Not really sure how I felt about this one, so it's hard to rate. The writing was great, the author kept me intrigued with trying to figure out the plot and it was a quick read for me. However, the concept of the storyline is just something I wouldn't normally 'choose' to read about, as it seemed a bit far fetched for me personally. I also realized while reading this one, that I prefer reading first person narratives over third person, specifically for mystery/thriller books- I guess it helps me feel more engaged with the main character throughout. I didn't realize I felt that way until this book haha! There isn't an option to give 3.5 stars, but that's what I would rate this book!

This was a very interesting read with a plot that was out of the ordinary. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it first because it left me a little confused and I felt like I was reading about some sort of AI world. However, I became really engaged in the whole story and trying to figure out what was happening to the characters and this strange life they were living. I found it to be well written and the author, even with such a far fetched storyline was able to shift the perspective of me as a reader and help me see the beauty in the mundane freedoms of life. Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this one.

So sorry but this was not for me, i did not find this to be a psychological thriller so was left disappointed.
I picked it up and put it down several times.
Sorry for the poor review but not my thing.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

4* Yikes, reminds me a bit of the old 70s series Logan's Run.

This is really well-written and quite freaky that so many people could allow themselves to be manipulated. And that in this day and age, they wouldn't check things out and have MAJOR warning bells ringing that there's basically nothing online about the... thing they're about to join. Seriously, that's where the tale lost 1* for me, but it was still decent enough that I could overlook this.

I did like Julia, but how her instincts, especially with her training and profession, let her down so badly, was hard to fathom. Admittedly things got clearer and even more freaky, especially with the lemongrass scents and the fringes - trying not to Spoiler here - but it still bugged me that she was so passive for so long. I'm also a bit bugged not to know what happened to Lin, though I did think for a while that she might be a victim, too, and half decent, but right at the end, I wasn't sure. Another thing that irked me is that she could email, had internet access, could call her mother (at least) but didn't think it strange there was no TV, no news, no outside world intruding...

Her hubby was a wanker. Full stop. It was all about him and about lying and manipulating her, even to the point of allowing their kid to be victimised as a means to an end. That guy deserved to get stuck in a bog and slowly suffocate.

It ended believably, and I hoped that for her and her kids, life was as we know it, without that fringe thing being able to harm her/them. But, it wasn't talked about, so maybe not.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for my reading pleasure.

Julia is a busy professional, a wife, and a mom to two boys. Her husband has an opportunity to move the family to an idyllic location and have a steady job. Julia doesn't know much about this community and once she arrives, things don't quite add up for her.
This had a unique twist and the writing and storyline kept me reading because I kept guessing and wasn't quite sure where the storyline was heading. I liked Julia's character and was rooting for her throughout!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

When Julia and James move into a beautiful new community, Julia is ready to leave her stress behind and enjoy her life raising her two young boys without the stress of a fast paced career. But things quickly go south when a dead body turns up at a neighbors party. She quicky realizes that this place is hiding a lot more then she can see. A unique story that kept me reading late into the night!

Julia’s dream came true when she and her husband, James, moved into a beautiful new home in a gated community with their two young sons. At last, Julia’s stress-filled job was behind her, and she could happily watch her sons play in the car-free streets around their home. Her housekeeper, Lin, was ever present, supplying coffee in the morning and drinks in the evening when James returned from work.
But then tragedy occurred. A neighbor’s body was found dead in a pool during a party. It was written off as an accident, but was it? When the neighbors began behaving strangely, she started to hear rumors about the family that lived in their new home and how they suddenly vanished one day, and she began to worry.
As Julia began investigating the rumors, she realized the community was eerily secretive and that she and her family were being watched. Suddenly, this wasn’t the dream home that she thought it was. When James told her to stop asking questions and enjoy their new home, she began to distrust him. Was he part of the strange happenings?

I was hooked on this one from the start. It isn’t like any other suspense or thriller I have read. I wanted to keep turning the page the second I started. It all came together in the end and I didn’t see it coming. This is a debut book for SJ King and I think that it was a great book to be her first thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the early read in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this book did not stand out as a favorite. It was advertised as a psychological thriller featuring a family of four—Julia, James, and their children who move to a new community hoping to escape their old life’s stresses. At first, it seemed like a dream come true, but as they settled into their seemingly perfect surroundings, a sense of unease began to creep in.

As I continued reading, I realized the book is falsely marketed as a psychological thriller. It reads more like a cautionary tale about a dystopian community where every move is monitored, controlled, and surveilled. The community's emphasis on groupthink, shared values, and conformity to societal norms made me think of a video game where players are trapped in a never-ending cycle of obedience and compliance.

While the themes in "Where You Belong" are thought-provoking, the book ultimately fell short of my expectations for a psychological thriller.

Couldn’t put this one down!! This hooked me right from the start, with eerie “Don’t Worry Darling” vibes.

The Haven is idyllic. Who wouldn’t want to live there? Beautiful homes complete with servants, manicured gardens and gardeners, the amazing surroundings and amenities, you have to admit that it’s perfect. Apart from the misogynistic men, the level/gratitude system, wristbands, the lies and secrets, not to mention the disappearances and deaths!

I was a little apprehensive when I started this book, it all seemed a bit The Prisoner crossed with Stepford Wives, but it definitely drew me in and I couldn’t put it down! What I first thought would be a light, domestic suspense thriller, suddenly became dark and dangerous and I was totally caught up in the intrigue.

Yes, you need to suspend all your beliefs, but go with the flow, it’s well worth it.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Where You Belong by S.J. King due to be published March 4, 2025.
When Julia and James move to a new community, it seems wonderful. But, things aren’t always what they seem. The community will do anything to keep its secrets quiet. Is James part of this? Is Julia safe in this community? What if her “perfect” life is anything but perfect?
Part Twilight Zone, Handmaid’s Tale, and part Stepford Wives, this one held my attention! The levels, the “Agreement”, giving and getting “Gratitudes”, points, wristbands….just plain creepy! Read it in two days – could NOT put it down – highly recommend!

#NetGalley #SJKing #StormPublishing #WhereYouBelong

So many secrets! I was here for all of them. A great domestic suspense book to get lost in. I liked this one. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I found myself shocked and riveted right to the end. It was perfect blend of mystery and
suspense... You won't be able to put this down until you've finished!

I’d highly recommend this book!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars! 😊