If you want a really good family drama, then this is the book for you! Secrets, lots of blame and little forgiveness go a long way in telling the story of this family and its entanglements. It takes a bit in the beginning to figure out who's who but once you do, this one takes off like a rocket! Devilishly twisted!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

II was torn with my rating of this book... whereas the beginning is good, the ending is good... there was just some things in the middle that I did not enjoy. One character lives her entire life thinking one truth... one character finds out this truth and then discovers it is not the truth. I did not like how the ending seemed rushed, but not really sure how else it would end.

After Lisa Power’s mother dies, she takes her secrets with her, and Lisa is left to mourn alone without family or relatives. When she finds an unfamiliar address for Amy Power in her mother’s phone book, Lisa wonders why her mother never told her about this person. Could she have a cousin she doesn’t know about? Was there someone out there who could tell her why her mother was so silent about their past, and explain how her father ended up in prison? With nothing to lose Lisa pens a letter to the stranger, informing her of her mother’s death.

When the two cousins finally meet they form a strained, almost reluctant relationship, that will, in the end, finally reveal both of their secreted pasts.

Ali Mercer has a great capacity for weaving intensely knotted, complex stories – I know because I’ve read all her fabulous books. In The Family I Lost; Ali delivers again with a slow burn that builds its momentum around an engrossing storyline right through to its very satisfying end.

Thank you to Bookouture for the read of Ali Mercer’s, The Family I Lost.

Opinions expressed are my own.

First, I want to thank Ali Mercer, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

WOW!!! Ali Mercer always writes a good story that pulls hard on my heart string! The Family I Lost was no exception. However, she wrote a very deep, dark, intense, suspenseful and tragic storyline on many different levels this time around. You will find yourself quickly addicted to the story and not able to put it down! This definitely a book you will want to add to your TBR list as it is a 5 star book!

The graphic artists did a beautiful job with the cover. Between the cover, my love for the author, and the description of the book I knew I just had to read it. After reading it and looking at the cover it gave me goosebumps! The cover was just so spot on!

Ali takes us on a winding roller coaster ride of emotions in The Family I Lost. For a good portion of it I was on the edge of my seat biting my already short nails dying to know how it was going to unfold. So many secrets and totally heart wrenching revelations!

My heart just broke for Lisa who lost more than she knew she ever had! So many times I wanted to jump in and give her a big hug.

Another one of those books you can't seem to put down. I have to keep picking up this book just to read a little bit more. Full of secrets and twists and turns and kept me hooked until the end.

This was a much slower paced book than the previous books I've read by this author.
When Lisa's mother, Julie, dies she thinks she is all alone with no family. When she discovers an address book of her mom's, she finds a name of Amy Porter. She decides to write to Amy and see if they can connect, as she assumes they are cousins.
Lots of lies, secrets, drama, and a few shocks! This was not my favorite by this author. The characters did not really develop into relatable people. I truly did not even like Amy from the start.
The premise is good, and overall the plot was interesting, just a slow pace.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book has a strong storyline of family with all its oddities, suspense and mystery!
Lisa has never known why her father was in prison, nor why her mother Julie has no connection with family. It's only after the death of Julie that Lisa discovers her cousin Amy.
While Lisa and Amy form a friendship, Lisa tries to uncover secrets from her past, why is the house familiar?
I struggled at times with the pace and family structure, the characters are reluctant to accept each other so it’s hard to keep focus and believe the relationships!

Thanks so much to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Family I Lost
by Ali Mercer
A big thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the advance copy to review.

It was a book about families, lies, and damage, I liked it well enough. It seemed a bit slow for me in parts. But, I hung in and it got a bit better.

Every family has secrets. Some have very few, innocuous even. Others have great secrets that cover up many lies and exceptions. Such is the case with The Family I Lost. Two cousins, separated due to a family fracture and abundant lies. Lisa is a good soul who stumbles across her cousin, Amy. I didn’t care for Amy at all. I felt the sorriest for Joe, who has been deceived from the beginning.
Sometimes secrets are nest left undisturbed.

Ali Mercer just has a way with family drama! This one stared off a little scattered for me; jumping back and forth between past and present and five main characters. I kept reading because I've always been a fan of hers and I'm so thankful I did. Her character development is always deep and varied. You'll love some and detest others! I was swept away by this quick read. The story is deep and at times difficult. My only complaint; as deeply constructed as this story was, I felt like the ending was cut off and I was left wanting more.

The Family I Lost by Ali Mercer is a highly recommended mystery within a dysfunctional family.

