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The Wrong Family
From the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Never Never, co-written with Colleen Hoover!
From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Wives comes another twisted psychological thriller guaranteed to turn your world upside down—an instant bestseller!
Have you ever been wrong about someone?
Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.
Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.
Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…
She shouldn’t get involved.
She really shouldn’t.
But this could be her chance to make a few things right.
Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.
From the wickedly dark mind of bestselling author Tarryn Fisher, The Wrong Family is a taut new thriller that’s riddled with twists in all the right places.
“ The Wrong Family is your new obsession. It’s full of twists you’ll never see coming and you’ll be breathless until the end. Trust me: you’ve never read anything like this.”—Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times bestselling author
How far will one twin go to uncover where her “good half” has gone? Find out in Good Half Gone, #1 New York Times Bestselling author Tarryn Fisher’s next riveting suspense novel!
Looking for more great reads by Tarryn Fisher? Don't miss:
Never Never The Wives An Honest Lie
From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Wives comes another twisted psychological thriller guaranteed to turn your world upside down—an instant bestseller!
Have you ever been wrong about someone?
Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.
Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.
Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…
She shouldn’t get involved.
She really shouldn’t.
But this could be her chance to make a few things right.
Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.
From the wickedly dark mind of bestselling author Tarryn Fisher, The Wrong Family is a taut new thriller that’s riddled with twists in all the right places.
“ The Wrong Family is your new obsession. It’s full of twists you’ll never see coming and you’ll be breathless until the end. Trust me: you’ve never read anything like this.”—Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times bestselling author
How far will one twin go to uncover where her “good half” has gone? Find out in Good Half Gone, #1 New York Times Bestselling author Tarryn Fisher’s next riveting suspense novel!
Looking for more great reads by Tarryn Fisher? Don't miss:
Never Never The Wives An Honest Lie
328 pages, ebook
First published December 29, 2020
6091 people are currently reading
82593 people want to read
About the author
Tarryn Fisher
45 books25.9k followersI would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling could do that. Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,308 reviews
March 16, 2021
I feel like I wasted my time reading this book, and I rarely feel this way even when I read a book I didn’t enjoy. I didn't expect this to be good but I was at least hoping it would be just bizarre, shocking, and over-the-top enough to be entertaining like The Wives. So much of the story felt slow, pointless, and meandering, with flat characters and mental illness once again being used as a plot device.
March 28, 2021
I finished this thriller several days ago and have been struggling to find anything worthwhile to say about it.
Guess I was The Wrong Reader for The Wrong Family.
Guess I was The Wrong Reader for The Wrong Family.
June 11, 2022
Oh no! Nope! Nooooooooooo! Nooooo!!!The brain cell fryer, nail biter, soul crusher Fisher book I looked for cannot be found at this moment so leave your message to author and wish next time she will release a book you may truly adore !
This is not my favorite dark side of Tarryn! I missed her mind bending , surprising, twisty, gut punching writing style! Since Mud Vein, I swore to read anything she would write! But this one... I barely find the right words because I don’t want to use negative words in the same sentence with one of my favorite authors! But eventually I have to...
Come on my friends: you may see from the beginning: this book is not so smart. One dimensional, irritating, definitely not connectable characters ( I don’t want to punch them either! They didn’t bring out any feelings from me! I just want to forget them!!!) , so predictable pilot: Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite meets B rated thriller movies, and especially the last third of the book which I was more hopeful about because I still believed this extra wordy, long, slow paced mystery would turn into something jaw dropping, mind spinning but the last third was like a cheesy parody.
I think Ms. Fisher also hated the guts of the characters she wrote about so she had no idea what she could do with them! My suggestion: kill them all several times with Tarantino style massacre and leave it with open ending!
But you may guess I didn’t get what I wanted.
Anyways, I want to forget those characters including entire eerie family, dislikable Winnie shouldn’t be the Pooh, her spineless husband Nigel, an ultra creepy Juno! ( I even hated 13 years old Samuel, can you believe that?)
I also want to forget the long passages,( reading them when you foresee the twists miles away before they’re coming is one of the most excruciating torture!) and nonsense ending!
I love Ms. Fisher and her pure dark side! But I’m so sure this book didn’t come from there! I was expecting so much more and I was so sorry not to get arc copy before it’s release but now I got it, literature Gods keep protecting me not to waste my time!
I’m giving two WTH, please turn me into Memento man so I can erase my memories and get rid of my bored to death mood sooner stars!
This is not my favorite dark side of Tarryn! I missed her mind bending , surprising, twisty, gut punching writing style! Since Mud Vein, I swore to read anything she would write! But this one... I barely find the right words because I don’t want to use negative words in the same sentence with one of my favorite authors! But eventually I have to...
Come on my friends: you may see from the beginning: this book is not so smart. One dimensional, irritating, definitely not connectable characters ( I don’t want to punch them either! They didn’t bring out any feelings from me! I just want to forget them!!!) , so predictable pilot: Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite meets B rated thriller movies, and especially the last third of the book which I was more hopeful about because I still believed this extra wordy, long, slow paced mystery would turn into something jaw dropping, mind spinning but the last third was like a cheesy parody.
I think Ms. Fisher also hated the guts of the characters she wrote about so she had no idea what she could do with them! My suggestion: kill them all several times with Tarantino style massacre and leave it with open ending!
But you may guess I didn’t get what I wanted.
Anyways, I want to forget those characters including entire eerie family, dislikable Winnie shouldn’t be the Pooh, her spineless husband Nigel, an ultra creepy Juno! ( I even hated 13 years old Samuel, can you believe that?)
I also want to forget the long passages,( reading them when you foresee the twists miles away before they’re coming is one of the most excruciating torture!) and nonsense ending!
I love Ms. Fisher and her pure dark side! But I’m so sure this book didn’t come from there! I was expecting so much more and I was so sorry not to get arc copy before it’s release but now I got it, literature Gods keep protecting me not to waste my time!
I’m giving two WTH, please turn me into Memento man so I can erase my memories and get rid of my bored to death mood sooner stars!
December 26, 2020
3 stars.
This is one shocking and wild story! This author has a brilliant way of incorporating unexpected twists and turns, making you back up a few pages to reread. I love that about her plot lines!
I’ve read two of her previous books — The Wives and Bad Mommy— and loved them both. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with this one nearly as well as those two. My high expectations left me feeling underwhelmed. It took almost 50% of the book for me to feel somewhat invested in this story. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and the storyline overall didn’t work for me. Around the halfway mark things picked up, however, the ending was over the top. Overall, this was just an ok read for me. I’d highly recommend reading The Wives and Bad Mommy before picking this up.
