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Unfaithful
A FATAL attraction �
Rachel Reeves has it all. The perfect family, a rich husband and a gorgeous home. But when her precious only child flies the nest, Rachel gets itchy feet too. And succumbs to a mind blowing one-night stand.
With a DEADLY twist�
Instantly regretting her infidelity, Rachel cuts ties with Chris. But he won’t let her go that easily. Throwing herself into work, she erases him from her life. Until a text from an unknown number changes everything.
Someone knows. A twisted text, a menacing email, a sordid photo…each one more sinister than the last. Someone’s out to destroy everything Rachel holds most dear. And they’ll stop at nothing until they do�
Rachel Reeves has it all. The perfect family, a rich husband and a gorgeous home. But when her precious only child flies the nest, Rachel gets itchy feet too. And succumbs to a mind blowing one-night stand.
With a DEADLY twist�
Instantly regretting her infidelity, Rachel cuts ties with Chris. But he won’t let her go that easily. Throwing herself into work, she erases him from her life. Until a text from an unknown number changes everything.
Someone knows. A twisted text, a menacing email, a sordid photo…each one more sinister than the last. Someone’s out to destroy everything Rachel holds most dear. And they’ll stop at nothing until they do�
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2020
64 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Butler
2books101followersJ. L. Butler is the pseudonym of a popular London-based British author who has a background in law and magazine journalism.
Pseudonym for Tasmina Perry
Pseudonym for Tasmina Perry
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 10, 2022
The blurb reads ‘Make this you’re new obsession� and tbh it was true,the book is obsessive reading and I enjoyed every page
A story of stalking,obsession,money/ wealth and jealousies all wrapped round a perfect cast of characters and wonderfully set in the ‘want to live in� areas of London
The book/ plot felt different to the usual stalking story from the start,how different of course I wont say but it is one of those clever reads where everyone involved could be the stalker and the author cleverly adds little snippets of info to make you think you are on the right track only to find out ( well for me ) you are far away from the truth
The book features a lot about the book world as the main character works for a publisher and those parts made for very interesting reading indeed 😊
Deliciously written,the excitement,anger,lust and frustration drips from every sentence and I found it flawless in every respect for a reader,it pulled me in from the first paragraph,one of those books you are thrilled to be reading
Loved it,dramatic,dark,soooo readable,perfect
10/10
5 Stars
A story of stalking,obsession,money/ wealth and jealousies all wrapped round a perfect cast of characters and wonderfully set in the ‘want to live in� areas of London
The book/ plot felt different to the usual stalking story from the start,how different of course I wont say but it is one of those clever reads where everyone involved could be the stalker and the author cleverly adds little snippets of info to make you think you are on the right track only to find out ( well for me ) you are far away from the truth
The book features a lot about the book world as the main character works for a publisher and those parts made for very interesting reading indeed 😊
Deliciously written,the excitement,anger,lust and frustration drips from every sentence and I found it flawless in every respect for a reader,it pulled me in from the first paragraph,one of those books you are thrilled to be reading
Loved it,dramatic,dark,soooo readable,perfect
10/10
5 Stars
January 27, 2022
It was meh.....basic snob has affair, basic snob spends half of book telling us that money isn't of any importance to her.....while being a basic snob.....
There wasn't a single redeemable character in this whole story. I kept with it as other reviews were raving about this big twist at the end that they didnt see coming- but I'd pretty much figured it out at the beginning.
Predictable with unpleasant characters.
There wasn't a single redeemable character in this whole story. I kept with it as other reviews were raving about this big twist at the end that they didnt see coming- but I'd pretty much figured it out at the beginning.
Predictable with unpleasant characters.
January 19, 2022
This book was too long and there were way too many typos. There was even a part where it said the name RICHARD instead of ROBERT.... really? It was drawn out with pointless details. Didn’t care for the twists either. It was exhausting to get to the end. I’m relieved that I’m done with it so I can forget about it.
Edit: I came back to say that I’m almost certain that this will go down as my worst read of 2022. Yup, I’m still thinking about how bad it was. Sounds harsh, but it’s true. One last thing, the editor should be fired.
Edit: I came back to say that I’m almost certain that this will go down as my worst read of 2022. Yup, I’m still thinking about how bad it was. Sounds harsh, but it’s true. One last thing, the editor should be fired.
January 15, 2022
DON'T BOTHER UNTIL MISTAKES ARE RECTIFIED
Someone should be sacked! This book should never have been made available for purchase. I am appalled by the number of typos, poor punctuation, missing words and other numerous errors in this book. Ironically, the main character is employed in the world of publishing. It's frustrating as a reader to be submitting corrections every couple of paragraphs, thereby doing the job someone was employed to do. Shame on you!
Someone should be sacked! This book should never have been made available for purchase. I am appalled by the number of typos, poor punctuation, missing words and other numerous errors in this book. Ironically, the main character is employed in the world of publishing. It's frustrating as a reader to be submitting corrections every couple of paragraphs, thereby doing the job someone was employed to do. Shame on you!
November 1, 2022
Be sure your sins will find you out�
Feeling a little lost and lonely when her only daughter leaves home for university, Rachel Reeves has a moment of madness, a.k.a lust, when she accidentally meets an old boyfriend. Next morning she’s horrified and ashamed. She loves her husband and has never even thought of being unfaithful before. So she hopes she can simply keep it a secret and go on as if nothing has happened. But then the messages begin � texts, messages on her social media pages, phonecalls at inopportune times. And they’re escalating, becoming abusive and increasingly threatening. Rachel doesn’t know what to do. At first she thinks it’s Chris, the man she slept with, but gradually she realises there are other possibilities. If she goes to the police, she’s afraid her husband will find out about her infidelity�
I’ll get the usual complaint over with straight away. The book is a hundred or more pages too long for its content. It’s stuffed full of irrelevant digressions which, although they’re well written and sometimes quite interesting, slow the book down to a crawl. Thrillers, you will be as bored reading as I am writing, must be fast-paced or they don’t thrill. This concept seems to have been forgotten by authors, editors and publishers. They should look at the length of thrillers which have become classics and ask themselves why their books need to be twice the length of those books. They should also take the time to read the proofs prior to printing and correct all the typos and errors. Especially if the heroine of the book is an editor...
