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The Family Reunion
She’s the daughter you never knew… But how far will she go to get the life she never had?
Today I’m hosting a family party. One that’s different to every celebration we’ve had before. Because I’ve invited my secret daughter to it.
I’ve never forgiven myself for abandoning her as a baby, with just a scrawled note tucked into her soft yellow blanket, saying her name was Hope.
As soon as she reached out, I knew I had to meet her. My family all seem ready to accept her with open arms, their forgiveness a blessing I barely deserve. And I dare to believe that maybe we are all going to have a happy ending after all.
So I try to put all those small, strange things that have been happening to me in recent weeks out of my mind. The missing money, my lost charm bracelet, the broken window, the fire…
But as the drinks are poured and everyone’s talking animatedly, I hear a knock at the door. And something in my heart tells me this family is about to be torn apart. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it…
An utterly gripping psychological suspense novel with a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.
Today I’m hosting a family party. One that’s different to every celebration we’ve had before. Because I’ve invited my secret daughter to it.
I’ve never forgiven myself for abandoning her as a baby, with just a scrawled note tucked into her soft yellow blanket, saying her name was Hope.
As soon as she reached out, I knew I had to meet her. My family all seem ready to accept her with open arms, their forgiveness a blessing I barely deserve. And I dare to believe that maybe we are all going to have a happy ending after all.
So I try to put all those small, strange things that have been happening to me in recent weeks out of my mind. The missing money, my lost charm bracelet, the broken window, the fire…
But as the drinks are poured and everyone’s talking animatedly, I hear a knock at the door. And something in my heart tells me this family is about to be torn apart. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it…
An utterly gripping psychological suspense novel with a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2023
803 people are currently reading
1045 people want to read
About the author
Karen King
135 books271 followersKaren King is an Amazon international bestselling author of psychological suspense and women's fiction.
Her 7th psychological suspense novel, Don't Trust Him, was published on 3 April 2025 by Bookouture and her 'golden years' novel, The Runaway Wives, was published by Boldwood on 24th March 2025. This was her 12th woman's fiction novel.
Karen has also had 120 children’s books, two young adult novels, and several short stories for women’s magazines published. Her early writing career was spent working on various teenage and children's magazines.
Her suspense novels The Mother In Law, The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and her romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea all became International Amazon bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
January 23, 2023
After her husband Paul passes away, Mary seeks out her first child. The child she gave away at a young age, a child her husband never knew about, a child her adult children never knew about. After finding her, Mary introduces her daughter, Cathy (Hope), to her adult children. They are beyond shocked. How could their mother have kept such a secret? How does this affect them?
Everyone does their best to get to know Cathy. But strange things are beginning to happen, and there is sibling rivalry and jealousy. The addition of Cathy into the family changes everything for everyone. To add to this, Mary is beginning to forget things.
Secrets, lies, deception, manipulation, regret and tension ebb and flow throughout the book. This is one reunion that you may wish you were not invited to. The book began on the slower side for me but once I found my footing with it, I enjoyed it. There are plenty of twists along the way with a very shocking reveal.
#TheFamilyReunion #NetGalley #Bookouture #KarenKing
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Everyone does their best to get to know Cathy. But strange things are beginning to happen, and there is sibling rivalry and jealousy. The addition of Cathy into the family changes everything for everyone. To add to this, Mary is beginning to forget things.
Secrets, lies, deception, manipulation, regret and tension ebb and flow throughout the book. This is one reunion that you may wish you were not invited to. The book began on the slower side for me but once I found my footing with it, I enjoyed it. There are plenty of twists along the way with a very shocking reveal.
#TheFamilyReunion #NetGalley #Bookouture #KarenKing
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
November 26, 2022
The Family Reunion by Karen King is one wild ride. Mary is a new widow of 2 grown children. She has a secret that no one knows and it finally comes to light. Deceit, lies, secrets… this book has it all and then some! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published January 2023.
December 2, 2022
The Family Reunion by Karen King
- Book Review - A twisty tale of family drama.
Synopsis:
After her husband Paul dies, Mary decides to search for a child she abandoned years earlier. Despite having two adult children, she has never told them that they have an older sister, a child she had at sixteen and abandoned in a telephone booth. After finding her oldest daughter Cathy, Mary introduces her to her siblings, much to their shock. It takes all parties involved some time to adjust, and tension is high.
Strange things begin happening in the family since Cathy joined, sudden fires, broken windows, money disappearing. Everyone appears to be keeping secrets and chaos soon ensues.
On January 23rd, the Family Reunion will be available. It is a slow burn with a shocking conclusion that I never saw coming.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this book with me.
#TheFamilyReunion #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible#newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
- Book Review - A twisty tale of family drama.
Synopsis:
After her husband Paul dies, Mary decides to search for a child she abandoned years earlier. Despite having two adult children, she has never told them that they have an older sister, a child she had at sixteen and abandoned in a telephone booth. After finding her oldest daughter Cathy, Mary introduces her to her siblings, much to their shock. It takes all parties involved some time to adjust, and tension is high.
Strange things begin happening in the family since Cathy joined, sudden fires, broken windows, money disappearing. Everyone appears to be keeping secrets and chaos soon ensues.
On January 23rd, the Family Reunion will be available. It is a slow burn with a shocking conclusion that I never saw coming.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this book with me.
#TheFamilyReunion #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible#newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
November 21, 2022
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT EPILOGUE? I am shocked. I needed time to write a review, so here we go.
I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me tell you something; after I closed this book, I kept thinking of the story and the plot twists all night. I was just mindblown by the huge plot twist at the end, especially the epilogue. This is a book I will always think about because when I tell you that my jaw dropped, it really did. The main character Mary went through so much in life and her grief and regret are so contiguous. Sometimes you hope and pray to have someone by your side, especially during difficult times, but Mary didn't have that. She had to endure the pain and move on all by herself. The book is simply written and the timeline changes in order to help us understand Mary's past and current life.
This book was a chill thriller at first but by the last 90 pages, a cycle of plot twists kept landing and I was on edge! I just can’t and never will get over that epilogue; it felt like a bomb dropped and I have no idea how to comprehend it. I was in tears even though it wasn’t that sad but just shocking. The suspense of wanting to know the whole picture was killing me but as I finished reading, the whole picture came together perfectly. I wrote the following mid-reading but little did I know ‘I knew that a disaster was about to fall into the character’s life and my trust issues were not helping. How could you trust someone you just met? even though that someone isn't a stranger? I just have those guesses and I am pretty sure, I know how it would end.’ I would laugh at myself if I could but there was just no way I was able to actually guess what will happen. Psychology thriller’s really freak me out but is fun to read.
In conclusion, this would have been a 5-star for me if it was more intense ahead of time. Nonetheless, I am thinking of gifting it to my thriller-lover cousin once it is out.
Post-thoughts:
It’s scary how people can pretend and be manipulative (this is why I have trust issues). The extent that people go for the sake of money breaks my heart and comparison really is the thief of joy. We all have secrets and pasts that we wish to bury and forget.
Possible spoiler?
