This novel is brilliant! The premise had me so keen to read it as soon as I possibly could – the idea of a sliding doors type story always appeals to me and this one is the best I have read! The idea of walking home from a club on a dark night and becoming aware that someone is following you, becoming increasingly fearful that the man is going to attack you and you lash out in sheer terror. Then you have to make the decision to either dial 999 and get help, or to run away and say nothing. This is such a clever novel, it really explores the realities of what might happen in each of the two scenarios in such a believable way. It also looks at the impact of guilt and how punishment can come in many forms, and that maybe there is no getting away with it. I loved this book – I finished reading it weeks ago and I still find myself thinking about it. I’ve even bought a couple of copies as Christmas presents as I know people who will enjoy this book every bit as much as I did. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

Interesting book that made me keep reading to find out what happened. That said, *possible spoiler* I was disappointed to find out you don't actually find out which path she took and it's simply a "what if" situation.
I found it a little hard to keep up with some of the differing story lines, I'd find myself slipping into the opposite storyline and getting momentarily confused.

Overall, a very clever book. Would recommend to friends.

A really cleverly written book. Joanna makes a bad error of judgement one night and whichever way she reacts will change her life forever. A really unique story following Joanna's story following both choices - Reveal and Conceal. Each chapter alternates between the two. It really makes you think and its hard to judge as who knows what you would do. A story of how love and friendships are affected with these choices and the guilt that ensues. I really enjoyed this and recommend highly.

Love sliding doors the film so was looking forward to reading this book as it’s a solimilar style storyline. It didn’t disappoint I really enjoyed it

Anything You Do Say is a dual narrative novel taking the reader down two possible outcomes in the life of Joanna after a life-changing night out with a friend. In option one (conceal) she avoids responsibility for events and works to actively hide her involvement, in option two (reveal) she accepts it and faces the consequences.

While I wouldn't call this a thriller, it is addictive in the rich description of normal, day-to-day interactions with Joanna and her husband Reuben and the small insightful observations she makes along both paths. I felt touched by Joanna and Reuben and the sweet life they share so it was difficult to watch it strain under the pressure of both scenarios. There is a strong psychological element that talks to our instinctive human nature when caught in a difficult situation. That is well illustrated in Anything You Do Say.

A great concept - a "what if" scenario played out in parallel. Not dissimilar to the film "Sliding Doors" but with more sinister circumstances. I felt that in written form it just doesn't flow as well, switching between scenarios one chapter to the next.

It took me a little while to get into but I really enjoyed this book once I did. It makes you question yourself so much and it's actually scary to see how easy it might be to find yourself in a similar situation.
An enjoyable, thought-provoking read.

Wow. What a read. Late to the party reviewing this book. Gillian McAllister strikes again. A 5* review here. Roller coaster of a page turner. Thank you for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I couldn't get into this, although I did persevere following reviews I had read. It was just not my 'thing' - sorry...but others have disagreed completely. Can't suit everyone.

Interesting "Sliding Doors" concept told in Reveal/Conceal chapters. Author managed to keep the separate story strands clear and without confusion. Male character was weak and it did make me question the British justice system but a gripping page turner.

I absolutely loved this book and read it in two sittings!

I’m not quite sure what I’d of done in the same situation as Joanna, she meets a guy in the bar and it doesn’t go well, she leaves but hears footsteps behind her and so tried to get away, and fails she shoves him and he falls down some stairs obviously pretty hurt, do you walk away or get help?

This is like 2 books in one, the chapters alternate between her getting help and how that turns out- arrest, trial etc and her walking away and how that ends up, guilt, secrets and lies.....

I can’t say too much more else I’ll give it all away, what I will say is it blew me away and I totally loved it & couldn’t stop talking about it to anyone who would listen (willingly or not)....

Get this book it’s a must read I can’t wait for more form the author!!!

