Overall, I rate this book 3 stars out of 5. While there was enough suspense to keep me reading, I predicted the storyline within the first 50 pages and at the end, there were just too many questions left unanswered. I felt it was just too obvious why Jane had entered Nora's life based on the prologue and how eager she was to be her friend. This storyline seems to be a popular one with authors but I enjoyed T.R. Ragan's ability keep me entertained, despite me knowing where we were headed.
There was something truly disturbing and life-like about Jane because in today's world, someone like her could absolutely exist, which made her character even more creepy and uncomfortable. As a mom of two myself, I found the main character Nora to be quite frustrating. I felt that she was weak and didn't do enough to truly protect her family, despite all of her instincts telling her to take a stand.

SPOILERS COMING!!!!


There were a couple of instances in the book where I felt like the author fell short in pertinent scenes where details and description were crucial...
Nora's car crash at the end - this scene was super confusing, so much so that I had to go back and re-read it two additional times and even then, I still couldn't picture the crash happening in my head. The details were too clunky to make sense.
Another scene I had to re-read a couple of times was when Nora and Jane were fighting on the deck. The axe and knife were thrown/drawn at the same time but then the axe landed on a chair despite Jane being out on the deck? It was just too confusing to truly make an effect. The scene either needs more specific details or less details, I am not sure which.

There are still some questions that need more answers:
1) What happened to Allina???
2) who was the guy in the black sedan that was following Nora and her son and why was he doing it? Why was there never any mention of him being seen by the dad or the daughter. While Jane did say he was a PI for her to find Nora and investigate her, this explanation was extremely vague and so quickly glossed over for this character and the amount he was mentioned throughout the story.
3) Why did Jane have it setup to have Nora mugged? What was the point of that?
4) Jane was mentioned to have screwed over a competitor at 'last years conference', and that guy was again mentioned at the end of the book. However, why was this even included? I was thinking he was going to turn out to be Shane, who was the person who drugged Nora (THAT would have been a great twist!!!!) but he was just a one-off character that seemed to get a good amount of mention with no true meaning.
5) Janes aunt and uncle - did they know who Nora was? Why did the Aunt kick her out? They were also mentioned to much, and had such a crucial scene but yet we never heard of them again.
6) Why did Nora, as she got older, never google her accident. She could have easily found out about Lucas' older sister.


Thanks to Net Galley for providing me the ARC copy to read and review.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought that the twist was pretty predictable but that is not inherently a bad thing. I still was interested throughout the book to see where it went. I also could not predict how the end would play out.

If you like slow burns, this is NOT the book for you. From the very beginning, Jane wines and dines Nora, trying to get her to join her tech company, IMPACT. Nora accepts. She soon begins to regret the decision. The prologue hooks you in, although it’s a very different story. The events are hinted along throughout the book and other characters in Nora’s life have to pick a side. The lesson here: if it’s too good to be true, it is! 4/5. Thanks to NetGalley for the book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Such a Beautiful Family in exchange for an honest review!

This book stressed me out. I felt frustrated the entire time, but to be honest I couldn't tell if that was because of underdeveloped characters or because that was the purpose of the book. While the plot itself was predictable, it was still interesting and compelling. What was a harder sell to me was certain characters' reactions to events as they unfolded. I kept wanting to scream at the characters as they ignored red flags so glaring it became irritating to witness, and as certain characters wised up, the others seemed to grow even blinder. I know that's how you're supposed to feel with books like this, but it felt just a little too unbelievable and caused me to be genuinely annoyed at points. This all being said, I was hooked the entire time and finished it very quickly just to make sure it resolved.

Overall it was interesting, despite being predictable, and made me incredibly invested despite my frustration.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept you in suspense of what she would pull off next. The writing was good. Looking forward to reading more books of this author.

T.R. Ragan’s Such a Beautiful Family just wasn’t, for me, a hit. Whilst the prologue drew me in, from there things just never coalesced into an enjoyable read.

The story begins with a teenage girl receiving a phone call from her best friend—Allina. Allina is panicked and needs a ride home from a party-gone-bad. The friend races to help, though the results of her efforts lead to catastrophic consequences. When the first chapter begins, that fateful evening is long passed, and the identity of the driver, as well as her fate and that of Allina, remain a mystery. We are, however, introduced to Nora and her family. Nora has recently been offered a new job, and though the woman extending that offer, Jane, is sending out “hell-no” vibes, Nora reluctantly accepts the position. Jane wastes no time insinuating herself into every aspect of Nora’s life, befriending Nora’s daughter and flirting shamelessly with Nora’s husband. As Jane devolves into even more of a nuisance and becomes a threat, Nora is forced to face the fact that she should never have accepted the job that now threatens to cost her her career, her family and perhaps even her life.

So the prologue connection is, I’m assuming, initially intentionally vague. The transition from it to the first chapter is so abrupt, however, that it is disorienting. I found myself turning back pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something. I then struggled through the next few chapters trying desperately to identify the thread that surely stitched the two storylines together. That intersection, however, takes FOREVER to emerge, and when it does, it’s so far-fetched that I resented having tried to make sense of it.

