I truly love a good domestic thriller (everyone that knows me knows that), and I foresee this one being added to my favorites list for this year for sure. The time jumps within the story were difficult to grasp initially, but once I adjusted they became my favorite part of the book actually. I don’t want to give too much away, so all I’ll say is this book really made me wonder, “Do we really know anyone at all?”

I have to say it was a captivating book. The story did a great job of creating a vivid atmosphere with descriptions of the gloomy weather, the rain, the cold, and the smell of saltwater air. I felt like I was there with the characters, experiencing their emotions and struggles. The story was also intriguing and kept me hooked until the end. The only thing that bothered me a bit was jumping in time from certain chapters. It threw me off a few times and I had to go back and check what was going on. But after a while, I got used to the flow of the story and it didn't bother me as much. Overall, I would recommend this book for a summer or fall read on a rainy day.

Can any relationship, no matter how seemingly perfect, survive if it's based on lies? This is just one question -albeit the biggest one - at the heart of Leave the Lights On by Liv Andersson.

In the small town of Cape Morgan, Maine, Beatrice and Josh Wicker are the perfect power couple. Influential, wealthy, and integral to the life of the town. On the surface, Beatrice has it all including the opportunity to bring to life her ambitious plan of creating the perfect artist retreat from the remains of a long abandoned asylum. But there are secrets in Beatrice's past and present that are about to collide and tear apart the life she's worked so hard to have.

Liv Andersson, has created a complex character in Beatrice Wicker. She is a woman hiding from her past with complicated feelings about her present. It is easy to root for her but not as easy to like her particularly as it takes her far too long to take even the simplest action.

Leave the Lights On is beautifully atmospheric. Andersson does a wonderful job establishing the feeling of wonder in Maine's coastline beauty. The writing also does a great job of connecting the past and present of the story through Beatrice's inner monologues. The novel's timeline; moving from Beatrice's life before Cape Morgan and the present day are also effective in keeping the story moving forward. Unfortunately, the last third of the novel becomes repetitive as Beatrice's emotional disconnect and actions make it difficult to care about what happens next.

Early on I was certain that this novel would be a four star read, despite it not being the mystery I anticipated. There were a few red herrings but I knew early on "who done it and why". However, the biggest issue with the novel for me was the lack of a connection with Beatrice or any of the other characters. Everyone seemed flat and thus their actions/reactions to the big moments in the novel also fell flat.

I will keep an eye out for future novels by Liv Andersson as Leave the Lights On is very well-written though not entirely satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pub. Date: October 16, 2023

Leave the Lights On was so much better than I anticipated!

Beatrice and Josh seemingly live a picture perfect life overlooking the ocean in Maine. The only problem is they’re both lying and hiding their deepest truths from each other. When explosions and kidnappings start happening, Beatrice really has to dig into her past to answer for the present.

The character development in this book was very well done and nicely executed. There weren’t a whole bunch of characters bogging down the storyline with unnecessary smoke and mirrors. It’s also a very well written and intelligently thought out book.

My only real complaint is the beginning few chapters (not for the writing or storyline, just for the orientation more so.) Since the chapters aren’t labeled for their specific POV I didn’t quite realize who was who and what perspective I was reading at first. Maybe I was just a little distracted when starting, or maybe my kids have officially destroyed my brain 🙃, but either way I was definitely confused starting out but after a few chapters I settled in and it all became clear.

Overall, this is a well-written original story that I would not hesitate to recommend to thriller lovers!

Thank to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Finishing this book my thoughts to myself how well do you really truly know someone? This read totally engulfed me leaving me having to read the next chapter and then the next. Josh and Beatrice live in a million-dollar house on the coast on Maine. Both live their idyllic lives while they both are holding onto massive secrets that they want to keep in the dark from each other. Can they really do just that when Josh's secret 2-year-old son is abducted? I loved this book even more because it was a lengthy read.

Enjoyed the setting of this book, Cape Morgan, Maine and Ross Island, scenic, beautiful places for this story to unfold. A wealthy couple, both with secrets they are keeping from each other, find themselves involved in a series of kidnappings. Definitely did not 'guess' the ending!

