Awesome book! Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I was thrilled to be chosen to read this. I powered through it in one day. There are sad parts, but unfortunately, childhood sexual abuse it way too prevalent these days. I really enjoyed the different viewpoints and how the author would jump back to events that occurred prior in the day. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something would be at the end of the chapter to show me I was wrong. I loved how the family loved each other enough to support each other through this. But also felt angry about how Shelby's real mother treated her. Another great book by Nicole.

Another great psychological thriller by Nicole Trope.

Three-year-old Millie disappears one morning while her mother is out shopping and her sister Shelby has been left home to babysit. Shelby, who is twelve, insists she only went upstairs for a second to use the bathroom. Her mother, Leslie, insists she was only supposed to be out for an hour. Both stories have inconsistencies.

I really loved the way this book examined the relationships in blended families, for good and bad. Leslie is married to Randall, Shelby’s dad. When Shelby’s parents were still married, they struggled financially. Now Randall’s software company is worth millions. Could this have been a factor to whomever took Millie? Shelby’s mother Bianca is remarried to Trevor, and there’s tension in that relationship, too. There’s also the matter of Ruth, a local woman who has a story to tell of her own.

I thought the book did a really good job of balancing really interesting character perspectives and keeping the pacing flowing. I liked how I felt like there were just the right number of characters and it didn’t get bogged down with too much to try to keep track of, but kept things nice and tight and told a clean story. This had some twists I wasn’t expecting!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley for review purposes.

Leslie leaves 3 year old Millie at home with her 12 year old stepdaughter Shelby while she leaves the house to do some shopping. She had every confidence that Millie would be fine. But then the worst fear a mother can experience happens, when she receives a call from a hysterical Shelby to say that Millie has disappeared.

I nearly didn't request this book as I am not fond of the missing child theme, Being a mother myself, I find it hard to read about this subject as I can't imagine anything more traumatic than this happening.

I am so glad I decided to take a chance on this book, It was suspenseful and I liked the way the book moved from character to character as the pieces of the story slowly came together. I have read other books by Nicole and enjoyed and them and I felt the same about this one. Some surprises along the way that kept me turning the pages wondering about the fate of little Millie.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book conveyed every parents worst nightmare - a missing child - in a very suspenseful read. I liked the way the chapters went back and forth between each characters point of view. I was throwed by a couple of the twists along the way. I found myself racing through it to find out what happened to Millie. I will definitely try some of Nicole Trope's other books.

The Stepchild by Nicole Trope is so good! After finishing the book, I said, "Wow, what an emotional roller coaster ride!" The concept and premise of the book were done well. The storyline and cast of characters kept me guessing until the culprit was revealed.

The author portrayed the characters and their personalities well and created intricate and emotional scenes. The ending was satisfying. I would love to read more of Nicole Trope's books.

I highly recommend The Stepchild.

#TheStepchild #NetGalley

This was addictive and each chapter gave little hints to the story. I need to be very careful not to spoil anything so won't say anymore.

I loved the way different points of view were used and teased it was very engaging.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

I almost DNF this book, even though the plot twists at the end of every chapter kept me reading I thought this would be just another story about a psychopath with symptoms of OCD. I could not be MORE wrong, it’s a really nice thriller that makes you really relate to a story that it’s a lot more common that it should be. It’s a nice mystery, it just takes about 30% to any of the characters become enjoyable and the plot to start to make sense. Thank you so much for giving me a ARC for this book I will definitely read more books from the author!

This was such a gripping read that I couldnt put down. It was well written with a good storyline and well developed characters. The plot was full of twists, mystery and suspense with a fast pace and tension to match. It was so unpredictable that I couldnt guess what was happening. completely engahing all the way through, a really enjoyable read.

A very huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this advanced copy!!

Leslie leaves her 3 year old daughter Millie home alone with her step daughter Shelby, when she gets a call that Millie is missing. You think this is just another novel about a missing child but trust me it’s not. Leslie knows Shelby isn’t telling the truth about what happened, she can feel it but when Shelby’s mom Bianca arrives she won’t allow her to speak alone with anyone. Told between Leslie, Shelby and a woman named Ruth with each chapter building with intensity.

This is my second novel by Nicole Trope and this one solidifies that I need to rush and get her others! This author definitely knows how to spin the best domestic psychological thriller!

Wow, wower, wowest… These last two words don’t exist, I hear you say. Well, you are right about that, but they express exactly how I feel about this book. So I will use them anyway. 😉

This is my seventh book by this author and I loved them all. They all are packed to the rafters with emotions whether it’s suspense, heartbreak, love, friendship,… you name it.

Some people are masters in manipulation. They make some people feel good and they break others down. Each and every time they seem to slither their way out of trouble before they are being caught, but one day their luck must run out so they can get what they deserve.

This really is an ugly and devastating story and the author used it to create an amazing and very addictive read.

If I have to pick a favourite character, it would be Millie without a doubt.

Adults should always protect children, whether they are their own or someone else’s. Unfortunately some of them clearly did not get the memo.

This is a great book. Rating it lower than 5 stars would be a serious crime. 😊

Thank you

“No one wants to be invisible, but sometimes invisible is the best you can hope for.”

Shelby Everleigh, 12, is mad with the world. Her stepmom, Leslie, knows that Shelby and her bestie, Kiera, want to head to the mall, but she makes Shelby babysit Millie, her 3-year-old stepsister, while she quickly runs out to the grocery store. All of a sudden, Millie is missing and, unable to find her, Shelby is forced to alert Leslie. Is Millie simply playing hide-n-seek? Has she run away from home? Was she abducted?

