Thriller Thursday Book Review: A Twisted Love Story 🌹

⁉️: Have you ever prank called anyone?

When I was 10-11 years old, I used to call my crush’s landline to hear his voice and hang up 😆 I don’t know why we called it “prank call” as children, when we weren’t pranking anyone.

The author, @smariedowning gives a new meaning to prank calls as she carefully crafts a long-lasting but deeply complicated relationship between Ivy and Wes, a couple who met in their undergrad days and have been in an on and off relationships for over a decade. The story begins when Ivy makes a prank call for fun to report her ex, Wes, of stalking her. This prank call unleashes an unexpected chain of events While their toxic relationship unfolds throughout the novel, Karen, the cop in charge of their case is, I believe, at the heart of the novel.

Although there is a cat-and-mouse chase between the cop and this twisted couple, I appreciated the insight into morally gray and absolutely detestable characters that are found in this book. There is a moment when Ivy randomly takes a photograph with a random guy in a bar and posts it on insta to get Wes’s attention. Turns out the guy has a fiancée who is insecure and begins to stalk Ivy as the novel unfolds. And, while they do fight, the couple share an immense loyalty towards one another. At one moment, Ivy staunchly defends Wes after he is arrested by Karen.

For me, however, it is the unspoken character, Karen who stands out because not only is she a woman in a male-dominated field, but she constantly has to prove herself to her bosses and peers. The pressures lead her to become obsessed with Wes and Ivy, and a desire to dig deeper into a mysterious disappearance of a man who was involved with the couple. She reminded me of Olivia’s character in Law and Order: SVU. A 4 ✨ novel for me!

I also was privileged to join two buddy reads for this book with @letstalkbookspromo and #thrillerobsessedbuddyread, and was able to get insights into the novel during our author chat with Samantha.

Thank you @letstalkbookspromo, @berkleypub, and @penguinrandomhouse for the gifted e-arc.

#Berkleybuddyreads #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #ThrillerObsessedBuddyRead #SamanthaDowning #ATwistedLoveStory #PenguinRandomHouse

This book brought the kind of drama I live for!

You know that dramatic, toxic couple you’re always asking for updates on? Like one of them is your best friend’s cousin and there’s always some new fiasco to report? This book is an inside look at THAT couple.

Wes and Ivy have a history that dates back almost a decade — a roller coaster of a relationship that wildly swings from romantic gestures to big fights and property damage. But they never talk about their biggest fight, the night someone ended up dead, and now a detective is onto them.

“A Twisted Love Story” was so deliciously soapy. I couldn’t get enough — Wes and Ivy are equally hateable, and Downing makes no attempt to redeem either of them. I am endlessly entertained by characters who are written to be despised. If you’re looking for a suspenseful book to devour on the beach this summer, “A Twisted Love Story” is it.

There are no redeemable characters in this book! They all have major issues and are twisted in their own way.

Wes and Ivy...I have no idea what to say about these two. They met in college and have been in an off and on again relationship since then. When one does something the other doesn't like, there is retaliation of some sort. It is like they never grew up and continue to play games that young people would play.

Karen is a police officer investigating Ivy's claim that Wes might be stalking her. Ivy reported it because she was mad. However, Karen believes there is more to this relationship and story than anyone knows and decides to do a deep dive into their past and other reports that have been filed. The truth may not be something we want to know.

Biana may come across as a mild-mannered administrative assistant, but she has her own dark side. I felt bad for her when she was attacked by a co-worker. The end result was not pretty.

This story really comes off as a train wreck and is very different from this author's past works. I didn't like this one as much as the others...but, as I mentioned it is like a train wreck and I can't look away.

We give it 3 1/2 paws.

this book was actually so pointless. I'm surprised I finished it but it did keep me turning pages. nothing really happened this entire book, all of the characters were unlikeable. this author seems to be hit and miss for me.

I am a big fan of Samantha Downing's past thrillers, so I was eagerly anticipating A Twisted Love Story. While I found it to be entertaining, it didn't work for me as well as her last two. I found Will and Ivy to be incredibly frustrating; it was hard to feel as if there was anyone to root for and I didn't especially care what happened to either of them. The end felt abrupt and the twist out of left field. I look forward to reading whatever Downing writes next, but this particular story just was not my fave.

Thank you so much to @berkleypub & @netgalley for the gifted copies!

