Sarah Pekkanen's Gone Tonight is terrifying which, combined with its intensity, makes it impossible to put down ... or get a good night's sleep. The characters are extraordinarily well developed and the reader becomes more and more vested in their story. The details of the plot are very well thought out and impressively realistic. This is not a relaxing beach read. This is a "sit on the edge of your seat with your fingers gripping tightly and your body coiled" ride. Definitely 6 out of 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of Gone Tonight. I have read and enjoyed books by Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks but I think this is the first one I have read that is solely written by Pekkanen. I was not disappointed! Catherine and Ruth were both well-developed characters and I liked slowly learning about Ruth’s past.The relationship between Catherine and Ruth was interesting as were Ruth’s efforts to protect Catherine. The pace of the book was great and I had a hard time putting it down because I couldn’t wait to see how everything would turn out. This was a great read, but I’m conflicted about the ending and whether the epilogue was even needed.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
All her life Ruth has lived and protected her daughter Catherine, When Catherine wants to move and begin her career her mother does everything she can to stop her. Catherine tries to find out more about her mother- why were they always moving.? Why would she never let anyone get close?
But the more Catherine finds out the more dangerous their life becomes!

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

An intense read that I couldn’t put down. Kept you glued to your seat as you read each word.

I am always appreciative to be offered advance reader copies by publishers. When I started this book, I was not enthralled but since I had made the commitment to read it, I wanted to fulfill that obligation. I did not enjoy this novel at all. It was a laborious read for me. The characters are lackluster and unlikeable. I could not wait for it to end and the ending did not redeem it for me. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #GoneTonight,#StMartinsPress,#NetGalley.

I received an ARC of this upcoming novel through NetGalley.

This is about a mother and her daughter. The mother has her daughter out of wedlock when she was a teenager. She leaves her family and her hometown while still pregnant and creates a new false identity for herself, leaving her past completely behind. The reason she does this is nor known immediately, but soon becomes evident.

The story is told when the daughter is 24 years old, with the mother flashing back to the events that caused her to become pregnant and leave home. The book is structure with the mother (Ruth) and daughter (Catherine) serving as narrators in alternating chapters.
About halfway through the book, the story evolves into a thriller.

To enjoy this book, the reader needs to be able to suspend disbelief. The story is filled with numerous twists and turns, most of which seem unfathomable and unrealistic. The author painstakingly explains why these wild events are possible, almost as if she knows that the reader doubts whether what is happening is possible.

A very well-written, suspenseful novel.

Ruth and Catherine Sterling have always been a team. Since Ruth’s religious parents forced her to leave home when she became pregnant at sixteen, through dead end jobs, sudden unexplained moves and losing friends, Catherine has never questioned her mother’s decisions. But now, when she’s ready to move to a new apartment and a much desired nursing job, her mother is diagnosed with a serious disease, one that will require Catherine’s constant care. A search for other family members who might be able to help leads Catherine to an unsettling discovery. That discovery will lead to many others, none of them good.

With Gone Tonight, Sarah Pekkanen has written another sure fire best seller. Ruth and Catherine are strong, well described characters, either good or evil depending on the situation. Ruth is a survivor and some of her experiences are heartbreaking. Themes of abuse, violence and desperation weave together to make this domestic thriller a 5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sarah Pekkanen for this ARC.

Wow! I just love Sarah Pekkanen’s writing style. Totally loved this new thriller. Tension, twists and awesome reveals. Characters were crazy great! I stayed completely invested in this story. Very well written and expertly executed.
Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Holy cow---my mind is blown! I started this book last night and finished it today. Sarah Pekkanen crafts a thriller with so many twists and turns that it was almost impossible to put down (but my darn kids kept getting im the way!). The novel is told from alternating perspectives of Ruth, a single mom, and her daughter Catherine. Just when you think you have figured out the plot, Pekkanen throws in a twist. I loved reading as the story unfolded. I already recommended this novel for book club in August (when it will be officially released)---stopped reading after I finished Act 1 and texted some friends---it really is that good.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I have read a few other books by this author and I think this one was quite good with all of the twists and turns in the story. It made me think about how no one is 100% good or bad. It also kept me guessing and was hard for me to predict the ending.

