How far will a mother go to protect her daughter from the past? This is the central theme of Gone Tonight. Ruth knows that if her daughter Catherine takes the job in Baltimore, it will be the end for all of them. The end to the life that Catherine has known with her mother.
Told in alternating points of view and timelines, this story explores what makes the bond between mother and daughter and the lies that deceive. Both POVs were intriguing and told an interesting story. The characterization between Ruth and Catherine kept the story moving and kept me engaged.
There were a few instances when I thought I knew where the story was going, but I was wrong. There were just enough twists to keep you reading.
I would highly recommend this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Gone tonight is an exciting, fast-paced psychological thriller. I was hooked from page one and found myself racing to the end.

The story alternates between the mother, Ruth, and Daughter, Catherine’s perspectives. They both have secrets that they’re trying to uncover about one another. Catherine is ready to spread her wings and leave home, and Ruth will do just about anything to prevent that from happening.

You’ll want to grab a copy of this novel when it releases on August 1, 2023.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fascinating story of the relationship between a mother and her daughter, who is ready to spread her wings, but not being able to let her go.

I have read and enjoyed all of Sarah Pekkanen's work, and Gone Tonight was no different. I have not read a book this quickly in quite some time. Because the story is from the point of view of two characters, I kept reading to find out what happened next to each of them. Though there are two voices in the two main characters, through Ruth, we also get to experience what her life was like in the past. As I continued reading and learning more about each perspective, I found myself having empathy for each of the characters at different times. For me this book was absolutely a page turner. It kept me enthralled and wanting more!

Another great book by Sarah Pekkanen. Such a good book. It was engaging and kept me hooked the whole time.

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen
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Catherine is a nurse who lives with her mother Ruth. She just got accepted to a school she wants to go to and is eager to leave the nest. When her mother starts showing signs of memory loss, Catherine worries for her health. She wants to know more about her mom, including her past that she never talks about.
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This was an excellent mystery/thriller.
-I loved the alternating POVs.
-The back story being slowly told was great and kept me interested.
-The last third of the book was pretty suspenseful and I enjoyed every minute of it.
-There were some fun twisty reveals throughout the story that were a lot of fun!
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I would definitely recommend!

Good different storyline from different perspectives and unforeseen twists, however overall I found the subject matter annoying. A overwhelming helicopter mom that never leaves her daughter alone.

A thrilling read!

I’m a big fan of Sarah Pekkanen's books and I was really looking forward to reading “Gone Tonight”. I was very excited to have a copy of both the ebook and audiobook to review.

Twenty-four-year-old, Catherine Sterling is very worried about her mother, Ruth. Ruth has started forgetting things. Catherine tries to tell herself that everyone forgets things now and then. But it’s been happening more and more frequently. So Catherine and Ruth are going to see a neurologist. Catherine is sure the neurologist will reassure them that everything is okay. He’ll have an easy fix.

Catherine knows almost nothing about her mother's past. She doesn’t know where she grew up or went to school. She hasn’t seen any photos of other family and doesn’t even know the names of her mother’s parents.

It never bothered her before...

What Catherine doesn’t know is her mother isn’t just keeping secrets about her past. And what her mother doesn’t know is Catherine is also keeping secrets.

What will happen once these buried secrets come to light?

I was riveted by this page turning and exhilarating domestic suspense!

I really couldn’t put it down. I flew through the novel especially since I had both the ebook and audiobook. Both were fantastic. The audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Kate Mara.

The story is told from Catherine and Ruth’s point of view. The addition of diary entries from Ruth’s teenage years added an extra layer to the plot. The story was loaded with suspense, emotion, twist, turns, and terrific characters.

This was a truly unique and exciting read.

I honestly can’t wait to read more from Sarah Pekkanen.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

A thriller about Catherine and Ruth / mom and daughter. I loved this story!! It started a little slow but it sucked me in after a quarter through and then I couldn’t wait to see what happened. This mother and daughter duo both have secrets to them!! I’d highly recommend this book.

