I Choose You

When they were just children, both Elise and Nathaniel lost their mothers to a serial killer. The tragedy brought them together and they grew up to marry and have a family of their own. They would be right to think they had already seen enough tragedy in their lives, but sadly, they have even more heartbreak when their daughter is kidnapped and killed. Has the same killer targeted them again all these years later? This is a twisted and scary bit of writing guaranteed to make you keep a light on at night

I have read a few earlier books from this author and enjoyed them all. This was no exception, it was a well developed story line with interesting characters that I soon got involved with.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book and I look forward to reading more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This one is kind of all over the place with several aspects of one story being told at the same time. First there is the "Suicide Watcher," a killer who forces people to shoot themselves. Also there is "now," in which Elise (whose mother was a victim of the Suicide Watcher) is convinced her baby has been switched at birth and is also dealing with the aftermath of her teenage daughter's death. Finally, "then" describes the events surrounding the daughter's death. I kind of feel like this is one that I shouldn't have liked because there really was just a lot going on and a lot of minor surprises or unexpected connections and that sort of thing, almost trying too hard to repeatedly surprise, but I still really did like it. Four stars.

I am not sure what to say about this book. It focuses primarily on parents Elise and Nathaniel, whose mothers were allegedly targeted by a serial killer called the "Suicide Watcher', which brought them together. There are a ton of side characters as well, including their 3 kids, Elise's dad and brother, their daughter's mother and boyfriend, and another couple who Elise believes is raising a baby that was switched with hers at birth. The chapters go back and forth between the serial killer's POV and the Elise/Nathaniel story from both right after their daughter died (a year ago) and the present time. Multiple characters suffer from some sort of psychiatric disorder and all have been affected in some way by multiple suicides within their inner circles.

Did you have trouble keeping all of that straight? Yeah, me too. So many characters tied with the back and forth in time made this a choppy story for me. There was also an almost blase attitude towards suicide (not to mention appalling acts of crime in general, presented matter-of-factly throughout the book), which is prevalent in all of their lives (and may not actually be suicide after all, depending on each situation). I found it hard to get to know these characters, and to relate to any of them.

I was surprised when the "Suicide Watcher" was revealed- I figured it out just before it was unveiled and was surprised I had missed it earlier. That twist, tied with the overall uniqueness of the story, make this book worth a read, but not one of my favorites.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Mental illness is sickness of the mind caused by the constant overwhelming battle one has with one’s essence, beliefs and purpose.” (I Choose You, p. 235)
If this is the definition of mental illness, then the only sane person in this lovely dark piece of domestic noir is the serial killer. All the rest of the characters seem at odds with their true selves, and quite frankly with one another. Elise has decided her latest child, Buddy, is a changeling and tries to steal another couple’s baby. She and her husband, Nathaniel are at each other’s throats, even as their daughter lies in a coma. Elise’s father entertains violent schizophrenics at the house while the grandkids are visiting. And the number one cause of death in the family appears to be a self-administered gunshot wound to the head. This group is so dysfunctional they make the Osbornes look like the Osmonds.
And yet, in so many ways, they are like any other family who have seen their share of conflict and tragedy. I was very impressed by how Curtis pulled the many story and character threads along without ever getting tangled. And while some of the character’s motivations didn’t ring true for me, I really loved the eloquent Killer, who we hear from periodically throughout the book. Remember, whether someone is a villain or a hero, really depends on who’s telling the story.
Lots of twists and unreliable narrators to keep a reader on their toes and turning the pages.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. This was a good book! It was a little confusing at times going back from here to now just because I wasn't able to read a lot at once. when I jumped back in, I would get a little confused as to what was going on. But the suspense was decent!

The story was good, the mystery was strong, I wanted to keep reading and discover the resolution. However, it was like watching a scary movie on TV with commercials, broken up, losing the necessary tension and flow to maintain the delicious suspense. Just when I was getting into something, it would rip me out and put me somewhere else, leaving me discombobulated and frustrated. Perhaps this was the effect the author was trying to achieve, in which case, she was successful.

Gayle has a talent with description, one could easily see the dreary English landscape through the familiar gray-blue filter. The stress throughout the novel was palpable, the grief was tangible. It left you clawing for the surface, desperate for the air of your own reality. You know someone is a great writer when they affect your mood, either good or bad. Each character was laden with secrets that wove together an extremely rich and complex novel. I could relate to the mothers and their despondency over failure, vacillating between whether you were helping or harming your child by being present, if they were better off without you. There was the tiniest feeling of hope, enough to make you think that things may turn out okay.

My overall takeaway was that this story starts out good, ends well, but can become disjointed in the middle, but I look forward to reading more of Gayle’s work in the future.

This book was all over the place. The characters were so numerous I never really felt like I got to know any of them and the storyline never really connected for me. Elise and Nathaniel have three kids and were brought together by similar tragedies. Once they lose on of their children Elise believes that the baby was switched with another one. But why and by who? And what really happened to their first child who died? You will get all the answers in the end but I cannot promise you that you will make it all the way to there.

