I loved this book - a lot of different threads and all done well, which is not always the case. Gritty and clever. Philly parts rang true.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Five stars ! Demon Copperhead on steroids. I loved the raw emotions of this one . Looking forward to what he writes next.

Small Town Sins is set in America's Rust Belt, Locksburg, Pennsylvania, at one time a thriving coal town, and follows three main characters, each chapter told from one of their points of view.
Each character is very well developed and at times reminded me of character that perhaps Dennis Lehane would write about in his South Boston novels. They aren't all 100% likable, but with Jaworowski's fine writing, you identify with each of them, as they attempt to escape their dead end livers. Just how far will these desperate souls go to find a better life?
Jaworowski delivers a bleak, at times depressing, but very entertaining debut novel that is sure to make many end of the year "Best" lists. I can't wait to read more from this very gifted writer.

Ken Jaworowski’s debut novel, 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗦, wasn’t on my radar until I saw it advertised last week in a new release email from @henryholtbooks. After reading the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued by the premise/setting and immediately downloaded it when I saw it was still available on NetGalley. Having grown up in Pennsylvania, I am familiar with a few towns similar to the one portrayed in the book.

This is not a feel good book; it’s dark, gritty, and intense - packing a punch from the very first chapter - and I loved it. Thankfully, I read this one on a day off from work because I could not put it down!

This book had the potential to be a five star read for me (which I don’t give out often!) but what kept it from reaching that level was the ending - I found it to be very abrupt, leaving me with a lot of unanswered questions.

Overall, 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗦 is a fantastic debut with complex, flawed characters that I’ve continued to think about long after turning the final page. I definitely look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Three stories, three POV, three broken souls, three individuals trying to justify their decisions. This is a fast read and leans on dark side slightly. Contains addiction and grief. Each POV has their dilemma and down on their luck in this small town in PA. Their paths cross but not in a way you’d expect. Just enough for you to turn the next page to read what will s/he do next. Will make a great discussion read! Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt &Co. for ARC read in exchange for my review.

In Small Town Sins, three disparate people’s stories play out in Locksburg PA. Locksburg is a small town of only 5,000 souls, a true rust belt community with a ten bed hospital.
Like the town, each of the three main characters is down on their luck. Nathan is a volunteer fireman who arrives first to a burning building and finds a bag of cash when he rushes in to save the man inside. Callie is a nurse at the hospital, caring for a young cancer patient. And then there’s Andy, a former junkie who embarks on a form of vigilante justice. The book veers between each of their stories.
Each story is like watching dominoes fall. One questionable decision leads to another which leads to another. The book is at times scary, funny, but always wild, always intense. All three individuals felt vividly real. I tore through this, wondering whether or how each would come out of their predicaments. And wow! That ending just threw me. This was a strong, emotional read and I will definitely be looking to see what Jaworowski produces next.
My thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy of this book.

This book is dark. This book is depressing. This book will not leave you feeling good about anything. The story is of one sad and dying town and three of it’s residents. One got a teenager pregnant (when he was a teen) and then jumps to a sad adulthood. Another is a nurse who works with the first guys wife and feels lonely and lost. The third is a man who fought drug abuse for the family he loses. They are all slightly intertwined. The author was good at elliciting emotion, but I feel awful after reading this. The author succeeds.

✨Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski✨

Newly released debut novel, a short 272 page thriller that had me intrigued from page one.

We get to alternate between three very interesting people who live in a small town in Pennsylvania, where not much happens, and those who stayed still dream of leaving.

Callie is a nurse at local hospital, Nathan is a volunteer firefighter and Andy is a recovered heroin addict. They struggle, in one way or another, most of their lives. Their decisions lead to the events that unfold and at some point they cross paths with each other.

This is not a walk in the park kind of read nor is it a twisty story that we expect when the word thriller comes up.

This is a tale of three troubled souls that’s dark and emotional. There are some twists here if you can call them that but nothing unexpected. It is heart breaking, hopeful, and thought provoking. I think depth over shock is a good choice word here.

It includes a LOT of challenging topics: death, drug addiction, rape, murder, suicide, infertility, and pedophilia. So please be aware of these triggers before considering putting this one on your TBR.

The writing is excellent. The pace of the book is spot on. All 5 star kinda stuff.

