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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a solid thriller about a young woman who is offered a job in France as an au pair/housekeeper for a reclusive family. The story explores a number of topics from childhood abuse to adoption. Although it jumps around a little and at times is a little predictable the end took me completely by surprise and was very different to what I had initially expected.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
This was a solid thriller about a young woman who is offered a job in France as an au pair/housekeeper for a reclusive family. The story explores a number of topics from childhood abuse to adoption. Although it jumps around a little and at times is a little predictable the end took me completely by surprise and was very different to what I had initially expected.
Can't wait to read more from this author.
Rating: 5 Stars!! (Wish i could rate it 10 stars!!!)
Review:
First off Thank you to Bookishfirst.com and Minotaur Books for picking me to win this book back in May in a giveaway!!
Oh my, Oh my!! Where do i begin?! This book was crazy with lots of twist and turns and alot of thrill to it too!!
So far i think THIS is the BEST Thriller ive read this year so far!! It reminded me alot of the concept of The Turn of the Key that i read last year in October by Ruth Ware but with a little different storyline to it.
The character and storyline were easy and fun to get into. I loved how it mentioned about a disease that is very under rated that ive had since i was 4 years old: Epilepsy and what a young child goes through with it. I also loved that they mentioned about Dementia since that hits home for me since my Grandma's had it for almost 5 years now.
This book was about a woman named Emily who lost her job at a Modeling agency but than her former boss Scott Denny finds out about it and asks to hire her to be a housekeeper and nanny for his and his wife's "daughter" Aurelia.
As the book goes on we learn about secrets the wife has been keeping for 6 years which become shocking ones to not just the reader but to the character Emily as well.
If you love a Thriller with suspense, secrets, twists and shocking moments than THIS Book is definately for you!!
Can't wait to read more by Anna Downes in the future!!!
Review:
First off Thank you to Bookishfirst.com and Minotaur Books for picking me to win this book back in May in a giveaway!!
Oh my, Oh my!! Where do i begin?! This book was crazy with lots of twist and turns and alot of thrill to it too!!
So far i think THIS is the BEST Thriller ive read this year so far!! It reminded me alot of the concept of The Turn of the Key that i read last year in October by Ruth Ware but with a little different storyline to it.
The character and storyline were easy and fun to get into. I loved how it mentioned about a disease that is very under rated that ive had since i was 4 years old: Epilepsy and what a young child goes through with it. I also loved that they mentioned about Dementia since that hits home for me since my Grandma's had it for almost 5 years now.
This book was about a woman named Emily who lost her job at a Modeling agency but than her former boss Scott Denny finds out about it and asks to hire her to be a housekeeper and nanny for his and his wife's "daughter" Aurelia.
As the book goes on we learn about secrets the wife has been keeping for 6 years which become shocking ones to not just the reader but to the character Emily as well.
If you love a Thriller with suspense, secrets, twists and shocking moments than THIS Book is definately for you!!
Can't wait to read more by Anna Downes in the future!!!
The Safe Place was not at all what I expected but I really enjoyed it! I don’t know that I can fully classify this as a thriller. Perhaps, a suspenseful drama is more accurate. Either way- this book has ‘Lifetime movie’ written all over it and I mean that as a complement.
Emily is a struggling actress who has just been let go from another temp position. Her relationship with her parents is strained and she has nobody to go to for support. Her former boss offers her a position that seems to good to be true. She is to become a caretaker for his wife and I’ll daughter at their French beach house since he works so much. Emily quickly bonds with her boss’ wife, Nina and their daughter, Aurelia. As the story progresses and we see multiple points of view, it starts to become clear that something is off in this ‘dream’ job that Emily has stepped into.
This book was definitely a slow burn. The big reveal doesn’t happen for a long time. However, I really enjoyed the scene that was set. I felt like the description of the scenery in this book really takes the reader to the location. I have seen many reviews saying this book was predictable but I did not see the reveal coming. Maybe I’m just oblivious!
Emily is a struggling actress who has just been let go from another temp position. Her relationship with her parents is strained and she has nobody to go to for support. Her former boss offers her a position that seems to good to be true. She is to become a caretaker for his wife and I’ll daughter at their French beach house since he works so much. Emily quickly bonds with her boss’ wife, Nina and their daughter, Aurelia. As the story progresses and we see multiple points of view, it starts to become clear that something is off in this ‘dream’ job that Emily has stepped into.
This book was definitely a slow burn. The big reveal doesn’t happen for a long time. However, I really enjoyed the scene that was set. I felt like the description of the scenery in this book really takes the reader to the location. I have seen many reviews saying this book was predictable but I did not see the reveal coming. Maybe I’m just oblivious!