I really don't want to spoil but Mary's attitude toward Jason and Joanne was horrible mid-book; like please stop pushing them away.
Comment’s on some characters:
- Jason is so sweet
- Joanne and Jason's support toward their mum is literally the sweetest thing ever.
Highlights:
"Because you wanted your family to get on and thought that a break together would mend fences."
"we've all done things we regret"
"it was no good harping back to the past"
I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me tell you something; after I closed this book, I kept thinking of the story and the plot twists all night. I was just mindblown by the huge plot twist at the end, especially the epilogue. This is a book I will always think about because when I tell you that my jaw dropped, it really did. The main character Mary went through so much in life and her grief and regret are so contiguous. Sometimes you hope and pray to have someone by your side, especially during difficult times, but Mary didn't have that. She had to endure the pain and move on all by herself. The book is simply written and the timeline changes in order to help us understand Mary's past and current life.
This book was a chill thriller at first but by the last 90 pages, a cycle of plot twists kept landing and I was on edge! I just can’t and never will get over that epilogue; it felt like a bomb dropped and I have no idea how to comprehend it. I was in tears even though it wasn’t that sad but just shocking. The suspense of wanting to know the whole picture was killing me but as I finished reading, the whole picture came together perfectly. I wrote the following mid-reading but little did I know ‘I knew that a disaster was about to fall into the character’s life and my trust issues were not helping. How could you trust someone you just met? even though that someone isn't a stranger? I just have those guesses and I am pretty sure, I know how it would end.’ I would laugh at myself if I could but there was just no way I was able to actually guess what will happen. Psychology thriller’s really freak me out but is fun to read.
In conclusion, this would have been a 5-star for me if it was more intense ahead of time. Nonetheless, I am thinking of gifting it to my thriller-lover cousin once it is out.
Post-thoughts:
It’s scary how people can pretend and be manipulative (this is why I have trust issues). The extent that people go for the sake of money breaks my heart and comparison really is the thief of joy. We all have secrets and pasts that we wish to bury and forget.
Possible spoiler?
I really don't want to spoil but Mary's attitude toward Jason and Joanne was horrible mid-book; like please stop pushing them away.
Comment’s on some characters:
- Jason is so sweet
- Joanne and Jason's support toward their mum is literally the sweetest thing ever.
Highlights:
"Because you wanted your family to get on and thought that a break together would mend fences."
"we've all done things we regret"
"it was no good harping back to the past"
January 5, 2023
Today I'm hosting a family party. One that's different to every celebration we've had before. Because I've invited my secret daughter to it. I've never forgiven myself for abandoning her as a baby, with just a scrawled note tucked into her soft yellow blanket, saying her name was Hope. As soon as she reached out, I knew I had to meet her. My family all seem ready to accept her with open arms, their forgiveness a blessing I barely deserve. And I dare to believe that we are all going to have a happy ending after all.
This is a tense and gripping psychological thriller. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The pace is fast throughout. With hidden motives, it could be hard to tell where the story was taking us next. I loved the authors writing style. The family had so many dark secrets. You can't help feeling sorry for Mary whose story is sensitively written. The story is told from multiple points of view. And the epilogue, I never saw that coming.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and that author #KarenKing for my ARC of #TheFamilyReunion in exchange for an honest review.
This is a tense and gripping psychological thriller. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The pace is fast throughout. With hidden motives, it could be hard to tell where the story was taking us next. I loved the authors writing style. The family had so many dark secrets. You can't help feeling sorry for Mary whose story is sensitively written. The story is told from multiple points of view. And the epilogue, I never saw that coming.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and that author #KarenKing for my ARC of #TheFamilyReunion in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2023
★★★★ 4.5 stars
The Daughter you never knew...wants the life she never had...
Well, that wasn't quite what I expected. THE FAMILY REUNION is my fourth read of Karen King's psychological thrillers and I wasn't disappointed. Although I would class this one as more in the domestic thriller genre, as it was specifically centred around the family and its extending tendrils. Throughout the entire story there is an undercurrent of something not quite right and it seems the answer is just staring us in the face...why can't anyone else see it? Or maybe they have...or maybe they haven't. But one thing is for sure...nothing is as it seems.
Mary hasn't always had the charmed life she's known with husband Paul of thirty eight years, having then been blessed with two children - Joanne and Jason respectively. Her childhood was one she lived in fear and shame, and grieving the loss of her own mother some years before. Maybe that is what drew her into the arms of 18 year old rebel-without-a-cause Robbie. He claimed to love her and that is exactly what she yearned for and thought she found in his arms and his bed. But when she realised she was pregnant and when she went to tell Robbie the news, she discovered something far worse. How utterly alone she found herself at just 15 years old forced to keep her secret (and the one she had witnessed) for forty five years.
And now her beloved husband Paul was gone. Joanne and Jason were grown with families, children and lives of her own. For forty five years, Mary had kept her shameful secret to herself. For fear of losing her husband's respect, she'd never told him or her children. But now, what did she have to lose? The time had come to find Hope, her first born.
As soon as Mary meets Cathy (as she is now called), she feels an instant bonding with her. She can see she has Robbie's dark looks and after a DNA test, Mary knows that she is without a doubt her long lost daughter. But how to make up for forty five years? This is where things get a little sticky.
At first Cathy wants to get to know Mary before meeting the rest of the family. Understandable, as meeting your mother for the first time would be a daunting experience...meeting the rest of her family even more so. But Mary is convinced that Joanne and Jason will love Cathy just has much as she does. But is Mary blinded by her guilt for abandoning her baby all those years ago that she is ready to believe anything? Because as soon as the siblings meet, it is clear that tensions are high. Are Joanne and Jason jealous with Cathy's arrival on the scene that she will now get a slice of what they believe is coming to them?
And then strange things begin to happen. Or had they always been there and no one really noticed because Mary lived alone in a sprawling six bedroom home she had no need for? It seems Mary has been somewhat forgetful lately - leaving keys in the fridge, turning the router off, leaving windows open - what is Mary was developing what she had always feared? What her mother had before she took her own life? Early onset dementia?
But it seems, though, that Mary isn't the only one who's been keeping secrets.
THE FAMILY REUNION begins off slowly with a gradual build as we get to know Mary and what has brought her to where she is now. It's not until about 25% into the story that things begin to get a little interesting, especially when the narrative changes, switching things up a little. The story unfolds through Mary, Alison and Cathy's perspectives throughout and it's interesting to get the insight into each of their minds and lives. It is interesting to note that we don't get Joanne's perspective - I wonder why that is? But each woman has a pivotal part to play in the unfolding of events. And despite its slow start, the story does pick up pace bringing everything to a stunning conclusion in the shocking epilogue.
Filled with secrets, lies and deceit throughout, THE FAMILY REUNION is one reunion you want to stay well away from...whilst sneakily turning the pages to find out what happens anyway. You just wouldn't want to be in their shoes! It has sibling rivalry abound! All three of them, I could have slapped them. They all behaved appallingly. Joanne and Jason were entitled and spoilt and, while they very probably were concerned for their mother's welfare, they were also looking at the bigger picture with themselves having a starring role.
