ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I love the narration Kiersten Modglin has for her books! They are always very concise, clear, and easy to listen to for hours! This story is about an engaged couple that returns to the man’s childhood home after the death of his parents who were exceptionally wealthy. A ton of family drama ensues and lots of twists and turns to keep your head spinning! I loved that I had no idea where the story was heading or would end up! If you’re into domestic thrillers and mysteries you should definitely check this out!

Another winner by Kiersten Modglin! I always look forward to her books, and this one was everything I love about her writing. The narrator was great, and kept me engaged the whole time. I literally didn't want to stop listening to this one, because I just had to know what was next. Loved the plot, loved the ending, and the characters were perfect for this one.

In true KMod fashion, this was one twisty thriller I could not stop listening to! Like holy crap, I wasn’t expecting that!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio of The Family Secret.
Lowell and Austin have been together since college and are now engaged when Lowell gets the devastating news that his parents have both passed away. She’s never met his family, but she knew that his family came from a lot of money, but it was only when they arrived at “The Pond” did she realize just how much money and how influential the family name was.
Lowell has two siblings, Dallas and Fallon. The dysfunction may be high in this family, but you quickly find out that Dallas and Fallon are nothing like their brother.
The Family Secret is full of secrets and twists you just won’t see coming. Just when you think you figured it out- there’s another shock you didn’t see coming.

THE FAMILY SECRET by Kiersten Modglin and narrated by Jennifer Sun Bell is the comfort psychological suspense I needed! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ That sounds strange, but after exploring some other genres, I wanted a story that I could sit back and enjoy.

This family drama finds Austyn heading out to her fiancé Lowell's family estate with the news that his parents have died unexpectedly. When she arrives, the foreboding estate feels almost as awkward as Lowell's siblings reception. Adding to the discomfort, Austyn's best friend Emily is having a crisis and needs her friend, coming out to the estate as well. After finding an old diary hidden in her closet, revelations start to crack the polished facade and Austyn begins seeing another side of this fairytale that doesn't have a happy ending.

I really enjoyed listening to this audio! Not to belabor the point, but I wanted a safe read and this was it. The action and suspense wasn't too over-the-top but kept my interest. While the direction was a bit predictable (i.e. safely enjoyable), the plot had some twists that I thought I had figured out and was proved wrong. I never really knew who to trust until the end.

If you are looking for a reliably solid suspense, look no further! The audio was a fantastic way to engage with this story. I listened at my usual 2x speed and the narration was seamlessly smooth with all the emotive sways clear. I love thrillers on audio.

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for the opportunity to listen and share my thoughts. THE FAMILY SECRET is available now!

I was completely surprised by the direction this book first took us in. It seemed like a wonderful story of family. But then the twists began, slowly at first. Then picking up speed over time.. eventually the true intensity took over and the direction completely changed. Trying to determine who to trust can be a dangerous game. This is a must read.

I liked how The Family Secret was written, descriptive language and good intrigue. The Bass family’s home, The Pond, has more square footage, employees, money,and family secrets than any one house should hold. The audiobook’s narration (Jennifer Sun Bell) is clear, well paced and easy to listen to.
Thank You to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity listen to the audiobook version of this ARC.

I am a big fan of Kiersten Modglin books but this one was just okay for me. I found the overall story ok but the relationships between the characters were ridiculous and took away from the believability of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to the book in advance of publication.

"I'd hope he was better than this; that the blood that runs through my fiance's veins was better than this..."

Oh he was not better, in fact maybe a bit worse. Once again, in The Family Secret, thriller queen Kiersten Modglin imagines the craziest twisty outcomes that leave you stunned and blindsided by the slow burn reveals.

Austyn drops everything to be with her fiance Lowell Bass when both his parents unexpectedly pass away. When they arrive at his family's estate, The Pond (named because that's where the Bass live...get it...haha), she is shocked by the ostentatious wealth and opulent lifestyle of his family. Soon she feels that Lowell, his brother Dallas and sister Fallon are willing to die...or kill to keep it all.

As Lowell becomes obsessed with his new title as head of one of the wealthiest families Austyn finds a hidden diary from 16 year old maid Celine who worked there during Lowell's grandparents' time. What she discovers begins a rabbit hole investigation into what really happened to Celine.

In the meantime, Austyn's once best friend, Emily, contacts her begging to stay with her because her husband is divorcing her and she needs to get away. So why is Emily at Lowell's office, why is she getting checks from him every month and why are they both lying about it? I can't tell you why but I was so wrong about it.

Narrator Jennifer Sun Bell gives Austyn a very young naive tone but it slowly gets stronger as things come to light for her. This thriller was quick, shocking, and crazy fun. Also, the chemistry between Dallas and Austyn was just the right combination of uncomfortable and steamy.

The Family Secret is a doozy and you know the only way to keep a secret among people is if all but one of them is dead.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a fun fast paced unputdownable book! I will say, it stressed me out way too many times. Some of the situations are so frustrating, but I still loved the plot!

I have read almost all of Kiersten Modglin books and this is probably one of my favorites so far.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. First time reading Kiersten Modglin after hearing a lot of hype. The book was enjoyable although a bit predictable. It started to go hard at some points but backed off just when I thought ok this may get really good. I felt nothing for any of these characters how could they really be as clueless or as connected to each other as the writing would have you believe. When someone you’ve never met before would do anything to protect you over themselves I’m always skeptical. Not to mention I got so confused when names were thrown around and I feel like I ultimately missed the big family secret. Plus side the book was easy to read through quickly but overall this was not a book with much substance. I am definitely going to give the author another go. ⭐️⭐️

🎧 NetGalley AUDIOBOOK ARC Review 🎧

The Family Secret
By Kiersten Modglin
Publish date: Today! 🎉
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscapemedia for an audiobook ARC of The Family Secret in return for my honest review.