Grumps over. I enjoyed Butler’s writing style � it’s descriptive without becoming too “creative� and avoids all fashionable quirks. First person, past tense, proper grammar, even quotation marks. There is virtually no swearing except within the messages Rachel receives, where it feels appropriate and even unavoidable. Her characterisation is very good, especially of Rachel but also of all the secondary characters.
Rachel has been a full-time mother while her daughter Dylan was growing up. Robert, her husband, is an alpha male in the business world, dealing in elite property development and making loads of money, so their lifestyle is pretty luxurious. I admit I tired of the brand-naming and ostentatious displaying of wealth, although it’s not as gratuitous as it sometimes feels � their wealth and social status is relevant to the plot. So financially there’s no need for Rachel to work, but she finds she wants to get back to having some kind of life beyond the home now that her days feel so empty. She is lucky to find a temporary maternity cover role as an editor � the career she had before Dylan came along. I found the picture Butler painted of life in a modern publishing house very convincing � an uneasy mix of love of books and need for profit. Some things have changed in Rachel’s eighteen years away � technology, for instance � but other things are just the same: handling authors, from the anxious to the obnoxious, finding the right demographic for the book and designing the marketing to suit.
At first the plot is excellent, quickly showing us Rachel’s indiscretion and then the mounting campaign of her stalker. But it soon slows down, and gradually Butler adds more and more elements into the mix � Dylan’s love life, Rachel’s job, Robert’s business dealings, and so on � until it eventually gets too crowded and hovers perilously close to the credibility line. A simpler, more stripped plot would have built more tension. I did suspect who the stalker was quite early on, but then I suspected them all in turn so I was bound to have been right at least once along the way! But I thought that for the most part Rachel’s reactions were pretty credible � she’s neither a fainting hysteric nor a superwoman; she reacts much like I think many of us would in similar circumstances, with a mix of fear for her marriage and a desire to pretend it’s not happening and hope it goes away.
I understand JL Butler is a pseudonym for Tasmina Perry, who apparently writes racy mystery/romances. Not my genre so I haven’t come across her before but she seems to have a considerable fan base. This one focuses more on the crime aspect � it does have a couple of sex scenes but they were within my tolerance level so that means they’re pretty mild. Despite the excess length I enjoyed it, especially the publishing aspect. The ending is perhaps a little abrupt, but it tells us everything we need to know, and I’d always rather have abrupt than over-stretched! I’d be happy to read more from her Butler persona and I might even be tempted to try one of her Perry books sometime.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
Feeling a little lost and lonely when her only daughter leaves home for university, Rachel Reeves has a moment of madness, a.k.a lust, when she accidentally meets an old boyfriend. Next morning she’s horrified and ashamed. She loves her husband and has never even thought of being unfaithful before. So she hopes she can simply keep it a secret and go on as if nothing has happened. But then the messages begin � texts, messages on her social media pages, phonecalls at inopportune times. And they’re escalating, becoming abusive and increasingly threatening. Rachel doesn’t know what to do. At first she thinks it’s Chris, the man she slept with, but gradually she realises there are other possibilities. If she goes to the police, she’s afraid her husband will find out about her infidelity�
I’ll get the usual complaint over with straight away. The book is a hundred or more pages too long for its content. It’s stuffed full of irrelevant digressions which, although they’re well written and sometimes quite interesting, slow the book down to a crawl. Thrillers, you will be as bored reading as I am writing, must be fast-paced or they don’t thrill. This concept seems to have been forgotten by authors, editors and publishers. They should look at the length of thrillers which have become classics and ask themselves why their books need to be twice the length of those books. They should also take the time to read the proofs prior to printing and correct all the typos and errors. Especially if the heroine of the book is an editor...
Grumps over. I enjoyed Butler’s writing style � it’s descriptive without becoming too “creative� and avoids all fashionable quirks. First person, past tense, proper grammar, even quotation marks. There is virtually no swearing except within the messages Rachel receives, where it feels appropriate and even unavoidable. Her characterisation is very good, especially of Rachel but also of all the secondary characters.
Rachel has been a full-time mother while her daughter Dylan was growing up. Robert, her husband, is an alpha male in the business world, dealing in elite property development and making loads of money, so their lifestyle is pretty luxurious. I admit I tired of the brand-naming and ostentatious displaying of wealth, although it’s not as gratuitous as it sometimes feels � their wealth and social status is relevant to the plot. So financially there’s no need for Rachel to work, but she finds she wants to get back to having some kind of life beyond the home now that her days feel so empty. She is lucky to find a temporary maternity cover role as an editor � the career she had before Dylan came along. I found the picture Butler painted of life in a modern publishing house very convincing � an uneasy mix of love of books and need for profit. Some things have changed in Rachel’s eighteen years away � technology, for instance � but other things are just the same: handling authors, from the anxious to the obnoxious, finding the right demographic for the book and designing the marketing to suit.
