"Only Ever Her" by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

The bride goes missing, or is she taken? The man who killed her mother years ago comes out of jail...

3.5 stars.
A good read but I found the story to be slow.

Well written and good characters, interesting story just not the great suspense I was waiting for.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Annie, was found wandering the town as a small child and it was discovers that her mother had been murdered. The entire town got caught up in her life as she grew up and she became a beloved member of her community.
Annie is grown now and about to be married. The town is so excited for her. Then just a few days before her wedding, she goes missing. Her disappearance happens at the same time as her mom's supposed killer's prison release. Is it a coincidence or not? So many characters and so many suspects, but who is really responsible?

It took me some time to get through this book. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and with the story told from a number of viewpoints, I found that my attention wandered from what was going on in the book.

Anything I have ever read by Marybeth Mathew Whalen has been really great and this one is no exception. I couldn't put it down until I found out what happened. All the characters were so unbelievably realistic I felt like I knew them and there is such a surprise at the end I would never have guessed it. I would give this book 10 stars of I could!

Thanks for the ARC Net Galley.

This is an unusual novel in that on the surface it appears to be a mystery but usually mystery novels are very plot-driven and fast-paced whereas this story is slow burning and is very character-driven.

It's about Annie, who days before her wedding goes missing. While she tells a few bits of her story in the very beginning, most of the book is told from the perspectives of 4 other people: her cousin, her aunt (who is the mother figure because Annie's mom was murdered when she was a kid and she was raised by her aunt), her high school secret best friend, and another high school classmate (not friend) who is back in town working for the local paper.

I usually love character-driven stories and when thrillers take this route I am even happier. And this was totally my kind of novel where the mystery of what happens to Annie (and what happened to her mother) were what united the story but it was really more about the small town, each of the people and their individual stories and their journey. The biggest reason this is not a 5-star read for me was that I didn't end up connecting with any of the characters. I think this is because there wasn't enough depth, vulnerability, connection built between them and the reader. Maybe that's cause there was more telling than showing, or just not enough in general but even though I can't quite put my finger on the why, I just didn't feel connected to the characters as much as I like to in this type of story. I will say, though, that I didn't find any of them dislikable. None of them are two-dimensional, comical, or unreliable. Which is already a huge win compared to so many of the mysteries that seem to be coming out lately.

This was a solid read for me. I enjoyed the time I spent with it.

Thank you to netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the early review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Only Ever Her
Author: Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3 out of 5

When Annie was a little girl, she was found wandering in the woods, not far from her mother’s murdered body. Now grown up, she’s the town’s darling, and her imminent wedding is all anyone talks about. Annie’s ready for her life to change, but can she leave behind this small town—and her support system—to start her new life?

Just days before her wedding, Annie disappears. There’s no sign of her. No sign she might have run. No sign she spoke to anyone before she disappeared. With her mother’s accused murderer freshly released from prison, the town fears the worst, and those who love Annie will have to deal with their own issues as they search for her.

I did not connect with this book at all. The small-town vibe was accurate, but I found Annie herself unlikable, as was her secret friend. I didn’t find this very suspenseful, and everyone had secrets, of course, but the only character I liked was Clary. Just not a good fit for me.

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen lives and writes in North Carolina. Only Ever Her is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Right off the bat, I wasn't a fan of the prose of the story and the present tense kept throwing me off. Something about it made me disconnected to the characters and what they were doing but I was intrigued by the plot enough that I wanted to know more. My second reaction to this book was that there were too many character POVs. I couldn't get emotionally invested in any of them except Annie who I was invested in for all the wrong reasons. I couldn't stand her character. She was extremely selfish and entitled despite claiming that she's only pretending to be the way she is because everyone expects her to be that way. No girl. Stop using people for your own gain and getting upset when they expect something from you in return. I couldn't wrap my head around her.

There was also so much repetition of information. Over and over we're told that Annie was three years old when her mother was killed. Cordell Lewis got charged for her murder. I don't need to read this information 10 times in various different ways through different character's POVs in order for me to understand it or retain it. There were many other facts/plot points throughout the book that were repeated over and over again as well and it gets to a point where it becomes frustrating.

