Cross Her Heart

I do love Sarah Pinborough books; she is such a talented author and, because absolutely anything can happen in her books, I find that I just go with the flow and enjoy the story rather than try to work out the unimaginable twist. It quickly became apparent that Cross Her Heart is so full of secrets and I was virtually rubbing my hands together in glee as I immersed myself in the story to see how it would all play out.

Lisa doesn't have an easy life; she has few friends and is a single parent to her stroppy teenage daughter, Ava. I initially found Lisa to be very weak and forgettable and thought that this is most unlike Sarah Pinborough, but I should have known better as there is a very good reason for this...Lisa is not who she seems. Lisa has kept her head well below the parapet in order to protect her new identity and to forget a past that she has managed to keep hidden from Ava....until now!

I thought the first part of the book was fast paced but once Lisa's past is revealed the pace is ramped up to supersonic! I simply couldn't read fast enough as I eagerly devoured every scintillating word written on the scorched pages. Lisa's past is revealed teasingly bit by bit and my heart went out to her as the full picture is painted.

Supersonically fast-paced, Cross Her Heart is an addictive and riveting read that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Another absolute cracker from the brilliant Sarah Pinborough!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Big fan of Sarah Pinborough, this was fantastic. Dark, twisty, intriguing, atmospheric. Highly recommend!

OMG the twists and turns in this rare gem of a read made for one hell of a roller-coaster ride! The story centres around Lisa; a seemingly ordinary, loving, single mum whose priority is that of her only child. We learn early on that Lisa is haunted by the death of a young boy but just how she is connected to him isn’t revealed until about a quarter of the way into the book.

Lisa’s daughter is sixteen-year-old Ava. Ava belongs to a swimming club where she is part of a close-knit group of four girls who she calls ‘my bitches’. The eldest in the group is Jodie. Ava has a close affinity with Jodie as they both have issues with their mothers. Ava because Lisa is claustrophobic and overprotective, and Jodie because her mother is never around. Ava has a boyfriend too, but she’s getting fed up with him and has become infatuated with a ‘mystery man’ who she has been chatting to online.

Lisa’s best friend is Marilyn. To the outside world Marilyn has the perfect life but she carries a secret that she hides even from her best friend.

When Ava is thrown into the spotlight through an act of bravery, she unwittingly uncovers Lisa’s secret past (a past that Ava knew nothing about). At this point, Ava already has issues with her mother but now she hates her more than ever, and escaping with the ‘mystery man’ she has met online is the only thing that keeps her going. When Ava goes missing the plot really starts to thicken and a whole web of lies and deceit begin to worm their way into the story.

There are so many shocking twists in this book I could talk about but I don’t want to give any spoilers. There are, however, two main things that make this psychological thriller stand out. Firstly, whilst there are times when you will hate the protagonist for some of the things she has done, the author has developed the character so thoroughly and given her such an utterly compelling story, you can’t help but empathise with her too. Secondly, this characterisation is so tightly interwoven into the skilfully structured plot, one minute you will want to throw the book against the wall and the next you will almost set the pages on fire where you are turning them so fast.

As well as being shocking, heart-breaking, and horrific, Cross Her Heart is also a story of love and true friendship. Lisa isn’t the only one who has been well characterised; Marilyn is fabulous and everybody should have a friend like Marilyn!

In the same fast-paced style as the overall plot, the climax and the conclusion come in fairly quick succession, resulting in one of my most satisfying reads of 2018. I would recommend this book for anybody who likes Louise Jensen or Jane Shemilt.

As a Sarah Pinborough fan, she did not fail to deliver! The main character, Lisa set the tone for this story as a mother determined to protect her daughter from the past whilst trying to live a normal life in the present. Loved the way story went back and forth from past to present, to give the reader the backstory of Lisa's former life. A brilliant read for 2019!

I received this book from Net Galley on a complete whim. I wanted to read a few thrillers and decided to apply because it didn’t quite sound like anything I had read before. The reason? I’ve never read anything like this before. This was a fresh mystery, a new take on what can be a predicable genre. I have a huge problem working out stories, reading ahead in my mind and coming back with the answer before we’re supposed to have the full picture and with this it wasn’t possible to do that. It was a really special story.

I am not usually a lover of multi perspective stories, however, Sarah Pinborough has used perspectives to drive this book in an unparalleled and superlative manner. We see the story from the point of view of a mother, of her daughter, of her friend, and later, from a stranger. We experience the idiosyncrasies of each character, their flaws and their motives from their points of view, but we also see the direct affect that it has on the other characters as a direct result. Sarah also used this storytelling method to drip feed information all over the place. Some pieces are red herrings, or we deliberately don’t have enough information to create the correct narrative. It was this technique that really took my breath away and allowed me to experience the mystery in a way I hadn’t fully experienced before.

The story unfolded as the character's came alive and this powerful storytelling method drove the plot erratically and addictively. The author had a brilliant ability to make each character seem good when she needed them to seem flawless and innocent, yet introduce enough mystery and intrigue that you began to question their motives and their past. It's so common to hear phrases like 'the past is the key to the future', but it really applied to this book, how you saw the characters, and ultimately where you imagined the story to go.

I have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions in my head and have read so many thrillers that I often find it difficult to find something engaging and new. This was definitely one of those books. In parts, it lacked any form of action, yet the tension built in these moments to the point where I had to keep listening and needed to know what would happen next. The book revolved around tiny revelations made through innocuous speeches or phrases, which kept me engaged and hooked in, afraid to miss anything juicy or relevant.

I don't want to say to much for fearing of spoiling what was a gripping story and a fantastic ending. When I looked back, the answers, the people, and the clues were all there from start to finish in plain sight, but they were so expertly woven in, hidden, and shrouded that it was a pleasure to unpick them when I read it and then experience them again after.

If you love thoughtful thrillers, psychological mysteries, and unreliable narrators, this is definitely the book for you!

