Anni’s Book Stack (Annis Bücherstapel)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5 stars – A deeply stirring story and a profoundly important topic…
Reviewed in Germany on September 24, 2026
Format: Paperback

"The cover of this book appeals to me immensely, and I find that it complements the story beautifully.

Although Laura Schneider suffers greatly from the separation from her long-term partner, she learns to embrace and enjoy her life as a single woman. She increasingly dedicates herself to her hobbies, which leads her to meet the highly charismatic Alex Simpson on social media. What begins slowly via a Facebook chat quickly escalates into a staged romantic relationship and emotional dependency. Alex starts to exert more and more pressure, even utilizing other members of a mafia syndicate to access Laura’s money. While her best friend, Simonetta Canelli, quickly senses that something is amiss and tries to protect Laura, Laura continues to cling to this supposed great love.

I found it incredibly easy to immerse myself in this book. The first part, in particular, reads quite biographically and is profoundly interesting. I was absolutely terrified by the methods of these romance scammers—cold-blooded and perfidious. So many times, I wanted to shake Laura to protect her from it all, but the scammers' tactics are truly remarkably effective. They actively weaponize the victims' fears, and not just the fear of losing love. The moment the hotel owner contacted Laura was completely wild. I am still at a loss for words. You can truly sense how deeply this subject matter still occupies the author.

I particularly loved being present during the therapy sessions with the psychologist, not only because it helps to process the events, but also because it vividly illustrates what an emotional rollercoaster the entire aftermath is. It also highlights the profound impact such an experience can have on a new relationship. Furthermore, I thought Simonetta was a fantastic character, and I was so happy that Laura had her by her side.

The second part then took on more of a thriller character, remaining highly suspenseful right until the very end. I was very satisfied with this conclusion and only wish that things would always turn out this way in reality.

Without a doubt, it is absolutely imperative that awareness continues to be raised regarding this topic.

The writing style appealed to me greatly. The story completely captivated me, and I simply could not put the book down. For me, it ultimately felt more like a biography than a traditional thriller, but it is incredibly worth reading. I am still deeply shaken. The topic refuses to let go of me. I can highly recommend this book to everyone."