I thought this book had a really interesting plot and I enjoyed the setting. I was invested in the characters and thought the twist was good and perhaps a little predictable.

4.25⭐️

A little slow to start but thrilling none the less. I love a thriller that drops a huge plot twist in the middle of the book that makes you rethink everything you just read. The second half of the book was quite thrilling and fast paced. The first half was very ominous and kind of creepy in the “i’m a girl and can relate sense” ? If that makes any sense. Regardless, Mary Kubica does not miss. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the thrillers I’ve read by her and can’t wait to read more!

At first, I was intrigued by She's Not Sorry. I love thrillers that involve characters who work in the medical field. They always promise to add a bit of drama to the story. I enjoyed the main character and found her compelling. The story was also very readable. However, I figured out every twist very early on. The "biggest" twist was obvious. For a thriller, there was no tension for me. I was just waiting around to see if the author surprised me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica
2024 Publication Date: April 2

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Domestic Thriller Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
In She's Not Sorry, Mary Kubica's latest addition to new domestic thrillers, readers are ensnared in a web of chilling secrets and creeping dread.

The novel opens with Meghan Michaels, a single mother and dutiful ICU nurse, whose world tilts on its axis when Caitlin, a patient with a severe head injury, is brought into the hospital.

The rumor? She leaped from a bridge in a desperate act of self-destruction. What could have gone so terribly wrong in this girl's life? But as answers come forward, whispers of foul play emerge along with dark secrets, casting an even darker sinister shadow over what at first seemed to be solely a tragic waste of life at her own hands.

As Meghan draws closer to Caitlin, she unwittingly weaves herself and her teenage daughter into a tapestry of menacing schemes that intersect tighter and tighter as the suspense builds.

Kubica masterfully crafts a narrative that pivots on the fine line between trust and fear, making She's Not Sorry a good domestic thriller that may be just what you are looking for, as it stands out in the crowded field of new domestic thrillers.... ✨😎✨

Pages: 331
Genre: Thriller Books
Sub-Genres: New Domestic Thrillers | Crime Fiction | Psychological Thriller
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ N/A
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Chicago, IL (US)
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row Books

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Guest by B.A. Paris ⭐️⭐️⭐
• Authors: Samantha Downing (My Lovely Wife), Jeneva Rose (The Perfect Marriage), Freida McFadden (The Wife Upstairs), Alice Feeney (Rock Paper Scissors)
Movie: Gone Girl ⭐️⭐️⭐️

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• The power of secrets... One of the biggest themes in She's Not Sorry is the impact of keeping and hiding secrets, both on an individual and on a community as a whole. Throughout the book, we see how withholding information can have devastating consequences and lead to unexpected twists and turns.... Reflect on the importance of honesty and transparency in relationships, and the consequences of secrets doing more harm than good.
• The danger of assumptions... As the reader, we follow Meghan's perspective throughout the book and are privy to her assumptions about Caitlin and the events surrounding her fall. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that these assumptions were not entirely accurate.... How easy it is to make assumptions about others without fully understanding their experiences and motivations.
• The strength of motherhood... She's Not Sorry also highlights the fierce protectiveness and unwavering love that comes with being a mother. Meghan's devotion to her daughter is a driving force throughout the book, even as she faces danger and uncertainty.... The incredible strength and resilience that mothers possess, even in the face of adversity, and what choices that can lead to when under extreme circumstances.

BOOK QUOTE:
"What happens to her is entirely up to you..." — She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.”

Mary Kubica can be a hit-or-miss author for me personally; she always creates entertaining and suspenseful narratives, but the endings don’t always work. Nonetheless, I was looking forward to her latest.

