* spoiler alert ** This is a difficult book for me to review. It's not very long and I feel more could be edited out of the book. it's very wordy and turns into a very very slow burn. Sadie and Ted's marriage is on the rocks and in a last ditch effort, they book a lodge in the backwoods of Scotland to try to repair their marriage over the Christmas holiday. Their 2 children are with them. No sooner do they get there, than the doorbell rings and a woman and her daughter enter. Sadie doesn't recognize the woman or the daughter, but when the woman says her name is Alice, Sadie knows who she is. Ted's last girlfriend who broke his heart. Ted's parents are arriving as is Sadie's mom. Her brother cannot get through the roads, as there is a huge storm going on.

So, ok. The author did a great job with the setting and the characters. I felt the spooky atmosphere of this horrendous rain storm, the freezing cold, the intense dislike between Alice and Sadie. The story goes on with them basically stuck in the house, with no gas in their car and the river covering the bridge to leave. They can't throw Alice and her daughter out in the storm.

If you don't want the spoilers, stop here. I cannot for the life of me get with this ending. I had to check if I was reading the same book I started. All these things about Ted came up and no where in the story were they ever mentioned. I really was kind of annoyed that I read this entire book and a few bits and pieces were thrown in at the ending and I was just supposed to say, oh ok, great. So on one hand, the book was good, but on the other hand it wasn't due to the ending. This is 2.5 stars rounded up as I still am left with more questions than answers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC I greatly appreciate it. I personally don't recommend this book. I'm so sorry.

This is the first book I’ve read by Rosie and it was so good! Sadie and Ted decide to go away for the holidays with their two children. Suddenly there is a knock at the door and it’s Ted’s ex. Why is she here? Did Ted invite her? All Alice wanted was to spend some quality time with her family or that’s what we thought.. I couldn’t believe how good this book was, I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t see the ending happening the way it did. I love a good twist! Thank you NetGalley , Rosie and Bookouture for the ARC! #ExGirlfriend

2.5 stars

I thought this sounded like a book I'd love, but I struggled with it. I never connected with the characters, which made it hard to stay engaged. Ted was downright annoying. The ending was rushed and left a number of questions unanswered. There was ample tension, but something was just missing with the execution. There were a few unexpected twists. Shorter chapters, which is common with this genre, would've helped keep the pace a bit more active.

Well, this is someone I would not like to find on my doorstep.

Sadie could not agree more,. It's not only not the right time, because this is meant to be time spend with the family, but because of this person's past with Ted, Sadie's husband.

Why here and why now? Is there still a connection between this woman Alice and Ted? These are questions that popped up in my head straight away. I felt for Sadie, because this is so not what she needed at that moment.

What are Alice's plans? How does Ted react to this all? Not only Sadie's head was spinning, but mine too. 

This really is an intense and gripping thriller. The atmosphere the author created is adding to the creepiness of the story: a remote house and a raging storm.

Sadies knows who she does not trust and she is determined to boycott this person's plans and protect her loved ones.

This is a thrilling thriller that made me want to read faster and faster in order to unravel every twist and turn in this book but I did let me be seduced. I read at my normal pace so I could enjoy it to the fullest.  5 stars

Thank you

My first read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A fast paced thriller read with good characters although I felt it got a bit rushed and manic towards the end.

I will definitely read more from this author in the future and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Having read Rosie’s previous novel, I looked forward to this. For some reason though I just couldn’t get into it. It dragging and just wasn’t believable in places. I did finish it but didn’t love it.

my first read from this author. And so, enjoyed. Sadie and Ted have two daughters. Their marriage has not been good for a little while and Sadie wants to get it back on track so she books a cottage in Scotland buy where Ted came from for Christmas and her mum and Teds parents will be joining them...no sooner have they got in the house there a knock on the door and Sadie is in for a shock its Teds ex-girlfriend and daughter. She says that Ted invited them she got a message. Sadie does not trust Alice at all. It's an amazing read with a lot of twists I so recommend.

I enjoyed the psychological thriller element to this book, it had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall concept. It uses the element that I wanted from the description I thought it worked with the ex-girlfriend element overall. Rosie Walker does a fantastic job in writing this and making me want to read more.

I powered through this book in just a couple of sittings. Each time I thought I'd stop reading something grabbed me and I want just one more chapter.

The setting in an old house in the Scottish Highlands surrounded by dark woods and a roaring storm really ramped up the tension and creep factor.

It's hard to say anything about the plot without giving too much away but rest assured there are twists and turns at every corner and I did NOT see any of it coming.

This was a page turner and I read the entire thing in a day, but I’m undecided how I feel about it overall.

Walker did a great job of setting an eerie, creepy tone throughout the book. I could feel the tension and unease getting stronger every chapter, and the twist wasn’t one I was expecting. But, I also feel like I’m left with more questions than answers, and the ending largely felt rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC!