The synopsis of the book is slightly misleading in that it definitely is not thriller but instead a very slow-paced "mystery" filled with little urgency and a lot of lies and secrets. I didn't hate it but sadly, I didn't care for it either.

This was my first read by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and sadly I wasn’t impressed. The story was intriguing and I enjoyed how the past and present seemed to link up, but sadly the characters did it in.

Annie is suppose to be this flawless main character who lost her mother at a young age. She has her secrets, but she is getting married to a great guy. I hated Annie. She was just so flaky and used people to get what she wanted. She didn’t care about others and only focused on herself. So when she disappeared, I was thrilled.

The rest of the book focused on 4 other characters (Annie’s aunt, Annie’s cousin, a reporter who attended school with Annie and Annie’s closest friend). I didn’t care for any of them and it was annoying to have the novel skip back and forth between so many characters.

Such a beautiful cover, but sadly not a book I enjoyed

I love me a good suspenseful mystery. This one did not disappoint. I have not read any other books by this author, but after reading this one and being pulled into the story, I'll be searching her other titles.

I was pulled right into this story, and got nothing done until I was finished reading. It was amazing! Kept me on the edge of my seat in spots, and had my constantly guessing what was going to happen next. I may even re-read it just to see if there were parts I missed (I'm sure there were).

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It was light and a quick read and perfect as the weather is starting to warm up to enjoy as a nice evening read. I liked how there were several characters who's stories we learned throughout the book. I feel like maybe the book could have been a bit longer and the characters could have been developed somewhat more. It wrapped up neatly which isn't my favorite in a mystery book but the conclusion surprised me and I thought was unconventional.

This one just sort of meandered around until it just ended. There was no suspense and the stories begun never came together is a satisfying way. I was expecting more action, more to happen. Instead we jump from one thin character to another. None fleshed out and none feeling reliable.

On.y Ever Her is part love story, part mystery and part family drama. There’s about to be a wedding that’s the talk of the town and the bride goes missing. I loved the balance of the different genres, giving it a fresh feeling along with the alternating viewpoint chapters. Onl6 Ever Her is the perfect springtime poolside read!

This book was a bit of a letdown for me. I was expecting a more action-packed thriller based on the description of the book (Annie's mother's supposed killer, who may have been wrongly accused based on Annie's testimony at 3 years old, is released from prison and then Annie suddenly vanishes). The book kept alternating between characters Kenny, Clary, Faye, and Laurel and I felt like I never really got to know any of them very well. I found that I didn't really particularly care for any of the characters - they were all, for the most part, unhappy with how their lives turned out. Even Annie, as the town sweetheart, had her own demons. I was able to finish the book, but it was definitely slow moving for me.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

The description of this books was amazing I was super excited when my wish was granted and I got Only Ever Her. But sadly the book and I didn’t connect and it fell flat for me. I felt confused at times and just couldn’t get into it.

Only Ever Her⭐️
With weddings and murder there is little Annie can do to keep her clam so with the wedding coming closer and Annies disappearance everything is questioned.
The prologue was amazing but the rest of the story had a different voice, many voices and none of them were as intriguing.
We follow alot of different people I think that if we were to only see two perspectives and just get more of them i would have really enjoyed this but I was trying to remeber who peope were and what their relation to Kenny was and if they were crazy or not.


Thank you so much to Lake Union Publishing via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of Only Ever Her by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen. This will be released on may 7, 2019
All opinions are my own.

While I enjoyed this book, i felt like it was disjointed. There were way to many pointless backstories for my liking, and I feel like the ending could have been something incredibly twisted, but for me, it fell flat, and predictable.

I do like the pace at which MBW wrote this book, and I've loved her previous books. I honestly think Im the problem with the book. I read a lot of thrillers, so it takes a lot to surprise me lately.

If I was to use one word to describe a book (something I usually find really hard to do), I would use 'ambitious'. I will get to what that entails in just a little bit. 

