Synopsis
Unbearably tense and unmissably twisty, this is the outstanding debut suspense novel from the most exciting new voice in thriller writing, Leodora Darlington
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241725603
- Number of pages: 416
- Dimensions: 241 x 162 x 36 mm
- Weight: 635g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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An interesting read
The ExeLeodora Darlington
3 stars
I started out really enjoying this book..Natalie is married to James and is hoping to start a family. Slowly w... READ MORE
Twisty and smart
The blurb really doesn't do this book justice; it's a terrific read with so many angles.
The Exes quickly grabs your attention and never lets go. Every ... READ MORE
Some relationship can be deadly
Told from various perspectives and timelines “now and then”. It tells a story of breakups, only it’s not a case of you’ve been dumped but rather a case of ... READ MORE
Great Debut Novel
Review of ‘The Exes’ by Leodora Darlington, due to be published on 12 February 2026 by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.
A story told from the point... READ MORE
An exciting debut novel
This was an exciting read from start to finish. It's a story of family and trauma, marriage, extortion, self-doubt... and of dead exes.
The story is tol... READ MORE
Clever whodunnit
A clever whodunnit when it seems we know from the beginning who the killer is. As Natalie recounts her previous relationships with Marc, Luca and George, i... READ MORE
An explosive debut thriller
Wow!! This is one of my favourite reads this year, an explosive debut thriller, which turned out to be full of dark humour with sinister undertones. It has... READ MORE
A gripping thriller
The story centres on Natalie and opens with her basically stalking her boss, James. They end up in conversation and one thing leads to another ... But in ... READ MORE
the easiest 5-star review I think I’ve ever written
Firstly, a huge thank you to Michael Joseph for my early copy of this absolute masterpiece.
Before we get started - let it be known that this is the eas... READ MORE
a book that will make you think about relationships
Happily married until your brother in law blackmails your husband. Marriage and work overlap with disastrous consequences. Always having had a chaotic l... READ MORE
Brilliant read
There's only one word to describe this book -'wow'. It is brilliantly crafted, brilliantly plotted and so well written that it's hard to believe it is a de... READ MORE
A fraught but entertaining read
I find it very difficult to believe that this is a debut crime thriller; prepare yourself.
Natalie ‘Natty’ & her sister, Claire ‘Care’, grew up in an ab... READ MORE
The exes
We start with Natalie. She just a normal woman wanting normal things. Love and family. Trouble is, she's not very good at that. She just doesn't have the l... READ MORE
A Captivating read.
Natalie's in tears in the bedroom. She had a huge argument with her husband. Slowly, she realises she's already holding a knife. She's telling herself she ... READ MORE
Who do I believe!?
Who hasn’t wanted to murder their ex - figuratively atleast?
I really felt for Nat throughout this book. You didn’t know who to believe, should I believe ... READ MORE
Brilliant Thriller
Wow what an incredibly thrilling book. I absolutely loved it. You would never think this was a debut novel. It was outstanding and unique.
I adored the... READ MORE
Intriguing and Engaging
The Exes is Natalie’s story. After a traumatic childhood and adolescence, she finds herself trapped in another toxic relationship. Her previous partners al... READ MORE
Fabulous character led thriller
Wow! What a twisted debut this book is for the author. The synopsis provides enough detail about Natalie finally settling into a relationship and getting m... READ MORE
He is the one, but will he end up dead
Natalie has only ever wanted to find “the one.” The perfect man, the happy family she never had. But each time she thinks she is finally getting somewhere,... READ MORE
excellent read
Leodora Darlington’s debut novel The Exes is a dark, stylish dive into psychological suspense that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. It ope... READ MORE
A gripping debut
The Exes is a dark psychological thriller that explores trauma, memory, and the relationships we carry with us long after they end.
Natalie believes she... READ MORE
Great read!
What a debut! This first novel hooked me instantly and never once let go. It’s slick, fast-moving and completely unpredictable — every time I thought I had... READ MORE
Fab debut start for Leodora Darlington
Despite the mixed reviews I’d seen, I am so glad I picked this up- I really enjoyed this book! Leodora Darlington has a distinct, engaging writing style th... READ MORE
Just not for me
The Exes started off well and initially made me wonder what to think. The opening felt promising and suggested something a little different. What begins as... READ MORE
So many twists
Natalie thought she'd finally found the one. A nice man who would treat her well. She could forget about her past and all her exes. But suddenly she finds ... READ MORE
Very Enjoyable
I enjoyed this book very much and got into it more as it went along. It is quite a complicated story and a little tricky to follow at times but there were... READ MORE
A fantastic debut!
