This felt like a cross between HBO’s “Succession” and horror films “You’re Next” and “Ready or Not” (which I really like all of!). While a thriller / horror, it’s not gory or overly violent, but does make your hairs stand on end during the family’s games. Steadman creates an excellent puzzle for the reader, with a twist I surprisingly did not see coming. Definitely worth reading if you’re into rich eccentric families with a side of scares.

This book was brilliant and fantastically written! I was hooked after a few pages. It is a must-read thriller you will want to add to your TBR list. The story centers around a time-honored tradition for a rich and influential but highly eccentric family. Harriet has to find out if she has what it takes to join her husband -to-be' family. However, it seems that it may be a game of survival. Harriet has to decide whether to play the game or run for her life. This book will keep you up way past your bedtime!

A couple, Harriet, and Edward, get engaged and it is time for her to meet his family. This does not turn out to be what she expects. There are some strange traditions in his family. She is expected to play a game. A very strange game. And this is where it gets interesting...

I always enjoy books where the plot consists of twists and turns. I'm not a fan of scary novels, but I do enjoy a good mystery thriller that keeps you guessing. The Family Game delivers! There are so many family secrets and lies in this book and it is obvious that these two did not know each other as well as they thought. Steadman pulled off a big twist as well, which isn't always easy to do. I was not ready for this book to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine Books for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Loved this suspenseful and intricate thriller! Could not put down and really enjoyed the twist! Fantastic. The author masterfully wove a great story with interesting family dramatics.

Harriet (known as Harry) starts dating Edward, the member of a powerful and wealthy family. He hasn't interacted with his family lately but after they get engaged, Harry meets all his family at a Thanksgiving dinner. After dinner, his father gives Harry a tape containing a chilling story he has narrated. Is the story real or is it made up? As Harry investigates the story, she takes part in a strange family game involving Krampus and then later a possibly deadly Christmas game. This was a page turning mystery as Harry is hiding her own secret and as she tries to learn the truth about the story on the tape she's given. I was little weirded out by how attracted Harry was to Edward's father every time she met him but other than that really enjoyed this book.

This was my first book by Catherine Steadman, and I will definitely read more! I was so entertained during this book!

Harriet is a distinguished author who falls in love with the heir of the Holbeck fortune, Edward. When she meets his family for the first time, however, she learns that they love to play games. These games, however, tend to be more sinister than your typical game of "Monopoly".

There were moments when I felt like the book dragged on, and was slower. The author definitely takes her time setting the story and the scenes (which do help when the games come into play). However, when it came to the twists and action, there was plenty of it! I was continually guessing the big plot twist and was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists that came towards the end! It was definitely a thriller worthy of the genre name! I was spooked, I was thrilled, I was on the edge of my seat at times!!

The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Random Publishing House/Ballantine books for an ARC of this thriller!

This book was absolutely thrilling! The entire way I was imagining one way it could end up and it took a completely different route. Such a great book. 5 stars!

A HUGE thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC for this book.

First off here are the rules:
1) Listen Carefully
2) Do your research
3) Trust no one
4) Run for your life

How far would you be willing to go for your family?

Harriet and Edward just got engaged, and she's finally getting to meet the extremely powerful Holbeck family. After meeting with Robert Holbeck, Edward's father, he gives her a cassette tape to listen to. When she finally presses the play button, her world is turned upside down. Harriet must play the game, and play it well. Because it could mean life or death.

I enjoyed this book, and the twists and turns that it had. It reminded me of the movie Ready or Not. The first chapter most definitely sucks you. And keeps you guessing until the end.

Wow oh wow!!!! What a ride! It’s not often a thriller has me questioning everything and on the edge of my seat the whole time like this! This book kept me hooked the whole time and I often found myself speed reading to try and find out what happens. I saw part of the plot twist coming but the other part surprised me, which I love!! Wow!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This family and their games are exhausting. There must be an easier way to do things, but then there would be no story and what’s the fun in that?

We meet our MC, Harriet aka Harry, a successful author right before she becomes engaged to her wealthy, handsome boyfriend, Edward. I actually like Harry. I think she’s a great MC, despite my annoyance with her lack of curiosity about things and basic questions. Similar to the MC in Crazy Rich Asians, how are these 30 something year old women dating and living with their beaus for over a year yet know so little about their parents? Are we living in a fake world where traveling for wealthy parents and FaceTime do not exist? Ladies - We need to be more curious! 👏Ask 👏 more 👏 questions!👏

I liked the ending however ludicrous it is, but if you make it to the end you’ve drank the kool-aid and are more open to accepting the wackadoo holes and extravagant details.