I can’t really pinpoint things I didn’t like other than maybe I wish when the three characters crossed paths, we’d get a little bit more there. They just barely got there and there wasn’t anything significant. It’s almost like these were three different stories but then at some point the author reminded us that they live in the same town and their stories are crossing.

My rating: 4.5/5

I received free ARC of this book from #netgalley in return for an honest review.
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This book was a total gut punch and I loved everything about it.

Three characters, all telling their own story, all living in the same run down town. Life isn't perfect for anyone, especially these three. They all make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives and it all comes together on the same day.

I can't even describe how I felt reading this. All I know is by the end I was a weepy mess and I cannot wait to tell everyone I know to read this.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

While bleak, the story was interwoven and kept you reading. It’s not something I would
normally pick up.

What a great read! Each of the characters was written so honestly and it was easy to connect with them and their intentions. I wish the story could have kept going because I became so invested in each of their outcomes.

An amazing debut!
Three hard luck adult characters in a down and out Pennsylvania town, desperate to escape their past and dead end lives.
You do sympathize with these characters, and laugh at times, but my goodness…you keep wondering what they will do next!
I was hooked right away and read this one fast.. you just want to know what will happen next.
This was going to be a five star read for me but it had an abrupt end.. which I hate.. hoping for s sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC!

Ken Jaworowski, a New York Times culture editor and playwright, delivers a smashing knock-out debut literary/crime thriller, SMALL TOWN SINS — Soulful, intense, lyrical, darkly funny, and deeply entertaining, with quirky, highly creative characters.

DAZZLING! The author has cleverly created a cast of well-developed, relatable, sympathetic characters all desperate to escape their dead-end life and past—mixed with despair, heartbreak, struggles, regrets, mistakes, heart, and humor for a highly satisfying, addictive read.

Set in the gripping Rust Belt, a town of 5K, everyone knows everyone's business in Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a former coal and steel town where everyone wants a way out of this depressing dead-end town. How do they escape their environment?

Crossing moral lines, how far will these restless and desperate souls go for greed, money, and a better life? Will they keep repeating their patterns and crimes or learn from their mistakes? There are no do-overs here. However, be careful what you wish for, as it may be worse than what you have. This slow depressing town has never seen so much action and DANGER! There is a lot of sinning going on here.

Told from alternating three POVs: NATHAN, CALLIE, and ANDY

NATHAN: Nathan was trapped by a young girl years ago with blackmail. She says she is pregnant and needs money for an abortion. To dig himself out, he stole from his family, and then due to his misdeeds, the innocent people in his life died. Now years later, he still lives in this same dead-end town and meets Paula, a caring nurse, and they marry.

They built a big house and want children. No luck after 15 years and tons of money spent on specialists. Paula is always cheerful, but Nathan is negative. He thinks he has finally won the lottery and a way out of this dead-end town for a better life when he uncovers a stash of money in a burning building as a volunteer fireman. Nathan takes it and hides it at home. He thinks it is drug money, so who will miss it? His wife is totally against it and wants him to turn it over to the police, and will have nothing to do with it. The burn victim is at her hospital.

Karma comes back to bite again when the same girl who blackmailed him is back like Eve with an apple tempting like a femme fatale. He falls for her tricks again. However, in the end, this will be the worst tragedy of his life. Nothing is as it appears. The money is not what he thought, and he will lose the love of his life. Once again, tragedy due to his mistakes. (this is a good one).


ANDY: Andy was a former heroin addict, as well as his wife, Katie. They have each done bad things for drugs to escape their miserable lives. However, their lives change when Katie finds out she is pregnant, and they both quit cold turkey—no more drugs.

Their beautiful baby girl, Angie, is born with Downs Syndrome. They loved and cared for her, but one day it was too late, and they knew her heart would not last. Now Katie and Angie are gone from Andy's life. He wants to end his life to be with them, but someone stops him. From here, the detective gives him a name of a priest to help. However, the priest is a pedophile, and Andy has found a briefcase full of child porn. He is determined to take this guy down after seeing a photo of a child with Downs Syndrome, among other innocent children. However, his plan of revenge does not go the way he planned. I loved Andy, Katie, and Angie!


