First Date – Book Review

Hey all! I know I have been off from the blog for few days but today I am back with a review! First Date, a classy thriller written by Sue Watson

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.

No. of pages:- 376 pages

Date published:- 16th October 2019

Genre:- Thriller

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written sixteen novels, and many have been translated into several languages. Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her latest thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST, THE SISTER-IN-LAW and FIRST DATE out on 16th October.

Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives with her family in Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – okay, procrastinating, eating too much confectionery, and watching ‘My 600lb Life,’ on the sofa.

Thank You Netgalley and BOOKOUTURE for the ARC! This review is based on my honest opinion

Hannah at the insistence of her friend/colleague from work Jas goes on a date with a man named Alex, whom she met through online. Alex seems to be what Hannah has always dreamed of for a life partner–a handsome and charming solicitor who seems to share the same interests as Hannah. The two then embarked a relationship. But as their relationship continues, Hannah starts receiving roses with a threatening note and a musty aftershave in her car. Is someone stalking her or is Alex obsessed with her.

This is the first book I have read from this author. Initially, this book was boring at the beginning but then soon towards the middle, it got more and more interesting–learning more about Hannah’s relationship with her work colleagues, Jas, Sameera and Harry (particularly with Jas) and also her work as a social worker, as how she handles her case with a teenager named Chloe. The story was interesting, with Jas thinking Hannah is going too fast or that Alex is creepy. Is she right or is she plain jealous that Hannah is moving on? And with the façade Alex is showering Hannah with expensive gifts and love, is he obsessed with her or does he simply overprotective of her by showing her too much love? These are the questions that tumble the reader and so the author did a good job of making the reader want to know more. There were twists and turns in the book and the ending…it was good! The ending was so unexpected and I didn’t really expect that nail biting twist in the end!

Overall this is a good book–unputdownable thriller that will keep you up all night. Worth four stars!