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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Gonna keep this one short and sweet, because unfortunately I don't have amazing things to say.
I totally fell into the hype of this book and was SO excited to get it early on NetGalley. Then every time I started it, I could never get into it. Once I finally committed to it, I just never fully became invested in the characters or story.
I didn't find any character that was likable or even worth rooting for. The story was such a slow burn that it never fully ignited for me.
74/100
I totally fell into the hype of this book and was SO excited to get it early on NetGalley. Then every time I started it, I could never get into it. Once I finally committed to it, I just never fully became invested in the characters or story.
I didn't find any character that was likable or even worth rooting for. The story was such a slow burn that it never fully ignited for me.
74/100
Emily is a struggling actress and can't even hold her temp job, when her old boss Scott offers a summer job as a housekeeper/personal assistant on his remote French estate. Emily quickly falls in love with the estate and Scott's wife Nina and daughter Aurelia feel like family. But some things aren't adding up and Emily begins to realize if she wants to survive, she needs to keep quiet.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't at all what I was expecting and I read it in less than two days. Emily's character was full of depth and layers. You weren't sure if you should trust her but she was also endearing. Scott, Nina and Aurelia's characters were multifaceted and every character builds on the other.
I felt the storyline was quick paced and flowed easily. It's a great summer read and one that I'd recommend to friends that are looking for suspense!
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't at all what I was expecting and I read it in less than two days. Emily's character was full of depth and layers. You weren't sure if you should trust her but she was also endearing. Scott, Nina and Aurelia's characters were multifaceted and every character builds on the other.
I felt the storyline was quick paced and flowed easily. It's a great summer read and one that I'd recommend to friends that are looking for suspense!
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Anna Downes has written a creepy, twisted thriller! Emily has lost her job, but her former employer presents a new job opportunity: become housekeeper, nanny, etc. for his wife and daughter and their home in the middle of nowhere in France. Sounds too good to be true? Something strange is going on, and the more Emily investigates, the more dangerous it gets. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The Safe Place is a slow and deliberate read, which sets the pace for a suspenseful novel.
There are three main characters and all are well developed in the book. First there is Emily, the painfully naive girl Friday that is beset with a series of unfortunate events, Then, there is Scott, the "GQish" investment executive that seems too good to be true. Lastly, you have Nina, Scott's wife who is the perfect wife and mother. But are Scott and Nina really the perfect couple when they connect with Emily? It seems that way until Nina's erratic behavior begins to cast some doubt in Emily's mind.
An excellent edgy read that will leave you wondering till the end. Four stars -- I really like it.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are three main characters and all are well developed in the book. First there is Emily, the painfully naive girl Friday that is beset with a series of unfortunate events, Then, there is Scott, the "GQish" investment executive that seems too good to be true. Lastly, you have Nina, Scott's wife who is the perfect wife and mother. But are Scott and Nina really the perfect couple when they connect with Emily? It seems that way until Nina's erratic behavior begins to cast some doubt in Emily's mind.
An excellent edgy read that will leave you wondering till the end. Four stars -- I really like it.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an easy read, a page turner and kept me guessing until the end. Which in my mind already makes a great book.
It was a slow burn but done in the right form. It would build up at just the right time which made you want more. Made you want to keep reading to find our more about what’s happening with Emily.
I had so many moments of yelling at the book saying wait...don’t do that or don’t go in there! Can’t you see it’s a bad idea.
The character development was great and I enjoyed the writing. With a fairly good storyline.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ebook in exchange for my honest review which is my own opinion.
It was a slow burn but done in the right form. It would build up at just the right time which made you want more. Made you want to keep reading to find our more about what’s happening with Emily.
I had so many moments of yelling at the book saying wait...don’t do that or don’t go in there! Can’t you see it’s a bad idea.
The character development was great and I enjoyed the writing. With a fairly good storyline.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ebook in exchange for my honest review which is my own opinion.
Emily has just been fired from her job and lost her acting agent. She has no money and nowhere to go. She tries to ask her parents for help but soon realizes that isn’t going to happen so she is left with nothing and no idea what to do with herself. She runs into her ex boss, Scott, and he offers her a new job, something better than what she had. When he tells her it would be as a housekeeper/personal assistant to his wife who lives in France with their daughter it seems too good to be true. Emily has no other options so she agrees and soon finds herself at Querencia, their sprawling estate in France.
