The Booksparks Fall Reading Challenge 2018 (#FRC2018) is here.  Summer is coming to a close and BookSparks releasing their next reading challenge.  They pick 17 new Fall books, and they take readers on an adventure this season.  Today's book is another book in their challenge - When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica.

Jessie mother, Eden dies from cancer and her whole world as she knows it falls apart.  Jessie is grieving the loss of her mother as she discovers that she doesn't really know who she is - literally. She learns that her social security number belongs to a dead girl. She's not sure why her mother worked so hard to keep Jessie's identity a secret, and she never even knew her father.  She starts putting together the clues she's able to find about her identity.  Jessie's insomnia results in her chronic sleeplessness, causing her mind to wander, her memory to fail and her emotions to explode all over the place.   

Along with a story narrated by Jessie in the present time, readers are provided with a narrative from Eden in a journal from the 1990's, sharing her life with Aaron - their happy home and marriage, but also their inability to have children.  Their stories run separately throughout the book until they finally connect at the end.

The author builds characters the main very well, and readers come to know Eden and Jessie and empathize with them as they moved through each of the issues they were individually facing.

And the ending....... I honestly didn't see it coming. I'm glad I didn't read any reviews that were spoilers (and I'm not going to write one here).  I caught myself gasping out loud in a very quiet waiting room of a medical facility, causing folks in the room to look my way! I was so shocked though, I couldn't help myself.

Overall, When the Lights Go Out was yet another page-turning and suspense-filled  novel from Mary Kubica - this one more on the domestic suspense side than thriller - but nonetheless well written and slow building until that final ending that I won't be forgetting very soon.

I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post.  I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because this book was great! Thank you!

The writing is great. The mystery isn’t there. But unfortunately for me the ending just fell super short! I wanted a different ending. This book had the potential to be a knock out of the park 5 Star Read, the ending made the stars fall off unfortunately. It was great, I couldn’t put it down and the ending was a true let down.

Not what I expected at all ! Very different and unexpected quick read! The book was a bit slow at times but still kept you interested and wanting to read to the exciting conclusion.

My rating: 3.5 Stars

When we open the pages of this chilling tale, we read that Jessie Sloane is sitting with her dying mother. She is not sleeping and is suffering from sleep deprivation. This has become debilitating to her. She is now seeing and hearing things. In the process of trying to apply to college, she discovers several disconcerting things: she had no social security number, identification or even a birth certificate.

The story shifts to a woman named Eden set twenty years earlier. She is a happy young wife and she and her husband have moved into a new home. Although having only been married for a couple of years, Eden wants a child more than she ever could have imagined. This is a pivotal part of the story.

The story quickly shifts back and forth between Jessie’s and Eden’s first-person points of view. It is rather difficult to follow as the timelines seemed rather random. I nearly put the book down more than once, but about 100 pages in, things began to come together.

Because of this, it took me several days to read this book. I simply could not get into the story. I was relieved when I reached the “Aha” moment. I then became eager to know why Jessie had such an uncertain past and did wonder about whatever resolution would come her way. The story definitely was intriguing, as there was so much to learn about both of these women and how they tied together.

This is a book in which the term unreliable narrator really applies. Two in this case. This is because character development in When the Lights Go Out was done quite well. I felt for Jessie while she struggled with the dual battle of her identity and her extreme exhaustion and everything that went along with that. Conversely, the author did a fine job in making me truly dislike Eden. Although there were moments when I did feel very sorry for her, I also felt moments of complete disgust. This was a very nice contrast to experience while reading this book.

The ending, though... I had to read the last several chapters twice. All I can say at this point is that it was odd. It left me scratching my head. I did get the answers that I was seeking while reading this book, but it was delivered just as jumbled as the rest of the story. This is my first read by Mary Kubica. However, due to the intrigue which did manage to hold my attention for a good portion of the story, I would like to give this author another look in a future book.

Many thanks to Harlequin - Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

It took me a little time to get into this book, I fell like it was more me than the actual book, I've always been a huge fan of Mary Kubica's writing. I took quite awhile to read this one but once I got to the ending I was definitely surprised and then the whole book made so much sense, I may have to go back and reread it now.

I was so excited to be able to read this book! I had heard so many rave reviews. And this was my first book by this author. But that final plot twist, ugh. I feel a little disappointed. Not how I wanted or expected it to go.

Having read Mary Kubica's previous works I was anxious to start WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT; my enthusiasm did not last long as this book just did not measure up for me.

I am more than OK with a book that slowly reaches it's climax and leaves you breathless at the end. Not as thrilled with a book that burns slowly and goes nowhere.

Disappointed in the ending. Disappointed in the book. I will most definitely be looking to read the next Mary Kubica book as I have enjoyed her previous novels as much as I didn't enjoy this one.

Perhaps it just wasn't for me but this author deserves to be read.

