The Foster Family by Nicole Trope is a domestic thriller that had me immediately hooked from the first page. I couldn’t put it down and read in a day! This is my first book by this author but based on this one, I will certainly be picking up more of her books in the future.

The story will not be for everyone as it contains unsettling scenes of domestic violence and child abuse. Joe is a foster child on holidays in a beachside town with his foster parents, Elizabeth and Howard, when he goes missing from the front yard of the holiday home. Gordon, the elderly man across the road is fighting a losing battle with his memory but immediately senses something is not right with the family across the road.

Told from multiple points of view, for me this book had two layers to it; I found the domestic drama heartbreaking and I was heavily invested in the well written characters especially Joe and Gordon. But the thriller element had me guessing twists right until the end and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough! The only reason this is not a 5-star read for me is I did find the changing timelines a little confusing even though the story flowed well.

This line really resonated with me “Why is it that the most vulnerable people in society are the ones no one ever wants to hear from?” Unfortunately, so true…

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Wow! Nicole Trope hits it out of the park again! I really love her writing style and amazing characters. I fell for Gordon from the get go!
Story was tense and engaging with so many twists and turns.
Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Parts of The Foster Family (Nicole Trope) are very predictable, even with that it is an excellent read. The Foster family is heartbreaking and heartwarming with characters that will remain with you even after you finish their story. I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy to review.

The first book back at home again and it was a great one! It's The Foster Family by @nicoletropeauthor which I received from @bookouture via Netgalley. It will be out on 21 September.

A young boy goes missing. His shoe is found in the water but there is no sign of him. His foster mother gets freakishly worried of course. She was supposed to keep him safe, from the world but also from her husband. Can she tell the police the truth and lose her boy or will she keep it all a secret?

This was quite a disturbing book concerning a disfunctional family situation that escaledes quickly when they are on holiday. It gives a greater insight into the mind of a person subjected to such a relationship and the difficulties of getting out of it. Another great character is Gordon who has early-onset Alzheimer's. You can feel his frustration coming from the pages and his inability to actually do something about the situation.

You should definitely read this!

4,5/5⭐

Genre - Psychological Thriller
Storyline - 4.5
Narration 4.5
Character Development - 3.5
Relevance - 4.0

I finished this book in a single day and that surely gives you an indication of what this book holds.

My thoughts -

Joe was missing from the house her foster parents, Elizabeth and Howard rented near a beach. Both of the parents were hiding something.
Gordon was an old man who lives in the neighbourhood of missing kids and he knows something about them that police don't yet.
Elizabeth always wanted a child of her own and when they finally adopted Joe she thought her family is complete.
But where is Joe now?
Is he even alive?
What secret is worth keeping even when your child is missing?
Who is Gordon and is he behind the kidnapping?

You'll need to read the book to get the answers.

What I liked - the story commenced with the scene of Joe going missing and it plucked my attention immediately. It is written from a third-party point-of-view and the narration is done incredibly by Nicole Trope that she never lets my attention hover for a minute.

Gordon was my favourite character and I couldn't get enough of him. He was of such a personality that is hard to find nowadays.

There weren't many big revelations on every page of the story but the complexity of human emotions and psychology was the main thrilling element. The trauma, the emotional anguish and every inner despair were on display for the reader because of the writing style. The language was also manageable and comprehending.

What could have been better-

No matter how much I tried I couldn't love Elizabeth's character because she could have done so many things to stop the conclusion but her fear always got the better of her. Yes, I liked her for what she was, a kind and caring person but as a mother, I expected more from her.

Altogether I would recommend this book to every thriller lover out there. It was an emotionally gripping thriller with some likeable characters. (which are hard to find in thrillers)

I am definitely gonna read more books by this author now.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of The Foster Family!

"One lost child could have happened to anyone, but two? Foster Parents are supposed to be better than the alternative for the child, not worse."

Howard and Elizabeth are the foster parents of Joe who is 5 years old. They are on vacation for a couple of weeks in Australia. When Joe goes missing Howard is quick to blame the 80-year-old neighbor Gordon, who has become friends with Joe and Elizabeth during their stay. Is he the one to blame? Other family secrets and problems are dug out during the book, having you wonder how these all connect to Joe's disappearance.

Overall I really loved this book and read it all in one sitting. The characters all had their flaws and it kept me guessing their motives all the way to the end of the book. It was a bit confusing at the very beginning with all the different POVs and trying to see how they connect, but soon they start to weave and connect. It left me on the edge of my seat the entire book.

Full review on Goodreads.

Gave this one a 3/5 stars. It read more as a psychological drama than a thriller. And I guessed the plot twist about 20% through the book. I’m going to give her another try.

