Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of You and Me by Nicola Rayner; I enjoyed her first novel The Girl Before You and looked forward to delving into this one! Rayner kicks the mystery off immediately, giving some melancholic family background, then straight into the cataclysmic event which I suspect will springboard us to past important,and possibly life-damaging, cruelties. Curious already? So was I...And there’s nothing like a funeral to reveal vulnerabilities, more se rets and it’s a great way to push the plot points; it’s not a spot in the book when you want to take a break! Rayner does a good job of fleshing out the characters as they interact with each other, always referring back to their college days to deepen the conflict. Fran is made to be off-putting in the eyes of her old mates and there was definitely a traumatic event that binds them...but what, and is Fran as weird as she appears to others? As she continues with her story, the reader has reasons to doubt her perspective...are people really acting as she describes or is it inly in her mind? This is definitely part of the appeal to this mystery, the questioning Rayner provokes, along with an undercurrent of doubt. The mystery picks up steam as you approach The Reveal and you will not be disappointed! Bravo, Nicola Rayner, you stumped me!

I don’t know where to start with this review. I was intrigued by the blurb and storyline and couldn’t wait to dive in. It started out great but failed to keep my attention. I couldn’t get into it with the story or characters. So it was just okay for me. But just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it’s not someone else’s book of the year. So I hope you will give it a read and decide for yourself.

This is twisty, fast paced and addictive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can totally see it as a Netflix feature.

I really enjoyed the beginning part of this story, the characters were very well thought about and I really liked the main character. I wasn’t sure where the story was going or how it was going to end and felt that as the book was nearing the end it was rushed a little and all the answers crammed into the last few chapters.

An okay book, although it was well written it didn't have the 'grab' factor personally for me and I began to lose interest halfway through.

Based on this I don't think I would read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoyed this novel. I was not expecting the big twist or the direction that this novel went. I enjoyed having flashbacks to when Fran and Ellie were at Chesterfield, as it helped me to form better opinions of them, as well as the people they went to school with. With these flashbacks as well as the situations in the present, the book felt very well paced to me.

I also greatly enjoyed the POV of Fran. It was interesting to be inside the mind of a potential stalker, and to see that they think what they are doing is not wrong, or how they justify it. Again, when the novel takes that crazy twist, I was not ready for it all. I was actually gasping out loud and I had to keep reading until the end. Once I got past the halfway mark of the book, I grabbed a large coffee, and sat down determined to finish it and find out all the answers to my questions. The novel does a fantastic job luring you inside the pages, and by the end you begin to question everything you thought to be true.

Overall, I would rate this novel a 4/5 stars, and I look forward to reading more from this author!

Do you remember back when you were back in middle school or early high school, and there was that one girl or guy? Everything he or she was remarkable to you and you were pretty sure you had a heart attack any time they even glanced in your direction. I actually remember this pretty well; the pain of unrequited “love” which is just really an infatuation over someone you don’t know well enough to be annoyed with yet. I remember once saving a candy bar wrapper after he’d left it on the table. Gah! Adolescence.

Then 10 years later, you look back, and you maybe click through their social media and you breathe a sigh of relief about having dodged that bullet. You realize that they way you acted was pretty immature and maybe a little creepy even.

Well, Fran, our MC, is just not there yet. Even though she’s in her 30’s, she regularly stalks her school crush, Charles, and his wife, and their two twins. Not just on social media, but at his work, his house, when he goes out with friends, etc.

Yikes, Fran.

All of this is made worse by that Fran is all alone. Her sister has abandoned her, her mother died, and all she really has to hold close at night is her collection of Charles’ things.

Then a friend of Charles’, and an enemy of Fran’s, Dickie, dies. Fran witnesses it because of course she’s out following Charles. She sees this is her opportunity to break into his life and get him away from his wife and kids.

Fran was a bit underdeveloped and pretty dislikable. I think more than anything, I felt pity and annoyance at her. And a lot of anger at the people in her life who didn’t reach out and say, “Listen, Fran. He’s married now. How about I help you get some counseling? I don’t want you to be heartbroken.” And even some anger at Charles in the beginning, who undoubtedly knew that Fran was doing this, yet never told her to stop or tried to put a restraining order on her, or anything.

Overall, I felt this book was alright, but the characters could’ve used some polish. It reminded me a lot of an Agatha Christie novel.

It was nice to read a thriller again that constantly had me guessing. I had so many theories and none of them were close to the truth.

