Unfortunately this is a DNF for me. I got 35% through the book before finally giving up.
I really appreciate the opportunity to read books that authors have obviously put a lot of work into but I don’t think I’ve ever been as annoyed reading a book as I was with this one.

A decent premise, a good first chapter that sets it off at a pace, then we have the dreaded “one year earlier” and the whole thing falls apart.

Supposedly about a group of women in their late 20s, they are like a bunch of young teenagers rather than adults. No likeable or remotely well written characters. Our main character goes from “I love him” to “I hate him” within a couple of sentences. Rinse and repeat.

Clunky, awful dialogue, totally unrealistic, we have possibly the most stupid cast of characters I have ever had the displeasure of reading. Like honestly, it feels like a teenager or a child wrote this.

Awful awful stuff. Again I apologise for being so damning but really it’s an insult to peoples intelligence to pass this off as any way credible, believable or any way entertaining.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

The Hive is one of those novels where I wasn’t certain what to expect. I do use social media but I am a bit clueless about the so called influencers who many people are fascinated with. So when followers and fans had to decide between #letlive or #letdie I was a little unsettled.

And I had quite a while to wait before I would find which way the online vote would go. It’s only in the latter stages of the novel that you see that sees the culmination of the prologue. But this is no great hardship, what happens in between is gripping.

When Charlotte gets involved with Linc, a famous boxer, she falls in love quickly and has dreams of their future together. She is overwhelmed by the social media following that comes because of their relationship, especially when things go badly wrong and everyone has an opinion. Most of it involving hatred of her and all of it with only no idea of the true situation. She is bewildered, grieving over what she has lost and isn’t coping. With this part of the novel the author shows how fickle social media can be and how easy it is to manipulate the truth.

But, she is part of a strong group of women who have been friends for many years and who have overcome a lot since childhood. All of these women are a huge support to her and are trying to help her get over her relationship with Linc and the events that happened. This part of the novel forms most of the novel and I had as much sympathy for them as I did for her. Strangely, it isn’t really a depressing novel, the author shows her characters coping with their own trauma but she also manages to show how the friends can laugh together. They have a lot of respect for each other’s situation and cope in the way they know best.

Whether the reader likes or loathes these characters doesn’t really matter. Many will judge, just like the followers. Others will judge because most of these characters are in some way criminals. What I got from reading this was that it was a thoroughly original novel that had me cheering on those who suffered the most and a lot of entertainment.

I found the premise of this book absolutely intriguing - the idea of revenge via social media seems so topical right now, with young people living their lives out online. The themes of sisterhood/friendship, celebrity, and revenge are really powerful and make for an incredible story line. I devoured this book in one sitting and it is a very easy read. I did feel that it was apparent that this was a debut novel, with some of the writing being a little clunky, but I have no doubt that the author is going to have great success. Scarlett Brade is an exciting new voice in fiction and I'm keen to see what she writes next.

Really enhoyed this book which was full of twists and turns that kept me engaged, gripped and reading throughout. I re4ally enjoted the vcharacter develevelopmebt

Firstly how the infernal regions is this a debut, it is original, smart and had me shackled to the pages like Satan’s personal chattel.

I have often joked that I am the type of friend who if you call up with boy trouble my response will be “I will bring the spade” but these friends actually mean it.

Charlotte was a tough character for me as were a couple of her friends. They aren’t particularly likeable at the start and I must admit to being a bit judgy but then as the story went on and I learnt more about them my feelings changed. That’s the thing about judging before you know the whole story and it is shown here with the use of social media opinions from people who don’t know the facts. I loved how as a reader you are learning along with people on “the hive” what really happened to make her become unhinged.

Then there is Lincoln Jackson, charismatic, wealthy and all round classic narcissist. What would I have voted? Does he deserve to die? Do we have the right to decide? What should have been a private matter has become public due to people assuming they have the right to know everything. This book delves into the fallout behind salacious gossip, social media commentary and the effect it can play on a person’s mental health. It will make you look at celebrity ‘news’ in a whole new way.

But for me this twisted tale of revenge was about the bonds that tie female friends together. How we become ‘ride or die’ for the ones that mean everything.

