What I loved about this book is that almost the entire time, the tension is super high because there are two different questions - both very important- that are being asked: 1) Why did Johnny leave Hannah at the altar; and 2) Did he even intend to, i.e., did something happen to him that prevented him from showing up to the wedding?

Everyone around Hannah seems very willing to accept that he just bailed, and in some ways, as a reader, you can see that side of things. But then, you look at the clues Hannah finds and hear her thought process and begin to wonder. …..But is she just an obsessed jilted bride who can’t accept it? Or is she really on to something?

See what I mean?! It’s so intense that I was just going back and forth with my theories, turning pages and trying to figure out what was going on!

And when the solution came, ohhhh boy, it’s quite a chilling moment. This one is packed with twists and turns that left me with my jaw on the floor. I think I just picked it up in time to write this review, lol.

It was amazing, that’s all I’ll say. No spoilers from me!

What I will say is that if you love high-action and suspense mystery/thrillers, this book is for you! It won’t disappoint!

I’m gutted this book took me so long to get through because I had a busy few days and could only manage a couple of chapters a day until Sunday… then I had time and I was hooked! Flew through the book in 24 hours.

My first book of Amanda’s and it won’t be my last!

I loved the short chapters with cliffhanger endings, I absolutely got to the end of most chapters going well I can’t stop reading there 😂
I was fixated on knowing what was going on with Johnny!! I enjoyed Hannah trying to piece everything together and the author did a gem feat job of it looking like a mixture of good detective work and some paranoia/delusion!

I totally didn’t guess where this was going or what the final outcome was.

There were a few reveals at the end and I would’ve liked a little bit of a bit of closure on them but I get why we couldn’t have that 😉 but maybe an epilogue of what had happened over the next couple of years with a few of the characters?!

I think the sisterly dynamic was good. To me it started out one way with their roles and personalities and then you start to see certain characteristics and find out bits of information and this changes your opinions about them!
Definitely a few characters I was suspicious of and didn’t warm too and there’s a few surprises along the way!

This is absolutely a book that’s the definition of just one more chapter!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

📚Book overview
As I walk down the aisle, I can’t help beaming. It’s the perfect day. For the first time in years, I feel safe, secure. Until I reach the altar, and there’s no sign of my fiancé. That can’t be. He’s my world. And I desperately need this fresh start, to keep my son safe…

My fiancé Johnny is handsome, charming and kind. He’s already the perfect stepfather to my little boy, Lucas – unlike his real father. Today, in front of our loved ones, I will truly leave my secrets behind.

But when I get to the church, Johnny isn’t here. I crumble. How could he do this to me? To Lucas? I desperately search the crowd, hoping this is some sort of bad joke.

And I catch sight of a face I never thought I’d see again. He sees me looking and smirks. Is he the reason Johnny has disappeared? 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 I am usually (annoyingly) good at guessing the outcome of books or guilty party - but THIS BOOK, kept me guessing, right to the very end. What an ending THAT was!! I started this book one evening and finished it the next. Impeccable book writing, from a very talented author. You have done it again @ajcampbellauthor !! 🥰📚

"Left at the Alter" was my first story by AJ Campbell. I found the first half to be a slow-moving, untangling of a mystery. I spent a good potion of the half wondering if there even was a mystery or if Hannah's worst fears, being left at the alter and her past ruining her future, were coming true or if she was just in denial. She can't just walk away from the family she was suppose to marry into though as her sister is set to marry the "Run Away Groom's" brother the following week.

It did pick up in the second half and I found that I really liked the twists that came along. As Hannah digs into her own pass and the pass of her new fakily members, she finds that is may come back to haunt them all. Though sometimes, I felt I wanted to leave Hannah at alter. I did really enjoy her sister, India, and her son, Lucas, is just a sweetest little boy.

Thank you Netgalley, AJ Campbell and Bookouture for this ARC reading. These thought and opinions are my own.

Wow this book is a tense and twisting thriller. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. The plot unfolds at pace and the short punchy chapters along with the twists leave you breathless for more. I can’t wait to read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

Hannah is all set to marry Johnny, the man of her dreams only for her to be left outside the church waiting for him to turn up.