So who is Cathy really? And what does she want?
What is Joanne and Jason's real problem with Cathy?
Is Mary truly blinkered by her own guilt that she can see no wrong in Cathy?
Which of them have secrets? Or do they all have them?
Do any of them know how to speak the truth?
Do any of them truly have Mary's best interests at heart?
And is Mary truly in danger?
There are so many questions...so many secrets...so many lies...who to believe? This is a story about family dynamics at its core and how they each behave in the face of change. First with the death of their husband and father, and then with the new arrival of a long lost daughter and sibling. There were plenty of twists and plenty of red herrings but nothing will prepare you for the shocking twist that you won't see coming at the end. Nicely played, Ms King.
Overall, THE FAMILY REUNION is a gripping tale of family drama and suspense that will keep you guessing as well as entertained until the brilliant end. There were a few questions I felt left unanswered (about who did what) in the end but overall still a great read.
I would like to thank #KarenKing, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheFamilyReunion in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The Daughter you never knew...wants the life she never had...
Well, that wasn't quite what I expected. THE FAMILY REUNION is my fourth read of Karen King's psychological thrillers and I wasn't disappointed. Although I would class this one as more in the domestic thriller genre, as it was specifically centred around the family and its extending tendrils. Throughout the entire story there is an undercurrent of something not quite right and it seems the answer is just staring us in the face...why can't anyone else see it? Or maybe they have...or maybe they haven't. But one thing is for sure...nothing is as it seems.
Mary hasn't always had the charmed life she's known with husband Paul of thirty eight years, having then been blessed with two children - Joanne and Jason respectively. Her childhood was one she lived in fear and shame, and grieving the loss of her own mother some years before. Maybe that is what drew her into the arms of 18 year old rebel-without-a-cause Robbie. He claimed to love her and that is exactly what she yearned for and thought she found in his arms and his bed. But when she realised she was pregnant and when she went to tell Robbie the news, she discovered something far worse. How utterly alone she found herself at just 15 years old forced to keep her secret (and the one she had witnessed) for forty five years.
And now her beloved husband Paul was gone. Joanne and Jason were grown with families, children and lives of her own. For forty five years, Mary had kept her shameful secret to herself. For fear of losing her husband's respect, she'd never told him or her children. But now, what did she have to lose? The time had come to find Hope, her first born.
As soon as Mary meets Cathy (as she is now called), she feels an instant bonding with her. She can see she has Robbie's dark looks and after a DNA test, Mary knows that she is without a doubt her long lost daughter. But how to make up for forty five years? This is where things get a little sticky.
At first Cathy wants to get to know Mary before meeting the rest of the family. Understandable, as meeting your mother for the first time would be a daunting experience...meeting the rest of her family even more so. But Mary is convinced that Joanne and Jason will love Cathy just has much as she does. But is Mary blinded by her guilt for abandoning her baby all those years ago that she is ready to believe anything? Because as soon as the siblings meet, it is clear that tensions are high. Are Joanne and Jason jealous with Cathy's arrival on the scene that she will now get a slice of what they believe is coming to them?
And then strange things begin to happen. Or had they always been there and no one really noticed because Mary lived alone in a sprawling six bedroom home she had no need for? It seems Mary has been somewhat forgetful lately - leaving keys in the fridge, turning the router off, leaving windows open - what is Mary was developing what she had always feared? What her mother had before she took her own life? Early onset dementia?
But it seems, though, that Mary isn't the only one who's been keeping secrets.
THE FAMILY REUNION begins off slowly with a gradual build as we get to know Mary and what has brought her to where she is now. It's not until about 25% into the story that things begin to get a little interesting, especially when the narrative changes, switching things up a little. The story unfolds through Mary, Alison and Cathy's perspectives throughout and it's interesting to get the insight into each of their minds and lives. It is interesting to note that we don't get Joanne's perspective - I wonder why that is? But each woman has a pivotal part to play in the unfolding of events. And despite its slow start, the story does pick up pace bringing everything to a stunning conclusion in the shocking epilogue.
Filled with secrets, lies and deceit throughout, THE FAMILY REUNION is one reunion you want to stay well away from...whilst sneakily turning the pages to find out what happens anyway. You just wouldn't want to be in their shoes! It has sibling rivalry abound! All three of them, I could have slapped them. They all behaved appallingly. Joanne and Jason were entitled and spoilt and, while they very probably were concerned for their mother's welfare, they were also looking at the bigger picture with themselves having a starring role.
So who is Cathy really? And what does she want?
What is Joanne and Jason's real problem with Cathy?
Is Mary truly blinkered by her own guilt that she can see no wrong in Cathy?
Which of them have secrets? Or do they all have them?
Do any of them know how to speak the truth?
Do any of them truly have Mary's best interests at heart?
And is Mary truly in danger?
There are so many questions...so many secrets...so many lies...who to believe? This is a story about family dynamics at its core and how they each behave in the face of change. First with the death of their husband and father, and then with the new arrival of a long lost daughter and sibling. There were plenty of twists and plenty of red herrings but nothing will prepare you for the shocking twist that you won't see coming at the end. Nicely played, Ms King.
Overall, THE FAMILY REUNION is a gripping tale of family drama and suspense that will keep you guessing as well as entertained until the brilliant end. There were a few questions I felt left unanswered (about who did what) in the end but overall still a great read.
I would like to thank #KarenKing, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheFamilyReunion in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
November 17, 2022
This book will have you on your toes from start to finish! Karen king does an amazing job hooking her readers! If you are ready for a boom you Absouletly cannot put down this is the ONE!!!
January 30, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Family Reunion' by Karen King.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Karen King, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 23rd January 2023.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read Karen's 'The Stranger In My Bed', 'The Mother-In-Law' and 'The Perfect Stepmother' which I would also highly recommend reading.
I was originally drawn to this book by its interesting eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'An utterly gripping psychological suspense novel with a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.' I am a huge fan of all three of these amazing authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a fan of Karen and if this is as good as 'The Stranger In My Bed', 'The Mother-in-Law' and 'The Perfect Stepmother' it is sure to be a gorgeous read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 69 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited and had holidays on England on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that Kennedy has based the book on.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Mary. Alison and Cathy. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?!? Karen King you are a writing legend!!!
Wow!!! Well fair play the first thing I must say is congratulations to Karen King on yet another HUGE success!! Absolutely blooming fantastic!! I never did work out what was happening and that is quite a feat considering it is quite hard to shock me now that I have read so many suspense and thrillers yet I never did see any of those mind blowing twists coming!! Anyway on with my review....
