I requested this audiobook because I absolutely love Hilary Huber, but this is a DNF. The main character is insufferable, and I genuinely don't care about how much she resents her life and her marriage.

I almost dnfd this book multiple times. I found all the characters annoying and horrible and honestly didn’t care about what happened to them. And there really wasn’t a mystery, not until the very end. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize it as a thriller like it’s marketed. And all of the sexual content made me skip parts. There was so much of it where they could have just implied things and used the words instead to develop the characters more

I did not find this book enjoyable. It was predictable and none of the characters were likable. Hannah is in her thirties, she has two daughters, and she is unhappily married. When Thomas, an old college boyfriend, appears in her life for the first time in 16 years Hannah is transported back to her college days. Back in college her best friend, Scarlett, and her friend Thomas played a game they called the Daring Game. The longer they played, more out of hand the game became. When Thomas reappears, they begin to play the Daring Game again, will it get as out of hand this time as it did when they were in college?

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamScapeMedia for the listen and review of #DontYouDare by #JessicaHamilton. This was a great book and I really enjoyed the twists and lies intertwined. I would highly recommend and look forward to more books by Jessica Hamilton.

Don't you Dare by Jessica Hamilton was a fun story with an interesting premise. It is a quick domestic thriller where I suspected everyone! I actually did end up correctly guessing who was behind all of it but it took me quite a bit of time to figure it out. I like it that the author gradually left enough bread-crumbs where you can figure it out without it being too obvious. I was worried I wouldn't like it at first but the book reeled me in early on and kept me pretty engaged. The narration by very good as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audio book in exchange for an honest review. This was narrated by Hillary Huber and very well done. I recommend the audio book if you choose to read this one!

Hannah is 35, has 2 daughters, and is a stay at home mom. She quit her dream job at the library when her husband put her into a mental health institution for an accidental overdose. Hannah drinks too much and is in a bad marriage with Evan, her whining and manipulative husband that keeps way too close of tabs on her.

Scarlett is Hannah's BFF from college who struck me as a spoiled rich girl.

Thomas is Hannah's hot boyfriend from college. He disappears when suspended from college due to a terrible prank that he pulled.

This is a dual timeline story told by Hannah in college and Hannah present day. Hannah gets a letter in the mail 16 years after college from Thomas reviving the Daring Game that he, Scarlet and Hannah played in college. Its basically truth or dare where in place of truth, there is punishment for not completing the dare. Hannah keeps Scarlet in the loop as she decides to play the game again with Thomas.

I agree with the minority of reviewers that this was not the read I was expecting. I despised all of the characters and found Hannah rather irritating and exhausting. I have read books where I did not like the characters and that makes it difficult to sort through. I sometimes still like the book despite the characters and story but this was not the case. This was closer to listening to Pretty Little Liars. My attraction to this book was the psychological suspense and the mystery twists. Instead, I more sex scenes than I like with characters I found shallow and deviant. The story also had a lot of unbelievable 'coincidences' and was fairly predictable.

ABSOLUTE MUST READ! The characters were easy to love but you will also catch yourself doubting each of them. Such a fun quick read that will hold your attention from the first page.

A suspenseful, romantic thriller that keeps you guessing. I loved this unique premise with dual timelines and very morally grey characters so you never know who to trust. The mystery ad me hooked and I really loved seeing how the characters changed from the past to the present and throughout the progression of the story more of their personalities and secrets get revealed by giving this small flashbacks. Generally the writing, fast pace and mystery was amazing it kept me on the edge of my seat and I was left guessing so nothing felt predictable. I would definitely recommend.

Unfortunately, I did not care for this book. The idea of the dares were interesting; however, the main characters were not likeable at all... The ending was okay, but still did not improve my impression of the book. The narrator was great!

Thanks NetGalley, Jessica Hamilton, and the publisher for this ARC

I tried to like this book. It’s not really a thriller.
It’s told from two perspectives the present and past. It needed more twists and unpredictability and less sex.

Sixteen years after college, Hannah is unhappy in her marriage and bored with the stay-at-home mom life she's somehow found herself in. So, when her old friend and former flame Thomas walks back into her life.... Hannah thinks he's the perfect remedy for her boredom..... until someone else finds out, and things get way out of hand.

