I just finished reading this book. I loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style with the touch of English to it, I love the history of lighthouses, the character growth of Carey and strength as a single mom staying strong is inspiring. I thought it was well written although longer chapters there didn't feel to be any confusing twists. It kept me wanting to finish the book to see how it ended. I tried to also leave a review on Amazon but I cannot find this book or author on there (yet). I look forward to hearing about any other books she writes. 5 stars all the way!

Someone Like You is a deeply atmospheric book, full of interesting characters and plot twists. It left me feeling on edge, with my heart racing and needing to turn those pages faster and faster.

Carey and her autistic son Riley have recently moved to Saltwick, a dilapidated lighthouse complex, where they hope to start a new life following Carey’s ex-husband’s jail sentence. The setting was brilliant, conveying super creepy vibes, which only increased exponentially when more and more scary things started happening. I really warmed to Carey and her son and was rooting for them throughout. The explanations at the end made complete sense and tied things up perfectly. This is an excellent debut and I look forward to reading more by Elena Frost.

Thank you to Elena Frost, Inkubator Books and Netgalley for my advance copy.

Carey and her autistic son, Riley move to the property she has bought.
It is the location of an old disused lighthouse. She has Will, a contractor, to do the renovations. From the moment she moves in, there is senseless vandalism, and her son sees 'ghosts'. Carey believes she is losing her mind.

This was an extremely slow plot. The characters aren't well developed, and there is too much mystery about their back stories. Nothing is really explained.
Carey is obviously haunted by something in her past, and her father's disappearance from her life isn't explained at all. Only his reappearance, obviously because he is terminally ill.

This is a debut novel for this author, and it could have been so much better.
The author tries to weave mystery into every page, but it really falls a bit flat.

I award it 2/5 stars/5, rounded up to 3.

Definitely a good first attempt. I did struggle to follow along a little bit, but I am sure the future books by Elena Frost will be great, but for a debut book it is good.

3.25/5 stars! This is a debut thriller novel by author Elena Frost. It was hard to get a grasp on what the author was trying to accomplish in this book. There was just a lot going on between her ex, the "man in the yellow raincoat" and the arson. I think the plot suffered because of this. Trimming one of the twists out could have made the story more cohesive. However, a solid first attempt and I would read more by the author.

Well! I flew through that! An intense gripping psychological thriller that was very hard to put down.

I particularly enjoyed the representation of an autistic child. Not something you see very often in a book and as a mum myself of autistic children I thought it was very well done and not laid on too thick.

I found the whole book very entertaining thank you for letting me read it early.

Someone Like You by Elena Frost introduces readers to Isaac and Brody, two characters whose journey through trauma and healing forms the emotional core of the narrative. The novel delves into themes of mental health and personal growth, offering moments that are both touching and heartfelt.​
However, while the story has its strengths, it doesn't fully deliver on its potential. The pacing can be uneven, with certain sections feeling drawn out, and the character development, particularly of the protagonists, lacks depth. Some readers have noted that the characters felt somewhat flat, making it challenging to form a strong connection with them.
Additionally, the dialogue occasionally comes across as simplistic, and the narrative sometimes leans heavily into melodrama, which might not appeal to all readers. Despite these issues, the book does offer a sincere exploration of its central themes and could resonate with those looking for a story about healing and connection.​
In summary, Someone Like You presents a heartfelt narrative with commendable intentions but falls short in execution. It's a decent read for those interested in stories of emotional recovery, but it may not leave a lasting impression

✨ ARC READ ✨

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me the ARC.

This was genuinely a brilliant thriller, and not like any I have read before.
It's fast paced and the plot line is good and it has you second guessing yourself at every TURN. And the plot twist at the end is so good and makes everything click into place.

I cannot wait to own a physical copy of the book once it's published!

Carey and her son Riley have just moved into a new home, hoping for a fresh start and a chance to rebuild their lives. With her husband in prison and Riley, who is also autistic, she needs a nice quiet life and Carey is determined to give him the peace he deserves.

