This novel brilliantly weaves psychological tension with a slow-burning romance, delivering a powerful story about reclaiming one’s life against all odds. Perfect for anyone who crave a thrilling, heartfelt women’s fiction with a pulse-pounding twist.

Taylor Higgins' novel, Best Kept Stranger, is a captivating exploration of complex relationships and small-town secrets. The story masterfully weaves together intricate plotlines, revealing the dark underbelly of seemingly idyllic lives. With well-developed characters and a gripping narrative, Higgins keeps readers engaged until the very end. The novel's themes of identity, loyalty, and deception are thought-provoking and relatable. Overall, Best Kept Stranger is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and mystery novels, offering a thrilling page-turning experience with its unexpected twists and turns.

I enjoyed Best Kept Stranger. The author did a good job developing the characters. I think some parts of the book dragged a bit but it wasn’t a big issue to me. One of the main characters, the mom, Claire, got me so mad and if an author can get me to be mad at a character, then they did a good job portraying them as villain!

A story between a narcissistic mother and the daughter she has mentally and emotionally abused. It is an interesting story, sort of dark. It is well written.

This book will leave you speechless because it opened a door of a narcissist, Mom who seem to hate her daughter and wanted nothing good for her !!! But it was so good can’t wait for others to read this one

ugh Claire you made me so angry in this book. you evil evil creature. she surpassed a bad mother and went into blooming criminal. this book had me held tight because i felt so much whilst reading it.
how much we dont know that goes on behind closed doors. and so much behind those doors we often look upon with being "perfect". they can sometimes be the worst kind, more so because they go unseen and unchallenged.
Taylor in this book is our victim. she is the victim of her own mother and the abuse she tolls down on her stripping her of so much but heart and soul. the author did a great job at portraying the characters in the situations they were in. and truly making you feel so much throughout.
you are gripped to the pages needing to know how this will play out. whether there would be hope amongst the darkness inside this relationship.
could Taylor take back her life. be brave enough to do so. and would there be anyone to help her do so.
this was heart felt and didn't hold back from tearing at your heart.
yes it was hard at times. but these times are and to think there are victims of this more often than we think is hard in itself. so i think we are in a privileged place just to only read of such things.
a great book. tense. thought provoking. harsh but properly done. it never felt like it didn't fit the story line or things were just "done" for kicks.

The world building and characters were so well written. I was hooked from the beginning. The chemistry and banter between everyone was fun.

📚 Best Kept Stranger by Author Taylor Higgins, Beautiful but fragile Taylor Hartwell has been afraid of disappointing her manipulative mother, Claire, for as long as she can remember. To the outside world, Claire Hartwell is caring and attentive, but beneath her carefully curated exterior lurks an ever- deepening darkness-and Taylor is desperate to escape to the light. Taylor's need to please Claire and her intense craving to know love leads her into the arms of men who hurt her in every way.
Yet Claire, believing Taylor's mistreatment will ensure her own domination over Taylor's life, encourages her daughter to stay in these abusive relationships. When Taylor meets a gentle, supportive man, the budding romance pulls her from Claire's relentless control. But Claire is determined that Taylor will fulfill the role Claire has planned for her since her birth. Taylor's struggle for independence unravels dangerous family secrets, leading to a series of questionable deaths
and a sinister reunion that nobody anticipates.
After reading this book by Taylor Higgins I plan to check out her first book“Between the Stitching”
Best Kept Stranger hand me flying through pages quickly to find out the ending and how the relationship plays out between Taylor and Claire.
Thanks to NetGalley, Author Taylor Higgins, Koehler Books for an advance reader copy, I wanted to leave my review in show of appreciation for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book before release date.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BestKeptStranger
#TaylorHiggins
#KoehlerBooks
#NetGalley

Slowburn romance with a thriller plot. I loved it! This was both twisty and also romantic and a little bit spicy. The best of all worlds!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Best Kept Stranger is a gripping and intense psychological thriller that delves deep into the complexities of family control, manipulation, and the fight for freedom. Taylor Higgins crafts a compelling story around Taylor Hartwell’s struggle to break free from her mother’s toxic grip and find love and independence on her own terms.

The novel’s dark family secrets and suspenseful twists keep the pages turning, while the emotional depth of Taylor’s journey makes it a powerful read. It’s both heartbreaking and thrilling, with a strong, resilient protagonist at its heart.