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The Silent Bride
In this chilling story from the bestselling author of The Secret Mother, it’s the wedding day of Alice’s dreams. Until it becomes a nightmare…
Alice and Seth are a perfect love story: the handsome doctor and his beautiful fiancée. They’re wealthy, well liked and made for each other—the envy of all their friends. Alice can’t wait for the day of their dream wedding. But when she arrives at the altar, she doesn’t recognise the man waiting to marry her.
When this stranger insists he’s Seth, her husband-to-be, the entire congregation seems to agree. Even her parents try to persuade Alice to go through with the wedding.
As panic sets in, Alice’s world comes apart. Where is the real Seth, and why have all traces of him disappeared from her life? Fearing she’s losing her mind, she sets out to uncover the truth and escape the nightmare she’s living in. But with everyone around her convinced by the fake Seth, how can she ever hope to find the man she loves?
Alice and Seth are a perfect love story: the handsome doctor and his beautiful fiancée. They’re wealthy, well liked and made for each other—the envy of all their friends. Alice can’t wait for the day of their dream wedding. But when she arrives at the altar, she doesn’t recognise the man waiting to marry her.
When this stranger insists he’s Seth, her husband-to-be, the entire congregation seems to agree. Even her parents try to persuade Alice to go through with the wedding.
As panic sets in, Alice’s world comes apart. Where is the real Seth, and why have all traces of him disappeared from her life? Fearing she’s losing her mind, she sets out to uncover the truth and escape the nightmare she’s living in. But with everyone around her convinced by the fake Seth, how can she ever hope to find the man she loves?
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2023
About the author
Shalini Boland
34 books3,064 followersShalini Boland is the USA-Today bestselling author of nineteen psychological thrillers. With over two and a half million copies sold, her titles are published by Amazon Publishing, Audible, Bookouture, and Grand Central Publishing.
Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).
She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series.
*** Be the first to hear about her NEW THRILLER RELEASES here: http://eepurl.com/b4vb45 ***
Now available:
THE SCHOOL REUNION
THE SILENT BRIDE
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A PERFECT STRANGER
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS
MY LITTLE GIRL
THE WIFE
ONE OF US IS LYING
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SILENT SISTER
THE CHILD NEXT DOOR
THE SECRET MOTHER
THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
THE BEST FRIEND
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA
The OUTSIDE SERIES - a thrilling dystopian adventure
The VAMPIRES OF MARCHWOOD series - a romantic fantasy adventure
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - an evacuee timeslip adventure
Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her family and their increasingly demanding dog, Queen Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).
She is also the author of two bestselling SFF series.
*** Be the first to hear about her NEW THRILLER RELEASES here: http://eepurl.com/b4vb45 ***
Now available:
THE SCHOOL REUNION
THE SILENT BRIDE
THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A PERFECT STRANGER
THE FAMILY HOLIDAY
THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS
MY LITTLE GIRL
THE WIFE
ONE OF US IS LYING
THE OTHER DAUGHTER
THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL
THE PERFECT FAMILY
THE SILENT SISTER
THE CHILD NEXT DOOR
THE SECRET MOTHER
THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
THE BEST FRIEND
THE GIRL FROM THE SEA
The OUTSIDE SERIES - a thrilling dystopian adventure
The VAMPIRES OF MARCHWOOD series - a romantic fantasy adventure
A SHIRTFUL OF FROGS - an evacuee timeslip adventure
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,815 reviews
June 3, 2023
My thanks to Amazon Publishing/Thomas and Mercer, Shalini Boland and Netgalley. So, I'll just be honest here and state that I absolutely despised this book. I actually have cuss words that come to mind, but I'll leave those 4 and 5 letter words to your imagination! This is not someone I'll be reading again in the future. It's really just a badly written story.
May 17, 2023
Every once in awhile, you find a gem in the available selections from Amazon's (FREE) First Reads. However, lately I feel like you get what you pay for.
This book made me irrationally angry.
***SPOILERS***
Alice is set to marry Seth, the doctor of her dreams. But as she's walking up the aisle at the wedding, she realizes she doesn't recognize the man waiting for her at the alter. Her friends & family think she's had a breakdown. The book alternates chapters of her feelings after the non-wedding and chapters of her relationship with Seth. It's all boring and pointless. I mean, I like a slow-burn as much as the next person, but you actually need SOMETHING to happen. Alice doesn't make any headway in figuring out why she doesn't recognize Seth. I don't know if the purpose of *waves hands* EVERYTHING was to give the reader possible suspects (the bitchy girl best friend? the bitchy sister? the bitchy co-worker? the bitchy dad? maybe the nice co-worker?)?? Maybe?
Alice eventually (THANKFULLY) breaks it off with Seth, only to have her best guy friend Laurence confess his feelings for her. Feelings he's had since they were in uni 10 years before. Alice is "conflicted" (her girl best friend is pissed, and she's also in a sticky situation with Laurence's girlfriend Fran, who also happened to be a bridesmaid in her non-wedding). BUT she's not so conflicted that it prevents her from moving in with Laurence a few weeks later. But it's not ideal; Laurie has suddenly become possessive and controlling. While he's away for the weekend, Fran comes over and tells Alice she knows why Alice couldn't remember Seth...Laurie HYPNOTIZED HER!!! See, Laurence is a psychologist and once took a class on hypnotherapy and Fran checked his google search history and discovered he was looking up hypnosis online & reading some dodgy websites on the subject! When Alice & Fran confront Laurence with the info, he puts his hand on a knife...so Fran beams him over the head with a lamp, killing him instantly!
She gets off on self-defense. See, Laurence had Alice's arm in a death-grip and he was going to stab Fran with the knife. Case closed.
