The Staffymum's Book Nook: Nicole Trope

Published: 17th October 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

“What have you done, Juliet?”

The neighbours look on in shock as two stretchers are wheeled past gated homes on a quiet suburban street. Handcuffs are clipped on a young woman with fear in her face.

The Cordells were the perfect family. But now, in a beautiful home where happy photos line the walls and flowers adorn the dinner table, it looks like a daughter has killed her loving parents.

Everyone tuts and shakes their heads, saying there was always something strange about Juliet.

And one person watching from the sidelines has triumph in their eyes. Someone who knew this would happen all along.

As what really went on in the Cordell’s once-peaceful home starts to unravel, one thing becomes clear:

This perfect family had a big secret. And not everything is as it seems…

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you shocked at the twists and turns! Anyone who loves Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas or Freida McFadden will be addicted.

MY THOUGHTS:

A perfect family...a terrible secret...

"What have you done?"

The words echo throughout the quiet suburban street as 21 year old Juliet is lead from the home she shares with her parents in handcuffs. Neighbours shake their heads in disbelief while others allude to knowing that she wasn't "quiet right" after her time away in "that place" - as if just mentioning it will somehow taint them by association. But all of them, whilst divided in their opinions, have their phones out capturing every moment of Juliet's parade from the house to the police car, each posturing that "they just won't believe this"!

Juliet is returned to the psychiatric facility, St Augustines, she was discharged from just three months before after attempting to take her own life. It was believed that she would recover in the loving arms of her family but the woman who returns is a shell of the one who left just months before. Her accusations of abuse fall on deaf ears as do her claims that "Adam promised to come back for me. He promised".

Juliet had studied ballet after falling in love with it during her first class as a child. She went on to become the female lead accompanied by her then boyfriend Benji as the male lead. But a tragic accident during rehearsal left her with an injury which would mean she would never dance again. Her life was over. Dancing was all she wanted to do and now that was cruelly taken from her. Juliet could see no way out and tried to end it all one night. Thus resulting in her stay at St Augustines.

It was during her therapy with psychiatrist Dr Choudry at the facility that Juliet recalled flashbacks of memories of her as a child. Memories of abuse; some vivid, some distant. But the memories are very real and Juliet's world is rock even more by the flashbacks and sudden realisation. She is discharged to the care of her parents albeit reluctantly as she no longer trusts them. She stays in her room and barely eats. She stops her medication, hating the feeling it gives her. She has no idea how to get through the rest of her life.

And then one morning, she meets Adam. Handsome, funny, charming Adam. And he listens to her. Really listens to her. They meet every morning at the coffee shop and walk in the nearby park, Adam sympathising with Juliet's situation. He is her lifeline; the one true constant in her life, though she keeps him secret from her family. She can no longer imagine a life without him. And then, he offers to help her.

But then everything unravels and Juliet finds herself back at St Augustines, her world fallen apart. No one listens to her claims. No one believes her about Adam. But he was real...wasn't he? Suddenly, Juliet isn't so sure anymore. He seemed so real; it all seemed so real. Her memories, the past and what happened. But now they are telling her that she did it all?

"What have you done?"

They keep asking her, probing her - trying to get the truth out of her. But she's told them the truth and they didn't listen. They didn't believe her. Why didn't they? It's not true...is it?

This is the kind of tale that will have you questioning everything. It is dizzying and emotional and incredibly frustrating. So many times I wanted to slap Juliet in the first half of the book that unfolds through her narrative. We get to live Juliet's life alongside her and see the world through her eyes and we believe it along with her. But then I began to doubt her and the reality of the situation. And I wanted to bang her head as I felt mine was being banged against a brick wall.

You will question everything you read. Is anything Juliet tells us real? Or is a figment of her imagination? Is she manipulating us or is she being manipulated? Do her parents really love her or is that just a lie? Or is everything she remembers just one big lie? She needs love, care and support so thank goodness for Adam, her one constant. But is he as he appears? No one knows who he is except Juliet so is he even real? Just as well she has Lacy, her nurse, back in St Augustines who lovingly cares for Juliet.

One thing is clear as you turn the final page of this claustrophobic thriller; that Nicole Trope is the master manipulator here, leading us down various pathways into the dark recesses as we desperately try to work out what's real and what isn't. She may have hoodwinked me for a good part of the story but I was a wake up to her methods and unravelled the tangled web she had woven for us so expertly.

