Walker’s newest book will keep you guessing until the end. Like her previous books (EMMA IN THE NIGHT and ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN) Walker takes us into the dark side of human nature.

This psychological suspense novel is told in dual timelines – the night before and the day after. There are also some flashbacks to four months earlier. You quickly grasp that something here is just not right, but what is it? And who is it? You will be racing through the pages to find out what happens next. Who is the killer? It will keep you guessing as Walker masterfully leads us along, sometimes deliberately misdirecting us.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 3.5 twisty stars rounded up to 4 stars

Up to this point, I hadn’t read any of author, Wendy Walker’s, books. This book, her newest title had some early favorable buzz, and I was in the mood for a psychological thriller. So I was happy to get approved by the publisher to read this book in eArc format before its release date. This book lived up to the psychological thriller tag. I’ve rated rated it 3.5 stars, which is a good solid book in my rating system.

We meet Laura Lochner as she is trying to adjust to living back in her big sister Rosie’s household after abruptly leaving her job in New York City. At Rosie’s urging, Laura goes on a blind date, and then she doesn’t come home. That is the springboard for the story. What really happened the night before? The book is told multiple timelines and from multiple perspectives. We hear from Laura in the past and present; Rosie in the past and present; and recent sessions between Laura and her psychiatrist.

As you start to read this book, you immediately get the sense that there is at least one unreliable narrator, but who is it? Is Laura the victim or the perpetrator of a crime that happened when she was a teenager? The uncertainty about that incident ultimately alienated her from the small Connecticut community that she grew up in. That alienation and suspicion was the catalyst for her moving out of town. Rosie took a different path. She stayed in the small town, married her high-school sweetheart, Joe, and together they have a toddler boy. They appear to have the typical American Dream. But do they really? What secrets might the town be hiding?

There are plenty of twists and turns as we learn more about the events in Laura and Rosie’s past, as well as the race to find Laura in the present timeline. Rosie and Joe desperately try to find the man whom Laura met on a dating website. Is Laura in danger, or has she simply left of her own volition? Was her date a bad guy? This book kept me guessing almost until the end. I hope that you find it as mysterious as I did.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St Martin’s Press; and the author, Wendy Walker; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Night Before is just what any psychological thriller fan has been waiting for. While so many come out diluting the genre, this is a novel that will actually shock you with it's twists and keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Fast-paced with well-written characters and a conclusion that will actually have you dropping your draw, The Night Before is sure to be the next hit thriller. Be sure to check it out today!

As previous reviews have said, go into this story blind. This was an enjoyable thriller. It did drag a bit in the middle, but overall a good book. I enjoyed the narratives of Laura and her sister Rosie. I was invested throughout, and couldn't wait to find out what the heck happened to Laura. As I was reading, I kept thinking about the dangers of online dating and how this story could very well happen to anyone if they are not careful on certain sites. There were parts that were very predictable, but this did not distract from the overall plot or pacing. The major twist I didn't see coming till right at the end which provided me with an "Aha moment" that was very unexpected. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Laura, Rosie, Joe, and Gabe all grew up as best friends in the same small Connecticut neighborhood. Rosie and Joe got married and have a son, Mason. Gabe is recently married to Melissa and still resides in his childhood home. Laura finds herself moving from NYC, where she held a successful career on Wall Street, back to her sisters house after a bad break up. Here the four friends spend their evenings drinking and reminiscing about their old school days.

One thing they don't speak about.....

Back in high school Laura's boyfriend was murdered. A homeless man was convicted but Laura can't remember. All she knows is that she was found with the bat in her hand. Nightmares and guilt have plagued her since.

Now that Laura finds herself single again she decides to make an account on a dating website where she meets Jonathan Fields and they agree to go out. Rosie thinks Laura is rushing things but what is a sister to do? She let's Laura borrow a cute dress, hand bag and her car.

Rosie is horrified the next day when she realizes that Laura never came home. Who is Jonathan Fields and what has happened to Laura?

