Despite an occasional aversion to romantic comedy, I’ve never made much of a secret of how much I’ve loved the writing of Lynda Renham. I’ve reviewed Perfect Weddings and Phoebe Smith’s Private Blog (links to my reviews) here on Being Anne – and called them some of the best fun you can have with your clothes on – and also adored The Little Perran Romances, written as Amy Perfect. But I was a little nervous when Lynda asked if I’d like to read her latest, Remember Me, released on 24th March for kindle (still at a special promotional price of 99p), and now also available in paperback: subtitled “the gripping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist’, this was a dramatic change of style. But a favourite author is a favourite author, right? Gulp… go on then…
A new neighbour becomes a new friend. She looks up to you. She admires you, but is it you she wants? You begin to wonder if she wants your husband, or even your child. But then you realise, she wants your life.
When Sharni and Tom move into 24 The Pines, it seems like Clare and Chris have the perfect neighbours. Sharni is always there to help, especially with childcare for Clare’s two-year-old, Ben. But Clare can’t shake off the feelings of anxiety that assail her whenever Sharni is near. Is Clare just being overprotective, or are her feelings justified? As Sharni‘s influence touches everyone around her, Clare finds herself fighting for her sanity as well her family.
I have to say that this book totally gripped me from the first page – I neglected everything else I’d planned for the afternoon, and read the entire book in one sitting. Lynda has always had a talent for creating characters, and I was completely transfixed by Clare and Sharni. It’s clear from outset that Clare has a few issues that might make the reader question her reliability as a narrator, but this book totally sucks you into her world – to such an extent that you see everything through her eyes and feel the same sense of acute discomfort that she does as Sharni’s impact on her life relentlessly increases.
That “jaw-dropping twist” – and I’ll admit I was so absorbed in the story that I’d totally forgotten its presence had been announced, and I certainly didn’t see it coming – is magnificently handled: everything thereafter is absolutely unmissable, and there was absolutely no way I was going to put this book down before its explosive ending. Quite apart from the superb character development, the whole structure and construction of this book is incredibly clever – OK, there’s an undeniable element of “Single White Female” about the story, but the handling is highly original. This was a massive change from the author’s usual books and style of writing, and a transition that she should be incredibly proud of. More, please…!
My thanks to author Lynda Renham for my reading e-copy.
About the author
Lynda Renham is famous for her romantic comedy novels. She has been called A Comedian in a Book, Chicklit Royalty and A Comic Genius. Her writing style has been likened to Sophie Kinsella but is refreshingly down to earth with characters that become your friends. Lynda is a prolific writer, blogger and when not writing can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.
Lynda lives in Oxfordshire with her second husband and wonderful cat Bendy. Her web page is here, and you can follow her on Twitter and through her Facebook author page.
Great review and recommendation! I love the creepy tension of a neighbour with an unknown agenda!