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marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Justin Childs is adored by all. He's charismatic, so very smart and creative, willing to share ideas, praise, wealth and his wide circle of those who can get things done. He knows everyone who matters and is able to use those connections in every way possible. When he dies in an automobile accident, driving off the end of the road into space, while loaded on Valium, his wife and best friend can't understand why that would happen since Justin didn't take drugs like Valium. But they soon realize that Justin was all lies, that everything he touched was fake. Justin was a liar, a cheat, a fraud and he'd been so for at least the last decade.
The story is told from the viewpoint of three people, Justin's wife, Anne, Justin's best friend and business partner, Will, and Justin's mom, Carol. As much as Carol loved Justin unconditionally, she was always aware that he made exceptions to the truth, that he did things wrong, that he hurt people, but Carol could always make excuses for Justin's failings. Carol would do anything to protect Justin's reputation, whether he deserved to have his reputation protected or not.
Anne and Will's lives are falling apart after Justin's death. Their lives had been so entangled in everything Justin did and they never thought they had any reason to doubt Justin. Their home lives, their finances, their careers are being razed as Justin's death exposes all the cracks in Justin's very precisely curated life. What does Carol know, how much did she suspect, and can Anne trust her mother-in-law in her life? Is Justin pulling one last, brutal scheme from the grave? Anne and Will are implicated in things that Justin did. How long has Justin been plotting to destroy their lives and why would he want to do so?
Published August 4th 2020
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.
The story is told from the viewpoint of three people, Justin's wife, Anne, Justin's best friend and business partner, Will, and Justin's mom, Carol. As much as Carol loved Justin unconditionally, she was always aware that he made exceptions to the truth, that he did things wrong, that he hurt people, but Carol could always make excuses for Justin's failings. Carol would do anything to protect Justin's reputation, whether he deserved to have his reputation protected or not.
Anne and Will's lives are falling apart after Justin's death. Their lives had been so entangled in everything Justin did and they never thought they had any reason to doubt Justin. Their home lives, their finances, their careers are being razed as Justin's death exposes all the cracks in Justin's very precisely curated life. What does Carol know, how much did she suspect, and can Anne trust her mother-in-law in her life? Is Justin pulling one last, brutal scheme from the grave? Anne and Will are implicated in things that Justin did. How long has Justin been plotting to destroy their lives and why would he want to do so?
Published August 4th 2020
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.
kittietta's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I loved this thrilling Murder Mystery! More twists and turns than you will know what to do with! Everyone seems suspect and everyone seems innocent..and the bodies pile up....... then the end of this thrillious ride leaves you dropped jawed!I. You will want to close you eyes but, silly thing!, you have to read what will happen next!
Best book of the month for me!
Wonderfully flawed characters. (who doesnt like those in a mystery?)
Loved the writing as we go though the relationship each character had with the main decedent all wrapped up in a plot that will keep you turning the pages!
Easy a 5 star rating!
Best book of the month for me!
Wonderfully flawed characters. (who doesnt like those in a mystery?)
Loved the writing as we go though the relationship each character had with the main decedent all wrapped up in a plot that will keep you turning the pages!
Easy a 5 star rating!
sci_mom's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. If you like superficial mysteries with a touch of psychological thriller, you will like this book. But, don't scratch the surface too hard because there isn't much of substance below that. It's a fine story in a comfort food sort of way, but it lacks depth on every level. Readers are given perfunctory backgrounds/motivations for all of the characters with sufficient detail to make their parts work and the plot is just believable enough to not be annoying. With another 100 pages, it would have been a 4-star book. Add 200 pages and it could've been a 5-star book. As it stands, it is a solid 3 stars.
katekate_reads_'s review
3.0
How well do we really know the people we are closest to in our lives? This book starts at Justin’s funeral and is told through the perspectives of those closest to him - his wife Annie, his mother Carol and his best friend/business partner Will.
Through them we learn that things in Justin’s life may not have been as they seemed. This was a fun and quick read and even though I figured out what was coming it was still a fun rainy afternoon to get there.
