Loved the characters Claire and Noah when Claire discovers that her fiance has been lying to her about going to work each day when she turns up to surprise him on their anniversary. Claire decides with her best friend Shuki to investigate what is going on only to find him living with another woman in Chelsea and start to stalk him.
This is a great insight on how someone who has been betrayed can become obsessed with the truth and you find yourself being engrossed and wanting to find out more about what happens.
Would recommend to anyone who likes a mystery.

Claire believes she has the perfect life with her gorgeous fiancé, Noah, until she pops in to see him at his place of work one day, only to discover that he hasn’t worked there for months!

Noah is ignoring her calls and has blocked her on social media. Desperate for the truth, Claire sets up a fake Facebook account to track Noah down and is devastated when she catches up with him on a night out, with another woman.

This is a well written book and I enjoyed it. The pacing and the character development is really good and I really felt for Claire, especially during the flashbacks to her childhood; her nasty mother and the bullying she was subjected to at school. I did work out the truth towards the end, but that’s didn’t dampen my enjoyment one bit.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Callie Kazumi and Random House Cornerstone for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This psychological thriller takes the reader on a breathtaking emotional ride. It features complex characters, unexpected twists, and Claire, an unreliable narrator. The narrative keeps its secrets well; although Claire is unreliable, she is still a protagonist you invest in. The pacy thriller keeps you engaged, and the many twists, some of which I guessed, make you constantly wonder what to do next and who you should believe. I like the popular courtroom format in the story's second half as it includes the reader, allowing them to judge the evidence. It's a poignant psychological thriller with some unexpected twists.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Some of Claire’s actions seem quite unbelievable BUT I’ve never been in the same situation so who’s to say I wouldn’t do the same? Very engaging read throughout and a stunning and interesting debut!

Cuckoo follows the growth of a relationship between a young woman and her ideal man whom she has met during the course of an ordinary day. But, are things as the appear? The characters are rounded and believable and I was hooked from the mysterious and tragic description in the opening paragraph wondering where it would lead the reader. Once I had started reading this book I could not stop as I was compelled to find out what would happen next. For a debut novel this book was great!

Ooo everything is not what it seems! This is a clever, twisty-turny story. I devoured it! Will definitely look out for more by this author.

I do enjoy finding a new author who manages to both engage and entertain me and, with her debut novel, Cuckoo, Callie Kazumi has managed to do just that. This is a relationship drama, of sorts, but one that takes a very dark and unexpected turn. What should have been a very happy day, a kind of anniversary for Claire and her fiance, Noah, turns into somewhat of a nightmare, upending Claire's reality and sending her into a troubling spiral that sees everything she knows come crashing down around her. Ghosted by Noah for reasons she doesn't understand, with the help of her friend and colleague, Sukhi, Claire sets out to find out what secrets Noah has been hiding, never suspecting the truths she is about to uncover.

I like how Callie Kazumi has played this story. There is an air of plausibility about it, and many of the tricks that she uses in the narrative really do drive the mystery and misdirection that feed the plot. It's really hard to talk about the parts of the book I really appreciated the most as it would sway into spoiler territory, but they way in which Claire uncovers Noah's secret life really do reflect modern society and I think, for some, this may be very relatable. There are probably a good few folks who would recognise in themselves the temptation to have a secret social media account and to be able to permeate the lives of other people without their even knowing. There is a twist in this particular tale, and an unexpected darkness, but it helped maintain the tempo of the novel, and kept my attention throughout.

There are some tough scenes in the book which explore Claire's very complicated relationship with her mother. Again, for some this may be relatable, and for others they may not want to read the truth within this part of the book. It is not necessarily easy to read, but it explains quite a bit about the kind of person Claire is, and why she reacts to certain situations in any given way. I didn't always like Claire, but I could feel sympathy for her, and felt that by the end of the book, I understood her better, even if the author was still waiting to drop another, final bombshell right at the end.

I read this book really quickly, and am very glad I decided to add it to my reading list as it was an absorbing, thought provoking book that entertained and reflected some of the darker sides of modern life just a little bit too well. Looking forward to seeing what the author delivers next.

This is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.