My only complaint is there was one aspect that wasn't clarified in the end regarding the apparent "text and calls" between Adam and Juliet. I cannot say more without spoilers. But I drop a star for the slow and frustrating start that made me want to put it down so many times with Juliet's constant whining and claims that no one believed her. While we didn't know what to believe ourselves, the repetitive whining nature had me pulling my hair and made Juliet hard to like and sympathise with her. But I'm glad I stuck it out because Trope came back at us with full force in the second half that would have knocked this for a 5 star read alternatively.

Truly a thriller that messes with your head in a way that I thought only Alice Feeney and John Marrs could do.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhatHaveYouDone in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Friday, 8 August 2025

REVIEW: The Therapist by Nicole Trope

The Therapist by Nicole Trope

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 8th August 2025

Published: 31st July 2025

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Everyone thinks they can trust their therapist. We are good listeners. But what if we’re good liars, too?

The therapist: I love my job. People tell me their worries, their fears. Then Sandy becomes my patient. Something about her tears as she cries about her husband doesn’t feel right. But I tell her she can trust me. I promise to keep her secrets… for now.

The patient: I never should have married Mike. My head is a mess. All I want is for someone to listen. At least I can trust my therapist – she believes everything I say. And I’m going to show the world exactly what my dear husband is really like.

The husband: We used to be so happy. I just want my smiling, beautiful wife back. I was glad when Sandy signed up for therapy. But one day, Sandy doesn’t come home. I’m frantic. Then her therapist knocks on the door and says we need to talk… what has Sandy told her about our marriage?

Someone is missing. Someone is in danger. Someone is a liar. Who will you believe?

A completely unputdownable psychological thriller that will leave you not knowing who to trust, from million-copy bestseller Nicole Trope. Anyone who loves Shari Lapena or Lisa Jewell will be totally addicted!

MY THOUGHTS:

Good listener...good liar...?

Meet Lana. She's a therapist in private practice in Sydney's leafy suburbs and still bearing the emotional scars of her past. She was married to Oliver and together they had Iggy, now seven, until she discovered he was having an affair. Now he's married to a terminally happy and perfect woman named Becky. And Iggy adores her.

But she leaves her personal life behind when she comes to work. Although it's her personal life that has influenced the direction in which her professional life has taken as a therapist. After the tragedy of her past, she knew she wanted to help others better understand themselves and to help understand people better. She shares the practice with Ben, a psychologist from the UK. Everything is going smoothly until, against her better judgement, she takes on one of Ben's clients who has developed transference and is in complete and utter despair.

Meet Sandy. She comes to Lana on Ben's recommendation and confides that she is in a controlling and abusive marriage. She loves her husband but she doesn't love the way he lets his anger get the better of him. She just wants the husband she met and married back...before he hurts her, or worse - one of the children - Lila (5) and Felix (7).

Meet Mike. Sandy's husband is despair of his own. He cannot understand what is going on with his wife. One minute she's up, the next she's down. But either way she's always screaming or crying. He just wants his happy smiling wife back. He'll even go to therapy with her if it means it will help her.

And then Sandy disappears.

When Sandy doesn't show for her next appointment, Lana is worried. Sandy said something in the last session which gives her cause for concern now. She is certain her husband Mike knows more than he's letting on and against her better judgement (again) she goes around to Sandy's house to confront Mike and says that they need to talk. But Mike wonders what has Sandy said to her about their marriage. Surely she hasn't told her...everything?

Lana is caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies and uncertainty. She has crossed the boundaries between patient and therapist by turning up at her door but Lana finds herself questioning just exactly what is truth and what is fiction? She isn't sure what to believe anymore. And then the text message arrives.

"Help me Lana. I think he's going to kill me."

Lana knows whatever has happened, she needs to know that Sandy is safe. And Mike of course doesn't help himself by behaving just the way Sandy claims. It's a classic "he said/she said" with a complex twist. And Lana doesn't know what or who to believe.

Honestly, Mike and Sandy were a train wreck. But who do you believe? Lana has listened to them and watched them both and even she's confused, questioning her judgement as well as reality. What is truth and what is fiction? She can't quite tell. And Lana was a tough one to connect with. She didn't really open herself up at all so it was hard to know who she really was and how she was feeling or what she was thinking.

Like all of Trope's "tropes", this tale is multi-layered with tension and complexity, delving into psychological themes of trust and deception. The story was easily predictable but it didn't ruin it for me - it just wasn't completely surprising as we watch it unfold. Trope drip-feeds us little by little by the climax before pulling the rug out from under us to reveal what's really going on.

