I loved the CI representation shown in the book, it was done tastfully.
It was spooky and perfect for the beginning of my fall reads!

Overall this book wasn't bad. It was enjoyable, the chronic illness rep was appreciated, and it had the perfect blend of horror aspects. I really enjoyed it, but it definitely is more on the YA side.

Okay, so I reread it and my opinion has changed. I think this book was really done on the chronic illness rep, a beautiful tale of how to process grief, and really scary in parts. Overall, it is perfectly creepy and a great addition to your fall TBR.

Nicola Laughton was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Thanks to modern medicine, she has been able to live much longer than predicted, have a job and get married - basically, an almost normal life. But soon after being married, Nicola's husband Anton is killed in a car accident, but not without first saying "I'll be waiting for you" to Nicola.

This final moment between the couple was witnessed and photographed and then made public.

Now, in the thick of her grief, Nicola has come to Anton's family's home to meet with a professor/medium in order to contact Anton. She's been hounded by mediums for months, saying they were able to connect her with Anton. Just as the medium is beginning, the house comes alive. Locked doors are unlocked, insects surround the house and voices are heard. Then the bodies start showing up.

Nicola is terrified, for a multitude of reasons, both obvious and secret. Number one...Nicola isn't her real name.
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This is an interesting thriller - it really provided a look as living as someone with Cystic Fibrosis. The grief is HEAVYYYYY in this, and I can't help but feel that Nicola is nearing suicide just to be with the man she loves. It kind of adds a dark cloud to the story, but overall, it's still satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

My experience with this book was marked by a blend of admiration and mixed feelings. I’ll Be Waiting is a compelling novel that combines atmospheric suspense with deep character development; Armstrong’s writing and the nuanced portrayal of her characters are undeniably strengths of the book. However, the climactic resolution diverges sharply from the rest of the story, leaving a slightly disappointing aftertaste.

From the start, Armstrong’s skillful writing draws readers into a richly atmospheric world. The setting is evocative and eerie, setting the stage for a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers guessing. The novel excels in building a creepy, unsettling atmosphere that makes the reader question the nature of the events unfolding. This tension is one of the book’s greatest strengths, as it keeps the mystery alive and engaging throughout.

The character development in I’ll Be Waiting is also particularly noteworthy. The protagonist, who grapples with cystic fibrosis, is portrayed with depth and sensitivity. Armstrong does an excellent job of integrating the character’s terminal illness into the narrative. It’s refreshing to see a main character with such a condition not being defined solely by their illness. Instead, cystic fibrosis is presented as a part of who she is, seamlessly woven into her identity without overshadowing her entire character. This nuanced approach adds an authenticity to the story.

The backstories revealed through the protagonist’s memories are also a strong element of the book. They offer valuable insights into her past and help build a fuller picture of her character. This narrative technique enriches the overall story, adding layers of complexity and depth.

However, my enjoyment of the novel was somewhat diminished by the final segment. The climax, which occurs in the last 10% of the book, diverges sharply in tone and style from the atmospheric and suspenseful buildup. The resolution feels out of place with the rest of the novel, as the suspenseful and creepy atmosphere gives way to a climax that struck me as overly dramatic and cartoonish. The shift in tone felt jarring and detracted from the carefully built suspense.

Despite this, I’ll Be Waiting remains a compelling read. Armstrong’s skill in creating a haunting atmosphere and developing complex characters is evident throughout the novel. The book’s strengths in character portrayal and atmospheric tension make it a worthwhile read, even if the final resolution didn’t quite meet the high expectations set by the earlier parts of the story.

I really loved the first half (2/3rds?) of this book - it was creepy and atmospheric and extremely mesmerizing. It was engaging from the get-go and kept me turning the pages really easily. The last part of the book was full of twists and turns that totally jumped the shark in a way that wasn’t for me, though.

What an amazing ride! This book has it all. Spooky seances, ghosts, love, and revenge. The twists were unexpected and I never saw the ending coming. Fantastic book! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kelley Armstrong’s “I'll Be Waiting” combines the suspense of a mystery with eerie paranormal elements, all while centering on a woman grappling with love and loss. Nicola Laughton, a 37-year-old suffering from cystic fibrosis, embarks on a haunting journey to reconnect with her late husband, Anton, who died in a tragic accident. His cryptic promise, "I'll be waiting," sends Nicola down a dark path of seances, spiritualists, and a chilling mystery in a house by Lake Erie. While the book mainly focuses on the supernatural elements throughout, there is definitely some gore scattered throughout the story. The last 15% of the book goes absolutely crazy, in a good way, though you may have to suspend your disbelief.