Another great story from an amazing author. Loved it. Creepy and threatening I could feel my heart racing through all of it. It’s an exceptionally well written book that needs a high level of concentration as the time line jumps around bit a great story x

Thank you the Netgalley and the Publishers for providing me with an eARC of this title. This title was given to me for free for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way impacted by reciept of this title. 

I've read the who done it phycological thrillers off and on throughout the years. Thankfully not enough to figure out every one I read. 

This book is full of twists and turns and will keep you on your toes. Just when you think you know who did what, someone else is exposed for something making you think it's them. 

I was fairly sure I knew who did what throughout the book but there were a few things that detured me from figuring the whole thing out. There are two crimes to figure out so trying to piece it all together was fun.

I was able to follow the story line pretty well even though it jumps back and forth between three different times/perspectives (past, present and The Suicide Watcher). Though I can see how it could become confusing to others. As long as you're paying attention, you should be fine.

When a killer chooses you, what choice do you have?
Thirty years ago, Elise and Nathaniel shared a horrific trauma that united them in grief. Now, grown up and married with a young family, they feel their worst nightmares are behind them. Until the day their daughter is abducted and murdered.
Both Elise and Nathaniel lost their mothers to a notorious killer who manipulated innocent victims into taking their own lives. Could it be that ‘the Watcher’ has returned for another round of the same sadistic game? Why now? And why are Elise and Nathaniel being targeted again?
When Elise’s family falls under suspicion, her world crashes down around her. Is there anyone she can trust, or is her whole life built on lies?
Only one thing is clear: someone left their cruel game unfinished all those years ago. This time the Watcher intends to win – once and for all..

This book was fast paced and it kept me on the edge of my seat. BUT - red herring overload. I appreciate Curtis trying to make plot twists that you don’t see coming but in this book there are so many storylines going on and lots of side characters that it got a little overwhelming. Also, I do wish Curtis had done research on mental health disorders because the screw ups with the two disorders she talks about didn’t sit right with me. Overall, it was an okay book and Curtis does keep you guessing.

*Huge trigger warning for suicide.*

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Elise and Nathaniel are married and have suffered a terrible tragedy. Historically they share a further tragedy as their mothers were killed by ‘The Watcher’ but it’s seems he has come back.

This book had such a great blurb but for me it didn’t flow. I was overwhelmed by a lot of characters and I was a bit bored by the end.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

When Elise and Nathaniel's daughter Ida is found at her father's home injured, everyone is a suspect. There is her dad Ray is a psychiatrist and sees patients in his home. There is the long lost brother Sonny who was seen running instead of seeking help for Ida after he found her at the grips of death. This book takes you back and forth between Elise and Nathan's past and the present. For me, this book just had entirely too much going on and it was hard to tell where you were in the story and whether it was the past or the present. Throughout the book told you what was going on like it was a news cast and then had the characters dealing through the same event. It came across as repetitive and just confusing. The only reason that this is getting two stars is because I found the mystery element with Ida kind of interesting.

As if the tragic circumstances which brought them together wasn’t enough, poor Elise and Nathaniel are now in line for the tragedy all parents dead - a kidnapped child. This is a rollercoaster book, with various storylines coming in and out seen through the different POV’s. Only one thing seems certain, the family is being targeted, regardless of what the police initially believe - but is the perpetrator related to their shared history. I wasn’t expecting the level of suspense. My first novel by this author and looking forward to another.

I've been on a roll with not-so-great books lately, and this one was no exception.

There was so, so much going on with this novel.
Too much.

Red herrings abound! Unfortunately, it was obvious 99% of them were added as an afterthought, meaning it was still quite easy to figure out who the "Suicide Watcher" was.

So, let me give you a brief rundown of this story (no spoilers...this is all established very early on):

Elise and Nathaniel are married, having bonded over their mothers' suicides. Romantic, right? They have three children--Ida, Miles, and baby Buddy. Ida dies, but who killed her and why?

Following her death, Elise breaks down and believes Buddy was swapped in the hospital...that he's not really her baby. She knows who has her real baby. Or does she?

In the meantime, her husband, father, brother, in-laws, random friends, the milk man, her dermatologist, Flo from the Progressive commercials, Santa Claus, Marilyn Monroe, the Mothman, a toy bone, and an old pair of my panties all made an appearance...with accompanying story line, mind you...in this novel. Add to that the full chapters of philosophical ramblings from the "suicide watcher," and I was bored out of my mind.

Are you intrigued yet? My old undies have you rushing to click "buy," right?

::sigh::

Look, this book is horribly choppy and lacks cohesion. Further, there are so many characters, you don't really get to know any of them. While there was one mildly surprising twist at the end, mostly, I just felt confused by all the unanswered questions and plot holes. And don't even get me started about the totally nonchalant attitude regarding suicide and rape. One section, in particular, my jaw dropping, but not in a good way.

It was hard to keep up with the way this one is told. I did enjoy it but felt there was just so much going on that I had to stop reading to let myself catch up

Tragedy brought Elise and Nathaniel together as they lost their mothers while young to a serial killer.
They found solace growing up together and then marrying and setting up a little family.

However, tragedy soon strikes as their little daughter is kidnapped and killed, is this a random act of violence? or a calculated vicious killer emerged from their past?

