Olivia and Park Bender have been trying desperately to have a child — and their latest IVF attempt has just ended in miscarriage. That’s when detectives show up at their door to deliver yet another blow: Park’s son is a prime suspect in a local murder case. Unbeknownst to Olivia, Park was a sperm donor in college. He has no idea how many of his potential offspring are out there.

I love domestic suspense, and the layers of secrets in this marriage were COMPELLING. This felt like a real-life scandal, one that would keep you hooked on local news coverage. (Although the book’s portrayal of how a local TV news reporter would do her job was wildly inaccurate.)

At 415 pages, this did feel a bit long to me, and there were a few wild twists at the end that didn’t quite sit well with me. I think if you’re a domestic suspense fan, you’ll eat this one up like candy. If you’re not into the genre, you can skip it.

The author’s note in this one is so deeply personal that it really makes you appreciate the depth of the infertility angle. The author explains how her own infertility journey influenced the book, and I found it vulnerable and endearing.

I am so disappointed in this book. I didn't mind reading the interpretations of miscarriages and infertility. It would have been a solid fiction novel, but instead it's a thriller about sperm banks and DNA testing. I had high hopes, but it just was long and boring. I don't want to be this intense of a critic, but I will not be recommending this one.

This was a great novel of suspense with a lot of secrets. This was my first book by this author and I loved it! The plot was well developed with questionable characters which is a must in this genre. I found this to be an easy read while still keeping me interested and wanting to know how things turned out. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC
Lots of secrets early-on. I feel it was a good solid mystery but a little flat, no excitement. This was a good read, but I felt like it was pretty predictable by halfway through. The ending was similar to other books I’ve read recently also.

I have read J.T. Ellison before and quite enjoyed it so I figured this was going to be equally as good. I was not disappointed. Ellison is well known for domestic thrillers and I love all the little twists and shocks she puts along the way.

First, I want to mention how nicely this story flows. There’s no hitches that slow it down or make you get bored with the storyline. I was thoroughly intrigued throughout. I love a good thriller that hooks you and keeps you hooked. With that said, I didn’t love the characters. I felt like everyone was a bit sketchy at times and that makes it hard to really latch on to a given character as someone to support or cheer on in a story. However, I didn’t hate them. I just didn’t love them. This is the only reason this story got a 4 instead of a 5. I think we were meant to not like them though and I feel like maybe the point is that not everyone is perfect.

I'm still a big fan of J.T. Ellison. Great Plot in It’s One of Us with interesting characters and lots of twists you don’t always see coming. And the ending had some crazy twists! Did not end how I thought!I can’t wait for another book to come out so I can devour that one as well!

This was my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. I found the storyline to be captivating and unique. It wasn’t laid out like a typical thriller. There was a giant reveal in the middle of the book, and I absolutely loved that because it brought a whole new perspective into the story.

I’m always happy when a thriller has multiple POVs, and this one delivered on that. I loved reading from all of the different perspectives. I also liked that most of the characters were scum. What can I say, this girl loves her villains.

The only thing that kept this from being 5 stars for me was that the second half of the book seemed to slow down a bit. There was more of a focus on drama and relationships which was still good, but compared to the pace of the first half, I was a teensy bit disappointed. Still really enjoyed though, and the ending was well done!

There is a major trigger warning related to infertility, miscarriages, and abortion. I’m placing that here with no spoiler warning because I don’t feel that it actually spoils anything. But it’s a huge part of the storyline and shows up immediately, so please be aware of that.

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for my gifted copy. This one is out now!

This is the first JT Ellison novel I have read, but it certainly won’t be my last. Olivia Bender married her childhood sweetheart. She owns her own design company and her husband, Park, is a teacher/ghost writer. From the outside, they have the perfect life. On the inside, the couple has been struggling for years to conceive. It’s driving all of their actions and thoughts, not leaving much room for their marriage. A series of missing women and Park’s unexplained connection to them propels this story forward. I stayed up way too late trying to finish this, and while I had my suspicions- Ellison wrapped it up nicely.

