I couldn't put it down! Unforgivable by Natalie Barelli is a fast-paced whirlwind of a thriller. Skillfully written and packed with richly developed characters, this exceptional novel kept me guessing and turning pages late into the night. If you like stories full of deceit, manipulation, jealousy, suspicions and downright evilness, this is a book for you. I wasn't sure who to feel sorry for or who to hate! Absolutely absorbing. Bravo!

Book: Unforgivable
Author: Natalie Barelli
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: July 26, 2022

All of these characters seem crazy! First things first. Let me begin by saying that I really did like this book. I enjoy Natalie Barelli’s writing style. She always writes fast easy reads. But I couldn’t like Laura, the main character. I did want her with “win” in the end. But I found myself rolling my eyes a lot at her and the things she said. This book will create a lot of emotion and you will find yourself mad at everyone in the book. There are quite a few twists and turns that make you question who is the true “bad guy” in this book. All in all it’s an easy read and would be a good book to read on vacation.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is July 26, 2022.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥'𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Laura was the kind of character I usually hate--a complete and utter doormat, oblivious to red flags that are flapping right in her face, meek and subservient--but I could put all of those things aside because of the absolute love and devotion she showed to her step-daughter Charlie. Charlie's mother Bronwyn is in and out of her life, but now she's come back for an extended visit, and she's staying in the home she used to share with her ex Jack. She comes with a list of demands that would make even the most kindhearted person develop a permanent eye twitch.

I was expecting a power struggle over Jack, but when a third women is added to the mix, an employee that Laura hires at the art gallery for which she works, the dynamic changes, and the plot goes in a totally different direction. In typical Barelli fashion the characters are well-crafted, the plot is full of devious twists that all work together to build a shocking climax that is sure to satisfy any thriller lover.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this early read. UNFORGIVABLE publishes July 26, 2022.

So this is a good psychological thriller which the ending will actually give you creeps.

Laura has been taking care of Charlie who is her fiance's child from his first marriage. But when Charlie's mother suddenly turns up, Laura feels threatened. when Bronwyn comes back into their lives again. Meanwhile, she suspected Summer, the new intern working at the museum where Laura is working might be having an affair with Jack.

The first part was slightly boring but then towards the middle of the book, it got interesting, when both Laura's and Bronwyn's true nature of relationship is revealed. I do like that the story is told from Laura's perspective, making the reader truly believe what Laura is saying or if Laura is an unreliable narrator. The ending felt like you are watching a movie that will make you at the edge of your seat--it was really unpredictable and not expected!

Overall, if you like a good psychological thriller which will put you at the edge of the seat like a drama between two women, then this book is one for you--worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book.

Laura is engaged to Jack and become a mother figure to his young daughter, Charlie. Charlie's mother. Jack's soon-to-be ex-wife, Bronwyn is coming to stay upsetting the family dynamic that was formed in her long absence. Laura doesn't trust Bronwyn and will do anything to protect Charlie.

This book is full of twists and you never know who you can really trust, even Laura herself. This is another solid thriller by Barelli.

I enjoy Natalie Barelli’s books, so I was excited for the chance to read her newest offering, Unforgivable. Unfortunately this wasn’t my favorite of hers, but I did enjoy it. It had almost a bit too much going on with the plot and gave me whiplash with all the back and forth and new plot elements being introduced constantly. I felt like I could never really get a grip on who the characters were or connect with them. However, the storyline did keep me reading, so for that I give 3 stars.

A promising start but the plot faltered a bit in the middle and I found myself having to go back and re read parts but then suddenly it picked up and I wasn’t able to leave it down, even before Bronwyn appeared back , I knew I wasn’t going to like her and Laura was a bit of a doormat but I was delighted that she found her backbone towards the end. I hadn’t heard of this author before so I have her other books to go and check out.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Bookouture and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Suspenseful thriller that’s gripping you from the beginning. You won’t want to put it down.

Don't Get All Flittered! 😳😯🤯

Flittery Flappy Wings! For geese honks crying out loud! This was one absolutely messed up, crazy ride of a plot! I was sucked in, provoked and felt major urges to throw my phone at how frustrated I was with these characters (in the best way!!) I cannot believe how much I was irked and irritated by Bronwyn! To say I despised her is an understatement! I loved to dislike, be irritated and abhor at times some of these characters and the decisions they made.

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: After Bronwyn left her husband Jack, & little girl Charlie, Laura stepped up and stepped in. Soon Jack and Laura have become a couple and engaged giving Charlie stability over the past few years. But now, Bronwyn has come back to spend time and reconnect with Charlie. With Laura fiercely protective of Charlie, she knows this is all a non-lasting ruse. No one can see what Bronwyn is trying to do slowly and subtly. With each harbouring dark secrets of a shared history, each willing to go to undeniable lengths to get what they want, just who's motherly love will be stronger? And what will it cost for each of them?

This dark, devious, dishful book was like eating a midnight snack of the last slice of your favourite cake, at someone else's home. The thrills, suspense and endless cat and mouse game keep you intrigued from start to finish. And don't get me started on that ending. Fluffers! I think I need a piece of my GOOD chocolate after this!

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: July 26, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊

In Unforgivable Natalie Barelli has crafted another utterly gripping domestic thriller. I was fully engaged from beginning to end.

Laura has fallen in love with Jack and has become a mother figure to his eight year old daughter Charlie. As the couple begin to make plans for their wedding, Jack's ex and the mother of his child, Bronwyn, makes a reappearance in their lives and immediately attempts to drive a wedge between the newly formed family, particularly between Laura and Charlie who have become extremely close in her absence. As relationships are tested and begin to spiral out of control, Laura knows that she must stop Bronwyn in order to protect the little girl who has stolen a piece of her heart.

This is another compulsive read from the brilliant Natalie Barelli. Don't miss it. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

I thought I figured out the bad guy, then I was like well maybe not?! Then it was back on! I kept waiting! Then things went in a whole different direction! This book had so many different twists and turns I was shocked! I had absolutely no idea all the bad stuff the bad guy actually did?! Geez this book was definitely a page turner! it really kept me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading! It had suspense, intrigue, and murder! Don't miss out on this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Laura is about to get married to the man of her dreams and become stepmom to the perfect little girl, Charlie, whom she would do anything for. She has stepped into her role as mother and wife seamlessly after Charlie's own mother, Bronwyn walked out of their lives two years ago, never to look back. Until now, she's come to visit for a few weeks to visit her daughter and finalize her divorce. She starts nitpicking at everything Laura does and says and seems to be getting a little too comfortable in her old home. Laura fears that Bronwyn has other plans for the future and for Laura herself.


Well this certainly pulls you right in and stays that way throughout the entire story until the very end, which I love when an author can do that. This was more of a drama/mystery with you wondering who did what and while I didn't care for the protagonist, I couldn't help but root for her in the end. The only thing that irritated me a little was some repetition with the wording and how many times she spoke like "she just sniffed crack", which is incorrect in itself. There were several times some phrases were repeated like that but otherwise, it was a good, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.