I really enjoyed this book- I was certain I had the twists and turns figured out, but I was wrong. There are a few different timelines to follow, but all converge in a spectacular way! Garner's style is similar to that of Modglin's, whom I am a huge fan of. There were parts that seemed to jump from one scene to another rather quickly, which I did find confusing at times. But all in all, this is a psychological thriller worth reading! Secrets, denials, revenge, all the makings of a great story! Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for the ARC of The Family Inside!

Iris is a single mother who’s lost everything—her job, her home, and her stability. Her teenage daughter, Ellery, is spiraling, grieving her father, drinking, and pulling away. Then along comes Hugh, Ellery’s boyfriend of two months, with an offer that seems too good to be true. He invites them to move into his family’s massive, crumbling estate, a place in desperate need of repair. But once they arrive, things start to feel off. Hugh has siblings he never mentioned. Ellery doesn’t trust him. And Iris begins hearing noises in the attic, discovering things that make her question everything. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes.

This book had me from the start. The tension? Immediate. The pacing? Relentless. The sense of dread builds perfectly, keeping you completely engaged. If you love thrillers where the house itself feels like a character—full of secrets, history, and hidden horrors—you’ll eat this up.

That said, about three-fourths in, things got... a lot. The story within a story trope? Love it. A story, within a story, within a story? It's good in Mexican telenovelas, but here it was too much. It started feeling artificial, like the author was stacking twists just for the sake of it. The ending was twisty and wild, but I found myself re-reading to parts just to keep up.

Still, the vibes were on point. If you’re into unreliable narrators, family secrets, good for her revenge arcs, and that creeping “is she crazy or is she not?” tension, this one’s worth a listen.

Although this had so many good elements for an engaging and twisty thriller, I couldn’t get into this one. I really enjoy Garner’s writing style and loved the creepy mansion setting, suspicious characters and dark secrets but I think my biggest issue was that there were so many things going on throughout the story, making it difficult to keep track of character connections and multiple plot twists. Although I’m a huge fan of alternating timelines, I feel it didn’t flow with this story. This one got so many great reviews so if you like a dark, family mystery- try it out!

This book was full of twists and turns and threw me for a loop on multiple occasions. As soon as I'd think I figured out what was going on the writer would throw in something else that I didn't see coming. While that can be a good thing sometimes, it was a little overwhelming at times trying to keep track of the different plot lines and characters.
The ending was very satisfying to tie up loose ends!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Katie Garner, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing the ebook. This was an exceptional psychological thriller! It kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly questioning who could be trusted, and wondering if multiple characters were unraveling. A truly mind-bending read—absolutely loved it!

4.25⭐️

This book took me on such a wild ride! 🎢 Incredibly suspenseful from the very first page until the end. The twists and turns were shocking and threw me off balance. I really enjoyed this one!

3.5 stars

This is an absolutely unhinged story that turns into a veritable nightmare – but in the very best way. So many twists and turns made it impossible to guess the ending, and I loved the house in the story which almost felt like a character in itself. It’s a little over the top, but I was entertained.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was such an unhinged ride that was absolutely chock full of surprises! It takes a lot to throw me for a loop, and consider me thrown. Once I started reading this I almost immediately didn’t want
to put it down. I love a thriller with family secrets and this book understood the assignment! Definitely an early contender for my top reads of 2025 list.

3.5 ⭐️’s
It’s been three years since Iris’s husband, Jake, was murdered. Three long years. Iris is down and out, losing her home and her job simultaneously, she’s not sure what to do next. Her teenaged daughter, Ellory, isn’t too happy with her either. Iris has just begun a new relationship with Hugh. When Hugh suggests they move in with his family, Iris jumps, but Ellory isn’t onboard. Iris had no idea his mother’s home is a dilapidated old mansion in the woods. The family has secrets, so many secrets, but Iris has a few of her own. When Ellory goes missing, Iris dives deep to find out just what is going on in the house all while trying to find her daughter. No one is safe, and things really heat up when Iris decides to leave. This was a page turner, but had too many coincidences. It had a great plot twist, but the there were a few holes and overall story left me in a state of disbelief. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to Katie Garner, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Netgalley for the arc e-copy of The Family inside! A hard to put down psychological thriller! Lots of twists and secrets to be uncovered along the way! Sucks you in from the very beginning! Couldn’t put it down, read in one sitting!! Jaw on the floor! This book published on 1/28/25! Add it to your TBR!

