The Golden Child

by Lucinda Berry

One lie to save her future. One decision to destroy his.

Ava and Bentley are Irish twins—eleven months apart, inseparable since birth. Ava is the golden girl: disciplined, driven, bound for success. Bentley is the screwup: reckless, restless, always one bad choice away from disaster.

Until the night Ava makes a mistake that can’t be undone.

After a wild party, Ava gets behind the wheel—and hits a classmate. Panicked and terrified that her future will implode before it begins, she calls the one person who has never failed her: Bentley.

He’s there in minutes. He sees the blood. The fear in his sister’s eyes. And he makes a split-second decision that will change all their lives.

He tells Ava to go home.

He takes the blame.

But secrets never stay buried. And when someone discovers the truth, their family must make an impossible choice: protect their brilliant, promising daughter… or save the son whose future has always teetered on the brink.

A gripping psychological suspense novel about favoritism, ambition, and the lethal cost of family loyalty, The Golden Child asks one haunting question:

If you had to choose, which child would you save?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 12, 2027

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages.

If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.

Reviews

[shanayaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

➴ 4.25/5 stars

Okay, when I say I was literally dreaming about getting this ARC, I am not even exaggerating. I was genuinely dreaming about it. So when I actually got the email saying I'd been approved, I was over the fucking moon. I think I screamed, smiled like an idiot for an hour, and immediately pushed every other book aside because Lucinda Berry?

That's my auto-buy, auto-read, no-questions-asked author.

At this point, I don't even read the synopsis. If her name is on the cover, I'm picking it up.

Now, was this my favorite Lucinda Berry book?

No.

Did I still enjoy the hell out of it?

Absolutely.

It just didn't hit me in the exact way her other books usually do.

If you've ever read Lucinda Berry, you know she has this terrifying talent of making you physically uncomfortable. She doesn't just tell stories, she forces you to sit with ugly truths that nobody wants to talk about. Saving Noah, Phantom Limb, those books genuinely made me feel sick to my stomach. They lingered in my head for days. This one absolutely did that too, just in a slightly different way.

The story follows Ava, who ends up killing someone and desperately turns to her brother Bentley for help. And because Bentley is well, Bentley, kind-hearted, loyal to a fault, and willing to do absolutely anything for the people he loves, he steps in without hesitation.

Huge mistake.

Because from that moment onward, everything spirals completely out of control.

The lies keep piling up. The pressure keeps building. Every chapter somehow becomes more intense than the last, and eventually Bentley reaches a point where he simply can't carry the weight anymore. He wants the truth to come out. He wants someone, anyone, to finally listen.

But here's where Lucinda Berry absolutely pissed me the fuck off (in the best way possible).

This book isn't really about murder.

It's about favoritism.

And holy shit, this book made my blood boil.

It explores just how unbelievably far some parents will go to protect the child they've unconsciously or consciously chosen as their favorite. And honestly? It made me feel sick.

Because you brought both of those children into this world.

How the fuck is one automatically worth protecting more than the other?

That question haunted me throughout the entire book.

I will admit one thing, though. The biggest reason this wasn't a full five-star read for me was because I guessed the major twist pretty early on. I kept waiting for Lucinda Berry to completely pull the rug out from under me like she usually does. I was sitting there thinking, "Okay... here's where she's about to destroy me."

And...

She didn't.

Or at least not in the shocking way I expected.

The emotional punches absolutely landed, but the mystery itself felt a little too predictable. I had already pieced together where things were heading, so the reveal didn't completely knock the wind out of me the way I hoped it would.

But honestly?

I was so emotionally invested in Bentley that I almost didn't care.

God, Bentley absolutely shattered my heart.

That poor man spent the entire book paying the price for loving his sister.

His whole life gets destroyed because he chooses loyalty over self-preservation, and watching everyone immediately assume the worst about him was genuinely heartbreaking.

And what made it even worse?

Nobody wanted to hear him out.

Not once.

People had already decided who Bentley was based on the version of him they'd created in their own heads. Reckless. Difficult. The problem child.

So when everything went wrong, they didn't ask questions.

They just blamed him.

That hurt more than the actual crime, honestly.

Because reputation is a funny thing.

