YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

The next novel of psychological suspense and obsession from the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.

Starting!

End of Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[Assuming someone’s gender is a huge pet peeve of mine. In this chapter we learned that, in fact, Dr. Shield’s is a woman. (hide spoiler)]

End of Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[I have some theories going on in my mind. I am liking this story and the concept. I like the underlying message to not assume and take things at face value. I especially like it, because I tend to not try to assume and think of all possible scenarios in my head, I always thought it was a quirk of mine. I like that in this book, it’s normalized in a way. Like with the older woman whose Anniversary it was, I was a bit annoyed that she had just automatically assumed the lady’s husband was alive... or my biggest pet peeve, when Jessica assumes Dr. Shields’ gender. (hide spoiler)]

Hi Jacquelyn, I am finally to a point of the book that I'm going to do a review. What do you think of the books so far?

Chapter 1 - 18
So far I like the book. I find with the close of each chapter I need to see where this leads and what it is she is wanting from Jessica.

(view spoiler)[
I don't love it either when they assume someone's gender either. I did think Dr. Field's was Noah (the guy in the bar that she went home with) I thought maybe he was Dr. Fields and this is a weird way to find a perfect match or he was finding someone he can control on some level. Then when it was revealed that the Dr. was a woman I still thought the same thing that it was a screening process for dating but the relationship would be a a scary one.

I'm not sure what to make of why she is ending some of the sentences with little innuendos like the info the Dr. got Jess to reveal about how her sister fell out of the window...then the Dr. says "her secret is safe with me....or is it" WHAT!! What do you make of that? Any guesses? (hide spoiler)]

Susan wrote: "Hi Jacquelyn, I am finally to a point of the book that I'm going to do a review. What do you think of the books so far?

Chapter 1 - 18
So far I like the book. I find with the close of each chapter..."

Well, I finished the book earlier today but (view spoiler)[That would’ve been really interesting if Dr. Shields has turned out to be Noah!
Dr. Shields was so ominous, I couldn’t figure out what to make of her at first.
Yeah! The end of the chapters kept making me interested in the story! I kept wanting to read on! Lol (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Ok, so I’m in a weird headspace, I’m kind of in a reading slump of sorts. I ended up giving this book four stars because of how intrigued in the story I was and the interesting psychology element. When it comes to the storyline, I can’t tell if I would’ve loved it or not, had I not been in a slump and felt forced to read. At about half way through the story, I started to get bored of the dual perspective. I did find this to be an interesting psychological thriller, but idk of the storyline of an obsessive relationship is enough for me. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 19- 35
The end of the last chapter I read now has me to where I can't put this book down.

(view spoiler)[

I had a feeling what Dr, Shields was doing but nothing concrete until she had Jess go to that museum. I wonder if she is hoping that Thomas is going to screw up. I'm unsure of her end game or if she is hoping he will not be the cheating scum he is. The end of this chapter was Jess going into the diner to meet Thomas for the first time and finding out her one night stand was none other then her next assignment. I got chills when he knew exactly who had sent her to the diner and the warning she was dangerous.
I have always felt that Dr, Shields has had a screw loose. I can't wait to see the twist and turns this book makes. I was finding the book good but sort of repetitive and now it sounds like we're getting to the good stuff. Now I can't stop reading it. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 35-55

OMGosh. this is so much better then I actually thought it would be. I had no expectations and I went in blind and not knowing one thing about it which is how I like to read thrillers. WOW the twists and turns and the sadistic nature of one of these characters is INSANE.

(view spoiler)[
She has thought of every possible detail and if I were Jessica I would be packing my bags and out of there. Dr. McCreepy for sure. Who plans out that much except someone who has gone to crazy town for sure.

When she arranged for my family to take a trip without me over the holidays I would be done with her mess. This book has me so mad for Jessica, and then I think why did you let yourself get in this deep when it was only supposed to be a survey (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 56-to the end
My mind is still blown. I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book. I couldn't stop reading it all day today. I had to see what was going to happen next.

(view spoiler)[
No matter how hard Jessica tried to stay one step ahead she couldn't seem to figure out how Dr. Shields always knew and planned for everything. She held Jess's life in her hands and Jess pretty much belonged to Dr. Shields. This Dr. was one messed up, obsessed woman. I love how Jessica had her pegged right at the end. I love how the author drew that out all the way to pretty much the last chapter. I'm also glad that Jessica took a page out of the doctor's book and in the end got her family taken care of because of the info she still knew. I did like that no matter that Jess told on him in the end Thomas still felt the need to protect Jess even though she just betrayed him. He wasn't all bad.

Good book can't wait to read The Wife Between Us. My mother loved that one very much. Can't wait until I can get this one for her to listen to (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ This concept is so interesting! As someone who studies research methods and whatnot though, this would never be a viable study. It's unrealistic, but very intriguing. I wonder how the study will extend and how sinister Dr Shields is. (hide spoiler)]

Jacquelyn wrote: "End of Chapter 9: [spoilers removed]"

So true!

Up to chapter 30 (view spoiler)[ Not that I agree with how she's manipulating Jessica, but I do feel for Dr Shields. It's really striking how she describes how infidelity has affected her. I'm wondering where Noah factors into all of this. (hide spoiler)]

Up to chapter 52 (view spoiler)[ Oh my, what a twist! That she'd already slept with Thomas and didn't know! This is crazy. It's getting very chilling, with everything that Dr Shields knows about Jess. (hide spoiler)]

Done (view spoiler)[ Maybe Thomas wasn't so bad after all, he might have been a cheat but he didn't let his wife hurt Jess. I hope she's in a happier place than she was at the start of the book. This book was kind of predictable, but I did enjoy it. (hide spoiler)]

Susan wrote: "Chapter 56-to the end
My mind is still blown. I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book. I couldn't stop reading it all day today. I had to see what was going to happen next.


