This was an overall excellent debut! The characters felt full of depth and the setting felt realistic (albeit a little depressing). I liked that there were ups and downs, it definitely wasn't too feel-good, yet not fully depressing either - you were left with a little hope in the end. This was quite short, and the pacing felt compelling the whole way through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Set in the once thriving steelwork and coal mining small town of Locksburg in central Pennsylvania, population 5000, Small Town Sins by Ken Jaworowski follows the lives of three of its long-time residents as they try to navigate through a vicious cycle of financial struggles, personal demons, poor choices, and broken dreams.

Nathan Stultz, a middle-aged factory worker and volunteer firefighter finds a bag with a substantial amount of cash during a rescue operation in a burning building. Nathan dreams of leaving Locksburg with his wife Paula, a nurse, and believes that the money he found would be the solution to all his problems not realizing that his actions could have far-reaching consequences.
Callie is a kind-hearted nurse born with a cleft lip for which she has been on the receiving end of much unkindness all her life and suffers from low self-esteem. When she bonds with a terminally ill teenager under her care, she risks her reputation and her job to fulfill her patient’s dying wish.
Andy Devon is a former addict in his thirties who turned his life around after his special needs daughter was born. Reeling from a devastating loss, Andy is in a downward spiral. When he makes a shocking discovery that one of the respected townspeople in their midst is a predator targeting children, he sets out to expose the person and bring him to justice.

<b>Small Town Sins</b> by <b>Ken Jaworowski</b> is a powerful debut novel with compelling characters, an atmospheric setting and a gripping immersive narrative. The tone of these stories leans toward dark and depressing. Each of these characters and their stories are well-drawn and the author does an amazing job of describing the setting and dynamics of a small town. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Nathan, Callie and Andy in alternating chapters. While there are elements of crime, reckless behavior and an element of suspense in each of the storylines, these stories offer much more than that, revolving around themes of family, poverty, addiction and recovery, greed, grief and much more. Each of them hopes to change their circumstances but has been held back by a dearth of opportunity, secrets from their past and questionable judgment. The threads of these three storylines read more like three separate short stories set in the same small town rather than a novel in the true sense of the term but this does not detract from the overall reading experience. I was emotionally invested in these characters and was hooked till the very last page. The ending is not neatly tied up which may not work for some readers but I thought the ending was incredibly impactful. I look forward to reading more from this talented new author.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy reading gritty and realistic character-driven fiction.

Many thanks to Henry Holt & Company, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the digital review copy and the ALC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The book/audiobook are due to be released on August 1, 2023.

“Small Town Sins” is a riveting debut novel from Ken Jaworowski. At first I thought it was a story told through multiple viewpoints, but in reality it was more like three short stories told in alternating chapters. Being from a small town, these characters appear in each other’s stories, but it is done in a very subtle way. The author wastes no time in setting up the plot and allowing the reader to connect and empathize with these characters. It definitely made me question what I would do in their situations. I knew it was a short read, but was shocked when I turned the page and realized it was the last! I really could have read about 200 more pages about these characters, especially Callie and Gabriella. This book made me laugh, evoked anger, and also made me want to cry. I found it refreshingly original and have a bit of a book hangover. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thought I’d be into this but I really wasn’t. It is well written and I’m sure a lot of people will love this book but it just wasn’t for me.

Such a good book! I can’t believe this is Ken Jaworowski’s debt novel.

This book was a page turner for sure and kept me totally captivated. I loved each of the characters, finding myself being sucked into each of their stories.

The story has us following three different people from a small town in Locksburg, Pennsylvania. Each are fighting different battles. Callie is a nurse on a mission to grant a dying wish to a young patient. Nathan is a volunteer firefighter, who stumbles on a large amount of money while rescuing a man from a burning building. Andy is a recovering drug addict with a wife and a special needs child, who is trying to take down a predator.

Greed, the need to save others, and the addictions that come along with every day existence, bleed into their worlds. Will forgiveness and absolution save them from their sins no matter how big or small. Following these characters to see what happened next and how their simple choices effect their journey. I enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt Publishing for this ARC. Available August 1, 2023.

I was hooked from the first page! In this small town everyone knows everyone and as the story progresses you learn how each character is tied to each other and how each decision we make can affect the one around us.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit! As someone from a small town it really was interesting to read something that walked you through the lives of the people in your ‘boring’ town. I do wish the end gave us some more closure however, I feel like it took me awhile to get invested and then once I was there wasn’t really a good wrap up for what happened to the people - maybe that’s the point though.

I enjoyed this book! There were several storylines with key characters who are all connected to each other in some way since this takes place in a small town in Central PA. Since I live in a small town in Central PA I easily identified with the circumstances of the characters. I could visualize what their town was like. This was a good but sad read. The author touches upon man’s futile attempt to find redeeming love and the lengths desperate people go to to find joy, fulfillment and to escape their harsh circumstances. The novel touches upon themes of drug abuse, crime, health, marriage, infidelity and emotional and physical abuse. This was a very poignant read for the world today.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

This story of sins, loves and plain old-fashioned crime is told using alternating POV's. The characters are written well. Worth the read.

