A Suspenseful Psychological Thriller - Behind Her Eyes

I honestly don't even know how to review this book, but here goes....

I read a lot of books, like A LOT a lot. And I'm partial to psychological thrillers, but this book is on a WHOLE other level. I can usually figure out the ending, and only a handful of times have I been fooled, but THIS literary mind**** kept me guessing every chapter. I can confidently say that you won't guess the ending, and if you do I'd like to speak to you...

That being said, this may not be everyone's cup of tea, because of the twists it takes but this book is a MUST READ. Seriously, stop what you're doing and read it! When I first started I told my husband I was unsure if I would keep on with it because I suspected it was taking a turn into another genre which I wasn't opposed to, but it wasn't what I signed up for. I likened it to ordering chicken at a restaurant and being served salmon instead. Salmon is good, nothing wrong with salmon, but I wanted CHICKEN! And boy was I wrong. This book is not chicken, or salmon, but it's steak. A big juicy, delicious STEAK. Eat that steak. You won't regret it.

I'm in shock over this book. I have never been a fan of psychological thrillers but in all fairness I have never really tried to read one either. I took one look at this books blurb and knew I had to read it. I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy. I loved every minute of this book, the build up was kind of slow, but you have to have the back to of the character for twists to even make sense. Adele sweet fragile character in this book I felt sorry for her at first, then I started seeing something wasn't quite right, and David poor David that man has no idea why his life will always be the same no matter what he does. Louise I fell in love with this character, but who doesn't love a single mom trying to make everything work, but I also fell so sorry for her, her son, and her Ex-husband. Louise has no idea what she has step into upon meeting David and Adele but she soon finds out just how screwed up they both truly are. This book gave me goosebumps, chills, and most of all I felt like I was there watching it all happen. I highly recommend reading this book, you will be on the edge of your seat for the whole ride.

I read some less favorable reviews after finishing this book and I notice a lot of people seem confused about what a psychological thriller is. Yes they’re suppose to be dark and have twisted plots and this book delivered. I think this book even has some good horror and supernatural elements mixed in as well. Many negative reviewers probably read the summary and we’re expecting some kind of romantic love triangle affair and we’re left disappointed which isn’t fair to the book. The story starts out slow but slowly builds up great tension/suspense and continuously hints at something more sinister happening between the characters throughout. I plan to read or listen to it again after the crazy ending to pick up on stuff I missed. I think the book delivers perfectly to the genre it’s aimed at. Also when Stephen King recommends a book, it’s usually solid. It was fun listening to it with the wife and recommend other couples do so together . That made it more fun between the wife and I when trying to pick apart where the book was heading. Hoping this gets made into a movie.

Before I start to review this I have to make reference to the ending. Before I stated reading I had seen comments about hating the ending. It's something that happens often but this one definitely wins the prize & it is the reason why I really cannot give it five stars which is a real shame as it up until then I was totally enamoured of it.

Louise a single mum, who has slightly let herself go since her marriage broke up finds herself in a steamy kiss with David, an man she met in a bar. She is horrified to discover that he is her new boss. A short while later she bumps into a woman (literally) and they strike up a friendship only for Louise to discover she is the wife of her boss. Before long Louise is tied up in a midst of lies and confusion.

This book totally gripped me. I found myself thinking about it when not reading it. I had come up with all sorts of explanations as to what was going on but none came close to the author's conclusion. I would certainly recommend it if you want a book you can't put down.

This book has been slated a lot because the ending is ‘not believable’. I think that’s ridiculous – it’s a book! Obviously you need to suspend your disbelief! My problem wasn’t the twisted ending on the final few pages (which was a total surprise), but that I felt really let down by the ending that happened for the main character. There was really just a sharp dissonance between the ending and the rest of the story.

However, the book was an enjoyable read with well-drawn characters. Louis is an all-round nice woman who could be a bit irritating and dim while Adele is incredibly sneaky and manipulative. The plot is fast-paced and I definitely was gripped by the twists. Ultimately, it wasn’t a book for everyone, but it was a crazy and enjoyable ride throughout.

The hype and marketing surrounding this book has served it well. I don't know if I would have been curious enough to read it without all the social media chatter over the hashtag #WTFthatending. Trying to figure it all out was rather fun! Had I gone into it not expecting something crazy, the main character's unending stupidity and repetitive destructive behavior would have probably driven me to give it a one star rating. Alas, it was entertaining and definitely a surprise ending. Although so completely outlandish that I can see someone throwing the book across the room upon completion...

I'm so conflicted about this book. My rating has wavered between 2 and 4 stars so I've settled halfway.. but it really doesn't give a complete picture. It's not an easy book to review. And to do it without spoilers is a tough ask.. so here's my attempt to tell you without telling you, if you know what I mean.

Firstly let's start with the technical aspects of Behind Her Eyes. It was a quick and easy read.. (about 4 hours at my reading speed) I felt perhaps too easy for the overall theme of the book - it is categorized as a psychological thriller after all. At times it seemed a little one dimensional and lacking of depth. It's fate I think will be continual comparison to Girl on the Train - perhaps unfairly. The jumping between character views is a style I always find distracting and add in flashbacks.. it can be confusing to keep track.

But there was still good reason to kick on...

The trending hashtag for this book is #wtfthatending and the promotional material and chatter on the web has unashamedly promoted the twist at the end is a WTF moment. So that sets an expectation up front.

I can't help but look for the twists, try to work out what the ending will be. It's a game I love to play... but I equally end up hating a book if I can work it out.. and the earlier I can, the more I hate... such is my passion for and relationship with literature.

Let me state here that simply being blind-sided by an ending goes a long way to colour my option of a book..regardless of what comes before or the nature of the ending

About halfway through Behind her Eyes, I foresaw the twists and how they would come together. About 20 pages out from the finish my disappointment started to sink in, as indeed my theory came to fruition.. a particular theory I'd already decided would not sit well if it came about - and I feel many who love the psychological thriller genre, will feel the same way.

Next was time for the wrap up..mopping up the story as it were.

The last six pages.......

#WTFTHATENDING!!!!!!!!!!

...you think you know!

I received an advance reading copy from Flatiron Books in exchange for an honest review. Without giving too many spoilers . . .
it was obvious from the first chapter that this was going to be a wild ride -- it was quite clear (deliberately) that something nefarious was going on with at least one of the characters. From that, I drew an early conclusion as to how it would end. I couldn't have been more wrong! It was written from multiple character perspectives -- but done well, so it wasn't too confusing -- and the characters stayed true to their development throughout. The writing was great, fast-paced and kept me interested, didn't get bogged down in irrelevant details, and I finished it in one sitting. I see a lot of people comparing it to Girl on a Train and Gone Girl, but I don't think that's fair -- again, without giving away anything, it was a different kind of story completely. The commonality was in the suspense and drama, but not the plot. I would definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy the psycho-thriller-suspense genre.

Yes there was plenty of it, but there’s also (for lack of a better term) a paranormal aspect to the story, that some readers might not enjoy, and I’m not sure it fits with the genre it was advertised as, since elements of the plot are outside the realm of possibility. I think the problem is that the first half of the novel reads like a regular mystery/crime novel, and even when surreal things to start to happen, you still expect there to be a logical explanation by the end. Is there such a thing as Sci-fi psychological suspense?
Having said that, the ending was still cleverly creepy and disturbing, I would never have predicted it in a million years, and I haven’t been able to get said ending out of my head since finishing the book, so my final score is 4 stars, but I preferred her previous novel, ‘13 Minutes’.

Reading this book was an incredibly frustrating exercise. As the reader, you're very aware that things are not what they seem (that much is blindingly obvious), but you can't work out what is actually going on. And when you start to get an inkling of it, about halfway through, your reaction (or at least my reaction) is "surely not, surely it can't be that silly" - but it IS. It's a bit like being taken somewhere by someone who is deliberately blindfolding you, so you know you're in the dark and you know there is going to be a reveal which you hope/assume will be exciting - and then it's massively disappointing.

Judging by the reviews of this book, about half of readers seem to feel the way I do and the other half seem to have liked it more than I did. It's true that there is one clever little kink in the tail that makes you reconsider what you've read, and I do like that in a book, but it's also one that is quite frankly unbelievable. It's as if you suddenly found out that one of the characters is actually a robot not a person or that they're all participating in a giant science experiment. (Neither of those possibilities are the case, but if you think "huh, that would be a silly book" then you're probably not going to like this one).

Putting all that aside, I don't think the book really works anyway. For starters, it's very drawn out, to the point where it almost gets boring. Then there's the fact that two characters are supposed to fall deeply in love super quickly without really having had any chance to get to know one another. And I always find it utterly ridiculous in a book when someone has a diary to read and instead of reading it all in one or two settings, they choose to read one entry, wait a few days, read another entry, ALL THE WHILE WONDERING WHERE IT'S GOING - wouldn't they just read it??!!

I've given this two stars not one because I did keep reading it and the ending is thought provoking. But ultimately I think books with twists work better when you don't realise that there is going to be one. For example "I Let You Go" by Clare Mackintosh.

This book is about a love triangle. Louise, is a part-time secretary for a group of psychologists. She is a divorced woman with a young son, and low self-esteem. One night she goes to a bar and meets a man there. Both of them have a bit too much to drink, and they share a kiss. Louise, can't get this "guy from the bar" out of her head. When she goes to work, low and behold the "guy from the bar" is her new boss David. They begin an affair. Adele, is David's "Barbie doll" wife. She runs into Louise one day and they become friends. This is a secret that Louise keeps from them both. Adele, has secrets of her own. As you read the book you begin to wonder about Adele, seems she knows about David and Louise, but plays the part of the poor wife who isn't loved or understood. There are many secrets in this book. The book goes back in time and then back to the present. You will NEVER guess the ending!!! And I am not telling it either. I received a ARC of this book from Flatiron Publishing.

Wow!
This is a superb psychological thriller by Sarah Pinborough.

The story switches from past to present so you get a real insight into the four characters - the married man, his anxious and jittery wife, his secretary and his wife's best friend...
This is such an awesome read, I loved it!
The characters are so screwed up that it's really hard to know who to trust or believe. I was so drawn into this book, it's unlike any I've ever read before.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it will confuse you (In a good way!) it will drag you in and totally change your opinion on so many levels.
A superb read which will stay in my head for a very long time.

WHY do authors not understand that genres MATTER? I like psychological thrillers. I do NOT like supernatural psychological thrillers. Just make it clear BEFORE I get through 60% of the book and I won't leave you a bad review. I'm just letting future readers know, and if you like supernatural psychological thrillers you will LOVE this book. Sadly I don't.

I was thinking this was going to be 2017's Behind Closed Doors and while there was much I liked about this thriller, the paranormal twist with the dreams just lost me. Louise is a single mum in London and her life seems to be going nowhere. She meets a guy in a bar, they hit it off, share a kiss and she thinks that's the end of that. When she arrives to work at the psychiatrist's office she finds out the guy she kissed in the bar? That's her new boss! Things get more odd when Adele, the wife of David (the doctor Louise works for) befriends Louise. Louise begins to carry on a sort of double life. This tale is twisty and psychotic that just when you think you've figured things out, you'll be knocked sideways with yet another revelation. As I said, I liked the story, but could do without the supernatural dream stuff. Thank you to Flatiron Books for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review

I purchased the audio version for Audible, and I must say that it is very high quality with excellent readers. The beginning of the book was slow, but I was intrigued and very interested in what would follow. The first dead giveaway that the book was going to suck overall was the poor character development. The relationships are not well developed. The ending was HORRIBLE- it was a bazaar supernatural twist that was stupid. I think that even w/ the supernatural twist the author could have ended better if Louise could have somehow figured out what was about the happen and then stopped it...then it would have had a great ended (despite being super natural). Personally, I can't stand when the villain wins...and that's what happens here.