This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all feeling the hair raise on your arms and feeling the sweat run down your bac
Yet ANOTHER huge success by Karen!!! This book has got to be one of the most heart racing books I've read in a long time!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliff-hanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this yesterday afternoon and finished it at approx. 2am, I read it in one sitting and although I'm knackered today it was 1000000% worth it!!! It really does make you think how life can change so quickly and how different decisions can change a life. It also makes you think how looks can be deceiving. It is filled with family, lies, secrets, twists, turns and everything you could want from a psychological thriller along with some MASSIVE BOMBSHELLS which will leave you absolutely shocked!!! I for one was NOT expecting any of that at all!!! A true page turner, this book is absolutely compelling with an addictive storyline that kept me guessing throughout. I was continuously questioning who was doing what!! It was filled with suspense, drama, secrets, explosive twists, family I loved the ending and thought it fitted perfectly. The storyline is realistic and believable making it easy to picture what is going on. Great descriptions throughout the book really put the readers in the story and gives them a good feeling of what is going on. Filled with suspense, explosive bombshells and tension this book is one must read psychological thriller!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters were very realistic and well rounded and again their personalities reflected the storyline and how they would act, etc perfectly. The descriptions gave a really good in depth view of how Mary, Cathy and Alison were feeling and what they were thinking. My heart truly went out to Mary for everything she went through in the past and was going through throughout the storyline. She had had to live her life with a secret that she felt absolutely awful about while being scared out of her mind. When she finally reveals that she had another daughter to her children it seems that all they cared about was money and then incidents started happening and Mary starts worrying that she has what her mother suffered. While she is going through all this there are other secrets that other people have been keeping coming out of the closet and her children and their partners are all arguing. I found both Jason who is Mary's son and Joanne who is her daughter to both be very selfish people who I disliked throughout, Jason more than Joanne. Jason acts more like a child than a grown up, leaving his wife Alison to constantly look after their children, asking Mary for money and not taking responsibilities for his actions. Joanne is argumentative and also spoilt but not as much as Jason. Joanne's partner Damien is stuck up and thinks he is better than everyone else whereas Joanne and Damien's teenage daughter Kelly is mature and compassionate compared to them both. I liked Alison who is Jason's partner who seemed to be the only one out of the four (Alison, Joanne, Damien and Joanne) to be mature, tries to see the best in others and doesn't constantly think and talk about money. Joanne, Damien and Jason seem to only care about how much they can get out of Mary and were not very likeable at all. I didn't trust Cathy at all throughout the book and thought she was manipulative and using Mary. These were my feelings for them at the beginning of the book. How much was I right or wrong about? Well, you will just have to pick up a copy of this absolutely addictive psychological thriller and prepare for som every explosive twists!!! I really felt sorry for a certain character when I found out what was going on and what had happened. I was absolutely shocked when one of the characters true personality came to light and it took me a while to believe it even though I was "seeing" it happening myself. That is all I will say as I don't want to run the risk of dropping any hints or spoilers. However, whether you love or hate these characters, they all have their own strong unique personalities and they all bring the story to life playing their roles perfectly.
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Karen's 'The Mother-In-Law' is just as addictive as this book and I would highly recommend reading it!!
Overall a page turning addictive psychological thriller that will have your heart racing and will blow your mind with the explosive twists.
Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Noir Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Suspense, British Thriller, Domestic Drama, Psychological Suspense, Mystery, Women's Psychological Fiction, and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, Sheryl Browne, Sam Hepburn, Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards, K.L. Slater and absolutely anyone who loves a mind-blowing twist that you will never see coming!!!
324 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'The Family Reunion' by Karen King.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Karen King, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 23rd January 2023.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read Karen's 'The Stranger In My Bed', 'The Mother-In-Law' and 'The Perfect Stepmother' which I would also highly recommend reading.
I was originally drawn to this book by its interesting eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'An utterly gripping psychological suspense novel with a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.' I am a huge fan of all three of these amazing authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a fan of Karen and if this is as good as 'The Stranger In My Bed', 'The Mother-in-Law' and 'The Perfect Stepmother' it is sure to be a gorgeous read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 69 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited and had holidays on England on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that Kennedy has based the book on.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Mary. Alison and Cathy. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?!? Karen King you are a writing legend!!!
Wow!!! Well fair play the first thing I must say is congratulations to Karen King on yet another HUGE success!! Absolutely blooming fantastic!! I never did work out what was happening and that is quite a feat considering it is quite hard to shock me now that I have read so many suspense and thrillers yet I never did see any of those mind blowing twists coming!! Anyway on with my review....
This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all feeling the hair raise on your arms and feeling the sweat run down your bac
Yet ANOTHER huge success by Karen!!! This book has got to be one of the most heart racing books I've read in a long time!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliff-hanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this yesterday afternoon and finished it at approx. 2am, I read it in one sitting and although I'm knackered today it was 1000000% worth it!!! It really does make you think how life can change so quickly and how different decisions can change a life. It also makes you think how looks can be deceiving. It is filled with family, lies, secrets, twists, turns and everything you could want from a psychological thriller along with some MASSIVE BOMBSHELLS which will leave you absolutely shocked!!! I for one was NOT expecting any of that at all!!! A true page turner, this book is absolutely compelling with an addictive storyline that kept me guessing throughout. I was continuously questioning who was doing what!! It was filled with suspense, drama, secrets, explosive twists, family I loved the ending and thought it fitted perfectly. The storyline is realistic and believable making it easy to picture what is going on. Great descriptions throughout the book really put the readers in the story and gives them a good feeling of what is going on. Filled with suspense, explosive bombshells and tension this book is one must read psychological thriller!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters were very realistic and well rounded and again their personalities reflected the storyline and how they would act, etc perfectly. The descriptions gave a really good in depth view of how Mary, Cathy and Alison were feeling and what they were thinking. My heart truly went out to Mary for everything she went through in the past and was going through throughout the storyline. She had had to live her life with a secret that she felt absolutely awful about while being scared out of her mind. When she finally reveals that she had another daughter to her children it seems that all they cared about was money and then incidents started happening and Mary starts worrying that she has what her mother suffered. While she is going through all this there are other secrets that other people have been keeping coming out of the closet and her children and their partners are all arguing. I found both Jason who is Mary's son and Joanne who is her daughter to both be very selfish people who I disliked throughout, Jason more than Joanne. Jason acts more like a child than a grown up, leaving his wife Alison to constantly look after their children, asking Mary for money and not taking responsibilities for his actions. Joanne is argumentative and also spoilt but not as much as Jason. Joanne's partner Damien is stuck up and thinks he is better than everyone else whereas Joanne and Damien's teenage daughter Kelly is mature and compassionate compared to them both. I liked Alison who is Jason's partner who seemed to be the only one out of the four (Alison, Joanne, Damien and Joanne) to be mature, tries to see the best in others and doesn't constantly think and talk about money. Joanne, Damien and Jason seem to only care about how much they can get out of Mary and were not very likeable at all. I didn't trust Cathy at all throughout the book and thought she was manipulative and using Mary. These were my feelings for them at the beginning of the book. How much was I right or wrong about? Well, you will just have to pick up a copy of this absolutely addictive psychological thriller and prepare for som every explosive twists!!! I really felt sorry for a certain character when I found out what was going on and what had happened. I was absolutely shocked when one of the characters true personality came to light and it took me a while to believe it even though I was "seeing" it happening myself. That is all I will say as I don't want to run the risk of dropping any hints or spoilers. However, whether you love or hate these characters, they all have their own strong unique personalities and they all bring the story to life playing their roles perfectly.
