4 stars

Now there is a lot of use for the titular phrase throughout this novel as nearly every character needs to hear "You Shouldn't Have Done That!" at least once (often much more), but one thing YOU should do is dive into this book. It's a twisty, pleasing mystery that takes readers right into a couple of "perfect" suburban homes and leaves them feeling...glad this is fiction.

Ivy and Jane have been friends since their sons, Brad and Cal, were little. The boys are now adults, so the families, which also include dads and added siblings, most notably Emerson, Cal's unlikable younger sister, have been tied together for a long time. Events that take place in this novel - namely but not exclusively Cal's disappearance and some related assumptions made about Brad - guarantee that whether they like it or not, they'll be connected forever.

Few features are more frustrating to me in a thriller or mystery than (1) an obvious throughline and (2) flat characters. I want to be at least a little surprised by something and know enough about the characters to care about the outcome. Wow, does Alterman come through with solid surprises and complex characters. The plot is well constructed, the pacing is on point, and the characters operate in ways that are believable to their incoming development.

Folks who enjoy a tightly constructed mystery/thriller will find what they're looking for here. I know I did.

Lifelong friends torn apart by secrets, sign me up, every time! I really enjoyed this one. Definitely a good read.

If you need to like characters in a book, do not read this. However if you are fine hating every character, this is a engaging mystery thriller.

Jane Whitaker and Ivy Chapman have been friends for decades since their sons were in preschool together. When Cal Whitaker disappears, attention is immediately on his long time friend and roommate Brad Chapman. As the mystery of where Cal is unfolded, the long term family friend's loyalty to each other is challenged.

Wow this thriller is messy in such a fun to read way. I didn't know what would happen next and every page was a surprise. Overall I can see where some people wouldn't like this story, but I was along for the ride.

Tropes
* Missing Person
* Media going crazy over story
* Long time family friends
* Multiple POVs

4 stars

3.5 stars, rounded up for the hilarious phrase “his low-hanging, wrinkled ball sack swinging.”

This wasn’t quite what I was expecting, so it took me a minute to recalibrate. I think I was anticipating a somewhat emotional thriller, maybe something in the Lisa Jewell zone. Or a melodramatic miniseries-style thriller starring Nicole Kidman. This isn’t really either of those. It’s more of an entertaining popcorn thriller, which I understood once Brad showed up. He was such a dope that it was impossible to feel threatened by him or sense anything truly ominous. Once I adjusted to that tone, I enjoyed the ride.

The characters are all pretty unlikeable, but in an intentional, entertaining way. They’re also very, very shallow, which made it a little weird not having anyone to really root for.

The narrator gave off strong YA vibes, which didn’t feel quite right for this story. It wasn’t a bad performance, but it didn’t fit the tone or characters, and I think that mismatch weakened the overall experience a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

Moms hiding secrets. Sons causing chaos.

Two moms. Longtime best friends. Their sons head out for a ski trip, but only one comes home. And just like that, everything starts to crack.

I devoured the first half of this audiobook in one sitting. I was completely pulled into the drama, the shifting loyalties, and the unraveling of these two deeply entangled families. This is the kind of thriller that isn’t just about solving a mystery. It’s about watching people self-destruct. And I was absolutely here for it.

The characters aren’t likable, but they are intriguing. I couldn’t wait to see what wild thing someone would say or do next. It’s one of those stories that asks how far you’d go to protect your child. Apparently, pretty damn far.

I wouldn’t say there’s a huge shocking twist, but there’s plenty of jaw-dropping behavior. People refuse to communicate, behave badly, and then double down. The choices are bold, sometimes unhinged, but always entertaining.

Cat Protano nails the narration. With several points of view, it could have gotten messy, but she kept everything clear and distinct. I never once felt confused about who she was speaking for. That made it an easy, bingeable audio listen.

No heroes here. Just bad behavior. This is a dark domestic drama full of toxic friendships, shady kids, and moms making some truly questionable moves. Nobody comes out completely clean, and honestly, that’s what made it fun for me.


Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Liz Alterman for the ALC (Advance Listening Copy) in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a yes for me. 🖤

DeAnn @deannsreadingriot

Yep. You can say that again.

Oh. You wonder what exactly should not have been done?

Take your pick. The following safety tips don't begin to cover it:

Don't do drugs.
Don't drink to excess.
Don't bet your money away.
Don't ski without a buddy.
Don't lie to your friend.
Don't use social media to whip up a frenzy for your own gain.

