I was expecting a significantly better book than I actually got. I think this is a 3rd or 4th round purchase for most collections.

A Small Affair was a slow burn, and reminded me of Rock Paper Scissors in that regard. But I often enjoy that, because it kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering where the story was going to take me next. I have never read a Flora Collins book prior to this one, but A Small Affair will certainly not be the last Flora Collins novel I read! I am so glad I had the opportunity to be introduced to her writing!

A Small Affair by Flora Collins was an “OK” read, but didn’t truly hold my attention. I found the continuous flashbacks a bit slow to the overall way the story was told. The story wasn’t my favourite, although the synopsis did intrigue me. I will definitely look for the next book from Collins.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of this novel.

I really enjoyed this book as it gave off some "White Lotus" vibes. The author expertly weaves together a complex web of characters and plotlines, gradually revealing clues and building tension with each chapter. The pacing is perfect, allowing the story to unfold at just the right speed to keep readers engaged and guessing. The characters are richly drawn and feel fully realized, making it easy to become invested in their lives and the outcome of the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery and isn't afraid of a little bit of a slow burn.

Thank you to Netgalley for this book.
This is a story about three main characters: Vera, Odilie, and Tom. Odilie and Tom are dead after being locked in Tom’s office with a broken door. Both Odilie and Tom are obsessed with Vera after discovering her on Instagram. Vera starts looking into their lives after it was discovered that Vera went on a few dates with Tom and was the last person to message him before he died. Everyone believes that Tom killed Odilie and himself but in reality Odilie killed him and later herself when she goes to bring wine to him after turning on their electric fireplace by turning on carbon monoxide and the door closed behind him. Vera loses her job and starts looking into Odilie and meets her sister Page who was perfect and made her sister Odilie decide to leave their hometown to go to New York and live their. Odilie meets Peri who was dating Tom when they met and after they get to know each other Tom and Odilie freeze Peri out and they get married. Peri helps Vera out and they go into business together after learning the truth and they pay Page out to start her own business after her sister promised to help before she died.

› Characters: 7

› Atmosphere: 5

› Writing Style: 5

› Plot: 4

› Intrigue: 4

› Logic: 5

› Enjoyment: 5

Average 5

My Rating ★★★

› Final Thoughts
• With a small amount of dialogue, A Small Affair is a suspenseful dual-timeline mystery with a ruthless protagonist, diverse characters and a sprinkle of horror. It asks: Is all fair in love and war? Does the end justify the means? It reminded me of The Personal Assistant by Kimberly Belle, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger and One Last Secret by Adele Parks


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

I QUITE enjoyed this story, as it was very much not what I was expecting going into it (in a good way).

I do love a bit of a slow burn thriller, and this one delivers on being patient. I totally enjoyed how the story unfolded so every single thing you think you knew, turns out to be not quite so crystal clear. The movement between character POV was perfectly executed and if anything, made me more curious about what was to come.

No spoilers for this one, but this is a perfect escapism read for thriller lovers who like a good dash of character drama in their stories.

This story is a slow-burner and has absolutely no likeable characters in it. This should be off-putting, but it worked for this story. Vera is trying to prove she is not a murderer, and I was still pulling for her even though I didn't really like her. I also enjoyed the look at how social media and the media in general affect our lives. This was my first from this author and it was good enough to make me want to go back and read more.

This sexy, twisty book was recommended to me by someone who told me to read it when I needed a book that felt like the best Lifetime movie, and it delivered! I was absolutely obsessed with the story, and was compulsively reading ever chance I had to see how everything would play out. If you're looking for a thoroughly entertaining domestic thriller, pick this one up now!

Love a slow burn? Like reading about how the media and social networks play into peoples lives? This is he book for you. A Small Affair is a roller coaster of a read with twists and turns and characters that are not all that likeable . Yet you get invested in their story.

Thank you kindly to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for the eARC.

First off—this cover? So gorgeous.

I loved the premise for this one, but unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. Unlikeable characters are some of my favorites to read, but I really struggled to stay invested in this story and found the switch from first to third person POV rather off putting.

2.5 stars, rounded up…

Woah! This was really good. I really thought it would be a run of the mill domestic thriller but it was so much more than that. All of the characters were vile and it was very difficult to like any of them.

