The Cousins by Karen M. McManus - Restarting November 10th 2022

[Evelyn]

Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised . . . and curious.

Their parents are all clear on one point--not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious--and dark--their family's past is.

The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn't over--and this summer, the cousins will learn everything.

[Nicole]

Hey, I'm really sorry but I, unfortunately, was not able to get my copy so I will not be doing this buddy read. I'm sorry and hope you enjoy reading it.

[Ashley W]

Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[ I love that the story is already so mysterious. What did their parents do? And I really want to know who invited them. I'm glad she didn't turn them away. (hide spoiler)]

[Evelyn]

Sorry I'm so behind on this BR! I'm starting tomorrow :)

[Evelyn]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ Kind of underwhelming so far. Not much has happened, but I do have high hopes. I like Jonah's snarkiness and Aubrey's softness, but I'm not really feeling Milly. I can tell she's going to be the "leader," but she literally hates Jonah for no reason and she's such a girls girl like "Aubrey, come to the bathroom with me/ get drinks." But it's not that she's dependent on people, because she is a very much an independent person. I definitely can't trust her. (hide spoiler)]

[Evelyn]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ Very intrigued by their parents too.
Donald seems fishy, but it'd also be too obvious to have sent another letter. I suspect it was one of the adults, maybe Archer? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ashley wrote: "Chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah so many questions!

[Aly]

Evelyn wrote: "Chapter 5
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree about Milly being the leader and kind of mean. I feel like so many questions have come up and I'm very intrigued so far (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 7 (view spoiler)[ With the attraction between Milly and Jonah, I was thinking maybe he wasn't actually his dad's son (like the stepson or adopted or whatever) but I didn't imagine he was another guy going in the real Jonah's place.
Also, really curious what their parents did and who sent the letter to the cousins? (hide spoiler)]

[Evelyn]

Aly wrote: "ch 7 (view spoiler)[With the attraction between Milly and Jonah, I was thinking maybe he wasn't actually his dad's son (like the stepson or adopted or whatever) but I didn't imagine he was another guy going in t..." (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[ omg the attraction between them, I know we know they're not related anymore, but it's still kinda weird , like they flirt so much even though Jonah is supposed to be hiding his identity and I keep thinking they're still cousins. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Evelyn wrote: "Aly wrote: "ch 7 [spoilers removed]
[spoilers removed]"

They're not hiding it well at all

[Aly]

ch 14 (view spoiler)[ Hmm, so maybe they all had a hand in killing Kayla? And I was wondering about Archer, now we know he's around.

Still so many questions (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

ch 21 (view spoiler)[ I thought there would be more action, more secrets, something. Right now they've been found out and we know Alison was pregnant and Anders wanted revenge. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I thought the ending would be more explosive, or exciting. It was pretty crazy that the grandma had died and that's why the kids were disowned. I definitely didn't expect it. (hide spoiler)]
This didn't measure up to the other books for me, but still had a couple interesting twists.

[Evelyn]

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ Uncle Archer did send the letters! I knew it, he had to be important somehow because he's the only one without kids. I'm also enjoying the Allison takebacks, I don't know what the significance of them are yet, but I'm excited to find out (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Evelyn wrote: "Chapter 11
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I wondered where Archer was, but I didn't think he sent the letters (hide spoiler)]

[Evelyn]

Chapter 20
(view spoiler)[ holy- I can't believe Milly and Jonah just made out in a public place, don't get me wrong, I was expecting that to happen, but they're literally so dumb, lol.
Anyways, Aubrey had a conversation with Mildred and she definitely knows something about Kayla, I feel like she might be covering for someone. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Ch 9
(view spoiler)[ Is anyone else a little bored? So far we've learned Jonah is a fake. And honestly, good for him. He isn't missing anything. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Ch 12
(view spoiler)[ Omg more happened in this three chapters than the rest if the first half combined. Poor Fred Baxter. I really wanted to know what he wanted to tell Archer. (hide spoiler)]

[Evelyn]

Ashley wrote: "Ch 12
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ ahaaha same same. I felt like stuff actually started happening around chapter 10, absolutely nothing happened the first half other than Milly doing everything (hide spoiler)]

[Evelyn]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Wow so everyone was an imposter, we're like in a game of Among Us here, HAHA.
Even though I wasn't expecting Mildred to be a fake, I was still quite disappointed as it was just underwhelming.
Of course Milly and Jonah are dating long distance now (which is still weird to me). wow "The Cousins", Jonah was completely useless in this story just sayin (hide spoiler)]

[Saar The Book owl]

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Date changed. Restarting January 1th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[Maddie]

I can't wait to start this!

[Jacquelyn]

I’m starting this tonight.