BUT WAIT, IT'S NOT. Because in the epilogue, Fran admits SHE was the one who hypnotized Alice to forget Seth! It was revenge because Seth (unknown to everyone else) dumped Fran to get with Alice. And also because Fran was aware of Laurie's feelings for Alice, so they OBVIOUSLY both had to pay. So she hypnotized Alice over the course of a few months and it worked! And then once Alice & Laurie got together, she hypnotized him to be controlling & possessive. And she had to kill him because she knew he had figured out that Fran was the one who did what she was accussing Laurie of. And then she gleefully says she's trying to reconnect with Seth. And may have to use her hypnosis tricks on him!
BUT WAIT! At the very end, Alice says she's been seeing a licensed therapist who hypnotized her to figure out how much her memories were messed with...and she now knows FRAN was the one responsible. So she calls Seth to meet up, at the exact time that Fran is getting ready to meet up with him! How exciting! Except...that's the end. Does Fran hypnotize EVERYONE and get what she wants? Does Alice beam Fran over the head with a lamp in reverge? WHO COULD CARE??? This was so stupid and I feel dumber for reading it.
This book made me irrationally angry.
***SPOILERS***
Alice is set to marry Seth, the doctor of her dreams. But as she's walking up the aisle at the wedding, she realizes she doesn't recognize the man waiting for her at the alter. Her friends & family think she's had a breakdown. The book alternates chapters of her feelings after the non-wedding and chapters of her relationship with Seth. It's all boring and pointless. I mean, I like a slow-burn as much as the next person, but you actually need SOMETHING to happen. Alice doesn't make any headway in figuring out why she doesn't recognize Seth. I don't know if the purpose of *waves hands* EVERYTHING was to give the reader possible suspects (the bitchy girl best friend? the bitchy sister? the bitchy co-worker? the bitchy dad? maybe the nice co-worker?)?? Maybe?
Alice eventually (THANKFULLY) breaks it off with Seth, only to have her best guy friend Laurence confess his feelings for her. Feelings he's had since they were in uni 10 years before. Alice is "conflicted" (her girl best friend is pissed, and she's also in a sticky situation with Laurence's girlfriend Fran, who also happened to be a bridesmaid in her non-wedding). BUT she's not so conflicted that it prevents her from moving in with Laurence a few weeks later. But it's not ideal; Laurie has suddenly become possessive and controlling. While he's away for the weekend, Fran comes over and tells Alice she knows why Alice couldn't remember Seth...Laurie HYPNOTIZED HER!!! See, Laurence is a psychologist and once took a class on hypnotherapy and Fran checked his google search history and discovered he was looking up hypnosis online & reading some dodgy websites on the subject! When Alice & Fran confront Laurence with the info, he puts his hand on a knife...so Fran beams him over the head with a lamp, killing him instantly!
She gets off on self-defense. See, Laurence had Alice's arm in a death-grip and he was going to stab Fran with the knife. Case closed.
BUT WAIT, IT'S NOT. Because in the epilogue, Fran admits SHE was the one who hypnotized Alice to forget Seth! It was revenge because Seth (unknown to everyone else) dumped Fran to get with Alice. And also because Fran was aware of Laurie's feelings for Alice, so they OBVIOUSLY both had to pay. So she hypnotized Alice over the course of a few months and it worked! And then once Alice & Laurie got together, she hypnotized him to be controlling & possessive. And she had to kill him because she knew he had figured out that Fran was the one who did what she was accussing Laurie of. And then she gleefully says she's trying to reconnect with Seth. And may have to use her hypnosis tricks on him!
BUT WAIT! At the very end, Alice says she's been seeing a licensed therapist who hypnotized her to figure out how much her memories were messed with...and she now knows FRAN was the one responsible. So she calls Seth to meet up, at the exact time that Fran is getting ready to meet up with him! How exciting! Except...that's the end. Does Fran hypnotize EVERYONE and get what she wants? Does Alice beam Fran over the head with a lamp in reverge? WHO COULD CARE??? This was so stupid and I feel dumber for reading it.
June 8, 2023
My first Shalini Boland and what started out so promising turned out to be a real stinker. 💩
The premise is so intriguing. Alice shows up at her wedding and as her father walks her down the aisle she realizes the groom waiting for her isn't Seth at all. He's a stranger. Yet everyone else seems to believe he is, in fact, Seth. Say what??? Pass me the popcorn! 👀🍿
I was chugging along just fine with the short zippy chapters wondering what the heck is going on? 🤔
And then, after many chapters of listening to Alice whine, mope, and wondering if she's losing her mind, the final denouement reared it's ugly head. (Not sure why this was titled The Silent Bride because she never stopped droning on and on! 🤷♀️ )
"She's trying to come off as poised and sensible, but she's dropped this wild accusation that almost makes me want laugh out loud it's so outlandish."
That quote from this book describes my feelings when I finally realized what went down. I really believe that Boland should have completely left out the epilogue, it was just too much. It's so beyond comprehension, so unbelievable, that it made reading this book a complete waste of my time. I mean, I am partly to blame, I chose to read this and how exactly did I expect the author to wrap up a story like this in any kind of plausible way. It was almost believable, what happened, before the epilogue and I probably would have rated this a solid 3 stars but I can't forgive those last few pages. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my complimentary copy.
The premise is so intriguing. Alice shows up at her wedding and as her father walks her down the aisle she realizes the groom waiting for her isn't Seth at all. He's a stranger. Yet everyone else seems to believe he is, in fact, Seth. Say what??? Pass me the popcorn! 👀🍿
I was chugging along just fine with the short zippy chapters wondering what the heck is going on? 🤔
And then, after many chapters of listening to Alice whine, mope, and wondering if she's losing her mind, the final denouement reared it's ugly head. (Not sure why this was titled The Silent Bride because she never stopped droning on and on! 🤷♀️ )
"She's trying to come off as poised and sensible, but she's dropped this wild accusation that almost makes me want laugh out loud it's so outlandish."