When you love a debut novel as much as I loved Everything But the Truth, there is a danger you will find a second novel disappointing. So I approached this read with some caution, especially as the Sliding Doors narrative has been done before and could become cliched. I don't know why I was cautious on either point - this was an excellent book and both the theme and the structure were handled deftly by McAllister. The reasoning behind both courses of action were believable and I sympathised with both narratives. The attention to detail with the police procedure, the emotional fallout of the events and the characters' consistent behaviour within the two developing plots makes this one of my books of the year.

This was a wonderful book with two stories wound into one in a magical way. I loved every minute and felt sad when it ended. It is full of so many emotional scenes with each one making the reader think - how would I have reacted? Joanna is full of so many complex thoughts, mainly negative. The story is the fact that Joanna committed a murder the question being was it intentional or not and the consequences that she suffers. The reaction of her friends and husband make it such a tragic story.
A great author who has produced an a very realistic story with characters who are so easy to relate to..

I really enjoyed Anything You Say, it was something different with a great plot, great characters and written beautifully, if not a tad repetitive and slow in parts.

If you liked the film Sliding Doors then you will probably like this book. Although I do think its a slightly lazy comparison. The book will make you question how you would react in the same circumstances, not just with the main character but her husband as well. Sometimes I did want to slap the pair of them because of the decisions they made or the way they acted.

For me it was hard to put down and i did think about it a lot inbetween reading, wondering which way the stories would evolve.

Enjoyable book and as I write this it is only 99p on Amazon for the Kindle version, which for a book like this is an absolute steal.

A very intriguing premise sets up this simmering tale of guilt and redemption, expertly drawing the reader into the psychological turmoil of the lead character. I really enjoyed this book and found it very thought provoking, I will be recommending this!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
The premise of the book was good but somehow the way in which it was narrated, with two different paths the story could go which was relayed in alternating chapters (Reveal and Conceal) was slightly confusing and certainly detracted from my enjoyment of the first half of the book.
The second half of the book was much better with a faster pace and more happening, leaving me reading with anticipation.
Another book by Gillian McAllister with interesting moral dilemmas but I just didn’t love it as much as her previous book, Everything but the Truth.
Overall 4 stars

Conceal/Reveal - what would you do?

Joanna is on a night out with a friend when she is harassed by a man in the bar they have a 'selfie' taken with. To the girls it was just a photo, but to him it was much more, and he wants to get to know Jo better.

When they leave the bar and go their separate ways, Jo is convinced that she is being followed, and she is convinced that it is him, the man from the bar. She is frightened and doesn't consider her actions as she panics and turns on the steps to push him away from her.

He falls and hits the ground. Jo is paralysed with fear, should she call 999 and wait for the police and ambulance to arrive, or should she run and try to forget that anything ever happened?

This novel has been compared to the film sliding doors in that the narrative after the event splits into two halfs. What happens if Jo calls the Police and what happens if she doesn't. That's where the similarities to the film start and end.

The novel is told in alternate 'Conceal' and 'Reveal' chapters as we are caught up in Joanna's battle (for neither option is easy) to regain a normal life after that fateful night. Her relationship with her friends and family are put to the ultimate test as the stories play out and we see a different side to her husband in each case.

This is the part of the novel that I found most interesting, Joanna is not an instantly likeable character, and makes some pretty terrible decisions in both scenarios, but it is her relationship with her husband that really brings out the emotional side of this novel.

I can't say too much more without giving anything away, but this novel is very clever and you should definitely read it for yourself.

I've seen this book in the top sellers a lot around the UK and have heard it being compared a lot to the film sliding doors, so I thought, why not give this book a go as I've seen the film a long time ago and enjoyed it.

You meet Joanna / Jo, as she is on a girls night out with her best friend Laura having drinks until they receive some unwanted attention from a guy. They try to ignore the guy and get away from him and carry on their girls night out, but he keeps approaching them and takes a selfie with Joanna. They manage to leave and end the night by parting ways in different directions. Joanna hears footsteps behind her and thinks its the guy that was previously giving her unwanted attention so she quickens her pace and calls her husband who is at home waiting for her to let him know that shes on her way home but thinks shes being followed. The mobile phone cuts in a dead spot and it is soon Joanna and the guy behind her in a secluded spot. Feeling threatened, she pushes him when he approaches and the guy ends up on the floor and isn't moving.

