Absolutely loved how powerful this book was. Addressing raw topics in a real way. So many twists in this book, I devoured it!

✨Book Review✨
It's One of Us by J.T.Ellison
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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I will start off by saying that I read this 400 page book in two days, so I clearly liked something about it, but for some reason I was just not fully invested. I really can't say why, but something about it fell a little flat. I guessed the major plot twist early on, and even though I did not guess the second plot twist, it really didn't excite me. I really can't put my finger on why I was not more invested in this story, as it was a clever concept. Maybe it's just my state of mind or the fact that I was reading another thriller at the same time. I would recommend this book if you like a thriller with multiple perspectives and you are not triggered by discussions of infertility, as that is a huge trigger warning.
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I really did appreciate the author's note at the end that talks about her struggle with infertility and how it shows up in this book. I also appreciate how much infertility was discussed in this book, as I completely agree that it is not talked about enough, resulting in a taboo of the topic.

I found this book to be very intense but in a good way. Once I picked up this book I did not want to put it down. The main character Olivia was one of my favorite characters in this novel. You will not be disappointed that you read this!

So... I really wanted to like this book because I really enjoyed another J.T. Ellison novel a lot, but... I hated it!

Basically there were no twists - I saw everything coming MILES away, the characters were bland and not fully fledged-out and I just did not care about them. The mystery was uneven and over the top. It also deals with some heavy subjects and I feel like that gave the author the opportunity to create complex characters and stories that would make the reader empathize with most characters, but unfortunately it fell short on that too.

NOW SPOILERS!
- I was sure she did the crime in the past from the first chapters.
- I hated everyone in this book and what arseholes they were - like I get it you want a kid but you get close to a kid someone else had when you donated sperm years ago and don't care that your wife is alone somewhere suffering after an abortion plus all this drama happening around your family? Hello!!! Not saying it's bad to care for a kid or slowly fall for her mother but it's just weird and icky! Plus in the beginning of the novel he cared so much about Olivia that the transition to his new found family was sudden and weird - I get the daughter and if this were to happen after the big major twist at the end it would've made more sense and it would've been easier to digest.
- I guessed that boy was the killer very fast too and I don't see why you would write things so obviously - also I was probably too bored and I am not sure how the siblings were related and how it happened when the mum said there were different donors (mea culpa, I really missed that).
- not in-depth focus on POVs - they were there but just to push the plot forward, not to actually build the characters and their motivations - write the book in third person if you just want eyes everywhere and you don't want to offer a personal perspective from each character - this is why the characters were so flat and boring.

You can skip this one, nothing to see here.

Wow. This book is amazing. Having struggled with infertility myself, I can understand the desire Olivia carries. What I can't imagine is how I might react if I had received the news that Olivia does.

This would make a great movie or TV thriller. I loved the fast-paced writing, the plot, and the twists. Fabulous writing with deep characters. I flew through this book.

What do you do when your life has been through the roller coaster of infertility and you find out your spouse has several children due to a wayward sperm donor bank walking around in the world? And what if one of those children is actually a serial killer? I found this premise intriguing and it really did a great job of keeping me turning the pages. This book is told in different voices cleverly labeled in their familial relations. There's plenty of the intrigue of a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing if you can trust the characters. My only issue with this book was a lack of a huge twist that I expect out of psychological thillers. There was a twist it just didn't satisfy me and left me disappointed in the ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ecopy for an honest review.

Oh JT Ellison. I’ve loved all of her books and this was no exception. This book had it all, mystery, romance, family drama. An audio narrated by Julia Whelan is always such a treat. Trigger warnings for infertility and miscarriages.

It’s One Of Us was a wild ride!

Major trigger warnings of infertility and miscarriage.

Olivia and her husband Park have been desperately trying to conceive for years without success when they receive a knock on their door from detectives. A missing woman’s body has been discovered in the area, and the DNA found on the victim has led them to Park. Except, it wasn’t Park who killed the girl, it was his son. Except… Park doesn’t have a son. Or so Olivia thought.

