I loved The Safe Place by Anna Downes!
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 and it did not disappoint!

The story centers on Emily, a failed actress, who is struggling to meet ends meet, and has just been given the amazing opportunity of a housekeeper/nanny at a beautiful and remote French estate.

Anna Downes did an amazing job of grabbing my attention in the beginning and maintaining tension and unease through out. This was a book that while reading, I wasn’t always sure what was going on or what was going to happen next, but I was loving my time spent with this book. I received this on a Monday and every day I would just be counting down my work time until I could pick up the book again.

This was a fun thriller and will make a perfect summer read or a perfect read for someone looking for an escape.

Please do yourself a favor and pick up this awesome book! Available on July 14, 2020.

4.5-5 stars!!! I need to start by saying that I am absolutely stunned that this is a debut novel! The writing style, the characters, the suspense, the whole story,....I felt like I was reading a thriller that was written by a best selling author! I just recently bought a kindle paperwhite and I was worried I would have a hard time getting used to it but I definitely picked a wonderful book for my first kindle read!! I didn’t want to put it down! Highly recommend this one and can’t wait to see what else this author writes in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my advanced readers copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I found this book very predictable and it didn't have the major twist I expected. The characters were hard to relate to and I didn't find any of them that likeable.

This story is about a young girl named Emily. Down on her luck, she loses her temp job, is dropped from her acting agency and gets evicted all within a couple of days. Lucky for her, Emily's former boss, Scott, has noticed her. And he wants her, and needs her. Scott believes Emily is the perfect person to move to France and help his estranged wife and daughter. Emily eagerly accepts, having few other options and is on the first flight to France. Upon arrival, everything seems perfect. Nina is beautiful and inviting, Aurelia is interesting and Emily is curious and extremely grateful. However, as time goes on Emily begins to see the cracks in this picture perfect story that is being presented to her. She realizes there are secrets she isn't privy to, and as she begins to piece together the truth about her new employees, she realizes she could never trust them in the first place.

I really enjoyed this book! I would give it 4.5 stars. It started a bit slow, but I found after a little while that I couldn't put it down. Everything I guessed would happen went in a completely different direction and I was happily surprised at how the story came together. It just showed how great the writing was- having the reader led to believe one version of events, when in reality it was something completely different. The suspense was great, writing great and the story unfolded perfectly. I loved all the details, all of the secrets. I wished we found out more about Emily's past. At the beginning, I didn't love Emily, but she grew on me as the story went on, she really did become the heroine of her story. Interesting concept! Great read!

4,5 stars!
Beautifully written, the atmosphere is well-described.
I liked how the safe place seems idyllic at first and makes us travel to a recluse property, but with some sinister details that makes us anticipate what will come.
Thank you to St. Martin Publishing group and NetGalley for the ARC

This is a book you'll NEED in your beach bag this summer! You'll be gripping the pages and lost in the story for hours and not even notice it! That's exactly what happened to me and I know many readers will agree! What an impressive and immersing debut!

Ooh, I liked this one! The storyline just pulled you in right from the start and held on. From the well-developed characters to the chilling and addictive plot, this author definitely engages her readers. Definitely a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

When Emily is offered a job working for her ex-boss's wife and daughter out in the middle of nowhere, Emily immediately agreed. Though confused and nervous, her life was beginning to fall apart, and she felt that this could be an escape for her. The French estate she moves to is absolutely stunning, and she immediately falls into routine there. However, there is something weird about the place, and as Emily gets closer to the family, she finds out a secret that they have been keeping. A secret that could cost Emily her life.

I was absolutely shocked and impressed by this book. It had so many twists and turns that once I got into it, I could barely put it down. A beautifully crafted thriller, Anna Downes' story was gripping and exciting. I am feeling ALL of the emotions right now. The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful, and it was what originally drew me in to reading it!

