This fast-paced thriller follows Melissa and her son as they settle into a new town and quickly get entangled with Thomas, a man once accused of murdering his wife. While their romance felt rushed and lacked the emotional buildup I look for as a romance reader, the suspense elements kept things engaging. The use of transcripts and diary entries added a unique touch, and the steady stream of red herrings kept me guessing throughout. A quick, twisty read that delivers on the thriller front.

A Twisty, Unsettling Thriller That Keeps You Guessing Until the Final Page!

From the very first chapter, this book had me utterly hooked! The premise is deliciously tense: Melissa Burke, seeking a fresh start after a painful divorce, meets Thomas Danver-a charming widower and respected pediatrician with a chilling past. Though exonerated for his first wife's disappearance, whispers of his guilt linger. Despite warnings, Melissa dives into an intense romance with him, only to question everything when an anonymous threat arrives.

The uncertainty arpund Thomas's innocence is masterfully crafted. I spent the entire book flipping between doubt and belief, never settling on what was true. Just when I thought I'd pieced it together, a shocking twist would upend everything. The pacing is relentless-sharp writing and expertly placed revelations build suspense with every chapter.

While Melissa and Thomas's relationship escalates quickly (almost unrealistically so), it works. This whirlwind romance heightens the unease, making you question motives and truths even more intensely. And the addition of Rose's (the missing wife) perspective? Brilliant. It layers the mystery with palpable dread and forces you to confront every suspicion.

Play detective all you want-this thriller outsmarts you at every turn. The twists are unpredictable, the characters compelling, and the dark, unsettling romance at its core will keep you frantically turning pages. Perfect for fans of binge-worthy suspense that refuses to let go until the final sentence.
Highly recommended for your next one-sitting read! Just clear your schedule first...

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing a digital ARC

#StayAwayFromHim is a perfectly servicable crime thriller. It has a high star rating on Goodreads. The only thing is that I didn't connect with it. 🫣

Here's the premise: Imagine what life would have been like for Nick Dunne if Amy had died in Gone Girl and they had kids together. This is a version of that. Single dad, suspected of murdering his wife but not convicted, and he's dating again. The book is from his new girlfriend's POV. I just would never date a charismatic, doctor version of a character like Nick Dunne because... he could've murdered his wife? That's where it lost me. Doesn't mean it's bad! Twist after twist. It's smart, it's well written. It's fast paced, bite size chapters. Dark ending! All the things you would want in a thriller, but it ultimately fell flat for me because I couldn't suspend my disbelief.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars but if it sounds A+ to you, read it!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the ARC! Stay Away From Him is out now in the US!

Overall, I found this book to be a bit so-so for me. There were parts that I really enjoyed, like the short chapters and the binge-ability. However, I found the story not to have the best flow at times, and I found myself not all that interested in the overall outcome.

I do think this would make for a great beach read and will satisfy fans of domestic thrillers, but it would not be a go-to recommendation for me.

I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are mine.

What a surprising read this book was and quite thrilling. The book follows Melissa who is recently divorced and her 5-year old son who move to a new city who meets Thomas one night at a party who is also a single parent as well and an exonerated murderer. Like any true crime fan (my words and thoughts) she becomes involved in the case based on fascination and also the romance brewing between them. Intriguing ,fast paced and definetely one of summers biggest read.
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But when Melissa receives a chilling, anonymous threat—or perhaps it's a warning—she begins to question how much she truly knows about the man she's falling in love with. Is he really innocent

This was a good thriller! One thing’s for sure—Thomas needs to stay single 😅

The storyline was twisty, the characters were crafty, and honestly, everyone felt like a suspect at one point… but all signs kept circling back to Thomas! The build-up was solid, giving us deep dives into each character’s backstory and motives.

Rose’s journals? Annoying as hell, but they definitely helped piece the mystery together. I had it figured out by chapter 15, but it was still a fun ride getting there.

Twisty, suspicious, and lowkey chaotic—definitely worth the read if you enjoy domestic thrillers with a messy edge!
3.5stars

Melissa Burke has relocated herself and her 5-year-old son to a new town following an ugly divorce from her ex-husband. Melissa has no intentions of striking up a new romance anytime soon. But at a dinner party, she meets charming, handsome, and put-together Thomas Danver and they quickly hit it off. Shortly after, Melissa learns that Thomas was investigated and exonerated of his wife's disappearance and presumed death 3 years prior. While most of his close friends assure Melissa of his innocence, there are others yet, who still believe his is guilty. Drawn to him, Melissa believes in his innocence as well and sets out to find the truth.

This was such an exciting thriller book with a very unexpected ending. Multi-perspective books are my favorite and this book used it perfectly to unravel and misdirect the story. The ending was a huge surprise to me and the progression of the novel sucked me in and made it hard to step away from the book. Both the character development and plot development were equally intriguing. If you enjoy books that keep you guessing (and second guessing) until the very end with misdirection, pick this one up for an eventful read.

Thank you to Poison Pen Press, NetGalley, and Andrew DeYoung for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed reading this fast-paced thriller. It kept my full attention throughout the book. I did find a few things difficult to piece together in the end, but overall, it was a good book.

Thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read this book!

Very fast paced read, hooked me from the beginning and was never able to put it down, when I had to do normal human things that didn't involve reading (ew) it was gripping at my insides to get back to the book asap! LOVED IT, was a very very exciting read!

