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We're Not Us Without You
Four friends. One secret. And the cult that could burn them all.
High school friends Lani, Tinker, Maya and Stig were inseparable until an unthinkable act shook the group. Now in their thirties, three of the friends are still close while Stig has disappeared completely, unable to face what happened in high school. With Lani’s wedding fast approaching, she is determined to bring the group back together. This leads them to a spiritual retreat where Stig has been living off-the-grid, and to Stig’s enigmatic partner – or leader – Acharya.
Is it too late to save Stig from himself? And will bringing him back into the fold threaten the silence that has been keeping them safe all these years?
PRAISE FOR WE’RE NOT US WITHOUT YOU
‘A darkly compelling and addictive drama about the ties of friendship and the dangers of blind belief.’ – Christine Gregory, author of The Community
High school friends Lani, Tinker, Maya and Stig were inseparable until an unthinkable act shook the group. Now in their thirties, three of the friends are still close while Stig has disappeared completely, unable to face what happened in high school. With Lani’s wedding fast approaching, she is determined to bring the group back together. This leads them to a spiritual retreat where Stig has been living off-the-grid, and to Stig’s enigmatic partner – or leader – Acharya.
Is it too late to save Stig from himself? And will bringing him back into the fold threaten the silence that has been keeping them safe all these years?
PRAISE FOR WE’RE NOT US WITHOUT YOU
‘A darkly compelling and addictive drama about the ties of friendship and the dangers of blind belief.’ – Christine Gregory, author of The Community
Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 12, 2025
One of the more forgettable books I’ve read – the kind that I will have entirely forgotten about in a week.
The plot follows high school friends Lani, Tinker, Maya and Stig – now in their late thirties. While three of them have remained close over the years, Stig disappeared from their lives, unable to deal with traumatic events from high school. Lani’s upcoming wedding reunites them, and ultimately brings them to visit the spiritual retreat where Stig has been living with “leader,” Acharya.
Cue the sinister vibes.
This has a distinct YA feel – nothing wrong with that genre, but I wasn’t expecting it. I later discovered the author has published over thirty novels for YA and children. It explained a lot. I found it hard to believe most of the characters were thirty-seven. One character, Tinker, summed up everything.
“I think, in some ways, I’m a bit, I don’t know, immature I guess…”
We’re Not Us Without You was slow to grab me – much of the first section was backstory. It’s a dialogue-heavy read, reliant on conversations dropping information on each person and their past – it didn’t feel authentic. I don’t know what it says that my favourite character was a goat named Gertrude.
There’s barely time to paint a picture in your mind because descriptions are fleeting – such is the emphasis on dialogue. It’s frustrating, because the author clearly has the skills to deliver beautiful prose.
“Giant gum trees and wattles were dotted around the vast space. A mob of kangaroos dozed on the hill above the dam and two kookaburras laughed their way into the day.”
The writing merely exists to serve the plot, with no distinct voice of its own. There was barely anything that made me pause for thought, or want to jot down a remarkable quote – the definition of serviceable, and nothing more.
The spiritual retreat, Soul Haven, appeared cartoonish, and with the author throwing every cliché at us, it began resembling a Lifetime movie or episode of Home and Away. Such media certainly has its own place and value, but it’s not my cup of tea.
“Maya thought she saw the detective roll his eyes.”
Yeah, he wasn’t the only one.
Thankfully, it was a quick read with short chapters that didn’t require too much brain power. Those wanting such a book, with a neat ending, might find this more enjoyable than I did.
Unfortunately, I’ll only remember this as depressing and melodramatic – for about five minutes, before moving onto my next read.
Many thanks to Ultimo Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The plot follows high school friends Lani, Tinker, Maya and Stig – now in their late thirties. While three of them have remained close over the years, Stig disappeared from their lives, unable to deal with traumatic events from high school. Lani’s upcoming wedding reunites them, and ultimately brings them to visit the spiritual retreat where Stig has been living with “leader,” Acharya.
Cue the sinister vibes.