I have never read anything so dysfunctional like Wes and Ivy. I mean, their relationship was beyond tumultuous and volatile and yet I had the best time reading about it. At times, their toxicity made me so anxious but I couldn’t stop. It was like watching a bad reality TV show (you know the ones that make you cringe but you just keep watching??). The story started off nice and easy, giving us an inside look into Wes and Ivy’s relationship and getting to know Karen, the detective who plays a bigger role in their relationship than they know. Wes and Ivy only get more toxic and it really picked up. Things were hitting the fan!! Side characters became more central to the story. Then it was over. Just like that. I felt slightly underwhelmed by the ending. I needed more. Overall, I read this fairly quickly (by my standards) and it kept me entertained. The characters were my favorite part — just a bunch of crazies who all need therapy!

this book is TELL ME LIES 🤝 MY LOVELY WIFE—it’s truly both morphed into one and i DEVOURED it. Downing is one of my all time fave authors (FOR YOUR OWN GOOD is one of my fave thrillers ever) and i was soooo excited to get my hands on this one early. i actually stared at it on my bookshelf for months bc i wanted to savor it but simply couldn’t wait anymore 😂 it’s 400 pages but SUCH a good binge. it’s a super fun cat-and-mouse psychological thriller with a toxic relationship at the center of it all. there’s secrets, murder, a police investigation (or two…) and tons of drama 🖤 oh and the ending had me SWEATING!!

A TWISTED LOVE STORY is all about Ivy and Wes. when they’re good, it’s perfect. but when they’re bad, it’s so toxic. Ivy and Wes have a secret that they NEVER talk about—but when a detective enters the picture, she’s determined to uncover every secret they have. can their relationship withstand the pressure?

this definitely reads like a romantic suspense. the relationship is at the center but behind the scenes there are two murder investigations, lots of suspense and so many secrets. her past work had me expecting a bit more “thriller” but if you go in knowing it’s a romantic suspense you’ll be good. i was SO nervous it was going to end a way i didn’t want it to but i’m happy to report that the ending pleased me 😌🙌🏼 ty Samantha lol 🩷

i think readers will enjoy this—it’s certainly one of my favorites of hers. it would be SO good to see this adapted and brought to life too 🎬 these characters were so fun. can’t wait to see bookstagrammers more creative than me cast this 😂

Gotta say, out of the three Downings I've delved into, this one sits at the bottom of the list for me. But hold up, don't close that book just yet! The story and characters still pack a punch. 💥 There were a couple jaw-dropping twists that sucker-punched me. 🤯🔀 However, let's keep it real, this isn't a wild ride of reveal after reveal. It's more like an intimate character study spotlighting Ivy and Wes and their seriously messed up dynamic. Toxic relationships, anyone? Call me greedy, but I wanted more from the ending . Nonetheless, I'll give credit where it's due—it fits, it makes sense. Sometimes tidy bows aren't the name of the game.

Here's the scoop: if you're vibing with Downing's previous works or if you're all about diving into the minds of flawed characters, this one's worth your time. 👍 This isn't your run-of-the-mill thriller, though. So, my bookish pals, if you're up for a deep dive into a twisted love story that'll mess with your head and make you think, grab this one off the shelf.

Dark, demented, and delightful. Samantha Downing does it again!

College sweethearts Ivy and Wes have had an on again, off again relationship forever. They love to hate each other, yet they can't stay away from each other for long. Call it crazy, call it obsession, call it whatever you want, they call it love.

Their twisty turny relationship, isn't all that's wild about A Twisted Love Story.. this toxic book is all about insane relationships that make your jaw drop and your eyes twitch.. and somehow you can't get enough.

All I can say is that Samantha Downing knows how to draw in readers, by creating extremely complicated characters you can't get enough of.

Another intriguing, unputdownable thriller by the brilliant Samantha Downing, this was fabulous buddy read with Kaceey.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the arc.

Samantha Downing is a thriller queen!!! I never know where her story will take me, but I know it will shock me and thrill me! This thriller has romance and domestic drama but every bit of it keeps you intrigued! 5/5🤩

Two twisted love birds hide a deadly secret in Samantha Downing’s new psychological thriller, a TWISTED LOVE STORY.

As an avid fan of MY LOVELY WIFE and HE STARTED IT, I had high expectations for this latest. Downing has such a unique style—a proclivity for dramatic flair that’s made her stories diabolically fun to read. Unfortunately, I had a tough time getting through this one.

We meet Wes and Ivy, whose relationship is undeniably twisted and toxic. From rages of jealousy and calculated vengeance to grand gestures and inseparability, their relationship swings between love and catastrophic breakups. They are unlikeable as people and impossible to relate to in their madness. Those characteristics, however, were not the issue for me.

Wes and Ivy share a dark secret—one that left a person dead. That secret begins to unravel in the story, and this is where I struggled. I had hoped this central fulcrum would raise the stakes of what was feeling like monotonous pacing, but that never happened. I read it all the way through, and it was clever in parts, but this just wasn’t one I loved unfortunately. Hoping this was just a slip in her repertoire.