It's a haunting and a bit chilly read. However, too much was going on in this novel encompassing both characters and story lines.
Although I was engaged with the mystery, the many secondary characters and their backstories became a bit confusing and slowed down the space.

Thanks Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I liked this book a lot and have enjoyed the author’s previous books. My only issue with I Choose You was with the constant now and then chapters. The fact that there were so many characters was also a bit of a problem. However, it was an update exciting book and I feel most readers will enjoy it.

I Choose You is dark and intense thriller about the implosion of a family after a murder. Elise and Nathaniel met under tragic circumstances, both their mothers were victims of the Suicide Watcher, who gave the victims the choice of killing themselves or being killed. When their sixteen year old daughter is murdered they question why them, and could the Suicide Watcher be back. The chapters are split between Then and Now, Then looking back at Ida’s murder and the investigation, and Now looks at the fall out for the family. Complex and intelligent, this book has more layers than a Mille-Feuille.

The main plot line focuses on the murder of Ida and the many possible suspects who could have wanted her dead. There are many sub plots that look into the suspects, the family and friends and how Elise and Nathaniel cope. There are also chapters from the Suicide Watcher, explaining the motives behind the crimes, trying to justify them. A marriage based on tragedy is probably not the best foundation and there are definitely cracks in the relationship. Elise was brought up by her father Ray, a famous psychologist know for his experiments on the human psyche. She has a brother Sonny, a defence lawyer with plenty of skeletons in his closet. Add to this friends, clients of Ray and the Suicide Watcher you have a list of suspects all with secrets and lies.

Gayle Curtis certainly throws everything at this book; rape, murder, post-natal depression, a serial killer, addiction, child trafficking. I do think this was maybe a bit much at times, and didn’t really need all of this. Each of the main characters had secrets that came out during the book which turn the book on it’s head. I liken this book to entering a Maze, there are many twists and turns, some in the right direction some dead ends, until you finally reach the middle and conclusion, worn out.

I Choose You is a book about family, the lies we tell and the secrets we keep to protect each other. The split timeline keeps you gripped and the detailed characters, that are all dysfunctional add to the tension in the book. With many shocks and surprises along the way this thriller will keep you guessing until the end.

Is it possible for a novel to have too many twists and suspects. This book achieved that. I felt like it was too much packed into the pages.

I really wanted to like this one, but I didn't. At all. There were too many suspects. None of the characters resonated. There were abhorrent topics that were just treated as no big deal. I skimmed through a lot of the story to get to the answers. The only part I really liked was the ending. This book had a lot of potential and unfortunately fell short.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book, but I didn't LOVE it. I felt like it moved too slow for my taste. I do think it was character rich. Overall an okay read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to review this title.

Parts of this story were really good. It was very confusing in parts as well. A lot of possible suspects were discussed. The timeline was confusing in places as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I knew my good thriller roll couldn't last forever! After reading some amazing thrillers lately, this one just fell short - by a lot.

The number of red herrings was just absurdly high. There's a fine line between the perfect amount and too many and unfortunately, this went too far. There was also just a lot stuffed into a 2-3 hour read.

It did do well keeping you on the edge of your seat, though, and for that I gave it 2.5 stars. Please don't let me negative review keep you from reading it! I don't regret finishing it, just wish it were a little less packed and more mysterious.

I almost DNF'd this book at just under the halfway point. After a few days I decided to give it another go and so glad I did! Holy crap it had more twists than a twizzler! I didn't particularly care about any of the characters but that in no way makes a difference to me. Entertaining and fast paced, I loved it!

Married couple Nathaniel and Elise met at a support group. They both lost their mothers to a serial killer known as the suicide watcher. And that is just part of the story. There is a whole lot going on. I enjoyed the book, but I had to really focus in order to follow it.

This is a strange read, at turns mixed and confusing.

Elise and Nathaniel have a bond, formed when their mothers both committed suicide years ago, manipulated by the Suicide Watcher. They are now married, with children of their own and then one dies and things begin to fall apart.

It’s a good premise, I just found it became too convoluted with lots of characters and a confusing plot line that just, for me, didn’t flow.

It’s an ok read, with a tidy ending, but, not for me.

2*

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

I've been looking for a good thriller for a while and the last few I've read have been mediocre at best. I Choose You, however, had me intrigued from the start. The story flashes back and forth in time to before and after a murder as well as features chapters from the point of view of a mysterious killer. At first, you're not sure how everything fits together but the puzzle pieces come together very nicely.

This was a real page turner for me and I finished it in two sittings! The writing is good and the emotion surrounding the tragedies feels real. You see each character reacting to the deaths around them quite differently and that impacts their actions. There are a few red herrings thrown in for good measure but the ending is completely plausible. This one reminded me a lot of last year's big hit The Chestnut Man, if you liked that, you'll like this one a lot!

I love books that will give you goose bumps and this is one of them. The creep factor keeps ramping up page after page but you can't put it down because you just have to know what is going on. Don't start this book at night and if you do sleep with the lights on. Happy reading!

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Gayle Curtis for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Elise and Nathaniel bonded over a shared tragedy - both their moms died by suicide. They are part of a support group of survivors. This group also discusses the Suicide Watcher, a name given for someone who seems to be playing a game with people that ends up killing them. Elise and Nathaniel are married and the parents of 3 children - when oldest daughter Ida is found murdered, it brings back all the old pain and throws suspicion on everyone.