Fear well done has a definite arc and Nicole Trope consistently shows she’s mastered the trajectory of fear. She takes us through the stages as her rollercoaster plot gains momentum. Initially, readers are lulled into a false sense of security while she establishes normality in Leslie Everleigh’s day - she’s out running errands. Suddenly within two pages, the gas pedal is pushed to the floor and the rollercoaster takes off - she gets THE phone call every parent dreads and unease sets in. She rushes home. As Trope takes readers through the multiple points of view, the search for Millie, and the police interview process, dread replaces unease - will they ever find her?

This compelling narrative benefits from several people telling the story because the different relationships within the cast of characters add different facets to the larger picture. Not only that, Trope utilizes the different points of view to her best advantage; she allows each character to provide another clue to Millie’s whereabouts as the story progresses. The page-turning tension that results is due to one character’s scene ending at an unresolved point, thereby leaving the reader with questions, just as the next chapter opens with another point of view offering another piece of the puzzle. Each character’s story is as compelling as the one before and each character has his own arc. The withholding of information manipulates the reader and gives the compelling plot the fuel to proceed. With each character holding back a devastating secret, who can be trusted? It’s truly masterful plotting on Trope’s part.

Missing child cases are undeniably tragic and readers are torn between wanting a world where this doesn’t happen and wanting a world where perpetrators are brought to justice. Trope accesses that delicate balance and runs with a story that challenges readers to keep up with characters’ shocking pasts, unearthed family secrets and the web of lies constructed to help them survive. She highlights the “MeToo movement and forgiveness as she draws on empathy and tugs at readers’ heartstrings. Before readers know it, the rollercoaster has climbed several small hills, climaxed at the summit, twisted and turned unexpected corners and is rolling towards a conclusion. Will the gasp-worthy ending see Millie found alive or dead? Regardless, Trope hammers home “a secret kept is a secret you’ll live to regret.”

I was gifted this advance copy by Nicole Trope, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book kept me guessing until the very end, I was hooked! I’m not sure how to accurately portray how much I loved this thriller! It was filled with twists and turns all throughout the book, even the spooky epilogue.

Millie is 3 years old and goes missing while she is being babysat by her step-sister, Shelby. Everyone has keeping secrets and no one is telling.

This was my first book my Nicole Trope and it certainly won’t be the last. I will definitely be buying a paperback copy when this releases on March 15th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the story and had to finish it to find out what happens but really this could of been done in like 100 pages less. There was a lot of repetition and the characters were a bit self obsessed which got a little annoying.

The twist was good I did guess it but not until about 20 pages before the reveal.

This book is simply phenomenal. Missing children is a common theme for thrillers but this one is so well done that it stands apart from the other books. The characters manage to be surprisingly realistic. The way the multiple vantage points merge together kept me on the edge of my seat. Thanks for the advance review copy. I’m absolutely checking out more from this author!

Thank you Netgalley, Nicole Trope, and Bookouture for my gifted copy!

Synopsis:
Three-year-old Millie should have been safe in her twelve-year-old stepsister Shelby's care. But when her mum returns, Millie is nowhere to be found. And soon it becomes clear that not only Shelby has something to hide about that afternoon - the mother's whereabouts aren't as clear as she made them out to be ...

My thoughts:
I've read lots and lots of missing-children-books lately, and this one is definitely a suspenseful one! Having a child take the blame and blaming themselves is a new take on the whole thing, and I really liked how it all came together in the end. The story shows you how experiences in your childhood make or break you, and that you can always - even years later - make the right decision. Even though there's talk about really heavy topics, this was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. I just wish the suspense would've been drawn out more - maybe some more red herrings or something?

This was my first book by this author, and it won't be my last!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre : psychological thriller
This one had me HOOKED from page one. Seriously. It dives right in & is absolutely unputdownable.
Three year old Millie goes missing while being babysat by her twelve year old step-sister, Shelby. Everyone has secrets and no one is spilling….
It’s twisty-turny and full of holy shiiiii moments.
With multiple narrators the story flows fast & furious. There’s no down time in this one, each page seemingly more gripping than the last. You’ll definitely want to clear your schedule, because you’ll be finishing this in one sitting.
Off to add all of Nicole Trope’s books to my TBR.
Releases on March 15th! Thanks, @Netgalley !

Another fabulous title to add to my favorites!
THE STEPCHILD is a tense thriller that had me completely engrossed!
An unputdownable and compulsive read.
The plot is strong and very well developed.
And this ending a complete surprise!
The characters are very believable and realistic.
Such A fantastic book and I can't wait to read more of her books!

Bookouture,
Thank you for this eARC!

Leslie leaves her stepdaughter, Shelby, at home to watch her 3 year old daughter Millie. While Leslie is out shopping, she gets a call from Shelby that Millie has gone missing. She races home and she tries to figure out what happened to Millie. Leslie and her husband Randall, Shelby's father, know there is more to the story than Shelby is telling them. Told through different points of view from different characters, Leslie, Shelby, Ruth and Trevor we finally discover the truth and what has been happening. Will Millie be found safe?

Another very intriguing book from Nicole Trope. I found myself racing through the pages wanting to know who all these characters were and how they were connected! If you want a book to keep you guessing, pick this one up. It was entertaining and I LOVED the brilliant ending. I am sure THE STEPCHILD will be another big hit for Nicole Trope!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

The characters in the book bring the story alive and leaves you wanting to hear more about them.
I am blown away by this book, the twists and turns are mind-boggling!… BRILLIANT… If I could I would give it more than 5 stars. Excellent.

Nicole Trope has done it again! She has quickly became one of the few authors who I will drop whatever I’m reading when I see she has a new book out. This book was amazing. Heart wrenching, suspenseful, plot twists I never saw coming… The ending was so satisfying in so many ways. The story also brought attention to a very real problem that is not talked about enough. Fantastic book, can’t wait for her next one!