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The Waitress
Secrets can be kept. If you’re willing to pay the price.
Anne Marie’s life isn’t easy. She’s a single mom in a dead-end waitressing job with a beater car and bills to pay. Adding to the pressure, her teenage son, Dave, is out of control, and no matter what she does, Anne Marie can’t seem to get through to him.
Then, out of the blue, Dave completely changes. He’s kind, he’s thoughtful, he helps out around the house and looks after his mom. Anne Marie can’t believe her luck.
Until she discovers the reason for her son’s sudden transformation – he’s done something really awful and he’s terrified he’ll be caught. Even worse, someone out there knows about it and they’re blackmailing him.
Anne Marie is desperate to protect her son and knows she has to somehow stop the blackmailer. But how?
As she considers her choices, Anne Marie realizes she may be taking the first steps on a path that will lead her straight to the gates of hell.
How far is she willing to go to save her only child?
Anne Marie’s life isn’t easy. She’s a single mom in a dead-end waitressing job with a beater car and bills to pay. Adding to the pressure, her teenage son, Dave, is out of control, and no matter what she does, Anne Marie can’t seem to get through to him.
Then, out of the blue, Dave completely changes. He’s kind, he’s thoughtful, he helps out around the house and looks after his mom. Anne Marie can’t believe her luck.
Until she discovers the reason for her son’s sudden transformation – he’s done something really awful and he’s terrified he’ll be caught. Even worse, someone out there knows about it and they’re blackmailing him.
Anne Marie is desperate to protect her son and knows she has to somehow stop the blackmailer. But how?
As she considers her choices, Anne Marie realizes she may be taking the first steps on a path that will lead her straight to the gates of hell.
How far is she willing to go to save her only child?
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2023
779 people are currently reading
1364 people want to read
About the author
Emily Shiner
33 books950 followersEmily lives in the mountains of North Carolina and loves hiking with her dogs--only when she's not thinking up twisted tales, that is. She loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
November 20, 2023
Does the waitress embody the failure of all mothers or is she the mother of all failures?
It’s in every parent’s nature to see his or her child in ways that most others don’t. Let author Emily Shiner show you (1) the lengths a mother will go to show her only child, an unruly teenager, in an unduly positive light and (2) the lengths she’ll go to protect him.
Waitress, Anne Marie Kerns, dons her rose-coloured glasses daily and feverishly feeds her two-headed misperception of aggression. It’s the only thing she can do; life is tough as a single mom, and her son, Dave, is out of control. Her denial is the only thing she can control.
You’ll be gasping and shaking your head as Anne Marie engages in increasingly alarming and shady strategic behaviour in an effort to protect Dave - her investment in her future.
Discover for yourself; is this self-serving bias? Is it promoting optimism to give her a self of control? Regardless, Shiner’s writing style will ensure your heartbeat is elevated and that you are eagerly waving a caution sign, hoping Anne Marie will notice.
Perfect for book clubs as this lends itself to heated discussions!
Can Anne Marie derail her ‘to Hell in a handbasket’ journey before she arrives at the Gates of Hell?
Emily Shiner, you continue to amaze me.
I was gifted this copy by Inkubator Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
It’s in every parent’s nature to see his or her child in ways that most others don’t. Let author Emily Shiner show you (1) the lengths a mother will go to show her only child, an unruly teenager, in an unduly positive light and (2) the lengths she’ll go to protect him.
Waitress, Anne Marie Kerns, dons her rose-coloured glasses daily and feverishly feeds her two-headed misperception of aggression. It’s the only thing she can do; life is tough as a single mom, and her son, Dave, is out of control. Her denial is the only thing she can control.
You’ll be gasping and shaking your head as Anne Marie engages in increasingly alarming and shady strategic behaviour in an effort to protect Dave - her investment in her future.
Discover for yourself; is this self-serving bias? Is it promoting optimism to give her a self of control? Regardless, Shiner’s writing style will ensure your heartbeat is elevated and that you are eagerly waving a caution sign, hoping Anne Marie will notice.
Perfect for book clubs as this lends itself to heated discussions!