Nina, Scott’s wife, and daughter Aurelia have the perfect secluded life. However Nina has become overwhelmed with the amount of work the estate needs; tending to the animals, the grounds, remodeling/renovating the guest house and many other things so that is why they hire Emily.
When Emily gets to Querencia her and Nina get along great, but Aurelia is a little off. Emily is told Aurelia has a few different conditions, which would explain her being the way she is. Aurelia doesn’t talk, and that made her a bit creepy which I really enjoyed. The story is told from two different perspectives, Emily and Scott, which was a good way to show what was going on in both of their heads.
The entire time I felt like something was a little off, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Like Emily I was enjoying my time with the family at Querencia. I was so engrossed in the lifestyle they live that I wasn’t looking past it into what could be wrong. How could anything be wrong when you get to lounge by the pool, drink wine and eat delicious food all day?
But of course, things are never what they seem. This was a little predictable, yes, but I really liked the way the story was told and how Emily second guessed herself about things and therefore I did as well.
This was a great summertime thriller and I think it would be a great one to read if you’re just starting to read thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Nina, Scott’s wife, and daughter Aurelia have the perfect secluded life. However Nina has become overwhelmed with the amount of work the estate needs; tending to the animals, the grounds, remodeling/renovating the guest house and many other things so that is why they hire Emily.
When Emily gets to Querencia her and Nina get along great, but Aurelia is a little off. Emily is told Aurelia has a few different conditions, which would explain her being the way she is. Aurelia doesn’t talk, and that made her a bit creepy which I really enjoyed. The story is told from two different perspectives, Emily and Scott, which was a good way to show what was going on in both of their heads.
The entire time I felt like something was a little off, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Like Emily I was enjoying my time with the family at Querencia. I was so engrossed in the lifestyle they live that I wasn’t looking past it into what could be wrong. How could anything be wrong when you get to lounge by the pool, drink wine and eat delicious food all day?
But of course, things are never what they seem. This was a little predictable, yes, but I really liked the way the story was told and how Emily second guessed herself about things and therefore I did as well.
This was a great summertime thriller and I think it would be a great one to read if you’re just starting to read thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars.
Thank you @minotaur_books for this advanced copy!
This is the story of Emily, who, down on her luck, is presented with an opportunity of a lifetime: a summer job at her old boss’s (Scott) estate helping his wife Nina + daughter Aurelia. Like any thriller goes, it’s not what she expected.
What I liked: It was a quick + easy read. I loved the flashbacks into Nina’s diary/journal so you could get to know her too. You also get short glimpses into Scott’s side so you know that’s something is fishy all along, just not what. I know a lot of people didn’t care for the ending but I actually did. It was the only time I liked Emily.
What I didn’t like: It seems lately that a lot of thrillers I read make the female protagonist stupid. Like unbelievably so. It kind of makes it hard to feel bad or invested in what happens to them when they miss OBVIOUS red flags. It’s definitely not as *thrilling* when the main character is helpless. I much prefer one who is vigilant + intelligent. And then Emily falling in love with Scott after being around him two whole times? CMON. Give these women some credit!
Overall, it was an alright thriller. The plot line IDEA was great, execution not great. But to me, definitely made up for in the ending. And definitely creepy!
Thank you @minotaur_books for this advanced copy!
This is the story of Emily, who, down on her luck, is presented with an opportunity of a lifetime: a summer job at her old boss’s (Scott) estate helping his wife Nina + daughter Aurelia. Like any thriller goes, it’s not what she expected.
What I liked: It was a quick + easy read. I loved the flashbacks into Nina’s diary/journal so you could get to know her too. You also get short glimpses into Scott’s side so you know that’s something is fishy all along, just not what. I know a lot of people didn’t care for the ending but I actually did. It was the only time I liked Emily.
What I didn’t like: It seems lately that a lot of thrillers I read make the female protagonist stupid. Like unbelievably so. It kind of makes it hard to feel bad or invested in what happens to them when they miss OBVIOUS red flags. It’s definitely not as *thrilling* when the main character is helpless. I much prefer one who is vigilant + intelligent. And then Emily falling in love with Scott after being around him two whole times? CMON. Give these women some credit!
Overall, it was an alright thriller. The plot line IDEA was great, execution not great. But to me, definitely made up for in the ending. And definitely creepy!
