Off the top of my head, I can immediately think of at least five reasons why I wanted to love The Split:

It’s a new book by S E Lynes who, as you’ll know if you’re familiar with my reviews at all, is one of my current favourite authors,
I was lucky enough to meet Susie last summer and in this case, you can forget any advice you may have been given about not meeting your heroes. She’s lovely and it was an absolute delight,
The book had some glowing reviews on Goodreads and Netgalley, that only made me even more excited than I was already at the thought of reading it,
I’m writing this review as part of a blog tour, and I wanted nothing more than to write and rave about the book, and
So much of The Split is so very, very good.
The basic theme explored by the book – that of how easy it is for humans to make bad decisions during a heightened emotional state caused by marital separation – is one that’s been done many times before. But Susie Lynes sets this one apart with her attention to detail. The portrayal of a Travelodge as possibly the most depressing place in the world if you’re already in a low mood is – there’s no other word – perfect. And the very fact that the sink in the bathroom isn’t big enough to allow you to fill the kettle makes everything else feel so much worse? Yes, yes, yes.


I also felt that Jessica and Will’s actions after their lives, as they knew them seemed to have imploded typified how so many women and men behave in such situations. Jessica has her mum, and her best friend Lena that she immediately felt able to confide in, and both of whom were immediately willing to offer friendship and comfort. Will didn’t feel able to do the same, and chose instead to hide in a corner of a pub with which he was not familiar, and there was no danger of him having to explain to anyone he knew just why he was drowning his sorrows.

And I loved the portrayal of some of the secondary characters. In particular, the very fact that this book is a psychological thriller meant that I knew instantly that both my and Will’s first impression of Ian as a kind benefactor had to be wrong. But when it became apparent just how wrong, it left me gasping in a sort of delighted horror. Meanwhile, my heart really went out to Lena, because all she really wanted was, for just once in her life, to be lucky in love. But that most simple and basic of needs left her vulnerable.

So far, so wonderful then. But – and there’s no easy way to say this – I had a couple of problems.

The first was the fact that for about the first half of the book, I found my attention wandering. I’d have been prepared to overlook this, because I’ll be the first to admit that a hectic few weeks in the day job have left me more easily distracted than usual, but for the fact that several other reviewers on Goodreads have said the same thing. That said though, the second half had me well and truly gripped as the pace picked up and some terrible truths were revealed.

Secondly, and more significantly is that The Split, like many of Susie Lynes’ other novels, has a character-driven storyline. This means that, for the book to really, really work, the reader has to form a sort of connection to at least one of the main characters. I did exactly that with Sam Moore in Susie’s earlier novel, The Ex, and as a result I still stand by what I said in my review: it felt as though the book had been written just for me. And I can easily see that anyone who made that sort of connection with either Will or Jessica this time around would adore The Split. But my problem was that I just didn’t – couldn’t – do that.

The issue, I think, is that the plot relies on both of these characters having very specific reactions to an anonymous message sent to Jessica’s phone. But those reactions aren’t necessarily the ones that I, or anyone else I know, would have had. And whilst Susie – using a technique which, thanks to her author’s note, I now know is called the ladder of inference – gives both characters enough of a back story to make their actions believable, for me it still wasn’t quite enough to make them relatable. As a result, despite the fact that I loved so many of the details in this book, it felt overall as though it had missed its mark.

It still gets four stars, because the writing is too solid and the fine detail just too, well, fine for me to possibly give anything less. It’s just that one final, but critical ingredient that, for me, was missing. But please, don’t even for a second let that put you off from reading the book, because it doesn’t at all follow that you’ll feel the same way.

This isn’t quite a perfect analogy but it’s the best I can think of for now. My favourite dessert is lemon meringue pie, and if it’s served warm, with thick double cream, so much the better. So if I were to cut into one where both the meringue and the pastry had been cooked to perfection, only to find that the filling inside was not lemon but, say, blackberry instead, I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I’d been hoping for. But you might, quite reasonably and justifiably, think it was the best thing you’ve ever tasted.


My thanks to Bookouture for including me on the blog tour, and to the author and Netgalley for the digital ARC. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my social media pages.

The Split is the latest psychological thriller by S.E. Lynes and was well paced and full of twists and turns, making it a thrilling page turner since the beginning to the end. The way the author presents the characters was fantastic as always.

It has a dual POV and is such a fascinating story of secrets and lies that will keep you guessing while making us feel the tense and suspenseful vibe. The characters development was greatly done and the way the twists made it impossible to guess how it would end.