At first the plot is excellent, quickly showing us Rachel’s indiscretion and then the mounting campaign of her stalker. But it soon slows down, and gradually Butler adds more and more elements into the mix � Dylan’s love life, Rachel’s job, Robert’s business dealings, and so on � until it eventually gets too crowded and hovers perilously close to the credibility line. A simpler, more stripped plot would have built more tension. I did suspect who the stalker was quite early on, but then I suspected them all in turn so I was bound to have been right at least once along the way! But I thought that for the most part Rachel’s reactions were pretty credible � she’s neither a fainting hysteric nor a superwoman; she reacts much like I think many of us would in similar circumstances, with a mix of fear for her marriage and a desire to pretend it’s not happening and hope it goes away.
I understand JL Butler is a pseudonym for Tasmina Perry, who apparently writes racy mystery/romances. Not my genre so I haven’t come across her before but she seems to have a considerable fan base. This one focuses more on the crime aspect � it does have a couple of sex scenes but they were within my tolerance level so that means they’re pretty mild. Despite the excess length I enjoyed it, especially the publishing aspect. The ending is perhaps a little abrupt, but it tells us everything we need to know, and I’d always rather have abrupt than over-stretched! I’d be happy to read more from her Butler persona and I might even be tempted to try one of her Perry books sometime.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
March 18, 2024
Ocena: 4+/5
Gatunek: thriller psychologiczny/domestic thriller
Motywy: stalking, zdrada, pozornie udane życie rodzinne, tajemnice i sekrety
.
Pewnej leniwej soboty wzięłam tę książkę w dłoń i przepadłam! Nie spodziewałam się, że aż tak mnie ta historia porwie, a okazało się, że "Niewierna" ma do zaoferowania wszystko, co lubię: motyw stalkingu, nieidealnych bohaterów, świetnie wyważone tempo i zaskakujące zakończenie.
Rachel popełniła błąd - pewnej nocy zdradziła męża ze swoim ekschłopakiem z czasów studenckich. Jej uporządkowane życie zaczyna rozpadać się na kawałki, gdy zdaje sobie sprawę, że ktoś wie o zdradzie, a co gorsza - zaczyna ją prześladować. Rachel jest pełna obaw i lęku, gdyż wydarzenia powoli zaczynają eskalować - po wulgarnych mailach/smsach przychodzi czas na ekscentryczne prezenty i znalezisko w piekarniku (bleee). Właściwie z nikim nie może na ten temat porozmawiać, żeby na jaw nie wyszła jej zdrada. Dodatkowo, nie wiadomo, komu mogłaby zaufać, wydaje się, że wszyscy bohaterowie mają jakieś tajemnice, nikt nie jest bez winy. Muszę przyznać, że chyba każdego podejrzewałam o stalkerskie zapędy, a jednak nie udało mi się do samego końca odkryć tożsamości sprawcy.
Ta książka ma jeden minus: bohaterka z uporem maniaka nazywa swojego kochanka pełnym imieniem i nazwiskiem. Jeśli jeszcze raz przeczytałabym o Chrisie Hannah, to mogłoby się to źle skończyć ;)
"Niewierna" była dla mnie fantastyczną odskocznią od szarej rzeczywistości. Bawiłam się świetnie i dałam się zaskoczyć. Takie thrillery uwielbiam!
Gatunek: thriller psychologiczny/domestic thriller
Motywy: stalking, zdrada, pozornie udane życie rodzinne, tajemnice i sekrety
.
Pewnej leniwej soboty wzięłam tę książkę w dłoń i przepadłam! Nie spodziewałam się, że aż tak mnie ta historia porwie, a okazało się, że "Niewierna" ma do zaoferowania wszystko, co lubię: motyw stalkingu, nieidealnych bohaterów, świetnie wyważone tempo i zaskakujące zakończenie.
Rachel popełniła błąd - pewnej nocy zdradziła męża ze swoim ekschłopakiem z czasów studenckich. Jej uporządkowane życie zaczyna rozpadać się na kawałki, gdy zdaje sobie sprawę, że ktoś wie o zdradzie, a co gorsza - zaczyna ją prześladować. Rachel jest pełna obaw i lęku, gdyż wydarzenia powoli zaczynają eskalować - po wulgarnych mailach/smsach przychodzi czas na ekscentryczne prezenty i znalezisko w piekarniku (bleee). Właściwie z nikim nie może na ten temat porozmawiać, żeby na jaw nie wyszła jej zdrada. Dodatkowo, nie wiadomo, komu mogłaby zaufać, wydaje się, że wszyscy bohaterowie mają jakieś tajemnice, nikt nie jest bez winy. Muszę przyznać, że chyba każdego podejrzewałam o stalkerskie zapędy, a jednak nie udało mi się do samego końca odkryć tożsamości sprawcy.
Ta książka ma jeden minus: bohaterka z uporem maniaka nazywa swojego kochanka pełnym imieniem i nazwiskiem. Jeśli jeszcze raz przeczytałabym o Chrisie Hannah, to mogłoby się to źle skończyć ;)
"Niewierna" była dla mnie fantastyczną odskocznią od szarej rzeczywistości. Bawiłam się świetnie i dałam się zaskoczyć. Takie thrillery uwielbiam!
January 7, 2022
This mind-blowing, edge of your seat thriller had me devouring this book in just a few days. If you have ever needed an incentive to remain faithful, then this is the book for you. Unfaithful will erase any consideration of infidelity you might have had. You can expect a story that will capture you as you open the first page and thrill you from page to page, never leaving you a moment that is not gut-twisting.
J.L. Butler left me hooked with this book. The story is intelligently written, tightly plotted and a twist-a-minute leaving you flipping the pages late into the night. This is a gripping, compulsive story that I could not drag myself away from.
