Laura is engaged to her fiancé Jack. And while not married quite yet she still considers herself the stepmom to his daughter, Charlie. And if we’re nit-picking here I should mention that Jack isn’t actually divorced yet either.

When Jack informs Laura that Charlie’s birth mom (the estranged wife) will be returning for a visit from Europe, Laura is on edge. Just wait Laura, It gets better than this! The estranged, soon to be ex will be staying in their home! What? That’s right, it’s gonna’ be one big happy family! NOT!

I’m all for originality in my thrillers. But this was just too much of a stretch for me.

At first I felt for Laura and her situation. Until…well … until I watched her character become as despicable as the rest.🤣

I’ve read several other books from this author and always enjoyed. This may be just a one-off for me. But, I’ll still be reaching for her next.

A buddy 🎧 with Susanne

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media

3.75+ stars

This was a solid, if a bit predictable, domestic thriller. I had a pretty good idea where some of it was going pretty early on, but I still enjoyed the journey. The primary antagonist was incredibly irritating, but that’s not a criticism; I don’t think I’m supposed to enjoy her character, and I’ve definitely met people like her. The storytelling and suspense-building were both good. Overall, the book itself wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it was a fun addition to its genre.

Really enjoyed this story. Have read several from the author. This story didn't disappoint. Held my interest and kept me guessing whether the narrator was crazy or the ex. Definitely recommend. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Unforgivable by Natalie Barelli
Narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya

There is all kinds of crazy going on in this story but who is crazy and who isn't crazy? Who is paranoid and who has every right to be paranoid? Who is conniving and who is getting the wool pulled over their eyes? I really wasn't sure until the end and I was pretty sure I was being gaslighted by somebody. By the end of the story, I wanted to say, "I knew that!" but did I really?

Art curator, Laura, is engaged to Jack. Charlie is Jack's eight year old daughter and Laura would do anything for her. She's already helped Charlie to get through panic attacks because her mother, Bronwyn, abandoned her. Now Bronwyn has told Jack that she is going to be coming home from overseas, where she has been living with her lover, and Bronwyn is going to be staying at Jack's house, the house where Laura lives with Jack and Charlie, now. The house that used to be the home of Bronwyn before she left the marriage and her daughter.

Bronwyn, has a list of requirements for her visit and in the midst of so much going on at work, it's up to Laura to make sure the requirements are met. Jack's out of work but doesn't seem up to doing what needs to be done. Charlie's acting out is back again, triggered by Bronwyn's impending arrival. And Laura knows that Bronwyn is coming to stir up trouble even though she is supposed to be coming to finalize her divorce from Jack.

Laura is a frantic mess and then things get worse. She is often acting like a raving lunatic, paranoid beyond belief, it's as if she doesn't trust anyone. Ready to bite anyone's head off, rarely able to act the least bit reasonable. Is she nuts or does she know something we don't?

The audiobook narration is great and is perfect for this story. Bronwyn's so put together, she makes Laura look like she's lost her marbles. Nothing Laura does is right, Charlie worships her mother and Bronwyn is putting a wedge between Laura and Charlie. Jack just wants to lay low and not ruffle any feathers, or at least not Bronwyn's feathers. Things start out unsettled and then ramp up to chaotic and it's hard to know who might be trustworthy and who might be blowing smoke in our faces.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

Bronwyn left her husband, Jack, and their daughter, Charlie. Jack is now with Laura, who helps him raise Charlie. His daughter even calls her "mama". Until the day Browwyn comes home to see her daughter for her birthday and, according to Jack, to finally sign the divorce papers. But Laura and Bronwyn have history and tensions run high between them.
This is a gripping domestic thriller with a few twists. I read this as an audio and physical book, in one sitting each, and loved both versions. I get Bronwyn hating the fact that Laura is raising Charlie, but she is a real bitch, I was really rooting for Laura. It will keep you guessing until the final reveal, with a satisfying ending.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, Bookouture and Dreamscape Media, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Yet another stunning novel from Natalie Barelli. She creates characters that truly get under your skin, while at the same time you
empathize with them as the story unfolds.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Grow some balls Laura! That being said, I really liked this book! I really liked the narrator as well. This book was full of suspense and had me constantly guessing who the bad guy was. Personally, if I were Laura, I would have left and made everyone else do something for once. But i couldn't get enough of this book and the ending was a little far fetched but still it was good!