Very good book thank you to the publisher author and NETGALY for the chance to read this book early. It was as go as the book she coauthores

I have to admit - I’ve an odd relationship with Ms. Pekkanen, the author of “Gone Tonight.” Some of her books I’ve greatly enjoyed and others are okay. I went into this book blind - literally all I saw was an email saying “approved to read” and I started reading. The first third I was wondering “Is this a family or woman’s book? That’s a new direction for Ms. Pekkanen to take.” But I dug in and continued reading … then, the end of Part I happened … and the proverbial light bulb turned on. It’s a bit of a slow burn at the beginning, but push through - Ms. Pekkanen’s thriller magic does happen (thank goodness!). Knowing a bit about the plot probably would’ve helped me with the first part (it seemed like a lot of set-up), but things picked up during the second and third parts. What I like about Ms. Pekkanen’s stories is that she’s a very engaging writer, with some interesting information twists along the way. Sometimes things are what they seem to be … and I liked the mother/daughter relationship in this book a lot. Must admit, though, that the information about an illness was a titch too close to home for me, since I had a family member who suffered from it for a while. If you’ve read Ms. Pekkanen’s works before, add this one to your want to read list - it’s a good one.

I’m not sure what I should do with my hands!!

They haven’t stopped flailing over my head in excitement since I received one of my most anticipated books….

Gone Tonight

Sarah Pekkanen is coming at us strong with a solo publication and let me tell you, this girl right here, is here for it!

It’s the last couple of day before Christmas and I should be wrapping gifts BUT when you receive a surprising email from SMP, you let NOTHING and I mean NOTHING interfere.

Looks like I’ll be on the naughty list (again)

Anywho, I dropped the tape and plunged right in. I have zero regrets . This feisty little lady over here has yet again delivered with another five star read that will just about break the internet. Yes, I am that confident.

I feel like I have been gut punched. How did I not see that one coming? Curious to know what I’m talking about? You’re going to have to pick this show stopper on up on August 1, 2023 to find out.

In the mean time, here is a little teaser :

Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.
Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.

No one can know Ruth's history. There is a reason why Ruth kept them moving every few years, and why she was ready--in a moment's notice--to be gone in the night. 

But danger is closing in. Is it coming from the outside, from Ruth's past? Is Ruth reaching a breaking point? Or is the danger coming from the darkness that may live in Catherine, herself?

This book will keep you up all night! Catherine is very close to her mother Ruth - the two of them have been through many jobs, many apartments and faced countless obstacles together. But just when Catherine is about to launch her life as an adult, her mother begins to forget. Catherine fears that it is alzheimer's, but a little research shows that it is actually much, much worse.

Just when you think you know where the plot is leading you a new finding will shake your world! If you love a twisty twisty story, a mother and daughter team, a little violence and destruction or just want to stay up all night reading, Gone Tonight is for you!
#StMartinsPress #GoneTonight #SarahPekkanen

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m finishing out 2022 strong, having recently read a terrific book, Gone Tonight, by Sarah Pekkanen. This thriller is a killer, and I mean that in the best way. Who is the murderer, who is the psychopath, and who is the innocent…this book will keep you guessing? A Mom and her daughter are on the run, a Dad is in jail, and somebody did something wrong. I started this book and did not stop until I finished early this morning. It was THAT good. I predict this will be a hot commodity when published on August 1, 2023. Don’t worry. I’ll remind you because I want you to read this novel; but be prepared to have something handy to help you calm down when finished. What a thrilling story. #love #murder #abuse #mystery #mysterythriller #family #loyalty #secrets #on-the-run #SarahPekkanen #GoneTonight #StMartinsPress @NetGalley #NetGalley @sarahpekkanen @stmartinspress #book #bookish #reader #reads #bookstagram #books
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Publication date estimated August 1, 2023.