Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audiobook ARC!

Wow, this book was a *ride*! The beginning was confusing in a good way, wondering what was going on and who were all these new characters. The middle was a bit slow in that everything we thought we knew was being challenged. And the end of the book was just chaos. A culmination of all of the madness. This was my second Kelley Armstrong book, so I knew there was a good chance of horror and supernatural events.
This book took me a little bit to get into, I'll be honest. It wasn't feeling it until about 20% of the way in, but then it picked up and started running.
I did pick out one of the big twists at the end, as info that seemed relevant was deliberately left out, so I got suspicious.
It was interesting having a protagonist who was a little bit unreliable but was aware of that.
Overall, this book was kind of 'brain candy'. Not something serious or that I'll be thinking about past today, but still kind of fun while you're reading it, especially if you're looking for a supernatural escape that isn't the all-consuming fae or cozy witch subgenres. Fun, but not life changing.

Kelley Armstrong shows you never know who is on the other side of the veil when you call:

Nicola never believed that she would live this long, let alone find a career she loves and the love of her life. Nicola has Cystic Fibrosis and most children do not live to see adulthood. She knows that she needs to live every moment and she wants to do that with her Husband Anton. Neither of them thought that he would be the one to leave first, his final words to Nic haunting her every day, "I'll Be Waiting". This take Nic on a path of trying to contact Anton, talk to him one more time to say a proper Goodbye, but something sinister has come across instead, something with death and vengeance on their mind.

I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. I love the way that she constructs her story and her ability to draw the reader in. I have read one other book by Armstrong that was more of the horror side of genres. This book had me hooked from the beginning, but i will say that it was heartbreaking at the beginning middle and end. Speaking of the end, the last 30% of the book goes by so fast as you try to turn the pages faster and faster to see what is going to happen next.

You cannot help but feel for Nicola from everything thing that she has gone through in her life, and what she is having to deal with now, not only the tragedy but also those trying to profit on the death of her husband. There are always those who will try anything to make a buck and that is highlighted in this book with the amount of mediums or psychics who say they will have the ability to contact her Husband Anton. With everything really falling apart it make sense why Nicola starts question everyone and everything around her, and herself, maybe she herself is going insane.

This book is only told from Nicola's POV and while I appreciate that but I think I would have enjoyed a different perspective at times and be in the minds of other people in the house, to truly see what they were feeling and experience. I think a POV from Dr. Cirillo and his reasons for being there would have been an interesting POV and scientific one at that.

Although this book is touted as a supernatural horror, I didn’t think it was that scary, but the creepy atmosphere was on point. Things do get a bit gory at times, especially near the end of the book, so i think some people will find it scary and fit the horror genre but for me it does not.

Was able to figure out the twist but you really don’t know who is going to be there in the end.

I did enjoy this book even though it was not quite what i wanted it to be (and probably my least favourite of Armstrong’s books). I think those looking for a creepy book that has an eerie atmosphere, then pick up this book.

Enjoy!!!!

Nicola and Anton always knew Nic would die first, since her Cystic Fibrosis would eventually cut her life short prematurely. When Anton dies in an accident, Nic is left unmoored. She seeks comfort in séances, but she is finding that most of the psychics she consults are con artists. Joining a study in a secluded cabin in which she and others will attempt to summon Anton's spirit turns into a twisted and chilling experience that threatens Nic's sanity and her safety.

I love Gothic fiction, and this book has all the elements that I love. The magical realism, subtle horror, spooky setting, and paranormal contact were just the vibes I was hoping for. I especially appreciated the compassionate portrayal of a main character with a disability and people struggling with grief and survivor's guilt.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the review copy.

Ahhhh I'll Be Waiting is one of my all time favorite books of the year so far, And I've read over 150 books so far. It's another one of those you never know what's going to happen and your brain is just reeling the whole book. I almost had it figured out and then it happened and I was like ooooooh!

"I'll be waiting" is one of the best written books I have pleasure to listen. It was a pleasant surprise. This book includes everything one might need: suspense, mysterious atmosphere, magical realism, some ghosts, and fair amount of modern references. With all that, the most important part is the likeable female main character, who despite being at times naive has more amazing qualities than not. I enjoy the story and plot twist. Big recommendation from me here during the Halloween time.

Book Rating: ⭐️ 3.5/5

This book had a really interesting premise, and overall, I enjoyed it. Nicola suffers from a lung illness that will ultimately shorten her life. As she begins to accept her fate, she meets Anton, who quickly becomes the love of her life. But tragedy strikes when Anton dies in an accident, leaving Nicola heartbroken and grieving. This is where the story really hooked me! It takes a paranormal turn when Nicola starts seeing what she believes might be Anton’s ghost… but is it really him? I love a good ghost story, and this definitely delivered on the creepy, haunting vibes I was hoping for.

That said, the middle of the book slowed down quite a bit, and I found it hard to stay engaged during that stretch. Luckily, the last 25% picked up the pace and pulled me right back in with a strong, compelling ending. If you’re into dark, tragic stories with paranormal and ghostly elements, this one might just be your kind of read!

Maybe my hopes were too high for this read but it fell flat for me.
I was hoping for a spooky read. I think it tried to be spooky, but it was more of a romantic, paranormal mystery. The beginning was great. I enjoyed the start of it. I felt the introduction to each character was done wonderfully. It immediately grabs your attention. After the first part though, I lost interest. It didn't flow naturally. It felt like it was forced.

I continue to be impressed by the range of books Kelley Armstrong writes. This is another one where she knocked it out of the park. I listened to the audio book and enjoyed both the narrator and the story. The main character has CF, but is stronger than most of us would be in the situations she finds herself. I didn’t see the twists coming, and I was happy with the ending - both of which are key to loving the story!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Good spooky read, it did feel a little slow at times then all of a sudden bam everything is happening! Enjoyable overall though and the narrator did a good job.