This book is definitely a page-turner with cliff-hanging short chapters but one that you can't take too seriously. I have mixed feelings on the ending. On the one hand, I didn't expect it, but on the other hand, it wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped. Still an enjoyable twisty read that many will devour in one sitting. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I hate to say it, but I didn’t enjoy this book. It was really slow going and I just wasn’t that hooked. The last 100 pages are what made this 3 stars. Although I didn’t predict the ending, I wasn’t interested enough to fully care what happened. The characters were written well but at points annoyed me. I didn’t feel a connection to any of them. I’ve heard good things about Wendy Walker, but I really wasn’t that impressed. However I would definitely try another of her books. I feel like this book has a lot of potential, it just lacked in action. I was determined to keep reading this one and not give up. I’m glad I did keep reading as the ending was a little surprising, and made this book a lot better.

Having read EMMA IN THE NIGHT and ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN by Wendy Walker I was anxious to read THE NIGHT BEFORE. Ms. Walker has become an author whose books I seek out, I enjoy her writing style and this book did not disappoint.

The novel is told from three points of view which can sometimes be confusing or at the very least disorientating, but not so in the hands of Ms Walker.

Laura left her hometown many years ago under a veil of suspicion. As a young girl she was found standing over her boyfriends dead bloody body holding a baseball bat. A homeless man was arrested for the murder though Laura was never deemed completely innocent in her mind or the townsfolk as she really did not remember what happened.

The book begins with Laura getting ready to go on a blind date with someone she met on a dating website, a date Laura does not return from.

The supporting characters in this novel were interesting enough to keep my interest even when I got a little bored with Laura and her constant misunderstanding of what seems every event in her life.

Not my favorite novel by Ms. Walker but a good read nonetheless.

Wow!! What did I just read? At times I felt like I was in a TV sitcom with all the crazy back and forth questions, between Laura and Jonathan. I felt like half way in the book picked up pace and I was blown away at the Joe and Laura part. I don’t want to give away anything. Wendy Walker did a great job with this thriller. It was a little slow at times, but I give it a solid 4 stars.

Oooo what a twisty fun read this was! One of those books that has you on edge from the get go. Wendy Walker does a great job setting to mood in this novel so things always feel somewhat off kilter and insidious. I couldn’t put this down and finish in one evening! A solid thriller that I’ll definitely be recommending thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-galley!

So, I’m still not sure how exactly I feel about this book. Did I read it quickly? Yes - short quick, alternating chapters made me fly through this one. Was I figure out what happened before the reveal? No - I wasn’t quite sure what was going on until the end. Was I satisfied with the ending - not really, it felt like it wrapped up a little too quickly after all the build-up, but not a huge deal. An interesting premise, lots of suspicion/doubt created, an unreliable narrator… check, check and check. It was good…. but I just didn’t love it. In this instance, I’m going to say “It’s not you, it’s me”. I’ve really enjoyed Wendy Walker’s past novels as well, so if you’re thinking about this one, I would give it a shot. Hope you love it!

The Night Before is one of those great, can’t put it down thrillers that keeps you guessing until the final pages.

Laura has never been lucky in love. After an internet date from which Laura doesn’t return, her sister Rosie will uncover secrets as she searches to find out what happened the night before.

I have bookstagram to thank for my new found love of thrillers! This one didn’t disappoint, it was dark and twisty and had me turning the pages (or tapping the kindle!!) as fast as I could to find out what happened to Laura.

Im still undecided on whether I loved the ending or not though! Still, it’s very worthy of four stars.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this review copy.

Laura Lochner recently moved back to her hometown and moved in with her sister and brother-in-law after a breakup in NYC. For most, moving back home may be a refuge but to Laura it's anything but. During Laura's senior year her boyfriend was killed in front of her and many believed she killed him. Another individual was accused of the crime but did not stand trial, due to mental instability. This still didn't stop many in the community from casting blame on her and doubt as to her innocence. To make it worse Laura can't remember all the events during his murder except she was found with a bloody bat in her hands.