I was excited to read this book - the premise sounded great. Although it was still a good read, it just never stepped up to my expectations, mainly because there were too many characters, too much time jumping, and just too much.

The Suicide Watcher has struck again. He's a killer that makes murder look like suicide. Now Nathaniel and Elise can't find their daughter. Could she have been a victim of the Watcher?
Everyone is questioned relentlessly. Everyone seems to have had a motive for the killing of this teenage girl. Even her boyfriend.
There's also a back story with Elise being suicidal and having post-partum depression. Also the surety that her baby isn't hers, but has been switched with someone else's child.
Suicide also seems to run in the family. Elise's mother committed suicide as did her husband's mother. Soon it becomes a mystery if the Suicide Watcher committed the crimes, or was it someone else.
Intriguing, mystery at its finest!

3.5 STARS

Here's the decision that is presented .... kill yourself or I will kill you myself. Those are the words of the person known as the Suicide Watcher. The Watcher is someone who perceives others without empathy.

Elisa and Nathaniel share a tragic background ... both their mothers committed suicide many years ago when they were children. It is suspected that the deaths were witnessed by the Watcher.

Now adults, married to each other, and having children, cracks have begun to erode for each of them.

Elise swears that her young son was swapped with another while still in the hospital. She has almost terrorized the other parents to the point that police have been called and restraining orders filed.

Their daughter was abducted and murdered. Could it be that ‘the Watcher’ has returned for another round of the same sadistic game? Why now? And why are Elise and Nathaniel being targeted again?

The story line goes back and forth between the present and the past. The past tells about the loss of their daughter ... the present is mostly about the Suicide Watcher.

Elise and Nathaniel are not the only family members being looked at. Elise's father and half-brother are also suspects, as is Nathaniel himself. The family dynamics show terribly dysfunctional families with deep, dark secrets.

And someone will kill to keep those secrets hidden from the light of day.

This is a deeply disturbing psychological thriller with unique characters, none of which are likable. Suspenseful from the very first page to the very surprising ending.

Many thanks to the author, Amazon Publishing, Netgalley for the digital copy of I CHOOSE YOU. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I enjoyed elements of this book but there was so much going on in the past and present I struggled to keep up with what was happening.
Elise and Nathaniel are married with three children, one of them is murdered and everyone is a suspect! Everyone appears to be guilty of something, Elise's brother is not who he seems, her dead mother has more to do with the story than we realise. In between this Elise thinks her baby son isn't hers and accuses another couple of taking her child.
Someone has throughout their lives encouraged people to shoot themselves, by the end it appears virtually everyone is involved or shot someone or attacked them
Way too much going on

I received a copy from netgalley!
It was A good book!
wow on the ending.
this is my first book by this author hope to read more.

I gave this book three stars because I really enjoyed the authors writing style and characters. However I thought the ending fell apart a little and could have been done much better. I would want to try more from this author but this book was not necessarily my favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the free, digital ARC of this book. The book began very intriguing, but sadly by the end of the book, I really didn't even care who the Suicide Watcher was, I was so confused. The book moved between several people as the point of view. There were so many characters, I couldn't keep up. The plot was interesting, but it was hard to really enjoy because of the point of view switching.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

1.75 Hearts Oh wow… I had a lot of thoughts about this story but let me tell you pretty much every other review on GoodReads has the same thoughts. Mainly it is… What the h___?

There is so much going on and so many characters that it is confusing but not like easter egg confusing but real confusion. Why so many people are there, I have no idea because they are certainly not needed or wanted.

I guess Elise is suffering from some issue or two but in layman’s term “she is nuts!” OK not really. I think there is a number of issues going on and possibly postpartum depression and/or other issues but no matter what the story is just too much.

Sad to say…. I really do not recommend this story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I really did not like this book. I tried very hard to find redeeming qualities. Curtis added too many characters who all sounded very similar, and who lacked character development. I had a lot of trouble keeping track of all these characters and how they knew other or were related.

This book was good, but it definitely took some effort to read. It was so hard to keep track of all the different characters, the decisions they were making, and the overall storyline. There were definitely some surprises that I did not see coming, but those still did not account for feeling lost the majority of the time.

Whew! I hardly ever give a review under three stars, but I couldn't find anything to save this one from the sad fate of only two stars.
It was nothing short of chaotic, too many characters, too many details and at the same time, not enough. I wanted to like it but there was just so SO much going on.
Also, when an author creates a character with a medical or mental health condition, it's important to get the symptoms correct. I felt like some of the information wasn't 100% correct and that can really make it hard to stick with it.

2.5 stars rounded up

I quite like the book, it was well-written with pretty much unexpected plot (and twists), I'd say unexpected because usually I would try to guess what's the twist/whodunit, etc, but with this one, there was secret within secret so I might as well gave up and just enjoyed the ride. At least with alternating POVs between (wait, let me count...) (it might be) six+the killer, I didn't get the confusion separating which was which. The 3rd person pov helped too.