I massively enjoyed reading this book, the narrator was creepy, certainly unreliable, and very lonely. I was torn between feeling a lot of pity for the character, but also being thoroughly disturbed by her actions. Although I felt the first few chapters were slow, once I got to about 30% of the way through, I was quickly hooked and finished it in one sitting. I actually felt quite unsettled and a little scared at one point (that footprint!!), but I’m sure reading late into the night in a dark quite house helped.

The only downside was that I felt very slightly let down by the ending. It was shocking, but didn’t quite have the impact I was hoping for.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fran, who’s in her late 30s, works in a bookshop and is a loner with no close friends. Since her school days, she’s been obsessed with Charles Fry. She’s certain that they have a connection and that one day he will realise this. She doesn’t only follow him on social media but also stalks him by following him around, sitting on a bench on the estate where he lives, hanging out near him. For now, he’s very married to Fiona with whom he has baby twins. He’s only friendly and cordial towards her, just like he was at school when he saved her a few times from awkward situations.
She also has a younger sister who’s the mother of Rose, a niece she never met, something she feels very bad about. Ellie ran away from her after a vicious argument and lives abroad now but most of the time Fran doesn’t know exactly where. They only talk on Facebook and through e-mail. She misses her terribly and often thinks to spot her somewhere in London.
One night when she’s following Charles to the platform of the tube, she witnesses how Dickie (another schoolmate) falls under the train. She thinks that he recognised someone and may have been pushed but doesn’t tell anyone that she was there as well.

There’s something universal about unrequited love and as a young teen, who hasn’t pined after some unattainable boy we were secretly in love with? I do remember riding my bicycle numerous times a day through the street where this boy lived. (I can’t believe it, but I’m not sure anymore what his name was). But for most of us, we grow out of these infatuations. Here, our main character hasn’t and is delusional about the meaning of Charles’ friendliness.
This was a difficult book for me. It started out very slow and I didn’t think this book was for me. All these people who’re stuck in their schooldays friendships and never move on, just gossiping and keeping secrets from one another as if their still 16. The characters are really annoying; Caroline the widow was the most likeable of the lot. With Fran, I felt sorry for her but also wanted to give her a good shake-up and shout “Grow up, get a life and get real!” This part was tedious and I only kept reading to find out if she saw something or not. With all her fantasies about Charles, she’s not exactly a trustworthy narrator. So you’re left guessing. But it is really drawn out and I wouldn’t give it more than 2 stars.
But then a bit over halfway, the story changed and became interesting. At this point, I got pulled into the narrative and the suspense. I won’t tell you what happens, but it’s something I never would have guessed. A very well found intrigue, I must say. So if you can read through the first half without giving up, you get a second half that’s a really good and suspenseful psychological thriller with several twists and turns that deserves at least 4 stars.
I don’t know how 2 parts of the same book can be so widely different but it’s very difficult to rate. I settled for 3 stars as the average.
I thank Netgalley and Avon for the free ARC they provided me with; this is my honest unbiased review of it.

This was a just ok read for me- didn’t wow me or distinguish itself from any of the other 100s of psychological thrillers I’ve read. It was mediocre but managed to somehow keep my interest until the end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

The first few chapters are a little tough to get into. Once you get past this the story gets going and its makes for an exciting and fast paced read,. The characters are all credible and well written. I look forward to more from this writer.

Blimey! I had to read this in one sitting - I quite literally could not put this down (yes it is nearly 1am!)

The ‘You’ Netflix series meets ‘Girl on the Train’ tag line is absolutely spot on!

The story line is lacy and full of twists and turns. I love the flashbacks to Fran and Charles’ time at Chesterfield. The narrative detailing the treatment of those perceived as ‘weaker’ at school was gut-wrenching, and being a teacher unfortunately rang so familiar it was uncomfortable at times - but this added to how compelling the novel is.

Being an avid thriller reader I had my suspicions of the major plot line by about 2/3 of the way through - but even with this the ending was absolute dynamite! There were so many mini-narratives and threads that woven through the plot that, despite having pieces together some of them, you simply have to keep reading to complete the puzzle.

I try not to give away too much in reviews - but this is a definite must read!

I was drawn to this book by the cover photo.

It was an ok read. Easy to follow and quite predictable at times. It seemed at times to be very slow in moving forward then at other times felt it moved too fast. The writing style was similar to a lot of books out there. Didn’t keep me hooked but at the same time it didn’t make me want to put it down as I still wanted to find out what happened next.

Having not read this author before I wasn’t sure what to expect; although the story was slow to start it gradually grew on me.

