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The Throwaways
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 21:46:06
5 copies available
U.S. only
The Calloway women are notorious for three things: Olympic-level banter, an inexplicable fear of dolls, and secrets.
And one of these things is going to get them killed.
Aster Calloway only sold her grandmother’s Fabergé music box on eBay to finance her mom’s mayoral campaign. It’s not like Poppy Calloway has any real business running for office, but the only other candidate is her book-banning high school nemesis―and she’s in the lead. But what Aster doesn’t realize is that selling the heirloom has toppled the house of lies her grandmother, Iris, has been living in for the past forty years.
Because hidden inside that jewel-encrusted music box was a list of names―names that protected defected KGB operative Iris, her daughter, and her granddaughter. Now the list is gone, and a creepy doll is on Poppy’s doorstep, which can only mean that the list is in play...and the three most dangerous spies in the world are on the hunt:
The one who broke Iris’s heart.
The one who gave her Poppy.
And the one who wants all the other spies, and especially those bickering Calloway women, dead.
Don't miss out on the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run in the U.S. and Canada only, a must-have for any book lover.
And one of these things is going to get them killed.
Aster Calloway only sold her grandmother’s Fabergé music box on eBay to finance her mom’s mayoral campaign. It’s not like Poppy Calloway has any real business running for office, but the only other candidate is her book-banning high school nemesis―and she’s in the lead. But what Aster doesn’t realize is that selling the heirloom has toppled the house of lies her grandmother, Iris, has been living in for the past forty years.
Because hidden inside that jewel-encrusted music box was a list of names―names that protected defected KGB operative Iris, her daughter, and her granddaughter. Now the list is gone, and a creepy doll is on Poppy’s doorstep, which can only mean that the list is in play...and the three most dangerous spies in the world are on the hunt:
The one who broke Iris’s heart.
The one who gave her Poppy.
And the one who wants all the other spies, and especially those bickering Calloway women, dead.
Don't miss out on the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last. This breathtaking collectible is only available on a limited first print run in the U.S. and Canada only, a must-have for any book lover.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Greta Kelly
7 books372 followersGreta K. Kelly is (probably) not a witch, death or otherwise, but she can still be summoned with offerings of too-beautiful-to-use journals and Butterfingers candy. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband and daughters who are doing their level-best to take over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 11, 2026
The Throwaways somehow has the makings of a Hallmark movie all tied together with a bloody pink ribbon!
The perfect mix of the hometown vibes of Gilmore Girls, The Americans action, and the banter from Archer to create a story I NEEDED to keep reading. As a fantasy girly, this book is now responsible for my interest in the thriller genre as a whole!
10/10 loved it!
The perfect mix of the hometown vibes of Gilmore Girls, The Americans action, and the banter from Archer to create a story I NEEDED to keep reading. As a fantasy girly, this book is now responsible for my interest in the thriller genre as a whole!
10/10 loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A DRC was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and hot mess review.
Loads of fun in a breathless plot that throws in everything but the kitchen sink - wait, wasn't one of our heroines hiding in one of those? Socially screwed up small town shenanigans start off the action but it veers into skullduggery of the highest order, international spies hunting each other down, bent of revenge for slurs and arrows committed decades ago. The most interesting character by far is Iris, the Grandma who can outthink, outfox, outrun and out kill any of the others, excepting Nastia (genuinely one of the most terrifying females in fiction of the past few years.) Poppy and Aster do their best to keep up with their relative but they pale by comparison, as do the male characters. I could have done without the mystery of Poppy's high school scandal being such a big exposition or Aster's somewhat bratty behavior but I do think Iris deserves a film treatment - Helen Mirren? Annette Bening? Great fun.
Loads of fun in a breathless plot that throws in everything but the kitchen sink - wait, wasn't one of our heroines hiding in one of those? Socially screwed up small town shenanigans start off the action but it veers into skullduggery of the highest order, international spies hunting each other down, bent of revenge for slurs and arrows committed decades ago. The most interesting character by far is Iris, the Grandma who can outthink, outfox, outrun and out kill any of the others, excepting Nastia (genuinely one of the most terrifying females in fiction of the past few years.) Poppy and Aster do their best to keep up with their relative but they pale by comparison, as do the male characters. I could have done without the mystery of Poppy's high school scandal being such a big exposition or Aster's somewhat bratty behavior but I do think Iris deserves a film treatment - Helen Mirren? Annette Bening? Great fun.
September 10, 2026
Thank you to the author for the gifted eARC!
