Really strong mystery here and great character development helps to draw you in and keep you there! This twist...did not see it coming from a mile away, and I love when that happens. Loved this can't-put-it down read. Thanks NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

Rea Frey is a talented writer whose prose makes the story come to life. While I enjoyed her writing, I did not overly enjoy this book. The reader knows that someone dies in the beginning of the book, but not who. The story then goes back in time a week prior to tell the stories of Lee, her seven year old son, Mason, who is on the spectrum, Lee's best friend, Grace, and Mason's tutor, Noah, who Lee has a crush on. I found the plot twists to be predictable and the characters to be unlikable.

Rea Frey’s books always have interesting characters and shocking surprises. It is revealed in the prologue that someone dies, but not who. After that, the book jumps back a week, and we see what led up to that event.

Lee and Grace are best friends. Lee is the mother to Mason, her seven-year-old son with sensory processing issues. He receives physical therapy from Noah, who (just to complicate things), Lee has a crush on, and tries to kiss. Both Lee and Grace are keeping a lot of secrets. Grace wants Lee to come on a camping trip with her. I love a thriller with lots of drama and good juicy twists.

Well, this is not my favorite by this author. And it is basically because I did not like the main character, Lee. And for the life of me, I cannot put my finger on why I did not like her. But, as in usual Rea Frey books, this story has a twist. Then it twisted again! This is what sold me on the whole novel. Took me a while to get to the twist but it was worth it!

A few years ago, I read another book from the author and absolutely loved it so I was very excited to read this one. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite meet the bar I had set for this novel. The book started with great promise, and then it felt like it came up short in the middle, but the ending was mind blowing.

There are several POVs in this novel – Lee, Grace and Noah), as well as 2 timelines. Fairly early in the book, the reader quickly realise that all the main characters are keeping secrets from each other, secrets that they are not willing to share. I’m used to unreliable characters, but this book took it to another level. It became impossible to tell the truth from the lies, until the WTH moment came at the end that I did not suspect at all. Everything was suddenly thrown in the air. Great job from the author for this amazing twisty ending.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for a review. As always, my reviews are my own and unbiased opinions.

This was pretty good! I didn't like it quite as much as her previous book, but she's clearly very skilled at crafting completely compulsive reads! This was fun and revenge-y and twisty!

But it’s the lies that keep you safe.

Single mother Lee has the daily routine down to a science: shower in six minutes. Cut food into perfect squares. Never leave her on-the-spectrum son Mason in someone else’s care. She’ll do anything—anything—to keep his carefully constructed world from falling apart. Do anything to keep him safe.

But when her best friend Grace convinces her she needs a small break from motherhood to recharge her batteries, Lee gives in to a weekend trip. Surely a long weekend away from home won’t hurt?
Noah, Mason’s handsome, bright, charismatic tutor—the first man in ages Lee’s even noticed—is more than happy to stay with him.

My thoughts:
As much as I wanted to love this book I couldn't get into it. It didn't have that "pull" that made me want to keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press for an ARC to read and review.

Sadly I'm calling this a DNF , I've tried like 6 times to get into it and just couldn't do , I would start reading it, then put it down and just never went back to it , with that said I've come to realize that it's just not for me .

What a great book! I just loved it Lee is such a good mother taking care of her precious son who suffer from autism. To relax and take care of herself a bit she leaves her son for the first time and the worst happen. The secrets all the 3 characters hold are a great storyline. Would recommend this book without hesitation and can’t wait for the next book by Rea Frey.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable book.

I did like the book although it started out slow for me. Overall good read. I liked the characters and the storyline. The ending was really good.

Rea Frey always offers great stories! I loved this one! She writes on such a personal level of frightening things….and things that can really happen, you can’t help but keep flipping the pages!
I received a copy of this book from The publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lee is devoted to her son Mason, who is on the spectrum, and attracted to Noah, the occupational therapist recommended by her best friend Grace. But from the beginning, as an unnamed woman plunges to her death before the story moves back in time to a week "before the fall," it is clear that someone is lying and that secrets are being kept.

Interspersed between the chapters titled with the character it focuses on, diary entries reveal that someone has a plan in place, leaving the reader to suspect the reliability of each narrative viewpoint. And as secrets are slowly revealed, the twisted truths lead to a surprising end.

Reading Because You're Mine was a much different experience from Rea Frey's debut novel, Not Her Daughter. While the writing is quite good, I had a sense of dread going in and I was never able to really engage with the story or the characters, and was a bit put off by some of the more adult portions of the book. What I found of greater interest was the structuring of the story and the authorial choices in the timing of events and revelations.

If domestic suspense dramas are your cup of tea, then Rea Frey is definitely an author to try.

This review refers to a temporary digital galley I voluntarily read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

I'm so glad I gave Rea Frey another try. I loved the characters in this book so much. The character development for Lee, Noah and Grace was fantastic and I felt like they were people I actually knew. I enjoyed that I could guess some secrets along the way but was still shocked by gotcha at the end. Definitely did not see it coming but felt like I should have. Overall, a fantastic read that I will be highly recommending.

I did not finish this book. I had some trouble getting into the book due to the overall topic of being a single mother. I've heard great things and that it was a fast read for many of my friends.

Where to begin? This story was chocked full of secrets, twists turns and surprises! I was fully immersed in all the characters and felt that they were really fleshed out well.
Rea has a wonderful was over drawing you into her story and bam she hits you with a twist you didn’t see coming! I loved her last book and will be buying a copy of this one for my shelves as well.

Lee is a single mom, and she has a tightly scheduled routine. Her son, Mason, is on the autism spectrum. Her consistent routine is what Mason needs, and she ensures he has it.

Lee’s best friend, Grace, has prodded her for a while to take a weekend away, and Lee finally agrees. It’s just one weekend, right? Noah is Mason’s tutor, and he agrees to stay with him.

Unfortunately, within forty-eight hours someone has died. Grace has secrets. Lee has secrets. Noah has secrets. Eventually, the past can no longer be hidden, and the truth comes out.

Just as with Not Her Daughter, the pacing of Because You’re Mine is strong and compelling with nonstop action. I really loved Mason’s character. He felt authentic and genuine. Frey did a great job developing all the characters, actually.

While I could figure out where some of the book was headed, the ending surprised me. And even if I did have theories about where it was going, the writing made me doubt myself the entire time, and I loved that.

Overall, Rea Frey has written another compelling, well-placed thriller, and I’ll be back for more.

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

This was one of those books that has you sitting on the edge of your seat wanting to know what is going on and where the story will end. Though there are some unbelievable things that happen which play into the story, you still want to know the truth As the story is told through various characters and you are certain that at least one of them is not being truthful.

What a wonderful twist at the end! I love a book that has me gasping in shock as I’m turning the pages as fast as I can. There are clues sprinkled throughout the story and you’re positive you’ve figured it out. But hold on! Are you correct?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I wanted to give Because You're Mine a fighting chance. I really enjoyed Not Her Daughter. So much so, that I still occasionally think about the storyline at times. Therefore, I had high hopes for this one. I, unfortunately, just couldn't connect with the characters, or this storyline was just a little too slow moving for me. I started it in January and didn't finally give up on it until August. I tried but ultimately had to throw in the towel.

Ok, I definitely did NOT see that ending coming!! What a twisty, shocking tale of revenge! I loved it! Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press, I can’t wait to read more from this author!