Told in multiple POVs, The Stepchild tells the story of a family whose 3-year-old daughter goes missing. As the investigation and search to find the little girl continues, more characters are introduced outside of the immediate family adding more depth, and questions, as to what really happened—and everyone has a secret.

The Stepchild by Nicole Trope is a thriller that keeps the reader guessing. From the beginning, I was drawn into this story, trying to piece together what happened and how people were connected to one another. I was on the edge of my seat, never wanting to put this book down because I had to know what happened next.

I highly recommend if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers including dysfunctional family dynamics and lots of secrets.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley & Bookouture and am leaving an honest review.

Hold onto your emotions as you will feel them all! This is an addictive fast-paced read which I have thoroughly enjoyed!

Thanks for letting me have an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book hooked me right away! Little Millie Everleigh disappears while her half sister is babysitting her. You know right from the start that her sister knows more than she is letting on. But this story has so many twists it will keep you guessing until the end. My emotions were all over the place!
This is my first book by Nicole Trope, but it definitely won’t be my last! She writes in such a way that you don’t want to put the book down. I want to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thanks netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
If you read between the lines the story was about child abuse and what happens.
Shelby thought if she did not argue and complain her mother would be happier, and that was what Shelby wanted.
While Shelby was babysitting her step sister she started getting frightened by the person who was abusing her, and her step sister got angry and stood up,for her.
This led to terrible consequences and a near tragedy.
Great book but also very sad.

The Stepchild by Nicole Trope is another addictive and twisted tale of family secrets and deceptions. Ms Trope has firmly established herself as an unmissable presence in the genres of domestic drama and psychological thriller.

When Leslie returns from a trip to the grocery store, she receives the devastating news that is any mother's worst nightmare. Her three year old daughter has gone missing while in the care of Leslie's twelve year old stepdaughter, Shelby. While Shelby claims to have only let little Millie out of her sight for mere moments, it quickly becomes clear that the young girl is hiding something, and her story begins to unravel. Furthermore, an ominous message from an unknown sender suggests that Leslie doesn't know her husband as well as she thinks she does. Will the secrets of this family become untangled before it is too late for a child whose life hangs in the balance?

Like Ms Trope's previous novels, this one offers up a compelling, superbly executed narrative that will have you on the edge of your seat. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

Shelby is the 12 year old daughter of Randall and his ex-wife, Bianca. Randall is now married to Leslie and they have a 3 year old daughter, Millie. Leslie leaves Shelby to babysit Millie while she runs to the grocery store. Her world is turned upside down when a hysterical Shelby calls to tell her that Millie is missing.
Everyone in this story is hiding something. Why did Leslie's trip to the store take so long? What is Shelby hiding? Bianca is jealous of how successful her ex-husband has become after their divorce. Leslie has received a text saying her husband is not who he says he is. Where is Millie, and who is responsible?
I am a big fan of Nicole Trope, so I was very excited to read this book. I was not at all disappointed. I loved getting different points of view from each character, it really helped to connect with each of them. The topic is a serious one and I love how realistically she wrote it. Secrets, no matter how big or small, can have huge consequences. Every character in the story was well written and the book had me gripped. There are some very sensitive subjects brought up in the book so be prepared. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Twelve-year-old Shelby is watching her three-year-old sister Millie and when her stepmother Leslie arrives home, Shelby devastatingly tells her that Millie s missing. Quite naturally, Leslie is in a panic. Any mother would be.

What happened to Millie and what does Shelby and even Leslie have to hide when it comes to such a sad situation Then there is Ruth. She is not connected to the family in any way, but she see something that shocks her to her very core and she struggles to find a way to deal with what she saw. This brings a very troubled past right before her. Somehow, she is certain that her past is connected to the disappearance of the little girl.

Throughout this sensitive story, we have three points of view. We have Shelby and what she was experiencing and the secret that she had. Then we have Leslie, a mother whose possibly bad decision might have something to do with Millie’s disappearance. Lastly, we have Ruth. with her utterly sad story.

There is no way that I can continue with this review without issuing a trigger warning regarding childhood sexual abuse. As a victim of said abuse, I really struggled with these passages. While hoping that Millie would be returned home safe, this content seemed unlikely to be resolved in the pages of this book. This compelling story was delivered with excellent pacing and incredibly dramatic scenes while resulting in a riveting conclusion.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The missing child “trope” in psychological fiction is so common now, that some people might even argue that its been done to death. Though I still enjoy these sorts of books, it is certainly a big ask to provide an original spin on this plot trajectory due to there being so many books of this nature out there. However, Nicole Trope, of course, manages to produce a compelling and gripping narrative that becomes about far more than a missing child.