That being said, I did have some confusions regarding the timeline, an error that could be mine only, and I might say the plot was... too thin.

It was still an enjoyable reading that beat my reading slump (finished it within a day) and the ending was satisfying, so can't really complain.

This book has a whole lot going on in it. You have a person who targets others and encourages them to commit suicide. It’s a sort of game for the person. They present them with a question,l. Shoot yourself or I will shoot you, which so you choose?

Then you have the murder of a young girl and an investigation behind who did it. Within the investigation other things come to light sparking other arrests.

You also have a husband and wife who have lost a parent to suicide. They believe that the parent was a victim of the “suicide watcher “.

I wouldn’t say that this is the best book that I have read. But it was a fast enjoyable read however I did find at parts I was left wondering what are we reading? I think the thing that pulled it through at the end is I did not see the twist coming. I really thought that I had a good grasp as to who did it. But come to find out I hadn’t even thought of that person.

It was an enjoyable thriller to begin the new year with.

I loved this book!! It was a crazy book!! Received this book from Amazon uk from netgally!! 1st book I have read by this author!!

It’s it often I don’t like a book but unfortunately this was one of them. The author put too much into one novel and it was too much. It started as a family recovering from the murder of a child and added in missing children, serial killers, pornography, and a cast of characters that was just too vast. The main characters married couple and parents Elise and Nathaniel weren’t likeable in anyway.
Thanks to Amazon publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a strange story! With the jumping timelines and POVs, I had a little bit of a hard time keeping up.

Things definitely were not as I thought they would be. This story was fairly unpredictable and I enjoyed that. Though, the stuff that was unpredictable seemed to come out of left field.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a good psychological read. You’ll spend the whole book trying to figure it out.

For what could have been an exhilarating read, I could not get into this book. The story lacked cohesion and jumped around far too much, making it difficult to follow and stay hooked. The character development was pretty much non-existent and there were too many characters introduced too quickly, making the story confusing and draining to read. I also found the references to mental illness problematic, it felt as though the author did not research paranoid schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating thriller that kept me up past my bedtime. Excellent character development along with a twisty story. Highly recommended.

I Choose You by Gayle Curtis was a book I tried really hard to get into. Sadly I gave up half was through. Sorry.
I found the story of Elise and Nathaniel all over the place. There were too many characters within this book that didn't fit in and it was a messy read throughout.
Sorry Gayle, especially as I was looking forward reading this new book by you.

PS...I hate giving a bad review and stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a read! I loved this book. The plot thickened with every page turned. The suicide killer needs to be found but who is he? A brother? A father? A grandfather? An uncle? A stranger? Things are not always what they seem, and that is very true for this book. I could not put it down. Highly recommend it

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC! This book has a whole lot happening. The premise was really interesting and I was excited to get into it... But it pulled me all over the place. There are a lot of characters (too many so it confused me) and many different storylines. Personally, I really saw the intent here to throw you off of "who done it" by having so much happening, but it ended up being too much and I felt it didn't flow well. I would be willing to try another Gayle Curtis book though!

A very twisted lifestyle with strange characters inhabiting the story but so twisted that it has to be true. Elise and Nathaniel three kids and though life is a bit strange it all goes completely ballistic when their daughter is abducted and then found murdered.

What follows is a story of suicide, suicide watchers, promotion of suicides and with no apparent detective/police follow up as to the series of coincidences where people took their lives and nothing happened.

The book is confusing and though I thought I knew who was behind the killings, I was not absolutely sure. There are a lot of clues strewn around and the subject matter is so emotional in itself that I was floundering.



The story was a good one albeit confusing.

What started off as a pacy narrative, soon became awkward and “clunky”. I felt slightly confused by the array of characters and their different backgrounds and, combined with the dual time-line, think these complications made this a cumbersome, unexciting read.

I enjoyed this book. The story kept my attention and I had a hard time putting it down.

I would recommend this book.

An original story, or stories, of one family whose past includes so many horrible events they should have their own page in Ripley's Believe it or Not! But oddly, Gayle Curtis has taken all of these strings and woven them into a very good, totally engrossing story. You will find yourself saying...just one more chapter so many times, you will finish the book in the wee hours of the morning. A 5 star read that has me looking for more books by this author.

I enjoyed this book from the beginning. It does have a lot of characters, but most are well developed and necessary to the story. The book gets a little confusing at times, switching back and forth like it does, but this keeps you guess in as to who the killer is and if what crimes they are guilty of. Look out for the twist at the end. This is not an easy beach read, but a book full of suspense and mystery.

I am sorry to say this, but this was not my favorite book. I feel with all the different storylines I had a hard time keeping up at times and got a little confused more than once. I appreciate the attempt at tackling suicide and psychological issues, but I feel like not enough research went into this bold effort. I felt like the book had too many characters added without really being able to flesh them out properly. I am sorry to say this, as I said before, but this was not my favorite, and while my library would buy this due to demand, I would not recommend it personally to my friends as their only read by this author. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author, Gayle Curtis, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of I Choose You in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought this book provided a good quick. It was well written and has you guessing.
Worth a read for fans of the genre

Couldn't finish this. Confusing, erratic, not a clear plotline and too many tangents. Couldn't get into it and found myself skipping pages.
Sorry, I really thought I'd like this one!

