‘Amazing, wonderful and the best yet!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads Reviewer‘Loved, loved, loved it!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads Reviewer‘Phew! I can breathe again!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads Reviewer‘Wonderful!… devoured it in one sitting!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Goodreads ReviewerRachel Ryder doesn’t understand how her life has changed so completely. When she was younger, heads would turn when she walked into a room. Her children needed … heads would turn when she walked into a room. Her children needed her; her husband adored her.
But somehow the years wore that all away. She was so busy raising her children, looking after her parents… She can barely remember the woman she used to be, the one whose husband told her she was out of his league. The woman she is now just does the laundry and makes the dinner, and can walk into a room without anyone knowing she’s there.
She knows that she hated feeling invisible. She knows that she thought: what would it take for you to see me again?
And now she’s worried that she did something terrible. Because she’s sitting in a room, being asked whether she killed someone.
When no-one is watching, you can get away with anything…
Can You See Her? is an utterly compelling and unputdownable psychological thriller, about how far you can push a woman before she will break. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, A.J. Finn and The Silent Patient.
Readers love Can You See Her?:
‘Outstanding!… had me hooked from the first page… totally absorbing… you need to read this book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Talk about an emotional gut punch!… it tore me apart and laid me out to dry… Pure genius! You need a section for infinity stars as five just doesn’t cut it!’ Chapter in My Life, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OMG this book was EVERYTHING!… absolutely adored… one of the best books I’ve read this year so far. Brilliant!’ Mychestnutreadingtree, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘There’s warmth and humour here… the suspense element is gripping.’ The Sunday Times Crime Club
‘What a jaw dropper!!!… absolutely could not put this book down!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘From the very first page this book captured my attention… Each page reveals another shocking revelation, with a superb twist at the end. Absolutely must read!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a twist it was!… amazing… worth way more than the maximum 5 stars I’m allowed’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I could not put this book down… as for the ending OMG!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely brilliant!!… I really loved this one… sharp, powerful, and real’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OMG! A clever, well-crafted read that kept me both reading and thinking… Wow! It threw me, it surprised me. Brilliant.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Had me racing through the pages for what I have to say is one ultimate reading climax!… deserves the highest of praise. Phenomenal read!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Oh my! Finished this last night… I was left a sobbing, snotty mess by the end. A five star read… an author with grace, depth and mastery.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘You know when you pick up a book and can’t put it down because it has you gripped, and you read in bed until your eyes are closing and the book keeps falling from your grasp. Then you wake up at 3.30am and think I can’t sleep because I am thinking about that book so I might as well finish it? Well this is one of those books!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OH THE TWIST!… It was SO perfect!… I could NOT put this one down… 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ thriller!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘BRILLIANT!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️more
I would especially like to thank Bookouture Editions and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.
It features Rachel, who is very afraid that she did something wrong. She is asked if she murdered someone. She doesn’t understand why her life has changed so much. When she was younger, everyone looked at her. Her children needed her, her husband loved her.
But the years passed, she was busy with her children, her parents, while now she can be in a place without anyone knowing she is there.
For this reason she is always saying that she could do well to be looked at again.
A book read in one go, so much so that I hung on to the story, which is so gripping, addictive, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters.
Can You See Her? By S.E. Lynes is a gripping tale of Rachel who feels she is invisible and she is telling her story to her psychologist Amanda. As you read, you feel for Rachel and her fragile state. The further into the book, the more twists and turns happen, with one very shocking one at the very end. An excellent read! Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to Netgallery and Bookouture for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
Can You See Her? is the latest book by SE Lynes, and probably the hardest to review. This is a psychological thriller that gets right into the head of the main character, Rachel, until you are living and breathing her, and truly feel as if you’ve climbed through her ear and are now perched inside her brain, listening in to her every thought. It’s told mainly in the first person.
Rachel’s big problem is her thoughts get so confused sometimes that she doesn’t know what’s going on. We’ve all been there: walking into a room and forgetting why; trying to have a conversation with someone and wondering if you’re invisible because they barely acknowledge you; trying to remember when and why you put the hunting knife in your back pack…
Actually, scratch that last one, that’s just Rachel.
This wonderfully-drawn, in-depth, totally realistic character is all at sea as she tries to work out what led her to kill several people, and we’re led down the path with her as she tries to link memories and imaginings, sift fact from fiction. It’s a story of a woman struggling with huge changes in her life, not least The Change, which seems to have triggered a breakdown in the emotionally fragile Rachel. She takes you by the hand and you travel the twists and turns of her mind, all the time wanting to hug her and tell her everything will be all right, even if you’ve got a horrible feeling it really, really won’t be.
I always love this author’s work, but honestly, this one…this one…it blew me away. It’s brilliant. I had no idea what had happened, the plotting and slow unfolding of the story was absolute genius, and that of course kept me hooked,. But far more than that, what kept me turning the pages was the incredible characterisation, the uncomfortable, claustrophobic feeling of being in Rachel’s head, of her heartbreaking confusion and conclusions shored up with her self-deprecating humour that had me laughing out loud; her bravery at trying to face her truth. I wept for her and with her. I wanted to give her the biggest hug. I still do.