And that just scratches the surface. Liz Alterman has given us yet another riveting read with domestic suspense and thrilling scenes.

While I could not summon much sympathy for very many of these characters, I kept listening. Wanting to find out how it would end. And what an ending it was! If you are a fan of this author, you will not want to miss this latest title.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. This book kept me engaged from the beginning. I did not predict where the story was going, so what happened was truly surprising. It's difficult to continue reading a book once I feel like I have the rest figured out, and that didn't happen here. The only negative here was that I didn't find even one likable character in this book. I wasn't rooting for anyone or invested in their happiness. I do recommend this book for people who like thrillers.

2.5 stars rounded up.
The ending of this audiobook was its saving grace.

Part 1 & 2 took forever to have any action. To me, it all just drug on and was filled with useless dialogue. Every single one of these characters were horrible. It didn’t make for an enjoyable listen.

I did however enjoy the ending! It was quite a twist and was not expecting it.

I listened at 1.75x, the narrator was great!

A skiing trip gone wrong. Two best friends. Only one son comes back. That setup alone had me locked in—and thankfully, the story delivered. This was a quick, engaging listen with more emotional depth than I expected. The characters felt layered and real, which made the tension hit even harder. Liz Alterman takes her time in all the right ways, letting the suspense build without rushing it. This was my first by her, and I was genuinely impressed. Definitely adding more of her work to my list. A solid, satisfying psychological thriller.

After listening to this, I realised that the tittle could go for all of the characters, each having done something bad, a few more than others-Like Cal.
The relationships between them, especially the two families, was one of the more intriguing things, considering how different the mothers are.

The ending was not satisfactory for me, needed to know if Brad was going to be happy and okay, and if the characters' secrets were exposed somehow at somepoint. It wasn't one where I was fine with imagining the afterwords myself.

Despite the long audio, it didn't feel like it at all. Could have used less of Cal's view points though, disgusted me. But I'm guessing that was intended.
I was surprised while listening to find that I wasn't feeling sorry for Cal's suffering during his abduction at all. Still am not.

Not sure what I am missing in this book as it appears to get many great reviews ....

I will give part 1 5 stars for sure.....Really built up the suspense and the characters and loved the book.

Parts 2,3 & 4 really fell flat for me and didn't give me any psychological thriller vibes just everything unraveled and fell short.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of Liz Alterman's thriller You Shouldn't Have Done That. Ivy and Jane have been close friends ever since their now-grown sons were in preschool together. Now Cal and Brad are living together in Wyoming under tense circumstances when Cal doesn't come home after a day of skiing... and Brad doesn't report him missing. Brad becomes the prime suspect in Cal's disappearance (thanks to Cal's sister Emerson's brutal finger-pointing social media posts) and the underlying issues between the two families come to the surface.

The characters are completely despicable but somehow you find yourself choosing a side and hoping that nobody is as deplorable as they seem. You Shouldn't Have Done That is an unpredictable thrill ride with an ending that sneaks up on you and leaves you stunned.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for the book #YouShouldntHaveDoneThat by #LizAlterman. This book has suspense, secrets and relationships all bound together starting with two best friends, Ivy and Jane. Two best friends, both with sons the same age, who are living together in Wyoming on a ski resort. When one is the boys goes missing, the becomes a suspect. The two families are at odds against each other until the final twist happens.

I'm not even sure where to start with this book. This thriller kept me on my toes and I didn't want to stop listening to this book! Talk about deceit and deception! I really love books when you hear views of each character from themselves, because in my mind I'm trying to figure it out while the other character is talking. AHHH I was very shocked at the end of this book! Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. I was able to listen to this book thanks to NetGallery!

Throughout the audiobook, You Shouldn't Have Done That, I kept trying to guess (I failed) the direction the book was taking, but even more important, I kept trying to find a character to either like or at least root for. So why 4 stars? Don't readers need to like one character? I thought we did, but Liz Alterman managed to write a book where I hated absolutely everyone, but still kept listening, and was satisfied with the journey. That is a magical superpower.

This one was a slow burn featuring two families with a decades long connection, parental angst, missing person, found finger, and my least favorite person - a wannabe social media teen who had the emotional empathy of an ant.

Apologies to ants who actually do work together as a unit for the good of the team.

Well done narration and this one is worthy of a read.