Can Anne Marie derail her ‘to Hell in a handbasket’ journey before she arrives at the Gates of Hell?
Emily Shiner, you continue to amaze me.
I was gifted this copy by Inkubator Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 29, 2025
This was good. Emily Shiner and Daniel Hurst are two of my favorite thriller writers. Dave and Anne Marie...mother and son...like Bonnie and Clyde...thick as thieves, these two. The story didn't waste time on a lot of additional characters and kept things small, which I am a big fan of. It really focused on their relationship through the trials and tribulations that came about, from Ann Marie's POV. And you couldn't get a handle of whose really at fault for anything until things are clarified at the very end. And it was something surprising, to say the least. Then again, how fun would a thriller be if you knew what was going to happen, right? But things organically played out and kept your focus in all the right places as you went further and further down the rabbit hole with these two. It had just enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing but not done excessively. This was a very good outing with a solid author in Emily Shiner.
January 24, 2024
Anne Marie is a single mother with a 16-year-old son Dave. He is a completely out-of-control psychopath. But for his mother, he is still her little boy and she is going to do anything he asks, including covering for murders and even helping him.
The after-test of this book is very bitter and disturbing. I don't believe that Dave will become a better person in the future.
This book made me remember another book: A Death in Tokyo where a noble father thinks that by covering for his son's murder he is destroying his life and that he has to take responsibility for his actions. And I completely agree with Keigo Higashino. What Ane Marie is doing is not helping her son.
This is why I rated this book only with 2 stars. It is not showing an example in life. Books have to show us the right way in life and not the way to the abyss.
The after-test of this book is very bitter and disturbing. I don't believe that Dave will become a better person in the future.
This book made me remember another book: A Death in Tokyo where a noble father thinks that by covering for his son's murder he is destroying his life and that he has to take responsibility for his actions. And I completely agree with Keigo Higashino. What Ane Marie is doing is not helping her son.
This is why I rated this book only with 2 stars. It is not showing an example in life. Books have to show us the right way in life and not the way to the abyss.
November 19, 2023
This was a very fast book to read for me, easy to read. From the first chapters I hated both characters lol, one for being a doormat and the other for being a spoiled brat 🤣. Some situations irritated me a lot and I felt like slapping some sense into both. The author knows how to play it so we feel those emotions. While I did guess some twists, it was still a great read !
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
December 30, 2023
What an odd and terrible book 😂
November 30, 2023
Not one of her best. The son was so controlling and his mum was very lame and couldn't seem to control him at all. The story irritated me a lot and I found myself putting the book down as it annoyed me. Predictable at the end too. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
November 27, 2023
Emily Shiner is one of my favourite authors and so it really pains me to say that I found this book quite disappointing.
Anne Marie is a single mum who will do anything for her son, Dave, despite his behaviour and the endless problems he creates for her. Dave isn’t just a normal teenager, he is off the rails and when there is a hit and run in their road, Anne Marie can’t help but wonder whether there is an extra dent in her beaten up wreck of a car.
The premise is great, but it felt like it had been written in a rush; the plot lacked depth and the characters were really unlikeable and needed further development and depth. For me, I realised very quickly who the blackmailer was as there were some really obvious hints in the way that person spoke and I knew what the twist at the end would likely be around halfway through the book.
2⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emily Shiner and Inkubator for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Anne Marie is a single mum who will do anything for her son, Dave, despite his behaviour and the endless problems he creates for her. Dave isn’t just a normal teenager, he is off the rails and when there is a hit and run in their road, Anne Marie can’t help but wonder whether there is an extra dent in her beaten up wreck of a car.
The premise is great, but it felt like it had been written in a rush; the plot lacked depth and the characters were really unlikeable and needed further development and depth. For me, I realised very quickly who the blackmailer was as there were some really obvious hints in the way that person spoke and I knew what the twist at the end would likely be around halfway through the book.
2⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emily Shiner and Inkubator for an ARC in return for an honest review.
