The Forever Home: An incredibly gripping psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist

Sue Watson

Jun 2021 · Bookouture

About this ebook

‘Wow!!! What an absolute cracker of a book!!!… I just loved everything about it… An absolutely addictive page turner that kept my heart in my throat on the edge of the seat… A compelling, page turning, mind blowing psychological thriller.’ Bookworm86 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

You thought you’d always be safe there… you were wrong.

 

Carly had thought they’d always live there. The beautiful Cornish cliffside house they’d taken on as a wreck, that Mark had obsessively re-designed and renovated – a project that had made him famous. It was where they’d raised their children, where they’d sat cosily on the sofa watching storms raging over the sea below. It was where they’d promised to keep each other’s secrets…

 

Until now. Because Mark has fallen in love. With someone he definitely shouldn’t have. Someone who isn’t Carly. And suddenly their family home doesn’t feel like so much of a safe haven.

 

Carly thinks forever should mean forever though: it’s her home and she’ll stay there. Even the dark family secrets it contains feel like they belong to her. But someone disagrees. And, as threats start to arrive at her front door, it becomes clear, someone will stop at nothing. Because someone wants to demolish every last thing that makes Carly feel safe. Forever.

 

An utterly unputdownable psychological thriller about what lies are hidden in the most beautiful homes. Perfect for fans of Date Night, Gone Girl and The Woman in the Window.

Readers are loving The Forever Home:

‘WOW!! WOW!! WOW!!… The top #1 stop of my recommendations for 2021… So fast-paced it is unputdownable, intense, emotional, mind blowing, gripping, filled with betrayal, secrets, and “omg she went there” moments!!... wickedly good!’ Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘I was completely hooked from the first page and honestly could not put the book down… I did not predict the end and audibly gasped at the final twist. Just fantastic.’ Greatreadsflowersandseeds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Utterly compelling… Oh my goodness… I sat mouth wide open as I held my breath, just utterly brilliant!!!... A page turning thriller that hooked me in and gripped me so tightly I felt captive, breathless and broken… An outstanding read that will stay with me forever.’ CrooksonBooks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Hold on tight, buckle up baby, the ride’s about to begin… An epic thriller!... it’s hot, it’s sizzling, it’s a scorcher and it’s like right out of the oven and into the fire – real drama!... that ending was the bomb!’ The Secret Book Sleuth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘WOW… her best one yet!… Each time I *think* I have it all figured out and practically lose my mind in anticipation of finally getting it right, then BOOM! Just a snap, crackle, and pop, and I’m all twisted up again!... Jaw-dropping!’ Misty’s Corner Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Wow this was an incredible book… I was hooked from the very first page and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down… Every time I thought I had sussed out what was happening something else cropped up and really kept me on my toes.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Sue Watson knocks it out of the park… such a great read! Just when you think the story is almost over, another twist comes happens and shocks you! I couldn't put this book down!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow!... Sue Watson delivered big time… If you are looking for a great edge-of-your-seat thriller jam-packed with surprising plot twists... this is your book. Definitely a great book to start off your summer 2021 list!’ Two Girls and a Book Obsession ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

This book is fabulous! I’ve never been so angry for a character as I was for leading lady, Carly; and I loved that I was angry. How blooming well entertaining and gripping. This beautiful forever home had been featured endlessly on TV in a show presented by the Andersons, with Mark the husband being the main feature. On the surface, life seems brilliant with their success envied by all, but this description of the house made me think of the relationships that played out through the book. ‘Breakable, the foundations moving all the time, miniscule, but real nonetheless.’ I love this underlying rumble that nothing ever stays the same even if you can’t see or feel the changes. Time moves even if we want to stay where we are forever. We just hope that these movements don’t destroy us. I loved how the cracks in the building were reflected in the cracking relationships. As for the location, it couldn’t be better. Who doesn’t love a dreamy seaside town? Looe was perfect and there was a real sense of setting. The sea crashing against the rocks; saltiness in the air; the cutesy cafes. Let me stop... I’m not describing a romance at the seaside here, this book will have you clutching it like you’re strangling it. That’s how emotional this journey was. I was so on team Carly throughout. Without saying too much, I can tell you that those blue skies build up to a great big thunderclap which kept me on the edge of my seat. For thrill seekers who love it scary, for people who like books that delve into the ugliest sides of human nature and for an unforgettable ending... you need to read The Forever Home!

Ladies and gentlemen, Sue Watson has done it again! Of course, by ‘done it again,’ I mean she has completely blown my mind with her writing! I don't know how she does it; with each new release, I'm left thinking, WOW, this has been her best one yet! It never fails; each time I *think* I have it all figured out and practically lose my mind in anticipation of finally getting it right, then BOOM! Just a snap, crackle, and pop, and I'm all twisted up again! “The Forever Home” is no exception! The Anderson’s have always been the picture-perfect family on screen but what goes on behind the scenes tells a darker tale. Our story starts with a 47-year-old wife and mother, Carly, trying to hold it all together while playing hostess at her and her husband Mark’s 25th wedding anniversary when everything comes crashing down. While his trysts weren't exactly new to her, the latest went a bit too far. In the end, Carly finds a way to not only fight for herself but also do what she's always done best, fight for her children and her forever home. While a few of the characters were quite despicable, Carly was one to root for. She wasn't flawless by any means; she had her secrets, blow-ups, and vices, sure, but she was also relatable and kind-hearted - a loving mother and maternal figure through and through. Sometimes as mothers, we get so preoccupied taking care of life’s details and putting out the fires that we tend to overlook the fact that kids catch on to far more than we give them credit for, both the good and the bad. Carly's internal monologue of her mothering journey, in a hindsight perspective, helps bring her character to life and tie the story together in more ways than one. I loved how there were absolutely zero loose ends in “The Forever Home,” the fact that everyone was made to look suspect at one point or another, and that the final twist was just as jaw-dropping as I’d hoped it would be! I have honestly and voluntarily reviewed this title.

Carly and her husband Mark live in what sounds to me like a beautiful home on the Cornish coastline and they have two grown children who no longer live at home. Mark is the host of a home improvement program on tv; Carly assists by writing scripts for the show as well as suggesting projects which will capture the audience's attention. At their 25th anniversary party Carly receives some shocking news which results in her life as she knew it changing dramatically. The story is told from Carly's point of view and is well written with good characters, some likeable and some not, and proves once again that you never know what goes on behind closed doors. I liked this book right from the start and got more and more drawn in as the story progressed. At one point Carly is pouring her heart out to Ryan, a young handyman type (read hunk!), and I was so engrossed in what she was telling him that my husband asked if I was okay. I must've been making some odd noises and probably gasping a lot, possibly forgetting to breathe occasionally. There were hints throughout the book about an occurrence in the past that Mark is holding over Carly's head and I couldn't imagine what it was if it didn't involve what she was telling Ryan. There are many occurrences which defy explanation and I was scrambling to blame someone but most of my guesses proved to be incorrect by the unexpected ending. Highly recommended. I'll definitely be picking up some of Sue Watson's previous novels as well as keeping an eye out for future books. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.