The book’s first half pulls you into a gripping, atmospheric ghost story. The house, filled with ominous creaks, a locked attic, and creepy dolls, feels alive with malevolent energy. Armstrong skillfully uses these details to create tension, and the presence of entities—whether Anton or something more sinister—adds layers of dread. I also really liked the descriptions of the midges. As someone who used to live near Lake Erie, I related so much to the characters not wanting to go outside due to the swarms of midges, though I never encountered as many as what was described in the book. The characters, especially Nicola, shine in these early pages, with their intelligence and grounded decision-making standing out in a genre often filled with clichés. The characters are actually skeptics and try to use logic and reasoning to understand the creepiness of the house. Flashbacks add depth to Nicola and Anton’s relationship, giving you a better understanding of her desperation to reconnect with him.

However, while the opening chapters promise a thrilling read, the book falters a bit in its pacing and execution as it progresses. Repetition in the seances and house sounds begin to drag, and the slow-building mystery gives way to an increasingly convoluted plot. The final act feels overloaded with twists that stretch believability, though I was all in for this ending. I love a crazy ending, and this one was definitely unpredictable. Every loose end is tied up, though the resolution is a bit far-fetched. Nicola’s emotional journey, driven by her need for closure with Anton, remains compelling, and the book’s darker, creepier moments—especially the moving dolls and past murder revelations—offer genuine scares.

Overall, “I'll Be Waiting” is an entertaining one, especially the crazy ending. Fans of Armstrong’s storytelling will likely enjoy the sinister atmosphere and clever plot twists. I definitely can’t wait to read more books like this from Armstrong.

Thank you, NetGalley and Saint Martin’s press for this ARC. Let me stop by saying I absolutely was intrigued by this amazing cover and the story within the pages was all I hoped it would be! This is a paranormal, psychological horror novel about a female chat named Nicola and a main male character named Anton. They are in love and very excited to see what the future brings, but unfortunately the future is not what they hoped it would be because Nicola was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy . I love how the author made Nicola such a strong female character throughout the book. She was a no nonsense person that didn’t let her disease get the better of her and remained positive no matter her hardships. Tragedy strikes, and Anton passes away and the story is basically about how Nicola is trying to find out why Anton‘s last words to her where I’ll be waiting. She then goes on a journey through psychics and other medians to try and learn about how she can connect and communicate with Anton. She starts having visions and we as a reader are not sure if these visions are true or they made up in her mind. I love how the book does so many twist and turns and you’re not sure what the ending will bring. This book had me on the edge of my seat, and I was so excited to learn what really happened . I would highly recommend this book for those who are fans of horror novels with a great storyline and well developed characters, I will definitely be reading more from this author!

If we could judge books in sections, I would give the first half 5 stars. The first chapter alone caught my interest and had me rapidly engaged. But something happened at the mid point. All the spectacular spooky vibes went by the wayside as Nic chased some crazy theories of her own. Up until that point, the spooky stories and overall vibe of the story was spot on for the season. It felt very much like a change in tone. Wrapped up with an ending I think was too easily seen coming. I have always loved this author’s writing style and that was still a positive with this book. Overall, it just ended up dragging a bit too much with Nic’s side speculation and never regained momentum after that. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Nicola Laughton was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child, not expected to live to adulthood. But now, with medical advances she is 38, has a masters degree in software engineering, owns her own business, and is married to a guy she’d known years ago in high school. Life is wonderful, they have plans, and then while driving through a snowstorm they are hit by a truck. Anton doesn’t survive, but those around them hear his last words, “I’ll be waiting for you. But…….”

Current day, Nic and a friend keep going to psychics expecting a word from Anton. She swears she is done seeing mediums, until her friends talk her into one last chance with a good spiritualist. They plan to rent a lake house once owned by Anton’s grandmother, but now a short-term vacation rental. The spiritualist is a professor from Chicago who is a parapsychologist. I liked the way that part of the story started, sitting around talking about her memories of times spent with Anton. And then the tension starts to slowly increase, leading to a surprising end.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this advanced reader copy; these are my honest opinions.

