This was an interesting read! Not at all what I expected, but in a good way! Dreams are powerful things!

I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it.

I have usually enjoyed most of Kubica's books but I don't know what it was with this one. Maybe it was the ending that just left me so, so, so ugh I can't even find the words to describe it, deflated(?), flat(?) angry(?).
I read almost all of the book expecting one thing and then you get to the "Big Twist" which really in my mind was just Kubica's way of saying "Yeah, I'm not digging this either, here's a ending"
Its expecting Disney World but instead getting to a fair with two rides.
Expecting lobster and getting boxed Mac and Cheese.

I have loved all her books, so I am willing to overlook this one because I know she is better than this!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an advanced read in exchange for this review.

I enjoy Mary Kubica's books because they are unexpected and unpredictable thrillers. This book was unexpected, but not in a good way. There's a twist at the end that feels like a slap in the face as a reader. Did she just get tired of writing and feel this was the only way out? If you take the mystery and thriller parts out of the story, there would have been a decent women's fiction read. Maybe she should have gone in that direction.

Love Mary Kubica and enjoyed this book. The twists and turns were unpredictable and kept me wanting to read more to figure it out. There were parts I was slightly confused on, but in the end, it all came together. MK's writing style is unique and enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of When The Lights Go Out.

I received a free e-copy of When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica from NetGalley for my honest review.

A fast moving mystery with a very twisted plot. I loved how each of two two main characters were told in first person. When Jessie Sloane's mother dies, she goes off to find herself. When she applies for college she learns that her social security number is invalid. She then starts searching for her real identity. Eden's story, set in the past, is about her ongoing efforts to have a child and then her inability to have one.

I enjoyed each of the story lines and how they later came together. This book kept me intrigued and bewildered till the very end. I did struggle with the end and the path that Eden took. I can see how some people were let down or disappointed by the end but still a great read. It was a bit confusing at times but I think a lot of it was Jessie's lack of sleep being portrayed.

I don't understand. Mary Kubica's writing? Fantastic. The premise- sucked me in. Tension? It's all there. The ending? Completely unfinished. To the point where I to had to look to make sure I wasn't reading an early version of the book. I can generally buy any far fetched premise you want me to, as long as it's well thought out and clever. I didn't get that here. 2.5 stars.

I loved this book until the last few chapters. I was left hating it. So the carriage house was a dream? Everything about her social security card was a dream? I'm so confused and so mad because it was awesome up until this point. #WhenTheLightsGoOut #netgalley

This just wasn't her best book. I was quite disappointed in it, The bit at the end was extremely disappointing and I really just didn’t get it at all.

When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica was a slow-burning, gritty thriller that introduced Jessie Sloane, a girl trying to grip with her mother's recent death. Brokenhearted, Jessie enrolls in college in order to find some meaning in her life, only to find that her social security number is fake and there's no record of her existence....at all. If that wasn't enough to grapple with, Jessie is suffering with debilitating insomnia, and has begun seeing and imagining things that aren't there. Insomnia was such a BIG part of this story, that I found myself needing to take a nap and just praying that Jessie could get some sleep. You can seriously FEEL her insomnia, that's how much of a role it plays in this story.

We also meet Eden, 20 years ago, who is a happily married woman who is desperate to have a baby with her husband. Unfortunately, like many women, Eden struggles with infertility, which begins to consume her life. Her story is heartbreaking and leads her to do some CRAZY things.....

I loved this book and got through it really quickly. I think infertility has become more popular as a book theme lately, though I'm not sure I love so many women suffering from this issue appreciate being portrayed as crazy and desperate enough to...well, I can't give it away. I did enjoy this book though, and I think it's definitely worth a read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4*.

I am a fan of Mary Kubica, having discovered The Good Girl a few years ago. I've enjoyed her style of writing: a good mix of using detail and timeline stuttering while leaving the reader almost as unsettled as the plot twists.

When the Lights Go Out is the story of Jessie Sloane, a young woman facing her mother's imminent death of cancer in a Chicago hospital Jessie is strung out from a lack of sleep - either from anxiety over losing her mother or simply insomnia. She finally acquiesces and accepts sleeping pills from the nurse caring for her mother as well as melatonin from a boy she meets in the hospital cafeteria. The result is that she sleeps through her mother's last moments and wakes to find that she has already passed.

