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

The start was a little slow for me but once it got going......
A toxic family and a storyline which was dark and twisty.
Great writing from this talented author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

If you love twisty thrillers with toxic family secrets, you have to read this one! I was on Team Claudia all the way and angry right along with her; these people invited her in, but they had no idea who they were messing with. The whole vibe of the creepy dinner, the fake smiles, and the shady brother had me hooked from page one. Claudia is smart, determined, and refuses to be another missing girl. If you like The Housemaid or Gone Girl, you’ll fly through this just like I did!

Review of ‘Welcome to the Family’ by Cathryn Grant, due to be published on 29 August 2025 by Bookouture.

Claudia is looking forward to meeting her fiancé Daniel’s family and excited to start planning their wedding - but when she arrives at the lavish chateau with its sprawling vineyards, she is met with hostility.

Daniel refuses to acknowledge the way his family are treating her, and gaslights Claudia into thinking it’s all in her head.

When Claudia attempts to get to the bottom of why his family are so hostile, things turn ugly as secrets and lies explode in spectacular fashion.

A gripping psychological thriller that makes you question who is telling the truth and what they stand to gain from keeping up the charade. The end twist, I did not see coming, and was pleasantly surprised. Recommended read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – “Welcome to the Family” by Cathryn Grant
(aka: meet the in-laws… and maybe meet your demise)

You ever have that tiny voice in the back of your head whisper, “Run, girl,” when things seem a little too perfect? Yeah, that voice was SCREAMING the minute I opened this book. Cathryn Grant doesn't just invite you into this family—she locks the door behind you, hands you a glass of wine, and dares you to ask what’s really in it.

We meet our leading lady Claudia (smart, gutsy, and with her own secret agenda) as she steps into the lion’s den: dinner with Daniel’s picture-perfect but absolutely-positively-hiding-something family. From Mama Ice Queen’s death stares, to Flirty Brother Elliott who might just be hotter than he is dangerous (or is it the other way around?), to the sister who looks like she’d rather be in a horror movie than a family portrait—this crew is vibes, and not the good kind.

It’s the kind of story where you’re gripping the pages and muttering “don’t eat that” and “girl, leave the house” while she plays the long game—because she's not some wide-eyed pushover. Oh no. She came for answers. She came to survive.

Grant keeps the suspense simmering like a pot that’s about to boil over. And when it does? Whew. Let’s just say I didn’t see it coming, and I pride myself on sniffing out a twist like a bloodhound on a Netflix binge.

The tension is top-notch, the pacing just fast enough to keep you on edge, and the family secrets? Let’s just say everyone needs therapy. Desperately.

This was dark, twisty, a little outrageous in the best way—and let’s be honest, exactly what I signed up for. Think: dinner with the Addams Family meets “Gone Girl” if she was playing chess with a bunch of liars who thought they were smart.

If you love your thrillers unsettling, juicy, and full of secrets, Welcome to the Family is your next toxic little treat. Just don’t expect a warm hug. You’re more likely to get a knife in the back—and oh baby, it’ll be sharpened with love. 🖤

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

This thriller grips you from the start and refuses to let go. Each chapter escalates the tension, layering mystery and danger with expert precision. The protagonist's journey is intense and emotionally charged, making every twist hit harder. The atmosphere is dark, cinematic, and completely immersive. It’s the kind of book you lose sleep over—in the best way.

Book Review 📚
Title: Welcome to the Family
Author: Cathryn Grant

I was hooked from the very first page! Daniel’s family gave me an eerie, unsettling feeling—I honestly don’t know how Claudia manages to deal with them. Are they hiding something?
This book was an addictive page-turner full of unexpected twists. The second half had me completely shocked! At times, I felt anxious, even angry, as the story unfolded. And that ending… so satisfying!

Cathryn’s writing is captivating—she really knows how to keep readers engaged from start to finish. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of her work!


Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Cathryn so the eARC!!

Publication Date: August 29th 2025
Rating: ✨✨✨✨

#WelcometotheFamily #NetGalley

Name :- Welcome To The Family
Author :- Cathryn Grant
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
In Welcome to the Family, Cathryn Grant serves up a chilling domestic thriller where charm masks danger and polite smiles hide deadly secrets. The story follows a mysterious woman who is introduced to her fiancé Daniel’s wealthy but deeply unsettling family. What begins as a high-stakes visit to make a good impression quickly unravels into a deadly game of survival. From the calculating mother-in-law to the disturbingly flirtatious brother, and the silent, brooding sister—everyone has something to hide. But so does the narrator. She's not just there to marry into the family—she’s there for answers. Because Daniel and his brother have a dark past, and the women they previously brought home have all vanished.
Likes and Dislikes:-
Likes:-
1 Narrator with a hidden agenda: The protagonist isn’t just a passive victim—she’s active, aware, and digging. This flips the typical domestic thriller dynamic.
2 Claustrophobic family tension: The quiet dread at the dinner table, the overly controlled estate, and suspicious glances all add to the sense of unease.
Dislikes :-
1 A few supporting characters could have used more depth to elevate the final reveal.
2 The twist, while satisfying, might feel familiar to seasoned thriller readers.
Overall, If you enjoy thrillers where the “meet the parents” moment spirals into something deadly, Welcome to the Family is for you.
My Rating :- 4/5.