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Karen's 'The Mother-In-Law' is just as addictive as this book and I would highly recommend reading it!!
Overall a page turning addictive psychological thriller that will have your heart racing and will blow your mind with the explosive twists.
Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Noir Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Fiction, Suspense, British Thriller, Domestic Drama, Psychological Suspense, Mystery, Women's Psychological Fiction, and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, Sheryl Browne, Sam Hepburn, Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards, K.L. Slater and absolutely anyone who loves a mind-blowing twist that you will never see coming!!!
324 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
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November 30, 2022
"Today I'm hosting a family party. One that's different to every celebration we've had before. Because I've invited my secret daughter to it.
I've never forgiven myself for abandoning her as a baby, with just a scrawled note tucked into her soft yellow blanket, saying her name was Hope.
As soon as she reached out, I knew I had to meet her. My family all seem ready to accept her with open arms, their forgiveness a blessing I barely deserve. And I dare to believe that maybe we are all going to have a happy ending after all."
'The family reunion' is told from different characters. You especially get to know Mary well. When she was fifteen years old, she got pregnant and abandoned her baby.
Now, forty-five years later, they come into contact with each other again and the question is whether that was wise. From then on, strange things happen. Is Mary's daughter behind this or is something else going on? It turns out that several people in the family have secrets...
This was my first acquaintance with this author and the story is written very smoothly. You always doubt how the story will turn out and in the end I found the plot surprising. I didn't see the epilogue coming, so that's a good thing! I enjoyed this story.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this review copy!
Rating: 4,0 ⭐️
I've never forgiven myself for abandoning her as a baby, with just a scrawled note tucked into her soft yellow blanket, saying her name was Hope.
As soon as she reached out, I knew I had to meet her. My family all seem ready to accept her with open arms, their forgiveness a blessing I barely deserve. And I dare to believe that maybe we are all going to have a happy ending after all."
'The family reunion' is told from different characters. You especially get to know Mary well. When she was fifteen years old, she got pregnant and abandoned her baby.
Now, forty-five years later, they come into contact with each other again and the question is whether that was wise. From then on, strange things happen. Is Mary's daughter behind this or is something else going on? It turns out that several people in the family have secrets...
This was my first acquaintance with this author and the story is written very smoothly. You always doubt how the story will turn out and in the end I found the plot surprising. I didn't see the epilogue coming, so that's a good thing! I enjoyed this story.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this review copy!
Rating: 4,0 ⭐️
December 18, 2022
Mary has a secret. Her late husband didn't know and neither do her two grown kids. She had a baby before she started her family and abandoned it in a telephone booth. Now, she's decided it's time to seek out the daughter she dumped and deserted.
Once this long lost daughter joins the family strange and unfortunate things start occurring. Was all of this a mistake?
This was really slow. Despite that I'm glad I kept with it. There were some pretty good twists and I loved hating Mary's two spoiled, arrogant children. I do wish this had picked up its pave though because I struggled with it. The ending was a shocking surprise.
Once this long lost daughter joins the family strange and unfortunate things start occurring. Was all of this a mistake?
This was really slow. Despite that I'm glad I kept with it. There were some pretty good twists and I loved hating Mary's two spoiled, arrogant children. I do wish this had picked up its pave though because I struggled with it. The ending was a shocking surprise.
January 28, 2023
Karen King did not disappoint in The Family Reunion.This cracking read whizzes along for the most part and I was certainly kept on my toes. The surprises and shocks are in plentiful supply while I was led down one avenue and then another. The unforeseen ending was a good one in this compelling family drama-style psychological thriller. The Family Reunion is a great tale I highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 23, 2022
This is my first Karen King book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
A fantastic story filled with the twists and turns you'd expect in any family, however, the twists and turns are HUGE!
Mary is a widowed mother of two, and she decides to try and find a daughter she had, that no one else in her life knows about.
Couple that with two weary children, with secrets of their own, then the addition of this new member of the family, and there are plenty of fireworks!
I won't say too much, because if I do, then what is the point in you reading, but OMG, the epilogue!
I was gripped by the story and couldn't put it down!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an arc.
A fantastic story filled with the twists and turns you'd expect in any family, however, the twists and turns are HUGE!
Mary is a widowed mother of two, and she decides to try and find a daughter she had, that no one else in her life knows about.
Couple that with two weary children, with secrets of their own, then the addition of this new member of the family, and there are plenty of fireworks!
I won't say too much, because if I do, then what is the point in you reading, but OMG, the epilogue!
I was gripped by the story and couldn't put it down!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an arc.
June 10, 2024
Secrets and lies! Mary, a recent widow, has another daughter, Cathy, who she abandoned at birth. Her two adult children are shocked to learn they have a sister! Now, this psychological thriller begins.
January 25, 2023
Mary wants to right the wrongs of the past. Very saddened by the loss of her husband after nearly four decades of being happily married, she decides to deal with something that happened when she was just 16 years of age, something that she kept secret for decades. With two grown children, Joanne and Jason, revealing that secret might change everything about her life.
Mary got pregnant as a teenager and had a child that she felt had no choice but to give up. She named her Hope and she now wants to find her and to introduce her to Joanne and Jason. Mary is hopeful that she will be able to forge a relationship with her. Finding her daughter. whom she learns is now named Cathy just might fill that void in her life as well as bonding her family together now. There is a major complication, and that has to do with Mary’s health, and the fact that Joanne and Jason are pressuring her to sell the family home.
Concerned that their mother might have dementia increases the pressure that Joanne and Jason are placing on Mary. However, she has been reluctant to sell her home, but she suddenly has a change of heart. In fact, Cathy does indeed come back into Mary’s life, and it doesn’t take very long to start to follow every edict that Cathy sets out, which includes going ahead and preparing to sell the home. Both Joanne and Jason are having their own struggles in life, and once their mother sells their home, the proceeds will go a long way into helping them both financially. However, they both become immediately upset when they learn that Mary intends on splitting the proceeds of the sale among the three of them.
A lot of questions come up in this book. Is Cathy Mary’s long lost daughter? In fact, why is Mary so eager to do everything that Cathy wants her to do? More than that, why are Joanne and Jason so resistant to any changes that Mary starts to make in her life? As I was reading this book, I felt like I was reading a story that included gaslighting. This increased the intriguing nature of this story, all while guilt, secrets, and lies as well as unexplained things happening to Mary keep taking place. What a compelling read that concluded with a jaw-dropping twist.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/m0RaG-BnPjc
Mary got pregnant as a teenager and had a child that she felt had no choice but to give up. She named her Hope and she now wants to find her and to introduce her to Joanne and Jason. Mary is hopeful that she will be able to forge a relationship with her. Finding her daughter. whom she learns is now named Cathy just might fill that void in her life as well as bonding her family together now. There is a major complication, and that has to do with Mary’s health, and the fact that Joanne and Jason are pressuring her to sell the family home.