This story spans a very short period in time, the events span barely a week of current time while tendrils of the past continue to reach out on every single one of those days. Annie is the darling of the town. She is the person who they saw come from adversity as a three year old and blossom into a woman preparing for her wedding. It is the talk of the town. The talk causes a lot of introspection in the minds of many directly connected to her. 

The trouble with this well written 'thriller' is that is gives us too many people to focus on. While we are effectively told which of these people had nothing to do with her untimely disappearance, we are allowed to harbour some suspicions. The problem was with the fact that there were too many people, too broken and filled with emotions that try to jostle for our attention as we read through this relatively small book. I felt for all the people we had the chance to hear the thoughts of, all except the main lead, Annie. I think we are not meant to like her in the long run and that usually takes a little bit off the enthusiasm I feel for such books.

Overall an interesting read from the point of people watching and that you never know what actually constitutes a 'normal' person in these scenarios.

Annie Taft is 26, ready to marry Scott Hanson, and move somewhere fresh. Away from the town of Ludlow, where she is known as the daughter of the murdered woman. Cordell Lewis was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Annie's mother, Lydia Taft--largely on the word of Annie, who was only three. But his lawyer is advocating for a new trial--and Cordell's release. It's now four days before Annie's wedding; Cordell is out of jail, and Annie has disappeared. At first, Annie's aunt, Faye, who has raised her niece since the age of three, thinks she has hidden away due to nerves. But as the wedding date inches closer, Faye and her daughter, Clary, realize something is amiss. Was it Cordell, seeking revenge after all this time? Or someone who knows Annie well?

"Some people hear their mother's voices in their heads, but Annie hears her aunt's, the closest thing she has to a mother."

This book wasn't anything like what I was expecting, and honestly, it was a rather strange tale, but it was still rather interesting. It's a character-driven read, not a suspense novel, but wow, I got really attached to some of these characters. I picked this one up based solely on the strength of the last Marybeth Mayhew Whalen novel I read, WHEN WE WERE WORTHY. She has a real knack for capturing her characters: they jump off they page and stick with you. In particular, I fell hard for Faye and Clary in this one. And, of course, there was Annie, who was always there, motivating nearly every character:

"She has to make the town happy, like she always has. It is her act of service, her offering on behalf of the greater good. When you're the only survivor of the town's darkest moment, you do whatever you can to bring light."

There are a lot of narrators in the novel, but together they expertly show the web and ties of a small town, where it seems everyone has a secret of some sorts. I thought the beginning of the book was a bit slow, but it picked up in the second half, becoming rather dramatic and suspenseful. It's also an emotional read, as you become more and more invested in the characters. I expected more with Annie's storyline and disappearance--the ending sort of fizzled there for me. The more compelling piece is truly her mother's murder and its aftermath, especially on Faye.

Still, this was an interesting and poignant read featuring some excellent characters. While it was a bit slow to start, I found myself quite immersed in the second half. I really enjoy what Whalen can do with her small town personalities. 3.5 stars.

Only Ever Her was fantastic. It was wonderfully written with tragedy, romance, betrayal, sadness, grief...and it was beautiful. I thought I had it pegged, and I was wrong - and then I got hit with something I didn't even know I needed (which was actually the catalyst for my four-star rating getting bumped up to five), and then the ending was satisfactory and filled with hope. It wasn't a thriller, which is what I normally read, but it definitely kept my attention all the way through. I really, really enoyed this story, and I can't wait to read more of Marybeth's work. Five stars!

This is the first book I have read by Author Marybeth Mayhew Whalen. I found she has very intriguing characters who are well developed, strong small town family bonds, and 2 little mysteries through out the book.
I do want to point out, this is definately not a suspense or thriller book. If you go into it with an open mind you will find an enjoyable small town story with a little bit of mystery involved.
I will definately read another book by this author, as I feel he has a very well written book that was marketed to the wrong audiance.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to provide an honest review for this book.

I have reviewed this novel for New York Journal of Books and it will be posted on their site the night prior to the publication date!


