Louise is a good wife who tries her best despite struggling to care for her mother and the strain of financial issues. When she meets Oscar she finds herself having an affair even though she knows that it’s wrong. Soon odd messages start to arrive from someone who knows what she’s been up to. It seems that they want something and won’t stop until they get it.

This was my first book by this author so I was unsure what to expect and after finishing I was pleasantly surprised. I found myself invested in the story almost straight away, intrigued where it would go, I think this is due to the fact that I connected with Louise as a main character and was rooting for her. There were some characters I did not like so much but this made for entertaining reading.

I enjoyed trying to work out where the story was going and the misdirections a long the way and although I didn’t have any major surprises, I enjoyed the twists and turns once they came. This was a bit of a slow burn, which worked well at first but became a bit too slow by the midway point. Even so, this didn’t overly detract from my enjoyment of the story and I found this a solid, well written psychological thriller. I look forward to seeing what the author writes next. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

This was definitely an intense read, as Louise’s life takes unexpected turns. Full of suspense, mystery, and deception, it kept me hooked from start to finish.

Louise and her husband Paul appear to have a happy marriage, but money has long been an issue, she is a Spanish tutor and he owns his own taxi firm, working all hours to earn a living. Paul keeps badgering Louise to get her ageing mum to sell the family home and put her in a care home but Louise won't hear of it, that house holds too many memories and is also their son Felix's inheritance, but he keeps pushing and brings in Oscar to do some repairs on the house for a knock down price and some Spanish lessons with Louise. They are instantly drawn to each other, despite Oscar being fifteen years younger than her and they begin an affair, then Louise starts getting strange messages, someone knows her secret and warns her they will tell her husband, but they want much more than the affair to end, who is the mystery messenger and could they be closer than she thinks?

Closer Than She Thinks is a tense thriller by this author, a fast paced complex story with a great plot which grabbed me from the start, a couple dealing with the mundane issues of life until temptation turns Louise's head and she cheats on her husband, something she never would have dreamed of doing and wishes she hadn't when the backlash from it could ruin her whole life. There are some intriguing characters within these pages, some I liked and others I just didn't trust. Overall this is a great read with some interesting twists by a new to me author that I look forward to reading more of.

I'd like to thank Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

wow what a smart and cautious read. this book held me captive. im so glad weve had a spell of really bad weather it was a major excuse to stay indoors and just read this from beginning to end. the skill authors like Zoe possess in order to bring such newness to these plots is just beyond incredible. and this book sure did do all of that and more.
the book gives us Louise. this is a woman under pressure right now. she is proud to be the best she can be at being a mother,daughter and wife. but this perfect woman never imagined she would find herself having an affair. nope. not her. not ever. until she is that woman. and she does have that affair. but of course this doesnt end there. does it ever just end there?
but this isnt just a huge secret or deception she has to carry. this isnt just a guilt and shame she has to face. this is more than that. because someone is sending her messages that suggest someone has their eyes on her. and it goes way beyond just threatening to reveal her secret, this is putting her at risk.
who is this person. and just what and why are they doing this.
you could feel the fear and unsettled feeling pour off the pages. you were not only feeling what Louise was but also trying to answer and ask your own questions along the way. the consequences were coming with way higher stakes. there can indeed be more wrong than a affair coming out in this book. as there comes a risk to life and safety!
this was such a brilliant new take on that story of what happens in an affair and after. it didnt take away from all that comes usually with such a plot but it adds so much more to it. that unease is only built upon and i couldnt wait to find out just what the hell was going on here and why.

Took me a while to get into this storyline and it didn't really 'pick up' for me unfortunately although I did try.

Thank you to Netgalley and the LBBG for this ARC but it wasn't a page turner for me.

