From my blog: Always With a Book

I think I might have found a new favorite author…and that’s only after reading one book! How have I not read anything by Will Dean before? I vaguely remember everyone gushing about his last book, which I promptly went out and bought after loving this one so much, but he’s not a new author. He has quite an extensive backlist and you better believe I will be adding each and every book to my tbr!

So this latest book…it’s amazing! Now you all know that I read a ton of thrillers, so when I say this totally floored me with jaw-dropping twists, you know it’s good. I’m not going to say much here because I don’t want to give anything away…but I will say that this might seem like it starts off a little slow but be patient. The build-up is so worth it!

This is such a mind-bending, twisted read, and yes maybe you have to suspend a little belief towards the end, but what thriller doesn’t have you doing that? I love twin stories, but this one just might be the best one I’ve read yet. It’s such an addicting, entertaining, dark read and I absolutely loved it. For my first time reading this author, it certainly set the bar pretty high and I cannot wait to start The Last Thing to Burn next and then figure out what to read from there. He has stand-alones and a series…I love it!!!

Thanks to. NetGalley and Atria Books. This was not for me. I got to about 50 percent of the book and it was not interesting at all. I like books about twins but this was not good.

This book was a really good read, but I did have some struggles with it. It’s still a 4 star read for me, but The Last Thing to Burn was so outstanding, and this did not quite live up to that. It’s still a solid thriller, and it will entertain you all the way through.

Molly and Katie are twins. When Katie is found dead, Molly travels from Europe to America to find out what happened.

This story is so filled with twists and turns, and for that reason, I enjoyed it. I liked that details kept changing on me, and that I was full of guesses at what happened. One of my guesses was right, but with all the things happening, I’m pretty sure I guessed every possible thing that could have happened!

My biggest hang up with this book was around the plausibility of what happens. I won’t give details here, but I truly just felt like there was a crazy ending idea, and then whatever had to be done to make that ending come true is what was done, regardless of whether or not it could have happened.

So, there’s my big beef with this one. It was, however, a fun story, and I think there will be many thriller lovers who will enjoy this one!

First Born is a twisty thriller about twins who aren't what they seem.

From the very first chapter, I was intrigued by this book and the atmosphere the author crafted within it. There were secrets, questions, and an overall air of mystery that kept me flipping pages whenever I had the chance to pick it up. The farther into the book I got, the more I thought I knew what was going on, but the plot twists kept me from being correct. Unfortunately, I eventually got to the point where I was more confused than not, especially in the last two or so chapters of the book. I wanted to love this one, and I truly thought I was going to, but I just don't understand what happened there at the end, which ultimately decreased my enjoyment of it. I sped through this one quickly and was hooked, but now I'm just confused, lol.

CW for murder, violence, suffocation, cheating.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC of First Born by Will Dean!

I tried about 25% of this one but it just wasn't working for me- after talking with some trusted sources, I don't think this book is for me.

Molly plays it safe, living a simple secluded life in London. Her twin, Katie, is adventurous and daring. After moving to New York, Katie ends up being killed. Her sister’s death brings Molly to New York to try to put pieces together and find some closure. Once arriving in New York, Katie’s death becomes public knowledge and an investigation has started when investigators determine her death was most likely a homicide. Molly gets pulled into the investigation to find answers before her sister becomes just another unsolved case.

This was a twisty thriller that really had me intrigued. I flew through it, because there was just so much happening. At first, I thought the writing style and character relationships felt a little more young adult than an adult thriller, but the fast pace plot line and moving time frames allowed me to see past it and really get into the action.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and think it is one of those must read thrillers for fans of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and Will Dean for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book follows Identical twins Molly and Katie who have been at each others sides since the day they were born. This all comes to an end when Katie moves from New York City. Shortly after, Molly discovers that Katie has been murdered in NYC. Molly and her parents head to NYC to try to figure out what happened to Katie. The more she figures out, the more she doesn't know because nothing is as it originally seemed. From the very beginning I did not like Molly's character, which made this a big struggle for me. I also felt like a lot of this book did not really flow together and it was not as believable as I would have expected. Overall, a decent thriller but not one I'd recommend to a casual reader.

This book didn’t disappoint at all!! The twists and turns the edge of my seat moments that had me thinking I had it all figured out.

I loved everything about this book, the ending just blew my mind!!

This book started out slow, but it does pick up about halfway through. Eventually you get sucked into the story. The author does a good job describing things and making you care about the character, Molly. You spend a lot of the story in her head as she investigated the death of her twin. It was a twisty ride that kept you hooked.

This was such a great read! While I predicted some of the twists along the way, the big one at the end really got me! I liked the mystery aspect but did find Molly to be a little over the top and annoying at times. Definitely a good mystery read to cozy up with in the next few months!

