This was my first book by Karen M. McManus, and it won't be my last! After fully disconnecting from their family, the Story grandmother suddenly invites all three of her grandchildren to her island to work for the summer. Something doesn't seem right to our three main characters, as to why their grandmother would now be reaching out. All of the characters are fun and different, with a plot twist I didn't see coming. I couldn't put this mystery down.

I have enjoyed previous Karen M. McManus books so I was looking forward to reading this one. The premise of this one seemed to offer yet another interesting and thrilling story. It didn't disappoint.

Meeting Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah was a lot of fun. Being introduced to the history of their family and attempting to figure out what happened then vs what is happening now kept me thoroughly engaged throughout the story. There were plenty of twists and turns that I did not see coming, as well as a few that seemed to come from no where, as a reader, but made sense for the characters involved. Overall I really enjoyed the story and definitely look forward to reading more by McManus.

I look forward to having this at my library because I can already think of some young adult readers who will be interested in reading it.

This is such an excellent mystery and thriller novel. Karen McManus is my favorite new writer for all things mysterious and suspenseful.

Three 17-year-old cousins are summoned to their reclusive grandmother’s island twenty-four years after she abruptly disowned their parents. Everyone has secrets they’re keeping. The premise is interesting, but the delivery falls short. The plot meanders along for the first two-thirds or so, and I found the climax rather underwhelming.
Two and a half stars rounded up to three.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the electronic arc.

Karen McManus has done it again! This may be her best one yet. A great mystery about a wealthy family, with lots of secrets of course. Just when you think you are settled in, an unexpected twist and everything you thought you knew vanishes. The Story family is a storied family, with massive wealth that owns and lives on Gull Cove island, similar to Martha's Vineyard. Their wealthy creates a distinction between the 4 Story siblings and their townie peers. Unexpectedly, as adults, they are disowned from their mother, immediately after their father passed away. As they mystery of why unfolds, each of the siblings and their offspring, the cousins of the title, have their own unique story. McManus brings all kinds of excitement into solving the mystery of why were they disowned so abruptly and who and why were the cousins summoned to the island for one wild summer. A great read!

Milly, Aubrey and Jonah are three cousins who don't know each other and they all receive a letter from their estranged grandmother inviting them to come for visit for the summer. She disinherited their parents years ago after and none of the children know why. Their parents tell them their going so they can get back in the matriarch's good graces but one they get to the island they shortly learn that all may not be as it seems. They also learn about their family's dark and secret past any why their parents were disinherited in the first place. I love the setting of a mystery on an island or near a beach. It always puts me in the mind of one of my favorite mysteries Agatha Christie's And then there were none. A beach setting is usually so sunny and open and secrets that have been hidden for years have no way of hiding in that setting. McManus is becoming a go to author for anything mystery for me. She is truly skilled at character, secrets and plotting. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery.

Karen McManus does it again. Brings readers in with complicated characters, secrets and suspense that will keep readers on hanging on until the end.

Once again Karen McManus has written a twisty book. I had no idea where the plot was going (that's a good thing) and was constantly surprised by a reveal of detail. Great premise with old money family drama. Highly Recommend.

Three 17 year old cousins, Milly, Aubrey and Jonah, are invited to their estranged grandmother’s island resort to spend the summer. Their parents had been disowned 24 years ago. The three teens spend the summer getting to know each other and solving the mystery of why their parents and uncle were disinherited.

I liked all three of the main characters and thought they were well developed. The story was told by each of the grandkids in turn and through flashbacks for Milly’s mother Alison when she was 18.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Three cousins from the wealthy Story family, receive the same letter from their estranged grandmother offering them a summer job on the small island where their parents were raised. Years prior, Mildred Story had cut off contact with her children and severed their inheritance. The cousins are intrigued by the offer and are hopeful to develop a relationship with their grandmother.
Told from the perspectives of each of the cousins, McManus weaves a story of deep animosity and decades buried family secrets. Unlike the author's other books, this one does not become a murder mystery until towards the end of the book. Also, while not as suspenseful as her other books, the story has well developed and likeable characters, a few twists and flashbacks to make this a popular young adult read. The author has developed a language of writing that will draw even the most reluctant of teen readers.