This has a distinct YA feel – nothing wrong with that genre, but I wasn’t expecting it. I later discovered the author has published over thirty novels for YA and children. It explained a lot. I found it hard to believe most of the characters were thirty-seven. One character, Tinker, summed up everything.
“I think, in some ways, I’m a bit, I don’t know, immature I guess…”
We’re Not Us Without You was slow to grab me – much of the first section was backstory. It’s a dialogue-heavy read, reliant on conversations dropping information on each person and their past – it didn’t feel authentic. I don’t know what it says that my favourite character was a goat named Gertrude.
There’s barely time to paint a picture in your mind because descriptions are fleeting – such is the emphasis on dialogue. It’s frustrating, because the author clearly has the skills to deliver beautiful prose.
“Giant gum trees and wattles were dotted around the vast space. A mob of kangaroos dozed on the hill above the dam and two kookaburras laughed their way into the day.”
The writing merely exists to serve the plot, with no distinct voice of its own. There was barely anything that made me pause for thought, or want to jot down a remarkable quote – the definition of serviceable, and nothing more.
The spiritual retreat, Soul Haven, appeared cartoonish, and with the author throwing every cliché at us, it began resembling a Lifetime movie or episode of Home and Away. Such media certainly has its own place and value, but it’s not my cup of tea.
“Maya thought she saw the detective roll his eyes.”
Yeah, he wasn’t the only one.
Thankfully, it was a quick read with short chapters that didn’t require too much brain power. Those wanting such a book, with a neat ending, might find this more enjoyable than I did.
Unfortunately, I’ll only remember this as depressing and melodramatic – for about five minutes, before moving onto my next read.
Many thanks to Ultimo Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2025
Cults always fascinate me. I’ve read many fictional stories on this theme, as well as an excellent nonfiction title. The leader in this one, turn coat Acharya was all things creepy, venomous and simply evil. I found the book to be quite slow burn for the first half, finding myself wanting it to really pick up, but did feel more satisfied in the second half.
The strong feelings I had for the cult leader was the best part, my feelings building, the indignation and seeing the easy way the weak followers fell under her spell. It’s always clear the greed and power is what gets these people off, and this particular leader had revenge and payback on her radar for some poor people in her past. I did find it hard to push through at times, but the venom and malice component balanced this.
With my thanks to the all at Ultimo for my review copy.
The strong feelings I had for the cult leader was the best part, my feelings building, the indignation and seeing the easy way the weak followers fell under her spell. It’s always clear the greed and power is what gets these people off, and this particular leader had revenge and payback on her radar for some poor people in her past. I did find it hard to push through at times, but the venom and malice component balanced this.
With my thanks to the all at Ultimo for my review copy.
May 25, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ another fantastic Australian crime thriller that had me hooked from the start to the end.
This is a story of that unbreakable bond that friends have throughout the years. From high school to 30 years later, these 4 friends have been through so much and it is all about to turn even uglier. If you love a cult story the this is a book for you. I was completely lost in this story, the way this cult got a hold on people and made them believe that it was what was best for them.
I read this book in a day, unable to put it down.
Thank you to Ultimo Press for my copy to read. Out now.
This is a story of that unbreakable bond that friends have throughout the years. From high school to 30 years later, these 4 friends have been through so much and it is all about to turn even uglier. If you love a cult story the this is a book for you. I was completely lost in this story, the way this cult got a hold on people and made them believe that it was what was best for them.
I read this book in a day, unable to put it down.
Thank you to Ultimo Press for my copy to read. Out now.
May 11, 2025
I read We're Not Us Without You by Christine Keighery in one sitting so it certainly kept me intrigued and it's paced in a way that keeps you turning the pages. I ended up a little disappointed however as ultimately it felt predictable given where I assumed it was headed was indeed how things played out. I suspect part of my antipathy is because I've read a number of similar books which offer a little more complexity - more layers when dealing with cults or communes, their leaders and their motivation.