Bought this to read on a plane, under the impression that it was going to be a psychological thriller. Mildly interesting at first, but became increasingly repetitive and irritating (especially as the character Louise makes noises about "walking away" and doing the right thing but immediately plunges deeper into doing really stupid self-destructive things, because Love). I kept plowing away, though, because I was stuck on a plane with nothing else to do. But the ending? It's ludicrous! Suddenly we're expected to entirely abandon our reason and accept some paranormal baloney that the author makes no attempt to make believable. I startled my seatmate by muttering "Oh for God's sake" as I slammed it close. I left the silly thing in the airport bathroom rather than take it home with me.

It pains me to give this one star. The whole premise of the book is implausible and the entire story seemed to be nothing but untied ends and ridiculous behaviors by all of the characters. Ten pages from the end of the book I was still not creeped out or feeling one single twist or turn. Let me just say I bought this book mainly because of Stephen King’s blurb on the front cover. I will no longer trust his critiques. Terrible waste of time.

In the beginning I thought this book had possibilities but that soon ended. Shallow characters who never thought about anything but themselves. Don't bother unless you are a fast page turner waiting for an end that couldn't possibly happen.

I purchased this book from Half Priced Books to read. All opinions are my own. ????Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. This one took some time getting into it. Single Mom meets married man at the bar turns out married man is her boss. From the first moment Louise and Adele meet you know Adele is psycho. You alos realize very quickly Louise is being set up for heartache. My first thought was oh great, one of those and then suddenly it isn't it's more and then more and the the huge twist at the end that sends even more shock waves because by then you think you have it all figured out, you don't. Its shocking. I even had to read it twice to make sure.

Louise is a divorced mom who goes one night to a bar and meets David. They talk and kiss and go their separate ways. When she goes to her secretarial job in the morning, she finds David is her new married boss. They both agree the kiss was a mistake and promise to keep their relationship professional. After Louise drops her son off at school she bumps into Adele who is new in town seeking friendship. Louise learns that Adele is Davids wife. Louise continues on with a sexual relationship with David while continuing to secretly having a friendship with his wife Adele. Louise begins to realize that their marriage is not what it seems and both are hiding secrets.

This psychological thriller slowly builds suspense with characters you will love to hate. The ending is something so twisted, I never saw it coming. Thank you to Flat Iron books for an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

I am such a sucker for psych thrillers and maybe it's because this book was overhyped, but what a disappointment. The author keeps beating you over the head with the whole THINGS AREN'T WHAT THEY SEEM bit while giving away every character's intentions in the first 1/4 of the book, then pulling what could be the most ludicrous "twist." It felt like a really contrived genre switch within the last 50 pages, and everyone who said "wtf that ending" wasn't kidding - it was truly out of nowhere. There are few books I've felt angry about wasting my time reading - this was one of them.

I don't even know what rating to give this book. I'd say about the first 98% of this book gets a solid 5 stars. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN FOR ANYTHING.

But then comes the ending. Was I surprised? YES. Was I happy? NOPE. I feel like I just poured myself into this book for absolutely nothing. Apparently, the author could not think of any logical way to explain everything so she just made something up and pretended readers wouldn't notice that it's the most stupid thing we have EVER heard of. I am sooo disappointed and want my time and devotion to these characters back.

Update: I am an avid reader. When I finish a book, I usually pick up a new one within a few days. Not trying to be dramatic here, but I could not and would not pick up another book for a few weeks after I was done with this one. I was so devoted and invested in this book that when I read the ending, I was frustrated and "lost my appetite" for books for a period of time.

I read this having heard the hype, and taking the warning you'd never guess the ending as a challenge (I doubt I'm alone in that). I'd also heard that there were supernatural elements, which I'm fine with, but it's useful to get that known in case those inclined to dislike such can avoid it (unless they like to get angered).

I don't normally read psychological thrillers, and the description makes it sound a bit domestic for my tastes. But it had good word of mouth, and the author had been entertaining on a panel I saw her at.

It was engrossing, the writing carrying me through the parts that wouldn't normally hold my attention. The prose let me glide through the story, allowing my attention to focus on the interesting parts.

Some things it seems to give away early in the book, and maybe they could have been held back longer. But they aren't, and the story doesn't suffer for that. There's plenty going on, plenty of clues to find, and plenty of mystery to gnaw at.

Due to the challenge in the hype, I found myself interrogating everything looking for clues as to the twist. And then looking for other clues buried beneath the obvious ones. So the hype made me pay more attention to the story.

The mystery elements, and clues, felt like they were interwoven so as to not detract from the relationship story, and vice versa. And the interweaving allowed some to be hidden in plain sight in retrospect.

I did guess both the main twists, so there was no cheating in vital information being held back. (Either that, or the aurthor's mental processes are as twisted as mine.)

I was cheated out of the unguessable ending the marketing department promised though, but enjoyed the story enough that I shan't demand a refund.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. This was my first Pinborough book, and I was aware of her work in horror, but had the feeling this was not a horror novel. I think knowing very little about this helped in some ways…
So, the first few chapters felt like a decent modern “unreliable narrator” thriller in the style of all those “Girl” books (Gone, on a Train, etc.). This is not a bad thing. There’s a reason this style of storytelling has become so popular. Sort of a modern take on those old epistolary novels from a hundred years ago.
I’m not going to give anything away here. Only that this starts off with alternating insights into two almost bland, seemingly unrelated women, and quickly escalates into something more, something different, and then something… supernatural? I really loved this book, every moment of it.

Well, WOW. I thought I knew how this one was going to end, prepared myself, but I was totally surprised. When the blurb talks about a shocker ending, you're anticipating something, but I am so glad I didn't read anything about this or any reviews before I picked it up. Started it thinking I'd read for about 15 minutes and didn't move until I read the last sentence. I don't want to give any spoilers or say too much about anything inside this totally twisted story! I really like when I open a book and find something fresh and original in this genre that has been overwhelmed lately by a plethora of so called psychological thrillers that are so similar that the titles and plots all blur together. This novel wasn't perfect, but it was quite entertaining and absorbing. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the e-book ARC to review.

I knew nothing about this book when I got it from the library. Everyone was talking about the shocking ending. Well, it was shocking. This is a dark and twisty, different kind of love story, where things are not at all as they first appear. While reading the book I was always waiting and wondering what the sinister twist would be at the end. Well, it was a shocker and I wouldn't have ever guessed it. . Was the ending satisfying for me - yes. I might have liked a different ending but then I'd probably not still be thinking about this book and its ending! A page-turner. A 4.5 star from me.

Louise is a divorced single mother trying to balance working as a secretary in a psychiatry office and raising her young son, Adam.  On a rare night out, Louise stops for a few drinks at a bar and meets a handsome man with whom she makes a quick connection.  Before the night is over they have shared a kiss and now she cannot stop thinking about him.  

The following Monday her new boss will be starting, a new psychiatrist joining the practice, and she is really nervous to meet him.  She cannot believe her eyes when the new doctor walks in with his wife and it is the man she met in the bar over the weekend.  

A few days later on her way home from taking her son to school when she runs into Adele, David's wife.  The two of them become quick friends, though as their friendship develops Louise begins to suspect all is not as it seems in Adele and David's seemingly perfect marriage.

Behind Her Eyes is a psychological thriller that pulled me in from the very beginning and did not let go.  It is a suspenseful and slow-burning story that is told in both dual perspective and with a dual timeline.  It is a combination of this and the fact that the characters are all so unreliable that keeps you guessing until the end.

When this book first was first published I heard a lot about the ending on the podcasts I listen to.  They all said the book is good, but man that ending!  Now that I have read it, I can agree that this book is a good read, but I never saw that ending coming.  I even really tried with this one having heard so much about it!  

I can’t believe I stuck with this book to the end. It’s a positive insult to the reader’s intelligence. I saw the ending coming way in advance, although, admittedly, not the very last twist. I couldn’t believe the publishers would ever put such crap in a book, so I kept reading in the hope that I had it wrong. It wasn’t just the ridiculous ending that was bad; the writing was, too. The author used the same sentences with only minor variations dozens, perhaps scores, of times. The same thoughts running through the same heads over and over. I wanted to scream “get on with it!” at least fifty times. Enough said. Don’t waste your time on this one.

Yes, I had a sleepless night filled with regret for spending most of my day reading this book. It was as if the author decided to cash in on the writing trend of a clever plot twist ending, but didn't want to actually do the work of thinking and planning, and forces an awkward and unbelievable ending by pulling some woo-woo idea out of thin air. Oh yes, the ending was well for-shadowed and I should have skipped to the end and saved my eyeballs the experience of nearly rolling out of my head, but I wanted the plot twist payoff.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

At least the ending wasn't another banal Gone Girl ending. It was dumb, mind you. And worse, you could almost feel the author write it because "nobody will guess this twist!" as if twists are the necessary mark of a great read anymore.
I'm going to have to give up psychological thrillers until the bad Gone Girl Clone stuff has played out finally. Just write well -- with good characters and good plot -- and you won't need groan-worthy gimmicks that earn a lot of press but ultimately make your readers feel cheated.

Not a mystery more of a paranormal.
When I started this book I have to admit that I was really getting into it even though the characters were not believable. I anticipated a suspenseful story filled with twists and turns. However, this was not the case. After setting the stage of the characters and their lifestyle it got crazy into paranormal situations. OMG I don't like paranormal, out of body stories.
Needless to say, very disappointed. If your like the paranormal, you will love it, but not for a good suspense thriller.

I unexpectedly received an ARC of this one in the mail. There are few things I like better than getting a surprise book. I have also been meaning to give Sarah a try and have heard nothing but good things about her work. The stars aligned, so I jumped right in.

Louise has a drunken kiss with a-man-from-the-bar.
Turns out he’s married.
Crap.
And her new boss.
Double crap.
She’s also his wife’s new bestie.
This can’t end well.
“Life isn't a romcom.”
No shit.

Compulsively readable. Smartly written. Expertly woven. Slowly revealing plot lines that crash together and then get ripped apart again. The writing appeared effortless and smooth. Spot on dialog and great characterizations. Very well done all around. 4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book.....how it contained short chapters each from a different prospective. I fall asleep reading so being able to finish a,chapter before that happens makes me happy! It was definitely a page turner until about the last quarter. Then, it started to drag and I grew bored with the characters. I still wanted to find out what was going on so I kind of rushed through the last few chapters. I must say that at first I was t surprised at what appeared to have happened, but later found out there was a surprise to the surprise! I was a little disappointed with the ending, but being a Stephen King fan, I'm kind of used to weird conclusions.