Sorry, but this one wasn't for me and I couldn't finish. That said, give it a try. Other reviewers really liked it.

Urgh, this was a disappointment. The premise sounds awesome, I was so looking forward to this. I really felt like this would be awesome and perfect for me, it sounds like my cup of tea! But no, I was bored, i didn't care and I found myself skipping over words and skimreading at best. An almost DNF.

An interesting read. I ran into personal problems so it took me longer than planned to read this. Kept me interested though and will recommend.

Review for 'I choose you' by Gayle Curtis

Read and reviewed via NetGalley

Trigger warning ⚠ :

Firstly, I think it is important to note before starting this book that suicide features heavily in this story. It is talked about, it is acted out and it is a game purported by an unknown subject manipulating their victims - or participants, as they are referred to - into playing. As a difficult issue for some I felt it important to make it known that it is a common thread throughout the entire story.

Potential spoiler alert ⚠

If you get easily confused then this book is not for you as there was about 3 different time lines going on with the present, the past and then even further at times. Also, it was rammed pack with different storylines:

1. Who killed Ida?
2. Who's baby is Elise's?
3. Is Sonny actually her brother?
4. Elise's mother
5. Who is the suicide watcher?
6. Who committed suicide and who was murdered?

Personally, I did get confused at one or two points whilst reading this but not enough for me to be unable to work out what was happening and when. Apart from these times I actually enjoyed all the action so if you like a busy book then you will enjoy this.

It is a deeply disturbing psychological thriller filled with suspense from beginning to end. Filled with crime, murder, suicide, twists and turns and suspense. It had lots of red herrings to keep you guessing and several completely unexpected twists at the end. This book definitely got bonus points as I didn't guess who did it.

I did find it quite hard to connect with the characters as there was so much going on and flipping from past to present and from character to character, hence 4 stars instead of 5.

THE descriptions through the book were good but could have been better. It was very well wrapped up at the end leaving no loose ends

I do believe the author should have researched mental health more than she possibly did as there are some issues in the certain diagnosis of characters which several readers seemed to have also picked up on.

I wouldn't recommend to anyone who is suffering with mental health issues or anyone who is struggling with the subject of suicide. I would also say that this book is better suited for 18 plus due to the issues tackled in the book.. I would highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, suspense, crime, murder and anyone who enjoys 'Dark reads'.

I gave this book 4/5 stars (I enjoyed it) on Goodreads and Amazon

Feel free to follow me on Goodreads for more review.

Free on kindle unlimited or £3.98 to purchase on Kindle

#IChooseYou #GayleCurtis #NetGalley

Firstly, I think it is important to note before starting this book that suicide features heavily in this story. It is talked about, it is acted out and it is a game purported by an unknown subject manipulating their victims - or participants, as they are referred to - into playing. As a difficult issue for some I felt it important to make it known that it is a common thread throughout the entire story.

So, ready?

Thirty years ago, Elise and Nathaniel shared a horrific trauma in which their mothers both committed suicide...the possible victims of the Suicide Watcher. This united them in grief when they meet up again in a support group run by Magda King, whose brother succumbed to suicide. A recipe for disaster, right? Well, these two were obviously blind to that fact and ended up married with three children of their own - Ida, Miles and Buddy. (honestly where does the author come up with these names? Ida for a 15 year old girl??) Elise has recently had baby Buddy (whose name sounds more like a dog than a child), and had some kind of post natal psychosis going on where she didn't feel that Buddy was hers. Aside from that, they finally belive that their nightmares are over...until Ida is murdered. (don't believe the premise in the abduction theory...never happened)

Fast forward a couple of years later...and baby Buddy is now 20 months old. But Elise is a raving lunatic. She is now in full-on psycho mode accusing a doctor she worked with and his wife of swapping their babies when they were both born at the same time in the same hospital. She has gone so far that they have taken out a restraining order against her and threatening legal action. But Elise is adamant. Their baby - Louis - is really her child, and Buddy is their's. What makes her think that? Her baby had an unusual birth mark on his right leg which she saw immediately after he was born...but later when they brought him to her in the hospital it was gone. The doctor's wife's face said it all...Louis has that very birthmark.

So amidst accusations, threats, police involvement and whatnot, Nathaniel assures Elise that Buddy IS their's as the DNA results proved it. But Elise would not be swayed.

And that seems a plausible enough storyline, right? Wrong!

Then there are the intermittent philosophical ramblings of a headcase peppered throughout the entire story, picking off their victims like going through a shopping list. Only with a far more metaphysical take in the theoretical sense of the entire nonsensical waffle! Did that make any sense? No? Well, neither do these chapters.

The story goes back and forth between the past and the present - titled THEN and NOW. That should be easy enough to follow in theory...I repeat IN THEORY. But the problem was there was one story in the THEN, another in the NOW and then the philosophical theoretical nonsense thrown in between! I have to admit I found it terribly difficult to remember in which timeline which story went where and what related to who when. It didn't make it any easier that Elise and Nathaniel featured in both, which simply added to the confusion.