#ExGirlfriend #NetGalley

I’m not 100% sure how I feel about this book, it was a fast read and I did finish it in one setting but I couldn’t relate to any character and the ending felt so rushed. I still have so many questions unanswered… The building was well done and you can feel the tension leading up to the unfolding of the plot but I still have an unfinished feeling like something is missing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC copy.

#TheRxGirlfriend #NetGalley

Super quick thriller that I read in one day! I enjoyed myself. There is quite a bit of conversation about abuse, and as a survivor, I appreciated the way in which it was discussed. Respectfully, with a ton of knowledge in the subject and not in a victim blaming way whatsoever.

Synopsis
Family of 4 (Ted, Sadie, Charley, and Tamara) is off to a cabin to enjoy the Christmas holiday together, joined by their extended family later in the day and the following day. Unexpectedly, Ted's ex-girlfriend, Alice, shows up at the door with her daughter, Natasha. She shows them a message she received from Ted's social media account inviting her for the holiday. So she showed up. Ted's feelings are a wreck, and his unpleasant habits become more and more apparent as the night continues and Alice is getting more and more comfortable with Sadie's husband. Forcing Sadie to make a difficult decision.

Positives
- I didn't see the twist coming at all
- respectfully spoke about abuse and its many forms

Negatives
- Ted's parents were totally out of touch and straight up disrespectful. It just seemed out of place with the family setting. Like they couldn't even be bothered to play nice, which it feels like those type of people would.
- I kind of wish we heard more about the marriage between Sadie and Ted a lot more to build the scene a bit better. It was entirely saved for the very end and that seemed abrupt to me.

Flawless! Thats all I can say really. Its quite a common theme for a domestic noir so I went into it thinking it might pass the time but probably wouldn't be anything to write home about but oft!! Absolutely amazing! The characters, the plot, the pacing, the twists, its easily one of the best I've read in this genre. Must read!!

What an ending! I'm still trying to wrap my head about it. Wow! Ex- Girlfriend was a page turner that I could not put down. This book was very well written with truly unlikeable characters. Clear your schedule because this one will have you up into the night reading.

A pacey and engaging read i demolished in an evening. The plot is really paced and does a great job of ramping up tension and unease. The characters are well-developed if often unlikeable. A very well done ending which kept me turning the pages. The remote Scottish countryside and unrelenting weather adds an evocative touch of foreboding to the novel, really well written.

A compelling read by a new author to me. Excellent writing,, palable tension, and unexpected twistsand turns. The characters engaging and the ending was well executed

Wow! This author really paints a picture that puts you right into the book! I had to read all night to find out the saga’s conclusion with Sadie, Ted, and Alice! Great read!

Sadie and Ted are having a rocky time in their marriage. In a last-ditch effort to save things, they rent a cabin for Christmas. It's just supposed to be them, their kids, and their parents, family. Things take a drastic turn when Ted's ex from 15 years ago shows up with a teen on tow, claiming she was invited.

My Thoughts

First, the bad. The chapters aren't as short as I have come to expect from a thriller. The sentences are a bit run-on. It's a short book, but it could still use an edit down.

Ted ( the husband) is a man-child. Sulky and sullen, trying to place blame on other people's feet. Nothing is his fault. He shuts down when things get tough and doesn't want to deal. Yet still, he is written endearingly. I can see what Sadie sees in him even when I am angry at him on her behalf.

Sadie is all heart. She wants to protest her family's strength while it is being tested, yet not wanting to cause harm to the people testing it. You can feel her roll of emotions cascading from the pages. I felt such anxiety for her. Never quite knowing who to trust as her world gets thrown for a loop. But Sadie has a past as well. One that has already cause turmoil in her life and marriage. Can they overcome this as well?

This book is tense. You can feel it building. The "what can possibly happen next" feeling that lingers between the text. Every page seems to bring on a new development. Even the spoken words don't quite mean what you think they mean. Everything has a double extended.

The ending felt a little far-fetched. After having the story unfold through Sadie's eyes and then finding out she wasn't completely honest at all made me question a bit if the author took notes as she wrote, if she forgot how Sadie felt earlier or said earlier. It does wrap up nicely, though.

I feel like I jumped off a cliff with this one. Free falling with no safety, no idea how things would turn out. I never could have predicted the last developments.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Just finished this and my heart is still racing! What a fab book full of danger, twist and turns! Really enjoyed this and literally couldn’t put it down, flew through it! Thank goodness I didn’t read this at the remote lodge im going to this weekend or I wouldn’t sleep! Will be looking for more by this author!

Sadie and Ted planned a getaway with their two kids and family for the holidays.


Ted’s ex Alice shows up with a young girl and turns their world upside down. She seems to want something from Ted or does she?

I was completely invested and stumped with all the twist. I will definitely look for more by this author! The suspense was bone-chilling.