Catherine and Ruth Sterling have always had each other. Now that Catherine is ready to begin a new career and separate herself from her mother, Ruth will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Is Ruth being paranoid or is danger coming for Catherine? Is Catherine being paranoid or is Ruth lying to her?

This domestic thriller kept me on my toes. I guessed some of the plot surprises, but I loved the original storyline with mother lying to daughter and vis versa.

Twisty fun thriller. A life built on lies leads to many layers of deception. The novel is told from multiple POV - that of Catherine, and her mother, Ruth. Ruth's sections included stories from the past that lead us to the present. I don't want to say too much, for fear of ruining the twists that keep coming, but as the characters start to deceive each other, it leads to more, rather than less, danger.

Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Theres nothing stronger then a mothers love and her willingness to protect their children. This starts out a little slow as we get into the dynamics and lives of Ruth and Catherine, but then it takes off! We get both womens pov as things start to go sideways. Ruth has secrets from her past and she doesn't want her daughter to know about them to keep her safe.We get Ruths pov has she writes in her diary about her past from the very beginning where things started to go wrong. With quick chapter you fly through the book as go along with both women as they try to keep their secrets! Cleverly written with some twists I didn't see coming!

4stars

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for my gifted copy.

This is the story of a mother who has been keeping a secret from her daughter in order to protect her and the daughter who has begun to realize her mother may be not be who she thinks. The book was interesting and I liked that it explored the bonds between a mother and daughter, but it's not nearly as gripping as other books I have read by this author. It is a quick read and I was invested enough to want to know how it ended.

What a book! I read this in a day because I COULD NOT put it down, and the quick chapters made this even easier. I’d say this is a slower burn to start, but it had so much suspense packed in that even the slower parts kept me wanting more.

The relationship between Catherine and her mom Ruth was a combination of strange and nice. I had so many suspicions about certain things that I wasn’t quite sure what or who to believe, and I love that in a thriller. I also liked the sections where Ruth is talking about her past and seeing that side of her.

There were a few small plot pieces that seemed too far-fetched or too tidy to be 100% realistic, but I had no problem suspending reality for the sake of the story. Some of the twists I saw coming, and then there were others that made me gasp. If you’re looking for a quick thriller/suspense that’ll have a vice grip on your attention, this is it!

I picked this book up because I recognized the author had been co-author of [book:The Wife Between Us|34189556], [book:You Are Not Alone|45046742]and [book:The Golden Couple|57693416] all of which I read and enjoyed. This is the first book I've read by Sarah Pekkanen along, but I certainly wasn't disappointed.

Description:
Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.

My Thoughts:
This was a well-plotted thriller. There are two narrators giving us different perspectives: Catherine, the daughter, and Ruth, the mother. The relationship here between mother and daughter was a strange one and strained as Catherinel needed her freedom an Ruth wanted something totally different. There are some twists in this mother-daughter story - some are revealed earlier than I expected but some waited until near the end to reveal themselves and certainly surprised me. The plot had good movement and tension built to a climax in the final scenes. Secrets and lies are always fun in a book and there are some good ones here.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 1, 2023.

Gone Tonight
Sara Pekkanen
August 1, 2023


Ruth Sterling started her life having problems. Her mother was a drunk and enjoyed hurting Timmy, Ruth’s little brother. She would try almost anything to help when they were facing mother’s ire. Most times it got her in trouble and Timmy was terrified of his mom. Their father worked many hours and was not home most evenings until his wife had passed out on the couch. As Ruth journeyed past high school she thought she had met her best friend and prospective mate. When things went wrong and she discovered she was pregnant she developed a plan to make certain her folks or her baby’s father had no idea of where she had gone
After Catherine was born they were close, almost as friends more than mother and daughter. When it seemed that her secrets might hinder their life, she would pack up and the duo would drive to another location and start again.
Gone Tonight will be published by St. Martin’s Press on August 01, 2023. I was selected to read and review the ARC via NetGalley. I appreciate their allowing me to read this heavy suspense chronicle by Sarah Pekkanen. It is a novel of secrets and hidden agendas. Just when I thought I had her plot resolved the entire scenario changed. Of course that is what makes for a really good mystery. Do select this one.

Gone Tonight was a spectacular mother daughter story. Catherine feels that her mother is hiding something from her and she is on a mission to figure it out. At the end though nothing can break a mother away from her daughter. Throughout the book there was unpredictable twists and turns. Great read.

This book is a decent read, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kate Mara. The narration was nothing spectacular, and I think the audiobook would have been a better experience had there been a different narrator for both Ruth and Catherine.

The book starts with Catherine having just received her nursing degree and is about to take a new job in Baltimore. However her mother Ruth is showing signs of Alzheimer's Disease and Catherine thinks she may need to stay and help to care for her mother. But Ruth has some serious secrets, and she will stop at nothing to keep those secrets hidden, and that means keeping Catherine as close to her as she can.

There are a few interesting twists in this book, but I pretty much called where it was going early on and the twists weren't surprising to me at all. There are way, way too many convenient things that happen in the book, too many for me to suspend my disbelief.

Yet it is a fast paced story and I was interested to see how things would unfold and what the outcome would be. It kept my attention throughout and I was invested enough to want to see what happened (instead of wanting to skip ahead to the end like I want to do other times).

