Because I enjoyed Rea Frey’s debut novel, Not Her Daughter, I chose to read her second. Told in three points of view (Lee, the mother of Mason, a spectrum child; Noah, Mason’s tutor; and Grace, Lee’s best friend), this book is a read-in-one-sitting page-turner. All the characters are well-developed, including Mason, but all except Mason have deep dark secrets. None are who they seem to be, and the plot draws readers in with its twists and turns. By the time the book climaxes, three people are dead, and the killers(s) are those you’d least suspect. While in Not Her Daughter a bad thing was done for a good reason, here in Because You’re Mine, bad things are done for sociopathic reasons.

I loved the depiction of Mason. Frey does a superb job showing how the delightful quirky, yet devastatingly honest Mason fits into his mother’s world.

Read this book for its characterization and for the surprise ending that will leave you understanding all the clues and wondering why you didn’t see it coming.

I read Rea Frey's debut novel, Not Her Daughter, last year and absolutely loved her writing style and storytelling. When I saw her upcoming release was available for review, I jumped at the opportunity.

Thankfully, Because You're Mine was another great Domestic Thriller by Frey! Admittedly, this book did start slowly for me. When a novel features rapidly changing perspectives, I usually find it to be a slower read simply because it takes some time to get oriented within the story, especially at the beginning of the book. At the get-go, we have Grace, Lee, and Noah's points-of-view and it took time for me to get the voice of each character settled in my head. In addition to this, their lives weren't all that interesting to read about. Fortunately, as the story continued, I found my interest being grabbed and was eager to see when the mysterious death mentioned in the blurb would take place, and who the victim would be. 

I was impressed as things went on just how unsure I was of what could happen in the climax of the story. It seemed as if there were plenty of justifiable variables. One of my guesses turned out to be halfway right, but even so, I felt blindsided by the ending. This is a book to stick with for the excellent twist and conclusion. I read Thrillers only for their endings because I love being surprised by books. It's something that rarely happens these days, having read many Thrillers through the years, but when it does happen it's sure to make me bump up my star rating. I can't wait to read more from Rea Frey! She's here to stay.

Pick up your copy of Because You're Mine on August 6th.

Thanks St. Martin's Press and Jordan Hanley for the invitation to check out this digital galley via NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.

OMG! Rea Frey has written one heck of a novel. Having enjoyed her previous novel,Not Her Daughter, I knew that there was absolutely no way that I was going to wait until August to read this ARC. Since publication is so many months away, I shall make my review brief and vague. Narrated by several characters, the story involves the before and after of a tragic incident. Like its predecessor, I am sure that this book is going to be on the lips of many readers for many months to come.

Because You're Mine set me into a tailspin because the synopsis really throws the reader for a loop. I thought I had it all figured out, but I really hadn't and I imagine Rea Frey is probably in a room somewhere yelling "Gotcha!" But I shall forgive her because this is certainly a favorite of 2019.


Goodreads review published 27/03/19
Publication Date 09/08/19

Once again Rea Frey has given domestic thriller fans a book that will leave them breathless! Because You’re Mine grabs the reader and engulfs them in a storyline of secrets and lives that are intertwined in ways that you won't see coming even though you think you do. The characters are so deeply developed the reader becomes comfortable with them until you get to that one moment every reader enjoys and makes you wonder out loud WHAT DID I JUST READ! A jaw dropping ending makes you want to immediately reread it to see all the clues you just know you had to of missed.

This book was dark and twisty, and I didn't see the end coming. In that way, it was definitely worth the read. But it came awfully fast, with no time to really savor the twist. The characters were emotional and you could feel the despair through the pages. The motivations make a perverse sort of sense, but the time frame seems almost too long. Plus, it seemed like the whole SPD plot device was unnecessary. The women's discussion about the "incident" and knocking teeth together was hilarious, offering a moment of lightness in an otherwise taut and tense book. A mixed bag with this one. I would give it three and a half stars, but not quite four.

This is one of those books that has you believing one thing, when all along the story was about something and someone else. It is about the friendship women share, and the one thing that might shatter that is the love of a man. It is about autism and feeling like you should never leave your child. And the first time you do, it is tragically the last time. I read this book feeling like I knew who the sinister one was. And I was wrong and quite surprised in the end.

3.5

I liked this. The characters were interesting (Mason was incredible). But what a sad story full of awful happenings. These thrillers are fun but can leave you feeling a bit icky when they’re done.

As far as the twist goes... ugh. It seems like I’m running into this one quite a bit lately and I’m up in the air about it. Once you get there you have to mentally digest everything you thought you knew (was wrong) and then I’m left rooting for what exactly happened. It’s clever and entertaining but completely unnerving.

The writing is very good. The author’s words at the beginning let you know how tough this story is going to be (and it was). It was quite brave.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in exchange for a review.

Great read! Read it while in the hospital and couldn't put it down. Will look for more from this author in the future.

Truly not what I was expecting at all!
A psychological mystery that you will not solve until the very last pages of this novel.
Rea Frey has created an amazing story that captured me from the very first page.
It is well written with characters that are so easy to understand and befriend, it was almost impossible for me to put this book down.
Do yourself a favor and definitely find a day to read "Because You're Mine!

I absolutely loved this book, right up to the final, breathtaking reveal. I didn't see it coming, and that was just the frosting on the cake.

Rea Frey has created so many fully formed characters with complex relationships, and you want to be part of their lives. When tragedy strikes, nothing prepares you for the final answer as to how it happened. Yet when the answer arrives, it all makes sense in retrospect.

A fantastic accomplishment all around.

Rea Frey’s Because You’re Mine, pulled me in from page one. The characters are believable, but not quite likable. Many times I thought I’d figured the plot out only to be pushed in another direction. Twisty, dark and someone heartbreaking, it kept me guessing. The ending? Whoa! I did not see that coming! Get your hands on a copy!

