While this thriller wasn't for my particular taste, its not a bad book. It just didn't stand out to me admist the mass amount of thrillers coming out with some similar plots/structures.

Years ago, a few friends vowed to keep a secret. Now in present day, one of them dies tragically, and the other three must reckon with their past.

I just found it hard to like the characters here or really care about what happened to them. I think part of it was it just felt like men trying to get pity. I also was expecting more of a thriller but that wasn’t the case here.

Title: Like It Never Happened
Author: Jeff Hoffmann
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: March 5, 2024

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Straightforward • Mysterious • Anticlimactic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.

When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.

After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.

💭 T H O U G H T S

After being introduced to Jeff Hoffmann's debut, Other People's Children, through a now-defunct book box, I was thrilled to see he had a new release coming out in 2024. It's certainly very different from his first book, but it still gave me a lot to think about.

While the cover design had me believing this was going to be a thriller, it's more of a mystery with an element of suspense than anything else. There is much greater detail and backstory for each of the men than what a thriller would offer. The writing flowed nicely and explored the intricacies of friendship and the long-term consequences of our actions. Right from the beginning you know the men are holding onto a deep secret that has shaped their entire lives, and the narrative slowly delivers little pieces of the puzzle. Each of the men is morally grey and I didn't like any of them or know who I could trust.

The audiobook, narrated by Noah Michael Levine, added an additional level of intensity to my suspicion. It's worth mentioning that I did need to speed it up as I never would have been able to make it through the normal speed, which was very drawn out and flat. The male perspectives were well done, however, the female perspectives could have used some improvement. Lastly, given there are quite a few characters, at times I had a hard time distinguishing between each one while listening, so I was glad to have the digital copy to read along with as it helped with keeping track of everyone.

Unfortunately, this wasn't as good was I was hoping. There was a lot of building up to what felt like a very anticlimactic reveal. It certainly left me wanting so much more. With that said, I will continue to explore Jeff Hoffmann's future work, simply because his first two books were so vastly different.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers of domestic drama

⚠️ CW: death, grief, car accident, violence, murder, mental illness, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, overdose, toxic relationship

Man, this was depressing. Yeah, it was real life and not sugarcoated, so I’m trying to find something redeeming about it. The story was not my cup of tea, but the writing flowed well. I just kept waiting for something big to happen.

Overall a pretty solid story about the bonds and breakings of friendships and relationships. It has a nicely Midwestern feel, and interesting characters.

You heard it here first...

Like It Never Happened, will be the "Book of the Year"

If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be, captivating. There was not even a milisecond of my eyes not on the pages and my soul consumed with the words that flowed through the pages.

I am in complete awe.

Thrilling.Intense.All-Consuming.

You will never read a book like this again.

This book is everything you could have hoped for and more. As soon as I concluded, I needed to do my research. Why have I not heard of Jeff Hoffman, before? Do not fret my friends, this is his second novel so we only missed the first, and I know YOU know, what I will be doing this evening.

Check out this teaser :

Decades ago, four friends concealed a deadly secret–but not all lies stay buried in this psychological suspense for fans of Ashley Winstead and Alison Gaylin.

Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.

When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.

After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.

After loving his debut, I was so thrilled to get an early copy of Jeff Hoffmann’s newest novel. This book is definitely a departure from his first, but it brought up some great talking points and gave me a lot to think about. While the cover may lead you to believe this is a thriller, it leaned way more towards domestic drama with a hint of mystery. I felt that the extensive backstories of each of the men and their families really got me invested in how the novel played out and desperate to know what really happened in the Burger King parking lot. This book highlights how harmful the “boys will be boys” mentality is, and how choices made as a young adult can have lifelong consequences. Jeff Hoffmann has written another winner, and I will certainly be looking forward to his future novels.