This wasn't my favorite Mary Kubica novel, but I still really enjoyed reading it. I was totally surprised by the twist at the end and a little disappointed in it too. I honestly didn't see that one coming. Kubica's writing style always sucks me in and keeps me up way past my bedtime. I loved how the novel went back and forth between Jessie and her mother, Eden. Jessie hasn't slept in days since her mother's passing and is completely stumped about why her name and social security number are the exact same as a deceased young girl's. What is her mother hiding? What isn't Jessie remembering? Who is she, really? As we hear Jessie's point of view, the reader is trying to figure this all out with her. As we hear from Eden, the reader receives the history and how the mystery all unfolds. As always, Kubica writes a very engaging and suspenseful story. With this novel, she continues to be a very favorite and a "must read" author for me. 4 stars!

Jesse is in the hospital with her mother, Eden. Eden is doing her last fight with cancer which she is losing. Jesse has been skipping the time to sleep as she wants to be with her mother’s last moments. Where her mom dies, Jesse remains awake. Going for such a long period without sleep is causing her to lose her mental and physical health. Jesse decides to go to college when she finds out she doesn’t exist. There is no birth certificate. The social security number, etc., was for a dead girl. Who is Jesse? She feels as if she doesn’t know. With the continuous insomnia is causing Jessie to have hallucinations.

The novel was absorbing. I didn’t want to stop reading it. The mother’s story is given as a background to Jesse’s story. It is a fast paced novel and well written.

I sat down to read When the Lights Go Out last weekend and was instantly hooked, I ended up finishing it in a matter of hours. It’s an easy, engrossing read that constantly leaves you guessing. Jessica just lost her mother to cancer after years of battling the illness. She discovers while apartment hunting that “Jessica Sloane” doesn’t exist and died 17 years ago. With no birth certificate, no social security card, and no family to turn to she begins the hunt for answers. This is exacerbated by a relentless insomnia, leaving Jessica in a constant state of confusion. What is real, and what is imagined? This twisty, fun read had a shocking ending that left me satisfied and tied everything up nicely. For me, When The Lights Go Out was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @harlequinbooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

After the death of her ailing mother Eden, Jessie Sloan is determined to restart her life but soon discovers that the life she knew may have been all been a lie and sets course to try to solve this mystery. Journeying freom Eden's past and Jessie's present, the story zig zags between these two lives all leading up to its shocking conclusion. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed Kubica's backlist, this story fell a bit short for me.

This was my first Mary Kubica book, and to be honest it disappointed me a little, but only because it was not what I was expecting at all. I was expecting quite a thrill ride, and instead it was a tame domestic-ish not-quite-thriller. The twist at the end was surprising, and made everything make sense (which was appreciated!) but still didn't give me what I was looking for.

I was granted access by netgalley.com to an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was hooked my in the first few pages, and I had a tough time putting it down! An eerie, murder mystery that I'll recommend to all lovers of psychological thrillers! Mary Kubica returns as one of my favorite authors!

Most people wouldn't call me an optimist, but I suppose you might think of me that way if you pay attention to some of my book choices. I absolutely adored Mary Kubica's second novel, Pretty Baby, but was bitterly disappointed in her two subsequent books, and yet, I continue to eagerly anticipate the author’s new releases in hopes she'll write something as fantastic as Pretty Baby. With When the Lights Go Out, her latest offering, she comes pretty darned close, but the story isn't without its flaws.

Jessie Sloane isn't sure where her life is going. Her mother has been gravely ill for years, and Jessie has been her caretaker. Now though, her mother is nearing the end of her life, and Jessie is feeling understandably adrift.

When Mrs. Sloan succumbs to her illness, Jessie struggles to cope. She decides to apply to college, since she'd put her education on hold to care for her mother, but during the application process, Jessie discovers that her mother might have been keeping some very dark secrets. It seems that Jessie's name and social security number are registered to someone else, someone who happens to be dead.

Suddenly, everything Jessie thought she knew about herself and her mother is called into question, and she grows increasingly desperate to uncover the truth. Unfortunately, grief is wreaking havoc with her mind. She hasn't slept in days, her appetite is almost non-existent, and before too long, Jessie begins to question what is real and what is a product of her rapidly deteriorating mind.

As Jessie struggles to separate fact from fiction, she starts learning about a woman who, twenty years earlier and 250 miles away, was having a difficult time sorting her own life out. I can't say too much about this particular plotline without completely spoiling the book for you, but I will tell you I was utterly captivated by it. Jessie's connection to this stranger might seem completely obvious at first, but trust me when I say it really isn't. Ms. Kubica did a fabulous job keeping me guessing, even when I was sure I'd figured everything out.

One of the things that struck me the most about this book was the utterly masterful way the author deals with the fracturing mind of our heroine. Jessie's fear and confusion are almost palpable, and I felt those things right along with her. I was very much aware of the irrational nature of some of Jessie's thoughts, but I was also able to understand how she came up with them, and there were a few times when I questioned my own perceptions, thinking Jessie might be right after all. A lot of books attempt to tread the fine line between reality and delusion, but none have managed it with the authenticity of this one.