[Jacquelyn]

Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[I’m intrigued by the story so far, but I’m going in hesitant. I like that it’s easy to distinguish between the characters, all of their personalities are very different.
So the guy they’ve been communicating with (I can’t remember his name) quit without notice only a couple days before the cousins arrive. Also Mildred clearly didn’t know her grandkids were arriving. (hide spoiler)]

[Jacquelyn]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[Ok, one secret down, Jonah is a fake. I’m not shocked, but I am still somewhat interested in the story, and I am curious.
It’s slower paced, but I think someone would genuinely need to be curious about the underlying mystery to enjoy this book. I do think the premise sounds interesting and I like books about rich families and their secrets, so I am enjoying it for the most part. I tend to gravitate towards adult content, but I would’ve loved this book ten years ago.
Also, I keep getting the Uncles mixed up. 😬 (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Jacquelyn wrote: "Chapter 4
I’m intrigued by the story so far, but I’m going in hesitant. I like that it’s easy to distinguish between the characters, all of their personalities are very different.
So the guy they’..."

Hey, I bought this book yesterday and have just started to read it.
Chapter 4-
(view spoiler)[ I have pretty high hopes for this book because I like all of the authors other books so I hope it lives up to it. I think the guy who quit must’ve been the one to send the letters but I wonder why. The conversation with the old man at the port was a bit eerie as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Jacquelyn]

End of Ch.16

...(view spoiler)[HAHAHAHA I literally LOL’d out of sheer awkwardness, I’m cringing! I know they aren’t really cousins, but it still weirds me out for some reason. (hide spoiler)]

[Jacquelyn]

Finished.
(view spoiler)[Did anyone else find the ending underwhelming? 😬😅 I just don't see how it could've been plausible. I gave this book 3.5 stars, but I'm interested in what y’all thought...
I guess Jonah North being a fake was foreshadowing in a way since Mildred ended up being a fake as well. I just feel cheated. We technically only got to know two of the cousins. I also still stand by my earlier statement that Jonah North and Millie dating, still makes me uncomfortable for a reason. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yay! I'm excited to fly through this one!

[Jacquelyn]

Yeah, then I can get the buddy points. 😉🤪

[Maddie]

You'll be able to get them regardless, you planned to read it with me, and if I don't read it that's not your fault. But I will read it haha

[Jacquelyn]

Oh, but Sarh didn't count mine because I hadn't communicated with anyone in the chat. I think mine was Message 20 on our review page.

[Maddie]

Oh that'll be because Aron posted as well for Chapter 4 but you didn't reply :) Generally it's okay if only one person posts and the other hasn't, but if there are other comments on the thread then you need to respond

[Aaron]

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ The characters are getting confusing. Apart from Milly, Aubrey and Jonah I’m mixing everyone up and having to reread little bits. I do like the story though. I want to know what happened. Jonah taking revenge might also create an interesting storyline. (hide spoiler)]

[Jacquelyn]

Maddie wrote: "Oh that'll be because Aron posted as well for Chapter 4 but you didn't reply :) Generally it's okay if only one person posts and the other hasn't, but if there are other comments on the thread then..."

Oh ok, I didn't know what to say in response to the comment. 😅

[Jacquelyn]

Aaron wrote: "Chapter 9
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree!! I kept mixing up the uncles! Why would the author choose to give all the siblings names that start with the letter “A?” it's so confusing! I don't see how that added to the story in any way. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah sometimes it's tough :) Just maybe post your thoughts to it. Now post on the review thread that you've updated for it and I'll sort the points out once I get back upstairs later tonight :)

[Courtney]

I just got my copy so I will be starting it soon. Im so excited!

[Maddie]

Yay! I'm still excited to read it as well even though literally no one would be able to tell because I'm hardly reading XD

[Aaron]

Jacquelyn wrote: "End of Ch.16

...[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ it is a strange dynamic. I can’t imagine an entire party stopping to look at you though. That’d be awful. (hide spoiler)]

[Jacquelyn]

Aaron wrote: "Jacquelyn wrote: "End of Ch.16

...[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I agree! (view spoiler)[Especially that crowd. Rich people love gossip, at least they do here in the South. (hide spoiler)]

[Aaron]

Jacquelyn wrote: "Finished.
Did anyone else find the ending underwhelming? 😬😅 I just don't see how it could've been plausible. I gave this book 3.5 stars, but I'm interested in what y’all thought...
I guess Jonah No..."

(view spoiler)[ for me, the ending was just wrapped up too quickly. It could’ve had way more suspense if it was delivered in parts. All the mystery was just in the last 20 pages. I don’t mind the romance between Jonah and Milly but I’m not exactly invested in it. I would’ve liked to get to know JT as well. This book was slightly disappointing because of how much I like the authors other books. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Hoping to start this tonight.

[Courtney]

Finally starting

[Courtney]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ So far I am really liking this. Jonah seems like an ass though. I wonder what will be waiting for them at Gull Cove. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Jacquelyn wrote: "Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[
I’m intrigued by the story so far, but I’m going in hesitant. I like that it’s easy to distinguish between the characters, all of their personalities are very different.
So the guy they’..." (hide spoiler)]

Definitely seems like he set it up.

[Maddie]

Are you enjoying it so far?

[Courtney]

Maddie wrote: "Are you enjoying it so far?"

Yes

[Courtney]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ Holy sheesh! Jonah is an imposter! Was not expecting that. (hide spoiler)]