After being home a few months, Laura feels like she's ready to "put herself out there" and decides to go on a date with someone she met online. The Night Before focuses on the night of her date, the day after and a few months before through therapy session notes. The focus from the night before is from Laura's point of view as she goes through the date with someone who may or may not be entirely truthful and also flashbacks to the night that changed her life as a teenager. The morning after is told primarily from Rosie's, Laura's sister, perspective. She's surprised to find Laura isn't home and worries about the welfare of her date due to Laura's past. The therapy notes are between Laura and her therapist in NYC.

This novel was a miss for me. Now having said that I know there will be many people who like it but it just wasn't for me. I found the back and forth to be both tiring and confusing at times. There were also a lot of plot points for characters that didn't enhance the plot but led to more questions than answered. I'll avoid putting those here for spoiler reasons. It was a quick read BUT it didn't feel as tight of a story as it could have been. I felt like it lacked depth on the majority of the characters. The inclusion of the therapy notes didn't do anything for me to enhance my reading experience as I was sure was the intention.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Wendy Walker novel but will definitely not be my last. The Night Before is a fast-paced, intense, couldn’t-put-down, suspenseful thriller. With alternating points of view and timelines, this well-written story flows brilliantly.

I definitely recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 rounded up

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In The Night Before, Laura Heart Lochner goes missing after a blind date with a man she met on an internet dating site. The story is told from Laura's sister Rosie's perspective after Laura is discovered missing and also from Laura's perspective as the events from the night before unfold. As the story progresses, secrets from Laura's past are brought to light and lead to more questions about her disappearance and what really happened.

I am debating between 3.5 and 4 stars on this book. I really liked it for the most part and flew through the book, staying up far too late to finish it one night. I really liked the structure and the alternating perspectives between Rosie and Laura. It definitely added a great layer of suspense to jump back and forth between the two timelines. I did find myself frustrated often with Laura's character. She was so unsure and indecisive. I felt like a large portion of the book was devoted to Laura's inner thoughts. Can I trust this guy? Is he going to kill me? Or am I just second guessing him because I am terrible with men and relationships? Over and over and over again.

Despite some issues with Laura's character, I did find this to be a pretty good thriller and a great one to pick up if you are looking for something quick and compelling with a touch of suspense!

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book to review. The book will be available on May 19, so check it out!

This was one of those books where I had to keep reading a little bit more because I wanted to see what happened next. The format and writing was very readable and engaging. I read it in less than 24 hours. Laura has moved home and is living with her sister and her sister's family. She is recovering from a recent heartbreak. Home is not where she wants to be, given a traumatic even in her past, but she does want to be with her family, so here she is. The chapters alternated between the night before a date with someone she met on a dating website, with Laura getting ready and then going on the date, and the days after, when Laura didn't go home and her sister is trying to figure out where she is. There were also brief exchanges taken from past therapy sessions. Along with the mystery of where Laura is now, there is also a mystery of what happened when Laura was in high school and was a suspect in a murder. How involved was she in that incident? What's happening now? Is she a victim? Or a danger? I absolutely wanted to know the answers to those questions and am glad I kept reading. Our narrators are not reliable historians or good judges of character, so I was kept guessing until the end (I also am not someone who tries to figure it out, so some might have been able to predict the twists and turns). I very much enjoyed the ride and recommend this book!

Thanks to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a wild ride! I was totally gripped - The Night Before was such a page turner!

Laura is unlucky in love and haunted by a teenage tragedy that has defined her life. She always seems to choose the wrong men. Determined to give love (and herself) one more chance, Laura returns to her childhood suburb and joins an internet dating site. She has an immediate connection with one man from the site and decides to meet him for a blind date. Nervous and excited, Laura walks out of her sister Rosie's house to meet up with her date and doesn't return. Rosie begins a frantic search to find her sister and uncover what really happened to Laura the night before.

Told from the alternating perspectives of both Laura and Rosie, The Night Before gripped me from the onset and never let go. The more you read, the more you question everything and everyone. The pacing of the book left my pulse racing as the suspense (and my anxiety) mounted. I found myself weaving plausible (and implausible) theory after theory. Wendy Walker definitely kept both the tension and suspicion levels high throughout the book!

