I love Sue Watson's books! I have read her many times.

Like always it is well written, the characters are strong and interesting, the storyline is well developed. It grabs you from the start!

I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sitting across from Alex, Hannah believes she has found the one. He wants everything on her list- 3 children, a labrador, and weekends in Devon. To some, Alex's actions appear controlling and manipulative; however, to Hannah it is his way of showing love. As their relationship amplifies, secrets and lies begin to surface that has Hannah questioning everything Alex has told and promised her. Who can Hannah trust to help her dissolve the puzzle that is Alex? Or is he as wonderful as Hannah thinks he is?

As a suspenseful page-turner, it was not until the last few chapters that Sue Watson was making me eagerly turn the pages to find out the ending. The ending was a total shocker and gave me the reason to give it 4/5 stars.

Thank you to Sue Watson, NetGalley, and Bookouture for allowing me to read this ARC.

This book was hard for me. I found it to be such an easy and nice read and I thoroughly enjoyed it...until the end. The book had just the right amount of creepiness, distrust and suspense. I didn’t know who to trust, okay maybe I knew who not to trust, but I found myself going back and forth between what I thought was true. I thought Hannah was being a dumb, manipulated girl like we all have in relationships, pushing aside all of the bad things in order to be in “love” and I hated that, as I would hate that for myself or for someone I cared about.

The ending of this book really threw me. I was enjoying the book and had my ideas of where things were headed and then bam, they just completely changed things and threw in some crazy twists from left field. I feel like I would of liked it better overall if the ending was kept to one twist, instead of multiple.

But a well written book, with a writing style I enjoyed.

Sue Watson will have her readers jumping out of their skin with her twisted and terrifying new thriller, First Date.

Having grown up in foster care, Hannah had vowed to do whatever it takes to ensure that her adult life would not be as turbulent or as unpredictable as her childhood. Determined to have a settled and stable life, Hannah has achieved most of her objectives. In her mid-thirties, she has a job has loves as a social worker, a great circle of friends who look out for her and her own home. The only fly in the ointment is that she has yet to meet the man of her dreams, however, her best friend has encouraged her to give fate a helping hand and convinces her to join a dating app. Hannah cannot believe her luck when through the app she meets Alex. Charming, handsome and somebody who likes almost all of the same things she does, Alex seems like he has walked out of one of her romantic fantasies. But is he simply too good to be true? Is he hiding something from Hannah? Or are her friends simply over-reacting?

The more time Hannah and Alex spend together, the more she is convinced that he is The One. Not only do they enjoy the same foods and like the same music, but they have similar ambitions and plans for the future. Hannah is busy making plans to travel the world with the man she has grown to love, but is she rushing into things? Should she be so trusting of Alex? With her friends’ repeated warnings to proceed with caution echoing in her ears, Hannah decides to listen to her gut and give Alex her heart instead. But is this the right thing to do? Or has she just made the biggest mistake of her life? Sure, Alex seems exactly like the kind of man she has been looking for all of her life, but could there be a side to him which Hannah is simply blind to? Or are her friends just being overly cautious?

Alex has waited for somebody like Hannah his entire life. Somebody exactly like Hannah. Now that he has her under his spell, he plans to spend the rest of his life doing whatever it takes to keep her close to him. Nothing and nobody is going to come between him and Hannah. And whatever Hannah does and wherever Hannah goes, he will always be right behind her and he will never let her go. Ever.

Sue Watson’s First Date is a chilling, unpredictable and shocking page-turner with twists and turns readers simply won’t see coming and plenty of tension, terror and suspense to keep them chewing their nails to the elbow desperate to find out what happens next. Sue Watson keeps her readers on a knife’s edge and hanging onto her every word with this creepy and petrifying thriller I certainly won’t forget in a hurry!

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion if it. Wow! This book was absolutely amazing. Without giving too much away, Hannah is a social worker who grew up in foster homes and after a few failed relationships us looking for her happily ever after. Along comes Alex who she meets on a dating app. All Alex wants is to take care of her, make her happy and keep her safe. Is he too good to be true? Then the lies and secrets start surfacing. There were times I was reading and I thought "how dumb can you be" and other times it was "way to go for standing up for yourself". And of course the ending. I thought it was over and just kept thinking how can an amazing book just end with this ending? Was I wrong when I read the last few chapters!!!! So very good and highly recommend!!!!!

Well I never want to meet Alex! What a creepy f**ker!
Very happy to be out of the dating pool after finishing First Date.

I hated Hannah as a character, I found her ridiculous and naive BUT she makes for great reading (even if you wish she could hear you shouting through the pages). The tension in the pages is unbearable (in a good way!).

My god the ending! Ahhhhhh you need to read First Date ASAP! It’s incredible.
5/5

This book was so good! Creepy and twisty and I will never ever date again! lol. Good writing and not so good characters, which is how I like it!