My Review:
Loved!!!!! Another smashing hit by the fabulous Nicole Trope. I’m no stranger to this author at all. In fact, she is one of my favorites and this book proves why. Her writing style and story lines are to die for. I can devour her books in just one day and there is never a dull moment in any of them. I can’t put them down for the life of me. I just have to know what happens next. I should know all this as I have read almost every book written by her and have loved every single one that I have read. Now let’s talk about this deliciously shocking book. The blurb is what drew me to this book but the characters are the ones that kept me reading it. The characters were just the right amount of evil and you could trust no one in the book. Everyone had something to hide and everybody had their own motives. It left me clueless and guessing the whole way through. This is what a great book does to you. It should consume you up until the very end. Don’t even get me started on that shocking wow of an ending. I live for the endings. To me that is what makes or breaks a book. This one definitely made it for me. I had no idea what was coming and I loved it. I can’t wait for Nicole Trope next book. Hopefully, I won’t be waiting too long.

In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

In their holiday home, a stone’s throw from the beach, Elizabeth dials the police with trembling hands. ‘My little boy, he’s missing.’
Elizabeth is Joe’s foster mother, but she loves him like her own. The five-year-old, who adores superheroes and watching the birds outside, is the child she has dreamed of. As she looks into the garden, where he was playing just moments ago, her heart feels like it has been ripped from her chest.
She was meant to save Joe from his birth mother who almost harmed his chances at life. The woman who has been trying to desperately get him back.
She was meant to protect Joe from her husband. The man who, right now, lies to the police, saying he was making breakfast when Joe disappeared. Who squeezes her shoulder, ordering her to be quiet.
She was meant to look after Joe. They are just footsteps from the ocean, and little Joe can’t swim.
Then Joe’s tiny blue sandal is found in the water. If the worst has happened the unimaginable Elizabeth will never forgive herself. Because what if the secret she has been keeping for years, the guilt eating her alive, has somehow hurt her little boy?
It’s time to tell the truth even if it means losing the child who is her whole world. Even if it could be the death of her.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture
I just reviewed The Foster Family by Nicole Trope. #TheFosterFamily #NetGalley

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I have read a few other books by this author and so I was excited to get this one as I have enjoyed them all. Elizabeth and her husband Howard are not able to have children of their own and decide to become foster parents in the hope that they are able to adopt a child.

Gordon is an older man who lives across the street from the house that they are renting for vacation. Gordon is a sweet old man who loves birds and who has recently lost his wife. His son, Malcolm, comes to visit with his daughter and how Gordon lives for those visits.

Gordon begins to notice some strange things going on at the house across the street with Elizabeth and Howard and their foster child, Joe. With having problems with his memory, he sometimes wonder if the things he has seen have really happened. He forms a relationship with Elizabeth and Joe and she begins to trust Gordon and open up to the truth about her husband, Howard.

When Joe goes missing and Howard isn't telling the truth to the police, secrets begin to come out. There is also a side story with Malcolm that comes together really well in the book.

The Foster Family by Nicole Trope is a emotionally taxing read, but one that I was unable to put down. Ms Trope can always be relied upon to spin a domestic tale of intrigue that will quickly get under your skin, and this latest certainly delivers.

Elizabeth, Howard, and their young foster son Joe arrive at a holiday cottage. To elderly neighbour Gordon, they initially look like any other family ready to enjoy some time at the seaside, but the more closely he looks he soon realizes that all is not as it seems. Is his mind playing tricks on him, or is something off in this idyllic family tableau? When Joe goes missing, Gordon knows that he must tell the police everything he thinks he knows, while at the same time battling his own deteriorating mind.

This is an engaging, though heartbreaking, read that kept me glued to the pages. The multiple POVs serve to fully flesh out the narrative in a seamless and altogether satisfying way. Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

Good book! I wasn't too sure about thus book?! I did enjoy reading it! It had light suspense, intrigue, kind of a who done it, and a few twists and turns! The storyline was interesting and flowed nicely! It was more of a learning experience for me I guess?! Its hard to explain, its still a decent read though! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

The Foster Family by Nicole Trope was a very tense, complex, domestic drama.
This book is full of suspense. It's well written, and a real page turner.
I enjoyed the story and seeing how this one unfolded was great.
The characters were very intriguing and detailed. It’s a very character driven story.
I thought I had the story all figured out, but the conclusion was shocking.
The twist at the end, I never saw coming Wow!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Bookouture,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Foster Family starts with a young woman, battered, on a bus stop bench. A good samaritan comes to her rescue, no strings attached. After that, we are taken to a neighborhood, with an elderly man living alone and descending into forgetfulness, as well as his neighbors who are fostering (hoping to adopt the young boy). Joey, the boy, goes missing, and an all out search begins. Things aren't always as they seem in homes, and this one is no exception. I finished the book, and it wasn't bad. It was described as a "page turner" but I didn't feel that it rose to that level. I did, however, enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you are ever at a loss of what to read, then Nicole Trope is a sure cert for a good read. This book was no different. I don't think I ever read a book of Nicole's I haven't devoured.

This was a slightly harder read for me due to it being close to home re Joe the foster child and Gordon, the older man. But I still couldn't put it down.

As highly recommended as always!

When you have found your other half, for a lot of people this also means starting a family sooner or later. Nature though is not always their best friend. Some people go for IVF, others prefer to adopt and some decide to become foster parents.