I believe this was just a one-off for me not connecting with this particular storyline. I remain a fan of this author and look forward to what she comes out with next.
Thank you to Edelweiss for my review copy!
This is one shocking and wild story! This author has a brilliant way of incorporating unexpected twists and turns, making you back up a few pages to reread. I love that about her plot lines!
I’ve read two of her previous books — The Wives and Bad Mommy— and loved them both. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with this one nearly as well as those two. My high expectations left me feeling underwhelmed. It took almost 50% of the book for me to feel somewhat invested in this story. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and the storyline overall didn’t work for me. Around the halfway mark things picked up, however, the ending was over the top. Overall, this was just an ok read for me. I’d highly recommend reading The Wives and Bad Mommy before picking this up.
I believe this was just a one-off for me not connecting with this particular storyline. I remain a fan of this author and look forward to what she comes out with next.
Thank you to Edelweiss for my review copy!
March 1, 2021
Just.... no.
https://youtu.be/5X-CUz2ybCw
https://youtu.be/5X-CUz2ybCw
January 16, 2021
Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting that!💁🏻♀️
Juno is a former therapist, married with a family. Then she lost it all. Down on her luck, she finds the perfect solution by moving in with Winnie and her family.
Juno doesn’t take up much room and does her best to be as unobtrusive as possible. But there’s something odd going on in the house between Winnie and her family. And Juno, ever the therapist, can’t just turn her back on and ignore.
Oh my gosh! What a wild and freaky ride!
The storyline is so bizarre and outlandish I couldn’t tear myself away! I kept saying to myself, (and to Susanne) “this can’t be happening!?” But oh yes, my page-flipping friends, it most certainly did happen!
Looking for an out of the box thriller? You’ve found a treasure trove here! Mind you, it will require you suspending your believability. But at the same time it was real enough that It still had me looking over my shoulder... you know, just in case!😱
Don’t miss this latest thriller by Tarryn Fisher! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
A buddy read with Susanne that left us both in a state of shock over what we just read.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an ARC to read and review
Juno is a former therapist, married with a family. Then she lost it all. Down on her luck, she finds the perfect solution by moving in with Winnie and her family.
Juno doesn’t take up much room and does her best to be as unobtrusive as possible. But there’s something odd going on in the house between Winnie and her family. And Juno, ever the therapist, can’t just turn her back on and ignore.
Oh my gosh! What a wild and freaky ride!
The storyline is so bizarre and outlandish I couldn’t tear myself away! I kept saying to myself, (and to Susanne) “this can’t be happening!?” But oh yes, my page-flipping friends, it most certainly did happen!
Looking for an out of the box thriller? You’ve found a treasure trove here! Mind you, it will require you suspending your believability. But at the same time it was real enough that It still had me looking over my shoulder... you know, just in case!😱
Don’t miss this latest thriller by Tarryn Fisher! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
A buddy read with Susanne that left us both in a state of shock over what we just read.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an ARC to read and review
December 29, 2020
The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher is one of my new favorite books! Fisher brings her dark twistedness to a whole new level in The Wrong Family! The Wrong Family is a must read for thriller fans.
The Wrong Family is so dark and twisted. You think it can’t get darker and then it does just like you expect in a Tarryn Fisher novel. Nothing is as it seems. There were multiple times I thought I figured it out and thought the revelations weren’t big enough. That was because I was wrong and the revelation hadn’t happened. The Wrong Family will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page.
Thank you Edelweiss and Graydon House/Harper Collins for The Wrong Family.
Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
The Wrong Family is so dark and twisted. You think it can’t get darker and then it does just like you expect in a Tarryn Fisher novel. Nothing is as it seems. There were multiple times I thought I figured it out and thought the revelations weren’t big enough. That was because I was wrong and the revelation hadn’t happened. The Wrong Family will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page.
Thank you Edelweiss and Graydon House/Harper Collins for The Wrong Family.
Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
January 2, 2021
I’m having a really relaxing day with my husband so I don’t think anyone here really wants to hear my nasty ongoing thoughts about this book.
I read it! ( almost enough said )
It was barely readable — but I read it to the end — jumped through hoops to ride out the explosive burst towards the end....
I’m the mood ( searching?/!) for a gripping intelligent page turning engrossing psychological thriller…
But I am unwilling to go through 10 books to find. ‘one’ I like.
If anyone has a suggestion for me… I am open.
A few that I enjoyed were:
Jar of Hearts
Verity
My Lovely Wife ( maybe my favorite)
If somebody has another idea of a psychological thriller to recommend that is somewhat similar to any of the three books I mentioned, I would love to know what they are.
This book plays to readers stupidity, IMO.
The plot was so silly - nothing enlightening, exciting, or wildly engaging in any shape or form ( other than it was readable)..... but so is reading the ingredients on a box of crackers.....
so that none of the characters particularly moved me - scared me - shocked me - or excited me.
This book ( with too many descriptions of hair color, body size, and eye colors), was like shot of Novacaine.. it numbed me —I felt nothing.
1.5 rating.
I read it! ( almost enough said )
It was barely readable — but I read it to the end — jumped through hoops to ride out the explosive burst towards the end....
I’m the mood ( searching?/!) for a gripping intelligent page turning engrossing psychological thriller…
But I am unwilling to go through 10 books to find. ‘one’ I like.
If anyone has a suggestion for me… I am open.
A few that I enjoyed were:
Jar of Hearts
Verity
My Lovely Wife ( maybe my favorite)
If somebody has another idea of a psychological thriller to recommend that is somewhat similar to any of the three books I mentioned, I would love to know what they are.
This book plays to readers stupidity, IMO.
The plot was so silly - nothing enlightening, exciting, or wildly engaging in any shape or form ( other than it was readable)..... but so is reading the ingredients on a box of crackers.....
so that none of the characters particularly moved me - scared me - shocked me - or excited me.
This book ( with too many descriptions of hair color, body size, and eye colors), was like shot of Novacaine.. it numbed me —I felt nothing.
1.5 rating.
December 28, 2020
4 stars
As soon as I finished The Wrong Family, my first thought was what the heck did I just read... that's not an uncommon thought after finishing a book by Tarryn Fisher. I'm fascinated by how she thinks of these storylines. Though the first part of the book was a bit slow for me, I was engrossed. And after I got to the half way point, I couldn't put this book down. I had to know what would happen next.
