This was the perfect book for spooky season! A woman loses her husband in a car crash and starts going to seances in order to "speak" with him. She quickly begins debunking some of the seances as fake and therefore enlists the help of a professor who seems more scientific. She and her friends meet the professor at her husband's lake house and conduct various seances in order to communicate with him. Then chaos ensues. I loved trying to figure out what was happening in this book and who or what was behind strange occurrences. I definitely recommend this book to add to your spooky season TBR.

Kelley Armstrong's I'll Be Waiting took me on a supernatural journey that far exceeded my expectations. The story masterfully blends haunted-house horror, séances, and deep emotional struggles, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat. It follows Nicola Laughton, whose life has been shaped by both her struggle with Cystic Fibrosis and the tragic death of her husband, Anton. When she’s dragged into a séance at a beach house that previously belonged to Anton’s family, eerie events begin to unfold, and a sinister spirit seems awfully ornery to say the least.

The narrator’s performance adds another layer to the story. Initially, her tone felt a little bleak, but that perfectly matched Nicola’s state of mind at the beginning of the novel. As the story progressed, the narrator transformed along with Nicola, making the emotional and supernatural elements even more powerful. Her voice captured the chilling atmosphere of the story while bringing Nicola's complex emotions to life.

Armstrong weaves an immersive narrative, filled with shocking twists, creepy imagery, and tense moments. The haunted setting, combined with Nicola’s past and the ghostly encounters, creates an atmospheric horror that’s both thrilling and unsettling. And while there are plenty of spooky moments, it’s Nicola’s personal journey—her fight for closure and survival—that truly stands out.

I’ll Be Waiting is an incredible blend of horror and mystery that had me hooked from the start. I look forward to seeing what else Kelley Armstrong has to offer in this genre.

Macmillan Audio ALC
What a perfect book for spooky season. Nicola experienced such tragedy in this book. While living with Cystic Fibrosis, she thought she would die before her husband, but a horrible accident takes him first, and she'll do anything to try to reach him beyond the grave - and that's all you need to know. Armstrong writes such creepy, atmospheric horror. This one was so full of is/isn't it scenarios, that I kept going quickly because I had to know what was really going on. I liked how everyone was a bit sketchy because it made me think about all of their different motives and decisions. I thought the suspense and horror elements were so well done. There's believable mysteries here. I even liked the use of flash backs. They were necessary and added just enough to the plot to make it a truly scary story. This one is perfect for fall if you want something a bit creepy.
I also loved the narration. Jennifer Pickens really captured Nicola and this story.

I'm a big fan of Kelley Armstrong's work. She has written a lot of great books in various genres over the years, including YA, urban fantasy, paranormal suspense, epic fantasy, and mystery series. I recently read one of her horror novels, and it was fantastic. The story follows Nic, a middle-aged woman with cystic fibrosis who is mourning the tragic loss of her new husband. Over 8 months, she attends numerous seances in an attempt to connect with him and find closure. The final séance takes a spooky turn in a seemingly haunted house. I won't give away any more details to avoid spoilers.

My thoughts on the book are mixed. I loved the ending where all the suspense finally culminates in an action-packed and intense finale. However, I found the protagonist's indecisiveness to be quite irritating, which made it hard for me to connect with her. I also wished for a spookier setting throughout the story, as most of the eerie events happen towards the end. Yes, there are bugs, strange voices and events, but I wanted more spooks, some jump scares. Despite this, I still found the book enjoyable, especially with its paranormal elements and sweet moments. Overall, it's a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for the spooky season.

I loved this audiobook so much. Perfect for your spooky TBR this should be on everyone’s October list and I’m definitely going to be listening again thank you to the publisher and the author for this early listen! 10/10 stars!

3.5 ⭐️

I think this is a great thriller for those that like a bit milder suspense experience. The story is interesting with good pacing. There is murder and it’s fairly descriptive - I don’t want to think that’s what I mean by mild. The audiobook is nice; the narrator did a good job trying to up the suspense impact. For those that are looking for a more intense experience, this may not be the best choice for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Kelley Armstrong, and Macmillian audio for this audiobook ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really great mystery with some supernatural elements to it. It was a little bit confusing because there is back and forth with timelines and characters but it was all around a good book. It held my interest, had some surprises and some interesting character development. Good narration as well.

I’ll Be Waiting promises all kinds of spookiness for this October. It certainly gives off chills and provides some much needed haunted house vibes for October, but the synopsis gives a different kind of impression than the experience readers will get in the book. There’s a mystery somewhere in the book to be puzzled, but the plot doesn’t so much twist and turn as much as bounce around zig-zag trying to make up its mind what it wants to be. The ending comes out of left field, much like a 90’s R.L. Stine book, and I’m not really sure how well the overarching conflict resolves itself in the end.