I absolutely could not pause this book. Right from the first page I found this character to be so relatable. The drinking was a bit excessive to the point where it seemed unrealistic for her to be able to continue to function in her daily life.....but the idea of feeling like you're bored or in a rut is something I think most people feel at one point or another and her perspective somehow made Hannah sympathetic rather than annoying.

I just loved everything about this book. It's a great blend of mystery and romance (enough romance that it's NSFW but not so descriptive that you wonder if you're reading erotica). The writing is great. the narration is perfection. I just absolutely loved it. Can't wait for more from this author!

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Jessica Hamilton’s debut novel was a mysterious 4-star read so when I saw this book, with the same type of hauntingly beautiful cover, I couldn’t resist! I’m thrilled to say she’s done it again.

Her latest enthralling and titillating psychological thriller focuses on the obsessive and deviant friendship of three friends. Hannah and Scarlett have had a warped and solitary friendship since childhood. In college they meet Thomas and their duo becomes a complex trio.

Scarlett is the manipulative and controlling ringleader. Hannah and Thomas are pawns and she expects complete loyalty. Their relationship crosses boundaries, rules are broken and there are secrets between the friends and tension starts to build. They’re playing a game they call The Daring Game and Scarlett uses it to deceive her friends with riskier dares until the final dare ends in tragedy. Thomas leaves school and disappears from their lives.

Life goes on. Hannah marries and has children. Scarlett moves thousands of miles away. Then Thomas resurfaces in Hannah’s life and they resume The Daring Game…and their sizzling relationship. But someone is watching and taunting them. And finally dares them…tell the truth! Hannah can’t tell her husband. She’ll lose her children and he’ll destroy her life.

Great narration. This audiobook kept me listening from the moment I hit play. There are wild twists that are impossible to predict! I was fortunate that my husband was working out of town so I had very few interruptions. I hope her next book is on the way!

Sincere thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing this gifted audiobook through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#DontYouDare #JessicaHamilton #dreamscapemedia #giftedARC #netgalley #audiobookreview #honestreview #audiobookarc #comingsoon #TheDaringGame #4stars #thrillerfriendsunite #mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #ad #bookreel #igreel

Wow! This was so good!! I went in blind and had no expectations & i was so pleasantly surprised by this novel. It was such a page turner and quick read and i really enjoyed it! I was completely entranced. This date game was so intense and i really wanted to know how it ended up because i knew the stakes only rose in the past. And in the present for that matter but for different reasons.

I was so enthralled at figuring out this couple and the dynamics of the trio. And the intensity of it until the final climax.

I did ultimately figure out the ending but it was still fun to get to. Such a fab read!

3.75 🌟
The audiobook was really good and these days I am becoming a fan of audiobooks! I have read the book and enjoyed it and listening to the audiobook even made the story better! The eerie feeling as well as the psychological aspect felt more deep!

Lets play two truths and a lie, 1. I loved this book 2. I loved Scarlett 3. I wish Evan would fall off a cliff.
#bestfriends #secrets #couldbeastalker #couldbelove #narcissist #proof #lies #deadlygames

A thrilling mystery between three friends, secret lovers, spiteful spouses, and nosy neighbors!

Thanks to Net Galley & Dreamscape Media for this Audio Book!

Don't You Dare
By: Jessica Hamilton
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release date: 05-16-23

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.


unhappy marriage.... old boyfriend.... old games.....
Wanted to keep reading. Was a bit disappointed in end. BUT still giving it 3 stars. Possible 3.5

When I first started this one I was a little unsure whether or not I would end up liking it because I'm not the big fan of domestic suspense - HOWEVER this one was so much more than that!
10 years ago Hannah was in college playing a dangerous game of "Truth or Dare" with her 2 best friends/lovers Thomas and Scarlet. Now, she's an unhappy housewife and when her former lover/friend Thomas shows up and wants to restart the game she can't resist the excuse to spend more time with Thomas despite Scarlet's warnings from overseas.
I actually really felt for Hannah on this front - her husband Evan, isn't at all supportive when it comes to her mental health and is holding everything against her, but wont let her go. Meanwhile, someone who loves her and she actually has chemistry with is hoping to win her back. The added aspect of her toxic relationship with Scarlet seemed to amplify this - I just wanted her to be loved. I thought the narrator really excelled here and I felt all the emotion coming through.
The truth or dare aspect was almost second to the love story for me, but I didn't mind it. It actually added even more suspense to Hannah and Thomas coming back together and dealing with the game and all the mistakes they made in college along with wondering if Scarlet has anything to do with it. Don't get me wrong, they were definitely frustrating at times though!
The last 25% was great. There wasn't a quick and unsatisfying wrap up, it was a russian doll type ending, and while it wasn't happy, it was definitely satisfying and I'm glad the author took her time with it.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for this alc. It was an interesting listening. I loved and felt all good and bad with the main character. I was nor expecting the end at all. I love dual timlines and this was really done so good. Love makes the world goes around and here was really a vivid demonstration about it. How young people do all instinctivelly and point the finger to everyone else. It was a nightmaire so a perfrct thriller.