Emily, a twenties-something woman living in London, has a problematic relationship with her adoptive parents and is canned from her job, placing her in the position of barely getting by. Little does she know there is more at play. Her former employer (Scott) offers her a position as a nanny/housekeeper/companion to his wife and daughter at a secluded French estate. The perks include pay, board, meals, a luxury SUV, a credit card, etc. In Emily’s eyes, this is the perfect solution and opportunity... but is it?
What I Liked: I loved the setting and atmosphere of this book so much! A secluded estate with two huge houses where the mother and daughter never leave, visitors aren’t allowed, cell service doesn’t work - you know something is going on. The atmosphere is creepy without being too in-your-face sinister. The book had a really good flow.
What I Didn’t Quite Like: I wanted Emily to wise up and realize that something wasn’t normal with her employer’s family and the entire situation sooner than she did. The ending didn’t feel finished enough. I also didn’t get the feelings Emily and Scott felt for one another; they seemed out of the blue and with no basis.
Recommended If: Despite my criticisms, I still had a good time reading this and found it to move really quickly. Definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I Liked: I loved the setting and atmosphere of this book so much! A secluded estate with two huge houses where the mother and daughter never leave, visitors aren’t allowed, cell service doesn’t work - you know something is going on. The atmosphere is creepy without being too in-your-face sinister. The book had a really good flow.
What I Didn’t Quite Like: I wanted Emily to wise up and realize that something wasn’t normal with her employer’s family and the entire situation sooner than she did. The ending didn’t feel finished enough. I also didn’t get the feelings Emily and Scott felt for one another; they seemed out of the blue and with no basis.
Recommended If: Despite my criticisms, I still had a good time reading this and found it to move really quickly. Definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Minotaur for the gifted copy.
Well, this book was different from what I expected! (not in a bad way)
Emily is a hot mess - a struggling actor, fired from her temp job, getting evicted from her apartment. After she gets fired, she is offered what seems like a dream job - by her former boss. The job? Moving to France and being the carer/assistant/nanny/go-fer/etc to his wife and young daughter. She has to sign an NDA, there is no cell service, cameras everywhere, locked gates...the longer she's there, the more she is thinking something is very strange.
The wife seems mostly fine at first, the daughter has "medical issues" - supposedly a severe allergy to the sun and she doesn't talk. Something is definitely not right.
Emily does end up uncovering their secrets, and the ending has several twisty moments. I think if I had tried to figure it out as I was reading, I could have. I did like the flashback chapters, because it gave me a glimpse into the "why" and "how" of the story. There were some parts at the end that I think might have made more sense if written differently, and I had to go back and reread a couple things.
The Safe Place is an entertaining read perfect for a day at the beach or pool.
Well, this book was different from what I expected! (not in a bad way)
Emily is a hot mess - a struggling actor, fired from her temp job, getting evicted from her apartment. After she gets fired, she is offered what seems like a dream job - by her former boss. The job? Moving to France and being the carer/assistant/nanny/go-fer/etc to his wife and young daughter. She has to sign an NDA, there is no cell service, cameras everywhere, locked gates...the longer she's there, the more she is thinking something is very strange.
The wife seems mostly fine at first, the daughter has "medical issues" - supposedly a severe allergy to the sun and she doesn't talk. Something is definitely not right.
Emily does end up uncovering their secrets, and the ending has several twisty moments. I think if I had tried to figure it out as I was reading, I could have. I did like the flashback chapters, because it gave me a glimpse into the "why" and "how" of the story. There were some parts at the end that I think might have made more sense if written differently, and I had to go back and reread a couple things.
The Safe Place is an entertaining read perfect for a day at the beach or pool.
This book was kindly sent to me via the publishers and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. Just wow.
Ok, I love a book with a really creepy setting and this was exactly that. Not only did the setting give me goosebumps, It was the perfect juxtaposition between what the main character thought was idyllic mixed with those isolated vibes. I read a lot of thrillers and so although I worked out some of the plot before it happened, knowing didn't make me enjoy this any less and so I have to give it 5 stars!
Looking forward to more from Anna Downes!
Wow. Just wow.
Ok, I love a book with a really creepy setting and this was exactly that. Not only did the setting give me goosebumps, It was the perfect juxtaposition between what the main character thought was idyllic mixed with those isolated vibes. I read a lot of thrillers and so although I worked out some of the plot before it happened, knowing didn't make me enjoy this any less and so I have to give it 5 stars!
Looking forward to more from Anna Downes!