the author’s heart at its core. It makes all the difference.

I kept hearing about this author but had never read any of her books. When I saw The Date I decided to read it and boy am I happy I did because I very much enjoyed this book. I thought it is well written and got me hooked on the story and it totally kept me guessing.

I do highly recommend this book.

Thank you for the ARC of this book. While I have never read Louise Jensen's books, this one looked interesting. Unfortunately, I will be unable to offer a full review as I did not finish the novel. It was just too "psychological" for me to continue reading.

Ali Taylor, who is separated from her husband, is convinced by two girlfriends that she needs to sign up on a dating site. She is reluctant, but they both think it would be good for her. However, the morning after her date she wakes up to the beginning of a nightmare.

Chrissy, her roommate has disappeared, which may or may not be of concern, since she has a few days off from work. But what really concerns Ali is that she has been bruised and hurt, there is blood on her clothes and hands, a lump on her head, her car is dented, and she can't remember anything about the night before. And if that isn't bad enough, her eyesight seems to be playing tricks on her. She later learns that she has prosopagnosia, which most likely is the result of her head injury. It is a rare condition that prevents her from recognizing faces.

Ali begins to receive notes and deliveries that cause her to think she may have hurt someone the night she had her date. She even comes home one day to see "murderer" scrawled across her front door. The closer she winds her way toward the truth, the more danger she faces in this psychological thriller.

Events from Ali's past are woven into the story. The twists and turns cause the book to be a page-turner, for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-book ARC.

What Concerned Me: The story started with too much intense drama before the reader had time to buy into the characters or story.

What I Liked Most: The writing was top notch and it kept me interested and turning the pages. About the time I was sure I'd figured out the ending, I was forced to rethink and analyze again. The twists and turns were numerous.

. This book is about a Ali, woman who went on a date that ended horribly wrong leaving her with no memory of that night. As things start to come together Ali finds herself more confused. Louise Jensen delivers another good psychological thriller. I’ve read both this one and The Sister. Although these both were filled with new twists and turns I’ve found I can guess the biggest plot twist which is why I would give this one (and the sister) 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who is the fairest of us all?

Wait a minute, mirror

The face I see, fills me with terror"

What do you do when you get up and don't recognize the face in the mirror? When you don't recognise You as You ?

Facial recognition is needed for survival, but there are many of us for whom this is not possible some by birth and some due to trauma - this is prosopagnosia. Ali gets up one morning and cannot remember her face. In fact she knows her face but what is seen in the mirror is unrecognizable to her. And there is a bump on head, marks of being restrained on her arms, and blood on her fingers...

What did happen on her date??

My first book by Louise Jensen, and I am so glad that I started with this book. The book was a crash, boom, bang into suspense with nary a moment to breathe or think. There is only free fall into the darkness along with the main character Ali, when she goes through the terror of not recognising anyone, the panic which strikes her when she realizes there is someone stalking her, and the sheer loneliness which prosopagnosia leaves her with. And there is also the amnesia of the date, thanks to the bump on her head. How does one deal with all of this and more?

That is the sheer brilliance of author Louise Jensen who holds me firm to the book without letting go. This is how a true thriller should be written. She beckons me with prosopagnosia, gently caresses my fingers with the amnesia, and then pulls my hand with the stalker. Everytime I think I know, Louise sees to it that I really don't know. The pages of kindle went flying every few seconds, fastest I have ever read. Fabulous!!

The story is told in Ali's POV, so every single emotion she goes through is felt. There are times when I want to hold her hand and tell her to think and analyze, but the massive overload to her brain is overwhelming. But yet, she persists and gets to the truth... slowly and steadily

The last scene has so many possibilities...is it, isn't it?

"Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who is the fairest of us all?

Wait a minute, mirror

Face unknown, hair and voice are faintly dearer"

This was not my favorite Louise Jensen title. Unlike the other ones I have read, I thought this dragged a bit. However, I would still say it’s worth reading if you lower your expectations.

Whoa! This is a frighteningly good book. Centered on a realistic events, this psychological thriller possessed a character-driven plot and just plain scarily possible things that could REALLY HAPPEN.

I am definitely purchasing this for a deeper dive, when it become available as an audiobook.

I received a free e-copy of The Date by Louise Jensen from NetGalley for my honest review.

Ali, who recently separated from her husband, Matt decides to go on a date after signing up on a dating app. The next morning she wakes up alone in the house she shares with her friend, Chrissy. She can't remember anything about the night of the date other than she is hurt and she can't recognize people. Her head hurts, she is bruised and her eyesight is jumbled. Also, where is Chrissy?

Ali decides to investigate what happened the night of the date but things start to go very, very wrong. She starts receiving notes, disturbing texts, etc that lead her to believe that maybe she hurt someone and someone else knows and wants her to pay. The closer she gets to finding out the truth the more danger she is in.

This fast moving, psychological thriller stumped me to the end. I thought I had it all figured out but nothing is as it seems.

"Memories can be dangerous and not just for the person affected."

Lies, secrets, betrayal, and duplicity are at the heart of this psychological drama. The main character, Alison (Ali) Taylor goes on a blind date and wakes with no memory of the previous evening and, furthermore, her injuries have resulted in an incurable, rare condition that will forever prevent her from being able to recognize faces -- prosopagnosia. The events that occur after "the date" are only slightly more plausible because of that unusual disorder and it is what propels the plot. It's hard to really understand anything that happens to you if you can't tell WHO the people are when they appear in front of you. So -- the gist is that something bad happened that night and now someone is after Ali but she can't remember a thing, has amnesia, on top of the prosopagnosia.

The narrative is told in Ali's voice and moves along quickly despite the reader having to suck up a huge dose of disbelief and buy into her condition. She is constantly crying and emotional and histrionic as things go from bad to worse. I couldn't really identify with her character, and there were many other players in this convoluted story. Events from Ali's past are connected to the current torment and the savvy reader catches on quite quickly that the people in her life may not be what they seem. I'm sure that the climax and revelation was meant to be a shocking twist, but I have read far too many of this type of book to be surprised. Despite all these issues, I did enjoy the pace and the clinical information about the prosopagnosia.

The author writes a letter to the reader at the end of the book explaining that she had seen a documentary on the condition and kept wanting to write a story where the main character had it. Although I didn't care for Ali, I can see how the struggle to "do" life would be so much harder for a person who can't tell friends and family from strangers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I've read several other books by this author and will continue to follow her.