This story begins with a more than chilling opening and is a goosebump ride from that moment on. Very quickly the reader finds out about Ava's teenage endeavours that are worrisome and disappointing for any parent to read but extremely realistic. Lisa, Ava's mum is constantly on high alert. Trying to re-settle and trying to trust again, Lisa is working through her anxiety and fears with caution. This tale is compelling, immersive and absorbing, I highly recommend this Sarah Pinborough story.

Transparently based on the Mary Bell case this is a lively and challenging story told with pace and intrigue. The characters are superbly well drawn and the departure from the original case was skillfully done. That meant that we understood the public revulsion for our character from Mary Bell and the Bulger cases but still felt we were on her side from page one. It would lend itself to an on-screen life too. Unlike many books that go from era to era this one seemed very accurate and true to the period. I would buy other books by this author. The style was fast and easy to read while economical and tight.

This book was excellent.

Lisa is a single Mum who just wants to keep Ava, her 16 year old daughter safe. Lisa’s best friend is Marilyn. All three have secrets that they want to keep hidden.

Then something happens that blows their worlds apart.

The story is told from the different perspectives of each character and contains flashback chapters too.

The chapters are short which made the book quick paced.

I would recommend this for fans of psychological thrillers.

I'm a huge Sarah fan after Behind Her Eyes. Her characters are so compelling and well written I race through her stories. Cross her Heart is another pace, gripping read. Thanks.

A gripping story full of twists! I loved the triple narration between Lisa, Marilyn and Ava. The pacing of this book was perfect the way it started slower and then picked up as it went on revealing more puzzle pieces as it goes along with flashback scenes that show more information.

I am a terrible thriller guesser and was working on a couple of different theories whilst reading but I was so wrong it was ridiculous! I especially loved how the characters developed over the course of the story, Lisa and Ava's relationship in particular. I do wish the ending could have been a little more filled out though in regards to repurcussions etc.

Full of easily identifiable believable characters, Cross Her Heart is a great pyschological thriller. The plot is delivered at an enjoyable pace, and as everything is revealed you can't help but be glued until the end. This is an easy book to lose a day with, as once started and gotten into, it's very hard to put down.

This was my first read of Sarah Pinborough and it will definitely not be my last. Hugely enjoyable and immersive read!

Another twisty offering from Sarah Pinborough the author of ‘Behind her Eyes’. This slowly drew me in then kept me there until the end. Much like BHE (and Marmite) you’ll either love this or hate it. I really enjoyed it though I do understand some of the criticisms. I’m not too hung up on ‘realism’, if a book keeps me hooked and guessing it’ll do for me. This did both, I preferred BHE as it was totally different to what I was expecting but this still holds its own. Some parts shocked me, others made me sad. I found it highly original and entertaining.

Wow. I can see why this book is a bestseller. Told from many viewpoints with many narrators, not all reliable, we are constantly given new views and information, changing what we thought before. Throughout this is the thread of the everyday secret, the skeletons in the closet so to speak, and the effects these have on those around us. Some moments in this book were truly horrific but need to be discussed, as the scary thing is they no doubt happen a lot.

I really loved this book. Lisa lives with her teenaged daughter, Ava. It's clear from the start that she has reinvented herself after a difficult past. We are led to believe that she may have escaped an abusive relationship. However, the truth is much worse. When her past catches up with her, Lisa risks losing everything - her daughter, her job and her dear friend. I won't say any more as I don't want to spoil the story, but this is a cracking read, which I thoroughly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Sarah constantly blows me away with her writing and this is no different. Her writing is beyond anything I have read before and I am still not okay after reading this beauty. Wow.

Wow what a brilliant story. I was completely hooked from the beginning. This is second book I have read by this author and I wasn't disappointed. A easy five stars from me. Thank you Netgalley and Harperfiction for giving me the chance to read this book

Fantastic book about murder, friendship, loyalty and revenge. I couldn't read it quick enough. With characters you will care about. Brilliant read

I thought I had this one figured out, and then very quickly came to realise that I was wrong.
Grabbed me early on, and kept my attention. Brilliantly chilling and twisty.
Would definitely recommend this book!

This novel has an informal, spontaneous style. It's about love, betrayal and revenge. It is told in three parts in the first person by Lisa, her daughter Ava and Lisa's work colleague and friend Marilyn. In the first part of the book, you are served the impression that Lisa is a nervy, over-protective mother. It baffled me in Part one why Lisa had such low self-esteem and perpetually consumed with anxiety. Ava is her awkward, rebellious teenage daughter. She seems to be at that inexplicable withdrawal stage from mother-love and hacking away at the umbilical cord to find her individuality. Part one is slow for the groundwork for the characters and how they all tick. Part two is explosive with its shock revelation as Lisa's past rears its ugly head, and it immediately makes you reassess her. She's not the person you thought she was when the layers of her life peel back; she's been living a lie. It affects everyone in her orbit and a case of mud sticks. The arrows of betrayal are shot from so many directions. It's an impressive plot which was full of suspense and surprises. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.

I know a number of people are comparing this book to Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes and being disappointed, but I think it’s important to review each book as a standalone, and this book is just as enticing.

Cross Your Heart follows Lisa, an over-protective, worried, single mother and her teenage daughter, Ava. Lisa has dark secrets in her past that she’s hiding from, but secrets never stay hidden forever. This is a twisty, well-executed psychological thriller with an intricate plot line and unreliable, flawed characters that will mess with your head. The structure flows between multiple POVs and flips between past and present.

Enjoyable, compelling, and intriguing, if you want a fast-paced thriller, this is the book for you. It’s highly entertaining, an easy, quick read, and I enjoyed it immensely.

I have been anticipating this since last year’s novel. From the first page, I was drawn into the urgency of the situation Liz was in. Nothing is what it first seems however. At the start, I believed Liz to be someone escaping an abusive relationship but there is much, much more to this tale. Fast forward in time and Liz is hiding secrets from her daughter Ava. Who is taunting her with memories of her past? Is there a much darker side to Liz? I can’t write too much without giving away too much of the plot but this is one of Pinborough’s best. The tales twists and turns you will have to read it all to find out if the revelations at the end release and redeem Liz.

