Novel Concept: 5/5
Execution of Novel Concept: 3/5

Title: 4/5
Characterization: 4/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Plot: 2/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Theme: 1/5
Prose: 5/5

Does this pass the Bechdel Test: Yes

Execution of Novel Concept
This is an interesting family drama about lies and secrets of morally ambiguous people spanning miles and decades. But as a mystery / thriller it is unambiguously mediocre. It seems like two different novels were trying to be written here, and like oil and water, never seemed to truly mix. Because we spend so much time favoring the family drama of everything that led up to Nora shooting her brother, there's simply not enough time spent on this violent act. It comes off like an afterthought. A way to instigate the plot of the story that the author actually wanted to tell. The novel concept comes off that these two acts--Nora's crime as well as the nuance of Julian's and Angie's past--share equal space in plot relevance but the latter truly takes more precedent than the former.

Title
Considering the theme and messaging of the novel I think the title suffices even if it's fairly generic.

Characterization
All of the characters in this novel are well developed, fully realized characters with interesting personalities and flaws that naturally propel the plot. Angie is a complicated woman of fault and tribulations, and she serves as our conduit for the themes explored in the novel. The characters in this novel are entirely imperfect, which gives it a sense of realism.

Julian by far has the best character development. He grows as a person and becomes someone genuinely admirable. His final scene with Angie is such a "good for him" sort of vibe because god, Angie had it coming. She is such a monster. And I love that she's a monster. And I would have loved more that she was a monster if the themes and messaging did not actively contradict the events related to Angie.

The only person that we really struggle with is Nora. Nora is overwhelmingly underdeveloped with consideration to her relevance in the plot's concept. We are barely with her, and while her motivations are somewhat predictable, it's also somewhat bizarre. I personally live in an area that's been affected by children who've been tried as adults in the court system for their acts of violence and so when I read books that seem fascinated in the reasons why children kill, a lot of authors struggle with the why. Ordinary children will not resort to murder unless the circumstances are extraordinary. I feel that sometimes when it comes to novels with murders, especially with children, authors lack the understanding of what it truly means to take someone's life. Can children do it without remorse? Absolutely. But the context has to make sense. Nora's motivations and methodology feel entirely to mature for her age. When we finally get the version of events through her eyes, her actions seem cold and calculated.

Dialogue
The dialogue sounded naturally and flowed well.

Plot
So there's two plots going on. There's Nora shooting her brother, and the legal battle that ensues. And then there's the family drama between Julian and Angie's family. We spend far more time in the family drama and while it is interesting, it makes the book feel unbalanced as a result. We were brought together over this horrible shooting, but it seems like we are always in the past, building the timeline up to this shooting. I think both parts could have been in the story, but I don't think they were blended that well together.

Atmosphere
The locations came to life, the lore on skiing and painting seemed well researched. The law side seemed believable enough.

Theme
I believe this book ultimately contradicts the themes and messaging it's trying to propose. Let's set aside the fact that the messaging is as subtle as a sledgehammer.

A) The "Antagonist" of the Story is Kind of Right: The main plot around Nora revolves around trying to get her sentence reduced as much as possible, and to avoid her being tried as an adult and become locked up for life. The prosecutor is hardcore in favor of getting Nora the maximum sentence and he has political motivations in her conviction. While the prosecutor is somewhat morally bankrupt, I cannot help but feel that he was actually in the right when all things are said and done. Nora's account of what happened came off as cold and calculated. There's premeditation. There's intent to kill. It does not matter that Nora saw it as mercy because she saw the way her grandmother deteriorated. Children every day have grandparents with degenerative disease, but everyday children are not killing people in their age cohort or near their age cohort who have degenerative diseases. And by all accounts, Nora is an everyday child. There's nothing unique about her circumstance that would suggest she'd consider murder as the last resort solution that she herself had to commit. Especially if the book is arguing that Nora is of complete sound mind. I just can't believe that Nora is not a genuinely dangerous child when she seems so methodical in her planning.

B) Saying to yourself that you're forgiven doesn't mean you are: The end of the novel, Angie hugs her daughter and realizes she's been granted forgiveness but from who? From Nora? Certainly not Julian and debatably not David. While there are ways to receive spiritual forgiveness when physical amends are impossible, it doesn't feel like that's the case either. What has Angie learned? What is she truly sorry about? She seems to feel nothing about cheating on both Julian and David with each other. It's clear she harbors love for Julian even after everything that's happened. I'm a firm believer that nobody deserves mercy, which is precisely why you give it out. That mercy says nothing about the person who had done harm, but says everything about the victim. and in this context, it does not seem that any of Angie's victims truly forgive her. Julian absolutely doesn't (good for him), David clearly had to physically separate himself from her, and Angie admits to the reader she loved Nico more because he was Julian's kid, which makes Nora a victim, too. And it's sad that Nora is left with a mother who never loved her. There's a lot of audacity for Angie to say that she's touched forgiveness as if she's got a right to claim it. Nora receiving mercy makes sense to a certain degree. Again, it is more about the victims than the perpetrator. She unquestionably does not deserve to be forgiven, but the fact she receives it anyways is meaningful. Angie is only sorry when she's caught. So it feels wrong that she is the conduit of the themes and messaging and not Nora.