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. ⁣⁣𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥. ⁣⁣𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞-𝐨𝐟-𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫-𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. ⁣⁣𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
We all perceive family through unique lenses. There's the family we choose and the family we're born into. While it's often said that "blood is thicker than water," what happens when your idea of "family" is not rooted in blood but in something far more sinister?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Katie Garner's gripping novel, "The Family Inside," thrusts us into the heart of one such unsettling family dynamic.⁣⁣
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The story follows Iris and her daughter, Ellory, as they confront the crushing weight of financial hardship, job loss, and the looming threat of eviction, all compounded by the trauma of Iris's husband's murder three years prior. With time slipping away and no safety net in sight, Iris turns to her new boyfriend, Hugh, and he graciously invites them to stay at his mother's sprawling but eerie manor until they can get back on their feet. What begins as a lifeline soon reveals itself to be a tangled web of lies and uncertainty.⁣⁣
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As Iris settles into the musty old house, she is haunted by strange occurrences—shadowy figures of men lurking in the surrounding woods, unsettling noises echoing through the night, and an ever-growing suspicion that Hugh's family is hiding secrets. Deep, dark secrets. ⁣⁣
Is her mind playing tricks on her, or...⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Adding to this tension, Iris is carrying hidden secrets of her own—dark remnants of a turbulent past that have unknowingly set her on a dangerous collision course with Hugh's family, threatening the safety of everyone involved.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
"The Family Inside" is a captivating and suspenseful read that kept me on the 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭, second-guessing everything with each twist and turn. Garner’s masterful writing had me racing through the pages, eager to unravel the tangled web of secrets and lies. Each 𝐣𝐚𝐰-𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is more shocking than the last, and I couldn't put the book down until the final page was turned.⁣⁣
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There is so much more that can be said about this thrill ride of a read but it all seems to fall short of conveying just how good this book is. If you enjoy intricate plots filled with high suspense and unexpected twists, this book delivers in spades. Grab it now and see for yourself. You can thank me later. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Katie Garner, Mira Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy to read and review.

Thanks to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read this book!

Read this book in one sitting, DO NOT PICK UP THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVE THINGS TO DO! TRUST ME! 5 stars is no where near enough for this book!!
This book will literally hold you hostage until you finish it !!!! There is SO MUCH going on in this book, You will guess and guess and guess at the plot twist and I promise you, even if you get one or two of them, You will NEVER guess everything, there's just too much to even try to predict!

From day one of moving into that house, I just had this vibe like I knew everything was going to go so wrong, but I had no idea it would go so wrong IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS & So deliciously either!!!
TRUST ME GET THIS BOOK YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT AT ALL !!!
& When you figure out how to get your jaw off the floor after you've finished it PLEASE message me and tell me how !!! I will be ranting and raving about this book for days, I will tell anyone who will listen and I will be screaming it from rooftops!!! I think I might have just found another new favorite Author from NG !!! Thank you Thank you Thank you !!!!!

On paper this should have been a 5 star read for me. It possessed everything I like in a mystery: multiple red herrings and twists, dysfunctional families, multiple POVs, unreliable narrators, and a gothic atmospheric, , crumbling mansion with many secrets, but it missed the mark. I found the plot too implausible and convoluted and the dialogue felt artificial and wooden. I could not connect with Iris and found her annoying and naive. I know other reviewers gave high praise to the book but The Family Inside did not resonate with me at all. It felt like the book was trying too hard to achieve the twists and surprise ending.

My rating 2.5 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC that will be published January 28 2025.

"It takes a special family to turn a home into a nightmare"

I've read countless books about dysfunctional families, but the Smoll family is truly in a league of its own! It's fascinating and unsettling how the author brings these deeply disturbed family members and their crazy antics to life.

Set against the backdrop of a haunting, centuries-old mansion undergoing renovations, "The Family Inside" paints such a vivid picture that the house feels like it has a personality of its own, adding a spooky vibe to the story.

Iris is trying to find a place to live with her daughter, Ellory, but money is tight. Thankfully, her new wealthy boyfriend, Hugh, has a plan: they can stay with him at his mother's house while he works on the mansion. Sure, his mom and other family members will be around, but the house is huge, so it will be fine. As Iris learns more about the Smoll family's eccentricities, she can't help but question how someone as seemingly normal as Hugh came from such an unusual background.

The characters are well-developed, and they kept me wanting to know more! Even though the story isn't always fast-paced, I eagerly anticipated the little secrets the author revealed about this bizarre family. The alternating timeline between the present and flashbacks adds to the intrigue and keeps things interesting.

Thanks to #TheHive, I enjoyed an audiobook version! Listening to the audiobook while following along in the ebook enhanced my experience. The two narrators did an amazing job of bringing the creepy atmosphere of the old mansion to life. I can't recommend it enough!

