Crazy Love You by Lisa Unger

February 10th, 2015 Kimberly Review 47 Comments

10th Feb
Crazy Love You by Lisa Unger
Crazy Love You
by Lisa Unger
Genres: Mystery, Suspense Thriller
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

Love hurts … Sometimes it even kills. Darkness has a way of creeping up when Ian is with Priss. Even when they were kids, playing in the woods of their small Upstate New York town, he could feel it. Still, Priss was his best friend, his salvation from the bullies who called him “loser” and “fatboy”…and from his family’s deadly secrets. Now that they’ve both escaped to New York City, Ian no longer inhabits the tortured shell of his childhood. He is a talented and successful graphic novelist, and Priss…Priss is still trouble. The booze, the drugs, the sex—Ian is growing tired of late nights together trying to keep the past at bay. Especially now that he’s met sweet, beautiful Megan, whose love makes him want to change for the better. But Priss doesn’t like change. Change makes her angry. And when Priss is angry, terrible things begin to happen…

Crazy Love You by Lisa Unger had so many elements I love from an unreliable narrator to a twisted thriller with a dash of mystery and romance that kept me flipping the pages. Brilliantly paced with depth, suspense and an underlying paranormal element Crazy Love You delivered.

Ian Paine had a painful childhood growing up in the Hollows, a small rural town in Upstate New York. He found solace with his friend Priss and his love of comic books. Bullied and accused of crimes he did not commit he sought escape to New York City. He becomes a successful graphic novelist and through it all Priss remains his friend and confidant. Priss has a whirlwind personality filled with booze, drugs and sex. She is very protective of Ian, and their relationship is quite toxic. Ian is growing weary and is ready for something more when he meets and falls for Megan. For the first time in forever, his life is falling into place perfectly, but Priss is not happy and the tale that unfolds sends their lives spiraling out of control.

Unger weaved such an incredible tale from Ian’s childhood to his wildly successful Fatboy graphic novels. I love how she kept me as the reader on edge as I tried to discern fact and fiction. A subtle paranormal thread and side characters took me further down the rabbit hole. Ian while not entirely likable is a character the reader comes to care for even as we question everything. Megan is sweet, and their romance is sprinkled throughout the book. The focus if Crazy Love You, is on Ian and his relationship with Priss. It was brilliantly done.

The synopsis of Crazy Love You is vague, and I make it a point never to reveal more. I think that with this book in particular the joy is in the discovery. I went into this with nothing more than the synopsis and loved how Unger allowed the tale to unfold, weaving the past into the present and connecting the dots. The characters are fleshed out, the story is vivid and the tension and danger increase as the story progresses.

If psychological thrillers and unreliable narrators are your thing, Crazy Love You will knock your socks off. I cannot wait to explore more of Lisa Unger’s work.

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

47 Responses to “Crazy Love You by Lisa Unger”

  1. Bookworm Brandee

    This sounds fascinating. I’ve always wanted to read Unger (having shelved lots of her books at B&N 🙂 but haven’t yet. This one sounds like a good place to start!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Agreed, she was new to me too Brandee and I started with a novella..but this was cool

  2. Benish K

    Yes, I love twisted thrillers! I’ve read Lisa’s work before, her books easily grab you in her stories. I’ve been meaning to check this one out for a while now, glad you enjoyed it!

  3. Terri

    I’ve read Lisa before and she’s very good at sucking you into a story! Really enjoyed your review, but this one might be a little too twisted for me. Plus, unreliable narrators sometimes drive me nuts! :p

  4. Mary

    I tend to have a hard time with unreliable narrators because I really do want to believe that what they’re telling me is true. Don’t ruin my innocence and lie to me!! Heh.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      LOL, it is a different type of unreliable and it will keep you on edge.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I really enjoyed it from the characters to the different settings

  5. Ramona

    Wow, this wasn’t anywhere near my radar, but I’m adding it to my pile right now. It’s definitely the typeof story that begs for my attention 🙂 Codependency is such a fascinating thing to write/ read about, isn’t it? Thanks for posting this one, Kimba, I would’ve totally missed it otherwise!

  6. Lorna

    I think you could read anything by Lisa Unger and be entertained. I have never not liked something by her, and I think I have read most of her work. I need to read this one. Thanks for sharing-great review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      That is good to hear Lorna, and I was certainly entertained 🙂

  7. Faye

    Wow, the premise somehow reminds me of Wild Games, I think – a YA thriller that was filled with batshit insanity. I’m kinda tempted to try out this one to see if it is as disturbing and thrilling as the other one. Priss sounds scary already D:

    • kimbacaffeinate

      LOL, don’t let them fall on you. Unger is a recently new to me author, and her tales are quite clever.

  8. Angela Adams

    “The characters are fleshed out, the story is vivid and the tension and danger increase as the story progresses” — which are all the makings of a great suspense novel! Thanks for the post!!

  9. Stacy (StacyHgg)

    You always find the most intriguing books! I’m in the mood for a good Psychological Thriller, but you reviewed a different one recently that really caught my eye. I’ll have to go look at my TBR to find it, LOL
    Great Review!

  10. Sarah

    This sounds great! Priss sounds like a lot of work, but sometimes characters are more intriguing when they are. 😀

  11. Heidi

    Oh yes! I love a good twisty psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator. I need to try this one.

  12. Braine Talk Supe

    I’ll be sure to earmark Unger’s work for me to read in the future. Hopefully this year. I am trying to broaden my reading horizon and I do love thrillers.

  13. Katherine

    This sounds interesting and I love an unreliable narrator. They seem to be very in right now which I like. I’ll have to look for this book and this author.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      She is recently new to me and I quite enjoy her characters and the twists in her plots

  14. Laurel-Rain Snow

    I got my e-book copy today! I feel as though I have been waiting forever…so I am so glad you loved this one. Can’t wait to dive in. Thanks for sharing….

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I remember you saying it was pre-ordered. Enjoy! I look forward to your take on it

  15. Jenny

    It just so happens that psychological thrillers and unreliable narrators absolutely ARE my thing Kim! I love a good unreliable narrator, it’s just so much fun to constantly question them and wonder if we can trust their account of things. Definitely adding this to my list!

  16. Debbie Haupt

    OMG, YIKES! Kim what a scary, scary premise. Wow this may have to go on my list for that in between too sweet romances that I review when I need that kick in the gut read.
    thanks
    deb

  17. tonyalee

    I loved the sound of this book. I saw it somewhere a few ago and just knew that it would be something I would enjoy – your review seals the deal. <3

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Sweet, this is a recently new to me author, and I love her characters.

  18. kindlemom1

    Yay for a good mystery that delivers!

    I love that the narrator was unreliable, giving you just enough hint to doubt everything! This sounds wonderful Kim and like one I totally need to add to the pile.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It was cool, loved the comic book twist and paranormal element

  19. Nick

    I enjoy books with twisted and unhealthy relationships! This sounds really good, and you’ve intrigued me, Kim!
    Great review as always!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Oh I think you would love this Nick. I slid right into this twisted tale

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It was , I loved how the author weaved the graphic art into the tale

  20. Melliane

    The idea of the book is originaln, I don’t think I’v eread a thriller about this topic but it’s intriguing. I’m glad you had a good time. I’m sure I knew about this one. thanks for the review!