It was a slightly slower build than some of Trope's other offerings and I found both Lana and Sandy equally irritating that it was hard to slip into rhythm. But by the end, I had fairly enjoyed the ride. The ending was satisfactory though I would have liked to hear from that last final voice. When you read it, you will know what I mean. It would have been good to get that final perspective.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTherapist in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Saturday, 26 April 2025

REVIEW: Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope

Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic Suspense

Read: 22nd April 2025

Published: 22nd April 2025

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

‘Welcome! I hope you’ll be happy here,’ I say, standing on the doorstep and holding out a freshly baked cake. Amanda smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. The new arrivals to West Street clearly have secrets. But that’s okay. Because so do I…

Caroline twitches aside her curtains to see the new family moving in. A mother – beautifully dressed in expensive clothes – and two young children. Where is her husband, she wonders? And why are they moving in to the smallest house on the street? They really don’t seem the type.

But Caroline believes it’s important to be welcoming. It’s important to know everything that’s happening on West Street.

Amanda unpacks another box and breathes a shaky sigh. Her son is refusing to speak. Her daughter misses her friends. But we’re safe, Amanda tells herself. Her neighbour Caroline seems nice, if a little nosy. And most importantly, West Street is peaceful. Anonymous. Nobody knows who she is… do they?

But can Amanda really trust anyone on West Street? And can they trust her? Because when her secrets catch up with her…

Someone will go missing.

Someone will be taken away in handcuffs.

And someone, will die.

A totally addictive psychological thriller about a peaceful suburb where nothing is as perfect as it seems. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena and The Perfect Marriage won’t be able to put this down.

MY THOUGHTS:

Welcome to West Street!

I'd heard mixed reviews of this one so I began with a sense of dread and trepidation - but I was pleasantly surprised! I began this book as I was cooking dinner and devoured it within hours. It is pure Nicole Trope, domestic suspense queen extraordinaire.

Amanda has been married to jewellery businessman Mike Caldwell for twelve years; first his mistress then his wife. Together they have two children - Jordan (11) and Keira (9) - and a huge sprawling house with everything she could ever want. Except maybe a husband who loves and respects her. But to Mike she is just a trophy he can take out and show off, whilst behind closed doors bending her to his will. His abuse is swift, stealthy and silent. No one but she knows of her terror. And the last thing she wants is her children finding out. They adore their father and she doesn't want to taint their image of him. Her only problem now is how to leave him. She's threatened him eleven times and each time he knew she would never follow through. After all, she knew what he would do to her if she tried.

So when she receives a text from an unknown number"

"You don't know me but I know you...Mike and I are in love..."

Amanda thinks this is her way out. She bides her time and waits for the perfect moment. It comes when Mike takes a week long buying trip to China for his business. Amanda wastes no time in packing their belongings - all the essentials and the things she has purchased in secret and kept in storage until this moment - loads the children into the car and drives the hour long distance to the place she has rented for them for six months. This will be the start of their new life. But what she doesn't realise is the danger she has brought to her door.

The moment Mike realises she has gone, leaving nothing but an envelope with divorce papers on his desk, she knows he will be livid. He has threatened her many times if she dared to leave him. But dragging the children from their life of privilege to a run down house that will be demolished in a few months, that has nothing of the mod cons they are used to, is a far cry their old life. She knows her children don't like the move but she is doing this for them. She doesn't want them to grow up with the shadow of that kind of abuse being acceptable. It isn't.

It isn't long before Amanda meets the other residents of the quiet cul-de-sac of West Street - queen bee Caroline who flutters over elderly Mary and mother of two Gemma. The women like the street the way it is and dislike disruption but welcome the family with open arms. However, not all is as it seems. Jordan is anything but happy about the move and makes it known not just to his mother but all the other neighbours as well, screaming his vitriol for all to hear before storming out which becomes a daily occurrence. This unsettles the residents and ruffles the feathers of their quiet little street. But there's a story lurking and the women are intent on uncovering Amanda's secrets and to be the friends she is sure to need.

But just how much is everyone hiding in this cul-de-sac? Can she trust them? Can they trust her? And just whose past is going to catch up with them before the last page?

