This follow on book takes on a different angle and although similar story has many parts different. Was a compelling read and bought it all together

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

After The Sleepover
Kerry Wilkinson

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Having read The Night Of The Sleepover back in October last year, and loving it, I was so looking forward to the release of this, book 2.

This follows straight on from where we left off in the first book and we touch on the aftermath of those events and see the documentary premiere with Leah as guest of honour!

We move swiftly on from this as Leah is thrown back into the village drama, when 3 teenage boys go missing from a sleepover at a local farm and the mother of one of the missing boys, requests her to come over for company.

Although she and Jennifer were not actually friends before, Leah soon realises why she's been requested - given her history and knowledge with this situation. But the more they get to know each other, the more things just don't seem right!...

I'm not going to talk much about the plot because there are some similarities to book 1 and I don't want to give any spoilers - but this was a really clever storyline and yet again, I was stumped over who to trust and I had quite a few theories and suspicions over the course of the book.

I loved that even though we were fed information which allowed us to make a judgement and many theories, there were lots of twists within the storyline even right to the end which leaves us wondering about the motives of the characters right the way through!

This was another well paced and intriguing read
- loved it!




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

After The Sleepover follows Leah from The Night of the Sleepover but is a standalone story in its own right. I quite enjoyed it. There didn't seem to be much investigation into what had happened to the missing boys, though, and that side of the story seemed almost too straightforward. My main issue with the story is disliking Leah as a first person narrator - she comes across as very judgemental and snarky about everyone, and while sometimes this can be quite witty, other times it's just draining, particularly after you've read the first book and are influenced by your opinions of her actions in that story.

The audiobook narrator did a great job and I enjoyed listening to it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, narrator and author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of this audiobook in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Leah had her friends go missing from a sleepover years ago. A documentary is being made about it and the day after the documentary premiere the town discovers three young boys have gone missing from an outdoor camping sleepover. One of the boys, Dylan‘s mother Jennifer ask Leah to come over for moral support. Leah is confused because her and Jennifer are not friends, even though they did go to school together. The townspeople are wondering if the same person who took the girls all those years ago have taken the young boys. As Leah gets more and more involved in this event, there are twists she and the reader did not see coming.

This is the second book in the Sleepover series. I had no problem, reading this book without having read the first, but I will definitely check out the first book. The piece of the story was pretty good, and I really enjoyed the narrator, their voice and tone was very good. I will definitely read more books by this author.

Great book, really exciting. Loved the ending. My first one by this author but I would look for more and will recommend.

After the Sleepover has an intriguing premise: following the premiere of a film investigating the disappearance of three girls from a sleepover 25 years ago, leaving only one survivor (Leah), the same thing happens again, this time to a group of three boys. The mother of the boy who hosted the sleepover, Jennifer, asks the police to contact Leah, even though the two women were classmates but never friends. Leah assumes it's because she has been through this before. But things don't add up, and Leah finds herself pulled into a web of lies and misdirection, some of those lies being her own as she knows what happened to her friends 25 years ago.

The story starts out strong, but somewhere in the middle it starts to drag, to the point I wasn't really paying attention to the audiobook for big sections but didn't feel like I had missed anything important. Several of these sections were clearly red herrings or filler fluff. I had no idea this book was a sequel, and now perhaps that makes sense as the bit about Leah knowing what happened to her friends keeps dangling like a carrot throughout the book and never gets answered, so I'm assuming it's answered in the previous book. It felt like she was an unreliable narrator intentionally hiding information from the reader and this was frustrating to me, but if you read the first book then it probably won't bother you at all. Some of the twists I saw coming, but others I didn't fully expect. There is some wonderful imagery here, snappy pop culture references, and some humorous dialogue. Olivia Darnley's narration is crisp and it's easy to distinguish each character, though in the audiobook version I listened to there are some painfully long gaps between paragraphs at times.

