I had a little trouble connecting with the three leads at the beginning of the book, but I realized over the course of the story that it was McManus' ingenious way of slowly unraveling the story through little peeks at the characters and their histories.
The plot itself isn't 100% original, but the brilliance of this book is that I was pulled in and invested in the characters even long after I'd figured out most of what was happening.
As much as there is a big mystery pulling the story forward, this book is a study of characters that lets each cousin take center stage for their biggest moments and really shine. You can't help but feel connected to them and want to figure out what's behind everything that's happening.
It really does pull you in and doesn't let go without ever getting too dark or feeling forced. That's quite an achievement.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the early read!

Another great book my McManus that is brilliantly written. The twists in this story keep you guessing and wanting to read more. I couldn't put it down!

From perspectives of each cousin, this book interweaves the Story past and present. The rich family is blocked from their mother’s inheritance for something they did, but none of the siblings understand. When a letter is sent to their children, “the cousins,” go to Cove Island for a summer job, but instead of working they seek the truth from their grandmother, Mildred. The storytelling is slow at some points but incorporates some suspense as to what happened to get cut off from the money supply.

Book Summary:

Three cousins (Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story) that hardly know each other, have been requested to work for their wealthy grandmother, Mildred Story. They know that their own parents have no communication with their own mother but why did this happen? When they arrive the at the island to work, they come across a young girl to ask a couple of questions for her research project and happens to be the grandchild of Dr. Fred Baxter. The longer they stay, the more they realize that there are many secrets that people are keeping and impacting so many lives. This is where the cousins will find some secrets being revealed right in front of their very own eyes.

Review:

Reading her previous novels, it is to be expected that this would be another mystery to solve which kept me alert and search for any clues. The plot flowed with the beginning and ending of the story which of course kept me engaged. This is great for YA readers and older that are into mystery novels and are trying to guess what happens at the end of the story.

Wow...just WOW! Karen M McManus does NOT disappoint.
The Cousins follows 3 (you guessed it) cousins who have until now been cut off from their grandmother. When their parents were just barely adults they received a letter saying "You Know What You Did" and that was the last communication they received from their mother until this summer. Milly, Aubrey and Jonah are told they have summer jobs to work at their grandmother's swanky island hotel. Their parents insist they go and patch thing up with their rich grandmother and restore the Story Family legacy and solve the mystery of the letter.
Just like any small ton, secrets can't stay secret forever. This book had so many twists and surprises I couldn't put it down!

Karen's books are so popular right now it is no question I wanted to read her latest! The Cousins was a juicy fun "summer read" set on a Massachusetts island, involving three cousins. I loved that the book didn't go where I expected it to and that I kept on guessing until finally the mystery was revealed. I thought this was stronger than her last book (the sequel to OOIL), and comparable to her second Two Can Keep a Secret. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and look forward to handing it to teen readers when it comes out!

This is a story about secrets & greed.

I’ve enjoyed other works by the author, so I was excited when I heard she had something new on the way. It didn’t disappoint! I love summer camp settings, especially this year when actual travel feels challenging. A fun, summery mystery.

Thanks NetGalley & Delacorte for this advanced e-ARC. The Cousins is out this December!

The Cousins was a fun teen thriller/mystery. It's a solid story, though I wouldn't say it's the best thing I've ever read. I'll be purchasing it for my teen collection, however.

As a fan of McManus's previous novels, I was thrilled to get the chance to read The Cousins early. It's the perfect book to read on a craggy New England beach. if you get the chance. The rotating perspectives as well as the peeks into the past combine to unravel the book's mysteries, plural - just when you think you've solved the mystery, a new mystery appears! It was a fun and compelling read that kept me saying, "just one more chapter before bed."

I have read all of Karen McManus's books. They each twist and turn that you do not know which way is up by the end, but you love the ride. I do feel like this one fell a little short. I felt that it was very predictable, but I am also an adult reading YA. Having read her, I was looking for who it was.
It will still be something my students love, and something I will buy for the library.

