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.

I’ve been trying to fit this story into my rotation and finally had the time. What a fantastic psychological thriller/romance story! Molly and Jake are young and deep in love but his music career keeps getting in the way. Molly meets Hunter and they form a friendship that moves into a relationship. Flash forward 10 years and guess who shows up in the same small town as Hunt and Molly??? The story is told from different perspectives from the past to the present. I can’t wait to read her other stories! 4.5 stars

BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: Can’t Look Away
AUTHOR: Carola Lovering
FORMAT: Audiobook
GENRE: Thriller
DID I CRY: No
PUB DATE: 6/14/22
RATING: 9/10
4.5 stars

Thank you @stmartinspress for my #gifted advanced copy of #CantLookAway !

MY THOUGHTS

This book is marketed as a thriller, but know that it’s for sure romantic suspense!I have such a love for romantic suspense as a subgenre and Carola Lovering is truly the queen of it! The writing of this book is so good & translated really well to audio. I love multiple POVs, especially with the romance aspect to the plot. The setting added to the story as well, we love a wealthy CT suburb in New England. I loved the music tie-in to the plot as well, it gave the book another layer of depth.

The theme of young love following you through life helped us connect to the characters and definitely empathize with the MCs more, which adds to the suspense in my opinion. The love stories in this book were also fun to follow. I found myself rooting for different outcomes as the book progressed & ended up very satisfied with how it all played out. All in all this one was great & i highly recommend!

Well… to my surprise this wasn’t a thriller, so going into this thinking it was, had me a bit disappointed. However, there was still enough to keep me interested and kept me reading. I like that things were wrapped up nicely.
The description/classification should be changed though so others aren’t utterly disappointed!

The year is 2013 when Molly and Jake meet and are instantly attracted to each other. But Jake has some things going on that confuses the issue and Molly decides to let him go. Fast forward to 2022 when Molly is married and has a daughter. She's successful in her life overall and lives in a ritzy community. But it takes a while for her to make friends...thus, meet Sabrina her new neighbor and friend.

Each of the three characters above has their own POV, which I feel makes the story more interesting. That being said, I wasn't 100% engaged in the characters' lives. I kept waiting for the "thriller" aspect of the book to hit me but it never did. By time I finished the book I was left wondering how it was listed as a thriller. Maybe I expected too much, but in my opinion this book is not a thriller and it lacks the twists and turns that I love in a thriller too. I did like the book but I couldn't love it.

I've been bamboozled! The cover and the synopsis led me to believe that this was going to be a thriller. This was not a thriller. Not even close. I would say more of a romance/relationship drama. Hell no. If nobody is getting murdered, I don't even know what I'm doing here. The plot was trite and the people were annoying. I found it tedious and it was not for me. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

2.5 stars. This is a book that could have benefitted from an updated description and a better marketing plan. Anyone expecting a thriller will be disappointed. This is a domestic drama that can feel like a soap opera at times. There was also a heavy dose of romance - which I never would have requested the book if I was expecting that.