The ones we love is a gripping piece of novel around a dysfunctional family.
I really enjoyed reading the book and the characters are well written. The twists
are pretty awesome and made the story more enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to follow and the storyline was interesting. It was very suspenseful as there was something new around every corner. It had good details and made me feel like I was watching a movie. I gave this 4 ⭐️’s because I felt like the end with the married couple was unnecessary and took away from the story.

Well that was hard to get through. The first few pages drew me in but then I was bored until about 75% of the way through. Unfortunately the author attempts but fails to build suspense. The ending is more exciting but not the most believable. There are definitely some interesting family dynamics going on throughout the book but did not meet the mark as a thriller/suspense for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and devoured it in just two days. The writing was effortlessly engaging, keeping me captivated from start to finish. While the character development was evident, some characters felt more fully realized than others.

When the truth was finally revealed, I was completely taken aback—I never saw it coming! Though the ending felt somewhat unresolved for my taste, the overall journey was immensely enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read The Ones We Love by Anna Snoekstra.

Casper know something is wrong with his family. Shortly after moving to L.A. from Australia, he’s noticed his family acting different. His sister doesn’t know what’s changed with her parents but she knows that she’s the reason for it.

As both Casper and Liv try to figure out what has happened buried secrets are revealed making everyone realize how much can you trusts someone, when it turns out you can’t even trust yourself.

Maybe the Secret is Worse than the Truth…

Anna Snoekstra’s The Ones We Love is a gripping psychological thriller that peels back the layers of family secrets, guilt, and protection gone wrong. At the heart of the novel is a simple yet devastating question: How far will we go to protect the ones we love—even when it destroys us in the process?

The story revolves around a fractured family, each member harbouring secrets they believe will keep the others safe. However, as the novel unfolds, it becomes clear that these hidden truths are suffocating them, leading to unintended consequences. The tension inside the family home is almost palpable—what seems like acts of love and protection are, in reality, creating walls between them.

Snoekstra masterfully crafts a suspenseful atmosphere where every character has something to hide, and yet their motivations are deeply human, with each of them believing that silence or deception is the only way to prevent further pain. But the irony is that their secrecy only fuels their suffering. The novel explores this paradox beautifully, showing how unspoken fears and unaddressed wounds fester over time.

What makes The Ones We Love so compelling is Snoekstra’s ability to capture the quiet, everyday ways in which families break themselves in the name of love. The psychological depth of the characters, combined with a slow-burning but relentless suspense, will keep readers hooked.
By the time the truth comes to light, the damage has been done—but is it too late for healing? The Ones We Love leaves readers questioning how much secrecy a family can survive before it implodes. It’s a haunting, emotional, and utterly captivating read that lingers long after the last page.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this digital ARC in exhange for my honest review.

I started this one during a slump so it was hard to pick it up during the first 30% of the book. However, the suspense started growing, the characters got more intriguing and I found myself picking this up whenever I could.

It was an enjoyable mystery/thriller and once I hit the 40% mark, I flew through it. I'm so glad I didn't dnf this as it had some great twists. Some were predictable but others I was surprised.

A great read!

A family moves from Australia to Los Angeles to adapt a screen play for the father’s best selling novel. At first, all seems normal. Then, the secrets begin to come out. Liv, the 20 something daughter, comes home with bruises after a night out with friends and can’t remember anything. Her parents immediately begin to act strangely. What are they hiding? There’s a locked room along with some mysterious purchases. Liv’s younger brother and his friend even try to figure out what’s what. To what lengths will these parents go to protect their family and their secrets? This book had a very slow start and was almost a DNF. It picked up pace in the last half as the secrets are revealed. However, the ending was a bit unrealistic. While the plot was intriguing, this book just did not hit the mark for me. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a unique story and one that I enjoyed at times and was at other times really bored.
The pacing was my biggest issues because it truly had all the right elements of intrigue, mystery, deceit and lies.

Thank you to Netgally for the ARC. I really enjoyed reading this one. There is tons of betrayal , lies and secrets In this book . I found it hard to trust any character and had to keep turning pages to find out more. I feel the book was a little drawn out in some parts and fell flat in the end, but the meat of the book was very suspenseful and had me invested.

I though the blurb for this book the super intriguing, combined with the title. When I started reading the prologue drew me in, and then I was disappointed. The book was very slow. The character so not likeable at all. The theme was dysfunctional non communicating family. I kept hoping it would pick up and something would happen that would draw me back in. I should have DNF'd it. It was like maybe 75% before it picked up and there was a twist that .... didn't make a whole lot of sense. A flop for me.

Liv can’t remember the events that left bruising on her body or what led to her parents' odd behavior. Now, there is a padlock on the outside of her room. If she could just unlock her memory, Liv might learn the reasons why that room is off-limits and the secrets held beyond that door.

A father strives to create a viable financial future for his family. A wife struggles to hold onto her identity amidst big changes. A brother comes of age in a new environment and a sister who feels as if she has suddenly disconnected from reality. Each person growing in different directions, yet trying desperately to stay together. How far can we stretch our bonds of loyalty and love before they snap?

In this novel, we explore what could happen when our familial ties are tested  . . . how far are you willing to go for your loved ones?

I recommend this one to fans of mystery suspense and domestic drama.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Ones We Love for my unbiased evaluation. 3 stars

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!