My biggest peeve has to be a synopsis that does not give an accurate representation of what readers will get from the book. It happens frequently, and when it does, I always point it out because many times it feels like a false advertisement/expectation setting for the book. First, spiritualists do not hound Nicola. Nicola actually has a problem constantly going to them. She desires desperately to speak to Anton again and understand what he meant by his final words. It becomes an addiction for her. Second, the synopsis gives the false impression that this is some kind of slasher horror with, “That’s when she finds the first body.” This I won’t debunk too in depth—it will spoil the story—but bodies don’t just drop like flies here.

At its heart, I’ll Be Waiting is a ghost story, but it’s also a story about grief, loss, and the desperate attempt to find out if there is an afterlife—and what it is if there is one. I quite like this aspect of the story, as it shows compelling emotional depth. If Nicola’s journey through mourning were the only aspect of the story, I would rate it 5 stars. Armstrong shines with dramatic writing.

But the drama isn’t the only part of the story. I’ll Be Waiting is a supernatural horror novel. It’s supposed to be scary, malevolent, and creepy; it is—up until the end. All the twists and turns and bumps in the night lead readers to a conclusion that just takes all the scary out of it. The dénouement reminds me of the endings of Stine’s Fear Street series. Ultimately, the force Nicola and her friends find themselves up against comes from out of nowhere. There’s no foreshadowing or buildup. It just gets dumped on readers and left there. And the conclusion to all the searching she’s done for Anton? Anticlimactic.

Jennifer Pickens provides excellent narration for Armstrong’s novel—the pacing and cadence match the theme perfectly. Pickens’ voice gives a great impression of Nicola, deep and somber, pulling listeners in with sadness and chilling them for the horror. I highly recommend listening to this one for those who love spooky stories. Bonus points for putting the headphones on/earbuds in at night and giving it a go.

Overall, 3.5/5 for the story and 5/5 for the narration. I’ve read too many haunted house and ghost stories for this to stand out among the crowd.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

I'll be waiting follows a women who didn't think she would see adulthood due to cystic fibrosis. As an accident and her final moments with her husband are aired publicly, Nicola becomes hounded by spiritualist.
This book starts out great, and goes along quickly for about 50%. Then it becomes slightly unbelievable and Nicola becomes infuriating. I wanted to yell "come on" multiple times throguht the last 40% of the book. The plot is a little far fetched in the ending.
Gave it 3 stars, as a neutral in the middle. Wasn't a bad paranormal read.

I'll Be Waiting is a story nightmares are made of. Nic's husband dies in a high profile car accident they were in together, she wants closure, so she invests in seance after seance. Following many failed attempts with phony mediums who had heard her story and wanted in on it, Nic finds a professor of psychology whose work centers around supernatural experiences and contacting those who have passed. It's through this final attempt at contacting her husband that we learn that Nic is no stranger to death or seances, and things in the present day seance get a little crazy.

Listen, I'm the biggest wimp when it comes to spooky things, thrillers, etc. I ate this up but also wanted to hide under a blanket. 😅 The supernatural really freaks me out. Woof. I don't know if I would have been as spooked by reading the text... But the audio narration really did me in!!

Also, really funny to go from reading romance to horror with the same author! @kelleyarmstrongauthor

A great option if you're looking for something scary to ring in the season, this book releases October 1!

MY FAVORITE AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR🎧📚

I knew when I started this audio I was going to like it, but I didn’t know just how much I would love it!!! The narrator was literally perfection and the story was soooo engaging and entertaining!!!

⭐️I’LL BE WAITING, out OCT 1st⭐️

(Thank you for the free audiobook @macmillan.audio ) #MacAudio2024

Recording and narrator is great. Great pronunciation and voice changes with each character. Story needs a lot of working and editing.

I’m still new to the horror/paranormal genre, so this one was a bit different for me.. pub date 10.01.24

I really enjoyed the first half of the book! Chapter one was so intense- Nicola and her husband Anton are in a car crash and just before Anton passes say, he tells Nicola “I’ll be waiting for you”

A witness to the accident states his ghost actually said those words, and the story ended up going public. Nicola seeks out mediums in order to try to connect with Anton one last time to get some closure.

Spooky house vibes, seances, dead bodies, all come together for the perfect spooky season read. I think it was even spookier listening on audio. I do think horror and will love this one - it was a bit too gory in parts for my personal preference which is why my rating is simply : I liked it. Horror fans will probably love!

Narrated by Jennifer Pickens who did an incredible job- I’ll be seeking out more audio done by her.

3⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC!

#MacAudio2024

This book is good for this upcoming spooky season. I was scared at many parts of this book. The plot twist was great! It does get a bit repetitive which I personally didn’t like. I also personally didn’t like the ending.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nicola is still reeling from loosing her beloved husband. Now, she goes back to a place of meaning to them with her brother in law and friend to meet with a ghost expert who will perform a seance.

Kelley Armstrong is a queen of modern day horror novels and this one is no exception! Here's what I loved:

The premise: There is so much to love in this one. It's a ghost story, a thriller, a heartbreaking drama, all in one. The idea that Nicola and Anton's last moment is shared with so many really broke my heart. But that's what leads her to wanting to find out more.