If you have read Behind Her Eyes you are sure to know what kind of book to expect here. A dark psychological thriller that will most likely have you up all night. This book tells the story of three women. Lisa, her best friend/coworker Marilyn, and Lisa's daughter Ava.
As with a lot of books of this kind most of the suspense here is build from giving us breadcrumbs of information from the past to help us understand what is happening in the present. As more and more secrets from our main characters are revealed, the more enthralling the story becomes.
I'm keeping this quick, because I think you either like this kind of story, or you don't. I am currently on a bit of a psychological thriller kick so this story was right up my street. I thought it was an absolute stomper and would 100% recommend for fans of the genre. 5 Stars!
Go on! Off to the shops with you!

I found the story a bit slow to start with but 60% in and it was gripping. I liked the ending but I’m a bit disappointed because I guessed it, unlike the ending of “Behind Her Eyes” which totally took me by surprise. Overall this is a good thriller and one I would recommend reading...but beware the strong language!!

Lisa - or is she really Lisa? - tries to lead a quiet life with her typical teenage daughter. Her best friend and work colleague, Marion hides her secret life from the world, but her secret is nowhere near as big a secret as Lisa's. The quiet life is turned upside down after her daughter saves a young child from drowning and the press publicity causes major problems by revealing Lisa's dark past. Sarah Pinborough writes a magnificent psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, at times with my heart in my mouth. The twists and turns are fast and furious - a real must read.

I've had to wait a week before writing my review for this book as the ending of this book was so amazing and intense I need time to process it. This book was full of twists and constantly keep you guessing. There aren't enough words to describe how amazing and enthralling this book was. It's a must for all fans of female-led thrillers. I personally, didn't see any of the twists and reveals coming and couldn't wait to see what was going to be thrown at me next. Definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far.

I really loved this book, I didn't want it to end. It had me gripped from the first bite. It has it all, murder, mystery, love, betrayel..Happy and sad moments. I am looking for her last book to read now...can't wait for more.

The second novel I have read from this author and it doesn’t disappoint! What starts off an intriguing tale slowly twists and turns and keeps you wanting more! I read it in a day it’s that good!

Must-read, spellbinding, boldly-twisted, credible psychological thriller

Can you imagine trying to hide a dreadful secret your entire life? Can you imagine going to incredibly great lengths to keep this secret? This is how Lisa lived and brought up her daughter, Ava. In the first part of the book, Sarah Pinsborough leads her readers up a path that we think will take us to an obvious conclusion. However, as soon as she gives her reader time to get to know her three main characters, Lisa, her daughter Ava and Lisa’s best friend Marilyn, the plot shockingly turns on its head! By this time all the characters are endearing, likeable and interesting.

Lisa is clearly disturbed by her past and coming to grips with understanding that is part of the hold the book has on the reader. Only Marilyn appears to have a perfect life. The stage is set when Ava saves a child from drowning and the after-effect has dire consequences for all three women.

When the plot changes direction in a horrifying way, it is an anxious reading time to get to the truth which is way beyond anyone’s imagination. Lisa’s tightly kept secret is out and their lives become untenable. Marilyn also has a secret and the amazing thing about this brilliant psychological thriller is that Sarah must know her readers are going to be doing a lot of incorrect guessing during the book. But, it is impossible to guess what comes next because Sarah Pinsborough is ten steps ahead with her unbelievably good psychological thriller. It’s shocking, dreadful but sadly plausible.

Absolutely brilliant. I could not put the book down all night until it was finished.

BonnieK

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

It is impossible to predict the end of the book. Or even a few of the twists and turns that filled the pages. It was thought out so well, written in such a way that you find yourself thinking you know what's going on, only to find out that the author has other ideas. It kept my eyes on the page the whole time reading it, not wanting to wait another second to find out what came next.

Even though parts of this book were hard to read, I enjoyed it overall. I love a good mystery and I love a book that pulls out the carpet of what you think you know from underneath you. This is definitely my definition of a perfect thriller.

The characters were interesting too. I felt worried at the start because the two adult characters, Marilyn and Lisa weren't the sort of characters I tend to like reading about, but as they got caught up in the events of the book and all the secrets hidden in their lives started to come out, I was hooked.

If you're looking for something to read this bank holiday weekend you could do worse than a book by Sarah Pinborough.

How evil can a child be? And also, once a victim, always a victim? These two questions made for a very interesting read. A real page turner and hard to put down, I flew through the book. A brilliant read I highly recommend!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK!

Oh.My.Gosh! I'm a broken woman and it's all thanks to Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough. Now this may come as a shock to many of you as I have a reputation as an on-the-ball crime blogger to uphold but this is the first book I have read by Sarah Pinborough. Her previous release, Behind Her Eyes was a little (<-- understatement) popular last year with its #WTFthatending hashtag. I have a copy, I just haven't managed to find the time to read it yet *hangs head in shame*.

What a book Cross Her Heart is! It's not often a psychological thriller can bring me to tears but as I said at the start of this review, I am a broken woman. I feel as though I've gone ten rounds with a champion heavyweight boxer, beaten and bruised but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. I had been warned previously that what you see isn't necessarily what you end up getting with a Pinborough novel. This author is a master at making you think one thing, pulling the wool completely over your eyes and then going 'taddah' and you're somewhere else entirely different to where you predicted. Top marks for doing it with such aplomb! Many writers try and achieve something similar and they do manage to some degree but this book, this author seem to reach a whole new undiscovered level.

I immediately liked Lisa. I could see a little of myself in her and maybe that was the reason I warmed to her as quickly as I did. She's an overprotective parent of a sixteen-year-old. She keeps herself to herself, gets on with her life and spends her days fretting about keeping Ava, her daughter, safe. It becomes apparent to the reader that Lisa has a lot of history, that something happened in her past that she's either running away from or there is someone she's hiding from. She has secrets but we all have secrets, right? It's just that some are a lot bigger, a lot more earth-shattering than others though...

