The story took way too long to get going for me and did not hold my attention....too much unnecessary time spent on background info when the description led me you believe this would be a page turner.

This was a very interesting book. Juno is a fascinating character. She ends up living in the house owned by Winnie and Nigel (it didn't take me very long to figure out what the true circumstances were in that situation) and observes what many think of as a perfect family, only to quickly realize they are not perfect at all. She attempts to help this family, but may have actually made matters worse. There were many twists and turns in this story, some easily intuited, some not. This book also raised a lot of questions, and some were not answered until the last pages, if even then. I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good read.

I’m always a fan of Tarryn Fishers writing! This story takes a while to get into and can be a bit weird but that’s why her books are so fascinating! It’s definitely an interesting ride that you must take.

I didn't love The Wives, but I wanted to give this one a try after reading so many positive reviews. Perhaps this author just isn't for me, but I couldn't get into this book at all.

Part I dragged and was confusing as we were basically introduced to Winnie and her family and Juno, although there didn't seem to be a connection. Part II explained at bit more (not a surprise to me, as I figured that part out) but then the book really went off the rails. There are so many things in this book that just don't make sense and you have to suspend disbelief for that it didn't work for me. I didn't like Winnie. I didn't love Juno and I still feel like I never really got to know her or exactly what happened.

It's not really a thriller, rather, it's more of a domestic ... thrillerish? Either way, many people loved it. I thought it was a slow burn that never actually ignited. There wasn't anything that would keep drawing me back.

This book has it all: glitz, family drama, and so many twists and turns it just might make your head spin. It is so insanely good that you won't be able to stop until the last page. This has Tarryn Fisher's signature: crazy good with a spin. I highly recommend it.

I just really don't know what to say about this book. It was my most anticipated book of 2020 and it was a pretty big disappointment for me. I spent a majority of the book wondering 'what the fuck' because this plot just seemed so outlandish. Then the further we dived into the story the crazier it got. I am also still pretty confused by the ending and don't think I will ever fully know what happened.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I met Tarryn Fisher at Book Expo and have been meaning to read The Wives, but it got lost in a pile of Kindle books. *giggles* So then I saw The Wrong Family on Netgalley and I was like “ooh!” and then I started reading and I was like “huh?”

Allow me to explain.. Also- stop here if you don’t want this book spoiled for you because I’ve gotta vent and spoilers are gonna fly.

Giving you fair warning….

Spoilers Happening NOW……

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When I started reading the back of the book- I thought Juno was living there because she was a family friend type person. So, it always struck me weird as to how Juno moved about the house- not wanting them to see her getting food, etc. At first, I just wrote it off to this family being peculiar- but then it was revealed.

Juno was a squatter. So, things that hadn’t been making much sense- started to make a bit more sense.

But, still this book was a big ole pile of crazy (and not necessarily in a good way).

I didn’t love the characters. I didn’t really care for the ending. The twists were just a bit too out there for me. It was twists for twists sake- and I dislike that.



Bottom line: This was my first 2 star book on Goodreads for 2020. I think I will still go back and read The Wives- one day. But The Wrong Family- it had all the ingredients to be a good book for me- it just didn’t pan out.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

This book will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Juno is a woman who is keeping an eye on a family. Winnie is married to Nigel and they was so in love until something happened. Can they get it back or is it too late? Juno is trying to help but does she know the whole story?

Third person narration is not my jam, but the build up was very slow and at times boring. Once the pace picked up, I could not stop.

I read this book months ago and loved it. I was delayed in writing my response due to life BUT have not been able to forget how enjoyable this book was. It provided an interesting outside perspective on a family by someone who thought they understood the family members and how different life can seem.

This book was very different from Ms. Fisher's earlier works but no less enjoyable. I actually enjoyed this more than I did The Wives which is a book I recommend often. She has the ability to write characters that are both likeable and yet show the ugly parts as well.

Obviously if you like Ms. Fisher this should be an auto buy. If you haven't tried her before, I highly recommend starting now!

*DNF*

ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.

I put this one aside for now, as I just couldn't get into it. I picked it up and put it down a few times unfortunately. I would like to try and come back to this some day, as I loved The Wives and am disappointed I couldn't get engrossed in this new book.

Winnie, Nigel, and Sam seem to have the perfect life, but Juno knows better. Juno lives with them and observes them when she can. She’s fascinated by them. When she overhears something that makes her head spin, she can’t forget it. Juno makes it her mission to figure out exactly what she heard.
Dueling points of view (and sometimes timelines) will keep readers on their toes. Fisher effortlessly crafts and weaves her story together and keeps readers guessing until the very end. I thought I knew what this book was about, and then all of a sudden I had no idea, which is one of my favorite reading experiences. For fans of Shari Lapena and J.P. Delaney.

REVIEW

4 stars!

In usual Tarryn Fisher style this one kept me guessing from beginning to end. In the first half of the story I often felt confused and struggled to stay invested but the second half was complete with twists and turns I could have never been prepared for.

Tarryn is an incredible author. Her thrillers are like nothing you will ever read and for that alone I recommend reading this book.