Keighery has to be congratulated for not shying away from unhappy endings, as there are several tragedies unfolding here. I also liked the twist part-way through the book when we get a bit more information about Soul Haven's leader, Acharya. On many levels she, and some others living at the retreat were caricatures, or perhaps archetypes... very much what gives communities such as these a bad name. But I appreciated the connection we're offered here, not to mention that long festering motivation.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Keighery has to be congratulated for not shying away from unhappy endings, as there are several tragedies unfolding here. I also liked the twist part-way through the book when we get a bit more information about Soul Haven's leader, Acharya. On many levels she, and some others living at the retreat were caricatures, or perhaps archetypes... very much what gives communities such as these a bad name. But I appreciated the connection we're offered here, not to mention that long festering motivation.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
May 10, 2025
This book took me forever to read, despite there being short chapters that I moved quickly through when I actually sat down to read it.
What does that mean? Basically, I wasn’t that into it.
Despite the storyline involving a death, friendships, and a cult. Say what? Sadly, it’s true.
There was a lot of backstory initially. When we were in the here and now, there was no change of pace and no gathering of momentum. We also knew, pretty much where this was going from about half way through.
It wasn’t intriguing, suspenseful or engaging and sadly was a tad disappointing. The ‘darkness’ seemed a little cliched and unnatural and the characters didn’t endear themselves at all.
Thanks to the publisher for my copy.
What does that mean? Basically, I wasn’t that into it.
Despite the storyline involving a death, friendships, and a cult. Say what? Sadly, it’s true.
There was a lot of backstory initially. When we were in the here and now, there was no change of pace and no gathering of momentum. We also knew, pretty much where this was going from about half way through.
It wasn’t intriguing, suspenseful or engaging and sadly was a tad disappointing. The ‘darkness’ seemed a little cliched and unnatural and the characters didn’t endear themselves at all.
Thanks to the publisher for my copy.
April 29, 2025
“Friendship is our religion”
This was such an intriguing read, it hooked me in straightaway and I read it in 2 sittings! The complex characters added a layer of suspense which kept the story flowing at a solid pace.
An Australian story about friendship, belonging and faith
Four high school friends, Maya, Tinker, Lana and Stig are inseparable. All uniquely individual, their friendship is something special and very important to all of them
But when a horrible incident seperate Stig from the group, Tinker, Maya and Lana never speak of what occurred
Now, 30 years later. Maya is happily married with 14 years old twins, Luke and Sophia, Lana is about to marry her girlfriend Bridget and Tinker is still as loyal as ever to his friends
By pure coincidence, Lana runs into Stig out of the blue and invites him to the wedding. There has been rumours of where Stig has been living but none of them have seen him over the years
As Stig becomes reacquainted with his old friends he starts to open up about Soul Haven, a community he has been apart of that has truly transformed his life
Maya is buying any of it, Lana just wants her friends back and Tinker is intrigued by this different way of living
What follows is a page turning mystery drama, with a suspenseful conclusion
.
Thank you so much Ultimopress for my gifted copy to review. This has no way influenced my review
This was such an intriguing read, it hooked me in straightaway and I read it in 2 sittings! The complex characters added a layer of suspense which kept the story flowing at a solid pace.
An Australian story about friendship, belonging and faith
Four high school friends, Maya, Tinker, Lana and Stig are inseparable. All uniquely individual, their friendship is something special and very important to all of them
But when a horrible incident seperate Stig from the group, Tinker, Maya and Lana never speak of what occurred
Now, 30 years later. Maya is happily married with 14 years old twins, Luke and Sophia, Lana is about to marry her girlfriend Bridget and Tinker is still as loyal as ever to his friends
By pure coincidence, Lana runs into Stig out of the blue and invites him to the wedding. There has been rumours of where Stig has been living but none of them have seen him over the years
As Stig becomes reacquainted with his old friends he starts to open up about Soul Haven, a community he has been apart of that has truly transformed his life
Maya is buying any of it, Lana just wants her friends back and Tinker is intrigued by this different way of living
What follows is a page turning mystery drama, with a suspenseful conclusion
.