Fran was in love with Charles Fry at school. Years later she’s still in love with him and likes to follow him around. On one of her regular watching missions she witnesses a tragic incident. She hopes this will bring her and Charles closer together; but what she finds instead are the answers to many unresolved questions, causing her to shed the rose tinted glasses she saw Charles through.

Good thriller with an unexpected twist.

This wasn't quite what I expected but was a decent read. It seemed like the plot moved too slowly at times but then the ending felt fairly rushed.

I thought I was creeped out by Fran’s need to follow around Charles and her unhealthy obsession with him that started in grade school. By the end of the story I realized there was so much more to be freaked out by and Freaky Fran wasn’t the biggest one! Fran is going about her daily life telling the story from her present POV and her past POV about what happened in grade school that made these monsters who they were today. She lives a simple life always alone since she fell out with her sister who leaves her clues and sends pictures and only emails about her current life raising Frans niece. Soon an old school mate does suddenly and Fran finds an excuse to talk to Charles instead of just watching him. Fran integrates herself into their social world again trying to figure out what happened and who did it. She never realizes she will get everything single answer especially the ones she didn’t want. I felt there was a lot going on in this book which was hard to keep straight. I also guessed the ending even though it was twisty it was unbelievable I thought.

This book is full of suspense with the main character not that likable as she can be rude although I felt great sympathy for her. Fran who many see as a loner, or weird and lacks friendships but from the back story of her time during her childhood in a boarding school, it is not surprising. Fran is obsessed with Charles who as they grow up into adulthood marries and has twins, whilst Fran continues her obsession with him. One night she follows him and believes she has witnessed a murder.
The secrets are revealed slowly throughout the book and it made me question continuously how blind love can be. For Fran, she cannot see what the truth is, and there were clever twists and the final twist towards the end was brilliant.
I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5
.
Fran became obsessively in love with Charles back when they went to school together. She was always a loner, known as “freaky Fran” by the other students.
.
Now they are adults, Charles is married with twins, but over the years, Fran’s obsession has only grown. She follows and watches Charles’ life, imagining it is her that he is married to.
.
One night while following Charles, Fran witnesses one of their old classmates die, she is sure that he was murdered. The death brings all of the old classmates together- before long old secrets, lies and betrayals emerge.
.
________________________________________
.
This is like a mixture of You and Eleanor Oliphant.
It’s a pretty slow burn. The first 3/4 is kind of drawn out, the pace picks up in the last quarter and I really liked that part.
.
Overall, it was a pretty good read.
.
✨Due out March 30, 2021✨
.
Thank you @netgalley for the chance to review this book

Francesca Knight is a loner, has few friends, she’s even estranged from her sister Ellie and niece Rose. Since attending Chesterfield Boarding School in Derbyshire she’s had a ‘thing’ for Charles Fry. She follows him one night to a tube station, he’s chatting with another school acquaintance Dickie Graham when she witnesses something shocking. From this point in Fran’s life will never be the same again as she confronts tragedy and some horrific truths.

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller in the company of the enigmatic Fran. What is so interesting is trying to work out if she’s ‘Freaky Fran’ as her former school pupils believe, is she dark or is she a lonely voyeur, an outsider desperate for acceptance? The sisters school days at Chesterfields are conveyed well with all it’s confusing contradictions, teenage meanness and at times, brutality. I like the way the truth unravels a bit at a time and the mystery of her sister gets deeper and deeper. I really like the ending when the scales are completely removed from Fran’s eyes and she finally sees the truth and people for what they really are.

Overall, this is a well executed novel of obsessive love which blinds to the truth leading Fran to make many errors. I also really like the many literary references that match so well with Fran and her background. I look forward to reading mor e by Nicola Rayner in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

I haven't read Rayner's debut yet, a mistake I'll be rectifying immediately! You and Me is one of those books that really keeps you guessing. Fran was troubled and did things that made her seem unlikeable, but I actually quite liked that about her. She doesn't do things for other people, she does what feels right for her, and because of this she was mercilessly bullied at school. She may be in her 30s now, but it can be difficult to forget the experiences that shape you as a young adult, and Rayner presents this very well.

This novel also shows just how blind love can be, and how willing we are to paper over the cracks and pretend everything is okay. I had a feeling about the way the ending would go and Rayner didn't disappoint. I was definitely giving one particular character the side eye throughout. I agree that this book is slightly slower paced than others in the genre, but that isn't a criticism. I enjoy a story I can relax into, a story which gets under my skin and drags me along until the bittersweet conclusion.