Rose, the 23-year-old protagonist of "Finders Keepers," is one of those female characters that I instinctively like. She's a mixture of vulnerability, a survivor of a challenging childhood, and a girl who blames herself to the point of believing she might be a psychopath. Judging from her recollection of the past, a reader must be convinced that Rose isn't. Somehow, we feel that Rose is the victim here and that something went wrong. Is she strong enough to uncover what happened when she was a teenager? Was she a killer?

One day, Rose enters a bookstore where there is a book signing. A famous, beautiful influencer, Emily is signing her bestseller "Diary of an Octopus." The problem is this is not Emily's book; it's Rose's old teenage diary, where she documented her crush on a teacher. Terrified that Emily knows about Rose's crush and other events that can land her in jail, Rose decides to do everything to recover her stolen laptop. The game of cat and mouse begins.

This was the first novel by Natalie Barelli that I read, and I was shocked at how good it was. The fast-moving plot and twists and turns make this book very engaging. I was constantly surprised by new information and new accusations. Everybody could have been a killer because they all had a motive and opportunity. It's an excellent thriller for the fans of such novels as "The Maid" and "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine." What a ride!

This story had a strong start! Rose is the ultimate unreliable narrator. So many (too many?) twists and so many (too many?) psychopaths. It was a wild ride (too wild?).

This book is awesome! I was hooked from the first chapter. The narrator did such a great job of giving every character a unique voice. I finished this book the very day that I started it. I just had to know what was going on. This is a fantastic thriller and easily one of my favorites of this year!

I loved the twists and turns and didn’t see a few of them. It had me wondering, who can I trust? Who is the bad guy in the book? It’s a quick listen and I absolutely loved it!

Darkly funny (sometimes laugh-out-loud and talk-back-to-the-characters funny, I say this honestly), fast-paced, and well-structured, this was one of the most enjoyable galleys that I read this summer. The parts of this novel that deal with the book publishing world are not so insular that readers will feel shut out. Character motivations feel realistic; Iris/Rose struggles to keep her privacy and sense of self intact even as fraudulent “author” Emily’s greed and ambition set a trap for Iris/Rose. There are more than a few villains in this story, and each is so vividly characterized that the reader may enjoy despising them. I liked the emotional depth of the characters and Barelli’s evocative phrasing; I listened to the audiobook, excellently performed by Rachel Leblang , so I can’t easily quote it directly, but I liked the description of Rose’s mother energetically knitting, keeping herself busy in the wake of abandonment and divorce. As a Reference Librarian, I would recommend FINDERS KEEPERS to fans of cozy mysteries that are ready to explore thrillers and suspense; readers interested in social satire; and readers of “women’s fiction” seeking to expand their horizons.

This os one of the best audio books I’ve listened to this year. The narration is really good and the story gripped me from chapter one. Among so many psychological thrillers available it’s very hard to find an original plot that keeps the readers interested. I will definitely look for more books from this author.

This was a fun and twisty ride. It was different and clever and kept me interested the entire time. I will say, probably my favorite Barelli read. Having said that, I did not enjoy the narration. It grated on my nerves, which took away from my listening experience. I'd say this one is better read. A huge thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I give Finders Keepers 5 out of 5 stars. It's a combination of thriller and mystery with no breaks to breathe. This story is about something that happened over 10 years ago that no one could escape. You can't trust anyone even children are not safe in this blame game. It was every man for himself, manipulating each other.

I wanted to jump into the book and shake some sense into those that believed anything that was said. As I listened to this book I started thinking about where Authors get their stories from and if they actually wrote it. As long as there are secrets, there will be plenty of material to write about.

The main character, Rose, just could not escape her past. She had to face it no matter what the outcome was. She had some choices to make, go to jail, kill someone, run or face the truth. There was so much talk in this small town and no one questioned or followed up about anything. This separated families, friends, neighbors and some left town.

The kicker for me was the power of money and position in this book. As long as you have it you can steal, lie, kill and that's what most people love to read or hear about. Would you sell your life story?

