Claire Kendal

Sunday Times top ten bestseller and Richard & Judy pick, The Book of You is a terrifying psychological thriller about obsession and power, perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

The Book of You

His name is Rafe, and he is everywhere Clarissa turns. At work. At her apartment. At the park. His messages choke her voicemail; his unwanted gifts keep appearing at her door. And as he has made clear, he will never let her go. Clarissa's only sanctuary is the courtroom where she serves jury duty. The trial's rhythm allows her space to make new friends, including Robert, an attractive widower. But Rafe's relentless fixation, now fueled by jealousy, escalates in tandem with the chilling tale of predator and prey unfolding before Clarissa in court. Her only chance of escape lies in exposing Rafe's sinister intentions. Strand by strand she unravels the macabre fairy tale Rafe has spun around them and discovers that the happy ending he envisions is more horrifying than her darkest fears. Masterfully constructed, with riveting tension and a haunting sense of menace, Claire Kendal's extraordinary debut explores the lines between obsession and love, offering a heart-stopping portrait of a woman determined to survive.

Ayesha ahmed

Wawawawaw. Ok, no really. To begin with; this book is one of those books that I love reading or even watching as a movie/TV show... This is because what happens in this book is something many people go through in their everyday lives, whereas the rest of the world is completely clueless of what's going on around them. Not only does it partially, I repeat partially, help victims who are being stalked, but you could also learn how to respond (not respond that is) to your stalker. I'm not saying that it solves the issue it's just a lovely insight to other people's lives. I also liked how Kendal used a mix of both first and third person, which I personally found enticing. I just love it.

Jane Keal

3.5 Stars. Really enjoyed the vast majority of this book. Couldn't put it down and was through it in a few hours. Normally I don't like books that flick between narrative but it worked well in this, and really allowed you to get into Clarissa's head. 
I'd say the last third of this lets it down. The ending feels very abrupt, the main trial felt like something was missing (though I appreciate you can't tell 2 stories fully in 400 pages!) and the subplot with Robert was in my opinion weak. Towards the end I expected more from it that never quite seemed to materialise. 
Despite this I'd still completely recommend it (though a definite trigger warning as it can be quite graphic) and would read this author again.

The Book of You

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