Reviews

The Companion by Jo Crow

lizz_reviewsbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

 Synopsis

Caring for Colin Harrington’s unresponsive wife seemed like the ideal opportunity: a reliable income, a place to live, and a chance to revive her career and personal life. She knows she has to make it work. However, the Harrington mansion isn’t the refuge she envisioned. Colin’s heartbroken charm proves to be more captivating than she anticipated. Then there’s Kara—the wife she’s meant to look after—whose silent presence casts a shadow over everything, despite not having uttered a word in years. As she becomes more entangled in the household, the questions multiply, and it becomes clear that someone in this home will go to great lengths to keep their secrets safe.

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book; it provided just the right amount of info to keep me hooked without giving away the plot twist. The characters and storyline were captivating, and I loved how it started from one viewpoint and then switched to another to connect everything. The creepy atmosphere really heightened the feeling of suspense. While I guessed some things, there were definitely parts of the ending that caught me off guard. I’d recommend this book!

Thank You @Booksirens for allowing me to review this ARC.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 

weslie_thibeault's review against another edition

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4.0

“Intense pressure makes diamonds… it breaks people”

This novel follows a young aspiring voice actress, Anna, who finds work as a Companion to the once famous, Kara. After an accident leaves Kara virtually brain dead, her husband seeks out the perfect person to keep her company. However, as Anna spends more time around the household, she discovers every thing may not be what it seems.

This book had me engaged from the beginning and I could not put it down. It is multiple POVs, however the second POV does not come in until about halfway through the book. It did mean I had to go back and remind myself what was happening before when we finally go back to the first POV.

Overall, this book was great! If you are a fan of Verity or the Housemaid, you will enjoy this read as well. This was one of my favorite ARCs I’ve read so far!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

shereads_theworld's review against another edition

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2.0

This book had a slow start, with the pacing not really picking up until about 30% into the story. While I was hopeful that the remainder would be more engaging, unfortunately, it failed to hold my attention. Despite an interesting premise and a cast of intriguing characters, I found myself predicting the outcome long before I was halfway through. This lack of surprises made it difficult to stay invested, especially for a suspense or thriller novel where twists and unexpected turns are crucial to maintaining suspense.

While the plot had potential, the overall execution left me wanting more. Ultimately, it didn’t deliver the kind of thrilling experience I was hoping for, and I was left feeling a bit disappointed.

reader_of_rohan's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC.

There was a lot to like about this story: it was well-written and the characters were realistic. I did think it felt a little slow in the middle, when I kind of knew what was coming, but there were a few specifics I didn't expect that were welcome surprises.

juliereadzintherockies's review

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dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you to BookSiren for this gifted copy of "The Companion" by Jo Crow. Wow! She's an author who just popped up on my radar, and I'm always excited when I find amazing authors. 


This mysterious thriller captured my attention from the very first page. The story flows at a steady pace with intriguing characters. Kara, who is desperate for work, stumbles on a job that many might envy—a live-in companion for a woman who is semi-comatose after a horrible accident. Kara's interest lies in the perks offered with the job. She desperately needs to get her voice acting career back on track, and this house is the answer, with its high-tech recording studio. 

But as Kara settles in, she starts to uncover some wild secrets. Before long, strange incidents occur around the house. My mind was spinning, and my imagination was in overdrive. I solved a few puzzles, but the final revelation sent chills down my spine! I'm excited to explore Crow's backlist to see if she always delivers this level of bone-tingling excitement! 

#Ad #partner #BookSiren #JoCrow #TheCompanion #relaypublishing #freebookreview #honestreview #bookreviewer #reader #read #thriller #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse 


nminst's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"There was one thing he had taught me that I could agree with. Sometimes all a person needs is a little push." 

Overall this was the perfect psychological thriller. Deception, unhealthy relationships and all the twists and turns. The reason I gave this 5 stars (versus 4) is because Jo did a tremendous job at hitting all of the anticipated twists and THEN SOME. I certainly did not anticipate the ending and now want to know more about the Anna, Micky and Kara clan.

bzzkolla's review against another edition

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4.0

Thank you NetGalley and Relay Publishing for this eCopy to review

The Companion is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The blend of psychological tension and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, making it hard to put the book down.

Landing the job as a companion for Colin Harrington’s unresponsive wife, Kara, felt like a lifeline. Megan was desperate to revive her faltering career and this opportunity seemed perfect. The Harrington mansion, with its high-tech features and eerie atmosphere, was both a sanctuary and a prison. Shadows seemed to move on their own, and Megan couldn’t shake the feeling of being constantly watched.

Colin, a celebrity podcaster, was a man haunted by his past. His wife’s accident had left him in a state of perpetual mourning, but Megan couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. Maybe she could be the one to help him move on. However, as Megan settled into her role, she discovered a cassette tape that revealed a shocking truth. Someone in the house had a dark secret, and they were willing to do anything to protect it. But Megan wasn’t entirely innocent either; she had her own secrets to keep.

The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and the characters were well-developed and intriguing. The eerie setting added to the overall sense of dread and anticipation

nloushoes's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Rating: 😐/2
Review: This book had a great start and sucked me in for the first 15% but then it just dragged. Anna’s character went from mysterious to annoying and made dumb decisions. Story didn’t flow and a lot of detail threads didn’t get pulled on enough and others dragged. Very much Verity vibes. 
Format: 👩🏻‍💻
Source: #netgalley