Concerned that their mother might have dementia increases the pressure that Joanne and Jason are placing on Mary. However, she has been reluctant to sell her home, but she suddenly has a change of heart. In fact, Cathy does indeed come back into Mary’s life, and it doesn’t take very long to start to follow every edict that Cathy sets out, which includes going ahead and preparing to sell the home. Both Joanne and Jason are having their own struggles in life, and once their mother sells their home, the proceeds will go a long way into helping them both financially. However, they both become immediately upset when they learn that Mary intends on splitting the proceeds of the sale among the three of them.
A lot of questions come up in this book. Is Cathy Mary’s long lost daughter? In fact, why is Mary so eager to do everything that Cathy wants her to do? More than that, why are Joanne and Jason so resistant to any changes that Mary starts to make in her life? As I was reading this book, I felt like I was reading a story that included gaslighting. This increased the intriguing nature of this story, all while guilt, secrets, and lies as well as unexplained things happening to Mary keep taking place. What a compelling read that concluded with a jaw-dropping twist.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/m0RaG-BnPjc
August 9, 2023
After Mary's husband Paul dies of a brain aneurysm, she decides to find the child she called Hope, that she gave away. Her husband and family knew nothing about this. She now wants to introduce Hope now called Cathy to her family and children Joanne and Jason.
Without giving away this amazing book, let's just say there are plenty of secrets and a surprising ending. I couldn't put this down.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Without giving away this amazing book, let's just say there are plenty of secrets and a surprising ending. I couldn't put this down.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2022
What happens when family dynamics are altered by a sudden death or a new arrival? The Family reunion has the bonds that bind family together at the heart of it, opening with a tragic loss, that of Mary’s husband of thirty-eight years, the constant in her life she felt blessed to have after the loss of her mother when she needed her most: growing from a child into womanhood. With an indifferent father and desperate to feel loved, Mary soon lost her heart to the boy who declared just that, that he loved her, that he would look after her. How was it that Mary found herself so utterly alone at just turned sixteen, forced to keep the excruciating secret that would haunt her for forty-five long years thereafter? Ashamed of what she did – I don’t want to post spoilers, but there’s a poignant section here that will put things into perspective – and of losing her husband’s respect, she’d never disclosed her secret to him or to anyone, including her two grown children.
When Mary succeeds in locating her first child, the scene is set for tensions to unfold. The Family Reunion simmers with an underlying menace as the twists are revealed like the slow drip of a tap. Sibling rivalry abounds. The story seethes with resentment and jealousy, not just because of the hierarchy between the children shifting, but also because of the financial implications. This is Mary’s firstborn, after all.
It seems, though, that Mary isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets.
I won’t say more except that the characterisation is brilliant, the two younger siblings, married with children, are portrayed perfectly, caring for their mother, yet taking her a little too much for granted, treating her at times as if she were the child.
As someone who is passionate about family dynamics and stories that delve beneath the surface to seek out what drives people, what secrets they might keep, what challenges they might have to overcome, The Family Reunion ticks all my boxes. It’s a page turner and one I would highly recommend.
When Mary succeeds in locating her first child, the scene is set for tensions to unfold. The Family Reunion simmers with an underlying menace as the twists are revealed like the slow drip of a tap. Sibling rivalry abounds. The story seethes with resentment and jealousy, not just because of the hierarchy between the children shifting, but also because of the financial implications. This is Mary’s firstborn, after all.
It seems, though, that Mary isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets.
I won’t say more except that the characterisation is brilliant, the two younger siblings, married with children, are portrayed perfectly, caring for their mother, yet taking her a little too much for granted, treating her at times as if she were the child.
As someone who is passionate about family dynamics and stories that delve beneath the surface to seek out what drives people, what secrets they might keep, what challenges they might have to overcome, The Family Reunion ticks all my boxes. It’s a page turner and one I would highly recommend.
February 3, 2023
3.5 stars
I love thrillers with a few secrets and twists along the way, instead of one big reveal at the end. This story is told through multiple povs and multiple timelines which help to flesh out the details and add to those twisty secrets. I had some inkling as to the final twist but I was slightly off the mark and I was shocked by the epilogue.
I found the story intriguing and it was super easy to follow. It's not an intense read and is perfect lazy afternoon read, engaging and keeps you wanting to turn the page.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy
I love thrillers with a few secrets and twists along the way, instead of one big reveal at the end. This story is told through multiple povs and multiple timelines which help to flesh out the details and add to those twisty secrets. I had some inkling as to the final twist but I was slightly off the mark and I was shocked by the epilogue.
I found the story intriguing and it was super easy to follow. It's not an intense read and is perfect lazy afternoon read, engaging and keeps you wanting to turn the page.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy
January 29, 2023
Wonderfully tense and thrillingly suspenseful. What an amazing read! I couldn't put this one down. Just wow!
January 16, 2023
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Shout out to Bookouture and the author.
PUBLICATION DATE: 23 January 2023 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
When Mary was just 16, she gave birth to a baby girl and abandoned her in a telephone box. Now, over 40 years later, right after the death of her husband, she decides it's time to confront her secret and find her long-lost daughter.
The baby she named Hope now goes by Cathy, and while her daughter seems standoffish at first, the two women reconnect and Mary decides it's finally time for all her children to meet.
But the family doesn't live happily ever after - Mary's other two children don't trust their older sister, their spouses think she's only after their mother's money and strange things keep happening.
Mary finally revealed her secret, but it turns out she's not the only one hiding things...
While it's billed as a psychological suspense novel, Karen King's 'The Family Reunion' is a contemporary family drama that's heavy on the... you guessed it, drama and secrets, and after about the third twist, things become hard to believe.
I found the author's writing clunky and amateurish in places, and while the plot helped me get over that by the time I was about 50% in, overall, I found the characters hard to like and the ending unsatisfactory.
There are just too many 'secrets' stuffed into one family that it begins to border on the ridiculous; Mary's character remains frustratingly naïve almost all throughout, and while it kept me interested until the end, the storyline never really took off for me.
It was just OK.
PUBLICATION DATE: 23 January 2023 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
When Mary was just 16, she gave birth to a baby girl and abandoned her in a telephone box. Now, over 40 years later, right after the death of her husband, she decides it's time to confront her secret and find her long-lost daughter.
The baby she named Hope now goes by Cathy, and while her daughter seems standoffish at first, the two women reconnect and Mary decides it's finally time for all her children to meet.
But the family doesn't live happily ever after - Mary's other two children don't trust their older sister, their spouses think she's only after their mother's money and strange things keep happening.
Mary finally revealed her secret, but it turns out she's not the only one hiding things...
While it's billed as a psychological suspense novel, Karen King's 'The Family Reunion' is a contemporary family drama that's heavy on the... you guessed it, drama and secrets, and after about the third twist, things become hard to believe.
I found the author's writing clunky and amateurish in places, and while the plot helped me get over that by the time I was about 50% in, overall, I found the characters hard to like and the ending unsatisfactory.
There are just too many 'secrets' stuffed into one family that it begins to border on the ridiculous; Mary's character remains frustratingly naïve almost all throughout, and while it kept me interested until the end, the storyline never really took off for me.
It was just OK.
