Harlan Coben’s book The Boy From the Woods introduced readers to Wilde, who was basically a feral child living on his own in the woods when he was “found” as a young child. Other characters included Hester Crimstein, her daughter-in-law Laila (Wilde’s on-and-off lover) and Laila’s son Matthew, whose father David was Wilde’s best friend from a very early age intil his deat in an accident for which Wilde bears feelings of guilt.

In The Match, Wilde returns, having decided to submit his DNA to an online site, hoping to find out something – anything!-- about his birth family. He gets a couple of hits, and eventually connects with a second cousin whosuddenly disappears. Lots of twists and turns, more Wilde-and-Laila relationships, A fairly typical (solid) Coben story, a quick fun read. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for this honest review. Four stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. As soon as I finished The Boy From the Woods, I was hoping there would be a sequel and this did not disappoint! Harlan Coben definitely has a way of writing characters that make you fall in love with them. I was so glad to be reading about Wilde and Hester again. The Match not only gives you answers as to what happened to to make Wilde end up in those woods, but it also gives you a an interesting story as he tries to figure it out. This was definitely an interesting take on influencers and reality television stars that makes you think about our society and what we value. I highly recommend!

The Match , Harlan Coben’s latest book, is the second book in the Boy From The Woods series. I really enjoyed The Boy From The Woods but this one is even better. It was hard to put down because I just had to know what was going to happen next.

Wilde, the main character, decides to submit a DNA sample to one on the many sites in hopes of finding some information about his family and how he ended up in the woods alone as a small child. When he gets a couple of hits, he decides to follow up on these leads. This is where the twists and turns start popping up. From reality TV shows to murder and everything in between, we follow Wilde as he searches for answers from his past and the present.

This is the second book in the series but it works well as a stand alone too. We meet some of the old characters like Hester, Laila, and Matthew but also some new characters to spice things up. If you are a fan of Harlan Coben and/or The Boy From The Woods. you don't want to miss this one.

4.5*
Curious to know the secrets hidden deep within your family tree? Don’t be so sure…

Book two of The Wilde series. Honestly, I had second-thoughts about picking this one up. Having previously read book one The Boy From the Woods, I considered it just an ok, albeit confusing read.

But come on! It’s Harlan Coben! How could I not read one of his books!?💁🏻‍♀️. (Yes, I’ve read every book he has published). Once again, he’s at the top of his game. Everything missing in the previous book was included here making for an exciting and thrilling read!

Wilde was found abandoned in the woods. No one knows for sure how long he’s been there, surviving on his own. Taken into foster care and equally fortunate, befriended by Hester. Though, no matter what, he always maintains a measure of his loner status.

Wilde decides it’s time to research his past. Maybe find out what actually happened all those years ago. What could have possibly occurred that left him alone, scavenging in the woods. Well… all it takes is a DNA test. And one little MATCH!

But nothing can be that simple…right?!

I devoured this book in only a few sittings, and whole-heartedly didn’t want it to end! I’ve now come to love Wilde’s character. But not to be overlooked, the star of this book of course is Hester! She is a no-bull, take no prisoners kind of a gal! Oh, did I mention behind it all, she also has a heart of gold. Love her!❤️

Already looking forward to Harlan Coben’s next release. Will he continue with this series? Return to Myron and Win? Or perhaps it’s time for another stand-alone? Whatever his direction I’m all in and will be the first in line!🙋🏻‍♀️

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing

Harlan Coben zeroed in on two current trends and wove a tale around them: the ascent of "reality" tv and the use of websites to check DNA. Wilde, last name unknown, now in his forties, became famous as a child when he was discovered living in the woods and for surviving so long he know longer remembered how he got there. Curious about his past, Wilde searches a DNA site and finds a link to a contractor in Nevada whom he believes is his father. After meeting him, Wilde is sure the man is, indeed, his father but as the man appears happily married with two daughters, he leaves after one meeting. This DNA link also leads someone to find Wilde, who he believes is his brother and that someone, Patrick, is a reality show contest winner who was a media darling who raked in millions until his sister in law accused him of sexual assault on live television. Patrick then disappeared. The book not only exposes "reality" tv as highly staged and scripted fiction but the lines some people will cross for fame and continue to cross to maintain their popularity. Woven into this fast paced story is Wilde's own interesting story, a series of murders that originate with a group of online vigilantes who set out to punish online trolls and the search for the missing Patrick. This is vintage Coben. Highly recommended.

Once again Harlan Coben has written another amazing story. Follow along with Wilde as he discovers just who is he and where he came from. Along the way so many other twists and turns happen that you just have to keep turning the pages until at last you are at the very end wishing for more. A must read!!

Interesting but a bit odd. I did not read Boy in the Woods, so I definitely missed some of the background.