As for the writing itself, it struck me as far too informal and formulaic. Chapter 10 begins with “Nora sat”; 11 with “Nora sat”; 13 “Nora stood”; 18 “ Nora walked”; and the list goes on. This simplistic formula for a narrative was made worse by the repeated use of the word “look”, as it appears no less than 243 times. I desperately wanted to send Ragan a thesaurus.

Overall, this was clearly not one I’d be comfortable recommending without a total revamp. As publication isn’t set until December of 2022, Ragan still has a small window of opportunity through which to fix the deficits.

Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for providing me an ARC copy for review.

A well written thriller by T.R Ragan and a great reminder if something seems too good to be true, it usually is! Although it was a bit predictable, I still really enjoyed the story and flew through it!

Such A Beautiful Family was a well written thriller that follows Nora, as she befriends her new boss, then grows creeped out at how quickly Jane becomes entwined with Nora’s family. There are few surprises in the novel but it is interesting and gripping all the same. Really enjoyed this novel.

Wow another home run. I could not put this down. The storyline was predictable but that did not change the constant fear and suspense. Waiting with bated breath to see what twist was hiding on the next page. The past catches up with the present in this one and you can feel the discomfort and fear of the character mounting with each page turned. Characters that are likeable characters that you have to hate. Well written, well thought out. You can not put this one down. A rollercoaster of page turning till the epic finale

Holy crap I really enjoyed this book! After the first few chapters, it really picked up and I enjoyed it a lot.

I was disappointed with this book, which sounded like a winner from the description. I found it formulaic, trite, predictable, and it used language that was awkward and not at all like people speak.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This was a thrilling ride from page one! Nora is in a car accident that changes the course of her life! She grows up and has everything she has ever dreamed of. She has a beautiful family. One day she is approached with a job offer that seems too good to be true. Is she lucky or is it too good to be true? It seems someone knows her secrets or is she just paranoid. Be careful of this book it will have you reading instead of what you should be doing!

A great novel! Unique to a lot on the market. I would love to read more from this author! I will definitely recommend!

Thanks to Theresa and NetGalley for allowing me to read Such a Beautiful Family before the publication date.

Nora Harman is married to David, with 15 year old Hailey and 13 year old Trevor, and a successful if not fulfilling career.
When she is headhunted by the beautiful Jane Bell, CEO of IMPACT, Nora is won over by the opportunities and lucrative benefits which the job will bring.

Soon Jane is invading Nora’s private life, arriving uninvited to her home.
Unease creeps in as Nora starts to feel that Jane has invaded her home and taking her family from her.
David and Hailey are taken in by Jane, but Trevor and the dog are not so easily won over.

By this stage, it seemed that Jane was a cuckoo in the Harman’s home.
It was interesting to note that at various points in the book, she was described as a hawk, graceful and predatory as well as a fearless honey badger…..what a combination.

Throughout the book, Theresa has created an underlying tension, a feeling that something dreadful is about to happen whilst Nora is helpless to defend herself and her family against the onslaught.
It is an intriguing tale in which secrets and lies will be revealed.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Thomas & Mercer and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Intriguing, suspenseful and captivating.

I am blown away by what I read! This book is so riveting and an incredible read, let me tell you. I enjoyed everything about Such A Beautiful Family. The plot and characters were believable and memorable. The novel read like watching a Lifetime movie, which gives all the thriller elements I love.

The book kept me engaged from the first page to the end, trying to figure out the antagonist's true motive. And the antagonist's motive was jaw-dropping! Readers, please give this book a try.

Mrs. Ragan, you have found a new fan!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for allowing me to read the ARC.

Nora Harmon has a lot to be thankful for: two great kids, a stable marriage, and now, a dream career. Software consultant Jane Bell wants Nora on her team. She’s offering a fantastic salary, flexible hours, and a chance to travel the world. It sounds too good to be true, but Jane won’t take no for an answer. And she goes to great lengths to make sure she doesn't hear the word no. I love this author. She writes a variety of stories and this one has it all....murder, mayhem, intrigue, thrills and tons of suspense. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Wow - talk about a psychopathic boss! This book brings new meaning to the concept of toxic work environments. I really enjoyed the fast pace and the way the author built the relationships and world of the protagonist, giving life and depth to her character and the reader’s ability to feel truly engaged in her world.

Great book! What a thriller! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, and so many crazy plot twists! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

A quick, psychological thriller for a relaxing afternoon.
“Such a Beautiful Family” was my first book by T.R. Ragan. Although somewhat predictable, I was still intrigued to know the repercussions of Nora’s accident when she was younger and find out how it would all come together in the end. Jane was well-written as the psycho woman who slowly, but confidently, inserts herself into Nora and David’s family dynamic. It’s a fast read and has a good balance of supporting characters/storylines to keep you interested until the end.
:Spoiler: I always appreciate when authors don’t kill family pets. Go, Tank!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for
giving me the chance to preview this in exchange for my honest review.