This story has so many layers to it, and was told though so many different perspectives, yet I never once got confused throughout it.

Many twists and turns that I never saw coming, and things that I predicted were entirely wrong – which I love.
The ending felt like a disaster, and I didn’t like it at all. It felt rushed and like we just connected final pieces out of no where. But all in all, I really enjoyed and stayed engaged with this book entirely.

Thank you to the publisher.

MAJOR TW for infertility.

This was a twisty thriller. Though you find out who the killer is a little earlier than most books it was perfect for the plot. I found this story to not really take its foot off the brakes. And though I hated all the main characters I feel like I it did not affect how I felt about the book. This story was an absolute page turner and the author's note at the end was quite emotional.

This book was a slow read for me. I did not connect well with the characters and felt the story to be far fetched. The twist was good but it got lost in the plot. I was mildly disappointed by this novel.

JT Ellison has done it again - another page turning thriller! This one has strong triggers for infertility so please take care if this is a factor for you.

A stunning, original, and twisted tale that follows Olivia as her curated, perfect life is unraveled by the revelation that her husband once donated sperm and one of his donor children is the suspect in a murder case. J.T. Ellison takes readers on a journey that is unpredictable and overwhelmingly realistic with It's One of Us. Olivia has struggled with fertility for years, it's tearing she and her husband apart, but the secrets that her husband holds just might be their undoing.

With masterful skill, Ellison introduces readers to Olivia and her husband Park, taking us on a sympathetic journey into their love story and their infertility journey. We are compassionate to them, hopeful for them, even as the cops knock at their door, but with every chapter and every new character perspective, Ellison pulls us away. The secrets are insurmountable, each worse than the previous, and their impacts cause shockwaves. It is impossible to read this book and not be shocked, to not feel betrayed in some way. We get glimpses into Park's perspective, his brother's, Park's donor children, their parents, and more. We know more than Olivia will ever know, but she has secrets too. It's dark, sad, and completely impossible to put down. I truly enjoyed this real, I loved not being able to guess what would happen next, and despite the sad topic, I enjoyed the unique story. It's One of Us is a standout thriller.

A suspenseful and entertaining read. Don't skip the author's note at the end on this one. Read and listened, the narration was also well done!

Get ready for an emotionally charged thriller about how lies within a marriage and the impact of secrets we keep that destroy the ones we love most.

Olivia & Park want a baby. It’s not working - they try everything and still nothing. Then the worst news ever is delivered by the police; DNA results show that a prime suspect in a murder is Parks son.

I breezed through this one - loved it!

Triggers; infertility, miscarriage.
Read the authors note to learn more about her. Authentic vulnerable and real 💜

Olivia and Park Bender desperately want a child of their own and have struggled with infertility for years. As if things aren't difficult enough, the Benders have just been delivered news that seems impossible - DNA matching to Park's son was found in a murder investigation. Park reveals a secret that comes as a shock to Olivia - years ago, he donated to a sperm clinic. How many other children has Park "fathered"? Will Olivia be able to forgive her husband for keeping such a devastating secret?

I loved the premise for It's One of Us. As the story went on, more and more secrets were revealed - and Park wasn't the only one with secrets. With its heavy themes and shocking discoveries, I couldn't wait to see how this one ended. Be sure to also read the author's note at the end of the book, which was heartbreaking and touching.

4 murderous secrets out of 5

Ohhhh was this a page turner! Unsurprising, really, when the first paragraph reads:

"A woman is missing. Unbeknownst to those who love her, a placid lake holds her deep in its clutches. Its inhabitants watch her drift and dance in tune to gentle currents. They sneak little bites of her flesh, becoming one with this intrusion until they are no longer startled by her. She exists for them now."