This was an intriguing mystery that kept me turning the pages.
If you've enjoyed McManus' other work, you'd enjoy this. The characters were interesting, each with their own secrets to unravel as the story went on.
Thank you to #Netgalley and @RHCBeducators for the opportunity to get an early copy.

If you enjoyed Karen McManus' other books then you will love this one! It's a good old fashion mystery but with a family dynamic twist that I did not see coming. Three cousins come together after years of their family being estranged, for a summer of trying to figure out the mystery surrounding their grandmother's apparent disinheritance of their parents. The story is told as a tripartite, or three person, perspective so we get a good understanding of each of the cousins. Also included is a 3rd person point of view of past events that help fill on some of the blanks. The story wraps up nicely but does leave a little tid bit at the end which leaves room for perhaps a sequel. This quick read, fun, and engaging story will have you speeding through the pages to figure out what is going on.

Possibly even more twists than McManus' previous books which kept me thoroughly engaged and waiting to see what would come next. All three main characters had me interested and they were each nicely defined. It did take me quite awhile to sort out the three older brothers, especially with all the names beginning with "A" and ESPECIALLY Archer vs. Anders! I like the corrupt rich person vibe and the ultimate comeuppance of some of the more miserable characters.

Another great novel by the author. Like the author's other books, she has characters to root for and shocking twists. This is a definite must buy for my library.

This was my first book by Karen M. McManus, and it won't be my last! After fully disconnecting from their family, the Story grandmother suddenly invites all three of her grandchildren to her island to work for the summer. Something doesn't seem right to our three main characters, as to why their grandmother would now be reaching out. All of the characters are fun and different, with a plot twist I didn't see coming. I couldn't put this mystery down.

I have enjoyed previous Karen M. McManus books so I was looking forward to reading this one. The premise of this one seemed to offer yet another interesting and thrilling story. It didn't disappoint.

Meeting Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah was a lot of fun. Being introduced to the history of their family and attempting to figure out what happened then vs what is happening now kept me thoroughly engaged throughout the story. There were plenty of twists and turns that I did not see coming, as well as a few that seemed to come from no where, as a reader, but made sense for the characters involved. Overall I really enjoyed the story and definitely look forward to reading more by McManus.

I look forward to having this at my library because I can already think of some young adult readers who will be interested in reading it.

This is such an excellent mystery and thriller novel. Karen McManus is my favorite new writer for all things mysterious and suspenseful.

Three 17-year-old cousins are summoned to their reclusive grandmother’s island twenty-four years after she abruptly disowned their parents. Everyone has secrets they’re keeping. The premise is interesting, but the delivery falls short. The plot meanders along for the first two-thirds or so, and I found the climax rather underwhelming.
Two and a half stars rounded up to three.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the electronic arc.

Karen McManus has done it again! This may be her best one yet. A great mystery about a wealthy family, with lots of secrets of course. Just when you think you are settled in, an unexpected twist and everything you thought you knew vanishes. The Story family is a storied family, with massive wealth that owns and lives on Gull Cove island, similar to Martha's Vineyard. Their wealthy creates a distinction between the 4 Story siblings and their townie peers. Unexpectedly, as adults, they are disowned from their mother, immediately after their father passed away. As they mystery of why unfolds, each of the siblings and their offspring, the cousins of the title, have their own unique story. McManus brings all kinds of excitement into solving the mystery of why were they disowned so abruptly and who and why were the cousins summoned to the island for one wild summer. A great read!

Milly, Aubrey and Jonah are three cousins who don't know each other and they all receive a letter from their estranged grandmother inviting them to come for visit for the summer. She disinherited their parents years ago after and none of the children know why. Their parents tell them their going so they can get back in the matriarch's good graces but one they get to the island they shortly learn that all may not be as it seems. They also learn about their family's dark and secret past any why their parents were disinherited in the first place. I love the setting of a mystery on an island or near a beach. It always puts me in the mind of one of my favorite mysteries Agatha Christie's And then there were none. A beach setting is usually so sunny and open and secrets that have been hidden for years have no way of hiding in that setting. McManus is becoming a go to author for anything mystery for me. She is truly skilled at character, secrets and plotting. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery.