Cover Image: Not a Happy Family

Not a Happy Family

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Member Reviews

Shari Lapena is such a clever storyteller. I have never been disappointed by her. She just grips you right from the beginning and propels you forward. Welcome to a vindictive and very dysfunctional family in this novel, They are cruel and ruthless. The story is so well written that you feel as though you are watching a movie. Very well done.

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Not A Happy Family was an overall engaging story. It's a bit of a mix of mystery, thriller, and family drama. The story hosts an interesting cast of characters, none of whom seemed to have an honest bone in their body. Everyone's a suspect.
If you're looking for a likable character you won't find one here!
I enjoyed the pacing of the plot and trying to figure out 'who done it,' however, when the revelations came about it was missing a certain spark. That aside, Not A Happy Family made for an entertaining read. Perfect for a weekend, vacation, or day at the beach.


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*Complimentary copy for review provided by Penguin Random House Canada. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

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Shari Lapena definitely found a niche writing domestic thrillers. This was an OK read but nothing to write home about in my opinion. If you like family drama mind you, there is plenty! I love that we get a whole cast of characters but, in this case, it was hard to connect to the them - I found them unlikeable and very cliché. As a result, I have to admit I wasn't very invested in them or their outcome. I also felt there were pacing issues - the beginning dragged a bit, yet once the twists started, everything went by very fast. As a result, I feel like the buildup wasn't as great as it could have been. The ending, unfortunately, also wasn't as strong as I would've liked. If you love her as an author, definitely still check it out but this definitely wasn't my favourite of hers.


Rating: 3 stars/5
Content warnings: Murder, gore.

A huge thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC for review. All opinions stated here are my own.

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Fred and Shiela Merton, an extremely wealthy couple in Brecken Hill New York are mysteriously, brutally, murdered in their home. Their three children may inherit millions following their death. But were they involved? Or was someone else there that night? This is an investigation into a close group of close people who all have lots of money at stake!

Some of my favourite thrillers are by Shari Lapena and others I just don’t quite connect with (like this one). Her writing is always SOLID though and it was still an enjoyable, fast-paced read! I didn’t really love any of the children, and didn’t feel their were enough clues or suspenseful moments to keep me intrigued about the ending. I was surprised when I got there though! I will still read everything she writes.

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First I'll start by saying that I'm a huge Shari Lapena fan and have read all her books. Second, this one was my favourite! It kept me guessing until the reveal at the end and I genuinely did not see it coming. When this happens in a book I'm enjoying, it's an automatic 5 stars.

I loved the pace, the multiple POV, unreliable characters, and short chapters (always a win for me!). I did not want to put this book down, it was such a page-turner! My only struggle was how none of the characters were likeable, but that was to be expected based on the book's synopsis.

Well done!

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NOT A HAPPY FAMILY is a story about a rich family that lives in upstate New York. The novel begins with Fred and Sheila Merton hosting their three adult children and significant others to an Easter dinner. The dinner was a disaster with everyone leaving early. Later that evening both parents were brutally murder in their home. The three children are prime suspects since they are in line to inherit an enormous fortune.
As the story progresses the Merton’s prove to be not only an unhappy family but a dysfunctional family as well.
I really liked NOT A HAPPY FAMILY. The story moved along nicely. There were a few detours along the way to discovering who was ultimately responsible for the murders but that only added to the overall story. I have read a few of Shari Lapena’s other novels and I think this is her best yet.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for allowing me to read an earl e-edition of NOT A HAPPY FAMILY.

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While I did enjoy this book, I didn't love it as much as I thought I was going to. Multiple character perspective books are hit or miss for me as a reader, it takes me a bit longer to get invested which I think was the case for this one. The murder mystery was interesting, but I found that all the characters especially the main suspects were all kind of awful that in the end, I didn't really care who did it. It wasn't who I suspected, so I liked that but when it was revealed who the killer was, I was madder at myself for not catching on sooner. This was still a really great read, and I definitely want to read more of Shari's books in the future.

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Wow absolutely loved this one.
This one was quite a page-turner for me. I was frantically turning the pages to solve the Merton murders! Who dunnit? So many suspects, so little time. I need to know!The family is nervous, anxious, untrusting. I don't believe any of them! They are all liars, maybe psychopaths too.The police want to know if they had any enemies, if anyone saw anything, and who has a motive. Umm, everyone!!

A murder mystery with suspects galore and the last line was crazy.

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I am a huge fan of Shari Lapena and love her books; however, I feel this book is one of the weaker books she has written. Right from the start, she captures the reader with the murder, and immediately the reader thinks they already know who the murderer is but as you keep reading, your opinion switches to another suspect.

Shari Lapena continues to write novels that has you guessing throughout the book but almost never suspect the true murderer to be who they are.

Overall, I do love Shari Lapena's book, but this has been a weaker one.

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What a page turner! This is Shari Lapena at her very best. The narrative fairly races along as the Merton siblings fall into dissension. They are riddled with mistrust and suspicion. Lies and deception abound. Avarice is rampant.

Although at first it was thought the double murder was a robbery/home invasion, the spotlight quickly turns to the Merton offspring as there are millions of dollars to be split between them. But could one of them have commit such a brutal crime?

This is one novel where I have to say that I didn’t much care for any of the characters. That didn’t stop be rapidly turning pages though. It was like rubbernecking at a train wreck… You just HAD to find out who murdered Fred and Sheila Merton!

