This book was an unexpected surprise. I have read Kubica's other novels and have widely varied opinions of them so I approached this one kind of warily. But the narrative moves swiftly and I stayed up past my bedtime two nights in a row because I desperately wanted to know what was happening. I thought it was well written and the characters were sympathetic. I thought that Eden was especially well written and Kubica does a great job of showing how desperate her actions were and how her motivations caused her to do what she did. (I can't write anything more without it being a spoiler.) All in all a gripping read and I would recommend.

I love Kubica's books so had high hopes for this one and was drawn into the story immediately. I loved the Eden/Jessie connection and was anxious to find out the truth about their relationship. But the ending threw me for a loop! I put the book down and said, "Whaaaat?" I'm still kind of reeling from it. I guess I just wanted there to be more closure with all the convoluted details from Jessie's mind. I'll still continue to read anything she writes as her imagination is awesome. This just wasn't the book for me.

I was riveting in this book and breezed through it, however, I have to say, the ending did not entirely work for me, I felt like it was really disappointing after getting so invested in these characters. I have read all of Kubica's prior books and will continue to do so in the future, but unfortunately, this one was not a win for me.

The book was describe to me as a thriller, but I see it more as a mystery. The chapters alternate between Eden and Jessie in different times and places, but meshing in the end.

Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her mother who suffered from the effects of her body ravaged by cancer. Her mother’s wish is for her daughter is for her to find herself after she dies. Jessie rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number belongs to a deceased person, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that causes her to doubt everything she’s ever known.

Jessie is thrust into a bizarre mystery that was/is her life. Her new situation is exacerbated by grief and a relentless inability to sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie’s mind. I felt I was going crazy just reading about Jessie’s insomnia. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts are hampered by fatigue. She can no longer sort out the difference between what’s real and what she’s only imagined. This part of the book became a bit confusing for this reader I must admit.

Eden’s situation was just as heartbreaking if not more, by the losses she experiences. As a mother of three children, I ached for Eden inability to have the only thing in life she truly wants and that is a child. And in desperation, Eden is willing to do anything it takes to get that child.

I was surprised, if not shocked at the twist where the father is revealed. This was most clever and unexpected; well thought out, Mary Kubuca. That scene in the book was very visual and a hard one to read.

Another passage I’d like to highlight that was another example of great writing and is one that continues invades my heart and mind. This is the mother bird who built her little nest in a rain gutter I believe it was. She covered her eggs with her body and a mother’s love while hailstorm pelted her body, which was no match for that type of abuse. She could have flown to shelter, but she was unwilling to sacrifice her eggs to save herself.

This book shows how the decisions we make in life must be thought out, because a split second bad one can alter your entire life and future.

When The Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica was intense from beginning to end. I read this in record time, wondering WHAT IS HAPPENING?

When Jessie Sloan’s mother dies, her world is turned upside down. She cannot sleep and begins to lose her mind. What is real, what is imagined and who is the man she keeps seeing? Jessie needs her social security number but learns the number belongs to a girl who is long dead, so why does Jessie have a past that is shrouded in mystery? Who is she, really? Is there a link to the dead girl whose social security number she possesses?

So many questions! And the whole time Jessie tries to figure out her true identity, the lack of sleep is causing her hallucinations. Meanwhile, in alternating chapters, we learn about Eden, a woman so desperate to have a baby that she’s willing to do anything.

This book is not out until September but I highly recommend this author’s novel, The Good Girl, which I thought was very good!

I love this author, but I felt this book went a little slow. Jessie was an unreliable narrator, which made me question everything. The twist as to who Jessie's dad is was unexpected for me. After finishing the book and looking back, I liked the concept, but while reading, I was confused, suspicious, and not liking what was happening. I look forward to her next book.

This was weird. The whole book was really a red herring and in the end, not a whole lot happened. There were bits and pieces that were interesting and certainly readers will think they know where the story is leading and they will likely be surprised. But there really felt like there was no pay off to this one in the end.

I love all Kubica's books. I find myself repeatedly, and wrongly, piecing together the trail of clues she leaves. I read this book in one day and at the 89% mark I was worried because there was so little book left and I did not know how it would all resolve in time! As usual, the ending was not as I predicted and actually caught me by surprise (with a smidgen of disappointment) but overall a good read as I had expected from Kubica.

The book starts with someone unknown on a building ledge and then goes back and forth in time and voice between Jessie and Eden, whose connection we don't learn of right away. Jessie is a young girl struggling with the death of her mom and Eden is a married woman struggling with her desire to have a child. As the stress and tension in both their lives escalates I found myself reading faster and wanting to 'help' both characters. Jessie's insomnia and growing paranoia is difficult to read and the pain and anguish of Eden's desire for a child is heartbreaking.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin-Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press for the early read in exchange for an honest review.

I am a HUGE fan of Mary Kubica. I have a copy of all of her books, and was so excited to receive an ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin Books. I was immediately invested in When The Lights Go Out. I really enjoyed Pretty Baby, which came out in 2015, and this story follows the same theme of motherhood. I loved the plot, and the unreliable narrator, which provided the same riveting suspense and stress that The Woman in the Window and Girl on the Train provided. The storyline was amazing, with alternating POV’s which kept me furiously flipping pages well into the night, trying to uncover the “bizarre case of stolen identity.” When I finally got to the ‘twist’ I was really disappointed, and actually flipped back to re-read because I was so surprised and unsure if I read incorrectly. I felt that my questions were never answered and wish the ending had gone in a different direction. I’ve read some very positive reviews with 5 stars, so maybe I am in the minority here. Excited to see what the bookstagram community thinks!

