Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-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
The idea behind this book could have been so good - women who has it all, perfect husband, child, house, job life.... risks it all for one night. However her actions threaten to destroy her world.
However, the main character, Tara, is one of the most unlikeable characters Ive had the displeasure to read recently. Totally selfish and self absorbed - Tara really doesnt help herself.... despite only ever thinking of herself!
I love a character with a flaw or two but tara had nothing redeemable about her.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review :-)
However, the main character, Tara, is one of the most unlikeable characters Ive had the displeasure to read recently. Totally selfish and self absorbed - Tara really doesnt help herself.... despite only ever thinking of herself!
I love a character with a flaw or two but tara had nothing redeemable about her.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review :-)
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Your Neighbours Wife by Tony Parsons Pub Date 7/1/2021
Tara Carver has a perfect life with her husband Christian and son Marlon, but with perfection comes complacency.
Tara runs a prestige dating site with her friend and co-worker Mary. Tara is the "face" but knows Mary is the real genius behind the concept and reason people use the site to find their "Forever Love". Christian had worked as a specialist music journalist before the market collapsed. The couple decided that he would stay home to bring up their son Marlon and be with labrador Buddy.
Tara is invited to speak at a conference on new businesses in Tokyo. Meeting James Caine there was the beginning of her nightmare. After an earthquake shakes her confidence, they share a few drinks, and in an alcohol-induced state, she ends up in the arms of James and shares a one night stand.
Tara returns home only to find that James is not satisfied with one night. He starts stalking her and refuses to let her go, even turning up at her workplace and threatening to reveal details of their encounter to her husband unless she agrees to an ongoing affair.
Tara's life begins to spiral out of control, and she's left feeling panic-stricken. She tells her best friend Ginger, but nothing they think up shakes James off. During this time, Christian changes from gentle, perfect husband and father to someone entirely unrecognisable whilst Ginger and husband Spike are not who they appear to be.
My thoughts:
I did not warm to the alternate chapters, being the differing POVs of Tara and Christian. The chapters were relatively short, and as a quick reader, I found the switching distracting.
The plot was sound in principle but pretty far-fetched. I couldn't understand why Tara had decided to have a one night stand in Tokyo in the first place when it was clear she is in a loving relationship.
Sadly I found the ending dissatisfying, and I felt it didn't tie-up with the final chapters. I also wondered how the title was decided as it bears no significance to the story.
I want to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and author Tony Parsons for a pre-publication copy to review.
Tara Carver has a perfect life with her husband Christian and son Marlon, but with perfection comes complacency.
Tara runs a prestige dating site with her friend and co-worker Mary. Tara is the "face" but knows Mary is the real genius behind the concept and reason people use the site to find their "Forever Love". Christian had worked as a specialist music journalist before the market collapsed. The couple decided that he would stay home to bring up their son Marlon and be with labrador Buddy.
Tara is invited to speak at a conference on new businesses in Tokyo. Meeting James Caine there was the beginning of her nightmare. After an earthquake shakes her confidence, they share a few drinks, and in an alcohol-induced state, she ends up in the arms of James and shares a one night stand.
Tara returns home only to find that James is not satisfied with one night. He starts stalking her and refuses to let her go, even turning up at her workplace and threatening to reveal details of their encounter to her husband unless she agrees to an ongoing affair.
Tara's life begins to spiral out of control, and she's left feeling panic-stricken. She tells her best friend Ginger, but nothing they think up shakes James off. During this time, Christian changes from gentle, perfect husband and father to someone entirely unrecognisable whilst Ginger and husband Spike are not who they appear to be.
My thoughts:
I did not warm to the alternate chapters, being the differing POVs of Tara and Christian. The chapters were relatively short, and as a quick reader, I found the switching distracting.
The plot was sound in principle but pretty far-fetched. I couldn't understand why Tara had decided to have a one night stand in Tokyo in the first place when it was clear she is in a loving relationship.