The whole approach of the novel sets it apart from most psychological thrillers. Not only is it unusual to feature a fifty-something female protagonist, the book differs from the norm in terms of structure and tone. We are entertained by the main character’s earthy humour and sardonic digressions. For a dark thriller, it ain’t half funny. But the laughs are bittersweet and eventually fall away to reveal raw emotion and tears. I chuckled, I punched the air and then I blubbed.
This book began as a very slow read for me. In fact, I put it down several times and almost had to make myself pick it up again. However, the story of Rachel was compelling enough that I wanted to know how her tale ended. Rachel Edwards is a housewife, married to Mark for 27 years and with two college-aged children. Rachel used to turn heads when she walked into a room and now she is feeling invisible. No one notices her, not her husband or her children or even those in the shops. It was interesting that to me Rachel seemed somewhat unstable and went into what was a fugue state in which it was hard to discern what was real and what wasn’t. There were two narrators: Rachel and a forensic psychiatrist names Amanda. I enjoyed the Amanda’s parts better since that is where I got more clues about what was really happening in the story. It was intriguing that Rachel was so drawn to violent crimes and kept a folder of those events, especially knife crimes. With a theme of noticing the unseen people in the world, this was a deeply thoughtful book that almost made me cry at times over the frustration that Rachel was feeling. Fans of psychological thrillers that will make you consider your own actions and feelings will enjoy this book. The revelations made at the end were surprising, and they were definitely worth sticking with the book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I haven’t yet read a book by S E Lynes that I haven’t loved, and ‘Can You See Her’ was no different. It tells the story of Rachel and how, as a woman of a certain age, she suddenly discovers that she can go essentially unseen. When of her friends suggests she could get away with murder, and then people start showing up dead, she starts to wonder if she might be the one responsible.
I have to be honest and say that as a forty-year-old mother, I did empathise with Rachel a little too much! It was pretty raw in some places. I really felt for her, and actually as much as Can You See Her is a thriller, it’s also a tragedy, and was kind of heartbreaking. I did love it, though, and highly recommend the book.
I haven’t yet read a book by S E Lynes that I haven’t loved, and ‘Can You See Her’ was no different. It tells the story of Rachel and how, as a woman of a certain age, she suddenly discovers that she can go essentially unseen. When of her friends suggests she could get away with murder, and then people start showing up dead, she starts to wonder if she might be the one responsible.
I have to be honest and say that as a forty-year-old mother, I did empathise with Rachel a little too much! It was pretty raw in some places. I really felt for her, and actually as much as Can You See Her is a thriller, it’s also a tragedy, and was kind of heartbreaking. I did love it, though, and highly recommend the book.
A truly original psychological thriller that asks a basic question: If you are invisible, can you get away with murder? The murders start to pile up and all clues lead to a middle aged woman who indeed believes she is invisible – even to her own family. What happens to someone who is untethered to the world and truly has no support? We find all the shocking answers here. Unputdownable!
The beginning of this book took some getting used to, as the “ramblings” of the main character did not make a lot of sense. However, it quickly became apparent that there was a lot more going on than just Rachel relating past incidents in a stream of consciousness manner. Rachel’s feelings of invisibility were relatable. What I liked most was that I was kept off-balance, and my theories kept changing throughout the book. This is one you don’t want to miss. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
And just like a conversation, when a kiss is deep and true, it can change the course of your whole life.
I knew I wasn’t right. But I could never have known it was the last day I would spend as a free member of society.
Anger gets trapped inside us, becomes hate. If we’re not careful, hate becomes a force often to hard to control and which solves nothing.
‘I see the woman who hurt my fingers squeezing them when she brought my beautiful boy into the world, who did it again when she gave me my crackpot daughter. I see a woman with her nose covered in flour when I came in from work, making biscuits with the kids and no dinner for me.’
There are many people who live their lives thinking no one sees them: the homeless, the elderly, the poor, the lonely, the heartbroken, the grieving, the mentally ill, the disabled, those who haven’t found their voice, those who haven’t discovered what they’re good at, those who shun praise and attention, those who work quietly with love and patience.
I want to tell you that love heals. I want to take your hand in mine. I want to tell you that I see you.
(These are some quotes that touched my heart in this awesome story)
Feeling invisible. It’s not a physical invisible, it’s an invisible where the people you love are just plain not seeing you. You are not seeing them. No one is seeing each other. They are filled with pain, loss, hurt. Or they have other reasons. When you love someone never make them feel invisible. Let them know that they are important and loved and cared for. No matter what..
This book is a very touching story that had me turning pages as fast as possible. It’s my first by this author and by all means will not be my last. It’s a very touching story told from a few different points of view. The story of a woman. A woman who feels alone and invisible to everyone. She doesn’t think anyone sees her. She has lost so much and done so much and can’t believe what her life has become. It’s a very touching and very sad story of what could happen. What did happen and what might happen.
