Things I liked:
•The holiday setting
•The wealth
•Fantastic twists

Things I did not like:
•The ending felt a tiny bit rushed

If you are looking for a Christmas book that is anti hallmark, this is the one for you! This was such a fun read. The Family Game really kept me guessing all the way to the very end. I also love a book with an opulent lifestyle at the center. It just always makes things more interesting. I thought the pacing was really great except the end felt a bit rushed. If you are looking for a quick read over your Christmas vacation, this one is for you!

Review will be posted to my instagram 10/25

This was a quick and fun read. It centers on Harriet, who is engaged to marry Edward, part of a super rich and intimidating family. She wants to make a good impression, but some of the things that they do are kind of weird, and to make it even weirder, her future father-in-law gives her a tape that seems to be confessing some serious crimes. Harrett is a writer so wastes no time in investigating what she hears and trying to find out as much as she can about the family that will soon be her own.

It was an interesting premise and there were a lot of surprises. I thought the ending was great and truly unexpected. There were a couple times where I thought Harriett was overly hysterical about something that didn't seem all THAT crazy, and I also had trouble getting behind the fact that she didn't listen to the tape in one sitting (I always have this problem when people find diaries that uncover big secrets but they read over a period of days; NOTHING would stop me from reading that diary or in this case listening to that tape immediately and all in one sitting!). Those small nits didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book though.

Overall, I thought this was fun and I am excited to pick up some other books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"We're going to survive this, you and I. They say you can't choose your family but they're wrong. You can. It just takes way more effort than most people are willing to put in."

Catherine Steadman had me hooked from the first chapter in this "Knives Out" reminiscent cat and mouse psychological thriller about a young woman who is preparing to marry into an extremely wealthy and influential family. Harriet "Harry" Reed finally has it all. She is on the brink of writing her second book after her first success, and she is happily engaged to the love of her life, Edward, a man who just happens to be the eldest son of the Holbeck family, an "old money" dynasty. After they become engaged, Edward decides it is finally time to introduce Harry to the family he has been estranged from. As Harry is welcomed into this new world, everything she thought she knew about the Holbeck family, and Edward begins to disintegrate. Sinister family "games" and a tape containing dark secrets propel Harriet on a quest to discover the truth behind this family, before it is too late.

And remember, nothing is quite as it seems.

This psychological thriller will have you gripped from the beginning as you work alongside Harry to try and figure out the secret behind the family. Caution, if you pick this book up, you will have to finish it immediately.

Holy hannah - this was a ride of a read. It's been a hot minute since I've been kept guessing the way The Family Game did. Picture our happy couple Harriet Reed and Edward Holbeck - soon to be married! Edward finally brings Harry in to meet his wealthy family. With wealth comes drama - twisted games in the name of tradition, sinister connections to protect its own interests, and let's not forget the staple... murder.

My literal only 'complaint' (if it can be called that) is that the tape is broken into chunks with no real reason as to why - if I were in Harriet's shoes, I'd be listening to the whole thing nonstop.

Harriett aka Harry, a British author that has recently found love with Edward—dreamy, romantic, smart, rich, handsome Edward. It all seems perfect until Harry meets Edward’s family, the Holbecks.
After the opening chapter, it was a bit slow for me. However, I kept reading and when I say it picked up, I mean it REALLY picked up. I couldn’t put it down. I sat, unmoving except for the occasional shift, and consumed this book
As Harriet is drawn into the Holbecks lavish world, they seem perfectly welcoming. And when Edward’s father hands Harriet a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen.
But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t just a novel. It’s a confession.
A confession to a crime. A murder. And suddenly, the game is in motion.
Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker. What is it that he sees in her? Why give her the power to destroy everything?
This might be a game to the Holbeck family—but losing games can still be deadly.
The last 25% of the book had me holding my breath. I don’t want to say any spoilers so I can’t indulge on more reasons why I enjoyed this book. But if you are a fan of thrillers then please read this! You will not be disappointed! I
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley Catherine Steadman and Ballantine Books for this edition and hearing my honest review.