Overall, this is an intense and diabolical tale, making it such a rollercoaster of emotions. I recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers that enjoys the intrigue and suspense of the story and like to be at the edge of the seat while reading it.

Thank you, Bookouture & NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

This book is told from alternating points of view of the two main characters Jessica and Will. It is a slow build up with suspense and unexpected twists galore. Another great book from this brilliant author and one that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I loved it.

The Split is the latest gripping psychological thriller by bestselling author S.E. Lynes. As someone who has enjoyed this author’s previous work I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her new novel and I must say it was every bit as entertaining as I hoped it would be! Well paced and full of the kind of twists and turns I’ve come to expect from this author, The Split is a thrilling page turner of a read that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end.

Last night Jessica celebrated her wedding anniversary with husband Will, secure in the knowledge that all is well within her marriage. But then a message arrives from ‘a friend’ that throws everything she thought she knew into doubt. A string of photos show her husband Will with another woman: walking hand in hand, going into hotels together and standing with their arms around each other. Will is adamant that it isn’t what she thinks, but refuses to tell her who the other woman is.

Not knowing what to believe, Jessica asks Will to leave, only allowing him access when he comes to spend time with their two young children. But now there’s someone watching their house, Will is acting like a stranger and Jessica is convinced she’s being followed. As the truth is slowly and painfully revealed, will the secrets that are uncovered bring Jessica and Will’s family closer together or tear them even further apart?

Told from the alternating points of view of Jessica and Will, The Split is a fascinating tale of secrets and lies that keeps the twists and turns coming throughout. Fast paced and exciting, The Split is a book that keeps you on your toes, with S.E. Lynes once again delivering a thriller that will have you turning the pages long into the night.

Recommended.

Oh my freaking god!!! This was so so good! I’m so glad that I had this chance of reading this books, all thanks to NetGalley!! This was such amazing book with excellent plot and great character building! This was my first book from the author and it did not disappoint at all!! I’d highly recommend y’all to check this one out! It’s so worth it!!

Ok, so what have I just read 🤔🤔
I loved the blurb to this story so I was quite excited to get to it.
From very early on I wondered where the author was taking her story and why on earth her characters could not sit down together and discuss what had happened between them. It baffled me.
It was like watching a movie and shouting at the screen. With each turn of the page, the two main characters Jessica and Will were growing further apart. It is amazing where our imagination will take us when we believe something we see. Something that may not necessarily be true.
Before the pictures arrived on to the phone, I do believe Jess and Will's marriage was not in a very good place. They were in trouble.
A slow burner I felt but it soon picked up its pace..
But what really had me was how incredibly niave the husband Will was.
A man who seemed too trusting of people.
A very tense story full of drama and suspense.
A little far fetched for me in its storyline but worth your time.

The beginning of this book yanked me in. I was so invested in the cheating at the beginning and then going right into the story. I enjoyed this aspect of the book at the beginning and seeing Will and Jessica’s relationship fall apart. But then I started to have issues.

I felt that the whole book had an easy fix of they just needed to communicate. I also found it really hard that she would just see the money missing (although maybe I just check my banking information too much), and also that Will didn’t say anything when he was that far into the situation strikes me as weird especially since it involved Jessica she had a right to know and it seems weird that he wouldn’t have said anything.

Also, the real action didn’t start until about 50% of the meeting, at that point I was already sick of the drama between Will and Jessica, and felt rushed from then on. I feel like there was too much foreboding throughout the first part of the book that I didn’t really feel as involved in the book when the plot really picked up.

The Split by S.E. Lynes

Published: March 8, 2024
Bookouture
Pages: 393
Genre: Domestic Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Wowza. This had such a domino effect for twists. I was utterly speechless and could not read fast enough to see what would happen next.

The build-up for this one is on the slower side. Though, it's worth it. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives. It showed the emotional processing between men and women and that simple communication can go a long way.

This was emotional, intense, twisted, and diabolical. The blurring of lines, a simple secret, and taking your partner for granted are a recipe for disaster, and S.E. Lynes did not disappoint.

The depth that the twists went was done so beautifully, and the development of the characters was strong. This had one of the best twists I’ve read this year. While I did predict one part, I was utterly floored by everything else.

I love getting lost in a Lynes thriller. I never know what will happen, where we will go, but I am always excited to find out.

The night after celebrating their wedding anniversary, Jessica is anonymously sent pictures of her husband, Will, with another woman. Jessica is sickened and demands answers from Will. All that Will can provide is that, "it is not how it seems". Jessica throws Will out of the house. This is one of those books where I do not want to say much more about the plot - it is best going in knowing very little. This is not your typical revenge thriller. It is SO much more.

