I did not love this but I also do hate this. I am somewhere in the middle. It was definitely creepy but the overall story did not keep my attention and it did become predictable. I honestly skim read this to get to the good parts. Disappointed.

Cannot recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Cahterine Steadman and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

I enjoyed this book...interesting plot, believable characters and very well written. There were some on the edge of your seat moments. The was my first book by this author but i look forward to more. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everything seems to be going perfect for Harriett. She is a best selling author, she moved to New York and is engaged to marry a rich American man, Edward. Things are not always as they seem. Edward is the adult child of an affluent family with a lot of power. He is estranged for. His family and Harriet doesn’t know much about his past. His family reaches out and wants to get o know Harriet. Harriet is. But intimidated by the family and is given recording by Edward which is cryptic and concerns Harriett. The family gives Harriett the task of reuniting Edward with his family and starts including them in all of their family events including Krampus. A well written psychological thriller and keeps your guessing and second guessing.

This was fantastic loved it!!! This was the only book I liked from this author!!

This was a strange family dynamic and the Christmas game was so nerve wracking. What family has a Christmas tradition like this?!?

Creepy, suspenseful and just over the top!!


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#bookreview The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

🤔where did ya come from?🤷🏼‍♀️
- I received an eARC of this from the publisher (Ballantine Books) via NetGalley. It came out September 2022 and I’m just still trying to catch up on all the ARCs I got 😅🤷🏼‍♀️

😍the good stuff😍
- The story is so well done. So so well done in my opinion.
- About halfway thru it hooks you and won’t let you put it down. So good.
- I don’t know what I thought was going to happen…okay I kinda know what o thought was going down buut…it was not at all what I thought was happening 😂 which I love in thriller. I love the shock and surprise 😮
- Harry was lovable and even while wondering what it is she did that’s a secret, you still want the best for her. A complicated place to land. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I loved her.
- The Holbecks 🫢😱 It was written so well. They’re so elusive and grand and terrifying and friendly but are they terrifying or are they friendly 🤷🏼‍♀️😮🫢

🫢my complaints🤫
- I have none.

⚠️the warnings⚠️
- Discussion of murder and suicide and dead bodies. Oh and mention of overdose.

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This book is preposterous. Just flat out no way in the world would any of this happen. And I don’t mean this in a fun way. I gave this three stars, but that was generous. The main character jumps to conclusions that no actual person would. I rolled my eyes a lot at her.

From GoodReads: Harriet Reed, a novelist on the brink of literary stardom, is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir of an extremely powerful family. And even though Edward has long tried to severe ties with them, news of the couple’s marital bliss has the Holbecks inching back into their lives.

As Harriet is drawn into their lavish world, the family seems perfectly welcoming. So when Edward’s father, Robert, hands Harriet a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen. But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t just a novel. It’s a confession. A confession to a grisly crime. A murder. And, suddenly, the game is in motion.

Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker. What is it that Robert sees in her? Why give her the power to destroy everything? This might be a game to the Holbeck family—but losing might still prove deadly.

READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME…

I mean, I could not stop reading mostly because I wanted to see what wretchedness the family would concoct from one scene to another, but Harriet is the most ridiculous detective. Given the meager clues Steadman writes, there is no way Harriet would have figured out what was going on as quickly as the did. The plot holes are gaping, the characters are empty, and the story was flat. I was really disappointed with this snoozefest.

THIS BOOK was so addictive! Took me a few pages to get in but once I did, it was so interesting and intriguing!
It is true that it was quite a slow burn, and sometimes the fact that Harriet took forever listening to the tape made me wish things happened faster. However, it was never boring or less fun to read. I had a blast and enjoyed the journey it took me on! I especially liked the twisted games the family played--that Krampusnacht was straight out of horror movies haha
Would recommend to anyone who wants a fun thriller!

"Everyone's got a book in them, as the saying goes."

I love a little impromptu buddy read with my friend, Jenny, @nottoomanybooks!

The Family Game has been on my TBR list forever and was another backlog Netgalley read. Two in one month?? 80%, here I come!!!

This was a thriller that was actually .. thrilling!

A family suspense where everyone is bat shit crazy and you have no idea who to trust, including the narrator! Lots of secrets, lots of possibilities, a true page turner!

At times, I felt like I was in a movie because I could so vividly picture the scenes in my head.

The writing style of Catherine Steadman is very easy to read. There were times when scenes dragged a little for me, and the ending fizzled a bit, but still a solid read.

I loved this book! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Catherine Steadman did a fantastic job of giving just enough clues to keep you hooked but not enough to spoil anything.

Catherine Steadman does it again! This one had me pulled in from the first page and kept me on my toes throughout the entire journey. I can't wait to read another by her.

This book was not really my cup of tea. There are a few aspects that make it unrealistic and there is no humor to lighten things up.

Legitimately freaked me out. I really didn’t know what was going to happen and the twist took me by surprise!

The Family Game is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Family Game asap.

What an odd creepy family. The story was rather slow and some of the characters unbelievable but I definitely wanted to finish this to figure out if I was correct guessing what would happen. Creepy at times and I would not want to celebrate any holidays with this family. 3.5 stars

Wasn't my favorite. It was really slow and kind of awkward to get into, and that left the rest of the book feeling a bit weird too. It was good, just not on3 I particularly enjoyed

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for an egalley version of this book.

I am a total fan of Catherine Steadman. Her books take me on a wild ride and I love all the twists and turns. What particularly hooks me in her books are her characters. They always have an unreliable quality, but only slight enough to where you are still pulling for them to win.
This book did not disappoint. It was a thrill and a quick read. I love the element of wealth and family dynamics.

I absolutely loved this book! The twists and turns were quite shocking and most especially the ending with that awesome WOW power. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers with that shock and awe factor. A+++++

Unreliable characters, a odd family, and some really strange games. Engaging, but moved at a pace too slow for my liking.

Loved this book very much! I can see it becoming a movie!
The Family Game was a thrill ride from the start, almost gave me "Get Out" vibes. It was so interesting to learn about the strange "game" this family insisted new members play and how quickly it turned into something more sinister. While I was able to figure out some of the plot twists ahead of reveal, that did not take away from enjoying the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Family Game" by Catherine Steadman. The plot was intriguing and kept me guessing until the very end. The characters were well-developed and complex, and I found myself invested in their stories.

The writing was strong and engaging, with vivid descriptions that made the setting come alive. I appreciated the themes of family dynamics and the consequences of our actions, which added depth to the story.

My only criticism is that at times the pacing felt slow, and there were moments where I wanted the story to move along a bit faster. However, this did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Overall, I highly recommend "The Family Game" to anyone looking for a gripping mystery with well-drawn characters and thought-provoking themes

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc! I am so sorry I am so late