THE ARGUMENT is a psychological thriller by Welsh author, Victoria Jenkins, who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. This is a standalone novel that tests the limits of a family before it breaks.

Fifteen-year-old Olivia is everything her younger ten-year-old sister, Rosie isn’t, wild, stubborn and always questioning everything. Her mother, Hannah has her hands full. Hannah is home alone with her daughters while her husband, Michael is always working.

One hot summer night, Olivia comes home late from a party she was strictly forbidden from going to, and she and her mother, Hannah, start arguing. Soon Olivia speaks the words that every parent has heard from their teenage child:

‘I hate you. You’ve ruined my life. And I’m never speaking to you again.’

Olivia has never been an easy child, a sharp contrast to her easy-going, happy-go-lucky little sister. But Hannah thinks Olivia’s outburst is the end of a normal family argument. In fact, it’s only the beginning of a nightmare…

As a mother she can only hope her pre-teen will grow out of this phase quickly.

And so, begins the days of silence, as Olivia refuses to speak and as the days increase, Hannah starts to feel anxious and knows that Olivia is hiding a bigger darkness – something that could threaten to tear their precious family apart…

Hannah is more than determined to keep her daughter safe even if she has to go through this silent treatment.

Then the house is broken into and other weird things start to happen in this family drama.

The novel alternates between Hannah and Olivia’s POV’s…but only one is truthful. Not everything is as it seems.

I enjoyed this book with its dark, addictive plot, engaging characters and increasing level of suspense through its many twists and turns to a final shocking twist.

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.

Hands down, this is one of the most twisted books I have read in recent memory. The author does an incredible job of keeping the reader guessing as to the true identities of the protagonist and antagonist. Is Olivia an annoying, misbehaving teenager, or is Hannah an unusually overbearing mother? Or is there something deeper going on? You’ll have to read the book to find out because I can’t do the plot of this story justice without giving away spoilers. Go and grab it now! For a complete review, visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a digital, pre-release copy of the book.

I flew through this book. I liked how the chapters alternated between mother and daughter. It was a bit of a slow burner at first, but after a few unexpected twists, it definitely picked up. I liked how the authors writing style made you really connect with the characters, I felt the emotion! Would definitely recommend.

It was a very insightful novel, with a strong cast of characters. I enjoyed the story line very much and would definitely recommend this book.

Woo, well I couldn't put this down, I was enjoying it already and then bam! More greatness... 
Secrets, lies and mystery are rife within this book and if you like a book that shocks, this is it! 
Highly recommended

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It held my attention from the start. I didn't want it to end and found myself reading faster to see what was going to happen next. I love when books do that. The author did a great job with this one.

When the cover of this book says it has a shocking twist, it sure does mean it. 

This book begins with Hannah catching her daughter, Olivia, sneaking back into the house from a party she explicitly wasn't allowed to go to. They have an argument, and Olivia promises to never speak to Hannah again. 

That's all the synopsis gives away, so I won't say any more than that, but this book really did so many things in its short 230 pages! 

I thought the plot was very intriguing- I couldn't wait to find out how all of the mysteries of this family fit together. I also loved that we got both Hannah and Olivia's perspectives; seeing the events of the book happen from both of them was very eye opening and left me with even more questions. 

I will say, I wish this had been longer. I don't think it needed to be a 400 page long thriller, necessarily, but an extra 50 or so pages of character building and set up for the twist would have made it so much more shocking. I think we as readers don't have very long in the story we're given before it's changed completely, so for me it felt like it came a little out of nowhere. 
I will say, the twist did catch me off guard, which doesn't always happen! I definitely had my theories, and while I was close in some of them, there's no way I would have been able to guess that. 

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

TW: rape, domestic abuse, parental abuse, bullying

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I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This book was crazy with all the twists and turns. Typical family of mom, dad and two daughters. As you are reading it, they all seem a little strange. But the ending, crazy!!! Who in the world treats their children like that and goes on to say they never abused them and gave them the best of everything! Crazy

Hannah is a stay-at-home mom with two beautiful daughters, a beautiful home, and a loving husband .Hannah is home alone while her husband is away working when she catches her rebellious 15 year old Olivia sneaking back home after a late night party. 

