Reviews

Independent Book Publishers Association for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OUTLIER ALERT!!! 🎶It's me!! Firstly, I persevered through the entire book, despite nearly giving up on it, before I became aware of the scandal. I only stumbled upon the scandal, after doing some research about this book because of my own troubles with it. That said, my rating is solely based on my genuine thoughts and enjoyment of the story. Nevertheless, I believe it's important to acknowledge the unethical incident that occurred.

<i>Author J.D. Barker is issuing an apology for a January 23 email pitch that invited numerous high-profile Book Tok influencers, predominantly young women, to create "racy" sponsored content promoting his upcoming novel. Following backlash from several influencers on TikTok, Barker has been dropped by his agent, Alec Shane of Writers House.</I>

Wow, what did I just read!?! I'm a bit speechless, but I'll attempt to articulate my thoughts. On one hand, there are positives: an intricate and compelling plot, a gripping cat-and-mouse game of action, a promising beginning, suspenseful moments, and an okay writing style-all of which kept me flipping the pages, even though it was a struggle.

So, what didn't click for me? Frankly, it felt incredibly unbelievable and over the top, ridiculously far fetched, with a predictable twist, numerous elements seemed out of place, and a scene that was deeply disturbing, particularly as a woman. The more I read, the more absurd it all seemed.

In summary, I believe this book simply wasn't to my taste. It seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of book, with little room for middle ground. Regrettably, I cannot personally recommend it. I know many people will love this book so please do not base your decision to read it solely on my review. ⭐️⭐️

panicatthebookstore's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

When Abby and her husband Brenda's marriage hits a rough patch, they head to couples counselling. Their therapist tells them to download an app called Sugar and Spice. The app gives you tasks to complete with your partner in order to become closer to each other and gain points for every task you complete. They start off fairly simple, but soon, the tasks become dangerous, and it seems the app has a mind of its own.
I really enjoyed this one, although at times I found it a little slow. Some of the story was a little overexplained, and I'm not going to lie, I felt my brain switch off a few times during those parts. Overall, it was an enjoyable read; my second from this author and I look forward to reading more.

book_reader_lover's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

J.D. Barker is one of my all-time favorite authors. His books are always a wild intense ride. I can always expect to be grabbed at the first page, and not let go of until the end.

This one was good, but different from his others. It was a spicy read, which you usually don't get from Barker. It was, also, scary because it dealt with an app and how apps, or I guess I should say phones and computers, can start controlling our lives.

Abby and Brendan decide to go to a martial counselor. The counselor tells them to download the app 'Sugar & Spice.'. They do and this starts the wild ride you will have when you read this book.

I have to say that it made me think and wonder about the apps on my phone. I don't know if that was Barker's intention or not. But, I may just have to start reading terms instead of just agreeing.

Tentative Publishing Date: May 13, 2024

Thanks to Netgalley, Hampton Creek Press and Barker for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#netgalley #hamptoncreekpress #jdbarker #behindacloseddoor #arc #readmytbr #readaway2024

thegreatandwonderfulbookwitch's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The smart of this book does NOT do it justice! It makes me seem like a spicy thriller, when it's more like a thriller with some spice.

A struggling couple download an app that supposed to spice up their relationship. It does so much more.

This was an absolute wild ride to read! So much happens in such a small amount of time!

The characters were equally likeable and unlikeable at any given moment. Much of the storyline twists on itself so you don't fully piece everything together until the end. The amount of smut was just the right amount for the plot, it added to it rather than distracted from it. The overall storyline was VERY well thought out and impressive to see how everything was woven together.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers! It's much more exciting than many thrillers I've read, and keeps you engaged with what's happening.

A copy of this book was provided by jdbarker and Goodreads as a giveaway. I am now ABSOLUTELY a new fan!

kneecolegrace's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cassiecat's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? No

3.0

I went for this book purely after loving the 4MK series without reading the blurb, which proved to be my undoing. I loved his dark psychological thrillers.

A couple with the help of a therapist turn to an app to spice up their sex life which has become stale. So you might think it’s going to be a dark romance, but no, it’s a sex/ action thriller fusion.

The actual concept of getting drawn into a dark and dangerous app that can harvest so much information about the user is a scary reality and a dangerous prospect. The scenarios quickly spiral out of control becoming very dark.

I didn’t gel with the characters, they seemed too shallow. I hated Romeo and Juliet, they were very irritating.

The second half of the book is much faster paced and action orientated.

Not sure about one aspect of the ending, the book certainly triggered my natural paranoia.

It’s certainly very different, I applaud the authors imagination. If you want something very different give it a try, but it’s no 4MK so don’t expect that. It didn’t really manage to grab me. I think it’s very much a marmite book, which in themselves cause intrigue, add in a bit of controversy and you’ve probably got a best seller.

stellyshadows's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc. First of all, wow! That was a wild ride from start to finish and ohhh boy! I loved it! I can’t recommend this book enough. This married couple go to couples therapy and boom! They spice up their life in more ways than one let’s just say and the people around them all get sucked into an app that controls you. This was fantastic and probably one of the fastest times I’ve read in my life.

More...