This book is unputdownable. There are so many twists and turns you will start to think yoi know what is going to happen. You will be surprised at the end. Looking forward to the next one.

This book started off slow for me as I found the character of Claudia annoying. However, Part II really sucked me in and I could not stop reading the next chapter to discover what would happen next! A toxic, frightening family. The ending was not entirely satisfying to me as a reader, but give this one a go if you like twisty books! Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date: August 29, 2025 Rating: 3.5 stars

Tense chilling could not put it down .Family drama hidden secrets an edge of your seat thriller.#NetGalley #bookoture

The first half of this book seemed to drag for me. However, the second part was what kept me glued to the pages. Fast paced, suspenseful, gripping.

I was kept on the edge of my seat with the twists. Suspicious of every character - what a toxic family!

Then I got to the end, and to me the ending was unsatisfactory. Every reader has to make up their own mind, so I won't spoil it for them.

I was immediately hooked from the moment I opened my kindle. It was suspenseful and thoroughly entertaining!

This book was wild read and I enjoyed every second I was reading it; it was full of twists and amazing turns that will have you guessing till the very end!

I’d highly recommend this book it’s definitely a must read and if you don’t read it you are missing out!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars

“Welcome to the Family” was my first time reading anything by Cathryn Grant, and I’m so glad I discovered her. I really connected with her writing style—simple, clean, and refreshingly understated. Instead of relying on fast-paced action, she buildt suspense through quiet tension, shifting relationships, and a slow, psychological unraveling that kept me completely hooked.

“Welcome to the Family” followed Claudia as she met her fiancé, Daniel’s family, the Whitman’s, for the first time. Claudia’s initial impression was that something was off about his family but she couldn’t ascertain what it was. As she learned more about the family during their time together, she uncovered secrets that the so called perfect family held. As time moved on, more and more twists and turns were revealed.

Cathryn Grant crafted a sharply written psychological thriller that pulled me in right away. Even though it touched on familiar themes like fractured family dynamics, buried secrets, and false appearances, her storytelling still felt fresh and distinctive.

What made this story different was the way the tension built so quietly. The Whitman family didn’t rely on threats or violence. Instead, they controlled others through charm, routine, and subtle emotional pressure that was masked as affection. There was this unnerving calmness throughout the book that made the truth, when it started to come out, even more unsettling. Their behavior had an almost cult-like feel, and the way the main character slowly began to realize she was being emotionally trapped was both believable and chilling.

“Welcome to the Family” is a book I’d recommend. It’s ideal for readers who love tense, closed-in domestic thrillers with manipulative family dynamics and a danger that’s masked by politeness and charm.

In appreciated receiving an advance copy from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I was absolutely on edge reading this! Talk about family drama and shady secrets! I was dropping my jaw at the audacity and the weird vibes Claudia gets from her future in-laws. Something is WAY OFF and as a reader you will sense that immediately. But the twists that come out make this book so hard to put down. I was nervous at times and angry at others but the plot unfolds at a great pace and I just needed to read this the whole way through because I couldn’t stand to wonder what was going to happen next. Definitely a fantastic thriller and this book is SO edgy.

Thank you NetGalley, Cathryn Grant and Bookouture for the ARC!

If you like thriller/mysteries that constantly twist and turn you will love this! I usually pride myself on guessing the ending of books like this but I could not figure it out. I was along for the ride on this roller coaster of a book. The main narrator was very likeable and I really enjoyed her exploring her bond with her sister. I am someone who is very close with her sister so I really resonated with that. I felt so immersed in her that I found myself also getting gaslit by her fiance. This would be a perfect book to read while drinking a glass of wine to really set the mood given the fact it is set in Napa. This was a fun, quick read that I was so enraptured by that I finished it in one day!

When Claudia arrives at her fiancés lavish estate and winery she realises quite quickly that his family are not what she was expecting and that his mother has no intention of letting her marry her son. As she tries hard to get to know them she struggles with the feeling of unease and no matter how hard she tries to explain her feelings to her fiancé he seems to only think bad of her. As she starts to worry things are not right with this family a secret about her future brother in laws ex wife starts to eat at her but the place is a fortress and even if she wanted to leave is she able to. I loved this dark twisty read and it had a great ending. Not to be missed!