HOW DO YOU NOT TURN THE PAGE AFTER THAT?! It's impossible. I was hooked, lined, and sunk.

(apologies to the corpse-eating fish for that pun
RIP lake lady).

Olivia and Park are successful, rich, beautiful, and infertile. All Liv wants in life is a child. Just one healthy, full term pregnancy that doesn't end in a blood-filled flush down the toilet. As she grieves her fifth miscarriage, the sickening truth knocks on their door, announcing that Park is not only capable of having children, but has already sired 28.. and one of them is a murderer.

The revelation catapults them into a dramatic familial saga, from multiple perspectives, that plays out as the investigation unfolds. Its quick pace and twists that happen until the very last page make this a perfect thriller to bring with you for summer vacation!

This was my first J.T. Ellison book, but I certainly hope it won't be my last. Big thanks to Harper Collins for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If it is written by Ms. Ellison, I will read it. I do not even have to read the blurb and I will pick up the book. She is one of my newest go to authors when it comes to intrigue, complex plots, and a thick meaty read. There are times when I want to read a fluff piece. There are times when I want to read something thought provoking or multilayered. When it comes to the later, Ms. Ellison is a go to author. This one is a doozy!

I loved this book and it was a page turner for me because of the unexpected twists and turns in the story. It is an all too realistic tale of a couple trying to get pregnant but unsuccessful. For someone who was unable to conceive or carry a baby to term, this story may feel more intense. For Olivia, I feel for her and the hits just keep on coming for her. For her to unable to have a baby yet her husband suddenly seems to be finding kids popping up out of the woodwork, this is major salt in the wounds.

Olivia is a woman whose whole world turns upside down and her husband, the one who loves her and should be the one that supports her most kills her through neglect and lying. At first I felt bad for Park. Near the end, I just wanted to drop kick him off a cliff. Even the backstory with Olivia and her Park makes me sad for her and disgusted with him. Olivia picked the wrong man to marry.

This story is written from several different people's point of view. Whilst I did like one of the many children Park sired, as the story went on and how she completely disrupts Olivia's life pisses me off. It is as if Olivia is a broken toy and no longer something Park cherishes so she's easy to be tossed aside as a new younger and shinier toy is ready for Park to enjoy. Park shows absolutely no loyalty. He is a worthless.

Amidst complicated relationship drama, bad things are happening. Specifically, someone is killing of people and making it seem as though Park is part of it. I have to say, near the end turned out about how I thought it would go even if I didn't exactly like how it ended for Park. And perhaps, for Olivia, her change in life placed her where she needed to be. With the one who sees her and appreciates her. I thoroughly enjoyed the conflicting needs and priorities amongst the various characters in this suspense. Recommended to readers who appreciate heartache and can find a different life than they envisioned.

This was my first book to read by J.T. Ellison and I loved the book. It was a thriller was so many twists and turns. Each family member had secrets that would eventually be exposed. I loved that the novel took place in Nashville and the beach in Alabama. It is always so fun to read a book that you can identify with locations and landmarks.. The book does a great job of dealing with infertility and all the issues that it can cause.

Another must read by Ellison. The character of Olivia bothered me a bit – true I have never been in her shoes – but she is cold and blames Park for everything that happens even when he has no control. I also thought it was strange that she abandoned her successful business. This novel will definitely make you think.

2.5 rounded up. It just wasn't interesting enough for me to call this a thriller in any capacity. I think the premise was creative, but I didn't care about anyone in this book at all. I finished it because I got an advanced reader's copy and I owed it to the publishers. After many years of trying to start a family with her husband Park, Olivia learns that she is unable to conceive just as things seem like they might work out. As Olivia is trying to process yet another setback, the police arrive at Park's door. Park fathered a child many years ago, and now DNA evidence suggests that child may be a killer. Olivia is struggling to make sense of her life as it is, what with Park being a father and a police investigation thrown into the mix, but wait, there's more...much more.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an honest review.