What a fantastic read! I loved Frey’s debut novel, Not Her Daughter, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this one too. This storyline blew my mind! I thought I had figured out all of the twists, but each time I turned the page I was proved wrong. Frey’s incredible writing style will have you reading this book in one sitting.

This psychological thriller revolves around three main characters…Lee, her son’s tutor, Noah, and her best friend, Grace. Very early, it’s clear that all three are keeping secrets and it kept me turning the pages quickly.

Slowly the truth starts being revealed…and someone winds up dead. Trust, secrets, and lies are all a huge part of this book and it’s no wonder this book was getting early rave reviews.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest view.

With a prologue with a tragic death, it was easy to get into this book and earn to know more and from beginning to end I couldn't put it down and read in a few sittings all in one day! A group of four women go on a girls trip and one dies during the trip. Within this group of four are two single moms who value each other's friendship more than anything.

With secrets and a prologue this book had the beginnings of a book that would drive me crazy BUT the secrets are revealed less than half way through and the prologue's hints come soon after and then the second half of this book is the what happens after AND I loved that. I love when "shit hits the fan" and then you get the story afterwards.

I also loved the characters in this story. They felt so rich and real and I was invested in all of them. I wish I had made a chart at the beginning to remember who belonged to whom, but the cast wasn't crazy big so I figured it all out in the end. Each character had drama, but it didn't feel like soap opera drama, it felt real and plausible.

I can't wait to read another by Rea Frey. With great story and great characters, this was a solid read.

4 ☆ Because You’re Mine is very thought-provoking filled with tragedy, flawed characters and twists. There were many “ah-ha” moments, as things aren’t what you think they are or appear to be.

I’ve added this novel to my re-read list, now knowing there’s some things I didn’t pick up on at the time. I liked Rea Frey’s writing style, she’s a great storyteller and used subtle hints in her story that you have to catch at that moment. If you’re looking for a fresh and more unique domestic suspense novel look no further. Because You’re Mine is a slower paced atmospheric novel with just enough hints to keep you invested to find out what actually happened to Lee and who these other characters REALLY WERE. Not saying too much as I don’t want to give anything away but that ending was quite startling and unexpected.. seriously WOW! I love when books have a finish like this one did.

I’ve read many positive reviews about her first novel, Not Her Daughter. After enjoying this one I’m pretty excited to read it!

Thank’s so much to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One sitting twisty ride! Rea Frey is on a roll with this reader, first with Not Her Daughter and out of the park with Because You're Mine. I was not expecting to not want to put it down, but the pace waa perfect. Told from 3 POVs and told in both the present and flashbacks. Grace, Noah and Lee have secrets, that they have lived with for years, but always come out.

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for a copy of Because You’re Mine by Rea Frey for review. Available tomorrow!

There is a lot I want to say about this wonderfully twisty and complicated novel, but not a lot I will say so you can experience it for yourself. Books like these just need to be read, completely unspoiled if possible.

Twisty, complicated and I’m still not sure how all those pieces came together in the end. The boy Mason was my favourite though, reminded me a lot of my son who has some of the exact same sensory issues and sense of humour. If you read Rea Frey’s first novel, Not Her Daughter, you’ll know what an expert she is at weaving important topics into her work as well as making you really think about who is the “hero” and who is the “villain” in her stories. Life isn’t black and white and neither is her writing.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for sending me an advanced copy of Rea Frey’s novel Because You’re Mine.

“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.

Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

But not all is as it seems. Noah may be more than who he claims to be. Grace has a secret—one that will destroy Lee. Lee has secrets of her own that she will do anything to keep hidden.
As the dominoes begin to fall and the past comes to light, perhaps it's no mystery someone is gone after all…” - Goodreads

Let me start by sharing with you this book is dark, it is twisty and it is full of some incredibly heavy topics. Before you begin reading Because You’re Mine, please take a moment to read the authors ‘note to readers’. Trigger warning, there are graphic details regarding a sexual assault within the pages of this book. But, again, please read the authors note, it is an important piece to this novel.

I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning because this book had me hooked from the very first page. Seriously… I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what happened that weekend away and why.

There are three words that I think perfectly sum up my thoughts on Because You’re Mine, they are; whirlwind, whiplash, brilliant. There were so many twists and character revelations that I often had to sit back and think about whether or not I saw it coming.