I LOVE getting good and lost in Mary Kubica’s novels! Right off the bat, just from reading the description Of When the Lights Go Out, I found the premise completely intriguing! This book is an addictive mystery/thriller that had me hooked from the very first page- I was 100% ALL IN!! I thought the way Mary Kubica told the story between the past and present from 2 points of view worked perfectly with the storyline and added to allure! The novel was well paced and I enjoyed the twists and turns I didn’t see coming- love that! When the Lights Go Out is a 4.5 star novel that will pull you in and keep you up way past your bedtime!

This novel was not what I expected. While it held my interest, I found myself skipping sections to get to the end. The mystery is about Jessie Sloane’s true identity, because after her mother’s death, she finds her SSN belongs to a dead three year old. Jessie goes many days without sleep as she tries to solve the details of her life. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I thought the main characters, Jessie and Eden, were crazy....I felt like I was going crazy. I had a deep compassion for Eden's POV chapters. I liked a lot of aspects of this story...but there is one plot point that is nagging at me. Overall though, it was a good read.

Jessie Sloane's mother is dying of cancer.  It was just her and her mom.  No dad, no real friends, no extended family.  So it all falls on twenty year old Jessie when her mom dies.  The stress of it all is too much for her.  She has no support and things begin to spiral out of control.

This book is a two-part narrative, with Jessie telling the contemporary story of her mother's death, but there is another story at play: a woman's journal entries from the late 1990s.  The journal entries tell a beautiful love story.

This is a book that can go in a lot of different directions.  There is a lot here to think about.

I enjoyed this novel immensely.  I would have liked it to have gone into more detail on certain things - but hopefully, it will give someone else the idea to flesh those parts of the story out more.  Without giving too much away, I would say that this is a story about life and family, love and struggle, what we do for love and how we identify ourselves through our relationships.

It is a very powerful novel and one that would be GREAT for book club discussions.

I really wanted to love this book as I am a huge Mary Kubrick fan!
I loved the idea of the story.....I just found it put together in a way that just didn’t make sense to me.
It’s hard to explain without giving too much away, I just didn’t enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to!

Jesse keeps a constant vigil over her dying mother in the hospital. She meets a man in the coffee shop whose brother is dying. Jesse is having trouble sleeping at all due to her mom's imminent death. She finally takes a tranquilizer, sleeps by her mom, waking up to her mom having already passed away.
This story then begins as an interwoven life story of Jesse and her mom' history. After Jesse's mom is cremated, she finds out that she has no social security card or birth certificate. Nothing. Using any cash she has, she manages to put money down on a carriage house in Chicago. Eden, years ago, has many problems trying to become pregnant. Her husband Aaron goes along with it all - even after her one pregnancy ends in miscarriage. Back to Jesse: she is extremely sleep-deprived and is seeing things, hearing things, etc. that aren't real. She begins to believe her identity is stolen from a 3 year old girl who died in a hit and run. She also follows a man whom she believes is her father. After 8 days of sleep deprivation, Jesse nearly dies chasing the man she believes is her father. The conclusion is one I did not see coming at all! There are many different twists to what the reader "automatically" thinks will happen. A GREAT read. WOW! What a surprise! Many thanks to Harlequin-Hanover Square and NetGallery for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The mystery between consciousness and unconsciousness drove the plot through a series of questions to find Jessie’s true identity. Told from alternating viewpoints that flip from past to present, the reader tried to solve the mystery and discover exactly what Eden has done to become Jessie’s mother. Always guessing until the end, which sadly closed way too quickly.

Oh My World! What an absolutely incredible book. I love Mary Kubica's writing. Her imagination blows me away. The characters and this story had me flipping the pages faster and faster. I could not have predicted the ending in a million years. I love it when an Author leads you down the garden path as happens in this book. The ending stunned me. I await the next book from this Author. Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I think Ms.Kubica is a fine writer, however I found myself rushing to get through the heightened state of anxiety Jessie experienced. It could have been shortened, especially since the story ended the way it did. But the love Aaron had for his wife was incredibly moving and heart-wrenching. And the subject matter of couples dealing with infertility is right on the mark.

While this book was entertaining and clever, the ending left me feeling slightly cheated. Without giving anything away, and admitting there were clues, it still felt like a bit like taking the easy way out. I do appreciate the clever writing though and as crazy as it seems, I might skim through it again. I guess I am still on the fence about this one..

Well written and intense thriller. Recommended for readers of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware, and the like. With thanks to the author (Mary Kubica), netgalley.com and the publisher (Park Row) for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Jessie Sloan's mother is dying, and she sits at the hospital bedside, exhausted but unwilling to sleep. After her mother passes, her grief spirals out of control, as her life falls apart. She has no social security card, no birth certificate among the paper work her mother left behind. Memories of her mothers evasiveness about her father niggle at her thoughts. As she tries to piece together what little she knows, her sleeplessness tortures her mind and her body. I found some of the passages about sleep deprivation and Jesse's reactions to her insomnia to be overkill and unnecessary, but over all this was a captivating read that kept me turning pages and I finished in less than a day.