Once people convince themselves you're a certain type of person, they'll twist every single piece of evidence until it fits the story they've already written about you.

And Bentley never even stood a chance.

Now,

Can we PLEASE talk about the parents?

Because OH. MY. GOD.

Danae absolutely drove me up the fucking wall.

I genuinely don't think I've rolled my eyes this aggressively while reading a book in a long time.

She was so convinced Ava could never do anything wrong that she didn't even stop for a single second to consider another possibility.

Not one.

Meanwhile, at least Kash had enough common sense to hesitate.

He actually questioned things.

Danae?

Absolutely not.

She had already made up her mind.

And that infuriated me.

What pissed me off the most was this ridiculous expectation parents sometimes have that both of their children should fit into this perfect little fantasy they've created in their heads.

Newsflash!!!

They're two completely different human beings.

They're going to think differently.

They're going to behave differently.

They're going to make different mistakes.

You can't keep punishing one child simply because they don't fit the version of perfection you imagined before they were even born.

That isn't parenting.

That's projection.

And watching Bentley desperately try to prove his innocence while the people who were supposed to know him best refused to even listen was honestly devastating.

Lucinda Berry has this incredible ability to write morally uncomfortable stories that force you to question everything you think you know about family, loyalty, justice, and love. Even though I predicted the twist, I still couldn't stop reading because I needed to know just how badly everything was going to unravel.

And trust me!!

It unravels.

⚘ "Overall, this may not be my favorite Lucinda Berry novel, but it's still an incredibly compelling, emotionally exhausting read that had me angry, frustrated, heartbroken, and questioning just how damaging favoritism can really be.

If you're looking for a psychological thriller that will make your stomach twist, have you screaming at fictional parents, and leave you wondering how far people will go to protect the child they've chosen over the other.

Pick this one up." 💌

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 25 July, 2026

this better leave me staring at the wall for three business days 🤭

— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, to me, is mainly about parents saying they love all their children the same when, in reality, they don’t always do. As we all know, every child has completely different characteristics, and this is definitely the case with Ava and Bentley.

Ava works hard, gets good grades, tells the truth and does no wrong. She is quite clearly the golden child. Bentley, on the other hand, is a likeable rogue — messy, impulsive, angry and destructive, and he tells lies.

But when things get serious and Bentley is telling the truth while Ava is lying, and Mum actually knows she is, she still takes her daughter’s side. This really stood out to me because it made me think about how easily parents can favour one child over another and how much this can affect the whole family.

I can’t say too much about what happens without giving too much away, but this will have you completely hooked. It’s a psychological thriller that was clever, thought-provoking and had me needing to know what would happen next. There are plenty of twists along the way, and Lucinda Berry’s writing was incredible. She really knows how to draw you into the story and keep you questioning what is going to happen.

This was a gripping read that definitely made me think, and I’d absolutely recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author Lucinda Berry for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Publishing date: January 12th 2027

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucinda berry is really talented when it comes to getting inside her characters heads, and describing it convincingly. The golden child explores so many difficult themes, like guilt, denial and desperation. It’s obvious that she knows what she’s doing. The story itself is probably every parent’s nightmare: how would you react if your child harmed someone? It doesn’t end there, however. The plot also explores how conflicts can shred a family to pieces, and it was really sad to watch. But it was done very well, and I loved that it felt so real.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[B.A. Paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, tense family drama about how one well-intentioned lie can have disastrous life-changing consequences. I raced through it!

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose to read this book after seeing several glowing 4-5 star reviews that hyped it up for me.
So perhaps I went into this with too high expectations.

I was impressed to learn that in addition to being an author of several books, Lucinda Berry is also a psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma.
With that background, it makes sense that she would be able to write great psychological thrillers.
Unfortunately, I was wrong in that assumption (at least in the case of this book).
This was my first time reading any of her books, and it will also be my last.

Life and work can be stressful enough; when I read I do it because it’s a hobby that I enjoy and it allows me to escape to nearly any place or point in time.
I also realize that all books can’t have happy endings, especially when you read a lot of thrillers and suspense.
But the ending in this absolutely sucked IMHO.
I am still aggravated as I type this, and like I said, I read for enjoyment and to relax, not to feel angry.
Ava is truly a piece of shit human being.

