This book was fast paced and an overall quick read, but I felt like it bordered in being ridiculous due to the horrible decisions that the characters continually made. The story centers on Eliza, a blogger with a big secret, and Bethany, a waitress who is desperate to become part of Eliza’s life. Once she discovers Eliza’s secret, she knows that this is her way in.

Both main characters are selfish and horrible people and neither one has likable qualities. Bethany likely needs some kind of psychiatric help, but the author doesn’t give us enough insight into her background to understand why she is like she is. The secret that Eliza is keeping makes no sense to me because there are so many ways she couldn’t handled things differently up into that point, and despite all her plotting, she has no reasonable plan for the future.

There is a lot of repetition throughout, with the women going back in forth on whether they are friends or not, then the end is abrupt, unrealistic, and leaves even more unanswered questions.

Overall, this was a quick read but I had to suspend my disbelief too much to truly enjoy it throughout, and the end was unsatisfying. I’d give it 2.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Stolen Child by Emily Shiner places this author firmly on my list of must reads. I was pulled in from the very start, and was almost immediately invested in the chilling tale of a stalker and her vulnerable prey, a social media influencer.

Eliza is a successful Mommy blogger, putting her day to day life out there for the world to see. Bethany is a childless cocktail waitress who follows Eliza's blog with an obsessive interest. She is sure that the two women are destined to be the best of friends, if only Eliza could see it. But Eliza is harbouring a secret, and when Bethany discovers what it is, she knows that Eliza will do anything she is asked to protect all that she holds dear.

This is a story that, while requiring a suspension of disbelief, will leave you with goosebumps, though perhaps a tad unsatisfied by an all too abrupt ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.

I will be honest I never really think twice about what I put out there for the world to see but maybe I should because although this is a work of fiction, things like this could and have happened before.
It was a gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat with so may twists and turns. Really enjoyable

The Stolen Child was a thrilling page turner! I enjoyed the life of the main character and her job as a Mommy Blogger. It was neat to read about her work with writing and photographing her young daughter and how she orchestrated their lives for social media.

That's where things in the story start to go wrong. Stalking and an insane follower infiltrates the main character's life! Twists and turns follow as the mystery unfolds. I couldn't wait to see the outcome of the story. The writing was pretty good but not as memorable as other thrillers I've loved.

The book was a good reminder to me mindful of what we put out there on social media and how easy it is for things to go wrong. I'm giving this book three stars and I would like to read other books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley!

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and the author Emily Shiner for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Where to begin? I read the description of this novel and it sounded like a pretty good read. The book flows very well and the story builds and builds to the ending.

The two main character of this book, Bethany and Eliza, are the worst! Usually when reading a book that is set up like this you tend to pull for one character or the other but I found them both to be infuriating.

Although the story continued to build up to the ending, I found the ending to be lackluster in comparison to the rest of the book.

I think I would have rated higher had the ending been more gripping than it was.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4943904436

Eliza has the perfect life. A beautiful home, a hugely successful blog, a loving husband and two adorable children.
Bethany barely scrapes by in a dead end job. Her only happiness comes from reading Eliza’s blog. Obsessed with her, she believes they’re destined to be best friends.
But Eliza doesn’t want another friend especially one as pushy as Bethany. Because Eliza is hiding a family secret. One that would shatter her entire world if it was ever revealed.
Rejected and furious, Bethany starts stalking Eliza. And as she watches her every move, Bethany discovers Eliza’s secret and threatens to expose it.
But Eliza will do anything it takes to protect her perfect life. Even if it means getting rid of Bethany forever.
Totally recommend really gripping I couldn’t put it down really enjoyable read
Thank You NetGalley and Inkubator Books
I just reviewed The Stolen Child by Emily Shiner. #TheStolenChild #NetGalley

The two main characters here, Bethany and Eliza, are both interesting but incredibly unlikable characters. I didn't root for either of them, they both had horrible sides of their personality, and both needed some sort of mental help. But i couldn't stop myself from wondering what they would do next, how they would manipulate each other further, what other crazy action they were going to end up taking

Unlikable characters usually ruin a book for me, but for once I didn't mind it at all. In fact I think it added to my need to see what happens.

