Michelle Sacks offers a unique domestic suspense set in remote Sweden about a couple with a baby who dies suddenly. On the surface, their relationship seems ideal, but looking closer there are rifts. Some of the actions are disturbing. The setting and story are enthralling. The writing was a little choppy at times but still a good read.

The writing was great in this book. The story was very, very dark and I definitely struggled to continue reading it. I think if the characters were interacting with each other normally, I would have enjoyed this more.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

Absolutely loved this book by Michelle Sacks! I adored the writing style being told by the three main characters. The story made me feel that I was in the Swedish countryside! I have recommended to everyone! Thank you for the advanced copy.

While this was a fast paced read, I often was confused who was speaking at times throughout the book. I didn’t like the characters as they were too sinister for me, not the kind of people I would want to associate with.

This was a fast read but, I found myself mostly repulsed by the actions of the characters. The three leads were wholly unlikable, polarizing characters with no redeeming qualities. It was a dark, twisted and disturbing book.

For me, the book started off a bit slow. A family moves to an inherited house in Sweden to start a new life for them and their baby. It seemed like the perfect back to the earth, peaceful kind of life, gardening and living of the land.

Then the author throws us some hints that had my mind going back and forth, over and over again. At this point, things got really dark, which made up for the slow start! There are some cringe worthy chapters. And we read and get the point of views of the characters but who can we trust?

I have to say it was a tad depressing and sad at times. But one good psychological thriller, for sure.

The ending line in the book gave me chills, made my hair stand on and, and I was like WTF!!!! No, no, no!

* I was provided an ARC to read from the publisher and NetGalley. It was my decision to read and review this book.

The title sounds like a self-help book but You Were Made For This by Michelle Sacks is not a book on spirituality! Readers have called this addictive and thrilling which means Im going to be glued to this story from the minute I start until I finish.

Synopsis:

Doting wife, devoted husband, cherished child. Merry, Sam, and Conor are the perfect family in the perfect place. Merry adores the domestic life: baking, gardening, caring for her infant son. Sam, formerly an academic, is pursuing a new career as a filmmaker. Sometimes they can hardly believe how lucky they are. What perfect new lives they’ve built.

When Merry’s childhood friend Frank visits their Swedish paradise, she immediately becomes part of the family. She bonds with Conor. And with Sam. She befriends the neighbors, and even finds herself embracing the domesticity she’s always seemed to scorn.

All their lives, Frank and Merry have been more like sisters than best friends. And that’s why Frank soon sees the things others might miss. Treacherous things, which are almost impossible to believe when looking at this perfect family. But Frank, of all people, knows that the truth is rarely what you want the world to see.



Compelling plot, don’t you think? I can almost imagine this best friend moving in on a wife’s territory and the feelings that ensue. Available now!

3.5 stars.



Nope, I think my idea of a good time is to find characters who are even worse than I am. And these suckers in this book totally fit that bill.

You have happy little family Merry, Sam and baby Conor all living the dream life in Sweden. Merry is that perfect mom who makes all her own baby food and gardens and all the crap. I hated her from the first second. I'm totally judgey like that.
Sam the husband is just wonderful..until you scratch beneath the surface and realize that the whole reason they are living the "dream" is because he couldn't keep his weiner in his pants. *not a spoiler*

Then you start getting to know them. And realize....


Merry's lonely and so her friend Frank decides to come visit and soak up all the wonderful living. Once there she starts to realize that those smiles are pasted on like super glue between your teeth.

So ask yourself. Do you like poking your head into someone's window who has a heart as black as coal? These are your characters if so...and it's pretty decent.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

This debut novel by Michelle Sacks pulls no punches. If you are looking for a light read or one to give you faith in the human spirit, this is not the book for you. While looking perfect and beautiful on the outside, people can be really dark, twisted, and empty on the inside. The setting eerily mirrors this. What appears to a happy American family consisting of home-making mother Merry, her supportive husband Sam, and new baby living the simple life in a picture-perfect cottage in rural Sweden hides the reality of the cold, merciless truth like a sunless Nordic winter. All it takes is a visit from Merry’s childhood best friend career woman Frank to start revealing the ugly truths. The book is a little confusing to read as it skips back and forth between the viewpoints of Merry, Sam, and Frank. Each person does not have a distinct enough voice and with the nontraditionally gendered names, I found it hard to keep track of the narrative. The plot showcased the ugly side of human souls and I felt depressed and cynical after finishing the book. There are some triggering events portrayed in the book that could be difficult for those sensitive to certain types of issues.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Little, Brown, & Company, and the author for an electronic copy of the book to review.

