I went into this one with high expectations, and unfortunately I think the hype ended up being a disadvantage.
The premise of women coming into supernatural powers later in life was immediately intriguing. The prose, dripping with satire, was relatable and quite humorous. I was eager to see how the plot would unfold.
Alas, I didn’t realize going in that it’s ultimately a whodunnit, and I am not a fan of crime thrillers. Especially when they drag on too long in the aim of suspense (did we get the killer? Nope! How about now? Still no! 480 pages!) which has the exact opposite effect on me: boredom.
I also felt as if the (rightfully!) angry feminist message became overwrought. As someone nearly the age of the characters, and absolutely the right audience for understanding misogyny and wanting to smash the patriarchy, it began to feel farcical and the characters like caricatures.
If you are a fan of thrillers and crime novels, I think this would be a perfect book. It was a romp, but just not for me.

I loved that this book has so many little sub plots within sub plots for lack of a better word. It’s a witchy read, a murder mystery, feminist elements and even growing plants and herbs guide.. I loved every character and every world with the characters and how they came together and overlapped. It’s a book hard for me to describe but it’s certainly one of my top favorite I’ve read so far this year. I didn’t want it to end.

What a terrifically creative, unique, and surprising story. While there was definitely a thriller-esque element to the novel, I felt like Kristen Miller wove a story that was truly her own that did not conform to any sort of typical trope – it was wholly refreshing. The feminist rage that poured through this book was exhilarating. At a time when the U.S. seems to be turning its back on women, Miller reminds us that women have always needed to fight, unfairly so, but they have the means and community to do so. I liked that each of the three main characters brought her own story and gifts to the plot, allowing the reader to see the benefit of individuality within the context of working together to “solve” a larger issue.

I did find that the writing style of the book seemed to be conflicted on which element, plot or character, would better develop the story, that led to a bit of clunkiness. However, after finishing the novel, I actually think this style encouraged me to take a minute to stop and think upon the underwritten cultural messaging, which was not only incredibly important, but was so appreciated.

Harriet, Jo, and Nessa are living in the lovely seaside community of Mattauk on Long Island. They are all in their late 40’s and each in a different stage of life. Plus, they have some magical abilities. Harriet is a witch who can do amazing things with plants. Jo has super human strength. Nessa can see dead people. The three women are drawn together and at first aren’t sure why. They stumble upon what they think is a serial killer seeking out teenage girls. The three women vow to bring justice and maybe some vengeance to the victims that no one else deems important enough to look for.

This book is good! It’s one of those where you are telling yourself to put it down and go to sleep but then you don’t. These women are tough and take no prisoners. The story is suspenseful and a good whodunit. I did figure it out (though I was hoping I was wrong).

The book is pretty dark and there will be some sensitive spots. There’s human trafficking, child abuse, spousal abuse, and some violence.

Lucky for the characters in 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘, menopause turns them into complete badasses, each with their own power. This book is loaded with magical realism, female friendship, and female empowerment as these three ladies take on the case of disappearing young girls in their hometown. With humor along the way, it is no surprise that @gmabookclub picked it for their May book!

I'll warn you that it is a bit long with multiple subplots. My favorite was the relatable mother-daughter relationship between Jo and Lucy. From self-defense classes to similar discussions, I only hope my daughter has taken my messages to heart like Lucy did. Raising a daughter is tough enough, without the worries of the outside world interfering.

5 stars... if I could give more I would.

So far, best book I have read this year.

Dark, violent, smart, amazing women who are done with all the horrible men in their lives. Yes. I will read another book right this moment with the same ladies.

Kirsten Miller- I will read whatever you write from this day forward. You had my interest, now you have my full attention. Well Done!

Audio was awesome too.

It isn't very often that I request a book on Netgalley that I don't really know anything about. I sometimes will see a contemporary romance with a cute cover being published by a favorite imprint and just request it, but that's the extent of it. Requesting a mystery-fantasy-combo is definitely not something I usually do on a whim. Needless to say, I went into this with almost no expectations but hoped it would be a fun ride.

THE CHANGE involves a few middle-aged women as they start to age and gain witchy powers. Jo has superhuman strength and some kind of fire energy that can melt things. Harriett has power over plants and nature. Nessa can see ghosts of the dead when they haven't been laid to rest and/or have unfinished business. The story starts with these three women coming together, finding a dead body that a ghost led Nessa to, and helping figure out what happened to her. They each use their powers and strengths to solve the mystery, find other girls who have been murdered, and avenge them.

The book is set in Mattuak, a fictional town on Long Island that I have to imagine is a play on Montauk in the Hamptons. The story also feels a littttle bit like a riff on the Long Island Serial Killer murder, where girls were kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered on Long Island and left on the beach. The cases are still open today and a lot of that has to do with police incompetence... much like this book! I loved these parallels because I've spent some time on the Hamptons and know a lot about the LISK case.

I loved our three characters - they had completely different personalities from each other but each was a badass in their own way. All three were pretty much equally important in solving the mystery of what happened to these dead girls - starting with the one in the blue dress and ending with a couple more in other nearby places to point to a serial killer situation.