Whether you are a birth, adoptive or foster parent, your most important task is to take care of the children. It goes without a doubt, they need to impose rules. Rules to help the kid to learn, little by little, how to become a responsible adult. Other rules are made to protect the bundles of joy.

The parent’s tasks is to find the best possible balance between giving freedom and setting restrictions.

Children are allowed to make mistakes. That’s part of the learning process. Some parents want their children to be perfect, forgetting they are far from perfect themselves…

This is the story of Elizabeth, Howard and little Joe. They should be a happy family now they have this cute little boy to take care of. In reality they are far from being happy. They are far from being a family and everything gets worse when Joe suddenly disappears…

I often wonder why people stay in an abusive relationship. Every time I read about it, I feel like screaming: why don’t you just leave? I guess it’s difficult to understand when you have never been in this kind of situation. The only explanation I can think of is that the manipulators can often be very charming if they want to and every time the other party has found the guts to leave, they reel them in once again. They also have put their partners down so many times, making them feel like they are worth nothing, in the end they start to believe it’s true.

But what if there are children involved? Should you not protect them at all times even if you put yourself at risk and go against your aggressor?

This is a domestic thriller showing that some people are easily being dismissed when they want to report something. It’s not because you are young or older and a bit forgetful that you don’t have to be heard and what you say should also be taken in consideration.

A great book that broke my heart. I would loved to have a little epilogue giving me a glimpse of the future, but now I can ‘write’ my own one. 😊 5 stars

Thank you

Told from several different POV's throughout, with multiple timelines, this was a sad and heartbreaking puzzle to piece together. There were so many different aspects of this that it's hard for me to fully explain. It's a tale of a missing child, volatile households, and the devastating progression of dementia. While the main protagonist Elizabeth got on my nerves quite a bit, I couldn't help but feel for her and her pain. Gordon, the elderly man was the best part of this story and his story was the one that really stuck with me in good ways and bad. This is such a different feel from this author's normal reads and yet it's my favorite. I was going to rate this four stars but I honestly can't think of anything wrong with this to remove a star. Five Stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this wonderful ARC.

When in doubt of choosing your next read, you can always rely on Nicole Trope for a fast, intense, thrilling story! I have become such a huge fan of hers and The Foster Family will be the 5th book of hers that I have devoured this year! It was intense, engaging and unputdownable. Having said that, it wasn't as taut nor as intense as some of her other books. And to be oxymoronic, it was a fast read that was a little slow at times. Just my opinion. I still thoroughly enjoyed it!

Synopsis: Elizabeth and Howard are the foster parents of five-year-old Joe. While on a beach holiday, Joe disappears from their front garden. Howard believes that their elderly neighbor, Gordon, is responsible. Elizabeth thinks that her husband may be to blame. The police don't know what to think. When they begin searching for Joe, his tiny sandal is the only thing found down by the water. Alternating in POVs of past and present (before the disappearance of Joe and after), the story will weave you through many secrets and lies that will finally be revealed.

Even though I was able to make some assumptions about some of the reveals, I was definitely blindsided by one. Trope is excellent with her twists!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for allowing me to preview this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!!

Elizabeth is Joe’s foster mother, but she loves him like her own. The five-year-old, who adores superheroes and watching the birds outside, is the child she has dreamed of. As she looks into the garden, where he was playing just moments ago, her heart feels like it has been ripped from her chest.



She was meant to save Joe from his birth mother who almost harmed his chances at life. The woman who has been trying to desperately get him back.



She was meant to protect Joe from her husband. The man who, right now, lies to the police, saying he was making breakfast when Joe disappeared. Who squeezes her shoulder, ordering her to be quiet.



She was meant to look after Joe. They are just footsteps from the ocean, and little Joe can’t swim.



Then Joe’s tiny blue sandal is found in the water. If the worst has happened – the unimaginable – Elizabeth will never forgive herself. Because what if the secret she has been keeping for years, the guilt eating her alive, has somehow hurt her little boy?



It’s time to tell the truth – even if it means losing the child who is her whole world. Even if it could be the death of her.

Love this author, she has a great gift for characterisation - nuanced, interesting, believable people but created with a slight of touch.

Nicole Trope's book The Foster Family is a domestic thriller with an interesting plot. As a fan of Nicole Trope, I have enjoyed several of the author's books.

Synopsis:
Elizabeth is five-year-old Joe's foster mom. She loves him as if he is her own son and hopes to adopt him soon. When Joe is discovered missing, Elizabeth is devastated. They are staying in a rented vacation home near the beach and Joe can't swim. There are dark secrets, lies and deception being hidden by Elizabeth and her husband. Will the truth come out?

The Foster Family has a complex plot with many characters. Keeping up with all the timeline changes is a bit challenging. Once you are acquainted with the multiple characters, the book flows quickly. While I can't say this is my favorite of the author's work, there are some satisfying plot twists. Nicole Trope is a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more from her.

The Foster Family by Nicole Trope is available on September 21st.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this e-book with me. I appreciate your kindness.