"Only Ever Her" by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
Lake Union Publishing
May 7, 2019
10-1503903893
Suspense


When Annie Taft was three years old, she and her mother Lydia went camping at nearby Eden Hill State Park in the small town of Ludlow, SC. The following morning, Annie is seen wandering around a hiking trail, hungry, dirty and still in her pajamas. Lydia is soon discovered in her tent, her body already cold from being strangled. Annie states her mom's sometime boyfriend Cordell Lewis was with them. Automatically the police charge him with the murder without investigating further.

Now, many years later, Annie—who was raised by her aunt Faye—is due to get married in three days. She receives a letter from Attorney Tyson Barnes asking to see her. Though she is to meet with Laurel Haines, an old high school classmate and now a reporter for the Ludlow Ledger, she instead goes to the lawyer's office. Barnes believes Cordell Lewis was falsely sentenced, and he is trying to get him re-tried or freed and needs Annie's help. Over the years, she has questioned herself if her statement had, in fact, sent an innocent man to prison.

Confused and at odds after meeting Barnes, Annie wonders why Cordell Lewis's situation is coming up now, just before her wedding.

"Annie knows one thing: nothing can set things right. No matter what she does or does not do, her mother will not be there when she walks down the aisle in a matter of days. He mother will not wear a mother-of-the-bride dress that is slightly dowdy but appropriate for the occasion. She will not give Annie a family heirloom to be her ‘something blue.’ She will not offer marriage advice based on her own years of wisdom. Because Annie's mother did not have years to grow wise. Lydia Taft died when she was twenty-three years old. She didn't even get to live as long as Annie herself has."

Since Lydia's murder, the town's folk consider Annie a sweetheart with everyone cheering for her. Kind and unobtrusive, Annie never utters a bad word about anyone or gets into arguments. When Kenny Spacey moved to town with his single mother, the shy and somewhat strange youth became the target of bullying, but Annie jumped to his side by befriending him and not allowing their peers to torment him. From then on, Kenny loves Annie, though secretly but she only considers him as a friend.

Annie questions why Laurel Haines, the wanna-be big-shot journalist, now back in town and writing for the newspaper is so anxious to meet with her when they were never close? Nervous, she heads to the spot where her mom died and where she goes when she is upset and wants to "talk" to Lydia.

Only Kenny is privy to this special place. He is her best friend and confidant and with him, she can be herself. He understands all sides of her including the one that isn't constant sweetness and light. She tells him once she marries; their friendship is over, which breaks Kenny's heart. Can't she realize how much he adores her and be him instead? Her thoughts are this:

"Kenny is not the right guy. Scott is. Kenny, of course, does not understand this. He's not aware of the protocol. But she knows—as she always has—what's expected of her, what her role is in this town. She cannot marry the odd duck, her quirky friend. She has to marry the guy who is her perfect match, the one people expect to see waiting for her at the end of the aisle in a few weeks. She has to make the town happy like she always has. It is her act of service, her offering on behalf of the greater good. When you're the only survivor of the town's darkest moment, you do whatever you can to bring light."

Annie leaves Kenny, and he doesn't follow her. When she does not return home Faye starts to worry. She contacts Sheriff Hal York, a man she once and still loves, of Annie's absence and Clary, Faye's daughter begins to fret remembering the last conversation she and Annie had which ended abruptly. Could what she said have driven Annie away?

Soon the whole town is apprehensive. Fiancé Scott shows up at Faye's hoping for some news and neighbors want to help search for Annie. Meanwhile, rumors abound about Cordell Lewis who is now released. Did he abduct Annie for revenge for sending him to jail for more than two decades? And does Kenny know where she could be?

"Only Ever Her" is a complex tale of unrequited love and suspense with various characters holding onto secrets. The residents of this tiny town proclaim Annie as their golden girl; however, it does seem a bit over the top that everyone would panic when she first disappears. Not to be misconstrued with the "Runaway Bride" concept, the plot is intriguing leaving questions as to Annie's whereabouts and Lydia's real killer, and yet though the conclusion is unexpected, it is satisfying.