After this event, the book is spilt between chapters which show how her life would turn out if she conceals (leaves the guy on the floor and walks away) or reveals (calls an ambulance for the guy on the floor). I did enjoy this book a lot and you follow Joanna as you see how different her life turns out between the conceal and reveal chapters, the effect that pushing a guy down onto the floor has on her friends, family and husband. You do find yourself glued to the book as you can sympathise with Joanna being afraid and pushing and not knowing what to do. I wouldn't have predicted some of the things that happen towards the end of the book, but I did enjoy how the two stories merge into one in the end and there is a conclusion so you're not left wondering about any cliffhangers.

I would highly recommend this book as it keeps you gripped and the telling of the characters is done really well.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Gillian McAllister for my review copy of Anything You Do Say.
I have never seen the film Sliding Doors but if you have, this book follows a similar concept in that it is told in the form of two scenarios. Like two stories running concurrently, based on a decision made.
Olivia and Laura are out for their regular Friday night drinks when a man begins to harass Olivia. She'd agreed to take a selfie with him, let him buy her a drink but then he gets pushy, starts touching her inappropriately, getting in her personal space etc. A moment we've all experienced, not just women but men too, that pushy guy or girl who's maybe a bit worse for wear but whose behaviour is inexcusable.

Feeling uncomfortable, the two women leave the bar and set off home in separate directions. Halfway to the tube station, Olivia gets the sense that someone is following her, she tries to call her husband but the signal goes, spotting the guy from the bar's bright red trainees coming up alongside her, Olivia panics, turning around, she shoved her would be attacker away from her as hard as possible, and he falls down the concrete stairs to the canal side and doesn't move.

Now Olivia is faced with a decision. Does she call 999 save the man's life and face the consequences of what she has done? Or does she walk away, pretend it hasn't happened and live with the guilt?

The rest of the novel tells the story from two angles, Reveal and Conceal. One sees Olivia calling 999, being arrested and facing the consequences of her actions, the other sees her leaving him there, and trying to live with herself and cover up the crime afterwards.

It was a really interesting way to read a novel. The whole way through I found myself questioning, not only my own morals and beliefs, I.e what would I do in that situation, but also which one was true and which one had the worse consequences? Yes, admitting to it means you're admitting to a crime which may end in a prison sentence, but concealing it means you've got to face your friends and family knowing what you've done and living with that. Which is worse?

The story really pulls you along and in all honesty I was surprised how much I identified with Olivia. Like literally, other than the pushing the man down the stairs thing, me and her could be the same person. Her inability to commit to anything, her mad schemes, her need to prove herself, her intelligence but procrastination letting her down. Olivia is like my soul mate. I think that really gave me such a strong emotional connection with her because Sometimes it felt like the story was about me. It was a weird feeling. But it really allowed me to get lost in the story.
One of my favourite novels from this year. Excellent.

This was the first book I had read by Gillian McAllister and she shines through as a very talented author.
The concept is a great one. The main character, Jo, is faced with a making a snap decision when she makes a terrible mistake after a night out. Her reasoning skills clouded by fear and having had some alcohol to drink, the book splits into two and we see what will happens if she were to call 999 or if she walks away.
Everyone hopes in such a situation they would ‘do the right thing’ but reading about Jo’s situation I could not be so sure that I would have done so 🤭. I think this is testament to Gillian’s skills that she builds up the situation so well that I could understand why Jo failed to take any action.
With regard to the two parts of the book, the ‘conceal’ and ‘reveal’ chapters, which run alongside each other, this again works exceptionally well and I am pleased that Gillian adopted this format rather than writing the book with the whole story one way and then with the other outcome.
I am grateful for an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I highly recommend this book for a different concept and interesting read.