Wow. Tarryn Fisher is one messed up (yet oddly well adjusted and all round amazing) author. I Can Be a Better You and The Wives were both 5 star reads for me, but I think The Wrong Family needs a higher rating!

The Wrong Family centres around the Crouch family - the perfect marriage and family from the outside, and the crumbling relationship, deceit and obsession inside their home.

When Juno moved in to the Crouch home she was determined to find what they were really hiding... be careful what you wish for.

Winnie was a beautiful mess for lack of a better description. Likeable but also easy to hate much like Juno.

The Wrong Family will grip you until the very last page and will have you questioning what you read for many days to come.

5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher is one of my favourite reads of 2020.

The Wrong Family follows the story of the Crouch family and Juno. The Crouch family consists of Winnie, Nigel and Sam. They seem to have it all, perfect family, home and friends or so we think.

Unknown to the Crouch's they gain a house guest, Juno. Juno is homeless woman living in the park across from the family home. Juno becomes invested in the Crouch's world and stumbles in to being there house guest.

I don't want to give too much away because you need to come in to this book blind and enjoy the rollercoaster ride. I thought I knew what was going on but Tarryn through a curve ball. I did not want to put the book down, it has everything you want in a Tarryn Fisher novel. I am still mindblown with the ending of the book.

Thank you Harlequin Australia, Netgalley and Tarryn Fisher for the advanced copy for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Tarryn Fisher’s book ‘The Wives’ and was extremely excited when I received an ARC for her latest book ‘The Wrong Family’. This book was so engaging and suspenseful, so I do not want to give away any of the twists, but it is a wild ride. I found myself not liking quite a few of the characters so it was interesting to read how it all played out. The chapters go between the point of view of two of the characters ‘Winnie’ and ‘Juno’ and I felt a lot of the chapters ended on a bit of a cliff-hanger and left me wanting more. It was definitely a ‘just one more chapter’ type read. Tarryn Fisher’s writing is so addictive and you just get immersed into this book.

A twisted domestic thriller, cleverly written, without a stable character in sight.

On the outside, Winnie Crouch has the perfect life; A gorgeous husband, a beautiful son and a big house in a wealthy neighbourhood, but a secret she has been keeping for fourteen years could ruin that in a split second.

Her secret is putting pressure on her fragile marriage, has her judging every move around her son and when her brother comes to town Winnie is too wrapped up in her own drama to see danger that lies before her.

Nobody on the outside knows this perfect life is all a facade until Juno starts staying with the Crouch’s. Juno is a 67 year old retired therapist that claims she's over meddling into people's lives. But, when Juno overhears an argument between Winnie and her husband she can't ignore what she's heard and begins to investigate the dark secret Winnie has been hiding. Juno’s investigation sets off a horrific chain of events that will change the lives of multiple families forever.

Tarryn Fisher’s goodreads bio states ‘I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force.’ and god has she nailed this in The Wrong Family. This book has a perfect balance of light mystery and heavy emotion to keep the pages turning and the reader cannot help but feel sympathy to Junos situation and Winnies spiralling loss of control and the regret they feel towards the events that got them there. I honestly think this book would make an amazing, highly emotional movie.

What I loved about this book was Junos sneakiness, her inability to stay out of the Crouch’s lives, her down right no fucks given attitude and the writers ability to write a 76 year old character that I really bonded with.

What I didn't love was how convoluted the book got at the end without a full resolution and the really overdone setting of ‘perfect family hide big secret that comes back to bite them’.

Overall i quite enjoyed the book, it was clever and there were some unexpected twists, but it wasn't the most stand out domestic thriller i've read in 2020, in fact i would definitely class it as more of a suspenseful family drama than a thriller at all.

WTH did I just read???? This was one screwy story! I don’t even know where to start reviewing it, because my head is still spinning from the way this one panned out. All I can say is that each and every character has a heavy burden of secrets on their shoulders, and I couldn’t decide who is the most dysfunctional of them all. Which made it a fun read on one hand, and a very disturbing one on the other. And whilst I just managed to catch one of the author’s curveballs in one hand to bring it into my court, my gloating was short lived as I was too late to dodge the fiery one that followed closely behind – and totally floored me.