Four adolescent friends, now married and some of them with children, are haunted by actions taken in the past. Their friendship vanishes and is only rekindled when one of them dies. The past comes back biting as the widow has made her life goal to expose what they did. A strong plot with characters that are difficult to like but can be deeply appreciated by their admission of their failures and need to repent and re-establish long-lost family ties.
I thank Mr. Hoffmann, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends, almost like brothers. Then one night they did something terrible that changed everything. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral. When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there. After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.

I really enjoyed this author's previous book, so I was excited about this newest one. Unfortunately, it fell a little short of expectations for me. None of the characters were likeable and that is always a deal breaker for me......I need someone to root for. I get that what they did thirty years ago was wrong on so many levels, but they have had decades to atone and make themselves into better versions of themselves. Also, it drove me crazy that for most of the book, I didn't know exactly what happened. It just kept being referenced to "what happened in the Burger King parking lot" , and that repetition with no added context gave me the twitches. However, I held out because I wanted to know the secret, and I wanted to see how it was all going to play out. So, am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I recommend it? I would have to say I am on the fence on this one. It wasn't a bad book, just not one of the best I have read or listened to. So I will leave that to you to decide.

How much you like this will depend on. whether you feel anything for these men- these men who did something stupid and are now being called to account for it by the widow of one of the participants that night. And none of them-none- are likable. Kevin, Tommy, Henry and Malcolm kept a secret for 30 years but now Kevin's dead and they realize that Rachel knows. And she's making them pay. This wasn't as twist as I'd hoped but it is perversely entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Like It Never Happened by Jeff Hoffmann (Crooked Lane, $28.99 hardcover, 336 p 9781639106998, March 5, 2024)

Thirty years after the beating of two teens, karma catches up with the four youths who were able to walk away from the fatal incident in the explosively dramatic novel, Like It Never Happened by Jeff Hoffmann.

Kevin McNamara is finally dead. His estranged friend, Tommy, immediately reaches out to Malcolm and Henry with details about the upcoming funeral. The four of them haven’t spoken in years, though they were like brothers in high school. One argument split them up. Kevin wanted to confess to the cops the dark secret they shared and that was it, he was no longer part of the group. Thirty years later, Tommy, Henry and Malcolm awkwardly gather at Kevin’s coffin to pay their respects. Naomi, Kevin’s wife and a local reporter, approaches the trio about attending a reading of Kevin’s will the following day. From the way she speaks to them, it’s pretty clear Kevin told her about the night they left two teens lying in a pool of blood. Naomi hands them an address and says, “It starts at noon. The lawyer said that Kevin left something for the three of you.” (kindle loc 545) At the reading, they are given an unsealed envelope with a message from Kevin: Tyler Greavy is at Linden Glen. (loc 713) Naomi is about to blow up their lives. Maybe they deserve it. Then again, maybe they don’t. Each thought provoking page of Hoffmann’s novel vibrates with a palpable tension as it speeds toward an unforgettable, jaw dropping conclusion. –Paul Dinh-McCrillis, freelance reviewer
Discover: A violent incident from their teens threatens the lives of four adults.

Straight away the plot grabbed my attention. I loved how we got to know the background of the characters . It held my attention the whole way through.

I could not wait to read this book, but it just fell a bit flat for me. I think it was because there was a large cast of characters. It is based off the four main characters but many supporting characters, which could become a bit confusing. I did push through, and it had a good ending.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
3 star

I'm sad to say that this book was not for me. I felt lost and confused for most of the book. I started counting and there are 19 or 20 different characters. Aside from the 4 main characters, there are the wives or ex, the children, the children's boyfriends, the colleagues, the victims, the victims' parents and I don't remember. Most of the time I didn't even know who I was reading about. I kept on reading hoping the end/secret/motive that pushed that wife to do what she did to be shocking/twisty, but it fell a bit short for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Three decades ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin shared a dark secret, something they did that fateful night. It shattered their friendship and changed their lives forever. Fast forward, Kevin, battling heroin addiction, meets a tragic end in a motorcycle accident. This brings the remaining three friends together again, this time at Kevin's funeral.

