Really enjoyed this, Sue's latest thriller. Twisty and tense with great characters that keep me turning the pages! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read an advance copy.

Now it’s no secret that I love Sue’s books. Her romcoms are hilarious and when she made the move to thriller I was really excited. 
I really liked this!! It was such an easy read, it had me convinced who the culprit was then it threw a few spanners in the works and I just had no idea who to blame as time went on! It’s unsettling, believable & full of great characters. Sue has a great easy flow to her writing that sweeps you along and before you know it it’s over!! A fab book!
Thank you to @netgalley & @bookouture for my #gifted eARC.

If I had to sum this book up in one sentence it would be "Damn, if only the rest of the book was as good as the last few chapters I would have LOVED it!"

HANNAH GET A GRIP, I feel like this style of naive, ignore the signs, desperate woman is so overdone to the point the audience almost view the manipulative, controlling behaviour exhibited by Alex as her fault - because she was so clueless to what was happening, ignoring her friends etc etc that of course she allowed this to happen, and excused it even.

The first half of the book is SOOO slow, I was bored of waiting for something to happen, Hannah was so unlikeable and unpalatable that by the time something did happen I was kind of glad, never how you want to feel about a victim in a scenario like this!

The twists in the last third of the the book finally helped pick up the pace but unfortunately not well enough tot redeem the book for me. Sorry Ms Watson this one is a bit of a fail for me. Thank you so much to netgalley and Bookoture for the ADR in exchange for an honest review, I am only sorry I couldn't find much to praise.

Absolutely loved this book. With all the technology around you could just visualise reading this as a police investigation in the newspapers. Kept me hooked from beginning to end. Will be recommending it to friends and family

This was my first book by Sue Watson.  I enjoyed it from the beginning.  It sucked me in from page one.  I kept second guessing all the ideas I was thinking about what was gonna happen next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Good thing I'm married after reading this I don't ever want to go on a first date again. So twisty it blew my mind had me from the first page. If you love intense psychological thriller this book is a must read.

This book was definitely a psychological/domestic thriller that both kept me on the edge of my seat AND guessing at what the heck is going on here!!  The female main character, Hannah, has just recently left a serious relationship and is  now looking at getting back into the dating life.  As both her friend  and boss, Jaz talks her into setting up a profile on one of the Internet match sites (warning bells ring here).  And right away, she finds Alex, whose profile picture immediately draws her in....and she decides to acknowledge it and see what happens.   First date....everything falls into place...could there be a more perfect man??  But is Hannah just too anxious for a loving relationship that she misses or excuses certain behaviors?  The story twists and turns, involving the exes of both Hannah and Alex, Hannah’s other work associates Harry and Sameera, along with a teenaged Chloe, one of Hannah’s social work clients. Too many characters?  No....the author weaves them seamlessly into the story as we learn about the importance of these relationship to Hannah.  Watching Hannah navigate the complexities of this new relationship gets frustrating at times because she seems too gullible and trusting.  Is Alex the player he appears to be??  A few final twists in the book will have you wondering what you read earlier.  I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bookoutre in return for an honest review, which this has been.  #NetGalley #FirstDate

What does it take for you to get sucked into a new book? A certain number of pages or great story build up?

For me, I need action right off the bat that will hook me in and make me want to keep reading. "First Date" had that. After that, I couldn't put this down. The plot had me needing more. Unfortunately, the characters weren't my favorite. I feel like Hannah is a bit weak and easily ployed, but it wasn't enough to dislike her. 

The plot was the saving grace in this one. Good book by Sue Watson and a quick read.

Thank you for allowing me to read and give my honest opinion.

Oh I do love a book featuring a psycho girlfriend or boyfriend, don't you?....Just me?... 😄
Anyway this book had that, or did it? 🤔🤔🤔

From the start I knew I was going to enjoy it and I did! The main character Hannah was relatable albeit slightly too trusting and gullible which for a few chapters further into the book was starting to annoy me and I wanted to jump into the book and tell her to run for the hills...

BUT then the beginning of the end started up and everything was cranked up to full anxiety and distress for Hannah, and me aswell as it happens. 