Huh.

First half = awesome
Second half = not so much

I really enjoyed the first half of the story but wasn’t able to muster enough suspension of disbelief for the second half.

I will continue to look forward to Ms Armstrong’s new books, but unfortunately this wasn’t a favorite.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

I'm a seasoned thriller/suspense reader and I've got to tell you that this book was so unpredictable and twisty that I couldn't even guess what was going to happen next! I was fully invested in this book the minute I started reading!

We follow Nicola Laughton in her journey to reach her husband's ghost while also dealing with Cystic Fibrosis. Nicola's husband Anton died in a horrible car crash and his last words to Nicola are made public by people surrounding the crash. This of course isn't what Nicola and Anton wanted. Nicola then goes through some mediums that aren't too trustworthy until she finds Dr. Davos Cirillo, who is a medium/scientist. With a few friends and Dr. Cirillo, they head up to Anton's family's old cabin to try to reach Anton.

This book is a spooky vibe for sure! Loved it! 5 Stars!

Fantastic! This book sucked me in from the very beginning. I know when I pick up a Kelley Armstrong title that it's going to be good, but this is definitely one of my favourites! I laid down with it intending to read just a couple chapters before sleep, next thing I knew it was 3 am and I'd finished it. By the time I got to the halfway point I knew I couldn't stop, I just needed to know what happened next. There's no way I could sleep without knowing the conclusion. Literally unputdownable, with a healthy dose of creepiness that would have kept me from sleeping anyway, lol. If you're into malevolent spirits, ghost stories, and tales from the other side of the veil, then this book is definitely for you! I'll Be Waiting is the perfect Fall spooky read! 🎃👻

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I finished this ARC with an impression of, "that was fun", which in short sums up my experience reading this book, in that, it is a fun and spooky ghost story with a few twists along the way, however it did not read as anything groundbreaking nor with any large amount of soul to it.

I did greatly appreciate the development of our main character, Nicole, with CF and how she was developed with so much strength and tenacity as well as a snarky, sassy voice that gave her such a robust personality. I enjoyed the representation of the regular and candid mechanics of her daily life living with CF without this being the focal point of the story. Instead, this novel is written as a ghost story centred on a girl with a mysterious and spooky past, which has reared its head now for her to contend with in the wake of the death of her husband, even as she happens to have CF. I think that such representation is important, and helped to garner another dimension to our main character.

I do want to be clear that I enjoyed reading this book. I feel bad giving any book 3 stars, as it seems demure to give a book 3 stars, but as it lists on Goodreads, 3 stars means I liked it, and I genuinely did. It's not that there was anything specifically bad about this book; it was a fun ride with some fun characters. I enjoyed my time reading this book. However, I also did not feel like this story resonated strongly with me or left any lasting impressions. Perhaps part of this is because I wasn't sure what kind of book I was getting myself into, nor did I feel I understood it any better a few chapters in, other than the obvious theme of it being a spooky/horror-ish one. And that's perhaps where the book falls into a mediocre category for me; it did not have a characterization or obvious theme to give it a strong body or tone that a well defined genre might otherwise give it. This book over the course of its story, spanned some spooky tones, some romance, some mystery... however there wasn't enough soul or development for me to really feel invested in the story or to feel that there was any theme or soul to really latch onto. I enjoyed the mystery and twists; some of the spooky scenes gave me chills, and so it was an enjoyable read but not one that particularly stood out to me.

In essence, Armstrong wrote a campfire ghost story drawn and fleshed out with some skin-crawling scenes and some thriller-style apprehension; it gave me a few laughs and a few scares. I moreso enjoyed it as a fun read, especially finding it well-timed with fall coming up around the corner, and bringing with it, the season steeped in pumpkin spice and spooky pumpkins. Thus, the spooky ghostly seances and haunting atmosphere of this novel fit the type of read I was craving.