Just when I thought the book was over, I realized that there were still 100 pages left and I thought what could happen in 100 pages? Oh, don’t you worry, EVERYTHING could happen and it did.

Rea Frey, you have made a new fan. I am anxious to read whatever brilliant book you read next.

Thank you, again, to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this incredible book.

Because You're Mine is a book of love, friendship, family and deception. The story is told from three different points of view, which leads to all the twists that this story takes. The author has set the traps and I fell in. I thought I knew what the outcome was going to be, but I did not and found myself surprised by the ending.
At the beginning of the book, I was drawn in by the friendship and camaraderie. But as the story progressed, I started to question what was truly going on. This is a well written mystery full of suspense and intrigue. The story flows smoothly with shifts from present to past, adding more questions as the story progresses. The characters are well developed and are very real. Each has his or her own secrets you can’t wait to uncover with every twist and turn.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for approving mine request for an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Because You're Mine was a very good read with a fast paced plot. I'm not positive how I feel about this because some parts were a big draggy for me and most of the characters I disliked. I loved Mason - absolutely loved him. His overworked, always on edge mom Lee? Not so much. I felt like she woke up stressed, added more stress every day even over simple things and built everything up more than it needed to be.

Noah? Oh gosh, don't get me started. Creepy. I know he was supposed to be, but just too much for me.

The story was very interesting and I enjoyed following along as plans were made for the weekend away. I will confess that I didn't see the ending coming, but once I thought about it, it did make sense. I kind of hate that it ended because I would have loved to know more about life after that ending.

All in all, this was a good read that did keep me guessing and wondering what was going to happen, which is what this genre should do. I'd definitely give it a chance if you're consider reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts in this review are my own and freely given.

Because You’re Mine is like no other psychological thriller I have ever read before. It all starts out simple: Lee who has a child, Mason, on the autistic spectrum has her life on a strict schedule because of him but she wouldn't have it any other way, he is her world. However, she misses having a relationship and soon finds herself with a crush on her son’s teacher, Noah and she can't help herself and she has to tell him. With her crazy routine her best friend, Grace, demands that Lee join her and their group of friends on a girls getaway and even though Lee doesn't want to let her son she knows she needs and deserves it.

Grace has been a savior when it comes to Lee and her son. She is the best friend anyone could ever ask for and she has a bond with Mason that can't be explained. She helps with Mason when she can and she even has become his legal guardian if anything happens to Lee. But Grace has a secret she has been hiding from Lee one that can break her heart and end their friendship. However Grace isn't all she's cracked up to be, she isn't so nice and innocent either and her secrets are ones that can destroy a friendship and other things beyond anyone’s imagination.

Noah seems like a nice and sweet guy who loves and cares for Mason. He is patient with him and teaches him that he can live without limitations. However Noah has some things in his past that he tries to forget but like all things his past is about to catch up to him and what he has done, and he is about to pay for.

This novel is told in past and present chapters and the characters are so rich with layers that continue to peel and give us a storyline I NEVER saw coming. We have all these characters and how the past relates to the present. And the ending? WOW!!! Is all I can say, that ending is what made me give it five stars. The last few chapters when everything wraps up and comes to a head is what made this book for me. I never saw that ending coming and it totally shocked me, which I loved! This novel took it to a place I could have never imagined! Simply put if you want fast-paced interesting read definitely check out this one, you will not regret it.

Because you're mine by Rea Frey! This book is phenomenal! The prologue was astounding and left me thinking this book is going to be amazing, and it did not dissappoint. After the prologue the story goes back in time and unfolds at a steady pace where you are able to get to know the characters and what ultimately led to this intense prologue.The novel is told from multiple points of view, which I always enjoy books like this because it gives you a more well rounded view of the story. Along with the multiple point of view perspective the novel is also told by alternating between past and present which gives you fundamental background on the characters development. I found the middle of the book had a lot of information that was a little drawn out at times but ultimately I now can see the purpose of. All that information led to a crazy twist at the end which I was shocked by.

I would like to thank St.Martins press, St.Martins Griffin for a #giftedcopy to review in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my review on Instagram and goodreads

There’s nothing like a good psychological suspense novel. I enjoy putting the pieces of the puzzle together and usually know the outcome well before the end. The premise of this book was great and started quite strongly, but the pieces just didn’t fit together they way they should have. Most of the clues were there, but the ending came out of left field making the story unbelievable. I did absolutely ❤️ Mason! What an awesome character! Unfortunately this wasn’t the book I had hoped it was going to be.

