Reading Between the Wines book review #67/115 for 2023:
Rating: 3 ½ 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Gone Tonight
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
RELEASES August 1, 2023!!! Reserve your copy!

Sipping thoughts: This book is one where what you think is happening is actually not. One of the cool things is you don’t have to wait to the end. You find out right in the middle where the story takes a turn. I felt like I was reading 2 story plots in one where they collide and merge and take on a bigger story. I really enjoyed it. If you want a read full of lies, deceit, abuse and one last reveal on the last page, this is the book for you.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @GoneTonight.

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I received a free advanced ready copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A young geriatrics nurse lives with her mother and begins to realize there's something wrong with the stories her mother told her about her past. When Catherine realizes something is up, she starts to investigate her own mother, and the lies begin to unravel.

What I like about this writer is that her writing is easy to read. This was a quick, easy read. I liked it but it wasn't as suspenseful as I'd hoped. Some parts were a little predictable. I'd definitely read this author again. I also liked that half the story was from Catherine's point of view and half was Ruth's (her mother's) point of view so we get both sides of the story. That really helped to put all the pieces together.

Catherine and Ruth are a mother/daughter duo, inseparable since Catherine's birth. But sometimes, secrets are kept and lies are told. When Catherine decides that it's time to leave the nest, Ruth will do anything to stop that from happening. As Catherine plots her escape, Ruth will stop at nothing to keep the two of the safe and together.

You can run from your past but it always catches up with you.
Any parent would fo anything for their children.. what captivating story. It's a very page turner for sure. Lots of twists and turns.
It's a must read

I had previously only read Sarah Pekkanen's books when they were co-authored with Greer Hendricks. Their psychological thrillers have been amongst my favorites. So it was no question that I HAD to read Ms Pekkanen's solo suspense book. AND WOW! What a story it was!

Gone Tonight is a story of a mother's love for her daughter and how she goes to the end of the earth to keep her safe. Or is it? Told in dual POV from both the mother (Ruth) and daughter (Catherine), we see how close these two truly are. Just the two of them, inseparable over the years, not letting anyone get too close and now it seems Ruth is losing a bit of herself and cannot let Catherine go. But Catherine realizes there are secrets being kept from her and she needs to find the truth. But at what cost?

This book is told in both the present and past. Since Ruth is losing a bit of herself, she writes in a journal for Catherine. Those journal entries detail a past that made Ruth into the person she is today. It shows her as a teen and how Catherine came to be. Will those journal entries give away the secrets that Ruth has been so obsessively keeping from her daughter to protect her?

Gone Tonight is filled with twist and turns, lies and secrets and characters connected by a past that could destroy their future. I devoured this page turning thriller! The beautiful, the ugly and the past that turned Ruth into a woman that was out to 'protect her daughter at whatever cost' was carefully crafted from beginning to end. I enjoyed the short chapters that alternated between Ruth and Catherine. This made it easy to read and to absorb each character's POV.

Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and the pacing. It was a true page turner. Even though I had a feeling....(not giving up details; you'll have to read it) it was still a story that captured me from the beginning and left me satisfied.

I was able to read an ARC and WOW!! I thought I had it figured out early, but Sarah threw a monkey wrench. Great character development. Great plot development. Great flow. Intense places that clenched my stomach and had me fearing for Ruth and Catherine. This was a fantastic read!!!!!!

I really appreciate an ARC and I got this one from NetGalley. Plus, I have read this author before and really enjoyed her writing. I still enjoy her style. This story, however, fell flat. It was slow and I was annoyed by the two characters manipulating each other. And the ending was just eh to me as well.

Looking for something original? Twisty? Well-written?

Author Sarah Pekkanen has taken the road less travelled with this thriller and it has made all the difference in the world! I love it when an author can bring something new and fresh to the table.

The success of this book is secrets; some the reader is privy to and some they aren’t. The delicate balance is expertly crafted by Pekkanen and her twists come out of left field.

Pekkanen explores dysfunctional relationships and highlights the lengths a parent will go to protect a child. The Sterling girls will leave you gobsmacked. Guaranteed.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Catherine Sterling is a young woman who lives with her mother but is about to leave home to begin her career as a nurse. Ruth Sterling lives for her daughter, as she has for her entire life, but most of this life is based on a complete fiction. In alternating chapters, these women provide the reader with bits of information that are not known to the other, and the true and complete story is gradually revealed from the mysteries within mysteries.