5 big stars!!!

Wow, this is one of the better books that I have read in a very long time. I’m already a fan of this author, but haven’t read something suspenseful like this from her before.

This story is about a mother and daughter who have secrets from one another, which starts to build doubt in their trust and soon they wonder if they know each other at all. Each chapter alternates between the mother’s (Ruth) and the daughter’s (Catherine) perspective, which is an emotional rollercoaster of suspense that keeps you wanting more.

I believe this will be a top suspenseful book of the year! Big thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book!

I've enjoyed Sarah Pekkanen's books and this one was another suspenseful bomb. It starts out as an emotional story,but when the suspense hits the story draws you in and keeps you guessing. The alternating point of views from mother to daughter are seemless and easy to follow. This book contains several edge of your seat, jaw dropping moments. A thrilling original story that's sure to be a hit!

This mystery/thriller could have gone in so many directions...

<img src="https://theprayingwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Questionning-girl-1-e1458810899100.jpg"/>

My brain was working overtime with several possible scenarios, and if the author intended this, then she certainly succeeded.

<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/pv-target-images/67e806308d7c9e453aab99e6eba48fff024e7d0ad8fb1550f322f52b7ee03811._RI_TTW_.jpg"/>

Some of my suppositions were a bit out there, but I was amusing myself as I read along.

<img src="https://media.tenor.com/j19SLY4wiwgAAAAM/benedict-cumberbatch-sherlock.gif"/>

Turns out that this story line was a tad formulaic. As I flipped the last page on my Ereader, I debated whether the author had changed her mind at one - or more - points.

<img src="https://www.timewithtandy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/changed-my-mid-300x300.png"/>

"Vengeance is Mine..." at the saying goes...

<img src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SeAxuiUpL.jpg"/>

The writing tended to be over-descriptive. I would start to skim over descriptions of the contents of a cup of coffee or a plate of food, or what a character was wearing, etc.

Another irksome thing: Catherine kept repeating a certain phrase - that he mother could have handled things differently, but she doesn't disclose her own preference on how the entire "scenario" should have been handled. (No. spoilers here.)

In certain spots, this story line mirrored a few themes of the TV series, The Handmaid's Tale - in particular the gruesome "forest scene" - which, incidentally, I did not watch because I abhor that level of violence (no matter how much Fred Waterford and his cohorts may have deserved it.)

<img src="https://www.syfy.com/sites/syfy/files/styles/blog-post-embedded--mobile/public/tht_js_311_0894rt.jpg"/>

I'm rating this one a 3.45 out of 5 because the story did hold my interest, even if I did have to skim over the gruesome parts. My thanks to the author, her publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Good characters and good story. Excellent use of dual POVs. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Sarah Pekkanen is now on my “gotta read” list. Gone Tonight is a roller coaster read with twists and secrets throughout. I consider myself a savvy reader, but quite a few plot turns fooled me completely.

Gone Tonight is a psychological thriller about a mother-daughter relationship that is both thrilling and heartbreaking. The story follows Catherine, a young woman who is ready to spread her wings and move from home, and her mother, Ruth, who is determined to keep her daughter close.

Pekkanen does a masterful job of creating a sense of suspense and tension throughout the novel. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the plot is full of twists and turns. The novel also deals with some dark themes, such as secrets, lies, and manipulation. However, it is ultimately a story about love, family, and redemption.

