First off, I'm a massive fan of Nina Manning BUT this one just didn't hit the same notes for me.

Kit is living her best life, she has a new love interest Tom who just wants to marry her and have a family and a job she loves as a waitress, a job that people look down on but one she is proud 9f and takes huge pride in. So when she enters a competition and wins a furnished mansion, Willow Cottage, plus a cash prize, life couldn't get any better, could it?

Wary of living alone in a huge property with acres of land, Kit adopts a puppy to keep her company. Soon strange things start happening, causing Kit concerns. She seems to be running from something, but what?

This was a REAL slow burn, it didn't really get going until around 50% and we didn't actually find out Kit's story until 90%. I did enjoy the unpredictable ending though. Whilst at times I did feel like I was having to 'plough' through, I'm glad I stuck with it as the more into the book I got the more questions were answered.

Switching between Kit's past and present, we get to understand just who Kit is and witness the spiralling of her mental health, which personally I think made the story.

It did keep me guessing which held my interest and keep me reading, it just wasn't my most favourite of this authors books and in all honesty I think the puppy scene was a big NO from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC,

Good book that had a good number of twists and turns. The characters were well done and the whole book was enjoyable to read.

This was not the fast paced thriller that I was expecting. It is a lacklustre drama. The dog abuse was just a step too far. Not a book for me

"The Waitress" by Nina Manning is a gripping and suspenseful novel that delves into the life of Kit Lowman, a waitress living in anonymity to protect her dark secrets. The story unfolds with a sense of mystery and tension as Kit grapples with the dilemma of whether to reveal her true identity or continue living in the shadows.

Manning skillfully explores the complexities of Kit's character, portraying her as a nameless and faceless individual in the eyes of society. The anonymity of her job offers Kit a semblance of safety and security, allowing her to keep her own secrets hidden. The narrative creates a palpable atmosphere of suspense, drawing readers into Kit's world and making them eager to unravel the mysteries surrounding her past.

The novel raises thought-provoking questions about identity, redemption, and the consequences of one's actions. As Kit faces the choice of revealing herself and accepting the inevitable changes, the tension builds, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Manning adeptly navigates the psychological aspects of the protagonist, making her struggles relatable and engaging.

The theme of secrets and their inevitable revelation is woven throughout the narrative, creating a sense of impending doom. The author skillfully builds suspense by introducing an unknown antagonist who is determined to make Kit pay for her past actions. The cat-and-mouse game adds layers of complexity to the plot, keeping readers guessing and invested in the outcome.

The pacing of the novel is well-executed, with twists and turns that maintain the momentum of the story. The writing is crisp and evocative, immersing readers in Kit's world and the challenges she faces. Manning succeeds in creating a sense of empathy for Kit, despite the mysterious nature of her past.

While the book offers a satisfying and suspenseful read, the resolution might be somewhat predictable for seasoned thriller enthusiasts. Some readers may anticipate certain twists, but the strength of the novel lies in its character development, psychological depth, and the exploration of the consequences of one's choices.

In conclusion, "The Waitress" earns its four-star rating through its compelling narrative, well-drawn characters, and the skillful exploration of themes related to identity and redemption. Nina Manning's ability to build and maintain suspense makes this novel a captivating read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Trigger warning: this book contains canine abuse and cruelty. Unfortunately for me, this was not noted anywhere on the book. I read loads of disturbing things, but a heads up is always good.

This book was less of a thriller and more of a slow-burn drama. If it weren't for the aforementioned dog abuse, I might have enjoyed it more.

The Waitress centers around a young lady named Kit Lowman, who is trying to get her life back on track after a tragedy. She randomly wins a two million dollar, fourteenth century mill house, which she is reluctant to move into. When she finally does move in, a series of strange events makes her question if she is being punished for her past misdeed.

Due to an undisclosed tragedy, Kit was forced to leave her old waitressing job at the upscale Mirabella restaurant, which she loved. She decides to take a position at a smaller cafe in hopes of staying under the radar. After breaking up with her boyfriend, Kit has chosen to live out her day to day existence in virtual solitude on her gifted estate. That is, until the past that she has been hiding from catches up with her.

Nina Manning builds a world that feels unstable. The narrator, the settings and the storytelling work together to keep the reader off balanced. The story mostly takes place in four locations: the sprawling mansion that Kit wins, the ex-boyfriend’s luxurious apartment, Mirabella restaurant where Kit used to work and Citrus, where Kit now works. Kit is not exactly unreliable as the narrator, but she is a bit all over the place. Manning works really hard to try to make Kit mysterious and as a reader you can see the effort, but it completely misses the mark. The rest of the characters feel artificially inflated. The ex-boyfriend is untrustworthy, because the author tells us that he should be. The rival colleague doesn’t truly have a reason to hate Kit, but goes out of her way to be her nemesis. And Hendrick, the sweepstakes guy, is unnecessarily nervous and creepy. None of the characters feel authentic.

We are not told what the tragedy was, but it is mentioned several times and it seems as though the reader is meant to be on edge about the mysterious details of what happened. Manning was very heavy handed in her attempt to make the story thrilling. The tension was definitely manufactured and by the time we get to the big reveal, 90% into the book, it ends up being incredibly anticlimactic.

All in all, the book just didn’t work for me. The characters were flat, the plot was thin and the ending left me wanting.

This book was very intriguing. I couldn't put it down. You really got pulled into her life and felt like you were there with her

I was so excited to get this book! I really enjoyed it. Loved the story, descriptions and scenes were brilliantly written. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit dark and twisty, plenty of unexpected happenings. Would definitely recommend.

