Fantastic to read!

The story is gripping and full of tense moments. Twists and turns await every page! I really enjoyed reading this a lot and can highly recommend it.

Lauren returns to her childhood home after ten years. When she left, her best friend had committed suicide and she wasn't thrilled about going back. Her father asked her to come back for a memorial they were having for Hannah.

This is a psychological thriller but I found it very slow at times and not so thrilling. Yet, I still enjoyed the story and learning what had happened in the past. The author changes up the chapters between present day to the past. And all the secrets a group of friends were hiding.

* I was provided an ARC to read from the publisher and NetGalley. It was my decision to read and review this book.

The Diary by Vikki Patis was one book I was really looking forward to reading. I was immediately intrigued after reading the blurb. Unfortunately, it was a slow building thriller that had a somewhat hard time keeping my attention. It did have some suspense but I figured a big part of the plot in the early stages of the book and in my opinion, the whole thing could have been solved more quickly. I did really appreciate the author for touching a sensitive subject that is teen bullying and suicide.

Here's a quick synopsis:
Ten years after her friend's death, Lauren returns home for the memorial so she can pay her respects. She soon begins to receive threatening text messages about Hannah's diary full of secrets about her and their old group of friends. She spends her time trying to figure out who is sending those messages and why the person wants to bring their old secrets to the surface again after ten years.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honnest review.

This book is told in alternating past and present time periods- which I always enjoy. In the present, Lauren decides to return home for the ten year anniversary of her best friend Hannah's death. In the past tense, more of Lauren and Hannah's relationship is revealed as well as information surrounding Hannah's untimely death.
The dread builds up as the story progresses. I really enjoyed reading about Lauren's relationships. It was especially interesting to see how her relationship with her old school friends differed. I couldn't wait to find out just who was behind everything. I was very satisfied with the ending as well as the journey to get there. I enjoyed this one very much.

3 Stars - First of all, you see that title? Well, that “Diary” wasn’t really important and wasn't useful really! Second, the story itself was so repetitive, and asking repetitive questions over and over without revealing anything was on my nerves (in a bad way)! And it was a bit over the top, in my opinion! I’m not saying it was that bad, but it wasn’t really good either! Told in single POV, 1st person. Overall, it was an okay read for me and I hope you like it more than me!
Thanks to Vikki Patis, Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review - thank you NetGalley! Reading the description of this book made me very excited to read it - I love books about friendship and thrillers! At one point during the book I felt like there were maybe too many characters as I kept having to think, wait, now which girl is this one? But as the book went on I was able to better tell them all apart. I felt like these characters were much younger than they were written based on how they were acting but I believe they were in their early 20's. Overall this was a good, quick read and I would recommend it to friends.

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wouldn’t exactly place this under a “psychological thriller” genre but it was a good story nonetheless! I flew through it!

I thought the characters were easy to follow and the story flowed well. I thought Patis focused really well on some tough issues in a woman’s life, especially a young woman in high school. It’s a tough time and some of the challenges Lauren faced would have been very hard to overcome. As would some of the challenges the other girls faced. The grief & guilt she feels still ten years later is easily visible on the pages of The Diary. I felt like I truly knew Hannah.

Very much reminded me of Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why. But was a little disappointed with the ending. I wouldn’t exactly say it was a big climax that often occurs with psychological thrillers. But like I said, I probably wouldn’t categorize it as such anyways.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, I thought Lauren was complex but believable, and her love for Kate was so sweet. I felt I really got to know Kate even though she's not in it much, so that was good. I also loved Lauren's Dad.

The plot was good too. There were some areas I think that could've been more dramatic or exciting. I kept waiting for something big to happen, that I'm not sure ever came. That said, the final twists were interesting. It's the characters that make this story. 4 stars.

This was an OK read for me. It wasn't quite as gripping as I'd hoped and felt a bit slow at times, just not for me.

Not a bad story, but not the thriller I was expecting and the story seemed to drag on. I struggled to finish this. Also I was confused by the relationship of the two girls and how and why they were friends.

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE DIARY by Vikki Patis in exchange for my honest review.***

2.5 STARS

On the tenth anniversary of Hannah’s suicide, Lauren, her best friend/pseudo sister, returns home to the scene of the tragedy, her father’s house. Lauren and her former friends receive ominous texts, threatening to reveal secrets only Hannah knew. Lauren finds her friend’s old diary which offers new questions and no answers.

Lauren was an interesting and complex character. I loved her relationship with Kate and wished for more Kate in the story. Lauren’s heart was in the right place, she gave Hannah more chances than her friend deserved and always tried to do the right thing. I’d love to see Vikki Patis write a mystery/thriller sequel with Lauren and Kate as protagonists.

I had a difficult time connecting to THE DIARY. While I liked and empathized with Lauren, I never felt like I understood her. The writing, plot and characters lacked the tension to make me feel like real jeopardy existed. I didn’t see the positive aspects of Hannah that would have drawn people to her and had a difficult time separating the former friends.

THE DIARY is an interesting psychological story, with less emphasis on the thriller aspect than I would have liked.

OMG I can't believe this is a debut novel.... It is phenomenal. As the cover says it is a completely addictive psychological thriller!