First, there are definitely triggers to be aware of before starting, including domestic abuse and suicide attempts; I thought Kubica treated both topics with sensitivity and clear research. I flew through this book, partially due to the three seemingly unparalleled storylines, connected through narrator Meghan: the recent suicide attempt of Caitlin (a patience of Meghan’s in ICU), the mysterious appearance of her friend from high school, Nat, and recent attacks of women in the neighbourhood. All three are interesting and held my attention, as the layers were revealed and the connections became more apparent. The sense of claustrophobia was high, both due to the Chicago setting as the gray of winter oppresses, and also the feeling like someone is always watching Meaghan. Kubica creates a feeling of doubt throughout, especially as she highlights how alone Meghan is in various situations; when others appear, it is hard to know if they are able to be trusted with her safety or not. The title takes on some very interesting meanings, as the characters’ motivations show romourse (or the lack there of). The ending fell a bit flat, particularly with two characters involvement, and the repetition of street names made me feel like I was following Google Map directions at times! However, these were fairly minor in the big scheme of the whole story.

She's Not Sorry is a story of safety, victimhood, manipulation, and exploitation. Dark, twisty, and filled with dread, I think this is my favourite Kubica book yet. Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for the ARC!

Meghan Michaels, a seasoned ICU nurse navigating life post-divorce while raising her 16-year-old daughter, Sienna, in shared custody with her ex-husband, Ben. Assigned to care for a critical suicide patient named Caitlin, who plunged from a bridge onto a train wreckage, Meghan grapples with her own haunting history tied to suicide. Reluctant yet compelled, Meghan forms unexpected connections with Caitlin's family, uncovering secrets that hint at Caitlin's potential redemption from her troubled past. Amidst this, Meghan observes unsettling signs of a potential struggle involving Caitlin and a suspicious figure, prompting police to investigate Caitlin's fall as possibly more than a suicide attempt.

However, Meghan's concerns extend beyond the hospital. She's troubled by the plight of an old acquaintance, Nate, whose encounters hint at possible abuse. Meanwhile, a dangerous predator lurks nearby, threatening women in Meghan's community, including her own neighborhood where she and Sienna reside.

Could these disparate threads be intertwined? If you're enticed by these tantalizing mysteries, grab your copy, set aside some time, and prepare for a riveting journey into this gripping tale.

She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica, is a sitting on the edge of your seat, turning the page quickly novel. It is a mystery thriller at heart.
Meghan Michaels is an ICU nurse and mother to a teenage daughter, Sienna. They live in a small apartment in Chicago following her divorce from her husband Ben. Meghan is put in charge of a comatose patient, Caitlin, who was brought into the ICU. The police believe that she tried to commit suicide by jumping from a bridge. She somehow survived, but is barely hanging on. She is suffering from a traumatic brain injury, broken bones and may not survive. Meghan befriends Caitlin’s parents in the ICU while trying not to reveal too much about Caitlin’s condition.
This novel is told from Meghan’s point of view as being the only narrator in the story. The book opens with a prologue and the possibility of her daughter being taken by a stranger. Meghan is a complicated person. She has secrets that she tries hard to keep to herself. Throughout the novel, she encounters betrayal and deception by those around her. She is a likable person and you can’t help but feel empathy for her in some of her situations.
She’s Not Sorry has so much going on that I couldn’t imagine how all the pieces were going to fit together at the end. But sure enough, Mary Kubica does it again. The pieces all fit together and form a completed puzzle. I had some guesses during my reading, but with all the twists and turns, they mostly didn’t come true. There were definitely some shocking reveals that caught me off guard. I can’t wait to see what Mary Kubica’s next novel is about.
Trigger warnings for domestic violence, attempted suicide and kidnapping.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published on April 2, 2024.

This was 3.5 stars for me.

Meghan is an ICU nurse taking care of a patient with a traumatic brain injury. It is believed her patient Caitlin jumped but a witness says she was pushed. Dealing with that mystery plus a serial rapist on the loose in the area, Meghan is feeling the stress of being a single mom who works full time, leaving her daughter home alone.

I have always enjoyed Mary Kubica’s books and this one was definitely entertaining. It started out a little slow but definitely picked up in the back half. This book has some good twists but I predicted both of the big ones.

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley!

