One of the Good Guys follows Cole who has recently moved to the coast following the split with his wife Mel. He believes himself to be one of the good guys and feels he hasn't done anything wrong and is a victim of Mel's cruelty and ambition. Whilst living near the coast he meets artist Lennie who is the opposite of Mel and the two begin a romantic relationship. After a few weeks of knowing each other, two girls disappear from near Cole's house and Lennie and Cole realise they don't know each other at all.

I absolutely loved this book and thought it was incredible. Plot and theme wise it reminded me of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn which is one of my favourite books of all time so needless to say I loved this book as well. The mixed media elements of this book such as the podcasts and radio broadcasts made it feel like a real life, true crime case to the point that I looked it up online forgetting it wasn't real. The writing style was very emotive and I found this book infuriating and anger inducing in the best way possible.

I loved the cast of voice actors used for the audiobook as they really brought each of the points of view to life. All of the narrators were very engaging and I found this audiobook to be a very immersive experience. I loved the use of sound effects for the radio/TV broadcasts as well as the social media alerts.

Overall I would highly recommend this book especially if you can get hold of the audiobook as it is truly one of the best audiobooks I've every listened to!

I’ve read this book physically before so it was great to hear it from a fresh angle.

The narrators were great and really added depth to the characters.

What made a difference with this one was that there were more than the usual two (or three) narrators at most but this didn’t take anything away from the storyline which I could read and listen to over and over again!!

I am firmly sitting on the fence with this book. The audiobook was enjoyable and the creepyness built nicely and then suddenly it all dissipated which left the book lacking which was disappointing.

This is a new psychological thriller following a man named Cole who leaves London for a remote seaside cottage when his marriage fails. Leonora has also moved to the coast for similar reasons, and she is preparing for her next art exhibition. Then two young female activists raising awareness about gendered violence disappear locally, and Cole and Leonora find themselves in the middle of a police investigation and media firestorm.

This book was a ride! At know point did I know where the plot was heading: it was twisty and turny, filled with lots of layers and surprises after surprises. Being taken along for the ride and not knowing what to expect was quite refreshing; ultimately I found the reading experience to be unique and enjoyable.

The characters were particularly engaging. Reading from Cole's perspective - the 'good guy' - was interesting and uncomfortable. The book also explores a lot of contemporary issues, and uses mixed media throughout, which added a fun extra element. On the face of it, I think a lot of what's in here could seem quite ridiculous and unbelievable - which was definitely the intention.

This was a fun read, and one where the author clearly knew what she was doing from start to finish. I would highly recommend to anyone interested.

I really enjoyed the different perspectives in this book. It really shows how things aren’t always as they appear and makes you think twice. It should definitely come with some trigger warnings but is definitely worth reading!

Cole is an introvert who recently moved to the south of England following a painful break-up. It’s fair to say he still hasn’t gone over it, as he keeps mentioning Mel, his ex, in conversations and his thoughts.

He meets Lennie, an artist from London, who is on a sabbatical, currently working on her pieces for the upcoming exhibition. Lennie is Cole’s neighbour, she lives in a Coastguard cottage at the edge of the cliffs in an isolated spot. One day, she reveals to Cole that being there on her own in the evenings feels quite scary for her.

Cole and Lennie become friends, and it appears that Cole is hopeful they will become a couple.

However, all of this is shattered, when two young women in the local area go missing, and Cole becomes number one suspect in their disappearance. Molly and Phoebe are two women doing a sponsored walk, called ‘Walk for Women’, raising funds for domestic abuse charity.

Explosive material will be revealed about Cole and Lennie. It seems that they haven’t known each other that well at all…

Oh my goodness, what a story! I loved how it was told from the perspectives of Cole, Mel, and Lennie, and in the form of social media messages, and newspaper articles.

At the start I liked Cole, I thought he presented himself as a genuine man who wanted to empower women, but as the story unfolded and we discovered his true nature, my opinion of him changed. I imagine this what it would have been like for Mel and other domestic abuse survivors – they charm you first, and when it’s too late, their true colours are revealed.