That quote from this book describes my feelings when I finally realized what went down. I really believe that Boland should have completely left out the epilogue, it was just too much. It's so beyond comprehension, so unbelievable, that it made reading this book a complete waste of my time. I mean, I am partly to blame, I chose to read this and how exactly did I expect the author to wrap up a story like this in any kind of plausible way. It was almost believable, what happened, before the epilogue and I probably would have rated this a solid 3 stars but I can't forgive those last few pages. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my complimentary copy.
January 16, 2023
It’s 10th June, a lovely day and Alice Porter is about to marry the man of her dreams, Seth Evans. Oh but, wait, hang on a minute, what is going on? Who is that man standing at the top of the aisle as it sure ain’t Seth???? The story is told in the present day and backtracks to Alice telling her friends and colleagues about Seth’s proposal.
First of all, I do like the premise as it genuinely creates a real ball of confusion! Who to believe and not to believe and you were kept in the dark for quite a long time which is compelling. It’s an easy read, one you could take to the beach and be entertained but let’s just describe the plot as ……. creative. You most certainly have to strap on those disbelief suspenders!
However, whilst there is no doubt the plot keeps you reading on the quality of writing is a bit basic, it’s definitely not fast paced and there are few twists until you get to the end when several come at once. I can’t say the characters are especially likeable and whilst I don’t actively dislike Alice she’s definitely a doormat which is partly the point of the novel but it does get a bit wearing. The way it’s told switching from past and present also leads to some repetition.
Overall, if you are looking for a glide through, go with the flow novel then this may fit the bill!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
First of all, I do like the premise as it genuinely creates a real ball of confusion! Who to believe and not to believe and you were kept in the dark for quite a long time which is compelling. It’s an easy read, one you could take to the beach and be entertained but let’s just describe the plot as ……. creative. You most certainly have to strap on those disbelief suspenders!
However, whilst there is no doubt the plot keeps you reading on the quality of writing is a bit basic, it’s definitely not fast paced and there are few twists until you get to the end when several come at once. I can’t say the characters are especially likeable and whilst I don’t actively dislike Alice she’s definitely a doormat which is partly the point of the novel but it does get a bit wearing. The way it’s told switching from past and present also leads to some repetition.
Overall, if you are looking for a glide through, go with the flow novel then this may fit the bill!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 26, 2023
Before saying "I DO!" to "The Silent Bride", BEWARE!
BEWARE that the real mystery of this "mystery book"
is why it's titled "The Silent Bride".
WHY?
The bride in this book was NOT silent.
* Whiny? Yes.
* Delusional? Yes.
* Gullible? Yes.
* Vulnerable? Yes.
* Pitiful? Yes.
* Poor judge of character? Yes.
* Suffering from Prosopagnosia (face blindness)? Maybe.
To the author's credit, the book was readable and engaging. (No pun intended!)
The premise of a bride not recognizing her groom at the altar was intriguing and had potential.
Yet, as the book progressed it faltered with an ending that was unrealistic, implausible, and absurd.
I listened to the audiobook read by Katie Villa.
Although narrator Katie Villa did a superb job with the narration, the book would have benefited from two narrators since it unfolded from two POVs.
2.5 stars, rounded up.
June 1, 2023
I am a prolific reader of thriller stories lately and The Silent Bride was just… meh to me. The writing style just didn’t click right, which is a shame after such an intriguing premise. I think it just felt overly descriptive, not in a good way. I think some of this style is more suited to a rom-com type book, which is what the author could have been going for with the wedding at the beginning to throw the reader when her soon-to-be husband is not the man that she knows.
Alice’s dream wedding day has arrived. She is marrying Seth, the love of her life. Their love story sounds perfect; a handsome doctor, his beautiful fiancé, the happiest day of their lives.
She walks down the aisle, arrives at the alter, only for her world to fall apart. The man stood there is not her beloved Seth. She obviously freaks out but this stranger insists that he is Seth and all their wedding guests seem to agree. Even her own parents try to convince her to wed this imposter “Seth”. But where the hell is the real husband-to-be? Who on Earth is this strange man?
With her now fearing that she is losing her mind, she sets out to uncover the truth. Will she find the man she loves despite everybody around her telling her that he is right there in front of her?
I’d say the most satisfying part of the story is the sense of utter mystery surrounding what has happened to Seth. Is Alice unwell, suffering with some sort of mental break/has a physical illness affecting her brain? Or is this man really not him?
The best part of this book was the final twist. It felt utterly predictable before then, almost had me sighing whilst also wanting to read on to see how it ended. Hoping it would get better. At least the last few pages were more satisfying.
I really wish the author had played more into the darker side of the plot here. The last chapter really was the best part of the entire book for me, if you read, you will see what I mean…
This was my Amazon First Reads pick for May!
2.5 stars (rounded up to 3!)
Alice’s dream wedding day has arrived. She is marrying Seth, the love of her life. Their love story sounds perfect; a handsome doctor, his beautiful fiancé, the happiest day of their lives.
She walks down the aisle, arrives at the alter, only for her world to fall apart. The man stood there is not her beloved Seth. She obviously freaks out but this stranger insists that he is Seth and all their wedding guests seem to agree. Even her own parents try to convince her to wed this imposter “Seth”. But where the hell is the real husband-to-be? Who on Earth is this strange man?