Then we get confession after confession regarding Ida's death...which incidentally took place in the THEN chapters. And after all that, it was then theorised that Ida took her own life as the latest victim (participant) of the Suicide Watcher...or maybe it was the mother's brother's uncle twice removed? Then when the identity of Ida's killer is revealed it would have been a clever touch, if not for the whole convoluted mess in between, but it really just fell as flat as the rest of the story.

And by the end, I'm thinking...WTF? This person kills that person after they had killed another person and then kills themselves?

Honestly...I CHOOSE YOU could be broken down into three categories:
The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY.

The only good thing this book had going for it was the whole Suicide Watcher theme. It was original and intriguing. "You have sixty seconds to choose - to shoot yourself or to be shot?"

Then we have the characters, none of which were likable in any way, shape or form. I wanted to shoot all of them, they irritated me that much. And there was so much happening in this book I simply could not keep up. Nor could I distinguish between the past and present as it all just jumbled together with a load of random people that had no development or substance.

Which then brings us to the worst part of this book - the UGLY. O.M.G!! The horribly choppy writing that was just such a convoluted mess. That by the end I was just so confused by all the unanswered questions and plot holes that were left unresolved. I just didn't get the whole point of whose baby was really Elise's and the random nutter that was a friend but also a patient but also a client...where did that one come from and what the hell did it mean? It was never followed up and just left blowing in the breeze like most of the storyline.

When I started this book, I went in with my eyes open to enjoy it...and I tried. I really did. And when it started it did show promise. I thought for sure I would give it at least 3 stars. But what the hell happened after that? In all honesty, I kept reading hoping all loose ends would be tied up by the end and I'd find out who the Suicide Watcher was and who killed Ida. I guessed who the Watcher was but not Ida's killer...but then I think they were running out of suspects after all the confessions.

There was way too much happening in this book and way too many random people that just didn't need to be there. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't like this book...and despite the almost clever way it ended, I just didn't much care anymore by then.

I would give it 2 stars just because I finished it, but even then 2 stars is leaning towards the notion that I thought it was "OK". Which I didn't. So it's a sorry 1 from me.

I have her next book already. I just hope it is vast improvement on this one.

I would like to thank #GayleCurtis, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #IChooseYou in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for sending me this arc. I will be reviewing this book.properly in the near future with an honest teview.

This was confusing.. to many things going on.. to many characters.. to many different story's and time lines.. absolutely a mess.
It was a difficult but i finish it.
I will give this author another try, because I liked the general idea of the book.

A book wherein the killer 'chooses' their victims and has you make a life-changing choice at gunpoint should have been interesting. In all ways, the killer in this book is a very twisted individual, but I found it very difficult to get into the story. The book had too much going on all at once. While some parts had good twists, most of it was just felt as if it were dragging on.

Thirty years ago, Elise and Nathaniel shared a horrific trauma that united them in grief. Now, grown-up and married with a young family, they feel their worst nightmares are behind them. Until the day their daughter is abducted and murdered.
Both Elise and Nathaniel lost their mothers to a notorious killer who manipulated innocent victims into taking their own lives. Could it be that the Watcher has returned for another round of the same sadistic game? Why now? And why are Elise and Nathaniel being targeted again?
When Elise’s family falls under suspicion, her world crashes down around her. Is there anyone she can trust or is her whole life built on lies? Only one thing is clear. Someone left their cruel game unfinished all those years ago. This time the Watcher intends to win – once and for all.

I did not enjoy reading the chapters on the POV of the Watcher. I liked some characters, but they were not developed. None of them had any depth. The relationships between each of the characters are messed up and dysfunctional, but not in a way that could evoke any interest from me. I really wanted to like this book, but I just could not 'get it'. for a major part of the book. It got a bit interesting towards the end - with its twists, which were good, it just wasn't enough for me to change my opinion about the book.

Thank you, NetGalley, Amazon Publishing & Gayle Curtis for an arc!

This was a good story. However I felt like every time the suspension would get nice and high it would rip me away and put me somewhere else which I didn’t care too much for. I understand the need for wanting to build suspense but it didn’t really work for me. I did want to continue reading to find out the resolution and was surprised when all was revealed.

I love this author and have read all her books. This book was another great read.
Highly recommend.

I’d seen a few reviews for this book but decided to read it and review it myself. I’m so glad I did.
This book has lots of twists and turns I guessed a few but other guesses where way off.
And even the ending wasn’t what I thought
Great read
Thanks NetGalley

Thanks to Gayle Curtis and Amazon Publishing UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When a killer chooses you, what choice do you have?

Thirty years ago, Elise and Nathaniel shared a horrific trauma that united them in grief. Now, grown up and married with a young family, they feel their worst nightmares are behind them. Until the day their daughter is abducted and murdered.

Both Elise and Nathaniel lost their mothers to a notorious killer who manipulated innocent victims into taking their own lives. Could it be that ‘the Watcher’ has returned for another round of the same sadistic game? Why now? And why are Elise and Nathaniel being targeted again?

When Elise’s family falls under suspicion, her world crashes down around her. Is there anyone she can trust, or is her whole life built on lies?

Only one thing is clear: someone left their cruel game unfinished all those years ago. This time the Watcher intends to win – once and for all.

