The Tutor by Daniel Hurst
✨ "A house full of secrets and a family on the brink—what could possibly go wrong?" ✨
Alright, witches, gather 'round. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a stunning Swedish tutor enters a suburban family’s picture-perfect life, The Tutor by Daniel Hurst spills all the tea—and then some. ☕
Meet Amy and Nick, a seemingly happy couple navigating life with their two children. When their struggling teen son, Michael, needs help preparing for his GCSEs, they decide to hire a tutor. Enter Petra: a gorgeous, young, blonde bombshell who’s more than just qualified to teach. From the moment she steps into their lives, cracks in their seemingly solid foundation begin to show.
On the surface, The Tutor offers a juicy setup full of tension, temptation, and domestic drama. You can feel the tension simmering, waiting to boil over, and it’s impossible not to cringe in anticipation of the chaos Petra's arrival will unleash.
Hurst’s writing builds the suspense slowly, with alternating points of view from Amy, Nick, and others in the family. While this adds depth and intrigue, the story feels like it’s teasing you with a climax that doesn’t quite live up to its potential. The pacing? A little uneven. The payoff? Well, let’s just say it left me side-eyeing the ending harder than a witch whose potion didn’t brew correctly.
✨ Things I Loved
🔮 The concept. A family slowly unraveling under the weight of secrets and lies? Sign me up!
📖 The dual POVs. Seeing the situation from Amy and Nick’s perspectives is like watching a car crash in slow motion—you have to keep looking.
💡 The setup. Hurst knows how to craft an engaging premise, and the early chapters pull you right in.
✨ Things That Left Me Cackling (Not in a Good Way)
👉 Nick. Oh, sweetie. This man is one bad decision away from being banished to the doghouse permanently. His obsession with Petra is so blatant, it’s almost comedic.
👉 The ending. After all the buildup, the twist felt... underwhelming. Like stirring a cauldron for hours only to discover you’ve brewed plain water.
🕷️ Spoiler Zone: You’ve Been Warned! 🕷️
Let’s spill the potion here: Nick. Freaking. Annoyed. Me. This man has been with Amy since they were 16, and yet he’s out here thirsting after Petra like a lovesick teenager. It’s not even subtle. The way he admits to himself that he can’t be alone with Petra because he “won’t be able to help himself”? Gag me with a broomstick. 😒 And don’t even get me started on how Amy notices Nick’s sudden spike in “enthusiasm” (read: lust) whenever Petra is around. Girl, just fire her at this point!
And let’s not forget the moment Amy does fire Petra after realizing Nick is clearly fantasizing about her—only for Nick to go behind Amy’s back and contact Petra anyway.
It’s no surprise he eventually sleeps with Petra, all while justifying it with the classic, “It’s just a one-time thing; Amy won’t find out.” Nick, honey, you’re not slick.
While the tension between the characters is juicy, the story itself drags in the middle. I kept waiting for the big, explosive twist that would blow my witch hat off. Instead, we get a reveal that, while mildly surprising, doesn’t feel earned or even realistic.
The Tutor has all the ingredients for a captivating domestic thriller, but the execution didn’t quite cast the spell I was hoping for. The characters are messy in a way that will have you yelling at the pages, but the plot doesn’t fully deliver on its promise.
✨ Will I recommend it? Sure, if you’re in the mood for a quick, drama-filled read with questionable decision-making.
✨ Will I ever forgive Nick? Not in this lifetime.