At the wake, they encounter Kevin's wife, Naomi, who seems to know more than they're comfortable with. To make matters worse, she's a reporter. The fear sets in. Naomi, aware of their long-buried secret, has a plan for justice. She sends them to visit one of the victims from that haunting night, now suffering in a nursing home for decades. It's clear; this won't end here.

Haunted by the consequences of their past actions, Naomi is determined to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry face the truth. As the trio decides to fight back, they're confronted with tough choices. The question looms: How far are they willing to go this time?

In this psychological suspense, the author explores the weight of secrets and the lasting impact of decisions made in youth. The characters, Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry, are brought together by tragedy and the unsettling reunion at Kevin's funeral. Naomi, driven by a need for justice, becomes a formidable force against the trio.

The narrative is gripping, pushing the characters to confront the consequences of their actions. The tension escalates as Naomi's plan unfolds, and the friends are faced with the stark reality of accountability. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of guilt, redemption, and the lengths one will go to protect their past.

This book isn't just a tale of suspense; it's a journey into the human psyche, exploring the dynamics of friendship, betrayal, and the lingering echoes of the past. The storytelling is straightforward, making it accessible to readers who enjoy a mix of mystery and psychological drama.

For those who relish stories that delve into the intricacies of human relationships and the consequences of choices, This book offers a compelling narrative that keeps you hooked until the final revelation. The suspenseful twists and the exploration of morality make this book a worthy addition to the psychological suspense genre.

I just reviewed Like it Never Happened by Jeff Hoffmann. #LikeitNeverHappened #NetGalley

Like it Never Happened by Jeff Hoffman is a captivating suspense novel.
This book is wonderfully written; a gripping storyline with strong characters.
The characters are well described and portrayed.
I could feel every single emotion just seep off the page. Very intriguing to read about these four characters and their story.
Jeff Hoffman built up the twists and turns, pulse pounding, and page turning excitement... and it delivered!
It’s certainly a suspenseful page-turner that’s worth tomorrow’s inevitable yawns...

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is one of those books that didn’t particularly entertain me, and I didn’t really enjoy reading, yet I still did. I’m not sure why, probably stubbornness, but I did. I wanted to know the secret, which, kudos to the author for creating that type of environment. The journey to get there wasn’t a fun one for me though.

I didn’t like any of the characters. I don’t usually need to, but I can be good at finding something, anything, to like. That wasn’t really the case here. All of the men in this book sucked. It was like a book about toxic men and not in a fun way. When they were younger, the four of them got into a fight and a kid died, and another ended up in a care home. Of course, they didn’t get in trouble, and they vowed to never talk about it. That never quite works out, and one of them told their wife, so when they die, the wife decides to black mail the other men. Sounds intriguing, but the execution was lacking for me. While the writing was good, I found the characters to be surface level and lacking in depth, therefore I didn’t care about them. I also find it infuriating that scenarios like this occur and I believe that people should have to face consequences for their actions, teenagers or not, and I found the characters to be privileged and whiny.

I think that this could have been a great story, but it wasn’t the story for me. Not every story is going to click for every reader and that is the case here.

2.5 stars rounded to 3.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Aside from having a little difficulty keeping the different men straight, I loved this. Didn't love the characters but you're not supposed to! Great story!

Well written and quick to read. Story seemed like many books I've read previously but that was not the case. A bit predictable but surprised me many times. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Immersed in the world of "Like it Never Happened" by Jeff Hoffmann, I found myself delightfully entangled in a web of thrills, complexity, and intrigue. This captivating tale artfully weaves together the lives of four key characters and their supporting cast, unraveling the mysteries surrounding a decades-old murder. As the narrative unfolded, I couldn't help but be completely engrossed, resisting the urge for it to come to an end.

A heartfelt appreciation goes out to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for graciously providing the opportunity to delve into this exceptional advance reader copy. "Like it Never Happened" is not just a story; it's an immersive journey that left me yearning for more.