This story has two narrators, Juno and Winnie. Both are intricate and complex, and I was intrigued by them both. Juno thinks she knows all about Winnie Crouch along with her husband Nigel and her son Sam, but after living with them for some time, she realizes there is much more to the Crouch family than she thought. Now she doesn't know what to do with it...
Winnie and Juno were both very likable, yet extremely unlikable. It honestly depended on whose perspective we were getting and what point in the story we were at. By the end, they were complex but I think I liked them both. I want to talk more about them and this story, but this is really one of those books you need to read on your own with no spoilers.
If you're looking for a book that will captivate you, make you think, and be on your mind for days later, pick up The Wrong Family. Fisher does thrillers so well and this one will have you guessing the twists and turns until the very last page.
As soon as I finished The Wrong Family, my first thought was what the heck did I just read... that's not an uncommon thought after finishing a book by Tarryn Fisher. I'm fascinated by how she thinks of these storylines. Though the first part of the book was a bit slow for me, I was engrossed. And after I got to the half way point, I couldn't put this book down. I had to know what would happen next.
This story has two narrators, Juno and Winnie. Both are intricate and complex, and I was intrigued by them both. Juno thinks she knows all about Winnie Crouch along with her husband Nigel and her son Sam, but after living with them for some time, she realizes there is much more to the Crouch family than she thought. Now she doesn't know what to do with it...
Winnie and Juno were both very likable, yet extremely unlikable. It honestly depended on whose perspective we were getting and what point in the story we were at. By the end, they were complex but I think I liked them both. I want to talk more about them and this story, but this is really one of those books you need to read on your own with no spoilers.
If you're looking for a book that will captivate you, make you think, and be on your mind for days later, pick up The Wrong Family. Fisher does thrillers so well and this one will have you guessing the twists and turns until the very last page.
January 10, 2021
EXCERPT: She tried to understand what she was reading. It was a blog. She could see several blog titles in the box that said DRAFTS, all of them yet to be published.
'You've been busy,' she heard herself say out loud. Snooping was wrong, but what was the harm in taking a little peak - it wasn't like she was some stranger off the street. Once upon a time, she'd been a bonafide psychologist, for God's sake. She felt a wave of excitement that didn't have anything to do with being a psychologist. It was a familiar feeling; she'd spent thirty years digging and plowing through people's brains - learning their secrets and hearing the ugliest desires of their hearts. She may be retired, but her lust for knowledge had never gone away.
The first draft Juno clicked on was titled: Pretty Sure I'm Adopted.
Sam had said this to her in the park, too, and she'd responded lightly. In a clinical setting, Juno would brush this off, too; adolescents went through a period where they felt disconnected from everything, even the people who loved them most. Juno compared it to a young lion learning to roar, picking fights, feeling insecure but acting volatile.
But this particular blog entry had never made it past one sentence. Sam, new to adult words, had described his feelings in one staggering fritz of emotion: 'Wolves know when they are being raised by bears.'
She stared at the words. Rolled them around in her head, where they gelled together with his cryptic phrases in the park, the words in Winnie's journal. 'Day after day, it eats me.'
ABOUT 'THE WRONG FAMILY': Have you ever been wrong about someone?
Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.
Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.
Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…
She shouldn’t get involved.
She really shouldn’t.
But this could be her chance to make a few things right.
Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.
MY THOUGHTS: The Wrong Family is the first book I have read by Tarryn Fisher, and now I can't wait to read her others!
Fisher slowly builds the tension towards a catastrophic climax that is so entirely plausible, it is frightening. The Crouch adults have a twisted relationship - codependent - a secret keeping them irretrievably bound together. Juno, who lives in the Crouchs' home - not that they are aware of this - believes that she knows what that secret is, and sets out to put the wrong to right.
The characters, while not likeable, other than Sam, are compelling. Winnie finds everything too much. There is always too much spice in her food, too much mustard on her sandwich, and her husband wears too much cologne. Sometimes she actively looks for things to be upset about, as if a lack of problems in her life is a problem in itself. Nigel, on the other hand, prefers to pretend that nothing is wrong. He is quite bland in comparison with Winnie. He hates colour, and can be outwardly quite submissive, while inside he is actually quite a strong personality. Juno, whom only Sam knows about - but even he doesn't know that she lives in their house - likes to be involved in people's lives and has been that way since she was a child. She delights in eavesdropping and interfering. And Dakota, Winnie's brother, a mentally unstable substance abuser who moves in with the Crouch family when his wife kicks him out. He does, on occasion, catch fleeting glimpses of Juno, but believes her to be a ghost. Winnie and Juno are alike in the fact that both exceedingly self-centred and unable to see beyond their own needs.
The Wrong Family is a novel about some extremely dysfunctional people who, when their lives collide, set off a cataclysmic chain of events.
Strongly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#TheWrongFamily #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling could do that.
Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, MIRA, for providing a digital ARC of The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'You've been busy,' she heard herself say out loud. Snooping was wrong, but what was the harm in taking a little peak - it wasn't like she was some stranger off the street. Once upon a time, she'd been a bonafide psychologist, for God's sake. She felt a wave of excitement that didn't have anything to do with being a psychologist. It was a familiar feeling; she'd spent thirty years digging and plowing through people's brains - learning their secrets and hearing the ugliest desires of their hearts. She may be retired, but her lust for knowledge had never gone away.
The first draft Juno clicked on was titled: Pretty Sure I'm Adopted.
Sam had said this to her in the park, too, and she'd responded lightly. In a clinical setting, Juno would brush this off, too; adolescents went through a period where they felt disconnected from everything, even the people who loved them most. Juno compared it to a young lion learning to roar, picking fights, feeling insecure but acting volatile.
But this particular blog entry had never made it past one sentence. Sam, new to adult words, had described his feelings in one staggering fritz of emotion: 'Wolves know when they are being raised by bears.'
She stared at the words. Rolled them around in her head, where they gelled together with his cryptic phrases in the park, the words in Winnie's journal. 'Day after day, it eats me.'
ABOUT 'THE WRONG FAMILY': Have you ever been wrong about someone?
Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch.
Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son—the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling facade are too deep to ignore.
Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel…
She shouldn’t get involved.
She really shouldn’t.
But this could be her chance to make a few things right.
Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.
MY THOUGHTS: The Wrong Family is the first book I have read by Tarryn Fisher, and now I can't wait to read her others!
Fisher slowly builds the tension towards a catastrophic climax that is so entirely plausible, it is frightening. The Crouch adults have a twisted relationship - codependent - a secret keeping them irretrievably bound together. Juno, who lives in the Crouchs' home - not that they are aware of this - believes that she knows what that secret is, and sets out to put the wrong to right.
