4 stars. This one drew me in right from the start. A page turner as you can’t wait to see what will be uncovered next. Thank you NetGalley. Definitely will read anything Catherine Steadman puts out.

I really enjoyed this book. I kept wondering what was going to happen. It really left me guessing.

The book is about a couple who just got engaged and also found out they were having a baby. The main character is the woman in the relationship and the story is told by her. The family she is marrying into is extremely rich. They are also very strange. They play games at family functions that are scary and dangerous. She is given a tape by her fiance's father that devulges crimes he has committed. He also knows about a secret she has. What happens at the end is surprising and disturbing.

I don’t expect thrillers to be based in reality, but there was little to no logic behind anything that happened in this story, and it was super frustrating. I absolutely loved Something in the Water, but this one just wasn't it for me. Lots of people really enjoyed this book, so I'm definitely in the minority here.

Thank you to the publisher for an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, i did enjoy this story and it is a very good winter thriller for someone that looking for one. I felt the story was pretty predictable throughout and personally wasn’t surprised by the “twist” at the end. Even with that i felt this was a solid thriller and i did end up reading this book in a day while traveling. Good story overall.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Set during the holidays? Check.
Super atmospheric rich people vibes? Check.
Single POV where you trust no one around them? Check.

After sitting on this ARC for a few months due to hearing that it was set during winter and over the course of the holidays, I am now SO glad that I waited and highly recommend picking this one up during the holiday season for an added atmospheric element. Also, knowing only bits and pieces of the Krampusnacht celebration I think brought those scenes to an even creepier level for me, and I was on the edge of my seat during both "scavenger hunt" situations. Their family was extremely rich and even more fucked up and I was completely here for all of it.

I had begun to have some suspicions about what the final reveal ended up being, but I really think Catherine Steadman's main objective was to create that suspenseful feeling of dread throughout in her readers-and she DEFINITELY accomplished that in my opinion. This book was extremely fast-paced and I completely binged it in a little over a day because I really could not stop reading. After back to back books with multiple POV's and timelines, this single POV with a linear timeline was extremely refreshing and very easy to follow.

If you enjoy books about high stakes cat and mouse games and/or previously enjoyed Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier with just a little more murder, definitely pick this one up. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my review copy!

I was initially so excited to read this one based on the premise because it sounded so mysterious and intriguing. However, as the book went on, I found myself losing interest. The characters initially really drew me in because they were so enigmatic and intriguing, but as this got darker and more confusing, I lost interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dreading holiday dinner with the family? As bad as it might be, it has got to be better than Harriet "Harry" Reed's. This newly minted British writer moves to New York after falling for American scion Edward Holbeck,

Harry is thrust into the Holbeck family gatherings on the holidays where family game night is on the menu.

As it turns out, so are twists, turns, secrets, and intrigue, with undertones of "Get Out." It takes a bit of patience to get in to, but The Family Game is worth the slow burn. When it takes off - boom!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book! It was dark, twisty, and easy to get engrossed in. Although aspects of it require you to suspend your disbelief and there were a couple plot points that I felt could have been further explored, I liked the premise overall and thought the setup was generally well-done. The plot centers around British author Harriet preparing to marry into a rich, old-money American household and uncovering secrets as she vies for their complete acceptance. It does build up rather slowly compared to some other thrillers I've read, but I liked that it gave us time to learn about the characters (especially Harriet) before we really dove into the action-heavy parts. Overall, I would recommend this if you're looking for a slightly slower-paced thriller that explores family dynamics and isn't as gory as many of its contemporaries in the genre.

Trigger Warnings: death, murder, mentions of suicide

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman is a psychological thriller about Harriet, who is invited to be a part of the Holbecks's Christmas tradition after her engagement to Edward Holbeck. And their traditional Christmas game is even crazier and even more savage than you might think. This book was pretty unique and certainly kept me entertained, but it was pretty dark. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I thought my family was a bit out there and twisted. The Holbeck family takes the cake! This book is filled with wild rides upon wild rides. The prologue is what gets you. Right off the bat. Then it’s a slow burn from there at the present. The writing is beautiful. The elements within the story are executed with care and precision throughout. Harry is such a strong character who you are rooting for on every page. The amount of secrets within this book is INTENSE. Mind numbing at times when with another turn of the page you go, “again?!” All in all, this book was fantastic in all aspects. The twists. The secrets. The GAME! Well done!

This was the perfect holiday thriller! The Holbeck family were a crazy and sinister bunch! Once I started reading, I could not put this book down. I had to know what made this family tick! The Family Games played were beyond F'd up and it was disturbing how each family member accepted them as normal. The cassette tape chapters were my favorite and each one made the hair on my arms stand up. I love books about messed up rich families with history and this one was no exception. I was on the edge of my seat until the final conclusion reading into the late-night hours. I was both shocked and satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend this bingeable, dark, creepy thriller!

If you like dark and twisty, this one is for you. Quick read with some very dark and messed up wealthy family dynamics. Entertaining and fun.

I picked up this book because I love Krampus and I'd heard they celebrated Krampusnacht in the book.
The Family Game had a great opening, and I enjoyed the Krampusnacht scenes, but then it got a little slow. The ending made up for it however. I read the last 20% late into the night because I was so eager to finish it. I did predict the reveal once I was pretty close to it, but that didn't take away from the fun.

I loved how twisty this book was! While I did have an inkling of the major reveal the little quirks that lead to it kept me on my toes. I really enjoyed this book and was pleasantly surprised that it timed well with the holidays.