I love the twists and turns of drama and who did it in this book. I never would have guessed the ending. I feel everyone had something coming to them. I hope there's a part II with more twists. Grab your copy today.
#FindersKeepers

I had a hard time getting into the first 75% of this book, but enjoyed the ending. I wasn't a fan of the narrator in this audio book and found myself annoyed at the characters because of the tone of voice being used. Overall it was a quick and entertaining listen. Love the classic Naralie Barelli twists!

Rose goes to a book signing only to find it was actually her book that she wrote but being promoted under a different author, named Emily Harper. How did this happen? Who is this complete stranger and why did she steal her words for this book!? The craziness picks up and I could not put it down. I listened to this on audio and I thought I had it figured out but in true Natalie Barelli style, I was no where close. Another great thriller by a fantastic author. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance audio in exchange for my honest review.

Finders Keepers by Natalie Barrelli
Release Date: 9/19/23
Format: audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow is September shaping up to be an awesome month of reading so far! Another outstanding read? I’ll take it!

When I reviewed Perfectly Mice Neighbors yesterday I said it’s definitely not a popcorn thriller if that’s what you’re looking for. However, Finders Keepers absolutely is! This book was BANANAS.

Bananas in a good way you ask? Yes. Was it very realistic? Nope! But it was fun as hell and soooo twisty. I could not stop listening. I loved every second of it.

Going to be completely honest, I went into this one blind because I loved The Housekeeper by Barelli and you should totally do the same! There’s no preparing you for this one anyway.

Highly recommend doing the audio for this one. The plot is easy enough to follow and the narrator did a great job. There’s a social media influencer character in this book that she just NAILED the voice for too, sweetie. Just totally spot on, sweetie 😂

Big thanks to @netgalley for the advanced audio of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I could not stop listening to this book!

Rose our main character is having her worst nightmare played out. A recently published book is the diary she wrote when she was thirteen after losing her laptop. In her diary she notes her crush on her teacher and their relationship but suggests that there's a lot more at stake than just her childhood secrets coming out.

We learn how she's been groomed and gaslighted by said teacher and the story evolves into a murderous plot. The 'author' of her works, is the most annoying woman and uses the word sweetie so much it began to grate. I was rooting for Rose to give her a comeuppance for plagiarism.

This is the second Natalie Barelli book I've listened to and she does not disappoint.

4.25⭐️

Rose happens along a book for sale and realizes it’s a novel based on her long-missing childhood diary. She works her way into the author’s life in an attempt to reclaim what’s hers- both because it was hers, and because it contains clues to a murder.

Wow, did this have twists! Just when you think you know where things stand, everything changes. I got sucked right into this suspense-filled story and ended up listening to it all in one go, needing to know what would happen and how it would end.

Rachel Leblang did a good job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Natalie Barelli, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

4⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ ebook ~ August 26, 2023, audio ~ September 19, 2023
Page Count ~ 322 (52 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 40 minutes
Narrator ~ Rachel Leblang
POV ~ single 1st & 3rd
Featuring ~ 2 part story, dual timeline, gaslighting, manipulation

Rose is strolling along when she notices a book display for Diary of an Octopus, but wait that sounds familiar. How did her personal diary get published by someone named Emily? It must be because she left her laptop at the airport 2 years ago and she swiped it.

Rose, calling herself Iris, weasels her way into Emily's life in order to get her laptop back, which is not an easy task. Emily was really grating on my nerves calling her sweetie all the time in her condescending tone, I just wanted to cut her tongue out.

In part 2 we get the POV of Mr. B, who is the star of the diary, and we dive deeper into what happened back when she had a crush on him.

Overall, this was a nice, fast paced one with some nice twists, and that's all I'm going to say.

Narration notes:
She did an okay job. Some voices weren't great at all, maybe I'm still just trying to clear my ears of the sweetie crap, but others were perfect.

