The book had a fabulous blurb which grabbed my eyeballs and tweaked my interest… Mysterious notes in pregnancy about the husband and his deception.
My second book by Claire Allen had me pretty excited. The main story started with a hand-written note delivered to the desk of the main character Eli which acted as an accelerant in the destruction of trust. After the Christmas Reads of cozy books, this made me rub my hands in glee and cackle with wicked laughter. And yes, I needed that kind of debauchery to keep my literary heart beating in time. Lub-dub Lub-dub, my pulse raced.
The three POVs, main character, mother, and a stranger, made me scramble around gathering clues and trying to make them all fit. Till I had the A-HA moment, wherein I could guess the path of the story. It was my time to scream Eureka, and I found myself right at the mid-point of the book. Sheesh!! It was just too soon!! The suspense was not maintained till the end of the book.
The pages soon proved me right, and I realized I should have screamed Deja-vu instead. My niggles came at me loud and strong, the main character distrusts her husband strongly but no reason shown other than pregnancy hormones. The whole story had been done before many times. It was quite obvious and formulaic.
Overall, a good morning spent in the book proving my theory right.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon Books UK, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Claire Allan is an Irish author who has previously written women’s fiction. Apple of My Eye is her second psychological thriller following 2018’s Her Name Was Rose.
When a mysterious note arrives for seven months pregnant nurse Eliana Hughes, she begins to doubt every aspect of her life – from her mixed feelings about motherhood to her marriage to Martin, who has become distant in recent months.
As the person behind the note escalates their campaign to out Eli’s husband as a cheat, she finds herself unable to trust even her own instincts, and as pressure builds, she makes a mistake that jeopardises her entire future.
Elsewhere, someone is watching. Someone who desperately wants a baby to call their own and will go to any lengths to become a mother – and stay a mother…
Publication Date: 24th January 2018
Publisher: Avon Books UK
22 Responses
I enjoy reading your reviews, even though I rarely manage to read the books! The Eureka turning into Deja vu – great way of putting it across 😀😀
Awww thank you… Maybe I have read too many thrillers.. Yet I seem to be addicted to them 😂
I definitely hope to read this book. I liked Her Name Was Rose, although this one sounds slightly more predictable! Great review, Shalini.
Thanks Stephen.. I liked her name was Rose..
I have read books with this same story hence it was deja-vu for me
Wonderful review, Shalini. I hope your next book really wows you! 🔥
I hope so too.. 😘❤️
Too bad that this one raised you up, then plummeted you down into deja vu. It still sounds like a good story, just perhaps overdone. Nice honest review Shalini.
Thanks Carla… Loved the initial premise.. Then I knew who did everything… 😂 😂 It was at exact 50%
I would relish seeing you cackle! 😉
It sounds so witchy and then delete the W and add the B and it is ME sometimes 😂😂😂
I love your reviews, but I always wish that you included a blurb with them so readers knew what things you were referencing in your review. Either way, this book sounds good!
Thanks for letting me know… The Blurb did not get pasted… WP is playing games on me 😂😂😂😂
Pregnancy hormones might be enough, LOL! Wonderful review! I have not heard of this book but I’ve read two reviews today
This released today… I have read the first book by the author, this too was good but I have read similar story a few months ago..
I love that you had a good time proving yourself right 😂😂
Hahaha yes justice prevailed when I was proved right 😂😂
It sounds wickedly thrilling Shalini! Terrific review!
Thank you Mackey ❤️
Shalini, I always love reading your reviews, and this was no exception. That blurb is so enticing! A shame that it was a bit predictable for you, though.
Maybe I read too many thrillers 😂😂 thank you for your kind words…. ❤️
Fair review for a plot you felt was unoriginal.
I had just read something like this a few months ago… Hence the familiar vibes🤔