Review of Unforgivable by Natalie Barelli

I really enjoyed this quick thriller read. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy. I mostly listened on audio and enjoyed the narrator. The book was fast paced and did keep me guessing. I ended up getting some things wrong, which is always fun. Can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you Dreamscape, Natalie Barelli, and Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The narration is on point, she did an awesome job with it. The storyline grabs you from the start. It was a quick listen. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 solid stars!

Your ex-wife didn’t leave you because of me. She didn’t abandon her little girl because of a couple of love notes in your jeans pocket. She left because she’s twisted, and she wanted to punish you. And she’s not finished yet. You have to believe me. If you don’t, there’s no knowing what she’ll do next…

Becoming a stepmother is the best thing that ever happened to me. My favorite part of every day is picking Charlie up from school, watching her little rucksack bounce behind her as she skips over for a hug. I love the feel of those thin freckled arms around my waist. After a few rocky months of panic attacks when her mother deserted her, Charlie is flourishing. But the day Charlie’s mother Bronwyn returns without warning—showering Charlie with gifts and making promises she can’t keep—fear ripples through me.
I have read/listened all of Natalie Barelli's books. I was excited to get this one on audio. She typically has characters you love to hate and a twisty story that is usually not too predictable. This one had a few unlikable people, everyone but Charlie. Jack is spineless, Browyn, well she left her kid, so there's that, and Laura just seems a little over the top and lacks a backbone with her husband. This book was a little annoying like a Lifetime movie you can't turn off, but I didn't hate it. It's a quick read and does keep you going on annoyance with the characters alone.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. At many point main character lady was really pissing me off, but may be this was the plan. Step mom rights and thinking she knows better really irked me, but by the end it all made sense

Remember junior high school and all its interpersonal drama? Well, this book reminded me of that. One minute the characters hate each other, the next minute they’re good friends again. Okay, so there is some plot development hidden in these interpersonal explosions and it makes more sense as the book goes on…but I still had a hard time with the MC’s immature decision-making and impulsive reactions. Seriously, who hires their new employee to flirt with their husband to deter his ex-wife from wanting reconciliation? I don’t know why, but although the narrative completely missed the mark for me, I was still drawn in to know how this story would end. I truly wanted to know what the heck was going on with these cray cray characters. Kind of liking watching The Housewives of Beverly Hills…you know what I mean…

I’m not gonna lie. One must suspend a healthy dose of reality to get through this book. The dialogue, the MC’s decisions, the whole plot, really, is not believable or grounded in reality in the slightest. BUT it is a deliciously wicked women’s thriller full of cat and mouse games.

I think the narrator did the best she could with what she had to work with. I’ll admit the MC’s over reactions got a little tiresome as the performance went on. But other than that great range of character voices and dynamic narration..

Thanks Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun, entertaining ride of a story! With characters that you love to hate and many twists and turns along the way this book will hook you from the beginning. Overall I enjoyed this book.

Unforgivable is a perfect title for this hot mess of a soap opera like domestic drama.

Jack and Bronwyn are married and have a daughter Charlie. Mother of the year Bronwyn walks out on husband and Child, making space for Laura to swoop in to care for Jack and Charlie. Laura and Jack are engaged and Laura loves being stepmom to Charlie more than anything. Then out of the blue, Bronwyn returns for an extended stay with her daughter, showering her with gifts making all kinds of promises. Did I mention that Jack and Bronwyn are still married, yet both are engaged to other people now? Did I mention that Laura and Bronwyn were once friends? Did I mention that Bronwyn stays in the family home? Packed with unlikeable, immature adult characters that act like high school turds, this type of storyline just isn’t for me, yet despite all that and the very unrealistic plot, I became that driver that slows down as they pass by an accident to rubberneck. I will chalk this up to a quick, entertaining (in a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills type fashion) listen.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This one gets 3 entertaining stars from me.

Natalie Barelli never fails to deliver. This book has twists and turns that you won’t see coming! I always enjoy her books and this one is no different.

As this thriller states the devil wears many disguises and may be right in front of you without being detected. The big challenge is determining who is the real devil with so many possibilities. Bronwyn looks like an Angel and is adored and cherished by all. Well, almost all that is except Laura. Laura comes off as paranoid, frantic and at times a bit unhinged. Are Laura’s thoughts about Bronwyn valid, or is she a victim of her own bias and jealousy? This intense, nailbiting thriller will have you second-guessing yourself every step of the way through its journey of deception, revenge, and utter insanity. The narration was spot on bringing the manic tension to life. I highly recommend this twisted, deranged, suspenseful thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was hooked from the start. I was ultimately correct in my suspicions but only after I suspected everyone a time or two. While I wanted to figure out what happened, it was ultimately hard to like any of the characters, even Charlie. I had a love-hate relationship with all of them, but again, I could not put it down and listened in just over a day.

This book is for you if you like not knowing who to trust in your domestic thriller and like to be kept guessing.

Unforgivable
By Natalie Barelli

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

This is the second story by Natalie Barelli that I have listened to and I have to say that I love her style. Her stories are easy to get into and both stories I have listened to I have not wanted to stop.

Laura is about to become a stepmother and she adores Charlie and Charlie adores her. Laura understands Charlie and Charlie calls her mama. Until Bronwyn,Charlie’s biological mom comes back into the picture and is staying at their house. Like it’s not hard enough being a stepmom, now Laura has to deal with the self centered Bronwyn.

