Cover Image: Do You Follow?

Do You Follow?

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Billed as a psychological thriller with mental health topics Do You Follow? captured my attention and had me guessing and wanting to find out what was going on. About 39% into the book one of my suspicions was confirmed but left much more to be discovered. Alexa and her twin sister Beth are a story unlike anything I have ever read. The secrets they share and their relationship is twisted and fraught with psychological twist that pull us deeply into the story. The ending was a little expected and left me with some unanswered questions. I thoroughly enjoyed this new to me author and would highly recommend.

*** I received this book for free from NetGalley. Review and opinions are my own. ***

Was this review helpful?

The perfect definition of a twisty psychological thriller. The story line revolves around Alexa and her twin Beth. The only problem Alexa is alive and Beth isn’t. This book explores mental illness and how unless properly diagnosed chaos can be the result. Nothing is as it seems and each page reveals a new twist and layer to the story right up until he last page. Definitely a book you can’t put down until you finish.

Was this review helpful?

Do You Follow?
A Thriller
by J.C. Bidonde

Thank you to Netgalley, Greenleaf book group and the Author, J.C. Bidonde for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book was good. But, slow andat at times it seemed it was more for young adults. It was good, not a thriller but a good read.

Was this review helpful?

This first time author has NAILED IT!!!! Let me begin by telling you all that J.C. Bidonde is going to be another author that I'll have to get all her books from. I don't remember ever being this excited to post a review! I also can't wait to purchase this so I can re-read it as I now have the final perspective of everything once I finished it so it'll be thrilling to see if I missed some queues.

Alexa and Beth are twins, they have the shared bond that keeps them close, but also smothers Alexa from seeking the freedom she so wants to have. Once Alexa moves to New York she's elated to have her own apartment, a new career, and ultimately a new gorgeous boyfriend. This sounds all wonderful and a dream for her considering the past that haunts her as she has her widow father and therapist breathing down her neck with cautionary tales. When Beth arrives it puts added stress on Alexa who is just trying to live her life. Beth immediately moves in with Alexa causing stress and eliminating the independence that Alexa needs to live.

The story follows Alexa and Beth and completely uncovers their dark secrets that Beth was afraid of Curt finding out. Alexa's therapist and father continue to warn Alexa that she's moving too fast, but she wants to be so independent that she ignores all the warnings to slow down.

All in all, I can't tell you more as it'll ruin the story, but this novel is HANDS DOWN taking 1st place so far this year with me. Out of all of the 5 star books, this has to be the most developed, fast paced, deliciously thrilling books I have read. Once you read this you'll be questioning if this is truly a debut novel or if J.C. Bidonde has others hidden up her sleeve, because it's WAY TOO GOOD to be a first time novel.

Thank you again J.C. Bidonde and Netgalley for offering me an advanced copy of this debut novel in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait to pre-order this book after I am done with this review!! Add this to your carts ladies and gentlemen, this is going to hit the best seller list quickly.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel in exchange for a review.

I can’t say too much about this book without giving away its secrets. I knew roughly where it was headed within the first chapter or two, but the route to get there was interesting and different to the norm; I’ve read other novels using the same trope as this one, but they were not nearly as effective. This is also a quick and compulsive read. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

Do You Follow? by J.C. Bidonde is a twisty thriller about Alexa and her twin sister Beth. When Alexa gets a job in New York City, she leaves the home that she and her father shared and moves to an apartment in the city. But, as soon as she moves in, her twin sister that she hasn't seen in a while shows up at her doorstep. Alexa falls in love with Curt, and Beth doesn't approve. This story was very twisty, but I guessed a lot of the twists and found them to be a bit overdone. This book definitely kept my attention, but I'm not sure that I would recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Identical twins Alexa and Beth. One is evil and controlling. after years of psychiatric help, Alexa is finally able to get her first apartment and job away from her overprotective father. All goes well until Beth reappears into her life. The past has a dramatic effect on Alexa’s life and her new boyfriend, Curt. i felt something was going on while reading, yet it unfolds to an intriguing climactic ending.

Was this review helpful?

This was an interesting thriller and concept but unfortunately I figured out what was happening early on. For me, the rest of the book was about seeing how it would unfold.

Was this review helpful?