The characters, while not likeable, other than Sam, are compelling. Winnie finds everything too much. There is always too much spice in her food, too much mustard on her sandwich, and her husband wears too much cologne. Sometimes she actively looks for things to be upset about, as if a lack of problems in her life is a problem in itself. Nigel, on the other hand, prefers to pretend that nothing is wrong. He is quite bland in comparison with Winnie. He hates colour, and can be outwardly quite submissive, while inside he is actually quite a strong personality. Juno, whom only Sam knows about - but even he doesn't know that she lives in their house - likes to be involved in people's lives and has been that way since she was a child. She delights in eavesdropping and interfering. And Dakota, Winnie's brother, a mentally unstable substance abuser who moves in with the Crouch family when his wife kicks him out. He does, on occasion, catch fleeting glimpses of Juno, but believes her to be a ghost. Winnie and Juno are alike in the fact that both exceedingly self-centred and unable to see beyond their own needs.
The Wrong Family is a novel about some extremely dysfunctional people who, when their lives collide, set off a cataclysmic chain of events.
Strongly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#TheWrongFamily #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling could do that.
Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, MIRA, for providing a digital ARC of The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 16, 2020
This book is by far one of my favourite reads of the year. Fisher's writing is razor sharp, her dissection of the human psyche is visceral, and her plotting is simply brilliant.
February 12, 2021
STOP 👏 USING 👏MENTAL 👏 ILLNESS 👏 AS 👏 A 👏 PLOT 👏DEVICE! 👏
I wanted to give Tarryn Fisher a second chance after I HATED The Wives for the above reason, but I really shouldn’t have bothered. Her use of mental illness as a plot device is even more atrocious and unnecessary in this book and I am completely done with her. There is absolutely no reason for a thriller author to demonize and perpetuate negative stereotypes about mental illness. Not only is it harmful, but it is overdone and just plain lazy writing. Instead of just blaming a character’s actions on schizophrenia or psychosis (as Fisher does in this book), why don’t you actually give them a believable motive and backstory. The villains of stories can just be bad people – they don’t need to be mentally ill.
Don’t waste your time with this book. Even if you aren’t bothered by the mental illness scapegoat (which you should be), this book doesn’t offer much. It is slow moving, with a bunch of unredeemable characters and way too many unbelievable things to count. Let me rant for a minute:
I wanted to give Tarryn Fisher a second chance after I HATED The Wives for the above reason, but I really shouldn’t have bothered. Her use of mental illness as a plot device is even more atrocious and unnecessary in this book and I am completely done with her. There is absolutely no reason for a thriller author to demonize and perpetuate negative stereotypes about mental illness. Not only is it harmful, but it is overdone and just plain lazy writing. Instead of just blaming a character’s actions on schizophrenia or psychosis (as Fisher does in this book), why don’t you actually give them a believable motive and backstory. The villains of stories can just be bad people – they don’t need to be mentally ill.
Don’t waste your time with this book. Even if you aren’t bothered by the mental illness scapegoat (which you should be), this book doesn’t offer much. It is slow moving, with a bunch of unredeemable characters and way too many unbelievable things to count. Let me rant for a minute:
February 19, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
Do you know those books that go on and on, and they have gone for so long you think you must be reaching the end but then you check your progress and you're only halfway through? The wrong family was that kind of book for me. OMG! It took me foreeeeever! And the moment I finished it I wondered "why did you suffer through this?"
The plot was, in one word, RIDICULOUS. It was all over the place, nothing exciting happened for the most part, every single character was unlikeable (and not "good" unlikeable), and there was way too much inner boring monologue. The story became monotonous quite soon.
When Juno's "living arrangement" is finally revealed you just have to laugh, so absurd it is. Seriously, who can believe that? All these hints at the character's past and secrets for them to be revealed quite silly ones. Winnie's secret could have been easily explained to the police at the time and Juno's...anyway.
I didn't connect with the story and I didn't connect with the characters so, when all that craziness came out of nowhere at the end I was just so bored I couldn't care less about it and just wanted for it to be over. Clearly this book was not the best fit for me.
On the good side the audiobook narration was not bad.
Some of my bookish friends were waiting to see my thoughts about it before they decided to read it because of the mixed reviews. My advice for them is...RUN!
Do you know those books that go on and on, and they have gone for so long you think you must be reaching the end but then you check your progress and you're only halfway through? The wrong family was that kind of book for me. OMG! It took me foreeeeever! And the moment I finished it I wondered "why did you suffer through this?"
The plot was, in one word, RIDICULOUS. It was all over the place, nothing exciting happened for the most part, every single character was unlikeable (and not "good" unlikeable), and there was way too much inner boring monologue. The story became monotonous quite soon.
When Juno's "living arrangement" is finally revealed you just have to laugh, so absurd it is. Seriously, who can believe that? All these hints at the character's past and secrets for them to be revealed quite silly ones. Winnie's secret could have been easily explained to the police at the time and Juno's...anyway.
I didn't connect with the story and I didn't connect with the characters so, when all that craziness came out of nowhere at the end I was just so bored I couldn't care less about it and just wanted for it to be over. Clearly this book was not the best fit for me.
On the good side the audiobook narration was not bad.
Some of my bookish friends were waiting to see my thoughts about it before they decided to read it because of the mixed reviews. My advice for them is...RUN!
February 7, 2021
Winnie Crouch has worked hard to build her dream of the perfect family: a stable marriage to a good-looking husband, a young teenage son and the perfect house in a prestigious lakeside suburb in Seattle. But lately life has not been so perfect; she and her husband Nigel have been arguing a lot and she’s worried that the grievous mistake she made fourteen years ago is the cause of all their problems.
Juno, an elderly woman, also once had a family, a home and a career as a therapist but lost them all after she made a stupid mistake. Now she’s homeless and ill, living in the park opposite the Crouch’s house. Finding somewhere more sheltered to spend the winter, she finds herself in a position to closely observe the lives of the Crouch family and hear their arguments. She believes she’s worked out what Winnie’s big secret is and thinks she has to be the one to do something about it.