I had so much fun with this and could hardly put it down! This is marketed as a Gilmore Girls-coded, adult spy thriller that “somehow has the makings of a Hallmark movie all tied together with a bloody pink ribbon” and it’s incredibly accurate. There are definitely some darker themes woven throughout, but at its core this is a fun spy adventure that perfectly balances its humor with mediations on family connections and individual identity (especially when it comes to motherhood). As a mom to two littles, I felt deeply connected to Poppy through her struggles with figuring out who she is outside of being Aster’s mom, but I also can clearly remember what it was like to be in Aster’s shoes as she tries to figure out who she is outside of her mother’s expectations. And even if you aren’t a sold on these themes, I’d still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a classic thriller because there were just so many fantastic twists and turns that had me flying through each chapter needing to know what happened next. I’m so excited for this to be in the hands of more readers when it comes out!
I had so much fun with this and could hardly put it down! This is marketed as a Gilmore Girls-coded, adult spy thriller that “somehow has the makings of a Hallmark movie all tied together with a bloody pink ribbon” and it’s incredibly accurate. There are definitely some darker themes woven throughout, but at its core this is a fun spy adventure that perfectly balances its humor with mediations on family connections and individual identity (especially when it comes to motherhood). As a mom to two littles, I felt deeply connected to Poppy through her struggles with figuring out who she is outside of being Aster’s mom, but I also can clearly remember what it was like to be in Aster’s shoes as she tries to figure out who she is outside of her mother’s expectations. And even if you aren’t a sold on these themes, I’d still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a classic thriller because there were just so many fantastic twists and turns that had me flying through each chapter needing to know what happened next. I’m so excited for this to be in the hands of more readers when it comes out!
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars rounded up. Took me awhile to get into it but once I did, I appreciated all the various twists & layers. Could make a great mini series. Thanks to NG & Sideways Books for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Apparently all I need is three generations of women, a former Soviet spy, some family secrets, murder, and a creepy doll and I’m entertained. 😂
The Throwaways was just FUN. The whole thing is a little ridiculous, completely chaotic, and somehow it works.
I loved the three generations of Calloway women, but Iris was absolutely my favorite. I already love books with older women who are underestimated, but give Grandma a secret spy past and the ability to outsmart basically everyone around her? Even better.
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once it got going, it REALLY got going. There are spies, old grudges, family drama, people trying to kill each other, secrets coming out everywhere…and meanwhile these women are still bickering with each other like any other family.
Is the plot a little over-the-top? Absolutely. Did I care? Nope. I was having too much fun.
It’s twisty, funny, fast-paced once it gets moving, and definitely different from what I normally read. Sometimes you just have to stop asking questions and enjoy the chaos.
The Throwaways was just FUN. The whole thing is a little ridiculous, completely chaotic, and somehow it works.
I loved the three generations of Calloway women, but Iris was absolutely my favorite. I already love books with older women who are underestimated, but give Grandma a secret spy past and the ability to outsmart basically everyone around her? Even better.
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once it got going, it REALLY got going. There are spies, old grudges, family drama, people trying to kill each other, secrets coming out everywhere…and meanwhile these women are still bickering with each other like any other family.
Is the plot a little over-the-top? Absolutely. Did I care? Nope. I was having too much fun.
It’s twisty, funny, fast-paced once it gets moving, and definitely different from what I normally read. Sometimes you just have to stop asking questions and enjoy the chaos.
August 22, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of The Throwaways via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Throwaways was just so much fun. The best way I can describe it is: Gilmore Girls meets a spy thriller - a combination I genuinely didn’t know I needed until now.
At the heart of the story is a mother-daughter relationship set against the backdrop of a wonderfully quirky small town with its own traditions, characters and sense of community. There’s that familiar Gilmore Girls-like dynamic of a mother who had her daughter very young, a daughter trying to create a little more distance and independence for herself, and a complicated relationship with a rather cool and emotionally distant grandmother. Except, in this case, the grandmother also happens to have been a spy for the Russians. So naturally, things escalate from small-town family drama to chases, shootouts, murder and some genuinely dangerous situations.
What I loved most was how easily the book balances those different elements. There are some darker and more serious topics woven into the story, but overall this is such an entertaining, fast-paced read. The characters are incredibly likeable, the family dynamics give the story real warmth, and there was enough suspense to keep me wondering how everything would eventually play out. I flew through it.
This probably isn’t a book I would have picked up completely on my own, which makes it even more satisfying that I enjoyed it this much. Greta Kelly has absolutely won me over with this one - and although she usually writes fantasy, which is very much outside my usual reading comfort zone, I’m now genuinely curious to try her other books too. I’d wholeheartedly recommend The Throwaways, especially if you’re looking for something fun, clever and compulsively readable to pull you out of a reading slump.
The Throwaways was just so much fun. The best way I can describe it is: Gilmore Girls meets a spy thriller - a combination I genuinely didn’t know I needed until now.