I really enjoyed listening to this story and am excited for more of Natalie’s stories. I hope with the same narrator.

Again, thank you for the advanced copy!!

This was my first experience with this author, so I really didn't know what to expect. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was great and did a really nice job of differentiating each character and bringing them to life. The story was entertaining, although a bit crazy at times, but I suppose that was the point. Laura is a curator and lives with her fiance Jack and his daughter Charlie. Other than the fact that Jack is jobless she is pretty content with her life. That is until Jack's ex Bronwyn decides to come to town. Bronwyn just up and left Jack and Charlie and lives overseas with her lover. Laura is a bit on edge when she learns Bronwyn will be staying in their home. She feels her visit will hinder any progress Charlie has made. She adores being a stepmother to Charlie and will do anything to protect her, even from her own mother. Bronwyn's visit begins to drive a wedge between Laura and Charlie, and Laura becomes more frantic and paranoid and the drama escalates.
I found this to be entertaining and engaging and it kept my interest all the way through. I also enjoyed the build up and twists along the way. The story was well-written and flows smoothly. A satisfying read by this author and I look forward to reading more!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Unforgivable
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 7/26/22
Author: Natalie Barelli
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Narrator: Jennifer Jill Araya
GR: 4.01

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Becoming a stepmother is the best thing that ever happened to me. After a few rocky months of panic attacks when her mother deserted her, Charlie is flourishing. But the day Charlie’s mother Bronwyn returns without warning—showering Charlie with gifts and making promises she can’t keep—fear ripples through me. When I raise my concerns, no one wants to listen. Me and Bronwyn have history. We both have dark secrets in our past, and I know the dangerous lengths she will go to get what she wants. Bronwyn doesn’t know just how far I will go to protect that little girl…

My Thoughts: Barelli weaves another twisty thriller as things start out a little unsettling and ramp up into total craziness, it is hard what characters you can and cannot trust, which makes for an epic thrilling read! The storyline is a bit of a stretch, but any good work of fiction is. The story is narrated in first person POV, by Laura. This was not Barelli’s best work but it was good and kept me engaged. The narrator of this story did a great job with the characters, really gave them ‘character’ and left you feeling like you were there, just a fly on the wall. The characters were pretty flushed out, well developed, had some depth, mysterious, and creatively written. At first, I loved Laura’s character, but as the story went on, I started to dislike her, that was likely the point of the story. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, and intriguing. I do recommend this audiobook that was released in July, it was a great book.

WOW! I mean, just wow. This book was so good and that mother is BANANAS! Also, the fiance/boyfriend was a douche. Do better, my dude! I was hooked the whole time with this book and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen! Well written and well-paced, this book is a keeper! Can't wait to read more of Natalie Barelli's books!

#Unforgivable
#NetGalley

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* wow. well nothing much new as far as the genre goes but will a really wild read lol

This book was your typical thriller but I was not expecting THAT! Ex’s staying under the same roof with the child and a new significant other. As the ex wife continues to try to move back in with her family and make the current girlfriend be a glimpse of the past. The narrator did an awesome job I felt like I was watching a TV series the entire way through.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to Unforgivable by Natalie Barelli in exchange for my honest feedback.

Wait…… what?!?!

This is one that is sure to have readers scratching their heads and flip back a few pages to make sure they read that right. It’s always fun to read something totally different and out of the box however readers who dive into Unforgivable are going to have to go in with a very open mind. Be ready to go with the flow and accept unacceptable behaviour as well…. Acceptable!

A little to contrived for my reading style but a well written novel I’m sure many will enjoy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Three stars for me on this interestingly annoying twisted tale.

Although this book was a little crazy, I really struggled with the actions and reactions of most of the characters, which really frustrated me.

#Unforgivable #NatalieBarelli #DreamscapeMedia #JenniferJillAraya

Unforgivable was a thrilling listen, full of twists and turns.

Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya does a wonderful job.

It is the story of Laura, a young woman, living with Jack and raising his daughter Charlie. Jack is separated from his wife Bronwyn.

Bronwyn returns from Italy and stays with them leading to a string of bizarre events culminating in extreme danger to Laura and those she cares about.

Laura keeps finding out the depths to which someone can go, when they seek payback for real and imagined grievances.

The listener finds out more and more about the dark past until it all comes to a terrifying climax.

I enjoyed this ALC.

Laura walks into Jack and Charlie’s life after Bronwyn has deserted her family. Years after blending into the abandoned duo, Laura is finally about to became an official member of her already beloved family. But Bronwyn is making a come back into their lives, and with the re-entrance into her old home, Laura's old secrets come to hunt her.

A very intriguing read. But honestly, I was very annoyed with Laura and especially her actions. At first, she comes across as a victim, but later in the novel, we see her true colors as well. Did she deserve everything that has happened to her... well, you know what they say about karma? So... Nevertheless, I have enjoyed the novel, especially because Laura and Bronwyn's two strong characters play not-so-innocent roles. Both are angry and envious of each other's lives. Basically, they have met their equal match. Great plot, fast read. I would absolutely recommend the novel to my friends.

Thank you, NetGalley for a free and advanced copy of the novel.