If you've read "Gone Girl," do NOT read this book. If you've read "Girl On A Train," do NOT read this book. In fact, don't even waste your time thinking about buying this book. Run! Run now! Run far away! I had trouble getting "into" (a pun for those who've wasted their time reading) the characters until about halfway through the book. It was an interesting premise, but then Pinborough jumped the shark. I didn't think it was all that interesting & Pinborough is not much of an author since the characters really didn't have much depth. But the thing that I hated about this book was the ending. It made me angry enough that this is the first review I've written.
After I wrote the above I did some research on Pinborough & the books she's written. Her books contain supernaturl/horror plots, so "Behind Her Eyes" fits right in. It's just that it's advertised like it's another "Girl On A Train" or "Gone Girl." I won't read anymore of her books.

Absolute drivel. I'm okay with checking reality at the door when I read fiction, however, the characters have to be compelling and the story line interesting.

Louise, the single mom, is someone you want to grab by the shoulders and shake. She lacks common sense, and the decisions she make are ridiculously stupid. It's hard to buy into (even when you're checking reality at the door) someone being so stupid. The pace is slow moving and it seems like there's a build up to drama that just isn't there.

And the ending? Trash. What an absolute disappointment.

Save your money and buy something else.

The author does a good job of building suspense and drawing the reader into her web - - much as Adele draws Louise into hers.

The pacing of the book was good and built anticipation for the much-talked about ending. I think the marketing people might have done the book a disservice by hyping the ending so much. There was (for me) an inevitable letdown. It was shocking, yes, and unexpected - - but it requires a healthy dose of 'willing suspension of disbelief' that might put off some readers. Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable read.

A disclaimer: I have not read any other books by this author so perhaps tis one is similar in style and her fans look forward to it, but I have to say I was not a fan by the end and will probably not venture into other books by the same author. It starts off great and I would honestly say it had the level of suspense found in Gone Girl and intensity and character development and plot and all those good things you look for in a read that continued until about 3/4 of the way through. Then, boom!, it takes a 90 degree turn into the unbelievable and became a novel of post-teenage angst and spiraled downward from there. I finished it just to see how bad it could get and wasn't disappointed. Don't know which was worse, the loser characters or loser plot turn. Could have been a really great hang on to your chair ending too! It seemed almost like the author lost interest or couldn't figure out where to go or suddenly decided to become a horror writer midway through.

Wow, did I love this book! This was one of those that just won’t let you go. That you put down at the end in a state of total shock and wonderment. It was like a magnet, pulling me ever deeper into the story, with hints that things may not quite be as they seem. It’s the story of the relationship between a husband and wife and the growing friendship between two women. Quite twisted relationships. Why? Because the husband had a one-night stand with his wife’s new best friend. Who knows about the affair? Or the new friendship? I had whiplash as I constantly changed my mind about who was good and who was bad. And that ending! I was gobsmacked. Brilliant! 5 stars.

Totally mind blowing and unexpected. It has a mixture of Gone Girl/Behind Closed Doors and Insidious the movie. Totally caught me off guard and really didn't expect the outcome. The book is so good I couldn't put it down. It's a dark and vengeful story that love overcomes all obstacles. It will make the reader psychotic after reading it and will tear you apart because secrets have a way of sneaking away through lies. Beware, it's not exactly how it all seems because doors when they are open nightmares do become reality!!

First and foremost- I am NOT a reader. I read contracts and legal bs all day long so reading for fun usually isn’t my thing. My boyfriend is a huge reader so I picked this book up in the airport on our way to our friends wedding week- basically so I wouldn’t be sitting on FB on the plane and pool while he read. Well- let me tell you, I could NOT put this book down. I found myself shh’ing him and wanting to look ahead to find out what happened. This book made me love reading. No one could ever guess that ending. It can only be described as a romantic, psycho thriller, supernatural mix of WTF. When I finished the last page, I put the book beside me on my bed and shook with the hee-bee-jeebez, thinking WTF just happened?!

like so many people before me I'm finding it hard to write a review without giving any spoilers, but I'll try my best. I haven't written a review in ages but this book compels to do it partly to give earnings to anybody interested in reading this book..
was it compelling? oh yes totally.. I was totally sucked in, didn't want to stop listening, I had to keep going to see what's going to happen next. from this point, this book is just amazing.
did I like it? that's a hard question to answer, hand my three stars... since before I picked up the book I've heard about the WTF ending so I was peppering myself since the get go.. by the last quarter of the book I couldn't wait anymore, I had too many interruptions (have two young kids which makes it hard to listen all the time) and I decided to read more reviews which led me to finally cheating and reading a bit of spoilers.. that was good in a way, as when it was all revealed I want too annoyed or shocked or disappointed.. you might wonder why am I saying this.. well let me try to explain.. there are two things that are 'annoying'with the ending.. one, the book veers into the impossible, she you have to suspend disbelief in order to accept it, second the last twist is just hmmmmm let's say unfulfilling for my sense of fairness...
I know this sounds like a load of BS, but love you read the book you will understand.. I know people have either hated or loved this book with no middle ground. I personally stand in the middle.. I didn't mind the far fetched revelations as the book was really interesting, but the final twist felt more like a gimmick ..i wouldn't say forced, because I feel it was written just for the sake of sales .. I felt it was the gimmick this book used to get the hype which is a way was sad as I thought the story was just so captivating that the writer didn't need to go there.. as a matter if fact, in my opinion the finale of the book felt so cheap, I felt cheated, almost like when you are in a bar talking to a lovely interesting woman only for her to turn out to be a prostituteI will add one thing though, for those who like the twilight zone type of ending you definitely will like this book..

First off, I hated the ending. It was too horrific, perfect, delicious, and not at all what I expected. It's not how I wanted it to end. But we don't always get what we want. It was so much better. This entire story sucked me in with its characters and secrets and hidden agendas. Once I began to read, that was it for the day until ... I reached that crazy ending. Like others have mentioned, I can't say much more or I'll give it away. Incredible psychological horror. It's going to bother me for days, I can just tell.

Behind Her Eyes is a Psychological Thriller written by Sarah Pinborough that will captivate readers to the very end...

Adele is a lonely housewife with marital problems. She and her husband are settling into a new house, having just moved to the area, where her husband has taken a job as a psychiatrist in a local office. It’s supposed to be a new beginning.

Louise is a single mother with an unfulfilling life, that takes a turn when she encounters an irresistibly charming man in a bar one night. She’s elated until he shows up at her office. He’s her new boss, David. If that wasn’t bad enough, on her day off she literally bumps into David’s wife, Adele, and can’t seem to resist accepting an invitation to coffee.

If you think this is a typical threesome, you’re wrong! Adele is a charismatic woman whose frailty is the product of a traumatic life event and years of night terrors that leave her vulnerable and fearful of her husband. David proves to be a kind and caring man, though his controlling nature and interest in Louise indicates unforgivable character flaws. Together Adele and David appear to be the perfect couple and yet there is something dreadfully wrong with their marriage. Louise finds herself in the middle, but can’t stay away from either of them; not until she discovers the truth.

Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes exceeded expectations and keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. Just when you think you’ve unraveled the truth, Sarah Pinborough propels you in a different direction with another ingenious twist. This is a page turning marathon that will keep the reader speculating until the very last page.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and chose to make an honest review.

I can't seem to find the name of the quite marvelous reader of this audio book. She shifted between the Scottish accent, the middle-class English accent, and the aristocratic one with such ease and subtlety it took me a while to realize she was doing it. I enjoyed listening to this very much indeed!

The story was deeply invested in the emotions and motivations of the characters, and I look forward to reading more from this new author. I might have wished for a different ending, but Pinbourough pulled no punches, and I admire the writer's courage in taking her plot as far as it could go. I CARED about the characters. That means she did her job. Recommended.

This book blew my mind. I read a lot of psychological thriller books; it’s my favorite genre afterall. And after reading so many types of these books I start to think I know how they are all going to end. This book proved me wrong about three different times. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, there’s another twist. The last three chapters I read faster than I’ve ever read before. I couldn’t have ever guessed how it would end. This is one of those books that you want to tell everyone you know about it when you’re done! Highly recommended!

As I began Behind Her Eyes, it seemed to be a pretty straightforward story - single, divorced mom, Louise, goes out and meets the man of her dreams, David, only to find out that he is her new boss - oh, and he's married. Nothing awkward about that, right? Well, then imagine the new boss' wife, Adele, becoming your new best friend. As Louise gets to know both David and Adele, she begins to discover that something is just not right in this marriage. Let me tell you...she has no freaking idea how messed up this relationship is and neither will you until you get to the very end of this twisted psychological thriller.

The buzz around this book is the ending. "Why is everyone talking about the ending of Sarah Pinborough's Behind Her Eyes?" Well, while I won't give the ending away, let me tell you that this thriller deals with lucid dreaming and takes the subject to a whole different level you probably never thought it could go. Several times I was saying, Wait, what?? as this story progressed. My thoughts as I finished the book were: That was some crazy a$$ effed up sh*t that I just read. Seriously, I was stunned and absolutely speechless. While I didn't throw the book down and scream out loud, I just kept shaking my head at the craziness that I just witnessed. The ending is seriously messed up...seriously. The reader will not see it coming - I know I didn't!

Sarah Pinborough is a pure genius. The way she wrote the book with alternating POV's and throwing it bits of the past really worked well for this story. Just when you think you have everything figured out, the author throws another twist at you and you really have to rethink everything that you think you know. Behind Her Eyes is a crafty thriller that will take you into the mind of a truly mentally unstable person and the obsession that touches everyone around. It's an extremely well-written story kept me engaged and captivated throughout. It's really too soon to say that this will be one of my top reads of the year, but it's definitely in the running.

If you love to read psychological thrillers then you need to checkout Behind Her Eyes, but be prepared to not get anything done, because this book will control your life and you will not want to put it down until you find out how this insane story ends.

WOW! This book completely blind-sided me with its ending! I am still reeling with excitement and surprise at how it all turned out!! I really don't want to give away ANY spoilers so I will keep this quite brief and just say that I truly enjoyed this story from beginning to crazy end! The one part of the story that I have seen a lot of people criticizing the author/publisher for not mentioning just made me love it even more! But I think to even give any of that away in the description is almost too much, so I will just say if you love suspense, a bit of mystery and you enjoy a bit of paranormal and can experience stories with a very open mind, this is the book for you!

When I closed the book, I was in an analytical mood about the much hyped ending rather than an emotional state of "OMG!" As others have said, it veered into a different genre to get that ending, which ... eh. It was OK.

But I woke up at 4 a.m., suddenly creeped out and dreaming about that ending. So I guess it was effective after all!

It was the rest of the book that took it down from a four star to three for me. Only Adele felt alive to me -- the other characters felt like cardboard cutouts, which was probably on purpose, but one-dimensional characters makes it difficult to care about them when the whole plot is a triangle.

Honestly, one of the worst books I've ever read... And I read about one book per week. Completely oversold as a thriller--nothing was thrilling about it AT ALL. The ending was "fantasy"-like and couldn't even actually happen in real life. Not my cup of tea. I want to know if the book is going to be a fantasy before reading. Save yourself some time and money and find a different book.

Okay ... this book. THIS BOOK!!! Not the first Sarah Pinborough novel I've read, but my favorite so far and the first I've read outside the YA genre.
I should say that I'm a rabid reader of mysteries and also read a bit into another area (that I won't mention for fear of spoilers). And I thought, "Hmm ... #WTFthatending, huh? We shall see ..."
Well, I didn't see that coming. I read the entire book REALLY looking for what the twist would be. I did figure out half of it, but not the entire thing. I was highly impressed as I'm not often tricked or surprised by a book, so kudos to SP for that.
Her characters are always realistic - Pollyannas need not apply, for which I am eternally grateful. Conversation is the same: tinged with realism that makes everyone relatable. If you hate one of the people in the book, then you LOVE to hate them instead of wanting to skip over their parts.
Here's hoping for many, many more like this. The pressure's on, Ms. Pinborough - this will be a hard one to top in my - ahem - book.

