Welcome To The Family by Cathryn Grant. This book is easily read in a day or two, this dysfunctional family certainly made me glad of my own in-laws. A book in two halves, the first set the scene of a Claudia meeting her fiancé’s family, getting lots of mixed signals and cold shoulders. Her fiancé is gas lighting her every two seconds, and honestly, I didn’t like anyone. I would’ve scarpered! Most of the action takes place in the second half. This is a great, quick and twisty read, but I have to say it wasn’t quite for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Thankyou to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this advance ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a gripping, thrilling read where the atmosphere and tension is built slowly right from the start with unusual family dynamics.

They all seemed guilty to me so it was hard to pinpoint which one is the guilty party or if they are in it together and just what is this big secret? I think part two of the story kept my attention the most. The twists at the end are great too (no spoilers here!) and parts of it are unexpected.

Cathryn’s written is captivating and keeps you intrigued and engaged from start to finish. I would definitely read more by this author. This is definitely one to pick up if you love a fast paced psychological thriller

I still remember how I felt when I went to meet my in-laws for the first time—and they didn’t even live on a large estate or own a castle or vineyard. So I can easily put myself in Claudia’s shoes: my nerves times a thousand! ;)

Just like Claudia, everyone hopes to be welcomed with open arms and become part of a warm, loving family. Unfortunately for her, nothing could be further from the truth. Her future mother-in-law is like the Ice Queen, her brother-in-law shamelessly flirts with her, and her sister-in-law seems like she just crawled out of the freezer as well. You’d expect at least your partner to be on your side, but he acts like nothing’s wrong...

From the very first page, the author sets the tone that lingers throughout the entire book and only intensifies toward the end. You immediately sense how the “welcome” is going to be—even while Claudia is still on her way.

But Claudia is not one to give up easily. She’s determined to get answers. The family is as closed-off as a clam, and Claudia is left to fend for herself. This leads her to dig deeper and deeper, putting herself in serious danger.

The book is divided into two parts. The first lays the foundation and, in my opinion, moves at a slower pace than the second, where everything suddenly accelerates and we get the revelations we’ve been waiting for.

I truly had no idea who in the family could be trusted, and the author certainly didn’t help me out of my confusion or doubts. I had to wait until the very end for all the pieces to fall into place.

In the final stretch of the story, we’re hit with another unexpected twist on top of the others. The ending felt a bit too short for me—I would have liked an epilogue or an extra chapter with a bit more resolution. Or maybe it was meant to leave the door open for a sequel?

Either way, the story definitely intrigued and captivated me right up to the end. For me, it’s a solid 4 stars.

Thank you.

I was hooked from the very first chapter - this was an easy, fast-paced read. Daniel brings his fiance to meet his family and as it turns out they are creepy. I am not sure how Claudia could stand being around them. From the beginning she knew they were hiding something. What is Claudia hiding? This one is full of twists, some of those I did not see coming. Cathryn's writing pulls you in and keeps you flipping pages.

Welcome to the Family by Cathryn Grant
Holy twists and turns. This was a wild ride. I loved how this story unfolded and how the plot escalated so intensely.

The mysterious elements between characters were so well done. I loved that you couldn’t decide who was good or bad. Everyone has something to hide, and there were so many secrets.

Family takes on an entirely wicked meaning in this book. On one hand, I love how loyal and seemingly loving these characters seemed, but the shade!

There were so many twists to this plot, and each one left me speechless. It was deviously delicious, and I was captivated from page one. I loved how things escalated and intensified with each page.

This would be a fantastic series. It would be brilliant to see how this story could be broken into episodes and expanded into this entire storyline. The summer of thrillers is going strong, and if you like fast-paced books with boldly treacherous characters, look no further!

Publication date: August 29, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture

A very twisty read indeed! I liked the creepy setting. However, I found that changing the protagonist midway through the book pulled me out of the story. There were so many POVs to begin with, and a lot of telling rather than showing, so it was hard to connect with any of them, and I was not overly invested in the outcome. Still, there were a bunch of twists at the end that were clever. 3.5 rounded up for good writing.

Welcome to the Family was my first book by Cathryn Grant and I really enjoy it.First half of the book we meet Claudia ,who go to her fiancé Daniel home to meet his family and plan the wedding.Second half of the book we meet Renee/Riley who's looking for her sister.

One want to belong to the family,the other one want to find her family.
Will they get what they looking for?

Creepy and disturbing it's not enough to describe this psychological thriller.I suspect quite early the person who is responsible for some evil things that happened,but the twists at the end suprise me.Perfect for psychological thriller fans,you won't be let down with this book.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for ARC.

Welcome to the Family is a slow-burning, psychological thriller that pulls you in with an eerie sense of dread from the start. Cathryn Grant does a fantastic job building suspense as secrets unravel and tensions rise within what seems like a perfect family.

The story is told with a creeping unease that kept me turning the pages, wondering who to trust. The main character’s descent into doubt and paranoia felt believable, and the dynamic between the characters — especially the in-laws — was unsettling in the best way. Grant's writing is sharp and understated, adding to the atmospheric tension.

