By: Emily Shiner
Narrators: Elise Roth, Patricia Rodriguez
ISBN: 9781835255841
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 08/28/2024
Format: e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
BLOG TOUR HOST AUG 28
“We’re so excited to have you here in our home.” My boyfriend’s mother smiles at me a little too wide. His father’s eyes are hard at the edges. It’s like they’re hiding something. But of course, I already know that…
The mother:
Stay-at-home mother Marta lives in her successful husband’s shadow, overlooked by him ever since her darling son Owen went to medical school. She’s not about to let the beautiful Gina take Owen away from her. Marta will play nice, get Gina to trust her. And then she has a plan of her own.
The son:
Owen is already certain he wants to marry Gina. She’s perfect. They just have to get through this weekend and then he’ll propose. Sure, his mom can be overprotective. But Owen knows why. He knows what she’s hiding.
The girlfriend:
Ever since purposefully running into Dr. Owen Whitlock at the hospital, Gina has been playing the doting girlfriend. She didn’t mean to fall for Owen’s charms for real… Now she’s finally meeting his parents at their sprawling, secluded home. Gina knows all about the terrible secrets this family is covering up. And she’ll do anything to make sure they never find out who she really is.
By the end of the weekend, the Whitlock’s beautiful house will have burned to the ground. And someone won’t make it out alive…
Meet the Parents is an absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you up reading late into the night! Fans of The Housemaid, The Girl in Seat 2A and The Perfect Marriage will be totally hooked.
My Review
Emily Shiner (a favorite author) returns following Three Drowned Girls and One Liar Left with her latest twisty domestic suspense thriller, MEET THE PARENTS—A young woman meets the parents of her soon-to-be husband. As the story unfolds, you'll be captivated by each character's sinister and unpredictable nature, keeping you engaged until the end.
Obsession. Revenge. Karma. Secrets. Murder. Collateral Damage. Family, and so much more.
About..
The author cleverly sets the stage, starting with the prologue. A fire. Who will be left alive? What buried secrets of the past rise to the surface?
Meet the Whitlock family. Marta is a homemaker and the wife of Grant Whitlock (he formerly traveled for business, was a womanizer, and is now retired), and she is a very possessive mother of Owen, her son (age 41). They live in a McMansion (mini-Mansion) in the secluded woods.
Owen is a successful doctor and is dating Gina. He is planning on proposing and wants her to meet his parents. He is smart, sexy, rich, and driven.
Gina has had a traumatic past. What is her hidden agenda?
Gina soon finds Marta is a nightmare.
Whose side will Owen take?
What happened to Gina in the past?
Marta and Grant have a plan.
Who is the serial killer? This question will keep you on the edge of your seat as the plot unfolds, revealing unexpected connections and shocking revelations.
Trust no one!
Let the games begin...
My Thoughts...
Intense, creepy, diabolically twisted, hilarious, and wildly entertaining! A compulsively readable and deeply satisfying fun psychological suspense!
MEET THE PARENTS is a wild rollercoaster ride with a jaw-dropping twist Epilogue! You have no clue where the author is headed, but you will want to enjoy the devious, chilling journey of obsession, revenge, and justice. It's a thrilling tale of family dysfunction!
MEET THE PARENTS has a locked-room thriller vibe, and the dirty secrets, betrayal, and deceit will be unraveled when meeting the parents. Shiner's portrayal of Gina and Marta is fabulously compelling and darkly hilarious. (dark humor is key to a great psychological thriller, in my opinion)
How do each of the characters and their past connect? Do Marta and Grant know more about Gina than they are letting on?
Who's Zoomin' Who?
The story is skillfully told from the perspectives of Gina (then and now) and Marta, adding a unique and engaging narrative structure that keeps the reader guessing.
Marta, in particular, is a character to behold. Shiner's dark humor and snark are at their best, creating a psychological thriller filled with unexpected twists and turns.
The bonds between mothers and sons should never be broken (Marta takes it to the extreme). But you never know how far someone will go to keep a family together! A huge fan, as always, I enjoyed the author's note and her creative twisted stories.
Recs...
This book is a must-read for those who enjoy the works of the author, Kaira Rouda, Freida McFadden, Jenova Rose, BA Paris, and Shari Lapena.
Blog Tour Host...
Join me on pub day Aug 28th for Booktour Books On Tour —Blog Tour Stop . Thriller lovers, get this one on your list!
Thanks to Bookouture for a gifted digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 28, 2024
Blog Tour Stop August 28th!
About the Author
Emily Shiner grew up in Western North Carolina, and after going to college in Charlotte, returned to her beloved mountains to write novels that keep you up at night. She lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, menagerie of chickens, and tens of thousands of bees. When not writing, she’s reading, hiking, or drinking copious amounts of tea while daydreaming about fall. WEBSITE
Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with Emily
Behind the Author & the Book: HER HUSBAND'S SECRET
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