With her now fearing that she is losing her mind, she sets out to uncover the truth. Will she find the man she loves despite everybody around her telling her that he is right there in front of her?
I’d say the most satisfying part of the story is the sense of utter mystery surrounding what has happened to Seth. Is Alice unwell, suffering with some sort of mental break/has a physical illness affecting her brain? Or is this man really not him?
The best part of this book was the final twist. It felt utterly predictable before then, almost had me sighing whilst also wanting to read on to see how it ended. Hoping it would get better. At least the last few pages were more satisfying.
I really wish the author had played more into the darker side of the plot here. The last chapter really was the best part of the entire book for me, if you read, you will see what I mean…
This was my Amazon First Reads pick for May!
2.5 stars (rounded up to 3!)
May 20, 2023
Is it love, control or just plain madness?
You can see from early on in the book that her friends and family have not met Seth. A little unbelievable? I had some really headshaking moments.
The dual timelines flick us from past to present and it did give a little more insight on how Alice got to know Seth and how their relationship progressed so quickly to find herself on her marriage day.
When all hell breaks loose her parents are judgmental, not supportive at all and under the circumstances it really broke this book for me.
If that ending didn't come through like it did, I would not have bothered with 3 stars. I think it needed more to really sell the plot. I kept thinking, when is this going to get better, plot revelation?
Not a bad read, just a really slow burn up until the end and the plot goes into end game.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon UK Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
You can see from early on in the book that her friends and family have not met Seth. A little unbelievable? I had some really headshaking moments.
The dual timelines flick us from past to present and it did give a little more insight on how Alice got to know Seth and how their relationship progressed so quickly to find herself on her marriage day.
When all hell breaks loose her parents are judgmental, not supportive at all and under the circumstances it really broke this book for me.
If that ending didn't come through like it did, I would not have bothered with 3 stars. I think it needed more to really sell the plot. I kept thinking, when is this going to get better, plot revelation?
Not a bad read, just a really slow burn up until the end and the plot goes into end game.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon UK Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 2, 2023
Now, what to say without giving anything away about this superb read…..
I would say I am always surprised by this authors books and you all know how I enjoy them, I knew I would love it but this was genuis, it was a totally different take on a psychological thriller, darker yes but not in a traditional darker way, more intense?, definitely….and with an opening chapter that will make even the most ‘seen it all’ reader stop in their tracks and think ‘Wow’, that first chapter excited me…the nerves were jangling and the enthusiasm to see where this was leading was not just keen, I needed to know, such a fantastic start to what turned into a book that was on my mind until I found out the conclusion, it was fast, furious, innovative and challenging and pure reading enjoyment
So yep I loved it 😎😊
I would say I am always surprised by this authors books and you all know how I enjoy them, I knew I would love it but this was genuis, it was a totally different take on a psychological thriller, darker yes but not in a traditional darker way, more intense?, definitely….and with an opening chapter that will make even the most ‘seen it all’ reader stop in their tracks and think ‘Wow’, that first chapter excited me…the nerves were jangling and the enthusiasm to see where this was leading was not just keen, I needed to know, such a fantastic start to what turned into a book that was on my mind until I found out the conclusion, it was fast, furious, innovative and challenging and pure reading enjoyment
So yep I loved it 😎😊
May 3, 2023
Alice and Seth are perfect love story: the handsome doctor and his beautiful fiancée. They're wealthy, well liked, and made for each other - the envy of all their friends. Alice can't wait for the day of their dream wedding. But when she arrives at the altar, she doesn't recognise the man waiting to marry her. When this stranger insists he's Seth, her husband-to-be, the entire congregation seems to agree. Even her parents try to persuade Alice to go through with the wedding. Where is the real Seth? And why have all traces of him disappeared from her life?
I raced through the pages of this book. I had so many questions - was Seth the real Seth? Why was Alice certain that the Seth waiting for her at the alter
I raced through the pages of this book. I had so many questions - was Seth the real Seth? Why was Alice certain that the Seth waiting for her at the alter
May 18, 2023
I have some mixed feelings about this book. It was a very quick read and definitely interesting.. I thought that the story itself moved slowly through about the first 3/4 and I wasn’t sure the last 1/4 was great enough to make up for that slowness. I didn’t find the final reveal to be super twisty and overall I think I was dissatisfied with the ending (not the twist that was fine, but the actually ending). This is also perhaps a tiny thing but I don’t think he title made a lot of sense. Alice is on cloud nine, ready to marry the love of her life, but as she walks down the isle she finds she doesn’t recognize the man saying he is her fiancé or his parents at all. Completely flummoxed she tries to figure out what is wrong, but this man that everyone tells her is her fiancé scares her and she doesn’t know what happened. The story is told in then and now dual timelines and primarily from Alice’s perspective although there are glimpses from a mysterious perspective too. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded down for my disappointment at the ending.
January 17, 2023
I don't have adequate words to express what an immersive, captivating read this was! The story started with the point of view of an unknown character then quickly took shape around Alice and Seth, who are due to be married after a whirlwind courtship. There are a few red flags, notably that Seth hasn't met any of Alice's family or her friends. Whenever an event is planned, he inevitably has to work late.
But the punch in the throat came on their wedding day. Alice is being led down the aisle by her father, and she's understandably excited and nervous, but when she lays eyes on her husband-to-be, she can't believe what she's seeing. The beaming groom is NOT Seth.
Wait, what? Of course it is. Everyone says so. No one can figure out what's wrong with Alice and why she abruptly leaves her own wedding, but Alice doesn't know the stranger she left at the alter.
What follows is a mystery so complex and so layered that I felt utterly paranoid while reading. That final twist at the end was perfectly executed. This is my favorite book by this author thus far! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Publishing for this thrilling early read that will publish May 1, 2023.