This ended up being a three star read for me. There were many things I liked about this book, as well as a couple of things that I didn't. One thing that I didn't like about the book was that I felt like it was too long. I don't know if it was so much the quantity as it was also the slow burn pacing that made this book feel a little drawn out. There are a lot of details in the middle of the story when Odilie and Peri become friends, some of which felt a little repetitive. Later in the book, there are a handful of chapters from Tom's perspective. I didn't think this was really necessary, and would have much rather had a handful of chapters from Peri's perspective. When it finally came to the reveal of what had gone down between Peri and Tom, especially at the mansion, I felt like that was kind of glossed over. It was getting to the point where things felt like they needed to be wrapped up, yet the author kept adding more new elements to the story. I am always a fan of rich people behaving badly in stories, and holy cow, there is a lot of that going on in this book. There's a clear distinction of the "haves" and the "have nots" and this is important lesson in that the lifestyles of the rich and famous aren't always as glamorous as they seem. Odilie especially learned this lesson when she ended her friendship with Peri to be Tom's girlfriend, and later wife and mother of his children. I thought it was interesting how Odilie and Vera were connected even though they had never actually met. The whole implosion of Vera's life after her name came out in connection with Tom and Odilie's death was like a trainwreck: you know you shouldn't look but you can't help it. Thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to read an early, digital copy of this book.

I find A Small Affair really difficult to review. I enjoyed it but I can’t say that I particularly liked it. Yes, I know that doesn’t make much sense!

It was an easy read and a slow burner that kept you reading to find out what happens next. Told in a combination of Vera’s present (as she tries to find out more about Odilie and Tom’s relationship) and in the past from all their POV’s. The change in timeline worked well and the change in the past narrator shifted at just the right time. However, the issue is that none of the characters have any likeability about them. Even Vera – who you are kind of rooting for – is utterly self-obsessed. In fact, my favourite part in the entire book is when Sam calls her out on her bullsh*t.

So – while I did enjoy A Small Affair and think it was very well written with some great twists – you can only like a book so much where all the characters are fairly insipid.

Fast, Twisted, Propulsive and full of adrenaline til the very last page! This was a 4 STAR STAR STAR STAR read

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an opportunity to read this ARC! I had SUCH high hopes for this one as the plot sounded super in line with books I usually enjoy. Unfortunately the whole story just had a depressing and, for lack of a better word, yucky feel to it. The main character's thoughts about herself were insufferable and out of the three storylines in the book, I only found one mildly interesting. Sadly, I can't recommend.

Unfortunately, this was not for me. I got about 100 pages in and had to DNF. I normally like different POV's but this one did not work for. It was very confusing, and I just could not follow it.

I love a slow burn, but this one felt a bit TOO slow. I love drama, but I also love having a character to root for, which I didn't find in these pages. This one had a lot of potential but ultimately was not my cup of tea.

A Small Affair by Flora Collins is a rollercoaster of a ride. The characters were unlikable but in the best way. I had to keep reading to see what they were going to do next. This domestic suspense kept me intrigued and the three parts with different perspectives made this feel like an in-depth documentary! A Small Affair is great for anyone who wants to be entertained with juiciness!

Book Summary:

Vera is not the type of person you want to cross, nor do you ever want to be in her way. She's wickedly ambitious, with bold goals and even bolder looks. She knows exactly how to utilize what she has to get what she wants, so watch out.

She thought she had found the perfect new path – a rich older man. But then, a few days later, he and his wife (oops) end up dead, putting the spotlight on Vera. Even a year later, people still want to believe she's a murderer. What is the best way to prove these rumors false? Find the truth on her own.

My Review:

Some books defy reviewing. A Small Affair is one of those books for me. It was a solid thriller read, with some terrific twists at the end. Yet I'm struggling to know what else I want to say.

I think the problem is that while I did enjoy the read, I didn't really like Vera. Sure, I was rooting for her to clear her name, but that doesn't mean I liked her, you know? Admittedly I wasn't blown away by the other characters in this novel either (including the deceased).

On the bright side, if you're looking for a book full of characters you'll love to hate, I have good news for you! A Small Affair is certainly a book that fits that description and then some.

Highlights:
Drama
Thriller
Suspenseful Vibes
Cutthroat characters