Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Anniversary by Cole Baxter in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Loved the premise of the book and the cover but was a tad disappointed with the actual story line. I hate to ever write anything negative as authors work so hard on a book but this fell a bit flat for me.

Cole Baxter’s "The Anniversary" presents an intriguing premise centered around a couple reflecting on their relationship during a significant milestone. The exploration of love, nostalgia, and the complexities of long-term commitment is a theme that resonates deeply, and Baxter’s writing captures the emotional nuances of these experiences.

The narrative alternates between past and present, allowing readers to witness the evolution of the couple’s relationship. Baxter effectively conveys the highs and lows of their journey, highlighting moments of joy, conflict, and growth. The emotional depth is palpable, and several poignant scenes truly capture the essence of love and partnership.

However, while the themes are interesting, the pacing of the story can feel uneven. Certain sections drag on, making it difficult to maintain momentum, and some plot developments come across as predictable. This predictability can lessen the impact of the emotional stakes, leaving readers wanting more in terms of surprises or deeper conflict.

Additionally, while the characters are relatable, they sometimes feel a bit one-dimensional. A more thorough exploration of their backgrounds and motivations could have added richness to their personalities and made their struggles more engaging. As it stands, the characters occasionally fall into familiar tropes, which can detract from the overall originality of the story.

In conclusion, "The Anniversary" is a heartfelt exploration of love and commitment that offers some touching moments and relatable themes. However, its uneven pacing and somewhat predictable character arcs prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a solid read for those who enjoy relationship-focused narratives, but it may not leave a lasting impression for everyone. Overall, it earns a three-star rating for its emotional core and relatable themes, despite its shortcomings.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was very repetitive and seemed a little slow for my liking. A little far fetched. I like more from my thrillers.


I am willing to give this author another chance with a different book!

I really found this book to be quite boring! I couldn't wait to finish it as it was too repetitive, I've read other books by this author that I've enjoyed but not this one.

I do enjoy Cole Baxter's books & have read quite a few. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this one.. the characters were annoying & I couldn't wait to finish it! It won't stop me from reading any other of his books though!

💔🎉🔪 Cole Baxter’s The Anniversary is a masterclass in psychological thrillers, delivering a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This novel is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and shocking twists that will leave you breathless.

🌹✨ A Romantic Evening Turned Tragic
The story begins with an idyllic anniversary dinner, a celebration of five years of marriage between the protagonist and her beloved husband, Tom. The candlelit dinner is a testament to their love and the journey they’ve shared. However, the romantic evening quickly descends into a nightmare when the night ends in a fatal accident.

🚑💔 A Shocking Awakening
Waking up in a hospital bed under blinding white lights, the protagonist is disoriented and terrified. She hears the devastating news: there has been an accident, and someone is dead. Her heart stops when she hears Tom's voice, accusing her of being the one behind the wheel. The revelation that she has supposedly killed someone is a horrifying twist that leaves her reeling.

🕵️‍♀️🖤 Betrayal and Deception
As the protagonist grapples with the accusation, she is adamant that she wasn't driving the car—Tom was. The realization that the love of her life has betrayed her on their anniversary is a gut-wrenching blow. The once-handsome and clever man she trusted has turned into a stranger, leaving her to question everything she thought she knew about him and their marriage.

🔄❓ Unraveling the Truth
Determined to uncover the truth, the protagonist embarks on a journey filled with suspense and danger. Baxter weaves a tale of psychological manipulation and deceit, where nothing is as it seems. The layers of lies and secrets peel back to reveal a jaw-dropping twist that you won’t see coming.

🌟 Final Thoughts
The Anniversary is a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Cole Baxter’s storytelling is addictive, drawing readers into a world where love and betrayal collide in the most unexpected ways.

📖💔🔄 If you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers with complex characters and mind-blowing twists, this book is a must-read. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of emotions and prepare to be utterly captivated by The Anniversary.

It was okay, nothing particularly special, I struggled with it a little due to repetitiveness. I enjoy my thrillers a little more heated and well done!

