This book is hard to fit into one genre, suspense, mystery, romance, family drama, it had a little bit of everything. I typically enjoy books that defy typical genre norms and this one was no different. I really enjoyed watching the character growth throughout the story, as we see Molly and Jake navigate their romance and the aftermath of their separation.

The characters weren't always the most likeable and I did struggle a bit with the time jumping and switches between first and third person. But overall I really enjoyed the story that Carola Lovering wove together.

My apologies for being so late with this.
This page-turner is an addictive domestic suspenseful story that I finished in one day. While it’s dramatic, fun and entertaining, it’s full of betrayal, deception and heartache.
The story is told in alternating timelines between past and present. The past takes place in NYC in 2013 when Molly was an MFA student in love with Jake, the handsome lead singer of Danner Lane. The present is in 2022 in Flynn Cove, CT, where Molly is happily married to Hunter with a young daughter named Stella.
Molly becomes friends with Sabrina. I enjoyed their friendship until we learn Sabrina is psychotic and has an ulterior motive for befriending her.
The book is fast-paced and well-written with lots of twists and turns. The flawed characters are well-defined and easy to resonate!
This was my first time reading this author and I plan to read more of her work.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital ARC of Can't Look Away in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @stmartinspress for the #gifted copy.

This book was marketed as a thriller, but I don't thinks its a thriller. To me is was more of a mystery. Molly wants to be a writer and Jake wants to be a musician and well something doesn't end well.......but we all know how those first loves are and sometimes we just can't seem to let go.

Part thriller, part romance, part "coming of age" (as an adult version), Can't Look Away, had me, well, not looking away. This was one I couldn't put down. While the relationship dynamic of Molly, Jake and Sabrina starts as a thriller, it turns into something that reaches into the depths of your heart and the ache that comes from love lost.
While I did very much enjoy this story, it's hard to describe it because it fills so many genres and thoughts. I highly recommend Can't Look Away and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to Griffin and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Posting to Barnes & Noble and Amazon upon approval.

Synopsis:

It's 2013 and 23 y/o Brooklyn Barista Molly has just locked eyes with Jake Danner, front man of an up-and-coming Southern rock band. They fall deeply in love, inspiring each others' writing and planning a life together. Nearly 10 yrs later, Molly is teaching yoga in suburbia living with her young daughter and husband, Hunter. Molly is feeling lonely until Sabrina walks into her studio - she has her own reasons for seeking out Molly and their friendship will set them on a crash course of deep-rooted secrets, lies and manipulation.

Review:

I loveee Carola Lovering - I find her books so twisted and surprising, they're always such a joy to read. She's the queen of dropping hints so you know something is about to come out of the woodwork, without you actually being able to guess what it is. This book examines love, obsession and complicated relationships. Definitely worth a read!

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5

I loved this book. All the characters were perfect...I feel like I've known someone like each of them in my life. I'm not sure why it's in the thriller category, but, it's still an awesome book that I'm glad I took the time to read. Super easy read and great storyline.
Thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for the chance to read this advanced copy for a fair review.

Im torn between a 3 and 4 star rating for this story. Lovering writes such intriguing stories that are so addicting. This story is def not a thriller, and not really a mystery either--more like a romantic suspense or like if you're watching a reality tv show and getting all the tea. The writing was good, which what makes it so easy to read. I will continue to pick up this author's work!

SPOILER: My only complaint is I hated Jake. I wasn't sure if we were really supposed to be rooting for him and the MC, but I def wasn't and wished we got present day Hunter fleshed out more. At the end when they start talking like Sabrina sabotaged them and got in between them I was like um Jake did that on his own just fine!! Another complaint is I wish there was some sort of twist or reveal at the end related to Sabrina and her intentions.

This is one of those books that you just want to keep reading, but unfortunately, life gets in the way and you have to stop.....but you won't stop thinking about it!! It's a little romance, a little mystery and a lot of family drama!! Get ready for some twists that you aren't expecting and won't be able to figure out.

I don't think anyone ever truly gets over their first love and Molly and Jake are no different. Unfortunately for Molly, Sabrina, Jakes wife, can't get over their relationship either.