November 22, 2023
What would a mother do to protect her child? Just about anything right???? Emily Shiner once again hits this one out of the ballpark with another thriller. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. I love the cover of this book too! To be published December 2023.
December 13, 2023
Unfortunately, I found this to be a rather boring book for the most part. Nothing really happened until the end.
February 26, 2024
“The Waitress” by Emily Shiner in a good psychological thriller and my first read of a book by this author. Anne Marie is a single mother struggling to make ends meet while grappling with the challenges of raising a rebellious teenage son, Dave. Anne Marie faces daily challenges with both her waitressing job and her never ending battle with her troubled son.
The novel deals with family life, sacrifice, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. Anne Marie is desperate but she is determined in her efforts to balance between love and tough love in her efforts to protect Dave.
I thought the author dealt with issues well in the writing and it was easy to empathize with Anne Marie’s dilemma. The story was well paced with decent characters and enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.
I did feel it was a little predictable at times but still enjoyable although the characters lacked a little depth. Well worth a read for a story of maternal devotion and the complexities of family dynamics. 3.5 stars rounded up.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The novel deals with family life, sacrifice, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. Anne Marie is desperate but she is determined in her efforts to balance between love and tough love in her efforts to protect Dave.
I thought the author dealt with issues well in the writing and it was easy to empathize with Anne Marie’s dilemma. The story was well paced with decent characters and enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.
I did feel it was a little predictable at times but still enjoyable although the characters lacked a little depth. Well worth a read for a story of maternal devotion and the complexities of family dynamics. 3.5 stars rounded up.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2025
This was a complete waste of my time
Son is crazy hes killed 3 people, and his mom covers for him no twist, no climax, the END
Son is crazy hes killed 3 people, and his mom covers for him no twist, no climax, the END
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2023
Told from rhe pov of Anne Marie a singke mum to Dave. This is fast pact and deals with complex questions how far should you go to protect your child and what effect can you child doing really bad things have on the relationship and how do you reconcile the son you have now nearly a man with the well behaved littlw boy.
I found ot fast paced. Im places i was like surely there would be visable evidence. The actual crimes were ott its only when you strip it back and focus on the relationship told by pov that you appreciate how good this really is. There is never a line for anne marie she wants her little boy back and the final reveal shows she will do anything to get it. Much as i was deeply shocked by the lack of justice for the crimes commited i understood this was an important part of the story. I rightly gueesed the identitybof the blackmailer early on . I would like to have seen more about the side characters they seemed to be put on to progress the story. The length was fairly short and this gocus on the mother son relationship the crimes were just part of that. I throughly enjoyed this and would recommended it to anyone who likes a good relationship pov story with the odd crime .look beyond the crime to this is character driven story. It a solid 4. 5 star read gor me.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
I found ot fast paced. Im places i was like surely there would be visable evidence. The actual crimes were ott its only when you strip it back and focus on the relationship told by pov that you appreciate how good this really is. There is never a line for anne marie she wants her little boy back and the final reveal shows she will do anything to get it. Much as i was deeply shocked by the lack of justice for the crimes commited i understood this was an important part of the story. I rightly gueesed the identitybof the blackmailer early on . I would like to have seen more about the side characters they seemed to be put on to progress the story. The length was fairly short and this gocus on the mother son relationship the crimes were just part of that. I throughly enjoyed this and would recommended it to anyone who likes a good relationship pov story with the odd crime .look beyond the crime to this is character driven story. It a solid 4. 5 star read gor me.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
February 26, 2025
The mom is just as crazy and terrible as her son. Ma'm your son has killed like 3 people and doesn't care and acts all "good". Put him in prison!! WHAT
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2023
The Waitress by Emily Shiner, one of the best non-Frieda McFadden thrillers I’ve read this year.
What would a mother do for their child? We find out the lengths one would go in this edge of your seat, can’t put it down because you need to know what happens next page turner.
Shiner’s booklist is about to be ravaged in a matter of days!!
What would a mother do for their child? We find out the lengths one would go in this edge of your seat, can’t put it down because you need to know what happens next page turner.
Shiner’s booklist is about to be ravaged in a matter of days!!
