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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This week we are on vacation and let’s just say I have an entire bag of books because who knows what I’ll be in the mood for! Luckily @minotaur_books sent me a book that is a perfect beach read!
The Safe Place by Anna Downes is a domestic thriller that follows our main character Emily and her boss Scott. Emily is down on her luck when Scott offers her the “perfect” job. She’s going to be a personal assistant to his wife and daughter at an estate in France. When she gets there she starts to realize things may not be as perfect as they seem.
❤️Review❤️
This book was compared to Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewel and I have to say that I agree. The atmosphere was really well done. As the reader you feel as isolated as Emily and can understand how she could be lured to believe in this life of luxury. On one hand you felt excited for her to have this opportunity, but then you could feel yourself saying it’s too good to be true. I think this book was well done, but definitely needed more suspense and a better twist. I wasn’t as shocked as I wanted to be considering all of the build up leading to the end. I think this book would be great for readers who are new to the thriller genre.
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Do you like domestic thrillers?
#newbooks #2020bookreleases #bookreviews #beachreads #summerbooks #easytoread #domesticthrillers #thrillernovels #bookstagram #thesafeplace
The Safe Place by Anna Downes is a domestic thriller that follows our main character Emily and her boss Scott. Emily is down on her luck when Scott offers her the “perfect” job. She’s going to be a personal assistant to his wife and daughter at an estate in France. When she gets there she starts to realize things may not be as perfect as they seem.
❤️Review❤️
This book was compared to Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewel and I have to say that I agree. The atmosphere was really well done. As the reader you feel as isolated as Emily and can understand how she could be lured to believe in this life of luxury. On one hand you felt excited for her to have this opportunity, but then you could feel yourself saying it’s too good to be true. I think this book was well done, but definitely needed more suspense and a better twist. I wasn’t as shocked as I wanted to be considering all of the build up leading to the end. I think this book would be great for readers who are new to the thriller genre.
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Do you like domestic thrillers?
#newbooks #2020bookreleases #bookreviews #beachreads #summerbooks #easytoread #domesticthrillers #thrillernovels #bookstagram #thesafeplace
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Here’s what this book is about:”Emily Proudman has been offered the chance of a lifetime - leave her messy London life, move to a beautiful estate in France and help her boss' wife take care of their daughter, Aurelia. It seems like the perfect opportunity to start again. But once there, Emily soon starts to suspect that her charismatic new employers aren't telling her the whole truth. That there are even dangerous secrets hidden beneath the glamourous facade. Rather than throwing herself headline into this oasis of wine-soaked days by the pool, Emily can't help but ask questions. Why have the family been moved to this isolated house so far from home? Why does Aurelia refuse to speak or be touched? Why are there whispers in the night?”
I received an ARC of this book but I decided to listen to it on Audible. I liked listening to this book. It was entertaining, creepy and disturbing. The way Emily’s boss and his wife were acting was strange and I could tell that they were hiding something because of how they were acting. I was surprised when I figured out what it was that they were hiding. I’m confused about how the book ended. I reread the ending in the book because I thought that maybe I wasn’t paying attention when I was listening to the audiobook but I’m still confused. I don’t understand what happened.
I received an ARC of this book but I decided to listen to it on Audible. I liked listening to this book. It was entertaining, creepy and disturbing. The way Emily’s boss and his wife were acting was strange and I could tell that they were hiding something because of how they were acting. I was surprised when I figured out what it was that they were hiding. I’m confused about how the book ended. I reread the ending in the book because I thought that maybe I wasn’t paying attention when I was listening to the audiobook but I’m still confused. I don’t understand what happened.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Emily is desperate. She’s a failed actress at odds with her a dropped family and is easy prey for her boss, Scott. Scott needs someone to fulfill housekeeping/personal assistant duties to his wife, who lives in France with his daughter, as they renovate their home. There’s something that’s definitely nefarious about the situation-the only question remaining being “is this 50 shades of pound town or 50 shades of murder.” I found myself really identifying with Emily’s quarter life crisis. #SameGirl. I looooveeeed the twists of this one. I was seriously hooked and couldn’t look away. I found this to be a really good thriller. I only wish that some things were clarified a little bit more.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read a lot of psychological thrillers so always excited to find a new one to try. This doesn't read like a debut novel at all, the atmosphere built up was truly creepy and kept the pages turning. None of the characters are particularly likeable which only adds to the suspense.
I was a little dissatisfied with the ending, though honestly I'm not sure how the author could have improved it without it coming across as twee or too tidy
I will keep an eye out for future books by this author for sure
I was a little dissatisfied with the ending, though honestly I'm not sure how the author could have improved it without it coming across as twee or too tidy
I will keep an eye out for future books by this author for sure
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
<i> Thank you Netgalley, Anna Downes and Hodder & Stoughton for the Review Copy </i>
I ended up listening to the audiobook on scribd
<b> Representation:</b> -
<b>Content warnings: </b> Self Harm, Arson, Child abduction, Dementia, Child death, suicide
When Emily Proudman is at the lowest point in her life, she is offered a job as Nanny/groundkeeper to the wife and child of her former boss on a beautiful estate in France. It seems too good to be true.
CAWPILE Rating: 5.71 => 3 stars
<b> Characters </b>: 7
<b> Atmosphere </b>: 5
<b> Writing </b>: 6
<b> Plot </b>: 5
<b> Intrigue </b>: 5
<b> logic </b>: 6
<b> Enjoyment </b>: 6
This book wasn't my favourite thriller. Most of the book was slow and not a lot was happening. The ending where everything is revealed was so rushed in comparison to the rest of the book and we missed the buildup to it.
There definitely was some intrigue. you notice that the family is hiding something but it wasn't elaborated enough to really draw me into the story.
I did like the characters, they were well build up, but they did not give me emotional connection.
I ended up listening to the audiobook on scribd
<b> Representation:</b> -
<b>Content warnings: </b>
When Emily Proudman is at the lowest point in her life, she is offered a job as Nanny/groundkeeper to the wife and child of her former boss on a beautiful estate in France. It seems too good to be true.
CAWPILE Rating: 5.71 => 3 stars
<b> Characters </b>: 7
<b> Atmosphere </b>: 5
<b> Writing </b>: 6
<b> Plot </b>: 5
<b> Intrigue </b>: 5
<b> logic </b>: 6
<b> Enjoyment </b>: 6
This book wasn't my favourite thriller. Most of the book was slow and not a lot was happening. The ending where everything is revealed was so rushed in comparison to the rest of the book and we missed the buildup to it.
There definitely was some intrigue. you notice that the family is hiding something but it wasn't elaborated enough to really draw me into the story.
I did like the characters, they were well build up, but they did not give me emotional connection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping
Moderate: Dementia
DNF at 30%. The writing didn’t work for me and annoyed me too much to continue
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes