I picked up Don’t Trust Him thinking I’d squeeze in a few chapters before heading out for errands. Let’s just say… those errands never happened. I was completely glued to the story, unable to shake the uneasy feeling that something was very, very wrong.

From the moment the protagonist meets Charlie, there’s an undercurrent of suspense that only tightens as the story unfolds. The idyllic moments—the school drop-offs, the late-night conversations, the growing romance—are laced with just enough unease to keep you on edge. When she finds Lynn’s journal, my stomach dropped. I felt her panic, the racing thoughts, the creeping fear that the man she was falling for might not be who he seemed.

What made this book so gripping for me wasn’t just the mystery but the emotional pull. The mother-son bond, the desperate need for a fresh start, the slow realization that the past never stays buried—it all felt so real. And then bam—the twists started coming, and I had to pause just to process what was happening.

This book completely derailed my day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you love psychological thrillers that mess with your mind and keep you guessing until the final shocking reveal, Don’t Trust Him is a must-read. Just don’t make any plans once you start—you will be canceling them.

You know that the hot new single dad at the school gate might be not such a good guy, don't you? Well, Sarah doesn't and she, along with her son Liam, move in with Charlie, his kids and his mother Alice who really doesn't like Sarah. Charlie claims his wife Lynn disappeared with a new lover but did she really? Fans of the genre might think they know what's going to happen but King has changed things up a bit with Lynn's diary and Alice. What really happened to Lynn and is Sarah are risk? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, No spoilers from me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. The first part of the book felt a bit all over the place to me, but then it picks up with twist after twist. The ending feels a bit rushed but it was still an entertaining read.

Utterly compelling I was engrossed right from the start and couldn't put it down. I finished it within a few hours. Highly recommended.

'Dont trust Him' is a very enjoyable twisty psychological thriller.

The plot involves Sarah, a single Mum who is estranged from her mum and bringing up her son, Liam alone. Her best friend, Tasha, lives close by, and as both have similar aged sons, often chat at the school gates. On one such occasion, they spot a hot new single Dad, much to Sarah's surprise this hot Dad, Charlie seems more attracted to Sarah than the other Mums who make their interest in Charlie very clear!

It soon becomes apparent that the envy of the other mums are the least of Sarah's problems as a series of unfortunate events follow, leaving Sarah scared, homeless and unsure who she can trust.

Throw into the mix Alice, Charlie's overbearing mother, and the mysterious disappearance of Charlie's previous partner/wife, and the scene is really set for some unputdownable action!

This is a really easy read that is guaranteed to entertain - easily a 5*highly recommended read from me!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

This is more of a slower thriller, which kind of made it hard for me to get through. I don’t fault the author for this, I have ADHD so it’s hard for me to pay attention if the book isn’t fast paced. I did also think the FMC was very annoying and things that were pretty obvious, she didn’t seem to get. The ending was really good and saved the book. I’m not really used to a slower thriller but I think someone who enjoys slower thrillers, would like this a lot.

This book started out like a sweet family drama and then the suspicious activity arrives and it became apparent that something wasn't right. I feel utterly shocked by the breathtaking twists. There was one twist in particular that I never ever saw coming! I enjoyed watching the characters and getting a study of them even the not so nice ones. The plot is clever!

Don't Trust Him by Karen King is full of twists and turns that readers will not see coming. Sarah meets a newly single dad at school drop off and they eventually start dating. His wife is missing and hasn't seen their daughters for over a year. His mother is overbearing. When she and Charlie temporarily move in together, her life gets stranger and stranger. Someone it seems is out to get her, but who is it? The man who she is falling for with the missing wife, his mom, or one of his exes?

This book is a real page turner, and I loved the ups and downs. Great twists throughout and no idea who was pulling the strings. I couldn't put this one down.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to have an ARC copy, throughly enjoyed this read did not expect the twist at all. Will definitely be reading more from this author

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the Advanced Reader Copy of Don't Trust Him by Karen King. Sarah is a single mom who is not interested in a relationship after a failed marriage followed by rebound relationship that ended with her partner going to prison. When Sarah meets single dad Charlie at the school drop off line, she begins to rethink that. Soon she, Charlie and their children are spending time together and enjoying life. Enter Alice, Charlie's rich, controlling mother who does not care for Sarah, or her son Liam. Soon things start happening that have Sarah questioning her sanity and Liam begins to withdraw and becomes sad. Sarah is convinced someone is out to get her. Is it Charlie? Is it Alice? Is it Dylan, her ex that was recently released from prison? This book has a lot of fun twists and turns. It is a quick read and it kept me interested. I rate this a 3.75/5. This is the first Karen King book that I have read, but based on how much I enjoyed it, I will definitely read others.

