Book Review: A Twisted Love Story

Years ago I read My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing and loved it. It was suspenseful on the level of Gone Girl without the language or explicit scenes. When I found this one by her as well, I was all in.

My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Pros: Not littered with curse words or explicit scenes

Cons: If you follow me because I'm a Christian author, keep in mind this book is not in the Christian fiction realm. It suggests intimate relationships between unmarried couples although all nothing explicit is written on the page. It does include a bit of bad language.

My Thoughts:

I love a book that leaves me guessing until the very end. This book delivered a bit of that, but not to the level of Downing's previous book My Lovely Wife. The end does hold some surprises.

Before I talk about the book, let's discuss the difference between a love story and a romance. In a romance, the relationship drives the plot and the two characters often end up in a committed relationship by the end of the novel. A love story however often begins with an existing relationship and focuses on the characters and the effect of outside circumstances on their relationship. They may or may not survive as a couple by the end of the novel.

Now on to this book.

Wes and Ivy met in college, and they've been addicted to each other ever since. No matter how toxic their relationship, they somehow find their way back together. This time Ivy took it a little far. When she receives notes, pictures of herself, and a brand of chocolates only Wes ever sent her, she goes to the police to accuse him of stalking her. They had not been together in over two years, what else could it be called?

Wes does the only logical thing someone addicted to a toxic relationship does, he goes to Ivy's apartment. And just like that they are back together.

Ivy attempts to back out of her statement to the police, but by now it's too late. The detective in the sex crimes division is sure Ivy is in trouble and that Wes is abusive. Plus the detective has uncovered evidence of another crime, one Ivy and Wes thought they left behind years ago.

If I had to pick the most toxic person in this relationship, I'd vote for Ivy, although it's a hard choice to make. These two are better off without each other. Ivy, however, seems to attract disfunction.

For readers who enjoy psychological thrillers, this book will make a great addition to your TBR pile for 2024.