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You Deserve to Know
A brand new suspense novel from "the master of the suburban scandal" (Samantha M. Bailey), Aggie Blum Thompson.
Neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa share more than playdates and coffee mornings on their tranquil street in East Bethesda. They confide their deepest secrets, navigate the challenges of motherhood together, and provide a support system that seems unbreakable.
But when Gwen's husband is found murdered after one of their weekly Friday night dinners, the peaceful quiet of their cul-de-sac shatters. The seemingly idyllic world of the three close-knit mom friends becomes a web of deception, betrayal, and revenge.
As the police investigate, the veneer of friendship begins to crack, revealing hidden tensions, clandestine affairs, and long-buried jealousies among the three women. With suspicions mounting and the neighborhood gripped by fear, Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa must confront the chilling truth about their husbands, and the sinister undercurrents in their own friendship.
Neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa share more than playdates and coffee mornings on their tranquil street in East Bethesda. They confide their deepest secrets, navigate the challenges of motherhood together, and provide a support system that seems unbreakable.
But when Gwen's husband is found murdered after one of their weekly Friday night dinners, the peaceful quiet of their cul-de-sac shatters. The seemingly idyllic world of the three close-knit mom friends becomes a web of deception, betrayal, and revenge.
As the police investigate, the veneer of friendship begins to crack, revealing hidden tensions, clandestine affairs, and long-buried jealousies among the three women. With suspicions mounting and the neighborhood gripped by fear, Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa must confront the chilling truth about their husbands, and the sinister undercurrents in their own friendship.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2025
1649 people are currently reading
61536 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,807 reviews
March 31, 2025
wait WHAT!!?? My head is spinning, this was so good. Scandalous, twisty, complex and entertaining from start to finish. Binged it in a couple sittings!
May 3, 2025
Who needs enemies when you have friends like these?
Woooeee!! What a twisted, twisted novel! From the start of You Deserve to Know, this tale of domestic suspense oozed with long-buried secrets, scandalous neighborhood drama, and complex friendship dynamics that made me swoon from the very first page. It was this intricate web that pulled me in deep as the storyline grew. After all, it wasn’t just one plot line that had me scratching my head. There were layers to the book that kept me happily in the dark until each and every timely, shocking reveal. Needless to say, I was utterly captivated by this cul-de-sac of dark, toxic lies.
Despite a plot that had a multitude of turns, the characters were what won me over hook, line, and sinker. Told through Aimee, Lisa, and Gwen’s multiple POVs, I was thrilled to meet some individuals who shocked me but good and managed to keep me the back foot throughout. Queens of misdirection and deceit, all of them—as well as their husbands—were various shades of morally gray. But it was thanks to the twisty, dual timelines that their personas came brilliantly to life as the plot picked up steam. You see, each of them had quite a bit hidden in their suburban backyards.
The only part of this slam dunk stunner that wasn’t an out-and-out win was the mix of perspectives, which were initially confusing. While I loved their individual voices, they were hardly distinct and took some getting used to in order to parse out who was married to who and what was going on in each of their lives. Once I did that, though, all could do was hold on for dear life as this onion-like plot peeled apart layer by layer.
All in all, I was spellbound by this small cast of characters from the very first word. From the intriguing interview transcript that started off the action to the deliciously unhinged climax that had me downright transfixed, there wasn’t a moment of downtime throughout this intoxicating novel. Ultimately, it had even me questioning what exactly goes on behind the doors of each of my neighbors’ homes. Do we know people as well as we think? Or did this handful of characters who I loved to hate reveal that we are all only a step away from a multitude of secrets and lies? Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa share more than playdates and coffee mornings on their tranquil street in East Bethesda. They confide their deepest secrets, navigate the challenges of motherhood together, and provide a support system that seems unbreakable.
But when Gwen’s husband is found murdered after one of their weekly Friday night dinners, the peaceful quiet of their cul-de-sac shatters. The seemingly idyllic world of the three close-knit mom friends becomes a web of deception, betrayal, and revenge.
As the police investigate, the veneer of friendship begins to crack, revealing hidden tensions, clandestine affairs, and long-buried jealousies among the three women. With suspicions mounting and the neighborhood gripped by fear, Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa must confront the chilling truth about their husbands, and the sinister undercurrents in their own friendship.
Thank you to Aggie Blum Thompson and Forge Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 11, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, death of a spouse, blackmail, violence
Woooeee!! What a twisted, twisted novel! From the start of You Deserve to Know, this tale of domestic suspense oozed with long-buried secrets, scandalous neighborhood drama, and complex friendship dynamics that made me swoon from the very first page. It was this intricate web that pulled me in deep as the storyline grew. After all, it wasn’t just one plot line that had me scratching my head. There were layers to the book that kept me happily in the dark until each and every timely, shocking reveal. Needless to say, I was utterly captivated by this cul-de-sac of dark, toxic lies.
