“It’s normal to have the odd violent fantasy about someone you hate so much every muscle in your body contracts when you think of them. I mean, everybody does it sometimes, don’t they? Don’t they? Seven slams, if you’re interested. That’s how many it takes till her braids run red.”

WTHeck?!?!?!?!?!

Y’ALL!!!!!

That’s a quote from THE FIRST PAGE!! Are your socks knocked off yet?

I don’t want to give too much of a synopsis. I’ll just say that it’s about a woman named Astrid who is a recovering alcoholic trying to turn her life around, but the mistakes of her past refuse to stay buried. “Someone knows.” That’s it. That’s all I’m saying.

First I want to say that this book is an ode to the dangers of alcohol abuse. Don’t worry, it’s not preachy, but it is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of addiction. In the midst of a white-knuckle of a thriller, Lesley Kara speaks honestly and compassionately about a touchy subject.

Guys, this is skillfully written book. I could fill this review with quotes that I found thought-provoking or evocative. Astrid’s voice is darkly comedic, bitingly observant, and brutally cynical. The words on the page are the real star of this one; the plot is just icing on the cake.

Be warned: the level of suspense is off the charts. There were quite a few moments when I said out loud, “Oh, something bad is about to happen.” In this one, paranoia looms large, and the past haunts just as eerily as any ghost. And that ending! My head was spinning so fast that I thought I had been hitting the bottle!!

Do yourselves a favor and read this one! SOON!!

Who Did You Tell is a book I couldn't put down! After reading The Rumor which I loved, I had to read Who Did You Tell and I have to say Lesley Kara did not disappoint! She is such a fantastic author.

Astrid, a.k.a Hilary, is a recovering alcoholic facing the struggles of staying sober. Everything about her struggle felt real to me. She lives with her mom in a quiet beach town, while attending daily AA meetings. She carries guilt from her past and works through her feelings, but starts to realize someone is watching her and knows about her past. This book has twists, turns and suspense and kept me guessing. I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my friends.

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

Wow this one really got me hooked from the very beginning!! I have not read a storyline like this one in a long time... honestly such an amazing read that I could not put it down. Excellent!

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I know that sounds harsh.
I however, did like Astrid and her wanting to be a better person... and push thru the alcoholic problem and attend the AA meetings.
I liked her mother and her wanting to help her only daughter. That being said, I then had a hard time with Astrid and Josh. I'm not sure why... I didn't feel they had that much chemistry as I had hoped. (perhaps that's just me)

I liked the mom's cottage. I thought it sounded like a loverly place to live as well as the descriptions of them near the water, etc. I enjoyed that a lot.

This book does leave you questioning things. Is Astrid making it up? What is she hiding? Who can she trust? While it wasn't my favorite story- I was captivated enough to read to the end.

If you are looking for a twist and turn book, suspense and an eerily feeling over your shoulder every time you go out.... this is the book for you!!!

3 stars from me.

*Recv'd an ARC via NetGalley and Ballantine in exchange for an honest review*


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Oh the lovely twisty bits that make a good suspense story. This one has it all.
Astrid has done some things, but she can't remember some, eh many, eh most of the them thanks to being piss drunk and blacked out. But she's sober now and trying to turn things around...what she can that is. She's ready to start healing, making amends, and maybe event moving on. But in small Flinstead, can she? It seems someone is trying to stop here, maybe even kill her. Who could it be? Who did you tell?

Twists & turns, hate & deceit...this one is a great ride.

One note: part one of the book starts a bit slow..until the very last line. Then....hang on for the ride.

Actual stars: 4.25

In my opinion, this one is better than The Rumour. Can't wait to see what author writes next!

This was an excellent thriller that really made me think. Impressive character development along with a fascinating storyline make this book a success.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Trying to stop drinking, she's hit bottom and moved back in with her mother. Is her past coming back to haunt her? The story moves a little slow, is it a mystery, a thriller, a love story, it seems to want to dabble in them all. I didn't find a character to relate to and I struggled to empathize with the main character and her battles to stay sober as she seems to lie to everyone, including herself. I liked how it ended, but can't say more without spoiling it.

** spoiler alert ** This was a quick, easy and interesting read. *SO MANY SPOILERS AHEAD* It didn't take me long to figure out that Helen was the antagonist. Even when Laura was revealed to be following Astrid, I still knew Helen was going to be revealed to be the real issue and Simon's mom. I do admit, I didn't see it coming that Helen was responsible for Simon's death.

This was a very well written book with good character development. It was a page turner and she has solidified herself as one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Astrid Phelps is home to recover
Under the watchful eye and guidance of her mother
A healing alcoholic, she’s trying to find
The secret to leaving alcohol behind
Meetings? Steps? Luck? Faith?
Astrid is struggling to find her way
She harbors secrets from her past
That she’ll have to come to terms with to find peace at last
But Astrid’s secrets are not hers alone
Someone else know what she’s done
Forgiveness is sweet, but revenge is sweeter
Will this other person succeed and defeat her?

This book was GOOD. I enjoyed the pace and flow of it. I felt that just enough information was revealed at just the right time to keep me both interested and wanting more. If you’re in the mood for an intriguing thriller that won’t keep you up at night, this is the right choice for you! Great, easy read.