Megan's life isn't easy.  She's a divorced, single mom trying to do her best by her kid.  So, she works and does what she needs to do to keep themselves afloat.  I related a lot to Megan in that I'm a mother of two and often struggle to find a balance between life and home.  I respected all she did to protect herself and Sienna, her daughter, even if what she did wasn't always the smartest thing.  Her kid always came first, no matter what.    

The mystery surrounding Caitlin's fall and subsequent hospital stay is a slow burn, tiny bits of information leaking at a time.  I was instantly interested in her backstory, even what happened before she tried to take her own life.   Were her parents involved?  Her seemingly distant brother?  Did she really want to die?  I had so many questions.  

As the story unravels and the picture becomes clearer, I found myself astounded by the truth of things.  It's twisted and unbelievable and yet, I bought it completely.  Crazy things happen in the world around us, and this totally sounded like something I'd hear on the news.  I do have mixed emotions about some of it, however, that didn't affect my enjoyment at all.  

Mary Kubica is one of my all-time favorite thriller authors.  With She's Not Sorry, she proved once again why I feel that way.  As always, the story is a rollercoaster of emotion, action, and surprise.  With each reveal, I was drawn farther and farther into the craziness that was this story.  I absolutely cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next, because I know it's going to keep me glued to my seat.

Oh my gosh this was so good! I fell in love with Mary's writing with her debut, and she hasn't missed yet. If you like unpredictable endings and all the twists, this is the perfect summer reads.

This was good, kept me interested, but didn't blow me away. The book did have some twists that were surprising, however, I'm usually not a fan of books that alternate between the present and the past so much.

I have not liked all of Kubica's books, she is a hit or miss. This was a hit! The suspense was there every chapter, and left a dangling question at the end.

I also listened to this audiobook, and really enjoyed the narrator.

Thank you netgalley for the prerelease ebook.

I am a big fan of Mary Kubica and this book did not disappoint. This certainly ranks up there as one of her top books in my opinion. This book follows Meghan Michaels who is an ICU nurse. She is treating a patient who seemingly jumped from a bridge but has survived and is in a coma. She is also dealing with her teenage daughter and issues surrounding their relationship and a madman on the loose in Chicago. There are a lot of threads to this story, but they all come together well with a shocking twist. Don't read too much before going into this one. If you are a Kubica fan you will not be disappointed!

This thrilling novel delivers a wild ride! Meghan is a relatable protagonist, juggling the challenges of being a good mother while working full-time as a single parent. The story delves into the complex dynamics of co-parenting, especially when one parent can afford to be the "fun parent." It also poignantly explores the experience of being a woman, particularly in a city gripped by fear due to a serial attacker. As an avid reader of mysteries, I anticipated one of the twists, but another completely caught me off guard. Overall, Mary Kubica crafted an engaging and suspenseful story, and I eagerly await her next book!

I read to the 50% mark and still nothing exciting has happened. I don't mind a slow burn, but I need to at least be interested and I'm not. :(

This novel is an absolute page-turner that had me hooked from the get-go. It’s a gripping thriller full of suspense that cleverly intertwines the lives of its characters against a backdrop of unsettling urban danger.

The story centers on Meghan Michaels, a 40-year-old ICU nurse and newly divorced mother, navigating life in a less desirable Chicago neighborhood with her teenage daughter, Sienna. The tension escalates with the news of a stalker preying on women in her area, adding a layer of urgency to Meghan's everyday routine.

As Meghan treats a mysterious patient in her hospital, she reconnects with an old high school friend through a support group, finding comfort amid her post-divorce challenges. However, the plot thickens dramatically when her friend vanishes, unraveling a complex web of deceit that traces back further than Meghan could have imagined.

Kubica masterfully builds suspense, with each chapter adding to a mounting sense of danger that permeates Meghan's world. The portrayal of Meghan's anxiety and her hyper-awareness of her surroundings are so vivid, they had me mentally urging her to take precautions and make safer choices.

The characters are intricately developed, with motivations and secrets that keep you guessing. The plot delivers multiple twists that are both surprising and thought-provoking, challenging your perceptions of the characters and their pasts.