The Night Before is a well crafted, riveting and thoroughly entertaining thriller that I have no hesitation in recommending! Cozy up, grab snacks and dig in my friends - this is one you won't want to miss. 🥰

I just loved this novel! There was a noticeable tension surrounding the comings & goings of the main character Laura Lochner. I didn’t know if she would end up dead in the end. I really didn’t know if she was a killer, a drama queen, a psychopath or all three. The conclusion was a big surprise I didn’t see coming. I’d say the novel was a real shocker; it had me hooked right from the start.
Did Laura kill Mitch Adler when she was 16 years old? Was Lionel Casey, the crazy old, homeless man wrongfully convicted of Mitch’s murder? It seemed trouble surrounded Laura wherever she went. Men ended up in trouble or dead. She was such an intelligent woman, working as an analyst in the profession of financial services, yet she was so emotionally immature. She was so needy. She didn’t feel validated unless she had a man next to her. She really was kind of a slut. As I continued reading this engrossing, entertaining, & interesting novel, the reasons for her actions were made clear.
The novel construction was very understandable. The author labeled her chapters as points of view from the various characters. The chapters were also labeled as either present days or past days. Also included as separate chapters were excerpts from Laura’s therapy sessions with her psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Brody, which were from the past few months when Laura was living in New York City. In the present day, Laura had taken a leave of absence from her employer, and returned to her home town of Branston, CT. She is temporarily living with her sister Rosie & Rosie’s husband Joe. Laura meets a man from a dating website, & goes on a date with him. She doesn’t come home the next day. The search for Laura begins. As I noted above, the conclusion is a stunning surprise.
I’ve read a few other novels by Wendy Walker & enjoyed them all.
For fans of domestic thrillers & psychological drama, “The Night Before” is a must read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, MacMillan U.S.A. & NetGalley for the opportunity to read & review this terrific novel.

"We are drawn to the familiar, even if it hurts us." Is one of my favorite quotes from the book.

I really enjoyed this one i got sucked right into the story and it keep me wanting to read on to find out what happened to Laura. I enjoyed the time lines of the chapters and the segments from the sessions with the therapist.

What lengths would you go to to save a childhood friend?
Laura and Rosie are sisters who were close and spent their childhood with joe and Gabe. One night at a party something went wrong and it's been haunting Laura's life since. Rosie ended up marrying Joe and they recently let Laura move Into their house after a horrible break up.  Laura goes on a dating website to try and move on with her life. She finds a suitable male and ends up going on a date.  However she hasn't return by the next morning and everyone is in a panic to find her and make sure nothing horrible happened like that night in their childhood. Will they find Laura? Will more lives be ruined? Will they all remain friends in the end?
This is one fast paced thriller that I definitely enjoyed and would give 4🌟


I would like to thank St.Martins Press and netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review


My review will also be posted in my Instagram as of may 5, 2019 www.instagram.com/teatime_with_a_book and also is posted on my goodreads

I gave this book an extra star just because it was so engaging and thrilling that I read it all in one sitting! (It’s been a while since a book has sucked me in that intensely) I had to know what happened next. It’s no small feat to be able to write a book that takes place all in one day (for the most part) and even a bigger one to keep it fast paced and interesting! It combines past, present, and multiple views perfectly to be just the right amount of mysterious and yet not too confusing. The twists and turns are mildly predictable but still pleasantly surprising!

Having read Emma in the Night, also by Wendy Walker, this book far exceeded my expectations! This had the same family rooted drama and mystery but was much more on the thriller side of things!

I enjoyed this book- my second read from Wendy Walker. It’s a new twist on the “unreliable narrator” as in the back of your mind as the backstory unfolds you start to wonder if Laura is telling the truth, or if she knows what the truth is. I thought the structure alternating chapters with “the night before” and present day was very effective. I also felt it had a satisfying and surprising ending.