This is a great story of Eliza who has the perfect family but when she takes on a new tenant called Dan things start to go wrong. Her controlling husband has doubts about him.
Lots of twists and turns, suspense and heart-stopping moments finished it in 2 days.

This is the second book I have read by this author and it doesn’t disappoint.

To the outside world Eliza Curren has everything: adoring husband, beautiful kids, big house, and lots of money. But Eliza’s perfect life is a lie and she is desperate to find a way out of her marriage. When Eliza meets charismatic Dan Jones she is instantly attracted to him, but Dan is about to turn Eliza’s world upside down and leave her floundering for answers.

A good thriller with lots of twists and turns along the way. An enjoyable and entertaining read.

This was certainly an excellent page turner although I found the first half quite frustrating. Why did Eliza put up with Martins physical and mental abuse, but then she is another character, like so many others in current books, who has a secret from,her past. How many novels would exist if there was no secret in the main character, always a woman, past life? Nevertheless I was seriously thinking about giving up as I felt I couldn’t cope with more abuse from Martin with Eliza being totally compliant. Dan was an interesting main character who very quickly becomes a part of everyone’s life including E.lizard French au pair who he starts dating.. His constant flirting with Eliza is questionable but she believes that there is a deep attraction made stronger by Dan admittirg that he, too, is a twin.. We later learn that Isabel has blonde hair, for some reason I pictured her as being a brunette or raven haired beauty. I’m so very glad I didn’t give up half way through, everyone else’s reviews made me continue and from then on it’s a roller coaster ride to,the very end. I can’t imagine how the author plotted it all out, there is so much brilliance in the final chapters. An excellent read from beginning to end.

Once again I appear to be in the minority for my rating of this book!

Whilst the book is an incredibly compelling read I couldn’t help feeling frustrated and annoyed with Eliza. She had plenty of opportunity to get help and there were times where she could’ve been more honest and open (particularly during police interviews) which would’ve worked in her favour.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally heartless (!) I fully understood Eliza’s situation and how she felt unable to seek help. But equally she knew without doing something terrible she’d never be free. So she chose to do nothing? She never sought legal/impartial advice, she never allowed anyone to help her. Preferring instead to allow the relationship become even more toxic as she retaliated to Martin’s controlling behaviour.

Aside from Eliza, I enjoyed all of the characters and the way in which they play off one another. I thought Amanda had a bit of a raw deal and felt a bit sorry for her at times.

I’d say up until about 60/70% I was gripped and then I found the last part a bit predictable and I’ve never been a huge fan of books that dedicate their final chapter to tying up all the loose ends.

Even though I gave it 2 stars and slated Eliza, it’s a good, pacy read but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Curtis, Invite Me In, Transworld Publishers, Penguin Random House, 2021, First published, Black Swan 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

Lies, addiction, revenge, abuse, and murder combined with domestic rites such as dropping children at school, arranging their playdates, admiring their drawings, and organising childcare enhance the complexities to be unravelled in this domestic thriller.

Emma Curtis makes the most of each component of the novel, from her characterisations, a solid plot, to the questions that roil endlessly in the reader’s mind. Moments that seem predictable, familiar ploys and clues, become immersed in other events that encourage the reader to ‘take the eye off the ball’. At times ‘we know it all’, but, no, we do not. And even when we do, it does not spoil a convincing read. I found the twist at the end unnecessary, but other readers will enjoy this tying up of ends with another outlook on the main character. I felt that I knew enough about Eliza Curran, her character, and motivations.

Eliza Curran meets Dan Jones on the doorstep of the flat she is renovating to join the property portfolio owned by her and her husband, Martin. The introduction to the apartment and Eliza’s morning is warm, sunny, filled with music and peaceful satisfying work. Dan’s smiling self-introduction enhances this image, momentarily chasing the impression raised by Eliza’s apparent need to leave quickly to satisfy Martin’s demands, and her thoughts that what was once a safe place for her has now become irksome.

Aurora, their three-year-old; the au pair, Isabel: Ali and Pete, Martin’s sister, and her husband; their children; their mother; school parents and the real estate agency staff interact with Eliza and Martin, at times raising the tension, at others lulling the reader into an image of domesticity. The sexual tension between Eliza and Dan augments the physical and emotional tension between Eliza and Martin, and Isabel’s behaviour toward Eliza. The latter’s consciousness about her behaviour, appearance, likeability, and acceptability provides a backdrop of uneasiness. All these factors contribute to the disquiet engendered by the impact of the characters’ actions which could be equally explained by innocent or deceptive motives.

This is a domestic thriller that is engrossing throughout the initial read and leaves a feeling of discomfort behind. The ends are tied up and there is resolution of the mystery surrounding the ‘why’ of the characters’ behaviour. However, the uneasiness that is never far away throughout the narrative remains. At the end of the novel flawed characters gather together the semblance of moving forward but whether they will be able to do so remains a question. That such a question remains gives it an added dimension..

A great story with so many twists in it, it is sure to keep you hooked in from start to finish. There is also some great cliffhangers at different points.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Another great book from one of my favourite authors. Great storyline, great characters and had me hooked from the beginning.

Invite me in is a steadily paced, character-driven story, and the author has clearly demonstrated she knows how to create intriguing personas and how to keep readers guessing.
Eliza Curran is an attractive woman who lives in a stunning house with her two children and her wealthy, successful and loving husband. But what onlookers don’t know is that she is trapped in an abusive relationship and desperately wants to escape. But there isn’t an easy way out as her husband, Martin Curran, is a controlling, manipulative narcissist. He uses their children and his wife’s dark secret as leverage to prevent her from leaving.
Eliza’s world starts to dislodge when Dan Jones walks into their lives. He is handsome, confident and charming – and Eliza finds herself uncontrollably attracted to him.
The dynamics in the house get stranger when Isabel Gardin, their young and extremely beautiful au pair, starts romantically seeing Dan Jones.
There is so much to this book that it is difficult to talk about it without giving away the clever plot. I found it claustrophobic and exceptionally suspenseful – it was hard to put down once I got started.
I highly recommend this book and would love to see a movie adaptation in the future.

Shocking, tense, and packed with intrigue!
Another expertly crafted must read from Emma Curtis! 

I'm a big fan of Emma Curtis and she didn't disappoint with this book. It was almost claustrophobic to read in places.

This book is a cut above other thrillers I’ve read in this style. Eliza is surprised to find Dan at the door of the property she is getting ready for rental, announcing that he is her new tenant, She is charmed by him, however, and he moves in. From this point, things start to go wrong in Eliza’s life and she starts to fall apart. The book explores different types of characters who are controlling, egocentric or manipulative and raises questions about psychopathic behaviour, right up to the end. The impact of previous trauma as a cause of this behaviour is hinted at but could have been more fully explored, I think. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

#InviteMeIn #NetGalley
Emma Curtis is a phenomenal author. This work feels like a Netflix film.
Eliza Curran has it all: two healthy children, a stunning home and a wealthy, adoring husband. No one would guess the reality of her life: trapped in an unhappy marriage to a controlling man, she longs for a way out.
When she takes on a new tenant, her life changes unexpectedly. Dan Jones is charming and perceptive, and quickly becomes a close friend to the whole family.But Dan's arrival threatens to tip Eliza's fragile world out of balance. And when someone has as many secrets as Eliza does, the smallest slip could destroy everything.
I loved the antagonist. I don't want to reveal the suspense but I'd like to tell you that I was hooked from page one.
Narration of the story is brilliant. Give it a go.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld Publisher for giving me an advance copy of this book.