December 19, 2023
"The Waitress" by Emily Shiner falls short of expectations. The characters lack depth, feeling one-dimensional and underdeveloped. The storyline ventures into unrealistic territory, and Shiner's writing style comes off as amateurish. While the premise had potential for suspense, these shortcomings hinder the overall enjoyment of the thriller.
Special thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read a pre-released copy of this book.
Special thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read a pre-released copy of this book.
November 22, 2023
The Waitress by Emily Shiner is another compelling read from the author and, as always, I tore through the pages to see how things would unfold.
Anne Marie has a waitressing job she hates and an out of control son to whom she is a single mother. When a deadly accident occurs in their neighbourhood, Anne Marie has a sickening feeling of dread that her son Dave is somehow involved. Suddenly, though, Dave's behaviour changes for the better, and Anne Marie wants to believe the best of him. Her son, after all, really is a good boy at heart.
This is a story that will leave you pondering the eternal debate of nature versus nurture, and questioning just how far a parent is willing to go for their child. While the plotline admittedly requires a suspension of disbelief, the universal themes explored make this an interesting read indeed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
Anne Marie has a waitressing job she hates and an out of control son to whom she is a single mother. When a deadly accident occurs in their neighbourhood, Anne Marie has a sickening feeling of dread that her son Dave is somehow involved. Suddenly, though, Dave's behaviour changes for the better, and Anne Marie wants to believe the best of him. Her son, after all, really is a good boy at heart.
This is a story that will leave you pondering the eternal debate of nature versus nurture, and questioning just how far a parent is willing to go for their child. While the plotline admittedly requires a suspension of disbelief, the universal themes explored make this an interesting read indeed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
December 11, 2023
A pretty good thriller. Lots of drama, deceit, secrets, and sinister intentions. Some of the twists were predictable but I was still intrigued by the story and characters enough to keep reading. A quick and easy read with an excellent cover.
November 22, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. This was a good, easy read. How far would you go to protect your child? This book explores how a single mother will do anything for her child. I liked the main point of the book. Of course a mother would do anything for her child, no matter how dark. I didn’t love this book because the child was so horrible. He wasn’t a good kid who made a mistake or even a kind kid who at least loved his mother. He was all around horrible. But of course, a mother will always love her child, as the main character proves. Overall a good book that held my attention.
December 8, 2023
This book was really thrilling. It gripped me so much that I couldn't put it down. It's easy to read, and the plot is very thought out. There were some parts that irritated me, but overall, this book was a pleasure to read. Look forward to reading more from this author.
July 7, 2024
I found this book to be disappointing. I picked it out from one of my Facebook groups because they were saying it was one of the best books they’ve ever read but I guess we just don’t have the same taste in books (which is totally fine). This book was just kind of annoying. Anne Marie was AWFUL. She made terrible decisions every single time. She was such a push over and obviously never thought more than 30 seconds ahead of it. Very frustrating and very woe is me which got to be annoying. Not for me.
It’s labeled “a gripping psychological thriller” is a “gripping psychological thriller” in the room with us? Has it been walked quickly by one? Is it like a Lacroix where you have to imagine the flavor? Just a question.
The only plus side to this book is how fast and short it was so I could read it in one sitting.
1.5/5.
It’s labeled “a gripping psychological thriller” is a “gripping psychological thriller” in the room with us? Has it been walked quickly by one? Is it like a Lacroix where you have to imagine the flavor? Just a question.
The only plus side to this book is how fast and short it was so I could read it in one sitting.
1.5/5.
November 25, 2023
Book Title: The Waitress
Author: Emily Shiner
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: December 3, 2023
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages:
Anne Marie Kerns describes herself as having a terrible little house, a terrible little job, and a terrible Camry. However, she is doing everything she can to make sure her sixteen year old son Dave turns out like her and not his father.
Anne Marie’s terrible little job is working long hours as a waitress at a diner When she is not at work she has her hands full with her Dave. He won’t listen to her plea to stop making bad choices. He is guilty of drinking, fighting, and cheating on tests and now threatens a teacher.