Prose
The Prose was readable and engaging. I was never bored of the book and genuinely wanted to know what happened next.

Deeply reminiscent of...something, but unfortunately something or someone I don't normally read and therefore cannot identify. I could have gone for a bit more resolution, but what was offered makes sense for the story.

I’m so impressed that ℙ𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 is Koval’s debut novel. It’s not only beautifully written but the complex characters, compelling story, and dual timelines all combined to make this hard to put down. I do think it’s important to mention that the content is difficult and quite sad, not a story I came out of feeling joyful but rather a slow burn that is powerful and thought-provoking.

The story is set mostly in a small mountain town in Colorado and a little bit in NYC. I live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in CO and found the descriptions of the mountains and experiences of the characters to be spot on!

I did a combo of audio and print and can highly recommend both formats!

Pub day: January 28
Rating: 4.25/5⭐️

This book is everything. This is about how tragedy can't strike any of us at any time. I really wanted Nora to get out of there. I was happy for Julian, and sad for him. I was happy and sad for most of the characters. I also learned a lot about the legal process.
This was just perfection. The narrator was amazing! I would recommend this to anyone.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Netgallery, and Kristin Koval for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.

Synopsis: Angie Sheehan must turn to her first love, Julian, to salvage what is left of her family following the murder of her son Nico. For all intents and purposes, Julian and Angie have moved on since their relationship ended. However, devastating unspoken truths still linger between them as a result of a tragic accident several years prior. Angie and Julian are forced to address their shared history, their own feelings of guilt, and forgiveness.

Themes: Grief, Family Dynamics, Forgiveness

What I liked: I work in juvenile justice and was taken aback by how accurate the storyline around the justice system was. I was so taken aback that halfway through the book I had to look up Koval's biography. Needless to say, I was not surprised to learn that she is a former attorney. I also really appreciated the way in which Koval quietly and slowly painted a picture for the reader about why people hide things in relationships and the impact things left unsaid can ultimately have on relationships.

Gripe: My only gripe is the narrator of the audiobook. Therese Plummer would often articulate parts of sentences which very annoyingly broke up the cadence of the story. For instance, she would read a sentence like "'No,' said Angie" as "No. Said Angie." I nearly stopped listening because I found it to be very distracting from the writing. However, Koval's writing and storyline was enough to keep me invested.

Overall: Definitely would recommend this to readers who are interested in complex storylines and themes related to forgiveness. However, if you're someone who gets distracted by narrators, I would hold out for when the book is published (e.g., physical, ebook).

What a beautifully tragic debut novel. The main story is about Nora who has seemingly killed her older brother that has Huntington's disease.  As her parents (Angie and David) begin to pick up the pieces of their lives, they hired a local lawyer (Martine) to defend Nora in court. When Martine tells them, the case is too much for her to handle, David asks that she seek the help of her son Julian, a New York lawyer that specializes in juvenile defendants. Julian is Angie's former boyfriend. This book was full of twists and turns. A crazy twist that I didn't see coming. Family drama at it best!

5 stars

The narrator, Therese Plummer, was great, She was able to deliver multiple characters superbly.  The production quality was phenomenal.

4.5 ⭐️ This wasn’t on my radar until I came across a flood of glowing reviews on Instagram, and I had to know why. The story reads like a Jodi Picoult book and follows a shattered family in the aftermath of something unthinkable. The author brings up heavy questions and incorporates challenging themes that makes you think and feel with the characters. If you like audiobooks, the audio, with a full cast, was gripping and full of emotion.

I cannot imagine having a child with chronic disease that would be the end of that child. What I cannot imagine beyond that is having that child murdered by my other one.

This was not the first time Angie lived through a tragedy. First her sister died and circumstances around her death were little unclear (no spoilers). Then her son was diagnosed with Huntington's. The final straw that broke the camel's back was her daughter shooting her son: not once, but three times. Nora was a great kid and no one could make sense why she would do such thing. Was she a psychopath or had some other mental problem that family failed to see? Was it a mercy killing? As police was taking Nora away for processing, Angie would have to face her past and come to terms with her past deeds.

What stuck with me from Nora's sentencing was how Angie thought Nora was the only innocent one in that room. Knowing the details of the story, I cannot stop thinking about that. I'm still not sure about why did she did what she did, but I'm sad to see a child going through enough to kill her own sibling.

