Initially I found this book hard to get into but I am glad that I persevered with it.

The story focuses on two very different women Prue and Maddie who do a house swap - from a sleepyhead village to a London flat. Homes and lifestyle are as different as the characters.

Things take a real turn when in the London house where Prue is residing, when things start being misplaced in the home at night time. This is where the book really ramps up a gear and gets going. There are several little plots in the story that keep the reader guessing and eventually come together towards the end.

“Be Careful What You Wish For” is driven by characters, two women, diverse in age, occupation, and lifestyle, but who both wish for a different life, just for a while. A “house swap” provides the opportunity for both to try something new. Former actress Madi swaps her London apartment for Prue’s cottage in a small village. It is a perfect arrangement fraught with difficulties and rewards for both.

The narrative unfolds in alternating points of view documenting the adventures of each of the two women. Readers follow the ups and downs of their new existences and the opportunities found in each environment. Readers know what they do, what they think about their surroundings, and how they perceive their lives; readers get to know them well. The narrative of their idyllic new lives is interrupted by chapters with a menacing observer making ominous comments and frightening plans

Characters are complex, well developed, and multi-faceted; they drive the plot. Each woman embraces her new location, and both take on new challenges, enjoy personal renewal, and recover physically and emotionally. They grow and change. All this is interrupted not only by the “observer” but also by events from the past that were meant to be hidden forever suddenly come to light and by an accident that brings both women together.

“Be Careful What You Wish For” is the story of two women who want something else from their lives and find more than they expected. They both struggle to take charge of their previously dramatic personal lives and move forward in a responsible way. I received a review copy of “Be Careful What You Wish For” from Vivian Brown, HarperCollins, and One More Chapter. It is quick to read and has a compelling plot without graphic violence or inappropriate language. It is a wonderful book and relaxing to read.

Definitely an enjoyable and interesting read. Not the type to keep me up after my bedtime, but nevertheless well written and entertaining

Be Careful What You Wish For! No really!

I was gripped from the beginning, shocking, dark and bloody fantastic! This is a guaranteed hit. I don’t want to give any of the plot away just trust me on this one! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This book had two distinct threads to it. One was a seemingly cosy feel plot of two strangers who swop residences with one another. The Londoner goes to the countryside and into a village where she feels out of place. In return the country girl goes to London and experiences a big city for the first time.

Then begins a rather creepy dialogue interspersed within these two tales. It's of someone who is entering the London property and seems to have a vendetta against the original occupant.

To me this switching between the two genres felt a little like Jekyll and Hyde, you never knew which one you would end up with when you re-joined the book. Lulled along with the cosy life swop suddenly you would be faced with the ramblings of someone - you know not who - and their obvious dislike of the London actress. It then turned into a bit of a whoisit as you tried to second guess who this intruder is.

A clever twist to the end of the book and the "whoisit" kept me reading until the end. But I was never quite comfortable with the cosy comfort book meets Psycho!

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. It had a lot of promise but not as gripping as it promised. Prue & Madi are likeable characters but this book is more of a drama than a thriller.

I enjoyed this book which on the surface seems a gentle story of two women who although strangers agree to a house swap told from the point of view of each of them, but what intrigues the reader are the unexplained third party chapters which gives the book its tension. I liked the juxtaposition of the quiet Norfolk village with the bustle of London and also the difference in ages of the two women. The characters are well drawn and made me invest in their lives. A well deserved four stars

This was a good book, but not what I was expecting at all, as in no way could I call this a mystery or thriller. Maybe a cozy mystery, but that’s the extent of the mystery or thrills found within, probably more of a woman’s fiction or even a domestic drama with some suspense, I had to rate it down for that, as I do feel it’s being marketed in a way that will do a big disservice to it, as I think of marketed to non thrill seekers, it would definitely engage them and keep them interested and reading until end. But since it’s not marketed as that, I do feel I lost out on the things I most enjoy in a story. Overall, the characters and story was written in a manner that lets you connect and love the story, but I wanted thrills and chills, which was not happening in this book! If you’re okay with more of a women’s fiction, domestic drama with some suspense, or even a cozy mystery, then I think this book will be one you will enjoy!

I really enjoyed this book. A great read from an author I haven’t read before. Well written, fast-paced story works well and leaves you guessing. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc,

A good and interesting read!

I would recommend this to everyone who loves a good story with captivating characters! Definitely a good read!

A combination of a mystery and a thriller! This book was exciting from the begging to the end. Speaking of the end, what a twist I didn’t see coming!

A nice story but not the mystery I was expecting. Kept my attention though. I liked the two main characters.

I received this book from netgalley. I loved it can't wait for more by this author have not read any books from this author it was on my frist one.

Another book where the plot wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be based on the summary, but that being said, still very enjoyable and a good read! You never know what is really happening in someone else’s life, and this gives you the ability to find out and for the characters to also do so.

Read the book in less than 24 hours on holiday- much to my husband's disgust. The storyline us reminiscent of the film "The Holiday" where two people swap houses without knowing much about each other. But this is also a mystery and the story is told really well. Loved the book and would definitely recommend.

There’s an episode of the Big Bang Theory in which Amy tells Sheldon that the events of the Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the lost ark movie would still have happened whether or not Indiana Jones had played a role. This book is a bit like that. It feels as if it was written to become a cosy romantic comedy book - but then someone decided it needed a bit of something extra and turned it into a psychological thriller / stalker mystery. It hasn’t quite worked...

Take away the whole stalker mystery and what you’re left with is a pretty decent book on its own to be honest. But you’re left feeling as if you are reading two completely separate books with the random stalker chapters thrown in as they are. The events don’t actually have that much of an impact on the outcome of the book.

Thank you to netgalley for thos ARC copy of BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. I really enjoyed this house swapping romance/thriller.

I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, Vivian Brown and Netgalley for the advanced copy of Be Careful What You Wish For and for giving me this opportunity to give an honest review.

The story starts with Pure and Madi two strangers who agree to house swap for a month because they each need to escape from their lives. Pure goes to London and Madi finds herself in a small Norfolk village. They both need to think and contemplate what to do next. While they are in their swaps they start making friends with the people that live there.

The story is a cosy feelgood mystery with each chapter told by Pure and Madi. It is a very likeable story with likeable characters with a few twists and turns. As you find out that there is a mystery within this story. I fully recommend this book.

This wasn’t one of my usual reads but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A great read with thrills and spills aplenty. A mystery that slowly unravels to an epic finale.

Wonderful to read about two completely different women who, on paper, have nothing in common it discover that they are more alike than they would of thought.

A tale of love, deception, drama, intrigue and self discovery.

A wonder book, highly recommended 5 stars

This book varies between moving at a good pace and just dragging through other places. I predicted who the unknown voice was fairly early which took away from the intrigue.