There are several plot lines in this novel that all come together in an action packed crescendo. Narrated alternately by Winnie and Juno, it’s easy to see that both women are complex, self-centred and ultimately flawed and neither can see the harm they are causing others. Winnie’s son, kept by her to a strict vegan and sugar-free diet, craves meat and sugary foods and her husband is seething with resentment at her need to always be in control. Winnie’s relaxed attitude to her twin brother Dakota and his crumbling marriage, behaviour and mental health infuriates him, especially when Winnie lets him move in with them after his wife throws him out. Juno’s homelessness, chronic illness and lack of health care make her long to atone for the grave error of judgment she made in the past and sees that putting to rights Winnie's mistake might just let her do that.
Several themes are interwoven into this novel. Family dynamics is the key to it all, with mother-child relationships central along with the disparity of the lives led by Winnie and Juno. Two very similar women, with similar careers and family and each with a major mistake in their past. But one has hidden it and leads a life of privilege while the other has paid the price and lives in poverty and pain, without the health care she can’t afford. Combined, it all makes for a very compelling read as the plot unfolds with many surprising revelations.
Often creepy and dark, this is a psychological thriller that will drag you in to the lives of some very dysfunctional people.
With thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read. Publication 6th January 2021. Originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine
Juno, an elderly woman, also once had a family, a home and a career as a therapist but lost them all after she made a stupid mistake. Now she’s homeless and ill, living in the park opposite the Crouch’s house. Finding somewhere more sheltered to spend the winter, she finds herself in a position to closely observe the lives of the Crouch family and hear their arguments. She believes she’s worked out what Winnie’s big secret is and thinks she has to be the one to do something about it.
There are several plot lines in this novel that all come together in an action packed crescendo. Narrated alternately by Winnie and Juno, it’s easy to see that both women are complex, self-centred and ultimately flawed and neither can see the harm they are causing others. Winnie’s son, kept by her to a strict vegan and sugar-free diet, craves meat and sugary foods and her husband is seething with resentment at her need to always be in control. Winnie’s relaxed attitude to her twin brother Dakota and his crumbling marriage, behaviour and mental health infuriates him, especially when Winnie lets him move in with them after his wife throws him out. Juno’s homelessness, chronic illness and lack of health care make her long to atone for the grave error of judgment she made in the past and sees that putting to rights Winnie's mistake might just let her do that.
Several themes are interwoven into this novel. Family dynamics is the key to it all, with mother-child relationships central along with the disparity of the lives led by Winnie and Juno. Two very similar women, with similar careers and family and each with a major mistake in their past. But one has hidden it and leads a life of privilege while the other has paid the price and lives in poverty and pain, without the health care she can’t afford. Combined, it all makes for a very compelling read as the plot unfolds with many surprising revelations.
Often creepy and dark, this is a psychological thriller that will drag you in to the lives of some very dysfunctional people.
With thanks to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for a copy to read. Publication 6th January 2021. Originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine
April 21, 2025
Unfortunately…lame. Confusing, really all over the place, and random storylines that didn’t really add anything of value. I think this one had potential, but I didn’t like the way it was done :/
January 16, 2021
Review also published on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
There is Dysfunction and then there is “The Wrong Family.”
Freaking Weird, Wild, and Wholly Unexpected.
Frankly, I’ve NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE IT and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
I was like a rabbit eating my way through my neighbor’s lettuce patch… hungry for more.
(I’m not exactly sure what that says about me, but let’s not analyze that one. (especially if you’ve already read this book, lol!))
So your best bet here is to go in blind, just like I did. The characters’ crazy machinations will mystify you just as they did me.
This was a fun buddy read with Ms. Kaceey. This book gave us lots (and lots) to talk about and I’m sure it will do the same for you.
Thank you to Edelweiss, HarperCollins - Graydon House, and Tarryn Fisher for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 1.16.21.
There is Dysfunction and then there is “The Wrong Family.”
Freaking Weird, Wild, and Wholly Unexpected.
Frankly, I’ve NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE IT and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
I was like a rabbit eating my way through my neighbor’s lettuce patch… hungry for more.
(I’m not exactly sure what that says about me, but let’s not analyze that one. (especially if you’ve already read this book, lol!))
So your best bet here is to go in blind, just like I did. The characters’ crazy machinations will mystify you just as they did me.
This was a fun buddy read with Ms. Kaceey. This book gave us lots (and lots) to talk about and I’m sure it will do the same for you.
Thank you to Edelweiss, HarperCollins - Graydon House, and Tarryn Fisher for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 1.16.21.
Read
October 5, 2023Not rating the plot line unbelievable crappy characters plus too one dimensional not for me.
March 2, 2021
This is a creepy stalker novel that is told in dual timelines—the then and the now, as well as the reader gains perspective from both the wife of the family that is preyed upon as well as the hunter.
Nigel & Winnie:
This is also a story about how drastically a marriage can go wrong from just one little secret. Money can’t buy happiness nor remit wrongful past or present behavior. Neither can having the most perfect son, Sam, that they’d always wanted.
“Now she lived in her dream home with her dream man.”
“The very thing that kept them together was also the thing that kept them apart.”
“They may not have signed on for the type of marriage that turned up, but here they were, somehow living it.”
Juno:
“She watched them, wanted them, and found a home with them.”
“Someone was standing in her bedroom window looking out at the park—looking out at her.”
But Juno has reasons for doing what she’s set out to do— to destroy this little Crouch family of three. She also has a past— one that can easily get her emotions twisted up, causing her take her anger out present day. For she had a family once, but that’s neither here nor there because they’re long gone now.
Both Nina and Juno have something in common, their professions are to help, but both can’t seem to stay out of the personal business of others when it’s time to clock out and head home.
This book just didn’t do it for me. This was very bizarre and not very believable. I had high hopes going in after loving “The Wives.”
Although, the ending did do this book a solid ...soooo a middle of the road rating from me!
3 ⭐️
SPOILERS BEWARE:
This book has a lot of elements that were confusing, such as: Winnie still wanting to get pregnant again now but it never being discussed about them trying. Nigel’s affair wasn’t needed for any reason. Having Josalyn’s mother show up last minute only to be killed was a mess. The crazy brother, Dakota, was an odd throw into the mix. I just feel like this book tried to go in too many directions. Just give me one big old crazy twist and I’ll be happy.
Nigel & Winnie:
This is also a story about how drastically a marriage can go wrong from just one little secret. Money can’t buy happiness nor remit wrongful past or present behavior. Neither can having the most perfect son, Sam, that they’d always wanted.
“Now she lived in her dream home with her dream man.”
“The very thing that kept them together was also the thing that kept them apart.”
“They may not have signed on for the type of marriage that turned up, but here they were, somehow living it.”