Emily was a great protagonist who knew to do the right thing, even when it was hard. Extremely hard. She wasn't perfect by any means, but she had a good head on her shoulders, and I appreciated her character.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an exciting thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

How do you write 50 amazing chapters of a pretty darn good book and then end with so many open questions?  The Ruth Ware / Lisa Jewell comparisons are apt, but I am not happy with the "ending". This could be such a good book, but the last chapters and epilogue just didn't fit.

I was so excited to receive an advanced reading copy of this book to review. This sounds exactly like the book type I love most and I wasn’t disappointed. I read it quickly in only a couple days and it kept me interested until the end. Was a little predictable, but I still enjoyed it very much. Can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next.

THE SAFE PLACE begins with Emily, a down on her luck struggling actress whose life is falling apart. After another failed audition, she is let go from her temp job. With her rent check bounced, she is facing likely eviction and she has no cash for food or other necessities. Her relationship with her parents is broken and she doesn’t have any friends in the city close enough to call on for help.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Emily gets the opportunity of a lifetime. Her former boss Scott wants to hire her for a different job, helping to take care of his wife and daughter at a gorgeous estate on the French coast. Emily has few options and can’t imagine a better offer, so she grabs her passport and heads out. The setting is idyllic just as described, but the little girl is unusual and there’s something off about the wife.

I was instantly hooked to this one and I wound up reading it in less than a day. We get different POVs, Emily and Scott in the present day and Nina’s flashbacks to her history with her husband and child. It was obvious early on that this setup was too good to be true with even Emily having early suspicions, but the reality of what was going on wasn’t clear.

I really enjoyed Emily as a character, though there were times when she made some frustrating decisions. She hasn’t had a perfect past and her struggle with her family leads her to be the perfect pick when Scott wants to send someone to this isolated estate. Scott’s motives aren’t initially clear, but as we see into his head, the worry for Emily is real.

This was a bit of a slow burn, but only in the best way as the mystery of what exactly was happening kept me hooked and turning pages.I wasn’t really surprised by the big twist, but I didn’t predict all of the nuances and I didn’t mind having my suspicions confirmed. I would recommend you keep your eyes out for this one when it’s released on July 14!

I am afraid that I broke my arm and shoulder, meaning I won’t be able to write a pop proper review. I did enjoy this book it kept me guessing I would recommend it. I won’t be able to list my sites due to my situation but I’m sure your computer has them all. Thank you net galley.

Thank you to net galley for sending me this book for review. I enjoyed the plot but unfortunately not the actual book. I likes the characters but the dialogue fell very flat for me. I would read more by this author.

Where do I begin? This is my idea of a perfect book! Leaving out the summary because I know others will do that. I couldn't guess where this was going - surprised me to the very last page! The characters were well-drawn, interesting and their motives, although sometimes mysterious, made sense -- at least, to them. . Emily is clumsy, funny, interested in her own self and spares no time to worry about others. She reminds me of myself at that age, so it was very easy to put myself into her story. I'm the mom of an adopted child who is still a little bit of a handful, so I could identify with this book on so many levels! (In fact, my daughter's middle name is Emily).
Can't leave out Querencia, which is actually the MC, if you think about it. Author describes this place so vividly that I could smell the flowers and feel the sand in my toes. Well-done!!!!


I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Netgalley, #Minotaur Books and Goodreads

I really enjoyed this book, it's so well written. The author is very talented. The story did not disappoint. The story kept my interest throughout. Some slow parts but it all fit together; great character development. This book lived up to the description and then some. Different story line and topic, expertly written.

I received a copy of THE SAFE PLACE on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Five stars and here’s why:

TOTAL BOOK HANGOVER. I dropped everything to finish this book given the serious number of plot twists that I did not see coming. The writing was fast-paced, beautiful even, and the character development was rich and fulfilling. I was transfixed by the story and couldn’t put it down. I feel so lucky that I got to read an advance copy. I look forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend.