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This is going to be a tough one to write.
First of all, I could not get into the storyline at all. I checked out the reviews and some of them were how I felt starting the book so I decided to keep reading it.
The story is told by three people. Alexa and Beth are identical twins. I kept having a strange feeling as I read each girls version that something was off
I. I pretty much had part of it figured out from the beginning but there were some twists toward the middle and at the end.
I have to say that I personally think it would be hard to write a fiction book about a mental illness but the author did a great job.
I am glad that I stuck with it!

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The summary was intriguing and I thought this story would have some weight to it. But reading the summary gives you a good idea of a lot of the plot points. And it doesn't take long once you're reading the book to figure out the gist - or at least it didn't for me. There were only two 'twists' that surprised me in this whole thing and it wasn't an especially effusive surprise. It was more of a "Huh, okay".

This is classed as a thriller but I didn't find anything particularly thrilling. It didn't have the heightened tension and mystery a thriller like this needs. I didn't care for or connect with any of the characters.

Telling this story in the first person was an interesting choice. I think it worked for Alexa and Beth but it didn't work for Dr. Greer. The chapters from his PoV would have had more impact if they were in third person. It would've helped differentiate the voice. And what was that last chapter about? Did we really need that?

I wouldn't recommend this one, unfortunately. It doesn't deliver on its promises.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a quick, enjoyable read. I did not expect it to turn out the way it did but it really left me guessing as I was making my way through the book. I definitely recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

I wasn’t sure what to expect from J.C. Bidonde’s book, Do You Follow? I must admit at times I thought I had the story figured out, but the plot twist was wonderfully wound into place and totally threw me. It’s well written with strong character development.

Was this review helpful?

Alexa lives a very sheltered life with her father. When she gets a marketing job in New York, she is excited to spread her wings and become an adult. She's excited until her twin sister comes knocking on her door and expects to live with her. Her sister is a bit off-balance and expects to live off of Alexa, while sabotaging all the progress that Alexa is making in her life. Can Alexa keep her life going in the positive direction she wants, or will her sister get in the way?

Was this review helpful?

This book was sent to me by Netgalley electronically for review… it is one of the most intriguing books I have ever read…it is horror with disbelief with murder mixed in..insanity…family…helicopter father with good reason…twins with a twist…I have few words to describe this story…this author is ingenious. Although I guessed the twin issue…almost from the beginning, , there were still surprises… this author has to write more, and I will read them…if anything might be changed, perhaps more details after the court case…however…the book sells itself…stands alone…do t miss this…

Was this review helpful?

The first quarter of the book was slow and a bit boring. After it finally picked up, it wasn’t long before I realized exactly where the author was going. Having said that, the last 3/4s of the book held my attention and there were still some twists to the story that I didn’t see coming. The ending was a wow moment and unexpected.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

Was this review helpful?

Alexa moves to NYC to pursue a new job. She meets with her psychiatrist weekly and seems to be on her way to coping until Beth, her twin, reappears. Although this book was predictable, the courtroom scene a bit unbelievable, the ending had a cool twist. Mental health issues!

Was this review helpful?

Do You Follow is a very interesting read. I did feel the first half of the book was a bit slow.
The plot was okay. Slow at the start, but once things picked up, most of it didn’t slow down.
Our characters Alexa and Beth are well written. I did get a real sense of each character and I liked that.
This was really solid,
Overall, This was solid, decent read with a unique take on the story.
I would recommend to those who enjoy a slow burn suspense/mystery story.

Thank You Publisher and NetGalley for this eARC.
I will post my review to B&N, platforms, blog and Waterstone close to pub date!

Was this review helpful?

J C Bidonde’s Do You Follow has a twin seemingly caught up in murder. Both are being monitored by a psychiatrist, but she is now trying to live a more normal life after being released from the psychiatric hospital after years of incarceration for murdering her mother. The twin now comes along and threatens her new found happiness. The final reveals make reading it all worthwhile.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting story of a woman who is trying to be independent but is protected by her father and bugged by her sister. She gets a job and a very small apartment in NY but her sister comes to stay on the couch.

Was this review helpful?

J.C. Bidonde’s psychological thriller Do You Follow? keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final pages. This is an amazing debut novel. J.C. Bidonde cleverly uses a diary to clarify events that unfolded in the past. She develops her two main characters Beth and Alexa through their interactions with one another. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this is a book you will love to read. Even after the ending of the book, you will continue to think about the characters and their state of mind.

Was this review helpful?