I found this one a little slow. It was more the half way through before the creepy factor really got going. I also had it figured out about then...

This book was crazy... the ending shocked me. I am still processing. I really struggled with being so upset with the main character at times, yet still rooting for her all the same. Great read!

I don’t know any other way to put this other than to say this read like a bad Lifetime movie to me....
At about 18% I realized this wasn’t for me, so I jumped to the 80% mark and finished from there.
I didn’t miss much. 
It gets a second star for the very last chapter. That was cheeky good.

ARC provided by NetGalley

I found this one hard to connect with and my frustration with Hannah just grew and grew she was just too naive for me I meant how many red flags does one girl need! 

Having said that I have read other books by Sue which I have enjoyed so it hasn't put me off.

Initially I found this story slow going and I found I didn't really connect with it.
I did persevere with it as I had enjoyed previous books by this author and I was glad I did. The last third was much better and had a great twist at the end.

This book was saved by the ending which was unexpected.. Hannah annoyed me because she had so many red flags where Alex was concerned and she ignored them. I also got caught up in the fact that as a Social Worker her sense of confidentiality was rather lax.
On the whole it was a pleasant read and a salutatory lesson regarding internet dating.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion

Unbelievably creepy but a darn good read. A real page turner with a shocking twist at the end. I loved every single page.

This book was okay. It took me awhile to read because it was so predictable. I found myself skipping over many parts of the book. It just felt like a lot of repetitiveness. While I did enjoy the extra plot twist at the end, it was just a little too extra.

Hannah is a bit naive when it comes to love, especially when it comes to her first date with Alex.  Her breakup with Tom was long overdue and she meets Alex online, as many happy couples do.  She is a well liked and very sweet 38 year old woman looking for love.  It all just fits like puzzle pieces on the first date. He's handsome and successful with a nice home. He's the package....With a past.
Hannah ignored every sign that she should run!  She didn't do what normal people would do in specific scenarios. Does she not see his creepy side??  She comes off as totally clueless and allows unacceptable behavior from Alex like a lost puppy dog.
Thank god the last 15-20% of the novel picks up and turns this lackluster story into a thrilling, riveting read.  3.5 stars.  Quick and easy read, I'll be looking forward to the next one by Sue Watson for sure!

First Date is a bit of a thriller, but it is more a playbook of what NOT to do when you are dating.  Hannah seems to be desperate and needy.  She falls immediately for Alex.  While I was reading I could not believe that she could not see the red flags.  They were everywhere.  At the same time, she was throwing up a few herself.  They were almost a perfect couple in some ways.  It was really clear from early on that he was just not right.  Neither was she.  The book went on as Alex worked to further and further separate Hannah from everyone in her life except him.  Hannah sees it and then ignores it.  

The ending throws in a bunch of backstory and explanation that would have been better had it been slowly revealed throughout.  And then the final little is thrown in to be the "twist" that publishers seemed to want added.  This was a cautionary dating tale.  C'mon, people!  Don't date until you like yourself!

A fantastic page turner which has so many twists and turns I didn’t see them coming. I never suspected the outcome. Definitely 5 stars from me. Can’t wait for the next book 📖 

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review

Hannah's first date with Alex goes exceptionally well and by the end of it, she thinks she may have met the perfect match.  Both want three kids, a yellow lab, merlot is their drink of choice and love to vacation in Devon.  For Hannah, who has had terrible luck with dating, this almost seems too good to be true. Almost. Because Hannah believes fully in who Alex has presented himself to be. Her friends and colleagues... not so much. 

I have watched a lot of true crime and this is not an unfamiliar story.  Woman meets guy, thinks he's perfect and her world now revolves around him.  Friends think woman is moving way too fast.  Are they just jealous?  The story has a very real feel to it, which I enjoy.  In this story though,  we can read about what's going on in Hannah's mind, how she analyzes every situation.  It becomes difficult to empathize with her when she disregards so many red flags.  She is a social worker. Even though she primarily works with kids,  you would think she wouldn't be so blind to blatant manipulation.  That however, would not make a good story.   My favorite part was definitely the ending.  Very well done ending, though I don't want to say too much.

I have been a fan of Sue Watson for a while now having read several of her books and rating them rather highly so I was quite looking forward to reading this new thriller that is being published. Unfortunately though this one didn’t turn out to be the amazing read that I had thought, or at least that I hoped that it would be.

Hannah is in her mid thirties and still very very single not having met that perfect man that would sweep her off her feet. When her best friend suggests that she finally tries online dating she is more than hesitant feeling a little weird swiping through the photos but Hannah finally agrees to a date with Alex.