The book is bursting with unexpected twists and jaw-dropping moments that come one after another right up to the final page. I adore endings that make you think—the ones that challenge your imagination and remind you it's just fiction! These endings certainly spark mixed reviews but leave a lasting impression! 🤣🤦‍♀️

Thank you to Katie Garner, Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and The Hive for providing an ALC and ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

#TheFamilyInside #KatieGarner #HarlequinAudio #HTPBooks #TheHive #NetGalley #EmilyLawrence #AshleyKlanac

The twists and turns of this book are insane!

Most of the time with a thriller, I can see the twist coming from a mile away and that was not the case with this. I truly enjoyed this read and can't get over how it made me feel at the end.

4.5 ⭐️

Wow this book really took me by surprise! I could tell from the description and the first few chapters it was going to be an intense journey, but little did I know what was coming. There’s nothing I love more than a good plot twist and I literally gasped out loud and had to re-read a few chapters after one of the twists.

The Family Inside follows Iris and her teenage daughter as they move into Iris’ boyfriend’s house with his mother and unexpected family members. It is a dark, multi-layered, dual POV thriller that keeps you on the edge of your toes. Set in an old, crumbling mansion of a house, the atmosphere is eerie and gothic and absolutely riveting.

The Family Inside might be one of the most unhinged thrillers I’ve ever read, but in a good way. I was absolutely hooked all throughout!

Iris is a struggling widow, working hard to make ends meet for herself and her teenage daughter after losing her husband. When their home is foreclosed, and she loses her job, her new boyfriend offers for them to move in with him and his family while they get back on their feet. Not too long after they move in, they realize nothing is what it seems.

There was so much going on here, and every time I thought I might have it figured out, a new twist would be thrown in, which was so chaotic in the best way. Funnily enough, I thought I figured out the big twist, only to discount it because I thought it was too out there, and it ended up being true after all.
The characters are all twisted in their own way and bring absolute craziness to the table when all thrown together. The big, creepy house is so atmospheric and a great setting, adding in an extra layer of discomfort.

Overall, The Family Inside was a great, pulse pounding popcorn thriller full of drama and insane revelations. After a couple of twists you’ll just have to hang on for dear life for the rest of the wild ride.

Thank you so much to the author, Katie Garner, and Harlequin Trade Publishing - Mira for this eARC via NetGalley.

4.5 stars! Wow! What a crazy, shocking, twisting story of a family and all the different secrets they can all keep.

There were SO many twists and turns in this story, I wasn't able to predict any of them.

This story had me guessing, and wondering, and speculating the whole time and by the end of it everything was connected in such a way I could never have guessed.

I HIGHLY recommend for any thriller/mystery fan.

Iris’ husband was murdered three years ago. Now she is facing eviction and her teenage daughter Ellory is growing further and further away from her. On top of that, she lost her job. Everything is just falling apart. She finally is honest with her new significant other, Hugh, about her situation. He suggests moving them both in with him…and his mom, brother, sister, and their family. But the family inside the house is not what they seem. Iris didn’t even know that Hugh had siblings! Now she’s finding out more secrets about Hugh and his family, and the secrets are chilling.

I struggled with this book. It’s not a bad book by any means. But there does need to have a bigger suspension of belief than some of the other books that I read. For instance, Hugh and Iris have only been dating a short while and he proposes to her so quickly. And she says yes, without consulting her daughter. That didn’t sit right with me. She already knew her daughter was pulling away, and didn’t really like living in the house. I would have expected Iris to at least discuss something like this with her daughter. Or maybe that’s me projecting because if I were in her situation, I would have discussed it with my children first as my children would always come first.

There is a twist with the timelines that made me go huh? And it kind of confused me for a minute. I had to sit back and think about it. So instead of thrilling me or making me go WOW, I was trying to figure it out and put the puzzle pieces together. I like thinking in books to try to figure things out, but I don’t like the feeling of being confused.

The ending was even more insane. It really is a suspension of belief!! I don’t know. I think maybe this book just wasn’t for me. The writing was good, I think for me the plot was just too much. Too many twists, too convoluted. There are others that reviewed this book and absolutely loved it! So please, take my opinion with a grain of salt. If you love to read thrillers, this one might just be the one for you!

**Thank you to @netgalley , Katie Garner, and @harlequin for a free ebook ARC copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (rounded to 5 to GoodReads and NetGalley)

Iris and her daughter, Ellory, have been dealt the worst hand in life. Iris' husband was murder years ago, she just lost her job and now she's being evicted by the bank from their home. Luckily Iris' new boyfriend offers for them to move in with him and his mom...oh and a couple of his adult siblings..what could go wrong?

This book easily kept my attention and had me dying to dive in each chance I got. The writer kept the writing simple and the suspense in the air. I had a few theories, but didn't see that ending coming the way it did. I loved Iris' bestie, Sloane, she's the friend anyone would die to have. She's always there were Iris or Ellory need her without a second thought.

If you have a chance I'd recommend picking this one up :) You won't regret it!