This was a solid read! I didn't see the ending coming, and it didn't totally logically track for me. But I enjoyed the narration and the story!

Iris Blodgett's life has slowly fallen apart following her husbands murder 3-years ago, struggling to also provide for her daughter. After losing her job and house, Iris leans on her new boyfriend Hugh. He immediately invites Iris and her daughter Ellory to stay with him at his mothers home. When Iris gets there, she finds out that Hugh has siblings she was not aware of, and Hugh has been tasked with the project of repairing his mothers house. The longer Iris stays, the more secrets of the family are revealed, including the true reason that Ellory and Iris were invited to stay.

I had high hopes for this book, but overall it was just an ok read. I did enjoy the use of misdirection and the two significant twists towards the end of the book. However, I struggled with getting into the first 3/4 of the book as it didn't seem very fluid and confused me at parts. But, the last quarter of the book did shock and surprise me, which I did enjoy. The concept was there, but it felt like it was only partially executed.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio, NetGalley, and Katie Garner for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

It was really hard to see how little the FMC seemed to care about her daughter. The thriller part of the book was good, and the end was definitely surprising, but I had a hard time getting over the mother daughter relationship.

This book was interesting and engaging the whole time! The premise was unique and when I thought I had the ending figured out, there was another twist. The different perspectives and narration made it even more suspenseful and twisty! I thought it was a great book to listen on audiobook because it held my interest and I didn’t expect the ending.

Unfortunately this book did not deliver for me. The plot twists were so unbelievable and sometimes silly that I just could not enjoy it. There were way too many tropes all mashed up together that it was confusing and sometimes the timeline and characters got lost in the shuffle. I really wanted to like this book but sadly cannot recommend. I listened to the audio version and the narrator absolutely grated on my nerves. 2.5 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this book.

I had high hopes for this book. It sounded like a really good premise and the characters drew me in right away. I was fairly bored after that. Unfortunately, I didn't think there were many twists and turns and it all felt pretty predictable and drawn out. Overall, I liked Katie Garner's writing style and am not deterred from reading other books from her. Thank you to Harlequin Books for the early edition of this audio book.

Super cool book! This gal and her daughter end up moving in with her well to do boyfriend and his family. Nothing is as it seems. Lots of twists!

📖I was a little torn on how to rate The Family Inside, but ultimately settled on 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a thriller that leans more into a slow-burn, family-drama vibe than nonstop action, so if you're expecting a fast-paced ride, just know this one takes its time unraveling its secrets—but I found that added to the tension rather than taking away from it. The story follows Iris and her teenage daughter as they move into a crumbling mansion owned by her new boyfriend’s mysterious family, and from there, things get eerie fast. There are heavy themes of grief, revenge, and the kind of secrets that can twist people in unexpected ways. I guessed a few of the twists, but others definitely threw me for a loop, which kept me engaged throughout.


🎧 The dual narration by Emily Lawrence and Ashley Klanac was excellent and really elevated the experience. Each narrator brought emotional depth to the characters they voiced, and both captured the rising panic and unease in the story perfectly. Their voices were distinct enough that I never got confused about who was speaking, and the pacing felt spot on—never too rushed, but never dragging, even in the slower parts of the plot. I appreciated how their performances helped differentiate sections and transitions, which can sometimes be tricky in audio format. No music or sound effects here, but honestly, it was not needed.

⏳ The audiobook flowed smoothly, and I never found myself lost in the timeline or confused about what was happening. Even with the secrets being slowly peeled back, the transition from chapter to chapter felt seamless thanks to the narrators’ delivery. The eerie tone of the mansion, the tension between family members, and the escalating sense of dread all came through clearly, making this a solid listen.

💭If you love thrillers that center around twisted family dynamics, buried secrets, and characters pushed to the edge by grief, this one will likely work for you. Fans of Lisa Jewell or Megan Miranda might find a similar appeal here. While it certainly works in print, I would actually recommend the audiobook format for this one—the dual narration adds an emotional layer that makes the story even more impactful.

Oh, my - I really enjoyed this book. It’s twisted and very suspenseful. This book is a must read. I highly recommend it.

This psychological thriller left me utterly drained (in the best way)! The eerie Ravencliff mansion, reminiscent of a decaying Biltmore Castle, oozed Gothic dread, and the audiobook narration amplified every chilling detail. Emily Lawrence and Ashley Klanac delivered bone-chilling performances, especially during the jaw-dropping twist; I rewound three times! Iris's grief and unraveling sanity felt visceral, while Ellory's teenage defiance added layers of tension. The Smoll family's secrets unfolded like a nightmare, each revelation more twisted than the last. Though the pacing dragged mid-way, the relentless twists kept me hooked. Iris's reckless choices frustrated me, but the atmospheric dread and unhinged family dynamics made this one I couldn't stop listening to. A 3.75/5-star listen for thriller fans who love Gothic chaos, dual POVs, and WTF moments.

