Review: The One Night Stand by Carissa Ann Lynch

Print Length: 280 pages

Publisher: One More Chapter (March 6, 2020)

From Goodreads.com: A night she won’t forget…

When single mum Ivy wakes up to a complete stranger lying next to her, she knows her one-night stand hook-ups have to stop. The encounters mean nothing to Ivy, but for just a short time, they make her forget her own terrible life. 

A murder she can’t remember

But then Ivy discovers the stranger in her bed has been stabbed to death, and she is covered in his blood…except Ivy has no recollection of bringing this man home. Could she have killed him?

As she tries to piece together what happened last night, Ivy’s own past returns to haunt her. And secrets can’t stay hidden forever…

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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

I first read a story from this author over a year ago, and it was one of those that was an okay read, but it wasn't riveting. I promised to give the author another chance, so I did. 

On the plus side? This was a fairly quick read with some interesting twists along the way. 

But other than that? The majority of these characters are one-dimensional, acting like they didn't have the brains to run to the corner store much less to anything else. Let's see which boxes we check: 

1. Herione who is bitter about her ex leaving her and having a family with someone else? 
2. A bratty teenage daughter who is a bitch for no reason? Seriously. I get teenage daughters and their attitudes (I have 2 myself), but this goes above any beyond any reasonable personality imaginable. 
3. An aloof stepmom who managed to have twins when the first wife couldn't?
4. Jerk of an ex? \
5. Bumbling best friends who force you to do something you don't want to do?
6. Super dark secret (but obvious) secret?

So Ivy wakes up with a dead man in her bed (and another one under her bed just for fun) and she decides not to call the cops. Instead, she's going to "figure this out on her own"... um okay? Because that doesn't make you look guilty at all.

From there the story bounces around from things that are happening "in the now" to things that have happened... I don't know a month ago? It's never really clarified how long ago these things happen, to things that happen in the past. The past-er past? Yes, it makes for an interesting story, but also a very confusing one as well. 

Also, the ending didn't make sense. I can't go into detail without revealing spoilers, but I feel like with all of the evidence that was there, and the history given, the ending didn't much match what should have been. 

I will say the ending did contain some surprise twists that did not see coming, which honestly is what saved this from being a one-star read for me. All in all, this novel may appeal to those who enjoy these kinds of thriller novels. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                               The One Night Stand is available from Amazon.com