But the punch in the throat came on their wedding day. Alice is being led down the aisle by her father, and she's understandably excited and nervous, but when she lays eyes on her husband-to-be, she can't believe what she's seeing. The beaming groom is NOT Seth.
Wait, what? Of course it is. Everyone says so. No one can figure out what's wrong with Alice and why she abruptly leaves her own wedding, but Alice doesn't know the stranger she left at the alter.
What follows is a mystery so complex and so layered that I felt utterly paranoid while reading. That final twist at the end was perfectly executed. This is my favorite book by this author thus far! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Publishing for this thrilling early read that will publish May 1, 2023.
January 13, 2023
I am convinced Shalini Boland could write ANYTHING and it will immediately be a best seller!! Her latest book “The Silent Bride” is oh so good!!!! The book starts out by Alice marrying Seth yet when she walks down the aisle, who is that man where Seth is supposed to be standing? She doesn’t recognize him or his parents but everyone else does. What the what???? This story was gripping and hooked me from the first page. I loved everything about this book and I know it’s gonna sell like crazy. I was lucky enough to get it from NetGalley and the publisher as an early release in exchange for my honest review. One of my top books of 2023 so far! This one is her best one so far. Read it! To be published May 1, 2023.
May 18, 2023
I really liked this book, with its unique storyline and surprise twists. The story centers on Alice, who is so excited to marry Seth until she walks down the aisle and sees a stranger in his place. She understandably freaks out, but no one else seems to understand what is happening and they all worry about her mental health.
I thought Alice made reasonable decisions under the circumstances, though I definitely did have some questions about the kinds of things she put up with from boyfriends. The mystery was sound- did something happen to the real Seth or is Alice suffering from some kind of disorder? There were some parts of the book that were a little repetitive but I get that the author was really trying to bring home Alice's state of mind and how others reacted to it. I thought I had the twist figured out, then changed my mind and was sure I was right only to be totally surprised by how it all really shook out. Then I was like "of course!" because it made total sense. The ending of the book was very well done and I think it will stick with me.
Overall, this was a good book and I thought the storyline stood out within the psychological thriller genre. I'd definitely recommend. Thanks to Amazon for providing me with a copy of this book as part of their "first reads" program.
I thought Alice made reasonable decisions under the circumstances, though I definitely did have some questions about the kinds of things she put up with from boyfriends. The mystery was sound- did something happen to the real Seth or is Alice suffering from some kind of disorder? There were some parts of the book that were a little repetitive but I get that the author was really trying to bring home Alice's state of mind and how others reacted to it. I thought I had the twist figured out, then changed my mind and was sure I was right only to be totally surprised by how it all really shook out. Then I was like "of course!" because it made total sense. The ending of the book was very well done and I think it will stick with me.
Overall, this was a good book and I thought the storyline stood out within the psychological thriller genre. I'd definitely recommend. Thanks to Amazon for providing me with a copy of this book as part of their "first reads" program.
May 8, 2023
Every time I pick a free Prime Reading book, it's awful. Like this one. When will I learn?!?!
May 27, 2023
definitely has an interesting premise, but yikes, the execution. this book insists on telling you everything that happens rather than showing you. it’s all just exposition. the characters are paper thin, especially the main character who is honestly just so dumb. nothing happens for 200 pages just for there to be two twists that are just so predictable and so unrealistic. i would not recommend.
May 7, 2023
This was my pick for my Amazon First Reads selection for the month of May. It had an intriguing premise- a woman arrives at the altar and declares the man waiting there isn't her intended. While everyone is insisting that he is. How could this be?
As the novel goes back and forth between "then" and "now" the questions piled up as I flipped the pages and there's no shortage of strange moments. Nor are the people around Alice free of my suspicion. Some parts of the book did raise my eyebrows and I made a lot of guesses along the way. When the revelations finally came(and the book does this at a slow burn), I was like "o.k, I can maybe buy it" but what dimmed were all the chapters after the AHA, that tried to up the AHA factor.
This was my first Shalini Boland read and I can certainly understand why her books are so popular. I would certainly be interested in reading her other suspense thrillers titles.
Goodreads review published 07/05/23
As the novel goes back and forth between "then" and "now" the questions piled up as I flipped the pages and there's no shortage of strange moments. Nor are the people around Alice free of my suspicion. Some parts of the book did raise my eyebrows and I made a lot of guesses along the way. When the revelations finally came(and the book does this at a slow burn), I was like "o.k, I can maybe buy it" but what dimmed were all the chapters after the AHA, that tried to up the AHA factor.
This was my first Shalini Boland read and I can certainly understand why her books are so popular. I would certainly be interested in reading her other suspense thrillers titles.
Goodreads review published 07/05/23
June 25, 2023
This was a horrendous mess of a book. I recently read The Silent Patient and enjoyed it, and since this was marketed as a psychological thriller, I thought, hey, I’ll probably enjoy this, too..
Sadly, this book was not thrilling. The author did try to make it “psychological” but as a therapist, I found myself annoyed AGAIN to read a book written by someone who googled “therapy” once and thought they knew enough to write a book about mental health. insert eye roll. This is a spoiler, but hypnotherapy and hypnosis are brought up in this book…and everything said about them is literally made up. I can’t wait to read a book one day where the author actually talks to a mental health practitioner before trying to write about it.
Beyond that, it’s hard to pinpoint what was the worst thing about this book. We could start with the title. Despite being called THE SILENT BRIDE, the bride in question is never silent. (Like… I’m still confused as to why that was the title? The “silenced” bride could have been a better option…)Or maybe it’s the fact that everyone in the protagonist’s life besides her mother is a rude selfish biotch. Her dad sucks. Her sister sucks. Her best friend/roommate sucks. EVERYONE IS THE WORST and it’s so weird. Or maybe the worst part is just the mediocre writing. I am convinced that those who gave this book 5 stars did not read the same novel that I did.
