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Coasted: A gripping psychological thriller with twists
In the silent embrace of coastal Maine, a family seeks solace from the echoes of their past. But as the ocean whispers its secrets, new challenges arise.
Coasted follows Rachelle and Elliot as they navigate the turbulent waters of heartbreak and hope. Fleeing from a life marked by trauma, they find hidden agendas and unspoken truths that threaten to unravel their fragile progress. they find allies in unexpected places and confront adversaries hidden in plain sight.
Coasted is a thrilling tale of resilience, redemption, and the complex tapestry of human nature. Venture beyond the shores and discover a story where hope floats, healing waits, and the strength of family transcends even the darkest of shadows.
Coasted is the sequel to Stalked.
Praise for Coasted (Book 2) from Goodreads
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"WOW!!! I thought the first book in this series "Stalked" was an absolutely incredible book, and I was thinking after that conclusion, how can a sequel come from that and beat it, but JC Ward certainly succeeded in doing just that with "Coasted" She obviously had a plot planned out, and gosh, what a plot.
Rachelle and Elliott flee the turbulent and traumatic life in their hometown in Ohio to follow Stephanie, Garry and Macie to start a new life in coastal Maine, a beautiful spot on the beach.
Everything seems perfect, too perfect, and soon something seems to be off, tensions and suspicions grow and cracks appear in the relationships. Is there a future for Rachelle and Elliott what with the good-looking Owen on the scene?
I was drawn in and soon gripped by this addictive, nail-biting suspenseful and fast-paced thriller, full of unexpected twists and turns, Coasted is incredibly intense.
I was kept guessing throughout and had no clue how this was going to pan out, who was bad, who was good and who was to come out on top.
This is a must-read book that will keep you teetering on the edge. I very highly recommend it, after reading Stalked first of course."
Praise for Stalked (Book 1) from Amazon reviewers:
"A thrilling, suspenseful ride from start to finish! Stalked is an impressively suspenseful debut, and one of the best thrillers I've read in the past few years. The writing is thoughtfully crafted with poetic imagery and details that make you think you are being stalked in the cornfield yourself.
Better writing than most thrillers out there, I couldn't put Stalked down. A fast, super-engaging read. I can't wait for the sequel and more books from J.C. Ward."
"Stalked is told through multiple POVs and follows Rachelle as she returns to her rural hometown in Ohio after her mother suffers an unexplained injury. Surrounded by isolation and endless cornfields, an unease settles in quickly as cryptic messages begin to appear, small unsettling moments start to stack up, and nothing feels entirely accidental.
The story unfolds at a measured pace, taking time to build atmosphere and tension before quickly pulling you in. Once things start to escalate, I found myself flying through the pages, completely invested and needing answers.
Rachelle is a character I really loved. Her vulnerability feels honest and real, yet she has a quiet strength that makes her easy to root for. Elliot, the reserved neighbor with a complicated past, adds emotional depth and an undercurrent of suspicion that kept me questioning his intentions.
Coasted follows Rachelle and Elliot as they navigate the turbulent waters of heartbreak and hope. Fleeing from a life marked by trauma, they find hidden agendas and unspoken truths that threaten to unravel their fragile progress. they find allies in unexpected places and confront adversaries hidden in plain sight.
Coasted is a thrilling tale of resilience, redemption, and the complex tapestry of human nature. Venture beyond the shores and discover a story where hope floats, healing waits, and the strength of family transcends even the darkest of shadows.
Coasted is the sequel to Stalked.
Praise for Coasted (Book 2) from Goodreads
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"WOW!!! I thought the first book in this series "Stalked" was an absolutely incredible book, and I was thinking after that conclusion, how can a sequel come from that and beat it, but JC Ward certainly succeeded in doing just that with "Coasted" She obviously had a plot planned out, and gosh, what a plot.
Rachelle and Elliott flee the turbulent and traumatic life in their hometown in Ohio to follow Stephanie, Garry and Macie to start a new life in coastal Maine, a beautiful spot on the beach.
