I enjoyed Valentina, and was looking forward to reading 'The Proposal', without really having any concept of what it may be about.

It turned out that it is an incredibly creepy and uncomfortable book to read. The characters are horribly real, I can still imagine Ryan now. I felt a sense of unease throughout 'The Proposal' which kept me hooked.

The story is well written, rapidly moving forward with one twist after another, using a number of different, very effective techniques; blog, diary and comments from Ryan.

We are told from the beginning that if we're reading this book, our narrator is dead, which makes us complicit in the story, but all the way through I kept wondering if …...maybe not? After all we were in the presence of an unreliable narrator.

The ending is clever- and answered my many questions.

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC

I have been a huge fan of SE Lynes since her debut Valentina and have been eagerly awaiting the next release - as always I wasn’t disappointed! The Proposal is the perfect example of a psychological thriller, all the ingredients are there to create an explosive read and one that left me feeling like I needed a hot shower.

The main character of Pippa is someone who I loved to hate; Self-centred, selfish and pretty moral free. Her behaviour got serious eye rolls from me throughout the whole of the book. She is a teacher who has published one novel and has serious writer’s block over her second. An ex con (Ryan) turns up on her doorstep selling household wares so what’s the sensible thing to do? Well, if you’re Pippa (already half sozzled) you invite him in and after feeding, watering and clothing him end up with an agreement (the proposal) to use the details of his criminal past and weave them into your new novel. No strings attached. Yeah, how did you envisage that would ever end well Pippa!? She is so desperate for success she is seemingly oblivious to the chaos that follows her around, divorced from her husband, picks up then drops her best friend as and when and now indebted to a potentially deadly individual.

The Proposal is told in various ways; Pippa in the future looking back on these events via journal entries, blog posts from her author page extolling about her perfect life as a best-selling author at Cairns Farm with the inimitable housekeeper Mrs Danvers and voice recordings from Ryan detailing his spiralling obsession with Pippa. This book is a serious lesson in not trusting everything/everyone at face value. I am loathe to spoil this book for future readers but just be prepared and DON’T miss the editor’s note at the end.

If you’re looking for a novel packed full of suspense, shocks and a sting in the tail then The Proposal is the one for you. Five stars for this outstanding read!!

(Rounded up from 3.5)

The story starts with Pippa dreaming of writing a bestseller and escaping her boring life as a teacher, after her previous book bombed but the problem? She has no idea what to write about and with a deadline looming she’s desperate for inspiration.

Then there’s a knock at the door.

She finds Ryan Marks on her doorstep, an ex-prisoner, selling cleaning products in a bid to make some money. She knows she shouldn’t but Pippa invites him, offering to pay money for his life story. Then her nightmare really begins…

So this is my first S.E Lynes, and I probably sound like a broken record, because I say this so often when I discover a new author, but this certainly won’t be the last book I read of hers!

I genuinely don’t know where to start with this unique and creepy novel. It’s told in diary format, like the protagonist Pippa is talking directly to you, interspersed with cheery blog posts about her life in the country and unsettling recordings from Ryan.

The characterisation is this novel is so good, they almost feel like real people. There’s something almost like watching a car crash (you know you should look away but you can’t) about Pippa. If you imagine a more sarcastic Bridget Jones, with impossibly high standards, a love of dodgy puns and putting herself in danger plus a whole heap of abandonment issues.

I did feel sorry for her best and seemingly only friend Marlena, a busy mum who would rush over to Pippa, worry about her and generally be there for her. Although she did feel a little more like her mum than her friend.

Then there’s Ryan. The less I say about him the better, because frankly he creeped me out so much! I’ve just shivered a little writing this and thinking about him.

I have to be honest though, the first 30% or so I had absolutely no clue what was going on, I did only persist because the character of Pippa was so realistic and there was that sense of wanting to know how her story ends. She also had a tendency to go on slightly philosophical rants that I found a little tedious at times.

The Proposal is a unique story about loneliness, twisted love and obsession that will make you doubt your own sanity.

