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

Okay so The Inheritance Game for an adult audience? I'll take it. I enjoyed the entertainment it gave me. Was it the smartest story? No, but it kept me reading.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! Fast read that was fun and different. It kept my interest and I finished it in two days. I rate it a 4.3.

Harriet is a young novelist engaged to Edward who is an estranged member of an extremely wealthy family. The family wants to bring Edward back into the fold, so they are very welcoming to Harriet. That includes involving her in the strange games played by the family. They range from games to scare the small children, to diabolical mind games and then to something more dangerous. And then there is also the puzzle of what happened to Bobby, the eldest son who seems to have been erased from history. Of course Harriet also has her own huge secret, which makes it impossible for her to walk away from the games.

I have had mixed results with this author, but I enjoyed this book. The author created a plot that did not make much sense, but the book was suspenseful (especially at the end) and proceeded at a fast pace. Harriet was a believable and likable character. The author also did a good job of narrating the audiobook edition.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This book will stick with me for a while. It takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas - which is when I read it. Harry gets thrown into a whirlwind when her soon to be husband introduces her to his family. The pacing and craziness that ensues is unputdownable.

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman is a dark mystery with some surprising twists. While the beginning of the story reads more like a romance, as you get further into the story, the mysteries and tension begins to develop. The writing makes this very easy to read through and after a slower build in the beginning, the twists become more entertaining before the final reveal(s) at the end of the story. Some plot lines seem slightly contrived and thinly detailed, but the story is still enjoyable if you overlook some of those items and just enjoy the ride. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.

✨ {mini} BOOK REVIEW ✨ The Damily Game by Catherine Steadman

~ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 ~

I had this one sitting on my NetGalley shelf for quite a while, but I think I also read so many amazing reviews before picking it up myself, that it just fell a bit short. Don’t get me wrong, I was intrigued and captivated by the drama of the tape, but at times, was also slightly bored (quite the range of emotions 😂). I also do not understand how and why Harry doesn’t immediately listen to the whole tape. Hell, I would’ve been clamming at the bit to hear all of the family tea. I enjoyed following along as Harry attended these events with the Holbecks, and even appreciated the twist at the end… but again, for some reason, it just didn’t fully do it for me.

💭 Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this one 3 stars on Goodreads. I was immediately drawn to this one because it reminds me of a horror movie called, Ready or Not, that I really liked. While this book isn't horror, the premises are similar enough and they both have the same kind of energy. Think of this books as a more grown up version of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. If you liked that one, I think you will like this one. If you haven't read that one yet but are interested, check out my review here!

This book started off SO. SLOW. I don't like for my books to be overly drawn out but I don't like for their to be an instant pay-off either. I think I need a happy medium and this book was far past medium. I am glad that I didn't give up on this but it took so much willpower not to. By the 45% mark, I was seriously debating putting this one down. Luckily, it picked up after that. As I mentioned that I think the plot was great, but the overall execution was not my favorite. If the pacing was better, I think this would have been a more enjoyable read. The last quarter of this book was the best part. Things were happening, the story's pace was better, and I was invested in the story.

Overall, this wasn't the best but also wasn't the worst. As someone who loves a good board game/competition, I loved the idea of the book being centered around that. While I think the plot was there, I wasn't sold on this book mainly due to the execution. Due to the adult nature of the dialogue, language, and plot lines showcased in this book, I would suggest this book for readers 18+. Judging from the reviews, I may be in the minority with my thoughts. Just because a book 'wasn't for me' doesn't mean that it won't be for you! If the plot intrigues you, I would encourage you to give it a shot.

Unable to review at this time. Will review at a later date. I'm cleaning up my netgalley in order to review 2023 books. This book sounds delightful and will read once fully caught up on my account. Thank you for this opportunity! I look forward to reading this book!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this! This book , the twist, the psychological mind games. I loved every minute of it. This definitely reminds me of a movie that I saw. Let the games begin !

"The Family Game" by Catherine Steadman is a suspenseful thriller that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. The book revolves around a wealthy family with a lot of secrets, and the plot twists and turns will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Steadman's writing is sharp and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story. The book's pacing is excellent, and it's hard to put down once you start reading. The characters are well-drawn, and the author does an excellent job of slowly revealing their motivations and backstories.

The book's setting, which takes place in the lead-up to Christmas, adds an extra layer of tension to the story. Readers who enjoy holiday-themed books will find "The Family Game" to be an excellent choice.

Overall, "The Family Game" is a thrilling and captivating read that I would highly recommend to fans of the suspense and thriller genres. Catherine Steadman has done an excellent job with this book, and I look forward to reading more from her!

A clever and fast paced read by an author who had become an auto-read for me. The story moved quickly and the twists and turns kept me on my toes. Recommended!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. This was a fun read. It was very very similar to a movie I saw a year or so ago. So I actually had to look it up to see if the movie was based off this book and it wasn't ha. But the story was entertaining and I did find the audio version through my local library app so I read it that way.

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman was a twisty, fun thriller and made me super happy not to be part of that family. LOL

The games that they play make this is worthwhile read! Recommend!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Catherine Steadman and have nothing but the best things to say about The Family Game! I love psychological thrillers with twisted plots, complicated characters, and endings I cannot predict, and this book is exactly that!! I cannot wait to see this book on all the best seller's lists!

What a twisted family! This book was full of mystery and deceit. It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I had the characters figured out, I sailed through this book. I really loved the main character Harriet. She was very interesting and I like that she was an author. Do yourself a favor and read The Family Game by Catherine Steadman. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of "The Family Game" by Catherine Steadman. I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engaged and on edge from start to finish. I raced through the last 20% of the book and couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend!

This was a great family drama thriller mystery. Worth the time it took to read. Pleasant twists and turns. I really do enjoy most everything she writes.

I love rich people behaving badly in books and while I usually like that in a family drama, it’s delicious fun in a thriller. This was an engrossing read that I didn’t want to put down because as ridiculous as the Family Games are, they’re also really fun to read about. Definitely suspend your disbelief, don’t look for any kind of realistic reactions whatsoever, and enjoy the ride.