Lisa is one of three strong female characters hiding their devastating secrets from the world in this story. Her daughter Ava has her own issues to deal with including an overprotective mother, exams and pressure from her friends to move her relationship with her boyfriend to the next level. Then we also have Marilyn, Lisa's best friend who's perfect life isn't the idyllic picture she paints on a daily basis. I adored all three of these characters. As Pinborough tantalisingly revealed their secrets and dropped another bombshell on her reader, how much I liked them varied quite dramatically - and I found that utterly fascinating.

I do have to mention Daniel and how he totally broke my heart into a million pieces and how, during parts of the book, I had to put it down and walk away and clear my mind a little. I had to have a breather otherwise I would have been a shambolic, sobbing mess in the corner of the room. But as I'm a 'no spoiler reviewer' I can't really tell you anything else about him or his story. If you want to find out more then you'll have to get a copy of Cross Her Heart.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, yes! What a page-turner of a read. What a brilliant, yet devastating story this is. I was completely hooked and I didn't want it to end. There were a couple of small points which I struggled to believe but the storytelling is so wonderfully intense and so riveting that I didn't really care. I was just enjoying a stonkingly good novel! Heartbreaking, emotional, impossible to tear yourself away from and so utterly devastating in places, this book should win awards.

Five out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Cross Her Heart. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

This was a book I couldn’t put down. I have to be honest and say I haven’t read Behind Her Eyes but I think this is a good thing as I have nothing to compare it with.

Written in first person, present tense, for the three main narrators - Lisa, Ava and Marilyn - there's an immediacy with the story that draws you quickly into their lives. Each has a secret that cannot be shared despite the fact that Lisa and Marilyn have been best friends for ten years and Ava is Lisa's daughter. The story is divided into three parts. The first section is at a slightly slower pace as we learn about the three women. However, the tension is still there as the story builds to an event that should be a cause for celebration but instead brings all of their lives crashing down. The second part deals with the immediate after-effects while the third twists the story yet again.
I daren’t tell you anymore as I don’t want to give any spoilers away but this book is like a maze of mirrors. You think you can see the way forward but distortions prevent you from seeing the true picture. I absolutely loved this book!

Having loved Behind Her Eyes, I was beyond excited to be able to read Cross Her Heart which was published last week. How would this new book measure up to the #WTFThatEnding hype of Behind Her Eyes? Well in my eyes, pretty good!! I think I actually enjoyed it even more and those of you who were disappointed by that book and felt a little cheated by it’s cross genre shocks, then I think you will feel much more comfortable with this more traditional psychological thriller. Don’t get me wrong, there are some major “WOW!” moments here and some shocks that will leave you spinning but there is definitely a more conventional vibe to the plot. It will certainly have you second guessing yourself as you get dragged into this dark and utterly terrifying storyline where you never quite know who you can trust.

I do adore an unreliable narrator especially when I’m not quite sure who it is! Here we are introduced to three women and the first part of this book covers their everyday lives. Lisa has a great job where she has just landed a new contract and possibly a new man at the same time. Her 16 year old daughter Ava has a boyfriend but seems to be enjoying an online flirtation with another man. Finally, there is Marilyn, Lisa’s oldest friend who is keeping a few secrets of her own! And they are all about to have their lives turned upside down by one unexpected and shocking moment.

I loved this book, it had everything I look for in a psychological thriller! It was dark, distinctly disturbing at times and I had no idea where it was heading!! Whilst I worked out one little bit of the resolution, there was so much more within this brilliant narrative to keep me turning those pages. But be warned there are some tough scenes to read in there and my own heart broke as I read them, leaving me confused as they completely turned around my feelings about one of the characters!! And don’t you just love it when that happens?!

Sarah Pinborough writes wonderfully engrossing portrayals of these women, bringing their conflicting emotions to the forefront of the storyline. And that turned one of the plot points into an impossible dilemma for me, especially as it contained an act of unspeakable evil and violence.

This is definitely a book that plays on your mind long after you’ve finished it. If you didn’t love Behind Her Eyes then please do try Cross Her Heart as it’s a very different style of book and as a lover of psychological thrillers, I really do rate it very highly!

Oh. My. God.

OK, so I am a genuine Sarah Pinborough fan. I’ve red Mayhem and Murder because historical crime fiction is *so* my bag. I read “Behind Her Eyes” a couple of years ago and despite having a slight inclination for Pinborough’s style and genre I was still pleasantly taken aback by that #WTFending. To say I have been waiting patiently for her next book would be an understatement. However Cross Her Heart is quite different to anything of Pinborough’s I’ve read yet.

he novel opens with a note ‘Don’t try and find us’ being left for an angry volatile man. At this point all we are aware of, is a sinister man in the background. The novel quickly introduces Lisa, Ava and Marilyn, with chapters told from each perspective. I found the mother and daughter relationship between Lisa and teen Ava fascinating. They have the usual, over protective mother and desperation to be and adult scenario.
Which all play out well, until small daily occurrences, start to set off Lisa and she doesn’t know who she can trust!

“In any gaggle of women, there’s always one you have to watch” – Marilyn

Marilyn has created the ‘perfect life’ which is far from perfect. Ava is trying hard to prove she can make adult choices, putting herself at serious risk. Lisa is trying to hold is all together. But they all have secrets, only some are more treacherous than others….

‘She is not the person she was then’

The complex mother and daughter stand-off, continually develops. Then one-day Ava saves a young boys life, leading to media attention and a plot explosion I never saw coming. It is at this point that the novel timeline changes and we get to see everyone’s secrets laid bare. By 150 pages in, I was absolutely engrossed in the plot and the characters. Sarah Pinborough really has excelled herself, yet again!

There are themes of jealousy, secrets, childhood trauma, revenge, scheming and rejection. The little twists build and build, keeping you constantly guessing and increasing the suspense with every page.

A well written book that starts off as a nice tale of teenage friends that soon changes with twists and suspicion. This is the first book I have read by this author but will not be the last

A captivating book full of secrets, twists and turns. An emotional, exciting book. Brilliantly written with fantastic characters.