Harlan Coben does it again! After searching for his birth family, Wilde is down the rabbit hole in DNA websites, murder, and reality TV. Connecting with a reality TV star who has disappeared, he’s trying to piece together his life as well as the life Peter Bennett left behind. Lots of secondary plot lines of romance, vigilantes, and witness protection that add a little more depth to the book. I never thought I would love a Coben character more than Myron Bolitar but I think Wilde may be coming in as a strong second!

This was my first Harlan Coben book, after I realized that I'd watched quite a few mystery/thriller limited series based on his books on Netflix (mostly from other countries, some in other languages). I really enjoyed it and I can see why he's an international bestselling author. This worked fine as a stand-alone, even though characters in it were from multiple books and it was obvious that there was a lot of back story. Just enough of that was given that I didn't feel lost but also didn't feel that other books were ruined for me. I can tell that Netflix completely revamps his books when they turn them into series, as one of the characters in this one is from The Stranger and that character is nothing like the one in that.

The Match is told from multiple POVs, with the biggest one being Wylde, a man who was found in the woods as a child who doesn't know his own personal history. He's put his DNA in one of those heritage databases and when two hits come up, it leads him on a journey through interwoven lives of internet trolls, reality dating star celebs, law enforcement, a serial killer and more. Wylde and many of the characters in his life are likeable, and the story was compelling. I'll definitely look for more Coben books from now on.

I read a digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

For longtime Harlan Coben fans, you will LOVE this book, as well as recognize a 'throwback' to one of his other books "The Stranger." Wilde was the boy from the woods that didn't know his origins, and people often speculated how he was able to survive. This book takes us on a journey of him searching for his family through an ancestry site, and the twists and turns that come with finding close relatives of his.
Other beloved characters include Hester Crimstein, WIlde's on again, off again lover Laila, and her son/his Godson Matthew. They all play a part in helping Wilde find out more about his past and the secrets that come along with it. I devoured this book over two days and was sad to see it end. Harlan Coben does not disappoint with the suspense through out the book, along with the shockers up to the last few pages that he is well known for. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a suspenseful thriller!
#goodreads #netgalley #ARC

My favorite book so far from Harlan Coben. Wilde submits his DNA to a website hoping to find his family.

For most of the book I was thinking that Harlan Coben was “back”! Yes, one of my favorite writers of suspense had just been in a tough spot for the past book or two.
There were a lot of scenes that didn’t quite fit, but then I figured he’d bring it all together eventually – and he did. However, the last few chapters I felt like it was “wham, bam, thank you ma’am” the End. Whew!
Lotsa characters, lotsa different places, lotsa confusion, lotsa lies, lotsa action … exhausting and a bit difficult to keep all these disparate threads and convoluted events straight. However, Coben did bring it all to a reasonably satisfactory conclusion, even outing Wilde’s birth parents. So now, that we’ve got that mystery (from book 1) settled, I guess he’s ready to build his new series.
Once again, I’m grateful to NetGalley for a first look at the new books of my favorite authors. And once again I’m thankful to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, for allowing me the opportunity of reading this new book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I came into this book with high expectations, not only from the first book but also form Coben's many others, and was not disappointed!

The Match revolves around Wilde, the infamous boy who was found living in the woods as a child. As he tries to determine who is actual family is from a DNA test, it opens the door to many more deadly and dangerous secrets than he could ever expect.

Coben is one the few authors who can leave me speechless from just reading, and he has done it again. Not once was I correct in my theories about this book, something that rarely happens.

This is a thriller mystery that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Highly recommend to fans of the author or the genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

This had a lot of twists and turns. I was not expecting it to be so fast paced. I didnt realize that this was a series, so I feel like you should read the first one before reading this. But this picked up quick and keeps you hooked. This was my first Harlan Coben and I will definitely be reading more of his books!

It was only when I finished The Match and was looking for a book excerpt or other interesting thing to add to this blog review, that I learned this was the second book in a series. The first is The Boy in the Woods. I was completely surprised that this second book stood alone so effortlessly.

This story felt like several things were happening at the same time, and I kept wondering when and how they would intersect. In retrospect, I’m sure if I’d read the first book, it probably wouldn’t have taken me quite so long to figure out relationships.

As I said, there are quite a few things going on, several characters (but not too many to keep track of), a murder trial and DNA mystery, a serial killer, a group of cyber vigilantes, and more. I knew Coben would neatly tie this little package up, but how? The pages flew. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the happenings like some stories have made me feel. I was intrigued.

But when the puzzle pieces started falling in place, now that’s the time I had to keep my head on straight and attempt to remember relationships and possible connections.

Several times I thought the surprise twist in the book was the end, but then another surprise would come to light. I had to keep my seatbelt on for the last quarter of the book. But I definitely liked the wild ride.

My Concerns
It was a little twisted and I had to suspend disbelief at times, but not to the point that it really concerned me. However, it might not work for others.

Final Thoughts
Now that I realize there’s a book before this one, I’d suggest you start with that. Though as I mentioned, it’s not necessary, but would no doubt be helpful.

I give this an easy thumbs up. It took a great mind to come up with this complicated plot.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ability to read an ARC and freely review it according to my opinion.