2.5 Stars

I genuinely like the concept of the story; it shows a lot of promise. However, I found the pacing to be slow, and there were moments where it felt like the story dragged on a bit. Because of that, it was hard for me to connect deeply with the narrative. Overall, I think it had potential, but it left me feeling like it was just an okay read.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Nicole didn't expect to live to see adulthood but she did and found love and was married and then widowed much too early when she and her husband were in a car accident and her husband uttered words to her that he would be waiting for her with his last breath. Now she is traveling seeing mediums trying to contact him and prove they are fakes and she has a woman along with her. The latest foray is to a lake house and the medium has invited guests. Things not only go bump in the night but there is an infestation of insects and then a murdered body. This story is part thriller and part paranormal. There are many twists and turns and it kept me guessing right to the end.

Spooky with twists I didn’t see coming, especially at the end, I’LL BE WAITING BY Kelley Armstrong, with the audio read by Jennifer Pickens, would be doubly scary if listened to in the dark. There were a couple of “what just happened” moments and I am still trying to digest the ending. Pickens did a great job conveying the atmosphere of the novel and I was very happy listening to this book. There was a an unexpected bit of gore near the end, but if you like scary stories, ghost, and haunted houses…this one is for you!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#MacAudio2024

This was a quick read that kept me on the edge if my seat. The plot had enough balance between supernatural elements and real-world mystery to keep things from getting too cliche. I liked the writing style and the characters were well-developed.

This magical realism/horror element that Kelley Armstrong has been exploring. Lately has been fun it brings me back to the Otherworld type series. This was interesting. The whole psychic dead husband chronically ill (is terminally ill?), Do you really believe in these psychics are you skeptic?

The whole you can never escape your past was chef kiss. I just wish the pass were more woven into the backstory instead of all drawn out. Let me have it and get it and go.

I absolutely loved this book! It had a great combination of spooky vibes in the plot and personal, emotional touches to make the reader feel invested in the main character and her mission to hear from her late husband. There were also just so many twists in this story, in the best way. The author was skillful in presenting these twists so that there was foreshadowing leading up to it, rather than pulling unfair twists out of nowhere. All the characters had their motives and perspectives on the events playing out, but the main twist at the end had me totally shocked. This was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to reading more of Armstrong's books in the future.

The book has great potential, and its intriguing plot initially drew me in. However, I found some aspects of the story's execution less effective than I had hoped. Nicola’s frequently shifting opinions and overly suspicious nature created moments of frustration for me.

While it didn't fully meet my expectations, it remains a solid piece of paranormal fiction that should appeal to fans of the genre. The first half was engaging and kept me invested enough to push through. However, the pacing could have been improved, and some elements felt far-fetched. With a few adjustments, this story could be genuinely captivating.

I’ll Be Waiting is heartbreaking, spooky, paranormal, and twisty. I was immediately drawn into this story and easily binged it in a day. There are so many layers and the revelations at the end will leave your jaw on the floor. The main character, Nicola, has Cystic Fibrosis and Kelley Armstrong does such a wonderful job representing what it’s like living with this disease. Although Nicola is limited in certain areas, she’s still a complete badass and faces her fears head on.

Jennifer Pickens has a perfect voice for narrating spooky tales. If you really want to immerse yourself into this one, Jennifer’s sultry voice really takes it to the next level!

I highly recommend this one for fans of haunted pasts, seances, revenge plots, and a little hint of true love.

I usually enjoy suspense/horror that centers on a seance, and this was a refreshingly clever take on that.

The protagonist, a chronically ill woman in her late 30s, loses her husband in a freak accident, raising questions about what happens when the person who was “supposed to die first” outlives their partner.

I loved that Armstrong gave us a protagonist with Cystic Fibrosis, and that she worked this into the story so well. It’s a sympathetic but also empowering portrayal, which especially resonates if you or someone you love has long term health issues.

The haunting of it all is satisfyingly creepy and Armstrong gives us an excellent gothic slow build. It’s not terribly difficult to figure out a lot of what’s really going on, but the story adds up and there are a few surprises along the way.

Fair warning, this does definitely veer into true horror toward the end. I don’t think it’s an especially upsetting series of events, but if you’re squeamish, you should know the more gothic, eerie hauntings that move through most of the book give way to a bit of gore in the end.

In all, solidly plotted, really well paced, and fun to read.

Every now and then you listen to a narrator that sounds a little too scripted. Unfortunately that’s what I felt listening here. The story was fantastic and I couldn’t put it down which helped overlook the narrator, but not the whole time. I’d find myself focusing more on HOW the story was being told vs what was being read. She definitely sounded more like a news reporter/anchor or a presenter than a storyteller.

Narrator aside, the story was so unique and fun. As a fun of psychics and mediums and connections with the other side, this story was just my kind.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmilla Audio the ALC.

What an interesting premise to a book. I loved the darker Gothic side to the story, mixed with the very contrast of present times and technology. When our main character is getting involved in the final seance for contacting her husband, the professor bringing all of the scientific background in provides a good opposition to the traditional thoughts of woo woo spirituality. Although both are present obviously in the story, mixed with teenaged pranks and shenanigans, small town tragedy and folklore, and loss and grief, the author is able to put together a story which although the reader knows is fiction, could come off as a true experience. This might not have been a true story but my Goosebumps were real. The characters were all interesting, and even though the main character had some somewhat unreliable narrator times, I was able to empathize and cheer for her and the ending really satisfied all my questions. A perfect book for coming into spooky season. As a bonus a Canadian author is something I'm always interested in reading and I absolutely wasn't disappointed in my choice. I'm already recommending this book to some people I know.