When an accident happened on her street the evening her son took her 'terrible Camry' out, Police Office Waddell stops by her terrible little house to question if she’s knows anything about the accident. He notices and makes a comment about all the dents on her Camry. Anne Marie thinks to herself that although she is aware of the dents she is not sure if there is or isn’t a new one
Dave confesses to his mother than he is guilty of the accident and is fearful of being found out as someone is blackmailing him claiming they saw what he did.
Anne Marie helps him with the blackmailer’s demand however not all that long after there is another demand.
Dave knows the blackmailer isn’t going to back down and will continue perhaps stop and then come back and at a later time with an ever higher demand.
Dave tells his mother he has a plan. Anne Marie is not willing to help with his plan.
Anne Marie knows she has to protect her son.
Soon Dave is the 'model son', ~ cooking, helping around the house even doing laundry; of course, all of this is a scheme to get his mom to do what he wants.
Anne Marie knows he is being a model son for a reason and Blackmailer is doing what she has been trying to do for years.
The rest of the story is more than crazy!.
At first I am quietly telling Anne Marie that she and her son need professional help for son as well as herself! I continue to roll my eyes as well as shake my head at Anne Marie and decided this is supposed to be a fictional story to enjoy.
However, I fear that one day in the near future Dave will enters the diner with an assault weapon and kill his mother and injury innocent people. I only hope Officer Waddell is nearby to take him down.
This is my third Emily Shiner. I read and enjoyed The Secret Wife. I also read The Wife in the Photo. and like Anne Marie I kept yelling at Ariel one of the main characters as she just wasn't making a lot of sense to me.
Want to thank NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 3, 2023.
Author: Emily Shiner
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: December 3, 2023
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages:
Anne Marie Kerns describes herself as having a terrible little house, a terrible little job, and a terrible Camry. However, she is doing everything she can to make sure her sixteen year old son Dave turns out like her and not his father.
Anne Marie’s terrible little job is working long hours as a waitress at a diner When she is not at work she has her hands full with her Dave. He won’t listen to her plea to stop making bad choices. He is guilty of drinking, fighting, and cheating on tests and now threatens a teacher.
When an accident happened on her street the evening her son took her 'terrible Camry' out, Police Office Waddell stops by her terrible little house to question if she’s knows anything about the accident. He notices and makes a comment about all the dents on her Camry. Anne Marie thinks to herself that although she is aware of the dents she is not sure if there is or isn’t a new one
Dave confesses to his mother than he is guilty of the accident and is fearful of being found out as someone is blackmailing him claiming they saw what he did.
Anne Marie helps him with the blackmailer’s demand however not all that long after there is another demand.
Dave knows the blackmailer isn’t going to back down and will continue perhaps stop and then come back and at a later time with an ever higher demand.
Dave tells his mother he has a plan. Anne Marie is not willing to help with his plan.
Anne Marie knows she has to protect her son.
Soon Dave is the 'model son', ~ cooking, helping around the house even doing laundry; of course, all of this is a scheme to get his mom to do what he wants.
Anne Marie knows he is being a model son for a reason and Blackmailer is doing what she has been trying to do for years.
The rest of the story is more than crazy!.
At first I am quietly telling Anne Marie that she and her son need professional help for son as well as herself! I continue to roll my eyes as well as shake my head at Anne Marie and decided this is supposed to be a fictional story to enjoy.
However, I fear that one day in the near future Dave will enters the diner with an assault weapon and kill his mother and injury innocent people. I only hope Officer Waddell is nearby to take him down.
This is my third Emily Shiner. I read and enjoyed The Secret Wife. I also read The Wife in the Photo. and like Anne Marie I kept yelling at Ariel one of the main characters as she just wasn't making a lot of sense to me.
Want to thank NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 3, 2023.