OMGosh! I knew the ending would be a shocker, but I wasn't expecting that! I can't say much without ruining it, but just know that this book was awesome. Even when one thing near the end happens and you're shocked, wait for it, you're about to become even more shocked! I can't wait to read more from this author. She is amazing. Well done! I loved it. I will go ahead and predict that this will be one of my favorite books of 2017, it is definitely my favorite so far.

This book was not entertaining to me at all.
I started reading it as a loan from the library as an ebook, and it automatically gets returned. I finally just got it a second time and was able to finish it.

I wasn’t thrilled with the book when my loan initially expired, but I was too curious to see what would happen.
At this point, I was better off not knowing.
Don’t recommend this book at all.

This book sounded so much better than it actually was. After reading so many great reviews, I decided to give it a try. I usually love thrillers and books that keep me guessing until the end. However, this one fell flat for me. It was highly unbelievable (like sci-fi or supernatural unbelievable...which would be totally fine if it had been classified as that type of book), and the characters were hard to like. The ending was definitely a surprise, but left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Overall, I wish I had skipped this one and would not be interested to read anything else by this author.

I Recommend This Book
Oh what a web of lies and deceit they weave. Louise is a single mother, on a night out she ends up talking to and kissing a man who she has only just met. There's nothing too bad about that but when he turns out to be her new boss who is married things begin to spin out of control. His wife Adele accidentally bumps into Louise and although Louise knows who she is she agrees to go for a coffee which is a huge mistake as Adele wants to form a friendship but is there something more sinister behind Adele's actions. There is so much more to this story and it's totally mind blowing endin

Wow. Wow wow wow. I chose this book in a book of the month club because I can't turn down a good thriller. This did not disappoint. You think you know what the ending will be but you will be so wrong. I'm usually really good about guessing what the "twist" will be but this one really did me in.

SLIGHT SPOILER:
While I can understand that some people would be displeased with the ending because it's not believable you have to remember that this is fiction. I thought it made for an even better ending because, again, it's not something you ever would have imagined. It gave the book an even better shock value. My only complaint is that Louise just seemed so daft to me. I was getting so frustrated with her over her lines of thought and her decision making. But honestly, the ending made up for everything.

I'm now going to practically force people to read this so I have someone to discuss it with.

Within the last two weeks I've read two "thriller" novels from British authors with the word Behind in it. This one and Behind Closed Doors (BCD) by B.A Paris. I'll admit that for the majority this book and BCD are similar. Husband controls wife, a family pet dies and a large estate in the country. Right down to the husband not liking when his wife drank. I forgave it, I enjoyed BCD after I gave it a few days to think about it. That book was predictable and followed the same formula of the thrillers out now. Present, Past, ends with future.

Back to this. I rated it at one star not because I did not enjoy the writing. I do think Sarah is a terrific writer who created characters that were dark and twisty but it came witch major stretches. Why is everyone trying to be Gillian Flynn? She is the master of dark and twisty with an ending that leaves you both somewhat satisfied and frustrated.

*Spoiler*
Like the book says, #WTFThatEnding. Right. WTF is right, and not in a "Oh my god how clever!" Gone Girl sort of way or even Pretty Little Liars. Nope instead it ends with something that was out of no where. There were times when I thought the dream sequences were cool. But they didn't serve a real point. After the first few dreams and the second door I did not put the whole supernatural thing out of my mind. But for her to actually do that? Ridiculous. Stupid. Lazy.

Better ending. Louise and Adele are the same person. Adele is real and crazy but her dreams are her being Louise. Adam is a figment of her dreams after the abortion. She is Louise because she suffers from a personality disorder of some sort and that part is unlocked in a dream. For example, Psycho and Norman/Norma Bates. Too safe? Sure, but it would make sense.

I'm glad I didn't pay for this book. If you can get it for free then just skip to the end. Otherwise it is a waste of time with no pay off. Discount bin in bookstores across the world next year.

In the beginning, it was a page-turner. I agree with the other low ratings in that the ending totally jumped the shark. It's not only that you "don't see this coming," I found it contrived and disappointing. Ms. Pinborough's writing is good; I even suspended disbelief (for example, one of the 3 main characters could have just backed out of her entanglement here but then the story would disintegrate) in the hopes that it would wrap up brilliantly (as promised). Should have been labeled as "paranormal". Feeling duped.

Unquestionably one of the most perfect suspense novels I've read. Interesting, complex characters. A plot superbly crafted and structured. I was thoroughly engrossed from start to finish and the plot constantly kept me guessing, and when all was revealed there was no cheating. Pinborough played flair and looking back everything that happened was set up properly so the payoff made sense. A tricky feat to pull off but she nailed it.

This is definitely a interesting read. Without spoiling it to much, I will say its definitely gone girl vibes, but with an extra twist that I actually sat with my mouth open for a little bit because I definitely was not expecting it. I do think at some points its starts to get a little redundant and I found myself wanting to just get to the end of the book because I thought I knew exactly how this was going to end, but wow it definitely wasn't. I will say however that because it is listed as a suspenseful psychological thriller what actually happens in the book will seriously throw you off (which might be a good thing or ruin the book for you). Once it became clear where the story was going I thought how cheesy, but the way it ended definitely redeemed those points back.

I have mixed feelings with this one, I did enjoy it but it was a bit far-fetched and I didn't find the ending as shocking as I expected with all the hype. Having said that it was an overall great book and I would defintley read more from this author.

It's told from two main characters perspective, Louise a single mum, who meets David on a night out where the evening ends with a kiss and Adele, David's wife. The next day Louise goes to work and meets her new boss, David! This is the point when she finds out he is married.

4 solid stars from me for this one.

A plot of twists and turns and lust encompasses the three main characters in this story who have involved themselves in an interesting love triangle of sorts. We're roped in by their immediate connections to each other and to the way their secrets are revealed. I was intrigued by their actions and curious where the book was taking us. The ending will no doubt surprise you, but I can say I set the book down feeling surprised but rather perplexed. If you're into dark and twisted novels with surprising turns, I recommend this one as your next read.

Ok, I must admit I was somewhat skeptical about all the hype around the twist ending. Sure enough, though, it was every bit as shocking as advertised! Holy smokes...this author certainly gets points for originality.

Having said that, I do feel this praise should be qualified somewhat: it is not really fair to call it a psychological thriller. It reads like one, and the first two acts certainly fall in that category. The end though? Without any spoilers let's just say you can be sure to go WTF?!? If you claim not to have that reaction then you are lying.

If you're planning to read this book, you need to make some preparations. Clear your schedule. You'll need a bottle of wine. And a dog. And check that all your doors are locked. And check again. But that won't help. This book is a mind-f@ck. It's fun and creepy and twisted and seriously, just read the damn book. It's what all those other books--The Girl on the Train, Before I Go to Sleep--were trying to accomplish. But you'll finish the and check the locks again.

Just finished the book and had to hop online to see what other people thought of it. I agree with all the other 2-star reviews; disappointing ending. Pretty good read up until the last 5 pages that manage to drag the entire book down. If after reading the 2-star​ reviews the book still sounds good to you, then you'll like it.

OMG talk about some tangled relationships. This book was one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a while. The characters all have issues and Adele is particularly twisted.

Sarah Pinborough has written a well developed, well thought out plot with a few twists and a mind blowing finish.

There is Adele married to Dr. Martin who is trying to save her marriage but a lot lies under the surface of this beautiful woman.

Dr. Martin is extremely unhappy, drinks too much and is stuck in a situation he can't get out of and he does want to get out of it.

Louise is a single Mom and rarely goes out but the one time she does starts a nightmare with severe consequences.

Anyone who likes thrillers with warped relationships and a shocking ending needs to read Behind Her Eyes. It is truly an exceptional read.

Loved this book as to the writing,with all its curves and dips. Engrossing, thrilling roller coaster ride ! Kept me entertained and guessing some wrong some true all the way to the ending! It could be a good book for debating the WTF ending ! It's a very different book with characters that are not likable most of the time with ,but are also all consuming in your need to know more about them. I am still reading more discussions on this book, because of thr WTF ending. I don't compare this at all to GONE GIRL or The GIRL ON the TRAIN!

I was so excited to read this book...but what a let down. If I had know this was a paranormal thriller, I would have passed. Although I did enjoy the book until the end, I was just so disappointed.

I found the characters to be interesting and the writing to be well done.

Received a copy of Behind Her Eyes as an Advanced Reading Copy. I did not take it seriously at first since I am not a fan of authors writing in 1st Person through three different character viewpoints. The mystery of not knowing what was coming finally sparked my interest. I could not predict what would happen next in this love triangle of Adele, David, and Louise. Each chapter rotates from Adele to Louise as well as flashbacks into Adele's life before Louise. The end of each chapter only adds questions that cannot be answered by the next chapter. This is one of those books that will be finished at 3:00 A.M. with the weekday alarm clock going off at 5:00 A.M.

This book was well written and got me hooked from the beginning. It had a surprise ending and could have been a great five star read until the silly sci-fi ending. I was expecting a psychological thriller and instead got a paranormal story that would be better geared to young Twilight fans. The author has a talent for storytelling and character development however she needs to decide which in which genre she is writing.

I have a love/ hate going with this book. It was a quick read, fairly fun, and almost a really good book. It crossed through a few genres. Without giving too much away it was like reading Bridget Jones Diary if it had been written by Anne Rice. I read it several weeks ago, and I am still thinking about it, but I think I am trying to determine why it just didn't quite hit its mark. I think it just wasn't quite wicked enough. BUT I will read this author again, because overall this book was an entertaining read.

Ok I don’t usually post angry rants on here, but I have been reading for 27 years and never wished that I never opened a book I just completed until right now. For days, I couldn’t put down this book called Behind Her Eyes. I thought it was the best thing ever until a little over halfway through it got a little weird, but I powered through until the ending. Aaaand now I want to throw my kindle at the wall and get back all my wasted time on a book that had such great potential and is now the only book I regret reading since the age of 2.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough is a twisted tale about how far people will go for the ones they love.

After a quick look on a marriage in turmoil, Behind Her Eyes opens with Louise, a middle aged, divorcee talking with her best friend about a sordid affair she stumbled upon with a man named David. She quickly realized that the man she was enamored by was married, and had no intention of seeing him again. That is, until she realizes he is her new boss.

But, hey, no problem, right? Oh except she happens to run in to his wife one day and they become fast (and close) friends.

Or, do they?

The story of Behind Her Eyes is told from two perspectives: Louise and Adele (the lover boy/boss/married mans wife). Adele leans on Louise as she struggles in her marriage, and Louise flip-flops between her love for David and her loyalty to Adele. And then, there's the question of whether or not Adele is actually trustworthy or not. Is her life really as controlled as it looks? Is David really the amazing man that Louise believes him to be, or is he much sinister?

What I Thought

The bookmark I received with this read said, "You think you know how it ends? You're wrong. I promise.". I took that as a dare. I was going to prove that bookmark wrong, and show it exactly how smart I was. And, I did, I had it all figured out.

Until, you know, I didn't.

