Review: Behind Her Eyes by @SarahPinborough @Flatironbooks #WTFthatending


Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: January 31, 2017

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

Why is everyone talking about the ending of Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes?


Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.


When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.


And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend. But she also just happens to be married to David. And if you think you know where this story is going, think again, because Behind Her Eyes is like no other book you’ve read before.


David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife. But then why is David so controlling? And why is Adele so scared of him?


As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.


In Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough has written a novel that takes the modern day love triangle and not only turns it on its head, but completely reinvents it in a way that will leave readers reeling. 

Review: 

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! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Huge thanks to my girl Chelsea at The Suspense Is Thrilling Me for sending me her copy! Can’t wait to discuss with you. (Anyone else that’s read this please message me on Twitter or Instagram or email me so we can talk too!)

47 thoughts on “Review: Behind Her Eyes by @SarahPinborough @Flatironbooks #WTFthatending”

  4. Renee says:
    Reply

    Awesome review!! I can’t wait to read this and discuss with you. I love that you didn’t discuss plot, I’m not reading anything about it, I didn’t even read the blurb!! It’s blind faith in all my blogging friends recommendations for this one:)!! Oh you have me so intrigued…throwing it across the room warrants a serious reaction for sure

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Dan Radovich says:
    Reply

    I agree… where the F did that ending come from? This one is such a glorious piece of craftsmanship. Sarah Pinborough can sit right next to Gillian Flynn, Sarah does creepy just as good in this novel. I hate when ‘reviewers’ tell you everything about the book/movie/play… Just be brief in synopsis and tell your comments, as you have done brilliantly.

    Liked by 1 person

    • novelgossip says:
      Reply

      It totally blindsided me!! I agree, she does chilling and menacing brilliantly. I try not to regurgitate the blurb, seems redundant and I definitely stay far away from spoilers. Thanks so much!!

      Like

  8. rashthedoctor says:
    Reply

    to be very honest , the blurb doesn’t sound all that , but your review makes it sound really intense and filled with mysteries . Guess that’s another book on my TBR now . Nice review

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Pingback: It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr – novelgossip
  17. Pingback: My Top 16 Reads of 2016 – novelgossip
  18. Pingback: December Wrap Up – novelgossip
  20. Laurie Wollenberg says:
    Reply

    What a gifted and talented writer! Riveting to the very end! Had to read the last chapter several times to fully understand the twist to this novel. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks so much for allowing me the privilege of reviewing this book. A page turner like I haven’t read in a long time!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Pingback: Blog Tour: Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen @MaryTorjussen @BerkleyPub – Novelgossip

Leave a comment