Thank you so much Ultimopress for my gifted copy to review. This has no way influenced my review
June 9, 2025
An absorbing and compulsively readable mystery/crime novel centred around a dark secret, the lure of a cult that promises voodoo magic, belonging and agency, intense childhood friendships that survive into adulthood, and revenge-as-long-game. Beautifully paced and filled with authentic dialogue and an intriguing cast of characters, 'We're not us without you' is even darker, more fast paced and more cinematic in scale than Keighery's stunning crime debut, 'The Half Brother'. Will be racing out to get her next novels, too.
May 9, 2025
With dark and moody vibes, I found this novel to be a slow burn and thought provoking read. It is a story of friendship, trust and secrets, and has enough suspense to keep you wondering throughout.
At just under 300 pages, We're Not Us Without You is a quick and easy read with short chapters and plenty of intrigue that'll keep you turning those pages.
Thank you to Ultimo Press and Christine Keighery for a copy of this book to read and review. It's out now!
At just under 300 pages, We're Not Us Without You is a quick and easy read with short chapters and plenty of intrigue that'll keep you turning those pages.
Thank you to Ultimo Press and Christine Keighery for a copy of this book to read and review. It's out now!
August 19, 2025
I started this book as a whim but I was so enamoured with it. It was a slow burn without it being overtly depressing. So good.
October 10, 2025
Big thanks to Ultimo Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
Christine Keighery’s second release is a cool crime thriller.
A wild ride of emotions, mystery, faith and the bonds of friendship.
Four friends and the secret they have kept hidden.
Lani, Tinker, Maya and Stig were a foursome in high school.
A connection that was unbreakable until it wasn’t.
Now decades later, three are still friends but Stig disappeared unable to deal with what happened.
With Lani’s wedding approaching, she wants to reunite them all.
Stig has been living in seclusion in a religious retreat.
Will what’s gone on in the past surface in the present……
A moody, dark and mysterious easy read that’s easily devoured in a sitting.
Fast paced, a little suspense and intrigue with lots of drama and feelings.
This has been getting mixed reviews so if you’re interested make up your own mind.
Christine Keighery’s second release is a cool crime thriller.
A wild ride of emotions, mystery, faith and the bonds of friendship.
Four friends and the secret they have kept hidden.
Lani, Tinker, Maya and Stig were a foursome in high school.
A connection that was unbreakable until it wasn’t.
Now decades later, three are still friends but Stig disappeared unable to deal with what happened.
With Lani’s wedding approaching, she wants to reunite them all.
Stig has been living in seclusion in a religious retreat.
Will what’s gone on in the past surface in the present……
A moody, dark and mysterious easy read that’s easily devoured in a sitting.
Fast paced, a little suspense and intrigue with lots of drama and feelings.
This has been getting mixed reviews so if you’re interested make up your own mind.
April 25, 2025
A little slow to start, mainly because we are being fed the back story, setting up who the characters are, what their lives look like and what motivates them. The world building is hectic in the first 50 pages, but by the time the plot twists, you're grateful for the info-dump.
This book gives you an odd feeling. The feeling that something isn't quite right, yet you can't be sure of which element is off. You immediately want to believe it's Acharya and her community that isn't right, that she it taking money from people and taking advantage of their trust and situations. But the further you read, you realise each character isn't showing their true selves. They are all unreliable narrator's of their own lives. Which is poignant.
Towards the end, it does feel a little obvious what is happening, you can see why things happened the way they did. But for me, the way peoples trust, trauma and lot in life, are taken advantage of, is the main horror story here. Who we are can be manipulated so expertly when we are at our lowest points and that there are people waiting to prey on those moments.
Christine Keighery has written this expertly.
We're Not Us Without You is publishing 29th April, 2025. A shorter (less than 300 pages) psychological thriller that is easy to read and thought provoking.
Thankyou to Ultimo for sending a review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book gives you an odd feeling. The feeling that something isn't quite right, yet you can't be sure of which element is off. You immediately want to believe it's Acharya and her community that isn't right, that she it taking money from people and taking advantage of their trust and situations. But the further you read, you realise each character isn't showing their true selves. They are all unreliable narrator's of their own lives. Which is poignant.
