Review - Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Publication Date - January 2017

Book Summary

Why is everyone talking about the ending of Sarah Pinborough's Behind Her Eyes?

Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.

When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but who still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.

And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend. But she also just happens to be married to David. And if you think you know where this story is going, think again, because Behind Her Eyes is like no other book you’ve read before.

David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife. But then why is David so controlling? And why is Adele so scared of him?

As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can’t guess how wrong―and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.

In Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough has written a novel that takes the modern day love triangle and not only turns it on its head, but completely reinvents it in a way that will leave readers reeling.

My Review 3  

This is definitely a psychological thriller, the beginning pulled you in and immediately I had moments of what the heck is really going on here.   We have the story line we have had many times, unsuspecting romantic meet up and then realize the next day the complete and utter betrayal and inappropriateness of the night before.   Louise and David have a fun night and realize the next morning that they are new colleagues.  David is her 'married' new boss, not only is she the Personal Assistant but a huge one night mistake.  This should end there, for most it will but no they start a full on affair. 

But when David touches me, I come alive.  I love the smell of him on me.  I love the feel of his skin.  I love his smile.  I'm like a teenager when he's there.   And then when I'm with Adele I feel like I matter.  I'm important to her.  Kindle 33%

Whether he hit her or not, something isn't normal in their marriage.  But then nothing about this is normal and I'm probably the worst of the three of us.  Kindle 47%

Then a coincidence meeting with David's wife Adele happens, which starts a close friendship.  Are you rolling your eyes?  It really is complete ridiculousness, a life game gone wrong.  I lost respect for all parties and so the characters didn't touch me but they were all memorable enough to continue reading.  The middle didn't hold my attention, I just wanted to know how it will end.  And the ending, I think was a risk for the author, either you will be shocked and love it or completely hate it.  I sat there and thought, this is the direction it took, really, this is slightly SciFi as it is not believable.  I was willing to believe to a certain extent but the complete story, nope.  This is why I can only give it 3 stars.  Any book that I don't skim through always gets a 3 as I completed it but it took to long to complete.  I'm not impressed. I didn't care enough to want to throw my Kindle down but this is definitely the reaction I think readers will have, 'throwing their book against the wall'.

David is a Dr who has a wife that obviously has a mental illness and is unstable.  He should be able to do more or get her the help needed so this part disturbed me, instead of helping her he became a drunk, a cheating drunk with patients.

One thing I have realized with reading, I do not like when authors manipulate the reader or have characters that are manipulative in behaviour, I just can't handle it and don't enjoy the read as much.  Behind Her Eyes is manipulation of the highest. 

"There's no right and wrong with feelings.  There is only what there is."  Kindle 77%

This is how I feel about Behind Her Eyes, it is what it is.  I was disappointed.