Wow!!! I am actually speechless (which if you know me is a miracle in itself). This book was phenomenal - I can’t even begin to stress how good it was. It hooked me in from the first few pages and before I knew it I was half way through and the only reason I put it down was I had work in the morning.

I went into this book blind as I hadn’t read any blurb or reviews etc. so I didn’t know what to expect but boy did the twists and turns keep coming at you fast and hard.

The story is mainly told through Lisa, her 16 year old daughter Ava and best friend Marilyn’s point of view.

Lisa is over protective of her daughter Ava. She is paranoid that something is going to happen to her.

Ava has a secret that not even her best friends know.

And with Marilyn appearances aren’t what they seem.

I don’t really want to give anymore details anyway as I liked not knowing- it made it all the more heart racing.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A really gripping thriller that kept me guessing until the very last page. I loved it. Would recommend!

I approach a book with the claims ‘Warning: Will keep you up all night’ with some trepidation. However, I am pleased to report that Sarah Pinborough’s latest thriller ‘Cross Her Heart’ is a finger aching page turner that will most definitely have you burning the midnight oils.

With a story pulled straight from the news headlines the book hooks you in from the get go. In short and without spoilers Lisa committed an horrific crime as a child and has subsequently had her identity changed and made a new life for herself. But the past has a way of coming back to haunt you.

In short, snappy, easily digestible chapters alternating between the books lead characters, Lisa, Ava (Lisa’s daughter) and best friend Marilyn the dark story that ties these three women together is slowly unveiled. As the story is revealed you are forced to reassess your opinion of these characters and their actions. Some of the books flashback scenes to Lisa’s early life are very dark and although Cross Her Heart is a work of fiction it does go some way to examine the consequences of the children who slip between the cracks in our society.

There are plenty of twists and turns, red herrings and a killer ending, everything you’d want from a great thriller. With the summer holiday season fast approaching this is definitely a book to pack in your suitcase. It’s the perfect holiday read.

This is the first Sarah Pinborough book I've read but it won't be the last. This was one that was chosen by the book group that I'm in and, having heard the author speak at Bloody Scotland in 2018, I was keen to find out what her books were like so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that.  

I could not put this book down. I admit I did find one or two parts a little hard to believe but on the whole it was a fabulous read. The author did a brilliant job of portraying the lives of those in and after, abusive and controlling relationships. I cannot fault that at all. There is so much fear after leaving a relationship like that that I understood why Lisa was being overprotective of her daughter but little did I realise that the reasons ran far deeper than that. 

This is a story that shows that you really do not know what is going on in someone's life, however much you think you might. It also shows the dangers of social media and how easy it is for secrets to come out in an instant from something completely innocuous and unexpected.  The characters were brilliantly written, from the teenage Ava to the adults and their relationships, both as friends and work relationships. I spent half of this book wondering if Lisa was safe and hoping she was and the rest of it wondering how the people around her would deal with the secrets that came out and what would happen next. There are flashbacks which help explain a few things and are carefully woven into the story so they enhance rather than hinder it. 

I would definitely recommend this book but I would also warn you to make sure you have time when reading it as one you get drawn in you won't be able to put it down!

Pinburough’s new novel ‘Cross Her Heart’ is an interesting tale that is mostly told from the first person by three different points of view. At times, in the Part One section, this is a bit confusing but thankfully the chapter headings keeps the reader in check on who’s point of view we are reading. Personally, I am not a huge lover of first perspective storytelling but within the framework of this novel it works extremely well.

Part Two opens up the story and take the plot in a different twist and from this point we go beyond the suburban drama that starts out the previous section. This is where the book really finds its footing and grabs the reader and never letting go until the very end.

Pinsburough has a real gift in keeping things in check and dishing out small details to provide an exciting picture that starts colouring in the lines of her plot. Using quite a few red herrings to keep me on my toes, the twist and turns work fantastically well and never seemed force. She also has a talent to present things one way and then turn it on its head and gives another point of view. I found this very effective.