This book had the perfect combination of contemporary fiction and mystery that keeps you guessing all the way
through. With a compelling and well written cast of characters and a murder this book is the perfect combination
of mystery and suspense. What I didn't like was the switching between who was telling the story and if it was in the present day or the past I found it very confusing to try to keep track of what was going on. Very intense thriller that I couldn't get enough of. I really liked the characters, I found them very fascinating and I got very wrapped up in their lives which makes for a good read. This is one book that once you get the time changes figured out, you will be up into the wee hours of the morning to finish this book. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me an advance copy.

Another fast paced book that kept me turning the pages! This book really surprised me! Wow! Another unexpected ending!! I thought it was good

I would like to thank St. Martins Press for giving me the opportunity to review this advance copy. All I can say is WOW!

This book had me hooked from the first sentence of the prologue. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I found out that I was wrong! I never saw the last twist coming!

I loved Mason, he was just kind of a quirky kid that I found so endearing. I felt Lee was a little difficult to identify with, which I think was exactly what was intended. And I felt as though Grace could be any one of my friends, just a normal and down to earth character.

I loved this book, and flew through it. You won’t want to put it down!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this exciting book! I have read both books by this author, and she just keeps getting better and better. This book will keep you up all night because you can't wait to see what will happen next. Several times I thought I had figured out things, but I was wrong. The author keeps the reader guessing right up to the very end. Lee and Grace are best friends-both have sons, but Lee's son is a special needs child. There is also a tutor, Noah, involved. It is a very involved plot, but the author does a brilliant job of bringing it all together and keeping the reader hooked. Highly recommend!!!

*4.5 stars*

There are a lot of mystery books out there right now about mothers and mom groups/mom friends, but this definitely stands out from the crowd!

Single moms Lee and Grace are best friends. They have a lot in common - they both have sons, they both live in the same neighborhood, and are extremely supportive of each other. Lee's autistic and socially awkward son, Mason, is even a big fan of Grace! So when their larger group of friends decide to have a girls weekend in the mountains, it seems like the perfect chance for both women to relax and get away from the kids!

Before the weekend is over, one woman is dead, and the others have to grapple with the consequences. Was it an accident, or does someone have a particularly deadly secret?

Our story is revealed through the eyes of three main characters: Lee, Grace, and Mason's attractive tutor, Noah. Everyone has secrets, and the web of how these characters are connected and how their pasts shaped their present lives unravels in a hypnotic, hard-to-put-down manner. Everything is laid out there for the reader, but I was still gut-punched by the last reveal. Satisfyingly, I quickly realized that the clues were there the whole time!

I liked Frey's first book, but I think this one is even better!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Because You're Mine was my first book by Rea Frey. I had heard great things about this book from some of my reading friends and after being in a "thriller rut" I was looking for something to get me out of it.

This book had all the elements of a great domestic thriller, highly detailed characters, mystery, and suspense. I think what I have been missing lately with thrillers is the ability to really get to know the characters and what happened in their pasts to play into their current situations and Frey did an amazing job with this aspect. I also loved getting to know Lee's son Mason. His character was great and I loved what a big role he had in this book.

This book had a perfect balance of thinking I had it all figured it out and also keeping me on the edge of my seat. Her writing is edgy and this book is full of secrets. I thought I knew what was happening and I was in for a big surprise at the end.

I am excited to read more of Frey's writing in the future! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Its seems as if everyone has a secret, and the dramatic flash-forward beginning keeps us on the edge of our seats as the story unfolds. I loved the dictionary-inspired diary entries . They added depth and a new layer, kept the book moving in a fresh and novel way. We aren’t exactly sure who is penning them, which adds tension.

A story of deception and double-crosses, it's a fast-moving story with a host of complicated characters.

A very addictive read!
There are three main characters, Lee, Her best friend Grace, and her son Mason’s OT, Noah.
Early in the book, secrets are hinted at, by all three, and you think, this is too easy, I have it figured out.
Slowly you find out their secrets, most of which I did figure out before being revealed
BUT...
Just enough of a punch and a twist to it, that you keep reading. And you try to put it down to go to sleep, but your mind is spinning in circles so you pick it back up and continue.
The final secret was the one I did not guess.
This is a great and very addictive book!

For me, there were some violent scenes that were unsettling and bothered me, but not enough to put it down for good. Those scenes Are not the type of thing I normally read.

Thank you Netgalley for a great page turner!

This book is not as it seems... don’t even try to figure it out as I’m sure you won’t - I loved Not Her Daughter so was delighted when I saw Rea Frey had a second novel coming out. And even more delighted when I was able to snap up an ARC on Netgalley.

The story surrounds 3 main characters, each with their own complexities and issues. Lee; single mother to Mason, who has special needs, and she is struggling to make ends meet in her home hairdressing salon, Grace; her school Mum friend, a divorcee with one son, and Noah; the saviour tutor who understands Mason and spends his days tutoring him. He also has his demons in the past. The three of their relationships are linked in a way that is going to shatter them one way or another....
I liked the way the story was told, in each of their point of view, both past and present.
I did find it slightly slow to get into unlike her first novel, but once it got going I couldn’t put it down and needed answers. The story really ramps up after the school mums go on a weekend away and tragedy strikes. You’re left thinking how can this possibly play out... I thought I had it figured but no! The twist at the end was a shocker... I actually had to re-read the end several times just to make sure.
Emotional rollercoaster!
I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 just because I felt it a little slow to get into and a little rushed at the end (maybe as I didn’t see the ending coming). But overall a fantastic read and highly recommended. Looking forward to the next one!