I honestly don’t think that Cole understands and ever will how his behaviour towards women affects them. He honestly thinks he is ‘one of the good guys’, a gentleman, looking after his partner, but in fact, he is controlling them. I hated how much he pushed Mel to start an IVF cycle after another one, without even asking her how she was feeling. All he wanted was for Mel to be pregnant, no matter the cost and consequence.

Overall, it’s a great book that will stay with me for a long time.

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio for approving my NetGalley request to listen and review this sublime audiobook.

This is the kind of book that when done right, will piss you off. And it was well done. It felt so realistic to how so-called "nice guys" think, all the way to the end. Being in his head/ POV in the beginning was tough because I could just feel myself being frustrated and my skin crawling. And you know he'll never learn too. So when we switched POVs it was a relief.
I'm pretty much always the person to say DNF whenever you want. If you're not liking a book at any point, don't make yourself finish. But with this book, I do want to add the caveat that around 65% this book drastically changes. So if you're having a really bad time and are close, maybe keep pushing because how you feel will likely change around then. I really enjoyed the latter half especially with the shifting POVs and multimedia elements (interviews, podcasts, reddit forums, etc).
Overall, it was a really interesting read and I appreciate the general theme/ message. While I don't fully agree with the characters' actions and conclusions, they feel believable to those characters. It was fresh and different- the kind of book that can spark a lot of discussion after reading (it would make a great book club pick!)
3.5 stars

This book was really good, enjoyable and easy to listen to with a nice narrator. Some good issues brought up with a fun story.

Thought provoking and potentially triggering. This is a very well written story exploring a highly emotive and present topic of violence against women. Like the topic it covers, I suspect the novel will potentially split opinion.

Initially introduced to Cole, who has moved to the country following the breakdown of his marriage. We are given an insight into the impact of unsuccessful IVF rounds on his relationship and mental health.

As the story progresses though, our perceptions are challenged as alternate voices, namely that of Cole's estranged wife Mel and fellow London escapee, artist Lennie B, are added to the mix and questions are raised about whose version of events are the truth.

As already mentioned, the story covers very emotionally charged topics including infertility, parental rights and gender imbalance. The use of a variety of different voices (and origin of content including blog and social media posts, TV and newspaper news reports plus WhatsApp chats), helps to aid the delivery of the book's subject matter.

One that I think will have readers thinking and talking afterwards.

What an absolute whirlwind of a story. I must admit I was a bit confused in the first half by the story but it really comes together in the end. This would make an excellent mini series!

Cole and Mel were happily married until Mel left Cole leaving him devastated. To take some time for himself Cole moves to the coast where he meets artist Lennie. As Cole and Lennie become close Cole believes he has met someone he can settle down with but when two girls go missing nearby, Cole and Lennie find themselves in the middle of a police investigation. They say that there are two sides to every story, in this case there are three: Cole, Mel and Lennie’s.

One of the Good Guys is a book that I kept seeing on social media and as soon as I read the synopsis I was intrigued. From that brief introduction to the story I knew this was going to be a different and impactful book and I wasn’t wrong. I normally like to give in-depth reviews but this review will be brief to avoid spoilers but I would say this a book that everyone should read. I have already recommended it to many friends and colleagues. If this book isn’t on your radar then it really should be.

If I could describe this book in one word it would be relevant. The topics included are very relevant to the issues faced by women, violence against women and anyone who is in a toxic relationship. The author has done an incredible job in dealing with these topics in a sensitive but eye opening way. The subjects and examples of controlling and coercive behaviour and gaslighting are portrayed so subtly. Initially when these behaviours are shown in acts or comments the reader may not consider that they would fall into these categories but the more you read the behaviours start to become more obvious and alarming.

The story is told from three narratives and is broken down into three parts. Whilst reading the first narrative I found it difficult to determine who was the toxic one in the relationship being portrayed. But as each character gave their side of the story and their perspective on what was happening everything started to make sense and more red flags started to appear.

I definitely embarked on an emotional journey when I read this book. I felt a range of emotions from anger, frustration, fear and disbelief. There were times when I had to take a break after reading a section just so I could process what I had read and how it made me feel. There was one particular chapter towards the end of the book that was chilling and is something that will never leave me.

A compelling, scarily realistic and provocative read.