Free copy kindly received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read Thirteen minutes by Sarah Pinborough a little while ago and thoroughly enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this book. It certainly didn't disappoint.
It was a very engaging read right from the start, with so many layers within the story that kept me guessing until the end.
I loved the way the book jumped between POV's and between the past and present. It all helped build the story and flowed beautifully.
The book really played with my emotions and my empathy towards the characters changed regularly as well.
It's the best thriller I've read in quite a while.

This was a fantastic book and I was gripped from the start, I’ve done nothing but read the last two days and I found this to be compelling and gripping. The characters jump off the page and the plot draws you in and surprises you when you least expect it! Fantastic!

Thanks to Cross Her Heart, I now know what people mean when they say they have a "book hangover".  *nurses head*

Lisa has a beautiful daughter, best friend and a job she enjoys, but is hiding a secret from the past, as her daughter Ava grows up and starts fighting for more independence, Lisa pushed back trying to keep Ava close, by part two we know what has happened get ready for a shock!! A fantastic book full of turns and twists.

This book. THIS BOOK. Damn. Where to start?

First things first, I was expecting this to be a standard thriller with the usual twists and turns. Not always a bad thing, I kept reading at the very start in hopes that the writing style would be good enough to boost the books predictable plot.

I. Was. Wrong!

This book did not head off in the direction I was expecting, and then did it again… and then did it again! When I was expecting a standard plot concept this was a massive surprise and made this so much more enjoyable. On top of this, the writing style was also really enjoyable for me personally, and I liked the way that the characters were switched between. It was a little confusing at times, but that was purely because I had an eARC from NetGalley and so the formatting of the file wasn’t 100% finished up yet. There are mini headings for each character (they were just interspersed a little randomly in the eARC) so there should be no confusion for those buying the book!

You will be chopping and changing who you believe to be “at fault”, shall we say, for the plot this book revolves around, and I promise you will probably be wrong at least 9 times. I was wrong many more than that! Every person has their own secrets and this is played up beautifully by Sarah Pinborough to keep you on your toes and guessing until the last second.

My one negative about this book is that the ending wrapped up a little quickly, but at the same time we learn all we need to and we get the closure needed for this genre. Maybe I just didn’t want the book to be over! I need more of her writing! I’ve not yet read Behind Her Eyes but it is 100% going on my tbr after this amazing thriller.

5/5 stars and one I would recommend to anyone who loves this genre! Also, the British cover is stunning so that’s a plus! (The American one not so much but hey, maybe they just know the market really well). I just wish that there would be a sequel about Simon and his past! But I think that’s a little too much to wish for 😉

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in return for an unbiased (I promise!) review, and to Sarah Pinborough for this amazing novel.

OMG! I loved this book! From the very first sentence I was hooked. Who did it? Who is hiding what? So fantastic!

Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough is an incredibly emotional and captivating read. As a mother or daughter, female readers will love this narrative, being able to feel the characters’ emotions and understand their actions entirely. This book is an emotional rollercoaster, combining themes of friendship, family and privacy to encompass Lisa’s character and the way we all lead double lives to some extent. Trigger warning for scenes of sexual and domestic abuse. Cross Her Heart will be published on 17 May 2018 by Harper Collins.

The story
Lisa is a mother who lives with a dark past and even darker secrets. Having fled from these to keep herself and her daughter, Ava, safe, she can never fully relax and forget the trail left behind her. Ava is a teenager learning about friendship, boys and the world around her through her group “My Bitches”, her clingy mother, her boyfriend Courtney and an online mystery man who has caught her attention. Marilyn is Lisa’s best friend from work. They do everything together, yet still they cannot share the darker details of their private lives with one another out of fear of judgement. When Lisa’s past comes back to haunt her, will Ava and Marilyn be able to see beyond the secrets and darkness to find the Lisa they both know and love?

What I liked…
Honestly, I could not put this book down and read it in a day. It is captivating; the writing flows easily and I enjoyed reading every word without feeling the need to skip ahead, although at times I wanted to to see the next reveal! The plot is seamless; I loved that there were a few red herrings which were used tastefully and the ways it all threaded between each of their lives to stitch them together in a neat sequence made this a fun thriller to read.
This book is fast-paced. You get a decent amount of background in the first section of the story, but you understand that something is coming and that it will shake all of their lives. Once it does, this book does not stop, nor do our characters. Ava’s actions are typically teenage-like and immature, while Marilyn battles with how to respond to the situation and the reader is left questioning everything they know about Lisa alongside the rest of the characters. I could truly trust nobody throughout.
My favourite character was probably Marilyn. She has a lot going on with herself when Lisa’s world caves in, and yet she manages to step up and carry on with life. She is a very strong woman who makes some excellent decisions, which makes this an excellent book for women in unhappy marriages to read. They will either recognise themselves and their own situations, or they will see that their lives are really not too bad after all.
Finally, this book should come with a trigger warning: there are themes and scenes involving sexual and domestic abuse, child abuse and murder. It encompasses a world of pills, alcohol and many other harrowing themes. The cover art truly reflects the way that Lisa’s heart must feel everyday based on her past.

Overall, I would recommend this novel to seasoned thriller and drama fans. If you’ve a strong stomach and won’t get easily triggered, it can also be read by people stepping into the genre, but the warning is here: it is a full-on novel. While it is not a crime novel, I would certainly recommend it to lovers of James Carol, as Pinborough is not afraid to tackle the difficult issues. Thank you so much to Harper Collins for my proof copy in exchange for an honest review.

OMG I loved cross her heart and devoured this in 24 hours!!
I had read "behind her eyes" last year and really enjoyed Sarah Pinborough's writing style and was looking forward to this next thriller, this I thought was definitely worth the wait.
The book is split into short chapters on a timeline of before, now and after and also split into it being told from the perspective of one of the main characters. This book does not need me to go into the plot as this is definitely best coming in blind. The beginning was little slow but this was due to the scene setting and character familiarisation which in hindsight gave this a good base and it was probably only slow due to my neediness to dig deeper into this chilly thriller.
This psychological thriller is full of twists and turns that will turn everything on its head and make you rethink everything you thought you knew. This is a suspenseful, gripping and enjoyable thriller that I would totally recommend.
I would like to thank Netgalley and harperCollins UK for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Pinborough has done it again: Cross Her Heart is a masterpiece; an incredible journey that’s more twisty and turny than the Tasmanian Devil doing The Twist on the Waltzers during an earthquake.