Hannah, age 36, is a social worker who grew up in foster care. After a two-year relationship with Tom who simply moved into her flat and led his own life, she finally booted him out. Now, she is being encouraged by her friend, Jas, to get on a dating site and try her luck. Nervous about doing that, she finally clicks on a man named Alex, who is a solicitor. He gets in touch with her and they arrange to meet at a wine bar for a date. They are both pleasantly surprised that they have so many things in common and have a wonderful evening together. Wondering if he will call her again, he finally does after a few days and they go out again. Now they are together every night and she finds herself staying in his lovely and pristine house.

But Jas is not sure about him and feels that he might be too good to be true. While he is loving and generous, he’s also borderline possessive. This distrust becomes hard on their friendship and working relationship as Jas is her boss.

Some strange things start to happen and Hannah is convinced that Tom is getting back at her for breaking up with him all of which he denies.

Is Alex as perfect as he seems? Is there truly reason for doubt about the man he claims to be?

In my opinion, Hannah is a twit. While she appears to sincerely care about her teenage cases she works with, her inability to stand up for herself is pathetic. In addition, her drinking is insane. The plot is good but Alex had me questioning him all the way to the end of the book. Ah, but never fear, the author has a big surprise for us that no one is expecting. Never underestimate author Sue Watson because her books are never cut and dried. Expect the unexpected.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is an absolute rollercoaster of a book! Right from the first page it had me totally gripped.

Obviously I knew from the blurb that Alex wasn’t going to be quite the dream date that Hannah thought he was, but it didn’t stop me feeling like wishing that I could just climb into the book and warn her to steer clear!

The tension is almost unbearable in this book, I really couldn’t put it down. It’s got a fast pace, and a really well layered plot. I had no idea of how it was all going to end.

When the book reached the end, I have to admit that I was a bit surprised, it wasn’t quite as dramatic as it was building up to be. But then, more fool me, along comes a jaw-dropping twist. A superb ending to a superb book.

If you like psychological thrillers that are all-consuming and gripping, you will love this.

I liked the idea of this novel. Lonely, hard-working social worker Hannah tries internet dating and meets her perfect man who turns out not to be so perfect I was irritated with the character of Hannah and her colleagues, tighter writing would have made it a better thriller. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the w c.

This is an author I enjoy reading and so I was thrilled to be given the chance to read this book via Netgalley.
From the very beginning I was caught up in the unfolding love life of Hannah and her dreams to find The One. She is at times annoyingly naive to the point of wanting to scream at her to open her eyes to what First Date Alex is up to.
And yet even when I felt things were predictable, that Alex was insanely jealous, pretty crazy, hiding darker secrets and a master manipulator, I too had suspicious thoughts about someone else in Hannah's life, namely boss and fellow social worker Jas.
Hannah is obsessed with finding her forever home and perfect life and you can hardly blame her given the start in life she had. A mother who died of an overdose and a childhood spent in one foster home, then another and then another. Desperate to help and make a difference in the lives of troubled young people Hannah is not only caught up in her intense relationship with Alex but she is keen to solve Chloe's problems. The teenager has a mother who is a drug addict and when Chloe suggests she is having a sexual relationship with an older man, Hannah is rightly concerned and suspects the mother's boyfriend.
Yet what Hannah cannot see is how similar Chloe's choices are to her own.
I was going to award the book 4 stars for being gripping and a well told psychological thriller but given the remarkable turn of events in the very latter stages I have to award this book 5 stars. I thought I had guessed the ending but was genuinely shocked and taken aback by the explosive ending which was jaw dropping enough. Please then enter the final big bang with a terrific cliffhanger in the last paragraph.
Makes you wonder just what lengths people can go to if they decide you are The One!

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for allowing me to read for free this fantastic book. I loved this story from beginning to end. It kept me interested, it was full of great and unexpected twists and the ending was super shocking. I love the author's narration style. I hope the author had as much fun writing this story as I had reading it. The only downside is, having to wait for her next book!

Hannah is ready to tip her toe into the water again after another disastrous relationship. She meets the gorgeous and wealthy Alex through a dating app and cannot believe how much they have in common, they appreciate the same music, food and holiday destinations. Best of all, he also wants kids and a dog. Before long she is head over heels in love and ready to move in with him, even though her friends are telling her to not rush into things.

Does Hannah really know Alex? Why is he always turning up when she is out with her friends? Is he controlling or just wanting to take care of her?

I really enjoyed this story and practically read it in one sitting. Although I found Hannah quite gullible, I loved how she also stuck up for herself.

Sue Watson, I am in awe of how I had to re-think the whole book after that ending!

The first few chapters plodded along — I thought I was not going to continue reading — but then it picks up speed and the characters are developed. Lots of background info is dished out, which seemed thick to get through, but once the foundation was layer the book took off.
I enjoyed the pacing of the book and the constant mystery and wondering. There weren’t slow parts (other than the beginning) and it was easy and fun to read. I wanted to keep reading and was invested in finding out the “who” and “why”.

This is my first book by Sue Watson. Now I want to read all of her psychological thrillers.