The author did a magnificent job of leading the reader along by having these two narrators, and the conclusion did not disappoint!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've read Pekkanen's books before she started writing mystery thrillers and the ones she co-wrote with Greer Hendricks. Gone Tonight is her 1st solo book in a while and Gone Tonight proves she can write on her own (besides editors) If I had known a good portion of the book was set in my hometown, maybe I would've moved it up the list, but it was highly anticipated and I was not disappointed.

This is a mother daughter story that starts off somewhat slow. Mom is a waitress with a 24 year old daughter who just graduated nursing school and is about to begin a new job at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. But then suddenly, Catherine is worried her mom's apparent memory loss and neurological symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease.

The book really begins to pick up around 62% in when it's clear there are secrets and lies between mother and daughter. We also get glimpses into the mom's life as a teenager. I am glad there was an actual reference to a movie (based upon a book) that Pekkanen used as inspiration for a particular plot point. Because it was the 1st thing I thought of, to be fair.

The setting of Harrisburg was only marginally important in terms of distance from the 2nd major setting and barely mentioned details other than the Susquehanna River and general affordability. Otherwise, I filled in from my memories. I would have loved more references that were actual places. The 2nd location I was also somewhat familiar with as well. The book was somewhat unpredictable in terms of what happens in the present - not so much with the past. It was really getting good toward the ending, which gave the reader something to ponder about evil - nature vs nurture. TW for sexual abuse, molestation, physical abuse of children not heavily detailed and alcoholism, violence. 4/5☆

Gone Tonight

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wasn’t sure about this thriller between a mother and daughter, but it turned out to be really good! I alternated between the kindle and audio versions when I couldn’t put it down!

Catherine is about to move out of her mother’s apartment for the first time at 24 when her mother starts to show early signs of Alzheimer’s. As the story alternates between Catherine and Ruth, we start to see glimpses of Ruth’s past that she’s working to protect them from.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one in both formats. The pacing was good and the two characters were distinct. Definitely will check out more of Sarah Pekkanen’s books!

Title: A Gripping and Emotional Thriller: "Gone Tonight" by Sarah Pekkanen

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Review:
"Gone Tonight" by Sarah Pekkanen is a compelling and emotionally charged thriller that delves into the depths of secrets, betrayals, and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones. Pekkanen's skillful storytelling keeps readers hooked, balancing suspenseful twists with heartfelt exploration of relationships and the complexities of human nature.

The strength of "Gone Tonight" lies in its well-developed characters. Each woman is distinct, with her own fears, vulnerabilities, and motivations. Pekkanen's writing style is evocative, capturing the essence of small-town life and the emotional turmoil within. The pacing is steady, allowing the suspense to build gradually, leading readers on a journey filled with unexpected turns. The author explores themes of trust, guilt, and the complexities of human relationships, adding depth to the story and creating moments of genuine reflection.

While the plot of "Gone Tonight" keeps readers engaged, there are moments where the story feels slightly predictable, with some plot twists being more anticipated than others. However, Pekkanen compensates for this with her ability to create a strong emotional connection with the characters, making their journeys all the more impactful.

"Gone Tonight" is a gripping thriller that will keep you guessing until the final pages. Sarah Pekkanen's portrayal of complex relationships and the consequences of our actions is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. If you enjoy thrillers with a strong focus on character development and the exploration of human nature, this book is worth adding to your reading list.

Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Once I started reading it, I could barely put it down!

Ruth Sterling has been raising her daughter, Catherine, on her own since her parents disowned her when she became pregnant as a teenager. 24 years later, as Ruth begins struggling with her memory, Catherine tries to wheedle information about her mother's past. Ruth shuts down these attempts, instead opting to secretly write in a journal about the events of her past for Catherine when she is unable to explain things herself. The events of the past are juxtaposed with Ruth's attempts to keep her secrets from Catherine and Catherine's investigation into her mother's background and growing distrust of her.

This book was so much fun to read! I thought the pacing was excellent - the suspense and tension of what is going to happen next carried throughout much of the text. The main characters overall acted in ways logical with their characters and motivations. I did not find myself rolling my eyes at their choices or decisions (not to say I always agreed with them).

