This book is hard to classify. It has ghosts, magical realism, women detectives, suspense, women's lib with some humor thrown in. I loved this it! It has 3 middle aged badass heroines just coming into their own after years of working and doing for others. Harriet lost her advertising job and her husband. She shuts herself in her house, fires the gardeners and lets her garden grow wild despite HOA complaints. She decides to study botany, specifically poisonous plants. The neighbors think she is a witch. Nessa, a widow with twins in college, knew at an early age that she could see the dead but the gift is just revealing itself now that she is alone. Jo was the manager of a large hotel but lost her job because as she put it, she doesn't have a penis. She now owns a women only gym and exercises compulsively. She is going into menopause and putting up with horrid hot flashes that become much more when she learns to channel them. Nessa lives near Harriet and she meets Jo at the gym and they become a force to be reckoned with. Led by the voices Nessa hears they find a dead girl in a trash bag at the beach and Nessa sees 2 more girls nearby. The book is about bringing justice to those three girls so Nessa can give their mothers peace. Along the way we meet good cops and bad cops, several victims, and lots of really bad guys. The histories of the characters are told in flashback type chapters, giving us an understanding what motivates them. The book is brought to a most satisfying conclusion, at least if you are a woman. I was cheering the ladies on all the way. Thanks to netGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

3.5 stars rounded up to four…

Overall, this was a good book, well written with complex and interesting characters and I did enjoy the theme of empowerment to the women over forty set. I just have mixed feelings… the women are very bold and amazing and I loved their energy and passion. However, sometimes it really came across in such a negative way, rather than a positive blossoming of their powers/lives. IDK that doesn’t really make much sense but it just wasn’t what I was expecting - prior to reading I didn’t realize it was essentially a murder mystery. However it worked and had a supernatural influence that really gave it a uniqueness that was enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

For a surprise twist in the marketing game, the synopsis for The Change actually rings true: Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick (the latter of which I have sadly only seen on the screen).

Three women come into their own during middle age and discover inner strengths and supernatural powers. In this discovery, they team up and work together in a harmonious trio, playing off each other's abilities to take down whoever is responsible for the murders of three teenage girls whose bodies are discovered over the course of the book. Miller takes the time to tell their backstories, as well as spending time with snippets of backstories for all the victims and the other women from the town who are tangentially involved.

Honestly, I was a little startled to like this one as much as I did. I am not a rah-rah, girl power type of a gal. But the snark and self-revelatory nature of the stories for the main characters was actually completely engaging and fully entertaining. If someone said that all women over 40 should read this book, it would make me run and hide and maybe never touch it...so I won't say that—.

But I especially liked the exploration of this middle stage in life alongside the built-into-the-system sexism and misogyny. Some parts of the book had just a wee bit too much telling and not enough showing, but the power behind the deeper themes and the humor in which it was all wrapped, more than excused the scattered moments of shortcuts in storytelling.

This was a fireball of a revenge story I didn't know I needed.

This was one of those books I had to sit with for a while after I finished because I had so many feelings and wanted to write a review to do the book justice even though I'm likely going to fail. While it's being marketed as a paranormal feminist revenge fantasy (and it is that), it was also so much more!

Set in a wealthy beach town, three older women come together when the dead body of a young girl is discovered and the authorities write her off as a drug-addicted sex worker who was merely the victim of her trade. Not satisfied, these women use newly discovered gifts (one sees the ghosts of dead victims and another has the power of pyromancy) to investigate the dark secrets of what's really going on in their town.

This book will have you cheering for these women who take power into their own hands in order to fight against the systemic injustice women have had to endure forever at the hands of wealthy white men. I read this on Red Shirt Day - a day to remember all the murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls who go forgotten and the crimes against whom go unsolved. Because of that, the book felt so timely and relevant, although I did wish it had delved more into violence against women of color and not just that inflicted on the poor and underprivileged white women.

Overall this book was such a satisfying read. A GMA Book club pick for May, The change is definitely the page-turner thriller you need to read this summer and one I feel like I will be going back to for repeat readings! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy!

I received a free electronic ARC of this exceptional novel from Netgalley, Kristen Miller, and publisher William Morrow. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Change of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to add Kristen Miller to my must-reads author list and recommend her to friends and family. She writes about important facts of life in an entertaining way.

Our tale of three decidedly different women and their experiences and solutions to adjusting to the change of life is exceptionally apt, at least it was for me. Set in Mattauk, New York, we follow the lives of Harriett Osborne, a retired publicist 48 years old; Vanessa James, a widow, 42 years old and the mother of college-bound twin daughters, Jordan and Breanna; and Jo Levison, only on the cusp of the change and the mother of a feisty 11-year-old daughter, Lucy.

Harriett has an awesome but highly unorthodox and under-appreciated natural garden and an ex-husband missing in action. Though she has no children of her own, she is the consummate Earth Mother. She is, however, known as the community witch. Jo's husband is a stay-at-home dad for the last couple of years while she runs her women-only gym in town. And Nessa inherited the house in Mattauk from her parents. After years in the three-generational household, Nessa can't stand the silence around her home. Her world is way too quiet with her parents gone and the girls away at college.