Nicole Trope writes realistic, believable, and at times heart-warming psychological fiction. For me, there are two ends of the spectrum of this genre. One end of the spectrum invites the reader to distrust and dislike the vast majority of the characters and leaves them reeling with unease and disgust. The other end of the spectrum is more where I feel Nicole’s work sits. This is where you are able to empathise with the majority of the characters to some extent, and in doing so build a bond with their family unit, which is what keeps you hooked.

Nicole Trope, in this book, explores the concept of family dynamics, the make up of friendships, the notion of love and the issue of past histories, all alongside maintaining the focus on the quest for the missing child.

This was definitely a book that had me hooked and I found difficult to put down. Yes I needed to know what had happened to Millie, but I also wondered how this family could possibly recover from something which reveals itself to be far more shocking and damaging than we originally thought!

Overall, a tense and gripping read that is absolutely worthy of its comparison to Lisa Jewell. I would also recommend this book and author to fans of S E Lynes, Jess Kitching and Mel Sherratt.

The Step Child was a very good read. I look forward to reading whatever Nicole Trope writes next, as well as working my way through her backlist.

I loved this book so much I read it in one sitting! Another brilliant book from One of my favourite authors. Highly recommended. Five stars from me.

Many thanks to netgalley and Nicole Trope for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I was so lucky to receive an advance copy of The Stepchild by Nicole Trope from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I've read prior books by Nicole Trope and they are all excellent so I was so excited to read this! She doesn't disappoint with this book - SO good! This is the ultimate psychological thriller that will keep you engrossed until the very last page. I will be recommending this to all my friends to read as soon as it's published. Read it - I promise you won't regret it!

A true page turner! This book is packed with emotion and high stakes from the outset. A heart-breaking tale about a troubled family, a missing girl, and the struggle to make a blended family work. Really highlights the challenges of parenting and, sadly, the vulnerability of children. Beautifully written and gut wrenching.

I loved reading this suspenseful thriller. This is an author that I never hesitate to pick up. I have loved reading this author's books from the first one I picked up. I enjoy this author's writing style as well as her attention to details that make the story easy and entertaining to read. This story is no different. It is a well written story that is full of action and suspense. It has twists and turns that you won't see coming as well as have you sitting on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what would happen next. The characters pull you into the story from the beginning. They are connectable and they bring the story to life. A story about family, secrets and pasts that keep coming back. The growth of the characters as well as the plot throughout the story is great. I really enjoyed this book and I highy recommend this book.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Stepchild ' by Nicole Trope.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Nicole Trope, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 15th March 2022.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Girl Who Never Came Home', 'The Mother's Fault' or 'The Family Across The Street' which I also recommend anyone read.


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and The Wife Between Us.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Nicole and if this is half as good as 'The Girl Who Never Came Home', 'The Mother's Fault' or 'The Family Across The Street' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 48 chapters, an epilogue and 3 extra chapters. The chapters are short in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺.


This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Leslie, Shelby and Ruth. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

'The Stepchild' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Nicole discusses/includes sexual assault on a child.


OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?!? Nicole Trope you are a writing legend!!!

This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all feeling the hairs raise on their arms and feeling their heart pounding with Leslie's. This title, cover and synopsis suited it perfectly along with the cover and synopsis.

This book has got to be the most heart racing books I've read I a long time, of not ever!!! It had be hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliffhanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this this morning and finished it at 2am reading it in one sitting and although I'm knackered today it was 1000000% worth it!!! I loved that you got to see everything that was going on from Leslie, Shelby and Ruth who were all in the centre of it all. There were several red herrings as to what had actually happened but I never did guess right. When I found out I was completely shocked which is a huge achievement as Ive read so many books so it is harder and harder to shock me so another HUGE congratulations Nicole!!! It really does make you think how life can change so quickly and different decisions can change a life. It also makes you think how looks can be deceiving. This book discusses some heartbreaking subjects such as child abuse so please be aware of this before you pick it up. Nicole has written about an absolutely dreadful topic and weaved it perfectly into a heart stopping, page turning novel and by doing this hopefully it will help others discover the signs or step forward and speak about any abuse they have suffered. My heart was in my throat and I was on the edge of my seat throughout reading this. I was completely invested in the storyline and it will stay with me for a long time. This book would make a fantastic movie.


