I absolutely LOVED this one!!! The suspense had me HOOKED, the characters were so well written and I was invested in everything that was happening. I literally could not put this book down, I had to find out what was going to happen next!! So many twists and turns and suspenseful moments, I'm sad it's over!

I devoured this domestic thriller in 2 sittings, the writing is easy to follow and I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives throughout the book. Real time moments, transcripts from therapy sessions and diary entries worked really well in piecing everything together whilst keeping you in the dark, questioning your own judgement.

The twists? I always get so smug thinking I've figured it all out but again I was wrong.. so very wrong hah. I didn't see the twists coming AT all. The book was tense enough to keep me gripped whilst not too intense that it was too much to handle.

The writing is related to freida mcfadden, easy to follow, gripping and never guessing the endings.

This was honestly just an okay read, sadly it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I found myself hoping for a stronger focus on the investigation but the overall pace was slower than I anticipated. Unfortunately, the mystery element felt underdeveloped, taking a backseat to the romantic dynamic between the protagonist and the possible murderer. While this might appeal to readers who enjoy romantic suspense, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. For those looking for a more investigation-driven story, this one might fall a bit short.

Great fast paced read. Kept me guessing (and second guessing) the whole way through.

I loved how it was told from different perspectives—real-time moments, diary entries, and even audio transcripts from psychiatrist sessions. It was such a cool way to piece everything together, and it worked so well.

The mix of suspense and emotional moments was spot on, and the twists, oh the twists! There are some super brief spicy moments, not my thing, but they didn’t distract from the story. If you’re into stories that keep you on edge of your seat that you just can’t put down, this one’s definitely worth a read.

This was a very interesting premise and as I read it I wondered how the author would pull it off. It sounded quite simple. She is fresh off a divorce, falls for a dude that is suspected of murdering his wife, womp womp right? Wrong. I don’t want to say too much but what I thought was going on, wasn’t going on. What I thought of so many characters was wrong. The ending was delicious. It was a rollercoaster that I thought I predicted all these things and I was way off. Andrew fooled me which makes it an automatic must read!

SYNOPSIS: Melissa has just gotten out of a bad marriage and has met someone she thinks could be special. Problem is, 3 years ago Thomas was acquitted of murdering his missing wife. Can she trust her instincts that he is a good person or should she stay away from him, as the note that was mysteriously left in her apartment threatens?

First off, I felt like the relationship between the two main characters developed way too fast for me to believe or get on board with. Putting that aside, I was hooked by the mystery of did he or didn’t he kill his wife, which was the main premise of this story. Once the story gets going it is intriguing and I will say that I didn’t see the twist coming. However, I think the best written parts of the book were the journals and interviews that interlaced the chapters. For some reason the actual story part just didn’t hold me as much as those other two parts did.

I will be checking out other novels from Andrew DeYoung so thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

**TRIGGER WARNING**
Brief animal cruelty and human mutilation.

was a decent thriller with some predictable twists. Overall, wasn't my favorite, but was a quick and easy read!

I really went back and forth on how to rate this book. There were a couple of details that felt unbelievable and I think that’s what influenced my final rating. Overall, a great domestic thriller that was interesting to read! I recommend!

The story centers around Melissa, who is recently divorced and just moved into her friend’s basement apartment with her young son, Bradley. She’s trying to piece her life back together when she meets Thomas, a handsome, charming, pediatrician. The only downside is that Thomas was accused of murdering his missing wife 3 years ago. The book goes back and forth between Melissa’s POV and “therapy” excerpts from Thomas. I enjoyed the addition of the therapy discussions- it really added to the story.

I will say, I was constantly trying to figure out what happened to Thomas’s wife. You don’t find out the true story until the very end and I was kept guessing. It was fun! However, when you do find out the truth I was left feeling like I wish the author had dropped a couple more hints through the story. I think it would have just wrapped it together a little better! My only other critique was I felt like Melissa and Thomas moved SO fast. Of course, that’s supposed to be part of the story but I did feel like Melissa actions didn’t exactly line up with her character.

I would still definitely recommend this book! I think others might not mind the details that I got caught up on. Plus, it was an interesting plot filled with good main and secondary characters. I will definitely read more by Andrew DeYoung!

What a great domestic psychological thriller!

The story revolves around Melissa, a divorced woman who finally believes she has found the man of her dreams.

But is he truly as perfect as he seems?

I was hooked from the very beginning and never been bored at any time.

If you are a big fan of domestic thriller, you will love it as much as I dit 💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
Release date: July 8th, 2025

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this psychological mysterious thriller! I enjoyed the story line and really not having a clue who did it. The author did a great job in pulling me back and forth on thinking if it was Thomas or not and rooting for Thomas. Great plot twist, I had a hunch mid book!

Melissa meets Thomas, a man who appears perfect so of course there must be something wrong with him. She wasn’t expecting him to be an accused murderer though! His wife disappeared a few years back and everyone suspected him but he was never charged and her body was never found. So the book basically is about her deciding if she believes the rumors or not and how she’ll handle her budding relationship with him. She also has a young son and is freshly divorced so that adds to the ‘should I or shouldn’t I’ aspect. Most women would probably decide it’s not worth it, but then we wouldn’t have a story.

The reader not only sees from her point of view but also from excerpts from Thomas in therapy. So we have a little more perspective, but one that is carefully crafted so we’re still not sure one way or the other. Towards the conclusion, there are some other characters that skew the perspective a bit and many readers will probably be surprised by the outcome. Based on a few clues, I saw it coming but it did seem a little ‘out of left field’ at the end.

It's a fun book and I’d read more by this author based on it. Maybe the next lead female character will be a bit more discerning with her relationships, though!

“They’re more tied up than we think, love and hate—both emotions are a confession that someone matters to us, that they have power over how we feel.”

From the very first page, I was so hooked! This is a very well-written thriller with sharp pacing and a gripping plot. The emotional depth made the story even more compelling for me. This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and it definitely won’t be the last!

I just finished a great mystery thriller. Stay Away From Him by Andrew DeYoung needs to be on your tbr list.

AFter a horrible break up Melissa is ecstatic to meet a handsome, friendly doctor in Thomas. Thomas is raising two teenage daughters after the tragic disappearance and murder of his wife. Thomas is dashing, charming and great with Melissa's young 5 year old son.

Soon after they begin dating strange things begin to happen, Melissa receives notes saying "Stay away from him,",, people that believe Thomas killed his wife treat her horribly and a friend of Thomas deceased wife shows up everywhere trying to warn Melissa.

As their romance moves faster and faster Melissa is caught in a whirlwind of mystery and deceit. Who should she run to, who should she run from? It's a fast paced book but the ending is both satisfying and depressing.

A cannot put down novel...red herrings and secrets...a page turner...the title is intriguing; the story is mysterious. Enjoy. Thanks Netgalley.