The Girlfriend

Goodreads Description

The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances is a gripping and chilling debut psychological thriller, based on the fall-out following an unforgiveable lie.

It looks at the potentially charged relationship between girlfriend, boyfriend and his mother, which most women can identify with, and locates it in an extreme but believable setting.

Cherry comes to the family wide-eyed and wants to be welcomed with open arms, but Laura suspects she's not all that she seems. Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but she hasn't had the same opportunities as Daniel. And she wants Laura's life.

When tragedy strikes, an unforgivable lie is told. It is an act of desperation, but the fall-out will change their lives forever.

My Review

This must be one of the most entertaining reads that I've read this year. So, let me say it right upfront: this book is getting 5 big fat stars from me! Whenever I get through a book in a matter of days, I know it deserves a great rating.

This was a book that got my blood pumping. I just couldn't stand Cherry, and I couldn't wait to see if she was going to get their comeuppance. She was manipulative, secretive and rude. I couldn't believe that a nice person like Daniel had chosen her as his partner.

One thing that I love about books and reading in general is how they make us feel different things and certain emotions. This book made me feel constantly on edge, constantly irritated and wanting to get revenge on the trouble maker. And even though these feelings and emotions are negative ones, I was thrilled to be feeling so much.

To all you bookworms out there with sons of your own, this book will be a real eye opener, and I'm sure it will be a read that some people will be able to identify with. I can only image how devastating it must be to be the mother of a son who has chosen a partner who you really don't like, and who you think has a hidden agenda.

I flew through this read. It was fast paced, intriguing and even chilling in places. At one stage, Cherry does something so awful that I needed to re-read the offending paragraph to make sure that I had read it correctly.

This is a great beach read, and if like me, you're currently in the grips of winter, then this will be just as good on the couch, in front of the fire. Loved this one. Loved it. Buy it.

My Rating: * * * * *

Publication Date: April 2017 (South Africa)

Genre: Psychological thriller

Format: Paperback

Source: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Michelle Frances and Pan Macmillan for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.