A great premise that had been hooked - what would you actually do if you found out your life as you knew it was a lie. The twist in this book was fairly obvious from about half way through, but it's still a worthwhile read and a good new author to follow.

**My Review of *Cuckoo* by Callie Kazumi**

‘Cuckoo’ by Callie Kazumi is a gripping debut thriller. The story is a masterclass in slowly building tension and uncertainty, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I desperately sought answers alongside the protagonist, Claire.
At first, Claire's life seems perfect. She's celebrating her first anniversary with her handsome fiancé, Noah, and everything about their relationship feels blissful. But when she decides to surprise him at work, she's shocked to discover he no longer works there – and hasn't for nine months. This revelation set off a chain reaction of events that left me questioning everything.
As Claire's world begins to shatter, we're taken on a journey through her past, including her traumatic childhood with a neglectful and abusive mother. These flashbacks provide insight into Claire's psychology and her deep-seated need for love and validation. However, they also make it difficult to discern what's real and what's imagined, adding to the overall sense of unease.
I was impressed by Kazumi's skilful handling of the narrative, which seamlessly weaves together Claire's present-day investigations with her past experiences. The pacing is expertly controlled, with a constant sense of escalation that kept me invested in the story.
One of the most striking aspects of ‘Cuckoo’ is its exploration of toxic relationships and the blurred lines between love and obsession. Claire's fixation on Noah is all-consuming, and as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that her perception of reality is distorted. I found myself wondering if she was delusional or if there was something more sinister at play.
The characters in ‘Cuckoo’ are complex and multi-dimensional, with Claire being a particularly fascinating and flawed protagonist. Her self-deprecation and insecurities make her relatable, but her increasingly erratic behaviour also raises red flags. The dynamics between Claire and her friend Sukhi are equally intriguing, with Sukhi's loyalty and concern for Claire's well-being providing a counterpoint to Claire's spiralling obsession.
The twists and turns in ‘Cuckoo’ are expertly handled, with a stunning revelation that completely upended my expectations. Without giving too much away, I can say that the ending is both shocking and thought-provoking, leaving me to ponder the themes of trauma, gaslighting, and the fragility of the human psyche.
Overall, ‘Cuckoo’ is a gripping and unsettling thriller that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense. Kazumi's writing is assured and evocative, making this a stunning debut that promises great things to come. This story is for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and deeply unsettling read.

This had me gripped from pretty early one.
Claire was a very intense character to follow. Its obvious very early on she isn't OK. The way she behaves instantly was concerning. However as the book progresses you start to question the truth of the relationship.
The ending left me wanting more. But also knowing it probably shouldn't happen (I'd still read a sequel though).

What a fab story for a debut novel. Claire was quite an unpleasant character but her childhood would partly explain that . Great twist at the end. A new author to watch out for.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read an ARC in return for an honest review

A disturbing and twist filled debut novel. The protagonist Claire though sad because of her awful upbringing was also dislikeable but well written. As the story progressed so did the pace and the denouement satisfying.

What a twist and turny read this was. I really enjoyed it and the characters were all very believable.

I did find the story sad and had no idea where the book was going. The end made me gasp.

The book was really well written and paced. I look forward to reading more books by Callie Kazumi

I would like to thank the Publishers and Net Galley for my ARC and my review in unbiased.

What a brilliant debut book. I raced through this fast paced book, desperately needing answers. Claire has a wonderful night, celebrating her first year with Noah. It was totally perfect and her feelings of happiness spilled over to the following day when she decided to surprise Noah at work by bringing him lunch. Arriving with her work colleague she is shocked to be told Noah hasn’t worked there for nine months. She tries to contact him but to no avail. Breaking down she is totally distraught, confused and angry. As the nightmare continues she tries to track him down, if only to have an explanation to this horrific scenario. The book often returns to her abusive childhood and the bullying she suffered but her adult life had become a happy one with her fiance and a friend she could trust. As the book continues to reveal this sad story, there are shocking twists to come that certainly brings more questions than answers. A very clever and well written story by this talented new author.

