Fans have always been able to count on Hank Phillippi Ryan to provide them with a gripping and unforgettable reading experience. Her storied career has been highlighted by a plethora of varied styles—from the more traditional, cozy-ish Charlotte McNally series to the grittier, socially relevant Jane Ryland novels. The last few years have seen her explore every avenue of the cat and mouse storyline in several excellent stand-alone works. Now with her new novel, All This Could Be Yours—quite possibly her best novel yet—she manages to blend these subgenres into a work that can best be described as Phillippe Ryan-esque.
All This Could Be Yours finds Tessa Calloway, the debut author of a viral book sensation—embarking on her first book tour. Her tour is the dream of every published writer—a different city each day, the fanciest hotel rooms, sell-out crowds giving endless adulation, and critical publicity opportunities at each stop. But when a series of concerning incidents develop into a pattern of subtle threats, Tessa begins to believe she is being followed. Or stalked. But by whom?
It quickly becomes apparent that Tessa is facing the worst possible version of every woman’s struggle: how to balance work and home life. This tour is vital to parlaying her instant literary success into a longstanding career, but it seems that this mysterious stalker isn’t satisfied with dashing those hopes alone, they want to destroy Tessa’s entire life. The problem is that Tessa does have a skeleton in the closet, and she now fears that her past is finally catching up to her—in the worst and most deadly way possible.
Readers who have attended book events and conventions will delight in witnessing how those seemingly innocuous occasions suddenly take on an ominous and oppressive tone. When the standard question and answer period at the end of each event becomes a volley of vitriol and shrewd manipulation, readers will literally feel themselves becoming uncomfortable along with Tessa and her team. Mysterious deliveries to secured hotel rooms only increase the tension as Tessa must decide her next move without knowing who she’s competing against.
Underlying All This Could Be Yours is a familiar theme: the price of celebrity. Are there limits to what people will do in order to become famous? And once one makes the ultimate sacrifice, is regret the inevitable result? In many ways, Tessa’s tale can be viewed as both a goal and as a warning—two sides to every coin. Hank Phillippi Ryan will keep readers awake long into the night as they are compelled to turn pages, eager to discover if Tessa can escape the clutches of her worst decision.
All This Could Be Yours is a love letter to the writerly community—authors, fans, bookstores, and the publishing industry, itself. Perhaps a tainted love letter, but a love letter all the same. Pick up your copy today and be consumed by Tessa’s journey—both the literal book tour and the emotional path she had no idea she was embarking upon.
BUY LINKS: All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