Everything seems perfect, too perfect, and soon something seems to be off, tensions and suspicions grow and cracks appear in the relationships. Is there a future for Rachelle and Elliott what with the good-looking Owen on the scene?
I was drawn in and soon gripped by this addictive, nail-biting suspenseful and fast-paced thriller, full of unexpected twists and turns, Coasted is incredibly intense.
I was kept guessing throughout and had no clue how this was going to pan out, who was bad, who was good and who was to come out on top.
This is a must-read book that will keep you teetering on the edge. I very highly recommend it, after reading Stalked first of course."
Praise for Stalked (Book 1) from Amazon reviewers:
"A thrilling, suspenseful ride from start to finish! Stalked is an impressively suspenseful debut, and one of the best thrillers I've read in the past few years. The writing is thoughtfully crafted with poetic imagery and details that make you think you are being stalked in the cornfield yourself.
Better writing than most thrillers out there, I couldn't put Stalked down. A fast, super-engaging read. I can't wait for the sequel and more books from J.C. Ward."
"Stalked is told through multiple POVs and follows Rachelle as she returns to her rural hometown in Ohio after her mother suffers an unexplained injury. Surrounded by isolation and endless cornfields, an unease settles in quickly as cryptic messages begin to appear, small unsettling moments start to stack up, and nothing feels entirely accidental.
The story unfolds at a measured pace, taking time to build atmosphere and tension before quickly pulling you in. Once things start to escalate, I found myself flying through the pages, completely invested and needing answers.
Rachelle is a character I really loved. Her vulnerability feels honest and real, yet she has a quiet strength that makes her easy to root for. Elliot, the reserved neighbor with a complicated past, adds emotional depth and an undercurrent of suspicion that kept me questioning his intentions.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2026
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Coasted
JC Ward
Release date 3rd February
My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW!!!
I thought the first book in this series "Stalked" was an absolutely incredible book, and I was thinking after that conclusion, how can a sequel come from that and beat it, but JC Ward certainly succeeded in doing just that with "Coasted" She obviously had a plot planned out, and gosh, what a plot.
Rachelle and Elliott flee the turbulent and traumatic life in their hometown in Ohio to follow Stephanie, Garry and Macie to start a new life in coastal Maine, a beautiful spot on the beach.
Everything seems perfect, too perfect, and soon something seems to be off, tensions and suspicions grow and cracks appear in the relationships. Is there a future for Rachelle and Elliott what with the good-looking Owen on the scene?
I was drawn in and soon gripped by this addictive, nail-biting suspenseful and fast-paced thriller, full of unexpected twists and turns, Coasted is incredibly intense.
I was kept guessing throughout and had no clue how this was going to pan out, who was bad, who was good and who was to come out on top.
This is a must-read book that will keep you teetering on the edge. I very highly recommend it, after reading Stalked first of course.
Coasted
JC Ward
Release date 3rd February
My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW!!!
I thought the first book in this series "Stalked" was an absolutely incredible book, and I was thinking after that conclusion, how can a sequel come from that and beat it, but JC Ward certainly succeeded in doing just that with "Coasted" She obviously had a plot planned out, and gosh, what a plot.
Rachelle and Elliott flee the turbulent and traumatic life in their hometown in Ohio to follow Stephanie, Garry and Macie to start a new life in coastal Maine, a beautiful spot on the beach.
Everything seems perfect, too perfect, and soon something seems to be off, tensions and suspicions grow and cracks appear in the relationships. Is there a future for Rachelle and Elliott what with the good-looking Owen on the scene?
I was drawn in and soon gripped by this addictive, nail-biting suspenseful and fast-paced thriller, full of unexpected twists and turns, Coasted is incredibly intense.
I was kept guessing throughout and had no clue how this was going to pan out, who was bad, who was good and who was to come out on top.
This is a must-read book that will keep you teetering on the edge. I very highly recommend it, after reading Stalked first of course.
February 16, 2026
Reviewed by Dee on behalf of the Plot Thickens Book Club.