January 8, 2024
3.5 stars
The whole idea of the story was great. I just never truly felt anything for any of the characters. It seemed a bit rushed. But, the story itself did keep me reading. It pretty much ended the way I thought it might. 🙂
I was thinking about this book later in the day after finishing it. I think it would've been great if it had Dave's point of view included. I'm not sure if that would've been possible (I'm not familiar with the rules of storytelling), but yes, I think that would've been great. 😋
The whole idea of the story was great. I just never truly felt anything for any of the characters. It seemed a bit rushed. But, the story itself did keep me reading. It pretty much ended the way I thought it might. 🙂
I was thinking about this book later in the day after finishing it. I think it would've been great if it had Dave's point of view included. I'm not sure if that would've been possible (I'm not familiar with the rules of storytelling), but yes, I think that would've been great. 😋
January 30, 2024
Emily Shiner's writing style is effortless and comforting, like a warm cup of coffee that gives you the energy to keep going. Have I said this before? Probably. Curiously, part of this thriller is set at a diner.
This story leaves you wondering how far one can go to protect a son. Anne Marie goes too far IMO and you feel sorry for her. You pity her for not seeing the truth, but at the same time, you understand her motives — she is a single mother and her only child is her sole focus.
A superb short book I raced through!
This story leaves you wondering how far one can go to protect a son. Anne Marie goes too far IMO and you feel sorry for her. You pity her for not seeing the truth, but at the same time, you understand her motives — she is a single mother and her only child is her sole focus.
A superb short book I raced through!
January 1, 2024
This book had an interesting premise but didn’t really do it for me. The plot was both predictable and unrealistic. The story centers on Anne-Marie, who is struggling with her teenage son, Dave, who keeps getting in trouble. Anne-Marie refuses to believe that Dave is anything but just a little misguided and she is committed to protecting him no matter what.
It was hard for me to get into this one because Anne-Marie’s unwillingness to see Dave as who he really is bordered on ridiculous. There were a few different major events that I just didn’t think were believable. Also, I figured out the big twist early in the book and didn’t really love that either.
Overall, this wasn’t really the book for me but hopefully others will have a better experience. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It was hard for me to get into this one because Anne-Marie’s unwillingness to see Dave as who he really is bordered on ridiculous. There were a few different major events that I just didn’t think were believable. Also, I figured out the big twist early in the book and didn’t really love that either.
Overall, this wasn’t really the book for me but hopefully others will have a better experience. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2024
was this book good? no. did i read it all in two sittings despite the characters being the most insufferable people to ever exist? i sure did. this could be an insult, because it’s possible she isn’t doing it on purpose, but i’m very entertained by the absolutely appalling characters emily shiner creates in her books. so you know what? credit where it’s due because i ate this up. all of her books are on kindle unlimited so i might have to continue the binge reads soon.
↠ 3 stars
↠ 3 stars
November 25, 2023
This book is about a single mom and her son and the lengths she will go to protect him. This is a very fast paced book. Very suspenseful. The mother about drove me insane at what all she’d do for him. This was a 5 star read for me all the way through but I had to give it a 4 star because I didn’t much care for how it ended. I can’t really explain without spoilers but this is still a twisty and fun read.
ARC received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
ARC received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2024
I was really hoping for a decent twist but was left disappointed.
January 4, 2024
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Inkubator Books.
Secrets can be kept. If you are willing to pay the price.
Anne Marie’s life is not easy. She is a single mom in a dead-end waitressing job with a beater car and bills to pay. Adding to the pressure, her teenage son, Dave, is out of control, and no matter what she does, Anne Marie can not seem to get through to him.
Then, out of the blue, Dave completely changes. He is kind, he is thoughtful, he helps out around the house and looks after his mom. Anne Marie can not believe her luck. Until she discovers the reason for her son’s sudden transformation – he has done something really awful and he is terrified he will be caught. Even worse, someone out there knows about it and they are blackmailing him.
Anne Marie is desperate to protect her son and knows she has to somehow stop the blackmailer. But how? As she considers her choices, Anne Marie realizes she may be taking the first steps on a path that will lead her straight to the gates of hell. How far is she willing to go to save her only child?
