Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Theo Baxter’s “The Other Family” is a dark, unsettling psychological thriller that explores grief, trauma, and survival in the face of chilling abuse. It’s a story that is as heartbreaking as it is tense, immersing you in an atmosphere of dread where every locked door hides something sinister.

The story follows fifteen-year-old Samantha “Sam” Cotton, a resilient teenager reeling from the tragic loss of her mother. Her father, Jesse, is an ex-soldier battling PTSD and alcoholism, and when his struggles spiral into a breakdown, Sam is thrust into the foster system. She’s placed with the Bradfords, a seemingly devout and respectable couple who live in a remote farmhouse and foster several other girls. At first glance, they appear to be the perfect caregivers. But Sam quickly realizes that beneath their religious façade lies a terrifying secret: strict surveillance, locked rooms, forbidden spaces, and a suffocating control that turns her new home into a nightmare.

Baxter builds suspense with skill, going from Sam’s perspective and Jesse’s as he desperately fights against bureaucratic dead ends to get his daughter back. This dual narrative adds emotional weight, contrasting Sam’s fierce determination to survive and protect the other girls with Jesse’s devastating helplessness. Their love for one another anchors the story, making the moments of danger and despair even more gut-wrenching.

The short, sharp chapters keep the pace relentless, and the writing captures both the claustrophobic horror of the Bradfords’ household and the heartbreaking resilience of its victims. The book doesn’t shy away from heavy themes, such as abuse, loss, and suicidal ideation, and you should be mindful of trigger warnings as this story gets pretty dark. While I did find the first half repetitive or certain elements unrealistic, the tension builds to a gripping second half that delivers shocking twists and, ultimately, a satisfying and emotional resolution.

Overall, “The Other Family” is Baxter at his darkest, a harrowing yet hopeful story about a girl’s fight for freedom and a father’s determination not to lose his daughter. It’s devastating, suspenseful, and unforgettable—a thriller that lingers long after the last page.

Thanks netgalley and Theo Baxter for this book that could not put down.
Sam Votton at 15 wa having a very hard time, her mother had recently died her father was drunk most of the time and had tried to shoot himself and Sam got injured taking the gun away from. Him.
A social worker wad called and Sam was taken into foster care. Shr was taken to a farm in the middle of nowhere
By a husband and wife he was a reverend and kept preaching about the bible.
There was other girls in the farm and it did not take Sam long to realise things were not as they seemed in the foster house, and no one came to see if she was ok.
The reverend and his wife were evil and Sam was frightened for her life.
Great book loved it even though it was a brutal.

I know I'm late to my review but I finally got around to reading it and I loved it. Totally a nail-biting experience, I had a hard time putting it down. I loved all the characters and really was concerned for them and how things were going to turn out. Sure some things were unrealistic and sure some paragraphs were repetitive but the story and the idea of being in that house with those girls was giving me anxiety, in a good way. Loved it, will be looking for more books by this author.

Great characters, fabulous book, I was hooked immediately

Highly recommend new to me author, highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advanced copy for an honest review.

I just finished The Other Family, and wow, what a ride. It kicks off with 15-year-old Sam, who's already dealing with the death of her mom when her dad has a breakdown. She's placed with the Bradfords, a seemingly perfect foster family living in the middle of nowhere. But things quickly take a dark turn. There are locked rooms, strict rules, and cameras watching her every move. Sam starts to uncover disturbing secrets about the Bradfords, realizing she might be in grave danger.

The pacing is intense, with twists and turns that kept me hooked. The dual perspectives of Sam and her father add depth to the story, offering insights into their struggles and fears. The writing is engaging, and the suspense builds steadily, making it hard to put the book down.

Final Thoughts: If you're into psychological thrillers that delve into dark family secrets and keep you on the edge of your seat, The Other Family is a must-read. It's gripping, emotional, and will leave you thinking long after you've turned the last page.

The Other Family is a deeply atmospheric and unsettling psychological thriller that grips readers with its eerie, claustrophobic setting and mounting sense of dread. Set against the backdrop of a remote farmhouse, the story immerses you in an environment where trust is fragile and danger lurks beneath the surface. At the heart of the novel is Sam, a strong protagonist whose resilience and emotional depth anchor the narrative. Her journey through grief, fear, and survival feels authentic and compelling, making her a character you genuinely root for. Baxter’s storytelling shines with a suspenseful plot filled with shocking twists that keep the tension high and the pages turning. Just when you think you understand the stakes, the story pivots, delivering surprises that are both startling and satisfying. The use of dual perspectives—alternating between Sam and her father—adds richness and complexity to the narrative, deepening the emotional impact and revealing the layers of trauma and hope that bind them.

Very creepy and sinister feeling book. I liked the premise, and I felt for the characters. Enjoyable read!

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

Fifteen year old Samantha Cotton hasn't had an easy life so far, she's still prosessing her mothers death and her father Jesse is dealing with ptsd after being a soldier. When he has a mental break down Sam is taken out of his care and placed with a foster family, the Bradfords. A religious couple who seem like the perfect family to help Sam. But Sam soon notices some disturbing things, foridden rooms, locked doors, strict rules, cameras that track the girls every move. The Bradfords have a dark secret that puts Sam into a terrifying nightmare from which she may never escape.

I found the first half of this book a bit slow and repetitive, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get into it. But the second half I couldn't put down.

It is a heartbreaking story, I recommend you read the trigger warnings before reading this book. I was nearly crying at a few parts, it's a devastating read. I loved Sams character she was so strong and brave to have done what she did to try and save herself and the other girls. It was so frustrating to see Jesse's pov and how he was just met with dead ends from the authorities. I was nearly shouting at the book when noone would help him. The ending was so heartwarming when Jesse got help from Dr. Sheldon.

It was a shocking story and just totally devastating, the rollercoaster of emotions this book puts you through.

This cover was beautiful! I loved this book--I hadn't heard of this author before so am excited to continue finding new authors to read. Thanks so much for the copy of this one!

I couldn’t put this book down, even though parts were tough to read. Sam’s journey, dealing with her mother’s death and her father’s mental health struggles, felt raw and real.

The story focuses deeply on Sam and her dad, while some other characters felt less developed. I loved Sam’s loyalty and determination to not give up on him.

The ending felt rushed, with major events unfolding too quickly. Still, it’s an emotional and gripping read that I’d recommend for its powerful impact.

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

Wow! This story is not for the faint of heart.

Child abuse is the main core of this story.
But it’s also about the strength of one girl who will do just about anything to save herself as well as the other three girls being abused.

It’s about a reverend who uses his title as a cover to do the most vial things to his wife and the foster girls in his house of horror.

It’s disturbing as much as disgusting. But, it’s very well written.

2/5 stars! This is one of those psychological thrillers that just picked something SO outlandish that nothing could reel me in as a reader. Ahh yes; religious zealouts in a rural area do bad things...I've never heard that before. Maybe it's just me, but it never caught my attention so I didn't really care about Sam's escape attempts.

5 stars for the latest book from Theo Baxter. It was a book that I did not want to put down and was upset when finished!

This opened with a family that has a dad battling mental health issues and also a prepper. At first, I thought this story was strange and was going to be a trigger because, well, the world is falling apart right now, but it quickly changed into a locked room style thriller. Sam is in foster care but has to find a way back to her dad. Once that part of the story started, I couldn't put it down and had to see how Sam was going to fight back and win against the evil foster parents. Was a quick fast paced read.

The whole time I read this book I caught myself thinking "who hurt you, Theo?". This was the kind of read that I could not put down, but at the same time would really want to. My heart broke for Sam, a teen girl that lost her mother and had to watch her father's battle with his mental health. I found myself angry with the social worker and with law enforcement officers. I would comfort myself saying this would never happen in real life, and then be hit with the reality that some of these situations DO happen.
This was very character driven. At least for Sam and her father. Some of the other characters felt slapped together because they were necessary for the story line. I loved Sam's belief in her father and how she never gave up on him.
I was not the biggest fan of the ending. It felt rushed. There was a lot of development to the story in a very quick span of time. Both reading wise and in the storyline. Just bam bam bam. I'm not sure if you have watched The Office, but if you have, think of Michael Scott's improv classes and Threat Level Midnight. The last part of the book read to me like it was inspired by a Michael Scott film.
At the end of the day though, this is a great read. You'll get mad, you'll get sad, you'll feel hopeful and you'll be shot down again. I would recommend.
Thank you Theo Baxter for the read. Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the chance to enjoy this.

This book grabs you immediately, drawing you into a whirlwind of twists and dynamic characters that keep you turning pages. The perfect mix of suspense and insight leaves you craving more with every chapter, and the underlying message really hits home. I can’t recommend it enough!

The moment you dive in, you’re fully invested in a narrative that skillfully intertwines suspense with thought-provoking moments. The characters leap off the page, and the pacing keeps you riveted until the end, making this one of the most unputdownable reads I’ve ever enjoyed.

This book was a crazy wild ride I had trouble putting my kindle down. There were so many times that my jaw physically dropped. My heart breaks for Sam and even at times Jesse, her father (even though he’s the one who put Sam in a bad to an even worse situation). This was definitely a slow burn with a lot of unlikable characters but I was hooked from the beginning. I will definitely be checking out more books by Theo Baxter Please check the trigger warnings before diving into this book! Thank you so much NetGalley for being sharing this ARC with me.

Thank you for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. This novel was intriguing from the first page. I felt for the main character, Samantha, immediately as the author conveyed her struggles so eloquently and allowed readers to feel like they were present in the actual story. Definitely recommend!