The story starts like any romantic novel: girl meets boy, there's chemistry, girl has had bad experiences so she's very vigilant. But this one is spooky because boy seems way too perfect and boy may not be who we think he is.
This tension kept me reading. Who is Alex? Is he evil? What is actually going on here?
The end was completely unexpected.

I recommend this book to fans of romantic novels with a dark twist.

With thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This was a deliciously dark, creepy book with so much going on, in a good way. Hannah ends a relationship that is going with nowhere after two years, and turns to online dating and her best friend and boss, Jas encourages her. She meets the handsome Alex and they immediately click. Hannah and Alex agree they were meant to be... Seems too good to be true? You will meet other characters in this book that make you question everything just like Hannah.

The other scary thing about this book is that is so believable! To think this happens in the dating world is scary AF.

And the ending... OMG!!! I did not see that coming, at all! So happy this was not predictable. One of the best suspense thriller books I have read all year and highly recommended.

5 stars for sure!!

Thanks to Netgalley, Sue Watson and Boookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: : 10/16/20

After a bit of a shaky start, this book develops into something utterly compelling. Overwritten in some parts, could do with some editing - but the ending makes up for it.

Brilliant.

Book Description:

She’s been waiting her whole life to meet a man like Alex. But he’s been waiting too. And once he has her, he’ll never let her go…

Hannah has done everything to make sure her life is safe and secure. A long way from her unstable childhood growing up in foster care, she’s content with her sweet, little, messy apartment and her satisfying job as a social worker. She quietly worries that, aged 36, she might never fall in love. But otherwise her life is where she wants it to be.

Until, encouraged by her best friend to join a dating app, she meets Alex. He’s irresistibly handsome. He loves the same music as her. The same food as well. They both dream of travelling the world but agree they’d be equally happy escaping to a cottage by the beach in Devon. Both of them would love to own a Labrador one day. It’s like he’s made for her. It’s like he’s too good to be true.

Hannah’s friends aren’t so sure about him. But Hannah thinks he’s perfect.

Which is good. Because Alex knows she’s perfect for him too. In fact, she’s exactly the girl he’s been looking for…

And nothing Hannah’s done to make her life safe will ever be enough.

A gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller about dark obsession and internet dating. Fans of The Wife Between Us, Friend Request and Gone Girl will adore this unputdownable twisted love story.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'First Date' by Sue Watson.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 16th October 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It most definitely will not be my last!!

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful and colourful cover and intriguing sounding blurb. The write up also stated that 'fans of Gone Girl will adore this unputdownable twisted love story' . I am a big fan of 'Gone Girl' so I am interested to see if this book lives up to it's standard. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 40 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is set in the Midlands, UK 🇬🇧. I always seem to get on with books that are set in the UK better as I am from Wales and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book. I have in fact visited the Midlands several times so hopefully it will make it easier to picture the settings.

This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Hannah. I enjoy books written in first person as it gives you more of a feel for the character and it feels like you are bonding over a cup of tea.

Well, well, well Wow!!! What an absolute cracker of a book!!! This book sucked me straight in from beginning to the explosive ending. It was very well written with excellent descriptions which put me straight into the storyline. The blog and the cover suited the book perfectly.

The storyline was fast paced and filled with drama and suspense. A very believable storyline which kept me on edge throughout. I loved all the twists and turns and throughout it kept me guessing what was going on and who was doing what. I would NEVER have guessed at the ending so a MASSIVE WELL DONE to Sue Watson. I have read many thrillers and it's getting harder and harder for me to be surprised so great job there. I loved the storyline and just loved everything about it. It was all done perfectly!!

THE characters were fantastic, solid and completely believable, or are they?? You just have no idea who to trust and wow was I blindsighted!! Even reading the revealing chapter I still wasn't sure who it was that was speaking. They all had such different and strong personalities and all suited the storyline perfectly.

Overall a compelling, page turning, mind blowing psychological thriller that will keep you up late at night.

Genres covered include Mystery and Psychological Thriller

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of good books and also fans of Carol Wyer and CL Taylor. Just ANYONE looking for a FANTASTIC read!!

336 pages.

This book is 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio:

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written sixteen novels, and many have been translated into several languages. Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her latest thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST, THE SISTER-IN-LAW and FIRST DATE out on October 16th.

Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives with her family in Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing - okay, procrastinating, eating too much confectionery, and watching 'My 600lb Life,' on the sofa.

more info visit Sue's website; http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/

Sue would love to meet you on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/suewatsonbooks

Follow Sue on Twitter @suewatsonwriter

Buy Links:
Amazon: https://bit.ly/3iFPlXs
Apple: https://apple.co/30CT0zP
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2F0FUny
Google: https://bit.ly/3klF2Kw

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've struggle with this book in many ways, both positive and negative.
The main character is quite a.... if you know what I mean lol but the ending.... made me think about it for days, so you decide if it's worth it

This was such a page-turner! Sue Watson is new to me and I will definitely be reading more from her. The twists were great and I didn't predict it at all. I definitely recommend this one!