I apparently didn't have a clue. I'm still reeling from the ending of this book. I really had no idea the direction this book was going to turn. As soon as I realized the ending, I literally put the book down and just stared off in disbelief for a few seconds before immediately picking the book back up and finishing it.

I did enjoy this book, and the twist alone is worth reading it. The story was entertaining, and sucked me right in. After every chapter I was left thinking, "What is happening...." That being said, this isn't a book I'll be keeping in my collection (see previous posts about how I pick and choose my books). While I was left wondering after ever chapter, I wasn't dying to pick my book back up until the last few chapters. Leading up to the ending, I was certainly curious about what was going on, but I wasn't completely raptured by what was going on.

All in all, it was a fantastic book, very well written, and again - that twist was CRAY!

Rating: 4/5

I thought it was great! The suspense keep me turning the pages and I couldn't wait to find out how this ends. The critical reviews are that the book turns out not to be realistic enough but I am reading to be entertained and this was good. I was never bored and that is what I want from a book, not to have to skip pages like some of those long drawn out too much reflection books make me do. In this book, you want to go back and read parts over. It did remind me of Stephen King's writing so if you like him, go for it.

This book kept me riveted without a doubt. I do love a good psychological thriller and this seemed to be delivering until.....well, I can't give away spoilers, but you are definitely going to need to suspend your beliefs. Oh, and about that surprise ending? It isn't humanly possible to guess this ending because it is completely ridiculous and out of the realm of possibilities in the real world. Some people really liked it. I'd call it surprising but ultimately unsatisfying.

Let’s start with a few simple things. First, this will be difficult to review without spoiling your future reading experience, and boy is this an experience unlike any other I’ve had before with a book. I’ll mostly be discussing my feelings while reading this and won’t be going into plot details very much. You’ll thank me later. My motto here is blind and blurb. That’s all you need to know. (And my thoughts of course because I’ll never let things slip!) Secondly, I’ll be preaching continuously about how you have to get your hands on a copy. Again, you’ll thank me later. Third, take everything you’ve come to know and expect from psychological thrillers and throw it out of your mind. This isn’t your typical read, so open up your mind completely and hang on tight, it’s one hell of a ride.

So based on the blurb you know there’s an odd marriage between David and Adele, but whatever you think is happening, you’re wrong. Trust me. David meets Louise one night and they share a drunken kiss. Then Louise realizes that David is her new married boss. Awkward. Ready for more awkward? Louise and Adele become fast friends. It’s a love triangle the likes of which you’ve never seen before.

When you read this, (at this point I’m just assuming that you will because I’m persistent) pay very close attention. I had no problems doing this, but even though I was totally enraptured, I still wish I had looked closer. You’ll still want to go back and reread a few key parts, the opening chapter is especially brilliant in hindsight and upon a second glance you’re enlightened and you realize the true talent of Pinborough. She drops subtle clues all over the place but it’s only after you finish that you go, oohhh it all makes sense now. I felt like she turned me on my head over and over and I loved it every single time. This isn’t just a twisty plot, it’s downright knotted but unraveling it is more than half the fun. It’s dark, obsessive and it totally consumed my life. I must have asked myself, what the hell is going on here a few hundred times.

Let’s get to that ending. I mean, come on who could have seen it coming? I’m not even exaggerating when I say that I threw the book across the room. (Then snatched it right back up again so I could reread it) #WTFthatending A hashtag has never been more appropriate. It was so shocking and dizzying that hours later as I write this I’m still dumbfounded in a totally satisfying way.

That’s all I’m going to say except I’ll leave you with this. Get a copy as soon as you possibly can, don’t look at Goodreads reviews because there are already some slight spoilers there, and prepare yourself for some seriously messed up moments. Buy into the hype people, it is more than deserved and pretty soon everyone will be talking about it and you don’t want to be left out!

Behind Her Eyes is a story told in the first person between Louise and Adele. With Adele we also get some ‘Then’ chapters which gives us an insight into her past.

Louise I liked. She is someone readers can relate to. Her life looks like it’s on the up when she meets David. When Louise realises David is married, it is to late as she has already fallen for him. I was torn between feeling quite sorry for Louise to wanting to give her a good shake as affairs never usually end well and the further I got into the story, the more concerned for her I became. Especially as she becomes friends with his wife! She is a bit like a dog with a bone as she knows there is something not quite right between David and Adele and instead of letting it go she grows more determined to find out exactly what it is.

It’s actually quite hard to say to much about the characters as I think the less you know about them the better. Adele and David, my impression of them changed constantly throughout the novel and readers really need to make up their own mind about them.

To start with, with the story flicking between the two women and to the past, it did take me a little longer to settle into it. When I did though I was well and truly gripped. It’s one of those stories that feels like it has something explosive underneath the surface and boy did it explode right in my face towards at one point!

Behind Her Eyes is going to be a very much talked about book in 2017. It’s one that you are going to urge your family and friends to read so that you can talk about it. The story is one of those ones where you constantly over think everything and turn the pages like a person possessed in search of the truth. It will grip you and twist you before finally spitting you out. I actually felt like someone had walked over my grave by the end.

If you only read one thriller in 2017, make sure it’s this one!

My thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Sarah Pinborough’s latest, Behind Her Eyes, has been spoken of as her breakthrough book, one that will propel her name in among the front rank of British thriller writers. And they may be right.

Single mum Louise feels as though her life’s stopped: it consists of her son Adam, her job as a doctor’s receptionist, the occasional joint and bottle of wine with her friend Sophia – and that’s it. Then she meets David – attractive, charming and sexy. Only one problem: he’s her new boss.

Louise begins an affair with David, but also – despite her better judgement – befriends his wife Adele. Trying to prevent her lover and her friend from finding out about about one another, Louise is drawn deeper into the secrets and lies of the couple’s marriage. Is David, her gentle and charming lover, a controlling and abusive husband? Or is Adele more than she seems?

Well, that would be telling.

The most frustrating thing about Behind Her Eyes – frustrating in a good way – is that it’s hard to describe why it’s such a good read without spoiling it for anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure yet. That’s not just because of the plot’s twists and turns, although it has plenty of them and they’re done very well – there’s a reason #wtfthatending has been trending constantly about the novel. It’s more than that.

What drives this book is a simple, but very unwelcome and unsettling truth: you can never really know for sure what goes on in someone else’s head. Your closest friend, your most intimate lover, your spouse of years or decades: they’ve all got secrets that you’ll never find out. You just have to make your peace with that and hope none of those secrets are dangerous. But in Behind Her Eyes, of course, they are.

Which is what makes it so much more than just another clever thriller with a twist: that uncomfortable truth is the book’s central theme and the motor that drives the whole story. The book cuts between Louise and Adele’s viewpoints, so we only ever see David from the outside, our view of him constantly changing. And while we spend a lot of our time inside Adele’s head, she’s constantly pulling the rug from under us: small wonder, then, that even David doesn’t know all her secrets.

Tautly written, beautifully constructed and with superbly-drawn characters, Behind Her Eyes is Pinborough’s best novel to date. I haven’t re-read it yet, but I suspect I’ll enjoy it even more the second time around, knowing what I know now. 
 
 And, #wtfthatending? 
 
Oh yes, indeed.

What an incredible read! This is a psychological thriller that doesn't disappoint. Louise is a mild mannered, single mom, desperate for some excitement. She gets way more than she can handle when David and Adele crash into her life. As much as I dislike books with long excerpts of diaries, other books or dream sequences, even I'll admit that the stories within this story were necessary. Told from alternative points of view, this book is as twisted as it gets, exceptionally psychologically gruesome.

I did it - I gave this book five full stars! And I'm okay with this, since it was written well, with characters I could sympathize with, while still keeping me guessing till the end. I thought I knew how it was going to wrap up, but I was still wrong. Don't try! Just read it and enjoy the story and let the ending roll over you while you sit back and exhale! Loved it!

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough is my first read by this author. I usually do not read psychological thrillers even though I am a Hitchcock fan. But since I received an ARC of this book, I gave it a try. I found the three main characters--Louise, David and Adele--very hard to like at all. As do all psychological thrillers, there are many twists and turns which keep the reader guessing. But as advertised the ending was totally unseen. For lovers of this genre, highly recommend the read. Not a book I would read again.

This story takes too long to tell. After slogging through several chapters of alternating perspectives by two increasingly dislikable women, I was ready to throw in the towel. But, David, the male protagonist held my interest. I kept hoping he would figure things out and bring the narrative to a sensible closing. Then bam! Louise’s and Adele’s repetitive thoughts and actions may be worth reading to get to the fantastically imaginative finale.

I read this in 48 hours which is fast for me. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to find out what happened next. The ending was creepy and disturbing, and I wondered if it could really happen. I feel worried that I might try it one day and succeed! Definitely a good and thrilling read. I didn't try to understand everything because you don't have the full picture until right to the end. I just rode with it and was rewarded by a twisty, turny weird story. Would recommend!

Totally unlikeable characters who do nothing but get drunk night and day. Probably to try and forget they are in this ridiculous book! And the ending...seriously?! This was the best the writer could come up with? What a waste!

ABout 3/4 through the book, I was loving it and planning on a 4 or 5 star review and reading more by this author. But then...slight spoiler! It turned from a psychological thriller into ridiculous. The ending was what I would classify in the sci fi or paranormal genre and really stupid. Would have given 1 star as that ending really irritated me, but like I said, the first 3/4 was really good. Hence 2 stars

I received an advanced copy of this book and am so glad and thankful for it. I was hooked from the first page because of the writing and it drew me in. The story focuses around three people, a husband, his wife and his mistress. The mistress works for the husband and the wife finds a way to befriend her without the mistress knowing that the wife knows she is her husband's mistress.It's not your topical story.It turns into a great mystery with turns you really don't see coming. A ending like no other.

There's a little supernatural going on here, which I love. Psychological thriller is a perfect description for this book. I can't say much except... you think you know, but you have know idea. I hope you read it for yourself and find out how twisted this ending really is.

The title though!

First sentence: Pinch myself and say I AM AWAKE once an hour.
Last sentences: "I love you too, David Martin," I say. "More than you'll ever know."

The (3) star rating is for the great twist in the last chapter. The rest of the book would only rate (2) stars. The characters were unbelievable and unlikeable, the situations contrived, and the plot requires the reader to have a belief in the power of dreams and mind control *Spoiler* ( this aspect reminded me of the movie & book "Somewhere in Time" without the time travel element ). Are the 300 pages of unpleasantness worth the 10 pages at the end ? Reader, you decide.

I actually bought this on ITunes, but wanted to leave a review here. This book... I don't even know where to begin. I'm so hard to please as a reader. If a book doesn't grab me in the first few chapters, I don't still with it. This one had me in the first few paragraphs. I can't say I've read anything this intense in a long time. Such a great read. I have a MASSIVE book hangover now. I'm fighting the urge to buy every single one of her books right now!

No wonder everyone is talking about the ending. It BLOWS. I agree with others who saw the supernatural as a cheap trick to get out of a rather intriguing and mysterious plot. I found the dream sequences and the surreal ending a total cop out to what could have been an amazing ride. Now, my biggest fear is that while I'm on my deathbed, I'll want the hours I spent reading this book back. Totally enjoyed the writing style and story telling quality, had me guessing alright but left me thinking 'are you kidding me'? So glad I got this one from my local library.