Thank you to Netgalley & @michaeljbooks for granting me early access to this brilliant book!Whilst I found the first half a little slow to get going, there... READ MORE
Beware the nice guy
Natalie sits in the pub watching James, her boss, from afar, hoping that he might notice her. She has chosen James, so different from her exes, but really ... READ MORE
Psychological Thriller
Natalie would like nothing more than to be married and start a family. She does have an issue - for which she's in therapy - with picking wrong'uns and wh... READ MORE
Four stars!
The Exes by Leodora Darlington is a sharp and unsettling book that keeps you second-guessing every page. Natalie has never had an easy life. Haunted by a t... READ MORE
Complex dark, and captivates with its suspense
The Exes is a complex, dark, and at times slightly unrealistic thriller that captivates with its suspense and I absolutely loved it!I figured out the first... READ MORE
Unexpected twists
A slow start but this book suddenly ramps up with some completely unexpected twists.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my... READ MORE
A bit of a mixed bag
I was really intrigued by the premise of this one. The idea of a woman whose exes have a habit of ending up dead—and she can't quite remember if she was re... READ MORE
I'm an Ex-Reader...
I think there's a good story waiting to be released here...but personally I found the authors style a little grating and ended up fast reading to get to th... READ MORE
A good read
There was a lot to confuse me in this book, especially flipping from Then to Now and wondering which ex was being talked about. The plot was a little too ... READ MORE
*ARC Review* - Amazing debut thriller that keeps you on your toes to the very end
This debut thriller had me hooked from the beginning. Being inside Natalie’s head as she tries to work through her trauma in her therapy sessions really do... READ MORE
Did any of your past relationships end in murder?
How many relationship breakups have you had over the years? What were the reasons for them? Grown apart? Affair? Dumped? But what if the reason for the end... READ MORE
An unputdownable, on the edge, twist at every chapter debut! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A debut novel by Leodora Darlington. A fantastic read with twists at every chapter. It is about a female who keeps dating men who turn out to be no good. S... READ MORE
A good debut novel
I started this book feeling thoroughly engaged. Right from the beginning, I was intrigued and eager to uncover what was really going on. The premise immedi... READ MORE
A good read
There was a lot to confuse me in this book, especially flipping from Then to Now and wondering which ex was being talked about. The plot was a little too ... READ MORE
Too long, too repetitive
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
2.5 up to 3.
There is a fairly good story in here but the book is too long an... READ MORE
Fast-paced twisty thriller
Woah, this is a twisty thriller. Natalie and her husband, James are having some difficulties in their marriage, which is annoying to Natalie, as she chose ... READ MORE
A promising debut
The premise of the book seemed interesting but there are too many characters to keep up with and different timelines that demand concentration. This detrac... READ MORE
5* Review
Leodora Darlington delivers a sharp, addictive story that had me hooked from the very first page. The Exes is full of tension, drama, and clever twists tha... READ MORE
Gripping
Absolutely loved this book! I was gripped the whole time and I didn’t see the twists coming. Looking forward to get next book.
How do the lyrics go…?
“The exes and the oh, oh, ohs — they haunt me…”
That line could practically be Natalie’s internal monologue.
She’s poised on the edge of a precipice — ... READ MORE
Thrilling Debut
I’m always drawn to a story with an unreliable narrator, and Natalie might be one of the most unreliable I’ve come across.
The book opens with Natalie a... READ MORE
Intriguing
I enjoyed this book and found it different from the usual stories! There is a sense of mystery and intrigue around Natalie and her previous boyfriends as w... READ MORE
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
The Exes by Leodora Darlington is the author’s debut book, with many more to follow hopefully..
Natalie has only ever wanted to find “the one” but has al... READ MORE
Interesting
This book starts out strong and I will admit I was hooked for the first part while Natalie explains about the exes she has had in her life and how they end... READ MORE
Brilliant. Will keep you on your toes.
I love a good debut and it doesn’t get better than this one! A real treat because you will be guessing what happens to the very end. Very well written and ... READ MORE