Lisa has grown up knowing that her father was sent to prison for some crime and that the family of her mother, Julie, completely cut off all ties with them. When Julie passes away Lisa finds an address of someone who may be a relative of hers, Amy, so Lisa writes to her in hopes of some connection. Oddly enough she then meets Amy's husband Joe, and the two realize that Lisa and Amy are cousins. Lisa is invited over and meets Amy, Joe, and their daughter Tilly. Amy is pregnant and due soon, and not especially cordial to Lisa, but when their son is born and Joe's away for the summer Amy reaches out to Lisa to help her.

Lisa does end up helping Amy while Joe is gone. As she helps care for Tilly, she persistently feels as if she has been in their house before. Perhaps the answer to her father's crime and the family secret can be uncovered while she is there. It also becomes abundantly clear that Amy's family and their grandmother have a skewed outlook on events.

Lisa is a sympathetic character as she deals with the dysfunctional family she never knew. Amy is a dislikable character, enough so that readers will wonder why on earth Lisa agreed to help this selfish, self-centered woman. It is imperative that these two women meet and question what they have been told or know about their family history because they have both been keep in the dark about the facts.

While the writing is very good and the plot moves along at an even pace, you have to set your disbelief aside in order to appreciate The Family I Lost, especially regarding Amy calling Lisa after one meeting, asking her to help, and then Lisa agreeing to help for months while Joe is gone. Once you've accepted this rather far-fetched premise, then you can sit back and watch the mystery unfold. 3.5 rounded up.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Family I Lost’ written by Ali Mercer in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

As Lisa clears out her late mother Julie’s belongings she comes across an old address book and one of the names is Amy Powers, a long lost relative. Lisa writes to Amy who ignores the letter but eventually they meet.

This is a drama surrounding a fragmented family and their secrets. The story is mainly told through Lisa and Amy with chapters by Julie. This is third first novel I’ve read by this author and despite enjoying the previous two I found it very slow from the beginning, with characters I had no rapport with and a story that dragged. I didn’t find it interesting enough to want to keep reading and I’m afraid I gave up half way. I’m sorry my comments are no negative but this is purely my own opinion and I’m sure other readers will enjoy it.

I have read a lot of Ali Mercer books (see list of past reviews at the end of this one). Her family drama stories are heartfelt and show the complicated nature of relationships. The Family I Lost has all of that in spades.
The setup is not unusual. After a prologue that sets the scene for later events, the action jumps right into Lisa finding some interesting items while cleaning out her mom’s house after her mom passes away.
The ensuing action is told in five parts. Part one alternates between Lisa and Amy in the present, and part two is largely Lisa’s. Part three then moves to Julie (Lisa’s mom) in the far past before part four focuses on Amy at two different time periods.
Finally, part five alternates between the stories of all three women from the entire time between the earliest of Julie’s story up to the present.
This sounds confusing, but it isn’t as long the reader pays attention to the headings for the timeframe and whose point of view is being told. It is actually a deft handling of some complicated storylines.
I don’t want to give away more than the blurb does but suffice to say that “complex family issues” is an understatement.
When all is said and done, there are revelations that both Amy and Lisa are surprised by, and everything they thought they knew about their family is thrown into question.
I found this one a little difficult to get into. There seemed to be a longer setup than some of the author’s other books. However, the baseline of Lisa and Amy is vital to understanding the importance of Julie’s story.
I promise it all makes sense in the course of the plot. And it is well done. The action does pick up around part three and continues to the end.
In spite of the slow start, this may be my favorite of all of the Ali Mercer books. You would be hard-pressed to find more complicated family drama than her stories.

This book started off very slowly and didnt keep my interest. Sadly I didnt finish it. This one wasnt for me but I am sure others will love it

A long lost cousin and family mysteries. This book was thoroughly enjoyable. At times, the going switch in time frames and reference points could get confusing but the author told a wonderful story about a family with a complicated past and how it has changed the future of two women. This is a very easy and enjoyable read with some unexpected turns. Perfect for a weekend or beach read!
I received an advanced copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t care much for this book. It started off very slow and got a little better but not a lot. I was going to make it a DNF about 40% but it picked up some there. The characters were not likable and rather boring. Some of the plot seemed slightly unrealistic. Some may like this book but I can’t recommend it. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

I found this book rather slow. It does pick up a bit at various points, but not enough to hold my interest for very long.

Another great book from this author, a great domestic drama, well written and very tense in parts. I was involved in the story line from the very first page, all the characters were well described and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I can definitely recommend.

Very slow start but I stuck with it and the book was worth it. I enjoyed the storyline and the author’s writing style.

This book starts off really slow and picks up about 150 pages in. I really enjoyed this book and it kept me intrigued throughout.