This is a book that you definitely want to pick up and read. It had all the twists and turns. The characters kept you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommend this book. Definitely add it to your tbr list.

Another cracker by S.E Lynes!!

It’s April 2021 and Sam is on a hike when he recognises the woman in the distance, Naomi, his ex. It has been a year since he has seen her and broke free from their relationship, a year of calm with no shouting, no stress and no mind games or manipulation to leave him constantly on edge, a good year, albeit solitary, spent living with his beloved gran Joyce. Naomi and Sam may live in the same area but shortly after Sam left the flat he shared with Naomi, after he ended their relationship, a country wide lockdown was enforced due to Covid-19. Sam knew at some point he would see Naomi again but what shocks him is the fact she is pushing a buggy, with a baby aged about 9 months inside, a fair haired blued eyed baby boy who looks just like Sam. Initially Naomi passes off Tommy as her friend’s child, but Sam’s intuition isn’t sure she is telling the truth. Sam has to find out the truth and therefore arranges to meet Naomi to find out if the baby is his and is shocked by the change in her; he quickly sees the girl he originally fell in love with at the start of their relationship, but can motherhood really change a person that much and can Sam trust Naomi not to break his heart?

Woah where to start….. this was soooooo good! Sam was a lovely character, I liked him, and I also really enjoyed Miranda (Sam’s good friend and work colleague) being the storyteller. When S.E Lynes writes a baddie, she REALLY writes a baddie and I found it amusing that the “baddie” in question said they weren’t a psychopath…. I definitely beg to disagree and would totally class them as a psychopath! I havent read about a villain quite as bad as this one in a very long while so great job S.E Lynes! As this is a spoiler free review all I will just say I found chapter 41 gut wrenching so very good writing by the author on that particular event. The ending was good and neat, and I admit I did get a little thrill when my sister island of Guernsey was mentioned (I live on Jersey).

Overall, this deserved nothing less than 5 stars. I have said before in previous reviews I know a book is good when I get annoyed that life, work, and chores get in the way of reading, and this was certainly the case for this book. I just wanted to read and forget everything else! Great job S.E Lynes and I can’t wait to read your next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, S.E Lynes and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out now.

I couldn’t put this book down, what a page turner. It has plenty of twists and turns throughout. The characters were great, the story itself was excellent and the style of writing was perfect. I have read many books by this author and not one have disappointed.. can’t wait for the next one.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading psychological thrillers.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a honest review.

Loved this book and love everything by this author. Always keeps you gripped with twists and turns. Would highly recommend any of this authors books.

Another exciting, novel.filled with suspense by this author which is becoming one of my favourites. Full of intrigue, I quickly flipped through the pages to follow Sam's story. Recovering from a break up with Naomi he is upset to run into her pushing a young baby in a pram that could be his. Manipulative by nature Naomi is hard to trust. Sam and is grandmother Joyce is wary of his heart. Twisty book that is sure to keep you gripped.

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I always look forward to this author's books, but honesty this is my least favourite so far. It wasn't a terrible book by any means, I was definitely intrigued, but the whole story was a tad unbelievable. I won't say anymore as I don't want to spoil it; but one of this author's weakest.

The characters of Sam and Naomi were interesting. I read this book so fast as it was a fun psychological thriller and I DID NOT see that ending! Thanks to net gallery and the publisher for this awesome read!

A brilliant book
Will have you hooked
Plenty of twists and turns
You will not want to put this book down
Thanks NetGalley

Always love a good dark and twisty thriller and this didn’t disappoint although quite long winded in parts. I loved the clever way the story unfolded and felt the build up to the end really thrilling! Most readers will see parts of themselves in the characters - whether it is from an unrequited love perspective or from a broken heart angle!

The crazy just pours off the pages of this psych thriller. And the way the author tells the story, the reader gets that crazy from several different perspectives. I like that the author tried to do something unique. Having Miranda “introduce” everything at the beginning was neat, and it got me very interested to see how the story developed. It had the potential to develop the psych thriller aspect. However, the method is not applied consistently throughout the story. Additionally, identification is lacking as to whose perspective we get in each chapter (and sometimes within the chapter). The author also refers heavily to the pandemic; the plot relies on it. I read fiction to get away from real life, so I thought it worth mentioning. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.

When your mental health has been stretched to the limit and you know you that making that big change was the right thing to do, when your confronted by that person that caused that ill health , you don’t expect your feelings to go right back to the beginning and make your heart leap. But that is exactly what happened to Sam when he bumps into Naomi. Naomi who never wanted children, Naomi who did nothing but criticise his clothes, his speech, his Gran, yet here she is pushing a pram, leaning over it to settle the baby within. This excellent novel is narrated by Sam’s friend and boss, Miranda, who’s silently in love with Sam but never found the right moment to share that knowledge. Sam begins another relationship with Naomi, who after very little convincing, admits the beautiful baby boy is Sam’s child and that she was pregnant during lockdown. Little by little ‘Nomes’ builds her relationship with Sam and allows Sam the time to get to know his son. But only Sam seems to be taken in by this new, soft, caring version of Naomi. Miranda is sure something is off and Joyce, Sam’s grandmother is also concerned, but when it comes down to it, who can resist the joy of blue eyed, blonde haired baby Thomas? Sam can’t and nor can Nona Joyce.
A wonderful twisted tale that lulls you, the reader, and Sam, into a false sense of security, right up to that final point . WHAM what a powerful narrative punch your suddenly get hit with . Could not recommend this excellent novel more, yet another fabulous book by this great author.