WOW! The title takes on a whole new meaning at the end of the book. The ending threw me for a surprise. I was not expecting the ending, although I did have some questions - but the answers were all different than I anticipated.

Because You're Mine by Lea Frey looks at the lives of two best friends and how they have secrets that they do not dare to share, even with each other. Lee is a single mother raising a young so, Mason who is brilliant, on the spectrum and sensory impaired. Grace is a divorced young mother, who is raising a son as well. They are best friends and supports for each other. Noah is the secret boyfriend of Grace and the tutor and OT for Mason. Such are the tangled lives that start the story. Add in a girls weekend where Grace and Lee as well as two other friends go away and secrets start to come out. Secrets with big consequences that cause lives to unravel.

Lea Frey has written a novel that really makes you take a look at secrets and how they mess with friendship. The novel read well and flowed quickly into a “who dun it”. It is not a traditional thriller, but with all the twists, it pulls you in. Because You're Mine by Lea Frey was a great read.

I absolutely loved the authors last book, Not Her Daughter and was so impressed by how well she executed a highly emotional thriller, I don’t think that’s an easy thing to do at all. She has a really uncanny knack for infusing her stories with a ton of emotional upheaval but she doesn’t lose that tense, addictive quality that a really solid thriller always has either. It’s definitely a tricky balancing act but she nailed it again!

This is told from multiple perspectives, you hear from Lee, Grace and Noah and it’s clear right from the start that all three of them have complicated pasts and are hiding some things. I spent most of the book wondering who was reliable and who wasn’t, always so fun and a sure fire way to keep me on the edge of my seat. The pacing is also really on point, there’s never a dull moment, there was literally always something happening to keep me engaged.

I kept patting myself on the back because while this was super twisty I did guess all of the little surprises ahead of time, but honestly? I didn’t even care because it was still really good. Then the ending crept up on me and delivered one hell of a sucker punch that I did not see coming, so Frey got me in the end 😝 Definitely recommended by me, though I do want to mention that this gets dark and explores some sensitive subject matter. It’s not gory or anything, just very heavy at times.

Because You’re Mine in three words: Twisty, Dark and Riveting

This page turner with its gentle twists and turns leaves you gasping out loud with the final dagger of a twist at the end. A definite 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 must read book. Thank you to Rea Frey, and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

The short chapters that switch between perspectives as well as past and present kept this one moving quickly for me. And, I thought I had it all figured out...until the last chapter, that is! Good thriller/mystery, that will keep your attention until the end.

Lee is a single mom that is invited to go out for a weekend getaway. She asks her sons tutor to watch him for the weekend and he agrees. What could go wrong? Well four friends leave together but only three come back alive. Great read! I truly enjoyed the multiple points of view.

WOW!! Just WOW! THAT ENDING!

I love Rea Frey’s books before but this one is one that is beyond just WOW! It’s so good you won’t believe it. It will take you in from the beginning and you won’t want to put it down until the very last word. It will completely blow you away. That ending is perfect. I never saw that coming. It was a complete shock to my system. So many books I do figure out when others say they can’t or didn’t but this one I honestly did not see it coming at all. No way. Great job Ms Frey. Great job.

I enjoyed this book so much. It has some parts that some people may find offensive but if you read it it’s beautifully written and I don’t mean in a poetic way but a way that sets you up for an explosive ending that you won’t expect.


Friends, honest close, best friends. That is what Lee and Grace are. Two single mothers who have very different sons. Lee’s son suffers from autism and needs help with his teaching and some physical therapy. She is not rich by any means but Noah, recommended by Grace, helps out and at a price Lee can afford. Grace knows Noah and has known him for many years. Lee trusts him to help her son and her son does great with him. He does great with Grace also.

Grace is a divorced single mother to Luke who is just a typical seven year old carefree child. Grace is Lee’s best friend and helped her get the teacher, Noah, for her son Mason. Grace is the best friend Lee needs. They know everything about each other. Or do they. Are they each hiding some secrets that they are not ready to reveal? And Noah, who exactly is he. Lee has feelings for him but he seems to pull away from her when she says something that lets him know how she may be feeling.

Noah, a kind, caring man who is great with Mason. A friend to both Lee and Grace. He’s got secrets of his own. He’s also had a terrible thing happen to him. He lost his brother years before. Grace lost her sister years before. Terrible losses for each of them. Both have their own secrets also. Who exactly are these to people and what do they mean to each other? If anything...