Even when I thought I had one of the story’s twists figured out, the narrative kept me doubting my conclusions, making the reveal that much more impactful. It’s a testament to Kubica’s skill that the story remains unpredictable and engaging throughout, maintaining a high level of suspense and intrigue that makes this thriller a standout.

This book is not just a thrilling ride; it’s a deep dive into the complexities of trust, trauma, and resilience. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC!

I have many of Mary Kubica’s thrillers and usually love them.

She’s Not Sorry was fast paced and a page turner for sure.

As a single mother, Meghan Michaels is working full-time as an ICU nurse while trying to raise a teenage daughter. A patient is admitted to the ICU after jumping off a bridge in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, Meghan is assigned to her care. She very quickly gets way to close to the patient and her family. Then, a witness reports that she saw someone push her. Meghan begins to fear that she and her daughter are now in danger. Could they be the next?

This one took many clever twists and turns, but I did correctly guess how they would ultimately turn out. This author always give extra details when creating the characters in her books and I think this one was excellent.. This book is a thriller and kept my interest the entire way through. It is also obvious that Kubica either knows a lot about nursing, or she did her research or maybe both.

I predict that readers will really enjoy this fast-paced thriller!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.

This is one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time. This is also my first Mary Kubica book and I'm now hooked. I want to read everything she's ever written. This book had so many twists and turns and I never knew what was coming. It was fast paced but the last 1/3 of the book was just at a breakneck speed. If you're a thriller fan, you should 100% check this out, it is fantastic!

Mary Kubica's She's Not Sorry is a twisted psychological thriller that focuses on an ICU nurse who gets involved in the life of a trauma patient that allegedly committed suicide. Meghan Michaels is a recently divorced wife who is trying to be a good mother to her 16-year-old daughter Sienna, and be a good nurse in the ICU unit of her local hospital. After COVID, nurses were burned out, and there's now a shortage of both nurses and doctors, but the patients still come.

They still need help. They still need a place to heal. And that includes Caitlin Beckett who allegedly jumped off a bridge. Meghan is haunted by Caitlin because her sister Bethany died by her own hand. When a witness to the fall comes forward, it appears that Caitlin may have been pushed. Meghan finds herself drawn into Caitlin's life, forming a bond with her family members, who share their daughter's secrets. Meghan also notices a suspicious man lurking around Caitlin's room outside of visiting hours. Meghan finds herself questioning the actions of the family, especially one of her brothers.

Meanwhile, Meghan re-connects with an old friend from high school who is going through a difficult divorce and may be an abused wife. To top it off, being the mother of a teen daughter, living in a neighborhood that isn't exactly safe, causes Meghan heartburn and fear because you never know if she or her daughter will be the next victims of a mysterious man who has been attacking women.

It is fair to say that the author has a way of messing with your mind. Just when you think you know what is happening, the author twists the story so hard that I literally started cussing. Not kidding. The ending left me a bit angry at the author because she did a grave injustice to the nursing field. One of my greatest failings was not completing my nursing degree after spending years being a paramedic/firefighter in New York State. I think nurses don't get the credit they deserve, but there are times that they are human, and mistakes do happen. Same with doctors. If you are a young woman who is in High School, or just starting college, and you are empathic, and caring, and good at science, please consider the nursing field.

Thank you to Park Row Books for the digital copy to review!

This was a doozy! It moved along a little slow for part one and then right as we get to part two BOOM, there is a twist that came out of NO WHERE and I was gobsmacked. Literally did NOT see it coming and made the first part make much more sense. It is pretty fast paced from there, with a couple more doozies as we get to the end, and I really, really enjoyed this one. I guessed a couple things but the overall turn this one took was nowhere on my radar and I love when that happens. I do have two things to note, one being that Meghan Michaels’ daughter was pretty insufferable, and I really wanted to set her straight a few times. Second thing is I should probably never upset a nurse, like ever. That is all. HA!

I am a huge fan of Mary Kubica and loved this book, I definitely recommend it, it is so well done. I also listened via audio and it was great that way too.