If a reader is looking for something fun, with a bit of a mystery and a few scenes to give them a little bit of a scare, I would recommend this book. It was a fairly light read, outstanding a few scenes of "gory horror" which I found palatable for this being a haunting/ghost story. Thank you to Net Gallery and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a bit too creepy for me personally - but I’m sure it will find its audience. Absolutely love the Cystic Fibrosis rep!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nicola tragically loses her husband in a car accident.  His last words to her were, "I'll be waiting."  Since then, she's been visiting mediums, trying to see if she can reach him.  In a last ditch effort to find him, she rents out his childhood home.  Things escalate quickly to voices, shoving, and sounds.  Nothing is what it seems, though, as we learn Nicola has a secret past of her own.

Thoughts 💭
This book started off very interesting and with a lot of promise. The setting enhances the spooky atmosphere of the book. There is tragedy, grief, and a chronic illness.  Nicola has a dark past that slowly unfolds.  There seems to be an actual haunting after discovering multiple fraudulent mediums trying to gain a quick buck.  The story seems to be heading in one direction the entire book to be completely flipped around at the end. I think the author was going for shock value, but it just came off as ridiculous.  Nicola wasn't the most likable character either.  She would go from hot to cold in seconds.  She was often aggressive.  I think the ending just let me down a bit.  Maybe you'll feel differently if you check it out. 

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this book , I can say it was really creepy in a lot of parts throughout the book . But towards the end it was getting really dragged out . It kinda lost the plot towards the end

4/5 stars! I really enjoyed this books. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in two days. I will say that I thought that it was a little too long but overall I really enjoyed it. This book is released October 1st, 2024. Thank you to Netgalley and Kelley Armstrong for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This is perfect spooky season reading. Complete with seances, mediums, weird sounds coming from an empty locked basement, a creepy house with a room full of dolls. The first half of the book consists mainly of strange paranormal occurrences in an old lake house, just typical horror movie stuff. And in classic horror movie fashion, the characters are mad dumb. You know how in horror movies, they make the absolute dumbest decisions and it makes you roll your eyes and it’s absolutely no surprise to anyone when things start going badly because of their dumb decisions? This book is just like this lol. Weird stuff is happening but sure let’s definitely keep staying in the house and having seances!

I enjoyed this, in the same way you’d enjoy an unserious horror movie. It has everything you’d expect from a horror movie, just in book form, down to the characters making the worst decisions like knowingly putting themselves in danger because they were so desperate to find proof of spiritual activity. By the time you’re 70% in, you know enough about Nic’s past (possibly paranormal?) trauma and how it ties in to the present which makes you even more invested and ready for answers. It’s a pretty quick and easy read if you want something to get you in the mood for spooky season.

I gave this 3 stars because this story just didn’t have much depth to it. Aside from weird paranormal occurrences and flashbacks that slowly reveal parts of Nic’s past, there’s not much else that happens until the end. It’s just one giant linear story, no subplots or anything happening that adds to the story aside from, oh we heard creaking coming from upstairs again. Also, the ending didn’t really feel satisfactory enough for me. All in all, this was just an ok read. I thought that this was my first Kelley Armstrong book but turns out I read Hemlock Island last year, which I preferred over this. I would be open to reading something by her again!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This unnerving paranormal thriller had me hooked for at least the first 1/2. It was eerie enough that I was glad I was reading it during the daytime. The roller coaster sort of went on and off the track from there.

Are ghosts real, and if so, can Nicola reconnect with her husband Anton after his untimely death several months prior? That's what she aims to find out when she, her brother-in-law, and a fellow grief support group member meet up with a paranormal activities expert at a lake house once owned by Anton's family. From the beginning, weird things happen--from a plague of insects, to a missing neighbor, to bumps, voices, and knocks that could be attributed to dark entities. Nicola has a dark history connected to a seance gone wrong, and she begins to believe that horrific chapter in her history may be connected to the present.

Nicola makes some real leaps (some of which seem out of character) when starts trying to connect her past with the present, and the last 1/4--when the big bad is revealed and confronted--goes a bit haywire. It's always entertaining, though, even if the narrative rules and tone seem to have changed pretty quickly. And good mystery fans will have already picked up on some of the key clues, despite the overabundance of red herrings in this story.

It's a quick, spooky read for a chilly fall night--perfect if you're looking for a book to get in the mood for Halloween.