January 22, 2025
This was a real disappointment. The characters were somewhat likeable and interesting and some bits of the story were enjoyable overall but the writing was terrible. The author constantly repeats herself and writes in such a basic sense so that nothing is left for the reader to imagine. I read that it had a twist at the end you wouldn't be able to predict which I thought I would enjoy. Sure, I didn't predict it but it was just tacked onto the end of the book - it carried no satisfaction and there were no small clues alluding to it along the way. It felt like a cheap extra that was thought of once the rest of the book had been written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2024
What a fabulous read great choice bookclub Great twist and just such an emotional story
January 22, 2023
Actual rating - 3,5*
"The Family Reunion" by Karen King is a psychological thriller. I personally like stories that have a little more suspense in them. However, I found the book interesting and I recommend it to fans of the genre who want to read something like this, but not the most "hard core" stories. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a the copy. Mary abandoned her firstborn daughter when she was only one day old. Too young, with a strict father and no man by her side, she has no other choice. Years later, she has two children, a big house and a husband who loves her very much. However, he suddenly dies and Mary decides to search for her long-lost daughter. Cathy is everything she hoped she would be, but after her appearance, strange things begin to happen. Is Mary losing her mind or is there another reason?
As a whole, the plot itself was well thought out. Various clues are provided for the reader to try to build theories. I suspected two people, both of whom had motives. It turned out to be one of them, although I really wanted it to be the other. The dynamic between the characters was interesting and the book is a quick read, because the chapters are short. I like books that are told from multiple points of view, but here I felt like I only wanted to see Mary and maybe Cathy. I understand the third person motive though. Because through his/her eyes we can see some people, including Mary from a different perspecive. But, these chapters weren't very interesting to me.
For me, things between Mary and Cathy happened too fast. I was interested in following the strange things that were going on and looking for clues as to who was doing them. There are a few twists towards the end of the book that I definitely liked, and the epilogue itself was great. My problem with the book was the very way it was written. I didn't particularly like the author's writing style, although it was easy to read. I found it a little boring in places. Still, the book was interesting and I would recommend it.
"The Family Reunion" by Karen King is a psychological thriller. I personally like stories that have a little more suspense in them. However, I found the book interesting and I recommend it to fans of the genre who want to read something like this, but not the most "hard core" stories. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a the copy. Mary abandoned her firstborn daughter when she was only one day old. Too young, with a strict father and no man by her side, she has no other choice. Years later, she has two children, a big house and a husband who loves her very much. However, he suddenly dies and Mary decides to search for her long-lost daughter. Cathy is everything she hoped she would be, but after her appearance, strange things begin to happen. Is Mary losing her mind or is there another reason?
As a whole, the plot itself was well thought out. Various clues are provided for the reader to try to build theories. I suspected two people, both of whom had motives. It turned out to be one of them, although I really wanted it to be the other. The dynamic between the characters was interesting and the book is a quick read, because the chapters are short. I like books that are told from multiple points of view, but here I felt like I only wanted to see Mary and maybe Cathy. I understand the third person motive though. Because through his/her eyes we can see some people, including Mary from a different perspecive. But, these chapters weren't very interesting to me.
For me, things between Mary and Cathy happened too fast. I was interested in following the strange things that were going on and looking for clues as to who was doing them. There are a few twists towards the end of the book that I definitely liked, and the epilogue itself was great. My problem with the book was the very way it was written. I didn't particularly like the author's writing style, although it was easy to read. I found it a little boring in places. Still, the book was interesting and I would recommend it.
January 24, 2023
Another ARC by Karen King! A few months ago, I read the ARC for The Mother-In-Law, which I absolutely loved, so I was very excited to receive the The Family Reunion from NetGalley. Once again, Karen King did not disappoint!
In The Family Reunion we follow Mary, a retired nurse who recently lost her husband. Apart from her husband's death, there's only one thing on Mary's mind: finding her long-lost first-born daughter, Hope. Just having ended a whirlwind relationship with a boy who didn't turn out to be who he said he was, 15 year-old Mary was forced to abandon Hope in a phone-booth merely hours after she gave birth to her. She never told anyone, not Hope's father, not her husband, not her children, Joanne and Jason, who now both have families of their own. At first, Mary is delighted to reunite with Hope, who now goes by Cathy. But not everything is what it seems at first glance. When more and more suspicious things start to happen, Mary must face the truth. Does she truly know Cathy? And can the family trust her?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Family Reunion. Throughout the book I had a few suspicions of what could be happening and while I did get one part right, the other parts of the plot came as a surprise. Once again, King managed to get some great twists into her book. Every time you think you might know what happened, there's another twist to get you to rethink everything. King's writing is gripping. This may be a personal preference, but I love that she writes short chapters. I'd much rather read 300 pages split into 70 than 20 chapters. When the story was almost finished, I still felt like something was wrong, but the last twist solved it for me. I did think we started off a bit slow. I wouldn't have minded to go a bit faster in the first half, but especially once we get to the cabin, the ball really starts rolling. I read those last 100 pages in one sitting. Definitely recommend to people who enjoy slow-burning domestic thrillers.
In The Family Reunion we follow Mary, a retired nurse who recently lost her husband. Apart from her husband's death, there's only one thing on Mary's mind: finding her long-lost first-born daughter, Hope. Just having ended a whirlwind relationship with a boy who didn't turn out to be who he said he was, 15 year-old Mary was forced to abandon Hope in a phone-booth merely hours after she gave birth to her. She never told anyone, not Hope's father, not her husband, not her children, Joanne and Jason, who now both have families of their own. At first, Mary is delighted to reunite with Hope, who now goes by Cathy. But not everything is what it seems at first glance. When more and more suspicious things start to happen, Mary must face the truth. Does she truly know Cathy? And can the family trust her?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Family Reunion. Throughout the book I had a few suspicions of what could be happening and while I did get one part right, the other parts of the plot came as a surprise. Once again, King managed to get some great twists into her book. Every time you think you might know what happened, there's another twist to get you to rethink everything. King's writing is gripping. This may be a personal preference, but I love that she writes short chapters. I'd much rather read 300 pages split into 70 than 20 chapters. When the story was almost finished, I still felt like something was wrong, but the last twist solved it for me. I did think we started off a bit slow. I wouldn't have minded to go a bit faster in the first half, but especially once we get to the cabin, the ball really starts rolling. I read those last 100 pages in one sitting. Definitely recommend to people who enjoy slow-burning domestic thrillers.
December 5, 2022
My first novel by Karen King, 'The Family Reunion' is one filled with mystery and intrigue. From the beginning, we realise that all is not as it seems with Mary's family. A recent widower, Mary is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband, Paul. While she has her two wonderful children to see her through, she feels adrift and decides now is the time to reconnect with the daughter she abandoned when she was a young teenager. A shameful secret she never shared with anyone, she soon finds Cathy and does her best to integrate her into the family. Of course, tensions soon arise, and shocking twists come to pass, leaving readers reeling from the storyline.
For the most part, the plot was easy to follow; you know from the start that there are going to be lots of lies and secrets revealed. However, I must irrevocably state - Ms. King got me GOOD with that twist at the end! After reading enough of these types of books, it is quite hard to catch me off guard, but this author achieved the impossible!