This one definitely kept me guessing. There were twists layered on twists — maybe a little too much for me at times — but it still worked. I didn’t feel lost, just slightly overwhelmed in places. Still, I stayed with it because the story had something that pulled me back in.
What I really liked was the atmosphere. There was this underlying tension that didn’t need to shout to be felt. The setting, the mood, the way people interacted — it all gave the book a tone I really enjoyed.

Even when I wasn’t sure where it was all heading, I didn’t want to step out of that world. It held me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

You Shouldn’t Have Done That by Liz Alterman
A chilling domestic thriller where long-time friendship implodes under the weight of secrets, grief, and suspicion.


Jane and Ivy have been best friends for twenty years, bonded by their sons, family traditions, and shared history. But when a winter trip ends in tragedy and only one boy comes home, the cracks in their carefully crafted lives widen. With grief, guilt, and blame swirling, both families unravel—and everyone has something to hide.

Why It Works

Multi-POV storytelling: Multiple voices give depth to the emotional chaos—every perspective adds nuance, even as it complicates the truth.

Slow-burn suspense: The unease builds steadily, like frost creeping across a windowpane. No one feels innocent for long.

No clear villain: This is a thriller painted in shades of gray. Every character is deeply human—flawed, protective, and sometimes reckless.

What Stays With You

Parental dread: The novel doesn't flinch from exploring the terrifying lengths people will go to for their children.

Twists that gut-punch: Just when you think the mystery’s settled, the story reshapes itself and your loyalties shift.

Bleak but beautiful: The emotional landscape is sharp, cold, and devastating, but undeniably gripping.

Minor Gripes

The unlikeability factor: Most characters aren’t people you'd want to grab coffee with. But their messy realism works for this kind of story.

Occasional pacing drag: Juggling multiple storylines can get a bit heavy, especially when the timeline jumps around.

Ending mileage may vary: Some readers might crave more clarity or justice—this one leans heavily into the morally ambiguous.

4 stars — Tense, layered, and haunting.

If you enjoy:

Domestic thrillers with emotional depth

Long friendships tested by grief and secrets

Characters spiraling through shades of loyalty and betrayal


…this one’s for you. It’s not cozy or comforting—but it’s compelling from the first chapter to the final breath.

Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

This thriller had me guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist came out of nowhere and pulled me right back in. The story follows Jane and Ivy, best friends for twenty years, whose lives unravel when one of their sons goes missing—and the other becomes the prime suspect.

As secrets surface and suspicions rise, the bond between the two families begins to fracture. The big question looms: why didn’t Brad report his best friend Cal missing?

Told through multiple POVs, this book dives deep into the characters’ minds, revealing layers of guilt, jealousy, and long-buried tension. I had a love-hate relationship with several characters—some of their choices were infuriating, but that only made the story more gripping. The emotional complexity and the shifting perspectives added so much depth.

The narration was spot-on, bringing each character vividly to life. This was a wild ride from start to finish, full of sharp turns and unexpected revelations.

If you love family dramas tangled up in mystery and psychological suspense, this one’s for you. I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author.

Cat Protano nails the narration—no complaints there. But whoever wrote the blurb calling this a story of “two loving families”? What book were they reading? Out of eight characters, maybe one (Brad) is remotely tolerable. The rest? A buffet of awful.

That said, watching these absolute trainwrecks spiral was weirdly compelling. I stuck around because I had to know what happened to Cal and how this disaster was going to unfold. If you like your psychological thrillers full of tension, dysfunction, and zero moral compasses, it’s definitely worth the listen.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest domestic thriller by Liz Alterman, with the audiobook narrated by Cat Protano. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Jane Whitaker and Ivy Chapman have been best friends for twenty years - ever since their sons Cal and Brad attended the same preschool. Just as the two families are set to go to Wyoming for a ski vacation and to see their two sons who are rooming together, they get word that Cal is missing. Brad's behavior is suspect - he has Cal's phone and didn't report him missing. Cal's sister, Emerson, fuels the rumors by her social media posts. How far will these mothers go to protect their children?

Buckle up for this ride! There is not a likable character in the bunch and all of them have secrets and ulterior. motives. But I was glued to listening to this audiobook, with the story playing out from multiple POVs, revealing differing sides of the story. I'm always up for family messy dramas and these families had them in spades. Friendships are tested and there's a nod to the dangers of social media as well. I thought the audiobook production was spot on, even with all the different voices.