Amanda didn't so much as drive to West Street as catch the crazy train there! This is one crazy ride from start to finish with plenty of drama, secrets, lies and deception. Oh, yes, it is a tad OTT but the entertainment factor kept me enthralled too much to care. Nobody is particularly likeable, including Amanda as you feel she is keeping something back though you aren't quite sure what. I didn't entirely warm to her and loathed her son Jordan who was a spoilt rich kid who had been used to daddy's creature comforts not to see past himself. Caroline was far too nosy for my liking though she came across as endearing that you forgave her that at first. Mary is somewhere in la la land and Gemma is just pure shifty. I knew she was hiding something from the beginning.

The story was pretty predictable from very early on and I had figured out pretty much all the twists - some even before they happened! But it didn't ruin my enjoyment of what was essentially an entertaining quick read that I devoured in the space of an evening.

Nicole Trope is one of my favourite authors and she never disappoints. I love how she brings Australia to life in her stories so I can relate to the climate she describes in her books as I live the steamy summers and mild winters all year round. And February definitely IS the hottest and steamiest month (even though it is the last month of summer here).

If you love a good domestic suspense with plenty of drama, secrets and whole load of bonkers, then you will enjoy this crazy ride for sure!

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WelcomeToWestStreet in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

REVIEW: A Mother Always Knows by Nicole Trope

A Mother Always Knows (Grace Morton #2) by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic suspense

Read: 22nd October 2024

Goodreads
Amazon

Published: 9th December 2024

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I stare at the photo of my beautiful daughter. Her hair is shining and her face is lit up with a smile. The man with her looks so happy too. But my mother’s instinct is screaming. I know something is terribly, terribly wrong. And I know what I have to do…

I wish I could hold her tight. See if she still wears the same perfume she always wore. But my daughter blames me for her father’s death. She won’t even talk to me… I just know she isn’t really safe with her boyfriend, Garth. I will keep my distance and I will just watch her. For now.

But I tremble with fear when the police knock at her door. Garth has gone missing. And my daughter is accused of his murder.

There’s no evidence that I ever hurt anyone… is there? Do the police know about my past – and what I’ve really been doing?

Only one thing is certain. My beautiful girl is in terrible danger.

But from the man she loves?

From herself?

Or from me?

An absolutely explosive psychological thriller that will have you racing through the pages deep into the night! Fans of Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden and The Perfect Marriage won’t be able to put this down.

MY THOUGHTS:

Mother. Daughter. Killer...?

For those of you who have not yet read the first book, "Not A Good Enough Mother", go grab yourself a copy and read that first because this one will make a lot more sense alongside that one.

We meet Grace again, picking up from where the first book left off, as she boards the plane from Sydney to Melbourne. This time with her daughter Cordelia firmly on her mind. Since Grace's life imploded six years ago, Cordelia has refused all contact with her mother blaming her for all that had happened. Grace is the first to admit that she certainly made mistakes and has regretted them ever since. But Cordelia refuses to forgive her mother and Grace can hardly blame her.

But a mother always knows when their child is in danger. And sensing that Cordelia was, Grace left Sydney and flew to Melbourne where she knew her daughter was now living. She has remained in the background whilst keeping an eye on Cordelia from afar through her instagram profile, where she noticed here daughter's supposedly devoted boyfriend make some inappropriate comments. Inappropriate in that if he really loved and cared for her daughter, he wouldn't make such snide or backhanded comments to her. Grace didn't trust him and she needed to know that Cordelia was safe with him.

Once again Grace takes on the persona of an assistant, this time in the boyfriend's law firm filling in for a week while the regular admin assistant was on leave. But the moment she steps into his office she knows something is wrong. Garth isn't here and as it is a weekday he is meant to be. After all, he claims to work all the hours God sends, doesn't he? At least that's what he tells Cordelia. But is it the truth?

After her life fell apart so spectacularly six years ago, Cordelia Morton ran. She took herself off to the UK to try and forget for a while. And it did...for a while. Until she met handsome and charming Garth Stanford-Brown. And she confided in him all about her past and he seemed to understand. And she loved him all the more for it. So when she decided to return to Australia, Garth followed her taking up a position in their sister firm down under. And for four and half years, life was perfect. Until it wasn't.

When cracks began to show, Cordelia wiped them away to invisible, devoted as she was to Garth. But then one day he disappears and her anger turns to worry as her texts to him go unanswered.

And then the police knock on her door. And Cordelia realises she's in trouble. There is only one person who can help her. One person who can understand what she's going through. The one person she vowed she would never ever speak to again. Her mother.

"Mum I need you. Please come."

