Another fantastic novel by Sarah Pekkanen. I was hooked from the start. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns in this novel, and waiting to see what would happen next. Definitely recommend this one!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

Great story to start with - I felt the ending was a little flat. Not worthy of the build up.

“Gone Tonight” by Sarah Pekkanen is a novel centered around Ruth, who escapes an abusive boyfriend while pregnant. Ruth has never felt at ease, and is always ready to start a new life if she has to. After years of living like this, her daughter Catherine wants to move away from home and start a career. Catherine and Ruth both think they know each other, but it turns out that’s far from the case.

I have read and enjoyed other books by Sarah Pekkanen and this story is no different. ‘Gone Tonight’ is a slow burn story about a complex mother-daughter relationship. I tore through this book and I’d happily reread it for the first time again if I could.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel.

"Gone Tonight" by Sarah Pekkanen is a riveting psychological thriller that delves deep into the complexities of family secrets and the lengths we go to protect those we love. Pekkanen's mastery in building suspense and her skillful character development ensure that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. With its unexpected twists and emotional depth, this book is a compelling exploration of human resilience and the shadows cast by the past

I thought this one was a very well written fast paced story. I was intrigued from the beginning on what was going to happen but I was slightly confused at the start of who was who. Once I got past that, I really enjoyed listening to this one. I will say there were not any OMG!! moments for me but overall it was a solid story with some good twists.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review this story. My review has been posted on goodreads, storygraph, amazon, and instagram (@manymerrybooks).

This book was really good. It went back and forth from diff perspectives and left you unsure which one was true. I finished much quicker than normal, which means it held my interest throughout. Highly recommended. Thanks to netgalley and the author and publisher for the early read.

What lengths would you go to in order to protect the person you love most in the world?

Ruth Sterling has raised her daughter Catherine on her own; moving frequently and living paycheck to paycheck. Catherine thinks she knows nearly everything about her mother, that they have no secrets, but she's soon to find out that that isn't the case. So who IS Ruth? And why is she hiding it?

I enjoyed this story on audiobook. It kept me entertained and engaged on a road trip. The story flips back and forth between current day and Ruth's past. The pacing was slower than I expected. It has the thriller elements, but it also has a lot of Ruth and Catherine's relationship. I did find the shifts in their relationship compelling as Catherine learns more and Ruth tries to adapt. A big chunk of the reveal happened a lot earlier than I expected, which made the pacing for the rest of the book feel slower. The final resolution felt like it relied far too much on luck and the big reveal at the end was something I'd predicted so it lacked impact for me.

Overall this was an enjoyable, though only medium-paced, thriller. If you don't demand nearly constant big reveals, then this is a good option. The writing was solid despite the pacing.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I love anything by Sarah and was so excited to get my hands on this before all my friends. This is one of those books that once you start you are unable to put down until you finish it. So many unexpected twists and turns throughout the entire book. I was sad to finish so quickly and now have a book hangover as it will be awhile until she publishes a new one.

Catherine Sterling believes she knows her mother, Ruth – the quiet, devoted caregiver who's stood by her side through life's challenges. But as Catherine prepares to step into a new career and independence, Ruth is determined to thwart her departure at any cost. Ruth, in turn, assumes she understands her daughter's compliance. Yet, in her desperate struggle to keep Catherine close, the facade she's built around her life begins to fracture, leading both mother and daughter into an intricate dance of secrets and deceit.

I loved how few characters there were in this story. It focused the tension around mother and daughter in alternating first-person narratives. It causes you to look closer and closer at both Catherine and Ruth as you try to unravel the truth of their situation. The pacing was perfect and the chapters were short. I recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick, character-driven read.

This one didnt hold my interest sadly, the plot was shaky for me and didnt make a lot of sense. I like her other books though.

#GoneTonight #NetGalley
Brilliant
When Ruth Sterling was a teenager, she slipped away one night, desperate to escape an abusive home and a troubling boyfriend. Pregnant, alone, and prepared to do anything to survive, she eventually makes a life for herself—and soon, for her newborn daughter Catherine. For more than twenty years, Ruth has lived quietly and has provided for her daughter. But she is always ready to run at a moment’s notice, and never allows either of them to put down roots too deeply. Now, Catherine is grown and craves a life for herself. This is something her mother will do anything to prevent—but for what reasons? It has always been just the two of them against the world. But how well do they really know each other? When Ruth’s deeply held quest to keep Catherine by her side reveals cracks in her carefully constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception. They both have secrets. But which one of them carries the real darkness inside?
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for giving me an advance copy.

This book started strong and tense, I loved the build-up of a mother-daughter relationship. However, it dropped in the middle and the pace went off. I don't think the journal entries worked for me at all and I wished there was a little bit more action.
The ending picked up and I really enjoyed the main wrap-up where we have all the answers but maybe something else lurks in the shadows.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A family drama thriller! This book sucked me right in with the high school backstory and mother/daughter in hiding. This is a dual timeline and the pieces of the past and present slowly fall into place. I had so much anxiety reading this book. I don’t know if it was me resonating with the mother trying to protect her daughter or the not knowing what was going to happen next, but I was on edge up until the end. There were a few slow parts but overall a good thriller.

Sarah Pekkanen is a literary genius. Every book I read is better than the last and that absolutely rings truer than ever with “Gone Tonight.” I read it in less than a day!

I enjoyed the alternating viewpoints in Gone Tonight, allowing the reader to get an idea of what is going on with Ruth and Catherine...though by the end, we don't know them at all! Loved the pacing and twists, even though some of it was predictable. This was a good story that left me with that slightly creepy "it may not be over" feeling!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of Gone Tonight in exchange for an honest review.

After loving Sarah Pekkanen's other books, this was a HUGE letdown. I also didn't understand all the comparisons to Gilmore Girls.

So creepy and atmospheric, loved the thrilling twists and turns. My jaw was on the floor. Highly recommend to my thriller girlies

4 stars!

"Gone Tonight" by Sarah Pekkanen is a taut thriller that will keep you guessing from start to finish. I found this book to be engaging, and it made me question everything I thought I knew about the characters throughout the story. The premise is intriguing as it pits a mother's word against a daughter's suspicions that's she's not being entirely truthful. This leads to many suspenseful interactions, some interesting detective work, and the uncovering of the century for Catherine, whose mother, Ruth, has been lying about almost every facet of her life for her entire life. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, and though some were predictable, I still wanted more of this book. Go into this book without reading what it's about, I think you will benefit from the element of surprise. I think a sequel is all but inevitable as the ending definitely sets it up for one. I will say, I do think this book gets a tiny bit repetitive at some point, and it feels a little long because of it. Still, it didn't detract from how good and gripping this story is! Definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This is a fast paced read filled with unreliable characters which always makes for a great thriller. The ending was a surprise but overall I felt the plot and characters could have been a little better developed.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC! I will be reviewing and/or showcasing this book on my social media accounts when I can. Thanks again very much appreciated and looking forward to this book!