Review: Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine

Goodreads

Release date: June 17, 2025

Publisher: Bantam

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

In this twisted psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club Pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, a woman is tormented by nightmarish visions of her future—and then they start to come true.

Annabelle has everything she’s ever wanted. A devoted husband, two wonderful daughters, and a career she loves. She couldn’t be happier. So why is she suddenly plagued by disturbing dreams of a future where she hates her husband and her daughters’ lives are at risk? At first, she chalks the dreams up to an overactive imagination. But when details from her dreams, details she couldn’t possibly have predicted, begin to materialize, she realizes these aren’t just dreams but rather premonitions of a terrifying future. They all point to a singular choice, an unknown moment that holds Annabelle’s life in the balance.

Then Annabelle has a dream that her daughter, Scarlett, is in immediate danger. Someone wants Scarlett dead and Annabelle has no idea who or why. Suddenly, every choice she makes is fraught with peril, with no inkling of which move could bring this terrifying vision to life. As her present life starts to collide with the future in her dreams, she wrestles with how much control she really has over her destiny and whether or not she can change what is meant to be.

Review:

What happens when you see everything coming, but can’t stop watching anyway? 

This is a twisty psychological thriller told through multiple POVs and timelines, and while it didn’t totally blow me away, it still delivered a fast-paced, bingeable read.

The book thrives on its structure: the shifting perspectives, including one from a mysterious unknown figure, helped create tension and kept the pages turning. I also appreciated how the timeline jumps built suspense, slowly revealing layers of backstory while propelling the present-day narrative forward. It’s the kind of story you can fly through in a weekend without even realizing how much time has passed.

Where it faltered for me was in the execution of its twists. While plentiful, many of the reveals felt overly dramatic and more at home in a daytime soap than a grounded thriller. And unfortunately, most of the “shocks” were fairly easy to predict, so if you’re looking to be blindsided, this might not be it. That said, there’s still something undeniably fun about a thriller that leans into the melodrama.

You do need to suspend disbelief to fully enjoy it, but if you’re in the mood for a popcorn thriller this one fits the bill. Just don’t expect it to break any new ground.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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