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!

Wow! What a ride! This book weaves together so many tragic stories that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The writing was absolutely gripping, keeping me craving more with every turn of the page. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the narrative would switch to another character's story and blow my mind.

I went full immersive reading with this one and loved every second of the narrator! The twists, the turns, the emotional rollercoaster – it’s a must-read for sure!

This was one of those books that felt like it was written to be turned into a movie. That said, it would be an amazing movie with a distinct, picturesque house and outrageous characters being played by the best actors. This had plenty of twists and turns that were masterfully delivered with an ending that will leave readers' jaws on the floor. This author created a great, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Four stars

Thank you, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for this ARC.

Awesome! What an edge-of-your-seat, exciting ride! The Family Inside would make a great movie. There are so many moving parts: missing people, odd family relations, murder and more. The main character, Iris, is having strange nightmares and seeing visions or hallucinations or are these things really happening? Her boyfriend’s family likes to gaslight her into thinking she’s imagining everything, but who knows? Is the family house haunted? There are plenty of peculiar noises, and it sounds like somebody or something is locked in the attic. I just love stories where there are dark and bizarre characters and disturbances. One can never be sure what exactly is going on, but it seems as though danger is around every corner. 4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the digital ARC.

3.5 ⭐ rounded up

Ummm what the hell just happened?? There are so many little details to this story that are all entwined together. You have to really pay attention in order to follow all the twists and turns. Very enjoyable thriller!! The audiobook was great!! I really enjoyed the narrator!! Overall, a pretty good thriller!!

*Thank you partners @htp_hive @_mira_books_ and @harlequin_audio for the #gifted e-galley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

I had a really hard time connecting with the characters in this one. I didn't understand the decisions they made, and small details in their dialogue, what they did, etc. seemed off for some reason. That said, I did really enjoy the suspenseful plot. The twist in the runaway story made me gasp.

Absolutely incredible! I just recently started reading Katie's books and they seem to just keep getting better. I loved it.

The Family Inside
by Katie Garner
Pub Date: Jan 28 2025

The Family Inside is one heck of a twisty thriller! Full of family drama, secrets and lies! A well developed story with exceptional characters. I truly could not put this book down. A FIVE STAR read that I highly recommend!

Synopsis: It takes a special family to turn a home into a nightmare. Since her husband’s unsolved murder three years ago, Iris Blodgett’s life has unraveled. Awash in grief and buried in debt, she can’t pay her mortgage—and now that she’s lost her job, she has no idea how she’ll provide for her unruly teenage daughter, Ellory.

Many thanks to #TheFamilyInside #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for providing me an E-ARC of this 5 Star book.

Overwrought and ultimately unbelievable domestic thriller.

A poor and frumpy woman is courted by a really handsome, wealthy man. Iris is a widow (her husband was murdered) and she has an 18 year old daughter. Iris loses her job and is evicted from their home. Hugh sweeps in to take Iris and her daughter to a mansion he lives in with his mother. His brother, sister-in-law, and sister live there too. And then this really goes off the rails into territory that is so convoluted and twisty that not even the most dedicated reader could manage to suspend enough disbelief to keep up.

The characters were all stereotypes and the plot contained enough tropes and cliches for several books. The main character, Iris, was the most ridiculous of all. She basically is also not very smart along with being histrionic.

I really didn't want to finish this. I hate to say it because this was an ARC given to me by the publisher, but this book was a hot mess and I couldn't give it more stars.

If the writing and narrative weren't already bad enough, I was also listening to the audio book while following along in the e-book. The narrators' voices were so cringey and grating that I finally had to turn it off. Generally the accompanying audio production enhances my enjoyment of a book but this time it made me dislike it even more.

The Family Inside by Katie Garner is an atmospheric mystery / thriller that is dark and twisty. Iris and her daughter Ellory are struggling after losing Jack, Iris's husband a few years ago. After also losing her job and her home going into foreclosure she doesn't know what to do. Facing homelessness Iris's new boyfriend Hugh invites her and her daughter to stay in a room in his mother's house. But they are not the only people staying at Ravencliff. Everyone has secrets and how far will they go to keep them?
What a twisted read! Great plot with well written characters and a creeping sense of unease throughout this whole book. I will definitely be looking into more of Katie Garner's work!
Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Garner, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC. Expected release day is January 28th 2025.

This one just wasn't for me. The plot was overly convoluted, and it seemed like the author was only interested in throwing in plot twists and diversions. I was thoroughly confused for most of the book. While a lot was told to bring it all together in the final pages, it was too little too late. I don't enjoy bashing books, so I won't be posting formal review on my blog or other outlets.

I was not prepared for how good this thriller is. So dark with twists that took my breath away. I think going in knowing as little as possible is the way to read this one. I was hooked from the start and once I started all I wanted to do was keep reading. Thank you very much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for my copy.

📖 : The Family Inside-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Katie Garner-new to me author

📅Publication date: 1-28-25 | Read 1-24-25

📃: eBook 384 pgs.

Genre:
*Mystery/Thriller

Tropes:
* whodunit
* family drama
* found family
* atmospheric/ gothic
* haunted mansion
* single parent
* small town
* secret pregnancy
* renovation

👆🏾POV: multiple- 1st person Iris and 3rd person Ellory

⚠️TW: murder, domestic abuse, child abuse, grief, death of a spouse, suicide


🌎 Setting: Hollow Falls+ Greenwich Hills, NY

Summary: Iris has lost her job, and her house is in foreclosure while she's still grieving her husband Jack's murder three years ago. She has a new beau Hugh, and he invites her and her teenage daughter Ellory to stay with his family at Ravencliff manor. Everyone is hiding something big, and things get really spooky when people start disappearing.


👩🏾 Heroine: Iris Blodgett-35, fired from waitress job and evicted from home.

👨🏾 Heroine: Ellory Blodgett-18, misses her father, doesn't like Hugh. She has asthma

🎭 Other Characters:

* Jack-Iris's deceased husband
* Hugh Smoll-an architect tasked with fixing up his mother's house. Iris's new boyfriend
* Sloane-owns Hotte Latte Cafe. Iris's BFF
* Ainsley-works for Sloane as a barista, going through a divorce, Iris's friend
* Birdie-The matriarch who owns Ravencliff.
* Gabe-Hugh's brother married to Camille. He has a heart condition
* Camille-Gabe's wife
* Rebecca-Hugh's sister

🤔 My Thoughts: This was a rollercoaster ride. It had so many twists and turns that kept me on my toes. Iris struggled with building her self-esteem after Jack's death. Life knocked her down and she tried to be more assertive and in control, but the skeletons in her closet kept appearing. Ellory was unmotivated because Iris forgot about her while mourning. Sloane was the MVP who always knew what to say and do for Iris. Loved it!

Rating: 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 0/5

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing| MIRA Books, and Katie Garner for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.