Have to admit I found quite a lot of this book a bit of a slog. It was an original way of revealing the story but just took me a while to follow it. The inclusion of the pandemic I liked but I wasn’t a fan of the characters and I do like to have at least one person I like in a book.

This is another brilliant book from S E Lynes. Sam is back living with his grandmother Joyce after threatening to commit suicide after a painful split from his girlfriend Naomi. To his horror he bumps into Naomi by chance and she has a baby Tommy with her. He has blond hair and Sam thinks he looks like him and that Naomi could have been pregnant when they split up. Naomi gradually confirms this and they start to build up a relationship again. Joyce has never trusted Naomi and is still very suspicious of her intentions. Sam is ready to forgive Naomi but has she really changed her aggressive behaviour. This was an intense and gripping read with plenty of tension and a book I couldn’t put down. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another great story from this talented author.

This was a slow burn but worth it. I enjoyed the characters; they were fleshed out extremely well. There wasn’t a large element of surprise to the “twists”, especially if you’re a fan of this genre. You could see them coming from a mile away. It didn’t detract from the story though. The ending was quite satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

Sam and Naomi broke up and then awhile later they run into each other and Naomi has a baby with her. Is he Sam's baby?
Wow wow wow. I am lost for words to describe how excellent this is. I was up reading all night because I was so invested in this and I was gobsmacked by a surprise twist. A dark and trippy physcological thriller. You will love it, I did!

A story that certainly shows how one person can be blinded by love. Sam is a modern man who feels emotion, love and trust but not always towards the right person. Naomi his ex is someone you wouldn’t want to meet in daylight let alone trust having the knowledge of your elderly grandmothers worth. A brilliant story of love and deception and the lengths Naomi will go to to get her revenge. Could not put this book down. Enjoy.

4.5 Stars from me

This deviously clever tale will capture your heart and make you doubt your gut instinct. 

S E Lynes weaves a devastating thread through the pages of this book - reeling in the reader and characters towards the heart of the spider's web.

So many characters to love in this book and so many to question - but which is which?

A very tightly crafted plot that I thoroughly enjoyed and which kept me guessing to the end.

Fans of psychological thrillers are in for a treat with this one.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. ABOUT 'THE EX': The love of your life… or your biggest mistake? I was hooked when I read the synopsis:
It’s hard, meeting your ex after so much time apart. You remember the hurt, the tears and accusations, but you try not to show it. You smile politely, even while your heart beats faster.
You watch as he looks down into the stroller, at the beautiful blond-haired blue-eyed baby kicking his little legs in the sunshine, whose innocent smile lights up your world.
You see his face change. You know what he’s thinking.
The next day he calls. His voice is shaking. He wants the truth. Is it his child?
You hesitate, your throat dry, good and bad memories swirling in your mind. You’ve missed him so much… but can you ever trust him again? After a sleepless night, you arrange to meet, agreeing that the most important thing is doing what’s right for baby Tom. But months later, when the sirens wail in the night, you have to admit: you never thought either of you would go this far…

A dark, twisty read with a mix of dark and endearing characters. This was a fastpaced thriller read that had me hooked from the start and what an emotional roller coaster it turned out to be as well.
I loved the way this authors set the story up at the beginning, it had me captivated from the start, an addictive read that had me flipping pages into the early hours of the morning when I finally put it aside with a shocked gasp my mind still processing what I had just devoured. #selynes #theex #netgalley #goodreads #thestorygraph #litsy #tea_sipping_bookworm #thriller #bookstagram #bookqueen #amazonaustralia

This was my third book by this author and another 5 star read. What I liked about this book is you know what's coming but don't know the outcome if that makes sense.
The characters in this book are very likable apart from one. I don't want to say to much as it will spoil the book. All I will say is get it on your to be read pile and make sure it's at the top.
I can't wait to get stuck into her other books

The Ex is the latest gripping psychological thriller by bestselling author S.E. Lynes. As a huge fan of this author’s previous work I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her new novel and I must say it did not disappoint! Well paced and original, The Ex is a dark and twisty thriller that’s as shocking as it is gripping. Full of twists and turns that will keep you reading long into the night, this is a thrilling page turner of a read that had me enthralled from beginning to end.

Sam broke up with Naomi just as the country went into lockdown during the pandemic. Now, just as the world is beginning to open up again, he’s living with his Grandmother and trying to put his life back together again. But then he bumps into Naomi and his whole world is thrown into turmoil once again. Can he put his trust in this woman who he used to share his life with? Or is he just opening himself up to a whole new world of pain?

Told from several different points of view, The Ex is a shocking tale of secrets and lies that keeps the twists and turns coming throughout. And just when you think you have everything worked out, the author throws in a curveball that I can honestly say I did not see coming. Fast paced and thrilling, The Ex is a fabulously dark and twisty read, with S.E. Lynes proving once again that she is an author at the top of her game, delivering a thriller that had me gripped from beginning to end.

To say much more would give too much away, so all I will say is that The Ex is a brilliantly plotted, dark and fascinating psychological thriller that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. S.E. Lynes has written yet another outstanding character driven story that I thoroughly enjoyed and I can’t wait to read whatever she comes up with next!