Scratches Foley’s The Guest List itch. Slightly better than Steadman’s first book, Something In the Water, and hopefully more memorable.

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

I have enjoyed previous Catherine Steadman books, so was so happy to get approved to read The Family Game early! This book did not let me down. Mystery writer Harriet gets engaged to Edward, the heir of a huge family fortune. She's never met his relatives, so she jumps in headfirst and suddenly finds herself in the middle of a web of a very powerful, intimidating family where she doesn't know who she can trust. The book kind of plodded along until the last ~15%, when it all of a sudden turned into breakneck speed. I unfortunately guessed the big twist, but there were definitely a few turns along the way that I didn't see coming. I appreciated that all of the characters had secrets and seemed suspicious at some point, so I could never really trust any of them or their motives. Things were pretty tidily wrapped up but the ending fell a little flat for me and I'm not sure why. Overall, I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what the author comes out with next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Harriet Reed is a mystery and thriller writer whose career has just taken off with a massively successful bestseller. Harry is also has some secrets of her own. When Harry’s seemingly-perfect boyfriend Edward Holbeck proposes to her after a year of a whirlwind romance, she is confronted with meeting his exorbitantly wealthy and mysterious family.

Harry quickly learns that the family has secrets of their own and strange family traditions. The question is, do Harry’s secrets threaten her place in the family or do theirs threaten her desire to join?

This story was a fun ride from start to finish, with lots of twists and turns along the way. The added layer of Harry being a mystery writer added depth to the story in a unique way I had not seen played out this well. The characters were complex and interesting with more layers revealed about each of them as the story moved along. I enjoyed that such complexity and depth made each character suspicious at different points and I was left never fully trusting anyone.

I loved this book and look forward to checking out Catherine Steadman’s other books, especially bestseller Something in the Water.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House for a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NG for giving me the opportunity to read this before it’s available. The Family Game kept me guessing til the very end. The first chapter or two I honestly thought, eh, this book is alright. Well I’m so glad I kept reading. I couldn’t put it down! Just when I thought I had it all figured out or I thought I knew what was going to happen next, I was wrong. This book was amazingly well written. I will absolutely have to read more books by Catherine Steadman.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Catherine Steadman has written another good novel, but it’s quite a complicated plot. Although definitely worth the effort, readers are advised to read carefully in order to not get confused. You’ll be glad this is only a fictional family.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Let me just start by saying that I did not expect that ending. I thought I had the culprit picked out but I was 100% wrong. I really really REALLY enjoyed this book. I love how the plot was pretty much a game. This book really puts a whole new twist on family get togethers.

I will say that I wish the 48th chapter was a bit longer and explained more but that’s just me wanting more information lol. I would def it let recommend this book to anyone who like murder mysteries.

Wowza! I feel like I need to catch my breath. This was a perfectly constructed thriller that kept me off balance and desperate for more. I loved the creepy cassette tape chapters! Watch your back and trust no one as you dive into this suspenseful tale!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for access to this arc.

Let me just start by saying this is one of my favorite books this year! I wasn't sure what to expect getting into it--what I got was a book far twister than I could have expected. Steadman did an incredible job balancing a tension and believability. I can't WAIT for her next book.

Harriet is a bestselling author who somehow stumbled into the life of the very wealthy Edward. They get engaged, and it's time for her to FINALLY meet his family. But it's clear becoming a member of his wealthy, exclusive family, comes with strings... and games. Lots of games. Some harmless, some dark. This plot twists and turns to an unexpected ending. Can't wait for the next book!

I wasnt sure i would like this book but i was hooked. Such a fast read and twisty! Loved everything about it.

Oh my gosh - if you liked Something in the Water, you're going to really enjoy The Family Game! This book has the same vibes, but I thought overall was better written. Definitely intense AND fast-paced. The book sucked me in and I could not put it down. My only major critique is I wanted more at the end!

TW: death/murder

4.5 rounded up!

Thank you to Ballantine, the author, and NetGalley for providing a copy to review!

Ready or Not? meets Knives Out in this captivating thriller about a mystery writer marrying into a wealthy family with dark secrets.