Lies, deceit and family drama. Penitence shows what dishonesty can do to shatter relationships within families.

Angie and Julian have grown up loving each other until mistakes are made causing a horrible accident that will change the relationships with both families forever. The two young people part, living separate lives, Julian as a successful defense attorney and Angie leaves her budding artist career to raise her two children, now thirteen and fourteen. When one of her children murders the other, Julian comes to defend Angie’s surviving child. Angie struggles with loving a child who took the life of her other child. Julian has his own struggles with the past.

This was a well written family drama that kept the reader wanting to know what other secrets would be revealed.

The narrator, Theresa Plummer, was an excellent actor who made the change from each character smoothly and obvious.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Reader Copy. I will recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a suspenseful family drama that deals with guilt of past sins. #NetGally #Penitence @Macmillan.Audio @MacmillanAudio

Add this one tou your To Read List for 2025! Publish date is 1/28. There is some mystery in this book but I would consider it more of a family drama. The book has the same feel as Commonwealth by Ann Patchett to me. The characters felt so real to me!

I listened to this one and the narration was great!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early readers audio book in exchange for my honest review.

🎧4⭐️

This is a domestic drama which examines the complexities of familial loyalty and redemption.

I had the audiobook read by Thérèse Plummer who does a good job with the narration adding to my enjoyment.

Julian and Angie were young and in love, then an accident effectively caused their estrangement until they attended college, although they didn’t stay together in the long term. Years later they are drawn back into each other’s orbit by another devastating incident.

The current incident is the main focus of the book, but it explores the lives of the main characters in depth in both the present and past covering decades.

It has a decent mix of a plot with good complexity and character development, there’s enough going on with revelations to keep my interest. It’s relatively slow paced throughout with the pace dipping even more in areas. The themes covered are love, family relationships, guilt and repentance.

I wasn’t drawn to either Julian or Angie, I’m not sure why, my empathy went to David ( Angie’s husband) and their daughter Nora.

I enjoyed this book, although it didn’t quite give me what I was expecting and wanted, and incorporated an event which I didn’t think it needed at all.

It put me in mind of the style of Jodi Picoult, so think you might like this if you love her books.

Heart-strings are still recovering from this book.

This book epitomizes that we're more than our worst moment. Most of the characters are very sympathetic and brutally honest with the reader about the lies they have told and the consequences of said lies. So many things contributed to the situation these people are in, where a sister shoots and kills her brother, and while many elements of the past played a part, it also carves out a devastating path for the futures of all involved. Lots of inteconnected parts, pay attention, and you may figure out some of the secrets early on, but the book is unrelenting in its ability to evoke emotion.

Title: Penitence
Author: Kristin M.E. Koval (Debut Author)
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Therese Plummer
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Suspense, Family Drama
Audiobook Pub Date January 28, 2025
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 320


Story takes place in Lodgepe, Colorado a small ski town
Angie and David Sheehan have two children thirteen year old daughter, Nora and fourteen year old son Nico. Angie is an art teacher and David a park ranger, Nico has always been active as well as an excellent skier. However once he learned he had juvenile Huntington’s disease his life as well as family’s changed. The nightmare the family was experiencing turned to a horror movie as Nico is now dead and Nora is responsible.

The Sheehan’s hire lawyer Martine Dumont, who is the best lawyer in Lodgep. However to add to this drama -Martine and Angie have history. Martine is the mother of Julian- Angie’s first love,
Angie and Julian were ‘THE’ couple in high school. And then something terrible that happened.

We learn Angie, Julian and Angie’s young sister Diana were out skiing when a tragic accident happened and Diana died. Ruled an accident when she hit a tree but guilt still follows both Angie and Julian.
Story goes back and forth between what is happening now and what happened nearly twenty years ago. Although the back story was somewhat slow I was curious and hang onto every word.
That might be due to audiobook performer Thérèse Plummer, one of my favorite narrators.

Things are looking bad for Nora and although Martine is working pro bono she doesn’t have a lot of experience. Daniel did research on her son Julian and saw he is one of New York City’s best criminal defense attorneys. Daniel asks Martine if perhaps her son might help.
Angie is furious with Daniel for asking. Julian is surprised about being asking and considers that helping Angie’s daughter might bring the release of guilt he has been carrying all these years

Nora kept me curious (I read a lot of thrillers and had an idea why she did it.)

No doubt the story stirs up many emotional, Felt terrible for Nora as well as Nico.
I was angry at times as well as liked and disliked these adults, with all their drama and secrets.
~Some of the secrets weren’t all THAT secretive. ~
However the entire story held my attention and I will definitely read another story by Ms. Koval.