I received a Arc copy from flatiron books, for a honest review.
I really thought book was interesting and I would have given it 5 stars,but didn't like all the language so I say 4.5 just for that reason.
It was one of those books that kept you on edge of your seat you thought you knew what was going on, but oh boy you have no idea with what happens in the end.
I just never seen the twist at the end.
Book was well written and I would highly recommend this book.

If you liked Gone Girl (which I loved), you'll want to read this one! I love unreliable-narrator-thrillers. You feel like you are going through the same emotional upheaval as the characters.

This had sine of the most crazy twists - so much that I found myself flipping back to re-read things to try and put the puzzle together. Thought I had it all figured out, but NOPE! Still got me!

I enjoyed the first quarter of this book, but felt the remainder of the book dragged on endlessly. Poor character development throughout. I made myself finish the book and was furious at the ending. This novel was supposed to be a psychological thriller, not a paranormal romance. It felt as though the author struggled with an ending and resorted to "magic" to resolve it. The ending was no more than a "cheap trick".

This was a book that I felt quite conflicted about. I really disliked the ending, but not due to any fault in the writing. It's a difficult book to review for fear of spoiling anything, but I will say that it worked in a way that I never would have expected. I found the characters compelling, and I was drawn in by the plot. I even urged a friend to read it so I could get her thoughts on it. I would say that it's an unusual book, but worth reading.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
This is one seriously twisted psychological thriller with excellent yet very complex characters who are so credible. It would be very easy for the reader to draw early conclusions about where the story is going. But without giving any spoilers away, this book typical for this genre, twists and turns.
A story that seriously messed with my head and has left me with many questions.

This book was an enjoyable read! I didn't want to put it down to go to bed, when I did, then I couldn't sleep! The characters were easy to like and become attached to, then BOOM!!! WHAT??? The ending really socks you in the gut! It made me instantly think of parts of the book that didn't make sense and then...oh, now I see! I hope there's a sequel! I am now going to search for more work by this author!

I felt compelled to write a review about this book. I think this may be my first or second time writing a review on the store and I am an avid reader and purchase often on the store. Let me just say that when I finished this book I had to sit in silence and think OMG. My mind never in a million years would have went to the depths that this author went to! I am frantic to find more of any books she may have written. If there are no more books like this one Mrs. Pinborough..please write them and fast!

This was an entertaining read. I think a sequel has to be on the horizon. The ending was perfect!

I would have given it four stars but for one word that just hit me in the chest like a brick; retard. That word is so offense to me, or to most people with special needs loved ones. It wasn't necessary, either.

The suspense/thriller genre might be my favorite, and these novels feel like guilty pleasures. Adele and David are married, albeit not a happy couple. David meets Louise one night at a bar, and the two share a steamy kiss. It doesn’t go any farther. Good thing too. Louise discovers on Monday that David is the new doctor hired for the practice. The three characters have entered a crazy love triangle. This book was fun, and the end was truly surprising. I love when endings “get me”. If you need junk food and reality TV for your brain—read this. *Especially recommended read for vacations.

It says "psychological" thriller but I don't want people buying this book without knowing that it has an element of sci-fi. When I purchased it, I had no idea it would take the turn it did. The book was entertaining and always kept me guessing and wanting more. The ending felt rushed and perhaps that's why people are complaining about it. It was out of left field without much leading up to it. Overall I give it 4 stars. If you're reading this strictly for the story, it's excellent. If you will be over analyzing each character/plot than you might find this a little tough.

If Dean Koontz had written Gone Girl, it would probably be this book. Loved the surprise twist at the end, didn't see that coming at all! Super narration, and nice to read something original. I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone looking for something a bit different.

This book is freakin incredible !!!
The way it draws you in.....grabs you, makes you all comfortable...then it proceeds to mentally beat you beyond recognition. What a ride this book was.... and believe me, every time you think you have it figured out.....you don't.....!!!

This twisty story would likely be appreciated by readers of I Let You Go, The Woman on the Window, The Wife Between Us, etc...except for the supernatural element. I enjoyed it (including the supernatural bit) but did not love it, and - without giving anything away - I felt like the ending violated the author's own rules. It came out of nowhere. I know there were many people who liked it, but I thought it didn't fit.

I did not purchase off of the store but had a friend lend me this book. Let's just say that I started reading around 8pm and did not stop until 3:30am when I finished!! The characters and their relationships pull you in, they're convoluted and intense, which makes it all the better. The last 15 pages were so surprising! Great quick read and page turner. Not the greatest horror/ thriller I've read but still the ending is terrifying and will stick with you for a few days.

I have issues with this book. I don't want to spoil much but it drove me a bit crazy. I don't like mystical magical stuff, and I thought it was going to be more of a straightforward mystery. It started out pretty good but all the "hinting" about what was actually going on got me really impatient and I eventually just skipped to the end to see what they were talking about. Then I skimmed the rest. You have to suspend disbelief to read this book, if you like that type of thing, great. If not, skip it.

This book is about a love triangle that goes wrong, but who is the cause?
Just when you think you have figured out what's going on the author throws something in there to totally confuse you. I loved this book especially since its rare that I find a book that keeps me guessing like this one ALL THE WAY TO THE END.

Hard to write a review without saying anything to ruin this very gripping thriller. Do you really ever know the truth behind someone and how they act and behave? This thriller is gripping, one i could not put down. Also it makes you question people and the way they are in real life after reading this book, or maybe that was just me. I began to wonder what people truly are like as this book shows you not everything is as it appears.

I definitely did not see the ending coming. I️ am trying to think of how to write this without any spoilers. I️ loved the main character, Louise. At first she reminded me a bit of Bridget Jones. I️ literally just finished reading and am still trying to make sense of what happened. It really was a jaw-dropping twist. I️ didn’t completely love the way it ended but I️ do love to be surprise. And Sarah Pinborough accomplished that amazingly well. I️ recommended this book if you like a good shock.

I received an advance copy and I'm thrilled after reading it! It grabbed me from the start and I couldn't put it down. So many twists and turns and even some paranormal. This was so suspenseful and you won't even guess the ending. The author wrote a mind blowing ending and then one more chapter to blow your mind even more! I haven't read any other books by this author but I will be. You have to read this book!

This book was fantastic! The twists and turns just had my head spinning. You have to allow for a bit of the supernatural that really takes the story to a new level. I generally don’t like supernatural additions to a book but in this case it just enhanced the story to such a high degree it was worthwhile. Don’t miss this book!

The book kept me interested. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. But I also feel like it dragged on for a bit. It was slow leading up to the surprise ending. I was completely taken back by the ending. It wasn’t realistic so I think that bothered me. It wasn’t the best thing I’ve read but also not the worst. It did keep me entertained, so 3 stars..

Received an ARC copy from FlatIron books for an honest review.

Even knowing from the first page that the ending was going to be unexpected, I did not see it coming! The alternating first person voices of Adele and Louise pushed the plot of the story along by dropping teasing hints about the answer to the puzzle. The flashbacks filled in questions that came up during their present-day circumstances. I kept me constantly revising my idea of how the story would wrap up. Adele was intriguingly layered, and Louise's initially monotonous and broken life balanced Adele's eccentricities and frailty. This is the first Sarah Pinborough book I have read, and I plan to add a few more of hers to my list.

Oh boy! Here is another of those novels that you either love or hate--there doesn't appear to be much middle ground. Count me in the latter group. I only finished this book because I am loath to review anything that I hadn't seen through to the end, and frankly I kept waiting for the great finale that was promised by other reviewers. It was not to be, and I ended up feeling cheated. Instead of a cracking good read along the lines of "Girl on the Train" or any of Gillian Flynn's work, I found a weird and convoluted mishmash. The writing was hackneyed and repetitive, with way too much "tell" and not enough "show." I never reached the point of tension and apprehension that she was so clearly going for, and instead spent the last 10% speedreading just so I could finally close the book. If you're on the hunt for a literate thriller, keep on looking.....

The book was fascinating at first, told from different perspectives. There were twists that kept me interested. Then I got toward the end when it gets very weird and ridiculously supernatural. After I finished it I wished I had not wasted my time.

Imagine you go to a movie that is billed as a Hitchcockian suspense story. Then imagine that, unlike a Hitchcock movie, full of totally possible psychological twists and turns, this turns out to be a ghost story. You might feel cheated. "Behind Her Eyes" is not a ghost story - I wish to avoid a spoiler - but it was about a third of the way into the book when I deduced that this book and it's plot had parted ways with realism. I finished it because it was a quick read - fighting the impulse to just skip to the end and see what the gimmick was. My theory about the gimmick was not too far off. The writing is workmanlike, but not a thing of beauty. I gave the book two stars because the organization hung together and the plot was rolled out without any discernible glitches. Note: I received an Advanced Review Copy of the book shortly before publication. I was unable to read it until now.

I really enjoyed this book!! It reeled me in from the beginning; when I read the summary, I said I had to read this (rather I listened). It keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting more and not wanting to stop until the end. A MUST read by anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers on the edge of your seat reads; highly recommended. I did not care for the end however all in all great read, I would even read again!!!

Agree with the reviewers who didn't like this book. The writing was good and the first half of the book was interesting. Good psychological thriller stuff. The latter half of the book devolves into a paranormal mess that is hard to even figure out. The author can write and if she sticks to thrillers without a paranormal or fantasy bent her reading public will be better served.

Wow!! I couldn't put this book down. I needed to know the secrets in a bad way. Boy, the ending was not what I was expecting. I won't spoil it for you, you'll have to read it and out for yourself. You will need to go with the flow and not over analysis. Just read and enjoy the suspense.

If was labelled supernatural thriller this was a great read !! But I went into it thinking a more "realistic " thriller because at least per my library was labeled psychological suspense. But if you expected a more "realistic " ending you will be sorely disappointed. I should have read reviews first to prepare myself so to speak !

Oh My God! Holy crap! I mean seriously?! What was that?!

So insanely addictive and intriguing. Could not put it down for every little twist and turn it took me on. Just when I thought I knew what was happening next ... a new spin.

And the end?! No spoilers but I did NOT see that last chapter coming. Holy Crap!!

So good. So freaking good!!

I expected more from this book based on all the hype last year, but it just didn’t live up to it. Two hundred pages into it, I still had no idea where it was going. And the ending was not only ridiculous, but unbelievable. All I thought was, “What is this? Freaky Friday?” Moving on.

Oh Louise, why couldn’t you have called Emergency like a normal person? Despite my frustration with Louise’s lack of intelligence, this book was great from beginning to end.
If you’re looking for a serious plot twist, this is the book for you!

​I am struggling to write this review because all I really want to say is HOLY CRAP - READ THIS BOOK!!!!!! Many of you may have seen the #wtfthatending in relation to BEHIND HER EYES and it is the perfect hashtag. Sarah Pinborough manages to ensnare the reader straight away into the complicated marriage and lives of David and Adele, and like the other main character, Louise, we desperately try to put together all the pieces of the puzzle to try and make sense of the strange relationship that they have together. But nothing will prepare you for the truth. This twisted thriller portrays the dark and disturbing tones of the plot excellently throughout, and I found my heart beating faster as I got sucked into this psychological minefield and the emotions of the characters. But NOTHING prepared me for the ending. After finishing this book I struggled to forget about it and found myself thinking, what an incredibly terrifying story. BEHIND HER EYES by Sarah Pinborough is a psychological thriller like no other, and if you only read one book this year, make it this one.