My one issue with this novel, and it is more of a personal issue than anything wrong with the story, is that I disliked every single main character. Mary was way too naive for a mature woman, Jason and Joanne were just icky excuses for children, their spouses were just as awful, and do not even get me started on Cathy...
In the end, I give 'The Family Reunion' a rating of 4 out of 5 stars; while I really enjoyed the overall plot, I could not connect emotionally with any of the characters. If you are a lover of suspense, this one will definitely not disappoint!
*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Karen King, and Bookouture for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
For the most part, the plot was easy to follow; you know from the start that there are going to be lots of lies and secrets revealed. However, I must irrevocably state - Ms. King got me GOOD with that twist at the end! After reading enough of these types of books, it is quite hard to catch me off guard, but this author achieved the impossible!
My one issue with this novel, and it is more of a personal issue than anything wrong with the story, is that I disliked every single main character. Mary was way too naive for a mature woman, Jason and Joanne were just icky excuses for children, their spouses were just as awful, and do not even get me started on Cathy...
In the end, I give 'The Family Reunion' a rating of 4 out of 5 stars; while I really enjoyed the overall plot, I could not connect emotionally with any of the characters. If you are a lover of suspense, this one will definitely not disappoint!
*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Karen King, and Bookouture for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
May 11, 2023
The Family Reunion is an entertaining, engaging, suspenseful and fulfilling thriller.
After her husband Paul dies, Mary feels lonely and thinks of the past.
When she was a teenager she abandoned her baby to give her a better life.
It’s time to search for the truth and what happened.
Now she has two adult children, Jason and Joanne with families of their own.
After some time she finds Cathy, the long lost child.
Mary introduces Cathy to the family and tensions run high.
But soon strange things begin to happen and turmoil starts.
It appears there’s more going on and everyone has secrets and something to hide including Mary.
I was drawn to Karen’s compelling plot, intense storytelling, smooth writing and ultimately the unexpected ending.
The pace was great and the characters well written with dialogue to keep you assuming.
I really enjoyed this and can definitely recommend.
Karen had me guessing and holding my breath until the final pages when I could finally breathe out with surprise and shock.
A multilayered storyline that will have you on your toes while digesting each page looking for clues to untangle the mystery to get to the truth.
An uncontaminated reading pleasure that will have you stopping everything to read more.
After her husband Paul dies, Mary feels lonely and thinks of the past.
When she was a teenager she abandoned her baby to give her a better life.
It’s time to search for the truth and what happened.
Now she has two adult children, Jason and Joanne with families of their own.
After some time she finds Cathy, the long lost child.
Mary introduces Cathy to the family and tensions run high.
But soon strange things begin to happen and turmoil starts.
It appears there’s more going on and everyone has secrets and something to hide including Mary.
I was drawn to Karen’s compelling plot, intense storytelling, smooth writing and ultimately the unexpected ending.
The pace was great and the characters well written with dialogue to keep you assuming.
I really enjoyed this and can definitely recommend.
Karen had me guessing and holding my breath until the final pages when I could finally breathe out with surprise and shock.
A multilayered storyline that will have you on your toes while digesting each page looking for clues to untangle the mystery to get to the truth.
An uncontaminated reading pleasure that will have you stopping everything to read more.
January 31, 2023
Unfortunately, I found THE FAMILY REUNION to be boring. Maybe it’s because it’s an ARC, but there were SO MANY TIMES in this book where sentences were literally repeated word for word. This book was very repetitive and boring. The author makes reader wait until 80% of the book is done for the “big reveal” and it was disappointing.
I didn’t like any of the characters. They were all terrible and had no redeeming qualities.
Below I’ll go into more details but SPOILERS AHEAD
I did not like Mary at all. I felt like she abandoned her two children for Cathy at a drop of the hat. I did not like how she treated them at all.
I also hated Cathy so much. Everything about her sucked.
This book actually just made me mad.. but like?? Good job to the author for evoking emotions like that out of me.
I didn’t like any of the characters. They were all terrible and had no redeeming qualities.
Below I’ll go into more details but SPOILERS AHEAD
I did not like Mary at all. I felt like she abandoned her two children for Cathy at a drop of the hat. I did not like how she treated them at all.
I also hated Cathy so much. Everything about her sucked.
This book actually just made me mad.. but like?? Good job to the author for evoking emotions like that out of me.
April 16, 2023
OMG where do I start with this book? Let me start off by saying no one gave me a copy of this for free to review, I read it on my own unlike many of the reviews on here.
Let me start off by saying Mary is an idiot and her character annoyed me. Actually, not a single character is likable, especially as the story progresses and you become suspicious of everyone. Also no real character development. The writing is so poor and I found many grammatical errors in my Kindle copy.
How many secrets can one family have? A sh*t ton, that’s how many. The story was beyond believable with mini lackluster twists along the way (I guessed them all, found them to be completely predictable) with a ridiculous “reveal” in the epilogue that really left me baffled.
Let me start off by saying Mary is an idiot and her character annoyed me. Actually, not a single character is likable, especially as the story progresses and you become suspicious of everyone. Also no real character development. The writing is so poor and I found many grammatical errors in my Kindle copy.
How many secrets can one family have? A sh*t ton, that’s how many. The story was beyond believable with mini lackluster twists along the way (I guessed them all, found them to be completely predictable) with a ridiculous “reveal” in the epilogue that really left me baffled.
January 21, 2023
I am so grateful to Karen King, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of The Family Reunion. Thank you!!!
This was my first book by Karen King.
Being completely transparent it did take me until about chapter 18 to get into the book. It started off a bit dry and repetitive. But once things started happening in chapter 18 it was exciting and I couldn't put the book down!!
There were so many questions and I was desperately trying to figure out what was happening. The twists left me reeling as the truth started to unfold and I was shocked!!
It really makes you wonder: How well do you know your own family? Can you really trust a stranger?
Ultimately an excellent read about family, secrets, lies, and how far someone will go to get what they want.
This was my first book by Karen King.
Being completely transparent it did take me until about chapter 18 to get into the book. It started off a bit dry and repetitive. But once things started happening in chapter 18 it was exciting and I couldn't put the book down!!
There were so many questions and I was desperately trying to figure out what was happening. The twists left me reeling as the truth started to unfold and I was shocked!!
It really makes you wonder: How well do you know your own family? Can you really trust a stranger?
Ultimately an excellent read about family, secrets, lies, and how far someone will go to get what they want.
January 5, 2023
thank you netgalley for letting me read this ARC!
i enjoyed this book! not my favorite, and not the best thriller ive ever read, but definitely still a good read! i love books that make me go back and forth between characters - who can i trust? who can i not trust? and this book does exactly that!
4 stars!
i enjoyed this book! not my favorite, and not the best thriller ive ever read, but definitely still a good read! i love books that make me go back and forth between characters - who can i trust? who can i not trust? and this book does exactly that!
4 stars!
March 17, 2023
The first half of this one was a bit slow and could get quite repetitive but it did really pick up.The first twist I had mostly guessed but the epilogue reveal!! Wow did not see that coming at all.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.
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