Another twisty Samantha Downing for your reading pleasure! I liked this one, great characters and it kept me guessing!

This book was intriguing, it kept me wanting more. The characters were so toxic, they definitely didn’t belong together. The entire store was the characters making a mountain out of a molehill and ignoring the true problem, themselves. It was a good read, Downing’s writing is engaging as always. It wasn’t my favorite but it was definitely worth the read.

Thank you so much @BerkleyPub for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 18 July 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Ivy & Wes have a toxic on-again / off-again relationship spanning 10 years & whilst their passion runs high, so does their tempers. Ivy goes to the police after receiving multiple creepy notes & gifts naming Wes as a potential suspect to look into, however the police detective begins to uncover a lot more about their past.

WHAT I LIKED:
- gripping writing that kept me turning the pages
- multiple POVs to drive the story forward

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- whilst I was originally invested in Ivy & Wes's relationship I quickly found their drama to be repetitive & tiresome
- considering their relationship is described as "twisted", I actually found a lot of their mind games pretty tame & dare I say boring
- severely lacking explanations, far too many coincidences & a very convenient ending
- another book with a whole host of unlikeable characters

Much like Downing’s 2019 release “My Lovely Wife,” this book is filled with unlikable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing. Even if you think you know how it will end (and there are plenty of clues to point you in the right direction) the last 20% of this book will surprise you. I wanted a bit more resolution in the end but that’s not a deal breaker for me. This is a compelling thriller that I think some readers will struggle with due to the main characters and how awful they are.

There are a few authors whose distinctive writing styles have left an impression on me, and among them is Samantha Downing. Once again, the reigning queen of twisted relationships has created characters with hidden depths to their cunning intentions that enthrall me from start to finish.

Ivy and Wes's relationship captivated me with their cunning wit that had me laughing out loud and their skillful manipulation that had me on my toes trying to figure out what they would do next. Their dynamic is like a tornado that you can’t run from, pulling those around them into their messy whirlwind of deceit. Samthana delves into the complexity of Ivy and Wes's relationship, opening up questions about what constitutes toxicity within a relationship. She has all those exciting elements of obsession, manipulation, vengefulness, and deception in love at play. She creates plenty of suspense about what might constitute as toxic in their relationship as she drops those clues that come together in that unexpected way she is known for, delivering a satisfying payoff that had me thinking about it well after I finished.

A traveling friend read that gave us plenty to talk about.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

3.5 stars

This was all about the secondary characters for me!

Wes and Ivy have a heavy history. Their relationship has been on and off again for years and they can’t seem to give each other up. Their relationship drama takes twisted to a whole new level in this shocking and binge-worthy story.

I think there is a sense of connection that many readers will find in having been in relationships that have tested us, changed us and/or made us question if it was worth staying. This relatability will speak to many and these drama filled pages will keep the reader curious about how things will play out.

The secondary characters were far more appealing than the main characters for me. The secondary characters add tension and suspense to the storyline that really pull the plot forward. I loved what they added to the novel and that it was multilayered in the narrative.

The first half was much stronger than the second half. I didn’t like the main characters but was satisfied with following them along on their dramatic journey in the first half of the story. After the halfway point, I felt the relationship drama became repetitive causing my investment and connection to lessen. There were also several over the top plot points near the end that felt overdone to me.

I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. I am definitely the outlier as there are countless 4-5 star raving reviews so please check those out!

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

I requested this eARC because I've heard good things about Samantha Downing's other books, and a psychological thriller about a toxic relationship seemed intriguing. I disliked all of the characters here--especially Ivy and Wes--but Downing's ability to parcel out aspects of the plot is strong enough to prompt me to keep reading to find out what happened. After a while, though, the mind games and crimes started to wear thin and become less interesting; while there are some small twists, I expected more daring ones. The culprit at the very end of the novel is also predictable.

This is a twisted book. Samantha Downing does it again as to bringing the twist to this one.
How far will you go for love. In this book we see just how far these characters will go.
The twist are crazy and the emotion in this book is high.
You love and hate the Main Characters through out the book.

I highly recommend this one

From the dedication of Twisted Love Story, it’s apparent that this is not going to be a story about love and respect between two people:
For the man who inspired this book
You're damn right I wrote about you

Samantha Downing is the queen of books about couples who are beyond troubled and Twisted Love Story is no exception.

Wes and Ivy are madly, deeply, and passionately obsessed with each other.
When things are going well, this devotion is amazing. When things are less than perfect, this devotion turns dark.

I was obsessed with this book during the first half. I loved the crazy that developed between Wes and Ivy as they alternated between love and revenge. The second half was less exciting for me and I had to push myself to finish.