Rachel Reeves finds that her perfect life is enough when her daughter leaves home for college. Suddenly she is facing empty days with nothing to fill her time. When she decides to return to work, she attends a book launch where she runs into Chris, an old flame. Chris’s attention leads to a one-nightstand which Rachel immediately regrets. She does everything she can to remove Chris from her life. But when she receives a text, Rachel discovers that someone knows what she did. Someone who will do everything they can to destroy her life
Unfaithful was one of those books I battles to drag myself away from. It is a clear, twisty tale that kept me intrigued from start to finish. I loved this book and would highly recommend it. You can expect this page-turner to keep you engrossed from start to finish.
The characters in this book are all flawed, making everyone suspicious and you never know who you should trust. A moment’s vulnerability left Rachel making a mistake. A mistake that no matter what she did to rectify it, left her haunted. Her guilt was bad, but when the texts start, you are left feeling sorry for this woman. Even as someone who does not condone infidelity, I found myself sympathising with Rachel. No matter what she did, she did not deserve what was headed her way.
This is a fabulous story that will have you reading late into the night. I highly recommend that thriller fans add this title to their TBR. I have already added “Mine�, also by J.L. Butler to my TBR for 2022.
J.L. Butler left me hooked with this book. The story is intelligently written, tightly plotted and a twist-a-minute leaving you flipping the pages late into the night. This is a gripping, compulsive story that I could not drag myself away from.
Rachel Reeves finds that her perfect life is enough when her daughter leaves home for college. Suddenly she is facing empty days with nothing to fill her time. When she decides to return to work, she attends a book launch where she runs into Chris, an old flame. Chris’s attention leads to a one-nightstand which Rachel immediately regrets. She does everything she can to remove Chris from her life. But when she receives a text, Rachel discovers that someone knows what she did. Someone who will do everything they can to destroy her life
Unfaithful was one of those books I battles to drag myself away from. It is a clear, twisty tale that kept me intrigued from start to finish. I loved this book and would highly recommend it. You can expect this page-turner to keep you engrossed from start to finish.
The characters in this book are all flawed, making everyone suspicious and you never know who you should trust. A moment’s vulnerability left Rachel making a mistake. A mistake that no matter what she did to rectify it, left her haunted. Her guilt was bad, but when the texts start, you are left feeling sorry for this woman. Even as someone who does not condone infidelity, I found myself sympathising with Rachel. No matter what she did, she did not deserve what was headed her way.
This is a fabulous story that will have you reading late into the night. I highly recommend that thriller fans add this title to their TBR. I have already added “Mine�, also by J.L. Butler to my TBR for 2022.
January 14, 2022
JL Butler is the pseudonym for Tasmina Perry, well known for her steamy novels that have kept me company on many a beach holiday. I've always enjoyed her writing, it reminds me of the greats from days past; Judith Krantz, Shirley Conran et al.
I hadn't realised that JL Butler is the same author writing psychological thrillers, and was really interested to se just how she would do this.
Unfaithful is a rollicking ride of a story and kept me totally entertained throughout. It's a tale of betrayal and obsession, set amongst the privileged and wealthy people in London. It moves at a decent pace, although I did feel that there were parts that could have moved faster. However, the final few chapters are utterly nail biting and I had a definite jaw dropping moment, more than once.
Rachel Reeves seems to have the perfect life, with her wealthy husband, a daughter who is off to university and a beautiful home. However, she's restless. Rachel gave up her job as an editor when she had Rachel and has not worked out of the home since then. She's ready to go back out there and her well-connected friend Serena engineers an invitation to a publisher launch party, in the hope that Rachel can get a foot back in the door.
She certainly does. She's offered a job, on the strength of her previous publishing success, almost immediately. The party was a good idea. However, a new job is not all that Rachel gets that night. She also comes across an old flame and it becomes clear that it doesn't take much for their fire to reignite.
Rachel immediately regrets her hasty decision and does all that she can to forget. It's not so easy though, as she begins to receive texts and messages. All sorts of strange things begin to happen to her. She's scared (so was I), and she's not sure what to do.
I didn't really like Rachel! I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to, and it makes no difference to me at all, I'm a fan of a flawed character to be fair. She makes some strange and hasty decisions, she hides things and she panics, but oh my goodness, the author has created her so well. The tension builds quickly and we are never sure who is behind Rachel's terror. All I can say is that I had no inkling of the truth, and Rachel certainly doesn't either!
I particularly enjoyed the setting and getting a glimpse into the world of publishing; the sales meetings, the tactics, the parties, the authors to be cosseted and the constantly changing world of books. I think this adds another level to what is a entertaining and well structured story.
Thrills, twists, glamour and red herrings a plenty. Enough to please any reader.
I hadn't realised that JL Butler is the same author writing psychological thrillers, and was really interested to se just how she would do this.
Unfaithful is a rollicking ride of a story and kept me totally entertained throughout. It's a tale of betrayal and obsession, set amongst the privileged and wealthy people in London. It moves at a decent pace, although I did feel that there were parts that could have moved faster. However, the final few chapters are utterly nail biting and I had a definite jaw dropping moment, more than once.
Rachel Reeves seems to have the perfect life, with her wealthy husband, a daughter who is off to university and a beautiful home. However, she's restless. Rachel gave up her job as an editor when she had Rachel and has not worked out of the home since then. She's ready to go back out there and her well-connected friend Serena engineers an invitation to a publisher launch party, in the hope that Rachel can get a foot back in the door.
She certainly does. She's offered a job, on the strength of her previous publishing success, almost immediately. The party was a good idea. However, a new job is not all that Rachel gets that night. She also comes across an old flame and it becomes clear that it doesn't take much for their fire to reignite.
