https://www.tiktok.com/@bettysbooklist/video/7077678196656950574?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en

This Might Hurt is a dark thriller about two sisters and the cult that one is caught up in while the other tries to save her. It's a fascinating story with unlikable characters and multiple POVs. The story is a slow-burning one, but the suspense ramps up as you get further into the story. The writing is solid. I enjoyed the exploration of the sister dynamics and the psychological damage of childhood trauma. Highly recommended! Be sure to check out This Might Hurt today.

This book and Femlandia are starting to make me think that female-run cults are not the eutopia we've all been raised to expect! A taunt, enjoyable ride.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

After loving Darling Rose Gold, I knew I had to read this new book by the same author. While Wrobel does write family dysfunction well, this didn't have the same pull for me as Darling Rose Gold. I just wasn't interested in the characters as much and the plot had very dull sections but I did appreciate all the psychology on how to start your own cult.

It definitely had me very intrigued.

I was a bit confused by the past and present and who was who, since we had multiple different POVs within the different timelines.

However, I was so intrigued and enthralled with the subject matter of almost a cult like setting and the secrets everyone was keeping.

I really enjoyed Stephanie Wrobel's debut, Darling Rose Gold and was excited about this one. It was very reminiscent of Courtney Summer's The Project, which I enjoyed (I do love a good cult thriller). But I could not get into this book, unfortunately. I'll probably still give her next book a try, but this one didn't do it for me.

DNF @ 30%

This was my first book by this author so I cannot compare this to her other work but it was just too hard to get into and slow for me. Cut my losses instead of sticking with it.

This book was ok to me. The story was confusing at times and some of the plot twists didn't hit me the way I think they were supposed to. I enjoyed the authors writing style even though the story wasn't as entertaining to me. I have never read from this author before but seeing other reviews from people I would like to try her out again with her debut novel. It seems that one was loved by more than this one. Thank you, Netgalley for allowing me to read this one!

A solid beginning that made me think this could be an original plot. Midway through, it becomes apparent that the usual psychological devices and tropes are at play. I don’t wish to spoil the plot for those who want to figure it out for themselves. One might label this a psychological thriller. If allowed, I’d give it 3.5 stars due to a good beginning.but I’m not going to be generous and round up. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

CULTS. I LOVE CULTS.

This was a 4.5 star until the very end. I just didn't like how it ended. But I do loovveee me an alternating timeline/multi-POV story and this gave me exactly everything I wanted!! 3.5 stars!

I had really high hopes and high expectations for this book because of how much I loved Darling, Rose Gold. Unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me. First off, I was really confused for a good portion of the book between the three narratives. Which it isn’t even very clear that there is three narratives to begin with, but I read a lot of books with dual points of views and dual timelines and this one didn’t quite work. Once I finished the book I can honestly say I think it would have worked better if we didn’t have Teacher’s backstory as a narrative. That could have been explained towards the end as a big reveal and it would have had the same effect, especially with her role in the end. The story was more about the sisters to me and ended with the sisters. Having Teacher as a major character throughout the story was really pointless to me and made the overall storyline this big convoluted mess that felt like it was trying too hard. It stinks because I really like her writing and I was looking forward to this one, but it just fell flat for me.

This novel starts off with the opposing sister plot line. Natalie and Kit could not be more different for sisters. Kit navigates the world differently than Natalie, which leads her to seeking out a unique resort experience (if you think you know where this is headed you are wrong!) Without spoiling, Natalie ends up tracking Kit down at this resort but what she finds is more unsettling than the secrets she is carrying with her.

Multiple POVS, thriller, engaging, shocking final reveal.

Stephanie Wrobel's new novel is a dark, thrilling story about two sisters caught up in a web of lies. One sister is trapped in a cult, while the other is trying to find her. The novel follows their respective journeys and the secrets they keep from each other. Stephanie Wroebel 's writing is captivating, and her characters are complex and multi-dimensional. If you enjoyed Darling Rose Gold, you would definitely want to check out This Might Hurt.

Still can't top Darling Rose Gold. I am not sure I will love another of her books like that. As always, try for yourself and see!

I’m not sure I’ve read a story with so many wounded characters before! Sisters Natalie and Kit have wounds from their childhood but none as big as the ones stemming from the recent loss of their mom. Kit travels to a retreat on an island in an effort to heal and meets many interesting folks. Here we meet Rebecca, Gordon, and many others who have their share of demons. This is a very interesting and entertaining story!

BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: This Might Hurt
AUTHOR: Stephanie Wrobel
FORMAT: eBook
GENRE: Thriller
PUB DATE: 2/22/22
RATING: 9/10
4.5 stars

Thank you so much @berkleypub and @netgalley for my #gifted advanced copy of THIS MIGHT HURT!

MY THOUGHTS

Phew, where do i begin. I had seen crazy mixed reviews before starting this book and honestly did not know what to expect. @jessbythebook didn’t love it, and @bookclubwithkatelyn didn’t really like it, but @theopinionatedreader LOVED it, and all three of these are opinions I trust. And to my surprise I loved it!

I loved the concept. Cult stories fascinate me to no end. I love the psychological aspect of them; because they’re real, and psychological manipulation is very real. I really enjoyed the POV shifts (more on this further down), and I loved learning about the characters’ childhoods since it so heavily contributed to the present day timeline. I was genuinely invested in each POV and each timeline as if they were all separate plot lines, so to see them come together was really fun to read. I thought the writing was really solid. The characters were perfectly unlikable but also kind of fascinating. I also loved the ending. All of the loose ends were tied while leaving us with a little bit of ambiguity as well, which I always love.

What I wish was done differently was a little bit more of a clear distinction between POVs. I couldn’t tell if it was a tactic used to provide an air of mystery to the story, but when one of the POVs was finally revealed in part II as to whose POV it actually was, my jaw dropped. But after that I was questioning everything I had read up until that point and got really confused.

I definitely recommend this one!! I know it won’t be for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed this and cannot wait to get my hands on Stephanie’s other book DARLING ROSE GOLD.

WOW what a dark and twisted ride! Cult vibes — read if you loved Nine Perfect Strangers but thought it could be darker. The last sentence —OH MY GOSH! Stephanie Wrobel you crazy thing. I think I liked this better than her first book!

I'm so torn. Such high hopes were had for this book, after LOVING her last book so much. While I enjoyed it, I wasn't fully invested.

This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel was a decent read! It was 100% a slow burn which is not something I typically like in the mystery/thriller genre but this was easy to read and I enjoyed Stephanie's writing style. Ultimately the third point of view from the unknown women is what kept me reading. While this book wasn't my favorite I would check out Stephanie Wrobel's other work in the future.

Trigger warnings - Cult - Child Abuse

After absolutely loving Darling Rose Gold I was dying to read the authors follow up novel. The synopsis sounds so great, I love the cult vibes, the two timelines with one being a mystery unknown character and the many questions that needed answers. It ended up sounding way better than it was for me in the end and this isn't one that I'll be recommending unfortunately. The pacing was odd for me, at times things seemed fairly fast and then it would stall out and I think it's because once Natalie arrives at the retreat too much time is spent on the mundane aspects of life their. I was curious enough about the unanswered questions to keep reading and had hoped that it would pay off in the end and it didn't. The ending was actually the weakest part of the whole thing for me and if you know me then you know I hate nothing more than a weak ending. Overall this one was a disappointment for me. I would try the other again as I loved her first book but this one just didn't work for me.