Finally, one of the most random things about this book is that everyone in it is a vegetarian. This is never actually alluded to, but the author is weirdly specific in describing all the food they order and the meals they eat. And every character in this book only eats vegetarian food. That’s not a problem with me. If you want to fill your literary world with secret vegetarian, go for it. I just thought it was super random and kind of hilarious.
Luckily it was a fast read and I only wasted a few hours of an airplane ride. I’d recommend skipping this one unless you really want to read a book with secret vegetarians who are all really mean to the protagonist.
Sadly, this book was not thrilling. The author did try to make it “psychological” but as a therapist, I found myself annoyed AGAIN to read a book written by someone who googled “therapy” once and thought they knew enough to write a book about mental health. insert eye roll. This is a spoiler, but hypnotherapy and hypnosis are brought up in this book…and everything said about them is literally made up. I can’t wait to read a book one day where the author actually talks to a mental health practitioner before trying to write about it.
Beyond that, it’s hard to pinpoint what was the worst thing about this book. We could start with the title. Despite being called THE SILENT BRIDE, the bride in question is never silent. (Like… I’m still confused as to why that was the title? The “silenced” bride could have been a better option…)Or maybe it’s the fact that everyone in the protagonist’s life besides her mother is a rude selfish biotch. Her dad sucks. Her sister sucks. Her best friend/roommate sucks. EVERYONE IS THE WORST and it’s so weird. Or maybe the worst part is just the mediocre writing. I am convinced that those who gave this book 5 stars did not read the same novel that I did.
Finally, one of the most random things about this book is that everyone in it is a vegetarian. This is never actually alluded to, but the author is weirdly specific in describing all the food they order and the meals they eat. And every character in this book only eats vegetarian food. That’s not a problem with me. If you want to fill your literary world with secret vegetarian, go for it. I just thought it was super random and kind of hilarious.
Luckily it was a fast read and I only wasted a few hours of an airplane ride. I’d recommend skipping this one unless you really want to read a book with secret vegetarians who are all really mean to the protagonist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2023
Audio - 4.5 Stars
Story - 4 Stars
Story - 4 Stars
April 17, 2023
This book should have come with a warning: May cause severe book hangover!
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
I can always count on this author to pull me out of a book slump.
“Right now I need to soak up every second of my wedding day because I don’t plan on doing this more than once. I want this to be forever. The day that kick-starts the rest of my life.”
Alice Porter quickly discovers that this truly is the day that kick-starts the rest of her life…just not in the way she was anticipating.
What if … you lifted your eyes up while walking down the aisle on your wedding day and discovered that the groom smiling back at you wasn’t your fiancé?
THAT’S the premise of this quick-paced, tension-filled, paranoia-inducing, twisty, and delicious novel!
Everyone tries to convince you that the tall, dark-haired and handsome stranger is your husband-to-be, but you simply don’t recognize him. You can’t understand the disconnect between what you see and what everyone else believes. What do you do now?
I’m not giving anything away…but hurry and put this one on your reading list. It’s worthy of ALL the stars.
I was gifted this book by Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
I can always count on this author to pull me out of a book slump.
“Right now I need to soak up every second of my wedding day because I don’t plan on doing this more than once. I want this to be forever. The day that kick-starts the rest of my life.”
Alice Porter quickly discovers that this truly is the day that kick-starts the rest of her life…just not in the way she was anticipating.
What if … you lifted your eyes up while walking down the aisle on your wedding day and discovered that the groom smiling back at you wasn’t your fiancé?
THAT’S the premise of this quick-paced, tension-filled, paranoia-inducing, twisty, and delicious novel!
Everyone tries to convince you that the tall, dark-haired and handsome stranger is your husband-to-be, but you simply don’t recognize him. You can’t understand the disconnect between what you see and what everyone else believes. What do you do now?
I’m not giving anything away…but hurry and put this one on your reading list. It’s worthy of ALL the stars.
I was gifted this book by Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 25, 2024
At the start you may think that the storyline is going to be predictable...just another "who done it... but you'll be wrong....in a good way. Alice, our bride, is looking for her missing groom. As you read a bit further, you’ll realize just how much "more" there is to this story. The author has done an excellent job of creating a tense atmosphere that keeps you guessing until the end. The story is filled to overflowing with intrigue, deception, and surprises. The characters are well-rounded, complex and so very easy to relate to. I found that Alice is a likeable heroine. She will tug at your heartstrings as you follow her efforts to find her missing groom. The author has given us Seth...Alice's fiancé, and the missing groom. He is our character that we can "love to hate". Every psychological thriller needs one of those you know. We are introduced, along the journey, to some other characters that will keep you guessing as to exactly what their intentions are. You will soon find that you are deeply invested in all of these characters, and you are hooked. The journey you have undertaken is filled with twists and turns that culminate in a conclusion that is sure to leave you breathless. Overall...anyone who loves good psychological thrillers with a captivating storyline, well-rounded characters and an excellent writing style, will love The Silent Bride. I found it nearly impossible to put down...but when reading some other reviews, I found that I was in the minority on this one. "To each his own."
May 19, 2023
Mysterious
Woe, did this story take me by surprise.
Superbly written. I like the methodology Shalini Boland used taking one back to past events and then the current events. The author has intertwined the story in a most interesting method.
There are so many possibilities, I mean a lot, regarding who's behind the manipulation once you catch on. The person who is actually the guilty one isn't revealed until the last several chapters after it seems obvious the true mastermind has been been found out, or is it?
