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.

The Ones We Love by Anna Snoekstra, when first time author Janus’s Horror novel gets to number one in Australia Hollywood comes calling and Janus immediately rips his family from their cozy Melbourne home and relocates them to LA. it’s five months later when we meet dad Janus, mom K, daughter Olivia who’s 22 and son Casper who’s 16. They’re all having their own issues with living in LA the Janus is in a slump mom K is suffering from depression but it’s Olivia who has the biggest problems especially after she wakes up in Casper‘s room bruised and disoriented not knowing what happened the night before. All she remembers is she went out with her friend Lila and was supposed to sleep at Leighlana‘s apartment but wakes up locked out of her room. her friend isn’t answering her parents don’t want to talk about it and her brother who just arrived from swim camp has no clue what’s going on. this is just the beginning of what turns out to be a crazy story with many twist and I was down for all of it. I did think what mom K did towards the end is almost unforgivable I mean she knew Olivia was going through something and Casper was upset because he couldn’t go home and yet instead of being there for her family she did what she did. I have other things to say about the mom and dad and their issues and what happened at the end of the book but I don’t want to give anything away so I will just say this is one crazy read that I really enjoyed. I didn’t get the whole thing with Austin and Olivia at the end because regardless he said what he said and it could’ve caused her so much but either way this is still a great book and when I definitely recommend I do want to say I don’t think most people will agree with a lot of what happened at the end but having said that it is still so interesting and so worth reading. Also when you order an Americano in America that’s just a black coffee we don’t call it in Americano that’s only called that in other countries.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #AnnaSnoekstra, #TheOnesWeLove,

THE ONES WE LOVE was a great story. I liked the pace and characters. The plot was outstanding and it kept my full attention until the end. I'll be reading more books by Anna Snoekstra.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

This book was a bit of a slow burn but that ending redeemed it! Thank you to Netgalley, Anna Snoekstra and the publisher for the opportunity to preview this uncorrected proof in exchange for my honest review.

Pacing was a little slow for this one but it picked up toward the last quarter. It was very character based, which was well done, but still suspenseful.

Did not finish this one around the 30% mark. Didn’t capture my attention and it was a bit too slow for my liking .

Love is a strange thing, especially when it comes to family. Liv has had issues in the past, so when her family tells her they are moving to America to chase her father’s Hollywood dreams, she thinks it might be her best chance to start over. But after attending a gala she wakes up to find her bedroom locked and her parents being cagy about what is going on. When her brother Casper gets home, he also feels like something is off. Mom and Dad are keeping something from the whole family. Both Casper and Live want to know what happened that fateful night and they both find people who help them try and piece together what occurred. This book is a super slow burn. You know that something horrible went down and slowly the story starts to come together. Once it comes together everything starts to move extremely fast. Overall, I think this is a decent book. I feel like the pacing could have been a little bit faster just to make sure the readers stay invested for the twisted ending.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

What’s behind the padlocked door? That’s what the Jansen siblings want to know. It appeared on Liv’s room after she attended a party and woke up injured with no memories of the night before. Their parents say it’s a mold infestation, but Casper’s not buying it, not when his mom and dad behave so strangely. When his sister begins disappearing in the middle of the night, Casper becomes determined to find out what really happened the night of the party.

This book had a lot of potential. I loved the atmosphere author Anna Snoekstra created by transplanting the Jansen family from Australia to Los Angeles, as their father struggles to adapt his book to a screenplay. It was an intriguing concept, the idea of a family being in a strange place while also keeping a large secret: what’s behind the padlocked door. And while the book sucked me in with its pacing, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I found all of them, even Casper, unlikeable. Perhaps that was the author’s intention, to create a contradiction of sorts by building characters that the reader find difficult to sympathize with yet can’t help but wonder about. In this, she was extremely successful; while I was frustrated by Janus’s outlook, Kay’s passiveness, and the family’s other flaws, I did want to know exactly how their story played out. My interest in them, rather than my sympathy, kept me engaged, and it was definitely an effective plot device. The initial twist regarding who committed the final violent act of the book was also a nice touch; however, I didn’t love the “twist on the twist,” so to speak. I think a twist is necessary for a thriller novel like this—it’s what the reader has earned by getting to the end of the book. However, the way the book ended didn’t quite work for me; after the mess created by all the main characters, I was left wanting a less tidy and more realistic ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: this was a wild ride! I absolutely love books that deal with dysfunctional families, and this one delivered. This is one messy thriller.