Despite a plot that had a multitude of turns, the characters were what won me over hook, line, and sinker. Told through Aimee, Lisa, and Gwen’s multiple POVs, I was thrilled to meet some individuals who shocked me but good and managed to keep me the back foot throughout. Queens of misdirection and deceit, all of them—as well as their husbands—were various shades of morally gray. But it was thanks to the twisty, dual timelines that their personas came brilliantly to life as the plot picked up steam. You see, each of them had quite a bit hidden in their suburban backyards.
The only part of this slam dunk stunner that wasn’t an out-and-out win was the mix of perspectives, which were initially confusing. While I loved their individual voices, they were hardly distinct and took some getting used to in order to parse out who was married to who and what was going on in each of their lives. Once I did that, though, all could do was hold on for dear life as this onion-like plot peeled apart layer by layer.
All in all, I was spellbound by this small cast of characters from the very first word. From the intriguing interview transcript that started off the action to the deliciously unhinged climax that had me downright transfixed, there wasn’t a moment of downtime throughout this intoxicating novel. Ultimately, it had even me questioning what exactly goes on behind the doors of each of my neighbors’ homes. Do we know people as well as we think? Or did this handful of characters who I loved to hate reveal that we are all only a step away from a multitude of secrets and lies? Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa share more than playdates and coffee mornings on their tranquil street in East Bethesda. They confide their deepest secrets, navigate the challenges of motherhood together, and provide a support system that seems unbreakable.
But when Gwen’s husband is found murdered after one of their weekly Friday night dinners, the peaceful quiet of their cul-de-sac shatters. The seemingly idyllic world of the three close-knit mom friends becomes a web of deception, betrayal, and revenge.
As the police investigate, the veneer of friendship begins to crack, revealing hidden tensions, clandestine affairs, and long-buried jealousies among the three women. With suspicions mounting and the neighborhood gripped by fear, Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa must confront the chilling truth about their husbands, and the sinister undercurrents in their own friendship.
Thank you to Aggie Blum Thompson and Forge Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 11, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, death of a spouse, blackmail, violence
December 8, 2024
Whoa! Talk about dysfunctional neighborhoods!
Three inseparable families. The parents all insisting they’re the best of friends. But pull back the curtain to expose major rips in that fabric of friendship. And it’s about to tear them completely apart!
"You deserve to know"…A hushed whisper from the husband of one couple to the wife of another. That’s all it takes and boom…let the murder and mayhem begin!
Oh my! Just when you think this is as far as these couple’s will go…Brace yourself. Things are about to let loose. Right up to the very end!
If neighborhood drama is your jam then don’t miss this latest!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group
Three inseparable families. The parents all insisting they’re the best of friends. But pull back the curtain to expose major rips in that fabric of friendship. And it’s about to tear them completely apart!
"You deserve to know"…A hushed whisper from the husband of one couple to the wife of another. That’s all it takes and boom…let the murder and mayhem begin!
Oh my! Just when you think this is as far as these couple’s will go…Brace yourself. Things are about to let loose. Right up to the very end!
If neighborhood drama is your jam then don’t miss this latest!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group
March 17, 2025
HOUSE FOR SALE
By the end of this story, there will be a house for sale on Nassau Court in East Bethesda, a Suburb just outside of Washington, DC.
You see-there is a newly released book of auto fiction about three families who lived on this Cul-de-sac. It’s called “You Deserve To Know” and it’s a tell-all about what happened there-
But how much of it is true?
Gwen and Anton
Aimee and Scott
Lisa and Marcus
The book opens with a transcript from NBC’s Dateline, but we don’t know the identity of the author being interviewed…
And, the story opens with one of the three husbands, Anton whispering “You Deserve to Know” into the ear of one of the three wives, Aimee, earlier in the evening on the night that he is killed.
Neighborhood Suspense stories are one sub genre that I never seem to grow tired of-and the SECRETS and LIES in this one are as JUICY as the burgers being cooked in the backyards, where the three couples gather every Friday night. 🍔
When we finally get to the truth, the WHOLE TRUTH, I can honestly say that I was SURPRISED.
Delicious!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this Audiobook! As always, these are my candid thoughts!
By the end of this story, there will be a house for sale on Nassau Court in East Bethesda, a Suburb just outside of Washington, DC.