The book is told in two points of view. Winnie and Juno.

From the outside Winnie appears to be living the perfect life with her husband and son but as the story unfolds we learn that their life is anything but perfection.

Juno is a complicated woman. She has come to live with the Crouch’s and overhears something she just can’t unhear and how the story unfolded from this point on was one twist after the next.

The writing is gripping, thrilling and will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is best read if you go in blind with no spoilers.

*Advanced reader copy received in exchange of an honest review.

I went in blind to this book, I had the chance to grab this early and jumped on it. My first read by Tarryn Fisher and it was trippy. I love a good psychological read, especially when I don't see it coming. This book had all the secret and then some. Well written and unexpected. I loved it!

Honestly just felt like misc effed up things happening to misc effed up people just for the sake of it. No real point. The "twists" weren't clever as much as they were just "surprise another effed up thing is ALSO happening at the exact same time"! I didn't even feel like everything was explained.
Given this author's popularity, I guess there's something about her stories people enjoy, but after two of them left me cold, I don't expect to read from her again.

This book had too many predictable parts for me. How could anyone not notice an elderly woman basically living in their home while they’re gone or sleeping? And then it just all tied together neatly until the very end when more bodies are discovered. But then it just ends. I had high hopes for this one. The cover is great. The book was not. 3 stars.

Winnie has been a go getter her entire life. She has worked really hard for her family but life has taken a toll on her and she's worried about her marriage with Nigel. The constant arguing leaves much to the imagination and worries that something that happened years ago may affect her now and in the future.

Juno lives in the house in a studio style apartment and with her background has the means to help after hearing an argument. Winnie and Juno take us on a rollercoaster of events. The relationships revealed shows us the dynamic and flaws of each person. The relationships make you question are they really happy? Does the other party know how they feel and just don't care?

Tarryn Fisher gives us this dark story of family and the relationships people deal with. I enjoyed each of the characters and the backgrounds.

i’m giving this is very ... tentative 5 ⭐️ but i’m not sure that’s going to stick? idk. i really really enjoyed it? but it wasn’t what i normally read so it feels weird giving it a 5.

here’s the thing - if you’re expecting a book like the wives, this isn’t going to be it. this is a supppper character driven domestic thriller that was totally not what i was expecting ?? & ended in the most ... sad ?? way. there was SOOO MUCH to it. mental illness, family secrets, family drama, marriage in trouble, homelessness, socioeconomic differences & a lot that has to do with motherhood & what it looks like to be a mother (to your own children or not!)

it follows two different women from two different walks of life & their connection that is far from normal. i’ve been a Tarryn fangirl for years & years & this book is no different. twisted & messed up & honesty how tf do you think of these things, tarryn?? you amaze me.

at the end of this review - i have to say i liked it. i really liked it. it kept me on my toes, the ending was surprising, the drama felt real, & it left me with questions - but also an ending that just fit the story. if you’re on the fence about this one - check it out! if you didn’t like the wives, still check this one out! these are two very different books.

Thanks to tarryn & social butterfly for the arc!

The Wrong Family was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I love thrillers, and this one was a slow burning, family/domestic drama.

The story is told in three parts, and the second and third were the most captivating for me. I thought these sections were well executed, the character development was well done, and the buildup of suspense was there.

So, while the story had some really great elements- like twists and reveals I didn't see coming- there were also some things that I found held me back from being blown away by it. For instance, the pacing of the first part of the story was almost too slow. It did take a little bit for me to connect initially.

In the end, there was far more that I enjoyed about The Wrong Family, so overall I found it entertaining and engaging- and creepy.



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*Complimentary copy for review provided by Harper Collins Canada. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

Never meddle in other people's affairs. It's a good rule of thumb for a reason. It is also the theme of Tarryn Fisher's new suspense novel, The Wrong Family, a book that examines what happens when people interfere in the lives of others. If you previously read Fisher's The Wives, then you know that her writing is fresh and her characters deranged. The Wrong Family is no different.

The Crouch family have an enviable life. A beautiful home, a happy marriage, and a perfect son. Or so it seems on the surface. That's what Juno thought when she first moved into the Crouch home. Juno, a retired therapist battling a horrible illness, assumed that the Crouches had everything anyone could ask for … that is until she starts eavesdropping on conversations she was never meant to hear. Now Juno knows that everything is not as rosy as the Crouches make it out to be. When Juno overhears a devastating secret, she is compelled to act, but what if her meddling just makes things worse?

Tarryn Fisher has become known for her wild twists and outrageous plots. Going into The Wrong Family, I was expecting to have the rug pulled out from beneath me at some point in this novel, much as it had been in The Wives. Although I never received the complete 180 degree change in perspective that I was anticipating with this novel, it was entertaining nonetheless. Fisher writes a suspense novel that keeps you on your toes, always wondering and worrying about the terror lurking just on the periphery. Her books are a form of escapism, immersing readers into a world much more horrifying than anything they are living, and keeping them turning the pages until the very end. Recommended to lovers of unreliable narrators and domestic suspense.