So, I bet you're wondering why I haven't given this book a higher grade. I was fully prepared to add it to my list of DIKs, but then, I reached the big reveal, and that changed everything. I'm obviously not going to tell you how things turned out, but the twist the plot took blew my mind - and not in a completely positive way. I can't quite decide if it's an absolute stroke of genius or a total cop out. Maybe it falls somewhere in the middle. It was definitely not what I was expecting, and yet I came away from the novel feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

Still, I can't completely discount When The Lights Go Out, because any story that stirs up such conflicted feelings in me is obviously doing something right. The characters are incredibly well-drawn, and I hated to put the book down, and even though the ending didn't work so well for me, but I was entranced by the rest of the story. It's a hard book to talk about, but I still think it's very much worth reading and discussing.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

Amazing book that really keeps you guessing at every turn of the page. If you like a good mystery and thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat this is it,

I was so into this book. I couldn’t put it down. Jessie’s mom dies of cancer and Jessie is trying to piece her life back together. She starts by applying to college, but when her application for financial aid comes back denied saying that she wasn’t who she thought she was, Jessie begins questioning her life. Was there some sort of mistake that her social security number belonged to a deceased child? Was she who she thought she ways? This book jumps back and forth from the prospectives of Jessie and Eden as we being to piece the puzzles of their lives together. It was a very interesting read, but Kubica dropped the ball on the ending. I don’t want to give away the ending, but I’ll tell you this- it ends the way my fourth grade teacher told my class to never end a story. I learned that lesson, somehow Kubica missed it. Maybe she was absent that day!

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 because I love this author).

When the Lights Go Out is the story of Jessie and Eden, and told in alternating views. Jessie has just experienced a huge loss. As a result, her life has been turned upside down and she's unable to sleep. To make matters worse, she's also discovering that she isn't who she thought she is. Eden is desperate to have a child, but is unable to conceive. Both tales are not what you'd call uplifting...

I have mixed feelings on this one. I love Mary Kubica and her other books (Pretty Baby, The Good Girl, Every Last Lie), but I felt a little "meh" when I finished When the Lights Go Out. The story held my interest and I wanted to find out what happened to both of the main characters. It was a quick read, but I was expecting more of an "OMG" moment for the ending. It seems as though other readers had the same feeling. Either way, I'll still check out anything by Mary Kubica in the future. I love her writing style and she keeps you guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Jessie has no one but her mother, so when her mother lies dying in hospital with a terminal illness, she vows to stay awake until the bitter end. Unfortunately, long after her mother has passed, Jessie continues to suffer from insomnia and the days and nights begin to blur into one long endless nightmare. As she tries to move on with her life, she rents a garage apartment and applies to the community college. After all, her mother's last wish was for Jessie "to find herself". When the college reveals that her application cannot be processed due to the fact that her social security number belongs to a dead girl, Jessie's search to find herself takes on a whole new meaning. With twists and turns, dark visions and blurring realities, "When the Lights Go Out" will keep readings breathlessly turning the page.

I've read several of Mary Kubica's books and she has a flair for the thriller and suspense novel. Jessie has spent most of her life caring for her mother and when she dies, Jessie decides on college and a new life. Things become strange when her social security number raises red flags and her life becomes unrecognizable. The story is told from two points of view, Jessie the daughter and Eden, her mother. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

4< b> Am I alive??</b> Stars
<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/FUaRsnZZSI3bG/giphy.gif" width="400" height="300" alt="description
<B> And I know in that moment I am no one </b>
This title makes me believe that Jessie does not think she is alive when the lights go out.. which is sooo well delivered of a concept ( if that was the authors purpose)
Wow!! I rarely read psychological thrillers because its such a hard genre to write without it coming off cheesy or boring. But this wowwww. This story is told in two female POVs with our younger POV being Jessie and her mother being Eden. The amount of research and emotion that is given when Eden is talking about infertility you can feel the hurt, the emotional distress, the pain and the empty lost feeling. You are so completely damaged by Eden’s pain. The book as a whole is engaging and slow at the same time the book is filled with tension and omnious vibes. I thought I knew the plot twist and was so excited about it but surprisingly it wasn’t the plot twist and we don’t hit the real plot twist till the last couple chapters. Now it appears I liked the book because I didn’t read the blurb which is what many people are upset about. The book is a bit long in terms of building everything up it could be shortened and not take away much of our story. However, I have also recommended this book to 2 people in crazy awe the first 85% I couldn’t even put down even though it was long because I HAD TO KNOW!!!!... now the knowing let me down a bit but I think it actually gave the story a better closure. I also feel certain aspects should have been better presented and explained. There are many questions about what this book is about
Child theft?
Death?
Stolen Identity?
Something else entirely?
And I sure am not going to spoil any of it for you!