This was a really good book. I do think parts of the end were a little too hard to believe but at the same time the way the story unfolds sort of makes it not matter. It was still very good and worth the read.
In this story, a woman who has a young son meets a man, who has two daughters, by chance at a party of sorts. They have an instant attraction. The only thing is, the man is suspected by many to have killed his wife. She finds this out but decides that he couldn't have done it because of how kind he is to her. So did he do it? You'll have to read this one to find out! So much happens and there are so many possibilities that it will keep you reading late into the night.
The writing is really good. The book has a nice pace and flow. I do recommend giving this one a chance.

✨ARC Book Review: Stay Away From Him by Andrew DeYoung
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)

The first half had me raging—Melissa just moved to town and instantly fell for Dr. Thomas Danver… despite the man practically radiating red flags. Honestly, I wanted to choke her!

But I kept going thanks to another author’s sharing about it and WOW—am I glad I did. The second half flipped everything. Twisty, intense, and totally unputdownable.

By the end, it gave me serious Lucinda Berry vibes—in the best way. A psychological stunner that surprises you when you least expect it.

📚 Stick with it. You’ll be rewarded.

Bravo, Andrew! This was my first book written by you but definitely not my last.

Pub date: July 8, 2025. Thank you @netgalley for the #ARC #digitalcopy for an open, honest review. Yes…I know I’m a bit late.


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I was hooked from the first chapter until the last page. It was such a gripping read. I loved the multiple POVs with the wife's journal entries.

I’m going to be honest, I struggled with this one at first. I didn’t care for most of the characters, especially the FMC. Melissa moves to get her and her young son away from her toxic ex-husband. But then one of the first things she does is jump into a relationship with a man when one of the only things she knows about him is that he was previously charged with his wives murder. AND allows him to immediately be a fixture in her 5 year old’s life. What could go wrong? 🤦🏻‍♀️ I swear I am not a judgey person, but the mama bear in me just wanted to reach in and shake her for her terrible decision making.

BUT if you can get past all of that, it is a great fast paced thriller! There were so many twists I did not see coming and towards the end it had my heart legitimately pounding out of my chest! Once it picks up it does not let up at all and you will want to put this one down!

Well, this was a wild ride! We went from person to person to figure out who it actually was. Andrew DeYoung did a great job twisting the reader to think one thing and then another in Stay Away from Him.

NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, thank you for this story. It’s a good one!

"Stay Away From Him" is a romantic suspense/domestic thriller. The story is told from the present day POV of the main character, Melissa, and also from diary entries and therapist transcripts. I really liked this format because it built a lot of tension and suspense. The book started off strong, but toward the middle I started to lose interest. The main character made so many frustratingly bad choices, and all the love bombing was such a huge red flag. The ending was a lot more enjoyable with several unexpected twists. It was entertaining enough that I finished it fairly quickly. It reminded me a bit of a Freida McFadden book, so I think her fans will enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is more of a romantic suspense than a thriller. I feel like the romance was more at the forefront of it than anything else. It also takes a while for the action to start so you have to truly get into the story before. Also, it is fairly easy to guess who the killer is early on if you are very attentive.

4.5 stars!!

From the very first page, this book had me hooked! The writing is sharp, and the suspense builds with every chapter. You’ll find yourself playing detective, but good luck trying to figure out whodunit—trust me, you won’t! So, grab a cozy spot and prepare for a wild ride, because I dare you to make a guess! Ha!

Melissa Burke relocates with her young son after a painful divorce, seeking distance and healing. At a dinner party, she meets Thomas Danver, a charming widower and respected pediatrician, who is also an exonerated murderer. Thomas's first wife went missing three years ago, and although he was cleared of her murder, some believe he is guilty. Despite warnings from friends about his past, Melissa is drawn to Thomas, and they begin an intense romance. However, when she receives an anonymous threat, she starts to question his innocence and how well she knows him.

Our protagonist, Melissa, is attempting to start anew, but complications abound. In many thrillers, readers are encouraged to step into the characters' shoes, and this one is no exception. You might think you have a handle on the clues and potential suspects, but let me tell you, you really don’t! When your instincts fail you, who can you trust? What adds an extra layer of intrigue is the perspective of Rose, the missing wife. Her point of view makes the mystery of her disappearance all the more dramatic and believable—after all, we all have our suspicions about the spouse, don’t we?

The writing flows smoothly and at a brisk pace, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried to piece together the puzzle at every twist and turn. If you’re a fan of thrillers that keep you guessing with a cast of intriguing characters and believable scenarios that only come together at the end, then this is your perfect summer read. It’s the kind of book you can binge-read in one sitting, thanks to its captivating twists and turns. Happy reading!

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was soooooo good! I couldn’t put it down. The plot was something I loved. It was very captivating and just had me hooked. The characters were very well put together and just made the story that much better

I thought I had the twist figured out, but I was not prepared for the killer to be who it was. An interesting story about manipulation and how difficult it can be to trust someone after they have been embroiled in a scandal. Especially when he seems like such a good person and is a doctor, this is a delightful read that makes you question what you would do if faced with a similar situation.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the e-arc!

This was such a great read! I devoured this book and it kept me interested from the very beginning. This was another one that had twists and turns that I just was not expecting. I for sure did not expect who ultimately was the killer and what was going on with everything. I appreciated the different perspectives and the recording transcripts as well as the journal entries from Rose. It was a great way to piece everything together and make the reader think about what was really going on. I will say Melissa drove me a little nuts with how quickly she fell for and believed Thomas. Like come on girl, if you have a bad feeling, it's probably bad and you should think of your son. Overall though I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it to thriller lovers!