First Date

by Sue Watson

Published October 16, 2020 by Bookouture

Rating: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Psychological Thriller

From the Publisher: She’s been waiting her whole life to meet a man like Alex. But he’s been waiting too. And once he has her, he’ll never let her go…
Hannah has done everything to make sure her life is safe and secure. A long way from her unstable childhood growing up in foster care, she’s content with her sweet, little, messy apartment and her satisfying job as a social worker. She quietly worries that, aged 36, she might never fall in love. But otherwise her life is where she wants it to be.

Until, encouraged by her best friend to join a dating app, she meets Alex. He’s irresistibly handsome. He loves the same music as her. The same food as well. They both dream of travelling the world but agree they’d be equally happy escaping to a cottage by the beach in Devon. Both of them would love to own a Labrador one day. It’s like he’s made for her. It’s like he’s too good to be true.

Hannah’s friends aren’t so sure about him. But Hannah thinks he’s perfect.

Which is good. Because Alex knows she’s perfect for him too. In fact, she’s exactly the girl he’s been looking for…

And nothing Hannah’s done to make her life safe will ever be enough.

A gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller about dark obsession and internet dating. Fans of The Wife Between Us, Friend Request and Gone Girl will adore this unputdownable twisted love story.

Our Thoughts – Patricia, Louise, Linda and Liana

How Suspenseful Was It?

Patricia: This was a white-knuckle book about the potential hazards of a relationship that appears too good to be true.
Louise: First Date was a gripping story, but it was like watching a slow-motion train wreck. You see the red flags, but Hannah doesn’t. This isn’t my usual kind of book, but fellow NetGalley readers kept raving about it so I was happy that I got a chance to read it.
Linda: This book is everything a good psychological thriller should be, and I will be thinking about it for a long time after I have finished it. 
After reading late into the night, I woke early next morning just dying to know how it would end, and the ending didn’t disappoint.
Liana: There are so many great thrillers lately that I’ve been reading but most of them seem to be the same in plot and how everything evolves.
I’m so glad that First Date is an exception of the rule because while being very reliable is also touching topics that many can feel uncomfortable or find triggering.

Impressions of the Plotline

Patricia: What would it be like to date a man or woman who gave you everything you needed, and even some things you didn’t even know you wanted? Would you ignore the red flags of isolation, lies and misdirection? Or would you be so desperate for love that you made excuses for your partner’s strange behavior?
Although the “first date” of the title comes about through an online dating site, the story could describe any controlling relationship. But is it just Alex who is controlling Hannah, or are her friends also guilty of controlling her through their not so subtle eye rolls and comments? 
Hannah’s naivete is a little frustrating at times, but realistic in the same way that real life domestic relationships endure because of a victim’s hesitation to leave. Hannah’s office mates are a little too involved in her personal life, but when you work in a small office everything is fair game.  The parts of the narrative where Alex is caught in a lie, then redeems himself will have you wondering who you genuinely believe.
Louise: The author makes you wonder why Hannah doesn’t see through Alex, but she also lets you see Hannah’s thoughts and you understand how someone can be taken in like she is. I kept shaking my head at Hannah; she was so easily manipulated. As a social worker, she should have been a bit more sophisticated about the world but perhaps her broken upbringing made her the way she is. She uses her background to help her in her work as a social worker with troubled teens.
Linda: So often I wanted to give Hannah a good shake! And tell her to wake up and see what’s going on around her, but people do fall into these types of relationships all too often. Hannah isn’t the most endearing of characters, but I felt I still willed her on.
Liana: I couldn’t get close to any of the characters really because our heroine seems to be too willing to be with someone even if he’s not exactly what he pretends to be.
It involves cheating but you’ll have to read it as not everything is what it seems.

Suspenseful Ending?

Patricia: If you are looking for an entertaining book that has great pacing, full-on suspense and a twisty ending, add First Date to your “to be read” shelf today!
Louise: The end has a whopper of a twist, one that I definitely didn’t see coming.
Linda: I formed so many (wrong) theories, and that’s the mark of any good psychological thriller for me. Excellent writing and great storyline.  Easy 5 stars from me, I devoured this book in two days.
Liana: I kept reading and while I had to roll my eyes at their antics, I was waiting for the last twist to show up and it did in big time. Great writing and a must-read book.

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This review was authored by Patricia, Louise, Linda and Liana on November 16, 2020.

Thank you from all of us to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read an advance reader’s copy of this book.