Title: Coasted
Author: J.C. Ward
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let me start by saying if you have not read the first book in the series Stalked I really advise you do so because it will help with some insight but it's also absolutely amazing as is coasted. This book is about Rachelle and Elliott they're flying from a turbulent and traumatic past them and their friends decide to head down to the coast weird things get crazy. I will say the plot in this book is absolutely amazing like I loved it. There is a surprising love triangle which kind of caught me off guard but was amazing. It is a quick read but it's one that hits all the right spots. This nail biting suspenseful fast-paced thriller has so many twists and turns. I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering oh my what's going to happen next. Just when I thought I had it figured out nope a curveball and things went totally crazy. I will say Rachelle and Elliot I love their relationship it was absolutely amazing and even though things came up they always managed to constantly move forward. Overall this was an absolutely amazing book and I'm kind of excited to see if there's going to be a third in this series because so far we're two for two and I'm along for the ride at this point. Stalked like I said was the first in this series it hit hard and then coasted hit harder so I'm excited.
Title: Coasted
Author: J.C. Ward
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Let me start by saying if you have not read the first book in the series Stalked I really advise you do so because it will help with some insight but it's also absolutely amazing as is coasted. This book is about Rachelle and Elliott they're flying from a turbulent and traumatic past them and their friends decide to head down to the coast weird things get crazy. I will say the plot in this book is absolutely amazing like I loved it. There is a surprising love triangle which kind of caught me off guard but was amazing. It is a quick read but it's one that hits all the right spots. This nail biting suspenseful fast-paced thriller has so many twists and turns. I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering oh my what's going to happen next. Just when I thought I had it figured out nope a curveball and things went totally crazy. I will say Rachelle and Elliot I love their relationship it was absolutely amazing and even though things came up they always managed to constantly move forward. Overall this was an absolutely amazing book and I'm kind of excited to see if there's going to be a third in this series because so far we're two for two and I'm along for the ride at this point. Stalked like I said was the first in this series it hit hard and then coasted hit harder so I'm excited.
February 18, 2026
I had no intentions of finishing this book last night. I had some things to do but JC Ward said NOPE. Once I hit 70% in this book, I could not stop!!! Coasted is the sequel to Stalked. I recommend reading Stalked first so you can understand the characters and how they are connected. Then when you think you know everything, read Coasted and get ready to realize you know nothing.
February 16, 2026
This was a wonderful sequel to Stalked! Moving to the Maine coast with such detail made me feel like I was right on the ocean. The twists and turns of the unfolding plans kept me flipping the pages! This was a fantastic read and still had me looking at my Venn diagram of how the story laid out!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Stalked (Book 1) was already off the charts, one of those debuts that sets the bar high. I honestly wasn’t sure how JC Ward could top a book that strong… but she did, and then some. And this isn’t taking anything away from book one. Following up a debut that strong is no small task, yet she elevated everything: the atmosphere, the emotion, the tension, the suspense.
Set against the quiet backdrop of coastal Maine, Coasted follows Rachelle, Elliot, and the rest of the crew as they work toward healing and finding their footing again in another state.
The tension in this book is steady, gripping, and impossible to ignore, the kind that keeps you turning pages long after you meant to stop. The suspense is constant. Hidden agendas, unspoken truths, adversaries hiding in plain sight — it all builds into this beautifully crafted storm of emotion and danger. I was hooked, anxious, hopeful, and fully invested in their journey.
JC Ward didn’t just deliver a worthy follow‑up. She delivered a knockout. A sequel that stands tall on its own while honoring everything that made book one unforgettable.
In the end, JC Ward is an author to watch! This is a phenomenal sequel. I devoured it. I’m obsessed.
I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A thrilling, quick-read page turner! Coasted was even better than the first book, Stalked.
In Coasted, we follow our favorite slow-burn couple, Rachelle and Elliot, as they travel to the beautiful coast of Maine to turn over a new leaf after turmoil in Ohio. But all does not go as planned, and Rachelle is left wondering if her recent trauma is not quite over yet.