CALLIE: Then we come to Callie. Your heart will go out to Callie and her patient, Gabriella. Callie, a nurse, has had a tough life. She is sarcastic and funny (I love her dark humor). She has lived with disfigurement daily from a craniofacial disorder she was born with—a cleft palate and harelip with operation complications. She has no dates or life, and everyone looks at her like a freak. She liked it when everyone wore masks during the pandemic so they could not see her scars. She has little patience with whinny patients.

Her life changes when a young girl, Gabriella, is brought to the hospital by her father. She is dying, and he could have been helped, but the dad thinks religion will heal and does not give her the medicine or treatments. The doctor said to keep her father away.

Callie develops a friendship and close bond with Gabriella during her time at the hospital. She wants to see the ocean before she dies—her last wish. The parents will not now allow it. So Callie decides to kidnap her from the hospital, and they both can see the ocean simultaneously. If she gets caught, she could lose her license.

However, the trip did not go as expected. She offers someone a ride, and they steal Gabriella's medicine. From there, it is one disaster after another, with bad at every turn. However, in the process, they go to a bar to pick up something from someone offering to help, and she meets a man without an arm. He does not care about Callie's scars. They dance. Gabriella and Callie turn into partners in crime for a Thelma and Louise WILD ride road trip. I love these two!


As all their stories collide, Nathan, Callie, and Andy struggle to endure—or escape. They must face their pasts, gamble on their futures, and confront the underbelly of this depressing town. I LOVED THIS BOOK! What a wild adventure.

Ken Jaworowski is an author to watch! I loved his back story and how he came to write this story. Thank you for persevering! A HIT. I cannot wait to see what comes next! I will be anxiously awaiting. SMALL TOWN SINS checks all the boxes for me.

Fans of authors (a mix of) Dan Chaon, Fredrik Backman, David Joy, Elizabeth Berg, Joyce Maynard, Allen Eskens, William Kent Krueger, and Karen Katchur's The Greedy Three will find much to like here!

I could see a mini-TV series with these memorable, quirky characters. Creative, heartwarming, witty, and bingeworthy! I enjoyed the writing style with cliffhanger chapters, so not each story is written separately, keeping you on the edge of your seat in suspense!

The highly emotional themes and topics could be ripped from today's headlines of small rural towns—from opioid abuse, depression, suicide, religion, child abuse, pedophile priests, murder, addiction, poor neighborhoods, corruption, and more. (economic, social, moral)

AUDIOBOOK: The audiobook was fantastic! I enjoyed listening and reading; the audiobook was superb! I heard in one sitting and then re-listened again weeks later. The narrators, Chris Ciulla, Jennifer Blom, and John Pirhalla, were perfectly matched for the characters/voices. I highly recommend the audiobook.

A home run out of the gate! OK, you have figured out I loved this book. A must-read! Get this stunning literary thriller set in a rural small town, rich in character, captivating, heartfelt, and infused with dark humor on your TBR list.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an ALC and Henry Holt and Co. for an ARC via NetGalley for an honest opinion. I loved both so much that I purchased the hardcover copy for my home library!

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Day: Aug 1, 2023
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books

This one is BLEAK, but a very well written debut. Three distinct characters tell their stories- connected in small ways, but mostly through their residence in a desolate Pennsylvania town. This is hard to read, and deals with every kind of trauma and trigger you might imagine at different points, but somehow Jaworowski has crafted characters that readers will still be compelled by and interested in.

Small town sins is a moving novel that follows three main characters in a dying Pennsylvania town as they are all faced with hard choices. Nathan, a firefighter, discovers a life-changing amount of money in a house he is salvaging at his job. This action leads him on a collision course with hardened criminals over the money. Callie is a nurse at the local hospital who makes a choice for a young patient that can cause her to risk everything. Andy is a recovering addict who lost his wife and daughter and is torn between trying ending it all or finding redemption by bringing down a serial killer. The three stories seem disconnected at first, but, like all small towns, their lives begin to intertwine with one another. This novel is a hard read at times and isn’t really a thriller that’s it’s been promoted as. There are crime elements but it’s a character study of desperate characters and the reality of living in these dying small towns in the rust belt. A moving, fast-paced, and effecting read.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this debut book by Ken Jaworowski and wonderfully narrated by Chris Ciulla; Jennifer Blom; John Pirhalla - 5 stars!