Unfortunately this wasnt the book for me. I didnt feel a connection to the characters. It was unrealistic at times and also repetitive.

So the premise of the story was great but the dialogue was so repetitive and the protagonist was unbelievably naive.

On the night of their anniversary, Catherine and her husband Tom are involved in a car accident that results in the death of a young woman. Tom was driving but he insists ñCatherine was driving under the influence and caused the accident. A police investigation is conducted but no one believes in Catherine’s innocence. Tom is a hot shot lawyer and has the police in his pockets. Catherine must find evidence before Tom takes her life.

I was very into this book at the beginning, but it really just started to drag very quickly. I personally wouldn’t recommend this book. The story is just so unbelievable, it wasn’t for me.

This book seemed to drag on and was very hard to believe. I pretty much skimmed from the middle of it until the end just to see what the ending was. The story was just too far out there and unbelievable.

My first read by this author. I found the book fast paced and entertaining, but a bit unbelievable and far fetched in places. However it did keep me interested to see how it all came together.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

This just didn't click for me. It's one of those books you can breeze through pretty quickly, but somehow it still manages to feel like it's dragging. The story just seemed a bit too out there to be believable. An example, when she wakes up from the car accident and the cops thought she was driving, although the bruises were on the wrong side... and the cops were shocked that they didn't think of that. Normally, I do like psychological, domestic thrillers.. this just missed the mark a little for me though. It is a quick read and does pick up towards the ends with some action packed scenes, so definitely worth giving it a try if you like psychological thrillers.

This book started off well but from about 50% in just went downhill and very far fetched. Sorry this one isnt for me

This was a quick thriller read, I very much enjoyed! There’s so much going on you just don’t know what’ll happen next!

Unfortunately The Anniversary just wasn't for me. It was all a little to predictable for me and I didn't engage with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This book left a lot to be desired. The story had potential to be good, but the execution was off. The book droned on and on and didn't really have much to tell. The amount of facts presented versus the amount of background noise was off--there was so much unnecessary wording and beating around the bush to get to the point that it bothered me to the point of leaving this low of a score. The characters were also not noteworthy or anything to root for. I actually found the main character Catherine to be a bit annoying at times. Things that she would do didn't seem relatable or believable and that left me not connecting with this book like I had hoped.

The tale of small town corruption was intriguing and genuinely interesting--however I feel it could have been done a lot better than Baxter did. I feel like too much attention was given to other parts of the story that distracted from this part. Jessica's character was not believable at all--people in real life do not act like that and just show up out of nowhere and help someone and not want credit. I didn't find much that she did in the story would actually happen in real life and therefore disliked the entire character. The only character I feel that was done well was Tom because he was so malicious.

All in all it was a decent story---just needed to be executed a lot better.

I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Cole Baxter. Probably the main reason I got into thriller books. His book The Anniversary doesn’t disappoint either. Filled with so many secrets and lies it keeps you wondering what the next form of deceit may come forth.

Catherine got married to Tom at a very young age and looked up to him as such an incredible man and husband. Her views of him quickly shift after they are in a horrific car accident where someone dies and she over hears him blaming her for the accident when she wasn’t driving. As time goes on the webs of deceit her husband has caused not just for her but their whole town unfolds and helps her see her marriage for what it was, which was an arrangement that benefited Tom and put her into an isolated shell. Will she be able to escape his lies or will she become just another one of his victims?

I have read a few of this author's books and I won't be stopping any time soon. I really enjoyed reading this book, while wanting to scream at the characters for what they were doing (or not doing). It was a really enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I felt like I was watching a movie throughout this book that’s much more than a wife betrayed by her husband. The more it unraveled, there was so much more than poor Catherine could’ve imagined. The events that transpire are unreal. This is a gripping domestic suspense with jaw-dropping twists.

Thank you, Cole Baxter, Bookouture, Bookouture audio & netgalley for my ecopy & #audiobook! All opinions are my own.