Anna Snoekstra delivers a riveting and atmospheric page-turner in The Ones We Love, a mystery/thriller that grabs you by the hand from the first chapter and whispers, "Okay, where is this going?"—a question you'll find yourself asking again and again as each twist unfolds.
Centered around a seemingly typical Australian family that has relocated in search of new beginnings and hidden truths, the novel expertly layers tension and emotional complexity. Janus, the father and once-celebrated author, uproots the family from Australia in a desperate attempt to adapt his best-selling novel into a film script. His wife, Kay, a former ballerina, seeks the stability she never found in the spotlight, clinging to the safety of domestic life. Their daughter Olivia, a young adult on the cusp of independence, drifts in the emotional undercurrents of her family’s unraveling, while teenage son Casper returns home only to discover that something is off.
Snoekstra is masterful at building suspense through intimate family dynamics, eerie neighborhood secrets, and the haunting question: What would we do for the ones we love? As the story deepens, so does the exploration of loyalty, identity, and the fine line between devotion and delusion. And just when you think you've figured it out, she pulls the rug out from under you.
This novel is perfect for readers who love layered thrillers that keep you guessing, and it's especially fitting as a summer beach read—ideal for discussing with your own family over a bonfire or beachside brunch. Mysterious neighbors, family secrets, and a slow-burning suspense that ignites into something unforgettable—The One We Love is a captivating reminder that sometimes the scariest things aren't what's lurking outside, but what we bring with us.

Do you wanna read a story that keeps you at the end of your seat wanting answers? The Ones We Love is that book! It has so many twists and turns that you feel like you’re on a roller coaster and wanting more. The author did a great job with the characters and you really feel like you know them.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read this ARC.

#TheOnesWeLove
#netgalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is an interesting book with an interesting story line of a family that moved from Australia to kick start their fathers dreams. This proves to not be good for this family when they keep running into problem after problem. Two people end up dead, someone ends up tether to a bed and sleepwalking occurs. I really enjoyed the twist in this story.

Slow burner at first but than a fast pickup of this family that’s dysfunctional with a big secret. I believe the book could of gone netter but it’s def a good book just believe it could have the potential to be amazing

The synopsis sounded interesting, but this book fell so flat for me. The plot twist was surprising, but honestly, it just wasn't very good. The writing style was easy to read, but the whole book just felt like a whole lot of repetition of you knew something happened but not what. I thought it was going to be more interesting and that I would enjoy it more. It really was juts an okay read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

It’s tough when the premise pulls you in but the pacing and characters don’t quite deliver. Dysfunctional families can make for fascinating stories, but if the characters are hard to connect with or if the plot drags, it can definitely make the reading experience feel more like a chore than a pleasure. This book definitely felt more like a chore.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC.

This was my first Anna Snoekstra book, but it will not be my last. It had all of the best parts of a family drama, along with plenty of neighborhood intrigue, all wrapped in the mystery of what lies beyond a locked door.

When the Jensen family moves from Australia to sunny Los Angeles, their relationships quickly strain and all but break the night that their adult. daughter Liv arrives home after a blackout night partying. Her father is a horror author who can no longer stomach the more grotesque parts of his writing while her mother is distant, sullen, and drinking heavily. Her younger brother, Casper, recognizes that everyone is acting strangely and begins his own investigation into what happened of Liv’s party and the real reason that her bedroom is padlocked shut.

4 stars

Wow! I certainly didn’t see that twist coming. Just when I thought the ending was laid out in front of me, Ms. Snoekstra changed directions again! Will definitely recommend this book!! I’m looking forward to reading something else from this author. I’m adding her to my TBR author list!

This was an intriguing mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! I was very invested in figuring out what really happened and trying to draw my own conclusions alongside the characters. Great read!

A girl struggling with alcohol. A dysfunctional family moving to LA to chase the American Dream. The boy next door falling in love. And a murder.

This book was filled with suspense and surprise, navigating many different points of view surrounding an affair, homicide, and blackmail. It has all the elements of a good mystery, but falls flat in the details department. I enjoyed how the author spent time on character development for Kay and Casper, but I felt as though Janus and Olivia were neglected. There was little to no explanation on how the great novel that Janus was writing ended or why it was given up so easily, and Olivia’s character just moved on from the nightmare that was herself without therapy or self-reflection??? We also weren’t given enough story of the neighbors and their marriage or relationship, as the troubles were just sprang on the reader quickly at the end. Besides that, I did think this was an overall okay thriller and would recommend to readers who enjoy this genre.

I really wanted to like this book and gave it a fair shot, but reading the whole thing, I wish I had DNF'd it.

Liv's family moves from Australia to the States for a fresh start after Liv's father gets word that his novel could be turned into a movie. Liv and her friend Lelani go out to a party one night. They have a two-drink maximum because of a previous incident Liv had. Liv wakes up in her brother's room back at home when she was supposed to be staying at Lelani's house. She wakes up feeling horrible with bruises all over her and no memory of what happened that night or how she got back home. Her parents start acting weird towards her, and her mother tells her they must never speak of that night.