You see-there is a newly released book of auto fiction about three families who lived on this Cul-de-sac. It’s called “You Deserve To Know” and it’s a tell-all about what happened there-
But how much of it is true?
Gwen and Anton
Aimee and Scott
Lisa and Marcus
The book opens with a transcript from NBC’s Dateline, but we don’t know the identity of the author being interviewed…
And, the story opens with one of the three husbands, Anton whispering “You Deserve to Know” into the ear of one of the three wives, Aimee, earlier in the evening on the night that he is killed.
Neighborhood Suspense stories are one sub genre that I never seem to grow tired of-and the SECRETS and LIES in this one are as JUICY as the burgers being cooked in the backyards, where the three couples gather every Friday night. 🍔
When we finally get to the truth, the WHOLE TRUTH, I can honestly say that I was SURPRISED.
Delicious!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this Audiobook! As always, these are my candid thoughts!
February 18, 2025
Scandalous!! Peyton's Place was historically known for its significant shock value in the 60's, where appearances in neighborhoods can be deceiving. In "You Deserve to Know", there is a small town in the D.C. area that carries a lot of hidden secrets, scandals and complicated relationships. I couldn't read it fast enough. On Nassau Court, it appears as a quiet residential area, well-maintained homes, and a sense of community where residents can enjoy a calm and tranquil environment. The families on the street consist of couples: Aimee & Scott, Lisa & Marcus, Gwen & Anton. They are close friends who vacation and party together, as well as BBQ's in the backyard. There are so many fronts put up that you would never know the dark underbelly of shocking secrets and illicit affairs lurking in the neighborhood.
When one of the neighbors ends up dead in a horrible tragedy, these characters draw you in and hold you.I loved venturing into their shadows, watching the questions answered and justice trying to be served, but these characters are several steps ahead of what we think is going on. There is a lot of hidden drama that you won't know until the last page. What an outstanding twist!! Get your copy March 11th because You Deserve to Know! ;)
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing group/Forge Books for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When one of the neighbors ends up dead in a horrible tragedy, these characters draw you in and hold you.I loved venturing into their shadows, watching the questions answered and justice trying to be served, but these characters are several steps ahead of what we think is going on. There is a lot of hidden drama that you won't know until the last page. What an outstanding twist!! Get your copy March 11th because You Deserve to Know! ;)
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing group/Forge Books for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 27, 2025
KEEP YOUR FREAKING FRIENDS HELLA CLOSE!
In this thrilling suburban scandal, we have three friends Aimee, Lisa and Gwen. Aimee is married to Scott, Lisa to Marcus and Gwen to Anton. They are super close and know each other’s secrets and confide in each other with the common challenges of motherhood. The trio and their husbands are inseparable. UNTIL one night when they are all together, Anton whispers in Aimee’s ear ‘YOU DESERVE TO KNOW’… Know what!? Well Aimee is going to have to find out on her own because the next morning Anton is found murdered. What comes next in this one peaceful cul-de-sac is DRAMA, BETRAYAL AND REVENGE!
I BEG YOUR FINEST PARDON this was one hot ass juicy mess! In the entertaining sense of course. This book gripped me from go. I love a desperate housewife’s suburban drama and this book delivered and more.
The three women were your typical middle aged, privileged caricatures and one took single white female to a whole another level. The delusion was real in this one!
I thought I knew where the story was heading but If I say anything further it will spoil it. Let me just say you will be bamboozled with all the twists, drama and deception.
This is popcorn thriller at its finest. So, expect embellishment, convoluted nonsense and super eye rolling moments.
The ending was a little lacklustre but the aftermath had me GAGGED!
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Short Chapters
➽ The Writing
➽ Fast Paced
➽ Past and Present timelines
➽ Pure Unhinged behaviour
➽ Suburban atmosphere
➽ ALL THEE DRAMA
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The way I was tricked! 🤣
This is a first for me with this author but best believe I am running to grab the rest of her backlist.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read ⋆｡°✩
Ughh the cover is so enticing!
Did someone say Suburban Drama?
Like a nosy neighbour I'm gonna be all over this book!
🩷🩵🩷
In this thrilling suburban scandal, we have three friends Aimee, Lisa and Gwen. Aimee is married to Scott, Lisa to Marcus and Gwen to Anton. They are super close and know each other’s secrets and confide in each other with the common challenges of motherhood. The trio and their husbands are inseparable. UNTIL one night when they are all together, Anton whispers in Aimee’s ear ‘YOU DESERVE TO KNOW’… Know what!? Well Aimee is going to have to find out on her own because the next morning Anton is found murdered. What comes next in this one peaceful cul-de-sac is DRAMA, BETRAYAL AND REVENGE!