When Hannah smells alcohol on Olivia it triggers the argument between the two  which results in Olivia not talking to her mom for several days . Then the house is broken into and other strange things start to happen and secrets are revealed.

The Argument by Victoria Jenkins is a psychological family drama alternating between Hannah and Olivia’s POV’s and only one of them is reliable.I did feel it was a little slow and repetitive midway but then it picks up pace and there are  plenty of twists and turns after that thus making it a highly entertaining read . 
 
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Hannah and Michael appear to be an ordinary married couple with 2 daughters.. Yes, it is obvious that there is a secret between the pair that neither wants the children to find out about, particularly 15 year old Olivia. Then there is a break in at the house and the word 'Liar' is painted on a kitchen cupboard. Michael and Hannah both think that Olivia is behind the incident and do not go to the police but who in the family is the accusation aimed at?
Olivia is clearly different from her school mates and appears determined to stand out. As a result she makes some strange decisions that do bring her attention but in a rather negative way. Olivia feels very unloved by her parents, her Mum especially and the only real friend she has is her younger sister Rosie.
I thought I was 'clever' by guessing why Hannah loves Rosie but not Olivia, when both are her daughters but oh, how wrong was I?! I thought it became clear why love can manifest itself in different ways and how past decisions can affect present attitudes but oh my goodness, I was so SHOCKED by the reality that emerged three quarters of the way through the book. I literally carried on reading with my jaw slack and the thought in my head, 'how can you be so naïve?'
An incredibly readable, cleverly written and absorbing read that ultimately I was shocked and then deeply saddened by. 
How easily we miss the signs that point us in another direction, all because we can be too willing to think the best and avoid the worst, in all its ugly reality.
READ IT!

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. A brilliant read. Teenager Olivia defies her parents and sneaks out of the house to attend a party. She falls out with her mother who catches her sneaking back home and treats her to the silent treatment for the next week. Why is Olivia so unhappy and why is her mother Hannah overreacting to Olivia leaving the house.The book is full of twists, and is told from the perspective of both mother and daughter. If you read one book this year make it this one. Utterly unputdownable.

Fancy a book that offers you shock value- here is that very book, 
Full of shocks, twists, unexpectedness. 
The Argument is based around a relationship between mother Hannah and her 15 year old daughter Olivia. Being a typical teenager (or so it seems) she is acting/playing up and sneaks out to a party after her parents have said no. 
Little does she know nor realise the impact that it has. As the feud between them escalated that Olivia decides that she no longer wants to speak to her mother, as she feels hard done by. During this silent treatment the house gets broken into and the kitchen gets vandalised. Hannah wants to have it looked at further with the police but Michael her husband advises her against it and says it’s probably Olivia. 
As the book progresses secrets start to spill over and disturbing things start to occur. 
I found this book fascinating, dark, sinister, disturbing. 
The depth of both plot and characters is spot on.
Be prepared to be shocked.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me this book in exchange for my review

Wow, I wish I had started this way earlier!  What a book!  Full of twists, more than a bag of pretzels!  Shocking as a thriller can be!  Original, well written, and fun!  Was up way past bed time finishing it up!  Fellow thriller lovers grab today!  This is one you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS!  
Will make sure I race this book up!

Wow, this is a real shocker of a story. By the end of chapter 3 I knew I wouldn't be getting to sleep early tonight. There was no way I could put this book down before  I knew what on Earth was going on. Every time I thought I had it figured out I turned a corner and walked into a brick wall. It was like trying to find my way around a maze. Blindfolded and in the dark. If you want a great read with a climax that will leave you stunned then I highly recommend this book. I loved it.

Review posted on Goodreads and Amazon

The Argument by Victoria Jenkins 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:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

The argument between Hannah and her 15-year old daughter Olivia was the beginning.  Olivia had snuck out of the house to go to a party she was told she was not allowed to attend.   Did Olivia not realize that her mother was just trying to protect her?  Olivia decided that her parents were going to get the silent treatment.

When the house was broken into, and Hannah's prized kitchen defiled, she wanted to call the police, but her husband convinced her that it was probably Olivia, and did she really want to take it that far?  Hannah gives in, as Michael is generally right.  He tries to protect them all.

