Oh boy, this was a bit of a slow read for me. Thought about not finishing it a few times. As another reviewer noted, it was a bit odd that teh rape scene was sort of just glossed over. The story was a very interesting concept and made me think what it would like not to see faces. The author did a great job of exploring facial blindness and creating a new idea for a book.

I didn't really care for the characters and some parts seemed unbelievable. It was weird that Phoebe couldn't recognize the voices of people she was close to, like her sister. I didn't really get that part.

Thank you BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The Girl Who Couldn't See Faces" by C. J. Bowden offers a unique premise with a protagonist grappling not only with the aftermath of a violent attack but also with face blindness, adding an extra layer of complexity to her journey. The author successfully weaves a tale of suspense, trauma, and familial bonds.

The story's strength lies in its exploration of the protagonist's struggle with face blindness, providing readers with a glimpse into the challenges she faces in a world where everyone looks the same. The narrative is engaging, and the pacing keeps the reader hooked, especially as the protagonist attempts to unravel the mysteries surrounding her attack and her relationships.

However, the execution falls short in certain aspects. The character development feels somewhat shallow, leaving readers yearning for more depth and connection to the individuals populating the story. Additionally, the resolution of the central mystery is somewhat predictable, robbing the narrative of the element of surprise that could have elevated the overall reading experience.

While "The Girl Who Couldn't See Faces" has its merits, it falls into the realm of a standard thriller with missed opportunities for a more profound exploration of its unique premise. It's an enjoyable read for those seeking a suspenseful story but might leave readers craving a more nuanced and unpredictable plot.

Like nothing that I have read before. She can't see faces so when she is brutally attacked she goes to her sister and feels safe. Her boyfriend is still out there and is playing mind games. So well written and you don't know what to expect.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I loved this book! I did wonder if this is a real issue? It had so much tension in all the way to the end, where it was a very happy ending.

Thank you so much for providing this ARC for my honest opinion.

This book was the first time I have read a story that contained a character with prosopagnosia. I didn't even know that this condition existed before I began to read this novel. Unfortunately, due to my brain not being able to imagine having this condition, I could not relate to the main character and I had to label this as a DNF. I think the writing and plot were overall well for what I read but I could not continue without relating.

This book was so good and much more thought provoking than I thought it would be. Imagine being stalked which would be bad enough but now imagine being stalked when you have the inability to see faces. Terrifying and I couldn't put it down.

Phoebe is a nurse in England who cannot recognize faces. When a woman confronts her saying Phoebe's boyfriend is her boyfriend, she goes to his flat to investigate. She gets sexually assaulted and is pretty sure by Alfie, so she breaks up with him.
He uses her face blindness and disguises his voice to stalk her. This book has some scary moments, but is quite predictable throughout. I wish Phoebe would have took better care of herself and found a way to cope, as otherwise she's living a life of paranoia. 4 stars for not being all that scary. I received a free copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

This premise was honestly just a stretch for me. To think that someone would go to such great lengths (changing their voice, scent, etc.) to deceive a woman is a lot. Intriguing concept but I couldn't relate to any of the characters and it missed the mark. I think instead of a thriller this one would have done well in the style of Elinor Oliphant or The Rosie Project, a quirky tale about the daily struggles of someone with face blindness.

Whew - I have so many reviews to catch up on!

This story was a bit different from what I expected. I’m not sure if this is an actual affliction but it seems there should be better ways to remember people; particularly ones you are dating or close with. I found that part too unbelievable. Nice ending though!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

Phoebe suffers from Prosopagnosia, face blindness. After an attack that left her wary of all what is around her, her mind started playing games with her, having her question and doubt the people around her if they are out to harm her. And with her prosopagnosia, it is not helping at all to be certain of what is going on. Will she be able to figure it out before it is too late?

The storyline of this for sure grabbed my attention on the spot. It was surely a unique one I haven’t read before, so I for one, was extremely excited to see how the author will play along & incorporate that in the story’s events. I can’t argue with the fact that this was well written, solid writing style, great effort was put into its research, and towards the end when things started picking & spiraling, it left me wanting to know what going to happen next and how this will end.

However, I did have some points that held me from fully getting into this one.

