This was very different than I was expecting. It’s a very heavy topic. So prepare for that. It shattered my heart from the beginning. I felt like the author did an amazing job of describing some of the issues in the Juvenile justice system. You could tell she had done a lot of research for this book. I’m sure her background in law helped a lot. I loved that this book went through different levels of forgiveness and will make the reader really consider whether the worst thing we have ever done defines us. As a mother it really made me question how I would feel in these moments.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on January 28, 2025.

What a fantastic debut! I was thoroughly immersed in the story of a young girl who shoots and kills her terminally ill brother. But this is so much more than that. As this taut small-town drama unfolds, we meet a host of characters whose lives are forever entwined by fate.

The young girl's family is desperate to defend their family, and they turn to small-town lawyer and friend for help. But Martine isn’t just legal counsel—she’s also the mother of Angie’s first love, Julian, a now-successful New York City criminal defense attorney. Soon Julian and Angie are forced to confront their shared past and long-buried guilt from a tragic accident years ago.

Told in past and present timelines through multiple POVs, this suspenseful page-turner explores themes of guilt and grief, love and forgiveness and the cost of each. These characters are well-meaning though flawed and I was completely invested in their lives and Nora's ultimate fate. I was heartbroken for Angie and all she endured through her life, even when some of it was of her own making.

I will say this was a bit of a sad, bittersweet ending. The last interaction between Julian and Angie broke my heart. I did want to know more of the 'why' behind Nora's actions but sometimes a more ambiguous ending just fits as it did with this one. And don't let that deter you. This was a stellar family drama, and I look forward to seeing what Koval writes next. Rounding up to 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Celadon publishing and BOTM for a copy of this debut.

Atmospheric and emotional are the two words I would use to describe this book. I really enjoyed this debut novel and I look forward to what the author writes next.

The ending felt just right and though I may not have all the answers, it’s obvious what they might be. I actually like more that it was not clearly stated and laid out.

Book Review: Penitence
Author: Kristin Koval
Publisher: Celadon Books
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: 28 Jan 25


The novel Penitence opens with an unimaginable act of violence. 13-year-old Nora Sheehan is jailed after calling 911, and confessing that she’s shot her 14 year old brother. Angie and David Sheehan’s lives will never be the same, and they hardly know how to begin to pick up the pieces of their shattered family. How does one simultaneously mourn the violent death of a son, try to understand the motives of their now only child, while mourning her anticipated loss to prison. Nora’s parents battle with the blame and shame game as they wrestle with their Gordian Knot of emotions. Lodgepole, Colorado is a small town, with few options for legal counsel. Nora’s parent are forced to enlist the help of Marine and her son Julian Dumont. As they fight the clock to discover why Nora has done the unthinkable, past entanglements, family tragedy, and long held secrets begin to unravel. And that’s all I’m going to say. 🙊

Kristin Koval’s debut novel will grip the reader’s attention and call to mind the likes of Jodi Piccoult and Cleste Ng. Koval presents a compelling narrative in which the reader is asked to consider the intricacies of regret and atonement, the corrosive power of guilt and secrets, and the complicated path to forgiveness.


Many thanks to the author @KristinKovalWriter, @CeladonBooks, and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Penitence in exchange for an honest review.

Penitence is a book centered around a shattered family trying to move forward after devastating loss. It includes past and present timelines with characters reflecting on their choices and how those decisions have impacted the trajectory of their lives. The small town, rural Colorado atmosphere was well done. It’s a heavy, thought-provoking story that engaged me from the start.

This was an amazing book written by a debut author! The storyline is thought provoking and intense. I was engaged in this suspenseful read from start to finish. A family’s life is torn apart by a shocking murder. Angie and David need to hire a lawyer for their daughter and this is complicated because the big time criminal defence lawyer they hire is Angie’s old boyfriend. As all of Angie and Julian’s history is revealed it is intriguing to see how it affects the current situation. I don’t want to give away more plot lines to take away from the story so I won’t say more than this. The book is heartbreaking and poignant and it is beautifully written. Be sure to pick this one up.

Thanks to Celadon, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for early copies of Penitence in exchange for my honest opinions.
This was my fourth time participating in one of Celadon’s early buddy reads, and my group had some great discussions. Penitence is not a happy book, as it opens with the death of a child. The book follows the life of the family as they attempt to live with the aftermath. It gives the reader a window into the juvenile detention system (spoiler: it's not pretty) and the legal system (spoiler: not everyone is treated the same way). With plenty of time spent on grief and guilt, Penitence is a character-driven read, with some selfish characters that I didn't want to read any more about! Guilt and forgiveness/repentance are constant themes.
I'm very glad I was paired up with my discussion buddies, because we had similar thoughts on this book. However, it's interesting reading very different reviews from other groups. @bookofthemonth just chose this debut for one of its main picks for February!
I did a mix of reading the physical book and listening to the audiobook, and I think the narration is great on the audio. However, I think this heavy story is not for the faint of heart. I'm passing my book along to my mother to read, when I see her this weekend, and I look forward to discussing it with her, too.

