Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

‘Behind Her Eyes’ by Sarah Pinborough was the last book I read on my Gran Canaria holiday last month. In fact, I finished it on the plane ride home.

I would’ve started the final book I brought with me if I hadn’t been sitting in the window seat and had to disturb two people to grab the next one from my cabin luggage.

Hate to say ‘I told you so’ (actually, I love it), but I did tell my mom five books for five days holiday was a good amount and she thought I was exaggerating (and yes, I did also bring my e-reader).

It’s strange how different we all appear to who we really are.

‘Behind Her Eyes’ by Sarah Pinborough is about Louise, a secretary at a psychiatrist’s practice, who meets man-in-a-bar, who turns out to be new-married-boss, and later also meets his wife.

But she soon discovers David and Adele aren’t the picture-perfect couple they appear to be.

Louise gets invested in their marriage and secrets and only has more and more questions. How far is she going to go to find out the truth?

There’s no right or wrong with feelings. There is only what there is.

I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with at least one other book where the plot was as much of a mystery to me as ‘Behind Her Eyes’ by Sarah Pinborough. I haven’t thought of one yet.

Most of the time, you have a pretty good idea where things are gonna go, whether they actually do or not. You have a gut feeling, and you’re happily surprised when it turns out another way.

But with ‘Behind Her Eyes’, I never knew what was happening next. I was kept wondering what was their secret? Why is this happening? What do they mean with this or this? And even, who’s the bad guy here?

I did not put the book down. I gasped and sat reading with my mouth open while in public. The twists, the secrets, the events, the suspense… It’s brilliant. And the book is so well put together, which is why you never know where it’s going to go.

While I absolutely admire how ‘Behind Her Eyes’ ends, I do have to say that keeping the reader wondering for SO LONG…I got a bit worried. Yes, I had to keep reading to find out why things happened the way they did, or what they were talking about. But besides thoughts or dialogue, there are no big events happening until it all explodes. It’s just wondering about what they’re talking/thinking about. On the other hand; how talented is Sarah Pinborough, grabbing readers like that with just thoughts and dialogue?

So, do I recommend it? Yes, absolutely. Go read it.

Add ‘Behind Her Eyes’ by Sarah Pinborough to your Goodreads to-read-list, or buy the book at the Book Depository or on Amazon.

Happy reading—

Petra