This book highlights the stories of three residents of a small Pennsylvania town. Nathan, a factory worker and volunteer firefighter finds a bag with a substantial amount of cash during a rescue operation in a burning building. Nathan takes the money and hides it in the attic, then tries to convince his wife, Paula, a nurse at the local hospital, that they should take the money and leave. Andy is a former addict who turned his life around when he got married and his Down's Syndrome daughter was born. After a huge loss, he discovers evidence that a preacher is a predator and sets out to expose him. Callie is a nurse born with a cleft lip that set her up for bullying and unkindness all her life. She becomes close to a terminally ill teenager in her care and risks her job to make her dying wish come true.

This is a beautifully written, haunting story that feels gritty and real. I really liked the fact that while all these individuals lived in the same small town, the stories didn't really intertwine. Instead, they showcase a similar narrative of poverty, greed, despair, guilt, both good and bad decisions. Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of the three main characters, so you get to delve into each person's life. While it's not necessarily a happy read, it's a look into how our decisions affect our lives and those of the people around us. Fabulous debut and the audio narration was wonderful!

Absolutely not. The book started out poorly and continued. Three people in a small town doing dumb crap with storylines that are barely interwoven.

I despised Nathan, was indifferent to Callie, and felt like Andy stumbled in from a different book.

So slow and tedious. I won’t lie when I finished this I was just glad to be done with it.

Full Review:

"Small Town Sins" starts off following a teen Nathan living in Locksburg, Pennsylvania. One day he gets dragged to a party by a girl he didn't know even knew his name. From that moment on it seems Nathan's life turned into a mess he can't dig himself out of. The book then jumps to a 40 year old Nathan, married to his wife Paula, but still frustrated he never managed to leave Locksburg, is stuck at a job at a machine metal shop with no children. When Nathan spots a house on fire and manages to save the man inside's life, there comes a way for Nathan to change his life around.

Callie is a nurse at the local hospital and works alongside Nathan's wife Paula. Don't worry these two I think have barely a scene together. Just know that Callie has a lot going on with her (I won't get into it) and then becomes overly attached to a teen patient.

Andy and his wife are recovering addicts doing what they can to get help for their daughter who was born with Down's Syndrome and has a heart condition.

That's a lot isn't it? I am not even getting into everything that is being thrown at the three of them throughout the book. The only thing I can say is that it may have been better to just follow Nathan and have subsequent books (in a series) follow Callie, Andy, etc. This was just too much all at once. And I hated juggling my emotions back and forth between the three of them. There was zero saving grace to Nathan's entire story-line. You are going to start to wish a house dropped on him at the 50 percent mark.

The writing was so so and the flow was awful. The transitions between chapters are not there and you legit feel like okay let me recall what was going on with Callie the last time we checked in.

The setting of Locksburg was not put to good use. I grew up in Pennsylvania, Jaworowski did too, but he did not manage to capture the small town feeling of the state at all.

Another reviewer noted the ending was abrupt with no resolutions for anyone and she was right.

This book. I'm trying to find the correct words. It's well written. I felt at first it was so many storylines to follow. Then they start to overlap and it makes a bit more sense.
It letting me wanting a bit more. The subjects kept making me say what the heck and then keep reading.

4.5 stars. This novel tells the story of three people living in Locksburg, a very small Pennsylvania town smattered with abandoned storefronts and derelict buildings, and the struggles they endure over the years. Callie (a nurse), Nathan (a volunteer fireman) and Andy (a recovering heroin addict) endeavor to better their lives, an undertaking that turns out to be a more-than-difficult process. The situations in which each finds himself/herself and many of the choices each makes for whatever reason only adds significantly to their struggles and have far-reaching consequences. This is an extremely intriguing and emotional read, one that may well stay with you for quite a while. All in all, this was a very well-written and engaging novel, one that I would have been sorry to have missed.

A declining Pennsylvania town, and those still there and trying to survive, live, thrive. Three of these souls, Nathan, Callie and Andy, different lives, different challenges, moral dilemmas. Harsh times, often seems hopeless. Their stories are gritty, pull at the heartstrings because these are people which with one can identify.. An intense read, not a happy.little story but a realistic one. The choices, decisions we.make in life, decisions that can impact.others. Right or wrong? Which way to.go? Hmmmm.

A remarkable and poignant first.novel. Kudos to the author.

Narration by a full cast was exceptional.