Book giveaway this week: Nearest Thing to Crazy

[LaraMumsnet]

Elizabeth Forbes' Nearest Thing to Crazy takes the reader on a tense and compelling journey, depicting just how terrifyingly easy it can be to distort someone's reality, as well as how effectively one can manipulate the power balance of relationships. Download an extract and if you fancy getting your hands on a copy apply here and come back to post your review and discuss the book with other mumsnetters on this thread.

I've applied for this one, it sounds really good. Fingers crossed!

Not sure I will receive one but no harm in trying. I love reading!!

Just heard I'll be getting a copy. Thank you.

Oo I just got an email confirming I'll be getting a copy, looking forward to discussing.

Just received an email too. Thank you.

Yay, I'm getting a copy - thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you! I can't wait to read it!

Just received my copy, thankyou very much can't wait to get started!

I thought this book had a perfect balance between plot and description. The story moved on at a pace which had me hooked but I also enjoyed the descriptive elements. The little section which contained a description of the shop in Carcasonne was perfect: in fact both myself and DD were thinking of the same shop, from our visits there, when we read this part! I found the storyline thought provoking and also the background information at the end enhanced my understanding. Thank you for my copy.

I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down in places.

I thought it was very well written..I could feel myself getting really cross with one person, doubting another, then feeling very sorry for them. I definitely invested in the characters, I thought they came to life and kept me turning the pages as the story unfolded.

Without being too spoilerish there were definitely some pages that freaked me out!

I will probably read this again in the near future, and I will recommend it to my friends. Thank you for my copy.

Received my copy yesterday so will start reading it tonight, looking forward to after reading the above comments.

Hi SunshinePanda just wanted to say that am so happy you enjoyed the book and thank you so much for participating in the giveaway and for posting a review. It is just great to have reader feedback - especially when it's so positive! Best wishes, Lizzie

Hello SisterMatic
I just wanted to say thank you for that great review and just love the fact that you want to read it again. I also want to thank you for not giving anything away ;). I really appreciate you entering the give away and for supporting Nearest Thing to Crazy. Best wishes, Lizzie

Read this in one sitting. What a page turner and so perfect to win this book so I have something to read unable to sleep in the heat. My husband is now reading it and I will pass this on to members of my bookclub.

I read this book over three days. This is quite a long time for me, however I felt this wasn't one to rush. I personally found the first half slightly slow going however the plot itself was very interesting.

Once I got past the halfway point I was really hooked, I found myself really engrossed in the story, the characters were well described and you could really begin to understand how each individual character was feeling about the situations occuring and I found myself caring about what happened to them.

I have to say I did not see some of what happened in the end coming, very cleverly written.

As a whole I would recommend this book to others, it was a type of book I hadn't really read before and I am pleased I was given the chance to do so.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book as I'm normally a thriller and murder reader and don't really deviate from my preferred authors.

The Book is so absorbing and I read it in a day and I have to admit that several times I was even tempted to flip to the back to see how it ended because I was starting to feel as frustrated with one of the characters as Cassandra was! Its definately a book you won't be able to put down once started!!

Its quite a dark book and so for any thriller and murder readers out there who think maybe this isn't for them I disagree ... this will be right up your street.

I was lucky enough to win one of these books and although I was sceptical at first I enjoyed the description and thought the title held a lot of promise, so I sat down and began to read!!

As I read I got engrossed with the main protagonists and loved the way it built up and kept me guessing as to the outcome. So although the start was a bit slow the middle and the ending more than made up for it.

I thought the main plot line within this story was interesting yet also found the sub plots fab too. Troublesome parents, secrets and lies and pregnancy problems feature in real life experiences so reading this you could almost imagine it was true and not fiction!

A well written, easy to read book with gripping plots and interesting characters.

Lucky enough to win a copy! I read more in the summer and this had me gripped. I loved the transcript of Ellie written in the narrative way of how she saw things . I was horrified at the way a person could make another disbelieve their own sanity and the ending was well thought out, Im glad it wasnt rushed to get to the end quickly as so many books are. Was shocked at the outcome but the author did a good job in making it believable. Pack for the beach ! Look forward to more from same author!

Have received my copy and looking forward to reading it, especially now I've seen some of the reviews above. Saving it for my holiday at my in-laws next month (always sensible to have a good book to escape into!).

Sorry I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Think I might wait and take it to France (near Carcasonne) in September. Looks like an interesting read.

I've just finished my free copy of the book. The book is a compelling read and kept me gripped until the end.

The dual voices of Cass and Ellie throughout the novel challenges the reader to question whose viewpoint they believe in. Without giving away too many plot spoilers it is hard to really discuss the characters and their interaction in great detail but by describing each significant event in both viewpoints the reader constantly questions the actions of Dan, Laura and the various friends. Anyone who has felt pushed out / threatened by a new arrival will relate to some extent to Cass's initial feelings, similarly anyone who has tried to integrate within a new group of friends /small community will connect with Ellie. The gossipy and well-meaning nature of small communities was depicted very accurately.

I will certainly look out for future novels by this author.

Ended up reading this on my commute over the past week and I was gripped. A really well paced novel and the tension just keeps building - nearly missed my stop tonight racing though the final chapter!

As others have said, telling the story from two different viewpoints works well and I couldn't make up my mind which narrator to believe right up until the end. The book really made me think about our different perceptions of mental health and how our views of others are inevitably coloured by our own experiences, prejudices and personal agendas (whether well-meaning or otherwise).

I thought that the book was very 'mumsnetty' (meant as a compliment obviously!) with its references to e.g. waitrose, gaslighting and Dan's Boden shirt .

Was the book writen by a mumsnetter? I too thought the boden and gas lighting references related to life on here. It was a very captivating read, I don't want to say too much and spoil it for anyone else but my main thought throughout the book was because of her prior mental health difficulties does that discredit every experience she ever has. It was well written, I like books where I haven't completely worked out the ending before I get there, I had 3 scenarios in mind, I also wasn't disappointed with the end. I liked the personal style enter at the back and eventhoughtabout tweeting the author to say, what you wanted to put acrossinthebook came across really well.
Thanks for a really great read, I had to stay up late until I had finished it, I just HAD to know how it ended.
Also great to read something styled a bit differently.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and the storyline and the way it was told from 2 points of view. Would definitely recommend.