But their hopes are quickly shattered. Carey becomes plagued by eerie nightmares and unsettling visions, while Riley is terrified by a ghostly figure only he can see. What begins as a new beginning soon spirals into a relentless nightmare that Carey can’t seem to escape.

If you’re looking for atmosphere, drama, and suspense, then this is definitely the book for you! It was totally unexpected and explosive.. I was completely glued to my Kindle, devouring it in maybe two sittings. The ending caught me completely off guard and I never saw it coming and it left me totally shocked. Which is amazing as a lot of thriller books you can guess the ending half way through.

Book Review: Someone Like You by Elena Frost
✨ Genre: General Fiction, Mystery & Thriller
📖 Page Count: 218
📅 Date Finished: 12 April
📆 Publishing Date: 11 May 2025

📝 Synopsis (No Spoilers!)
 Carey buys a dilapidated lighthouse, looking for a new start for her and her son, Riley. While she’s trying to get it renovated and start a new Airbnb business, her estranged father comes back into her life with a terminal illness. Meanwhile strange things start happening in the lighthouse…

💭 First Impressions

This was an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from NetGalley which I picked based on the cover. This book took me on a bit of a journey. At the end I was really enjoying it but honestly I struggled at the beginning and wasn’t sure if I’d finish. It took a few chapters for me to feel invested and I would’ve liked the story to start at a more action-oriented moment. But after a few chapters, and when dialogue started, I feel like the pace picked up. I was drawn in and was looking forward to reading. I found the twists pretty unpredictable and the characters compelling. The ending was satisfying too.

👥 Characters
 The standout character for me was Riley, a ten-year-old struggling with autism. You see him through the eyes of his mum, who is trying to do her best by him. Will, the contractor who works on the renovations is also a likeable character, although sometimes his actions seem a little confusing without a bit of extra back story and explanation.

🌍 World-Building / Setting
The lighthouse is essentially a character in itself - it plays a very important role in the plot. I’m not interested in lighthouses in particular, but anyone who is will love the setting. It was pretty spooky (in a good way)!

✍️ Writing Style

Lyrical, a little dense at the beginning but sharpening later.

🔥 Favourite Moments / Quotes

Will knowing the name of Happy the guinea pig 🐹 ♥️

🎢 Pacing & Plot

See First Impressions - I found the beginning a little slow, but then was hooked later on.

📚 Overall Thoughts

Overall I enjoyed reading about Carey’s journey and spending some time with her and the other characters in this story. I think single parents or parents of autistic children who want to see their experiences reflected on the page will particularly enjoy this book. Anyone interested in lighthouses or old buildings will appreciate the history. Otherwise people with some patience who can appreciate a cosy lyrical psychological thriller. It would be a good book for a train ride at sunset especially along a coast somewhere.

⭐ Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Incubator Books for the eARC.
Carey and her son Riley have just moved to their new home to a fresh, new start. Carey's husband is in jail and her son is autistic. He needs peace and quiet in his life and Carey is determined to give it to him.
Unfortunately things don't work out that way. She's constantly haunted by nightmares and strange visions and Riley is terrified of the ghost he keeps seeing.
Things just keep getting worse and worse; it's a living nightmare Carey can't wake up from.
It's such a compulsive read, it was hard to put down until the very shocking and satisfying ending. Brilliant book!

When Carey Billingham buys Saltwick, a run-down coastguard station on the edge of the North York moors, she thinks it’s the perfect chance for her and her young son Riley to start over. She’s finally escaped from her ex husband, now in prison, and her terrifying in laws. From here on out, it’s just her, Riley, and oceans of peace and quiet. Or so she hopes! Good book! This book had chilling suspense, mystery, murder, past dark secrets, intrigue, and some wild twists and turns! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Someone Like You is a must-read for lovers of thrillers! I tore through this edge-of-your-seat, up-all-night thriller it was timely and gripping, you don’t went to miss this one!

If you’re looking for atmosphere, drama and suspense then this is definitely book for you!

This book was totally unexpected and explosive, but you’ll need to read it to find out why! I was glued to my kindle all evening until l finished it and devoured it in one sitting! I never expected the ending at all totally shocked me!