Book Review: The Affair by Claire Allan

Please join me in welcoming Claire Allan back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Affair.

Her heart is thumping now, only just distinguishable from the roar of the water and the wind. This is not safe. She is not safe…

She realises then, only one of them is coming back out alive.

She’s the person I want to be. Sorcha Hannon, survivor of a devastating affair. She’s found the healing and hope I desperately need to find for myself.

And now that Sorcha and I are friends, I am no longer alone. Instead of days hiding away from the world, I have someone to talk to. I feel as if I finally belong.

There’s just one small catch. Sorcha Hannon isn’t just a new friend to me, and she certainly isn’t a stranger. In fact, I know the ins and outs of her life, and her marriage, almost as well as she does. But if she finds out who I really am, I’ll lose everything. Then again, as Sorcha says, no one’s life is really as perfect as it seems… and I should have realised, I’m not the only one with secrets.

*****

Christina’s life has become so small. Any interaction with the outside world has become hard. However, all she has to do is press a button and she potentially becomes a part of a group that aims to promote friendship and female empowerment. It also puts her into the path of leader, Sorcha – someone Christina is very eager to meet. 

Having previously read The Liar’s Daughter, I was excited to have the opportunity to be part of the blog tour for Claire Allan’s latest novel, The Affair. 

Told from the point of view of mostly Christina and Sorcha, the plot for this novel takes no time at all in plunging the reader into the intrigue surrounding these ladies. 

The tension simmers very close to the surface and the deeper I got into the novel, the harder it was to put it down. I needed to know how it would end, especially as the prologue at the beginning gives a glimpse into that. 

Christina is a prime example of a complicated and damaged character. I think each person who reads this will have a different take and judgement on her character and actions. 

For someone who puts herself online for the world to see, it’s obvious Sorcha is holding a lot of herself back. Two very different women – one powerful and potentially dangerous connection. I will not say anymore about that. 

The Affair is a gripping novel with twists and turns that gradually and skilfully unwind  I love novels like this one. It’s a story that takes hold of you and won’t let go from the first page until the last. It’s a tale of lust, love, deceit, betrayal and what women are capable of doing to each other. I really enjoyed this book and I hope it’s one you’ll add to your reading pile. 

About Claire Allan –

Claire Allan is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers and, in the past, women’s fiction.

A former reporter with the Derry Journal, she published eight contemporary women’s fiction novels with Poolbeg Press in Ireland before becoming a full time author, and switching genre to ‘unleash her darker side’

Her first domestic noir novel, Her Name Was Rose was published by Avon/ HarperCollins in 2018 and was an instant bestseller in several countries. Claire’s novels have been translated into multiple languages.

Latterly. Claire worked as a story consultant on series one of the huge successful BBC drama series ‘Blue Lights’ with Two Cities Productions. She has also written a number of rom-coms under the pen-name Freya Kennedy, and supported Sunday Times Bestseller Serena Terry while she was writing her Mammy Banter titles.

In 2023 Claire signed a multi-book deal with Boldwood Books to write four thrillers as Claire Allan, and three rom-coms as Freya Kennedy, securing her publishing into 2026.

Say hello to Claire on Facebook, X (Twitter,) Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter.

 The Affair was released by Boldwood Books on 21st May 2024. Click to buy on Amazon, Apple and Barnes and Nobles. Click to buy on Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.