Oh my, what a wild ride! Caught between the present and the past, my heart went out to Claire, her childhood was a nightmare and after reaching adulthood Claire finally gets her life on track, and awesome job, a great friend and the best fiancée in the world… or is he?
One day she decides to surprise him at work, only to find he’s changed jobs and then she can’t reach him, and he doesn’t come home!
Her life implodes and suddenly she’s in jail for murder!

When I started to read this, I thought, oh no, not another predictable man meets woman, man disappears, man has second life. Not so. Come the second half, things really start to happen. Who to believe.
The chapters are interspersed with Claire's childhood. Her mother was awful, neglectful, and narcissistic, which does go some way to explaining Claire's anger.
Claire is not a very nice character and at times wondered why her friend Suhki was so loyal to her.
It was a great debut with an ending I wasn't expecting.
Thanks to the publisher Random House uk for the invitation to read this in return for an honest review. Also, thanks to Netgalley.

Claire's world is turned upside down when she decides to drop off lunch for her fiance at his office. She discovers he hasn't worked there for months. So where does he go each day? And why is he suddenly ignoring her phone calls and messages?

From the opening pages of Cuckoo by Callie Kazumi you get a disconcerting feeling. We join Claire as she completes her diary detailing her one-year anniversary of meeting Noah, her fiance. The evening was spent together cooking, followed by chocolates and prosecco. Everything came across as too perfect, however, when you're as loved-up as Claire and Noah you are bound to have a slightly skewed view of the world.

Things begin to take a strange turn when Claire decides to drop off a special lunch for Noah during her lunch break. Along with her work colleague, Sukhi, they go to Noah's office but the receptionist has no knowledge of Noah. After some investigation, Claire is informed that Noah left for a new job months earlier. Claire is shocked to hear this as Noah hadn't told her. When she tries to phone him the calls go unanswered, there are no replies to text messages. Claire is distraught, she doesn't know what's happening.

The whole scenario, from discussing her relationship with Sukhi, through to discovering Noah no longer works where she thought he did continues the unsettled feeling I got from the opening pages. Once again the relationship between Claire and Noah comes across as too perfect and Claire's personality is too chirpy. I began to question what was true, wondering if Claire was delusional.

We follow a distraught Claire, aided by Sukhi, as she begins to trawl social media trying to find answers. Interspersed with the quest for answers are more diary entries from Claire. We learn about the day she met Noah, followed by sporadic days of their relationship, all of which continue to fuel the disquieting feeling I had, everything was too intense.

I couldn't put the book down, I desperately wanted to know what was happening. I needed answers regarding Noah's behaviour. I had to know what was real and what was imagined. As Claire's behaviour became more erratic you got a sense of danger lurking. I felt a little voyeuristic and grubby, that strange sensation when you know something isn't right but you just can't look away.

Claire is a strange character, she is constantly putting herself down, wondering why the incredibly handsome Noah would choose to be with someone as ordinary as her. You do feel sympathy towards Claire as you learn about her childhood with a mother who was emotionally and physically abusive, it is clear that she craves the love and attention she never got as a child. However, as her behaviour becomes more extreme and irrational you begin to wonder what the climax of the story will be.

This was interesting. It seemed like a typical love affair gone wrong and I was getting a bit boref but then it picked up and ended with a fabulous twist! An excellent debut novel#Cuckoo #NetGalley

A story of obsession, love and murder and not the one you’re expecting, a gripping new thriller with a killer twist at its core

This story starts off with Claire going with her coworker, Sukhi, to surprise her fiancé at work with lunch. When Claire arrives at her fiancé’s office, she is informed that he no longer works there and he hasn’t worked there in months. Where in the world has her fiancé, Noah, been going every day? And why isn’t Noah answering his phone and returning any of her text messages or phone calls? It seems as if he has totally ghosted Claire after they have spent a loving year together. As Claire desperately tries to find her fiancé, her world begins to shatter as the truth about who Noah really is starts to emerge.

The last page caught me off guard!!, but it was a cracking ending to the book.

The book is worth 5 stars in my opinion. Congratulations Callie Kazumi on a great debut novel

I’ll be watching to see what this author has in store for us next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Uk Cornerstone Penguin for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review