Wilde is back.

This new series by Harlan Coben did not catch me on the first book "The Boy in the Woods". In fact, I was really disappointed in it. I was not eager to read to this one except that it is from Harlan Coben, who I love.

The book starts out with Wilde trying to find out his family history. Soon he finds out who his biological father is and that sets in a chain of events where finding out who his family is was a huge mistake. As secrets start to become unraveled, the body count starts piling up. Behind his search for answers is an online group out for revenge. Wilde has to see how this online group relates to his family and if his family truly is who they say they are.

This book took off on page one. As I mentioned, I was really disappointed in the first book but I could not put this one down. It was a true page-turner. I loved the concept of Wilde finding his family though I did get confused once in a while about how people were related. I was surprised by who it turned out to be in the end and am looking forward to more in this series after Harlan redeemed himself.

I received a free e-ARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So good!

4.25 stars

The Match is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller about a DNA match on an ancestry site that leads to murder, mayhem, and intrigue.

When Wilde, who made headlines as the boy from the woods when he was found as a child living in the wild in New Jersey, uploads his DNA on an ancestry website in the hopes of finding the identity of his parents, the consequences are beyond anything he could have predicted. Not only does he find a match to one of his parents, but he also matches with another individual who takes him on a dangerous journey that puts those he cares most about in grave danger.

In addition to Wilde, The Match also features Hester Crimstein as well as some other characters who make appearances in Coben’s novels. My previous encounter with Wilde was in The Boy from the Woods, which was not a favorite. You don’t need to read Coben’s other books before reading this one--it reads well as a standalone.

Everything that I took issue with in The Boy from the Woods was made up for in this one. Wilde’s character is fully formed and has some depth, and the mystery is compelling. Even better was that my armchair detective skills failed me. There were many twists and turns and surprises. Even though the identity of the killer is somewhat predictable, I was still surprised by the reveal.

I couldn't put this book down. It filled the void when I didn’t have WiFi, and that says a lot ! The ending was awesome, but it did leave me with some questions that I hope will be answered in the next book featuring Wilde’s character.

I highly recommend The Match to my fellow thriller fans who enjoy action-packed suspense, plot twists and turns, and a bit of over-the-top reality tv drama!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

It is a paradox, a contradiction, and yet that was what most of us are, when we think about it. We want to make people consistent and predictable and simple, but they never are.

If you ever did a DNA 23 and Me or something like that and get a match that you didn't see coming, it can be thrilling. I experienced this myself. Had correspondence with a 3rd cousin and learned about my Italian heritage. Wilde had that match but his history is a little different than mine. Being abandoned as a young child in the wild, (see the first book The Boy from the Woods , he wanted to find out why and who he was. He was unable to make connections with people and he hurt those that he loved. He continued to live in the Wild but life was changing for him and his love interest. There is a boat load of history in the first book, but you are caught up in this pretty quickly.

Wilde makes his connection to his match. His father lives across the country. Something seems off but Wilde is than has a 2nd a connection. A cousin, that has mysteriously disappeared and then murder of several people connected to him occur. What the heck is happening! Oh my gosh, what did Wilde get himself into.

So the story line is great! The story line pulled from the 23 and me, reality TV, bullying on the internet and added great support characters. Starting with Hester. A mother figure to Wilde, a lawyer, she is snarky, loyal, and easy to connect with. Matthew the grandson of Hester, his father was killed and Wilde and Matthew have a good connection. He has a perspective that Wilde needs personally and seems to know the ins and outs of reality TV. There are more but those two I liked the best.

The beginning to the end was perfection for me. Sometimes a book can start out strong and trying to end it well can be tricky but this was well done. I hope there are more! Just love how character driven flows the plot! Highly recommend.

A special thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

This is a great follow on to the boy in the woods. Complex character and it was great to learn a little bit more about him. Enjoyed!

Wilde 2

If you haven’t read The Boy From The Woods, well why not? It was a great story that left us longing to hear more about the mysterious Wilde. As a young child, he was found living alone in the Ramapo Mountains in New Jersey. Headlines called him a feral child and no one knew who he was or where he came from.

Wilde has no memories of how he got there and who he is. As he makes friends with another child, David, adults get involved. And that means Hester, Laila, Matthew, and Rola. And they are all back.

Wilde has done a DNA test and posted it to a website. He gets a hit. 100% match. A father. Wilde tracks him down and they meet. But this man knows nothing about a son or who he slept with years ago. And when Wilde goes back, the entire family is gone. Just gone.

As he continues his search he finds a secret community that is handling online trolls a bit differently. And when they start to die, Wilde needs to find out why and who.

In his usual tight-lipped fashion, Coben spins webs in every direction, leaving us questioning everyone and everything we thought we knew. This one wrapped up nicely. Ancestry sites are being used in all types of cases now and it’s hard to stay hidden for very long. But even with the DNA, he has given it his own spin.

NetGalley/ March 15th, 2022 by Grand Central Publishing