Thank you to the author, Bookcouture, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to the the second part of "the Sleepover": Twenty-five years ago, Leah Pearce had a sleepover with her three closest friends. That fateful night, the other three girls vanished without a trace. In "the Sleepover" we followed how Leah uncovered the truth about her friends' fate.
In the second installment three boys camping in a yard mysteriously disappear. Jennifer, a mother of one of the boys and a schoolmate of Leah, reaches out for her help.

In some parts I really enjoyed the story but I was not as swept away as form the first book. Maybe if I hadn't known "the Sleepover" I would have liked it a bit better because all in all it is a thrilling story.

As always I enjoyed Olivia Darnely's narration!

Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture Audio for this audiobook!

This follow up book to #TheNightoftheSleepover is also gripping #psychologicalsuspense that #KerryWilkinson does so well. This #TheSleepoveSeries is a great one!

Once again, #OliviaDarnely is stellar at bringing this book to audio.

Thank you, Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture, Bookouture audio & netgalley for my ecopy & #audiobook! All opinions are my own.

"After the Sleepover" by Kerry Wilkinson is a compelling and masterfully crafted psychological thriller that delves deep into the haunting mysteries of a small town. This audiobook takes listeners on a gripping journey through a tale of disappearances, long-buried secrets, and the relentless quest for truth.

The story pivots around the chilling event of three boys vanishing after a night of camping, eerily mirroring a similar incident from twenty-five years earlier involving teenage Leah and her friends. Wilkinson skillfully weaves the past and present, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps the listener on edge. The parallel between the two events is not just a plot device; it serves as a catalyst for a deep exploration of guilt, memory, and the impact of unresolved trauma.

Leah, now a mother, becomes a central figure in the story, offering a unique and emotionally charged perspective. Her character is beautifully fleshed out, making her journey from a haunted past to confronting a terrifying present both relatable and heart-wrenching. Wilkinson's portrayal of Leah's inner turmoil and determination adds a rich layer to the narrative.

The narration of the audiobook is outstanding, with a performance that perfectly captures the suspense and emotional intensity of the story. The narrator's ability to differentiate characters and convey their emotions adds an extra dimension to Wilkinson's vivid storytelling.

The pacing of the story is excellent, with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying. The plot is well-structured, ensuring that listeners remain engaged and eager to unravel the mystery. Wilkinson's writing is sharp and evocative, creating a vivid picture of the small-town setting and its complex characters.

"After the Sleepover" is more than just a thriller; it's a profound look at how the past can shape our present and how the truth can sometimes be more elusive and dangerous than we imagine. Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell, and psychological thrillers in general will find this audiobook a riveting and unforgettable experience. It’s a story that not only entertains but also stays with you long after the final chapter.

As a sequel of ‘The Sleepover', it is still gripping and intriguing story. The author didn’t disappoint us by showing the twisty and fast-paced story plot.

I could not see how’s the story going. Full of surprises! The narrator did a great job in keeping the audience hooked!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. Wow!! This audio had me on my feet till the end. I did not realize that it was a series and had not read book 1. Yet, i still enjoyed this book. Leah had friends go missing when she was young and now as an adult 3 teenagers go missing 25 years later. What happened to the boys and is it related to her friends. There is a 3rd book, so at the end their is one question unanswered.

Thank you to Netgalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This really is your bog-standard mystery novel. Though the previous book in the series is alluded to, you do not have to have read it to follow this story which runs, quite simply, as an open and shut case.

The characters do enough to tell the story but not enough to be memorable and, as a result, the story falls quite flat and predictable. It follows all tropes expected of the genre and is rather predictable, nevertheless the narrator does their best to bring life to the story, which is why this book has been rated two star.

Engaging short read. With sine twists I did not see coming! At the start I was thrown by the briefness of the book but it has the power of a short story.

After the Sleepover was a quick and engaging listen, and even though it is book two in a series I think readers would have no issue reading it as a standalone. I highly recommend the audio edition, the narration was well done.

The plot was twisty and perfect for when you're looking for the fast-paced thriller that has you suspecting everyone, waiting for the shoe to drop. I'd recommend it for those who enjoy Lisa Jewell, Freida McFadden, or Ruth Ware. Avid thriller readers may predict a turn or two, but for me it didn't detract from enjoying the book and I finished it in two days. Very bingeable.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for the complimentary listen, you are very appreciated!