4/5

Thanks, NetGalley, for the advance audio copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to listen to this audiobook because I had read The Housekeeper by this same author and really enjoyed it.

Laura, an art exhibitions director, is excited to be marrying Jack and become a stepmother to Charlie (Charlotte). Jack's wife, Bronwyn, left him to live the high life with a new man, a successful plastic surgeon. But suddenly Bronwyn is back, supposedly to sign the divorce paperwork. And she's staying with Jack, Laura, and Charlie in the house she used to share with Jack. She makes big promises to Charlie that she doesn't keep, and seems to be trying to get Jack back from Laura.

Then we find out that Bronwyn and Laura have a history and each has some secrets of their own. Although this book is told from Laura's perspective, it is unclear if that is actually a reliable representation. Is Bronwyn really the bad guy? Or is Laura the crazy one?

Twists, turns, and secrets kept my interest. Don't make the mistake of assuming this book is predictable! It definitely kept me on my toes. There's a lot going on, with a whole side plot involving the art gallery where Laura works with another mystery for the reader to solve. The suspense and surprises carried all the way through the book to the ending. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya, does a great job of putting the listener in the spirit of the story.

I went into this book hoping for some mind candy, a delicious mysterious escape from the daily grind and this book was a good fit. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, things changed and I was surprised yet again. I think this would be a good vacation read because it's captivating and full of twists and turns, and the reader gets caught up in it. If you can't actually go on vacation, this book is a good break for your mind, like a mini vacay.

3.5 stars rounded up. (The audio was fun for this one!)

Laura is an art exhibition director who is looking forward to marrying her fiance, Jack, and becoming a stepmother to seven year old Charlie (Charlotte). Jack's first wife, Bronwyn, is an absent mother who has been living in Italy. In Bronwyn's absence, Laura has stepped up to become Charlie's "mama" and treats her like her own. However, Bronwyn returns home to sign the divorce papers, lives in her martial house, and decides she wants to be Charlie's mother again and push Laura out. So begins the tension...

The beginning was a little bit slow, but then it really picks up. For much of the story, you'll be unsure of who to trust. The ending gets a little nuts, but if you're willing to suspend belief, it is overall a fun thriller!

Reading Between the Wines book review #59/135 for 2022:
Rating: 4.5 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷1/2
Book 🎧: Unforgivable
Author: Natalie Barelli
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASES July 26, 2022!!! Get your copy today!

Sipping thoughts: Wooh this one took me for a ride!! I did not like any of the characters but sweet, impressionable Charlie. Charlie who was being pulled between her new stepmother, Laura, and her biological mother, Bronwyn. When Laura wasn’t being whiney and neurotic, she was worrying about her relationship with Jack and about losing Charlie’s love. But then I got to thinking that I would do whatever in my power to keep my stepdaughter safe as well. Only thing as a reader you don’t know who she is keeping Charlie safe from. As you read you will not know who or what to believe and isn’t that the best type of book to read! I absolutely loved this book and even though these characters dumb moves made my blood pressure rise, I could not get enough! Barelli has done it again!

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @DreamscapeMedia for an advance copy of @Unforgivable.

#Unforgivable #NatalieBarelli #DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

This was a long one. Lots of twists and surprises and gaslighting. I enjoyed it.
The entire audiobook kept me interested and listening. I finished it in less than two days actually. I had to know how it ended. I had guesses at the ending but there were still some surprises.
Definitely get this one when it comes out.
Narrator did a great job too. A good narrator can make an audiobook sometimes and a bad narrator can break a good book.

Laura's life is pretty perfect; she's got a gorgeous fiancée, Jack, and an amazing soon-to-be stepdaughter. With the wedding coming up, Laura feels her life is right on track.....until Jack's ex-wife Bronwyn shows up and threatens to ruin it all. Laura knows that Bronwyn is a nutcase, but she's unable to convince Jack of just how far she's willing to go to ruin thing for them. As things spiral downward, Laura wonders if she'll be able to salvage the perfect life she was about to start.