AJ Campbell does it again. I was completely immersed in the story right from the start and enjoyed seeing the layers of the mystery being pulled back slowly unraveling secrets and lies. Hannah is a strong female character and as she grapples with the reality of being jilted by her fiancé it was admirable to see her resolve to find out the truth and eventually finding out that people are not always as they seem.

With short, punchy chapters that end in a cliffhanger, AJ keeps building the suspense right till the end. Left at the Altar is an absolute page-turner with the right mix of emotional tension and dark secrets that can be easily devoured in one sitting.

Thank you @ajcampbellauthor and @netgalley for the ARC to read and review.

On the way to her wedding, Hannah receives word that her husband isn't going to show. He's backing out of the wedding. But that can't be. He loves her. He loves her son. He wouldn't do this. But everyone around her tries to convince her that maybe she just didn't know Johnny very well.

Not my favorite of AJ's novels, I'm sorry to say. The synopsis sets the reader up for some slightly different scenarios. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And the way her family just basically ignored what she was going through and tried to make her think she was crazy was actually crazy. A lot of the dialogue was a bit awkward to me as well.

I've read every book AJ has written (and will continue to do so), and this book definitely had her signature twists at the end.

AJ Campbell is a safe bet if you want a book that keeps you gripped from the first to the very last page. I've read all of her books and have loved every single one of them! Left at the Altar is full of twists and turns, question upon question, and you're hooked until the last word. A must-read for all psychological thriller fans!

AJ Campbell is known for her short propulsive chapters and Left At The Altar was written in that signature style. Her chapters are short and addictive, you can't stop at just one.

When Hannah is left at the altar, literally, she can't reconcile how the love of her life abandoned her. As she digs into the reasons, she is thwarted by people who are supposed to be her support system. It was impossible to determine who was trustworthy.

I couldn't put this one down.

Hannah is waiting to marry Johnny, the man of her dreams but it’s not meant to be. Where is he? Why has he just disappeared? Why has a figure from her past turned up with her sister? Why are people lying to her?

This was a twisty thriller as I would expect from AJ and just as you think you worked it out I assure you you haven’t!

Thank you to Bookouture and the author for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Another brilliant psychological thriller by AJ Campbell! Oh my goodness this book was just so good! I was really really hoping that Johnny would be alive and in hiding somewhere. I really felt Hannah's pain. Also goes to show trust your instinct. If something feels off and if the things that someone tells you about someone you love doesn't add up, trust your instinct. I can understand why Hannah killed Charlie. Unfortunately there was no other way for her to escape. Everything that she did was to protect herself and her children and justice for Johnny.

Left at the Altar by A.J. Campbell is an incredibly twisty and thrilling novel that captivates readers right from the start.
As always, it is filled with suspense and unexpected twists from beginning to end. It's an absolute page-turner that can easily be devoured in one sitting.
The mystery revolves around the characters, with numerous questions sparking curiosity about who the good guys and bad guys really are. The family dynamics are intriguing and somewhat complex, revealing how little we truly know about the people we think we understand.

Hannah was set for what she believed would be her perfect day, but it quickly transformed into a nightmare. Johnny didn't show up, offered no explanation, and simply vanished. Hannah can't just walk away, especially since her sister is marrying Johnny's brother next week, and she is employed by Johnny's mother. If you think the situation can't get any worse, think again, as a carefully concealed past begins to unravel, pulling the characters into a dark abyss.

I've loved previous books by this author so I was looking forward to this one & it did not disappoint! I was gripped from the start & very keen to know what had happened to Jonny after he left Hannah at the Altar. I found Hannah's description of her feelings a little repetitive & I guessed early on what might have happened to Jonny. I felt the story did drag in the middle but picked up again for the last quarter of the book & gave more of an insight into the other characters. Overall another fab read from this author & thank you to Netgalley & publisher for the ARC 😀

Twisty, tense, and totally addictive. AJ Campbell delivers a knockout thriller with Left at the Altar. The story is packed with secrets, suspense, and a haunting sense of dread that builds with every chapter. I was hooked from the first line and raced through it in one sitting. A brilliant blend of emotional depth and jaw-dropping twists.

