You Won't BeLIEve Me by Cyn Balog

Willow is alone, confined to a bed with restraints. She can't remember how she got there...or how long she's been there.

An old lady appears in her room to feed her twice a day. Granny doesn't talk, but Willow can hear thumping from somewhere beyond her door. It's not Granny's shuffling steps. It's too loud to be Granny's cat. Is it someone? Something?

Then Granny's cat dies in Willow's room. And Granny follows a few days later. Willow will do anything to survive. But freeing herself from her bed is only the beginning... Because there is someone else in the house. Who is this mysterious teen who calls himself Elijah? And is he the reason she's hostage or the key to her escape?

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This starts out as a rather more teen friendly version of Gerard's Game, then becomes a survivalist horror, then a thriller...and by the ending it's something else entirely! This is the first book in a long time that I have been tempted to skip to the ending of - because I wanted to know what happened at the end, not because I wasn't enjoying it! - but I'm glad I didn't, because the ending wouldn't have made any sense if I hadn't followed the twists and turns through the whole novel.

Every time I thought I knew what was going on, Cyn upended things and added new elements. This can occasionally make for a crowded narrative, but it always sorts itself out quite quickly. The genre switches are smooth and easy to follow.

This is a great read and I'll be watching out for more by Cyn...she's going to be big.

You Won't BeLIEve Me publishes on the 29th June, 2023. I received a free copy and am giving an honest opinion.