Then the end END completely made the whole book for me, brilliant!!!! 
Very clever, VERY unexpected and very WELL DONE 👏 

Intrigued? You should be... give it a go, you won't be disappointed 
FIRST DATE is out NOW!!!!
THANK YOU to #bookouture #suewatson and #netgalley for the fab and thrilling read

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Full disclosure, I did request an ARC of this book, but that didn't stop me from squealing with delight when I was approved for it! I have loved Sue Watson's thrillers ever since reading her first one and this book did not disappoint either. It was creepy enough to keep me hooked without being far fetched as some books in this genre can be. Towards the end I did begin to guess a part of the twists but Sue still managed to add further twists which I did not anticipate, making it another great read. This book will definitely leave you questioning the safety of online dating and just how real people are on their social media profiles. Another great thriller from this author, the only problem with it being such a page turner is now having to wait patiently and hope she is currently in the process of writing another one. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐#netgalley #suewatson #firstdate #goodreads #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookstagram #bookqueen #thrillers #plottwists #amazonkindle

Wow what a ride,I enjoyed this so much. It is was meticulously paced. It had me on the edge of my chair and with each page was nail biting expense. Full of twists and turns up until the last page. I loved the plot twist at the ending bravo and thank you netgalley and the publisher and the author for giving me the chance to read this amazing thriller.

What a great story this is! 
I was completely drawn into the story of Hannah and Alex and really didn’t want to put this book down. 
I love the writing style used in this book as its straight to the point, and quite matter of fact which is exactly what keeps me focused on a story. 
The way the characters are portrayed made me suspect something wasn’t right with a few of them, and I have to be honest, they did grate on me and I was also screaming internally for Hannah to open her eyes as to what was actually going on. 
The suspense and tension throughout the book made me feel quite anxious at times as it was quite creepy and tense with the way Alex behaves, quite uncomfortable which for me, is a sign of some fantastic writing. 
The only criticism I have is how suddenly I felt it ended, for there then to be a chapter explaining it all, which is great to tie it all up, but it just felt a bit out of keeping with the flow of the book. The pace was brilliant throughout the book, and I just felt it stopped suddenly. 
This book finishes with an absolutely amazing Epilogue and it has made me want to know what happens next!

Having never read anything by Sue Watson, and having seen lots of buzz around this book, I was intrigued to pick it up. The story of Hannah who has had a difficult childhood and is determined her life is going to be different, - when she meets Alex online, he seems to be the perfect man and she is quickly planning her future with him. Her friends are less convinced he is all that he appears but Hannah is all too willing to overlook his flaws in her search for her "happy ever after".

I must confess I have mixed feelings about this book - for an intelligent woman, Hannah seemed all too prepared to forgive all the red flags and I therefore found her a little annoying as a character, which meant the middle of the book dipped a little for me.  That said, I did want to keep reading and it proved to be worth it, as there is a twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming. So many books seem to peter out towards the end and this was absolutely not the case with this one, so I applaud Watson for that. Overall an enjoyable, quick read with such a clever ending that its definitely worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a pleasant surprise this book was, I’m not usually one for a psychological thriller – I’m a bit scaredy cat to be honest but I just couldn’t put this book down. 

Hannah and Jas are best friends, they’re both unhappily single for very different reasons. Hannah falls in love too quickly and ends up unhappy in a relationship because of it. Jas is a widow. The pair of them work together as Social Workers and after not having the best starts to life, understand each other and their clients because of it. 

On one of their girly nights out, Jas talks Hannah into giving online dating a try again and very soon she see’s the profile of a handsome lawyer who lives nearby, this was Alex. 

Hannah and Alex meet up and end up falling in love quickly. They have so much in common, its like they are destined to be together. 

The last quarter of this book is where it gets gripping, with complicated social work cases and Alex’s past coming to light it becomes exciting and shocking. 

Another thing I enjoyed about this book is that there weren’t too many characters to focus on. It didn’t get too complicated in having to think of who knows who and how, it was simply work and Alex. 

If you like a gripping read, buy the book now! Yes, Hannah sounds a little bit stubborn at times but once you remember that love is blind, you’ll see past it. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

After reading ‘First Date’ I pity my next read as this is one tough act to follow! 

Formerly in state care herself, Hannah is a social worker who can’t believe her luck when she has the dream first date with Alex. He seems equally into her and the relationship very quickly progresses. Hannah’s best friend, Jess, seems more immune to Alex’ charms and when Hannah begins to experience a series of strange and unfortunate events we begin to wonder just who really has Hannah’s best interests at heart...

This is SUCH a gripping story. I can not stress this enough. My life is enhanced by having a good read in it - and this one totally delivered!

The characters were developed to perfection. The plot simultaneously dark and twisty ...and as for the ending - just WOW! 

My thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy. Massive thanks to author Sue Watson for writing such an engaging novel!

It has an interesting plot, and it leaves you with intrigue every time you read more, in general it was an entertaining book and I recommend it if you want to read something "light" or if you are tired of watching series on Netlifx.

First Date by Sue Watson

is Red flag a word ? 🚩🚩
Do you listen to your gut ? I do !

They’re two types of girls in this world. 

There’s Hannah’s and there’s Jas’s. I’m a Jas , short for Amanda. JK. 😎
Hannah has this ideology about life and relationships and gives guys umpteen chances , to make the same mistake over and over again. I am a JAS, I don’t take any BS from anyone and I listen to my gut- but like Jas is , I am always there for my friends. As well as Hannah is too. 