Rachel immediately regrets her hasty decision and does all that she can to forget. It's not so easy though, as she begins to receive texts and messages. All sorts of strange things begin to happen to her. She's scared (so was I), and she's not sure what to do.
I didn't really like Rachel! I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to, and it makes no difference to me at all, I'm a fan of a flawed character to be fair. She makes some strange and hasty decisions, she hides things and she panics, but oh my goodness, the author has created her so well. The tension builds quickly and we are never sure who is behind Rachel's terror. All I can say is that I had no inkling of the truth, and Rachel certainly doesn't either!
I particularly enjoyed the setting and getting a glimpse into the world of publishing; the sales meetings, the tactics, the parties, the authors to be cosseted and the constantly changing world of books. I think this adds another level to what is a entertaining and well structured story.
Thrills, twists, glamour and red herrings a plenty. Enough to please any reader.
January 5, 2022
Book reviews on
Unfaithful is a gripping, slow burn of a novel that explores loyalty, relationships and how a moment of madness can lead to a whole world of pain�
At first glance, this may sound like a similar storyline to other books about this kind of topic, but the author (J.L. Butler, a pseudonym for bestselling author Tasmina Perry) manages to make this novel atmospheric, intriguing and, although it is not necessarily a short novel, it kept me completely hooked from the first page to last.
I really liked the way this novel explores the characters � it’s not a fast-paced, action-packed novel. Plenty happens but the author allows time for the reader to find out more about the main character Rachel, her family and what led her to do what she did. The characters feel realistic and convincing, and there are lots of different elements to the plot which kept me guessing. We have the person who is harassing Rachael after having (supposedly) seen her with the man (not her husband!) that she had a one-night stand with; then there are concerns about her daughter Dylan, husband Mike’s business and whether he’ll find out, and Rachel’s career, plus other threads which you’re never sure are relevant or not�
This all makes for a gripping story, and there are plenty of twists and turns. Some bits you may need to suspend your disbelief for a tiny bit, but never too much � and I think but that’s to be expected anyway. The various surprises along the way keep the mystery of the novel alive!
I think Unfaithful is a great read � entertaining, well-plotted with just the right level of drama. I didn’t want to put it down and I ended up reading it in two, long and very satisfying sittings � and I’d recommend you do the same!
Many thanks to Random Things Tours and HarperCollins for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest review, and for having me on the blog tour!
Unfaithful is a gripping, slow burn of a novel that explores loyalty, relationships and how a moment of madness can lead to a whole world of pain�
At first glance, this may sound like a similar storyline to other books about this kind of topic, but the author (J.L. Butler, a pseudonym for bestselling author Tasmina Perry) manages to make this novel atmospheric, intriguing and, although it is not necessarily a short novel, it kept me completely hooked from the first page to last.
I really liked the way this novel explores the characters � it’s not a fast-paced, action-packed novel. Plenty happens but the author allows time for the reader to find out more about the main character Rachel, her family and what led her to do what she did. The characters feel realistic and convincing, and there are lots of different elements to the plot which kept me guessing. We have the person who is harassing Rachael after having (supposedly) seen her with the man (not her husband!) that she had a one-night stand with; then there are concerns about her daughter Dylan, husband Mike’s business and whether he’ll find out, and Rachel’s career, plus other threads which you’re never sure are relevant or not�
This all makes for a gripping story, and there are plenty of twists and turns. Some bits you may need to suspend your disbelief for a tiny bit, but never too much � and I think but that’s to be expected anyway. The various surprises along the way keep the mystery of the novel alive!
I think Unfaithful is a great read � entertaining, well-plotted with just the right level of drama. I didn’t want to put it down and I ended up reading it in two, long and very satisfying sittings � and I’d recommend you do the same!
Many thanks to Random Things Tours and HarperCollins for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest review, and for having me on the blog tour!
February 13, 2022
Terrible. Boring. Dumb Russian mob type sub-plot which was ridiculous and irrelevant. And to top it off the MC describes her own daughter as ‘looking ripe and ready for sex� NOPE. No no. No.
Also I’ve never read a book with so many typos or missed/incorrect punctuation. Like at one point MC hopes ‘it wasn’t someone with green eyes and dark eyes�? Did anyone proof read this at all?
Also I’ve never read a book with so many typos or missed/incorrect punctuation. Like at one point MC hopes ‘it wasn’t someone with green eyes and dark eyes�? Did anyone proof read this at all?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2022
⭐️ 4 ⭐️
I thoroughly enjoyed Unfaithful. I went into the book blind - I did wonder from the title if it would be full of spice and lacking in substance; it certainly wasn’t lacking in the latter (there is a soupçon of spice, but it’s not overly seasoned).
I was gripped from the start and read late into the night (just one more chapter!). The characters are well-drawn and the dialogue realistic. Even though Rachel makes some questionable decisions, I still liked her character and rooted for her.
There are plenty of twists, turns and fishy red herrings thrown in for good measure (although I did guess the identity of the ‘baddie�) One thing that particularly satisfied me was the ending; all the loose ends are neatly tied together.
Overall, an excellent psychological thriller.
Many thanks to the publisher for the proof copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I thoroughly enjoyed Unfaithful. I went into the book blind - I did wonder from the title if it would be full of spice and lacking in substance; it certainly wasn’t lacking in the latter (there is a soupçon of spice, but it’s not overly seasoned).
I was gripped from the start and read late into the night (just one more chapter!). The characters are well-drawn and the dialogue realistic. Even though Rachel makes some questionable decisions, I still liked her character and rooted for her.