Jessie then has to find a way to go forward, learning quickly that she is not who she thought she was-unable to obtain a death certificate because she does not have a social security number, she discovers that she is on the "Death Roll". Insomnia continues to haunt her and the reader is left unsure if the story is real or her imagination.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and was completely gripped by the mystery. Another solid thriller by Mary Kubica!

*With thanks to netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Kubica is one of my favorite authors - she is one of those authors who I purchase her books without even knowing what they are about.. With that said, this book while it was interesting and excellent writing, was not one of my favorites. I think I couldn't relate to the sheer desperation of a woman wanting a child so desperately.. It seemed to be just a bit slow for me- but that could just be me. I will remain a loyal Mary Kubica fan and look forward to her next book. I so wanted to give it 5 stars but feel I should be truthful and transparent in my review.. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#WhenTheLightsGoOut #NetGalley

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several of Mary Kubica's books and was excited for this one; however, I was not a fan of this one. There were a couple of times where I didn't even want to finish but was waiting for the twist. The twist was there, but it wasn't a very good one. I would recommend reading other books by this author before reading this one.

Pretty bummed :(

I've read a few of Kubica's previous book and when i saw this one, it immediately grabbed my attention. The story is gripping and there are plenty of twists and turns. It is a little formulaic in that I felt there were certain aspects of the plot which felt quite similar to her other books and her characters are quite similar as well. That being said, it is a formula she follows well and her writing is always solid. An engaging summer mystery!

This is the fourth book from this author I've read and probably my favorite. It was so fast paced and definitely one you'll stay up late reading. I didn't dislike the characters and the twists were unexpected. Thank you to HARLEQUIN publishing for the ARC! (less)

This book is why I like Mary Kubica. The books twists and turns and goes in unexpected directions. I finished the last 50% of the book in one sitting!

I have read and loved all of Mary Kubica's books. When the Lights Go Out is also one of those books. I couldn't wait to turn the pages to see what was going to happen. Then something happened that I didn't see coming. Not the best ending to this good read.

I wish I could give a positive review for this book, but I cannot. I wanted to like the two female protagonists, but I didn't. Their actions didn't seem to come naturally from their personalities. The book's structure was confusing at first, purposefully, I'm sure, but when the confusion was cleared up and the connection between the women explained, I was still confused. I had to force myself to finish, so I could understand what was really happening. The big surprise was hard for me to accept. I have been a big fan of Ms. Kubica's previous books, but this title simply misses the mark for me.

Mary Kubica, my heart hurts writing this review and giving this novel a 2-star rating.

Mary Kubica's The Good Girl is in my top 10 favorite books of all time. It was phenomenal! Since then, my expectations have been very high. Kubica's Pretty Baby and Don't You Cry were great, but not as amazing as The Good Girl.

I was really looking forward to this novel. The premise sounded amazing and I was intrigued. The writing was beautiful as always and it is somewhat of a slow burn thriller, which I enjoy. I love the past and present point of views and the unreliable narrator is also something I've come to enjoy. The first 80% of the book was a good 4.5 star read for me. BUT, the twist KILLED any hope I had of liking this book. There are some books that an epic twist is amazing and you don't see it coming, but then there's twists that leave you thinking you just wasted your time. This is one of those that wasted my time. I was so disappointed!

Even writing this review, I am shocked that the author ended the story that way. It could have been a 5 star, best of the year novel if it would have had any other ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Trade Publishing for sending me an early reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Kubica is a must read author, this isn’t her best work but it is riveting nonetheless! I love how she has the ability to question my own sanity as I read. I never have the answers figured out and this was no different. Expect twists and surprises with every page turn. These are the types of books my book club loves to read and discuss!

Mary Kubica is one of my favorite authors to read. I have read all of her books and I have to say this is in my top 2. It was full of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the very end. Jessie and Eden were both very unique characters. I enjoyed the back and forth between Jessie and Eden's journal.

While the book didn't have much interaction between Jessie and Eden, it was obvious how much they loved each other. They shared a special bond as mother and daughter. Eden's pain dealing with her fertility was palpable. Kubica did a wonderful job of showing how it turns to obsession and how much pain and guilt a woman deals with as she struggles to have a child. Jessie insomnia was painful. I wanted to reach out to her and offer comfort and help her to get some much needed rest.

This was a fast paced book to read. I didn't want to put it down. It kept me intrigued until the very end. I highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Hanover Square Press (U.S. & Canada).