Without getting into spoilers or too many details about where the story goes (is it actually a serial killer or something more?), this is really a big ol' middle finger to men. If you're in the mood for a feminist revenge story, this is the book for you. Add in a little bit of magic and mystery and you've got a really well-rounded story. I like that it primarily alternated between Jo, Nessa, and Harriett's points of view, but there were also really important and relevant side characters (key women and girls in the story) who were given some page time.

This is a long book and honestly I've avoided reading anything over 300-350 pages lately because my reading life is so crappy at this point. It never FELT long - it was super addicting, especially in the second half. There was a lot of slow burn introductions in the first half that never felt like a slog, even though I was waiting for the story to pick up a little bit. It also is definitely a mystery, for the most part - it's not like a full-blown investigation with twists and turns that you never see coming, but there are plenty of "let's solve the case and get the bad guys" vibes between the three main characters. The ~bad guy~ was pretty obvious from the beginning and I was never shocked by any development that happened, but I don't mean that in a bad way at all. It was about the journey and punishing those who deserved it. It never felt like it needed to be a full-blown whodunnit for the reader, if that makes sense.

I mixed in the audiobook (narrated by January LaVoy, one of my absolute FAVORITE narrators) and honestly wish I listened to more of it for that reason. I got so addicted the other night and read half of the book in one sitting instead of being able to finish with the audiobook on my morning commute. Needless to say, highly recommend that format if you're thinking about it. 

Overall, this was such a good story and I'm so glad I took the time to read it. I wasn't sure what to expect or if it would take me an entire month to read but I found it to be very addicting and intriguing the whole way. It's a bit creepy and atmospheric at times where I wished I wasn't reading before bed, but nothing crazy. I loved the mystery, the F-U-men vibes, the three badass ladies at the center, and the overall message.

I did not finish this book. I made it 50% of the way in and unfortunately, I was not drawn in by what was happening in the story. I felt as thought this book could not decide what it wanted to be. I loved the idea of more mature women as the main characters but we didn't get enough from them. I loved the idea of the mystery but at 50% in, I still wasn't quite sure what the mystery was, where it was going, what was involved. I wish I loved this book like so many others did but it just wasn't for me.

This wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be.... a little more revenge and little less female power than I expected. I did enjoy aspects of it but I do believe it would have benefited from tighter editing as some parts seemed to drag on, and a book nearly 400 needs to be something extra special and merit the addition of length. I'm glad to see mature female protagonists for a change! Hooray for 40 somethings that make the world turn and aren't taking any more from the patriarchy. Thanks so much for the chance to read an advanced copy of this book!

I liked this book but didn’t love it. What worked for me was the focus on the female characters and I did like the idea of being able to communicate with the dead girls. What didn’t work for me was the polarity of the male and female characters. I liked the main characters and how they found their power and joined forces. The ending was weird but good.

This book started out really slow for me. It didn’t hold my attention. But that changed as I got further into it. This is a book of strong women and the difference they can make. It’s slightly paranormal and so good. An unlikely friendship forms between three women, each with their own ways to contribute to the solution. Girls are going missing in a rich, white enclave and the women must figure out where the girls are and how to fix the problem. Great story, well written, and kept me guessing until the end.

This book is the most captivating read of the summer! The main characters are strong, empowered women who are unapologetically formidable, whip-smart and powerfully female. The book reads like a middle finger to men who think they are bigger and better and stronger than women. And for this, I loved it!
The genre is fantasy with mystery and thrills. There are three badass women in their mid-lives who have unique "gifts" and are hell bent on righting the wrongs done to young women.
You will be cheering for these women as they work together with their mystical gifts to uncover a serial killer and right the wrongs of someone who literally got away with murder.
I love the female power aspect of the book, I loved the well developed strong characters. It's out of my usual genre but completely compelling in a way that is like no other book I've read. It's a top choice for this year for sure!

The Change had a really interesting premise - instead of women loosing power and status at menopause, the women Mattauk gain a power during this normally depressing time period. Nessa, a widow who's twin daughters have gone off to college, discovers she can "see" dead people -a gift inherited from her aunt. Jo, a gym owner, finds her energy is growing, and she gains a new strength. Harriet has been jilted by her husband for a younger woman, and develops a skill with plants - particularly lethal ones. When Nessa discovers the bodies of several young women close to a private, exclusive beach, the three women bind together to investigate, and meet out revenge to the men that preyed on the girls. The book was over 400 pages, and although the premise was great, it was a bit of a slog sometimes to keep going.

For more book reviews, follow me @literaturewithalatte

✨The Change by Kirsten Miller✨

Genre: Fiction
Pages: 480

📚 In the Long Island oceanfront community of Mattauk, three different women discover that midlife changes bring a whole new type of empowerment…

After Nessa James’s husband dies and her twin daughters leave for college, she’s left all alone in a trim white house not far from the ocean. In the quiet of her late forties, the former nurse begins to hear voices. It doesn’t take long for Nessa to realize that the voices calling out to her belong to the dead—a gift she’s inherited from her grandmother, which comes with special responsibilities.