I can’t really explain my feelings towards this book without including spoilers, but I wish I’d DNF’d it when I wanted to.
I finished it because it was an ARC from NetGalley.
I hardly ever give a book less than three stars (if I can tell it’s going to be one or two stars, I DNF).
But this one gets two stars from me.

A lot of people seemed to enjoy this book, so take my review with a grain of salt and read other reviews.
Every book can’t work for every person.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[GCR | Book Realm]

ARC provided by Poisoned Pen Press / Sourcebooks via NetGalley

The Golden Child was such a good, thought-provoking read. I finished it in one sitting because the pacing and escalation were done so well. Even though I had a pretty good idea where things were heading, I was completely invested in seeing how each person in the family would handle the situation.

All four perspectives felt believable, and some of the decisions genuinely made me angry and frustrated. I didn’t agree with every choice, but that actually made the story feel more realistic instead of neatly wrapped up.

Lucinda Berry is officially becoming an automatic read author for me.

I’d recommend this to readers who like psychological family dilemmas, morally difficult choices, and tension that keeps building without needing a huge mystery.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm swimming in a sea of 4 and 5 Star reviews as I wave my Outlier banner. I certainly respect my fellow reviewers. No two people seem to read the same book. In addition, I love Lucinda Berry. She's a go-to author for me. But this one left me chilled....and not in a good way.

Ava and Bentley were born so close to one another by birth that they seem to be almost twins. Although they are in tune with one another because of that reason, they couldn't be more unalike. Ava is bathed in the light of the Sun. Bentley finds the dark side of life by choice and by circumstance. And with human nature, their parents react to each in a completely different manner. Ava is so easy to love. Bentley tries every last nerve.

But late one night, all of these lives will be changed forever. And it's back to those crucial choices that we make in a split second. Impulse reigns. How? Ava is high and drunk and drives home that night from a wild party of celebration. She's been accepted by a prestigious university and the doors of opportunity have swung wide open. But her carelessness causes a serious accident. Her first call is to Bentley. Bentley runs to the scene. He convinces Ava to walk home. He'll take the blame. After all, this accident falls into his actual lane of behavior. And that crucial choice will be wildly impactful in the coming days.

The Golden Child started out so well. The positioning of the characters was so believable. But then as the story unfolds, Berry inserts situations into this mix that seemed so forced and so contrived. All of these characters become so unlikeable which can work in other storylines. But this time, it drew such distaste. Berry also ponies out one in particular who grew horns and rolling eyeballs out of the blue. No one experienced this change within the family dynamics. No one in this little group saw it coming. But it was part of the brew to add sizzle. And the thread of parenting was probably frayed from their children's births. Actions and reactions were so off-putting. You could see and hear that destructive locomotive coming down the tracks a mile away. By this time, I questioned my motives for being onboard.

The Golden Child has its moments. Please read the other reviews and give this one a spin. You may have a completely different reaction than I did. Still a big fan of Lucinda Berry. Still anxious for the next one.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Lucinda Berry for the opportunity.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be more suspenseful than mystery/thriller. You know who was involved in the accident from the beginning. There is a small component of why the accident happened that resolves at the end, but overall it was about family dynamics.

This was told in alternating POV's with Ava and Bentley's being first person and Danae and Kash being third person. I found that to be an interesting choice. I definitely connected more to Bentley than Ava or even the parents. As a parent myself, I found it difficult to connect with Danae and her choices. The way she treated Bentley and her ultimate decisions when it came to who to believe (Ava or Bentley) were deplorable. Having gotten that off my chest, I think the alternating POVs and short chapters made it easy to stay engaged with the story and fly through it.

I would have liked to see Ava's mental health as a bigger component to the story considering how it affected the outcome. This was mostly brushed over with her being called sensitive or anxious. But I guess, had it been, the parents might have had a clue and then there wouldn't be a story lol. Overall, I liked it and would read more from this author.

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you had to choose, which child would you save?

I LOVE Lucinda Berry. She’s one of my auto-read authors so when I found out she was releasing a new book, I knew I had to read it. I went in blind to this and captivated by the cover. There’s so many different topics that this book delves into, such as favoritism and family complexities.