Initially though I admit I was unsure – the early part of the book felt similar to several others I’ve read recently and I thought I knew where it was going so I was a little disappointed, but – give it a few chapters and then BAM! Pinborough is truly a Grade-A expert in pulling the rug out from under the reader.

You need to know as little as possible about the plot and, to be honest, I would even try to avoid the synopsis that’s on Amazon (the one above is taken from NetGalley and Goodreads). All you really need to know is that this is a thrilling, shocking and heartbreaking rollercoaster of a story; I read most of it with my stomach clenched in anxiety and was pretty close to tears at some points.

This is an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone who likes a dark and serious psychological mystery thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the ARC of Cross Her Heart and thank god for Sarah Pinborough!

At last a book in which I haven't guessed the ending before I've got there . As this book is based on secrets around the 3 characters Lisa , Ava and Marilyn the author did well to keep the main secret hidden to the very end which made the book a real breathe of fresh air.

Cross your heart and hope to die - promise me you'll read this compelling novel from Pinborough!

Dark yet light-hearted, love and hate combine for a perfect tale, set up to lead you to the conclusion only to pull the rug and leave you amazed. Magic!

This review is necessarily short as I think any reader will benefit from knowing very little about the story and its characters. Discover it as I did, with no expectations and be amazed. I will certainly be seeking out more of Pinborough's works.

With thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and author for the ARC.

I read this book in two seats. It starts slow, but I found myself quickly immersed in this novel full of surprises and revelations.

CROSS HER HEART is about three women, three strong, determined, and brave women, all of them hiding secrets. Lisa is forty years old, she has a sixteen-year-old daughter, Ava, a good job, and a great best friend, Marylin. But Lisa is also afraid, afraid of a past that still terrifies her and that it’s now catching up with her.

Ava is a normal teenager, drinking, occasionally smoking, and worrying about boyfriends and school exams. She has a secret that she is keeping not only from her mother, but also from her best friends. But her mysterious Facebook admirer is not the only secret Ava is keeping.

Marylin has been Lisa’s best friend for ten years, since they started working for the same company. They spend a lot of time together, in and outside of work, but Marylin has never told Lisa that her life is not at all what it seems.

What I love about this author is that she completely and repeatedly takes you by surprise. I thought I knew exactly what was going on, who not to trust, and it turns out I was completely wrong. Every few pages there were new revelations, some I had already figured them out, but most were unexpected, and there were so many twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The characters are very well-crafted and developed. The relationship between mother and daughter is well explored. Lisa, because of her past, is an apprehensive and overbearing mother, always checking on Ava. Ava, like every sixteen-year-old, is annoyed by her mother’s attention but also feels guilty when she snaps at her. I also enjoyed reading about Lisa and Marylin’s relationship, how strong their friendship is, and how much they trust each other, secrets aside.

Secrets, obsession, and betrayal are at the center of this haunting and compulsive book (which is out next week) and I’d like to thank HarperFiction for providing me with an early copy.

This is a brilliant, twisty story that will have you hooked from the first few chapters.
There are a few shocks in store as you go through the book but this is what I expected from Sarah Pinborough.
It’s hard to write a review without giving away any key parts of the story but I can say this is a gripping story about friendships, relationships and secrets.
We all know the saying “Cross your heart and hope to die,” well this is very apt for this book.
I really liked the main characters and felt a real connection with them - especially as the story developed.
I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

What a remarkable book. As you would expect from Sarah Pinborough this is a tale with plenty of twists and turns.

From the start it is told from the perspective of 3 characters, The Mother, The Daughter and the Mother's Best Friend (a fresh voice is added later). The story flows well and is an okay read until you get to the WTF moment where SP pulls the rug out from under the readers feet and you have to re-evaluate all you have read so far and all you thought you knew. From that point on the story gets a lot darker, the reveals keep coming and the rug keeps getting pulled.

I was hooked from the beginning and got through this in two days/nights. Sorry if this is a bit sketchy but I am trying to avoid spoilers (trust me, you'll thank me later)

This could easily be the book of the summer

I’m not entirely sure where to start or how to review this book without spoiling the book for anyone who’s yet to read it! You are best off going in blind and finding out the plot twists and turns for yourself, and i am fairly adamant that you won’t work out the ending on your own!!

Told from mainly three view points, Lisa, Ava and Marilyn and switching between present day, Before and After it is a quick paced storyline that keeps on throwing plot twists right until the very end. Just when you think you have it all figured out and you become slightly disheartened at the predictability, it pulls the rug out from underneath you and throws you off completely!

All three women have their own secrets they are keeping adding more layers to the plot line giving each of them their own story as well as their combined story, all of which are perfectly believable and told with compelling sensitivity even if some of them aren’t particularly likeable!

This is a really great quick read that you will struggle to put down until the very end, and if you love psychological thrillers you have to read this book!

Cross Her Heart will be published in kindle format on the 14th May 2018 and in Hardback on the 17th May in the UK

This story is told by three people; Lisa, her teenage daughter Ava and Lisa's best friend and work colleague Marilyn, someone has something to hide but which of them is it and how will it affect their lives if that secret is revealed?

I loved Sarah's previous book, Behind her Eyes, so when I saw this one I was very excited to read it.  Right from the first page I was sucked into the story and didn't want to put it down till I'd finished it and I read it in less than 24 hours.  It's a compelling read, very dark and mysterious and there were many times where I was convinced I'd worked out what was happening only for the author to deliver another twist that catapulted me off in completely the opposite direction and back to square one wondering what the hell was going on here!  I loved how the chapters flowed seamlessly between the three timelines; Before, After and Now which kept me gripped throughout.  Sarah Pinborough is fast becoming one of my favourite authors!

