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BOOK INFO
Title: What You Did
Author: Claire McGowan
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publish Date: August 1, 2019
Genre: Domestic Suspense
Series: na
My Rating: 3/5
BOOK BLURB
It was supposed to be the perfect reunion: six university friends together again after twenty years. Host Ali finally has the life she always wanted, a career she can be proud of and a wonderful family with her college boyfriend, now husband. But that night her best friend makes an accusation so shocking that nothing will ever be the same again.
When Karen staggers in from the garden, bleeding and traumatised, she claims that she has been assaulted—by Ali’s husband, Mike. Ali must make a split-second decision: who should she believe? Her horrified husband, or her best friend? With Mike offering a very different version of events, Ali knows one of them is lying—but which? And why?
When the ensuing chaos forces her to re-examine the golden era the group shared at university, Ali realises there are darker memories too. Memories that have lain dormant for decades. Memories someone would kill to protect.
MY REVIEW
Six college friends gather for a reunion 25 years later. When one of the women stumbles inside after being raped, it puts relationships to the test and challenges who can be trusted.
The characters are six so-called friends – Ali, Mike, Karen, Bill, Callum, and Jodi. Ali and Mike are married and hosting the reunion at their home. Karen is Ali’s best friend, and the rape victim. Bill has been living away, but is back after breaking up with his girlfriend. Callum and Jodi are married and expecting their first child.
Told from Ali’s point of view. When Karen claims Mike raped her, Ali has to make a decision to stand by her husband or her best friend. As the story progresses, more secrets are revealed. Some secrets are newer ones, but some go back to their college days.
What You Did was hard for me to get into, mainly because the characters were all unlikable people. Some of the things that happen were hard to believe, especially where Ali was concerned. Her naive behavior was difficult to read, and I would have preferred a stronger female protagonist.
What You Did is a domestic thriller with a lot of drama. The story was interesting, but the characters left a lot to be desired.
Books by Claire McGowan:
- The Fall
- What You Did
- The Other Wife
- The Push
- I Know You
- The Vanishing Triangle
- Are You Awake?
- Let Me In
- Truth Truth Lie
Oooh I hope I get to read this. I want to see if I like it
Hope you enjoy it, Shalini!
Great review. Difficult to get into a book with unlikeable characters.
Yes, it is. Thanks!
I’ve got this on audio. Let’s hope it turns out okay. Great review, Darinda!
Thanks, Jonetta! This one seems to have mixed reviews. Hope it works better for you! 💜
This was my Amazon First Reads pick too!!
What did you think of it? Hope you enjoyed reading it. 💜
I haven’t started it yet, but soon!