You know those books that make you say WTF? That was The Family Inside by Katie Garner for me in a nutshell. For the longest time I didn't even know what was going on and now that I'm done, I feel like that was the whole point. The timeline was what confused me the most, so if that happens to you, I urge you to stick with it and it will all be worth it in the end. The twists in this book shook me to my core, and the family drama and creepy house against the backdrop of Iris’ dead husband and new love interest Hugh was nonstop action and head scratches. The number of secrets in the story were enough to fill up an ocean and I LOVED IT.

The audiobook for The Family Inside was nothing but pure perfection, and you will love Emily Lawrence & Ashley Klanac’s narration. They actually sounded pretty similar, so I did have times where it was a bit hard for me to tell them apart, but this honestly heightened my experience if anything. For the longest time I didn’t even know if I would LIKE this book, but once the big twist hit, I was thinking how on earth did I miss this?! Garner is a tricky one, and I definitely need to go back and read her debut now. My advice is to go in as blindly as possible, and don’t stop!

Read this if you are looking for gothic vibes, dysfunctional families, and unreliable narrators!

Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I hate to say it-- but I was not a fan of this book. If I hadn't received it from NetGalley, it would have been added to my DNF piles for sure.

The interactions in this book just didn't work for me. The conversations were not realistic & a lot things were just weird. I didn't like a single character besides maybe Ellory but by the end of the book I was so tired of hearing her name I was over her too lol.

I just couldn't imagine what happened in this book ACTUALLY happening & it made it hard to care what happened. I will say that I did NOT see the twists coming at all-- but it took SO LONG to get to them that I really didn't even care which is a shame because there end up being really good twists.

Thanks so much NetGalley & The Hive for this book in exchange for an honest review. 2.5 rounded up

Read Completed 2/13/25 | 3 stars | Book #15 of 2025

I wasn’t super into this for most of the book, but I trusted that the twists were going to take me where I needed to be, and that was true! I did see one of them coming and it was actually exciting to see that particular piece slot into place. I didn’t have the whole thing right, so there was also still an element of surprise there. The ending also had another little gem for me, so I was happy to see another fun twist and reveal something I wasn’t expecting.

Really, the writing of this one let me down. I wouldn’t say it felt like Freida McFadden, but I did have some similar feelings from when I’ve read her books. For a lot of people, that’s a good thing. For me, it was overly dramatic, I didn’t like the insinuation that things were almost horror like the constantly talking about how the house had feelings of its own — it’s not haunted, the house doesn’t have feelings. It’s a thriller, not a horror novel. There was a LOT going on. The pieces did all come together so I was happy that the author really did use every piece. I didn’t find it hard to follow because of how much was going on but it became less enjoyable. We didn’t get to spend a lot of time on some parts of the story and I could have felt a much bigger emotional impact.

This was a little over-the-top and I don’t mind that in some thrillers because they’re supposed to shock us, but this was just a tad much for me. If the writing was a little tighter, I might not have cared.

The Family Inside is a slow-building mystery that really picks up towards the end. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, making it hard to put the book down. The suspense grows with every page, and the twists keep you guessing.

What makes this book stand out is how it weaves together different layers of the story. What seems like a simple mystery at first turns into something much more complex, with secrets that slowly unfold. The plot is fresh and keeps you interested, especially as the story takes unexpected turns.

By the time you reach the end, everything comes together in a way that is both surprising and satisfying. The twists feel earned and make the conclusion all the more impactful.

In short, The Family Inside is a great read for mystery lovers. Its suspenseful pace, clever plot, and surprising twists will keep you hooked from start to finish.

This was an excellent Gothic thriller. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I really enjoyed the opening and the momentum continued. I didn't see how it all played out and I love that! I look forward to reading more from her.

Thank you to net galley for this audio arc. I really enjoyed it. It was suspenseful and twisted. I highly recommend it.

The Family Inside is a wild ride. This book really kept me guessing about what was going on. I had so many theories throughout the book and only one ended up being right. I really enjoyed the two different narrators for Iris and Ellory. It really added to the story and helped from getting the two characters confused.

I thought that the beginning of the book started off a little bit slow but once I started to see the twists unfolding I was hooked. This book really kept me guessing as to what was real and what people wanted you to think was real.

I'm a sucker for an unreliable narrator and this book delivered. At points, I wondered if everything that was happening was just in Iris's mind. This book also had some great villains. I could see why they were the way they were and the motives behind their actions.

The one thing that I didn't enjoy about the story is there was no resolution to her first husband's murder. I thought that was going to be an aspect of the story.

If you like books filled with dark family secrets that keep you guessing you're going to love The Family Inside.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for this ARC exchange for an honest review.

SPOILERS AHEAD



I enjoyed it at first…but once her daughter goes missing and the mother doesn’t seem to care didn’t read as realistic or relatable. In general I think the book is intriguing, and if you look past the frustrating main character, you will find a ton of secrets in this family. If you liked THE FAMILY GAME, you’d probably enjoy this book.

Overall, "The Family Inside" offers a gripping and twist-filled experience, making it a recommended read for fans of psychological thrillers.

This was so twisty. Stories within stories. It was a little challenging to follow until I hit that “ah ha” moment! Crazy messed up families and relationships a great read.