NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

Two couples. One twisted game of love and obsession. A dark domestic thriller about the dangerous secrets that come to light when a wild fantasy turns sinister. . .

When young couple Elena and Adam are offered the chance to house-sit in their dream neighborhood for a few months, they jump at the opportunity. The leafy South London enclave is a world away from everything they know, complete with grand homes, lush gardens, and quaint local coffee shops.

Soon Elena crosses paths with the beautiful and enigmatic artist Sophia and her husband, Finn, and she and Adam are pulled into their orbit. Sophia is everything Elena isn’t—glamorous, alluring, successful—and Finn exerts a mysterious pull on Elena that she can’t seem to shake.

Elena’s infatuation with Finn grows stronger by the day, and when Sophia proposes a thrilling game to her new friend—to swap partners in secret—Elena quickly agrees. It’s not long before Elena experiences a sexual awakening that blossoms into an illicit love affair, but Sophia’s plans are far more dangerous than Elena could ever have imagined. . .

Theresa and I are starting this one today, 6/16

ha! Having to suspend some disbelief right out the gate on this one! lol

but so far, this is a good but wild story

Part 1

(view spoiler)[ so I think Sophia is sketchy as all get out!
and who honestly thinks they can trick their partner to sleep with someone else. No way. lol Adam would have to be an absolutely clueless partner. . .

anyway, suspending that - I think Sophia is trying for a baby.
she's either tricking Elena into having Finn's baby (since she looks like Sophia, she would pass the baby off as her and Finn's)
OR she's looking to get pregnant with Adam's baby and Finn and Sophia plan to keep it.

what a weird way to trick a couple. And how could you imagine another couple would go for this? it's just wild (hide spoiler)]

Part 2

(view spoiler)[ I definitely think that Sophia and Finn are looking to have a baby and they can't. That's why Sophia is tricking Elena into Switching. They have now done this twice. I sure don't believe that couples would not be able to tell the difference about who they are sleeping with but otherwise this is an interesting story. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2

just what we thought!

(view spoiler)[ but Sophia really makes it sound like maybe Finn isn't in on the deal - or isn't as keen on it?
and why is she romancing Adam now? it's weird - that she writes he's annoying her and then she's throwing herself at him.

and Yeah, it's crappy she won't tell her whatever the special thing is
it's weird that she didn't know Elena stayed so late with Finn either.

and I'm glad she's reached out to the stalker. I wonder what the letters are really about (hide spoiler)]

Part 3

(view spoiler)[ So Finn is in on it. I thought so. I just don't know how a man wouldn't know it was his partner. Sophia is really not a friend. I don't know why Elena keeps thinking she is. I was pretty sure "the thing" that Sophia said wasn't it. I don't understand why Sophia is trying to sabotage Elena and Adam's relationship but sure seems like that is what she is trying to do. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4
(view spoiler)[ Well this has really become a mess. Now Sophia is pregnant but Finn seems to be into Elena. Adam has moved out and he still doesn't believe that Sophia and Elena did a switch. Should be interesting when Sophia shows up in Cornwell where Finn and Elena are. (hide spoiler)]

....Part 5 and done.

(view spoiler)[ Well, I didn't see the sibling thing coming at all. I also didn't think that Elena was going to get out of the house alive. I don't think that there is anyway that I wouldn't have called the police though. What Finn and Sophia did was awful and I would have no doubt that they would likely continue with the game. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3

I agree (view spoiler)[ Sophia sucks. why is she trying to break them up
crappy when it was all her idea!!

and yeah, she clearly lied. Ugh, but Elena is really pulled in now. How can she even want Finn or anything to do with this other couple?

I have no idea where this is going! lol (hide spoiler)]