Towards the end, it does feel a little obvious what is happening, you can see why things happened the way they did. But for me, the way peoples trust, trauma and lot in life, are taken advantage of, is the main horror story here. Who we are can be manipulated so expertly when we are at our lowest points and that there are people waiting to prey on those moments.
Christine Keighery has written this expertly.
We're Not Us Without You is publishing 29th April, 2025. A shorter (less than 300 pages) psychological thriller that is easy to read and thought provoking.
Thankyou to Ultimo for sending a review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 6, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Moody, Cult Energy, Slow Burn
- - -
Firstly can we just take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book. Creepy, moody and totally sets the tone for this sinister thriller.
This was my first read from Christine Keighery and I was impressed by her gripping, atmospheric writing. She introduced a wide cast of characters and back stories early, which laid a solid foundation but did make things a little tricky to track at the start.
As the story unfolded, it dipped into psychological thriller territory with definite cult like undertones, giving vibes similar to In The Clearing by JP Pomare. Themes of trust, trauma and regret are explored in subtle but effective ways throughout the book.
While it’s in the thriller genre, it’s more of a slow burn. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat as much as I’d normally like and it felt like this book could be more suited to a slightly younger audience. If you like thrillers that are more slow burn psychological rather than fast and furious, this could be a solid choice.
A big thank you to Ultimo Press for the sneak peek of this new release.
Vibes: Moody, Cult Energy, Slow Burn
- - -
Firstly can we just take a moment to appreciate the cover of this book. Creepy, moody and totally sets the tone for this sinister thriller.
This was my first read from Christine Keighery and I was impressed by her gripping, atmospheric writing. She introduced a wide cast of characters and back stories early, which laid a solid foundation but did make things a little tricky to track at the start.
As the story unfolded, it dipped into psychological thriller territory with definite cult like undertones, giving vibes similar to In The Clearing by JP Pomare. Themes of trust, trauma and regret are explored in subtle but effective ways throughout the book.
While it’s in the thriller genre, it’s more of a slow burn. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat as much as I’d normally like and it felt like this book could be more suited to a slightly younger audience. If you like thrillers that are more slow burn psychological rather than fast and furious, this could be a solid choice.
A big thank you to Ultimo Press for the sneak peek of this new release.
June 8, 2025
Lani, Tinker, Maya, and Stig had a solid friendship during high school until one incident forced Stig to be sent away.
Twenty years later, in their thirties, as Lani is about to get married, she's keen to bring Stig back into their circle.
Stig is a better person now, living off the grid in a spiritual retreat led by Acharya.
After their reunion at Lani's wedding, they go together to visit Stig's new life at Soul Haven, though Maya is worrying that it'll open the past that they had kept secret from Stig.
Though it's lack of suspense, it's still a good easy read with all those short chapters.
It got more interesting once the story focused on Soul Haven - as it's not just a spiritual place. Something dark is happening there. This book has a story about friendship, revenge, and cult.
Twenty years later, in their thirties, as Lani is about to get married, she's keen to bring Stig back into their circle.
Stig is a better person now, living off the grid in a spiritual retreat led by Acharya.
After their reunion at Lani's wedding, they go together to visit Stig's new life at Soul Haven, though Maya is worrying that it'll open the past that they had kept secret from Stig.
Though it's lack of suspense, it's still a good easy read with all those short chapters.
It got more interesting once the story focused on Soul Haven - as it's not just a spiritual place. Something dark is happening there. This book has a story about friendship, revenge, and cult.
May 28, 2025
First, a cover of a book can tell a lot about a story. In this case, an upside down fire image and church like window with a cross visible in the frame set on a black background represents darkness /evil and in this case— an inverted faith that burns/betrays its followers. Thus the mention of The Handmaid’s Tale at the start was extremely appropriate for the story that followed.
We’re Not Us Without You by Christine Keighery is an intriguing informative read that demonstrates the hazards of cult practices. But the true religion for these four characters is their friendship which certainly gets tested in the fiery trials. This chilling plot with death, portrayal, deception and revenge contains plenty of twists, turns and surprises. Its tightly controlled narrative held me captive to the end while the mysteries unravelled. And it is not a pretty picture of what becomes known. Yet, as the friendships of four individuals morph, change and at times recoil, the final chapters bring an appropriate resolution. And I would say even a positive one as far as justice is concerned, for the tragic threads come together during the final countdown.
