Oh man! I seem to be coming to the end of a good reading run. Unfortunately, i've had to write one other rather negative review in the past few days, and I really don't like doing so. I have to be honest though, and this book left me feeling incredibly deflated. Osman's previous book and debut 'The Good Mother' seemed to be more of a success in terms of how I felt about it, which is why I chose to grab a copy of this.

Although there are suspenseful moments, I didn't feel as though it was a particularly gripping or thrilling read. However, I did enjoy the fact that there was a dual timeline. The story is set in the 1980s with diary entries going back to the 1960s, and it does flow well chapter-to chapter, although some of the twists left a lot to be desired. That said, there was one particular about-turn that was one heck of a surprise and literally came out of nowhere. This may appeal to some, but I found very strange. There are quite a few aspects of the novel that are confusing until you read to the end when everything makes sense, but it doesn't do much to your confidence when you feel you are missing or misinterpreting stuff, even when you are validated by what is included in the conclusion, although even it wasn't adequately explained. Each chapter is from a different characters perspective on a continuous loop for the duration of the story,

One thing the author excels at is evoking emotion and cultivating sympathy towards main character Angela, who has had a difficult life. I found all the characters were stereotypical and lacked sufficient development, and there were an awful lot of cliched and unbelievable events. The whole novel lacks the urgency and anticipation to be a psychological thriller, and I would define this more suspense crossed with womens fiction crossed with family drama. Overall, this is a dark, unsettling read that ultimately lacked in gumption for me. If you're a seasoned crime reader, I feel you will ultimately be highly disappointed by this book, and will also predict many of the twists/surprises long before they occur. Each character is unlikeable, so if you love a good guy to champion or to connect to, you won't find that here. The premise was a sound one, and I feel the author missed a trick by not executing the plot to a sufficient standard. It is a little over-optimistic to call this a thriller because, simply, it didn't thrill!

Many thanks to Aria for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I read some reviews after I read this book. I never read reviews before as I don’t like to be influenced.
But I do enjoy reading others points of view. Makes me step back and think.

I actually enjoyed the skilled writing in this book. It urged me along quite nicely.

I thought about this little girl being left up for adoption. Why and what thoughts would this child have growing up.
She makes friends with others in this orphanage but of course we know it’s not going to be a straight forward tale.

When we read about how a child is taken to “the den” it gives no doubt what it’s for.

Then there are the spoons hanging in the kitchen of all shapes and sizes. These are used for beating.

The ‘littlies’ are the ones favoured for adoption but when a rich couple want to take her she can’t believe it.

Events happen to change things and she’s encouraged to seek out her biological Mum.
All doesn’t go to plan.

The only complaint I had was the ending. It was like the author couldn’t find how to end this plausible to really ended this with me thinking “hmmmm easy ways out” so for me personally the ending let it dowN

WOW!!!!!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
I wasn't expecting much since it is on the Kindle Unlimited list but it was awesome. I haven't been so surprised at the ending since "Behind Her Eyes".

Angela was given up for adoption and raised in an orphanage. Abused off and on, she seemed to turn out okay despite not getting adopted until she was 14.

Growing up, she had mixed feelings about meeting her birth mother. When her adopted father, James, gets sick, he encourages Angela to meet her birth mom, Evelyn. Despite her resentment towards her mother, she did to appease her dad.

Evelyn has a history of drugs and alcohol abuse. Is she imagining things or is someone really following her? She lives in a not so good neighborhood where there has been a recent murder. However, none of this stuff started happening until she met her birth daughter, Angela.

I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I loved it. I am going to search any books by Karen Osman immediately after hitting publish. This book is going to be released on September 4. Get it!!!! Here is the link to Amazon.

Well, this didn't at all turn out the way I expected it to from the book description. Which, quite frankly, also gives away way too much, in my most humble opinion.

To begin with, despite a few events near the end of the book, I'm finding it hard to label this as a psychological thriller. For the most part, it reads as a drama and for the first half of the book, there didn't seem to be that much happening at all.

The chapters switch between three women affected by adoption; Angela, her birth mother Evelyn and her adoptive mother Rosalyn. I found all three characters to be highly unlikeable and couldn't quite muster up any sympathy for them. Throughout the story, we get glimpses into life at the home Angela grew up in via diary entries. Unfortunately these left me entirely cold. Not at all gritty or as heartbreaking as I thought they would be. I feel like the premise of the book should have packed one heck of a punch and sadly, it didn't achieve that at all. There are a few twists but to be fair, if you read a lot in this genre, you'll probably be able to figure them out long before the reveal.

Thank you for the opportunity to read the book, when I first read the review I thought it was going to be a hard story to follow. But I was gripping and tense but a very good laid out story line with tension and Twists. Really enjoyed

Disturbing and very emotional . The characters were well described and several twists in this well written story

This book was one of the most emotional books I have read in a long time. My heart absolutely breaks for angela. This makes the second book I wasnt able to completely finish because it brought back too many harsh memeories for me. But I can see how people will love this book! I wish I could stuck it out and continued to read it. The author made everything so vivid and its like I felt everything this child and these girls were going through!