Juno:
“She watched them, wanted them, and found a home with them.”
“Someone was standing in her bedroom window looking out at the park—looking out at her.”
But Juno has reasons for doing what she’s set out to do— to destroy this little Crouch family of three. She also has a past— one that can easily get her emotions twisted up, causing her take her anger out present day. For she had a family once, but that’s neither here nor there because they’re long gone now.
Both Nina and Juno have something in common, their professions are to help, but both can’t seem to stay out of the personal business of others when it’s time to clock out and head home.
This book just didn’t do it for me. This was very bizarre and not very believable. I had high hopes going in after loving “The Wives.”
Although, the ending did do this book a solid ...soooo a middle of the road rating from me!
3 ⭐️
SPOILERS BEWARE:
This book has a lot of elements that were confusing, such as: Winnie still wanting to get pregnant again now but it never being discussed about them trying. Nigel’s affair wasn’t needed for any reason. Having Josalyn’s mother show up last minute only to be killed was a mess. The crazy brother, Dakota, was an odd throw into the mix. I just feel like this book tried to go in too many directions. Just give me one big old crazy twist and I’ll be happy.
January 28, 2021
3 Stars
This story was over the top! What I read was unbelievable and irrational. I loved "Bad Mommy" and enjoyed "The Wives" but I can’t say those things for "The Wrong Family". I also didn’t like any of the characters. Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s a standalone novel and slow-paced. All in all, it was an OK read and hope you enjoy it more than me!
This story was over the top! What I read was unbelievable and irrational. I loved "Bad Mommy" and enjoyed "The Wives" but I can’t say those things for "The Wrong Family". I also didn’t like any of the characters. Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s a standalone novel and slow-paced. All in all, it was an OK read and hope you enjoy it more than me!
February 4, 2021
There's something about a love song. And then pulling the plug when you no longer hear the lyrics anymore.
"When they began, they were in love, but problematic partners had a way of dissolving love faster than it can regrow. One step forward, two steps back. And then one day there wasn't enough love left to cover the sins."
Juno, a former therapist, thought she had this family all figured out. She sits on a park bench near the lake observing Winnie, Nigel, and their thirteen year old son, Sam. They appear playful and so in to one another. The idea of moving into their home seems like a solid one. Juno's health is a concern. She just wants a place for comfort and peace of mind. The Crouch family would offer just that.
Then it happens. Juno has retired for the evening and is just dozing off when she hears a loud conversation between Winnie and Nigel. She can almost envision the waves of hostility floating in the air between the two of them. Juno tries to blot out the voices, but her trained therapist ear leans in. What Juno hears is stunning. There's no way that she can look at the couple in the same way again. They've got a whopper of a secret that they've been trying to hide within their relationship. Now things will get crazy. Hair on fire crazy. You've heard of bad luck with three on a match.
Juno should recognize secrets. She's got a trunkload of her own. If you raise the lid, you'll be asking plenty of questions about Juno's past. The little lady is short on details about the trail she left behind. Lips are sealed when it comes to her former life. And then it seems like she's made a deal with the devil with gargoyles shifting about in these rooms. Not the bargain that it intended to be.
Not for anyone who opens the door to this abode.
Tarryn Fisher's little white picket fence on the cover promises suburban life. But maybe a wise person should notice the sharp points along each post. The Wrong Family is packed with some intense off-the-wall, head-numbing, peek-through-your fingers insanity here. Prepare yourself for a novel where the inmates are running the asylum. Leave real life on the curb and climb aboard the crazy train. Know going in that the bottom fell out in the first few chapters. It's WooWoo Town all the way to the creepy ending. If you're not up to a wild ride, get on a different bus going in a different direction.
I warned you......
"When they began, they were in love, but problematic partners had a way of dissolving love faster than it can regrow. One step forward, two steps back. And then one day there wasn't enough love left to cover the sins."
Juno, a former therapist, thought she had this family all figured out. She sits on a park bench near the lake observing Winnie, Nigel, and their thirteen year old son, Sam. They appear playful and so in to one another. The idea of moving into their home seems like a solid one. Juno's health is a concern. She just wants a place for comfort and peace of mind. The Crouch family would offer just that.
Then it happens. Juno has retired for the evening and is just dozing off when she hears a loud conversation between Winnie and Nigel. She can almost envision the waves of hostility floating in the air between the two of them. Juno tries to blot out the voices, but her trained therapist ear leans in. What Juno hears is stunning. There's no way that she can look at the couple in the same way again. They've got a whopper of a secret that they've been trying to hide within their relationship. Now things will get crazy. Hair on fire crazy. You've heard of bad luck with three on a match.
Juno should recognize secrets. She's got a trunkload of her own. If you raise the lid, you'll be asking plenty of questions about Juno's past. The little lady is short on details about the trail she left behind. Lips are sealed when it comes to her former life. And then it seems like she's made a deal with the devil with gargoyles shifting about in these rooms. Not the bargain that it intended to be.
Not for anyone who opens the door to this abode.
Tarryn Fisher's little white picket fence on the cover promises suburban life. But maybe a wise person should notice the sharp points along each post. The Wrong Family is packed with some intense off-the-wall, head-numbing, peek-through-your fingers insanity here. Prepare yourself for a novel where the inmates are running the asylum. Leave real life on the curb and climb aboard the crazy train. Know going in that the bottom fell out in the first few chapters. It's WooWoo Town all the way to the creepy ending. If you're not up to a wild ride, get on a different bus going in a different direction.
I warned you......
October 11, 2020
I became a fan of Tarryn Fisher last year, after reading her juicy thriller The Wives. This year, Fisher is coming out with a new domestic thriller called,
The Wrong Family
and it's going to make a big splash! Some of you will love it, some of you will hate it, but all of you will probably read it! The story focuses on the Crouch family- Winnie, her husband Nigel, and their son Samuel. The three of them live in a beautiful home and have the picture perfect family most people would dream of. That is, until Juno starts staying with the Crouch family and seeing the façade of perfection is all smoke and mirrors. Without going into detail, Juno overhears Winnie and Nigel erupt into a massive argument that begins Juno's quest to find out what exactly is happening with this family and why it's caused so much turmoil. The Crouch family has a lot of dark secrets hidden behind their beautiful home's walls.
Tarryn Fisher knows how to entrap you into her writing, FIRST AND FOREMOST. Geez, I couldn't put this book down and it was definitely a relief after reading several lackluster stories lately. The Wrong Family is more straightforward than her last book, The Wives, but in true Tarryn Fisher fashion, she will throw a massive curveball or two your way, unexpectedly. I really think people will have strong feelings about this book, but for me, this was exactly what I needed right now. Light mystery, dark dialogue, and wild outcome— The Wrong Family is not to be missed!