And as frustrating as she (Hannah) was to me, I couldn’t put the book down. I just rooted for Hannah the whole time. The book starts to piece together around 50% but the end , whoah. I didn’t expect that at all. Nope , not one bit. Hannah finally finds her voice... and does what she has to do. 

But no one , no one is as smooth  as Harry. Don’t forget that ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you Netgalley and Sue Watson for the book

Wow, what a fun thriller this was! First Date follows a woman named Hannah who immediately enters a relationship with Alex. The story then indulges in Hannah's entanglement of work, friends, and incorporating her new guy into the picture. But we quickly learn that Alex has secrets that jeopardize Hannah's feelings for him, and those secrets are revealed throughout the book is fun ways that the reader doesn't necessarily see coming! Bottom line: Hannah needs a new dating pool, because the ones that are pining for her are psycho.

Thank you so much to Bookouture and Netgalley for a free edition of First Date in exchange for an honest review. I loved how quickly I read this story, the author did a great job of making the story flow easily and gripping the reader from the very beginning! I could tell Alex was bad news bears from the get go, which made me a bit irritated at Hannah for not picking up on the red flags, especially when her best friend and boss, Jas was trying to get her to see how crazy Alex was! Hannah would have quick revelations that she needed to break up with him, but then fall right back under his spell! 

My heart began racing during the last few chapters of the book. At first I thought the climax of the story was lacking, but the author turned up the excitement right when she needed to! And Chapter 40 and the Epilogue definitely sealed the deal that this was more of a 4 star thriller than the 3 star I was gearing myself up to give. I even thought the last two chapters should have been switched in terms of perspective, but those last few sentences clearly made me see the author made the right choice in sequence because now I'm left wondering how Hannah's story continues even after the book was finished!

First Date is an intense psychological thriller on steroids with one shocking revelation after another culminating into an explosive ending!

All Hannah wants in life is to fall in love and settle down with someone. She wants her happily ever after.  Unfortunately, most of her relationships end badly with some such as her last being very bitter.

Through her best friend's prodding, she decides to join a dating app and seems to strike gold on her first pick.  Alex, her date, is a lawyer, wants the same number of children, even the same type of dog! His work compliments her work as a social worker.  They both had somewhat bad childhoods and can relate to one another on so many levels.

They have an immediate connection and he invites her over to his house for dinner.  During dinner, although still smitten, Hannah sees perhaps a few tiny cracks, but chalks them up to getting to know someone new.  

On the other hand, Hannah's friends and workmates seem to feel she is jumping into this relationship too quickly.  Perhaps she should slow down.  But Hannah truly believes he is the one.  It doesn't matter that he possibly has hidden a few issues from his past relationship from her. She herself thinks her ex-boyfriend could be stalking her so she somewhat understands.  Hannah chalks it up to being in a new relationship and not wanting to mess things up. Or maybe he is just trying too hard.

But then Hannah begins to run out of excuses for Alex's very odd behavior.  She finally admits to herself, something her best friend has been constantly telling her, that she could be dating someone who is a bit crazy.  And now not only are her friends concerned, but she is as well!

When strange this begin to happen to Hannah she becomes convinced that not only is Alex not her dream boyfriend, but possibly a sociopathic stalking nightmare! It seems he wants her all to himself and will go to any length to have her. What has she gotten herself into?? How on earth does she get herself out?

As First Date races to its highly unanticipated, jaw-dropping conclusion, we can only hope Hannah will come out of this experience with better intuition as to who her next boyfriend should be.

Thank you so much #NetGalley #Bookouture #FirstDate #SueWatson for the advanced copy,

Social worker Hannah has had an unhappy life, growing up in care herself and now dealing with vulnerable children. So when she goes on a date with Alex, she is thrilled to meet a kindred spirit and finally feels like her life has some happiness. But is Alex really as perfect as he appears...?
First Date is one of those books that sweeps you into the plot immediately and then has you want to yell as the lead character ignores the warning signs and the sage advice of her friends. I found myself clenching my jaw with frustration as Hannah repeatedly ignores the clues that something's not right.
Hannah is a likeable character, dedicated to her job helping others. I understand her difficult past and recent break up have made her vulnerable and I wanted her to find happiness. Her love blindness to Alex's faults was completely exasperating yet I could see how desperate she was to cling to the ideal of perfection that he initially offered.
Alex was completely overwhelming, although we never see things from his perspective. He has also had a troubled past but this has manifested itself in a different way to Hannah and made him obsessive.
I felt that the ending fizzled out a little bit before wham! the final couple of chapters made my jaw drop and hands rub together in glee. No spoilers!
Overall, First Date will have you enjoyably fizzing with tension.