Sweat by Emma Healey
Cassie is a personal trainer in a London gym, rebuilding her life after escaping a deeply toxic and controlling relationship with Liam. She’s stronger now, physically and emotionally, and finally feels in control of her own body and choices. But her fragile peace is shattered when Liam reappears at the gym, claiming to be blind and taking advantage of a promotional offer for disabled clients. Cassie is forced to confront her past as the narrative shifts between her present-day encounters with Liam and flashbacks to their disturbing relationship. What once seemed like passionate love is revealed to be obsessive manipulation, with Liam pushing Cassie to extremes under the guise of helping her reach her “full potential”.
As Cassie wrestles with the idea of revenge, the novel probes morally murky territory: Is Liam truly vulnerable now, or is he still playing games? Can Cassie trust her own instincts? And what does justice look like when the lines between victim and perpetrator blur?
Emma Healey delivers a taut and unsettling psychological thriller that explores coercive control, revenge, and the complexities of reclaiming personal power.