This thriller has a twist that took me by surprise, and I can usually see them coming and predict them. Catherine Steadman has a best-seller on her hands!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC!

This book was not what I expected it to be, but I ended up enjoying it way more than I thought it would. The first chapters pull you in, but then the author takes time to build the characters and the plot. I appreciated this because most thrillers are just constant twists and turns. This was a steady, dark, nail biting adventure until the very end. And I really didn’t see the twist coming! Will definitely be recommending when it comes out!

I wanted this book because I've enjoyed Catherine Steadman's other books and it did not disappoint. The Family Game starts off with a straightforward scenario: Harry, an author, gets engaged to Edward Holbeck and gets introduced to his family. But this is no ordinary family. The Holbecks are wealthy and have influence everywhere. Harry soon realizes that there is more to the Holbecks than just money. They have secrets that they will do anything to protect. She becomes tangled in a web of secrets, lies and family games as she tries desperately to figure out what is going on. The twists and turns of the story kept me reading well into the night. Steadman is a fantastic writer. I look forward to her next book! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I've read all of Steadman's books so was delighted to get this one and wow, was it good! Harriet and Edward are engaged when his family wants to meet her and they are invited to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Krampusnacht (the devilish version of St. Nick). Sounds fine to Harriet as she's an orphan now but as Edward's family is wealthy beyond belief, she is worried she won't fit in. Enough said. This book is diabolical, creepy, and over-the-top fun to read (and I may have devoured it in one sitting)? Secrets, lies, family history, revenge, privilege, and crazy traditions all add up to an awesome novel; but hey, don't read in the dark--just a warning! Absolutely loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This Book - 5 Star!! This is a must read for anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller. Easy read, had me hooked the entire time. I read this very fast, couldn't put it down.

Summary: This story is about Harry (Harriet) and Edward who fall in love and get engaged. Edward comes from a powerful and very wealthy family. Harry's family died in a car accident when she was younger and she became an orphan. Even though they are engaged, Harry has never met Edwards family. She slowly starts getting involved in his family little by little uncovering some of their very odd traditions. She comes to realize just how powerful and wealthy this family really is. There are secrets on both Edward and Harry's side, but in the end all of those secrets will now be out in the open. Buy this book to figure out if their love and other entanglements can withstand the secrets that unfold.

The way Catherine Steadman's writing gets you to really know and understand the characters is so great. I felt like I knew them all, I felt like I was in the book. I would have never guessed the ending. The author gives just enough throughout the book to make you think you know what will happen, but you don't. Books that keep me guessing and wondering all the while keeping me intrigued in the story itself are considered an A+ book for me. The whole time I wanted to know what was coming next, what twisted reality was around the corner. It takes a great mind not only to write the story, but to come up with the story itself well before the writing occurs.

Very easy to understand and follow along, I did not get confused or have to reread like some thriller books I have ready in the past. I will be buying all of Catherine Steadman's books! Obsessed with her writing. This book is going to be a top mystery/thriller as soon as it comes out!

I knew it would be great! Another twisty story from Catherine Steadman. What starts with a fiancée that dreams are made of,,,had to be too good to be true? Don't get engaged before you meet the family lol.

Whoa..this was great! I could not put it down..fast paced, twisty and I NEEDED to know what was going on with this family. I really loved the games, the twists and turns and figuring out who was going to "win" in these impossible situations.

Wow, this was a fun, twisty read with a fast-paced plot! I enjoyed it more than I thought I would after reading the first couple chapters and feeling it was too similar to the movie Ready or Not (a movie I love). Thankfully this had plenty of surprises to keep me invested in the story. Steadman was masterful with delivering all the clues to slowly piece together what’s going on and I loved how everything connected! My absolute favorite scene was the Krampusnacht celebration. Sooooo good! I think any fan of cat-mouse thrillers with sinister secrets, intriguing side characters, and family drama will enjoy this.