As Hannah and Alex are on their first date things seem way too good to be true when so many of their wants in life seem to match up perfectly. Soon Hannah and Alex are falling in love but Hannah’s co-workers and friends all seem to think there is just something about Alex that just isn’t adding up.

For me this book is one of those that just went way too far to set up it’s point. In here Hannah sees so many red flags about Alex but she continually brushes them off with excuse after excuse to where I’m screaming “Girl are you colorblind or what??” I mean normal folks would not tolerate even a fraction of what this main character was putting up with and all this filled the first 80% or so of the book which made the story more than begin to drag like crazy. However, the reason I went with three stars after I thought this one would finish even lower was the ending was the twisty mess I expect from the author so at least it did finish on a good note for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I read this book in record time as I just could not put it down. It was gripping from the start but then I thought the end was rushed.............................but it wasn't the end. That was when the twist arrived and WOW !!!!! I did not see that coming. Great book. I loved it

Okay first of all I am definitely a fan of Sue Watson as an author, however this book (although I enjoyed it) I ended up rating as a mere 3/5. Hannah the main character was somebody I just wanted to drop kick throughout the entire book. Normally if I dislike a character I can ignore this to a point, however this one....no it just wasn't possible!

Hannah wants to meet somebody and when Alex comes into her life and she makes her first date with him, the red flags for this guy are not just obvious... they are jumping out and dancing on the bloody table! Hannah's first date with solicitor Alex is a bit of an eye opener but she is smitten from the get go. Hannah's friends (quite rightly so) try to warn Hannah but of course Hannah knows best (insert another drop kick at this point).

I found myself getting irritated by the fact that somebody could be so stupid, and then thinking I had it all worked out. The story continued inmuch the same thread for the majority of the book. That is until the end when Sue decided to put it all on it's arse and throw the readers a curveball (I certainly didn't see it coming). If my rating was based on the last section of the book it would be different, however sadly for me my irritation of Hannah just tipped the scales. Still a good read in terms of this sort of book, but for me not one of my favoruites by this author!

This was such a great thriller! It pulled me in right away and all the secrets and lies kept me turning the pages. I knew things were going to get crazy, but I couldn’t figure out which direction it was going to come from. I read it in one sitting because I felt like I had to know where the plot was going.

A fantastic chilling, dark and twisty,fast paced thriller. With a good few characters you enjoy disliking. I felt like shaking Hannah for most of the book. She's not the most likeable of characters and I often found myself wanting to scream at her to open her eyes. I really enjoyed this from start to finish and it definitely kept me guessing right until the very last page. This book is everything you want in a psychological thriller.
Trigger warning for manipulative/abusive relationships.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Hannah had had a rough childhood and rocky dating life. After a tough breakup, she signs up for online dating and promptly meets the man of her dreams, Alex, but of course things that seem too good to be true often are. 

I struggled with this one for 2 weeks. When I put it down I really didn't feel compelled to get back to it. This felt like a story where there shouldn't be a story because anyone with any half a brain would have seen the CONSTANT and immediate red flags with this guy and ended things straight away. Really the whole book was Alex behaving strangely, Hannah's friend and boss Jas telling her Alex is behaving strangely and Hannah explaining it away. There was quite a twist at the end but unfortunately I didn't care by then. This was not my favorite from this author but I am sure I will read more based on past enjoyment of her work.

This book follows Hannah, a British social worker who wears her heart on her sleeve. She goes on a perfect first date with a guy named Alex, who seems too good to be true. Is he though? There are many red flags but she starts to doubt everyone and doesn't know who to believe....

This book was a real page turner, it was hard to put down. Just when you think there can't be any more surprises, there are! I love British characters for some reason, the way they think, the way they speak. I guess I'm just imagining the beautiful British accent! 

I found Alex really annoying, he is very needy, controlling and jealous. Who hasn't dated someone like that in their past? It's frustrating to read Hannah justifying his actions over and over. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

4.5/5 rounded up to 5. The story was really well thought out and kept you guessing.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the eGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 

Third story I’ve read by this author and they’ve all been fantastic but this is my least favorite. It’s not the writing or pacing, both are great. I think it’s the premise, aging and slightly damaged female that falls instantly in love with any male that makes the slightest effort. 

The book has a great creepy vibe and the story keeps you on the edge of your seat. The second half was a whirlwind of events but the last twist was awesome!! 

I will always pick up a book by this author. She can certainly spin a tale!  Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.