I BEG YOUR FINEST PARDON this was one hot ass juicy mess! In the entertaining sense of course. This book gripped me from go. I love a desperate housewife’s suburban drama and this book delivered and more.
The three women were your typical middle aged, privileged caricatures and one took single white female to a whole another level. The delusion was real in this one!
I thought I knew where the story was heading but If I say anything further it will spoil it. Let me just say you will be bamboozled with all the twists, drama and deception.
This is popcorn thriller at its finest. So, expect embellishment, convoluted nonsense and super eye rolling moments.
The ending was a little lacklustre but the aftermath had me GAGGED!
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Short Chapters
➽ The Writing
➽ Fast Paced
➽ Past and Present timelines
➽ Pure Unhinged behaviour
➽ Suburban atmosphere
➽ ALL THEE DRAMA
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The way I was tricked! 🤣
This is a first for me with this author but best believe I am running to grab the rest of her backlist.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read ⋆｡°✩
Ughh the cover is so enticing!
Did someone say Suburban Drama?
Like a nosy neighbour I'm gonna be all over this book!
🩷🩵🩷
June 26, 2025
—— 𝟒.𝟐𝟓 ☆ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬. 📓
❝𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛.❞
📖┆𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐧
🏷️┆𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣
📆┆𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟝/𝟛/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟝/𝟞/𝟚𝟝
📋┆𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 ”Neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa share more than play dates and coffee mornings on their tranquil street in East Bethesda. They confide their deepest secrets, navigate the challenges of motherhood together, and provide a support system that seems unbreakable. But when Gwen's husband is found murdered after one of their weekly Friday night dinners, the peaceful quiet of their cul-de-sac shatters. With suspicions mounting and the neighborhood gripped by fear, Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa must confront the chilling truth about their husbands, and the sinister undercurrents in.”」
❝𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗, 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜.
𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈.❞
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★.𝟐𝟓
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟹.𝟾𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: xᴀɴᴀx 💊
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ꜱᴛɪᴄᴋʏ ♪ ᴛʏʟᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴏʀ [ꜰᴇᴀᴛ. ɢʟᴏʀɪʟʟᴀ & ʟɪʟ ᴡᴀʏɴᴇ]
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ʏᴇꜱ!
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
📓 ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇꜱ
📓 ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛ
📓 ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴇꜱ
📓 ᴅᴏᴍᴇꜱᴛɪᴄ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀꜱ
📓 ɴᴇɪɢʜʙᴏʀʜᴏᴏᴅ ꜱᴄᴀɴᴅᴀʟ
📓 “ᴅᴇꜱᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇᴡɪᴠᴇꜱ”
📓 ᴀ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ʟᴏᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴅʏꜱꜰᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ
❝𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢? 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝. 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚎, 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚜, 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛-𝚖𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚕𝚎-𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙱𝙼𝚆𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚝𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚡 𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚔𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛.❞
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• Can I just say real quick… I can’t believe the luck I’ve been having with all my 4 & 5 star reads lately? (watch I probably just jinxed myself). I thought for sure this one was going to be in the 3 star category since it’s hard for a thriller to impress me nowadays, yet my streak is still going strong! My life may be in shambles, but at least the books I’ve been reading aren’t. 🙂↔️🤘🏼
On to the review: ↴
• When this book opened with a Dateline interview, I knew right then I was hooked. You Deserve to Know had all the ingredients of what I love in a domestic thriller; messiness, whiplash from all its twists & turns, suspense, snark, idyllic rich neighborhood setting, scandals, secrets, mystery, everyone is a suspect, nosy neighbors. Even when it became a little too much, I ate this shit right up in a few sittings. It was delicious 🤌🏼 If you’re new here, hi I’m Brooke & one of my favorite niche tropes is upper middle class neighborhood thrillers. Raise your hand if you’re also a fan of this trope 🙋🏼♀️ Maybe it’s not as niche as I think it is.
• When you first meet the three women the book is centered around, Aimee, Gwen, & Lisa, I instantly thought it was going to be one of those books where it’s the same old story: shitty people doing shitty things, but I actually found myself rooting hard & feeling empathetic for them, then became completely blindsided. 🤯 Those girlies sure had me fooled! I love not knowing who to trust. Keeps you on your toes.
• There was A LOT going on, my brain was spinning trying to keep up with all the lies & deceit. I pride myself on being able to guess most twists in thrillers, probably because I read so many of them, & I was able to guess a decent amount in this book. But that twist at the end? You know that feeling when you audibly gasp after reading something? 😮💨 I appreciate when a thriller can still surprise me & have that effect. Bravo, Aggie Blum Thompson.