At the heart of the story is a mother-daughter relationship set against the backdrop of a wonderfully quirky small town with its own traditions, characters and sense of community. There’s that familiar Gilmore Girls-like dynamic of a mother who had her daughter very young, a daughter trying to create a little more distance and independence for herself, and a complicated relationship with a rather cool and emotionally distant grandmother. Except, in this case, the grandmother also happens to have been a spy for the Russians. So naturally, things escalate from small-town family drama to chases, shootouts, murder and some genuinely dangerous situations.
What I loved most was how easily the book balances those different elements. There are some darker and more serious topics woven into the story, but overall this is such an entertaining, fast-paced read. The characters are incredibly likeable, the family dynamics give the story real warmth, and there was enough suspense to keep me wondering how everything would eventually play out. I flew through it.
This probably isn’t a book I would have picked up completely on my own, which makes it even more satisfying that I enjoyed it this much. Greta Kelly has absolutely won me over with this one - and although she usually writes fantasy, which is very much outside my usual reading comfort zone, I’m now genuinely curious to try her other books too. I’d wholeheartedly recommend The Throwaways, especially if you’re looking for something fun, clever and compulsively readable to pull you out of a reading slump.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is such a fun story, filled with secrets, plot twists, and glorious banter!!!
Aster Calloway is at a turning point in her young life, plus her mom Poppy is running a losing campaign for mayor against her frenemy, so Aster decides to help. When "help" means stealing from grandma Iris, and putting said stolen item up on EBay to fund mom's political aspirations, it can't go well. You see, Iris is a former spy, and the stolen item has, by virtue of being listed for sale, just alerted dangerous people from her past as to her, and her family's, whereabouts.
From there it is a non-stop adventure to evade every law enforcement officer, former spy, former love, etc. so that Iris can keep the family she has been protecting for decades alive and safe.
Greta Kelly's wit shines in this multigenerational rollercoaster of shenanigans!
Aster Calloway is at a turning point in her young life, plus her mom Poppy is running a losing campaign for mayor against her frenemy, so Aster decides to help. When "help" means stealing from grandma Iris, and putting said stolen item up on EBay to fund mom's political aspirations, it can't go well. You see, Iris is a former spy, and the stolen item has, by virtue of being listed for sale, just alerted dangerous people from her past as to her, and her family's, whereabouts.
From there it is a non-stop adventure to evade every law enforcement officer, former spy, former love, etc. so that Iris can keep the family she has been protecting for decades alive and safe.
Greta Kelly's wit shines in this multigenerational rollercoaster of shenanigans!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First a thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read this early. This really was a fun read.
I really enjoyed this triple perspective story. Three generations of women all with their own secrets to keep, yet all are intertwined with each other. Iris, the grandmother has a past that she wants to keep hidden, for good reason. She used to be a KGB spy. Poppy, Iris’ daughter doesn’t want the world to know exactly how a young man died when she was a teen. Aster, Poppy’s daughter doesn’t want her mom to know she’s leaving school or that she stole something from her grandmother. Everything is about to come to light when creepy dolls start showing up again.
I really enjoyed this triple perspective story. Three generations of women all with their own secrets to keep, yet all are intertwined with each other. Iris, the grandmother has a past that she wants to keep hidden, for good reason. She used to be a KGB spy. Poppy, Iris’ daughter doesn’t want the world to know exactly how a young man died when she was a teen. Aster, Poppy’s daughter doesn’t want her mom to know she’s leaving school or that she stole something from her grandmother. Everything is about to come to light when creepy dolls start showing up again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sometimes, your mom turns out to be a Soviet spy...and that complicate your life a tad bit...
This was really fun and entertaining. And it felt like a really unique take on a spy story. Especially because this spy is now a mom and has to deal with the complications that brings into her life, her kid's life, and their relationship dynamic.
I do think the start was a little bit slow, but then it sped up and I was hooked, so I didn't mind the slow start too much.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was really fun and entertaining. And it felt like a really unique take on a spy story. Especially because this spy is now a mom and has to deal with the complications that brings into her life, her kid's life, and their relationship dynamic.
I do think the start was a little bit slow, but then it sped up and I was hooked, so I didn't mind the slow start too much.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was definitely a little creepier than I expected at first but I ended up loving it. Aster, Iris, and Poppy were all super interesting to follow along with as daughter, mother, and grandmother. I read the majority of this on a plane ride and was on the edge of my seat until the end. Such a great thriller!!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Pure brain candy. But that's not a bad thing. The plot is absurd and twisting, but the three generations of women are interesting characters, and this has a lot to say about mother daughter relationships.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fun , yet complicated mother daughter relationships. Generational trauma projectile vomiting all over this plot. Everyone trying to kill everyone because…assumptions…and other varying twists(they are everywhere). This book is a violent and dramatic gilmore girls… LOVE IT!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was freaking fantastic and a certain child deserves a smack.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Love an old lady spy getting pulled back into the game.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews