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.

The Ones We Love was a fantastic read! It is was a bit of a slow burn in the beginning but then it picked up pace. I enjoyed the characters. I wish it would have started a little quicker than it did but in the end it is was an outstanding book. Would definitely recommend this book to others.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Books Dutton for my ARC.

This book is full of unexpected twists and turns. The story starts off in such a way where you think you know what happened and then continues to veer off in different directions keeping the excitement alive. At first I didn't like any of the characters, but as the story developed they grew on me. The ending was a little too easy and neat, but overall an entertaining read.

Olivia wakes up aching all over, covered in bruises, and with no idea how she got home. Her parents refuse to speak of it, the door to her bedroom is padlocked closed, and her best friend that she spent the night with won't answer her texts. She's not sure what happened, but she's willing to assume she got blackout drunk and embarrassed herself, and is fine to duck her head and make amends. Her brother doesn't feel the same way though, and wants to get to the bottom of what's made everyone in the house act so weird.

*****

This was definitely an interesting read! The first few chapters had me absolutely hooked. Each character was intriguing but also kind of awful - save for Liv's brother Casper. We got a different perspective of the mystery and how it's affecting the family, without fully getting confirmation until further on in the story.

The pacing was steady, although sometimes slipped into being slower than anticipated for a thriller. We get a lot of backstory from Liv's mom Kay, as she seems to be the central perspective to the story, and pulls the lead away from Liv multiple times. Even though this was an interesting novel, I found the big reveal to be a bit too obvious. From there we get a twist, and then an additional unnecessary twist on top of that that felt odd to toss in.

There was also a change between the parent's relationship towards the end that kind of came out of nowhere and was such a weird addition that I wasn't sure what the intent was. It didn't really impact the main storyline and just left me kind of baffled as to it's inclusion.

All in all this one was decent, but not as captivating as I expected.

*****

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

While this starts off kind of slow, as the secrets build and crescendo it becomes an intensely interesting look at family bonds being tested and stretched. There is great character development and readers will be questioning what their decisions would be in the same situations.

"How far would you go to protect the ones you love?"

The Ones We Love by Anna Snoekstra is a slow burn domestic thriller where you think you know what is happening but in the end you have no clue.

When 22 year old Liv wakes up in her brother's room after a fashion gala the night before, she doesn't remember what happened. She was supposed to go to the gala with her friend Leilani and network before staying at Leilani's house for the night. But now she is home and covered in bruises. Leilani won't answer any texts or calls, her parents are acting really weird, and there is a padlock on her bedroom door that wasn't there before. Liv and her younger brother Casper are sharing a room because of a supposed mold issue in her room, but why the padlock? Casper knows something happened, when he went to summer camp everything was normal, then when he returns home it seems his parents are mad at Liv.. but why? When Liv starts sneaking out of the house at night and his parents start to act even more strange, Casper and his friend Tye decide to investigate on their own. What is really going on behind closed doors?

This was an absolute wild ride!! This book is a slow burn, like 50-60 percent of the book is character development and buildup, but all of that was necessary in my opinion to create tension and suspense. And then when the twists start to happen it is a fast and furious race to the end. The ending is solid and satisfying with most things tying together. I really liked how all of the characters were written (even if I thought some were unlikable), the emotional depth that Snoekstra lends her characters really is a highlight. Overall a solid dysfunctional family thriller that is thought provoking and engaging!

Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Snoekstra, and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC!! Publication date is May 6th 2025.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of The Ones We Love, and the first few chapters delivered by instantly creating a must-know vibe, but I almost gave up on it around the 25 percent mark. There's a lot of detail into the individual family member's lives, instead of what's behind the locked bedroom door and what Liv's actual crime was (or if there was a crime at all). I only kept going because I really wanted to know. The pacing did pick up around the 70 percent mark, and it was more plot-driven. While there were parts of The Ones We Love that I was intrigued by, and I definitely will be interested in Anna Snoekstra's next book, this one was ultimately too character driven for me.

Step into the seemingly sun-drenched, ordinary world of the Hunter family, and prepare for the ground to shift beneath your feet. Anna Snoekstra's The Ones We Love isn't just a novel; it's a slow-burn fuse leading to an explosion of secrets, a masterclass in suspense that wraps its tendrils around you and refuses to let go.

After a random wild night, 22 year old Olivia wakes up to new bruises and her parents hiding a secret they didn’t want to tell. As she checks her bruises on her body, notices a new padlock on her bedroom door, she’s left wondering- what really happened last night. Olivia is a recovering wild child having to move back home, living with the consequences of her actions right before her parents eyes, as well as her smart and mature younger brother, Casper.

Mostly fun and likeable characters, between Olivia and her brother Casper. While it was mostly obvious what had happened, the moments of her mentally guessing felt like a wasted paragraph here and there. I liked the story primarily being divided into following the two siblings- Olivia as she struggles with remembering what happened and trying to regain purpose; and Casper, as a junior detective with his friend Tye. But I did enjoy Casper more.

There were moments of telling not showing so some opportunities to edit out some sentences. But overall, a family internal explosion all wrapped up in a mystery type thriller that was an interesting read. Funny how the only smart and insightful character was the teenage boy. The ending was a little bit of a let down- felt rushed and things wrapped up with little explantation. It didn’t feel like things you could just sweep under the rug.