I believe this story would be great for a book club discussion.

As for Penitence – I did look up the difference between penance and penitence…Penance refers to a prescribed act of atonement for sins, as guided by religious authority.
Penitence, however, is an internal state of remorse or regret for past wrongdoings, which can lead to acts of penance.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 28, 2025.

Beautifully written debut novel! The narration is perfect.
Penitence is a very well written dual timeline family drama with excellent character development. I look forward to future books by this author.

This was a really good book about mistakes and hidden secrets that destroy families. I would not call this a thriller though there is a murder in the beginning but rather than finding out some twist with the crime, you are given more of a peek into a family destroyed by losses. I found the audio really compelling and sped listened in about a day. Definitely one to look out for next year. I loved it.

Thirteen year old Nora shot her brother, Nico. No one knows why- even Nora. She can't remember. The murder of Nico brings people from Angie's (Nico and Nora's mother) past. Including her high school and college boyfriend and his mother, both attorneys. Everyone is tense as there are a lot of secrets among them. Can they all put their past aside to help Nora?

The premise of this book was kind of a mash up of older Jodi Picoult books. Style is very different, but the events are what made me think of books like Plain Truth and My Sister’s Keeper.

I really, really enjoyed it. I am not sure if all of the secrets were supposed to be surprise revelations, but they weren't. I knew instantly why Nora did it. I also knew Angie's secret immediately.

Being able to predict some future drama didn't make me enjoy the story any less.

Thérèse Plummer narrates and I always enjoy her narrations. I'm not sure she was the best fit for this book, but that may be because I am used to her narrating romance.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Huge thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!

Title: Penitence
Author: Kristin Koval
Pub Date: January 28, 2025
Audiobook Narrator: Thérèse Plummer
Audiobook Length: 12 hrs, 13 mins

Wow- this book absolutely blew me away. I'm adding this to my list of mind-blowing debuts. This is a perfect example of why debut books excite me so much! This is the exact kind of book that I want to read, but finding an author capable of writing family dramas with this level of reality and depth is so rare. Kristin Koval just became an instant auto-read author for me!

I can't even begin to describe how well Koval captured so much of the human experience in this book. You can read the synopsis to see what the book is about on a surface level, but on deeper level this book is about everything that makes us human: relationships, fear, trauma, healing, redemption, forgiveness, anger, love, etc. etc. It's impossible to even put into words what Koval accomplished here.

As always, when there is a beautiful character-driven literally fiction/family drama story that also can be categorized as a mystery, there will be people that will go in expecting a mystery or a thrilling "gotcha" moment and be disappointed that "nothing happened". I can already see this happening and BEG you to go into this book with an open mind and try to take it out of a nice and tidy "genre box". In my opinion, the best books don't fit perfectly into a single genre because they are so much MORE than what is typically expected from a certain genre. In this case, this book is more than a genre label could give it .

This audiobook was 12 hours, but while I was listening to it it felt like no time passed at all because I was literally hanging on every word these character's spoke. The characters are messy people, many of them making terribly messed up choices, but I was so invested in what was happening to each and every one of them the entire time.

This book took me through such a wide range of emotions, so be prepared to feel everything from horror, sadness, disappointment, excitement, hope, and healing.

The book is called Penitence which is literally defined as "the action of feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentance." So be aware that there are some HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY things in this book that may be extremely upsetting for readers. If you have concerns, check CW.

As far as the audiobook itself, Thérèse Plummer was absolutely the perfect choice. She read with such emotion, it didn't feel like reading or even acting, it felt like she truly was one with the book. I absolutely recommend the audiobook version if possible!

Kristin Koval's stunning debut Penitence is the story of a family ripped apart the night that 13-year-old Nora shoots and kills her brother Nico. As their parents Angie and David struggle to support their daughter and mourn the loss of their son, we see that there were cracks in their happy life before the night that changed everything.

Angie's long lost love Julian is a successful lawyer in New York, and he has gotten the drinking that cost him their relationship under control. He flies back to Colorado to help his mother Martine, an attorney on the cusp of retirement, defend the desperate teenager who has no memory of what happened the night of the murder. Was it a mercy killing because 14-year-old Nico was suffering from Huntington's disease? Or was there more to it that Nora can't- or won't- recall?

Told in alternating time frames, from the ups and downs of Angie and Julian's relationship to Nora's sentencing to the accidental death of Angie's sister years ago, this is a beautiful and heartbreaking look at family, love, and secrets. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this powerful and unforgettable novel.

It's hard to talk about this one without spoilers -- but there were several very clever moves here. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Wow wow wow!! Put this on your TBR peeps! One of the best books I’ve read this year. Complex family dynamics, betrayal, so many regrets, love and consequences. Amazing all around!
Narration was also perfect.