I will leave this review with some words from Charlotte “they say there are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth.” #votelive #votedie

After reading this book I might never open a social media app again!
The author tells a moving story about friendship, love and the power of social media. Add to that, loss, heartbreak and a spectacular murder, and you will find yourself unable to put this book down.
We live in a world dominated by social media; we are eager for the latest gossip and quickly share our comments without giving a second thought to the effect our words might have. It is easy to be swept up in the latest trend and even easier to forget that we are never truly privy to the full truth. Scarlett Brade explored just that with this book – the half-truths shared on social media and the public’s ability to judge based on appearance.
This is a modern tale of love, loss and the perfect revenge. The author brings this story to life with everyday characters meeting celebrities and social media posts judging every action along the way. I was left with an urge to cancel all my social media accounts after reading this book. Scarlett Brade did a marvellous job with her characters, sharing their emotions and allowing the reader to share Charlotte's pain.
When Lincoln Jackson, a famous boxing champion follows Charlotte on Instagram she is sure it must be a mistake. Yet soon they are chatting, and Lincoln asked to meet her. She never would have believed her luck. But what follows is not what Charlotte or her friend would ever have imagined. Charlotte will have her revenge, but until she has shown the world who Lincoln Jackson is. Brace yourself for a story like no other.
The Hive is a thriller like no other. This book grabs hold of you and draws you deep into a world of loss, pain and revenge. The author keeps you glued to the pages as she reveals what led Charlotte to a hotel room where she is about to kill Lincoln Jackson while steaming live. Brace yourself, the story that follows will break your heart and leave you amazed at the power social media has on other people’s lives.
The four women in this book show sisterhood, love and support – they share a deep bond and the author brought this to life beautifully. How far would you go to protect and support your sister? These are true friends, there is no question.
Charlotte Goodwin appears to have everything she could want. Yet as the story unfolds and the truth is revealed your heart breaks for this naïve woman. She was lied to, betrayed, embarrassed and left to suffer in the worst possible way. Her loss is heartbreaking. You watch this woman fall apart, and with the turn of a page, there is suddenly fire in her. She finds the strength and determination to seek justice and oh boy, does she get it. I found myself rooting for her, and supporting her choice to kill Lincoln Jackson – the man was a dog! There is no other word for him.
This book is full of emotion and while it is a little different to my usual reads I could not drag myself away. It is beautifully written and reminds you not to believe everything you see on social media, or at the very least, to keep in mind there is more than one side to every story. Yep, I loved this one.
Ladies, this thriller is for you. You will find yourself quickly engrossed in this heartbreaking story and rooting for a chattered woman to get the revenge she desperately needs. You will not be left disappointed when reaching go this stunning book. You might want to steer clear of social media for a while after reading this.

Hell has no fury like a woman dumped on Twitter. The pain suffered by Charlotte Goodwin after her celebrity boyfriend leaves her is intense. Not only does she have to cope with being abandoned by her lover, but she is jeered at by a Twitter group called the Hive. Meanwhile her rival is praised and envied. In her debut novel Scarlett Brade takes the reader inside the head of a woman at the centre of a perfect storm of resentment and humiliation. The resulting despair and anguish finds its outlet in premeditated murder.

Charlotte Goodwin looks directly at the camera and reveals a chilling truth to the thousands watching her Instagram live broadcast. She has killed her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in cold blood. But she is not finished yet.

Charlotte is supported by three girlfriends who have stuck together through thick and thin since school. Their strong bond was forged by tragedy. In spite of their difficulties, these young women have a taste for luxury. One of them is wealthy, but she is the most sorrowful of all, because she faces having her children taken away from her. The fury Charlotte and her friends feel against the world is palpable from the first page of The Hive to the last.

Lincoln Jackson will now make his confession, then the viewers must vote to decide whether he should live or die.

After she suffers a miscarriage in violent circumstances, Charlotte sinks to the depths of despair. She holds Lincoln and his new fiancée responsible for her bereavement. As a result she tries to take her own life. Then she has a revelation. Instead of destroying herself, she resolves to kill her ex-boyfriend’s new lover. The nest step is to slaughter Lincoln himself. In the depth of her madness, it seems only natural to Charlotte to share the whole bloody business live on Instagram.

Bonded by mutual tragedy, Charlotte’s three best friends have supported each other through the soaring highs and devastating lows of their lives. Now, in Charlotte’s hour of need, her friends also face a choice – whether to help her get away with murder.

The loyalty of Charlotte’s close friends is tested beyond the limit. They have supported her without question all their lives, and she has done the same for them. Now the close bond they share threatens to take them to a dark place – perhaps a prison cell.

The Hive explores our darkest fears of the relationship between social media and mental health, and the strength of sisterhood against all the odds.

I like the way voices from Twitter chime into the story. They give a commentary on what is going on in Charlotte’s life. Some are kind and some are cruel, but they are all detached from the reality of her situation. The Hive shows how social media can damage mental health, and how destructive a peer group can be when loyalty becomes an obsession. It is a compulsive read.