Ward's writing is excellent with lush maritime imagery that captures the gorgeous yet sometimes haunting coast of Maine.
The plot weaves effortlessly through twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.
A surprising love triangle was a thrilling and unexpected bonus, amplifying the high stakes. It's clear that the author can write romance as well as thriller.
I really enjoyed this one and will be eager to read whatever J.C. Ward writes next! FIVE STARS.
In Coasted, we follow our favorite slow-burn couple, Rachelle and Elliot, as they travel to the beautiful coast of Maine to turn over a new leaf after turmoil in Ohio. But all does not go as planned, and Rachelle is left wondering if her recent trauma is not quite over yet.
Ward's writing is excellent with lush maritime imagery that captures the gorgeous yet sometimes haunting coast of Maine.
The plot weaves effortlessly through twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.
A surprising love triangle was a thrilling and unexpected bonus, amplifying the high stakes. It's clear that the author can write romance as well as thriller.
I really enjoyed this one and will be eager to read whatever J.C. Ward writes next! FIVE STARS.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a amazing and attention grabbing sequel that stands out on its own. It follows Rachelle and Elliot on the next step in their journey to their forever but things go wrong. Strange things start happening, unexplained accidents and you don't know who to trust in the end! I could not figure out who was behind everything once I thought I had I did not and had it all wrong. The storyline is very detailed and pulls you into the story and has you questioning everything. I loved how no matter what Rachelle and Elliot always found a way forward with every obstacle. Truly a great read but do recommend reading book 1 Stalked first to fully understand it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Jc Ward for this Arc!!
Coasted pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let go. The pacing is intense, the tension constant, and I was always guessing what would happen next and usually wrong.
After the events of Stalked, Elliott and Rochelle retreat to a quiet coastal town in Maine hoping to heal, but their fresh start quickly unravels as secrets surface and suspicions grow. Told through multiple POVs, the story is packed with emotional tension, family drama, and a gripping suspense! My type of book!
Coasted pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let go. The pacing is intense, the tension constant, and I was always guessing what would happen next and usually wrong.
After the events of Stalked, Elliott and Rochelle retreat to a quiet coastal town in Maine hoping to heal, but their fresh start quickly unravels as secrets surface and suspicions grow. Told through multiple POVs, the story is packed with emotional tension, family drama, and a gripping suspense! My type of book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Coasted was a very suspenseful book that I enjoyed immensely. This sequel had many unexpected twists that I didn’t see coming. I hated to put it down and look forward to more books from this gifted author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Coasted builds on the tension of the first book while exploring new emotional layers. The coastal setting adds a fresh backdrop, and the story balances suspense with character depth really well. Rachelle and Elliot’s journey kept me engaged throughout, making this sequel a satisfying continuation.
February 3, 2026
Coasted is a slowburn family drama and a sequel to Stalked. We follow Rachelle and Elliot as they move to Maine. The twist at the end is delicious and totally unexpected, so kudos to the author for that! I look forward to her next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of 'Coasted' from the author. It is the sequel to 'Stalked', and all reviews are my own.
This time we follow Rachelle and Elliot to the coast of Maine, where they believe they can move past the trauma they have endured. It may be just what their relationship needs, but of course, nothing is ever that simple. Soon they are left wondering who wants the best for them? Rachelle begins to worry that she could be losing her mind when strange things start to happen. Can she keep them all safe?
Another great story from the author of 'Stalked.' She does a fantastic job of building the tension, and I enjoyed reading more about her characters. Check it out when it releases on February 2nd!
This time we follow Rachelle and Elliot to the coast of Maine, where they believe they can move past the trauma they have endured. It may be just what their relationship needs, but of course, nothing is ever that simple. Soon they are left wondering who wants the best for them? Rachelle begins to worry that she could be losing her mind when strange things start to happen. Can she keep them all safe?
Another great story from the author of 'Stalked.' She does a fantastic job of building the tension, and I enjoyed reading more about her characters. Check it out when it releases on February 2nd!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews