Too Close

Just imagine this. You wake up in a psychiatric facility (and it is not a posh star rehab one, mind you). You have no idea why you are there. You look in the mirror and you are shocked at your appearance. You have bald spots where your hair has been torn from your head, scars all over your body and your frame is nothing more than skeletal. How did you get in this state? You can't figure out why your family doesn't visit you and the staff members stare at you with a type of fascination as if looking at a monster. You know you did something bad, but what exactly? You have been coined the Yummy Monster so it must be quite remarkable. <br /><br />Wow, this book is a page turner! Connie has no idea how she ended up in this psychiatric facility, or does she? Is she just leading everyone to believe that she does not recall what lead up to her being sent there against her own will? Does everyone have a breaking point? A point where they mentally are not able to take on any more and eventually they just break? Even driving them to unthinkable behaviors? You hear it everyday from people around the individuals that make the news for the horrible actions they have taken. Often people say they never saw it coming. Is that true or did they just miss the signs? This book will make you question all of that!<br /><br />We are allowed to travel along with Connie's innermost thoughts as she reveals more and more what has landed her here. With the help of her psychologist Emma Robinson and her own daughter's diary, pieces of this puzzle are filled in. I literally could not wait to find out what Connie had done.<br /><br />I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for the truth to be revealed as I had no idea what to think. This is one of those books that will stay in your head and you will find yourself thinking about it well after you have finished it. For a fantastic page turner that you won't want to put down until you devour the whole thing, you need to get your hands on Too Close!<br /><br /><br /><br />

<br /><br />This is one hell of a read.<br /><br />The blurb already tells us that something bad has happened. Something terrible.<br /><br />And Connie is now in a psychiatric hospital being drugged up to the eyeballs remembering nothing.<br /><br />But we get to know the character Connie and like her psychiatrist we learn there’s more depth to her.<br /><br />But what about Ness. <br />Ness she met in the park one day, they clicked and became good friends. When Ness marriage breaks down its reasonable for her to turn to Connie isn’t it? <br />But Ness seems to be in Connie house more than she’d like giving less and less time for Connie and her husband.<br /><br />I especially liked the forming relationship between the physiatrist, she herself had her own problems.<br /><br />This was a flippin’ Good read. I’d have finished this sooner but for it being the week of Christmas and no time to myself. <br />It’s my birthday tomorrow (31st) so today I’ve had time to myself as the family have been out.<br /><br />I’ve loved everything in this book. <br />It’s not exceptionally fast paced more consistently opening a readers thoughts about it along the way which I thoroughly enjoyed.<br /><br />Great book by a great author.<br /><br />Thank you Bookoutour and Net Galley

Where do I start with this review to give this great book all the justice it deserves!!<br /><br />When Connie is in the park with her daughter Annie she meets Ness who is also with her daughter and they become instant friends. The 2 families become 1 and when Ness splits up with her partner Leah, she spends all of her time at Connie’s. But Connie starts to feel suffocated by her.<br /><br />We know at the beginning that something bad has happened to Connie, as she is in a psychiatric unit with no memory of how she got there. <br /><br />Loved the friendship between Connie and Ness and how it would change their lives forever, but not for the good.<br /><br />This story pulls no punches. You are instantly drawn in, there are so many questions you want answering, What did Connie do for a start?<br /><br />Wonderfully written, with various narratives. We find out what Connie’s life was like before and why she is in the psychiatric unit. Mixed in with the narratives are her daughters diary excerpts which added a light humour at times.this is a non stop drama that will make you’re head spin. <br /><br />What was there not to like. So many topics covered and even the old memories were so descriptive you actually feel like you are there experiencing it. <br /><br />It’s definitely not a book you read and forget about. Surprised just how connected I felt with the characters and their stories. You made me care about them and that is a sure sign of a good author!! I will be looking out for you’re other books.<br /><br />Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.<br />

