The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby
Publisher: Headline
Release date: 10 September 2026
Back cover blurb: Therapist Helena Salve knows that client confidentiality is the number one unbreakable rule of her job. But the constant stories of coercive control and threat she hears from her client Belle about her dangerous husband have been wearing her down. One night over too many glasses of wine, she tells her best friend Tala everything that Belle has told her. The problem is, Tala is a down-on-her-luck novelist who is looking for an idea for her new thriller. Months later, Tala is excitedly telling Helena that her publisher is saying this is going to be her biggest book ever. The story is Belle's story. Not only is Helena's job on the line, but if Belle's husband is as dangerous as she says, her life is too... Why would Tala do this to Helena? She knows what's at stake. Your friends are meant to protect you... aren't they?
I cannot tell you how much I loved this book! It is so so good. And bound to be a bestseller - no pun intended!
Therapist Helena Salve is no stranger to complex and difficult domestic abuse cases. Her latest client Belle is showing classic signs of being coercively controlled by her frankly evil sounding husband Julius.
Belle is obvlious to this, and is only attending therapy sessions at the behest of her sister.
Helena is affected more by Belle than she has been by any client before.
Something about Belle’s case has really gotten under her skin, but she can’t figure out what.
Helena has been best friends with Tala since University, they tell each other everything, and Helena would trust Tala with her life. So when she has a glass of wine too many and tells Tala about her latest client. depsite her breach of patient confidentiality she thinks nothing of it.
Until Tala's newest novel hits the shelves, detailing events that only Helena knows about. Her novel is very clearly about Belle, and her relationship with Julius.
Believing she is the victim of the worst kind of betrayal, Helena turns to her long suffering husband for comfort, and support.
But what if the ultimate betrayal lies closer to home?
The Bestseller is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.
Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.