That's all Grace needs to come running when she receives the text from Cordelia. But can Grace unravel the mystery of what happened to Garth in time to save her daughter?

Going overboard with disguises, Grace stalks, waits, watches and a bunch of other erratic behaviours that are questionable at best. Grace knows Garth is not good for her daughter and the deeper she delves, the more she questions what really is at play here. Assume nothing. Believe no one. Question everything.

And get ready for one delicious ride!

I enjoyed this book more than the first one I think because the pace was much faster. I literally devoured it in under a day. There were loads of red herrings, twists and questionable characters. The first book may have had that shocking reveal at the end, but this one had the speedier pace to keep you racing through the pages until the very end.

A quick and easy read that was thoroughly entertaining.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #AMotherAlwaysKnows in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Sunday, 20 October 2024

REVIEW: Not a Good Enough Mother by Nicole Trope

Not a Good Enough Mother (Grace Morton #1) by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic suspense

Read: 20th October 2024

Published: 12th August 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Have you ever looked at those mothers who seem to be perfect – with sweet little children, a full-time job, a beautiful home – and thought: am I not good enough? But even the most perfect mothers can be hiding deadly secrets behind closed doors…

Ava Green has a successful job, two gorgeous children and a husband who makes other women blush. But now I’m working in her immaculate home, I know not everything is so perfect…

I hear the hissed arguments late at night. Finn takes phone calls at strange times – and when I talk to the children, it’s clear that their daddy is keeping secrets.

Now I know what’s hiding in this house, I’m just glad Ava didn’t check my references too carefully. Because Ava thinks she chose me. But I chose her. Even before she hired me, I made sure I knew about all the little secrets in this family.

And by the time they figure out why I’m really here, it will be far too late.

A completely addictive psychological thriller that will have you gasping at the final twist. Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and The Perfect Marriage will be reading late into the night.

This book was previously published as The Assistant.

MY THOUGHTS:

She knows everything about you...but can you trust her...?

What starts off as a slow burn domestic suspense turns into cliffhanger of an ending that makes me go "OK, I'm reading the next book NOW!" Not even I saw that final twist coming. And I see most of them. Throughout the entire book I thought I had it all figured out - after all, it seemed fairly cut and dried to me. Everything laid out, falling into place. It all made sense. And then came that explosive reveal. I'm impressed, Ms Trope. You had me fooled.

The story centres on Ava who is harassed at home and equally harassed at work. She can't seem to find that work-home life balance since her previous assistant left. Everything seems to be falling apart on both fronts and hubby Finn does nothing to help, citing "inspiration" for his own work - painting. Which has yet to contribute to their mortgage or living expenses. And yet as soon as she walks in the door at the end of the day, she's greeted by chaos and her work days seems to be far from over.

And then in walks Grace Enright. Fresh, clear, controlled and keen to help put some order back into Ava's frazzled life. No sooner has she arrived than she has taken up the slack where Ava was flagging and organised everything from lists to appointments to fielding calls, turning her office into a smooth-running well-oiled machine. It isn't long before Ava wonders how she managed without Grace, and truth be told, she didn't. As was clear. Grace is perfect. She is clear, decisive and controlled in a crisis. Which is soon put to the test when things begin to take a swift dive, both personally and professionally.

The women form a friendship of sorts they didn't know needed. When Grace needs a place to stay for a week, Ava knows her garage flat is sitting empty and without a tenant (another bone of contention between her and Finn that she had asked him to sort) and offers it to Grace. But is that crossing the line between her personal and professional lives? Ava dismisses the thought as quickly as it entered her head knowing she needs Grace as much as the older woman needs her.

And then things start to take a downward turn at work. Ava is up for promotion but her colleague is vying for the same position and seems he will stop at nothing to get it. Their receptionist seems to spend all her time scrolling through her phone or batting her eyelashes and flashing her cleavage at her colleague and competition. While at home, Finn has grown distant and Ava begins to question what he is hiding. But her girls, the lights of her life, bring sunshine to her otherwise cloud-filled days, as exhausting as they are.

Suddenly it seems having Grace staying there is a blessing. Especially when she is on hand to take up the slack in the mornings as Ava juggles breakfast and getting the girls ready for school and herself for work. Finn is conspicuously absent, painting in his studio.

But did things start going downhill before or after Grace's arrival? Is that a coincidence or is she just imagining things? I mean, Ava's life was chaotic before but is her new assistant just fuelling the fire? Or is there something else at play?