The Split is packed with twist after TWIST! There is so much suspense packed into one novel - not to the point where it is overdone or campy, though. Lynes leaves little breadcrumbs throughout the novel - enough to give you a little teaser but not enough to guess the twists. Character development is also excellent - I felt connected to the characters and their raw emotions. This book is definitely going to stay with me for a while. As another reviewer wrote, it does not go into the vault of similar stories that are difficult to recall later on. I finished this one in a day as I HAD to know what was goign to happen next. Definitely give this one a read if you want to be taken on a wild ride!

Thanks you Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I always look forward to a book by SE Lynes as they always promise a fast-paced thriller with gripping twists.

The Split is admittedly a lot more domestic than what I've come to expect from her books which are usually very psychological. This one is definitely not as dark, and therefore it doesn't grip quite as hard, but it's still a page-turner that will keep you on your toes.

As always, the characters are very well written which is something that always stands out for me with Lynes' writing. However, the main thing that stunts this couple's situation from being resolved sooner is that they just won't talk to each other! It is slightly annoying at first as it's a frustrating situation where you find yourself chanting, "Just ask him to explain!!" or "Make her listen to you!!". But eventually, I enjoyed seeing how things escalated so quickly from their stubbornness, ignorance, and rashness, as this breakdown in their relationship felt very realistic and authentic.

I had some suspicions about how the story would play out, but there was much more to it at the same time, and there was a lot of tension that kept me questioning how it would come to an end.

If you're a fan of Louise Candlish and Heidi Perks, this is definitely a thriller for you.

The Split follows married couple Jessica and Will. Jessica receives an anonymous message with photos showing Will with another woman. Will claims it is not what it looks like but will not explain any further than that.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it was fast paced with SO MANY great twists (some I guessed, some I didn’t). I loved Jessica, I thought she was an excellent, likable and relatable character. Having the story told from both main characters points of view was brilliant too.

There were parts of this book where I wanted to scream at the main characters to just communicate with each other, and I kind of love that the story & writing was able to make me feel like that! I’d recommend to anyone that enjoys psychological thrillers and I’ll be reading some more of the authors work for sure.

The Split
by S.E. Lynes
Pub Date: 08 Mar 2024

The Split was a great first read for me by author S.E. Lynes. After reading her book I feel she is a great psychological suspense writer! I can't wait to read more of her books in the future.

The main point of the story in my opinion is about communication or should I say lack of communication.

Short Synopsis:

Last night, we celebrated our anniversary. Over candlelight, we talked about the children, our work, and I was so happy, and felt so loved.

But the next morning, when I check my phone, there is a message. From a friend. And a string of photos appear of my husband, Will, with another woman: walking along the street holding hands. Going into fancy hotels. Standing at a window, his arms around her, her head on his shoulder…

I beg Will to tell me what’s going on. But all he can say is that it’s not what I think. As if the betrayal wasn’t bad enough, he won’t even be honest with me.

Many thanks to #Bookouture, #NetGalley & #TheSplit for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Split by S.E. Lynes. So I am really torn with this one. The first half of the book was very slow moving. It was more of a family drama novel. I had trouble picking it up to read it. The second half became faster paced and kept my interest. I was looking forward to finishing the book. I have read other books by this author that I enjoyed much more. How do you rate such a book? I am leaning toward 3 stars. Many people have loved this book so I recommend you check it out for yourself.

I just love this authors books so when her latest book hit the shelves I had to reschedule my day, sit down on my comfy chair, open my kindle and start to read The Split by S.E. Lynes. This was another brilliant book! Once I read the first few pages I was hooked and could not turn the pages quick enough. It was full of twists and turns throughout which made it an excellent book.

The end of our marriage was only the beginning…............

Last night, Will and Jessica celebrated their anniversary. Over a romantic candlelight dinner, everything was perfect they talked about their children, their work, and they looked so happy together and so in love.......What could go wrong?

But, the next morning, Jessica's phone Pinged a message..........When she checked it said from a friend. Then, a string of photos appeared of Will her husband, with another woman: walking along the street holding hands. Then, going into fancy hotels. Then, standing at a window, with his arms around her, and her head on his shoulder…..........WTX

Shocked and wanting answers.....She asks Will what is going on!?
All he can say is that it’s not what I think!!! Jessica has the evidence in front of her on her phone.....

But, do photo's lie?

Now there’s someone watching their house. Will is acting very strangely.....Jessica does not know if she can trust him anymore and she has no one she can talk to. She now needs to know who sent me those photos and why.