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
❝𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚐, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚜. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗.❞
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧ ✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧ ✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧ ✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧ ✧⋄⋆⋅
❝𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔,
𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒕.❞ 🫖
June 16, 2025
4.5 Super quick to read, super entertaining and super twisty! Fantastic easy and an all round rich people drama good time 💸
April 10, 2025
Wow, this would have been a nice 4 star thriller until the last 5 minutes. The ending was just too hard to believe could unfold that way.
March 13, 2025
4 stars - Overall, a pretty decent domestic thriller about three couples in the D.C. suburbs. I did feel that the middle third suffered from some slowness and too much telling rather than showing, and the “real end” chapter was trying just a bit too hard to be “Meta” and clever, but overall I really enjoyed this one and it was a fairly quick read as well.
September 26, 2024
ARC for review. To be published March 11, 2025.
Ah, another day, another fair-to-middling thriller under my belt. Except no belt because it’s just turned noon and I’m still wearing my nightgown! It’s good times when you are retired and are living life as a leech on society!
Gwen, Aimee and Lisa are neighbors in their East Bethesda neighborhood and are also the closest of friends (kinda). They share everything, vacations, their secrets, the perils of motherhood and all they go through.
Then Gwen’s husband Anton is found murdered after the group’s regular Friday night dinner and their tight friendships begin to shatter as jealousies and suspicion arise as secrets are revealed about the women and their husbands.
So, the book is written as autofiction in that the “author” “recounts life in a fictionalized manner” and is part of the story. Actually I forgot all about this until the very end, so I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to figure out the secret.
Everyone one of these people has problems. I’m not sure why they are friends at all. And in some ways I feel like the author (the real author, not the “author” demonized Lisa a bit. Three way best friendships are hard to pull off (except for Betsy, Tacy and Tib….see that wonderful series for examples), one often feels left out. I can’t really fault her for that. For some other things, oh, yes, definitely, but I get that.
I figured out a lot of the twists fairly early and some of the prose was a bit overwrought for me. I don’t know, maybe I’m too judgmental. Oh, well.
Ah, another day, another fair-to-middling thriller under my belt. Except no belt because it’s just turned noon and I’m still wearing my nightgown! It’s good times when you are retired and are living life as a leech on society!
Gwen, Aimee and Lisa are neighbors in their East Bethesda neighborhood and are also the closest of friends (kinda). They share everything, vacations, their secrets, the perils of motherhood and all they go through.
Then Gwen’s husband Anton is found murdered after the group’s regular Friday night dinner and their tight friendships begin to shatter as jealousies and suspicion arise as secrets are revealed about the women and their husbands.
So, the book is written as autofiction in that the “author” “recounts life in a fictionalized manner” and is part of the story. Actually I forgot all about this until the very end, so I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to figure out the secret.
Everyone one of these people has problems. I’m not sure why they are friends at all. And in some ways I feel like the author (the real author, not the “author” demonized Lisa a bit. Three way best friendships are hard to pull off (except for Betsy, Tacy and Tib….see that wonderful series for examples), one often feels left out. I can’t really fault her for that. For some other things, oh, yes, definitely, but I get that.
I figured out a lot of the twists fairly early and some of the prose was a bit overwrought for me. I don’t know, maybe I’m too judgmental. Oh, well.
March 18, 2025
Meet amiable neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa.
When Gwen's husband is murdered, friendship veneers crack, infidelities are revealed, and a peaceful coexistance between three female friends/neighbors is no longer peaceful.
Unfortunately, after Gwen's husband's death, the book fizzled.
WHY?
* Waaay too many tangents and eye-rolling moments
* Uneven pacing
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Alex Picard.
Although Alex Picard did a superb job with the narration, since the book unfolded from the three POVs of Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa, having three narrators would have upped my star rating.
Frequently, it was hard to discern who was saying what.
2.5 stars.
April 19, 2025
I gave up 20 pages in and had to confirm that both the characters and author are adults due to inane fluff like this:
“Aimee was her best friend. Her FP - favorite person.”
“For the past two years it had been just Lisa and Marcus, Aimee and Scott - #SLAM. As in, let’s have some SLAM time this weekend. Or in the captions beneath the many posts on instagram and Facebook, #SLAM #SlammingGoodTime.”
“Aimee was her best friend. Her FP - favorite person.”
“For the past two years it had been just Lisa and Marcus, Aimee and Scott - #SLAM. As in, let’s have some SLAM time this weekend. Or in the captions beneath the many posts on instagram and Facebook, #SLAM #SlammingGoodTime.”