It all starts with Pippa, a teacher who has written an unsuccessful novel, announcing that she is dead. We then learn about the events that have led to this statement via Pippa’s private journal.

I really enjoyed the way this book was written, mainly in the context of Pippa’s private journal but we also have extracts from her blog and an audio excerpt. Eventually the story becomes clear and all three give the details of what has happened.

I really don’t want to say too much else about the story as I think it is definitely something you should read without knowing to many details. I do have to say that if you love psychological thrillers with lots of creepiness and suspense you will absolutely love this book.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Absolutely, mindbogglingly brilliant. This author gets better with each incredible book! A twisted, thrilling, tense roller-coaster of a tale that I just could not put down. From the first addictive page to the nail-biting, heart-pounding last this was a stunning, accomplished and assured read that had me guessing throughout. Very highly recommended.

This book was a thrilling read, for sure. I can’t really describe it- it was an interesting story but it didn’t wow me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for a review.

3.75/5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wtf did I just read? was how this book left me feeling and I mean that in the best way possible. The first half of the book I would have given a 1, I was so close to quitting but I saw so many good reviews. I started reading some of the lesser reviews and realized they all said the same thing. Uninteresting first half and unbelievable last half. I decided to keep going based on that information and it couldn’t be more true. The last half was amazing! I could not put this down. What a unique, crazy, twisted story. I wasn’t able to guess anything that happened. At the end everything in the beginning actually made sense! I thought the ending tied the whole book together really well. And overall I really did enjoy this book even with the slow beginning. Echoing other reviewers it is very unique! Definitely check this out!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read The Proposal by SE Lynes for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

My first time reading that author, glad I did!

I give it 4 or 4.5 stars! Really good book, well written. I was into it from page one! The way it's written, you just keep on reading!
"The first thing you should know, dear reader, is that I am dead. Not now, writing this, here at the farm, obviously. But if you're reading these words, then the most likely reason is that this journal has been published posthumously..."

I knew right there I would enjoy that book! And you will too!

Pippa meets a salesman, Ryan, she has a weird feeling about him, is it fear or is she interested in getting to know him... she buys from him, and she wants to buy his story for her next book... Then he is everywhere, is he stalking her?

Review shared online on NetGalley, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon when published

'The Proposal' is Amazon bestselling author SE Lynes's fifth psychological thriller, and it is every bit as alluring, intelligent and haunting as the previous four. Told from the perspective of main character Pippa Gates in the form of blog posts, her private diary entries and occasional injections from baddie Ryan. This is one of those novels that is deeply ominous and that sense of foreboding continues from first page until the last. The premise is fascinating and original, and I am always a sucker for something new and unique. Not only that but the author avoids classic crime tropes altogether AND crucially her plot surrounds events that could happen to any of us, so believability and authenticity is super high.

If you enjoy complex, intricate stories with original ideas executed extremely well then look no further! The writing was sound and had me interested and invested rapidly, and the pace was superb. I would also highly recommend it to those who appreciate unreliable narrators.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The Proposal by S.E. Lynes is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis:
Romance author Pippa Gates craves love. Divorced, living on her own, teacher by day, writer by night, she is looking for love wherever she can find it. Between the alcohol, the lovers, the overall poor behaviour, she is miserable, and having problems writing her second novel. Her best friend, Marlena, worries about her. When Pippa invites a door-to-door salesman, also an ex-con, into her home to hear his story, Pippa knows she has a best-seller on her hands. Marlena, knows she has a problem. Pippa doesn’t, and defends Ryan Marks at every turn. He makes her laugh, he makes her a better writer, he makes her feel alive. He also scares her a little.

Ryan Marks is sure he has found his soul-mate in Pippa, and he intends to make her realize it too. His secrets are there for her to discover, whenever she is ready.  He is patient, and is sure Pippa will come around.

Even when Pippa realizes she may have a stalker on her hands, she can’t really let him go.

My Opinions:
The story is told through Pippa’s blog, her personal journal, and initially a few tape recordings from Ryan. The book starts out with her personal journal, and the audience hears that if we are reading this, she is probably dead. What a great start to a book, and a great way to tell the story!

