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).

Eden and Jessie. Mother and daughter. Who was Jessie's father? Mom won't say. The story alternates between Eden's past and Jessie's present. Each character is portrayed as obsessive to a point just short of insanity. While I wanted to know the end of the story, there was a lot of repetition and angst to plow through. Eden's decisions are finally fully explained after many red herrings. As for Jessie, all I can say is "Hello, yellow brick road." What a trite, lazy way to trick the reader.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

KUBICA.... GIRL!! After all that?!! You've got to be kidding me!

Ok..... here we go. This was my first experience with this author and my goodness was it an experience. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this author... so I can't compare anything since this was my first read by her.

Let me just put it this way... I didn't enjoy this novel. And that ending?! What the fuc........... that was some bull to my horns. NO way.... I can't haha. I threw my kindle across the room after finishing this one. I struggled to even get through this book because nothing was happening.

When the Lights Go Out is a very slow burn of a book. I usually don't do well with these kinds of books unless if the ending delivers. And.... this ending did not deliver at all.

I feel like this is going be a huge buzz... especially with a lot of her readers feeling disappointed in the ending.

2 stars

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Harlequin/Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Published to GR: 7/30/18
Publication date: 9/4/18

This was only okay for me... it wasn’t a predictable end, but it was anti-climatic. I liked the two viewpoints, but it felt like the author was intentionally leading you in the wrong direction to trick you. 3 stars for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was going to be like others that I have read based in it's description, however; I was surprised with the ending.
Enjoyed the storyline & the characters. Will be recommending this book to others.

It was everything I never expected. I made assumptions with this book, and it sounded so much like something I had just read but it was its own little treasure.

The characters: Jessica.... She was lost from dealing with loss and everything that into that. Eden.... I think so my many women can relate to her plight. I don't want to give too much away, but she struggled in a way a lot of women do. I feel like it turned into an obsession that she couldn't control but she was still this really sweet person that waned to realize her life's dream.

This was a heartbreaking but beautiful book.

I can’t believe that ending but the over all book was great. I haven’t ever readied a Kubrick book. At least one I can remember. I kind of enjoyed the ending because it wasn’t what I expected. I love the unexpected. That’s why we read more than one author, different kind of book. We want the unexpected, unbelievable, and unbiased novel. To stimulate our minds, hearts and imagination. I look forward to reading something you again.

Another great read from Mary Kubica. I’m not going to elaborate on the plot because I don’t want to give anything away. It was one of those books that was impossible to put down. While I enjoyed the story, I really didn’t find any of the characters all that likeable. But that’s ok. I don’t need to like them to appreciate the art of a good story. I especially enjoyed the settings of this novel - I’m a Chicago girl and I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Door County. Books take on a unique perspective when you’ve got an actual picture in your head of their locales.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge Mary Kubica fan and have loved everything I've read of hers. This book kept me hooked with the mystery and the different timelines. Kubica does a great job of leading the reader with an unreliable narrator which made it hard to know what was real and what wasn't. I wanted a little bit more from the ending, but it was still a great read!

I absolutely love any book by Mary Kubica and this book is no different! Just when you think you have it all figured out it takes another turn! A real page turner!

I have read some of the authors previous books and enjoyed this one as well. A bit predictable but still got to the finish line feeling satisfied. It was good, but not great.

Although the book is fast read, i found myself skipping over so much. Jessie finds she has no social security number after Eden, her mother dies from cancer. The skipping back and forth between time lines and narrators Jessie and Eden left me very confused. And added to the fact that I did not appreciate the ending this book was not one of Mary Kubica's best in my opinion.

What a story! Just when you think you have everything figured out, and everything will fall neatly into place, BAM! I was pleasantly surprised by the twist (as I’ve been in the habit of guessing endings lately), but I don’t know that everyone will love this twist. You’ll just have to read it and find out! The story is told from alternating characters and timelines, which help add to the unique ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

When I see a Mary Kubica book I immediately read it. I have enjoyed everything she has written and When The Lights Go Out is no exception! What a great story. I was hooked from the first page till the very end. An ending I didn’t see coming!
Jessie Sloan is mourning her mother when she finds out she may not be who she thinks she is. She has no social security number and no birth certificate? Is it possible her perfect mom kidnapped her ?
Written in Jessie and her moms point of view, this was an another amazing read!

I read When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica with very high expectations for a great novel. I found Ms. Kubica’s writing to be very descriptive and creative . I felt as if I knew exactly who these characters were. At the beginning of the novel there was an excellent story line presented and I excitedly read on. In the middle of the novel I thought that it became very stagnant and confusing . I thought that after a while this confusion would be resolved but that did not happen ... The novel ended and I still had many questions about the characters . Ms Kubica’s excellent writing made me wish for a more complete ending .