I’m a massive fan of Lisa Jewell and so when I read the description of this I had high hopes! This book did not disappoint. It had some twists and turns that kept me gripped throughout and I definitely was racing through it!
I did find certain points slightly predictable just because of the plot of the book and it being based around kids going missing and only one surviving, but not everything was predictable and some things still caught me by surprise so overall I enjoyed it! I’d definitely pick up another of Kerry Wilkinsons books.

A fun follow up to the entertaining ‘The Night of the Sleepover’,

It was difficult to know where this book was going at times - but that almost made me turn the pages faster!

Twenty five years ago Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends, but the next morning her friends had vanished. Now the same thing has happened again, but this time three teenage boys have gone missing after sleeping in their tents on the farm belonging to one of their mother’s.

That's all you need to know - you could go into this one as a stand alone or as a follow up to the first one, up to you - this definitely kept my interest and kept me guessing til the end.

Twenty-five years ago Leah's friends went missing at their sleepover and they've been gone ever since. Now, it's happened again...
Dylan and his friends went to sleep in their tents, but the next morning, they're empty. Searches ensue as they frantically try to find the missing boys. The farmland is searched, people are questioned, and families wait anxiously for any piece of information. Everything Leah thought she knew comes into question. Can she uncover the truth before time runs out?
Although it wasn't quite as good as the first, I enjoyed reading this sequel to The Night of the Sleepover. I found it to be a little predictable, but there were still some things I was expecting. The narrator did a good job narrating the audiobook. I look forward to seeing what Kerry Wilkinson will come up with next!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Although this book is a sequel 'After the Sleepover', I had not realised as it stood well on its own. Kerry included enough of the previous crime in the first book 'The Night of the Sleepover', which were young girls and they just disappeared. This time it was s group of boys.
This audiobook was gripping from the start, with twists and turns to match.
I love audiobooks but you will enjoy the book just as much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for kindly asking me to listen to the Audiobook. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's my first book of Kerry Wilkinsons and it won't be my last!

After the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson
Narrated by Olivia Darnely

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

“Gone. They’re gone.” Dylan’s wide-eyed mother bites her nails in desperation. “All three kids. They wanted to sleep outside. But I went to check this morning and… the tents are empty. They’re gone.”

Twenty-five years ago: teenage Leah had a sleepover with her three best friends. By morning, the other girls were missing. This small town has been searching for answers ever since. Now it’s happened again…

Three boys decide to camp in a field next to one of their homes. When dawn comes, dew glistens on their empty tents.

Overgrown farmland is searched. Three distraught families are desperate for news. A mother herself now, Leah’s heart breaks as terrible memories flood back…

Leah thought she knew what happened at the sleepover years ago but now another three children are missing. What if she was wrong? And how far will Leah have to go, to finally discover the truth, before it’s too late?

My Opinion

I haven't read the first book in this series so I may have missed some of the background but I was able to enjoy this book without the information. It was difficult to know where this book was going and the twists made it difficult to guess what had really happened. With a bit of a slow pace, I enjoyed Kerry's writing style.

Rating 4/5

"After the Sleepover" by Kerry Wilkinson is a psychological thriller that held my interest. It's about 3 boys that went missing after a sleepover, similar to what happened with 3 girls going missing after a sleepover 25 years ago. As the only remaining survivor of that first time, Leah was surprised to be invited to the home of the woman where the 3 boys disappeared, named Jennifer. Leah is called on to support Jennifer. Her son, Dylan, had a sleepover in tents in the backyard of the old farmhouse, and the next morning, they were all gone. This book will keep you guessing!

Some reviewers listened to an incomplete audiobook and were very confused. Having listened to the whole thing, I can say there's nothing missing in the text now. It makes a lot more sense.

The narrator, Olivia Darnely, did a great job with the voices. Once I got used to her British accent, I enjoyed listening to her.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.