Gripping, pacy and totally unique! A fantastic revenge thriller!

As soon as I read the blurb for his book, I knew that it was a story I wanted to read. This is a debut for Scarlett Brade and what a brilliant debut it is! Original, modern and cleverly written, I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner!

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! This book starts with Charlotte having killed her ex-boyfriend’s fiancé and now she is holding a gun to his head whilst asking the world live on ‘The Hive’ to either #votelive or #votedie. What a phenomenal opening chapter! This certainly had me hooked, but my first thoughts were, how is the author going to make me hate a character so much that I would even consider voting for them to die! Well, she did a bloody good job as I despised Charlotte’s ex Linc and whilst I am in no way condoning murder, for the purpose of fiction, I was totally on her side!

After the amazing opening in this book, we then go back to 12 months earlier when Charlotte first met Linc. Dating a famous boxer, her life changed in an instant, she couldn’t believe her luck and after not being together for long she could really see a future together. Clearly, I don’t need to tell you things go drastically wrong, but I’m not one for spoilers, so you’ll have to read yourself to find out what happens!

I loved the female characters in this book. The sisterhood – Charlotte, Trix, Zaheen and Poppy. Best friends since childhood, there is nothing these girls won’t do for each other. The story also touches on the backstory of each girl, helping us relate to them and understand why they are such a tight-knit group of friends. I think we all have at least one friend who you could trust with your life, Charlotte is very lucky to have three.

I feel Scarlett has been very brave with how dark she goes in this book, I think a lot of debut authors would’ve held back a bit, but Scarlett definitely hasn’t! I see this as a good thing as I feel it makes for a more surprising read!

There were plenty of unexpected moments in this book, some shocking, some sad and some totally bonkers! The story certainly takes you on one helluva rollercoaster ride, with many sharp twists and turns and sudden changes of speed right the way up to the hair-raising end!

Vengeance is much more satisfying when it is not exacted immediately, or as they say Revenge is a dish best served cold. This saying sums up this book perfectly!

Thank you to Scarlett Brade, Zaffre Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book, I look forward to seeing what Scarlett writes next.

An emotional revenge thriller. I loved the connection between the main character Charlotte, and her friends. The honest and loyal friendships bonded by trauma and tragedy. This story is driven by Charlotte's relationship with a famous "insta" known boxer, Lincoln, and the impact social media has on presenting a certain image. There are some traumatic themes within the book and the authors description of the pain is relatable. The despair and pain felt by Charlotte ultimately results in her using social media as a conduit for exposing the deceit and tragedy she has experienced at the hands of Lincoln. #votelive or #votedie?
A gripping read!

I wanted to love this one... The premise was a good one but it really fell flat for me, I DNF'd at 32%

Charlotte confesses live on Instagram that she killed her ex-boyfriend's new love interest and wants people to vote if she should kill her ex Lincoln too. Luckily she has 3 great allies, her best friends, in her life, but should friends do anything for each other?

After an intense prologue, we journey to the past and follow the events that led to the broadcast. We learn about Charlotte and her 3 best friends Poppy, Zaheen & Trix. This is a friendship you will love. An unbreakable sisterhood. We 'live' through her story with Linc and the public scrutiny. The anatomy of a relationship, witnessing the spark and the burnout. How love can turn to hate.

The 1st person POV is intimate and brutal, sort of like a diary peppered with rapid-fire dialogue, a confession among friends. The protagonist is grounded and flawed making her relatable, but boy do you want to scream at her for situations she lets herself get into. She acts stupidly, even though I think she is trying not to be hurt by deluding herself. Other times in the unfairness of it all, you just want to hug her. Linc you want to punch. A lot.

There is a bit of an infodump at the beginning, throwing off the continuity till it finds its rhythm. Also the sometimes repetitiveness of the protagonist's denial and seeing things as she wishes them to be, does grate on the nerves.

This is a commentary on social media and how it affects our lives. The pages with 'social media comments' really help to emphasize that point. The point that social media has reached the danger zone of 'dictating' lives. The book also reminds us of the rarity of true friendships and how we should hold them dear. Another theme is mental health and how important it is to take care of it.

Evocative in its elegant simplicity and unpredictable, it hits you in the gut, but is still easy to read.

The Hive begins with Charlotte holding a gun, live-streaming on social media from a hotel room. Her ex, Linc (a famous boxer) is with her facing a public vote which could cost him his life - after he cheated on Charlotte and ruined her life in more ways than one, she has asked the public watching online to choose his fate - #VoteLive or #VoteDie.