Too Close, Natalie Daniels's debut novel, is a tale of friendship, deceit, betrayal and mental illness and describing it as a thriller is inaccurate. That said, the author weaves an interesting yarn that was much more emotional and disturbing than is evident from the synopsis. However, the jumping back and forth between past and present with no prior warning has the potential to be confusing, although for me it worked like charm in ratcheting up the tension and creating a menacing atmosphere to the whole thing. It starts off very well and has lots of promise but there were no real twists or shocking surprises, and I found myself waiting in vain for something to happen but it never did. <br /><br />Daniels infuses the story with plenty of emotion which was one of the major plus points of this read, and I truly felt sorry for the predicaments Connie found herself in. Unfortunately though, she was the only character that I found sufficiently developed as the rest of them were rather one dimensional, and I felt that a lot of them were only there to pad out the cast and added little or nothing to the advancement of the story. What the book perfectly illustrates is the potentially rapid decline in a persons mental health and the impact on both their wellbeing and that of their close relatives and friends. Well written, paced, and on the whole, an enjoyable reading experience. Recommended to those interested in women's fiction and the realistic and devastating consequences of the unravelling of an individual's mental health, but if you're looking for a light, easy story then you have come the wrong place as this is a book steeped in melancholy. I look forward to what the author produces next.<br /><br />Many thanks to Transworld Digital for an ARC.

This book really wasn't for me. It sounded like my kind of book from the blurb but it was not what I expected at all. All the female characters were unlikeable and annoying. The story dragged out and I really struggled with it. I was really looking forward reading it but was very disappointed and confused.<br /><br />Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

<br />Where to start with this one!<br />Frantic and Chaotic...I think that sums it up, also incredibly dark and ’raised eyes’ shocking at times!<br />Connie is in a psychiatric hospital and the story starts haphazardly throwing you in at various angles ie what’s her life like now? what was her life like before? why she is in there and intermingled with experts from<br />her daughters diary... add to this her psychotherapist Emma trying to get her to open up about things whilst herself having major issues.....its a touch confusing at first but when all this ‘irons itself out’ it really is worth it<br />What follows is drama, fascinating drama and at times enough to make you pause and take a breath before continuing but utterly addictive as you find out why Connie’s life has spiralled so far out of control, and thats an understatement!!!<br />The various narratives are unrelenting in their brutal honesty, despair and grimness but then out of nowhere you get a line that had me laughing out loud such was the candour of all concerned<br />The story led you on to suspect one reason for Connie’s breakdown, cleverly it pointed all the markers for the conclusion...then abruptly with one overheard ‘call’ everything changed and you realised the story was going the complete opposite of what you thought!<br />The cast were sublime in their realness and got under my skin<br />Soooo many topics are covered in the book its probably easier to say what isent!!!<br />I absolutely loved the casual use of irreverence throughout and the authors ability to describe everything as we often think it ( but prob wouldn’t say it!!) I loved all 320 pages of this most unusually honest and challenging book and for that it has to be a <br />10/10 5 stars

This book had me gripped from start to finish. I have read over 150 books this year and this is most definitely in my top five.<br />This book highlights mental illness, how certain events in your life can send you down the road of self destruction. It also shows how you can become Too Close in a friendship. <br />Absolute brilliant read.

Meet your new perfect friend...almost MORE perfect than you. Is she really your friend or replacement? What can be worse, right?<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1549540949i/27028699._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>This book is so twisty and devious in its plot that it's hard to comment on it not giving anything crucial away. It almost felt like more than one story in one book.<br><br>The thing I liked the most about this book was how atmospheric the house felt...the high ceilings, big rooms, long staircase...all the walls with all the things that have happened between them...all that buildup to where it could lead if you poked your head in each of them. These creepy and yet beautifully written descriptions of the place took first place over the plot quite quickly.<br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1549540949i/27028700.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Perfect for fans of domestic drama, friendship mysteries and twisty thrillers that tend to turn around unrecognizably.<br><br>Thank you Random House and Transworld Publishers for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Connie and Ness met in the park while their children played. As they talked, they realised they were neighbours. Perhaps it was only natural that they and their families would become entirely inseparable.<br />But when Ness’s marriage ends in a bitter divorce, she is suddenly at Connie’s house all the time. Connie doesn’t have a moment to herself, no time alone with her husband, not a second to chat to her kids.<br />It’s all too much. Something has to give.<br />Connie has woken up in a psychiatric hospital. They say she committed a terrible crime but she says she can’t remember a thing.

Me ha gustado. Se trata de un thriller psicológico que nos intenta mostrar la fragilidad de la mente y sus consecuencias. Está bastante bien escrito y los personajes bien dibujados y no se me ha hecho pesado en ningún momento. Recomendable si buscáis una lectura ligera que os entretenga.