One of the good guys was not what I was expecting at all, its a slow burner with the story being told by different characters firstly Cole who seems like the perfect man, his wife Mel and then Lennie, a artist who lives near Cole.
Their are also 2 girls doing a walk and pocast to highlight the safety of women with men.
The biggest thing with this book is no one is pleasant, its very much a he said she said story and even after listening to it I can't say I enjoyed it but it is a thought provoker, it would probably work very well as a tv series.
A shoutot must go out to the narrators though who did a good job with the story telling.

“If most men say they’re one of the good guys, then why are so many women afraid to walk alone at night?”

This is such a thought provoking book that centres around male violence, victim blaming & men mot being held accountable for their actions. How men will manipulate & gaslight their partner but that they’re “one of the good guys” and it’s “not all men.”
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The audiobook narration was so well done & kept me hooked the whole time. The narrator does a great job of getting the ominous feelings in the book across and builds the tension so well that you just want to listen to one more chapter.
In fact I listened to the whole audiobook in one night!

We start with the PoV of Cole who moves home and jobs to start over after his wife leaves him and how devastated he is. There he meets Lennie and pursues a relationship with her.
We also see the PoV of his wife, Mel, later and snippets of Lennie’s PoV too.
It was so interesting to see the “he said she said” play out through their PoVs.

At the same time two young activists raising awareness for gendered violence go missing near Cole’s home and he becomes the prime suspect.
The build up & tension around this and their personal lives collides in a spectacular way and the plot twists that are revealed once all the pieces fall into place had me gasping out loud!

The social commentary on the normalisation of gendered violence, how women are not believed & men not being held accountable was really interesting and I know it will spark discussion & debate especially as the women are not “perfect victims.”

This is a layered and multi faceted story that had me raging, screaming & gasping and if you enjoy thrillers with these themes then i highly recommend reading.

According to Cole, the loving husband who’s desperate to be a stay at home dad whilst his wife, Mel, follows her career dreams, men on the whole are severely misunderstood. Yes, there are bad guys but he’s one of the good ones. Isn’t he? His marriage has failed but he’s not letting his wife go without a fight, nor her embryos which were due to be implanted the day she walked out. But to what lengths is he prepared to go to get what he wants? And how are Lennie and two young women raising awareness of women’s issues by walking the coastline involved?
Whilst there’s a suspected murder case, this is a book on our modern world rather than a crime to be solved. There are too many triggering issues to list but it’s a hell of a read. Just prepare to find none of the characters endearing and to end the book with way more questions than answers.

I've found it hard to write a review about this book as it was a very uncomfortable, highly political and somewhat disturbing read albeit it unique, necessary and deeply thought-provoking.
Through examining the stories of Cole, allegedly one of the good guys and his ex partner Mel, along with another character we are invited to explore the themes of misogyny, consent, BDSM, dysfunctional relationships, IVF, moral dilemmas, sex shaming, feminism, and violence against both men and women.
All the characters have questionable behaviours and motivations but the author cleverly invites us to think about the bigger picture as to what drives these behaviours and encourages us to suspend judgement and look at things with objectivity.
The book is very intelligently written and would make a great book club read due to the plethora of issues raised. Listening to the audiobook version which was skillfully narrated in all the different POV added to its power.
I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this thought-provoking audiobook.

This is my first review of the year and my first book by this author. Firstly, the narration was brilliant. The whole cast were engaging and did a brilliant job. I also enjoyed the effects and the style of the audio. None of the characters were particularly likeable, but that made for a better read (or, listen in my case). Lots of twists and turns - the story did not end the way I thought it would. A very clever book that has left me wanting to read more by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

Okay, it has taken a few days for me to really gather my thoughts about this one, because while it was highly enjoyable it was incredibly heavy and nothing like i've read before.

This story was creepy and disturbing and really scary and not in the slasher, horror kind of way, but in a way that you sit back and think, "wow, this is actually real life". I love to read to escape reality, but this was quite a wake up call and settled differently with me compared to most other books i usually read.. How people appear on the surface does not always reflect their inner intentions and i felt all the characters in the story were untrustworthy and manipulative in their own ways and it was hair-raising to read each main individuals actions unfold and how this impacted and can impact others.