When Austyn’s fiancée receives tragic news from home, she travels back with him for support. She always knew Lowell was wealthy, but she wasn’t expecting a sprawling 26 bedroom estate.

Even though they have been dating for almost a decade, this is Austyn’s first time going to her fiancée’s childhood home and meeting his family members. 🤔 And she can’t put a finger on it, but beautiful as the mansion is, something feels… off about the historic Bass estate and its occupants.

👍 What I enjoyed:
You won’t know who to trust in this twisted domestic thriller. The dual points of view (one present, the other journal entries from the past) bring the story slowly together. I wasn’t able to predict all of the twists which is always great!

😕 What wasn’t for me:
Since I like my thrillers to be on the more “realistic” side of fiction, there were more than a few plot holes that I couldn’t get over. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say, nobody asks any of the obvious, important questions. Ever! 🤦‍♀️ The ending just didn’t add up for me either.

Overall this was a fun popcorn thriller with lots of twists and turns. It’s an quick and entertaining audiobook (under 5-6 hours if you speed it up) - perfect for a road trip!

Read this if you like…
🤫 Dark family secrets
🍿 Domestic popcorn thrillers
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Sketchy siblings
🌪️ Lots of twists and turns
🤷‍♀️ Not knowing who to trust
🎧 Quick audiobooks

So the first 75% was decent if anything a little too much. The remaining parts of the book were just completely too much & almost comical at how ridiculous it was.

I’ve become a huge fan of Kiersten Modglin this year, I listened to the audio version and the narrator was great. I enjoy the writing style in every book and she has an interesting way of doing twists and turns that aren’t obvious. I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kiersten Modglin for this audio-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

I received this ARC as an audiobook. I usually love Kiersten Modglin's books and especially love listening to the audiobook versions. Unfortunately this one was not a hit to me. The characters while they were well developed were not believable. The change in relation with Lowell and Austin just hit me the wrong way. I get where this book was trying to go and be entertaining in the twist but it just wasn't believable to me. I'm sorry Kiersten this just wasn't the book for me. I'm still one of your biggest fans!!

Austyn arrives at her fiancé’s family compound to meet his siblings. They’re all thrust in the middle of drama surrounding the terms of their parents’ will. Austyn finds a journal that reveals even more buried family secrets. All of the tension builds until it explodes at the end, almost literally!! 🔥 😳

The Family Secret is the perfect title for this book. Well, maybe The Family Secrets would have been better because I lost track of how many of them there were! 😂 I’ve read almost all of Kiersten Modglin’s books. They always bring the twists and the 🍿 fun! Great narration. Recommend!

*Thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for the advance audio copy for review.

The Family Secret is another solid domestic thriller by @kierstenmodglinauthor. In this story, newly engaged couple, Austyn & Lowell, return to Lowell’s family home after his parents die in an accident. This will also be Austyn’s first time meeting anyone from Lowell’s family. After arriving at the family estate, Austyn begins to worry about what kind of family she will be marrying into and the lengths they will go to in order to keep their secrets hidden.

I recommend grabbing the book or audiobook of this one when it releases on Tuesday!

Thank you @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a good book. Such an easy listen and I was able to keep the plot straight. But the twist was great and something I did not see coming! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves themselves a good thriller novel!

When Austin agrees to go to California with Lowell her longtime boyfriend and new fiancé her goal is just to be there emotionally for him because they just learned his parents were found dead. Soon after arriving she meets the black sheep of the family Dallas and older sister Fallon who initially acts happy to meet her. Soon after they get there to the gigantic family Home called The Pond they learn of a couple of revelations. One The Pond and the multi billion dollar Bass business now belongs to lol. The last thing Austin wants to do is leave her bakery business and her mom and friends back in Tennessee to move to California but if she wants to be with her lol it seems that’s going to be her only option. She soon becomes bored so when her friend Emily calls and says she’s separated from her husband Grayson she is happy when lol tells her to invite her to The Pond but Emily‘s arrival doesn’t bring the relief Austin thought it would and win Emily AN lol start acting shady Austin is confused and it seems Dallas knows things but will only feed her information and cryptic clues and she can’t decide if she is attracted to Dallas I can’t stand him in the middle of all this she finds an old diary and even though the diary is 50 years old it brings up more questions but the answers could very well get her killed. Austin doesn’t know who to trust she can’t trust her best friend, her fiancé and the only one claiming to be on her side is Dallas the black sheep in loose end of the family. let me just say Austin Murphy was one of the dumbest main characters I have ever read but having said that this is my new favorite Kirsten Modglin book throughout the book you’re like oh so that’s what happened but then she upped the ante and you’re like the white hulk and that big and then you’re like OMG Kirsten Modglin is a genius! This book was so good and they had so many twists that he had such sharp turns you wound up on a different path altogether and I loved it. I was so scared this was going to be the third book in a row by this author I didn’t like because I previously loved her books but now she is back on track and has all done her self kudos to you Miss Madeline on a great board not to mention the narrator was stellar and you can tell when she did Austin‘s voice that she may have also thought Austin was one of the dumbest characters in the book and the dumbest out of many books. Either way I love this book and highly recommend it I received it from NetGalley and dreamscape media but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Another winner from Kiersten Modglin! I think it’s safe to say I am a life long fan!

This is a fast paced story with a slow burn. It takes forever to figure out what’s going on and where it’s going but it does it in a way that is crazy fast paced and doesn’t feel slow like other slow burns. It feels like a contraction to say out loud (or type up - whatever), but it works!

I really enjoy the storyline of the rich family with the BIG secret - but what is the big secret? You have to follow the twists and turn to find out! I love this story. Perfect amount of suspense and mystery all tucked into a short and fast paced story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️