I think it’s best to make up one’s own opinion on this one, I get why some might feel uncomfortable, angry and frustrated by how some themes are handled. Alix Summer is a 45-year-old journalist who hosts a successful podcast and lives in a stylish townhouse with a built-in recording studio. In this deftly plotted and gripping psychological thriller, two women from different sides of the tracks meet by chance while celebrating their birthdays in a London pub. You May Also Like Mini Review | Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty April 18, 2023 The Expanse by James S. Nevertheless, I was excited to get to the bottom of things and had a hard time stopping myself from extrapolating endlessly as the novel wore on, with theory after theory about all of the players involved.

Maybe it is because I have certain expectations from Jewell at this point, and the ending here didn't fit with them. The energy they give off is effervescent, a swirling, intoxicating aurora borealis of grating, glorious entitlement. Josie tells Alix she is about to make big changes in her life and wants Alix to document it for her podcast.I don’t know how Lisa Jewell does it, but every book I read of hers immediately draws me in and has me hooked on the characters, the plot and the deep dive into the human psyche. Having grown up in such a household, I fully understand people being broken and needing help, but I found it a little insulting to be asked to see the character as a "good person" in light of the damage done.

The story provoked all my feelings, giving me shades of My Dark Vanessa and Greenwich Park, among other books. This quest leads her to Alix Summer, a renowned podcaster, where she sees an opportunity to share her intriguing life story and embark on a journey of reinvention. Even Jewell herself has said her thrillers follow a general trend: now and then timelines, unlikable characters, at LEAST one teenage POV. I simply could not leave it alone, and had to keep reading until I'd reached the heart-stopping conclusion.but at the same time, this mysterious and quirky woman slowly worms her way further into Alix's life. Lisa Jewell has been around the scene for a while now: this is her ELEVENTH thriller after making the transition from romance novels.

As the podcast continues, some very disturbing facts begin to reveal themselves, and Alix realises that she’s made a big mistake! Not only is this not the first time Jewell has done this sort of thing, but it took what was SUCH a disturbing and powerful narrative to a sort of icky place. The plot promises an intricate exploration of psychological twists and turns, ensuring readers remain hooked throughout the entirety of this compelling thriller. Perhaps if we’d had some POV from Josie after the shit hit the fan that would have cleared up her state of mind. But it was, at the same time, the best fun ever and Jessica Jones now feels like a part of me forever, definitely one of my favorite characters I’ve written to date.Alix comes into her life at just the right time--a podcast host, she is the perfect woman to help Josie share her intriguing story. While the writing does an excellent job at slowly building an atmosphere of foreboding as Josie’s presence grows more insidious, when we learn in the novel that her story wasn’t the truth it’s expected not a surprise twist. Two girls walk into a pub… Alix Summers… glitz and glamour… podcaster… she is quite the talk of the town… girl is 45🥳… and then… there is Josie… also in the pub… also turning 45…. Josie Fair is a wife and mother living in a small flat with her much older husband, Walter, who has grudgingly brought her out for a birthday meal.