This was the first book I’ve read by this author. I still can’t decide how I feel about it but I didn’t hate it. I went in not knowing what was going to happen and was thrown for a loop. I really liked the countdown.

I thought I would know who the killed would be and who the killer would be and that ending threw me for a loop. The author had me turning pages in this book and it was so easy to read for me.

Some elements to the story were predictable but then it ended on a cliffhanger! I enjoyed reading. Great cat and mouse story.
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m a huge fan of A.R. Torre and was so happy to receive an arc of this book. I loved it! The twists, the turns and the fact that I could barely keep straight what was happening and who was good or bad. Done it again with another great thriller. Thanks!

I couldn’t determine what type of feel I got from this book when it starts off. I went in blind, no need to read the blurb because A. Torre can always pull off the suspense/thriller genre. All I know from the prologue is that someone is going to die and we have this timeline that leads up to it. I can say off the bat I despised Mike. His actions and thought process were controlling and narcissistic. He really needed to be put in his place. Lillian’s job was really interesting, and she was an interesting character as well. The whole time I felt David and Lillian’s relationship was a huge setup and I kept waiting for the ball to drop. As we progress to the “now” part it really begins to take off. You are reeling from what is going on and need to get to the bottom of Mike’s shadiness. Then Sam was almost too good to be true and something about him had this niggling feeling in the back of my mind. I will say that Lenny came through for Lillian and I really enjoyed his role in the book. Every player that was sheisty got what was coming for them! I felt it was a little unfinished as to what David’s role was in the whole thing and wanted a little more information on that part. In all it was another fantastic read from A. Torre.

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great, at first. Short chapters, intriguing characters, good writing. I was being set up for a potentially jaw dropping thriller. I was chugging right along, seat belt fastened, waiting for the twists and turns to come and they did just that. Most I was able to sort out. However, there was one I can honestly say I did not see coming but it was not one I cared for. The twist did manage to keep me interested enough that I needed to see how they played out. Doing so didn't leave me breathless but overall, I was not completely disappointed. I still recommend you read this book for yourself. If I enjoyed a certain sub genre of thriller, I would have LOVED this book. A special thanks to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for making this ARC available for me to read, in exchange for an honest review.

I had read Every Last Secret by A. R. Torre and squealed with delight when I got the chance to read an ARC of A Familiar Stranger.

I figured this would be a domestic thriller that I'd enjoy, but the storyline went somewhere that I didn't see coming. I won't say anything more as to avoid spoilers, but man, I loved the originality! This one is chock full of unreliable characters who are all harboring some pretty deep secrets. The story kept me engaged and I didn't want to put it down. And that ending - chef's kiss!

Another fast-paced, twisty-turny psychological thriller by A.R. Torre! It kept my attention, and the short, action-packed chapters kept me guessing! It almost moved a little too quickly, I have some clarifying questions and wasn’t ready for it to end! I continue to enjoy and look forward to this author’s books!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Well, that took a serious turn I wasn't expecting! I burned through this riveting page turner in a day. The author grabbed my attention from the first page and held it until the last. I liked the pacing and getting the story from several different character's point of view. A Familiar Stanger is a Thriller worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this arc.

3.5⭐️ This was my first A.J Torre book, and it was totally addicting. It definitely wasn’t a perfect read, and when I finished I felt like pieces were missing. Despite this, I know many will love it.

Short synopsis: Lillian Smith is a wife and mother who leads a pretty typical suburban life. When she finds out that her husband Mike cheated on her, after months of suspicion, she dives into a series of reckless behavior. Most noteworthy include losing her job and having an affair. Lies begin to pile on top of one another as the chapters lead up to the day of a murder. The one thing is, you do not know who died or who the killer is.

What I enjoyed:
-The book was a quick read and 100% a page-turner
-The chapters are short and each one felt like a new revelation
-The countdown to the day of the death kept me on my toes. I was so curious to see who it would be
-While Lillian was the main character, multiple POVs were added in the second half of the story. I loved how the pieces started to come together once we heard from more characters
-I did not see the big twist coming at all

What I did not like:
-Once the big twist happened midway, the rest were not as shocking
-I really longed for more of a backstory to get a sense of what was going on
-The plot points moved so quickly without much closure
-The characters, minus one, were all unlikeable


Thanks NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date 9/27/22

Not my favourite story by ART, but her last two books were absolute bangers, so this latest novel had some super tough acts to follow.

The premise of this book is pretty simple. A husband cheats, so the wife cheats, and then someone dies. You know this right from the beginning. And it was quite interesting seeing the dynamics between husband and wife play out because I actually really liked them together, even though they were lying to each other, all the while trying to figure out who in the story will wind up dead. But then when it actually happens, the entire plot takes a 180. I'm talking completely different story with a completely different vibe. And I have a feeling it's not going to click with a lot of readers.

I went along with it just to see where it went and it was fine. Again, it wasn't my favourite, but I didn't actively hate anything about how the story eventually progresses. It's a bit of a risk and odd choice compared to ART's other stories but, again, I didn't really hate it. Probably because I found the first half of the book really intriguing, so those feelings must have just stuck around until the end.