The characters are very well developed and three dimensional which in a book this complex doesn’t always come across. Cross Her Heart has well fleshed out characters from the miniscule to the main characters. She has left no stone unturned which gives this book extra kudos.

The ending of the book develops more twist and turns then a mountain pass which makes this book exciting, full filling and hard to put down to get back to real life. This page turner delivers on all fronts and there is not one point where I rolled my eyes because it all feels real.

Overall, this is an exciting chapter in Pinburough’s career and a book that yearns to be read and devoured. Interesting plot, fantastic characters and extremely complex narrative told in a style that everyone can enjoy. This is a whirlwind novel that delivers and keeps delivering long after the final sentence is read. It does tend to stay in the self conscious long after reading and I am excited to see what Pinburough has up her sleeve next. I am now going to hunt out her back catalogue because I think I found new author I can really get involved in reading.

Another great read from Sarah Pinborough . Loved the characters and it kept you gripped til the last page.

Thank you for allowing me to revieethis book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, right from the beginning I was captivated by the characters.
I like a book written in this style from 3 different viewpoints although at times I did get a bit lost with the characters (I can’t say too much at Thai point without giving the plot away). It’s good to read a book covering the topic on the modern society and the impact that social networking sights can have on teenagers.
This book is a great thriller that really does have you guessing right up until the very end. Lots of twists and turns as well.
Am looking forward to reading more of this authors books based on the quality of this one.

Another excellent offering from Sarah Pinborough, which kept me turning pages from beginning to end. With a few good twists and turns thrown in for good measure, for me I loved the character relationships and how friendship can mean so much. A little dark in places but compulsive reading nonetheless.

As with most of Sarah Pinborough's books, it's very hard to write a comprehensive review without giving too much away about the plot. If you've read the author's books before, you'll know that she loves to play with her readers' minds - and does that very well! You'll also know that you're better off going into the books knowing very little about them.

Cross Your Heart focuses on single working mother Lisa, who will do anything to protect her teenage daughter, Ava, especially from events of the past. This complex psychological thriller keeps the reader guessing, not just about what happened years ago, but also about which (if any) of the characters should (or can) be trusted.

This is very much a novel about secrets - those between families and friends and lovers but also those brushed under the carpet by society. The story is told through multiple viewpoints. Some parts, in particular, are emotional and hard-hitting. The last third of the book is filled with twists that keep on coming, pulling back more layers with each revelation, and at times I had to pause to take a breath.

This is fast-paced rollercoaster read that also manages to be compassionate, heartbreaking and disturbing. A fantastic choice for psychological thriller fans.

4.5 stars! For the most part I loved this book. I loved the way that each chapter was told from another perspective.
There were some twists - some of which were ridiculously unbelievable and really didn’t need to be included! There was, however some really harrowing parts which were upsetting, but handled sensitively.
I read it in one sitting and loved the rollercoaster effect it had on me.
Dropped half a star for the magicians house and the “culprit/culprits” bit which really peed me off (that bits in code to prevent any spoilers)

I so wanted to love this book - and, for the most part, I did! From the opening chapter, I was intrigued. What seemed like a simple story of a Mother and her teenage daughter, who are both hiding secrets, soon escalated to a fast-paced drama with twists and turns that you just didn't see coming. The only reason I couldn't give this five stars is because I really felt like the first part dragged on and could have been much shorter.

A great follow-up to Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough’s latest thriller is a hold-on-tight read that has you racing through from beginning to end. Many writers use multiple points of view but few are this adept. Pinborough’s characterisation is sound & the mother/daughter dynamic is satisfyingly realistic and emotionally charged. With plenty of twists, turns and secrets to uncover, Cross Her Heart is an intelligent and well-plotted winner. Recommended.