The pacing was really solid with it building as the story went on, the only thing I thought was lacking was the ending! I know some will love it but I just wanted more from that section.

It's not the most realistic of events, but it does pull you in and give you that NEED to see what happens next, which is one of the most important aspects of thrillers to me!

3.5 rounded down to a 3 as I'm unsure if I will ever reread it

I loved this book! I love reading about influencers and the dark side to it and The Stolen Child did not disappoint! A quick, suspenseful read. I loved the ending, had to sit there and think about what I just read for a minute after finishing the last page!!

The action opens from the very first chapter of this book. Unfortunately, so does the annoyance of the main characters! Either selfish or fawning it was hard to particularly warm or root for anyone, which I often find lessens the enjoyment of the book. A twist in the final chapter but perhaps not surprising when considering the character of the character!

This was a very nice fast paced book. It is really well written from all sides in the book. Eye opener on how social media can start something so small yet end so big!. I enjoyed this book a lot.

Eliza's life is perfect, a successful blog, lovely home, husband and children. Then Bethany shows up, obsessed with Eliza's blog and life, and deternined to be friends with her. When she finds out the shocking secret Eliza is hiding, Bethany uses it against her to worm her way into her life. What she doesn't realise is that Eliza will do anything to protect her family.

A tense and exciting thriller that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

I loved the description for this book and was eager to read it.

Eliza’s sister is a drug addict and when she and her husband James go to visit her they find her child. Rather than contacting the police and going through to the foster system they take him home and hide him from the world. While Eliza loves to show her daughter off in her influencer blog, Knox is hidden, or so she thinks.

Bethany seems obsessed with Eliza and sets up opportunities to meet her influencer idol. Things quickly become very sinister and then the blackmail starts.

This was a challenge to read, the first portion sets you up for a great thriller and then it descends in to silliness, with the same conversations about the blackmail (Eliza refusing and Bethany threatening) happen every other page until the neck breaking speed of the end of the novel.

There was no way you could believe the ending, no credible parts at all and I thought there would at least be a concise ending. This novel could really be great, it just isn’t yet.

Omg! The author doesn't say, but I sure hope there's going to be another book?!!! That's the biggest cliffhanger or the worst ending I've ever had?! I mean your just left hanging?! this book had light suspense, intrigue, and some crazy twists! The storyline was very very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! But then it just ends?! I really really don't like cliffhanger at all but this one is crazy because I don't think there's going to be another book?! I'm not sure how to review this one?! If there's another book then ok not so bad but if there's not going to be a book its close to being one of my least favorite?! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This was not a convincing plot. If you are okay with that, it is a decent story, but for me it was just not credible.

Bumble Fluffs! 😳😯🤯

If you enjoyed The Influencer by Miranda Rijks, you're gonna adore this one with its plot vibes also! Every time I read a novel like this, it just stops and makes you think of what we put out on our social media and just how much we share. It's pretty crazy and scary. This thrilling ride was enticing, intriguing and I couldn't speed through fast enough with this novel. Man oh man did I feel for Eliza and the emotions of the characters are so strong! So satisfying.

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Eliza is a media influencer who seems to have it all with her husband and her daughter. But Eliza has a deep secret that must be kept by any means. Bethany is an avid follower and fan of Eliza and wants what she has. And she knows being her friend will open the doors to that. As Bethany keeps trying to weave herself into Eliza's life and be her friend she ends up being rebuffed by her. But Bethany is determined and when she comes across the secret Eliza holds so dear, it'll work out perfectly for their friendship. But she doesn't realize Eliza is willing to do anything to keep her secret. At any cost.