Thank you netgalley and Ballantine books for this arc in exchange for a honest review. woah woah woah this one was wonderful! great edge of your seat thriller. loved that it was set during the holidays! 4.5 stars

My favorite from the author so far. The plot kept me interested the whole time and I loved the twist at the end. I can usually see them coming but I didn’t guess it this time. The “games” the family played kept me on the edge of my seat. A great thriller.

—t h e f a m i l y g a m e—⁣
What’s your favorite game (board game, card game, otherwise) to play?⁣
—⁣
The Family Game, newest from British thriller author slash actor Catherine Steadman, follows Harry who is a British thriller author herself as she embarks upon meeting her soon to be in laws. Harry’s fiancé, Edward, is from an old money family in the northeast US. When she first meets the fam, her father in law gives her a mysterious tape and well, nothing is as it seems.⁣
—⁣
What follows is a tense, less fun, and more murder-y version of the Inheritance Games. Rich people behaving badly is admittedly my jam, so I found this book pretty entertaining and the author is great at conjuring strong protagonists who aren’t total dunces. ⁣
—⁣
The ending was pretty predictable and the characters (aside from Harry) were so highly unlikeable it kinda sucked the energy out of the story, so the book didn’t totally come together for me. Still a competent thriller with some enjoyable elements! ⁣
—⁣
Thanks to @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for the advance copy! This one is out now! ⁣
—⁣
#bookreview #bookreviewsofinstagram #netgalley #thefamilygame #bookstagram #bookreviewsneedlovetoo #booklovers #booksaremagic #littlebooknook📚

Meeting the in-laws can be a daunting task, but meeting the infamous, powerful, and mega-rich Holbeck family takes it to another level in The Family Game by Catherine Steadman. Harriet Reed, an orphan with a secret, meets Edward Holbeck in fairy tale style. They're in love, happy, but now she must meet the parents and extended family. She and Edward both harbor misgivings, especially since he keeps warning her about them, and she's read about them for decades like everyone else, but how bad could they be?

I was intrigued by the premise, and my interest piqued when it sounded like the family was a little nuts and murder may be at play. The slow burn to chilling events really turned up the heat, and I felt like I was along for the ride with Harry aka Harriet. And what a ride it is!

There's a lot at stake for Harry. When Edward's father hands her a tape in secret, the published mystery writer must figure out what to do with this unwelcome information. Because she holds her own punishing secrets, you're on edge, wondering what she will do and if she will be able to be a welcome part of this family. At first, she believes that this information could give her a great story to write for her next book, but it could put her in peril if she's not careful.

I thought this book was excellently written, dropping tiny hints along the way, and I couldn't figure out what was really going on until the last few chapters. I was surprised that I didn't catch on, and some of the events that occur at the family's homes and holiday events were frightening. The family seemed crazy at times, and their dominance over pretty much everything from the moment Edward and Harriet decide to join the family makes them even more menacing.

There were a few things that prevented me from giving this a 5-star review, though. Once Harry meets her father-in-law, it seemed creepy that she appeared to be somewhat romantically interested in him. I couldn't figure out the intent there. Plus, the family has a ton of secrets, some of which, I felt, were not explored in enough detail. It turns out that Edward has three brothers, and I had trouble distinguishing between two of them. Also, I felt that there were too many unanswered questions at the end that should have been addressed.

Other than that, this book had me enthralled, and since many events take place around Christmas, this would be the perfect book to read around the holiday season. That is, if you don't mind the suspense, bloodshed, and scary events that come to pass.

The tension in The Family Game builds until it's boiling over!! Wow, that ending!! I couldn't put this book down. The Family Game will keep you guessing until the very end. The book begins with Harry (Harriet) and her fiancé Edward. They become engaged very early in the book and Harry is thrilled. She loves Ed and thinks he's the sweetest, calmest soul she's met. The problem is Ed has withdrawn from his famous, wealthy family the Holbeck's for the past year or so. Harry doesn't know why and Ed doesn't discuss his family much. There are many secrets that Harry has no idea about. Does Harry have secrets of her own?

Harry and Ed end up going to the Holbeck's so that they can meet Harry and announce their engagement. Harry meets Ed's parents, siblings/spouses, and their kids. Harry feels a real connection to Ed's father, Robert. Robert looks a lot like Ed and he asks Harry to join him privately in his study. Here he gives Harry a micro cassette and asks her to listen to it for an idea for her next book. Harry is a writer of thrillers and has had a bit of writer's block for the past month or so. She's on a deadline for her next book and needs an idea. Robert says his idea may be fiction or may not.....??? Curious, right? He also tells Harry not to share what she hears on the tape with anyone else, including Ed!! Why? What's on that tape?

Ed's family is a lot and they have very weird traditions and terrifying games that they play. Harry is not comfortable and could actually be in danger at their home. Does someone want her dead? Harry and Ed are keeping a big secret from his family. Do they know and not like it? Why is someone following Harry? What happened to the oldest brother, Bobby? Why does no one talk of him? There are many questions that will keep you turning the pages at record speed! The book takes place during Thanksgiving and Christmas so I waited until now to read it to get in the festive mood. This isn't exactly that kind of book, but it was tons of fun! I really enjoyed The Family Game and rate it 5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. It was definitely a thriller. I didn’t see the plot twist coming. Waited to read around Thanksgiving since partially a holiday book.