Sadly I found the ending dissatisfying, and I felt it didn't tie-up with the final chapters. I also wondered how the title was decided as it bears no significance to the story.
I want to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and author Tony Parsons for a pre-publication copy to review.
It is a psychological thriller with a great twist at the end. Tara has a loving family, she has a son Marlon, and they have a dog named Buddy. In short, a perfect family. Christian is a loving husband, and he worked as a music journalist. But with changing times, he lost his job and now takes care of his family. Portrayed as a dedicated husband, Christian is the one who keeps this family together.
Tara’s character is annoying. Her decisions do not seem to align with the setup. One of her colleagues describes her perfectly. Her character is portrayed as convoluted and takes arbitrary decisions.
Tara is the face of Angel Eyes. But the app is managed by a couple of other leaders, which brings discord to the team.
The book opens up with a strong premise. The author described Tara’s trip to Tokyo with authenticity. There are descriptions of the streets, restaurants, and culture of Japan.
But the story somewhere has lost its plot. It brings a good twist. But it was something predictable.
Unfortunately, that’s where it ends.
Thank you, NetGalley & Cornerstone Digital, for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Tara’s character is annoying. Her decisions do not seem to align with the setup. One of her colleagues describes her perfectly. Her character is portrayed as convoluted and takes arbitrary decisions.
Tara is the face of Angel Eyes. But the app is managed by a couple of other leaders, which brings discord to the team.
The book opens up with a strong premise. The author described Tara’s trip to Tokyo with authenticity. There are descriptions of the streets, restaurants, and culture of Japan.
But the story somewhere has lost its plot. It brings a good twist. But it was something predictable.
Unfortunately, that’s where it ends.
Thank you, NetGalley & Cornerstone Digital, for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Tony Parsons is the well known author of the Sunday Times bestselling crime series Max Wolfe and the multi million selling novel “Man and Boy”.
Parson’s latest novel is a gripping stand-alone thriller. “Your Neighbour’s Wife” is a love story and a murder story all wrapped up in a psychological thriller, that the author has executed perfectly. It’s obvious this novel has been written with passion and as he admits himself, not all good stories can be written within the one genre. This book is a prime example of that and with clever writing, intriguing characters and a twisty, turning plot, it’s so easy to become engrossed in this page-turning thriller.
Having the perfect life, Tara Carver a loving mother and wife with her own successful business, makes the biggest mistake of her life. After sleeping with a married man whilst on a business trip in Tokyo, she’s unable to shake the one night off when the man insists on a serious relationship with her. On returning home, he won’t leave her or her loving family alone until she agrees. How will she escape his clutches?And will it involve murder?
This book was very difficult to put down and explores the very realistic devastation an illicit one night stand can cause and it’s consequences. I could picture each scene clearly due to the excellent storytelling and I’m sure this would make a fabulous movie. Happily recommended and I look forward to reading the Max Wolfe series, that I already have to read.
4 stars
Parson’s latest novel is a gripping stand-alone thriller. “Your Neighbour’s Wife” is a love story and a murder story all wrapped up in a psychological thriller, that the author has executed perfectly. It’s obvious this novel has been written with passion and as he admits himself, not all good stories can be written within the one genre. This book is a prime example of that and with clever writing, intriguing characters and a twisty, turning plot, it’s so easy to become engrossed in this page-turning thriller.
Having the perfect life, Tara Carver a loving mother and wife with her own successful business, makes the biggest mistake of her life. After sleeping with a married man whilst on a business trip in Tokyo, she’s unable to shake the one night off when the man insists on a serious relationship with her. On returning home, he won’t leave her or her loving family alone until she agrees. How will she escape his clutches?And will it involve murder?
This book was very difficult to put down and explores the very realistic devastation an illicit one night stand can cause and it’s consequences. I could picture each scene clearly due to the excellent storytelling and I’m sure this would make a fabulous movie. Happily recommended and I look forward to reading the Max Wolfe series, that I already have to read.
4 stars