Ava and Bentley are known to be Irish twins. The two couldn’t be anymore different. Ava ends up making a mistake, where his brother ends up taking the blame for it. From there, secrets begin to unravel and the family has to decide which of their children is worth protecting.

I loved all of the characters in this book. Each one was one that could be deeply rooted for, especially Bentley. My heart went to him and his character felt authentic.

Lucinda definitely delivers a dark and twisty physiological thriller that kept me guessing. As always, she came through. This is one of my favorite books written by the author and I can’t wait to continue reading more.

Pub date. January 14th, 2027

[Sheri | HawksNestReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC of The Golden Child in exchange for my honest review. And seriously, THANK YOU because I may have actually shrieked when this approval came through!

When I say this one had me feeling ALL of the emotions, I mean talking to myself and shouting at the characters kind of emotions. Lucinda Berry does it again! You know it’s a good thriller when you catch yourself actually making sound effects while reading. The gasps!

The Golden Child has the thrills and twists I expect from a Lucinda Berry book, but there is so much emotion woven into this story too. As the POVs changed, I constantly found myself trying to understand where each character was coming from and what I would do in their position.

There is heartbreak, complicated family dynamics, and sibling and parental bonds that are truly put to the test.

Thrilling, emotional, and completely consuming. This is definitely one to add to your TBR!

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brother takes the blame after his sister makes a terrible mistake. However, he does not know exactly what he has gotten himself into until it’s too late.

To me, this wasn’t really a thriller. It was more a moral dilemma of right vs wrong. I just had a hard time feeling bad for Bentley. He was so incredibly naive to the real world and also just not the best human being. I think that is what made this book so interesting is you had to really think about whose side you were on within the whole mess.

This is a quick, interesting read that kept me hooked!

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Lovesreading]

I have Goosebumps!
I know this one is going to shock me to my core!
Plotting on how to get an arc of this book!
💙🤍🤍💙

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 5 stars

Ava and Bentley are Irish twins born eleven months apart. Ava is the golden child, perfect from birth in the opinion of her parents, Danae and Kash. Her brother Bentley- not so much- he is the family mess-up. However, is this actually the case? Is Ava as golden as they think and is there way more to Bentley than his mother, in particular, believes? The siblings are close and have never let each other down and so one night when Ava makes a terrible mistake, she calls Bentley. However, what they agree will have terrible repercussions especially as someone discovers their secret. What will their parents do? Save Ava’s golden future at Amherst or their son?

This is a very unsettling, dark domestic psychological drama and makes me reflect on my own experience of family dynamics. Thankfully, nothing like this. Lucinda Berry’s latest novel has multiple layers as she explores this family’s dynamics and the differing styles of parenting. As the plot unfolds the relationships change especially between Ava and Bentley with parts breaking my heart. It’s a very powerful and emotional aspect of the story. Child is pitted against child and against parents and as it spirals out of control it’s shocking. At times it makes for uncomfortable reading and I feel both anguished and angry as truths are revealed but betrayal is off the charts.

It’s extremely well written from the perspective of each character, it flows well and I fly through it keen to witness the outcome. Each character has their own unique voice. I dislike one from the start and that dislike deepens but that’s also true of others, who seem to be decent human beings initially but who become cold and hardened. It’s increasingly tense and intense, anxiety grows, truth is distorted or ignored, the family unit disintegrates around the central premise of whose truth to believe. There’s guilt and not just in terms of the law but the guilt of favouring one child over another.

Another element is social media, much of the drama plays out via online posts which further increases the likelihood of fractures. I’ll never understand the desire to post every single thing online or trash talk people and the author uses this aspect of our modern world effectively.

Overall, this is a gripping and reflective novel especially looking at the parent’s behaviour and the ending is one that knocks me sideways. I’d love to read what happens a few years down the line but maybe that’s best left to the imagination.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph at Random House UK for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Kaceey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bentley and Ava aren't just siblings; they’re also best friends.

Let me give you a little backstory on the two of them.
Bentley has been in and out of trouble for most of his teenage years.
Ava is a straight-A student destined for a prestigious college.