*I won a copy of this book on Twitter

You ever lose a bar bet? Well, if you have then you know what this book feels like after you finish it. You feel tricked. You feel deceived. And then you're kinda' angry that you have to pay up.
That's what this novel is. A cheap, cheating bar trick. You are told it is one type of novel and it ends up being another type.
The twist ending is not what I am talking about. How we got to that twist ending is what irks me to no end.
The only reason I gave the book even two stars is because Pinborough actually can write. Just next time be honest about what type of book you have written.

This seemed like just another twisted story of a messed up couple or psycho spouse. I kept wondering what the big surprise would be near the end, and I didn't like when it came. Louise was irritating, Adele was creepy and David was pathetic. The story kept me turning pages, though, so I'll give it 3 stars.

I had really low expectations for this book due to a few reviews I read, but this book really blew my mind! It's been ages since I've been so surprised by such a twist. It was a really enjoyable listen as well (on audiobook). The cast was excellent and really brought the characters to life, better than I could have imagined. If you like suspense/mystery/thrillers, definitely check this out!

I’d give this book about 3.5 stars for it being a suspenseful read and engaging writing. However, like others, I was disappointed with the supernatural element of the story. I wish the writer hadn’t gone in that direction, and instead concentrated on the mysterious relationship between Adele and David. I also felt that Louise’s actions at times strained incredulity. A decent beach read.

Most of the reviews here do contain spoilers even when they try not to. So, I'll have to be cryptic. The story was mostly fast paced and entertaining. Once I hit around 100 pages, I couldn't put it down. Admittedly, there were a few things I didn't like. However, some of the choices made in writing the story were really bold and I applaud that.
Really engrossing read!

A deep, dark dive that had me transcend from reader to eyewitness quickly. If you are looking for an 11-12 hour tension builder, be prepared to be overly annoyed at minor distraction if you have to put it down as a result. I loved the individual perspective approach and the fact that it broke my streak of knowing an ending after only a few chapters. In the psych thriller genre it is difficult to surprise me to say the least. Ultimately, this did.

A psychological thriller with a dash of the paranormal, BEHIND HER EYES has more plot twists and turns than San Francisco’s Lombard St. The characters are few but very richly developed. I highly recommend this engrossing read that’ll have you guessing until the very last page. Needless to say, I loved it! My thanks to Macmillan publishers for the ARC. #behindhereyes

This is a well-written story that will suck you in and not let go. And you will not be ambivalent about the ending. I personally enjoyed it. Based on the 1-star ratings, some seem to take it as a personal affront. If you enjoy mystery/ thriller/ fantasy reads such as Koontz or King, you will probably enjoy this. If you're a dyed-in-the-wool muggle, don't bother.

Easy to read, and easy to follow with only three main charatures. At times it got a little boring, but the end is a killer. It's an OMG ending that makes the book amazing. Just when you think you have it all figured out..........

I have to admit I couldn't put this book down., kept waiting for the big surprise. Well, I did get a surprise, absolutely the most bizarre ending I have ever read in a book. I am mad that I wasted my time reading this. Don't waste your time or money. To the people who gave this a good rating- did we read the same book????

Good book, and I agree with the ended being a surprise. The last third of the book could have cut out some of the descriptions or characters thinking to themselves. But overall, it was very readable, and the ending was a nice twist.

You will be on the edge of your seat! The ending is great! Thought I knew exactly where the storyline was going right up to the end, then, whoosh one more twist that you will not see coming. Excellent, absolutely excellent! I definitely recommend!

Was very intriguing and had me guessing as to where it would all end up. Unfortunately the ending was a cheap, cheesy sellout that was a total let down. What started as a masterfully written psychological suspense journey ended up hitting a wall.

I was becoming frustrated at the beginning with slow and methodical way the book was going. But in the middle I realized that I needed patients.

Give it an honest try. You won't be disappointed. The twist and more twist that's to come will linger with you longer than you'd expect.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long long time. Loved everything about it. Loved reading it and also really liked listening to it at work. The voices were great (except Adam’s voice - that was just creepy).

Holy cow I hate this book. I DEVOURED it. I have two year old twins and a full time job and stayed up late to read it. It was so captivating and I couldn't put it down.

But then...the ending. It's terrible. So terrible. It made me so angry I had wasted so much time reading this. That is literally time I can't get back. Please, don't do this to yourself.

On page 50, I said oh my gosh! I t did not slow down after that, about 10 pages from the end I thought I had the end figured out. WRONG! Never in a million years would I have guessed. Unless you're a psychic or peek, I guarantee you won't guess either. A real stunner. I would have given this 5 stars, except for the overuse of the f word

I was definitely not expecting that ending. My jaw is still ajar. Such a twist. Of course I don’t agree with how it ended because I bonded with Louise‘s character and was really rooting for her. I’m scared for poor Adam. Good read.

I'm always a little leery of books that come with rave reviews across the spectrum, but Behind Her Eyes delivers in spades. Sarah Pinborough keeps you guessing 'til the twisted end. This is a book that'll keep you up late at night, and make you wary of your dreams. I don't want to say a word about plot or characters, that should be a surprise as much as the rest of it. Highly recommended.

This book was very cleverly written and kept me thinking I knew what was going on....until I didn’t again. I also am a fan of books written from the perspective of the different characters, as this is written, so that was appreciated too.

Borrowed from the library and glad for that - absolutely terrible writing. I am half through this and what intrigued me the most were all the reviews on "wow what an ending." Irrespective how this ends, it has not been enjoyable reading this. The F-word is almost on every page, it reads like the train of thought of a millennial. It is a real shame in that the plot is promising and I will see it through but this writing style is just unbelievably low brow. If you are a San Francisco 40 year old with low family values and a drinking problem, you will really identify with one of the main characters but this just really low class in terms of writing. It is the equivalent of Tarantino. We get that you think the f-word is a cathartic word and we get the characters are stressed out. There is just a an intelligent way of conveying that and this is far from it. If you love pop culture and people who say things like "What in the actual F" - you'll love this awful writing style. The rest of us wish we were born 20 years earlier. Don't write like this anymore Sarah. No matter what happens I won't be reading your novels ever again after this.
EDIT: I finished this - yes, the paranormal ending is a big let down. Billed in the wrong category.

This was so strange a book that I really don't know what to say. Did I like it? Well yes and no. Did I ever want to stop reading it? Yes but I couldn't. I had to finish the book. If you like bizarre psychos then read this book. That's all I can say.

I borrowed this book from my local library through Kindle. If I had actually purchased it, I would be really irked. As for Pinborough, Agatha Christie, she's not. If you want to pull a silly ending just for shock value at least make it plausible.

Wow! Just finished this book and it kept me on my toes the whole time! The ending came out of nowhere! Not believable, but I can forgive the author for that just because I enjoyed the ride so much. It was an interesting and exciting read!

It WAS well-written, and I enjoyed the twists and turns at the end. Despite my hyper-vigilance for the well-publicized shock ending. BUT, for at least the last third of the book it became very clear it was sci-fi. With some decent psychological overtones.

I almost gave up on this book. The first half was slow and really didn’t draw me in. I stuck with it though, and I’m glad I did. Twists and turns and a crazy twist at the end. I can’t wait to read more from this author

Though I wouldn’t call anything contained in this review a spoiler, if you are thinking about reading this book, you might want to think twice before continuing. I do not feel I can review this book without including certain information which has significantly influenced my rating and opinions.

Okay, now that the disclosure is out of the way, I’d like to state that once again, I seem to be the cheese that stands alone. This book is getting lots of well-deserved 5 star reviews. I totally understand why so many people loved it. I hope I’m able to articulate what it was that didn’t work for me in this book that has so many good things going for it.

THE PROS

The Author – Sarah Pinborough is an incredibly gifted writer. She toggles effortlessly between the past and present and the voices of Adele and Louise.
The Pacing/Suspense Factor – There is no doubt I was drawn in right away and kept at the edge of my seat till the very end.
The Characters – Is this one good? Is that one evil? Should I feel bad for her? Or him? All three of our main characters are richly developed. (For better, or worse as in any good thriller!)
The Plot – It’s a three-ring circus in just the right way! I don’t think I’ve read any other book with these particular husband/wife/mistress dynamics.
THE CONS

Believability Factor – This is quite possibly the most outlandish psychological thriller I’ve ever read.
Genre Miscategorization/Omission – This is the reason that what I initially thought was going to be a 5 star book turned out to be a 3 star book for me. While I can understand its categorization as a psychological thriller, there is a very, very strong intersection with another genre which has not been publicized. (I won’t name the other genre because I’m trying not to give too much away.) I can understand why this is the case, however, if I had known, I would not have read this book. At the end of the book, I felt disappointed and a little misled if I’m honest.
A FINAL THOUGHT

While my overall experience with this book is only 3 stars, I’m not entirely sorry I read it. It’s creating a lot of buzz! Opposing views make for great book club discussions, online debates, etc. I’m looking forward to seeing how the reviews shake down a month or two after publication.

Many thanks to Flatiron Books for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is definitely a page turner. It's about friendship, love triangles, mental breakdowns, but wow..when it gets deep into the night terrors & "doors" I was put off by The silliness of it. It was a tad predictable if you read a lot of mystery/thrillers but still a good book.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, and I was hooked from the beginning. There were a couple of plot holes that left me having to guess on, but I loved that the story was told in first person from both main characters' point of view, and also from the perspective of the past. And the ending...I never saw it coming!

OK, I admit I was hooked into reading this book (from my local library) after reading some blurbs of reviews. I love the genre and am always looking for new authors who can take it a step further. I liked many components of the book, and feel the author is a fine writer. BUT - when you have to rely on something magical or other-worldly to prop the entire book up, to make it the reason for everything we just read, then that is where I say so long. I gave this book three stars for the positive elements but was very disappointed in the lazy trick she used. When magic can be used then anything can happen, and that makes any realism just a sham.

Very intriguing, exciting, adventurous and mind boggling. I was wrapped up in Louise, David and Adele's life like crazy. Hoping that no harm would come to Adam. This body shifting stuffs was too much. Maybe it would appeal to someone who enjoyed sci-fi!

This book was so different than I expected. I thought I was reading one type of book that turned into another. Very worthwhile read that leaves you stunned at the end. While all is not believable, it was extremely creative. I kept questioning "how"???? Could not put this down

This was a twisty Psychological Suspense that kept the reader flipping pages to see the final outcome. While the twists were unbelievable and unexplainable, they were still very unique and surprising. Told in alternating voices, the book moves along quickly until the final page is turned.

I was immediately captivated by the parallel story lines and first person, alternating narration. It was a fun and quirky read, though I agree with other reviewers that the parts one and two were much stronger than part three. I loved the "twist" at the ending, but it was all a bit too perfect - I think something should have gone wrong in the narrator's plan to make it more believable. When everything started to fall like a dastardly lock in a key - that's when I checked out - it was too perfect - the tension was gone. Not the best book I have ever read, but definitely diverting!

Like Gone Girl with a slightly supernatural edge, this domestic thriller had an interesting and satisfying conclusion, but the journey there left me somewhat lukewarm. Still, this was a “light” read (in terms of delivery, not tone) and entertained me for the past few days.