Gossip combined with thrills are always in my wheelhouse. This book perfectly fit the bill. It was so fun to read about the drama in this wealthy neighborhood.

Carola Lovering is one of the authors on my "auto buy list" where I don't even have to know what the book is about, I will buy/read it no matter what.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ability to read and review this book.

This book was just as enjoyable to read as her other books have been for me. Once I start one of her books I really struggle to put it down. I went into this book expecting for it to be super suspenseful but it was more like a psychological drama with romance and mystery that I couldn't get enough of. I was immediately sucked in with its fantastic storyline that kept me flipping the pages. I loved the character development and how interesting they all were. I'm very excited to see what she comes up with next!

Thanks so much to St. Martins Press for the gifted copy for my honest review!

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

While this one didn’t turn out to be a thriller as I expected, but instead is classified as “sexy suspense,” I really enjoyed this one. It felt like a continuous hot mess of drama, intriguing people, and their complicated lives. If you love Desperate Housewives, you will love this one!

This was a good one. I could not put this one down! Incredibly fast paced read that got better with every page!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I felt the story was moving really slowly and I just was not connecting to any of the characters.

Ten years ago, Molly fell in love with a musician, Jake, seemingly at first sight when their eyes locked at one of his shows. After a few years, "Molly's Song" became their biggest hit and they toured the world, their romance hit the rocks, ultimately ending their relationship.

Fast forward ten years and Molly and her husband, Hunter, are living in the NYC suburb, Flynn Cove, struggling to conceive their second child while Molly is also struggling to fit in with the other moms in town. While they live in an affluent area, their savings are dwindling. In strolls Sabrina, a newlywed woman who happened to take one of Molly's yoga classes and is also struggling to conceive. They become fast friends, only for Molly to come to dinner at Sabrina's house and realize that she is married to Molly's Jake.

I truly could not put this one down, but it's no secret that Carola Lovering has authored two of my favorite books in recent years, Tell Me Lies (yes, it was turned into a Hulu show) and Too Good To Be True. That being said, Can't Look Away gave MAJOR "You" vibes. It goes back and forth between the past and present, as well as multiple perspectives. Typically, I'm not a fan of those types of books, but this one really played well into the story and I didn't mind it one bit. I can't wait for the next hit!

As always, a big thank you to St. Martin's Press for a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

3 stars

(please check TW for this book)

The synopsis for Can't Look Away immediately piked my interest. It sounded a bit like a thriller/romance and boy if that didn't hook me. But it was a bit more thriller than romance. Which I didn't mind. In fact I liked both genres mixed together. But something about this book, I just didn't care for.

I enjoyed the characters, in fact I loved Molly. She was such a sweet character. It was nice to see her come into her own. I did not like Jake. He was too selfish for me to enjoy. Now I don't want to spoil things, but I am so glad this book ended the way it did. But my absolute favorite thing about this book is that it wasn't your typical thriller. In most thrillers there is that build up to that final moment where the storylines merge. And it felt like because of all the lies and secrets that it blew up in the "villain's" face before that could happen. And that was very satisfying.

I was a bit bummed about the epilogue, it focusing on my least two favorite characters bummed me out. I would have much preferred a different set of characters. I also still have many questions and feel a bit vexed that I didn't get more closure. But sometimes books just leave you hanging and this was one of them.

After reading Tell Me Lies and being a little disappointed . . . I thought it was a one off and I'd try reading another Carola Lovering book. Here I am with Can't Look Away and it's safe to say that, for me, it's the author.

I feel like this book had so much potential. There were a lo of things that I actually really liked. It was just boring and dragged out. The author sticks to a format and doesn't deviate. In this case, the constant going back and forth in timelines. It worked for this book until it . . . didn't.

The ending felt a little rushed, too. I'm glad it didn't go with the cliché happily ever after. I wish I had more positive things to say.

The drama!! It’s official, I love all of Carola Lovering’s books and will read anything she writes. This was just so entertaining and kept me needing to we what happened next.