I did not expect that ending.
Angela has been in an orphanage her whole life. All she wants is to be adopted. That's all that every child in that home want. Unfortunately all they get is abuse,and starvation, when she is fifteen she is finally adopted. But living in that children's home had already damaged her. Now all she wanted was revenge.
This is a psychological thriller. It is intense, emotional, and exciting.
The characters are strong and interesting. The storyline is phenomenal. I strongly recommend this book.

Thank you to Karen Osman and Aria for the opportunity to read and review this book. The Home was an intriguing page turner that is disturbing at times. Realistic at times, in a sad way it explores how children inn the system feel,at times. This book is twisty and will leave you guessing until the end.

This book was unputadownable,excellent read from the first chapter.i never saw what was coming,really made me think at the end of the book .excellent book.would recommend as a holiday read,I give this book five stars

I'll begin by saying I thoroughly enjoyed Osman's decision to set this book in the 1980's with throwback diary entries from the 60's - in so many current "thrillers" I'm constantly saying "why did they not Google/text/otherwise locate information!"

There were some inconsistencies early in the book that threw me off - Angela was referred to as "Alison" - I thought it may be a clue to what was to come, but it seems it was just a typo.

Overall I was interested and invested, but there were too many inconsistencies and plot twists that were not only predictable, but annoyingly so. Not a bad book - just cliched and soooo predictable that I was constantly rolling my eyes that everyone hadn't figured out the so-called "twists" that were glaringly obvious the entire time. This killed the thriller aspect of this book for me.

The ending was not shocking or surprising, but was not badly done. 3/5 stars.

Creepy, shocking, twists and turns a plenty. Good subject matter and edge of your seat story telling. This is a must read

I was given an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was not a badly written book, just too gothic for my taste. You might like it though if you like that kind of thing. There are a lot of suspenseful twists.

This is a thriller set in the eighties in England, where Angela, the main character, who is adopted is encouraged by her adoptive father to find her birth mother. Her adoptive mother is not a sure about what Angela is doing. The book skips back and forth between Angela, her adoptive mom Rosemary and her birth mom Evelyn's points of view as well as diaries written in the past. Became quite suspenseful the further I got into the story slowly putting the pieces together as the stories from each character began to intertwine. Well written and very interesting as I had a hard time putting this own down until I finished. BIG twist at the end, a tad clique, but for the most part a great thriller (just a little bit disturbing, but that didn't deter me). Definitely worth reading!!!!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Aria and Karen Osman for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Home.
Wow. What a read!! This book, from the description, promised so much. And it certainly delivers. The storyline was well thought out and fast paced with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until you reach the final, stunning twist that is near impossible to predict. I did not see it coming. I stayed up all night to read this book as it was impossible to put it down.
Would have no hesitation in recommending this novel for fans of a spine tingling thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance ARC in return for an honest review.

This book had me guessing from the beginning. The charred remains of a young woman has been found under a bonfire, possibly been there for weeks with only a charm on a bracelet as a clue to who she is.

The story then goes back and forth between the present day and the 1980s. Angela was adopted and is encouraged to meet her birth mother after her adopted father is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

There are three narrators, current Angela, her teenage diary documenting her time in the Children’s Home, and Rosemary her adoptive mother.

The novel kept me guessing until the end, when some things which didn’t add up during the novel fell into place. Am hoping for a sequel as would love to find out what becomes of Angela….

Wow! The Home had me guessing until the very end!
Angela was very young when her mother left and she spent many years raised in a Children's home. Told through journal entries, we see what being raised in a children's home could look like. The home manager, Ray, takes the children to his den and gives them candy or presents for being good. His wife, Kath, uses wooden spoons on the children when they do not behave.
Angela, a lucky child, gets adopted as a teenager by a seemingly wonderful wealthy couple. Into adulthood now, Angela searches for and finds her birth mother, Evelyn. But after this meeting, strange things start to unfold for everyone. What secrets are still left to uncover?

I received this advanced reader's copy of #TheHome from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion!

The Home was an interesting read with plenty of drama, twists and turns and how the past can come back to haunt you. The story had great flow and there was never any let down in the pacing. I was thoroughly entertained with a twist I honestly didn’t see coming. Another triumph for Karen Osman. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my ARC.

I had trouble getting into this one. I was unable to finish at this time. Will get back to it and post a full review at that time

Enjoyable read with a twist that seemed to come out of the blue but which was still enjoyable. Some other twists I did guess but this did not detract from the enjoyment of the book. I plan to go back and re read the book as I think some other bits will make sense knowing the ending which were confusing the first time round (you'll know when you read them!)