I love Nicole Trope and devour every one of her addictive reads. I think it's about the 15th book of hers that I've read thus far. This one is more of a slow burn to begin with as the reader wonders which direction the story is going to take. And what role Grace really plays here. Despite its slow pace at the start, the story effortlessly flows between Ava and Grace's POVs complete with flashbacks to give us a better understanding to our characters, their strengths and their flaws.

When I began, I thought it would take a whole other direction that the one Ms Trope took us on. But I wasn't disappointed...definitely not after reading those final pages. Now I want to dive straight into the follow-up "A Mother Always Knows".

Overall, an entertaining and engaging read that will keep you turning the pages until that final explosive twist...it really was jaw-dropping in this case. Nicely played, Ms Trope. I can't wait to see what you deliver next.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #NotAGoodEnoughMother in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Saturday, 2 March 2024

REVIEW: His Double Life by Nicole Trope

His Double Life by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic suspense

Read: 28th February 2024

Published: 28th February 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Loving father. Loyal husband. Liar?

In our large family home on a peaceful, tree-lined street, I clear away the breakfast things whilst my husband ignores me, his eyes on his phone. Leo comes home from conferences with flowers for me and hugs for our twin ten-year-old boys, but each time I smell an unfamiliar perfume on his shirt. I know all about his affairs and it’s tearing my heart in two.

When one of the boys tumbles into the kitchen, full of laughter that he beat his brother in the race home from the park, I smile despite everything. When his brother isn’t right behind him, I start to worry… and then I get a text that makes my blood run cold. If you want your child to come home, your husband needs to tell the truth.

Is my husband hiding even darker secrets than his affairs? As I realise his double life has put my children in terrible danger, I make a promise: I will not let my husband’s lies destroy my life. And I will do anything to get my son back…

A totally addictive page-turner about terrible secrets within a marriage, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and Sally Hepworth.

MY THOUGHTS:

Loving father...loyal husband...liar...

The queen of domestic suspense is back with this tale packed full of secrets, lies and deception by the bucketload. I finished this book last night in one sitting, devouring it in a few short hours. I had to think about it before beginning this review. Because so much is packed into this quick read and yet nothing is left to chance.

Leo Palmer thinks he's God's gift to his profession, not to mention women, and it is at a conference in Queensland that he meets the stunning Serena. As soon as he sees her, he wants her. Forget the conference and his boring colleagues. He'd much rather be wrapped in the silky sheets with Serena. Once a year, he attends conferences around the country and each time partakes in a one night stand. But this year he breaks his own rule. He brings what is usually a fling home to his doorstep and continues to see Serena upon his return to Sydney. There's something about her. He just can't give her up.

Diana has been married to Leo for nearly 15 years and they have ten year old twin boys, Rowan and Sawyer. She is a mother and child nurse while he is a real estate agent. They have a beautiful house in the suburbs with a park just a block away so that the boys can race each other to the park and back to kick their soccer ball around.

It was one such Sunday morning when Rowan runs into the house after playing at the park announcing "I win!", expecting his brother to be close on his heels. But when he doesn't materialise, Diana feels a prick of fear. Just as she and Rowan are about to return to the park to find him, she receives a text message:

"If you want Sawyer to come home, your husband needs to tell the truth."

Diana is frozen staring at the screen. What does this mean? What has Leo done?

The questions are flying fast and free as the reader mulls over every possibility but are any of them close to the truth? The story unravels through the multiple narratives of Diana, Leo and Serena and is told in three parts. As each part unfolds it soon becomes clear what is going on. But still, Trope has another twist to deliver before the end. And even I didn't see it coming, so well played.

The characters are few but then that is all you need to make a compelling story. I did wonder at Diana's choices especially as she was well aware of Leo's indiscretions. He was obviously not going to change so why punish them all by sticking around? I understand it's for the boys but really resentments will colour any good intentions she may have had and the boys will be on the receiving end. And as for Leo. Well, he was the epitome of the narcissistic egotistical self indulgent man child who is so completely unlikeable I couldn't not care less what happened to him. I think when all is said and done he got off bloody lightly. He was an appalling character. But then I didn't really warm to Diana either. I think I found more sympathy for Serena.

The cover wasn't as eye-catching as previous titles but then I don't always judge a book by its cover either. However, if I was to do so I wouldn't have picked up this book solely on its cover. But the tightly written plot is well written and compelling from start to finish. It wasn't my favourite by Trope by any means, but it was still a cracker of a read with some good twists throughout.