This was such a strange read for me, I’m not even sure I can articulate my thoughts about it but I’ll do my best. For one thing, I flew through it so that tells me that it’s gripping, but on the other hand I was disturbed more than a few times due to the subject matter. But I didn’t stop reading even when things went down hill towards the end. Confusing to say the least!

This alternates Between Merry, Sam and Frank as Frank visits her BFF to check out her new life in Sweden with her husband and new son. The toxic and odd relationship between Frank and Merry was super interesting and I got the same vibe as when I read Give Me Your Hand so if you liked that book, you may like this as well. The writing style took a little time to get used to as well, Sacks doesn’t use quotation marks which was jarring at first but I adjusted quickly and wasn’t bothered soon enough.

The setting of Sweden was depicted really beautifully, I could easily picture the various scenes the author described and felt it had a really strong sense of place. There are many positive aspects of this one but as I don’t want to discuss the plot whatsoever, it’s difficult to get into what didn’t specifically work for me. If you’re intrigued by the blurb then I encourage you to pick this one up and try for yourself. It’s definitely unique and one that makes you say, what the hell?! Several times.

Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Loved every last bit of it. Will definitely recommend to customers at my work!

Merry , Sam and baby Connor lead a seemingly happy idyllic life in a Sweden countryside , very different from their busy lives in New York. Merry is content being a stay- at- home mom and a loving housewife while Sam is pursuing a new career as a documentary filmmaker. Each morning they count their blessings and are more than happy when Merry’s best friend Frank decides to visit them. At first Frank is a little jealous of Merry’s happiness but soon she starts noticing the cracks in Merry and Sam’s relationship. Nothing is as perfect as it seems and Frank decides to unearth all the secrets and lies that are holding Merry’s life together as that’s what best friends do . Isn’t it ?

You Were Made For This is a chilling psychological domestic thriller.Narrated from three different point of views none of the characters are very likable in fact some of them are downright despicable.The author has a unique writing style that made this dark story an interesting read for me.

I would like to thank Little, Brown and Company & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Merry, Sam, and their baby Conor have the perfect life in Sweden. Merry is a doting wife, a wonderful mother, and is thriving in her domestic life. Sam is beginning a new career and it's looking promising. Everything feels like it's perfect. When Merry's best friend Frank comes to visit she can't believe what Merry's life has become. But childhood friends can always see behind the curtain and Frank knows something isn't right and she's determined to find out. This book is kind of a toss up for me. I felt uncomfortable reading it during some parts because Merry really wasn't a wonderful mother. In fact she didn't love her kid and would purposefully hurt him- which was hard to read. I'm not a mother- but this book definitely comes with a trigger warning for mothers. It's not one I'm sure I'm willing to recommend because of that.

SYNOPSIS: Doting wife, devoted husband, cherished child. Merry, Sam, and Conor are the perfect family in the perfect place. Merry adores the domestic life: baking, gardening, caring for her infant son. Sam, formerly an academic, is pursuing a new career as a filmmaker. Sometimes they can hardly believe how lucky they are. What perfect new lives they’ve built.

When Merry’s childhood friend, Frank, visits their Swedish paradise, she immediately becomes part of the family. She bonds with Conor. And with Sam. She befriends the neighbors, and even find herself embracing the domesticity she’s always seem to scorn.

All their lives, Frank and Merry have been more like sisters than best friends. And that’s why Frank soon sees the things others might miss. Treacherous things, which are almost impossible to believe when looking at this perfect family. But Frank, of all people, knows the truth is rarely what you want the world to see.

OKAY - FIRST - let’s talk about this gorgeous book cover! PLEASE do NOT be fooled by this DELICIOUSLY tantalizing, bright, beautiful cover! This is NOT a cookbook, NOR is it a romance novel, OR a self-help book… THIS, my friends, is a psychological thriller to the CORE!!!

Sam and Merry decide to leave their lives in NYC behind and move to Sweden, where Sam has inherited a cottage. Their plan – to leave their mistakes behind and start a new life together. A perfect life. It’s apparent right off the bat that Merry is NOT happy with this new life. A once successful NYC set designer turned a stay-at-home mom to their new baby, Connor – life in Sweden is FAR from perfect. AND, when Mary’s friend “ Skanky Frankie” comes to visit - things go from bad to WORSE.

There are 73 chapters. Yep, I said 73 – they are SHORT and VERY easy to read. YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS is dark, deeply disturbing and disgustingly addictive and I was unable to look away. The THREE (3) characters ( Sam Merry, and Frank) are unlikable and their relationships are RUTHLESS and TOXIC. If you’re looking for a quick easy read that will rock you to your CORE – you want to read this book!

