The Comeback Kids is a reality tv show featuring several former childhood stars that are in treatment for addictions. Dr. Laurel Harlow is the therapist in charge of the group. Dr. Harlow herself overcame an alcohol addiction earlier in life and has since tried to help others overcome their dependencies. The tv show follows the 28 day treatment of the former stars. On the 27th day, the youngest and most popular of the group is found dead. Laurel tries to find out the truth about the death, wondering who in the group could be responsible. The investigation brings buried secrets to light, many of which are from Laurel’s past. This is a very fast paced thriller that grabs your attention from the very beginning. A lot of unsettling topics come up, including assault, rape, bullying, and suicide - so be prepared. I loved this book and couldn’t wait to see how it would end. I give the book 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on May 13, 2025.

One in Four throws you into a reality show style rehab program with former child stars, all with messy pasts and even darker secrets. But when one of them ends up dead? They need to find out what happened.
Told through the perspective of Dr. Laurel Harlow, the show’s therapist who has plenty of secrets herself. Fingers are pointed at her for the murder but she knows someone is setting her up. Her past comes back to haunt her.
This book explores trauma and how far people will go to keep the truth buried… or get revenge.

Laurel is a counselor who agrees to star in a reality tv show that follows child tv stars trying to overcome their own addictions. When one of the patients is murdered, mayhem ensues. Who is responsible and how could it happen while the cameras were running? I always enjoy reading this author's work. As usual, this was a dark and somewhat gory read and I was all in for it! I did have my own predictions on who was to blame and I was partly right but the ending still left me with my mouth open in shock. I read this ebook while listening to the audio, which had fantastic narration.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
This book contained a lot of heavy topics and it was quite a book! I don't even know how I can review it. If you have any issues that could be triggering you might want to read what this one is about before starting it. Lucinda Berry always includes some shocking twists and this story is no different. It was one of those books that I had to sit and digest it for a while when I finished it.

3.75/5 stars! Lucinda is known for writing twisty/shocking thriller stories so I was excited to read this book. She also has history as a psychologist. As a provider in the mental health field myself, I was interested to read her depictions of applying psychoanalysis to hunt a killer in this reality tv setting. The majority of the time I really liked it. But there were a few instances that blatantly disregarded/misrepresented psychology. My assumption would be those are changes pushed by an editor to sensationalize the story. I think casual readers will still really like this shocking story; just felt a bit annoyed as someone in mental healthcare at times.

A fast paced story with a lot of twists! Laurel is a therapist working on the show and with a group of former child stars to get them clean and sober when one of the former child stars dies on the show. Laurel is devastated and determined to find out what happened to her. The book has a past timeline from an unknown narrator, which was one of my favorite parts of the book. One of the other things I love about this author is how she will throw in a huge twist that changes everything!

Unfortunately this book really didn’t do anything for me. It felt it was a lot of telling and very little showing. Beyond our FMC, I didn’t feel I knew much of anything about the characters and even the FMC’s backstory was pretty vague throughout. It sort of felt like half the book was missing where I would create a connection with the characters and their backstories.

It was very plot forward and had one of those endings I struggle with where everything is just explained at the end rather than building a puzzle throughout that clicks at the end.. if that makes sense.

I didn’t think this was a bad book and I actually appreciated some of heavier topics covered, but ultimately it just wasn’t for me.

3.5 stars

I read this book a few days ago and kind of forgot what it was about when I sat down to write this review. I had to think for a few minutes to remember the plot and characters. So needless to say it won't be considered a favorite.

I was in not quite a reading slump when I began this book. This book grabbed me at the beginning and I was hoping it would be the book to get me far away from the edges of the slump. While the boom had me at the beginning towards the middle it began to lose me. The story became too dark for how it started out. It was like it was two different books put together. I know this book is a thriller but the first half was not nearly as dark as the second half. It was like the story became too bogged down and was hard to read. The ending was not what I was expecting either.

I did like the author's writing style. I will be looking for more of her books to give her another try. This book was by no means a bad book but just wasn't completely for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely love Lucinda Berrys books! This one was so intriguing and had me hooked instantly. I will never pass up a chance to read her books. The twist and turns were mind blowing

For most of this book, I was SO invested. I loved the back and forth chapters of "Her" and what was currently happening to Laurel and was super invested into the story and where it was going, but then I felt like it kind of just ended abruptly. I almost found myself questioning what actually happened in the end because of how quickly it ended. It left me wanting more and really wanted it to be at least a few chapters longer. It was a solid thriller but the ending brought my rating down a tiny bit. (3.75 stars, rounded up to 4)

Thank you, Net Galley, for the ARC of ONE IN FOUR by Lucinda Berry. This novel is reminiscent of the television program Big Brother, but as a rehab house. Though I've never watched Big Brother, that is the first thing that came to mind. This story is a locked room mystery that kept me wondering who did it. Basically, this novel tells the story of what happened in the rehab reality show mansion when people, with their different personalities, strength and weaknesses, trying to overcome their addiction are all left together 24 hours a day with cameras recording their every move--except, of course, the murder. The book also focuses on the main character, Laurel, the therapist, and Maddie, the addict who died, their relationship and Laurel's worry that she missed something

Dark, disturbing and unputdownable! Lucinda Berry’s novels are all so unsettling and I can’t NOT read them. Once I start one of her books, I have to devour it because it just can’t live in my headspace for too long.

This story takes place on a reality show that is helping seven young adults, all former child stars, overcome their life threatening addictions. When one of the contestants mysteriously dies, the police quickly focus their attention on Dr. Laurel Harlow, the chemical dependency counselor, as a prime suspect. But Laurel has a dark past and adept skills beyond helping people. As the clock ticks, Laurel has to figure out who among the houseguests may be a killer before she loses everything.