I really liked Leslie, Ruth and Shelby from the start and became completely invested in them all. All the characters were realistic, well developed and had strong characteristics and personalities. My heart really went out to each of the main characters for different reasons. Leslie is a mother and stepmother of two young girls and what she went through is a mother's worse nightmare. She didn't only have the hell of a missing child but was also doubting everyone around her at the same time. Shelby is a young girl whose parents have seperated and both have different partners. Shelby was with Millie at the time and holds so much guilt for such a young child. She also suffered tremendously with nobody to speak to and also feeling let down and deceived by the one person who should have been there for her. I absolutely adored Ruth and she is a character who will be remembered for a long time. Ruth went through so much herself as a young girl and it has destroyed her life. I loved her personality and it was intriguing to see how she dealt with her stress. Each of these amazing people came together perfectly to make this heart stopping book.

I did absolutely NOT expect that humongous bombshell at all. What an absolute twist!!! I can hand on my heart say that I cannot remember when I was so gobsmacked by a book twist but Nicole you have done just that!!! This book is rammed with suspense and tension and will keep you biting your nails, on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding while your flipping the pages because you just cant stop!!

If you read one book on your life, make sure it is this!!!! I would love to see this turned into a movie and Nicole I really hope you are working on your next psychological thriller at this moment because this book will go far!!! A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on what promises to be a MASSIVE success!!!


Overall an absolutely heart racing, nail biting, unputdownable psychological thriller with a bomb shell you will not see coming!!!


Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Coming-Of-Age story, Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Suspense, Noir Fiction, Crime Fiction and Domestic Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, 'The Wife Between Us', anyone who has read any of Nicole's previous books AND YOU, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY AND JUST EVERYONE!!! .


276 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Nicole Trope just gets better. Wow.
We all have those moments - if I had just taken a moment longer. If I had just changed my plans. One decision creating lasting impacts.
Shelby babysits her 3 yo sister while her stepmom goes grocery store. Things were great - until Kiera, Shelby's friend.
Randall, the dad, is on the golf course schmoozing clients.
Leslie, stepmom to Shelby and mom to Millie, goes shopping but first has a meeting.
Shelby's lies are choking her. Leslie's terror overtaking her life.
And Ruth- terrified to leave the comfort of her collections.
Great exploration of people, lies, and stress. Who are we really?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ oh wow. The Stepchild is an absolutely gripping thriller with twists and turns galore! I can't describe it without giving anything away so I won't! We read the story from different characters perspectives; I loved it

A quick trip to the shops, shouldn't be long,
But it is long enough for things to go wrong....
A three year old left with her step sister
Disappears, how could they have missed her?

A family's nightmare, but what a shocking surprise
As the truth is revealed from all of the lies.
Just what happened to Millie and where did she go?
Who's keeping secrets? What do they know?

What a suspense filled read full of mystery,
Skilfully blended with secrets and shocking history.
So many lies that the investigation reveals
But can they find where Milly's concealed?

Is she alive - and if so, where? Her Mum's going wild -
What's happened to this innocent child?
A story filled with family secrets and drama
A page turner with you hoping no one will have harmed her.

An enthralling mystery and suspense filled great read,
This psychological thriller - could be just what you need!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
An edge of your seat read, this is my honest review.

This book was fantastic! Well written, fast paced and kept me guessing. Definitely a fan of this author and can’t wait to see what is next.

Shelby Everleigh, twelve is babysitting Millie for her stepmother, Leslie whilst she shops for groceries. Leslie takes a call from a panicked Shelby. Three-year-old Millie has vanished; she opened the front door and left according to Shelby who left her sitting at the table in the living room while she used the bathroom and now Millie can't be found anywhere...

Nicole Trope has written another tremendously good psychological thriller. The story is told from three perspectives, Leslie, Shelby and Ruth and their different emotions come across very strongly. All the characters are good but the shining light is Ruth and understanding how she fits in is key to the story's greatness. The tension throughout is palpable and the tale is ripe with powerful family dynamics and drama. There's some jaw-dropping wickedness and the ending is satisfying.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I love this sassy psychological thriller! It’s a good un’ and one you won’t stop thinking about long after you’ve finished!

The book is told from the points of view of Leslie, Shelby and Ruth. Shelby is the 12 year old stepchild who is tasked with looking after 3 year old Millie. Leslie, Millie’s mum is out shopping while her husband Randall, Shelby’s dad is playing golf. Leslie gets a phone call from a panicking Shelby that Millie has disappeared while she was upstairs in the bathroom.

Now you get lots of questions, is Shelby telling the truth? Who keeps sending threatening text messages to Shelby? Why does Leslie leave a 3 year old with a 12 year old? How does Ruth fit in? So many questions to answer and you will be on the edge of your seat finding out the truth! Absolutely nail biting grit in this book! Love it!