I'm glad I didn't give up reading this in it's entirety.
Woe, did this story take me by surprise.
Superbly written. I like the methodology Shalini Boland used taking one back to past events and then the current events. The author has intertwined the story in a most interesting method.
There are so many possibilities, I mean a lot, regarding who's behind the manipulation once you catch on. The person who is actually the guilty one isn't revealed until the last several chapters after it seems obvious the true mastermind has been been found out, or is it?
I'm glad I didn't give up reading this in it's entirety.
February 4, 2024
It's the day of Alice's wedding and she's about to marry Seth, the man of her dreams but, as she walks down the aisle, he turns to greet her and she doesn't recognise him. Who is this man and why is he insisting he is her fiance, even more confusingly why are her parents and the rest of the congregation saying it's him too? Alice knows she needs to uncover the truth, but how, when nobody seems to believe her and her perfect life has turned into her worst nightmare?
Told from Alice's perspective, across two timelines, alternating between now and then and with a third party's musings intricately woven in between, we witness Alice's whole world fall apart before her very eyes.
Told from Alice's perspective, across two timelines, alternating between now and then and with a third party's musings intricately woven in between, we witness Alice's whole world fall apart before her very eyes.
July 13, 2023
The only reason I pushed through The Silent Bride and finished it because the beginning got my attention and I wanted to know how Shalini Boland was going to end it.
The writing wasn't something to scream about, it wasn't polished enough and it didn't hold much of my attention. It was mainly who was wearing what and going where. Nothing much was happening and suddenly towards the end, everything was jumbled up.
The Silent Bride didn't do it for me, I thought it would be interesting enough but too bad it was lacking much.
The writing wasn't something to scream about, it wasn't polished enough and it didn't hold much of my attention. It was mainly who was wearing what and going where. Nothing much was happening and suddenly towards the end, everything was jumbled up.
The Silent Bride didn't do it for me, I thought it would be interesting enough but too bad it was lacking much.
May 17, 2023
My 3 stars for this book pains me. My first Shalini Boland book I didn't really like! ☹
September 12, 2023
It gets 2⭐️ only because I didn’t DNF it. I hate read this fr.
I can’t talk about how terrible it is without discussing spoilers.
I wish I could be hypnotised to forget this shitshow, but no bc ITS IMPOSSIBLE 🙃 Not in the Silent Bride tho! A contemporary thriller, I may add.
It’s Alice’s wedding day. She’s walking down the aisle, ready to say I do but when her groom (Seth) turns around she doesn’t recognise him. He’s a stranger to her. She also doesn’t recognise his parents.
Chapters flit from past to present as we learn more about Alice. There are also anonymous POV chapters to suggest Alice is being set up somehow to forget her fiancé. We are made to feel suspicious of all her friends and family from the chapters in the past.
Before I even get to that LUDICROUS ending, a few things:
I hated every single character 🙃 silence the whole wedding party by choking the bastards bc I hated them. What a bag of dicks. Like wafer thin ham, all of them. They didn’t behave or act in a realistic way. If I could reach inside the book and strangle every character I would.
This book is short but 75% of it is filler - pointless scenes and dialogue that contribute NUTTING to the story. Do I seriously need to know exactly what she ordered every time she’s in a food establishment? No 😆
‼️ Who the hell is agreeing to marry a man who hasn’t met their friends and family and who you’ve never lived with. ERRMM.
Alice did DIDDLY FUCKING SQUAT to find out why she’s forgotten her fiancé. Even if you don’t recognise them, or have those intense feelings for a stranger you understand the severity, in that your life has been turned upside down and you want to find out why. WHY don’t I recognise my fiancé. WHO has done this to me. Apart from a few brain scans and a trip to the drs, Alice goes about her business like it’s another weekday. She was railing her bff Lawrence by 75% ?? Really loved Seth mind 😅 And why did NONE of Alice’s friends or family support her to help her remember ?? Instead they think she’s having a mental breakdown 🤨 ALEXA PLAY BLACK EYED PEAS BC WHERE IS THE LOVE?!?!
None of them really confirmed nor denied that Seth really WAS Seth. And how could her friends or family disbelieve her when THEYD NEVER EVEN MET HIM 🫠 why didn’t Alice get her phone out on her wedding day and try and get up pictures of the real Seth ASAP?
Seth her fiancé also did NOTHING to try and convince her he was her fiancé. Alice didn’t ask him questions, things ONLY her fiancé would know on the rare occasions she met up with him after the wedding.
Like I said. Not behaving or acting in a realistic way.
And THEN THAT ENDING PFFFT, it’s the reviews for me that state ‘I never saw the twist coming’ wellll that’s bc it’s LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE 🙃
My intelligence is insulted.
Alice’s best friends girlfriend Fran, hypnotised Alice to forget her fiancé Seth because she wanted to ruin her life. She’s also in love with Seth and wants him for herself. Even tho she was with Lawrence… What in the Hollyoak episode is this ????
It’s the way she just woke up on her wedding day and BAMN instantly forgotten her fiancé 🤣🤣🤣 how convenient hypnotism works this way. And Fran seriously hypnotised Alice to forget every single time she’d sat down with her TO hypnotise her in the first place?? You’re yanking my chain.
It was stupid. A waste of my time, wish I could unread.
I can’t talk about how terrible it is without discussing spoilers.
I wish I could be hypnotised to forget this shitshow, but no bc ITS IMPOSSIBLE 🙃 Not in the Silent Bride tho! A contemporary thriller, I may add.