A two night, three day, vacation with just the girls. Lee leaves Mason with Noah who promises to keep in touch every day, hourly, to let her know all is fine. Four friends on a trip together, just the girls. Away from children and some away from their husbands. What could happen? All seems fine there and back home. But is all ok or will something horrible happen? Who will make it and who won’t. Is it an accident? Was alcohol involved? So many questions. Just who are each of these women and men? Three have deep secrets that they vow to take to their graves.

This book is so full of mysteries and twists you won’t ever figure it out. It’s written exceptionally well. It’s touching, sad, happy, a tiny bit funny in parts and tragic. The build up to the ending is so good. You will expel a deep breath when you find out exactly what happened and why.

The characters are great, likable, a bit mysterious in parts and so well developed. The plot is excellent. The whole book is so good. The ending is jaw dropping, unexpected and so good.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A definite 5++ stars from me. I highly highly recommend this book. WOW!! It’s that good I promise.

I don't even know what to write. What just happened???!!!!! There were so many twists and turns. Who to believe? That ending was amazing. I was shocked. I would never have guessed the ending. Every time I tried to figure out what was going to happen, I was completely wrong. My opinion constantly changed about each of the characters. From the beginning, I felt like Lee and Grace's friendship was one sided. Lee only wanted to talk about herself and expected Grace to be there for her. This book was wonderful and I loved it!!! It was full of surprises.

Rea Frey's Note to Reader was very personal. The events that happened to her at fifteen are heartbreaking. Hopefully her words help someone who may be struggling. Remember You Are Not Alone.

Definitely recommend the book. I loved everything about it- story, writing style and characters. There's so much I want to write but don't want to give anything away. Can't wait to read more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After having read Rea Frey’s debut novel Not Her Daughter last year – a book that I had enjoyed for its good writing, fast-moving plot, and emotionally resonant story — I was excited to get my hands on her second novel, Because You’re Mine, which comes out this month. While I did enjoy this one well enough, I prefer her previous novel way more, as there was much more depth to the story and the characters in that one, which I didn’t find with this one. With that said, one thing I thought worked well was having each chapter alternately narrated by the three main characters of Lee, Grace, and Noah, and weaving their backstories from the past into what was happening in the present. Even so, I couldn’t really relate to any of the characters and found it difficult to feel anything for them despite some of the things that happen — it’s hard to pinpoint exactly but I felt like something was off with some of the character portrayals that made it difficult for me to connect with them emotionally. In terms of the story, I think this one tried a bit harder to go the thriller / suspense route than her previous book did, which worked fine overall, but at times, I felt like it tried a little too hard in that the story didn’t really flow naturally in some places -- it was as though some “obligatory” elements were added to make things come across more suspenseful or heighten the atmosphere when technically it wasn’t necessary to do so. Towards the middle of the story, the plot did drag a little, with some overly descriptive sections that I felt weren’t necessary either, and at one point, the story seemed to veer off course a little, leaving me wondering where things were actually headed. The ending too I mostly figured out early on, so the “twist” wasn’t much of a shock to me, though the way it took place could have been handled a little better.

All in all, I would say that this was a decent second effort by Rea Frey – definitely pales in comparison to her debut, but still quite readable. The concept of the story was a good one, but I think if the writing was cleaned up a bit, with focus on tightening the plot (especially leaving out some of the unnecessary descriptions) and developing the characters so that they were more relatable, this would have a lot of potential -- as it is written right now though, definitely leaves a lot to be desired. With all that said, I still look forward to reading Frey’s next work, I just hope that the experience will be more in-line with her first book rather than this one.

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Griffin via NetGalley.

Because You’re Mine by Rea Frey should be on your To-Read Pile! This is another author to keep your eye on, she’s very talented.

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.

Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead.

But not all is as it seems. Noah may be more than who he claims to be. Grace has a secret—one that will destroy Lee. Lee has secrets of her own that she will do anything to keep hidden. And what will happen to Mason, as the dominoes begin to fall and the past comes to light?

Perhaps it’s no mystery someone is gone after all…

This book switches between a few different narrators which is always a good tool to keep the reader guessing. You think you know what’s going to happen, but you really don’t. How can I tell you more without giving away key information? I CAN’T. You need to read this for yourself!

Due out on August 6.