March 16, 2025
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
Oh, so close!!! 😭 Ah, I really was hoping for it to be a much more lucrative read; and well, till the halfway point, I really was rooting for it to reach a higher rating... 😔
I loved the twists; did not see any of them coming, totally caught me by surprise, loved how they then unfolded and turned the table for so many thoughts and expectations - very impressive. 👍🏻 It's alarming to believe that within a span of a week, the lives of three families with a typical suburban mom, stressed about balancing work and parenting are completely dismantled, with one decisive word whispered into one's ears, that ultimately does serve as the precedent of a rippling chain of events that spirals into so many unexpected reveals that you can't help but applaud the way the author kept the reader's attention. 🤌🏻
“Tonight was quiet,” Paola says quietly, as if to herself. “But things happen in the quiet, too.”
And she did have my attention; despite how I often glazed over the interference and arrival of certain family members, mainly Gwen's 'well-meaning' mother', I was gripped by Aimee's plight and how Gwen intended to confront certain assumptions, all the while knowing that Lisa existed in the shadows. 😟 It's murder and mischief and mystery and misery and dare I say it, manipulation that entwines their lives together and I was curious to see how it would play out.
It's funny how not all three women were likeable; each with their own personal problems, marital strife, and struggling views that had them either bitter, resentful, or just plain-out mean. 'Friend? Not best friend. Not even dear or close. Just friend.' 😥 Yet, it was compulsively addictive to keep going with how the author carefully built up each of their backgrounds to shed light on their personalities, which was enough to have the audience intrigued as to what steps each would take upon each discovery and each secret revealed.
“Because the more you dig, the deeper the hole gets. And we might fall in.”
The portrayal of the challenges in a newfound three-way friendship was believable. The jealousy, the uncertainty, as well as the doubt that creeps in of whether or not you're the topic of discussion or ridicule. We always want what we don’t have.' 🤨 It was also very easy to alternate through their perspectives and different timelines. The pacing was strong and I was really caught up in each event that occurred. The exclusion of Lisa's perspective in the present was an author's choice that I wasn't quite a fan of; but seeing how it eventually panned out, I do understand why it was done that way. 😐
However, for all that it kept me riveted, it was the final act that eventually put the nail in the coffin that decided its fate. I was not a fan of the ending; granted, considering how the story did start, it should not have caught me off-guard, but I realized something was amiss with how shady and quickly everything was wrapped, almost glossed over by the severity of it all. 'Doing nothing wasn’t an option.' That was my first unsatisfied feeling, followed by a conclusion that - did not meet my expectations, simply because we deserve to know how such an assumption was laid out, without any evidence suggesting otherwise. 😒🙎🏻♀️
It was a shot that came out of left field that I didn't see coming, and honestly, did not wish to catch. I would have preferred the more obvious take, rather than this subtle move, which I did not entirely buy into, especially since it was just shoved in our faces, that felt both undeserving and unnerving for lack of proof to it. If not for the actual ending, I think I would have been more than satisfied with what I had thought, rather than what eventually unfolded.
“When there are competing theories, the simplest one is most likely to be true.”
Oh, so close!!! 😭 Ah, I really was hoping for it to be a much more lucrative read; and well, till the halfway point, I really was rooting for it to reach a higher rating... 😔
I loved the twists; did not see any of them coming, totally caught me by surprise, loved how they then unfolded and turned the table for so many thoughts and expectations - very impressive. 👍🏻 It's alarming to believe that within a span of a week, the lives of three families with a typical suburban mom, stressed about balancing work and parenting are completely dismantled, with one decisive word whispered into one's ears, that ultimately does serve as the precedent of a rippling chain of events that spirals into so many unexpected reveals that you can't help but applaud the way the author kept the reader's attention. 🤌🏻
“Tonight was quiet,” Paola says quietly, as if to herself. “But things happen in the quiet, too.”
And she did have my attention; despite how I often glazed over the interference and arrival of certain family members, mainly Gwen's 'well-meaning' mother', I was gripped by Aimee's plight and how Gwen intended to confront certain assumptions, all the while knowing that Lisa existed in the shadows. 😟 It's murder and mischief and mystery and misery and dare I say it, manipulation that entwines their lives together and I was curious to see how it would play out.
It's funny how not all three women were likeable; each with their own personal problems, marital strife, and struggling views that had them either bitter, resentful, or just plain-out mean. 'Friend? Not best friend. Not even dear or close. Just friend.' 😥 Yet, it was compulsively addictive to keep going with how the author carefully built up each of their backgrounds to shed light on their personalities, which was enough to have the audience intrigued as to what steps each would take upon each discovery and each secret revealed.
“Because the more you dig, the deeper the hole gets. And we might fall in.”