Astrid is trying to get her life back together. It's hard, especially if your an alcoholic. Her mother has given her one more chance. If she stays sober she can continue to live at home.
This is a fictional book. It does deal with a very real fact. Alcoholism is a disease. It is something that you will fight the rest of your life. You can't drink in moderation, don't try. The spiral of achoholsm is just waiting to take you down. One drink, one sip that's all it takes. However, you can start over. You can accomplish what you set out to do.
The story is fiction, the disease is real.
Great book. The author takes a hard subject matter instills it into a story and makes the facts reality.

Sorry, but after trying to read this literally for weeks, it got put in my DNF pile. I am generally plot and character driven and could not find anything to like about these people. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine for an ARC for an honest review. I’m just sorry that the book and I were not a good fit.

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth”

Astrid is a recovering alcoholic going through the motions of finding herself, forgiving herself, and sobriety with AA. However, someone doesn’t believe she should be forgiven so easily. Someone wants her to pay.

To say this was a “keep you on the edge of your seat” thriller is an understatement! This story was riveting from start to finish. There were twists, turns, even a new romance. I found myself sneaking a page here and there while at work because I wanted to know what happened!

Astrid is a great character. She is sarcastic, quick witted, and has great character development. You feel for her as she goes through the pain of reliving her darkest moments, you cheer for her when she has little victories. You want her to succeed in her sobriety.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! It left me guessing what was going to happen. I remember letting out a few “uh oh!!!” when reading the secret persons thoughts on exposing Astrid. Wonderfully executed, a definite 5 star book.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Ballatine for the opportunity to read this book for an exchange of an honest review. ​

This is published on the blog: http://milesofpagescom.wordpress.com/ Now.

Will be posting the week of publication to Instagram: milesofpages

I received a complimentary copy of Who Did You Tell? from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cool perspectives! I thoroughly enjoyed the different points of view--one of which was quite a mystery for about half of the novel. Gaining an appreciation for the struggles of a recovering alcoholic, as well as an understanding the loss of loved ones held my interest for most of the storyline. I must say that I was surprised by a few turns of events, which only enhanced an already interesting book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Lesley Kara, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I absolutely loved "The Rumor", so I was very excited to read this new book by Lesley Kara. Astrid's story is a bit hard to read at times, as she is a recovering alcoholic who struggles every single day to stay sober. The ending was a bit predictable, but still very good.

What a wonderful story, wonderful book. Excellent writing., engaging characters and terrific plot. Lots of suspense leading up to a smashing ending. I highly recommend this book. You will absolutely love it!

Lesley Kara first made an appearance on my website in 2019 with her novel, The Rumor. I was so excited to learn of her latest book, "Who Did You Tell?" Astrid is a recovering alcoholic, living with her mother in a sleepy seaside town. While she was drinking, she did things she's not proud of, but she's trying to put it all behind her now. Unfortunately... her past doesn't seem to be done with her yet.

Astrid is tortured by her ex's cologne, showing up in the most unusual places, causing her to wonder whether sobriety is playing tricks on her. But when threatening letters begin showing up at her mother's place, she knows she's really in trouble.

This book is full of twists and turns... and just when you think you've got it all figured out, flip the page for surprise after surprise until the very end.

Never having had a family member suffer with alcoholism, this book was written with such phenomenal detail and insight that I could feel the emotions - the fear, anxiety, anticipation, disappointment, elation, ,and suffering - that the main character Astrid and her mother felt in their situation. The constant worry that someone out there knows your greatest mistake is such a harrowing thought and throughout this book Astrid had to discover who knew about the terrible awful that she committed. 😅 Living each day not knowing who was a friend who was an enemy made this book and “edge of your seat“ type of book! I just couldn’t put it down until I knew who knew Astrid’s secret because I had become so intertwined with Astrid’s character that I felt her secret was mine! I needed to know as much as she did so I could be right there beside her to help her figure out the best way to handle the aftermath. The lovely seaside town that this novel takes place in made this story come alive in such vivid detail that I could feel the ocean spray on my face as I read. The constant worry that someone out there knows your greatest mistake is such a harrowing thought and throughout this book Astrid had to discover who knew about the terrible awful that she committed. The lovely seaside town that this novel takes place and makes the story come alive in such a vivid detail that I could feel the ocean spray on my face as I read. This book was a journey through madness into salvation written in such a way that everyone who reads this novel can relate to something that Astrid has gone through. A definite must-read for all genre lovers! 📖☺️

I really loved this book!! It had so many twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!! This was my first book by this Author, and it won’t be the last!! Quick read!! Highly recommended!! You won’t be disappointed!!

Received a copy of this book from net galley. Suspenseful up until the end. Astrid is a recovering alcoholic who is down and out trying to turn things around while dealing with the guilt of Simons death. After rehab she moves back in with her mother Mets a new guy and goes to AA meetings and has a few acquaintances from there. She begins having odd things happen like a vodka bottle turning up in her coat pocket. She has a secret and she wonders who Simon told. Did he tell the wrong person? Who can she trust? Simon and her split up and reconnect a very self destructive relationship and he dies. Her current boyfriend leaves her when he finds out she is a recovering alcoholic but things that are happening may not be what they seem what a ending didn’t see it all coming