I do, however, have to admit two things. I am not a romance reader, so part of the book did not appeal. The second thing is that after that great start, the book leveled out for me for a while, moved a little slow, and then at some point, I didn’t even realize I was anxious to turn the page. That’s what made it good.

The author created a weak, self-destructive protagonist, that I didn’t particularly care for.  Pippa’s decisions were atrocious. Actually, I didn’t like any of the characters, but that didn't really matter. The author took me on a roller-coaster ride, and I was always looking around the corner to see what was next.

The story is rather dark, and I think both Stockholm Syndrome and mental illness play a big part, which makes it rather sad. The manipulation was almost scary.

As always, Lynes nailed the suspense! Can’t wait to see where she takes us next!

Another cracking book from SE Lynes. This is a chilling tale about a teacher/struggling author, with the deadline for her second book looming and Ryan an ex-con who is trying to better himself, who could be the perfect inspiration for her. This dark, twisty thriller had me up all night shouting at the characters. Well written, frightening and intriguing. Thank you for the opportunity to read this brilliant book.

Wow! This is an interesting phycological thriller. Book is told in 3 ways, a Personal Journal, Blog Posts, and Audio Excepts.

The first thing we find out is that the main character is dead but why and how? You get the creeps from beginning to end. Yes, the main character can be unlikable at times because she is supposed to be. She is a flawed human being and we are reading her personal journals where she tells us every some of her most private thoughts as she goes through this horrible event.

The main character is well written but the main side character just left me with so many questions. It may have been written that way on purpose though. The atmosphere was creepy throughout the book. At times it did drag a little but the story was still progressing. I liked the plot but it felt as if the book was written to fit the ending. I did sometimes question the logic of the story but I was intrigued from beginning to end and just had to find out what was going to happen.

All in all, this is an intense phycological thriller that had me hooked. Now I want to read all the authors other books.

S. E. Lynes is one of my favorite psychological thriller authors. I enjoyed two of her previous titles, Mother and The Pact. The Proposal ended up surprising me. Reading the blurb, I thought that I knew where the story would go. I mean, this does sound like a fatal attraction-trope, right? However, it wasn’t that simple.

Pippa is a struggling author. She wrote one book which received a lot of negative criticism. She is desperate for another book and hopes that this time; it will be well received by readers. However, Pippa can’t seem to come up with any good ideas for a second novel. This changes when Ryan Marks knocks on her door one evening. Suddenly, Pippa gets the inspiration that she needs for her second book. There is a heavy price to pay though.

The characters in this story were twisted, creepy and certainly unpredictable. I didn’t like any of the MCs but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t entertained by them. Ryan was so dark and his character through the chapters just grew more chilling. He is the kind of character that makes you wary of strangers, hell I am even scared of answering my door at the moment. On the other hand, the jury is still out on Pippa. I liked her, disliked her and then felt like I didn’t get her. I still can’t make up my mind about her.

This is another thriller that ended up being darker than I first thought it would be. It had quite a number of twists that I never could have predicted and the ending was surprising and disturbing. Dark and twisted, I think fans of these kinds of thrillers will love The Proposal by S. E Lynes.

I've not read any of SE Lynes books before. At first I found the format very confusing and struggled to understand what was happening. I did get the hang of it after a while and kept reading to the end. Its not one of my favourite books but it did have to keep reading to find out what happened in the end.

Divorcee Pippa Gates is a teacher and aspiring author. She is unhappy in both her work and in her private life and she has no ideas for her second novel. She has writers block and cannot get her novel started. The debut novel was not very well received and she really wants to make a name for herself so that she can give up her day job and live the life of a writer full time, enjoying all the trappings of being a famous author. She really must get down to writing her next novel or she will not meet the deadline but she definitely has writers block. Whenever will it end?