This one was certainly interesting and full, but perhaps a little too full. I struggled to keep up with everything happening, but nonetheless enjoyed it.

I love psychological thrillers and looked forward to reading this. Sadly, I found this book to be too complicated, multiple time lines, many subplots, different POV's, characters that were not compelling or likable. Can you guess I didn't get to the end?

Too many twists and turns. Too many characters to keep up with. It was hard for me to read. The psychological aspect of the story would have been fine if I didn't have to keep up with everything and everyone in the story.

This is my first book by this author and it left me with mixed feelings. I actually liked the 'who done it'; had me hooked but also left me feeling confused. Maybe how the plot progressed that left me feeling lost. Flashbacks did helped me to make sense of the plot, which is used interestingly in this book.

Overall, a good book that would definitely satisfy a mystery/thriller reader.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for approving my request to review this book.

This is more of a 3.5 stars for me. There was a lot going on in the book and many narratives. When I had to put it down and come back, I’d be a little lost and would have to look back because of how much it jumped around. I kind of lost the whole suicide watcher in parts and when it loop back I’d have to remember the opening. I did however like that loose ends were wrapped up in the end of the book. That is why I gave 3.5 stars, I was satisfied with the ending.

Great premise but too much to absorb. Too many characters and different points of view. Too many subplots. I really wanted to love this book as I've enjoyed similar books but this one just exhausted me and I didn't look forward to picking up where I left off! Some good twists and I didn't guess the ending but I'm not sure who I would recommend it to, I'm hoping this is a debut novel and the writer will hone her skills as the idea was great, the blurb had me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A very interesting start to the book, but the story became quite lame as it went on. The story didn't follow through properly and jumps from one thing to another. Although I got into the book right at the beginning, but I was getting quite bored towards the middle.

The characters were not described enough for me to like them or bond with them and as the story went on I became more confused about them and their personalities. I found Ida's mum and dad's relationship quite strange and not very close as the author had wanted them to be.

There were a few turns and twists but not much excitement or thrill. I felt that a lot was thrown into the story to keep it going, which made it very confusing and quite boring. I love books of this genre but unfortunately, this wasn't for me.

Elise and Nathanial are shattered over their daughter, Ida’s, murder and want to know why she was killed. Their are a bunch of suicides happening but the police looking into them think they could be murder. Is Ida a victim of this Suicide Watcher who is committing all of the suicide/murders? Weird, disjointed, hard to follow. But if you stick with it there are some different twists, and some plot points that are a bit over the top. After reading the premise for this book it was not what I had expected, or hoped for.

Thank you NetGalley, Gayle Curtis and Thomas & Mercer for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

I Choose You by Gayle Curtis is about Elise and Nathaniel whose mothers were manipulated into committing suicide by an evil murderer who had been dubbed “The Watcher” thirty years prior. They are now married with children and have been doing fairly well. However, when their daughter is murdered, they wonder if The Watcher is back and if it’s the same person who was responsible for their mother’s deaths. As expected, the murder of their daughter has had a major influence on Elise and Nathaniel’s relationship.

While the novel is well-written, and includes interesting (albeit a few non-plausible) scenarios, as well as building suspense, it may not be enough to keep every reader’s interest. The characters aren’t particularly likeable, and their relationships tend to be forced and phony. Elise and Nathaniel don’t have a very good marriage, and the supporting characters aren’t very exciting. Many readers will find that because they can’t relate to the characters, the novel will drag, and the readers won’t really care what happens to them. Even though the novel contains all the elements of a good thriller: building suspense, a murder or two, and unique characters, there is something about it that doesn’t capture interest.

This novel really wasn’t personally enjoyable, and even though the murderer wasn’t revealed until the dénouement, it wasn’t exciting. Some readers will love the novel, but there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of better ones out there. Unless readers are bored and have no choice but to read this novel, they may want to choose something else.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

What a dreadful book. This was just so busy that it was impossible to know what was happening.
I DNFed just over half way through

I Choose You wasn't the right book for me. Featuring several different storylines and 3 timeframes, the plot was all over the place and, at times hard to follow. I don't think the reader is meant to like any of the characters, but all 3 main adult characters made me shake me head.

I will admit that the big reveal at the end was a surprise to me, but I felt really uninvested in the story and characters by the time it all got wrapped up.

Reader warning: there are several sensitive topics in this book including miscarriage, abuse, parent death, child death, and suicide.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A truly awful series of events leads a mother to question everything she’s believed about her own life. A chilling reminder of how easily manipulated a person can be.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I was quite gripped but on the other hand, it was disjointed and the two plots running alongside each other felt a bit much at times. I didn't guess the perpetrators until just before they were both revealed.

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me the ARC! I liked this story. It was a solid read but didn't keep me interested the entire time. There were some slow holes in the story. I rate this story a 2.8

Great read! Looking forward to reading more from this author! I highly recommend this book and author to all!

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at 20%. I don’t think I’ve ever been this confused so early on in a thriller. As soon as I got to 15% I became really confused. I tried to keep reading, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

A great, thrilling read, which will keep you entertained throughout. A good one sitting read, get the nibbles ready, close the door, and read!