The synopsis sounded interesting, but this book fell so flat for me. The pacing was so slow in the beginning, then sped up to some interesting parts three-fourths of the way in, and then it just dragged on and on after that for me. The plot twist was surprising, but honestly, it just wasn't very good. The writing style was easy to read, but the whole book just felt like a whole lot of repetition of you knew something happened but not what, and then when the plot twist came, it was one big eye roll. This book was really a family drama that lacked any real depth.

Thank you, Anna Snoekstra, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and NetGalley, for the ARC of this book.

I found this book easy to read. The plot keeps you turning pages. I became engrossed in the characters of this family. Each one of them draws you into their emotional journey but they don't overwhelm you. As I sympathized so much for Olivia, there's a twist I didn't see coming. Great book!

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I enjoyed this, but it was predictable. I liked the different perspectives and the relationship-building. Would read more by this author but this one was not a memorable one for me personally.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and author for this Arc.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would rate it 4/5 stars. This was a fun thriller! Had me engaged from the start . This is the first I’ve read by this author but it won’t be the last!

This book had me playing detective… and failing miserably. Every time I thought I had a twist figured out, the author flipped everything upside down. This story is packed with messy, layered family drama—secrets, betrayals, and dysfunction galore. The tension builds slowly, but when it picks up, it really picks up, making for a wild, twisty ride to the finish.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE ONES WE LOVE by Anna Snoekstra

How well do you sleep? Is there anything you wouldn’t do for your family? What do you actually know about your neighbors?

The prologue is intriguing and if that doesn’t hook you, the first chapter definitely will! It’s that quick to suck you in and the pages turn fast from then on.

Family drama, heavily weighted secrets, and never quite being able to trust your own self; it is easy to become invested in this family as they all attempt to do their best at life.

While I may have caught on, I never quite knew where the author was going to take us and it kept me invested from beginning to end.

Enjoy!

📚📚📚/5 (ARC)
•
Thank you to Anna Snoekstra, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for this advanced read copy in exchange for my honest review. The Ones We Love has an anticipated publish date of May 6th, 2025
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

When the Jansen family moves from Australia to Los Angeles, tensions begin to rise when the eldest daughter, Olivia, wakes with a blackout period of her memory. She is covered in bruises, her room is now padlocked, and her parents are acting strange.
•
Each chapter begins to dissect the Jansen family; and ultimately the family next door. What we find is a thrilling and suspenseful revelation of truths. I did find that the pacing was inconsistent. The first few chapters had be hooked. I struggled from about 20% in to around the 60% mark where the pace really picked up again.
•
I was pleasantly surprised at the twists and did not see them coming, which was a joy to me! The characters had good growth near the end, but a lot was left to be desired. They weren’t super likable in my opinion. Overall, once the suspense really started twisting I couldn’t wait to finish.
•
For lovers of:
🔪 Dark Themes
😳 Shock and Suspense
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Familial Dysfunction
🤨 Mystery and “who dunnit” vibes

🔉Thank you to Anna Snoekstra, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for this arc of The Ones We Love, out May 6, 2025!

📜Quick Summary: When Janus has the opportunity to move his family from Australia to LA for a possible deal on a book he wrote, the family jumps on this. Kay, his wife and former ballerina now Pilates instructor, left her career when she became pregnant with their first child Liv. Liv is 20, loves fashion and wants to work in that industry. Casper is in high school and was hesitant about this move and what it could mean for their family. Like all families, there is drama and secrets and running from the past. When Liv wakes up covered in bruises and questions her parents, they tell her not to ask any more questions and forget about it. But forget about what?

❣️Initial Feels: This seems like a fast paced page turner and I am for all the family drama!

👀Trigger Warnings: murder, abuse

🌶️Spice Level: 🌶️

📖Read if you want: multiple point of views, dysfunctional family, twists and guessing games the entire novel

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: Although I disliked each character at some point or another, I think Casper, the youngest child of Janus and Kay, really showed maturity and intuition throughout this thriller.

🗨️Thoughtful Words: “Change didn’t have to mean disappearance…”

💡Final Sentiments: Overall this was a well done “can’t put it down” thriller. It started out strong, but did fizzle in the middle for me. Things just felt repetitive and although there were many twists in discovering what truly happened that night with Liv, there were times where I was thinking, “Let’s get it moving!” The author did a great job trying to change your thoughts and opinions on what happened, who’s deceiving who, who’s got the bigger secret, etc and I enjoyed those parts! It did pick up again at the end, which I appreciated! I would definitely pick up another piece of work by this author!

🌟Overall Rating: 4 stars

This novel was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

The Ones We Love by Anna Snoekstra is a captivating psychological thriller that delves into themes of identity, love, and betrayal. The novel’s suspenseful atmosphere keeps readers on edge, while its complex characters and emotional depth add layers of intrigue. Snoekstra’s skillful storytelling and unexpected twists create a compelling narrative that will resonate with fans of dark, thought-provoking thrillers.