I liked the three main characters and how the mystery unfolded. Parts were predictable, but thoroughly enjoyable with enough suspense thrown in. My students will definitely like this one.

Last week I posted how overjoyed I was to receive The Cousins from @penguinrandomhouse and
the twists and turns did not disappoint!

Initially because this book takes place on an island and revolves around a group of cousins my mind went to one of my favorite YA books of all time, We Were Liars. But that is where the similarities end. In The Cousins we follow the story of three cousins who are all invited to work at their Grandmother’s luxurious resort for the summer. The Story’s are a glamorous family that are the center of the towns gossip surrounded by plenty of juicy gossip as well.

This was a great mystery that had me guessing from beginning to end. This book was so atmospheric without going overboard on details. I literally felt like I was along for the ride, whether it be at the families mansion, the beach at night, at a summer gala, or a hot dance bar. She did an excellent job at giving me an escape of my quarantined house bound life. I loved the interaction between the cousins and how she would answer questions throughout the book, but in doing so would leave you with other mysteries to reveal later.

This was another great read by Karen McManus, and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. I would recommend this one to YA fans, Karen McManus fans, and mystery fans! Definitely add this to your TBR it is available August 1. Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one is maybe my favorite McManus title! Loved the mystery and will be recommending to students (It will make a great title for book talks to reluctant readers).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARCs.

I absolutely loved Karen M. McManus' other books, but this one took a little longer for me to get into than her previous works. It wasn't until almost halfway through that I was really invested. The wrap up of the plot felt a little rushed and it wasn't nearly as satisfying as I hoped. I still enjoyed it, though.

Karen McManus is one of my new favorite authors! I've loved her previous 3 mystery novels and this one was no exception. The characters were well drawn, the atmosphere was palpable and the mystery was top notch. Love it! Highly recommend! Can't wait for her next one.

I read this book in almost one sitting. I found it very creepy, fast-paced, and thrilling. I kept wanting to see what was going to happen next! It was very well written and you could imagine yourself being in their shoes! This is the first book I’ve read by this author but will definitely pick up more! Really a fun ride!

The four children of the fabulously wealthy Story family, from a tiny island off Massachusetts, were mysteriously and abruptly disinherited and cut off by their mother shortly after their father died. When Millie, Aubrey, and Jonah, the three teen-aged Story grandchildren, receive invitations to summer on the island and work at the resort, they have a variety of motives for accepting. Flashbacks to the lives of their four children and their privileged upbringing are interspersed with the accounts of the grandchildren, all of whom are keeping their own secrets. Fans ofMcManus’s intriguing, tightly constructed mystery and suspense tales will not be disappointed.

I'm a big Karen M. McManus fan and, in this new novel, she is on top form with a gripping and fast-paced mystery.

Twenty four years ago, fabulously wealthy Mildred Story abruptly disinherited her four children and the only explanation they got was a note saying “You know what you did.” Now Mildred has invited her three grandchildren, White Aubrey and Jonah and biracial Milly (White and Japanese) to tiny Gull Cove Island off the coast of Massachusetts to work in the resort that is one of her many properties on the island. The cousins barely know each other and they all have their reasons for wanting to finally meet Mildred and to have a summer away from home.

Secrets are revealed and twists are turned right from the start as the cousins start finding out more than they would like to know about their parents and the small Island community. Brittle Milly, sweet Aubrey, and bitter Jonah take turns to narrate the present and there are some interludes back to the past woven in. Fans of McManus’s previous school-set mysteries will lap this one up.

Thanks to Delacorte and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Karen has done it again, I couldn't but this gem down! With all the family secrets, twists and turns, the end was truly a surprise. It was just the right mix of whodunnit, thriller, and somehow... spy? I will be purchasing quite a few copies for the library since this is sure to be a smash hit, just like One of Us is Lying was.

McManus has a writing style that always hooks me in and is just so enjoyable to read. This story is no different in that department and the plot twists got me again! It is a family mystery that gave me serious We Were Liars vibes, but in my opinion, it was better executed because it had more likable characters. I enjoyed following the multiple points of views and duo plot lines as the story unravels to its shocking ending. I forsee this being another popular book among JH and HS students, and I will definitely be adding it to my library!