While the pacing dragged a bit in the middle, and a few twists were somewhat predictable, the payoff was satisfying and left me thinking about the story long after finishing. It’s not an action-heavy thriller, but if you enjoy domestic suspense with psychological depth, this is a solid pick.

Wow! Cathryn Grant does it again! I have read many of her books and enjoyed them all. This just might have become my favorite. The winery, Chateau Noir is like Hotel California. “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Reading this twisted thriller felt like watching a horror movie, yelling at the screen saying “Don't go into the basement!” Red flags accumulate as tensions rise. “ I've observed, in my very limited experience of the world, that all of us are broken. The ones you can trust are those who learn something when life breaks them. Those who don't can't be trusted.” This family is broken, damaged, and deadly. They ask you to enjoy your wine as they plan your demise. What secrets are they hiding, and are they aware that they are not the only ones with secrets? I highly recommend this addictive, intense, shocking thriller! Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Cathryn Grant’s Welcome to the Family is a masterclass in psychological suspense. From the very first page, you’re drawn into the unsettling world of a seemingly perfect family with a dark, unspoken history. The story follows a woman who falls for Daniel and is invited to meet his family—only she’s not just a guest. She’s on a mission. And she knows far more than she lets on.

The tension builds beautifully over a lavish dinner where every glance, every silence, and every evasive answer hints at something sinister. Daniel’s mother is watchful, his brother dangerously charming, and his sister cold and distant. It’s clear they’re hiding something. And as the layers peel back, the truth is far more disturbing than anyone could have imagined.

Grant’s writing is sharp and atmospheric, with a keen eye for emotional nuance. The pacing is tight, the twists are genuinely gasp-worthy, and the protagonist’s voice is compelling—driven by fear, determination, and a quiet strength. What makes this thriller stand out is its psychological depth. It’s not just about what happened, but why—and how far people will go to protect the illusion of a perfect life.

Fans of Gone Girl, The Housemaid, and The Perfect Marriage will find themselves utterly hooked. Welcome to the Family is a dark, elegant page-turner that lingers long after the final chapter.

Thank you to Cathryn Grant, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

This was a truly gripping story!
I loved how much suspense was involved throughout the entire book.
While some things that happened I kind of had a feeling about, but the ending of the book was a total shock.
I really can't even put into words how captivating this book was. I really could not put it down!

The prologue was good, it hooked me and enticed me to read.
However, everything else was downhill from there.
25% of the book was just literal red flags everywhere. There was hardly any buildup to the characters and the reader was just thrown into a chaotic mess of red flags.
A wandering, flirty brother in law, a crazy possessive and jealous mother, a nonchalant Faith, and my oh my, a boyfriend/fiancé that calls you dramatic and blames whatever you feel on you? Gaslight was written aptly.

No character build up.
Pacing was non existent.
Literally sunk into the deepest of ocean and left my head spinning and in a bad way, unable to accept any of the morally ambiguous and suspicious characters.

Wow!!! Just WOW!!! I didn't, jn z million years see ghe twists coming midway. They are normally at ghe end. What a great read

This one was interesting. The premise is there but it's written in a strong telling style vs building out a story. The first half was great, nicely paced, engaging. The second half became kind of drawn out and monotonous. Overall, there are good twists and suspense. The ending was going ok until about the last page and a half and then it lost me.

This author sure knows how to deliver the punches rightt at the end that you have no clue is coming. Such a thrilling read that had me guessing all the way through. Loved everything about it and highly recommend.

4.25 rounded up!

WOW what a rollercoaster! I was engaged the whole entire time because each chapter left on a cliff-hanger. The twist did not especially at the end. I was completely hooked on this book and highly recommend!

Just wow...
I didn't believe it was going to be a gripping psychological thriller with a jaw dropping twist.

I was captivated and lost in the story.
I had no idea what was going on in this novel but in a good way.

I would recommend this book to someone else. If I could go back and re-read it for the first time I would.

Wow what a crazy family!
I really liked this book and I enjoyed that we got two parts, one from Claudia perspective and one from Renee.
This book kept me guessing,I was always making new theories and in the end,nothing was correct and I love it.
I want to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in this book were super over the top and the writing style utilized a lot of telling instead of showing.

The characters made decisions that made zero sense.

I did read to the end because I wanted to find out what would happen, so that's a point in it's favor.

⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up

First, thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I think there’s something to be said about subtlety when establishing a creepy family and hateable characters, and the characters in this book were very much the opposite of subtle. I felt like I was being told to hate the characters, instead of being shown why I should and making that decision on my own. I didn’t care about any of them, I found them all to be walking red flags, and because of that, the twists didn’t feel impactful to me. I understand where the gaslighting and meanness became necessary for the development of the story, but at some points it felt inundating and could have benefited from understated nastiness to draw the reader in.

That said, I did want to keep reading and find out how it all wrapped up. The world building and back stories were interesting. I just wasn’t a fan of the characterizations and development overall. I hope this book finds its fans, and I can tell that the author put a lot of work into building this world and this story. It just wasn’t the right fit for me