I definitely recommend giving this books a read. While there wasn't like a grand shocking twist at the end, there was a surprise or two and the story itself was interesting to read in its own right. I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Well, Sarah Pekkanen has done it again….another novel that kept me on my toes the whole time I was listening to it. I got to listen to an ARC of this audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion of the book. It definitely did not disappoint.
This book is told from two points of view—a mother, Ruth, who is overprotective of her daughter, even though that daughter is an adult. The other point of view is the daughter, Catherine, who ends up realizing that her mother is a major control freak. But why is she? Why does she seemingly ruin Catherine’s relationships and lie to her?
Please read or listen to this book to find out…you’ll be so glad you did! I really liked the narrator in the audiobook version as well. Winning all around for this one!!

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC of Gone Tonight. It was also my first audio book and I really enjoyed that.

It is a twisting story of the relationship between a mother - Ruth and daughter. - Catherine. Ruth was a young unwed mother when she gave birth to Catherine when she was 17 years old. Knowing she would be kicked out of her home, Ruth fled to several states to raise Catherine as a single mom.

Fast forward to Catherine in her 20's and we find Ruth unwilling to let Catherine move on to take a job out of state. What transpires are a lot of plot twists and turns which makes for an intriguing read.

Like with any Pekkanen novel, the twists are amazing and hit right up until the final page.

I absolutely loved this domestic/psychological thriller. Ruth and Catherine were both so layered…in their relationship with each other, in their separate adult lives…and the whole time, I kept wondering whether this is a case of nurture vs nature winning out in the end.

I can’t say much else because everything I thought I knew in the beginning? Not exactly the truth by the end. Would I recommend this? Wholeheartedly.

Main Characters:
-- Catherine Sterling – 24 years old, recently graduated from nursing school, works in the Memory Wing of Sunrise Senior Living, and plans to start a job at Johns Hopkins
-- Ruth Sterling – 42 years old, estranged from her family when she became pregnant as a teenager, Catherine’s mother, works as a waiter in a diner, beginning to show signs of early onset Alzheimer’s

I discovered Sarah Pekkanen when I read "The Wife Between Us," which she co-authored with Greer Hendricks. She (they) will always be on my must-read list, and "Gone Tonight" is just another example of why.

Split into three acts, Gone Tonight tells the stories of Catherine and her mother Ruth. Shunned by her family when she became pregnant in high school, Ruth never looked back and focused solely on providing for and protecting Catherine. So all of Catherine’s life, it has been just Ruth and Catherine. Ruth is determined to start writing down her past so that Catherine will know how they came to be on their own.

Having recently completed nursing school, Catherine accepted a job at Johns Hopkins and plans to move to Baltimore until she realizes that her mother has been showing signs of memory problems. But as she starts looking into why Ruth kept her memory issues a secret, Catherine discovers there are a lot of things that Ruth has been keeping secret.

Oh the secrets…and they just keep on coming. Pekkanen does a great job of giving us those “I did not see that coming” moments.

Chapters alternate between Catherine and Ruth, so we as readers understand their motivations way before they understand one another. And if they would just really talk to one another…if Ruth would just tell Catherine the truth…. But real life doesn’t work like that. People don’t always have the conversations they should, especially if they feel like they’re trying to protect the other person.

I will not say anymore because I don’t want to spoil this one. Order this one now. You won’t be sorry you did.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Before reading this check out trigger warnings as there is murder and sexual abuse of a child.

This is the story of Ruth, Catherine and James…I didn’t like any of them. Actually I sort of liked James but I don’t think I was supposed to like him.

I was interested in this one from start to finish but the characters kept getting muddled in my head.

I really liked unpacking the Alzheimer’s angle I in this one. I thought it was a clever was to move the story forward to its ultimate conclusion.

The ending was wrapped up nicely. I’m a fan of that because more often than not, I don’t like open ended books.

While it wasn’t my fav by this author, it was decent and I have no regrets. It think it’s worth a read.

I did the audiobook and Kate Mara was the narrator, she did a nice job with Gone Tonight.

I absolutely devoured this book. I thought the plot was different from any book I’ve read before and it kept me sucked in from beginning to end.

Ruth, a single mom to her adult daughter Catherine, starts to exhibit some disturbing symptoms of early onset Alzheimer’s. Catherine wants to know everything about her mom. How well does she really know her? This book explores and answers those questions during this intriguing book. How much can a parent protect a child? How far would someone go to protect their child? This riveting book has unexpected twists. I highly recommend!