Got the picture?

So, when Ava finds herself in trouble, naturally Bentley doesn't hesitate to protect his sister.

But the stakes just got far higher, and their friendship is being severely tested. Now the entire family is fracturing. Will anyone walk away unscathed?

This book evoked so many emotions. Anger, fear, frustration, and helplessness. I understand why some choices were made (or at least I’m trying to), but by the end, my heart was essentially broken.💔

I feel a bit numb as I sit here putting my thoughts down. Well done, Lucinda Berry! I needed a book to make me ‘feel,’ and you gave me that and so much more.

I went into this read blind and glad I did. So, I’ve kept the premise rather vague. Just know this book delivers so much more than expected. I loved it!❤️

✍️ Lucinda Berry
📄 272 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: January 12, 2027
📈 5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Thriller, suspense

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t always been the biggest Lucinda Berry fan, but when I heard about her 2027 thriller, THE GOLDEN CHILD, it sounded so sinister and juicy that I knew I HAD to get my hands on it! I was not prepared for the absolute insanity that unfolded. 😈 thank you @bookmarked for my gifted copy!

Ava and Bentley are Irish twins, born just eleven months apart, but they couldn’t be more different. Ava is the golden child—disciplined, a straight-A student, and destined for success. Bentley is reckless, has a drinking problem, and is the family’s resident problem child.

But one night changes everything when Ava gets behind the wheel and hits a classmate—she makes a mistake that can never be undone. When Bentley takes the fall for his perfect sister, the family’s entire dynamic begins to unravel. As secrets come spilling out, everyone is forced to decide just how far they’re willing to go to protect their own.

The word SINISTER doesn’t even begin to cover it. I swear at different points throughout this novel, I hated EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of this family. I wanted to reach through the pages and punch each of them in the face. 😂

There is absolutely no slow burn here. This book grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. I was flipping pages like my life depended on it, desperate to see how this twisted family nightmare would play out and it ended in such a shockingly unexpected way.

Lucinda Berry, congratulations because you have officially made a fan out of me. 👏

[Court Zierk · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

No good deed goes unpunished…

Ok, this book made me so angry. I was stressed, shocked, and in disbelief. I felt like I was inside each of the character’s heads and they felt so incredibly real. At times, I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

I’m very familiar with how love can rapidly devolve into lies and betrayal. Maybe that’s why this one hit so hard for me. I know this transformation all too well. There really aren’t many greater pains than seeing someone you’ve invested your life into suddenly turn on you and create the conditions for your downfall.

Lucinda Berry is very talented. This one doesn’t break any molds, but it doesn’t have to. It just does a really good job at being what it is. But it does so with realism that lands with resonance. Definitely go read this one when it’s released.

[Christina C · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Golden Child was such a gripping psychological suspense! I was hooked from the beginning and loved the way the story explored family loyalty, favoritism, ambition, and just how far someone will go to protect the people they love.

The relationship between Ava and Bentley kept me turning the pages, and the twists and secrets made it so hard to put down. I was so upset at Ava and her parents at times that I needed to finish the book in hopes justice was given.

I loved the tension and the impossible choices the family had to face. This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read that kept me guessing and had me questioning what I would do in their situation. Definitely a 5-star read!

[ella ☆]

I already know this one will hurt 😭

[Kristen (kristens.killer.reads) · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

I usually love Lucinda Berry's books for the emotions they pull from you, but unfortunately this was just not it. I predicted early on what would happen at the end, and was so disappointed when I realized I was right.

I think this book definitely could have used a few more rounds of editing and felt very disjointed, and it just never got across the point I think it was originally trying to make? I also felt that it was overly repetitive in some areas, and not developed enough in others.

I feel like the book used shock value just for the sake of shock value, and it came across as cheap and unwelcome to the reader (especially if you are a parent!) The ending was way too open-ended for my liking, with one "twist" being introduced way too late in the story to add any value to the plot. Overall a very disappointing read for me!

[Celeste | bookrecs_by_celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so this one pissed me off!!! I love when books evoke emotion out of me even if it’s frustration and anger. This was such a twisted family dynamic my head was spinning the entire time.