No matter how ha..."

I'm interested in reading The Wife Between Us too!

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 30 [spoilers removed]"

>spoiler>
The part where Noah did factor in made me so angry. I don't know if I have felt this much anger toward a book before...lol...I had to stop reading it because of what Dr.Shields and told him and how he reacted to Jessica. I swear she knew how to get immersed in Jessica's life. It was really scary in a way.

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 52 [spoilers removed]"

I liked the book well enough up to this point. I had started to become a tad bored because we weren't progressing and then this part happened and what came after at the diner. From this point of the book forward this book went from 3 stars to 5 for me. I was on a roller coaster ride of emotions for a fictional character...lol

Skye, what were you thoughts on the overall book. I would love to read The Wife Between Us. This has been a fun BR. I love when I can actually talk about books with someone :)

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Done [spoilers removed]"

I thought it was predictable too at first. I think I went round and round and every time I tried to guess a scenario I would be so wrong.

(view spoiler)[
I at one time thought that maybe Dr. Shields and her husband like doing these experiments together without the test subjects knowing it. I thought maybe April was killed by both husband and wife in a sick twisted game. Up until the end I thought they were in it together. I liked how Thomas tried to shield Jessica from harm too. What did you end up predicting? I figured that Dr. Shields had drugged April and I really thought she was drugging Jessica because of the lip gloss thing. Jessica forgot it at Dr. Shields house but they mentioned it one other time and it felt like maybe they had changed their minds. MAYBE I read more into that second mention of the lip gloss being left behind....lol (hide spoiler)]

Susan wrote: "✨Skye✨ wrote: "Up to chapter 52 [spoilers removed]"

I liked the book well enough up to this point. I had started to become a tad bored because we weren't progressing and then this part happened an..."

I had kind of the opposite thoughts to you, haha! I preferred the first half because I think I was more interested in the psychological study than the domestic thriller stuff, I didn't think it was as original as the first half. It did have some pretty crazy twists though! I do always love discussing books, and I actually prefer when someone has a different opinion as it's so much more interesting to see things from another perspective :)

Susan wrote: "✨Skye✨ wrote: "Done [spoilers removed]"

I thought it was predictable too at first. I think I went round and round and every time I tried to guess a scenario I would be so wrong.


I at one time ..."

(view spoiler)[ I pretty much predicted it quite accurately-that April had slept with Thomas and that Jess would sleep with him. I expected that Dr Shields had something to do with April's death too. I did think Thomas had more involvement though like you did :) (hide spoiler)]

Thank you Skye for talking about this book with me. You made this a super fun buddy read. I love to talk about books with others. I hope to buddy read with you in the future, If you're up to it sometime I would love to read The Wife Between Us with you. Thank you again.I had a great time

Part 1
(view spoiler)[
What a wonderful way to make money! Just answer a questionaire and make $500
Meet Jessica, a struggling make up artist who learns of a research from one of her clients. She dives into it, after all she has so many responsibilities. I feel sad for her (hide spoiler)]

Part 2
(view spoiler)[ The research has advanced from computer work to real life situation. I think there is something mentally wrong with Dr Shields (hide spoiler)]

Part 3
(view spoiler)[ Absolutely ridiculous, how will you go through such length to test if your husband is faithfull or not.
I knew something was definitely wrong with Dr shields brain (hide spoiler)]

Epilogue
(view spoiler)[ Wise Jessica, now she wants trust to be bought. I feel bad for April (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting September 6th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[I'm really enjoying Dr. Shield's chapters. I think they are incredibly interesting to see what she is thinking about Jessica and her moral code. But, I'm really curious about this thing.... I totally forgot the word, but yes. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 41 (view spoiler)[ I'm so sucked into this. Dr. Shields is like????? I don't even know. She's freaking weird. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 60 (view spoiler)[ This is getting so messy (the good kind of messy). I'm so into this book. Jessica has gotten so deep into all of this that I don't know how she's going to get it. It's not going to be pretty. Especially since this whole thing is kinda going on because Dr. Shields wants to see if Thomas will cheat on her again and well... whoops. Jessica and Thomas have slept together. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Wow. That ending. The ending wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been, but boy was that intense. The whole book was a wild ride. It was one of the best thrillers I've read in a while. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting October 13th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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First quarter - (view spoiler)[This was so interesting straight away. I am so eager to learn why this study was created and what function the questions and answers serve. I'm glad there were small snippets from outside of Jessica's perspective as this gave more information away about what they were looking for and how she different from the other participants. (hide spoiler)]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[So Dr. Shields set up this entire experiment as her husband is a cheater?? This seems implausible but I can't deny that I am intrigued.

I can't believe she set Jessica up to flirt with the married man and to offer those who answer the numbers from her husband's phone with a free make-up session. This all seems especially abhorrent considering her continuing guilt after her sister's accident and the sexual assualt she previously experienced. (hide spoiler)]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[This still doesn't feel like the most believable narrative but I'm still so intrigued to see what will happen. None of the characters can be trusted and I'm glad Jessica is in on their acts and playing them at their own game now. It was so sad to learn that Dr Shields had already played with young women in this way before and it resulted in suicide. (hide spoiler)]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[Oh wow, so Thomas didn't have an affair with the girl he said he did... but did have an affair with two others to FORCE his wife to leave him???

No wait, he not only had an affair on his client but it was with ONE OF HIS CLIENTS???

And his wife was aware about this this and also playing him???

This last quarter went crazy! (hide spoiler)]