ARC Review: “The Happiness Thief” by Nicole Bokat

“The Happiness Thief” by Nicole Bokat

Publishing Date: May 18th, 2021

Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery

Page Length: 280 pages (paperback review edition)

Synopsis:

Forty-one-year-old Natalie Greene lost her mom and her childhood memories in a car crash two decades ago. What remains is a haunting feeling that she was responsible for her mother’s death. After her husband leaves for another woman, Natalie accompanies her famous stepsister, Isabel Walker (aka “The Happiness Guru”) on a retreat to the Cayman Islands. There, a late-night collision triggers Natalie’s long-buried trauma and a heightened sense of guilt.

Upon returning home to Boston, Natalie tries to settle back into her life as a food photographer and single mother to a teenage daughter―but then, one day, an anonymous email arrives about the Cayman accident that suggests foul play. In her search for the truth, Natalie must deal with a mix of fear, confusion, and suspects. With the help of Isabel and an attractive journalist, she uncovers a trail of deceit that begins on that deserted Caribbean road, circles back home, and ends in the most unexpected of places. (description from Goodreads) 

Review:

The Happiness Thief is a gripping thriller about Natalie who’s childhood memories surrounding a car crash have haunted her for years. The death of her mom was tragic and its aftereffects have left her grappling with mental health issues and she’s never really recovered from it. She feels as if she’s responsible for her mother’s death and can’t help shake the fact there was something more sinister that took place that fateful night. An incident that occurs once again threatens to dredge up the trauma she’s been trying to heal from all these years.

This was an interesting psychological thriller through and through. The reader can’t help but shake the fact that something isn’t right, but you’re unsure of where to look to find the missing piece of the puzzle. Since Natalie’s memory is a bit cloudy, she becomes a bit of an unreliable narrator. We aren’t sure of what memories are true or not and the readers have to go off of clues hidden in conversations, mysterious emails, and her interactions with others. There were so many what-ifs while reading this novel that had me trying to grasp at any clues that were given. It gave the thriller an entertaining feel and sping-tingling chills from the things lurking in the dark.

The only downside I would say about this book is that it was very slow to start. It took a great deal to set up its characters and the story, but also made me lose interest in it. It was until several chapters in that I became heavily invested in the overall narrative. I liked the hidden metaphors tied to the mystery aspect especially when it all comes full circle at the end of the book. It definitely threw me for a loop! I can’t say too much about this book without spoiling it. It’s a reading experience that was interesting and chilling.

TW: Violence, Death, Mental Illness, Trauma

Final Verdict:

FTC Disclaimer: I recieved this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.