There are plenty of twists, turns and fishy red herrings thrown in for good measure (although I did guess the identity of the ‘baddie�) One thing that particularly satisfied me was the ending; all the loose ends are neatly tied together.
Overall, an excellent psychological thriller.
Many thanks to the publisher for the proof copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
October 2, 2023
Only 2 stars from me! Like others have stated already, it is shocking that this book was published by Harper Collins as is, with so many errors.
The story itself has potential. The ending, however, is ridiculous, I felt like it was added for the shock factor only. It made absolutely no sense.
The main character, Rachel, is snobbish, obnoxious, and petty throughout the book.
There is nothing to be gained by reading this book, in my opinion. It is a complete waste of time.
The story itself has potential. The ending, however, is ridiculous, I felt like it was added for the shock factor only. It made absolutely no sense.
The main character, Rachel, is snobbish, obnoxious, and petty throughout the book.
There is nothing to be gained by reading this book, in my opinion. It is a complete waste of time.
January 31, 2022
Really good stalker storyline which had me guessing right to the end. Spoilt though by grammar and errors! Taking about Rachel’s phone � she took it out of her pocket and put it in her pocket�. Loads of little things, but they add up. I really wanted to get a highlighter and do corrections! Do proofreaders not exist nowadays?!
December 22, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This story is about Rachel, a stay at home mum, whose daughter is just leaving home to start university. Rachel’s husband, Robert, is a high flying business owner, and on the face of everything, Rachel leads a privileged life, with no money worries and the best of everything money can buy. But Rachel is bored. Especially now her daughter has left home. Rachel decides to try and rehash her career from before having her daughter in publishing. She still has contacts in that world, and one night to goes to a party to get back out there and potentially get a job. And that one night is what sets the ball rolling on a whole chain of events.
I feel like I’ve waited ages for another book from this author!! And it’s here and it doesn’t disappoint. The story was well thought out, and had lots of strands to it, and lots of secrets and twists and turns. All the way through I tried to guess who was doing what and failed miserably. I liked the characters, and enjoyed the way modern day topics were tackled, such as depression. I do think that Rachel’s character could have been made a little stronger, some of the decisions or thought processes she had seemed a little weak and soft, but overall I liked them all, and they all brought something different to the table. A great page turning read!!
This story is about Rachel, a stay at home mum, whose daughter is just leaving home to start university. Rachel’s husband, Robert, is a high flying business owner, and on the face of everything, Rachel leads a privileged life, with no money worries and the best of everything money can buy. But Rachel is bored. Especially now her daughter has left home. Rachel decides to try and rehash her career from before having her daughter in publishing. She still has contacts in that world, and one night to goes to a party to get back out there and potentially get a job. And that one night is what sets the ball rolling on a whole chain of events.
I feel like I’ve waited ages for another book from this author!! And it’s here and it doesn’t disappoint. The story was well thought out, and had lots of strands to it, and lots of secrets and twists and turns. All the way through I tried to guess who was doing what and failed miserably. I liked the characters, and enjoyed the way modern day topics were tackled, such as depression. I do think that Rachel’s character could have been made a little stronger, some of the decisions or thought processes she had seemed a little weak and soft, but overall I liked them all, and they all brought something different to the table. A great page turning read!!
January 12, 2022
3.5 stars
This is more than just a fling, this book is a full blown affair packed with deceit. It is a world steeped in riches and influence, of publishing and parties. Featuring a woman who feels invisible, and who will soon wish she was�.
I have seen a trend in thrillers lately with people who have it all getting into trouble because they are still wanting. It never ends well and this one is no different. What sets this apart though is the clever threads and paths taken that pull the story to its conclusion.
I understood Rachel and why she choose to take the actions she did. Her so called perfect life and affluence was all smoke and mirrors when you looked closer. Her husband’s attitude towards her wanting to go back to work would have had me in bed with Chris too.
I couldn’t relate to the world Rachel lives in but I think most women will relate to getting to a certain age, becoming invisible but still wanting to feel needed by their children and desired by the opposite sex.
The characters were mostly unpleasant and I had my suspicions on who was out to destroy Rachel. I thought I was actually going to guess one correctly for a change until the author changed tack and gave me a complete wth moment.
This is more than just a fling, this book is a full blown affair packed with deceit. It is a world steeped in riches and influence, of publishing and parties. Featuring a woman who feels invisible, and who will soon wish she was�.
I have seen a trend in thrillers lately with people who have it all getting into trouble because they are still wanting. It never ends well and this one is no different. What sets this apart though is the clever threads and paths taken that pull the story to its conclusion.
I understood Rachel and why she choose to take the actions she did. Her so called perfect life and affluence was all smoke and mirrors when you looked closer. Her husband’s attitude towards her wanting to go back to work would have had me in bed with Chris too.
I couldn’t relate to the world Rachel lives in but I think most women will relate to getting to a certain age, becoming invisible but still wanting to feel needed by their children and desired by the opposite sex.
The characters were mostly unpleasant and I had my suspicions on who was out to destroy Rachel. I thought I was actually going to guess one correctly for a change until the author changed tack and gave me a complete wth moment.
October 30, 2023
*SPOILER ALERT* 2.5 stars bumped to 3.
I might have checked out the incorrect ‘Unfaithful� book because this wasn’t as great as the reviews suggest (again, I’ll have to go back and check what book this was vs what book I *thought* I got…wouldn’t it be sad if I didn’t make an error?).
This read like a Scooby Doo mystery that could have been condensed in a short story. A new empty nester (wife) has an affair with an old college fling then suddenly starts to get threatening messages. It dragged on and on and I just wanted the author to get to the effing point or at least include more sex for entertainment purposes. I’ll save you the agony, it was the husband that was stalking his wife.