I laughed, cried, held my breathe, yelled, cried more and was in shock in parts, while reading this book. It’s one that will make you wonder why. Why would anyone do these things and why this person. Did she or didn’t she is what I kept asking myself. Could she have done such horrible things or is it all in her mind. Or was it someone else entirely??? I felt such intense feelings reading this.
This is a story of love, loss, and coming back together. Of forgiveness, believing, coming full circle, moving on. Of a loss so horrible and of a love that does not seem to exist. It’s one that will make you wonder many times, why, who, how.
The characters in this book are likable, well developed and realistic. They pull at your heart. They pull you in close. They share feelings. A family who seems to have drifted apart. A best friend who may or may not be doing the unthinkable. A neighbor who is scheming. Trying to find a way into your life. A woman who feels she has nothing to lose and who no one seems to even see. A wife, mother, friend.
This is a great story that will definitely, in my opinion, pull you in and won’t let go. There are a few shocks along the way but the one at the end was huge. One I did not see coming. Though a few things I did figure out the end was a shock for sure.
I absolutely loved this book. All the emotions and feelings I felt. It felt deep and raw in parts and took my breath away in places.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookouture, #S.E. Lynes for this ARC. This is my true and honest review.
I gave it 5 stars and a high recommendation..
4.5 stars
Like every book by the author, this one is another great gripping story that tackles a few topics that we can relate in real life at any point.
When time passes and everyone live their own life and you’re slowly feeding like you’re not needed anymore because you don’t receive the same attention as ten or twenty years ago, you have to fight for your place in the world that you created again. And this is the part that I loved so much in the story.
Rachel is planning to change her life around but at what cost?
After the first half part of the book, the pieces of this puzzle starts to be turned around and you can see the bigger image better and that’s the unique way of the author to create a great compelling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.
Give it a try and you’ll see for yourself.
The blurb of Can You See Her? sounded fabulous, the cover eye-catching and I love discovering new authors. When the publisher approved my request to read and review it, without much ado I jumped into the book. Although I don’t dislike short sentences, I did find the author’s writing choppy in parts. For me, this stilted the flow a tad, making it a struggle to turn the pages. But as the plot thickened, I enjoyed the story more.
Often life is compared with pages, chapters if you like. There’s always that before and after which on reflection, makes one wonder whether things should have been done differently or not. Rachel’s past sufferings are valid enough to understand. It’s the here and now that is causing her confusion. Mentally struggling to adapt to subtle and not so subtle changes in her life is basically the crux of the problem. Listening to her feelings of invisibility and what is for her a lack of recognition, prompted me to ask myself why she’d chosen the path she took. Still, at times I appreciated her sentiments, albeit some of her inner thoughts showed me her delicate state of mind.
Also, Rachel’s unusual dreamlike narration worked really well. One of the things I liked was not being able to suss out the twists. While the author kept me guessing, I was entertained with some cleverly written real-life conversational passages. Rachel’s dry wit when voicing her feelings on the aging opposite sex made me smile and she hit the nail on the head when the subject of what us middle-aged ladies go through arose.
The book per se was one that didn’t hold my attention as much as I would have liked it to. A shame because I think with a little tweaking here and there, it could easily have been a four/five-star read. Saying that, I won’t hesitate to read more from this author in the future.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to give an honest review.
4.5 stars for me.
Can You See Her is a book of many aspects.
The story of Rachel who believes she must be invisible as no one sees her, I know we have all felt that way one time or another.
It is a story that draws you in slowly. You will laugh with Rachel, you will cry with Rachel and you will sympathize with her.
Don’t worry you can hiss at Ingrid. Nasty she is.
Don’t get complacent, there are twists that bring you back to reality.
I know this book will stay with me for awhile as I continue to think about it.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for an amazing read and as always take the time to read the author’s notes at the end of the book.
I just could not get into this book as hard as I tried and I finally had to quit reading it so it is a DNF. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have read other books by this author and really enjoyed them.
Can You See Her by author S.E. Lynes is a creatively written suspenseful drama. Have you ever felt as if your family looks through you as you speak? This happens to Rachel Edwards as she is experiencing the discomforts of menopause. Rachel has a history of post-partum psychosis after her first child was born almost twenty years ago. She is experiencing realistic daydreams or fugue states at unexpected times. Rachel has become obsessed with fatal stabbing incidents and collects clippings of these events in a file. As Rachel feels more ignored by her family, she begins to wonder, “What would it take or what could I do for you to see me?” Could Rachel get away with murder?! Soon Rachel realizes attacks and fatal stabbings are happening to people she has recently talked with or seen. Rachel’s memory is trying to recall the feel, smell, and emotions of having used her husband’s folding knife, so she goes to the police and tells them she is guilty of murder!
“Anger gets trapped inside us, becomes hate. If we’re not careful, hate becomes a force often too hard to control and which solves nothing.”
I enjoy all of S.E.Lyne’s books, especially The Pact, The Women, and The Proposal. I did not enjoy this book as much. The rambling thoughts of Rachel became tedious for me as I read those passages. The creativity of the plot of the book is very good.
Publication date: April 22, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.