Overall, a pretty decent book, but I am interested in seeing how other readers feel about it once it comes out!

‘Lillian Smith even has a boring name, her life is going on a trajectory of life lived in the boring lane. She knows shes boring so much so that she is bored of her self. She has an unexceptional job writing obituaries, she has a twitter account that borders the macabre, a son who is withdrawn and moody and an inattentive suspected cheating husband.

Lillian couldn’t get more bored of herself… that is until she meets an attractive stranger and begins a whirlwind affair. She has invented a new persona, one without all the dull parts of herself and she begins to enjoy life to the full. Lillian is as they say living her best life. As her affair gets hotter and heavier she withdraws from everything… her husband, her best friend, her son and her day to day life.

One day disaster strikes and a TikTok clip of her doing the nasty with her new BF hits social media and a series of events spell disaster for everyone and it turns out Lillian isn’t the only person living a double life’.

So… this book had promise and started out as a bit of a domestic backyard thriller, based on the reviews I knew it was going to turn into something a bit more… When that something more happened (and I will not spoil it) I was SO DISAPPOINTED.
The minute the first twist hit, I immediately and without question downgraded this book from what was looking like a 4 Star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read to a 1Star ⭐️ Dud!!

The twist in question will not bother other readers like it did for me, so don’t be deterred if you are a fan.

However, for me the book lost all interest and credibility and I only read the ending because I was already close. The additional twists in the book I managed to see coming so they weren’t surprising which only added to my disappointment. I wouldn’t have been so downhearted if I wasn’t already on my way out the door.

The writing itself was done well, I enjoyed the multiple POV and the countdown to the death, that was all really good. The author did a great job of making the characters pretty unlikeable especially Mike, Lillian’s husband.

Lillian herself was as described, boring until she wasn’t… she had a host of issues that were thrown in at the end and really I came to not like her very much either.

Sam, the best friend, is not everything he seems, a little too caring… this is obvious from the outset (so not a spoiler) I didn’t like him much either.

The only character that I really did like was Lenny and he didn’t get much action until right at the end. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed and packed up a bit too neatly.

In the end, like I already said, this was shaping up for me but I was completely and utterly let down, I was never going to like this story based on the MAJOR Twist reveal it would never have appealed to my personal tastes.

I see many people do like it, and many more will so if you like this author then give it a go, there is just a very specific reason I didn’t like it… if you want spoilers let me know, but you won’t find them in this review.

I did really enjoy The Good Lie so I was looking forward to this and was delighted at getting an ARC. I have other books by A.R. Torre on my TBR list and I will go back for more and hope that they are more to my taste.

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley and A.R. Torre for and advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

Lillian Smith is an aggressively average woman who gets tangled up in a whirlwind affair. Unfortunately for her, things continue to get worse as she desperately tries to claw back her life before she loses everything.

I liked a lot of things about this book; the multi-perspective format makes it a fast read, the writing is very good, and the plot takes multiple unexpected turns without leaving you feel like you have whiplash. The characters are (mostly) pretty realistic, and I loved how you got to read from additional perspectives in the second half of the book. Overall, I really liked it.

The only thing I'll say is that I often struggle with suspension of disbelief and the description on NetGalley sounded pretty down to earth. About halfway through this book though, things take a pretty wacky turn and the story goes down a road that is no longer resembles believable (in my opinion). As I was reading it I immediately thought of "Something in the Water" by Catherine Stedman, and "What Happened to the Bennetts" by Lisa Scottoline, which I also liked but has a similarly bananas plot. So, that being said, if you enjoy a really wild, if unbelievable, ride, this will be right up your alley!

A Familiar Stranger by A.R. Torre is one of those books you will find any and every opportunity to sneak read a few pages during your day. It’s addicting in the best of ways. Torre takes a standard thriller premise, adds in a few unexpected elements, throws them in a blender and you’re left with a wild, unexpected thrill of a read that’s nearly impossible to put down.

Lillian is your typical mom in suburbia—except she has a rather unique job writing obituaries. She’s not exactly the most likable character—no one really is in this book. I liked the multiple perspectives from the characters. It kept things interesting and let you know that everything isn’t quite what it seems. Torre even included insights into secondary character’s minds and that made it all the more intriguing. You realize by the end that no one really knew anybody other than a surface day to day facade of roles they played for each other.

The plot drives this book and it’s not only quick because it’s shorter in length, but it’s quick because it’s to the point with a lot of twists and action. You fly through the first half and then the bombs start dropping and you can’t stop turning the pages to see where it’s going and if any other wild turns could possibly happen—they do.

I think Torre took a chance on this one and while it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, if you’re into getting or spilling the tea, this is your next read. Drama, suspense, “omg” moments and a family spiraling out of control with lies, this was a crazy enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.

A Familiar Stranger
by A. R. Torre

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advance copy to review.
This book has it all. A wild ride and some. So many lies, What a book. You will be sucked into for the whole ride.