Michelle – THAT ENDING!!!!! Really!?!?!? LOL

I feel the need to warn that this book contains scenes of child abuse.
It's not easy to read, but if you can get past it, there is a solid domestic thriller here.

This book shocked me with it's directness and unsympathetic way of highlighting the darkness that resides in people. The characters are shallow, selfish, jealous, manipulative and down right horrid, but the face they put on for show every day hides it all from the world. They smile, hug, and put up appearances that mimic loving and caring people, all the while using their words to tear down and weaken those around them.

So what's the story about?

-2 women, each wanting what the other has.
-One man, who wants it all.
-In the middle; an innocent baby.

Sounds so boring, but this story is anything but. If you are willing to venture into the darkness of these characters, be prepared to want to take a shower to clean off when it's all over.

Tough read but really well written. I do look forward to more from this author!

ARC provided by NetGalley

My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown & Co. for providing an ARC in return for this honest review.

Tales about psychotic mothers or nannies (Die, My Love by Ariana Harwicz , The Perfect Nanny/Lullaby by Leila Slimani) and about female jealousy (Tangerine by Christine Mangan) seem to be all the vogue these days - so Sacks decided to conflate them into one somewhat messy suspense thriller. But I found three things preventing me from really entirely enjoying Sacks' debut effort:

1. ALL of the major characters are not only screwed up, but deeply psychotic individuals... there was absolutely no one to root for or, or even sympathize with, making it very difficult to relate to them or care about their problems. And although an attempt is made to 'justify' why each of them are screwed up, the psychology just doesn't quite work.

2. The three major character take turns narrating - and they all sound EXACTLY the same. This is a particular bête noire for me, and granted it is difficult to pull off separate narrative styles for each character, but if you can't do it, don't attempt it.

3. (Minor spoiler ahead!) Almost exactly halfway through, a death occurs and although attempts are made to proffer various scenarios and subterfuges as to what occurred, I immediately had figured out 'Who Done It' and more or less why ... and it was kind of a slog through the final 160 pages to find out I was correct.

The GOOD thing is that the book is quick moving - I read the entire thing in a little over a day, and though the prose is nothing special, it gets the job done. For a breezy summer beach read, one could do worse.

I've been drawn to the domestic drama mysteries lately. So this book seemed right up my alley. It was a very intriguing story and an inside look at what can happen when you mix friendships with marriage.

Merry has a great life. She lives in a remote part of Sweden with her husband and young son. Has a lavish garden that helps to sustain them through the long winter months and enough chores to keep her going right until its time to go to bed. The question is...is she happy?

Frank has a beyond comfortable lifestyle. Jet setting all over the world, she's made herself as successful as her parent's weren't. Her one concern in life has always been Merry. Sister by fate, they've always been as close as close can be. Is their relationship really what it seems though? And how far would each woman go if they thought the other was truly unhappy?

An all around interesting story. Could have been a little more faced paced, but that's just my taste. The characters were great. Well developed, thought out and relate-able.

4 Stars.

Weird, Wild, Intriguing and Full of Suspense!

Merry and Sam live quite the life. The best life, the happiest life. They couldn’t ask for more. They left their pasts behind: everything, bad, horrible and sinful and made their great escape to Sweden. To a new life, filled with light, love and new possibilities. Merry life’s work has become building a home for her family. She wakes every morning, making baby food and homemade jam and bread and she keeps a perfect home, all while her husband Sam goes off to find work each day. (Does a Stepford Wife come to mind? That’s what I thought of too!)

They are just so lucky. It seems too good to be true doesn’t it?

When Merry’s best friend Frank visits from America, everything becomes even more blissful. Frank sees everything that has been missing from life. Yet Frank notices things about Sam and Merry’s relationship that others wouldn’t: cracks. To be healed or split wide open?! The truth is not pretty, but then it never is, is it? Everyone has secrets and Frank is determined to unearth them, friendship be damned.

Demented and dark, intriguing and harrowing, shocking and suspenseful, “You Were Made For This” is a thriller that is multi-layered and out there. The characters are despicable and dastardly, yet I was drawn in regardless - it happens rarely but it happens. I was hooked from the start and I think you will be too.

Disclaimer: “You Were Made For This” is a novel that I recommend with caution due to the extreme content.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown and Company and Michelle Sacks for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 7.6.18.

A gripping psychological drama that had me reading late into the night. It was dark, and at times horrifying. Although I read to the end with an all consuming desire to seek the conclusion, no happy ending was found on the horizon. Simply the promise of more damaging relationships and an endless cycle of abuse of three very twisted and sick characters. Motherhood, marriage, and love are not the sinister manifestations of power, envy, and lust that this book depicts. You Were Made for This is a well written, thought provoking novel, however, the thoughts it provokes are not nice.