Release: April 3, 2025
Author: Karen King
Publisher: Bookouture

Rating: 4 25 ★ 

From the moment Sarah met Charlie at the school gates, dropping off his daughters as she said goodbye to her son, she feel an undeniable connection. Being a single mother has been tough, but his captivating green-blue eyes and warm smile make her wonder if she's finally found happiness—and a chance to escape her own past.

Charlie and Sarah grow close, sharing late-night conversations in the beautiful home his mother, Alice, gave him. He tells her his ex-wife, Lynn, abandoned their children for another man, leaving him heartbroken. Alice struggles to accept Sarah, and she can only hope she never learns the truth about her past.

Then Sarah find Lynn’s hidden journal, along with a sapphire ring and a silk scarf. A terrible feeling creeps in—something isn’t right. As a shadow falls over her, her heart pounds. Did something awful happen to Lynn? And who can Sarah really trust—Charlie, his mother, or the woman who vanished? She needs to protect her son… before it’s too late.

Karen King delivers an engaging psychological thriller in Don’t Trust Him, keeping the suspense high with its intricate web of secrets, deception, and manipulation. The novel effectively builds tension, making it difficult to determine who is truly trustworthy. The pacing is steady, with well-timed twists that keep the reader questioning the truth.

The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose struggle with doubt and paranoia feels authentic. The story does an excellent job of exploring the psychological impact of gaslighting and emotional manipulation. While some twists are predictable, the way the narrative unfolds remains compelling. The book strikes a good balance between mystery and psychological tension, making it a satisfying read for fans of domestic thrillers.

Favorite Quote:
"some people wear masks so well, you forget there's a real face behind it."

I loved this twisty read. Sarah has been through a lot, and her only priority is making sure her son is safe and sound. She's not interested in the hot single Dad, until she was. I found the book hard to put down, it made my heart race, sometimes I screamed at Sarah "RUN", I felt for the kids. My heart went out to them. They don't understand " (mental) games' some adults play.

3.5⭐️. An enjoyable quick read thriller. Gripping from the very start. Can anyone be trusted in this book? Really liked Sarah and felt sorry for her at times. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for ARC.

Definitely a sloooooow burn. Thorough story telling. Not too many unhinged characters 😆 but good story!

Sarah is a single mum, with no family nearby. She always puts her son first after an incident when he was younger that made her flee from where she was living with her parents.

Charlie is a single dad, his mum lives close by to help him with his two daughters. His wife disappeared when his youngest daughter was a baby, she’s not been seen since.

When a series of unfortunate events occur, Charlie invites Sarah and her son, Liam, to stay at his. The house is large with plenty of extra rooms. Sarah takes him up on his offer and they also begin a romance.

When more strange happenings occur, Sarah starts to wonder if she can trust Charlie and his mum. What really happened to his mum and were they both involved in her disappearance?

I enjoyed this story, although I did find Sarah’s character a bit irritating at times.

There are plenty of secrets to try and uncover in this tale. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing too.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick and easy read and a pleasure to get lost in! It's not too complicated with a million characters and a dozen plot lines, it's clean and focuses on the story it wants to tell. The characters are well written and Brough to life and I did spend a fair bit of tbe book not entirely sure who to trust and completely captivated and needing to find out more. It gets under your skin and is definitely one of those books you have to read just one more chapter of!

I genuinely felt sorry for Sarah throughout the whole book. I did; however, think that she was so silly a few times, with hiw fast the relationship with Charlie developed.

This was a fast paced book, with a few too many exclamation marks, but it was very enjoyable and I only half guessed the ending so I still got a nice little surprise at what happened.

An absolute gem of a read.
A brilliant tale that thrills you and chills you to the bone with astonishing twists you would never guess.
I devoured this gripping story over two evenings as I just HAD to get to the conclusion and it was bloody fantastic.
Highly recommended and thoroughly absorbing it’s a must read for fans of the genre.

Don't Trust Him kept me hooked from beginning to end. I found myself drawn into the mystery surrounding Charlie’s ex-wife, Lynn. The discovery of her journal, along with the unsettling items hidden in his house, added a layer of suspense and doubt that kept me questioning everyone’s motives. The tension builds up so well, and I couldn’t help but feel on edge with each new reveal. While some parts of the plot could have been fleshed out more, the twists were definitely gripping, and I enjoyed how the story kept me guessing until the very end. Four stars for its well-crafted suspense and emotional depth.

Ok this book starts out with trouble, and it continues with different things that make you question the whole time. I enjoyed this book a lot. I don't think I could handle Alice and all her controlling issues. Charlie definitely needs to stand up to her. I couldn't put this book down and was so shocked by the ending. It did make sense when looking back on some of it but man that reveal was so good. I feel bad for Liam as he seems to always be losing out, but he at least has a loving mother trying her best. The number of times I was like wait did that really just happen then wondering if Sarah was imagining being targeted or if they were just mistakes happening. Overall, a great book.