The book starts off so strong. Liv goes out with her friend Leilani and wakes up at home with bruises all over her body. Her room is padlocked and her parents are barely looking at her. She has no idea what happened.

From there, the secrets begin to unravel with each family member. Casper, her younger brother, is determined to know what happened that night that shook his whole family. From there, the pacing was a little off. It was a little slow until about 65% then I couldn’t put the book down.

The book is full of twists and turns. I thought I had things figured out, but then they went another direction. I do think some of the pacing was off because the author spent a lot of time on the past, instead of the current mystery. The current mystery was where I was hooked.

Overall, this was a clever and original read. I love a dysfunctional family thriller and I really enjoyed the last half of the book. I couldn’t believe how it ended.

Thanks to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for the advanced copy. This books comes out May 6th!

Reading this book was an experience in and of itself — and honestly, that alone deserves at least three stars. Picture me: curled up with my tea, internally screaming "What is going on?!" for a solid 70% of the story. This is a slow burn, the kind where you're not sure if you're being brilliantly led or lovingly trolled by the author... and somehow, you’re completely fine with either option because you must know what happens next.

Finally, blessedly, around the 70% mark, the clouds begin to part. Clarity trickles in — but not too much, mind you. Just enough to let you know you’re not entirely losing your mind. And then, just when you think you're steady on your feet, the book throws some delightfully twisty curveballs that make you question everything all over again. Good times.

The ending? Solid. Satisfying. It wrapped things up nicely enough, although a few lingering questions are still tap-dancing around in my head. (Maybe that’s intentional. Maybe it’s just me. Who's to say?) Either way, the journey was absolutely worth it.

This book also dives into some deep, punch-you-in-the-gut type of themes: How far would you go — how much would you risk — for someone you love? At what point should you stop chasing your dreams and ambitions? And perhaps the hardest question of all: what happens when your dreams collide headfirst with your responsibilities?

Overall, it’s a really good read: thought-provoking, well-paced (after the slow-burn setup), and twisty enough to keep you on your toes. Therefore, with my heart full and my brain mildly fried in the best possible way, I proudly award this book four stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Liv's family has recently moved from Australia to LA. Her father Janus has found some success as a horror author but is struggling to duplicate it. Her Mom is distant and Liv, sorely in need of a fresh start can't remember what happened after a party one night. There is padlock on her bedroom door and her younger brother is determined to figure out what's going on.

I think this book can best be described as a family drama. The beginning has a nice creepy feeling to it but soon delves into the family dynamic and background. It's clear something has happened and it takes forever to get an idea of what that it is.

When things begin to unfold things get a little dark. There are twists to the story or should I say it's twisted? Overall this type of story isn't for me but I can see others liking it.

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

3.5 stars rounded up.

If you enjoy domestic thrillers with an over the top resolution, this one will be right up your alley.

The Jansen family recently relocated to LA from Australia, and all of them are struggling to adjust. Father Janus is having difficulties turning his successful novel into a screenplay, which was the whole reason for the family's move. Mother Kay is frustrated in her marriage. Son Casper, the younger child, has trouble fitting in. And Liv, the older child, wanted to leave behind her party girl ways in Australia... until she wakes up one morning with no memory of the night before, her bedroom inaccessible because of a padlock on the door, and her parents acting strange.

I blew through this in one day and enjoyed the fish out of water setup and the family dynamics, although this story only worked because they were all so extremely bad at communicating with one another. The mystery of what happened that night was pretty straightforward and the why and how quite obvious, red herrings included, but overall I still enjoyed this book; ultimately, it felt like a cautionary tale about the devastating ripple effects of keeping secrets. Were the resolution and the ending absolutely over the top and ridiculous? Yes. Did I care at that point? No.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Ones We Love" is slated to be released on May 6, 2025.

Dark, emotional, and full of slow-burning suspense, The Ones We Love dives deep into the messy ties of family when a complicated bond unravels as old secrets come to light.

The book was a bit too slow for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.