Sadly I wasn’t a fan of this book. I found it hard to follow and it didn’t capture my attention like I thought it would. I don’t know specifically what it was but I just couldn’t make it through the whole book.

The classic triangle... sort of. Olivia has grown up with twins Parker and Perry, marries Park, but has a history with Perry. We first meet Olivia and Park as she has just had a miscarriage and is heartbroken as this is the furthest along she had ever been. Before she can even tell him, the police arrive to say that a missing woman has been found with DNA similar to Park's, though not his. The police want to interview his son. Son? They both look stunned. He has a son? What is the story behind all of this?

I liked the way the issue of infertility was shown as there were many sides to it that all played a role in the story. I also liked the way we got to know how each of the characters who played a central role all were experiencing each new revelation. Good story, right to the end.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I will read more by this author.

It's One Of Us by J.E. Ellison

This is a story that delves into what DNA testing can do to a family. Especially, if one of you is a murderer.

I love stories that are from the perspective of more than one character, and then all that comes together by the end. Except the way it ended is not what I was expecting.

I enjoyed this a lot and with the multiple points of view, I knew all the characters really well.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC.

#jtellison #itsoneofus

J.T. Ellison is an author I discovered many years ago when I first started my bookstagram account. I fell in love with her writing in Lie to Me and she has continued to be an auto-buy for me since.

Ellison kicks things off with a bang from the very start of this story revealing exactly what the synopsis touches on and allowing readers an intimate view into Olivia and Park Bender’s lives. Through alternating narratives, the reader is able to reflect on each side of the situation. As more details come about, Ellison introduces additional narrators to fully round out the story. While this may sound like a lot, each section is clearly labeled and Ellison has managed to give each narrator a distinct voice.

I really enjoyed how the past came into play through various elements of this story as more and more secrets started to come to light. This allowed the narrators to feel unreliable in a way that left the reader asking questions and wanting to keep reading for more details. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t see the ending playing out the way it did, which made me love the book even more.

TW: There are a variety of tough topics in this book with infertility at the forefront, but Ellison handles everything with care and grace, which makes sense when you get to the author’s note and she explains about her own battle with infertility. As always, I recommend checking out Storygraph for a full listing of trigger warnings.

A huge thank you to Mira Books for my gifted copy!

I love Ellison. I felt the story kept moving at a good pace and I didn’t see the ending coming. Many twists and turns but it worked.

Engaging family drama about a couple dealing with the roller coaster of infertility, with a weird murder plot tacked on. Could have really pumped up the thriller aspect by delving deep in the "murder gene" concept that was raised. Ending was a bit far-fetched, but overall a good read. Will continue to purchase Ellison for patrons.

I kept trying to predict a wild twist and I got nowhere near the actual resolution. As I love few (literary) things like a surprising plot, this means I really appreciated this book. I appreciated it even more after reading Ellison's moving author's note. It probably took a lot of courage and strength to imbue a story with so much of your own pain and I think it's an honor that she chose to share that with us.

Olivia and Park have a perfect life, with perfect things, and perfect surroundings. But despite the perfection, and IVF, they are unable to conceive. Just when Olivia has reached her breaking point, the police show up.
Apparently, Park used to donate to a sperm bank. But Olivia doesn’t know. So when the police say say that the DNA of Parks son has implicated him in a murder, Olivia knows this must be a mistake.
As the murder investigation goes deeper, everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets are at risk of exposure.

#ItsOneOfUs:

“There are some things you don’t need to experience firsthand, Park. Trust me.”

I ended up trying to read this and Just The Nicest Couple together and I got so confused. So I basically DNF the first to focus on this one.

This book was wild and messy and really interesting. First and foremost, fuck you Park. I really had to get that off my chest, sorry. Olivia was such an interesting character. I felt like we had 5011 bombshells dropped in quick succession.

The ending frustrated me to no end. Especially the Lucia competitor part. Like.. c’mon now.. but overall, a twisty wild ride. You can guess the murderer quickly early on, but it’s nice to see how it all plays out.

Thanks @mira for the copy! It’s One of Us is out now!