4.5 Stars!

I knew from the first page of A Familiar Stranger that I was going to love this book. Not that I had any doubts that I wouldn't. A.R. Torre's writing style is raw and addictive. I didn't read the blurb, so I went in completely blind. Each new chapter and character were a surprise that drew me in more. I loved how the story was told in a combination of multiple POVs and short chapters. Each chapter felt like a new revelation, one that kept me wanting more.  

So, what's this domestic thriller about exactly? Well, it's about Lillian Smith and some other stuff. (Like that shady description?) Lillian's a wife to Mike, mother to Jacob, friend to Sam and Lenny, and newspaper obituary writer. She's also kind of a mess and so is her self-professed boring life. In search of more, Lillian winds up having an affair. That affair sets things into motion that Lillian and those around her could not predict. That's all you're getting from me on the plot because you don't want me to spoil anything.

What I will tell you about is the characters. They were characters I loved to hate. They were pretty dang awful, but I couldn't help but root for them. There was something about Lillian that I could identify with. I don't know if I should admit that because she was a messed-up woman, and I hated her stupid choices. But she was great MC for this sorted tale. Then there was Mike. Lillian's husband was just as easy to dislike as Lillian. He had this careless way about him that frustrated both Lillian and me. Which is why it's probably funny that Mike was my favorite character in this book. There was just something about him. You'll get it when you read this book. Then, there were the other side characters. Some were Lillian's friends. Others were complete surprises. All were great voices to move the plot forward. 

Another thing I will mention is the twists. Did I foresee all of them? No. Some were truly surprising. Several blindsided me and one I guessed. It wouldn't have mattered if I saw them all coming. I would have loved them anyways. They made the way this story was set up highly entertaining for the reader. 

I feel like this review is probably lacking, but I don't know what else to say without giving anything more away. I had a lot of fun reading this book thanks to everything that went on in it. It also helped that I had my friend Stephanie was reading along with me at the same time because I needed someone to talk about this one with. There were so many things for us to marvel over and discuss. I think we both agreed that we loved the way things ended but had a couple of lingering questions, specifically regarding David Laurent.

Oh, Alessandra Torre, why do your books have to be so darn unputdownable? I lose sleep every time a new thriller of yours becomes available, and this is no exception!

The most exciting thing going on in Lillian Smith’s life is writing obituaries for the Los Angeles Times. She’s a wife and mother, but feels mostly invisible to everyone in her life.

That is, until she meets a stranger named David at Starbucks and begins an affair with him. She loves the excitement of what she’s doing, and feels powerful and carefree.

All is fine and dandy until the affair becomes public knowledge via a Tik Tok video that Lillian’s son sees.

That’s just the beginning of Lillian’s troubles…

This is such a smoothly written thriller with plenty of scandal and mystery, and I find it extremely easy to jump right into Torre’s world and enjoy the ride. I guessed some of the surprises, while a few others (one HUGE one in particular) never even crossed my mind. That huge one took me a little time to get used to, and I’ll be very curious to see what other readers think.

Regardless, I couldn’t help but to fly through the pages to find out what would happen next, and really didn’t want the story to come to an end.

If you haven’t read Torre’s books yet, I recommend changing that right meow!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 9/27/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

If you think this book is going to be a run of the mill domestic thriller where the husband is absent from the marriage, working late into the evening, not paying attention to his wife, having “dinner with clients" every night you are wrong! There is nothing average about this fantastic thriller! NOTHING!

This story was so clever and original! Once you start reading you find yourself wanting more and you will not be able to put it down! It’s the perfect bingeable read sprinkled with some WTF moments throughout! And the ending was perfection! I love books that make me scream WHAT! at the very last line of the ending. My mind was blown! Trust me, you do NOT want to miss this book!

I love this author’s work! THE GHOST WRITER and EVERY LAST SECRET are two of my top all-time favorite thrillers and this one did NOT disappoint! I also have THE GOOD LIE and the DEANNA MADDEN series on my shelf, and I hope to dive into those soon!

Well done A.R. Torre! I have found another auto buy author.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my e-ARC.

Wow! This book moves so quickly that you do not want to put it down! Loved all the twists and unexpected turns. The ending will make your jaw drop! Great thriller!

This was such a wild ride! 

We start out knowing from the synopsis that Lillian leads an unexceptional life, with her inattentive husband and disconnected son and that she has been lured into an affair with a stranger. 
To begin with, it was intriguing but as I went along, it was so twisted and unexpected. I think this may leave readers divided, but personally, I enjoyed the completely unique twist and I could never have anticipated the wild ride I was taken on. 

This author has become an auto-read for me and I can't wait to see what they do next.

Lillian is living a lackluster life with a Husband that treats her like an afterthought. After finding he’s having an affair, she soon invents a new persona and her life begins to change. The interesting twist is that not only has someone been murdered, but we don’t know the identities of the murderer or the murdered.

I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately I just didn’t. This is the second book that I’ve read by A.R. Torre, and will probably be my last. I’m sure there are plenty of people that love Torre’s books, and I’m probably in the minority, but her writing style just isn’t for me.

Thank you so much to the Author & the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!