The Waitress was a fast-paced and easy read. The writing and plot did keep me interested throughout the book, but some parts were too predictable. Annie and Dave, both were kinda ridiculous and they made the worst decisions possible. They were really not unlikeable characters. The plotline revolving around the concept of parental love and commitment was probably the best part. But at times it did feel like Annie was too extreme, which evolved into something unbelievable. If you enjoy a fast-paced and easy read with a few twists and turns, and a book you could finish in one sitting, this might be for you. Although, I wish I liked this one more, I will still give this author another chance.
Rating: 2.5/5
Secrets can be kept. If you are willing to pay the price.
Anne Marie’s life is not easy. She is a single mom in a dead-end waitressing job with a beater car and bills to pay. Adding to the pressure, her teenage son, Dave, is out of control, and no matter what she does, Anne Marie can not seem to get through to him.
Then, out of the blue, Dave completely changes. He is kind, he is thoughtful, he helps out around the house and looks after his mom. Anne Marie can not believe her luck. Until she discovers the reason for her son’s sudden transformation – he has done something really awful and he is terrified he will be caught. Even worse, someone out there knows about it and they are blackmailing him.
Anne Marie is desperate to protect her son and knows she has to somehow stop the blackmailer. But how? As she considers her choices, Anne Marie realizes she may be taking the first steps on a path that will lead her straight to the gates of hell. How far is she willing to go to save her only child?
The Waitress was a fast-paced and easy read. The writing and plot did keep me interested throughout the book, but some parts were too predictable. Annie and Dave, both were kinda ridiculous and they made the worst decisions possible. They were really not unlikeable characters. The plotline revolving around the concept of parental love and commitment was probably the best part. But at times it did feel like Annie was too extreme, which evolved into something unbelievable. If you enjoy a fast-paced and easy read with a few twists and turns, and a book you could finish in one sitting, this might be for you. Although, I wish I liked this one more, I will still give this author another chance.
Rating: 2.5/5
December 18, 2023
I have read a fair few of Emily's books now and have absolutely loved them all....and this was no exception!
Emily seems to be able to write characters that really jump off the page and drag you into their story right alongside them.
Here, Anne Marie is struggling to make ends meet, working a dead end job and trying to navigate life with a son who is out of control.
We really connect with Anne Marie from the start and feel the pressure that she's under trying to keep it together and getting no satisfaction.
Dave, her son, was not a particularly nice character and sometimes I really did feel like shaking Anne Marie - but then I'd take a breath and think, this is her son - what would I do for my son's !?
It was quite an intense read when you're put in a situation that could become your own! I mean, I hope to never have this kind of issue with my boys, but imagining an event where you have to choose how far you'd go to keep your own child safe.
The storyline was intriguing as ever, with a few twists, turns and surprises. It was one that revealed the who quite easily, but the intrigued of the why was what kept me turning those pages.
Another gripping read which I raced through. I can't wait to see what comes next...
Emily seems to be able to write characters that really jump off the page and drag you into their story right alongside them.
Here, Anne Marie is struggling to make ends meet, working a dead end job and trying to navigate life with a son who is out of control.
We really connect with Anne Marie from the start and feel the pressure that she's under trying to keep it together and getting no satisfaction.
Dave, her son, was not a particularly nice character and sometimes I really did feel like shaking Anne Marie - but then I'd take a breath and think, this is her son - what would I do for my son's !?
It was quite an intense read when you're put in a situation that could become your own! I mean, I hope to never have this kind of issue with my boys, but imagining an event where you have to choose how far you'd go to keep your own child safe.
The storyline was intriguing as ever, with a few twists, turns and surprises. It was one that revealed the who quite easily, but the intrigued of the why was what kept me turning those pages.
Another gripping read which I raced through. I can't wait to see what comes next...
November 24, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) for The Waitress by Emily Shiner. Well Ms. Shiner has done it again. Another good book by her. The main character, Anne Marie had me shaking my head! I understand a mother's love for her child, but... I won't say anything more about that! Read to see what I mean. This book was very fast paced and it kept me intrigued to see what would happen. I would definitely recommend this book to others and I am eager to read my next Emily Shiner book. I gave this book a 4 star rating.
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