I would like to thank HarperCollins UK for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

I really enjoyed Sarah Pinborough's previous novel 'Behind Her Eyes' so was looking forward to this next title 'Cross Her Heart' immensely - and I wasn't disappointed!
The story follows the lives of Lisa, single mum to 16 year old daughter Ava, and her friend and colleague Marilyn. Although the plot is a slow build-up we very quickly discover that all three women are hiding secrets. Lisa it seems is running from someone or something in her past, Ava is dealing with all the trauma of being a teenager and conducting an illicit, online relationship with an unknown older man and Marilyn is busy attempting to keep up the illusion that all is perfect in her life and marriage. It is not long before these secrets are exposed - some in quite dramatic fashion!
The story flips between present day and 20-something years ago to Lisa's childhood and cover some very shocking events that provide the background to a tense and gripping climax. I found myself rooting for the main character Lisa but it is fair to say that nothing and no one was at it seems in this story and at times I felt truly heartbroken for the girl that she was all those years ago.
I'll say no more for fear of spoiling except to say that this is a thoroughly entertaining and thrilling book - a highly recommended 5 stars!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and author for an ARC.

I thought this book was going to be the usual single mother/teenager angst type story. Oh my goodness! How wrong can you be? This story was dark and sinister and yet there was love, loyalty and true friendship too. There were shocks and surprises one after another and I couldn’t read this book quickly enough to satisfy my thirst to know the ultimate outcome. A definite must read.

From start to finish this book keeps you hooked. Nothing is as it seems, nobody is who they seem, so how are you going to work out what is happening? A simple, happy life seemingly gets torn apart because of a secret from the past - but the twists and turns will keep you guessing all the way to the end. A compelling read for all lovers of psychological thrillers.

This book kept me hooked.

You think you know the story but you don't - the twists and turns and slow reveal of the real truth behind, was very well done.

You have tears in your eyes when you find out Charlotte's childhood story and then Daniel's is revealed and oh how you hope that their parents are in prison. And never coming out.

But you never suspect what Katie did. Not until her history is revealed too and her mother's action causing such a reaction.

An excellent, cleverly crafted story, well told with empathy and understanding of how childhood trauma can affect future behaviours.

Wow where to start. I really don’t want to say to much about the plot as you really just need to read this book.

The story is mainly told via three peoples account: Lisa, her daughter Ava and Lisa’s best friend Marilyn. The story also jumps about from present day to past but there as no confusion as everything just fits in to place really well.

This is one book that will genuinely keep you hooked from the first page. There are plenty of twists and turns and just when you think you have everything worked out something else happens to blow your theory !!

This really is a great read and if you love psychological thrillers you have to read this book but be prepared for it to fully take over your life until the very last page.

Loved this book. Loved the way flowed the characters all fitted an easy to follow.
Loved the way you got to the end without working out it was Katie that killed Daniel.

Well... I certainly didn’t see that coming!! I think I may still be in shock at the all the twists and revelations, all the secrets, lies and betrayals. They were incredibly well hidden throughout the whole book, and phenomenally-well written and executed. I can give enough stars for this amazing book!

The characters, though some were batpoo crazy, were very detailed and finely tuned. The whole storyline itself was well thought out and written with so much emotion that I could feel it seeping into my bones via every single word and every single page.

I loved Lisa, I loved (in some ways) her whole complicated past and I can’t honestly praise ‘Cross Her Heart’ anymore than I already have. Words fail me in complimenting such extraordinary penmanship.

Fantastic. Gripping. Gritty. Emotional. Taboo (in one subject!). Thrilling. Exciting yet terrifying.

Review: This is a book that everyone who loves these genre should read. 

I found myself racing through this I just had to know what was going to happen next. It makes you stop and think, that you never know what is going on in other people's lives. 

An amazing book. I must read more by this author.

Lisa is a mum on the edge desperate to keep her daughter safe as strange things start happening, a rabbit toy, a song and photos going missing though she has normal worries like does Simon a friend she likes fancy her and is her daughter happy with her boyfriend.



Ava, Lisa's daughter isn't interested in Courtney fully though as she agrees to meet a stranger online. Saving a life could cost her hers, as well as her baby's.



Marylin works with Lisa and lives with her abusive husband, Richard.



Only as events resurface from the past and Lisa's actions, we learn of Charlotte, her younger self. Her sinister self and what she presumably did...



Ava hates her, Marylin moves on with Simon, Charlotte though needs to help the police find her daughter and fast, just who is B?



Jon the drunk ex, baby Crystal and Charlotte were once a family now it's all splintered, can anyone be saved now a body has been found and one's missing, tied up and drugged while the other's on the run...



Sinister happenings from the first chapter, thrilling developments and multiple identities mask the true culprit throughout the book to keep us guessing all the way till the end. You don't want to miss this as a mother fights to protect her child.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Wow!!! What a book! Sarah Pinborough has excelled with the storyline of this, there have been so many different angles it has kept me enraptured to the very last moment. #CrossHerHeart should be an essential read for all!

Gripping story. Proves that nobody knows everything about a person. What makes a person who they are?

A good story line with many twists and turns with an unexpected outcome a thoroughly enjoyable read

I really enjoyed this book , once I got started I couldn't stop . It was fast paced with great twists and turns and a good few red herrings thrown into the mix . The book is mainly about Lisa , her daughter Ava and best friend Marilyn . Lisa is really over protective of Ava which makes Ava keep some dangerous secrets from her Mum . Marilyn has her own problems with an abusive husband , and Lisa is hiding some secrets of her own . It brings home again how dangerous social media can be , how do you know who you are really talking too .

It was great to read a book where the men were just bit players , the 3 women are feisty and I liked them all , a really satisfying conclusion and I will certainly be waiting for the next book . Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this . Highly recommended 5 stars !!!!

A cleverly woven tale that keeps you guessing, for whilst you know there will be a dramatic culmination of stories, you just won't see it coming...

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Very well constructed, great pace, well developed and interesting characters.
This book had me hooked from the first page. I thought it was an exciting read. Highly recommend.