3.75☆

My experience of this book is definitely in the minority. It started off well, I was turning pages quickly and really interested in the characters we were meeting. Then things changed a bit for me. The writing lost it's allure and the characters seemed to blend together, they didn't seem to have their own voices. This is just my experience. If you check out the reviews there are many who really enjoyed the pacing, the writing and the characters. I would say see for yourself what you think.

This book was not at all what I expected - and I mean that in a good way. What I thought was going to be a thriller was instead a compelling character study of three loosely connected people that must face the good and bad consequences of their actions. Writing was fabulous. I did feel that the ending was a bit abrupt considering the character development - it would have been nice if the story had continued on for a bit longer. All in all, a solid read! I look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

Small Town Sins, despite the blurbs, is not a traditional mystery or thriller, so if that's what you're craving, look on. It IS a story about the tangled webs people weave. Three rotating protagonists each get involved in complicated misadventures, none overlapping until the very end - and then barely. I was never sure, however, if the author wanted to portray the tangled tales as comedies of errors or more serious stories of how one decision can spiral out of control. The abrupt endings left me wanting more closure.

The novel's sense of place in a small industrial town in rural Pennsylvania is the best part of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

Small Town Sins by by Ken Jaworowski

In Locksburg, Pennsylvania, a run down former coal and steel town, we meet 3 individuals whose lives are about to change. Nathan; a volunteer fireman who saves a man’s life but also comes across piles of cash he decides to steal from a burning building. Callie, a nurse who wants to fulfil the last wish of a young girl who doesn’t have much time left even if it might mean her losing her job. Andy, a recovering addict who is mourning his wife and child while hunting down a serial predator.

I’m shocked that this is Jaworowski’s debut novel! I was immediately emotionally captivated by this book. While following the three main narratives, the reader doesn’t get lost or confused. These realistic characters were portrayed with raw, authentic and captivating personalities. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have!

Publish Date – August 1 2023

This book sucked me in right from the beginning. I believe I finished it in less than 24 hours, I could not put it down. It tells the story of three people who live in the same small dead end town in Pennsylvania. Their stories all involve making choices and how those choices don't always lead to a happily ever after.


While I really loved this book, I wish there was more.

Side note: I live in a small PA town and it was cool and weird to see local places mentioned in this book.


Thank to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

*Many thanks to Henry Holt Books and Netgalley for my gifted ARC for an honest review. Publication date 8/1/23*

One tiny decision you make can totally change the course of your whole future!

Told through 3 very different POV'S. Nathan - A volunteer fireman who saves a man from a fire but also sees a trash bag full of cash. What would you do?
Callie - A nurse who is taking care of a young patient with cancer and her last dying wish is to see the beach, but her crazy parents won't take her. What would you do?
Andy - A heroin attict who wants to kill himself, but finds a briefcase with some very disturbing pictures inside, that could hurt a lot of people. What would you do?

This was a very heartfelt but sad book. You can't help but love all the characters and root for them along the way. All 3 main characters live in the small town of Locksburg, Pennsylvania but, their stories very loosely intertwine, so it was kind of like reading 3 different stories. The ending was great, but I do wish there was an epilogue. The writing was perfect for a debut, a small amount of stuff that happened was a little unbelievable, but all in all this was a really good book. I will definitely be reading Jaworowski's next book!

This story was so easy to connect with as the characters are sharing their griefs with readers. Just because Lockesburg is no longer a bustling town, doesn’t mean there aren’t things going on.

Immediately upon starting this I was engrossed by the characters, instantly forming attachments to them all. They all go through so much simultaneously, breaking my heart in the process.

This was insanely good and incredibly addictive. This debut demonstrates all the toils of living in a rundown small town where no choices are good choices.

Small Town Sins tells the story of three people and the lives they touch. Each person is on their own journey, struggling to make it through, while wanting to do right or at least catch a break. There are few ups and many downs, and I couldn’t look away.

This electrifying book sucked me in from the very first page and still refuses to let go. It’s one that will stick with me for years!

Set in Locksburg Pennsylvania, this novel follows three perspectives. Nathan is a volunteer firefighter who has just discovered a large amount of money, and then gets deeper and deeper into lies trying to cover it up. Andy has just suffered an incredible personal tragedy, all while being in recovery for a heroin addiction. And Callie is a nurse at a hospital trying her best to take care of a young girl that seems to be at the end of her life.

I felt very underwhelmed by this story. It's one of my major pet peeves for books to be wrongly categorized as thrillers and mysteries. This is not a thriller, there is barely a mystery. And another major pet peeve is following disconnected stories that just barely combine into a whole. So I was not super happy, although the writing and characterizations were enough to give it 3 stars.

This just wasn't for me. If you're not bothered by the things I mentioned, you might enjoy it more.

Thank you Henry Holt & Company for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Small Town Sins is a rather dark thriller with an emotional touch. It is basically three stories, loosely tied together, narrated by three main characters. Each of the characters has a secret they are trying to hide. Along their journeys, they uncover a deeper meaning of life. This book is an easy read, kept my attention as the author described the action in a way that painted a picture of what was happening from the very beginning. I didn’t want this book to end and when it did I still wanted more! Thank you NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.