What a wild ride! After a few books that didn’t quite hit the mark, I was really looking for a great thriller, and J. T. Ellison delivered! Action packed from beginning to end, there were twists and turns to keep me turning the pages and find out what was going to happen. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that the ending kind of felt rushed and left questions unanswered.

(Trigger warming) Olivia Bender desperately wants to be a mother so when she miscarries again, she doesn’t want to tell her husband Park that she failed again. Before she can talk to him, the police show up at their home with news of DNA from a crime scene at a recent murder investigation show up as Park’s son. But Park doesn’t have children, right? Turns out that when he was in college, he donated sperm to a clinic, and has no idea how many times his sperm was used. Plus, the scene of the murder resemble the one from his ex-girlfriend murder in college, which Park was briefly a suspect.

The story is told from multiple POVs, which adds realism and complexity from the plot. Each chapter opens with who’s character is telling the story now. Secrets, lies, betrayal, this book is full of them. Just when you think you have everything figured out, there’s another twist thrown in the story.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for a review. As always, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.

"Love has room for secrets, yes, but not lies."

Despite the fact that J.T. Ellison currently has 25+ books this is my first time picking up one of her thrillers. And, cliched as it may be to say, I am confident it won't be my last. From the appealing lyricism in her writing style to some unique spins in a multilayered whodunit, this murder mystery didn't keep me guessing, but it did keep me invested.

Centered around a couple with more than their fair share of secrets, It's One of Us combined multiple POVs, timelines, and murders to reveal its final tale. And while the who and the why take up most of the narrative (as they should), my biggest takeaway from this novel was the topic of infertility.

I've never read a fictional story that provided such heartbreaking detail and descriptions surrounding infertility, miscarriages, and the pressures surrounding this subject as a whole. As a new mom it was hard to stomach, so I want to make it very clear how potentially triggering this book could be. With that being said, Ellison outlines in her Author's Note (which fun fact: made me cry) that she's speaking from experience here and felt it was important to include these details in efforts to not only destigmatize, but to also normalize conversations about infertility.

Important topics coupled with interesting twists made this an above-average thriller for me. If you're in the market for a fast-paced story full of characters to root for and against, this one's for you!

3,5 Stars

Olivia Bender loves her career as an upscale interior home designer, but more than anything, she wants to become a mother. Sadly, she has had nothing but heartbreak on that journey – experiencing miscarriages and unsuccessful fertility treatments. She’s sure it’s a mistake when two police detectives show up on their doorstep claiming that DNA on a murder victim’s body indicates the killer is her husband Park’s son. Eventually, Park admits he was a sperm donor when he was in grad school and doesn’t know how many children he has fathered. This bombshell is just the beginning of the nightmares the couple will experience as things escalate with the killer and old secrets come out.

I have enjoyed several thrillers written by this author and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it starts out very slowly written in a stilted, passive style. It is told from several different points of view and a couple different timelines with mixed results. Things get better after a couple of chapters, but the pacing remains uneven. The thriller aspects of the book are well-done, with several red herrings that keep the reader guessing, at least for a little while, about who the killer really is. However, the author makes a choice to reveal the identity of the murderer well before the end of the book, which lowers the tension level.

The legal and ethical questions raised by the way the donor clinic operates are intriguing and are a great basis for a mystery and I wish there would have been more of a focus on that. Instead, a love triangle between Olivia, Park, and Park’s brother Perry is revealed early on and continues throughout the book taking away from the parts of the story that I found more interesting. The ending of the book requires some suspension of disbelief, but most of the subplots successfully come together. The author’s note at the end about her own experiences with infertility is very touching and it’s clear how personal this story is for her. Overall, there are several parts of the book I enjoyed, but the potential was there to be so much better.

~ Christine

J.T. Ellison is one of those authors I've been reading for years and one that I don't even read what the book is about. If she wrote it, I read it. This one felt like it veered a little from her normal and read more like a domestic thriller than a suspenseful mystery, even though there is a mystery. It was kind of easy to figure out early on. The DNA aspect and fertility was an interesting storyline. The characters were not very likeable and some of their actions just didn't make sense. I will continue to read this author and although this wasn't my favorite of hers, it was still a good read.