I cannot say more without giving spoilers. Go into this one blind. Also know that it is disturbing and mind blowing and may give you a nightmare or two. One scene in particular still haunts me. But hey, I am a bit more fragile than normal this year. If you like unpredictable, then Tarryn Fisher is the perfect author for you. In a million years, and drunk on vodka slammers and adrenaline, I could not have guessed how this story would turn out. It kept me turning the pages, even though I now need a shower. And another stiff drink. Read at your own peril, especially if you like twisty, unexpected endings and thoroughly dysfunctional characters.

Winnie Crouch has worked hard to build her dream of the perfect family: a stable marriage to a good-looking husband, a young teenage son and the perfect house in a prestigious lakeside suburb in Seattle. But lately life has not been so perfect; she and her husband Nigel have been arguing a lot and she’s worried that the grievous mistake she made fourteen years ago is the cause of all their problems.

Juno, an elderly woman, also once had a family, a home and a career as a therapist but lost them all after she made a stupid mistake. Now she’s homeless and ill, living in the park opposite the Crouch’s house. Finding somewhere more sheltered to spend the winter, she finds herself in a position to closely observe the lives of the Crouch family and hear their arguments. She believes she’s worked out what Winnie’s big secret is and thinks she has to be the one to do something about it.

There are several plot lines in this novel that all come together in an action packed crescendo. Narrated alternately by Winnie and Juno, it’s easy to see that both women are complex, self-centred and ultimately flawed and neither can see the harm they are causing others. Winnie’s son, kept by her to a strict vegan and sugar-free diet, craves meat and sugary foods and her husband is seething with resentment at her need to always be in control. Winnie’s relaxed attitude to her twin brother Dakota and his crumbling marriage, behaviour and mental health infuriates him, especially when Winnie lets him move in with them after his wife throws him out. Juno’s homelessness, chronic illness and lack of health care make her long to atone for the grave error of judgment she made in the past and sees that putting to rights Winnie’s mistake might just let her do that.

Several themes are interwoven into this novel. Family dynamics is the key to it all, with mother-child relationships central along with the disparity of the lives led by Winnie and Juno. Two very similar women, with similar careers and family and each with a major mistake in their past. But one has hidden it and leads a life of privilege while the other has paid the price and lives in poverty and pain, without the health care she can’t afford. Combined, it all makes for a very compelling read as the plot unfolds with many surprising revelations.

Often creepy and dark, this is a psychological thriller that will drag you in to the lives of some very dysfunctional people.

3* Domestic Drama Stars

I had high hopes that I would love this book as much as some of the authors other books but unfortunately it fell flat for me as I struggled through the first half of the book. I found it to be very slow paced and going nowhere. I did persevere as the book has got many rave reviews and thankfully towards the end it did pick up and get a bit exciting.

I wished I had loved this book more than I liked it, perhaps it was the wrong book for me at this present time, but I look forward to reading what the author brings us next.

Wow! What a ride I have just been taken on!
I really enjoyed this twisted little domestic thriller with its tantalising revelations keeping me glued to my tablet and forgetting all about my chores! It was cleverly created by the wickedly dark mind of Tarryn Fisher. This was my first book of hers and not my last. I want more!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC of the book.

#TheWrongFamily #NetGalley

I was so excited to read Tarryn Fisher’s new book and I really enjoyed it!

This thriller had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. Her writing, along with a captivating story and thrilling twists at the very end made this book one of my favourites this year. Tarryn certainly did not disappoint, this time weaving themes like homelessness and mental illness into a novel that made me uneasy at times and kept me reading obsessively till the very end.

I loved way the themes of privilege, mental and physical illness, drug addiction and homelessness were contrasted by the characters; Winnie and Josalyn as mothers for example. The way in which they gave birth was certainly different, and the theft of Josalyn’s baby which Winnie tried to justify, yet Terry coming to take Samuel was unthinkable. What was the difference? This privilege is something Winnie doesn’t even consider when she takes the young girl’s baby. Another contrast is Winnie and Juno as people who made mistakes and how they deal with them – Juno seeks forgiveness while Winnie tries to forget about hers. Dakota to Nigel and Kregger as fathers is another contrast which really sheds light on the effect of mental illness and addiction when left untreated.