Between the things that were happening to Hannah, and Olivia's sudden behavioral changes, something had to give.

But everyone is keeping secrets, and when Olivia finally starts talking again, so does Hannah.  But it may be too late to save this family.


My Opinions:  

This was rather sad, rather dark, rather disturbing, and really quite brilliant.  The writing was superb, and although I couldn't really see where the characters were coming from until later, the book definitely held my interest.   I think most of us have done something a little rebellious in our teens, so I could sort of see both sides of the "argument"....until I couldn't.   This family was....different.

The suspense built slowly.   I think when the big twist came, my jaw dropped.  I really wasn't expecting it, and it blew me away.  That doesn't really happen that often.

The book was about the naivety of youth, of how things that happen in your teens can affect you later in life.  It is about control.  It is about family dynamics.  It is about over-protective parents who feel justified in their actions.  It is about teens that have to rebel.  It's also about mental health.

I have read a number of psychological thrillers this last year, and this was definitely one of the best.  WTG Victoria Jenkins!

Wow!! This book literally took my breath away. The Argument is chilling, disturbing and straight away you have a sense of unease about what will unfold as you follow the lives of Hannah and Michael and their two daughters Olivia and Rosie. With the focus mainly on Hannah and troubled Olivia, their fragile and strained relationship is evident. Quite why they seem to be locked in a continuing struggle is what keeps you as a reader on the edge of your seat, curious to discover the possible reasons. Is Olivia just going through that tricky teenage stage where rebellion can be the norm or could it be something more sinister?? Since Hannah is portrayed as a cold unemotional figure, incapable of showing maternal love, it is understandable perhaps that Olivia behaves the way she does.
Superbly written, I was so impressed with the major twist when it came as up until this point I thought I understood exactly why this mother and daughter relationship is so toxic. With the novel then turning ever darker and more shocking, what had come before made so much sense and I was kicking myself for not spotting the obvious (which I guess is music to the author’s ears!!).
Some might find the subject matter upsetting but please persevere as the author writes mainly by inference than graphically which I prefer as a style of writing when it comes to psychological thrillers.
Whilst a work of fiction, the author raises some very serious points for discussion (good book club read I feel) such as the eternal nature/nurture debate, how your own upbringing can impact on future generations and how easy it is to see what you want to see rather than face the truth.
Towards the end as the pace was quickening I was completely gripped, racing to the conclusion so BE WARNED allow no interruptions to spoil your enjoyment. Easily a five star read for me, UTTERLY BRILLIANT.
Thanks as always to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

15 year old Olivia comes home late from a party she was not supposed to attend much to her mother Hannah’s dismay. This leads to an argument and Olivia giving her parents the silent treatment. After the argument strange things start to happen to Hannah and she wonders if Olivia is to blame. This was a good, twisty thriller that I was NOT expecting. The writer has you thinking one thing and then surprises you with shocking family secrets. Definitely enjoyed it and did not want to put down until I found out what was really going on with this family! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good, overlooked thriller.  They never leave me disappointed.  None of the hype and let down, just a nice solid read. You will not be able to stop reading the Argument.  There is nothing about a messed up family with lots of secrets to make you feel like you aren’t such a shit parent after all.   This is a super twisty, quick read that has some surprises for everyone.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.

What a great book......I'm still thinking about it days later...
Please do go buy this book if you want an engrossing, can't put it down type of read...
Completely different to what it says on the tin too.
We meet Hannah and her family in this story. Hannah is at loggerheads with her eldest daughter Olivia who at fifteen thinks she knows it all.
After sneaking out for a party and getting caught, Olivia has now decided to give her parents the silent treatment.
We soon see that something which starts off quite harmless with a family escalates very quickly with disastrous consequences for all of them.
I found this to be such a well written story with strong characters. I didn't particular like them for much of the book until I began to see things a little differently.
Why was Hannah's daughter losing so much weight and why did she feel she had no friends. Were people really talking about her, laughing at her.
You can't help wondering why she feels the only person in her world she can confide in is her teacher.
I have read many books where you can guess a story line early on or you know the direction a story might take....
Not a clue did I have with Victoria's book which made it all the more shocking a read...
Well worth taking the time for this one.....a brilliant read..