Favorite Quotes:

“I’m sure you’re surprised that a family like ours plays so many childish games, but, Harriet, that is the common misconception about the nature of games. Games take us as close as is acceptable to the strategies we use in life. Games reveal our most base instinct: the instinct to survive.”

“You can tell a lot about a person from the mess they leave behind.”

“A girl with a past tries to marry into money and all hell breaks loose. We all know how that story ends.”

I have read all of Steadman’s books so far and The Family Game was my favorite out of the 4. The novel centers around a woman with a past who becomes engaged to the son of a wealthy tycoon. After not meeting the family during the length of their relationship, she is invited to spend the holidays with them and begins to pick up on ominous vibes and realizes all is not what it appears. Harry herself is not who she appears to be so she knows all too well the secrets that can lurk beneath surfaces. I won’t go into more detail, so as not to spoil the plot.
This book has a unique tone and mixes some of the popular contemporary domestic suspense genre with a throwback gothic vibe. The tension builds slowly and the plot appears straightforward but there are some last minute twists that throw it into a different direction. The characters are engaging and Harry’s secrets begin to add to the dark tone. A very enjoyable and fast-paced read!

thrilling and full of attention grabbing scenes. completely upputdownable and diffidently recommend to others

The Family Game was made available for me to preview by the publisher. Harriet (or Harry, as she is known) is about to marry the man of her dreams, who happens to come from a very wealthy family.. A mystery author with her own dark past, Harry is lured into trying to understand the secrets underlying the family’s strange relationships and rituals, without having her own exposed. The Family Game is a fun, page-turner. Harry is a likeable character, and her account of the challenges of joining a close knit family is relatable and engaging, even before the creepiness begins to show up. I enjoyed some of the detailing of the rarified world in which Harry finds herself. There are some side threads and secondary characters that could have been cu, and the “twist” is less than surprising, but I still wanted to read to the end to see how the story would play out.

✨ "A girl with a past tries to marry into money and all hell breaks loose. We all know how that story ends."

True... until you read this book, that is.

The Family Game is so much fun and totally unputdownable! If you're worried about the synopsis sounding similar to other movies or books like I was — don't be. I'm pretty impressed at how the author has created a wholly original tale while drawing inspiration from existing cult favourites.

I was engrossed the whole time and this book was so worth staying up till 4am for. It has all the ingredients I enjoy in a thriller: A substantial cast of shady characters, a morally grey protagonist with an intriguing backstory, long-buried secrets, family drama, vivid settings and more!

I've read two other Catherine Steadman novels but this one is hands down my favourite so far!

Games are always played best when the stakes matter. The Family Game was an incredible story of a woman finding love, and wanting to be favored by an immensely powerful family her love is tethered to. When a tape of an alleged idea of a book is handed to her, it’s a question of whether it’s fact to Murder, or pure fiction.

The book was well thought out, and it was like watching a movie with its vivid descriptions & genuine relationships between characters. Harry, our lead was relatable to wanting to be liked by her love’s family, and being lonely after traumas. I did feel that the lead was guilted into quite a few situations where she should have been more insistent, and state boundaries. Her relationship to Edward seemed almost desperate, and wanted to keep him no matter what. There are also trigger warning content such as drug use, violence, and mental health.

I did eventually see the twist coming but it did not disappoint me personally. The last half of the novel had enough tension to have me enthralled til the end.

This reminded me of films like Ready or Not with its history with murder and games, and other media. I’m so grateful to Ballantine Books, Netgalley, the lovely Catherine Steadman, and random house for my ARC ebook of The Family Game. I look forward to November 2022 for the finished novel. 💫 #thefamilygame #netgalley

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles. I really not the opportunity!

I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy. First time reading Catherine Steadman and throughly enjoyed The Family Gamel. Real page turner and some of it scenes I guess a mile away. Overall I will recommend reading it to pass a lazy day.