Don't You Dare By Jessica Hamilton- Review

I need to be honest. This might not be my best review. However, this is because Don't You Dare is a challenging book to review. It has things I loved about it and things (one big thing?) that dropped Jessica Hamilton's Don't You Dare very close to the great salt lake. But not quite. See my problem? Let me try it this way.




Don't You Dare By Jessica Hamilton- What I Liked

To begin with, the idea of the plot is unique and palpable. Jessica Hamilton writes Don't You Dare with a quick pace, wasting no time. There isn't any time for your mind to wander or boredom to set in. Instead, it just takes off and moves.

Second, the characters are all well-written. You may like them, and you might hate them, but they serve an essential purpose. They create more gray areas than I knew existed. Each main character and some side characters are neither good nor bad. It is like watching Game of Thrones. There are minimal cut-and-dry good or evil characters. Most of them either are morally gray or completely change from beginning to end. That is undoubtedly true for Don't You Dare.

For instance, the main character Hannah is a hot mess. On one side, it seems like she's an alcoholic that can't take care of her family. On the hand, you have her husband. Evan outright treats her like crap, right up to threatening her with divorce and taking the kids, all so he doesn't "fail." Then again, Hannah is having an affair. So there's that.

Thomas comes across as a nice guy. He seems to be the knight on a white horse coming to save Hannah from everything. The thing is, I never bought it, and that is because of how well Thomas is written. I didn't quite know why or how, but I just didn't trust him. Just under the surface, something kept niggling at me.

And then there is Scarlet, who spends most of the book halfway across the world. Yet, you know, you just know that something is coming from her. But is it a bad something or a good something? Good luck with that one.

Next, the timeline flashbacks work brilliantly. I loved them. They fit in seamlessly and upped the what the hell is coming level. But see, there is where the problem lies...




Thank you to Crooked Lane and Dreamscape Audio for the advanced audio copy. DoDon'tou Dare releases May 16, 2023




Don't You Dare By Jessica Hamilton- What Went Wrong

Remember when I just said that the timeline flashbacks upped the what the hell is coming factor? It is the only thing that does so. Don't You Dare was entirely predictable for me. YMMV. However, I started putting a few of the puzzle pieces together at about 25%.

Moreover, by the 50% mark? I pretty much had it nailed. This wasn't one of those exceptional reads where you figure out small things, but a more considerable reveal is coming that knocks you out. I had the whole thing. And that killed all the great things Jessica Hamilton has to offer. I can't say more on this front without spoiling everything.

But again, it is only fair I point out that this part was my experience. Everyone reads differently, and sometimes we all put together different pieces at different times.

Don't You Dare By Jessica Hamilton- Audiobook

This is an excellent production with one of the best narrators going. Hillary Huber knocks it out of the park. Whether she is bringing Hannah's messy, sarcastic, frazzled personality to life, or the busybody neighbor, Libby, to the main men: Thomas and Evan (who have distinctly different personalities), Huber kills it. Additionally, Dreamscape produces it fantastically. The timelines (past and present) are labeled perfectly.

And that is what I've got. So take it all and make your decision. Do you or Don't You dare?

Don’t You Dare is a fun mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. Hannah, Scarlett, and Thomas were friends from college who played what they called the daring game.

Years later Thomas and Hannah get back in touch and start to play the game again. Things get crazy and I was shocked by where everything went.

I loved getting little revelations throughout the story that bridged the college years to the present day. Finding out what made them stop playing the game and then finding out what really happened was thrilling.

Parts in the middle did annoy me and get a little boring. Hannah is having an affair with Thomas and a lot of the middle was around that, but it was setting up the rest of the story.

This was a fun, quick, and interesting mystery. Don’t You Dare is definitely one I recommend.