Thanks to NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the chance to read this book!

The Crazy idea for this story was SO REFRESHING, to finally find a book that had a completely new plot that I've never read before, I have read so many mystery thrillers that I thought i had read everything!!!! Thank you so much for surprising me with this, I had no idea what this was about going into it but I loved every thing about it when i figured it out!! There were so many great twist and turns I think i now have whiplash & I'm not even mad about it !!!! VERY FAST PACED read for me I could not soak the pages up fast enough!!!! I will def be looking out for this author in the future!!!

Anna Snoekstra’s latest novel, The Ones We Love, is a haunting and slow-burning domestic thriller that delves into the fragile dynamics of a family unraveling under the weight of secrets, guilt, and trauma.

The story centers on the Jansen family, newly relocated from Australia to Los Angeles. The narrative kicks off with 22-year-old Liv waking up bruised and disoriented after a party she can’t remember. Her bedroom is suddenly padlocked—her parents claim it’s due to mold, but their behavior suggests otherwise. As Liv begins to sleepwalk and her friend Leilani goes silent, the mystery deepens.

Snoekstra masterfully explores themes of memory, denial, and the corrosive nature of secrets. The novel is steeped in psychological tension, with a creeping sense of dread that builds as each character’s perspective adds layers to the central mystery.

The Ones We Love is a compelling read for fans of domestic thrillers like Big Little Lies or The Push. It’s not just about what happened that night—it’s about how far people will go to protect the ones they love, even when love turns toxic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Snoekstra, and Penguin Group Dutton Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An other amazing thrillers by Anna Snoekstra, I can't seems to dislike any of her thrillers. Everything is so well written and the plots and twists are simply amazing.

I always struggle with books when too many characters fail to share too many secrets, causing even more dysfunction. The characters weren't likable, which was just the cherry on top. This was not for me. Thank you, NetGalley.

I received The Ones We Love as an ARC in exchange for my review.

When I was a couple chapters into this book, I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen. When I got to the part that told me I was wrong, I kept thinking well who was it then? Then it happened and then another twist happened and I just wanted to keep reading. Getting to read from each characters view point helped understand what was happening. This was my first book by this author and I hope to read more by her in the future.

3.75

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! I think that this was a well-written mysterious thriller that focused on the dynamics of a family that is slowly falling apart. It definitely hooked me at the beginning with Olivia waking up with bruises and having no memories of the night before. I do think the pace was a bit slow at the beginning and towards the middle. And I found myself figuring out things a bit too early before the book revealed it. Things seemed to be a little too obvious and nothing really surprised or shocked me. It was still interesting to get inside the mind of each family member and see how each of them are dealing with the same big event.

The ending was a bit lukewarm. It seemed a little too easy and like it all wrapped up too perfectly. I don't really feel like any of the characters faced serious consequences for their actions. which was a bit unsatisfying. However, I liked the book overall and would suggest it to a friend.

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

I went into this book expecting a gripping family thriller, an Aussie family starts over in LA, there's a locked door in their house that no one talks about, and tension simmers after an incident involving the daughter. It sounded like the perfect setup for a dark, twisty read.

But the pacing threw me off. A lot of time was spent diving into the parents' backstories that didn’t tie into the main mystery, and that eerie locked room? It barely mattered. What felt like it should be the centerpiece of the suspense ended up just being background noise.

Things finally clicked around page 100, when the story shifted its focus back to the central mystery and the tension started to build in a way that actually felt earned. The characters’ motivations became clearer, and the stakes finally felt real. From that point on, I was more invested, and the pacing improved significantly.

The twist, when it came, completely caught me off guard—in a good way. I had theories early on that felt clever at the time, but Snoekstra cleverly pulled the rug out from under me. It was satisfying and smart, and it made the slow build feel at least somewhat worth it.

Even though this particular book didn’t fully work for me, it showed that Snoekstra knows how to write atmosphere and surprise. Her style is sharp and emotionally aware, and I’m genuinely curious to see what she does next.

I was approved as an ARC for this book, it was a very interesting book. It started off slow but it started to pick up quick. It had good character development and good story line. I enjoyed this book. Good book. I enjoyed it. It was a good read. Kept my attention all through reading it

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers focused on family dynamics rather than those seeking fast-paced action or shocking twists. If you're looking for a slow-burn story that explores the consequences of secrets and misguided protection, this might be worth your time—just be prepared for a journey that's more contemplative

A well written story. That kept me glued to my kindle.
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

This is my type of book right here! I would like to extend my gratitude to Netgalley, Anna Snoekstra, and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with the opportunity to read this eARC. Prepare to be blown away by this incredible psychological thriller, which boasts an impressive array of twists and turns that will leave you utterly captivated. The writing is masterfully crafted, constantly keeping you on your toes and compelling you to reevaluate everything you thought you knew. The narrative begins with a slow burn before escalating into a truly gripping and fast-paced experience. If you're in search of a fantastic psychological thriller, look no further.

The Ones We Love had a compelling premise and an intriguing start, but ultimately didn’t quite deliver for me. The mystery of the locked bedroom and Liv’s forgotten weekend pulled me in, but the slow pacing and lack of communication between characters made the first half frustrating.