This was INTENSE, my heart raced while reading this. Please check trigger warnings because while this book is expertly written there are some distressing scenes that aren’t for everyone. But if you love a deeply sinister story, then pick this one up!

Thank you Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on May 13, 2025

There is A LOT of darkness in Lucinda Berry’s latest book One in Four due out May 2025. A lot of triggers packed in this 253 page book. Honestly I’m not sure how many stars to give it. Triggers are rape, murder, self-harm, suicide … it’s a lot packed into one book like I said. And to be truthful, I don’t know if I would recommend this book. Yes the writing is good, but it’s a lot (I know I keep saying it over and over but not sure how else to say it). This is my 6th book by this author and I generally devour every book she writes but this one was a tough one for me to read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in advance for my honest review.

I'm side-stepping the kitchen sink here........

I love Lucinda Berry. I just didn't love this one for a multitude of reasons. When an author veers off the road with hardly two tires touching the ground, it's time to take the bus. Safer that way. Much safer.

We're sitting in the midst of a popular TV show that revolves around a group of individuals recovering from chemical dependency and certainly a ton of bad life choices. The cameras are on 24/7 with never a break in the action. Nothing is sacred. It's all for the ratings.

Dr. Laurel Hargrow has been assigned to the set. As a trained psychiatrist, she's gotten to know each of them up front and personal. All contraband has been eliminated and personal items are continuously scrutinized. Participants write in their daily journals. And yet even with all these constant checkpoints, it appears that Maddie took her own life.

Laurel immediately tries to enter onto the set to support her group. But the police have setup roadblocks. As Laurel does her own investigating, she's come upon something so shocking that it may blow this case wide open.

And then Lucinda Berry switches gears. We fall headlong into a far different rabbit hole. Nothing is beginning to make sense now. We're picking up on a far, far different thread. Berry decides to open up all the valves and it's simply not a wild twist.........it's a journey into a farfetched cruel and brutal avenue. Nobody wins here. Nobody. Shock and awe in excess with absolutely no substance. I read plenty of Horror and this floated right into that lane without the buildup in place. Hope Lucinda Berry straightens out this highway. I'll still be looking forward to the next one.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Lucinda Berry for the opportunity.

A fast paced, keep you on the edge of your seat thriller, One In Four was my introduction to Lucinda Berry and I cannot wait to read more.
What starts off as a story about a house full of washed up child stars struggling to battle their addictions for a reality show quickly shift gears once someone ends up dead. The story then shifts once again about half way through and I truly appreciated the way that Lucinda Berry really went there with the story, make bold choices and not shying away from the darkness.

For a more in depth, spoiler free review you can check out my youtube review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ4fxeev2wk

This one started with a strong hook, but the more it unfolded, the more it lost me. I didn’t feel fully connected to the characters, and the pacing felt uneven—like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a domestic thriller or a psychological deep-dive. It has some interesting ideas, but the execution just wasn’t as sharp or engaging as I’d hoped.

Might still work for readers who love darker family thrillers with a heavy emotional thread, but this one didn’t really leave a mark for me.

How do you live with the stupid mistakes of younger years? How do you break away from self sabotage? Let me introduce you to Laurel who has been doing just that. She works with those with addiction trying to forgive herself from her past. The story goes very fast and before you realize you end up with mental whiplash! Personally I did not like the ending but that doesn’t mean it was good! Haha

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ability to read an advanced copy.

The premise had so much potential but this one just didn’t land for me. The first half was really good then the second half and twist lost me.

I was excited to dive into this psychological thriller but this one wasn’t for me.

📺 M A Y H E M M O N D A Y review 📺 featuring “One in Four” by Lucinda Berry!

MY RATING: 🖤🖤🖤/5

7 child stars struggling with addiction are living together in a house and are being filmed 24/7 Big Brother/Intervention style. The reality tv show ‘Comeback Kids’ follows their rehabilitation and detox journeys under the treatment of Dr Laurel Harlow.

Laurel is a leading expert in the field of dependency and has struggled with her own addictions in the past. She is there to guide and support her patients as they fight through their demons … until one of them winds up dead while on camera!

The investigation turns into total chaos as Laurel finds herself in stuck in the middle as the prime suspect. Laurel is being set up and working in a setting full of narcissists doesn’t help her case. As evidence starts to pile up against her, Laurel finds herself facing some skeletons in her own closet that she never thought would surface …

🤯 WOAH! This book is DARK and DISTURBING and very graphic. There is a lot of heavy subject matter, so make sure to check out the trigger warnings. Overall it was a wild ride with lots of jaw dropping twists and WTF moments! Get ready to be shocked to your core!

Thank you to @lucindaberryauthor @amazonpublishing and Thomas & Mercer for my #gifted advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on May 13, 2025!

Laurel gets a call that one of her patients was killed. She is a therapist for child stars who are now addicts, assisting them in their recovery on a reality tv show. Laurel doesn’t understand how this could have happened, and is determined to help the police with their questions - until the questions start to turn on Laurel.

I read this in one sitting. Lucinda is great at capturing the reader with her story and keeping them hooked with quick chapters. I think I enjoyed about 70% of this book before it lost me. I had suspicions against the culprit(s) and the way things went down did not sit right with me. I didn’t appreciate the ending at all. I have read 3 Lucinda books now and they all have SA - I’m not sure why. Though I appreciate her including the resource. The ending also including some graphic imagery I was wincing at. It all felt a bit rushed, but as a popcorn read, worked well.