As an avid reader of all book genres, mystery is one of my favorites. A good author will find a way to throw in extra twists to keep the reader thinking and wanting to read more. Ms. Barelli does just that with Finders Keepers. The first thought is who has stolen the laptop and will Rose recover it. Then you hear the back story of the Diary of the Octopus and are left with questions and perceived answers only for another twist to occur and you are left wondering again.

I was able to listen to an advance copy thanks to NetGalley. The narrator was wonderful to listen to. I tend to listen to audiobooks at a higher speed and am always thankful to listen to a narrator with clear concise dictation.

If you are a mystery reader, this is a great read to keep you wondering what happens next and who did what to whom.

This audiobook was incredibly entertaining, full of snark and sass and all the twists and turns.

Rose is shocked to see a new book titled “Diary of an Octopus” in the bookstore window, since that is what she had named her diary she kept on an old laptop….a laptop she lost several years prior. When she reads the book, she realizes someone stole the computer and has published her diary as their own book. The problem is, Rose has some secrets in her past she would rather not have get out, secrets about a teacher and his wife. Rose pushes her way into the author (Emily’s) life in an attempt to find and take back the laptop.

Rose is so incredibly snarky and cold and such a shockingly fun protagonist. Emily comes across as a bubbly influencer who just fell onto this book and realized it was a fortune in the making, and the two characters feel like direct opposites when they initially meet. That makes for some hilariously awkward scenes as Rose finagles her way into Emily’s life.

Without giving any spoilers away, things are not what they seem, and the back half of the book takes a deep dive into the past. I was blown away by several twists and highly impressed with the story!

Narrator Rachel Leblang does a fantastic job giving the characters a distinct voice, and injecting humor or darkness into her tone as needed. This was a super entertaining listen that I would highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is a total banger! Just when I thought I knew what was going on a new narrator arrives and blows things up spectacularly. I never saw the twists and turns coming and I delighted in each one.

Overall, a very satisfying read. I loved it and happily give 5 stars!

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Rose Dunmore was shocked to see the author's novel, "Diary of an Octopus," being promoted at a bookshop. She wrote her diary at 13, stolen with her computer two years ago. The novel was a fictionalized version of her diary with a different ending. If her laptop journal was found, she could end up in prison. She bought a copy, relieved to see a positive conclusion, but remembered the terrible thing she documented. Rose panicked and devised a plan to retrieve her laptop at any cost, but she was not alone in playing this risky game. The dark truth about events from nine years ago emerged with twists and turns, leading to a satisfying conclusion. The author's writing style was captivating, and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to and review this audiobook.

Thanks NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC audiobook. This book blew my mind! This was amazing. I love the characters and the plot. I was so intrigued by the story that I didn’t put the book down all day. I loved all the new twists and new revelation that kept the story juicy. This is a must read. The narrator was good! I didn’t love the voice change to imitate other characters.

Excellent book!!! Thank you NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read it. I was so excited to devour this novel. I expected it to be great and wasn't disappointed. The story really showed how your thinking can be influenced greatly by someone else and leave you with thoughts that you believe to be true just because someone tells you. It was sad fact but often so true to see how adults prey on young minds and mold them to be what they want. I loved the book for showing it a way that was believable and could happen to anyone.

A woman with a secret past, walk past a bookstore and something makes her go inside to look at a particular book. The title looks familiar, something from her past. She becomes more intrigued and pages thru the book and to her horror, it is her story but she didn’t write the book. It’s her old teenage journal. Years ago, she left her laptop in the airport with her secret journal, and someone must her found the laptop and decided to write a book. She is terrified because her secrets were on that laptop and if it’s been turned into a book, then someone else knows her secrets. Now it’s a race to get the laptop back from this author and in doing so, she is willing to do all that takes to keep the truth from coming out.

I love Natalie’s writing style! I’ve read a few of her books and she definitely nails psychological thriller! I love that her books are not as easy to guess the ending as others. I also really enjoyed the ending of this book and how it all came together. Love love loved it! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me access to this!