It was so thought-provoking and incredibly engaging. My head was all over the place while reading this because i would switch from one view or one feeling, straight to another on the same page. So much content i agreed with and then so much a i questioned.

Despite the serious topics, it was fun to read at times. Coming up with my own theories and trying to work out what was happening and who was in the right/wrong was a really enjoyable aspect to the story.

I read this as a part of a read-along and i loved listening to other peoples thoughts on this story, because while the ending made many others feel just like i did, everyone had so many different thoughts and opinions on this book, which i think make this an excellent story, because the conversation this creates is incredible. The complex relationship between genders is something that still holds a lot of attention and creates many different beliefs to this day so to discuss this once everyone had finished was very insightful

It was just so intense and unnerving and i could feel the terror seeping through the pages and that ending was twisty!

The mixed media in the book was a great edition too!

I was a huge fan of the writing style. This book is the first book i have read by this author, but i have already picked up another one of their books as i'm so curious to read more!

This is my first review of the year and what a book to start the year with! It is brilliant. It’s clever and thought provoking, exploring relevant issues but at the same time it’s a thriller, leading you down a dark path and taking you by surprise.

I listened to the audio book which was superbly done. It felt like I was listening to a full production and I think it enhanced my experience of the story. The book is written in a mixed media format and includes social media posts, news articles, TV clips. These were represented through the use of sound effects and a cast of narrators. The format was very clear throughout and the use of sound effects, with the social media posts in particular, made it feel very authentic.

The story is told from the point of view of Cole, Mel and Lennie, with the social media posts showcasing wider and polarised opinions of their story. The narrators are unreliable and at times unlikeable, they challenge the reader to question their own moral compass. Do we have to like someone to feel compassion for their cause? Is the issue of gendered violence black and white? What makes a ‘good guy’?

This book will be a fantastic choice for a book club or buddy read as it offers so many threads for discussion. I will be urging everyone to read it so I can discuss it with them!

Wow this was an amazing book! It’s not often a book makes me sit down and really question my own thoughts. I would urge readers to go into this story knowing as little as possible (which makes it hard to write a concise review)
What I will say is that this book is incredibly well written and immersive. I think it will be a book that provokes a lot of discussion and will be very divisive.
Not everything is as it seems and there is no clear distinction between right and wrong. The social commentary is timely and thought provoking and mixed media is utilised in a powerful way. Each of the main characters believes they are behaving in a moral and reasonable way and it is left to the reader to ponder whether any of their actions are justifiable.
This is a complicated story which is tough to read at times, it is unapologetically realistic and controversial but at the same time is a well-paced thriller with unexpected twists and turns.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time to come and am excited to discuss with others after publication.

I was fortunate enough to also receive an audio arc of this book and the narration by Helen Keeley, Olivia Vinall and Elliot Fitzpatrick really brought this story to life

With thanks to Macmillan UK Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic audiobook in return for an honest review

I listened to the audiobook which was very good and is told from three perspectives. The first is from Cole who was married to Mel. Their relationship has broken down and he has moved away for a fresh start to be by the coast. He believes he is one of the good guys - he looked after Mel and cared for her during their relationship didn’t he? So he can’t understand what went wrong. Listening to the audiobook leaves you in doubt as to Coles behaviour - he seems to mean ell but he is actually coercive and controlling and the things he says leaves you in doubt of the good character he professes to have. Cole meets Lennie, his new girlfriend at this point of the book but at the same time two young women who are passing through the area go missing. The other point of view in the book is told by Mel - Cole’s ex wife. We get quite a different account told here about their struggles with IVF and Mel’s feelings towards Cole. Lennie gives the third POV in the story. A great ending and one I didn’t expect. This is a thought provoking read, so well done on audiobook. The narrators - and there are a few bring the whole performance to life ( Elliot Fitzpatrick, Olivia Vinall, Helen Keeley, Olivia Dowd, Paul Panting, Heather along and Joe Gaminara). This is a clever read, slightly chilling and one you must read for yourself to draw your own conclusions. Thank you to McMillan Audio and Netgalley for my copy.