Tarryn Fisher knows how to entrap you into her writing, FIRST AND FOREMOST. Geez, I couldn't put this book down and it was definitely a relief after reading several lackluster stories lately. The Wrong Family is more straightforward than her last book, The Wives, but in true Tarryn Fisher fashion, she will throw a massive curveball or two your way, unexpectedly. I really think people will have strong feelings about this book, but for me, this was exactly what I needed right now. Light mystery, dark dialogue, and wild outcome— The Wrong Family is not to be missed!
December 11, 2020
Upended Family Ties.
I enjoyed The Wives and Marrow by this author which led to requesting The Wrong Family.
Juno lives in a small studio let out by Winnie and her husband with access to the whole house and use of the kitchen. When she overhears an argument one day, it sets her on fire. It’s none of her business, she knows that, but she wants to take action to right a wrong.
Kudos to the author for creating a sixty seven year old character with multiple health challenges. I could feel her aches and pains and empathised with her.
The first reveal comes at 25% so the story may seem slow for some, but it’s a sophisticated character study about family relations. There are details aplenty which I’m normally not a fan of but it worked here and I read every word. I love Tarryn Fisher’s writing!
I really enjoyed this and I would recommend it to readers liking dark and complicated family stories.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Tarryn Fisher, and the publisher for my advance review copy.
I enjoyed The Wives and Marrow by this author which led to requesting The Wrong Family.
Juno lives in a small studio let out by Winnie and her husband with access to the whole house and use of the kitchen. When she overhears an argument one day, it sets her on fire. It’s none of her business, she knows that, but she wants to take action to right a wrong.
Kudos to the author for creating a sixty seven year old character with multiple health challenges. I could feel her aches and pains and empathised with her.
The first reveal comes at 25% so the story may seem slow for some, but it’s a sophisticated character study about family relations. There are details aplenty which I’m normally not a fan of but it worked here and I read every word. I love Tarryn Fisher’s writing!
I really enjoyed this and I would recommend it to readers liking dark and complicated family stories.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Tarryn Fisher, and the publisher for my advance review copy.
May 4, 2024
I always go into a Tarryn Fisher book knowing things aren’t going to be quite what they seem, and her characters may surprise me in many crazy ways. This one was no exception. It took me a little while to get into “The Wrong Family” early on. I didn’t connect with the characters in the opening part of the novel and found my attention drifting a bit. As we got further in and more was revealed about Juno and what she was really up to, I found myself intrigued. Then as we delved more into all the characters, I absolutely couldn’t put it down. This had some places where you might be reading the book while peering through your fingers, and there was definitely that “Gone Girl” feeling where I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, but found the storytelling so captivating I couldn’t stop turning pages, particularly as we neared the end.
January 11, 2021
Another book that I finished with the thought, "what the hell did I just read?" - and not in a good way.
For the most part, I enjoyed The Wives by Fisher, and I thought this one sounded promising as well.
Unfortunately, I can't come up with too many great things to say about it. It starts slow, never really picks up, the plot is all over the map, too many references to losing bodily functions (why?!), and the characters are all a bit too dysfuctional as well. Winnie Crouch and her husband Nigel, both seem to be detached, crazed beings who have serious marital issues and a ton of other family drama surrounding Winnie's twin brother, Dakota. Their son, Sam, is caught in the middle of it all, but comes across as rather blasè. And then there's Juno, a homeless woman, who is actually living in the crawl space of Winnie and Nigel's house, undetected and listening to everything that goes on in the house (eye roll). Juno stalks the Couches and their living spaces, and in so doing, becomes convinced that Sam is not their biological child, which sets in motion a bizarre chain of cataclysmic events.
In the end, there was pretty much zero excitement, as it was pretty easy to figure out where Fisher was headed from the beginning. When the "twist" finally came, it was weird with too many holes in the details - way too many things mentioned and then left behind. This one barely broke the 2-star mark for me. All of my fabulous GR friends will have to give Fisher's next book over-the-top glowing reviews before I will even consider reading it, as this one left a bad taste in my mouth.
For the most part, I enjoyed The Wives by Fisher, and I thought this one sounded promising as well.
Unfortunately, I can't come up with too many great things to say about it. It starts slow, never really picks up, the plot is all over the map, too many references to losing bodily functions (why?!), and the characters are all a bit too dysfuctional as well. Winnie Crouch and her husband Nigel, both seem to be detached, crazed beings who have serious marital issues and a ton of other family drama surrounding Winnie's twin brother, Dakota. Their son, Sam, is caught in the middle of it all, but comes across as rather blasè. And then there's Juno, a homeless woman, who is actually living in the crawl space of Winnie and Nigel's house, undetected and listening to everything that goes on in the house (eye roll). Juno stalks the Couches and their living spaces, and in so doing, becomes convinced that Sam is not their biological child, which sets in motion a bizarre chain of cataclysmic events.
In the end, there was pretty much zero excitement, as it was pretty easy to figure out where Fisher was headed from the beginning. When the "twist" finally came, it was weird with too many holes in the details - way too many things mentioned and then left behind. This one barely broke the 2-star mark for me. All of my fabulous GR friends will have to give Fisher's next book over-the-top glowing reviews before I will even consider reading it, as this one left a bad taste in my mouth.
January 11, 2021
2.5 stars
This is a thriller that will keep readers entertained. There weren't any big surprises or twists in this one, it's more of a cat-and-mouse tale that will keep you at the edge of your seat with tension rather than blindsided.
I pretty much knew what was going on from the beginning, it wasn't difficult to figure out honestly. And there's not much character development--it's thrown in throughout the narrative, nuggets of backstory and motivation thrown in here and there. For me, the way the story is told is very uneven and it jolts forward in fits and starts rather than taking on an even exposition that made me want to know more. The first part is quite drawn out and slow, and then the end is so quick that you might miss it if you blink.
The conclusion to the messy tale was quite exciting and that was what made me appreciate the book more, because Fisher isn't afraid to take the tale off in an unbelievable, shocking way. Yet for all of that drama, there just wasn't enough leading up to it to make the payoff as good as it could have been.
And as for the very end:
All in all this is classic Fisher storytelling. Some will love it and some will not, I think I'm leaning towards thinking this author is just not for me. It was an interesting thriller but its shortcomings definitely detract.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a thriller that will keep readers entertained. There weren't any big surprises or twists in this one, it's more of a cat-and-mouse tale that will keep you at the edge of your seat with tension rather than blindsided.