The story is told with serpentine twists throughout. You literally don’t know whether you’re coming or going. The novel is told via multiple viewpoints, so you get to discern a little of what is going on in each of their minds. This is an addictive whodunit featuring a seriously dysfunctional family. It would make a fantastic movie. Highly recommended!

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An interesting look into the secrets that family's keep from each other and the drama it can cause. I really liked the slow burn drama that I find in this author's work. This one might be one of my new favourites by Shari Lapena!

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4+ stars! A fast-paced, entertaining, page-turning domestic suspense novel!

I’m a huge fan of Shari Lapena and this latest release was another winner! There are three adult children in the wealthy Merton family. Their parents are found brutally murdered two days after their family Easter dinner. The children are shocked as they are pulled in for questioning related to the murders. There are plenty of secrets within the family making them wonder just who they can trust.

This was an extremely unique narrative tone for me. The story is told from a distant third person perspective, yet I felt fully connected and engrossed within this twisty and suspenseful tale. I loved the short chapters of this family drama that always left me on edge wanting to read “just one more”. My suspicions flew all over the place, suspecting every single character at one point or another.

Overall, this was a treat to read! I love this authors writing and am happy to report this lived up to my hopes and expectations. Thank you to
Penguin Random House Canada for my review copy!

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Normally I hate books where everyone is pretty despicable, but the author was able to provide some humanity to this family . A good page turner and an easy recommend

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Not A Happy Family
by Shari Lapena
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Tore through this book in only two days! Such an amazing read, it may be one of my absolute favourites by Lapena, and in family thrillers too! 🚔

With a lot of be gained by the violent murderous deaths of their parents, three children in a small suburban area north of New York are pinned against each other. Each child so different, with their own struggles behind closed doors- which could possibly be violent enough to kill for their inheritance? 💰

Family secrets and extended relationships intertwine in this gripping domestic mystery. I couldn’t stop reading and the last chapter leaves readers with a bang! Lapena is the domestic thriller queen! 🔪

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Another great read by Shari Lupina!

Dive into this one and you won’t be sorry, it’s a page turner and keep you captivated right until the end.

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RATING: 3.5 STARS
2021; Penguin Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada

With this group of unhappy people, I am surprised there wasn't a murder earlier than this. As the Mertons arrive at their parents's home for Easter dinner, there is so much baggage and tension. It felt like an episode of Survivor, as none fo the characters trusted one another, yet were also trying to make alliances. Fred Merton, the most miserable of them all, brings up all the hot button issues and the family ends dinner abruptly as they leave. When the parents are found murdered by the housecleaner, no one is surprised, heartbroken or off the suspect list. Almost all of these characters are unlikeable, including the victims. Yet, Lapena made me wanna stick around and find out what happens to the characters. Any one of them could have killed the Mertons, but as the story unfolds, the motivations become more desperate.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

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I am already a big Shari Lapena fan so it was no surprise to me that this book was good. LOVED IT! I read it in one day and I have to say it has been a verrryy long time since I have done that with a book. I could not put it down.

I love books like that that pull you in, have you invested in the characters and to the end....have me guessing what will happen. Love it!

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My first Shari Lapena book was End of Her last fall so I knew I had to read Not A Happy Family as soon as I saw it. I was ready for a psychological thriller and was not at all disappointed.

The Mertons have what seems like the perfect life - they’re successful and extremely wealthy. Fred though treats all of his children poorly and had always gotten weird enjoyment of putting them against one another. As adults they don’t visit often outside holidays. All of the kids and their partners go to Fred & Sheila’s for Easter dinner. An argument breaks out when Fred announces he’s selling the house which Catherine has wanted since they were children. Soon Catherine & Ted, Dan & Lisa, their former live in Nanny (Irena) and the youngest Jenna & her new boyfriend jake all leave.

But Tuesday comes around when Irena goes to clean the house, she finds her employers dead.

Lapena does a great job of making you suspect every single person at one point in time. I was even convinced I had it figured out and then the twist revealed itself.

Would highly recommend to those who like books from multiple perspectives with a psychological twist.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada and the author for the advanced copy.

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My favourite Shari to date. I loved the family dynamics and the twists in the plot. I couldn’t put down this book.

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Title: Not a Happy Family
Author: Shari Lapena
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🔊Song Pairing: 7 Rings - Ariana Grande

💭What I thought would happen:

Typical Shari Lapena. Thriller who done it murder mystery with a twist, shaken not stirred 😆

📖What actually happens:

The Merton family is that privileged family that is so obviously the 1% that greed practically reeks from their odor. When Shelia, a spineless mother and Fred a sociopath father are grotesquely murdered it turns into a who done it kind of read.

After a disastrous Easter Sunday dinner where everyone left the family home upset and the parents of the siblings only pass a mere few hours afterwards…it is likely that one of the children did it. The murder was clearly a crime of passion and well thought out. Which of the siblings had the most to lose? Or gain! 😱

🗯Thoughts:

This was intense from the beginning. It wasn’t apparently by any means who looked the most guilty. All I knew was that j didn’t like any of them. Was it one, was it all of them?!

This book felt like that Spider-Man meme where all the Spider-Man’s are pointing at one another. Each character was very sus. since the first chapter.

This book made me appreciate my family very much. While I didn’t grow up with the vast wealth, I have the greatest parents and siblings and would not trade them for anything. I like a book that makes me appreciate what I have!

By the end I was just tired of reading back and forth between who each thought had done it. It just went around and around, back and forth. I was over it by the 60% point. If you like Shari Lapena’s other books you’ll like this one!

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