I love a good gaslighting story, and this book was packed full of great scenes where Laura knows she's been conned but is somehow the only one who sees it. All of the scenes were well done and convincing, and you could see how one partying saying it's "a misunderstanding" and all your friends believing them could make you nuts. As always with Natalie Barelli books, this one was well-constructed and a quick read. Additionally, the narrator was awesome.

However,.....the ultimate ending was a huge stretch for me. There was one minor detail that came into play that I thought was *awesome*, but overall the extremely involved, long-game style thing was extremely unrealistic and took away from the book.

OOOKAY. As a stepmother myself, I was immediately drawn to this story from the blurb. There were so many things and feelings that Lauren went through in the beginning that gave me deja vu haha.

That being said, there were so many twists and turns in this book that I was hooked from the moment I started. I couldn't figure out who was good and who was bad, and just when I thought I had it nailed down *BAM* something new comes out. Ms. Barelli did a phenomenal job!

Also - the narration was on point! Jennifer portrayed all the emotions and excitement perfectly. I don't think they could have picked a better narrator.

This is definitely one you won't want to miss.

Laura is living with her fiancé and is the primary caretaker of his daughter, Charlie. They are not without their problems, but Laura wouldn’t change a thing… Until her husband’s ex, and Charlie’s real mom decides to come back to town.

The twists and turns, and figuring out what is real and what is not make for a really fun read. Every time I was certain I had figured out what was happening, something changed.
This is definitely a fun read, and I’ll be checking out Natalie Barelli’s backlist.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review.

Wow - Unforgivable had me guessing all the way to the end. Seriously, it was hard to keep up with "oh, you're the bad guy", "no, you're the bad guy." I waffled between liking and hating each of the main characters - a really good quality in a thriller.

This story centers around an engaged couple, Jack the currently unemployed, often dis-likeable fiance/husband, his live-in girlfriend/fiance Laura an art curator with a strong desire to mother Jack's daughter Charlie and Jack's actual wife/soon to be ex Bronwyn who.....wait for it.....moves in with them when traveling back to finalize the divorce and spend time with her daughter.

Pfew.

Natalie Barelli keeps us guessing as to what, if anything, is going on, who to root for, who to hate.....well done and a solid read.

I listened to the audio book and loved the narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya. She managed to convey all the emotions of each character and moved the story along at a good pace. I frequently have to speed up narrations because they often feel draggy, but Araya voiced everyone perfectly and kept me listening.

Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen in advance of the July 26, 2022 release.

Laura is engaged to Jack and a live-in stepmother to Charlie, a girl she adores. At the moment she’s supporting her “family” with her job at an art gallery. Now, Jack’s estranged wife, Bronwyn is coming back to sign the divorce papers, but she’s going to stay with Jack and Laura for an undetermined period of time. Laura and Bronwyn have a long and ugly past and it definitely figures into their present. The characters in this book are not easy to like – I don’t know why either woman would want Jack and while Bronwyn does some terrible things, Laura has definitely not been innocent of wrongdoing. In the end, this story was like a car crash, I couldn’t look away; definitely a guilty pleasure

Natalie Barelli’s latest book, Unforgivable, is a true psychological thriller in every sense of the word.

Laura, an art curator, and Jack, an out of work engineer, are engaged and living together but most importantly, she’s become a big part of his daughter’s life. All she wants is a family to call her own but when Jack’s ex, Bronwyn, comes back to town to reclaim a place in her child’s life, things get tricky and Laura becomes insecure. Add to that, a new employee that could be friend or foe, along with a break-in that resulted in the loss of a $14,000 piece of art and Laura has no safe place.

Is someone putting her through the ringer or is she overreacting and imagining things? I honestly didn’t know. This kept me guessing until the very end. I was back and forth so much it was dizzying! In a good way of course.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review. The narration was also great!

Wow. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook! It was full of crazy twists and turns and I couldn’t have predicted the ending! Highly recommend!