What a debut novel! And it really grabbed my attention—-when a teenager kills her teenaged brother who has Huntington’s disease, it’s definitely not an everyday thing. Angie (mother) and David (father) are understandably beside themselves about it and trying to find defense counsel for Nora (daughter). Angie was once in a romantic relationship in NYC with Julian, a skilled criminal defense attorney, and he ultimately becomes Nora’s lawyer.

There’s a history that we hear bits and pieces of about the skiing accident death of Angie’s sister, and Julian and Angie are still carrying guilt over their role in the occurrence. The book definitely has themes of unresolved guilt, secrets, and lack of communication.

The threads of the story are revealed in bits and pieces, and we don’t get the entire picture in a linear fashion, but instead sort of in the way that memories appear in our minds, here and there. The writer does an excellent job of giving a glimpse of the horror and despair experienced by Angie. However, Nora’s mind is largely a puzzle to the reader throughout most of the narrative. Only towards the very end do we receive a clue or two.

Penitence is a monumental effort, and I don’t take that lightly. The pacing definitely could be better, as the book bogs down several times. Also, a more succinct prose would help. Because of these issues, I’m rating it as 3.5 stars, rounded up. I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author, as her talent is apparent.

I listened to the audiobook and also read the ebook. Therese Plummer’s performance was excellent.

The foundation of Penitence rests on a horrific murder: thirteen-year-old Norah shoots her older brother, then calls 911. She's immediately taken away from her family and into a juvenile detention center.

Norah's parents are ill equipped—as anyone would be—to deal with the simultaneous loss of both of their children. They do what's needed: they bury their son, and they hire an attorney, Martine.

As the narrative shifts points of view and timelines, there's a murkiness that shades everyone's understanding of Norah's motivation. Koval explores the history of Norah's mother, Angie, who dated Martine's son, Julian, for much of her young adulthood. It seems their relationship is in the past . . . and then Martine brings in Julian as lead attorney on Norah's defense.

I found Penitence to be a compelling read. I definitely wanted to know what happened, and I was intrigued by the complexity of each character and of the ways their lives intertwined. Ultimately, there was something about the narrative that kept me at a distance, but I admired it greatly and enjoyed the reading experience.

Penitence is a deeply heartbreaking novel about 2 families that are tied together through tragedy.
Angie and Julian were high school sweethearts until one terrible ski accident killed Angie's little sister, Diana. The two are forced to stay away from each other by their families after the accident.
Years later, they are brought together when Angie's 13 year old daughter kills her brother. Julian is one of the lawyers brought on to help with the defense.
This story spans decades and is told through multiple POVs. It explores the complexity of forgiveness and grief. Does everyone deserve forgiveness? Are we truly better than the worst thing we have done?
This is definitely a book that everyone should read. This is Kristin Koval's debut novel and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I really wanted to love Penitence as the book's description sounded so interesting, but it was just okay for me. I was pulled into the novel initially, but then it seemed to move slowly. I also felt like having several perspectives and storylines sometimes made it somewhat confusing to follow. While I thought the ending was heartfelt, I wish more had been revealed and resolved by the end of the book. I think the novel was beautifully written, and there will be an audience that loves this book.

I really wanted to like this book but it wasn’t for me. The plot was interesting but I just didn’t like the characters. I’m sure others will highly enjoy this book.

This was a beautifully told story of family grief, trauma, and the fight for forgiveness in the midst of unimaginable circumstances. While I enjoyed the writing and the intricacy of the story held my attention, I found the pacing dragged at times.

This was such a riveting story that pulled me in from the beginning. A story of family drama and secrets told over multiple timelines and decades. The opening scene really pulls you in and tugs at your heartstrings. As the story goes on you realize this story is really about the reflection of our choices we make in life and how those decisions have impacted others. Angie and Julian were childhood friends and unfortunately there was a skiing accident involving Angie’s younger sister. After following this accident their two families forbid them to see one another. These two felt such a strong connection to one another. Years later, Angie and Julian are reconnected as Julian is hired to help defend Angie’s thirteen year old daughter. It is an interwoven story with topics of grief, love, loss, love. It is such a beautiful and heartbreaking story.