“How far would you go to protect the person you love most in the world?”
A psychological thriller centered around a mother daughter relationship. A horrific deception created for protection. Told in dual POV from the mother and daughter; past and present. Filled with twists and turns, lies, and secrets. A wonderful read but marked down to 4 because the beginning did not read as the description; I felt like the story was about something totally different which I almost stopped reading. It hit a little bit close to home and wasn’t the plot I was hoping to read. Luckily, at chapter 14 it became riveting, and the story took hold. I now know that the beginning needed to be told as it is; so don’t give up on it. It’s totally worth the wait.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gone Tonightby: Sarah Pekkanen
Pub Date: 8/1/23
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Catherine Sterling is 24 years old. She’s an only child who just graduated from nursing school and is getting ready to take on her first adult job in a new city.
Ruth, Catherine’s mother is a hard working waitress who seems to be exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease at just 42. Unfortunately this will mean Catherine is going to have to put her new job on hold.
The more Catherine watches her mom the more she wonders about her. All she knows of her family is that when Ruth found out she was pregnant her father kicked her out. But as she works to discover more, big secrets start to slowly unravel. Is anything her mother had told her over the last 24 years true?

One of the best mystery thriller books of this year!! Definitely a must read

Ruth and her daughter Catherine have a close relationship. Ruth is starting to show signs of Alzheimers and Catherine is worried. But Ruth has a secret. She is hiding something that she doesn't want Catherine to know.

Initially I was annoyed by these two characters. Catherine seemed melodramatic and Ruth was shady. As I continued reading, I got so caught up in all the twists and turns. The ending was so good!

If you love a slow reveal, twisty mystery, this is the book for you!

Gone Tonight is a solid thriller! It’s filled with a lot of suspense and mystery. Really loved the mother/daughter storyline - with this one, you really don’t know whose side to be on. I was hooked from the very beginning, and I really enjoyed the alternating POVs, as well as the dual timelines. I definitely recommend this one!

GONE TONIGHT, the book, has left me utterly captivated from start to finish. The engaging plot, coupled with the exceptional pacing, creates an enthralling experience that is hard to put down.

The story follows a roller-coaster of suspense and mystery, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. The author's skillful storytelling transports readers into a world of intrigue and danger, making it a thrilling ride that lingers long after the final chapter.

If you're a fan of suspenseful thrillers, GONE TONIGHT is an absolute must-read. Whether you're a seasoned thriller enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this gripping tale will undoubtedly leave you eagerly awaiting the next adventure from this talented author.

GONE TONIGHT book is a masterful fusion of gripping plot lines and exceptional storytelling, creating an unforgettable experience that will have you hooked from the very beginning. Don't miss out on this thrilling journey into the heart of mystery and suspense!

3.5 stars, rounded up. As this book starts out, it appears it's going to be a bittersweet story about a single mother with early-onset Alzheimers. Ruth and her 24-year-old daughter, Catherine, have always been close, since they've only had each other, but now their time together seems even more precious and Catherine decides to give up her first nursing job that would take her to Baltimore.

Ruth has always refused to tell Catherine much about her past but now her daughter feels it's even more important to know the facts and starts digging on her own with the few clues she's been able to glean over the years. The more she learns, the more she realizes she doesn't really know her mother at all.

The story is told from both Ruth and Catherine's pov in alternating chapters. Through a notebook Ruth is keeping, she slowly reveals her past to the reader. Has she been keeping Catherine safe all these years or hiding herself away? Pretty interesting story. Can we really know anyone else? Another entertaining summer beach read.

I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Love love love it!! It was so mysterious and suspenseful from the very first chapter that it kept me up late at night turning the pages needing to know what was coming. Move this to the top of your list, you won't be sorry.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and author Sarah Pekkanen for granting me the opportunity to have this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This novel is about mother and daughter, Ruth and Catherine, in which their story started after Ruth started showing possible signs of Alzheimer's. Catherine was about ready to move out and be on her own, but her love for Ruth calls for her to stay behind and be with her.

I love how this dual POV book is more than just mother-daughter relationship, and how the author was able to effectively add the mystery and suspense to the story. It is very interesting that their story becomes like a cat and mouse game, and at the same time unfolding so many secrets that makes it a page turner. the characters are truly relatable, when it comes to being a mom and a daughter. I find myself relating to both Ruth and Catherine, as I read each chapter, putting myself in their shoes while convincing myself that I'd probably do the same thing for my child/parent. Gone Tonight is worth picking up when it releases Aug 1st!

Gone Tonight is a gripping tale that dives into the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Sarah Pekkanen skillfully flips the familiar trope of "how well do you know your children" to ask, "how well do you know your mother?" As Catherine ventures towards independence, she uncovers a web of secrets that Ruth, her devoted mother, has shielded from her, and she is determined to uncover the truth.

One of the strengths of this book is the dual perspectives of Ruth and Catherine. It gives us insights into their thoughts and actions, allowing us to know things the other characters don't know yet. I found myself fully engrossed, on the edge of my seat, often shouting at them, urging them to make the right choices.

The pacing is spot-on, building tension as the secrets unravel, endangering both characters. The revelations lead to a thrilling climax that delivers a satisfying and rewarding payoff.

I was immersed in each page of Sarah Pekkanen newest novel "Gone Tonight". Truly captivating twisted mother daughter perspective thriller which has the audience inticipating the next shocking discovery. I was caught off guard multiple times within the book , having my heart palipate as I turn the pages to figure out the conclusion of the events. I've always loved booked with multiple point of views but I especially love how she interpreted their frame of mind on a situation and uncovering the truths that have been so overpowered by lies.

If your looking for a book that will have you caught off guard then look no further: August 1, 2023 is the release date for the next top thriller of this year.

I'm so thankful for Netgalley,
Sarah Pekkanen
and St. Martin's Press for the early copy of this riveting book for an honest review.

Incredible from beginning to end. It kept me guessing and intrigued. I hated “Ruth” in the beginning, but began to understand her reasoning in everything she did. There could even be potential for a sequel!