This is a great psychological thriller.
Louise is struggling to juggle her job and being there for her elderly Mum, and her husband Paul is not much help.
His business is under financial pressure so he’s working a lot and thinks the answer is to sell his mother in laws house, and put her in a home.
Louise is strongly opposed to this but with more and more incidents with her Mum, she needs to find a solution.
She bumps into Oscar at her Mum’s house and is immediately attracted to him. When he starts to do some odd jobs, things escalate quickly.
Then the messages start and her Mum says someone is watching her house at night.
This one certainly kept me guessing as to what was really going on, and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group for the opportunity to read this book.

It was a bit of a slow burner for me but I enjoyed it once it picked up pace. I liked the characters, especially Louise’s mum, each with their own dilemma. Overall, a good read.

CLOSER THAN SHE THINKS BY ZOE LEA.
Release date set for the 12th of June 2025.
This was an interesting book with very intriguing characters.
It was fast paced and i enjoyed the story.
I did guess the ending which sometimes i enjoy doing.
Very well written and a really good psychological thriller.
If anyone can take something from this book it's DON'T CHEAT.
Looking forward to picking up another book from this author.

It was an ok book but I didnt feel like much happened during the story and I saw that end coming almost from the beginning. I also didnt connect much with any of the character, I think my favourite was Felix and he was barely in the story. Also even though he was a creep I enjoyed Handy Gary's story and how it was resolved!
Overall it was an interesting, fast paced and easy to read book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, it was a psychological thriller, which is my favourite genre.

Some thing(s) I liked:
✅The setting
✅The ending
✅Viv is adorable
✅Felt sorry for poor handy Gary
✅Lots of misdirection

Some thing(s), not so much much:
⭕Oscar is a creep, I know we're supposed to like him and he's all good etc but he's giving me stalker vibes (15%).
⭕You're clearly not happy with your gross husband. Leave him and move to Spain like you always wanted.
⭕Very little to no action, even the "crux" of the story was quite tame which might not be appealing to other fans of thrillers.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

When Louise embarks on an affair with a younger man her life changes considerably.

Her life seems perfect, she seems perfect but when she develops what you could call an obsession with Oscar and she starts to receive notes about her illicit union her perfect life unravels.

This is a tuat and creepy thriller. I did guess what would happen toward the end but this did not spoil my reading.

This book reads like a TV drama, it unfolds beautifully and is a really good read.

This was okay. Not a lot of depth to the characters, and fairly obvious what the twist would be. But fun to read and find out what's going to happen.

#CloserThanSheThinks #NetGalley
I loved it.
Closer Than She Thinks is a taut, psychological thriller that expertly explores the consequences of infidelity, the secrets we keep, and the lengths some will go to in order to control others. The novel delves into the complexities of personal choices and the hidden darkness that can come with them, keeping readers on edge until the very last page.
Louise, a woman who prides herself on being a good wife, mother, and daughter, never imagined she would find herself caught in an affair. Yet, when she meets Oscar, a man fifteen years her junior, everything changes. What starts as a fleeting escape from her unsatisfying life becomes a dangerous obsession. Despite knowing that what she’s doing is wrong, Louise can't seem to stop herself from seeing Oscar.
Soon, however, Louise begins to receive unsettling messages that suggest someone is watching her. These anonymous threats reveal that her secret affair is no longer the only thing at stake — her safety is now in jeopardy. Whoever is behind the messages knows far more than Louise realizes, and their intentions go far beyond just exposing her affair. As the stakes rise, Louise is forced to face the chilling reality that someone will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Closer Than She Thinks is an engaging psychological thriller that skillfully explores the complexities of infidelity, secrecy, and the dangers of being watched. With a well-developed protagonist, plenty of twists, and a chilling atmosphere, Zoe Lea has crafted a gripping tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
A tightly wound thriller that offers a fresh take on the classic affair story, filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy complex characters and high-stakes drama.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book UK Piatkus for giving me an advance copy.

A gripping thriller that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking conclusion. Brilliant twists and turns and a satisfying ending. Fantastic!

A twisty thriller, great for an evening read to keep you guessing and on your toes. Quick and fast paced from the get go and easy to get in to!