I first discovered fellow Sydneysider Nicole Trope when I read "The Boy in the Photo" and I loved it! Since then I have read everything she has published with the exception of a couple that came before that one. I can't wait to see what she delivers for us next!

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HisDoubleLife in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Saturday, 4 November 2023

REVIEW: The Day After the Party by Nicole Trope

The Day After the Party by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic Suspense, Women's fiction, Contemporary fiction

Read: 3rd November 2023

Published: 2nd November 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The perfect birthday or the perfect nightmare?

Katelyn smiles around at her husband and friends, gathered to celebrate her thirty-sixth birthday in their beautiful home decorated with fairy lights. But the next day Katelyn wakes up shaken and terrified in a hospital bed…

She doesn’t remember the sweet taste of birthday cake icing, or how angry her best friend was at midnight, or the terrible things her husband said. She doesn’t remember the party at all.

When she asks her husband what happened the night of the party he says ‘nothing’. But her blood runs cold at the way his voice lilts slightly. The way it always does when he is lying.

Did someone at the party harm her?

What is her husband hiding?

Or did Katelyn herself do something terrible?

Only one thing is certain. Nobody can be trusted. And if Katelyn’s memories of the party do come back, it will tear them all apart…

This brilliantly addictive read about dark secrets our loved ones keep from us is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.

MY THOUGHTS:

The perfect birthday..the perfect nightmare...

Parties are supposed to be fun...but something happened at Katelyn's and she has no idea what. Instead, she wakes in the hospital with hubby Toby by her bedside, a worried frown etched on his face. She asks where is she and what's happened. And then she reads the note clutched in her hand...

You are in hospital.

Harper is fine and with my mum.

You've lost your memory.

You haven't had a stroke.

You've had an MRI and ECG and everything is fine.

You have something called Transient Global Amnesia.

Your lost hours of memory have shown up on the MRI as a black dot.

You aren't able to form new memories so you keep forgetting things I've told you.

Today is Sunday.

This should be temporary.

What the hell happened at her party to end up wiping her memory? It was supposed to be a memorable occasion to celebrate her thirty-sixth birthday but instead she cannot remember it at all. Any second of it! Now Katelyn has lost an entire day and night. She can remember everything leading up to the party and everything since...but those few hours are a complete blank. So what happened? And why is Toby looking decidedly shifty? What is he not telling her?

As soon as Katelyn returns home, she longs to wrap her arms around her little girl and take in her sweet scent. But she's staying with Toby's parents for the night while she recuperates and will return after preschool tomorrow. In the meantime, Katelyn instead tries to unravel the tangles of confusion that is Saturday night in her mind. Toby's patience is unwavering but Katelyn knows something is off. The way he looks at her, the way his eyes don't meet hers. What does he know that he's not telling her?

And then she gets a strange message from her best friend Leah's ex, Aaron. What on earth does that mean? And as for Leah, she wants to see her but something is telling her that something isn't right there either. She has an image in her mind of Toby hugging Leah in a way that was too intimate to be friendship. Or is she just imagining that? Nothing makes any sense to her anymore and she wants to understand what happened at her party. Why she has lost the entire night. It doesn't make sense. When she finds a gift of lingerie under her bed with no note or card, Katelyn begins to suspect Toby of having an affair making her question everything she knows. Can she piece together the night of the party before it's too late?

The story is told from Katelyn and Leah's perspectives in the past as well as before and after the party. It details the women's friendship from the time they were six years old in primary school, right through high school, uni, boyfriends and marriage. Now here they are thirty years later celebrating Katelyn's birthday. But nothing is as it seems with this friendship. They may well be best friends, but hidden beneath the surface is a jealousy so blatant it would make your hair curl.

Nicole Trope once again delivers a tangled tale of twists and surprises in this compelling domestic suspense read. What seems like an innocent party becomes one woman's worst nightmare.

I did not like Leah or Aaron one bit. They are both selfish and self-obsessed to the core. Both of them only want to get what they want. Leah's jealousy was so blatant it was a wonder Katelyn never saw it in thirty years of friendship. And Aaron. That guy was a snake. Least said there.

I thoroughly enjoyed my umpteenth read by Trope and look forward to anything she delivers. I know I am always in for a treat.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDayAfterTheParty in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Monday, 3 July 2023

REVIEW: The Truth About the Accident by Nicole Trope

The Truth About the Accident by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic drama, Domestic thriller

Read: 2nd July 2023

Published: 30th June 2023

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I gaze at my husband’s once-handsome face, so still and pale in the hospital bed. The doctors say I should keep talking. He might be able to hear me even after the terrible accident that left him fighting for his life. But all I have to whisper to my husband is this: I know what you did.

