This one was a bit much for me. I'm sensitive to children and abuse and it didn't hold back. It was a really sad story but it was good.

Elizabeth and Howard come to stay in a rental house for vacation with their foster son, Joe. We know from the start that Joe goes missing and that Howard is pointing fingers at Gordon, the old man across the street but we don't know why, because he seems like a nice old fellow, if a bit forgetful. We know that something has been put in motion that cannot be undone.

Over on Gordon's side of the road, we see that Howard is a bag of trash that abuses his family. This failing of the foster system is difficult to hear especially right now. The birth mom wants access but she can't and they say she tried to sell him. It's something else.

But what's most important is finding little Joe. Did he run off? Is Gordon a bad guy? Did Howard hurt him? Maybe the birth parents? I mean, the possibilities are endless and it's a pretty wild ride.

The format was a bit confusing. We switch mostly between Gordon and Elizabeth but at different times and there's an unnamed guy and girl in chapters that aren't timed or dated, so that could be a bit frustrating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

I rate this book 3.0 stars.

TW: This book discusses domestic and child abuse. Read at your own discretion.

Howard and Elizabeth are foster parents to a young, 5-year old boy named Joe. Things have been tough at home between the couple so they decided to get away and rent a cottage in a beach town for a few weeks. Gordon, a neighbor across the street, is mindful of the couple and their young boy. Wanting to make them feel welcome, he invites them to come look at his birds anytime they choose to. The story is told from three different POVs: Elizabeth, Gordon, and a mystery man. Elizabeth describes her tumultuous marriage to Howard, who is emotionally and physically abusive to herself and Joe. She convinces herself to stay because Howard usually "redeems" himself in his affections towards her, gift giving, and groveling apologies. Now, this couple has fostered before, but their 15 year old foster daughter ran away a decade ago. Elizabeth always had an inkling that Howard was responsible for driving her away. Now, the couple experiences another tragedy. Joe has gone missing. Elizabeth and Howard point the finger at each other and the plot follows the events leading up to Joe's disappearance and the aftermath. Will Joe be found alive? Is one of them responsible? Did Gordon see something that could help, even with his failing memory? Who is the mystery man that is sprinkled in the story and how he is related to the couple? To find out the resolution, read what's happened to Joe and if he is found alive and well.

Personally, I found this to be a slow read. It didn't start off super exciting and the characters were unlikable besides sweet, old Gordon and innocent Joe. I wish there were more twists and turns. Early on, I was able to piece things together easily. I live for the element of surprise and when an author throws a wrench in the story. The plotline is absolutely heart-wrenching, but the ending was extremely satisfying. It had its suspenseful moments and the end went quicker than the beginning/middle.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Nicole Trope for allowing me to read “The Foster Family” in exchange for an honest review!

This was the best book I've read from this author. It was definitely a hard read in places and brought back memories of my own abuse but it shows there is always a life afterwards. I loved Elizabeths character and her strength and was praying for a happy ending. I cannot rate this book highly enough and will definitely be recommending this to my followers. 5 star from me

A good, interesting and, at times, heartrending, read. Children need to be able to live and learn. Parents are there to help facilitate this. When a child is in the foster system they've already been let down - at least once - oftentimes more.

I enjoyed the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free, advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

The Foster Family
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.2
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/21/22
Author: Nicole Trope
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 305
GR: 4.30

TW ⚠️: Child and domestic abuse

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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. She was meant to save Joe from his birth mother who almost harmed his chances at life, who has been trying to get him back. 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?

My Thoughts: The story is narrated in an alternating timeline from then and now. Sometimes this can get confusing, but I had no issues following along and a little puzzle in a story is a good thing. It opens up with a puzzle that does not appear to make sense, but later in the book, the pieces start to fit together. The plot is delivered in several twists, the storyline is emotional, and the ending is picture perfect. The characters are well flushed out, developed well, have multifaceted depth, mysterious, and creatively written. Not all characters are likable, but relatable. The author’s writing style was complex, heartbreaking, suspenseful, intriguing, and kept me engaged. This book releases later this month and I highly suggest either preordering or ordering as soon as it is released.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. I read The Family Across the Street by Trope and really enjoyed it so I was excited to read this latest novel. The book opens with the foster mother, Elizabeth, making an emergency call to the police when she finds that her little foster child Joe has disappeared from the front yard. Once the police arrive and start
asking questions of Elizabeth and her husband Howard, the reader can tell that something is a little off with the
couple. Both seem to be holding something back from the police but it's hard to determine who is lying and who is telling the truth of the events leading up to the
little boys disappearance. Vacationing by the sea, with Joe, who doesn't know how to swim, makes the couple even more fearful about what might have happened. This was a gripping, fast paced read that brought some very unexpected twists throughout. Quite the rollercoaster ride of a novel, with a very satisfying ending!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61410058

This book will definitely leave you feeling all the emotions. Love for most of the characters, hate for Howard, sadness, happiness, and did I mention hate for Howard?
You never truly know what kids go through before entering the foster system and what lasting effects it may have on the rest of their lives. But when they enter the system they are supposed to go somewhere safe, to be loved and protected. Sadly that doesn't always happen.
I highly suggest The Foster Family!!! So many emotions and a true story of what a family should be!!!

A domestic drama which takes place over a two to three day period during which a five year old foster child goes missing. The story revolves around the frantic foster mom, her less than like-able husband, and the elderly man across the way who’s addled with dementia.

