The Girlfriend’s Secret
My son thinks she’s perfect. I know she’s here to destroy me.
From the moment Haven arrived, a shiver of dread traced its way down my spine. Her sun-kissed hair, her radiant smile – she was too perfect for my gentle son, Joel. I tried to make her leave, to shield my family from her unsettling charm. But Haven is smarter than I gave her credit for. Now, she’s not just in our lives; she’s living under our roof, slowly, meticulously, worming her way into every corner of my home, every heart in my family.
I see it in her eyes. A glint of something cold, something knowing, when she looks at me. She smiles as if she holds the key to my deepest fears. She knows my darkest secret. My heart pounds with the chilling certainty that this woman is not here for my son. She’s here for me.
How far will a mother go to protect her family when the threat is already inside?
- Liane - Frederik’s wife, 51
- Frederik - Liane’s husband
- Scott - Auto repair shop owner, Liane and Frederik’s son, 28
- Joel - Liane and Frederik’s son, 25
- Haven - Joel’s girlfriend, 25
- Calvin - Haven’s brother
- Valerie - Liane’s mother
- Valerie died after falling down the stairs.
- Joel met Haven when he was backpacking through Australia.
- Joel and Haven move into Liane and Frederik’s house.
- Haven tells Liane that she exchanged messages with Valerie while she and Joel were traveling around Australia.
- Valerie leaves Liane euro100,000 and her house in her will and Joel and Scott each euro75,000.
- Liane accuses Haven of already trying to spend Joel’s inheritance.
- Liane finds a piece of paper in Haven’s jeans that says, ‘ Call me if you’re ever in trouble again’ and includes a phone number.
- Liane texts the number pretending to be Haven and makes plans to meet the sender.
- Liane meets the man in a park who says his name is Calvin.
- Calvin says Haven went through a tough time in her life and they aren’t in regular contact.
- Liane steals Haven’s phone and sees a message someone sent her, ‘Leave Joel and my family alone or I will hurt you.’
- Haven tells Liane, Joel and Frederik that she thinks Scott pushed Valerie down the stairs and sent her the threatening message.
- Haven explains that on the day Valerie died she mentioned Scott was coming to visit her. After learning Scott’s business was in trouble, Haven believes he killed Valerie for his inheritance to save it.
- Scott tells Haven that he didn’t kill Valerie and says she was already dead when he arrived that day.
- Liane tells Scott that she walked in and found Valerie dead, but she was twirling her hair with her left hand, which Scott knows she always does when she is lying.
- Scott is the one who sent Haven the threatening text message.
- Liane killed Valerie to get her inheritance so she and Frederik could stop working and enjoy their lives.
- Scott, Joel and Haven tell Frederik what they know and ask for his help.
- Frederik gets Liane to admit on a secret recording that she killed Valerie.
- Liane is arrested.
- Epilogue: Haven and Joel return to Australia.
- Scott and Frederik visit them and they all spread Valerie’s ashes.
- Liane pleads guilty to murdering Valerie.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this title.
The Girlfriend’s Secret kept me engaged with a steady stream of mystery, suspicion, and unanswered questions. The story is told mostly from Liane’s perspective in the present, with a few chapters from Haven and Scott that add just enough extra context to keep the mystery unfolding without giving too much away.
The short chapters, multiple POVs, and steady pacing kept the story moving. What worked best for me was the mystery itself, which kept me invested more than the characters did.
There were enough twists and red herrings to keep me guessing, even if a few of those distractions weren’t fully explained in a satisfying way by the end. The one that stood out most was Haven’s relationship with Calvin, which felt intentionally mysterious throughout but was left a little too vague for my liking. I would have liked a bit more depth there. The final reveal also wasn’t particularly shocking or unique, but I don’t think every thriller needs a shocking ending to be enjoyable.
Overall, this was an entertaining psychological thriller that delivered what I was looking for: an engaging mystery with plenty of suspense. If you’re looking for a good thriller and don’t need a shocking ending to enjoy the ride, this one is worth picking up.
If you like family secrets, red herrings, and psychological suspense, then you will enjoy this book.
#NetGalley #TheGirlfriendSecret
- Valerie - Dead - Pushed down the stairs by Liane
- Liane - Alive - In prison for killing Valerie
- Joel - Alive - Traveling the world with Haven
- Haven - Alive - Traveling the world with Joel
- Death of a parent
- Murder
ISBN: 9781805509400
Publication Date: August 19, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