Every day I wave my husband Damon off with a kiss and a smile, drive our precious children to school, and make sure our house is pristine before preparing a delicious meal. I pretend I’m not filled with fury that he once nearly destroyed our perfect life. It’s important to carry on as normal.

That is, until the accident.

My husband was hit by a car. It was pouring with rain. Nobody saw what happened. But the police are asking questions…

Do they know about the terrible argument we had that day?

Do they know about the text message I sent, telling someone to Delete everything?

And do they know that no-one is happier that my husband is in a hospital bed, than me?

An absolutely addictive page-turner about a family in crisis, a marriage at breaking point, and how secrets can be deadly. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.

MY THOUGHTS:

There are three sides to this story...her's, mine and the truth...

Nicole Trope is one of my favourite authors and one I go-to without hesitation. And once again delivers a quick, easy read that revolves around an unfaithful husband, an angry wife and a string of women who really should know better. It's a compelling read filled with family drama and a wealth of secrets and lies. And I read it in pretty much one sitting.

The story opens with "the accident" and various 000 calls reporting the incident. Each of the three witnesses to call it in all describe a different car responsible for the hit and run and, while eyewitness accounts are notoriously unreliable, we eventually discover why.

Then we meet Marla. She's the wife of a CEO of a successful IT company. They've been married for twenty-on years and have two teenage children - Sean (19) and Bianca (17). But her marriage isn't all that it appears on Instagram and she self medicates with drink to get her through the day. And her children are practically grown, her usefulness there appears to have ended also. But life hasn't always been like this. She was there when her husband started his company and there as he built it up. She too has reaped the affluent rewards of his success in their beautiful home, luxury cars, designer clothes and expensive lifestyle. She even has botox to keep those wrinkles at bay. And it all looks good on Instagram too. But it's just a facade. And Marla suddenly feels as though she is no longer enough...for anyone anymore.

Sonya is a single mum to twelve year old Jasper. Her own marriage ended nine years ago and her ex has since moved to America, remarried and now has a brand new baby of his own. As a psychologist, one would think Sonya could read the warning signs and prevent all the heartache that came her way but she is only human too. She sits in her office awaiting her client who arranged this unscheduled appointment on her day off long enough to deem him a no-show before she grabs her bag and heads home.

Athena - even her name is ethereal - is a 39 year old woman about become a first time mother, pregnant with the child of her lover who doesn't want children. She thinks she can change his mind, that as soon as he sees his child's heartbeat on the monitor he will fall instantly in love with the baby and move in with her. She wants that more than anything. But at what cost?

When the news comes on that evening, scenes from the hit and run are breaking news. Police are appealing for witnesses, dashcam and mobile phone camera footage to help them identify the victim and the car that ran him down. Each of the three women see the news and each of them recognise the gold watch and the wedding band he wears...albeit, occasionally. Each of them rush to the hospital respectively to identify the victim as Damon Kennedy. But how are each of these women related to him? As the story progresses, readers will discover his relationship with each of them. But what does it all mean?

The police are struggling to find out who is responsible despite investigations and the constant questioning and review of their own respective vehicles, having been identified by nearby CCTV footage. But the drenching rain the day of the accident makes visibility on any footage retrieved next to useless.

And what of Damon Kennedy? And the trail of hurt rejected women in his wake? Did someone run him intentionally? And if so, who? The why is blindingly obvious but with so many suspects, the question remains which one of them did it?

The story unfolds through the differing perspectives of Marla, Athena and Sonya, as well as the odd random inclusion of a mystery woman peppered throughout. Each chapter is heavily inclusive of detailed descriptions of their interactions with Damon as well as each other. Sometimes I found this confusing as I was unsure whether some of the interactions took place before or after the accident. It wasn't entirely clear in the way it was told, leaving me a little baffled in parts.

While this was a quick and easy enough read, it wasn't one of Trope's best. And I really loathe to say that because I know what a brilliant storyteller she is and I love her work. But even our favourite authors can write a tale that we just don't enjoy as much as their others though I know I am bound to love whatever she brings out next.

Overall, a compelling read dripping with secrets, lies and tension. With a twist at the end that even left me guessing.

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheTruthAboutTheAccident in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.