Mystery + Love Story + Drama + Thriller = Mind Blown

💚 Fitting this book into a genre is like trying to stuff a plush toy into a brick. It ain’t gonna happen. This is a love story. At least one love story, probably three, possibly more. It’s also a masterfully authentic portrait of the marriage of Leo and Emma. And it is a tissue of secrets and lies. Drama, thriller, mystery, literary fiction, quite frankly, I was unprepared. And that was, on balance, a good thing.

💛 This felt incredibly real. Unlikely, rare yes, but real. And yet managed to be gripping and full of surprises. Seriously, every time I thought I was getting to the bottom of things, another layer was revealed.

💜 This is a slow build. If you struggle at first, persevere. By chapter 4 or 5 it’ll hook you in.
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SOUNDBITE

🎧 Gird your loins, ears on a swivel and, as the French teacher of my nightmares would say, attention, sil vous plait. This is a detailed, intricate plot. You need to keep focused. No drifting off and tuning back in.

🎧 The production is considered and well done. Two narrators - Imogen Church and Theo Solomon - give it that extra performative boost. The tone at the beginning feels a bit too melancholy for my liking, but otherwise both are excellent.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for providing me with an ALC in return for an honest review.