It was ok.
I might have checked out the incorrect ‘Unfaithful� book because this wasn’t as great as the reviews suggest (again, I’ll have to go back and check what book this was vs what book I *thought* I got…wouldn’t it be sad if I didn’t make an error?).
This read like a Scooby Doo mystery that could have been condensed in a short story. A new empty nester (wife) has an affair with an old college fling then suddenly starts to get threatening messages. It dragged on and on and I just wanted the author to get to the effing point or at least include more sex for entertainment purposes. I’ll save you the agony, it was the husband that was stalking his wife.
It was ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2023
The story - I enjoyed.
The number of typos - less so. This book needs thorough proofing; I must have identified around 30 typos!
The number of typos - less so. This book needs thorough proofing; I must have identified around 30 typos!
January 22, 2022
A book about stalking. Rachel suffers from empty nest syndrome and returns to her previous line of work. A work party brings her back into contact with her first love. They have a one night stand. Rachel suspects he is the stalker but this is far from the truth.
January 18, 2022
Rachel Reeves is living the dream; rich husband, beautiful home, gorgeous daughter. But when her daughter leaves home for university, Rachel starts to feel adrift. At a work event she meets Chris, a very old flame- and gets swept away with drunken abandon.
Desperate to forget her mistake she tries to forget about Chris, but unfortunately he can’t forget about her. And as texts and threats start arriving, Rachel starts to wonder if she’s made the biggest mistake of her life�
What a delicious and dazzling read this was! From the first few pages I was gripped & didn’t want to stop reading. I sat at my daughter’s birthday party at Lush with my head stuck in this book, frantically turning the pages, while she whipped up a storm making bath bombs! This is the first book I’ve read by this author (either as JL Butler or Tasmina Perry) and it is definitely not going to be my last. Her writing is excellent, the prose and the plot flow effortlessly and reading this was a pleasure from the very first page to the last. I had no idea which way the story was going to pan out and the ending was quite unpredictable - I definitely didn’t see it coming and enjoyed it all the more for that reason.
Highly entertaining and hugely enjoyable.
Desperate to forget her mistake she tries to forget about Chris, but unfortunately he can’t forget about her. And as texts and threats start arriving, Rachel starts to wonder if she’s made the biggest mistake of her life�
What a delicious and dazzling read this was! From the first few pages I was gripped & didn’t want to stop reading. I sat at my daughter’s birthday party at Lush with my head stuck in this book, frantically turning the pages, while she whipped up a storm making bath bombs! This is the first book I’ve read by this author (either as JL Butler or Tasmina Perry) and it is definitely not going to be my last. Her writing is excellent, the prose and the plot flow effortlessly and reading this was a pleasure from the very first page to the last. I had no idea which way the story was going to pan out and the ending was quite unpredictable - I definitely didn’t see it coming and enjoyed it all the more for that reason.
Highly entertaining and hugely enjoyable.
September 6, 2022
I love a really good gripping thriller, and this just isn’t it.
Rachel is a mum in her mid-40s who lives a very privileged life and is struggling with her daughter going away to uni. She is also spectacularly dull, boring and, to be perfectly honest, downright irritating. She misses every single red flag in her life, puts herself ahead of others including her own daughter, and is a judgemental, self righteous arsehole. In all honestly, there aren’t many characters in this book who aren’t arseholes, other than Chris who actually has just been dealt a bad hand due to Rachel’s actions.
There is no necessity for the side plot with Bill and Iris, and Nathan was just another character for Rachel to scapegoat and bully. Literally, just rich people assuming the worst of the working class.
I would say this doesn’t grip you, especially not if you’re a fan of thrillers like ‘The Silent Patient� or anything by Adele Parks. It’s just slow, very little happens and I actually laughed at the heart in the oven. I mean, seriously, what was the author thinking?
This just isn’t for me. The writing style feels immature. The plot is too sporadic. Oh and, If grammatical errors piss you off, be prepared to be pissed off. It’s so damn ironic that Rachel is an editor but the actual editor of this book missed so many typos. And it’s not just grammatical errors� at one point, the book references Richard. I was like, who the fuck is Richard?! Turns out it was an error and should have said Robert. Seriously?! The editing mistakes in this are painful!
The two stars are kudos for at least one character getting the ending they deserved and the fact that I had the willpower to finish the book, but, otherwise, this is probably the worst thriller I have read in a long time.
Rachel is a mum in her mid-40s who lives a very privileged life and is struggling with her daughter going away to uni. She is also spectacularly dull, boring and, to be perfectly honest, downright irritating. She misses every single red flag in her life, puts herself ahead of others including her own daughter, and is a judgemental, self righteous arsehole. In all honestly, there aren’t many characters in this book who aren’t arseholes, other than Chris who actually has just been dealt a bad hand due to Rachel’s actions.
There is no necessity for the side plot with Bill and Iris, and Nathan was just another character for Rachel to scapegoat and bully. Literally, just rich people assuming the worst of the working class.
I would say this doesn’t grip you, especially not if you’re a fan of thrillers like ‘The Silent Patient� or anything by Adele Parks. It’s just slow, very little happens and I actually laughed at the heart in the oven. I mean, seriously, what was the author thinking?
This just isn’t for me. The writing style feels immature. The plot is too sporadic. Oh and, If grammatical errors piss you off, be prepared to be pissed off. It’s so damn ironic that Rachel is an editor but the actual editor of this book missed so many typos. And it’s not just grammatical errors� at one point, the book references Richard. I was like, who the fuck is Richard?! Turns out it was an error and should have said Robert. Seriously?! The editing mistakes in this are painful!