Anna Downes debut novel was a triumph! Never a dull moment. Emily Proudman is kind of a mess. Acting career circling the drain. Temp job not great. She’s not very good at anything she does but she does have a good heart and passion. That’s why when her former boss at the advertising agency notices her, he feels that Emily would be perfect for a different job entirely. Moving Emily to France on his Estate to act as a house keeper/companion/child minder/a little of everything helper for his wife Nina and their sick child Aurelia.

I mean it’s not like Emily has a lot going on at the moment and Scott Denny is very handsome. Taking the job and signing the non disclosure agreement (why on earth would she need to do this?) Emily packs her small bag and heads to the French Estate on a cliff by the ocean. Where she has access to a generous salary, an unlimited amount on her new (paid for by Scott) credit card, her own private lodgings and a beautiful SUV the locals have nick named “The Tank”

Once in France (Private jet naturally) Emily is met by the gruff and uncommunicative Yves. The general handyman. Or is that henchman? But all of Emily’s doubts soon fall away when she finally enters the gates of “Querencia” the amazing estate she will work and live on.

She is soon meets Scott’s wife, Nina. Nina is like no one she’s seen before and so nice. Surely those rumors about Scott hating his wife that were ripe at work are unjustified. There is no way Scott could hate a woman as beautiful, ethereal and kind as she is. Perhaps she is a little protective of daughter Aurelia, but surely that’s justifiable as Aurelia is ill with some condition. Emily is not quite sure what it is. But Aurelia does not like Emily. This is going to be tough going. But maybe, as the weeks pass and a rhythm in their day to day lives Aurelia is the key to everything and although non verbal, it is Aurelia who has something to show Emily.

The keys to the proverbial castle are all brought to a head one awful night that begins and ends with a thunderstorm. And quite the storm it is. Leaving the reader with the thought that calm waters are just fine regardless of what stage of life you find yourself in.

I look forward to reading more from this author! As always special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins press for this excellent ARC. 4.5 stars.

I wasn’t sure I was going to continue this novel.
It took awhile for me to get into the book. But when I finally did, I was very glad I stuck with it.
The Safe house is the story of Emily, a want to be actress in London. She usually works temp jobs as she persues auditions.
The boss of one company offers Emily a job as an assistant to his wife who lives with a 6 year old on an estate in France. Emily’s arrival in France is when the story becomes very intriguing.
Definitely a book to keep your interest At this point. I recommend this book!

I can't say enough good things about this book! It was super suspenseful, and had me surprised with every plot twist! I read it in two days because I just had to know what happened next. Great twisty thriller book, and I would definitely recommend!

Emily needs a break. She left her parents and her small-town behind for all the excitement of London. She works temporary jobs while going on acting auditions. The problem is she can't keep a job, or ace an audition, and can't even remember her mother's birthday. So maybe she doesn't deserve a break, maybe she just needs to rethink what she wants from life, and perhaps to think about someone else for a change. I am thinking at this point, nope, not going to happen!
Out of the blue, her former boss offers her a job. Scott's wife Nina and their daughter Aurelia live on a remote estate in France. Scott can't get away from work as often as he would like, and he needs someone to help Nina renovate their home and do general housekeeping. The position comes with a great salary, a car, and a credit card. Emily is one step away from being homeless and nothing is holding her in London. So what if she doesn't technically have any of the qualifications Scott wants. She is crushing on the very married Scott and after all, how hard could it be.
When Emily arrives at Querencia, her first reaction is to go right back to London. The location is beyond isolated and Nina and Aurelia are both in a word, strange. But Nina shows how charming she can be and soon Emily feels like she belongs. As time passes, Emily starts to see cracks in the facade. The question is, what is she going to do about it.
Well, fasten your seat belt because you are in for a turbulent ride. I had my suspicions about what was wrong with this family but was still surprised how it all wrapped up. I was furiously flipping pages for most of this book but just didn't love the ending. I was willing to put my doubts aside at the implausibility of the characters' actions because well it was well-written fiction.