Stig, Tinker, Maya and Lani are life-long friends. Each have an interesting story to tell of their experience with Acharya, the cult leader who could be classified easily as a witch and she is described as such with her desire to be worshiped, demand of excessive loyalty, control and isolation of followers and emotional manipulation. Her persuasive acts of kindness and charismatic teaching give an appearance of something she is not. She feeds her deceived followers an ideology that is dangerous for it is a perverted version of the truth. Seemingly sympathetic and caring of others, she lulls believers into her web of deceit by providing a false sense of security and acceptance. All the while gaining more control over their finances. Through the four friends encounters with her, we learn she is opposite to the image she has created. And those who have trusted her, receive a shock revelation, when the scales fall off their eyes.
I particularly enjoyed getting to know Lani and Maya. They stood on opposites in their beliefs of God and Christianity. Maya’s belief that ‘faith is a beacon in a dark world’ is true to her character. Whereas at Lani’s wedding, ‘no god, Christian or otherwise should be mentioned’ shows where she stands. My heart hurt for these two when negative events transpire that involve their children. Maya’s love and concern for Sophia’s safety certainly is relatable. And this fourteen year old played an impressive part in seeing justice served. I admired Lani’s keen eye for picking out a sham and loved that she was feisty and fought back. Her family called her precocious! I enjoyed all the literary religious references.
Tinker and Stig’s involvement with the cult initially was most alarming until everything becomes shaken down and the lead up to the conclusion brings about much change and retribution. These two have quite a tale to tell!
We’re Not Us Without You exposes some complicated and startling topics. Well written, compelling and memorable, it delivers shocking secrets, lasting friendships and blind beliefs— making it a most intriguing study of human behaviour in how the desperate desire for belonging can lead to dangerous paths. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Ultimo Press for a review copy.
We’re Not Us Without You by Christine Keighery is an intriguing informative read that demonstrates the hazards of cult practices. But the true religion for these four characters is their friendship which certainly gets tested in the fiery trials. This chilling plot with death, portrayal, deception and revenge contains plenty of twists, turns and surprises. Its tightly controlled narrative held me captive to the end while the mysteries unravelled. And it is not a pretty picture of what becomes known. Yet, as the friendships of four individuals morph, change and at times recoil, the final chapters bring an appropriate resolution. And I would say even a positive one as far as justice is concerned, for the tragic threads come together during the final countdown.
Stig, Tinker, Maya and Lani are life-long friends. Each have an interesting story to tell of their experience with Acharya, the cult leader who could be classified easily as a witch and she is described as such with her desire to be worshiped, demand of excessive loyalty, control and isolation of followers and emotional manipulation. Her persuasive acts of kindness and charismatic teaching give an appearance of something she is not. She feeds her deceived followers an ideology that is dangerous for it is a perverted version of the truth. Seemingly sympathetic and caring of others, she lulls believers into her web of deceit by providing a false sense of security and acceptance. All the while gaining more control over their finances. Through the four friends encounters with her, we learn she is opposite to the image she has created. And those who have trusted her, receive a shock revelation, when the scales fall off their eyes.
I particularly enjoyed getting to know Lani and Maya. They stood on opposites in their beliefs of God and Christianity. Maya’s belief that ‘faith is a beacon in a dark world’ is true to her character. Whereas at Lani’s wedding, ‘no god, Christian or otherwise should be mentioned’ shows where she stands. My heart hurt for these two when negative events transpire that involve their children. Maya’s love and concern for Sophia’s safety certainly is relatable. And this fourteen year old played an impressive part in seeing justice served. I admired Lani’s keen eye for picking out a sham and loved that she was feisty and fought back. Her family called her precocious! I enjoyed all the literary religious references.
Tinker and Stig’s involvement with the cult initially was most alarming until everything becomes shaken down and the lead up to the conclusion brings about much change and retribution. These two have quite a tale to tell!