The events may take place over a few days and much of that time is also spent remembering school days and the teenage issues the characters had to deal with but OMG I couldn't put it down - I read it in a single day!

The author writes such a gripping story that I found myself reading so fast with one eye on the percentage at the bottom of my ereader so that I knew I still had lots to uncover. There is nothing worse than getting into a gripping thriller to find the author wraps up the ending too quickly..... Vikki Patis does not do this.

Vikki has paced this book perfectly and keeps you guessing with many twists and turns throughout the book.  There are so many secrets uncovered - but are they all true? and what secrets are yet to be uncovered?  who knows enough about everyone to be sending them messages......

Unmissable read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Vikki Patis for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.

I just loved The Diary by Vikki Patis. Its full of suspense and had me gripped from the first few pages and I could not put it down. So if you want a book full of twists and turns and you love a good psychological thriller this is a book for you. Just brilliant!

This is a brilliant book about Lauren and Hannah and they have a very special bond, they're like sisters.
When Hannah commits suicide on her 18th Birthday it was a shock to everyone. Why did she commit suicide? Lauren could not deal with it she packed her things and moved away. Lauren did not keep in contact with any of her old school friends...........

Ten years later, Lauren's Dad's texted her asking for her to come and visit him, for the 10 year anniversary of Hannah’s death.
Lauren is finding it hard to go back but decides it's time to visit her family house where Hannah committed suicide and to see her dad. When she arrives home, memories come flooding back to her about her childhood and growing up there.
Her phone beeps, an unknown text. Lauren opens it and then receives more of these threatening text messages from a anonymous person.
Who is sending these to her?
Lauren meets up with some of her old school friends and finds out they are receiving these as well!
Who is sending these and why?
Lauren finds out, Hannah kept a diary and it's full secrets of their childhood and about their friends.
Lauren just wants to run away again but knows she can't run away forever. She accidentally finds this diary hidden in Hannah''s bedroom and starts to read it.

This book is told in the past and present. We meet lots of their friends and relatives, you will see things come unhold and learn lots of regrets from all involved. You will get caught up in this book and will want to finish it to find out why Hannah committed Suicide, on her 18th Birthday
What their friends were hiding?..........Where they really their friends when they grew up together?..........Hannah's and Lauren family life between both families..........Their wild night of booze etc.

A must read and highly recommended read for 2018.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this advanced readers copy.

Thank You Net Galley and Bookouture for an early release of The Diary. I’m sorry to say that I could not wait for it to end. Very disappointing. Should have been in the young adult category and not psychological thrillers.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a psychological thriller that delves into the past. I found this a really compelling read and read it in one sitting.

Lauren and Hannah were best friends. Hannah commits suicide and Lauren returns to their hometown for answers. The secrets are completely blown out of proportion but the book is still compelling I think a lot of people will read and thoroughly enjoy this thriller

After ten years away Lauren returns to her small hometown it’s the anniversary of her childhood friend Hannah’s death. Hannah committed suicide and Lauren had been the one that found her. Lauren and Hannah had been like sisters. So after Hannah’s death Lauren couldn’t handle it so she moves away. Lauren’s father was the one who convinced her to come back for the anniversary. Once she arrives back home Lauren is overcome with memories. Lauren starts to receive anonymous texts and the first one scares her “I don’t know why your back, but I know why you left”. The book goes back and forth in time, we learn about Hannah , Lauren and her friends and the events that led up to her death. This book is packed full of secrets! When Lauren discovers Hannah’s hidden diary that opens a whole can of worms and Lauren starts to question how well she truly knew Hannah. There definitely is a build up of tension and the story progresses it appears that everyone had secrets that they didn’t want to get out so trying to figure out who was sending Lauren the anonymous texts was hard to figure out which I enjoyed. The diary hooks you in from the beginning and held me there until the very last page. It makes you question how well you really know people and I was happy with the ending. The suicide part may not be for everyone so giving a heads up about that. Many thanks to netgalley and bookouture for my advanced copy!

This was an ok read, could have been better. I couldn’t help feeling like all these secrets were blown so far out of proportion. Some bad choices and awful things happened that’s for sure but some secrets weren’t even about the characters themselves, but about their parents. Towards the three quarter mark the story gets a bit preachy. Yes, I know it’s good that women should band together and protect each other but the way it was written was a bit over the top. The conclusion was also strange considering the events leading up to it. That Hannah would have trusted and confided in this character does not make sense. At all. Wasn’t great, wasn’t bad. Eh, moving on

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

Lauren and Hannah were so close to the point of considering themselves sister but when Hannah commits suicide Lauren flees from her family home. On the anniversary of Hannah’s death Lauren’s father begs her to come home. Lauren returns to face the past but soon starts receiving threatening text messages. Lauren reconnects with her and Hannah’s childhood friends and quickly discovers that they too are receiving the same kind of text messages. Who is sending them and why? Hannah leaves behind a diary exposing her deep feelings.

I don't think I would classified this as "psychological thriller". There wasn't any nail biting moments or surprising "ah ha" scenes for me. I enjoyed the story though it did drag on a bit in my opinion so that's why I'm going to rate this right dab in the middle. 

Though I wanted to see who was behind all the threats I didn't feel the thrill or suspense of the book pushing me on. It was just a monotone journey.