Is she and her children in danger?

But, maybe Will is telling the truth.

Maybe it’s not what I think.

WoW this book is excellent and I highly recommend it. I loved it.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a dark gripping intense psychological thriller that had my attention from the first page. This author has such an amazing talent for coming up with interesting and intriguing plots and her books just keep getting better and better. The split is full of twists and turns and secrets and lies and makes you doubt that anyone who is really who you think they are.

This one would make an amazing tv dramatisation.

Can’t wait to read what this author writes next

As I turned the pages of "The Split" by S.E. Lynes, I found myself whisked away into a story that, while it danced on the edges of the absurd, kept me hooked, eager to uncover the why behind the unfolding chaos. Lynes has spun a narrative that, despite its leaps into the unbelievable, kept me engaged, my curiosity piqued as I navigated through the labyrinth of its plot. Yet, as I ventured closer to the end, I couldn't shake the feeling that the resolution veered into farce, slightly dimming the shine of the journey that had led me there.
The crux of my frustration lay in the protagonist's actions—a wife in peril, a ticking clock, and yet, the decision to embark on a seemingly futile quest for evidence took precedence. It was a choice that left me baffled, considering the urgency of the situation. The characters' repeated missteps, driven by a lack of communication, seemed to be the only thread keeping the story from unravelling into simplicity. It was as if the narrative thrived on their inability to just talk to each other, a premise that, while frustrating, underscored the entirety of the tale.
Despite these grievances, I must admit that "The Split" had charm. The allure of uncovering the motives and the drive to see past the characters' exasperating decisions lent the book a certain appeal that kept me going. This underlying curiosity saved the novel from being cast aside, a testament to Lynes' skill in crafting a story that, despite its flaws, maintains a grip on the reader.
In reflecting on my journey through "The Split," I'd describe it as a rollercoaster of emotions—thrilled by the intrigue, irked by the implausibility, and left pondering the potential had the story taken a route grounded more firmly in reality. While not the pinnacle of Lynes' work, it was an okay read, a book that I might recommend with a note of caution: brace yourself for a tale that, while engaging, might just stretch the limits of your suspension of disbelief.

˗ˋˏ ♡Thank you S.E. Lynes and NetGalley♡ ˎˊ˗

Sadly, I did DNF this book. I found the plot boring and did not enjoy any of the characters. I could barley get through any of the chapters. It was more intresting to read from Will's POV, because that was were we would find any of the actual sunbtance to the "Thriller" part of the book. At the same time the plot was predictable and slow. I could not stand this miscommunication troop at all. It was not for me sorry.

How much do you trust your other half? Implicitly or is there an element of doubt and suspicion? Jessica trusted Will to the death until she gets an anonymous text that destroys her world. A text that undermines everything she believes. Her life implodes.

What ensues is a seriously rocky trip through the separation of this couple which is messy. Very messy. Jessica unwilling to listen and Will feeling bound by a level of client confidentiality. Stuck in the middle is their daughter Cassie. Poor thing! The innocents are always the ones who suffer.

Lynes, over the course of The Split, intertwines the chaos of a breakup with some chance meetings that make life that bit more bearable for this frictious couple especially as they navigate their ways through the unknown stormy waters they face. My warring couple was getting some distraction from what was happening which helped them but not their shadow (aka me). Was one of these new acquaintances the “friend” that started this snowball of events or was my mind in overdrive not trusting anyone I crossed fictional paths with?

She impeccably introduces the element of playground gossip into the mix which many will know too well! No one needs that in their life let alone when you’re struggling to hold it together!

The Split is an excellent thriller with twists and turns that made this reader’s mind head into overtime. I mentally sent myself down paths that may be I shouldn’t have gone down, thinking I was being clever but Lynes was always one step ahead of my thought process! Yet another brilliant read from Lynes !!

When i started reading this book, I enjoyed it. But after a while it started to slow down and drag. It felt a little long. But there were twists and turns. Things I didn’t even think would happen! I wasn’t a big fan of will until the last few chapters of the book. The ending was good! This book wasn’t for me but I’m looking forward to reading more books by S. E. Lynes! Thank you NetGalley, S.E. Lynes and Bookouture.

This book just shows how important communication is and kept me reading until the very end! Jessica and Will are married living with their two kids until one day Jessica receives photos of what looks to be Will with another girl. The twists just keep on coming with this book going back and forth with the dual point of view between the two. This book had me thinking I knew what was coming next and then realizing I was completely wrong. It was a great read!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.