It’s Alice’s wedding day. She’s walking down the aisle, ready to say I do but when her groom (Seth) turns around she doesn’t recognise him. He’s a stranger to her. She also doesn’t recognise his parents.
Chapters flit from past to present as we learn more about Alice. There are also anonymous POV chapters to suggest Alice is being set up somehow to forget her fiancé. We are made to feel suspicious of all her friends and family from the chapters in the past.
Before I even get to that LUDICROUS ending, a few things:
I hated every single character 🙃 silence the whole wedding party by choking the bastards bc I hated them. What a bag of dicks. Like wafer thin ham, all of them. They didn’t behave or act in a realistic way. If I could reach inside the book and strangle every character I would.
This book is short but 75% of it is filler - pointless scenes and dialogue that contribute NUTTING to the story. Do I seriously need to know exactly what she ordered every time she’s in a food establishment? No 😆
‼️ Who the hell is agreeing to marry a man who hasn’t met their friends and family and who you’ve never lived with. ERRMM.
Alice did DIDDLY FUCKING SQUAT to find out why she’s forgotten her fiancé. Even if you don’t recognise them, or have those intense feelings for a stranger you understand the severity, in that your life has been turned upside down and you want to find out why. WHY don’t I recognise my fiancé. WHO has done this to me. Apart from a few brain scans and a trip to the drs, Alice goes about her business like it’s another weekday. She was railing her bff Lawrence by 75% ?? Really loved Seth mind 😅 And why did NONE of Alice’s friends or family support her to help her remember ?? Instead they think she’s having a mental breakdown 🤨 ALEXA PLAY BLACK EYED PEAS BC WHERE IS THE LOVE?!?!
None of them really confirmed nor denied that Seth really WAS Seth. And how could her friends or family disbelieve her when THEYD NEVER EVEN MET HIM 🫠 why didn’t Alice get her phone out on her wedding day and try and get up pictures of the real Seth ASAP?
Seth her fiancé also did NOTHING to try and convince her he was her fiancé. Alice didn’t ask him questions, things ONLY her fiancé would know on the rare occasions she met up with him after the wedding.
Like I said. Not behaving or acting in a realistic way.
And THEN THAT ENDING PFFFT, it’s the reviews for me that state ‘I never saw the twist coming’ wellll that’s bc it’s LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE 🙃
My intelligence is insulted.
Alice’s best friends girlfriend Fran, hypnotised Alice to forget her fiancé Seth because she wanted to ruin her life. She’s also in love with Seth and wants him for herself. Even tho she was with Lawrence… What in the Hollyoak episode is this ????
It’s the way she just woke up on her wedding day and BAMN instantly forgotten her fiancé 🤣🤣🤣 how convenient hypnotism works this way. And Fran seriously hypnotised Alice to forget every single time she’d sat down with her TO hypnotise her in the first place?? You’re yanking my chain.
It was stupid. A waste of my time, wish I could unread.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2023
Rating: 2.2/5
Alice and Seth seem like the idyllic couple and they are just about to tie the knot on their big day. But, wait a moment ... What's this? Who is that strange man standing in the church where Alice's husband-to-be should be standing. She doesn't recognize him at all. Just what is going on here?
This opening premise certainly provides an effective hook and I was interested to see how the story would develop. The narrative takes place across two time frames - the present and a non-specific earlier time prior to the wedding. The story is told predominantly from the viewpoint of Alice, but there occasional chapters interspersed that provide insights from a further unidentified, but clearly somewhat malevolent character.
"The Silent Bride" is quite a quick read and Shalini Boland's writing style is breezy and mostly well-paced. The characterisation is okay - if on the superficial side - and for the most part the dialogue is natural - though there are some occasional stilted examples that creep in. Unfortunately, after its appealing opening, it wasn't long before I started to have less positive thoughts. As little as 15% of the way into the story it was already beginning to seem quite contrived and had echoes of disposable pulp fiction - but this was nothing when compared with what was yet to come. You really will need to take far more than a pinch of salt to swallow the twists that are to be unveiled later in the piece. Depending on your point of view, you will either find the final chapters ludicrously entertaining or else stretching credulity to the point where it is just annoying.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
Alice and Seth seem like the idyllic couple and they are just about to tie the knot on their big day. But, wait a moment ... What's this? Who is that strange man standing in the church where Alice's husband-to-be should be standing. She doesn't recognize him at all. Just what is going on here?
This opening premise certainly provides an effective hook and I was interested to see how the story would develop. The narrative takes place across two time frames - the present and a non-specific earlier time prior to the wedding. The story is told predominantly from the viewpoint of Alice, but there occasional chapters interspersed that provide insights from a further unidentified, but clearly somewhat malevolent character.
"The Silent Bride" is quite a quick read and Shalini Boland's writing style is breezy and mostly well-paced. The characterisation is okay - if on the superficial side - and for the most part the dialogue is natural - though there are some occasional stilted examples that creep in. Unfortunately, after its appealing opening, it wasn't long before I started to have less positive thoughts. As little as 15% of the way into the story it was already beginning to seem quite contrived and had echoes of disposable pulp fiction - but this was nothing when compared with what was yet to come. You really will need to take far more than a pinch of salt to swallow the twists that are to be unveiled later in the piece. Depending on your point of view, you will either find the final chapters ludicrously entertaining or else stretching credulity to the point where it is just annoying.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 4, 2023
Decent story but not spectacular - I enjoyed the different perspectives and was really surprised with the ending!
May 18, 2023
Another free Amazon Prime book that went from bad to worse. When will I learn to stop wasting my time with these mediocre reads?
September 2, 2023
I love the premise but the story just drags on...
January 4, 2024
3.5 could have been more thrilling. to be fair it's a bit of a mess but it's fun.
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