The two stars are kudos for at least one character getting the ending they deserved and the fact that I had the willpower to finish the book, but, otherwise, this is probably the worst thriller I have read in a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2022
*contains spoilers*
This book should’ve been one that I devoured in one sitting. It sounded fantastic and it started off pretty well. The characters were interesting and there were plenty of them. Rachel was fairly likeable at the which is unusual for a lot of thrillers where the MC has an affair.
However, once Rachel sleeps with Chris it all falls apart. Rachel is still an interesting character but she’s no longer likeable in the way she acts towards those around her.
There were several red flags at the start (hello controlling husband), but after this big event, it became painfully obvious who the perpetrator was. There are just too many books where a cheating wife is stalked by her seemingly loving husband.
The author does try to throw readers off the scent, but it’s not convincing enough.
That wouldn’t have been so bad; however, the author adds in people from the Russian Mafia, embroiling the characters in an unnecessary plot that adds nothing and is just confusing.
The insight into publishing, plus the characters Iris and Bill are the reason this gets 2 stars, rather than 1. The old couple next door were well-written and believable characters. I genuinely cared about them.
The rest of them� even daughter Dylan and especially her friend Serena, were despicable.
While I can get past unlikeable characters, the real nail in the coffin was the ending, which is utterly ridiculous.
A strong start, but unfortunately it descends into chaos and utter fantasy.
I was provided a copy of the book by Random Things Tours. Opinions my own.
This book should’ve been one that I devoured in one sitting. It sounded fantastic and it started off pretty well. The characters were interesting and there were plenty of them. Rachel was fairly likeable at the which is unusual for a lot of thrillers where the MC has an affair.
However, once Rachel sleeps with Chris it all falls apart. Rachel is still an interesting character but she’s no longer likeable in the way she acts towards those around her.
There were several red flags at the start (hello controlling husband), but after this big event, it became painfully obvious who the perpetrator was. There are just too many books where a cheating wife is stalked by her seemingly loving husband.
The author does try to throw readers off the scent, but it’s not convincing enough.
That wouldn’t have been so bad; however, the author adds in people from the Russian Mafia, embroiling the characters in an unnecessary plot that adds nothing and is just confusing.
The insight into publishing, plus the characters Iris and Bill are the reason this gets 2 stars, rather than 1. The old couple next door were well-written and believable characters. I genuinely cared about them.
The rest of them� even daughter Dylan and especially her friend Serena, were despicable.
While I can get past unlikeable characters, the real nail in the coffin was the ending, which is utterly ridiculous.
A strong start, but unfortunately it descends into chaos and utter fantasy.
I was provided a copy of the book by Random Things Tours. Opinions my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2024
Rachel has it all, a great life, husband, home and a good relationship with her teenage daughter who's about to leave for university. Missing her daughter, she decides to go back to the publishing world after 18 years of being a SAHM. One social networking event, and she bumps into her own uni first love Chris, and makes the mistake of hooking up.
Then follows a stalking and threats, with Rachel not knowing how to cope or stop, trying to forget about her mistake and put it behind her. But what's coming next from the stalker.
Who is it that's calling her out for being unfaithful, and can she stop it before everyone in her life is told?
Surprisingly I didn't guess the ending, this was a middle of the road book for me. It did keep me wanting to finish it
Then follows a stalking and threats, with Rachel not knowing how to cope or stop, trying to forget about her mistake and put it behind her. But what's coming next from the stalker.
Who is it that's calling her out for being unfaithful, and can she stop it before everyone in her life is told?
Surprisingly I didn't guess the ending, this was a middle of the road book for me. It did keep me wanting to finish it
January 18, 2022
Rachel is an empty-nester and her husband, a businessman is often away from home. She’s lonely and bored. So when she bumps into an old flame and has a drink too many the inevitable happens. But it doesn’t end there. Rachel is stalked, she receives threats and fears being found out.
The storyline is ok. Nothing unique. But worth a read if you manage to cope with bad editing and typos, of which there are many.
The storyline is ok. Nothing unique. But worth a read if you manage to cope with bad editing and typos, of which there are many.
August 26, 2022
This book gripped me right from the start, a book involving the publishing world, who wouldn’t want to read it.
I love a stalker storyline and this one was clever that anyone could have been the stalker. It covered a range of emotions such as anger, lust and confusion (for me on who it was lol).
I would recommend this for thriller fans
I love a stalker storyline and this one was clever that anyone could have been the stalker. It covered a range of emotions such as anger, lust and confusion (for me on who it was lol).
I would recommend this for thriller fans
August 26, 2022
This book gripped me right from the start, a book involving the publishing world, who wouldn’t want to read it.
I love a stalker storyline and this one was clever that anyone could have been the stalker. It covered a range of emotions such as anger, lust and confusion (for me on who it was lol).
I would recommend this for thriller fans.
I love a stalker storyline and this one was clever that anyone could have been the stalker. It covered a range of emotions such as anger, lust and confusion (for me on who it was lol).
I would recommend this for thriller fans.
March 5, 2023
Nope! Went into this book blind but it has been in my TBR pile for a while. Read some reviews about it being great with a twist at the end. It start okay & kept going waiting. Very waffly, didn't really like any characters, granted didn't guess the twist but by the time it got to that I didn't care.
April 25, 2022
I was truly drawn into this brilliantly crafted story. The deception led to a string of chilling events where I was always looking over my shoulder in fear for the protagonist! Fabulous believable characters in a setting with a tangle of relationships which kept me turning the pages!
February 5, 2022
It was a painful read. Took a while.
April 24, 2022
Enjoyed the story but could not forgive the multitude of spelling mistakes and incorrect words. Ironic when it’s about a book publisher!
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