I will say the ending was not only a shocker, but even a bit of a cliffhanger in a way and strangely, I was totally okay with that and it worked. I will say I did hope for a bit more of an ending or something more surprising to happen, but was let down some for it. That being said, the entire lead up was full of suspense, craziness and oh lordie don't get me started on the tension! I found this to be such a fun read and while not my absolute top favourite of Shiners, still damn good!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Release Date: September 11, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3.5 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊

“She smiles at me, and even though I’m sure that anyone looking at her would think she was just being friendly, I swear I feel a shiver run up my spine. There’s something dark in this woman...she’s evil.”


The story revolves around two main characters. Eliza, a social media influencer with a seemingly perfect family life, and Bethany, a struggling cocktail waitress who follows Eliza on Instagram.

Bethany takes following Eliza to a whole new level when she becomes obsessed with being her best friend. She gets completely entangled in her belief that this friendship could lead to a whole new way of life and that she could even become part of Eliza’s family; and this is before she has even met her!

Bethany is quick to find out a family secret of Eliza’s, which readers learn about in the prologue, and we have to watch as Bethany holds this over Eliza and uses it to control their relationship. Eliza becomes desperate and is so scared of Bethany revealing her secret and ruining her family that her mind begins to wonder to some very dark places.

The opposing interests of both characters creates a tension that makes it hard to step away from this book. Considering the complication of the characters’ situation, this was an easy story to follow but it was still difficult to predict what would happen next.

The narrative mainly flits from Eliza to Bethany in different chapters. Emily Shiner does such a good job of really bringing the characters to life, especially Bethany. I sometimes cringed when reading her internal-dialogue and this perfectly portrays how her personality and desperation make Eliza feel so uncomfortable.

There were gripping twists throughout the story and I was not expecting the book to end as it did. If you’re a fan of dark thrillers and warped psyches, this is definitely worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Emily Shiner for letting me read “The Stolen Child” in return for an honest review.


The book starts with Eliza checking up on her drug abusing sister. To her surprise she discovers a child in the room next to her passed out sister. She had no idea about a pregnancy. Eliza and her husband make the spontaneous decision to take the boy with them? But leaving the sister.

Ok, that already felt like so weird. I understand that she is afraid that the boy ends up in foster care like she did, but to leave the sister like that? Weird.

Anyway, fast forward, the boy loves secretly with them but has never left the house nor shows up in any records it seems. Eliza has only one child she wants the world to know about, Penelope. Because get this, Eliza is a wannabe influencer on the rising, blogging everything about her oh so perfect life to the world, her kid, the house and hubby. But hiding a huge secret. Weird much?

Then we also have the second protagonist, Bethany. Bethany is “the nobody”, total opposite of Eliza. Bethany is obsessed with Eliza and wants to befriend her, whatever it takes. Eliza being the snob she is, turns her down.”, which leads to the stalking…

The concept of the story is really good and intriguing. It was a good read. But jeez, the characters are so obnoxious and unlikable. Eliza is on the highest horse known to man and Bethany is borderline obsessed. It’s hard to like any of the two.

I personally don’t get influencers and the need to have your life on display for virtual strangers just to get some likes and followers.

This is my second book by Emily Shiner. I did not enjoy my first read at all. This was slightly better. I see a tendency about unlikable characters here.
It’s also written very conveniently and opts for the easy solution. Like BethNy was guessing everything so easily and finding things out just like that.
It keeps me wondering how the family got along with Knox, without him ever been seen it heard of. No socialising, travel, trips. Sounds like a prison for the kids as well as the adults.
Bethany in the other hand is just so oblivious and obnoxious.

I really wanted to like this, but it was just average, due to the dislike-able characters.

This was an eerie book from beginning to end - I really enjoyed the twists and turns throughout! A must read.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. All of Emily's book seem to fall into the average category for me. Sound good, start ok, I end up skimming, and then the ending is pretty good. But i just can't seem to get into her books enough to read them word for word. That being said, this book clearly takes a woman obsessed with another and inserts herself into her life. Bad things happen to everyone with a shocking ending.