"Cross Her Heart" by Sarah Pinborough delves into the lives of three main characters - Lisa, Ava, and Marilyn - each harboring shocking secrets with life-altering consequences. Lisa, a quiet and nervous single mother, is trying to protect her new identity while hiding her past. Ava, her teenage daughter, is keeping secrets of her own, including an older man she's falling for. Marilyn, Lisa's best friend, is living a private life of abuse and terror. As explosive media news threatens to expose Lisa's past, Ava mysteriously disappears, leading to a chain of events that unravel the facade of normalcy these women have been living in.

Characters:

The characters are multi-dimensional and flawed, grappling with secrets that affect their relationships and personal lives.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is highly regarded for its vivid imagery and emotional depth, maintaining a mostly fast pace with occasional reflective sections.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features interconnected narratives of three women whose hidden pasts introduce suspenseful twists, leading to life-altering revelations.

Setting:

The setting is mainly domestic, emphasizing the characters' inner tensions, with events taking place in both the present and past.

Pacing:

The pacing is predominantly fast, especially towards the conclusion, though it starts slowly, gradually building suspense.

He reads the letter three times before it sinks in. She’s gone. They’re gone. He knows it’s true – he can feel the fresh emptiness in the house – but still he rushes through the rooms, pulling open ho...

Notes:

The book features three main characters: Lisa, a single mom; her rebellious daughter Ava; and Lisa's best friend Marilyn.

Each character holds significant secrets that impact their lives when revealed.

Lisa has a hidden past that she has kept from her daughter and friend, causing tension when it finally surfaces.

Ava, the teenage daughter, feels constricted by her mother's overprotectiveness and secretly navigates her own challenges.

The story unfolds through multiple points of view, adding depth to the characters and their secrets.

The plot revolves around the consequences of Ava's heroic act, which leads to media attention that exposes Lisa's past.

Readers report a fast-paced narrative filled with unexpected twists that keep them guessing until the end.

Pinborough's writing style is highlighted for its ability to evoke strong emotional reactions from readers.

The book has been noted for its deep exploration of trust issues, friendships, and the impact of past mistakes on current lives.

Several reviewers found the pace slow at the beginning but thrilling as the secrets began to unfold.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains content warnings for themes of abuse, secrets, character deceit, and overall psychological distress, which may be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

From the author of Behind Her Eyes, now a Netflix Original Series hit

"Sarah Pinborough is about to become your new obsession." -Harlan Coben

Lisa is living a lie and everyone is about to find out.

Lisa lives for her daughter Ava, her job and her best friend Marilyn.

But when a handsome client shows an interest in her, Lisa starts daydreaming about sharing her life with him, too. Maybe she's ready now. Maybe she can trust again. Maybe it's time to let her terrifying secret past go.

But when her daughter rescues a boy from drowning and their pictures are all over the news for everyone to see, Lisa's world explodes.

As she finds everything she has built threatened, and not knowing who she can trust, it's up to Lisa to face her past in order to save what she holds dear.

But someone has been pulling all their strings. And that someone is determined that both Lisa and Ava must suffer.

Because long ago Lisa broke a promise. And some promises aren't meant to be broken.

Ratings (2)

It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (1)

What can you read after
Cross Her Heart?

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Activity

Recommendations

My Stuff

Account

More

Cross Her Heart

Sarah Pinborough