The portrayal of the challenges in a newfound three-way friendship was believable. The jealousy, the uncertainty, as well as the doubt that creeps in of whether or not you're the topic of discussion or ridicule. We always want what we don’t have.' 🤨 It was also very easy to alternate through their perspectives and different timelines. The pacing was strong and I was really caught up in each event that occurred. The exclusion of Lisa's perspective in the present was an author's choice that I wasn't quite a fan of; but seeing how it eventually panned out, I do understand why it was done that way. 😐
However, for all that it kept me riveted, it was the final act that eventually put the nail in the coffin that decided its fate. I was not a fan of the ending; granted, considering how the story did start, it should not have caught me off-guard, but I realized something was amiss with how shady and quickly everything was wrapped, almost glossed over by the severity of it all. 'Doing nothing wasn’t an option.' That was my first unsatisfied feeling, followed by a conclusion that - did not meet my expectations, simply because we deserve to know how such an assumption was laid out, without any evidence suggesting otherwise. 😒🙎🏻♀️
It was a shot that came out of left field that I didn't see coming, and honestly, did not wish to catch. I would have preferred the more obvious take, rather than this subtle move, which I did not entirely buy into, especially since it was just shoved in our faces, that felt both undeserving and unnerving for lack of proof to it. If not for the actual ending, I think I would have been more than satisfied with what I had thought, rather than what eventually unfolded.
March 27, 2025
“You Deserve To Know”, by Aggie Blum Thompson
I kind of enjoyed this one, but my library only had the audiobook and just recently ordered the hardcover or paperback, which I’m on the waiting list for.
I do need to read the book, as just listening did not help me to follow the timeline structure. Also it was hard to identify the characters, as they practically sounded the same (at least to my ears).
Once I have read the physical book I will revisit this review and update it accordingly.
I thought the storyline was interesting and the twists were pretty surprising, but I couldn’t take a sense of the writing, except that it seemed a bit repetitive, perhaps because of the timeline.
As the reviews were amazing, I couldn’t wait for the book.
For now I will rate it 3 stars based on my listening experience (and not because the characters were unlikable - and who need friends like that?).
Audiobook narrated by Alex Picard: 9.9 hours (unabridged), at normal speed - 50 chapters
I kind of enjoyed this one, but my library only had the audiobook and just recently ordered the hardcover or paperback, which I’m on the waiting list for.
I do need to read the book, as just listening did not help me to follow the timeline structure. Also it was hard to identify the characters, as they practically sounded the same (at least to my ears).
Once I have read the physical book I will revisit this review and update it accordingly.
I thought the storyline was interesting and the twists were pretty surprising, but I couldn’t take a sense of the writing, except that it seemed a bit repetitive, perhaps because of the timeline.
As the reviews were amazing, I couldn’t wait for the book.
For now I will rate it 3 stars based on my listening experience (and not because the characters were unlikable - and who need friends like that?).
Audiobook narrated by Alex Picard: 9.9 hours (unabridged), at normal speed - 50 chapters
February 6, 2025
4.75 stars - got this ARC as a free gift with purchase at my local bookstore and I am so glad I did!
Review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2rKkxy3/
Review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2rKkxy3/
September 14, 2025
4.5 stars. Three couples living on a cul-de-sac in the suburbs of DC are the best of friends until one of them is murdered. Friendships are fractured as they are all caught in a web of lies, deceit and long-buried secrets. This was a multi-layered domestic thriller with several subplots and twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. Very well-written, with never a dull moment and an ending that surprised me. My first by this author but I'll definitely be reading more.
May 26, 2025
this was a crazy read, a suburban thriller with some intense characters and an unreliable narrator, this leaves your head actually spinning! every time i thought i predicted something correctly there would be another plot twist. very fun read, keeps you guessing the whole time
October 26, 2025
So much drama but honestly, I had a lot of fun reading this thriller. A good, entertaining, in between read.
June 26, 2025
I wish I had not deserved to know.
July 7, 2025
I don’t have kids, a Range Rover, or a group chat filled with wine moms named Aimee, but BOY do I eat up suburban secrets like it’s my job. You Deserve to Know” had me fully invested in rich people problems I do not relate to at all—and I loved every messy, suspicious minute of it.
Honestly? I was vibing,not mind-blown…and then the epilogue came in like a sneaky little freak and flipped the whole damn story on its head & has you recontextualizing everything... (think The Inmateby Freida McFadden levels of “wait, WHAT?”) I gasped. I cackled. I immediately wanted to re-read the whole thing with new eyes. If you love a slow burn with a final gut punch, don’t sleep on this one.