The creepiness: This book has such a good unsettling feeling to it. From the bugs to the noises, there is always something to really get you in the creepy mood. This is a perfect Halloween read!

The characters: You get to see not only the present day characters but some past characters, This dual timeline really gets you into the myster of what is really going on.

The audio: Jennifer Pickens does such a good job with this one. She built the tension with her voice alone. Bravo.

All in all, this is a great ghost/horror story!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

I always look forward to a new release by Kelly Armstrong and this one was definitely worth the wait. This story starts out sad. Nicola Laughton has always known her life would be cut short, since her diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis so when she fell in love with Anton she thought he would one day be living without her. Life unfortunately had other plans and she lost him when they get into a car crash. He promised to wait for her so she is hounded by psychics and spiritualist promising her closure. When a reputable medium decides to help they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned. Things start getting really weird and creepy fast. This was a fast paced book that will take you on a wild ride. Jennifer Pickens was the narrator and I thought she did a fabulous job telling this story. She kept me entertained and held my attention. The characters and the story are well written. I would definitely recommend this book and anything else Kelley Armstrong writes.


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ALC for my honest opinion.

This book is a tender and emotional examination of grief with inclusion of the supernatural and ghost stories throughout. It was definitely on the slow side but I liked the eerie aspects and the narrator did a great job!

Content warnings: bodily possession, blood, car accident, physical violence, drug use, psychological abuse

I'LL BE WAITING started off with such a strong concept - the reasoning, the hints that Nicola is an unreliable narrator which encourages readers to question everything they're being told, the "final" seance setup... all great. Even as things start to go sideways for Nic and her guests at at the beach house, I was still riding with the plot. But then Armstrong jumps the shark and the plot becomes so unrealistically convenient and interconnected that it totally lost me as a reader. I would have DNF'd this around the 40% mark but chose to stuck with it to see if the ending was worth the nonsense... for me, it wasn't, YMMV.

Jennifer Pickens does a decent job with the audiobook narration though the flashbacks were particularly confusing since there was no audible clue (tone change, chapter title) to let listeners know the flip from present to past. Hopefully there is in the print version, but I can't confirm that. Either way it made for a clunky reading experience during the transitions.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Nicola Laughton has survived against all odds due to medical advancements in treating her Cystic Fibrosis. The novel begins with her husband, Anton, last words to Nicola after a car accident. Her terminal illness and her grief over losing Anton are the emotional anchors of the story, but it becomes clear she is hiding a more profound secret about her past. Nicola's grief over losing Anton and her inability to move on increases her desperation for closure, and her fear of living without Anton drives her to participate in the séance at a beach house. From the moment the séance begins, strange and unsettling things happen, like doors that open on their own, swarms of insects, and the sound of footsteps in an empty house. Nicola's nightmares begin to mirror the strange occurrences in the house, blurring the line between reality and the supernatural. Nicola must confront her past, revealing that this isn't her first time trying to contact the dead. The discovery of a body midway through the novel shifts the story into darker territory, transforming it from a ghost story into a murder mystery. Nicola and her friends try to unravel the mystery before it's too late.

The flow of the story sets an eerie, atmospheric tone. The paranormal element of the story is where the novel truly shines, making the reader question what's real and what might be a manifestation of Nicola's trauma, which enhances the fear factor. You will feel the dread and panic of what is lurking and wanting to harm Nicola. The last fourth of the book speeds up the pacing, and it loses some of the prominent horror elements in the story. The book combines a ghost story with lost love, delivering a compelling mystery. Nicola's story is one of survival and the psychological scars left by her childhood. Fans of paranormal thrillers and psychological mysteries will enjoy the story.

I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and McMillan Audio.

A supernatural horror involving a haunted house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood...

Say less...

ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

We follow our FMC, Nicola Laughton who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Thanks to modern medicine, she has been able to live much longer than predicted, have a job and get married - essentially, a normal life.

But soon after getting married, Nicola's husband Anton is killed in a car accident, which he ominously says "I'll be waiting for you" to Nicola. 🤨

To make matters worse, this final moment between the couple was witnessed and photographed and then made public. Basically a circus show of one of the most traumatic moments of her life.

Now, in the midst of her grief, Nicola has come to Anton's family's home to meet with a professor/medium in order to contact Anton. She's been hounded by mediums for months, saying they were able to connect her with Anton.

Just as the medium is beginning, the house comes alive. Locked doors are unlocked, insects surround the house and voices are heard. Then the bodies start showing up.

Obviously she is terrified and for a multitude of reasons, both obvious and secret. To start...Nicola isn't her real name...

ೃ⁀➷ ⋆˚࿔✻˙∘ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

I was really invested in this story for about the first third of it and then it veered off in a direction that really didn't hold my attention.

I think this is a great book to pick up for spooky season, it does get a little outlandish in the second half but if you want something creepy and not super serious - this makes for a perfect choice for an autumnal read.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio copy - all thoughts are my own. ✨🔮🎃