Into this stew of women being forced into some sort of change, we have someone raping and killing girls. Girls from 13 to 17 years old. And it will take the perspective of these three women to apprehend the guilty party or parties and put a stop to what their research shows to be years of the rapes and murders of vulnerable children, girls like their own, right here in Mattauk

I’m going to try to keep this short by saying this. Too much too much too much. I get it. I really do, but the banter started to wear me out and I just couldn’t finish.
I closely identified with almost all of the BS thats happened to these women. It makes me crazy that in some ways we as a country have not learned a thing about equality. Crazy!
So having said all that I just couldn’t enjoy it. I’m not rating this because it’s not fair to the author. I hear you girl! I. Hear. You❣️
Thanks William Morrow via NetGalley.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Definitely creepy. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

📚Book Review 📚

"Accept that what you find may be worse than you ever thought possible. And believe that you possess the strength to see it."

⚠️TW: Mentions of sexual assault, rape, adultery, kidnapping and trafficking⚠️

The Change is a suspense filled with fantasy and powerful women. Harriett, Jo, Nessa are women who are in prime of their life and are finding powers in them which are just emerging. Meanwhile, sinister things are happening in the town they live and these powerful women make it their mission to punish these evil people. Their own families and friends get threatened. Through this process they find themselves and form wonderful friendships at the same time.

This book is not an easy one. The author has subtly weaved in so many issues that women deal with everyday in some form or the other. It's really sad how even today misogyny exists and men still think that they can decide for women. It deals with sexism, feminism, racism and empowerment in a satirical way that though, is hilarious leaves a profound mark on the reader. Having said that, she has done such an amazing job of showing that there are bad women and good men as well.

Jo, Nessa, Harriett are badass women and I loved them! Lucy is just so adorable. I went through so many emotions while reading this story. I was happy, sad, screaming, cheering internally all at the same time. I hope the author decides to write more about these women. I loved this book! 5 Stars read.

Thanks to NetGalley , William Morrow and HarperCollins for this book.

While I certainly did not need almost 500 pages of this story, it was a fun, feminist tale of revenge. The plot dragged a bit in the end, but I loved the witchy vibes and using plants as weapons. I think this would make a great HBO series like Big Little Lies!

Is Feminist Magical Realism it's own genre? Because it's my favorite! The Change has got to be the best book I've read this year. It's witchy and wonderful. It makes me want to cultivate unusual and possibly poisonous plants in my garden. I want to channel Harriet use my plants for my witchy purposes.
Everything about this book spoke to me. I'm sure I will be shouting from the roof tops that everyone should read this book for a long time to come.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the Book Club Girls for the early read. I was able to get this from my library in audio and really enjoyed reading and being able to listen to this book. I was stuck on the barbells issue though. She put down her 10 pound barbells (they are heavy and long)? Or is it dumbbells? Anyway with that aside loved the storyline, the plot, the characters and of course the narrator January LaVoy! She does a great job as usual narrating..The author told a great story revolving around the change women face as they age (embrace that change). If only that could be the way of it. LOL Grateful that I could listen and read since I just had to see what happened and wow I was not disappointed! Will recommend.

I’m absolutely FLOORED by this novel! A raging 5 stars and new all time favorite for me. Revenge? Modern day setting with women who have witchy powers? A small town mystery? Strong social feminist commentary?
If the synopsis turns you off but the themes I mentioned are up your alley then PLEASE give this book a chance!!

Even at nearly 500 pages I wanted to remain in these women’s lives. Harriett is my new hero and the twists throughout the novel are perfection. Every woman’s story is explored upon mention which is something I adore in novels!

Cons:
This is a bittt of a slower read if you’re used to quicker mystery/thrillers. You’re going to want to absorb every word but the story moves quickly enough and the pacing is perfect.

There are A LOT of characters to keep track of. If you’re not used to that or feel overwhelmed, jot notes to reference. Don’t let that intimidate you though!

I loved it! This new genre - PWF - Paranormal Women's Fiction is so much fun! The group of women in this book are like superhero vigilantes. I can relate to so many obstacles that they faced too, unfortunately. Tread lightly around them though, because they will dish out vengeance if they see something that's wrong in their eyes whether it's truly evil or simply petty. I think we've all wished we could do that a time or two!

Yaaaas!!! Completely devoured this fabulous novel full of female friendship, crone wisdom, and empowerment. Highly recommend.

I. Seriously. LOVED. This. Book! It felt lengthy and weighty, I loved that a time in a woman’s life that feels so much like an end was just a beginning for Jo, Nessa, and Harriet. They evolved into even more kick ass women and took care of an issue that occurs entirely too often! I wish that the real world worked just like this book. The author is one helluva writer and I was sucked in from beginning to end!