I received an advanced copy of this book and had no idea what to expect being I had never heard of the author.Well I will be on the lookout for other books by her.This was a twisty,head game of a book.The ending was insane.The only thing keeping it from being five star was some of the repetitiveness by the main character.However, I still definitely recommend this one!#wtfthatending #behindhereyes

I loved the suspense and I certainly could not predict the ending, which I am usually able to do. Really really enjoyed the read. I want to go back and re-read to see what clues I may have missed now that I know. I did think Louise became a bit tiresome in how naive she was at times, but that is her personality. Inevitably, we find some trait of a character's personality frustrating, but she definitely stayed in character. Cannot get over the ending! Nicely done!

Throughout the book I was just thinking it was okay but this is my first time writing a review because I felt the need to say, stick with it cause the ending is 100% WORTH IT! I gave 4 stars because reading the book I was like this is just okay but the last start definitely goes to the ending! It blew my mind! This is definitely worth reading if it is even just for the ending! Will be looking for more by this author and others like it!

Holy cow, I will never be able to get this book out of my brain for the rest of my life and that is an absolutely fabulous thing!

I can't remember the last time I read a book that had me yelling at the end of it, that ending... there just aren't words. It was totally unexpected and I won't say anymore about it.

This was a book unlike any other. What you think you know, you don't. Suspend belief and hang on for a wild ride. I don't know how to even describe this book except to say just read it and enjoy every moment. It is one of the best books I've ever read and I highly recommend it.

I loved this book! The author is superb at pacing the novel, leaving you completely enticed the whole time as she drops little breadcrumbs as the story unfolds. The whole thing comes together perfectly in the absolutely shocking ending, the kind that makes you need to immediately read the whole thing again with the new knowledge. Highly recommended if you like psychological suspense or thrillers.

Louise meets David in a bar one night and is shocked the next day when she turns up at work to find out that he is her new boss and he is married. She tells him that they can just be friends but when she meets his wife Adele she starts to become drawn into their lives

I don't want to say too much as don't want to give anything away but all I will say is Read It - it is a great book that draws you in immediately I couldn't put it down til I finished it and it certainly stayed with me afterwards. It is the first book that I have read by this author and I will definitely be looking for more!

I didn't care for this book. I really wanted to like it. Writing is not bad but I was never interested in the story nor did I ever connect with any of the characters. I found it confusing, bland and unrealistic. Oh well.

Talk about suspense, talk about freaky. In just about any scenario, it's impossible to guess the ending of this really good novel. To sum it up in three little letters, WOW.

Good book, 5-STARS.

Gretta Brannigan
St Simon's Island Georgia USA

This book held my attention. I couldn't put it down because I just HAD to know what was going to happen. Then ending is a serious WTF ending you will NEVER see coming. Not sure I liked it. But as a whole this was a good book that's hard to put down.

This is probably one of my favorite books i have read in this genre. You will never see the twist and turns comming. The last chapter just completely jarred me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that likes to read thrillers/suspense. It's a total out of body experience.

Very disappointing - not a psychological thriller as marketed but an unbelievable paranormal plot. I wouldn't have bought this book had this been properly disclosed as paranormal fiction. I returned this book.

It was one of those books that I wanted to read in one sitting...but it had some unusual twists in the storyline which were fanciful, and these didn't come out in the storyline until the end. The unusual twists were outside what I consider the realm of possibility, so in my mind the book transited into science fiction a bit - not my favorite genre, hence the 4 stars (as opposed to 5). I didn't realize the sci fi aspects when I began.

Was sent this pre-sale copy for free if I would review it. Everyone is talking about the ending. My response was "Whoa"...makes you want to reread it to look for signs. There are lots of pre- shadowing but not what you think. This is an English author. The relationship between these people, be it love or hate or mental disease, who can tell? It is definitely a psychological thriller !!

The ending was surprising and the book kept me intrigued at times but also bored me. Overall it feels like the author tried too hard. Tried too hard to be cleaver. Tried too hard to be "mysterious". Tried too hard to be "original". Overdone but without a purpose. It's that outfit that just has too many accessories but could be good if you simplified and accessorized with a little more purpose and intention.

I also don't think I'd have finished it if I wasn't in a waiting room with nothing else. The story itself felt a little stale.

Based on the high quality writing, I had really high hopes for the author to create an intelligent and satisfying ending. But the twist left me feeling like it was a ridiculous cop out that deflated all of my interest and enthusiasm for the previous 300 pages of terrific storytelling. Even though the majority of the book is great, I wouldn't recommend reading it because you feel at the end that you've wasted your time.

Holy wow. I knew it wasn't going to be a run of the mill psychological thriller once lucid dreaming became involved, but, man, I didn't see the "skeleton key" meets Stephen King meets twin peaks meets...I can keep going but I'll stop. Pick it up, you won't put it down.

This book kept me interested and I wanting to read more. You know pretty early on that something was going to happen and I was antsy to figure it out. The book ends up having a supernatural aspect that I wasn’t expecting. There’s a part of me that was annoyed by the ending but it was also kind of interesting at the same time.

Okay, yes, that ending. Wowsa. Did not expect THAT.

Not going to say anything else. Just pick up this book and read. Happily suspend disbelief and just go where Sarah Pinborough leads you. 4.5 stars

Loved it. Devoured it in one sitting. The ending totally knocked the wind out of me and I loved every bit! The only criticism I have is David wasn't well developed as a character but it is still a 5 star read!

Sarah Pinborough crafts a beautiful book and this is absolutely top-notch. We're steered through a fascinating, dysfunctional set of relationships, desperate to know how it's all going to be resolved, and yet when we get there it takes your breath away.

That about sums it up for this book. Trite characters with supernatural abilities pulled out of thin air late in the book to explain developments. The ending wasn’t a “surprise” ending. It was simply ridiculous. What a waste of time.

I loved this book! There's suspense, magic, love, hatred, death, and lot's more. The writing held me right to the crazy, climatic ending!! Listened on Audible and the narrators were fantastic. This one drew me right in. Don't miss it.

Behind Her Eyes is a " suspenseful psychological thriller" by Sarah Pinborough. It is also a page turner with twists and turns that are completely unexpected! Excellent story. Can't wait to read more by this author.

This book was given as an ARC for an honest opinion. The unpleasant part for me. There was way too much language. The language is a big reason for the three star rating.

The book kept me interested. It was one that kept me turning pages and up late into the night. It had me invested in the characters regardless of how "terrible" they may have been. This story wasn't just a single love triangle because there were some varied layers. The end had me a bit surprised and I did like that. Looking back I realize that the author gave clues if you were looking.

This book is for people who enjoy an entertaining Psychological thriller, but beware of the language. Along with some sexual content.

This book is a fantastic read - kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through --I felt a sense of fear early on for the main characters. Incredibly written and wonderful! Kudos to Sarah Pinborough!

I'm not sure I would call this a suspenseful psychological thriller. I am a person that guesses to what happened and what happens next and I was right or nearly right almost every time. This was a strange book, in a good way of sorts and it did keep me wanting more. Now, somewhere in the book there is a very strange twist that I never would have thought! I would love for a sequel to come out to see where this goes!

I agree this "psychological thriller" does a good job of messing with your head. And I didn't see twist at the end coming. I struggled between giving this book a 4 or a 3 because it got a little long.

Fun book that doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is - a psychological thriller. Having read books by Lois Duncan in the past, I have to say that I guessed at the "shocking" ending and was pleased that it went farther than I anticipated. Lots of fun; another one of those "Gone Girl" types with twists that are sometimes telegraphed, sometimes not, and the mostly unlikable characters are interesting as well.

I will say this book started out a little bit slow for me but by the fifth chapter I was hooked. The weird triangle between David, Louise, and Adele is intriguing and I could NOT believe the ending!!! This will make a great movie

WOW! This book takes your breath away! It has an ending that will sneak up and grab you! Wonderfully written and easily read, an excellent choice. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, shaking my head at that ending! Some say the ending left their mouth dropped open, not me I was shaking my head! Let me start by saying with all the talk about the ending of this book, I just HAD to read it to find out what it was. I will say that I am one of those that did not like the ending, at all.. BUT having that said, the ride to get to the end was definitely worth it. This book sucked me in from the beginning and I was hooked, very well written and suspenseful. At times, I was thinking what the hell am I reading? I am giving 4 stars opposed to 5 because the ending was a little too much for me, talk about suspending disbelief, a little too out there..

I never write book reviews. And I don't have many words for this book without giving it away.... all I want to say is: I am COMPLETELY MIND BLOWN and feel that this is probably the best plot twist I have ever read in a book. CRAZY, SUSPENSEFUL, UNNERVING... I am still sitting here 24 hours after finishing it and I just cant wrap my head around that ending. Pure Brilliance. LOVED it! Keep an open mind while reading it and let it be what it is: a psychological thriller that keeps you engrossed the whole way through.

This story is carefully crafted right from the start. Very well developed characters and the stor progresses at a nice pace. There is a touch of the supernatural in this story. If you are looking for an engaging read with a twist, you'll likely enjoy this novel.

I love the book when I first stated it. I could not read it fast enough and really didn't want to put it down. And then I could tell it was leading the story into an unbelievable story line. And sure enough the ending of the book is just beyond ridiculous! Dreams and a door and switching bodies? Not just once but twice. I thought I was reading a suspenseful somewhat romantic murder mystery and it ended up in fantasy nightmare that could not ever happen in the real world.

1 star is an OVERSTATEMENT BY FAR. I’m a reader and love a good psychological thriller - but this book is SO unrealistic that I wish I could contact the author and ask for my money back. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. This ending was absurd, making the whole story line absurd and I will NEVER read one of Sarah Pinborough’s books ever again. She must have been under the influence of something super strong to come up with this bull.

It was a gripping story which would have been a lot better without the supernatural element. It was a distraction thru-out the book and seemed completely unnecessary until you get to the end and realize the entire wrap-up depends on it. Speaking of, I thought the ending was a cop-out. No need to have to explain anything when you can rely on 'magic'. Ugh.

Whoa! The ending. I mean, man, did that surprise me. I feel like I read a lot and can usually guess where a book is going, but not this time. One of the better psychological suspense novels I've read.

Wow! I have read many romantic suspense with two women contending over the love of one man. The tropes typical to the sub-genre are well known and expected. This book stands them all on end. I was surprised by the ending. No spoiler here, you will have to read the book yourself to see that ending #wtfthatending. I don't usually get surprised by a book, so I really enjoyed this book.

I loved this book. I enjoy psychological thrillers in general, but I am a chronic speculator - always questioning characters and their motives to try to figure out the ending. This was an instance where I never saw the ending coming and I loved it.

A real page-turner. I thought I had it figured out a couple times but the ending pulled the rug out. Loved this book! That being said, I am removing one star because the author asks her readers to MAJORLY suspend their disbelief on a key plot point. If you can go with it, you will be rewarded.

This book is a let down. Mildly entertaining to start but completely unrealistic with a bit of fantasy towards the end. Weird mix of realism and fantasy if you ask me. If you want a SUPER easy beach read that will take no intellectual energy to comprehend, then maybe give this a go. Otherwise, find something better!

This was a great read. Once I started I couldn't put it down. I will be waiting patiently for more from.this author. Wow!!! The ending was not what I was expecting. I recommend that you get this book asap! I loved it.

I struggled to get through this book. I kept wanting to quit reading it, just flip forward to the end but I plodded along. I saw the ending coming, though, it was quite predictable and disappointing (I can't say how without spoiling it). I would not recommend this book.