I highly recommend Gone Tonight to fans of psychological thrillers. It is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Here are some of the things that I liked about Gone Tonight:

The characters are complex and well-developed. Catherine is a sympathetic and relatable protagonist, and I found myself rooting for her throughout the novel. Ruth is a complex and fascinating character, and I was never sure what she was going to do next.
The plot is full of twists and turns. I was never sure what was going to happen next, and I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen.
The novel deals with some dark themes in a sensitive and thoughtful way. The themes of secrets, lies, and manipulation are handled with care, and the novel never feels exploitative.
The writing is sharp and evocative. Pekkanen's prose is beautiful and atmospheric, and she does a great job of creating a sense of suspense and tension.
Overall, I thought Gone Tonight was a fantastic novel. It is a well-written, thought-provoking, and suspenseful psychological thriller that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

Here are some additional thoughts on why I liked Gone Tonight:

I appreciated the way that Pekkanen explored the themes of secrets and lies. These are dark themes, but Pekkanen handled them with care and sensitivity.
I also liked the way that the novel dealt with the theme of redemption. Catherine is a flawed character, but she is ultimately a good person. I found it satisfying to see her overcome her challenges and find redemption.
I thought the ending of the novel was perfect. It was both satisfying and open-ended, and it left me thinking about the novel long after I finished reading it.
If you are looking for a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, then I highly recommend Gone Tonight. It is a well-written, thought-provoking, and suspenseful novel that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

3.75 - 4 ⭐️

I believe this is my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and after this book, I will be reading more of her books! This book is medium paced and you can finish this book in one or two days! The way that the twist and secrets revealed as you turn the pages is what kept me hooked. There are TW associated with this book so please search up the TW before proceeding into this book. The alternating POV between the mother and daughter as well as the mystery unraveling was great. I haven't read a lot of thrillers that has the mother daughter dynamic and this was a eerie bingeable read!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I could t decide between three and four stars, but since I stayed up late to finish it, I went with four. The story begins with mother and daughter trying to deal with moms Alzheimer’s, takes a quick turn into a much different storyline. I enjoyed the different perspectives of both characters; mom covering up her past and daughter digging for info. It’s definitely a slow burn but good read, I just didn’t see a wow factor at the end, so I let my imagination just go with it, which is possibly how the author meant it to be. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy. All comments are my own.

How far would you go to protect the person you love most in the world?

I have never read a book Sarah Pekkanen has written without Greer Hendricks, and I am happy to say it didn't disappoint! This captivating story delves into the intricate relationship between a mother and daughter, raising questions about the mother's intentions. Is she protecting her daughter or holding her back from embracing her adult life?

At the center of the narrative is Catherine, a 24-year-old woman whose mother, Ruth, had her at a young age. The book opens with Catherine accompanying her mom to doctor's appointments, as Ruth, despite her youth, appears to be showing signs of dementia. Catherine puts her own life on hold to care for her mother, but in doing so, she begins unraveling the web of lies that Ruth has spun over the past 24 years.

What struck a chord with me was how relatable Catherine's character was, as I've personally experienced struggles with my own mother. However, unlike my life, this novel takes a darker turn, making it a thrilling read. The story unfolds through two points of view—Catherine's and Ruth’s, and there are also flashbacks from Ruth's perspective mixed in. Both narratives, along with the well-crafted flashbacks, kept me interested.

While not an action-packed thriller or a book you can binge, this book gradually exposes secrets, lies, deception, and unexpected twists. I particularly enjoyed the honest conversations about the complexities between young women and their mothers. All in all, the constant presence of lies kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. It's a slow-burn suspense that I really enjoyed.

This delivers a great tale of a mother-daughter dynamic, filled with gripping revelations.The writing style immediately pulled me right in. If you enjoy suspenseful reads with a touch of emotional depth, this one is definitely worth diving into.

📆 Thank you NetGalley & St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! Pub date is 8/1/23!

Put this on your radar for August! This book is a slow burn full of secrets and twists. I will definitely recommend this book to other readers.

I have devoured the thrillers written by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. This is the first time I've seen Sarah on her own so I wanted to give her a try. I was blown away! The writing was just as wonderful, the characters deep and real. The relationship between the mother and daughter, a push-pull dynamic, was so similar to my own. The twist at the end was perfect! This was by far the best book of 2023. You've got to read this!