We’re Not Us Without You exposes some complicated and startling topics. Well written, compelling and memorable, it delivers shocking secrets, lasting friendships and blind beliefs— making it a most intriguing study of human behaviour in how the desperate desire for belonging can lead to dangerous paths. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Ultimo Press for a review copy.
May 10, 2025
.....📚 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 📚.....
We're Not Us Without You by Christine Keighery is a popcorn thriller with the catchy tag line "Four friends. One secret. And the cult that could burn them all."
Four high school friends Lani, Tinker, Maya, and Stig were inseparable until an unthinkable act shook the group. When the Catholic school they all attend expels Stig, the other three set out to prove his innocence. But when another student dies, Stig can not face what has happened. Now in their thirties, three of the friends are still close while Stig has disappeared completely, losing himself in drugs. After a chance encounter with a sober Stig, and with her wedding fast approaching, Lani decides it is time to bring the group back together. This leads them to a spiritual retreat where Stig has been living off-the-grid, and to Stig’s enigmatic partner – or leader – Acharya.
Lani, Tinker, and Maya find themselves confronted with their past, and find that the repercussions from high school now put their loved ones in danger. Is it too late to save Stig from himself? Will bringing him back into the fold threaten the silence that has been keeping them safe all these years?
This was just the kind of entertaining thriller I needed right now. After a few false start books this month, this one was easy to read and not too heavy. The characters felt younger than they were supposed to be, but this didn't detract too much from the overall story, and I do like a creepy cult. More moody than fast-paced, this was a good book if you didn't want something complex or heavy.
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Thank you to @ultimopress for my copy in exchange for my honest review.
We're Not Us Without You by Christine Keighery is a popcorn thriller with the catchy tag line "Four friends. One secret. And the cult that could burn them all."
Four high school friends Lani, Tinker, Maya, and Stig were inseparable until an unthinkable act shook the group. When the Catholic school they all attend expels Stig, the other three set out to prove his innocence. But when another student dies, Stig can not face what has happened. Now in their thirties, three of the friends are still close while Stig has disappeared completely, losing himself in drugs. After a chance encounter with a sober Stig, and with her wedding fast approaching, Lani decides it is time to bring the group back together. This leads them to a spiritual retreat where Stig has been living off-the-grid, and to Stig’s enigmatic partner – or leader – Acharya.
Lani, Tinker, and Maya find themselves confronted with their past, and find that the repercussions from high school now put their loved ones in danger. Is it too late to save Stig from himself? Will bringing him back into the fold threaten the silence that has been keeping them safe all these years?
This was just the kind of entertaining thriller I needed right now. After a few false start books this month, this one was easy to read and not too heavy. The characters felt younger than they were supposed to be, but this didn't detract too much from the overall story, and I do like a creepy cult. More moody than fast-paced, this was a good book if you didn't want something complex or heavy.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you to @ultimopress for my copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 10, 2025
Thrillers and crime novels are usually not my go to but a friend gave me this book and I was hooked. I particularly loved the way the plot developed with the central group of characters; friends from high school; taking unexpected tangents in their response to the challenging situations they found themselves in (not wanting to give too much away here!). I was a bit skeptical about the cult aspect of the book thinking it may be overblown but the mix of personal discovery, self reliant community building and a chilling dose of manipulative narcissism rooted the cult very much in the here and now. Great momentum in the narrative leads to a page turning experience which doesn't result in all the threads being tied up on the last page which is often the case with thrillers. I read it in one sitting and reckon it is the perfect candidate for a mini-series. Five Stars.
August 28, 2025
This was an ok, light read, finished in a day pretty much. It read to me more like a YA book for late teens, rather than a fully adult novel. The teen and adult foursome are quite well drawn as are there parents, though the cultish leader does seem quite ready for a scary film role!
April 20, 2025
I read this book in two days! Totally compelling reading.
May 28, 2025
2.5 rounded up.
June 17, 2025
Perhaps 2.5
August 5, 2025
an enjoyable thriller.
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