This book is all over Goodreads and Bookstagram. The hype is legit. If you love women with supernatural abilities who enact revenge on those who behave badly, while also solving a murder mystery and finding strength in themselves…well, look no further. This is the book for you.

Here’s the quick synopsis: Harriet, Nessa, and Jo are all strong women, in their prime, working through what life has thrown their way. Harriet, recently divorced, is nurturing wildness in herself and the plants in her garden. Nessa, a widow, has an innate emotional connection with others. And Jo, the breadwinner for her family, is formidable when it comes to her physical strength. But they don't just have normal talents - these are supernatural powers. Ones that cause others in the community to whisper that at least one of them is a witch. Abilities that lead them to discover the body of a dead girl, brutally murdered, in a gated, elitist island community just outside of the city limits of their hometown. These three women bond together to find the killer, and realize that it’s not just one girl. Someone is kidnapping and killing girls. And these women will do whatever it takes to find out who and give them their own kind of justice.

This book gets it right on so many levels. It's a revenge fantasy filled with supernatural feminist power. Each female character is fully developed, and I loved Harriet, Nessa, and Jo, each for different reasons. The friendship they develop throughout the story and the way they lean on each other felt natural. I don’t have any supernatural abilities, but I could relate to these women, to the dread of getting older, the cold fear you feel as a mom when you think about your daughters in the world, and the measures you would take to protect the ones you love.

So yes, just read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book.

Three women all find their power as life changes around them. Nessa's husband has died, daughters gone off to college, and she is now alone in Long Island. Alone, except for the voices. Harriett's career and marriage exploded in stereo, and she hasn't left the house since, as the brambles outside do attest. Jo has wrestled with her body for three decades, and menopause is the fiery cherry on top of her audacious travails, yet somehow, she is also stronger. The voices of the dead guide Nessa, Jo, and Harriett to the body of a teenage girl. Dead sex worker, or somebody's brutally murdered daughter? The trio believe it's the latter, and begin to follow the clues up the chain to Long Island's wealthy elite. It's time for powerful women to set some ground rules for those who believe that none apply to them.

Women and their bodies are powerful. That is the message I felt coming out of reading this book about three women reaching the latter part of their lives, and finding loneliness, disappointment, and rage. Each of Nessa, Harriett, and Jo represent different aspects of being a woman, and their experiences are sharpened against the wrongs they observe being done to women around them, some younger than themselves. While the story itself is engaging, and interesting, the star of the show are the characters, their biting humor, and how their investigation also offers insight to the stories of other women. I found it very compelling that I could be nodding my head in agreement one minute, howling with laughter another, and then experiencing tears on the next page.

In essence, this story is as much about the plot and its characters as much as it is about womanhood, and the agonizing reality of it. The pain and the struggle of what society expects, and family, and sometimes those who call us friends, and how that often weighs like a load of bricks upon our minds and hearts. The message that I received is that women at any age can make a difference, for it is our long-suffering nature that also gives us strength when we need it. I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed reading The Change, the story of three women fighting for justice for a woman that the community is too quick to write off as not worthy of it. Recommended for readers who appreciate stories about mature women, biting insights about social norms and expectations, magical powers deriving from the nature of a woman's body, and women who band together to fight for other women, and their community, together.

How ironic that while reading The Change, the supreme court decision to possibly overturn Roe vs Wade was leaked. If only Harriet, Nessa and Jo were here to help. Talk about women taking control and pushing men out of the way! The Change is fiction but there is so much truth in the premise of the story. Misogynistic males with very little regard for women are still the status quo in today's world. Kirsten Miller has created a story about women that have simply had enough. Throw in a little magic and you have a phenomenal book that is impossible to put down. I tried to find a stopping point so I could, you know, go to the bathroom or sleep but that proved difficult. I was anxious to finish the book but hated it when I did. All I can say is The Change is so filled with mystery and plot twists that I will definitely read it again. I could have missed something!!
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

This is the thing justice fantasies are made of!! Brilliant characters that were so different but so wonderful.

In a world where Jeffrey Epstein's and Ghislaine Maxwell's exist, the power that women like Kristen Miller give back to the everyday woman is nothing short of magical!

I was hesitant to pick up this book because I thought it was going to lean more into the postmenopausal rah-rah women getting powers thing, but this defied my expectations at every turn!

You know whenever there are three women involved there will most likely be some shenanigans going on. This book just screams “woman power” and it’s very likely some men may be offended by how they are portrayed. However, women will just love this book!

Three very different but professional women have reached the age where they go through the dreaded “change.” The change that renders some women invisible, overlooked and discarded. But for these three women, going through the change was empowering and a time in their life where they each came into their own.

They meet by a series of random encounters and at some point in the story become amateur detectives trying to solve a series of killings in their town. Together with their new-found power, they set things to right, while getting revenge on some ungentlemanly men.

This was such a fun, wild read! Don’t let the page count turn you away. This is a book you will plow through without noticing the time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.