I don’t like this, but here it goes, just like ripping a band aid off. I really disliked Phoebe. Hear me out; I sympathized with her on the face blindness matter and how she was in a constant state of questioning, fear, and doubt. Imagine being in her shoes and going through life unable to identify the person in front of you. I get goosebumps just thinking of it, so how about actually living this reality 24/7. Going to what I disliked about her was that she came across as such a whiny person tattering on being slightly annoying. Oh, I hate myself for saying this, but I felt she was always wanting to play that “victim” role fully. I couldn’t fathom how she wasn’t open about her condition to her close circle of people and moreover, at work. I feel that was quite a dangerous thing not to disclose, specifically since she is a nurse working in ER department. The possibilities of could be mistakes that can happen. It was deceitful in my opinion. There was something about her that I couldn’t swallow.

There were a few parts which I felt were a bit farfetched, unreasonable, & glossed over. The pacing at the start was a tad slow, stagnant, & at times dragged. I had to push myself to keep picking it up, that’s why I would have loved if it had more of a punch earlier on to keep the hook. I loved the last part when the events started rumbling, suspense increasing, & things starting to really pull together. That’s the only time when I felt that “sitting at the edge of my seat” feeling which I look for in such thrillers.

Please don’t let this deter you from checking this one out. What was not up my alley, may be exactly what you need at that point of time. This is just my humble personal take.

I could not get into this book. The characters were unrealistic and rather annoying in my opinion. I struggled to finish. The story while well researched seems unbelievable in a lot of ways.

This book centers a rare condition of not being able to recognize faces, and the struggle that ensues.. it delves into an area where one could be taken advantage of, catfished, and totally driven mad by ruthless people. It was an interesting story but if I was this person with this condition, I would be open about it with others and figure out a method of identification with friends, roommates, family etc and not keep lying to people about why I didn’t know them. So I found that part unrealistic. People these days are all about inclusion and She would have had more support in her daily life than shown in this book.

Thankyou to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this ARC.
This is my first title from this author, i really enjoyed and will be reading more from them in the future.
Let me tell you that i could not put this down, i was glued to my kindle reading this book!
This book was well written and very well researched.
Thankyou
5/5 stars

This book didn't really grab me. I found the main character slightly annoying. Ok she had facial blindness but really would she not recognise some characteristics of someone she dated for a year? I just felt the story a little unbelievable. It was an ok read for me!

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I could not finish this book. The main characters were all so annoying.

I quite enjoyed this one, another thriller that kept me awake wanting (needing) to know how it would end. The unfolding of the story was well done and the pace was just right.

The premise was interesting and it didn't disappoint.

I love a well written psychological thriller, and this did not disappoint. The story is well written and clearly well researched, the condition is interesting and heartbreaking all at once. If you’re looking for a new page turner, this is the one!

The blurb for this book and the cover drew me in. A nurse who suffered from extreme face blindness. It deals with the terrifyingly real reality mare people face who suffer in silence from this condition.
The characters themselves were well developed told via different timelines. The story is well written. I truly felt the fear of not beingable to recognise people but this was only really concentrated on when r phoebe was attacked and she knew who by but couldn't recognise rhem after. Little was written about ger day toi day struggles and how she coped. Thus could have added more depth to the story.
The plot only introduced the idea of photos helping when it needed it. This took me out od the story as i would have believed that people would embraced technology to help. Also it was all too convenient. I too in places got confused which character was which.
I did enjoy the story overall but the sudden convenient intriduction of looking for ways to see who us who by asking people and looking at photos left me feeling flat and disappointed. Although it was a story it felt like it was just a convenient way of moving the story on because the other ideas had stopped. I liked the ending.

Thank you net gallery and publisher for my arc. This is a good read but just dont get too invested in real life remember this us a story and youll enjoy it more

The Girl Who Couldn't See Faces by C.J. Bowden is an unforgettable psychological thriller. He drew me into his world from the very beginning. I felt very sorry for the main character, who suffered from a terrible disease. Phoebe doesn't recognize faces. This disease is called Prosopagnosia. I've never heard of it.
Thanks to the author and her character, I now know how hard it is to live with this disease. Despite everything, our heroine manages somehow. She is a nurse at the hospital. She has a guy named Alfie. He treats her very badly. What will happen when she wants to break up with him? Will he let her go so easily? He has a plan. You don't know how cruel. Will our heroine's older sister help her in times of need?
I couldn't stop reading. I found here good action, interesting plot, twists and a surprising ending. If you like reading strong psychological thrillers, I recommend "The Girl Who Couldn't See Faces".
I am satisfied with this book.