Michelle Frances | THE TEMP

Plot (via Goodreads):

Carrie is a successful TV producer with the perfect husband and the perfect life. But when she falls pregnant, everything threatens to fall apart.

Emma, the temp, is everything she could wish for as her cover: smart, willing and helpful.

But as she charms her way into Carrie's life, winning over her husband and her colleagues one by one, Carrie suspects Emma is after more than just her job . . .

Review:

Okay, I will be the first to admit it...last year I tried and failed to read The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances. The bones of the story were there for me, but it just took me a little too long to try and get into and I ultimately set it aside for another read. Well, when I saw the synopsis for The Temp, I was intrigued and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give Michelle Frances another shot. I already knew she was an excellent writer, I just needed something that kept my interest a little more. Be careful what you wish for...

The Temp was insanely addicting. Like from the first chapter, I knew I had something devilish and thrilling on my hands. The more I progressed into this novel, the more eager I was to immerse myself in this riveting and dark tale of obsession and desire. I actually looked towards the end of the novel and reveled in the fact that I had over 400 pages of this story to enjoy...and enjoy it I did! While this one doesn't necessarily feature alternate perspectives, I did enjoy Frances' way of writing the short and addicting chapters, which alternated between our two main characters. Told in the third person, it was still just as fun to switch back and forth between what each woman was doing and get an inside look into how they truly felt about one another and how the actions from a previous chapter just kept mounting into a thrilling and disturbing tale. What I enjoyed the most about these characters were that at times they were unapologetically over-the-top and I just devoured there personalities endlessly. I laughed with them, rolled my eyes at their stubbornness at times, and held my hands up in defeat when they just were too stuck on their own feelings to see the bigger picture that I as the reader got to experience before they did. Even the secondary characters were equally as enjoyable to get to experience and I will say Frances did a great job of letting each one shine in the perfect timing within this twisted and sordid tale that is on part with Single White Female and Fatal Attraction.

The pacing with this novel was spectacular. While I was addicted early on, the novel did begin a little slowly and really took its time setting the groundwork for a novel that would leave my palms sweaty and my heart racing as I eagerly flipped through the pages. About halfway through, the pacing with this one was anxiety ridden and fantastically established. Equal parts thrilling and chilling combined with some psychological terror and deliciousness, I was stuck at a crossroads between never wanting it to end and wanting to know what would happen within the climax of this twisted novel. I will say, I was happy with the climax, there was just one thing I felt was kind of rushed and a little too over-the-top for me, but nevertheless, I didn't see it coming and I was fully satisfied with the ending to this one. I cannot wait to see what Michelle Frances does next!

Special thanks to Kensington Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5