All in all a good read, but a bit repetitive and wordy for me. It became easy to skim without losing much of the plot. There were a couple of little twists which added to my enjoyment of the story, even though the coincidence was a bit hard to swallow.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.

This kept me engaged and interested from the first page to the last! A great read, with well-developed characters and a storyline that is fresh and engrossing. It’s a brilliant psychological thriller. A little boy goes missing. His mother, Elizabeth, is beside herself, afraid of what she thinks may have happened and who may have done something to Joe. Elizabeth has always wanted a child and although her husband, Howard, seems to support the idea, he becomes violent and unpredictable with Joe, a foster child placed with their family. And it’s not the first time Howard has acted that way with a child placed with them. An old man, living across the road, sees how things really are and desperately wishes he could help. This is an emotional, gripping read. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to leave an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story, it was a bit predictable, but it was a quick read, fast paced and full of questions. Elizabeth and Howard decide to get away and they take their foster son with them. The home they rent is across the street from senior citizen Gordon who has started to get quite confused and forgetful. As they settle in things come to light that Gordon can't seem to ignore, but is he sure he's remembering things the way they happen?

Nicole Trope writes an intriguing mystery about a little boy who goes missing. The story is set on the coast of Australia but could be the story anywhere. Joe is a foster child, his foster father is a mean and cruel man subjecting Joe and Elizabeth to tirades and physical violence. He has done it for years. Elizabeth is afraid, not for herself but for Joe. Joe disappears after a violent encounter with Howard. It is not the first child in their care to have gone missing. An elderly neighbor may hold the key to solving the mystery. I enjoyed this book. It tells a fictional story that is also reminiscent of the lives of many youths in foster custody. It also tells the story of dementia and the person who dwells inside. Thanks to #TheFosterFamily#NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a REALLY good domestic drama. I've read a few of Nicole Tropes books and this was equally as enjoyable as them. Definitely a go to author for me.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Bookouture and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Nicole Troupe has a talent that draws you in making you feel as if you're right there.

Book Title: The Foster Family
Author: Nicole Troupe
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: September 21, 2022
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.4 stars

Elizabeth loves her five-year-old foster son Joe and hopes to adopt him soon.
However, when Joe goes missing and cannot swim, Elizabeth is devastated since they are staying in a rented vacation home near the beach!

Yep there are lies and dark secrets being hidden by Elizabeth and her husband Howard.

Yes! This is an emotional read. There were times it was very difficult to read- certainly wasn’t enjoyable.
I had faith that good would overcome evil and could not put this down.
Author, Nicole Troupe does a great job with what is a disturbing issue.

I enjoyed the Epilogue with the updates on the main characters.

I also enjoyed “A Letter from Nicole”. Ms. Troupe gives some background on the foster system – when parents and guardian fail and the foster system is there to care for children; although idea for children to be fostered by perfect families that is not always possible.

She also mentioned that there are so many wonderful and amazing foster families but this story is about one that is deeply imperfect.

Yes there are abusive relationship – in this case Elizabeth – readers asks ~ why doesn’t she just leave? Ms. Troupe states it isn’t all that easy. Thankfully there is assistance.


I just found an author who is new to me that I love!!
I certainly am looking forward to reading another one of her stories.
BTW: There are several extract of her other novels in back of this novel

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 21, 2022.

Gripping domestic thriller! This book was a put a couple who adopt a 5 year old boy Joe. Shortly after they arrive on holiday, Joe goes missing. Told from varying viewpoints and going from the past to the present day was a great way to introduce the characters. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely read more books by this author! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

brilliant book with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the last page. I would highly recommend this book to my friends and family

This is a page turner from the get go! Her books do not disappoint! The book goes between past and present. The past being a young girl who is in bad shape being found on a bus stop bench. He takes her in hoping to get her some help and find out who she is. In the present are Elizabeth and Howard who ate fostering sweet 5 year old Joe who just wants to be loved and make you happy. Howard is not your ideal foster father, being he is a very angry and hot tempered person. One morning, little Joe goes missing and all the finger pointing begins. Be prepared to lose sleep. This is a book you won't want to put down. Highly recommend!!

Okie dokie. First off, this book had fantastic writing. I was hooked immediately and it kept me interested the whole time. I love love loved the different points of view, Gordon's was so well written it was breaking my heart for him.

I struggled a bit because I was a foster parent and it's so hard to read/hear about the bad foster families. There are good ones out there! But, yes, I know that wasn't the point of this book. My heart just broke.

The abuse in this book is tough to read because it happens during the WHOLE book. So be very prepared going in.

All in all, great book!

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of The Foster Family.
The Foster Family is a domestic thriller about married couple Elizabeth and Howard and their Foster son, Joe. While on vacation Joe goes missing. It is told from the alternating perspectives of Elizabeth and Gordon, their elderly neighbor in the throes of dementia.
Thrillers are my favorite, and this is the perfect type of thriller: quick pacing, short chapters, alternating viewpoints to keep things interesting, and not too long. It was a quick and exciting read. There are some heavy topics that are explored with sensitivity and without over the top gore thrown in for shock value.
I was a little disappointed in the ending's random romance, because it seemed out of place, but overall I really liked this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

This was my first novel by this author and I really liked it.
The writing kept me hooked and there was enough intrigue throughout the book.

Coming to the story itself, I did not like few parts, mainly the need to drag Howard's behavior. We've learnt all we could by 40% of the book. I would have liked to see something more from Elizabeth in the present instead of just learning her past. Also, Her character could have been much better and I would have felt more connected to her.
Overall, I would read more books by this author.