On the cusp of 50, suave advertising director Harriett Osborne has just witnessed the implosion of her lucrative career and her marriage. She hasn’t left her house in months and it appears as if she and her garden have both gone to seed. But Harriett’s life is far from over—in fact, she’s undergone a stunning metamorphosis.

Ambitious former executive Jo Levison has spent thirty long years at war with her body. The free-floating rage and hot flashes that arrive with the beginning of menopause feel like the last straw—until she realizes she has the ability to channel them.

Guided by voices only Nessa can hear, the trio of women discover a teenage girl whose body was abandoned. The police have written the victim off as a drug-addicted sex worker, but the women refuse to buy into the official narrative. Their investigation into the girl’s murder leads to more bodies, and to a world of stupendous wealth where the rules don’t apply. With their newfound powers, Jo, Nessa, and Harriett will take matters into their own hands…

📝Three magical women joining forces to solve a murder? Yes please💁🏻‍♀️

The writer managed to create a story that is both entertaining and insightful. Nessa, Jo and Harriett are such relatable and nuanced characters. I enjoyed how the book presented a character study on each of them. We learn of their lives, struggles, and personal growth.

The book is well-written and the plot kept me interested in the trajectory of the story.

💫Thank you partner @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks 💫

I loved every page of this book! The Change is a book about middle aged women, feminist rage, and female empowerment with a healthy dose of magical realism and fantasy elements. I couldn’t get enough. In these crazy times, this is just the book we women need to get ourselves fired up and ready to fight for whatever needs done.

Very interesting book. What woman hasn't at one point felt the way Harriet, Ness or Jo did?

Great characters - I'd love to read about them again! This book was long - but it kept you turning the page to see what was next. Great summer read.

While some books fit nicely into a genre silo, The Change is a mash-up of genres, and for readers, it works out quite nicely. Put mystery, fantasy, magical realism, and three extraordinarily strong female characters together and you are absolutely heading for change!

Three seemingly different women come together to investigate the death of a young woman, but we quickly learn that while each of our characters appears to be different, there is one very common and uniting thread that weaves within each one: they each possess an incredible power and have yet to realize what good can come from it. Once the trio fully embraces just how powerful they can be, there is nothing that can or will stop them from reaching their goal.

Fantasy/magical realism is not within my usual reading genres, so I was extremely pleased with how this book not only kept my attention but had me not really wanting it to end. There is so much more that this trio of women can teach us!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved:
▶️ The pacing of the first part of the book, fast and pulled me in so fiercely that I was convinced this book was going to be amazing.
▶️ Loved the feminist vibe and how none of these women took crap from any man in this book. It was empowering.
▶️ Harriet, she was my favorite character by far. Seeing her transformation was wonderful.

I hated:
▶️ How the pacing of the book about halfway through turned to a tortoise crawl.
▶️ The length of this book… too long! It could have been 150-200 pages shorter.
▶️ How it took everything I had to finish it and in the end I felt like the book was just ok.

The Change is primarily held up by a trio of strong women: Jo, a tough-as-nails small business owner, Nessa, a kind widow at a crossroads, and Harriet, a former advertising genius learning a new way to push beyond conventions. We quickly learn there's a supernatural tie between the women as well: each possesses a power that, when combined, uniquely positions the women to bring victims of heinous crimes justice.

The women live in an idyllic New York town reserved as a waterfront summer getaway for most, yet, as any murder mystery fanatic knows, there is a darkness looming in the town deeper than the residents could have imagined. Once the trio discover the first missing girl, their path is set in motion. The main characters strengthen their resolve and develop an admirable friendship in the face of extreme ugliness.

On paper, I should've loved this. I liked it just fine (and enjoyed bits very much), but overall, it fell a little short for me. Jo, Nessa, and Harriet were each very likable characters that were enjoyable to join, but their growth was stunted, which was a disservice to the narrative of growing into your own unique vision of yourself. The story didn't drag necessarily, but the length didn't do it any favors either. I found myself feeling rather alienated as a reader Miller seemed to not understand. Some selections were smart and subtle with clues and themes running as a strong undercurrent in the text, but they would be followed by a selection of overly expository text and hashtag phrases that came off as out of place attempts to reach readers new to the genre.

The savvy marketing behind The Change ensnared me as a dark murder mystery investigation spearheaded by strong women who --surprise!-- are a little supernatural. The text itself delivered what it promised, but as much as I enjoyed elements of it, it missed the mark for me.

This might be the best book I’ve read ALL year! I have no idea what I expected when I picked up this book but it was definitely not what I experienced reading this story!! It was amazing. It pulled me in and sucked me into this trio of women who made me laugh, cry and get frustrated with all the “men” in their world. I don’t want to give any spoilers, and in fact I think going into the story blind like I did, will make this journey more exciting. Grab this book! Grab an extra for your sister or best friend!