Penitence is a suspenseful, character-driven novel that explores trauma and forgiveness when a 13-year-old girl shoots and kills her 14-year-old brother for no apparent reason. The parents are grieving heavily and face losing their second and now, only child.

Norah's parents and her legal team share a complicated history involving secrets and family trauma, and much time is spent providing the backstory. However, none of it was as interesting to me as Nora's case and I found myself skimming through chapters to get back to it.

Readers who enjoy literary suspense that is thought-provoking and meditative should enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon books for the ARC.

#Penitence

As soon as I read the synopsis of this one, I knew it was a book I wanted to read.

When Angie and David Sheehan’s 14-year-old son Nico is killed by their 13-year-old daughter Nora, their lives are shattered beyond repair. This leads us through a story of an exploration of forgiveness, a look at the emotions of how to mourn a child facing prison sentencing while simultaneously mourning a dead child and so much more.

There is much more to the story than what I mentioned above, but I think it’s best to go in blind and let the story take you where it will. I was instantly pulled into this one and there was a lot to ponder as I read these character’s stories. I thought the author did a beautiful job weaving this story together.

This book reminded me a lot of Angie Kim’s books and if you like her books, I would definitely recommend this one.

Put this at the top of your TBR list. And then, read it.

This novel had everything. First, let's start by focusing on the book jacket design ! Love it -
The book is well written, moves along at a perfect pace, always kept me engaged... especially the last 15% when I stayed up late to finish it.

No pun intended - a novel plot line... as in unique, clever, suspenseful.
Well developed characters.

And No Spoiler - the ending was solid. Not mushy or a copout. Not sappy. Solid ! A solid wrap up of the elements. Most of which I didn't see coming.
Thank you Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC. I was thrilled to be approved to receive the ARC. Loved the Book !
This one will be a best seller -

Have you ever experienced a tragedy and you’re not sure how you can forgive the person who caused it? Tragedy affects every family. Some families much worse than others. In every tribulation, there is a hope of penitence (forgiveness). In Kristin Koval’s novel Penitence, she explores the idea of love and forgiveness in more ways than one.

My Thoughts On The Book:
I loved the premise of this book. It made me wonder how a family goes on after the death of a child. Then, it adds the story line of the death being caused by their own family member. The story captured my attention when it featured Nora in jail. I was also captivated during her time in a juvenile detention center. It tugged on the heart strings of this middle school teacher.

I enjoyed the courtroom drama and the police investigation as well. I especially loved that it took place in Colorado. I could picture the perfect small town. It is like so many around this beautiful state.

The backstory of Angie and her past was interesting and added to the story. Her mistakes, past loves, and family problems were a big part of the story. However, I felt that it was just too long and had too many details. I kept wanting to get back to Nora and the present. I was also a little disappointed by the ending. I kept hoping that there was an epilogue.

This book definitely shows one side of a political spectrum. You are either going to love that or hate it. It just depends on your views.

I gave this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading it. However, it was a little depressing for me. It also has a little too much of the back story. That being said, there are a lot of other reviewers who loved this book. If you like a strong family drama, you might really enjoy the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Koval, and Celadon for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 - 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘥 𝘶𝘱, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵.”

Thank you Celadon Books for inviting me to review Penitence and providing advanced readers copies via Netgalley. I opted for the advanced listeners copy and really enjoyed the narrator, Therese Plummer.

Said to be in the same vein as Celeste Ng, which I agree with, Penitence is a heavy hitter that touches on some big topics, so for those who are interested know it contains heavy subject matter that can be triggering.

We are given several POVs throughout a few timelines and this provides a more comprehensive look at both the overall story but also the characters who understandably have layers and grapple with their conflicting emotions and thoughts. You can empathize with them as Koval addresses the anger, confusion, and grief involved in a horrific situation like this; how family wrestle with love and forgiveness when their own flesh has committed such a crime against another; the complicated nature of some relationships, be it family or lovers or those whom we find our lives always tied to; and the weight of our choices.

Overall I did really like it. It can be tough at points, and you root for truth and healing to prevail, yet by the end there was something that left me feeling not fully satisfied, and that was probably intentional on Koval’s part because that’s real life, that’s tragedy, that’s the dynamics between people - it doesn’t always meet our expectations and provide all that we want or the answers we seek, and ultimately, we have to live with that. We have to live with the consequences of others’ actions or lack thereof. Content includes tragic deaths of children (one by a gun and this is obviously mentioned throughout), mental health, deteriorating illness, some profanity, juvenile delinquency, 9/11, and infidelity.