This was my first read by this author and I thought the premise sounded very interesting. And if you know me, you know that thrillers are my favorite reads. I was super excited when I was approved to review this book on NetGalley!
Summary:
The story revolves around a young woman named Eleanor who finds out that the man who raised her is not her actual father. This information comes in the form of a deathbed confession from the man she considered her father. Left with a mother and sister who she doesn’t get along with, Eleanor feels that she is all alone now. So when she finds out her biological dad is a wealthy businessman and that she has a beautiful half-sister, she decides that maybe she can be a part of an actual family after all.
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
My Review:
What I liked: The story moved at a pretty fast pace and the first half definitely made me wonder what was going to happen. Especially after Eleanor befriended her half-sister without telling her who she actually was. The opening chapter definitely clues you in that something bad happened, but you have no idea what that was. It was a good way to peak the reader’s interest from the start. There was some foul language, but it wasn’t throughout the whole story. I also liked Lewis’ character and his relationship with Eleanor.
What I didn’t like: The ending. I hated it. Really hated it. I will say the last 1/3 of the book, I realized where the story was going (in terms of the true nature of the characters). But the actual ending and what happened to the main character?? No. Just no. I don’t think there has been a book that I have read that I disliked the ending of this much. Although I will say that some people must have liked it since it has some really positive reviews on GoodReads. Maybe it’s the fact that it is so unexpected? Maybe people were so surprised at the ending that they gave it high ratings due to the shock value? I read a lot of thrillers and psychological suspense and this ending is definitely like no other. I realize the main character wasn’t entirely innocent in everything (and that’s pretty much all I can say without spoilers). I just didn’t feel that it needed to end in that way. I kept waiting for a light at the end of the tunnel. It didn’t happen. And it made me mad.
Disclaimer: PG-13 for language (although I will be honest and say it’s been awhile since I read this one and I didn’t note anything about language so it must not have been too bad).
Do You Read Me?: Overall, you may want to give it a read. (I don’t like discouraging people from reading books in general). Maybe the fact that I feel so strongly about the ending is actually a testament to how well written it is. I cared so much about the characters that the ending made me that angry. Maybe you will disagree? As I said, I did predict some parts of the ending. But the actual ending and “resolution” I would have never predicted. So if you are looking for a thriller with a shocking ending, go for it. Just know you may be angry when it ends.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of this book!