We really see firsthand how the homelessness are treated in our society, and the extent these marginalised people have to go to in order to survive. As I read about Juno living in their crawlspace and stealing their food, using their facilities, I felt incredibly uneasy. This turned into sympathy for her, and frustration towards our society and prison system for failing her. If these issues were actually dealt with from the start, she wouldn’t be in that position at all. This book is a wake-up call to the fact I am privileged, and it shows us firsthand what issues that people like Juno face in their day to day life. Things that we take for granted, such as a refreshing shower and a stocked fridge. This really gave the book depth as well as provided an exciting story.

The characters were all very well written and I loved the fast-paced writing. I liked that a lot of the information was withheld till the last moment, and the twist and turns were clever. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the encounter with Shelley at the end, as it felt unnatural and forced. I understand that Shelley is meant to be quite difficult to deal with, but it didn’t add anything to the story and could have been omitted. apart from that, I loved The Wrong Family. I can’t wait to see what Tarryn comes up with next!

Thank you so much for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher is book best read without knowing too much. It is a tough one to talk about without spoilers but I will do my best. If you read The Wives last year you will know to expect the unexpected and be ready for anything. I didn’t even try to work out where this was headed and that ending absolutely threw me! It is a book that you will want to keep reading so be prepared to get lost in the story.

Winnie Crouch has the perfect life.. bug house, perfect son and husband.... or so she would like everybody to believe. Juno was of this opinion as well, until she moved in with them. One night she overhears an arguement and a dark secret that Winnie will do anything to keep. Juno, an elderly, for,er therapist, cannot help herself and starts to investigate and do what she believes is right.

That is all I can say. You need to read this book, seriously 😊 Thanks to Harlequin Australia and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

Loved this book.
The ending was not quite what I thought but I nearly guessed it.
Well written and a few twists in the story, making you think.
Juno is a homeless person who hides in a couple and their son’s house.
She learns about their life and their secrets and thinks she solves a mystery from a long time ago.
But does she.
Looking forward to reading another from this author.

Winnie Crouch is the perfect mother and wife. From the outside their family are picture perfect and then we meet Juno, who in the beginning chapters I was unsure who she was and how she fit in with the Crouch family.

Juno thought that the Crouch family were perfect until she moved into their beautiful home with them and started to see the cracks in the foundations. She over hears Winnie and her husband talking about a big secret, Juno knows she shouldn’t get involved but she has no choice.

Juno is a retired therapist who is estranged from her own family after an incident. All she wants is to make things right before her times up. Winnie and Juno are more a like than they realise, both haunted by their past and the secrets they keep buried.

Strap yourself in for the twists and turns that creep up on you. Family drama at its best

She trapped in a wrong family house, the Crouch house (Winnie & Nigel), hears every conversation and arguments they have. She decided to dig further and do what she think is right. But, the outcome is not that simple.
It glued me from the very beginning. I know @tarrynfisher will nail it again this time after her first novel The Wives.
It should hit the book store on January 2021!!!
Thank you @netgalley for ARC of this ebook
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
#booklovers #bookreview #bookworms #booknerds #booksaddict #readingaddict #thewrongfamily #netgalley #avidreader #libraryfans #whattoread #whatiread #bookstagrammer #recommendedreading #bookrecommendations #mustread #goodreadschallenge #goodreads #femaleauthor #tarrynfisher

Dark, addictive and fast paced. I’m still replaying the last few pages in my head, and every single time I get goosebumps.

Wrong Families is told through the perspective of two characters: Winnie, a suburban mum and control freak who lives in a grand, ancient house in a very well-respected neighbourhood with her husband and son; and Juno, an elderly ex-therapist who resides with them. From the get-go, we see a toxic and unhappy marriage from Juno’s perspective, through the daily arguments which frequently escalates to shouting and violence. From Winnie’s perspective, we understand that even though she and her husband fight on the daily, they will never separate due to something that happened a very long time ago. The question throughout the entire story is “what happened 15 years ago?”.