Leave the Lights On, by Liv Andersson, is a book about secrets. Beatrice and Josh are married, and seem to live an idyllic life in a massive home in Cape Morgan, Maine. Josh has a secret girlfriend and son. He is unaware Beatrice knows about it and she has decided to look away. Beatrice is afraid that revealing her knowledge would lead to an exposure of her complicated background. However, there is an explosion in a schoolyard and Josh’s toddler son from his other life is kidnapped. Beatrice senses a dangerous connection to her past and the possible unraveling that she might not be who she says she is. Told through multiple POVs and different decades, the author provides an atmosphere of foreboding and tension. The characters are complex and intertwined. Highly recommend this gripping novel!

With thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

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Beatrice lives the perfect life, or so others think. She knows her husband’s secrets..or does she? Why isn’t she happier? Why can’t she be content? She has it all. What more does she need? This talented author has written a cannot put down novel. Intrigue and mystery…this book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Enjoy this innovative novel.

Thank you Liv Andersson, Crooked Lane Books, and Netgalley for an ARC of Leave The Lights On.

This is one of those books that makes you truly question how well do you actually know someone?

I got wrapped up in this book and kept wanting to know more. I loved the twists and turns from the beginning. Josh and Beatrice live in a million dollar house on the coast on Maine. Both live their idyllic lives while they both are holding onto massive secrets that they want to keep in the dark from each other. Can they really do just that when Josh's secret 2 year old son is abducted?

I had a hard time trying to decide whether or not to rate this 3 stars or 4. I ultimately rated it a 3 because the book was extremely wordy throughout the entirety of the book like sometimes the dialogue just didn't seem remotely close to be what would be said in a scenario in real life. However, it was a great book and storyline that I really enjoyed. 4 stars for the story but dropped to a 3 overall.

The time jumps in this one are a bit much, difficult to clearly follow. I didn’t find many redeeming qualities in these characters, so I didn’t have anyone to root for. I found some of the dialogue got pretty repetitive. Some aspects I think weren’t fully tied together, we’d explore an idea and it wouldn’t go anywhere. It was just a bit disconnected. The end result was predictable and didn’t surprise me. Overall I wasn’t a fan.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I love books with a setting in Maine and Andersson's is perfection. The story was fast-paced and suspenseful. I wanted to know what happened to the characters she wrote about. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars from me.

The author captures Maine perfectly. This is quite a fast paced ride through appearances being deceptive and twists.

Good fun and a good read.

Just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving and no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. The protagonist appears to have it all, but then…. It’s a fast paced book with plenty of action, but all done in such a believable way. I enjoyed the different perspectives and voices as the book progressed, although did find the time changes a bit surprising at times,

Thank you Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Liv Andersson for an ARC!

She’s done it again! After reading Little Red House and now Leave The Lights On, it’s safe to say that Liv Andersson is becoming one of my auto-buy authors.

Court’s Blurb: Small, coastal towns have the sea — and the sea holds secrets. Cape Morgan, Maine is no exception. Equally, Beatrice and Josh Wicker may not be who they claim, and they’re holding onto their own secrets.

After an explosion at a local elementary school, the proverbial tides begin to roll in, and readers are left wondering: Can we ever fully know someone? Do those around us truly have our best interest?

Liv Andersson takes readers on a wild — and I mean wild — journey among different decades and multiple POVs. I loved the ghostly elements (you know I love me some classic horror) combined with the psychological thriller elements, and just when I thought I had it figured out…TWIST.

Pub date is 10/17 — the perfect book to nestle into the 2023 spooky season. High recommend this five-star thriller.

A small, Maine coastal town is where Beatrice Wicker is living her best life, she has a very pricey home, a hefty bank account, a charming husband, and planes to turn an old asylum into an artist’s retreat.Yes, her husband sneaks off to visit his “other family” from time to time, but the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences. Besides, Beatrice likes knowing Josh’s little secret, she also likes knowing that he doesn’t know ANY of her secrets. Things come to a head when there’s an explosion at a local school and a toddler goes missing. Beatrice knows the boy is Josh’s son from his other life. She also knows that Josh can’t reveal the truth without having his whole house of cards collapse and Beatrice’s own secrets would be divulged. I liked this book for many reasons, the foremost being that the heroine is no shrinking violet, rather a smart and cunning woman more than capable of taking care of herself