PS - best book dedication ever.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free review copy.
Through them we learn that things in Justin’s life may not have been as they seemed. This was a fun and quick read and even though I figured out what was coming it was still a fun rainy afternoon to get there.
PS - best book dedication ever.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free review copy.
summer_reads1's review against another edition
5.0
Convince Me is a very fast paced, jaw dropping, and heart racing roller coaster of a ride! Reading this book felt more like I was watching a movie play out.
The story starts out with the death of Justin Childs who's death resulted from a car crash. Justin left his loved ones behind in absolute grief. The story is told from three different points of view: Justin’s mother Carol, Justin’s wife Annie, and Justin’s friend Will. All of his loved ones believe he is the absolute perfect son, husband, and friend. Without giving too much away, after Justins death his loved ones uncover so many shocking and life altering truths about him, making them wonder if they even knew him at all.
This book is filled with absolute brilliant writing. Trust me, you will want to ride the mind bending twists on the rollercoaster ride of a book that is, Convince Me. And wow that ending, was absolutely perfect and satisfying. I look forward to reading the other book I have by Nina Sadowsky, The Empty Bed, and I will definitely be adding the rest of her novels to my to be read list!
The story starts out with the death of Justin Childs who's death resulted from a car crash. Justin left his loved ones behind in absolute grief. The story is told from three different points of view: Justin’s mother Carol, Justin’s wife Annie, and Justin’s friend Will. All of his loved ones believe he is the absolute perfect son, husband, and friend. Without giving too much away, after Justins death his loved ones uncover so many shocking and life altering truths about him, making them wonder if they even knew him at all.
This book is filled with absolute brilliant writing. Trust me, you will want to ride the mind bending twists on the rollercoaster ride of a book that is, Convince Me. And wow that ending, was absolutely perfect and satisfying. I look forward to reading the other book I have by Nina Sadowsky, The Empty Bed, and I will definitely be adding the rest of her novels to my to be read list!
booklvrkat's review against another edition
3.0
Really fast read. Good story, guessable if you read this genre. Suggested by a co-worker, wasn’t as shocking to me as it was to her.
mommasaystoread's review against another edition
4.0
First, I've got to say that I absolutely love the dedication in this book I won't quote it here because of the language, and you know, some things tend to get dinged on some sites. But I will say that even if I hadn't liked the story, that dedication would've received an extra star. However, I did like the book. It's twisty enough to make your head spin, and with each new chapter comes a new revelation. The story isn't exactly realistic but darned if it didn't keep me turning the pages. Some of it isn't hard to figure out, at least in part, but that didn't diminish the story for me in the slightest. This is one of those edge of your seat, can't wait to see what's next, heart in your throat books, and was perfect for a late-night read.
twilhelmsen's review against another edition
3.0
Very readable - short chapters from multiple view points and it definitely sucked me in. I struggled with believability and ultimately felt the conclusion was foreseeable so 3 stars.
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Meet Justin Childs he appears to be perfect, the perfect husband to Anne the perfect son to Carol and the perfect best friend to Will. Justin is charismatic extremely creative and has connections everywhere and the business he’s started is about to take off . When Justin dies suddenly in a car accident with Valium everyone is shocked. He never took drugs. Over the next few days after the funeral the perfect life that Anne thought she had shared with Justin begins to unravel. Everything he appeared to be turns out to be a lie. He was a cheat, liar and a fraud. Anne and Will work to untangle the clues to all the questions and lies Justin left behind. While his mother Carol is determined to protect her son and his reputation at all costs. Anne begins to wonder if Justin is trying to pull off one last scheme even after his death, and how long was he planning destroying them in the process. This book begins as a slow burn and soon takes off. I was hooked I had to know what was going to happen and I felt horrible for Anne at times, It would be awful to discover your life was nothing what you thought it was and the man you married was liar. I give this four stars. The story is told by Anne, Will and Carol which just added to the story line.