Absolutely gripping. Really couldn’t put this down. Thrilling, exciting and well plotted. I liked the structure where some of the characters share the telling of the story so viewpoints change and how it switches back and forth from past to present giving up little gems of information and detail. . Secrets and lies scattered everywhere and it becomes clear Lisa is not who she claims to be, but she is not the only one. I can’t say too much about the story because I will give away the twists! There are lots of them! Cleverly based on what we hear about in the news and the question we ask “I wondered what happened to them years later?” Here is an answer.

CROSS HER HEART a psychological thriller, by Sarah Pinborough, moved along at a great pace. Secrets, lies, and scandal were at every page turn. I could not put this book down.

Without giving any ‘secrets’ away, the novel led me down one path only to turn everything on its head. BOOM! This book grips and doesn’t let go. It twists the reader left and right as the characters come to terms with their past. At times, this was not an easy book to read. It left one questioning right and wrong, past and present.

Superb.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book #CrossHerHeart.

★★★★★ 5 STARS

Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah Pinborough and Harper Collins for my ARC of Cross Her Heart in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: 17th May 2018

I first discovered Sarah Pinborough when I read Behind Her Eyes last year. I got seriously addicted to that book so I should have known not to pick Cross Her Heart up so late at night because inevitably I couldn't put it down until I finished it at 1:40am.

Lisa has a quiet life. A single mum, she works at a recruitment firm with her best friend Marilyn and worries about how quickly her daughter Ava is growing up now that she's turned 16.
But there's a dark secret in Lisa's past which seems to be coming back to haunt her new life. First it's an innocent looking teddy left out in the rain, then a song request played on the radio, and then things start going missing in the house.

This was a really engaging thriller, while it didn't have the same #wtf factor of Behind Her Eyes (which officially spoilt me for all future #wtf endings ever), it was still shocking and so cleverly written that even when you think you've got it, it turns out you haven't. Sarah Pinborough is a master of her genre and I can't wait to read more from her in the future!

Coming May 2018! Thanks to Netgalley & HarperFiction for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Cross her heart is written by Sarah Pinborough, author of Sunday Times bestselling book 'Behind her eyes.' I read C.L Taylor's review of this book shortly before writing mine and was I glad I did… just like C.L Taylor experienced, this book majorly messed with my head and I had the oddest strangest dreams! I've never written anything by Pinborough before, although her first book is now firmly on my 'To read' list! I wasn't disappointed. She's an eclectic mix of some of Psychological Suspense's finest - Sophie Hannah, B.A Paris, C.L Taylor, Claire Douglas and Emma Donohue and brings out some of the finest from each of their writing styles. At the same time though, there's something very unique about her. I couldn't put this book down until I knew exactly what was going on and at the end I was just left reeling.

Cross her heart is about a woman's strength and struggle to begin a new life and put her past behind her - but as we all know in every great psychological thriller, this is rarely possible! Lisa is the main protagonist and embraces single motherhood raising her daughter Ava. Despite her best efforts though, she cannot protect Ava against everything and her past soon comes back to majorly mess with her head and drive her to desperate measures. Someone is living a lie - but whether it's Lisa, Ava or someone else…or a combination of all three… you'll just have to find out!

I loved this book. I was hooked from the first page. I found the twists and turns in the storyline to be a real delight. I couldn’t put this book down. Highly recommended. 5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sarah Pinborough for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Lisa, forty-year-old single mother to sixteen-year-old Ava, is a little anxious, a little overprotective. But it’s not surprising because Lisa has dark secrets in her past and now, there are signs - a soft toy, a song on the radio - that they are catching up with her.

Ava, meanwhile, considers her mum basically a bit of a loser. Ava just wants to hang out with her friends... and develop a new friendship she’s made online.

But someone - maybe more than one person - isn’t who they are pretending to be.

Cross Her Heart is a gripping read full of surprises. It’s different from Pinborough’s previous Behind Her Eyes - there’s no supernatural element for a start - but no less compelling.

I seem to be reading a lot of books about mothers and teenage daughters lately - it’s not intentional, even though I have an almost-teenage one of my own. In fact it’s alarming as - in this genre at least - awful dangers inevitably befall them. Here we have both Ava and an eleven year old girl called Charlotte, and - without giving away too much in the way of spoilers - it’s Charlotte’s story which is really distressing and very dark.

I loved the characterisation, particularly Lisa herself, her best friend Marilyn (a brilliant character facing her own difficulties) and others at Lisa’s workplace - all were believable, if not always sympathetic, characters.

An enthralling, intricately plotted read with a satisfying ending. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

I loved Behind Her Eyes, one of the best books of last year in my opinion, so I couldn’t wait to read this book.

It was another great read. Hooks you in, fast paced, no slow parts, no overly descriptive parts and it really has you trying to guess what happens next and who did what to who and why.

I whizzed through this in a day. Recommended!

I really loved this book! Excellent story with brilliant main characters. I would recommend this book.

Excellent! Pinborough does it again and I am positive will continue doing it over and over! This author is really amazing about sucking you in so intensely you hardly are able to breathe. She's got the twists, turns, and roller coaster of emotions thrillers are meant to give perfected. Behind her eyes was a perfect book, so to be able to come up with another that has readers swept away, is absolutely astounding, but Pinborough manages it!

Cross Her Heart is a straight thriller from the author of Behind Her Eyes, and Pinborough is becoming known for her twisty plots. This novel is no exception, and the narrative flicks between Before, After, and Now, and also between multiple narrators. It sounds confusing but it isn’t. The story flows naturally and the characters are well defined.
The main character Lisa is fascinating. My opinion of her changed rapidly throughout the book, and Pinborough is very accomplished at developing flawed characters and I didn’t know who to trust, almost right up until the end.
This is a fast paced thriller with an intricate plot, but all the clues are there for people who like to try and guess ahead - it’s not one of those dreadful books where the baddie is only introduced about 80% of the way though. As with Behind Her Eyes, I thought I was guessing right but I was proved wrong again and again!
I love the twistiness of this book and the way Pinborough plays with your emotions and turns everything on its head just when you think you know what’s going on.
A warning though: once you pick this book up you won’t want to put it down.