I Took Her First

I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes
11/3/25; 360 pages
Bookouture

I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes is a highly recommended psychological thriller. This one will require readers to set aside a huge, heaping dose of disbelief several times while reading, but it will hold your complete attention throughout.

Hannah, an art teacher, is in charge of the after school program one afternoon when Mila, 5, is the last student left, again. Hannah decides to walk Mila over to her house and gives her some milk and cookies. Then she went upstairs briefly and when she came back down Mila was gone. She knows she shouldn't have taken Mila to her house, but now she needs to go to the police to report Mila's kidnapping and face any consequences. The police don't believe Hannah because she's apparently been contacting them frequently. They think she needs to see her doctor for her anxiety.

While it's clear that someone is likely messing with Hannah's sense of well-being and safety, she also seems a little paranoid at times so you won't know at first if she's trustworthy or not, especially after she takes Mila to her house. This starts the roller coaster ride of twists and strange occurrences for both Hannah and her daughter, Jodie, 15. Jodie feels like a real teenager.

The narrative follows both Hannah and Jodie's points-of-view and they both have some suspicious things going on. There are also chapters from the past thrown into the mix with another story line. Everything will coalesce at the end. The pace is fast, with short chapters and it really will hold your complete attention even when your shaking your head over what is happening and suspending disbelief repeatedly. The actual huge twist at the end was a little over the top, although one part of it was predictable. 

All in all I Took Her First is an entertaining psychological thriller. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.