A thrilling debut. Struggling actress, Emily, is offered a dream job working for a wealthy family on their estate in France. She loves her job and quickly befriends the glamorous and beguiling Nina. But this paradise hides secrets.
Anna Downes weaves gorgeous descriptions of the French peninsular and mansion with ominous and mysterious undertones creeping through at unexpected moments. There's sexual chemistry, a sinister caretaker, a troubled child and a house with secret rooms and no escape. All elements that make for a fun and twisty read. Throughly enjoyable.
Anna Downes weaves gorgeous descriptions of the French peninsular and mansion with ominous and mysterious undertones creeping through at unexpected moments. There's sexual chemistry, a sinister caretaker, a troubled child and a house with secret rooms and no escape. All elements that make for a fun and twisty read. Throughly enjoyable.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would say that this is a good easy, beach read. The writing is generally good, not amazing but very readable. The story felt a little paint by numbers, the characters felt a little flat and I wasn't particularly shocked by any of twists. I think it would make an excellent movie, but "two rich and beautiful people have a secret that's found out by a troubled younger protagonist" isn't really my cup of tea. The story certainly held my attention and I'd be open to reading further novels by this author but I didn't love this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse
I read this one in just a few days! I found this to be a really fun thriller, set in a beautiful yet creepy house in France. It was well-written and really kept me on my toes. I almost guessed the ending, and honestly almost gave up the book, but there were enough clues scattered throughout the book to make me want to read more.
Emily is a flailing actress who is given a cushy job as a personal assistant to her former boss' wife, Nina, and their young daughter, Aurelia. Aurelia has some issues that need special care, and Nina and Aurelia live alone on a French estate. Emily comes to provide companionship to Nina and help with Aurelia, but Emily learns that not all is as gorgeous as it seems.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for the Advanced Reader's Copy to read & review.
Trigger warnings for child kidnapping , minor incidents of self-harm, discussions of past childhood trauma.
Emily is a flailing actress who is given a cushy job as a personal assistant to her former boss' wife, Nina, and their young daughter, Aurelia. Aurelia has some issues that need special care, and Nina and Aurelia live alone on a French estate. Emily comes to provide companionship to Nina and help with Aurelia, but Emily learns that not all is as gorgeous as it seems.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for the Advanced Reader's Copy to read & review.
Trigger warnings for
THIS BOOK. This one was a wild ride from start to finish. It follows Emily Proudman who, after losing her job, winds up moving to France to be her old boss’ housekeeper. Not long after she arrives, Emily realizes there is something not quite right about their situation.
While I was hooked from the beginning, I could not put it down when I had only about 25% left. I honestly did not know what the ending was going to be, but I didn’t see THAT coming. Thrillers like this are always my favorite since you are kept guessing until the end. The only thing that I struggled with was when the chapter was from Emily’s perspective. I thought her character was a bit annoying, and naive to the point where I was almost uncomfortable. But for me that wasn’t that big of a deal, and I still enjoyed it a lot.
While I was hooked from the beginning, I could not put it down when I had only about 25% left. I honestly did not know what the ending was going to be, but I didn’t see THAT coming. Thrillers like this are always my favorite since you are kept guessing until the end. The only thing that I struggled with was when the chapter was from Emily’s perspective. I thought her character was a bit annoying, and naive to the point where I was almost uncomfortable. But for me that wasn’t that big of a deal, and I still enjoyed it a lot.
It started really strong and intriguing, then felt almost meaningless until around page 260 or so, then it was predictable in a way but also kept me on my toes. It could've been 5 stars for me if it were a bit longer and crazier at the end or got to the point a bit sooner.
This was an interesting book that definitely had me confused about what was happening for the first half of the book, but then it came together. I read it quickly over two days and would recommend this as a quick beach read.
Emily, our main character, is kind of a hot mess. She's fired from her temp job and she is a struggling actress who is not getting any traction in pursuing her dream. While everything is falling apart, her ex-boss provides her with a job opportunity that seems too good to be true. Emily probably should have trusted her gut because, of course, strange things ensue as soon as she arrives.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I also won a physical advanced reader's copy via giveaway on Instagram.
Emily, our main character, is kind of a hot mess. She's fired from her temp job and she is a struggling actress who is not getting any traction in pursuing her dream. While everything is falling apart, her ex-boss provides her with a job opportunity that seems too good to be true. Emily probably should have trusted her gut because, of course, strange things ensue as soon as she arrives.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I also won a physical advanced reader's copy via giveaway on Instagram.
The Safe Place is the perfect read for when you don't want to think too much and want to escape to a beautiful home off the coast of France. AKA the perfect read for someone who wants to travel to Europe, but doesn't want to leave their own safe place!