Fantastic book - absolutely loved it. Cannot wait for her next book. I haven't read the first, but following this one, instantly purchased online. The book was fast paced and full of great twists and turns. Will be following this author closely. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

Cross Her Heart is the first book I've read by Sarah Pinborough and I enjoyed it so much that I now have Behind Her Eyes right at the top of my TBR list.

I loved this book. It's dark and at times heartbreaking. It's got the mystery, the suspense and the twists. Highly recommended!

I actually finished it at the start of the week and I still miss it (does anyone else get like this with books?).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of those books that although you want to find out what is the end result, you want it to carry on because it is so good.

A totally gripping thriller this book holds you entranced from beginning to end.

This is an intriguing thriller, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked.

Forty year old Lisa is escaping something terrible from her past, but what? Her daughter Ava has fallen in love with a mysterious stranger online....but who is it? Lisa's friend Marilyn is hiding secrets of her own....what will she do when she finds out Lisa's secret?

I found this enjoyable and easy to read.

I don't really know where to start with this book.

It's a good read but I felt like I'd read it before. It's a cliche story with a cliche ending to be honest and it's been overdone.

The Twists and turns were unfortunately predictable and the writing style seemed forced. There was no real difference in personalities between the characters even though the chapters were done as if it was a different character speaking.

There were a lot of plot holes and a lot of unanswered questions with characters simply dropped.

It wasn't a chore reading this book but it wasn't exactly a pleasure either.

I would not recommend this novel.

Cross Her Heart was one of those stories that had me racing through the pages, and then another twist was added which ramped up the tension even further!

Lisa is someone who likes to keep herself to herself and is not one for hogging the limelight. As a character she's dull and almost forgettable. That is until you realise she is not who she at first appears to be. After a moment of courage and bravery, Lisa is thrown into the spotlight and gets a lot of unwanted media attention she doesn't want.

Ava is Lisa's stroppy teenage daughter, who is making Lisa's life far more difficult than it needs to be. She's part of a gang of girls of which she trusts. They understand her more than her own mother, who can be very overbearing. All she wants is to have some fun, but her mother is always there spoiling things. So when she starts to talk to this mystery guy online, she realises she must keep this a secret from her mother, because she'll never understand and ruin everything. After all, he could be the answer to all her worries, if her mother doesn't step in and interfere.

Marilyn is Lisa's best friend. To look at her you'd think she has the perfect life, but she's holding just as many secrets as the other characters, some even Lisa is not privy to.

An engrossing, expertly written, and thoroughly entertaining read! What more can I say? It's a must read for all psychological thriller fans!

Enjoyable read,very sad story with an exciting climatic ending. I did feel that the book lasted slightly too long, however I would still recommend.

A lot of reviews for Cross Her Heart observe that this novel has a ‘slow start’. I couldn’t disagree more. The beginning of this story drew me in like a fish on a line and I was hooked immediately by the tension, the incredible writing, and the creeping sense of dread that pervaded these opening chapters. I loved the commentary from Ava, her secret relationship felt raw and real and I understood why she’d want to hide it from her mother and her friends. I enjoyed Marilyn’s story, too, the hint that her life was not as perfect as it initially seemed. And Lisa’s narrative drove the entire plot: what is she hiding? Why? Is it really as bad as it seems?

The problems, for me, came in the latter stages. The twists were completely bonkers, and not in a good way. The reveals were outrageously bad. I felt completely cheated that there was little to no way I could have guessed who did it and why. For me, a more realistic story wins every time and the ending here was the complete opposite. I guess part of the reason is that readers often demand to be shocked, I read reviews all the time that claim ‘I guessed who it was straight away: 1 star’, so Sarah Pinborough is clearly avoiding that trap! But, if you suspect who the baddie is you inherently understand their motivations, and, when you can’t, and their motivation turns out to be incredible tenuous, it’s not a fantastic twist: it’s a complete let down.

4 out of 5 stars because great writing wins every time and even though I didn’t like the conclusion I was gripped enough to find out what happened.