There’s a heavy focus on the inner lives of each family member, which at times felt like it distracted from the central mystery. That said, the plot does pick up in the final third, and I found myself more engaged as the tension built.

While this wasn’t totally my cup of tea, I’m still curious to see what Anna Snoekstra writes next.

The Ones We Love was an interesting plot but alot of the dynamics and storyline just fell flat for me.

I didn’t find the story to be super engaging and was more interested in finishing the book than anything else. I found the twist to be lackluster. I also found the internal dialogues to be mundane and boring - not much development within the characters.

This is a mediocre domestic thriller with a very very slow burn with an anti-climatic plot and storyline.

Im giving it a rating of 2.5, rounding up to 3.

Thank you NetGalley, Anna Snoekstra, and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC

A Twisty Psychological Thriller with a Dark Heart

Anna Snoekstra’s "The Ones We Love" is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the unsettling world of cults, identity, and manipulation. The story follows Juniper, who escapes a controlling commune, only to find that the past isn't so easily left behind. As she tries to build a new life, the shadows of her former existence begin to resurface, blurring the lines between reality and paranoia.

Snoekstra excels at creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere. The narrative is filled with suspense, and the reader is constantly kept guessing about Juniper's true identity and the motives of those around her. The book explores the psychological impact of trauma and the difficulty of breaking free from the clutches of a manipulative group.

The characters are complex and flawed, adding to the intrigue of the story. Juniper's vulnerability and resilience make her a compelling protagonist, and the supporting cast is equally well-developed, each with their own secrets and agendas.

While the plot is engaging and the twists are satisfying, some readers might find the pacing a bit uneven at times. However, the overall strength of the writing and the chilling exploration of psychological manipulation make this a worthwhile read.

"The Ones We Love" is a dark and thought-provoking thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This novel was interesting but also fairly predictable. It was a bit frustrating because I feel like a lot of it could have been cleared up if the characters had just communicated at any time during the first 100 pages or so. It was a slow burn and some of the character's actions seemed unrealistic. I kept reading because I wanted to see how it ended, but it really wasn't my cup of tea.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The middle portion of the book was a bit slow, but then the pace picked up and it became more interesting. The concept was pretty original and the book had good character development.

The Ones We Love starts with an irresistible premise: Liv wakes up covered in bruises with no memory of a weekend party, only to find her bedroom door mysteriously padlocked. Her parents claim it's because of mold, but their strange behavior suggests something far more sinister. Meanwhile, her father Janus, a horror novelist adapting his book into a screenplay in LA, struggles with his own demons, and her mother Kay seems willing to do anything to protect the family. Only Liv's younger brother Casper is determined to uncover what really happened that weekend.

This psychological thriller has a compelling hook and creates immediate tension that pulled me in. The multiple perspectives effectively reveal how one family can experience the same events so differently, and I particularly appreciated Casper's character. Unfortunately, after a strong start, the pacing becomes uneven. The characters, except for Casper, often lack the depth needed to make their choices believable, making it difficult to connect with their struggles. By the time the truth is fully revealed, the resolution feels somewhat forced and stretches credibility.

This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers focused on family dynamics rather than those seeking fast-paced action or shocking twists. If you're looking for a slow-burn story that explores the consequences of secrets and misguided protection, this might be worth your time—just be prepared for a journey that's more contemplative than thrilling.

Thank you NetGalley, Anna Snoekstra, and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC.

⭐⭐⭐ 2.5/5 - rounded to 3

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Anna Snoekstra, and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read this eARC! Prepare to be blown away by this incredible psychological thriller. The sheer number of twists and turns had my head spinning in the best way possible! I absolutely loved how the writing constantly kept me on my toes, making me rethink everything I thought I knew. It eases you in with a slow burn before launching into a truly gripping and fast-paced experience. If you're looking for a fantastic psychological thriller, look no further!

4.5 stars.

The Ones We Love by Anna Snoekstra is a suspenseful mystery.

Twenty-two-year-old Olivia “Liv” Jansen wakes up in her brother Casper’s room with bruises. She has no idea how she got there and her last memory is of the night before when she was at a fashion event with her friend. Liv continues to have troubling issues with sleepwalking and fragmented memories of her dreams. The only bright spot in her life is the time she spends with her neighbor Austin. He attempts to help her understand what is happening to her since her parents will not provide any explanation about the night she has forgotten.

Fifteen-year-old Casper is less than thrilled when his parents cancel his trip back to Australia. He is also unhappy to discover he will be temporarily sharing his room with Liv. Casper does not understand what is going on with his sister and his parents, but with the help of his friend, Tye, he hopes to find out.

The Ones We Love is a slow-burn, secret-filled mystery. The characters are well-developed and most likable. The Los Angeles setting is vivid and easy to visualize. Casper and Tye’s investigation is interesting but does he really want to know the truth? Not knowing what happened to Liv drives the storyline to a shocking incident. With astonishing twists, Anna Snoekstra this compelling mystery to a stunning conclusion.