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.

This book got me hooked from the first page! A women gets to know her new fiancés estranged family that is desperate to be close to him again, The elusive and extremely wealthy family will reveal their strange traditions and family secrets as the main character tries to keep secrets of her own hidden. The twists and turns kept coming. Just when I thought something was predictable and I had it all figured out the author would surprise me. I only wish there was a bit more resolution at the end as I was left with some questions but I would 100% recommend and will be reading more by this author.

4.5 Stars
Harriet (Harry) finds herself in a deadly cat and mouse game with her new financé’s family. A game that seems merely innocent at first, but quickly gets darker and more twisted as she gets to know Edward’s family better and better. Specifically when his father gives her a tape that appears to be a serious of confession to some very serious and deadly crimes. Then she starts participating in their family games, games that are anything but innocent and oh my…

This is a very intricate and diabolical book that has you second guessing everything you know until the very last page. This is a very gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat and completely impossible to put down. It’s a quick read, partially due to the fact that you won’t be able to put it down haha. Highly recommend this thriller to anyone!

I have read a couple other books by this author and this is definitely my favorite thus far. I can’t wait to read more by her!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange to my honest review.

Do yourself a favor and read this when it’s published November 8, 2022!

‘’A rich, eccentric family. A time-honored tradition. Or a lethal game of survival? One woman finds out what it really takes to join the 1% in this riveting psychological thriller. Harriet is a novelist; Edward, her husband-to-be, is seemingly perfect. In love and freshly engaged, their bliss is interrupted by the reemergence of the Holbecks, Edward's eminent family and the embodiment of American old money. Harriet is drawn to the glamour and sophistication of the Holbecks, who seem to welcome her with open arms, but everything changes when she meets Robert, the inescapably magnetic head of the family. At their first meeting, Robert slips Harry a cassette tape, revealing a shocking confession which sets the inevitable game in motion.’’

I have two words about this book: PLOT TWIST

*Spoilers*

This was such a great reading! Although the book gets a bit slow at some points, I really liked it. Let’s start with Harriet being such a stranger and smart female main character, I was drawn to see what she would do next with every new situation presenting to herself in such weird ways. Also, I love that she doesn’t do the victim act, since her past it’s so sad and dark she could easily use that and become a bitter person but no, Harriet it’s all about caring and being genuinely nice hence Edward falling for her so much so fast – I confess, I always though Edward sounded too good to be true but nothing prepared me for that ending confession, oh boy!

About the Holbeck... ok, this is a family you never want to be a part of, they are weird, toxic, dark humor and filled with mind games that for a normal person, it’s just too much but guess what? Your opinion about them will change by the end of the book.

The story develops in a very cool and weird way – I guess it matches the Holbeck family and their weird, acid, dark sense of humor. Despite the story having so many characters it doesn’t get confusing at all. I do love the fact that it’s just 1 narrator, 1 timeline (with past flashbacks) and the ending it’s jaw dropping in the best way possible!

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions

I have published my review on my goodreads account and instagram account.

Wow! I could not put this book down. After reading the description, I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint.

This book had everything that makes a mystery/thriller great. The writing, the character development and secrets were woven together brilliantly.

Harry (Harriet) is a rising novelist. Her fiancé, Edward, is rich and perfect. Edward comes from the Holbeck family who are successful and come from old money. They are famous and have a lot of pull in society. Edward tries to sever ties to make his own way. But the news of his upcoming marriage brings the family back in to his life.
When Harry meets Edward's father, he hands her a cassette tape that he claims is an idea for a book that he would like to write. But as she listens to the tape, she learns it isn't an idea for a book, but a confession. This confession is the start of the game.

THE RULES
1. Listen carefully
2. Do your research
3. Trust no one
4. Run for your life

If you enjoy suspense and thrills, you must read this book!

The Family Game is a delicious twisted family thriller from Catherine Steadman. She draws the reader in with mysteries surrounding the American Royal family, The Holbeck's. Our main character is an unreliable narrator, we find out that she has plenty of secrets being kept from her new family. I felt the pacing was a bit slow at first, but it was necessary to have all of the backstory. The last 25% of the book kept me completely enthralled! I really enjoyed this read!

And all I can say is wow, wow, wow! This book is a crazy cat and mouse game that starts off with a bang and left me in the dark and second guessing until the end. The book is full of very dark secrets that kept me fully focused on finding out the ending!

I immediately liked the main character, Harriet. I felt connected to her and was rooting for her through the whole story. Plus she's very smart and clever and I kept thinking "you go girl!". The setting of this book adds to the creepy, mysterious vibe of the book. The family that Harriet is marrying into is also sufficiently creepy and mysterious, adding to the overall suspense of the book.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers. This was a nail biting adventure until the very end!

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