Wrong Families reminded me of the Korean movie ‘Parasite’; in both Parasite and Wrong Families I was left with the same uncomfortable feeling after the ending. The only problem I had with Wrong Families is that my questions weren’t properly answered; they were touched on and vaguely explained but I wasn’t satisfied with them. However, this is only a minor issue as overall I did thoroughly enjoy reading this intense psychological thriller.

A new contender for my favourite Tarryn Fisher novel!

Although I thoroughly enjoyed The Wives by the same author, I think this a far superior novel. This time around, the author does not depend on the unreliable narrator to hide the truth. Everything you need to anticipate the climax of this story is hidden right there in the pages. In hindsight, you will nod your head, admit that it was always going to end that way, but you won't really see it coming, because hey, look over here at this other thing happening that seems important and relevant.
So, well played Fisher, well played.

This book felt fresh and original, a head above the overcrowded thriller market.
I was nervous after anticipating the first twist really early, but I should not have worried. There were plenty of secrets and events that kept me guessing right up to the last page.
Also, there was many a time where I should have highlighted a sentence or paragraph, just because the description or sentiment was so spot on. I will need to do a re-read just for that purpose.
Special mention to the Epilogue. Perfection.

Favourite Tarryn Fisher novels (in no particular order): The Opportunist, Dirty Red, Mud Vein, Marrow and The Wrong Family.

5 stars for this one. Get your hands on a copy when this one releases in December (in some parts of the world) & January (Australia). You can thank me later.

The Wrong Family is a twisted domestic thriller which I found enjoyable. The reveal towards the end was unsuspected and actioned packed.

Winnie Crouch and Juno, a retired therapist lead very different lives and when Juno comes to live with the ‘perfect’ Crouch family the secrets begin to become exposed.

Juno cannot ignore the conversation she’s heard between Winnie and her husband Nigel and what she does next sets off a horrific chain reaction.

A creepy and dark psychological thriller, cleverly written with unstable and crazy characters and twists you won’t see coming. I liked this much more than Tarryn Fisher’s previous book, The Wives.

I would suggest you go into this not knowing too much about the plot before you begin to read. Go ahead and ride this crazy train, a recommended read.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This was one crazy book!

I was so enthralled by the end of the first chapter, that I had to read it all in one sitting.

I loved the feel of the book. I could tell straight away something wasn't right, and needed to keep reading to find out what it was.

It's written so well, and is honestly one of my favourites of the year.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.

The Wrong Family was my most anticipated read of the year but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. My expectations were high and I was underwhelmed.

Winnie Crouch and Juno are two very different women. Winnie has the perfect life, with her husband and son. But when Juno comes to live with the Crouches, their secrets start to unravel.

It was well written with lots of twists. But I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen, and it wasn’t until around the last third of the book when it finally started to pick up. I was very satisfied with the ending, But overall, nothing blew my mind and I was left with more questions than answers.

But don’t let my opinion put you off. I know I’ll be in the minority on this.

This will definitely appeal to those who love the domestic drama/suspense genre.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to hope like heck that her next book will be as brilliant as Marrow. (Tarryn’s best IMO, and one of my favourite books ever.)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the ARC.

Meet Winnie and Juno. Winnie is one half of a seemingly perfect marriage, living in a large mansion on Greenlakes. Juno is an old woman with a nasty diagnosis just trying to find somewhere to live out her dying days in peace. But when these ladies cross paths, Juno hears that Winnie has a terrible secret and it’s one that she wishes she hadn’t.

HOOKED. This is the one word I would use to describe this book. I mean, I could also use words such as creepy, voyeuristic and disturbing. I read a lot of thrillers, and it’s rare I come across one that is so damn creepy, but this one absolutely hit the mark! It had me turning pages late into the night, waiting for the best twist to hit me. And the unexpected ending, my gosh! Highly recommend to all my thriller fanatics out there!