I actually did not like most of these characters they all made me so angry for sooo many different reasons. There was one character in particular that I was cheering for the entire time. I don’t want to give anything else away so recommending to go into this one blind.

This will make an incredible book club book and create A LOT of discussion. This was uncomfortable and makes you think. I’m not a parent yet but someday hope to be. I would love to hear parents perspectives on this read to see what they would do. Talk about a Sophie’s Choice!

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, and Lucinda Berry for my gifted arc. All opinions are my own. This is a definite 2027 tbr add!

[KELLY · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Ava accidentally hits a classmate, her brother Bentley takes the blame to protect her perfect future—but their devastating secret doesn’t stay buried for long. As the truth threatens to come out, this twisty psychological suspense asks just how far a family will go to protect their golden child.

I just couldn’t get into this story. It’s very much a he said, she said, with parents willing to do absolutely anything to protect their child even if that means telling some truly horrible lies. The ending made me angry and honestly disgusted. That's the point of the book but it wasn't for me. I wish I’d never read this one.

Read on release date 01/12/2027.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Press for the ARC.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that I love Lucinda Berry and I’ve loved several of her books. She is an auto-buy author for me so I was very excited to get this one from NetGalley. That being said, there hasn’t been a book that I’ve been this enraged about for a long time!

For starters, the writing is very basic. It reads like a YA novel. I don’t dislike YA novels, but was not expecting that from this one. The writing is choppy and the conversations between parent and child are, at times, silly and not believable. The characters are all so annoying, especially the mom Danae. The only one I liked, and really felt for, was Bentley the son.

There were too many plot holes and many things left unsettled. I feel like there weren’t enough breadcrumbs along the way to even lead to what the reader learns nearing the end. It also could’ve done with a few more rounds of editing.

I feel like the story had a lot of promise, but could’ve been executed in a better way. I may be in the minority on this opinion, but I stand by it.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Irish twins, Ava and Bentley. When Ava accidentally hits one of her classmates and Bentley takes the blame to protect her, things do not go as planned. The truth eventually begins to come to the surface. This was a really good read. One thing I must say though is you will most likely be so angry at some of these characters. I definitely was. I absolutely can't stand parents that show favoritism to one of their children over the other, and this one just was like on a whole other level. I wouldn't necessarily call this a thriller. I'd say more of a family drama. Still, it was definitely tense, but I just wanted more with the ending. More for Bentley. Overall, a worthwhile read.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Aarjavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to Lucinda Berry, Netgalley and Penguin Random House for gifting me this early copy of The Golden Child to read*

This story is told from the perspective of 4 people.. It delves deep into the topic of family, favouritism, complexities within the family and I loved seeing that. This is a psychological thriller to its core. This novel is full of complex characters and the development of some of the characters was truly well done. If you need a book that hooks you right away, I would highly recommend this! I finished this book in 1 sitting; that’s how good it is.

My favourite character in this story was Bentley and that is because of the fact that he is not perfect. He is just a human and seeing that made me root for him throughout the whole story.. The first line of the book was amazing and it just made me want to keep reading.
The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. The ending left me completely stunned and that just shows how strong the author's story telling is.

The overall mood of the book was dark and twisty, with unexpected plot twists woven throughout the entirety of it.

One small thing that I loved was the dog in this book.. He’s named Happy and he’s border collie mix.. I just love when animal companions are present in books.


This was my first Lucinda Berry book and I am really excited to read more of her work..

[Mo Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

‘One lie to save her future. One decision to destroy his.’

This was the messiest, most implausible fiction shitshow ever. The whole family was unbearably stupid and intolerable.
Just laughable. The whole thing.

But…. thanks to Poisoned Pen Press.

K. Have a good day. Bye.

Pub: 1.12.2027.

[emsonthebooks_again · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚

This is my first book by Lucinda Berry and this is certainly a tense, messed up story full of emotional dilemmas.

The main question is do parents secretly (or in this case not so secretly), have a favourite child? A brilliant concept and trust me, this family were hideous and made me so cross. I didn’t like these characters at all, with the exception of Bentley who I just felt crushed for throughout the book.