A travelling salesman knocks on her door. He introduces himself as Ryan and she invites him inside. They make a connection on an intellectual level and swap stories over a glass of wine. They even swap phone numbers and suddenly it strikes Pippa that Ryan’s life is very interesting, so she makes a proposal that she will pay Ryan £200.00 for the use of his story and will make sure that she disguises his name so that he is unrecognisable. He readily agrees and she invites Ryan to choose a name for his character in the novel and true to her word she uses it. She signs a copy of her debut novel and adds a dedication, pays him his ‘fee’ and they say goodbye.

Ryan is obsessed with Pippa. He tells her that they are made for each other and texts her frequently. He turns up everywhere, though most times he is silent and invisible like a stalker. He is a troubled and dangerous man, a deluded ex-con. She tells him to leave her alone and keep away from her or she will report him to the police which would ensure he was sent back to prison. The deal is done and she doesn’t want to enter into a relationship with him.

Her second novel becomes an enormous success and at last she can become a full time writer. She moves to an isolated farmhouse with land, buys herself a new car and settles into her new life. She is suddenly a celebrity, she has lots of interviews and tells the reporter about the inspiration for her plot – but she doesn’t tell the truth. Ryan is incensed and before long manages to track her down. He turns up at her front door full of anger and threats. He turns the table on her and takes over her life. Pip doesn’t like it one bit but at last she has inspiration for her third novel. But is she safe with Ryan pulling her strings and threatening to expose her in all her lies? Read this story and find out what happens to Pippa.

‘The Proposal’ is a dark and disturbing psychological thriller full of twists and turns. It certainly kept me turning the pages, desperate to find out what was going to happen next. The tone of the text is conversational and relaxed, all the time justifying what Pippa has done. Somehow you just know she is an unreliable narrator and things are not really as they appear to be. I didn’t really like any of the characters very much but I did like the original and fast paced story and the various settings. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley. It was sent in return for an honest and unbiased review and I would like to thank them for my copy of the novel. It’s a 3.5* from me and a recommendation that this is a very readable and entertaining novel. Be sure to read past the end of the story and you will soon have greater knowledge of this story and everything will easily slip into place.

This was such an interesting story, obsession, fear and suspense with a dash of murder thrown in. The writing style is fun and honest and it really felt like Pippa was talking to me. I had some laugh out loud moments as well as some “you stupid cow” thoughts while reading it.

A chilling, very chilling book. I found this one very hard to put down.
It starts out with Pippa, a struggling author, facing a deadline with no real inspiration as to what to write. Then comes a knock on her door. A down on his luck ex-con is on the other side, selling cleaning products to make ends meet. He seems ok, maybe just a little off, so Pippa invites him in, offering him money to tell her his life story.
So begins a deeply twisted and shocking story. It starts out innocently enough, but soon escalates into a suspenseful and gripping novel. I really don't want to say too much as I don't want to give anything away. You'll just have to read it for yourselves....
I recommend this book to all lovers of psychological thrillers and suspense.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

SE Lynes is one of my favourite authors but this book was just not for me. I found it very difficult to get into, and the main character annoyed me - I couldn’t understand why anyone would let a complete stranger into their home, their car, their shower etc. I also couldn’t understand why she didn’t call the Police at various points. This was all explained later, but not until near the end of the book. The writing is, as ever, excellent, but until 2/3 of the way through I just wasn’t enjoying it. I did enjoy the last 1/3 a lot more and the ending was very good - especially the ‘editors notes’.

ive read books by this author before and have thoroughly enjoyed them therefore, i was excited to be asked to review her latest offering. did i enjoy it? sadly no i didnt.

the first half of the book is confusing the chapters flitting between being written as a personal journal, a social media blog and a dictaphone transcript. it is hard to decipher what is happening and this made it hard to muster the enthusiasm to continue reading.

the story picks up at halfway through however, i fear many readers will have given up by then. for me the book became abit of a page turner only then to tail off with a strange ending. i felt no connection with the main characters and actually disliked them greatly. the concept behind the story is an interesting one however it just wasn’t for me on this occasion.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is dark & creepy & scary at times. A true psychological thriller. I throughly enjoyed this book, started a bit slow for me but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. Thanks for the preview,