Leaving his future uncertain, Charlotte then goes back to the beginning of their story. recounting how they met and how her life then fell apart. The consequences of both of their actions are explained and how it looked from the perspectives of her three best friends, Poppy, Trix and Zaheen, but also from the perspectives of complete strangers who felt the need to comment on whatever news about their relationship was reported on social media.

Ultimately The Hive is a commentary on two things - the power and/or toxicity of female friendships and the negative power of social media. To do this, Charlotte's story which gradually unfolds throughout the book is a very extreme version of a situation which could happen. As I was reading, I was doubting whether the plot was particularly believable, but by the end of the story I realised that it had to be told in such an exaggerated manner for the points being made to have the full impact needed.

It did feel wrong as I read through the story to be contemplating which way I would vote, but at the same time I have never hated a character more than Linc, and the crushing impact of what he did to Charlotte certainly came across very strongly in the story!

The opening chapter was perfect - knowing where things end up between Charlotte and Linc made me want to race through the flashbacks to find out how and where things went so wrong between the couple. The Hive is a dark revenge thriller with the ultimate 'woman scorned' storyline. Charlotte's obsession with making Linc pay for what he did to her is probably going to divide opinions, but it was a unique idea and overall it was very effective in making me think about the way social media has transformed people's lives and the negative outcomes that could result from these platforms.

😱😱😱 what an opener!!! One dead body, live stream of another potential victim, all awaiting public vote! Does Lincoln live or die???

The relationship between Charlotte and Linc is toxic, whirlwind but toxic. The better I got to know this couple both at their best and their worst, I really wanted to wrench Charlotte away from this positively horrible male specimen. Maybe even a bit of memory whipping. Despite his likeable public persona, his private self is far from likeable and to be honest, I don’t blame Charlotte wanting to kill him after what I read!

Scattered through the dark soap opera that is Linc and Charlotte’s tempestuous relationship is The Hive. Social media commentary that could have been lifted straight from the Twitter feed of a celebrity publication – the whole public discussion when no one knows the real story. I don’t know how Charlotte resisted the bait left!

I devoured The Hive. The pace of the story kept me racing through the narrative. As in already knew Charlotte was going to kill Lincoln’s girlfriend and let the crowd decide his fate, I needed to understand the why and how. I seriously enjoyed this psychological thriller from Brade. It ticked all the boxes for this psych-thriller lover!

TWs: premature birth/infant death, infertility, abortion, drug use, drinking, infidelity, murder.

Charlotte Goodwin thinks her life will now be complete when she meets & falls in love with famous boxer, Lincoln Jackson. Things get even better when she finds out she is pregnant with twins, but Lincoln doesn't seem to be as happy as Charlotte. In fact he is distracted & actively spending time away from her, & Charlotte is sure he is cheating with his 'nutritionist' Heidi. A horrific incident during a break-in at Lincoln's home whilst Charlotte is there alone results in the premature birth & subsequent loss of her twins, leaving her unable to have further children. Lincoln distances himself even more, not even wanting to talk to Charlotte about their loss, & moves on quickly with Heidi. It takes a while but Charlotte finally realises he never wanted her or their twins & may even have been involved in what happened. She turns to her close-knit group of friends, but not even they know that Charlotte has decided on a very public kind of revenge where his social media followers will decide if Lincoln lives or dies.

The main character & her three friends all have major issues in their lives which have bonded them together since childhood. The reader gets to see that Charlotte was badass when it came to helping with their problems, but falls to pieces when her own life is the one in tatters. Lincoln is an obvious narcissist who acted by the narcissist playbook by 'love-bombing' Charlotte at the start & then distancing himself & being a cheating git, whilst Heidi has apparently never heard of sisterhood. Throw in a possibly corrupt cop investigating the break-in & things become complicated.

The first chapter is great, it sets the scene & hooks the reader in straight away, but things falter from there. I like the plot line of having an actual trial by social media & I think the comments on social site The Hive were pretty realistic. (If you go on MSM at all, you'll recognise the types). When I read that it was billed as a 'feminist thriller' I was intrigued but I struggled to see what was feminist about it. Until the final part of the book, main character Charlotte was enthralled by Lincoln, completely unable to see what he was really like, embarrassing herself chasing after him for answers he was never going to give. The finale is thrilling to read but completely unrealistic. Gripping enough for me to finish reading it, but I probably wouldn't go back for a re-read. I would, however, give future books by the author a go. 3.5 stars (rounded down to 3 on sites without half star ratings).