I couldn’t get totally into the story but it was still enjoyable. I couldn’t connect to the characters. But the setting was very visual! Thank you for the chance to read!

This book started off slow , but when it picked up I couldnt stop turning the pages. Told in a past /present timeline. Easy to keep track of as there is not many characters.

I was not a fan of this reading. It does contain triggers and overall threw me off. I would not recommend.

TW: dog abuse and cruelty

Kit Lowman is working as a waitress when she wins a $2 million house from a raffle. Everything seems to be coming together for Kit as she moves into her new house until her unknown secret seems to start catching up on her. I want to say more, but I'm leaving it at that so I don't spoil any of the plot!

I greatly enjoyed that we, as the reader, had no idea what said secret was, all we knew was that she had one. A bad one it seemed. It kept the air of mystery going, especially as the first half was a slow burn. The second half on the other hand went zero to one hundred and oh my!

This was the my first book by Nina Manning and she did NOT disappoint! I can't wait to read more by her!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found the first half of this book a little bit of a slow burn, but the then chapters really increased the pace. The plot made me question everything and found myself again and again evaluating the characters and the plot. I really enjoyed this book as a whole.

This story was so different from anything else I've read and I mean that in the absolute best way! From the very beginning I truly felt like I was in the story like a fly on the wall and just watching everything play out. It really drew me in that much. It's very well crafted and I strongly recommend checking it out.

Wow this was one amazing read. I loved every single second of this book. I just couldn't put it down. I even tried desperately to stay awake long enough to finish this book it was that good but sleep won. I don't think I have ever read a book that that made me feel creeped out until the end. You just knew that there was something wrong throughout so your busy trying to work it out. It was so well wrote that the author created an immense sense of atmosphere and tension. The best I have ever felt in a book and I read 60 books a month so that is really saying something. I loved the characters and really connected with them. I loved that the author created characters that you really love to hate. The book had a brilliant medium to fast pace that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. It was definitely an amazing roller coaster ride that has you frantically turning the pages. There was plenty of twists and turns and some very shocking events some of which were extremely sad and I was close to tears at one point. Just remember it's fiction made up and fits with the story. If you love dark psychological thrillers then this book is definitely for you. I can't recommend this book enough. I also have another book to review called the 3am shattered mums club and I'm definitely looking forward to reading it.

Only the highest of praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such an amazing and thrilling story that im sure you will love. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this very talented author. 

The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/the-waitress-by-nina-manning-boldwood-books-5-stars either under my name or ladyreading365

Nina Manning’s latest thriller The Waitress is a creepy chiller that packs plenty of punch. Complex, intense and terrifying, make sure you read this book with the lights on.

As a waitress, Kit Lowman witnesses the best and the worst of humanity every single day. While some people are polite and courteous, others look down on her, abuse her and treat her reprehensibly. But for Kit being a waitress is more than just a job that allows her to pay the bills. Being a waitress means being incognito and able to operate in the shadows providing her with the anonymity and secrecy she requires to hide the truth about who she really is and what she has done. Kit never imagined that she would be in a position to ever change jobs – until her luck changes and she finds herself in a terrible dilemma. What is Kit going to do next?

One minute Kit was waiting tables and the next she is in possession of something she never thought she could have. But her newfound fortune has brought with it a new set of problems. Will Kit have to, at long last, reveal the secrets she has spent an entire lifetime keeping under wraps? Or will she decide to stay hidden in the shadows where she hopes she will be safe? When she realises that she cannot keep running away from the truth, Kit discovers that it’s too late. Her past has caught up with her and there is nowhere else to hide. She is running out of options and must now pay dearly for what she’s done.

I am a big fan of Nina Manning’s thrillers. She creates complicated, nuanced and flawed characters that you are never sure whether to love or hate, but which draw you in from the off and keep you hooked till the end. The Waitress is another brilliant thriller that is chilling, multi-layered and twisted that shocks, surprises and terrifies until the very last word.

A tense and heart-stopping read, The Waitress is the latest must-read thriller by Nina Manning.

Nina Manning's book The Waitress is a slow burn with one heck of an ending. Manning does an incredible job setting up the atmosphere in a large house where weird things occur. The author allows readers to discern the feelings and behavior of the main character without divulging the plot's dark secrets until the end. I enjoyed the tense and creepy moments in this book. My attention was captured in The Waitress during several striking moments that had me quickly flipping pages to see what happened next.

Trigger Warnings: Depression, Low Self-Esteem, Anxiety, Animal Cruelty

Everyone has those authors whose books they automatically add to the cart when a new title is published, and for me, Nina Manning is an author I just have to read!

I discovered Nina when I first started freelancing for Boldwood Books, and I've been lucky enough to have worked on four of her books so far, and we finally got to meet in person at Bristol Crime Fest earlier this year. Unfortunately, due to a schedule clash, I was unable to work on her latest psychological thriller, THE WAITRESS, but, of course, I had to grab my copy and devour it anyway.

What I love about Nina's writing is that the characters feel so relatable – of course, the reader would often hate to be in the tight spots in which Nina forces her characters, but it's so easy to understand, relate and emphasise with the characters that every book is a pleasure to read! Not only that, the plots are complex and engaging, and, my goodness, the twists! And THE WAITRESS, once again, doesn't disappoint. I didn't see the end coming at all, and the suspense that built throughout the manuscript was entirely gripping.

Congratulations, Nina – another triumph!

This was a quick, thriller read.

I found this book a little tough to get through as some of the skipping around in time was a bit confusing.

Not a book I loved but definitely a decent read and recommended to fans of the genre.