This was such a good thriller! It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time! The characters were likable and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

It took me a bit to vibe with the characters. The first half was better, in my opinion, than the second half. Some of it I just didn’t believe so I was skeptical

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Started off as a very quick read mostly because of Molly‘s anxiety and obsessive behaviors. Her rushing through everything had me rushing through the book! Then halfway through you get the first big twist. At this point I got frustrated with the book because the reason for that twist was not clear. You read through the whole second half of the book not really understanding the motivation behind that twist but going along with it. Then finally at the end of the book you get the second big twist that explains that motivation. I guess I understand why the second twist was saved for the end, though the second half of the book was very confusing for me.

Loved First Born and all of the twists, few of which I saw coming! The protagonist, and the tone of this novel, reminds me a lot of Molly, from The Maid. So fans of The Maid should give this one a try!

Molly Raven is a twin. The only remaining twin, now. Her sister, Katie, has been murdered in far-away New York City. Molly, who has spent her life preparing for any disaster (including tornadoes, EMPs, and the hantavirus, I suspect), reluctantly boards a flight from England to join her parents in the US.

Soon, Molly has insinuated herself strongly into the investigation. Katie's death seemed peaceful, her home undisturbed. However, as Molly makes known to herself the people with whom Katie spent her time, a clear list of suspects and motives emerges--several much more disturbing than others.

Despite her lifelong misgivings about ... well, everything, Molly is determined to right the wrongs done to her sister--and, through Katie, to Molly herself.

Unpredictable but a little slow, First Born gives the reader a fresh perspective into the exclusive lives of twins, and just how far one is willing to go to protect a bond that's not even breakable by death.

Seems everyone thinks this book is great. A thriller about twins. One dead, one alive. One in NY the other in London. What could possibly have happened.

Twins Katie and Molly could not be more different. Yes they are identical physically in every way possible. They are both intelligent but they are so very different. One is outgoing and loves life. The other is very introverted and afraid of almost everything. She believes in being prepared for anything that can possibly happen. Molly knows the stats on anything and if she needs she can look it up. Katie is a college girl who has been murdered.

The first half of this book was great. A bit aggravating, but still great. Then I read the one sentence at the end of one chapter that messed it all up. I found it totally unbelievable. I have to admit I was stunned. I did not see it coming. It made me catch my breath. But I also just didn't believe it could have happened. The rest of the book was all about the how and why. I can see how it could maybe happen but still just didn't buy it. It was just not the way things work as I have seen it. I can't explain why or I'll give it all away and I don't do that.

The ending was also another part that I found lacking reality. As careful as a person is how can another overpower them. Or outsmart them. Or do what was done. Albeit I honestly enjoyed much of this book there was also much that really left me shaking my head. Parts that just didn't do it for me at all. I could not connect with any of the characters. From two-timing friends to a bad professor who likes young ladies and I mean young. As in college students.

This book was very well written. It was interesting. I just didn't buy it. I tried to believe that this was possible. I enjoyed parts of it very much. I was let down though. Not to say that I won't try this author again. I've heard and read very good things about his books. It was just this one. Twins are attached in ways that us regular people don't and never will understand. First Born is definitely an edge of your seat thriller. You will learn a lot about things that can happen and maybe ways to prepare. I felt bad for Molly with all her problems and fears. But still she was not a very likable character. To me anyway.

Thank you #NetGalley, #WillDean, #Atria for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

3.5/5 stars for me. Read it and judge for yourself. You may love it. Most it seems do.

I'm starting to think that Will Dean is not for me. I know he has lots of fans, and I am okay with not being one of them. I thought this book was super far-fetched and unbelievable. Also was a bit too slow-burn for the first half. I know other readers have loved it, and I hope it finds the readers that need it.

I love Will Dean's books and expected nothing less than what I got from this one. I really enjoyed how the story was told and it made me question what was going to happen.

This one is absolutely WILD and the plot twists just keep coming. I will admit the main character gave me some MAJOR anxiety at first with her compulsive tendencies, but this one is truly unputdownable.

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Molly and Katie are identical twins, but their outward appearance and their DNA is where their similarities end. Katie is a risk taker, social, and ultimately likable, and committed the ultimate betrayal when she left Britain for Manhattan, abandoning Molly whose anxieties and own mental health issues have left her isolated and tethered in a life of safety and routine.

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But when Katie is found dead in her apartment, Molly is forced to battle her demons and trek to the Big Apple to be with her parents and to find answers to her sister’s death - a death that appears to be anything but accidental. As Molly retraces her sister’s life in Manhattan, she is forced to reckon with powerful forces and seek out her own twisted sense of revenge on all of the people in her sister’s inner circle who she believes ultimately let her down.

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This one. Is. Absolutely. Nuts.

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When Lisa Jewell, Julie Clark, and Chris Whittaker back a book, you know it’s gotta be a good one.

First Born by Will Dean introduces us to twins Molly and Katie Raven - identical but so opposite. When Molly hears that Katie is dead, her whole world is turned upside down and she heads from London to New York to find out what’s happened. But the more she digs, the more she discovers the truth about Katie - it’s as twisted as ever and Molly might not come out unscathed herself.

Described as “clever, compelling, and utterly thrilling” - First Born might just be the summer thriller you didn’t know you needed!