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bonnier Books / Zaffre, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

As much as I was looking forward to The Hive I really did not enjoy it. The characters were not likeable in the slightest and although I did read it quite quickly it just did not work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for my ARC.

The Hive is such an interesting concept and it definitely starts with a bang! I wanted to know what had happened and I was intrigued to know more about Charlotte's story. As we go back in time, Brade explores Charlotte's story with such emotive writing and I often found it hard not to burst into tears. Charlotte and her friends all have colourful pasts and through this, Brade introduces several themes to the reader. They are all handled sensitively but they may be upsetting for people who have similar experiences.

Lincoln Jackson is the villain of the piece and I have rarely seen such a convincing villain. His behaviour got right under my skin and made me so angry! I have been in a similar situation so it really struck a chord with me.

Throughout the novel, there are comments from a celebrity gossip website called The Hive. These are so realistic and really bring home the reality of living at a time when social media is so prominent in our lives.

As The Hive reaches a crescendo, the tension is brilliant. I was swiping furiously at my Kindle, desperate to find out how everything would end.

I believe this is a debut novel and Brade certainly shows a lot of promise. I am excited to see what she does next!

We start at the end with Charlotte having killed her ex-boyfriend, boxer Lincoln Jackson's fiance, he himself being tied up alongside. She is broadcasting this live to the world. Explaining that Lincoln will now make a confession and then the audience will decide his fate - live or die...
We then go back to where it all began. When Charlotte met Linc and how their relationship began, continued, and ended. How her best friends helped her throughout, how it all played out in social media, and the months, days and weeks leading up to the final showdown...
And that's all I am saying as to say much more could possibly inject spoilers into the mix and, nope, not going there. Suffice to say that it's all a bit bonkers. But then again, isn't most things these days, Especially when played out on social media, in front of an eclectic mix of people, bots and keyboard warriors. Doubly especially when one of the couple is equally as bonkers and I will let you come to your own conclusions as to which one of them I am referring to here! Truth be told, I'm probably not sure myself! Maybe six of one...
It was a delight to read something so fresh and different. The secrets and lies contained herein are cracking, as is the more than adequate slice of dysfunctional behaviour. Honestly, phew, what a ride the author took me on. Yes there were a few things I guessed a bit ahead of the MC Charlotte, but she wasn't the sharpest tool, and I don't necessarily think the author intended to obfuscate them.
The other characters were equally larger than life and all played their parts very well indeed. But again, I'll leave you to meet and get to know them as the author intends. Suffice to say I'd want each and every one in my corner in a fight, warts and all!
It seems that, from reading other reviews, this book has split the readership. I can only go by what I think and the reasons I read books. I like to be distracted from life, to be entertained, to spend some time outside what is happening to me in the real world. To be emotionally connected in some way and leave the book satisfied. And all the while not to be too much hard work. Well, this book ticked all those boxes for me. It might not for others and that's OK too... Me, I can't wait to see where the author goes next. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The Hive by Scarlett Brade is billed as the must read revenge thriller of 2022 and it does deliver on the promise of revenge in spades.
The book opens in a spectacularly dramatic fashion with protagonist Charlotte Goodwin broadcasting live on social media as she asks the viewing public to vote on whether her former boyfriend, professional boxer Lincoln should live or die. To prove she is serious about her intentions she has already killed his new girlfriend, but what has driven her to this desperate frame of mind, and could her actions ever be justified?
Its an intriguing premise and an intro that certainly hooked me, but unfortunately the book just did not live up to its promise for me. All of the characters were unpleasant and I struggled to believe in the friendship between Charlotte and the secondary characters, which is a real problem as the ending of the book hinges on that relationship. Both Charlotte and Lincoln were horrible, and for me I need to at least be interested in a character in order to really enjoy a book.
Readers who like to suspend their disbelief will certainly be taken on a thrill ride, and the book is very fast paced so I could imagine a lot of people enjoying it poolside on vacation, even if it was not entirely to my taste.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A visceral revenge thriller with a great central character and gripping pace - I read most of it in one day. It’s refreshing to find a thriller that prioritises really strong character development and emotional exploration over twists.

What an absolute thrill this was to read!

Everything about The Hive had me hooked! The fully-packed and pacey plot, the compelling narration of it's complex leading lady and her toxic in-the-limelight relationship, not to mention the intensity, the ever-looming world of social media brought to the story.

This book really had it all: Love and heartbreak. Obsession and hatred. Revenge and Murder. And Charlotte tells the story of how her life came crashing down around her in the most penetrating voice - believe me you won't want to put this one down!