Justice for nosy outsiders who love fictional drama.
Honestly? I was vibing,not mind-blown…and then the epilogue came in like a sneaky little freak and flipped the whole damn story on its head & has you recontextualizing everything... (think The Inmateby Freida McFadden levels of “wait, WHAT?”) I gasped. I cackled. I immediately wanted to re-read the whole thing with new eyes. If you love a slow burn with a final gut punch, don’t sleep on this one.
Justice for nosy outsiders who love fictional drama.
November 25, 2025
twisty, unexpected, and kept my interest the entire time!
March 6, 2025
If you are in the mood for a popcorn thriller give YOU DESERVE TO KNOW a try. Three families live on the same street in a DC suburb and frequently socialize with each other. When one of the husbands is murdered it shakes things up quite a bit. Given it’s a domestic thriller, you can bet secrets and lies are about to be uncovered.
I’ve read 4 books by this author and this one rank up there and has the best ending of the bunch. There’s a nice mix of things playing out in a predictable manner but then something happens that throws you for a loop. So basically sit back and let the craziness unfold. It’s a wilder ride than I initially anticipated.
Recommend if you are a fan of the genre.
I won a free advance copy in a giveaway by Forge Books. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
I’ve read 4 books by this author and this one rank up there and has the best ending of the bunch. There’s a nice mix of things playing out in a predictable manner but then something happens that throws you for a loop. So basically sit back and let the craziness unfold. It’s a wilder ride than I initially anticipated.
Recommend if you are a fan of the genre.
I won a free advance copy in a giveaway by Forge Books. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
November 25, 2025
~3.5~
We deserved a better ending, that's for sure. The Big Twist in the epilogue nulled everything that came before and turned the narrative on its head.
Maybe I should have seen it coming, considering the prologue, but after a while the initial chat with the "guest" became irrelevant. I was expecting chapters scattered throughout that continued the interview. That would have made the twist less shocking but more believable.
I disliked all the characters, including Aimee's klepto of a daughter (Aimee's "gentle parenting" was a joke). Granted, the kid stealing things was a plot device, since she always seemed to take just the right thing.
The three couples had six children among them, but only the daughter was given a personality (meager as it was); the other kids faded into the background.
Despite my antipathy toward the ending, this story was a firecracker - infidelity, murder, deception. The mysteries surrounding Anton's murder and Scott's shady behavior were well done.
We deserved a better ending, that's for sure. The Big Twist in the epilogue nulled everything that came before and turned the narrative on its head.
Maybe I should have seen it coming, considering the prologue, but after a while the initial chat with the "guest" became irrelevant. I was expecting chapters scattered throughout that continued the interview. That would have made the twist less shocking but more believable.
I disliked all the characters, including Aimee's klepto of a daughter (Aimee's "gentle parenting" was a joke). Granted, the kid stealing things was a plot device, since she always seemed to take just the right thing.
The three couples had six children among them, but only the daughter was given a personality (meager as it was); the other kids faded into the background.
Despite my antipathy toward the ending, this story was a firecracker - infidelity, murder, deception. The mysteries surrounding Anton's murder and Scott's shady behavior were well done.
April 30, 2025
In the abundance of domestic thrillers, this stood out. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing, along with characters to love and hate. I'll be looking for more by this author.
June 29, 2025
4/5 ⭐️ This was so much better than I was expecting! I love domestic thrillers and this one definitely delivered on those vibes. I was very entertained throughout the entire book 👍🏻. I did wish that the ending wasn’t so abrupt though.
February 11, 2025
I love a juicy suburban domestic thriller and I love it even more when it’s set in a ritzy neighborhood. There’s something about seeing behind closed doors that appeals to my nosy side and there were so many secrets in the cul de sac that these families lived on. This follows three couples, Aimee and Scott, Gwen and Anton and Lisa and Marcus and these six do everything together. With so many characters there were a lot of subplots besides the main murder mystery, but they were laid out clearly and I was never confused. Each character had distinct characteristics to make them easy to distinguish and while many of them were terrible, a couple weren’t so there were people to root for still. Besides, I enjoy reading about messy rich people with horrible habits so this was fun. While there were lots of twists and turns along the way the ending was the best part for me, a really solid and shocking final few pages. Definitely recommended if you like domestic thrillers with dark secrets and betrayals.
May 12, 2025
I’m a longtime fan of Aggie Blum Thompson’s domestic suspense stories but this one seemed very far fetched. It had a soap opera feel and seemed over the top. It definitely picked up in the second half but wasn’t anything earth shattering. My thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the gifted copy.
May 15, 2025
I did not love the end. Unnecessarily complicated.
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