A Must-Read from a Master of Suspense

As a long-time fan and "autobuy" reader of AJ Campbell, I can confidently say she's one of my favorite authors for a reason. Her books are a masterclass in suspense, always delivering engaging, action-packed stories that are impossible to put down. I also love her use of short chapters, which makes it easy to squeeze in just one more—or ten—before the day is over.

Left at the Altar Is a Heart-Pounding Thrill Ride

Her latest novel, Left at the Altar, is no exception. From the very first page, I was completely hooked by the story of Hannah, a woman whose dream wedding turns into a nightmare. She's all set to marry Johnny, the man she's building a life with, but he never shows up. His family claims he's had a change of heart, but their strange behavior makes Hannah suspicious.

This is where the story truly shines. Hannah is a wonderfully persistent protagonist—the kind of person you'd want in your corner. As she digs for the truth, the plot unfolds perfectly, revealing each piece of the puzzle at just the right moment. Campbell masterfully keeps you guessing until the very end, making this a truly unforgettable read.

Overall 4.5*

A great thrilling roller coaster of a ride with this story . Lots of dynamics going on and with weddings about to happen, plenty of short tempers amid everything else happening. I'll be honest and say that I'm not too sure whether I liked Hannah, the main character although her loyalty to her son is unquestionable. And the the author hits the reader with not just one but two big reveals !!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Another fabulously twisty thriller from AJ Campbell that came between me and my sleep! As always full of suspense and unexpected surprises from the start to end. I love how this author just sucks the reader in immediately, making you want to read just one more chapter….

Imagine getting to the church, all the wedding preparations are done and you are about to marry the man of your dreams, only for him to not turn up. How devastating. This is the premise of this story, and how the bride, Hannah, is convinced that Johnny wouldn’t do that to her and her son. I didn’t know what to expect but my goodness that ending was 🤯🤯 fabulous

Thanks so much to Bookouture on NetGalley for allowing me to read this fantastic thriller early. Publishing on August 13th.

This story starts with the main character, Hannah, being driven to her wedding.
As the title states, sadly, Hannah is left at the altar.
She finds out that her to be husband, Johnny, is not showing up.
Hannah, and her son, Lucas, are heartbroken.
The story takes you through the after math, of what Hannah is going through.
I felt for her and Lucas.
I was so shocked and surprised later to find out what truly happened, and why Hannah was Left at the altar.
This was my first book read by this author, and it will definitely not be my last.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in Left at the Altar; they caught me off guard and kept me hooked. The story moves fast, and the suspense builds in unexpected ways. However, there were moments where I felt the writing told me how to feel rather than showing it, which pulled me out of the experience a bit. It’s a stylistic choice that didn’t quite work for me, but it didn’t ruin the overall impact.

Despite that, the emotional stakes and the mystery kept me invested, and the characters felt real and complex. If you like psychological thrillers with surprising reveals and tense family drama, this book is worth diving into.

Title: Left at the Altar
Author: A. J. Campbell
Genre: Psychological/Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: August 13, 2025
My Rating: 4.3 Stars
Pages: 306

Hannah and Johnny are getting married. Johnny has told Hannah many time s that he cannot wait to be a family with her and her son Lucas
However, on the day of the wedding Hannah is left at the altar - IMO I believe all the audio performers should have been speaking at the most exciting part
Johnny has disappeared. She is certain something serious has happened.
As Hannah scans the crowd, she spots a face from her past that sends her into a spiral of fear and guilt. She’s been hiding a secret for years, and now it seems the truth may be catching up with her.

The story was a slow to unravel – however I like. A J Campbell and was sure she would come through with another great twisted story and she did.
In fact, when I finished I so wanted to talk about it –kept up thinking about it!

This is A.J. (Amanda) Campbell tenth psychological thriller; and only my fourth but I am delighted to have a new favorite author!
She draws inspiration for her stories from seemingly unbelievable situations in which ordinary people find themselves.
In her letter from A. J. Campbell she tells us that her inspiration for this came one day when she saw a bridal car driving on the way to the wedding She thought how it must feel to get to the and your husband-to-be doesn’t show up. She went home and started plotting - Hannah and her story came to life - simple as that and the twist just kept coming.

That is why she is a writer and I am a reader! If I saw the same car I would have thought of my own wedding or another fun wedding I attended – certainly not clever to think of twists!! But I do love to read them!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 13. 2025.