I pretty much knew what was going on from the beginning, it wasn't difficult to figure out honestly. And there's not much character development--it's thrown in throughout the narrative, nuggets of backstory and motivation thrown in here and there. For me, the way the story is told is very uneven and it jolts forward in fits and starts rather than taking on an even exposition that made me want to know more. The first part is quite drawn out and slow, and then the end is so quick that you might miss it if you blink.
The conclusion to the messy tale was quite exciting and that was what made me appreciate the book more, because Fisher isn't afraid to take the tale off in an unbelievable, shocking way. Yet for all of that drama, there just wasn't enough leading up to it to make the payoff as good as it could have been.
And as for the very end:
All in all this is classic Fisher storytelling. Some will love it and some will not, I think I'm leaning towards thinking this author is just not for me. It was an interesting thriller but its shortcomings definitely detract.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 15, 2020
WAIT - WHAT?! No. Nope, Fisher. You're not allowed to do that. I literally said "WHAT? No......" when I flipped what I didn't know was the last page because WHY! Let me take a breath........ *breath*..... And before I get on with this review, please know that I am an absolute fan of Fisher. I want to be a guest in her mind for a day just to see what is happening in that gray matter of hers.
OK. So I'm torn. TORN. Fisher is compulsive - I don't think I could ever NOT read a book of hers but sometimes I'm like I am now. All in a tizzy not knowing how I'm supposed to be feeling. So love it or not, either way she's eliciting all these emotions from me and not gonna lie - in either fashion, I'm happy about it. I know, I don't make a lot of sense and if you know anything about me by now, that's probably one of the only things I'm consistent with.
I called the first twisty fireball she threw my way. And so did that sideways head nod we do when we're all "Yep, I knew it!" but like in a mild-I-know-it kinda way. And I could tell from the get go that this was gonna be a bit of a slow burn domestic suspense... but it's Fisher... so I knew some DRAAAAMAAAA was on its way. Listen, I like Froot Loops as much as Samuel does but you can't spoon feed me this sugary goodness and then go ZIPPPPPPPPPP - now we are here. No ma'am, I need more answers that went from THIS POINT to THAT.
I'm bamboozled. It got a bit convoluted towards the end there, but I'm also not hating on it. Again, I am having a hard time processing exactly how I feel about this one. Not my favorite Fisher, but if you're a fan then I highly recommend you pick this up - because OoOoooOOoOooo, I need people to discuss this with.
OK. So I'm torn. TORN. Fisher is compulsive - I don't think I could ever NOT read a book of hers but sometimes I'm like I am now. All in a tizzy not knowing how I'm supposed to be feeling. So love it or not, either way she's eliciting all these emotions from me and not gonna lie - in either fashion, I'm happy about it. I know, I don't make a lot of sense and if you know anything about me by now, that's probably one of the only things I'm consistent with.
I called the first twisty fireball she threw my way. And so did that sideways head nod we do when we're all "Yep, I knew it!" but like in a mild-I-know-it kinda way. And I could tell from the get go that this was gonna be a bit of a slow burn domestic suspense... but it's Fisher... so I knew some DRAAAAMAAAA was on its way. Listen, I like Froot Loops as much as Samuel does but you can't spoon feed me this sugary goodness and then go ZIPPPPPPPPPP - now we are here. No ma'am, I need more answers that went from THIS POINT to THAT.
I'm bamboozled. It got a bit convoluted towards the end there, but I'm also not hating on it. Again, I am having a hard time processing exactly how I feel about this one. Not my favorite Fisher, but if you're a fan then I highly recommend you pick this up - because OoOoooOOoOooo, I need people to discuss this with.
July 25, 2022
Wow. Just wow. This new thriller from Tarryn Fisher puts her right up there with Lisa Jewell in my book. I liked it much better than 'The Wives.' Juno is such an interesting character although a somewhat unreliable narrator. Winnie, Nigel, and Samuel are a family unit with some cracks in their perfect facade. This book sheds light on the plight of the homeless, mentally ill, and is an entertaining ride as well. I don't want to give anything away, so just give it a try. Includes materials for book group discussion. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Claire Mackintosh.
Still my favorite read by Tarryn Fisher. Check out her new title: An Honest Lie.
Still my favorite read by Tarryn Fisher. Check out her new title: An Honest Lie.
July 2, 2022
I want a refund for the time I wasted on this book. Characters were flat. This book was all over the place for no reason. MEH. 2 stars bc I’m being generous
February 1, 2021
Well, that story was bonkers! I actually didn’t mind the basics of the plot as it is somewhat out of the norm and creative. I thought the problem was the delivery. Something just felt off. It got off to such a slow start I almost considered quitting and picking it back up at a later date. A bit of a disappointing read considering I really enjoyed the author's previous book, The Wives.
Normally I like to give a bit of a setup for the story in my reviews but I'm finding it challenging to do so without giving away spoilers. There was a moment or two in the book that caught me completely off guard in a good way so I'll just stick to being vague. Basically The Crouches might seem like the perfect family but things are never quite as they seem, right? A woman named Juno knows that behind closed doors, the family is a mess.
Unfortunately, I never felt like there was a compelling reason to feel invested in these characters. The problem isn't that they were unlikeable people, it's more that weren't even interesting enough to be love to hate type characters. Combine that and some choppy writing in the first half and it just was hard to get into a good reading groove.
On a positive note, I do think the author's creativity was present in the story. Yes, the plot is outlandish but at least it was different. I appreciate the effort even though the execution was off. Not every book is a winner and I still look forward to checking out future books from the author.
Normally I like to give a bit of a setup for the story in my reviews but I'm finding it challenging to do so without giving away spoilers. There was a moment or two in the book that caught me completely off guard in a good way so I'll just stick to being vague. Basically The Crouches might seem like the perfect family but things are never quite as they seem, right? A woman named Juno knows that behind closed doors, the family is a mess.
Unfortunately, I never felt like there was a compelling reason to feel invested in these characters. The problem isn't that they were unlikeable people, it's more that weren't even interesting enough to be love to hate type characters. Combine that and some choppy writing in the first half and it just was hard to get into a good reading groove.
On a positive note, I do think the author's creativity was present in the story. Yes, the plot is outlandish but at least it was different. I appreciate the effort even though the execution was off. Not every book is a winner and I still look forward to checking out future books from the author.
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