This was an easy book to read but it doesn’t start to pick up until halfway through and I was waiting for a twist, which never came. There was nothing I gained when I’d finished the book, that I hadn’t already established when I started reading. My views on the family were pretty much the same.

Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and will be reading more from Lucinda but I was waiting for surprises which never came.

I’d like to thank Poisoned Press, Netgalley and the author for the arc and fantastic opportunity of being among the first to read and offer my honest opinion.

Book released 12th January 2027

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 wild crazy stars. This is Lucinda Berry at her finest . . . eeking out a story that somehow captivates you so much you don't want it to end at the same time as you are wondering what the heck is going on here and how fast can I find out? A so-called perfect child does the unimaginable so the black sheep decides to take the blame. Except . . . then the stakes run higher and higher til the black sheep explodes. I personally think this may have worked better with two sisters instead of a sister and brother - crawling into bed with your brother at 17 for comfort seems odd to me . . . but also seems totally plausible if it was sisters. I raced through this book in a day. I never who to feel the worst for at which time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucinda Berry and Poisoned Pen for this great thriller. This book publishes January 12, 2027.

[Tracy Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 STARS!

The Golden Child by Lucinda Berry

THIS is exactly why Lucinda Berry is an auto-buy author for me! Her books NEVER miss, and The Golden Child is no exception! I received this ARC from NetGalley and devoured it in ONE DAY. I seriously could not put it down!

The story follows siblings Ava and Bentley, who couldn’t be more different. Ava is the golden child with a bright future ahead of her, while Bentley is the family’s troublemaker. But when Ava makes a devastating mistake after a party, Bentley steps in and takes the blame to protect his sister. What follows is a twisted family nightmare filled with secrets, lies, favoritism, and some seriously questionable decisions.

Let me just say, this family is SCREWED UP! Some of these characters had me absolutely furious. The lengths people will go to protect their favorite child are downright disturbing, and Lucinda Berry does an incredible job of showing just how toxic family dynamics can become.

This was such a fast-paced, addictive psychological thriller. I was completely invested from beginning to end, and I love when an author can make me feel so many emotions toward fictional characters. The manipulation, the betrayal, the family secrets… WOW!

Lucinda Berry has such a talent for writing dark, twisted stories about deeply dysfunctional people, and this is exactly why I will continue to read absolutely everything she writes.

Five stars! Dark, disturbing, addictive, and completely binge-worthy!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Lucinda Berry for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I found this book incredibly hard to rate/review. I love Lucinda and this was another tense and messed up story. But I really hated the whole story. The characters were awful and the end of the book made me scream. So I guess Lucinda achieved what she set out to do.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed several of Lucinda Berry’s books in the past, but unfortunately, The Golden Child is not one of her best for me.

Ava and Bentley are siblings born just eleven months apart, but they couldn’t be more different. Ava is the family’s “golden child”—successful, driven, and headed to Amherst—while Bentley has always been considered the screwup. Then one night, Ava is driving after a party and hits the star quarterback as he’s walking along the road. She calls Bentley for help, and he convinces her to let him take the blame. After all, everyone already expects the worst from him. What follows is a web of lies that involves their entire family as they try to figure out what really happened that night.

The story is told from all four family members’ points of view, which sounded like a great setup for a psychological thriller about family dynamics, favoritism, and the lengths parents will go to protect their children. Unfortunately, I found it incredibly repetitive. We revisit the same events and conversations from different perspectives without learning enough new information to make those multiple POVs feel worthwhile.

I also struggled with how flat the characters felt, particularly the parents. For a story built around such a huge moral dilemma, I wanted to feel much more emotionally invested in this family and the choices they were making. Instead, I eventually found myself skimming because I mostly just wanted to know how everything was going to end.

And then I got to the final few pages.

Friends, I practically rolled my eyes into the back of my head. 😂 I obviously won’t spoil anything, but that ending did NOT work for me.

That said, this is a quick, accessible psychological mystery without a lot of gore or a high body count. If you’re looking for something you can fly through without having to think too hard about it, this might make a perfectly fine library read. Berry has written books I’ve enjoyed much more, though, and I’d recommend starting with one of those instead.

⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars

The Golden Child will be published January 12, 2027.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.