3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Overall this book was ok. It starts out in present day with Beatrice and her husband Josh. When a child is abducted and clues are let behind, but only Beatrice knows what it mean. Has her past finally caught up to her? Secrets are revealed and it seems that everyone is not who you think they really are. The ending was kind of abrupt for me, a little more explanation and maybe a time jump into the future would have been nice. Would Beatrice's past come to light? Would Blume spill the beans in the end? Would Rebelo have somehow put the pieces together?

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Liv Andersson for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Leave the Lights On in stores October 17, 2023

I really struggled with this one, it was hard to get into and very confusing. The time skips took a long time to understand and get a handle on who was who and I couldn't enjoy it because I didn't have a clue what was happening and when I did the characters were too unrealistic to even enjoy.

Thank you Liv Andersson, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5-3/5: I really struggled to get into this book and it took me quite a few days to get through. I pushed through solely because it was an ARC and I wanted to provide an honest review. The time jumps were very confusing and I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters and who was who between timelines.

I did enjoy the last 25% of the book when it finally hooked me, but the ending was anticlimactic for me. I definitely wouldn’t pick this one up to read a second time, but hopefully the finished copy has some identifying information at the beginning of each chapter to help the reader keep up.

This book was really different from anything I have read recently and I was very captivated throughout the entirety. We are reading present time where some children start to go missing in a nice town and the past of the lead character that also had some twists and turns. Ultimately we see how the past and present come together at the end and it’s not what I expected. I didn’t know what was going to happen until the very end and I love books when I can’t predict an ending. The writing was detailed and there was some really cool history about the location that was also nice to read. I am giving this book 4 stars because I really liked it but still had some questions at the end. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Are you ever in the mood to just not think much while reading. Let the story lead, while at the same time being wonderfully entertained? Then this pageturner is my recommendation for you. I got this thriller as an ARC, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I also like to go blind into books a lot of the times (or at least as blind as I can manage while, while still suspecting I might like the book based on some general information). So I dove into this with an open mind.
Right from the start I really enjoyed the language used. You can really tell that Liv Andersson knows what she is doing. Whilst still being clear and understandable, the choice of words and syntax provided a beautiful and intriguing picture of the Upper East Coast of the USA and the life and psyche of our main character.

The characters in itself where believable, whilst still being interesting enough for a thriller novel. Writing thriller characters and plot realistically is one of the hardest things to do in my opinion, but Andersson succeded. Our main character has its definite flaws, at the same time I coudn’t do anything else than root for her and her story.

The plot sucked me right in as well. The novel is set at the beautiful upper east coast of the USA. The short chapters made for an entertaining reading experience, that I could fit into every waiting time I had at bus stations, waiting rooms etc. Only problem: It was so captivating, that I didn’t want to stop, so i do not recommend reading this, when you don’t have the time to keep going 😂 There are some twists and turns in this novel, but they all were done well and convincing. And whilst it kept me guessing and thinking (always a good sign in a thriller or mystery), it was never predictable in the end.

Liv Andersson is a former therapist (hello former colleague!) and you can tell that she uses her experience in her writing. The suspense, the plot, the characters – everything benefits from it. Therefore I think I found a new favourite thriller author and I will be gladly read more from her in the future (you can subscribe if you don’t want to miss that):

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 solid stars from me 🙂

This is for you if:

you are in a reading slump and want something that sucks you in an ignites that love for reading again
you watch out for believability in plot, characters and novel construction
you love thrillers with a psychological component

Trigger Warning: Physical violence, psychic manipulation

enjoyed reading this well written book but I didn’t think it was a great read.

In the town of Cape Morgan, Maine, Beatrice and Josh are a wealthy power couple. Beatrice seems to have it all. Beatrice and Josh have a magnificent home. Beatrice plans to develop an artist’s retreat from an old disused asylum. There are secrets in her past and present that will destroy the life she has carefully built.

Josh also has secrets. His secret 2 year old son is abducted.

The Maine coastline is beautifully described. Beatrice is a procrastinator. We hear a lot of Beatrice’s inner thoughts. The story moves between her past and present quite a bit. The book tends to drag a bit in the middle. There’s a PI in the story who seems pretty hopeless at his role. It was easy to get in the early stages of the book as to “who did it!”

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this so much! This book was absolutely unputdownable. I read this in one sitting. I had to finish it and find out what happens. This is a book you have to read!
I just reviewed Leave the Lights On by Liv Andersson. #LeavetheLightsOn #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

For a spot-on review, see the review from GirlWithThePinkSkiMask
There's not much else I can say, but this book was convoluted, Beatrice was dumber than a bag of rocks, and the ending was horrible. WTF??

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.

<b> Writing: 4/5 | Plot: LMFAAOOOOOOO/5 | Ending: oh ok?/5 </b>

<b> SYNOPSIS </b>

A missing boy. A husband with another family. A wife with a couple skeletons in her closet. A bunch of ?????

<b> MY OPINION </b>

Anddddd another author bites the dust. Similar to [book:Little Red House|60599818], the writing ain't BAD but it's clear the plot is written to be picked up as an HBO series, because the math did not mathulate. Even Albert Einstein couldn't figure out how any of Beatrice's behaviour added up.

I picked this up because I was intrigued by the concept of Beatrice knowing that her husband was dipping his dong in author ketchup cups and how that would play out when his son went missing... if this is what entices you as well, forget it. The book has little to do with Beatrice's wildin ass husband and missing love child and more to do with Beatrice being a stage 5 dumbass. Unfortunately, I can't say much more without spoilies soooo....

<b> SPOILERS ALERT... SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM </b>





Ight so Beatrice is like Shay in [book:The Last Housewife|59349100] in regards to being indoctrined into some weird ass cult in about 15 seconds. Beatrice is kidnapped by the father of the boy that she was assigned to as a social worker and at first she's like hey this is not cool, and then the dad is like ok but I'm actually a scientist that the gov is tryna kill because I'm too smart for these fools... and if you need proof here's my notebooks. Beatrice reads them and then suddenly she's okay with being kidnapped and not only that but she's in LOVE with her kidnapper???? HUH??? So you read his lil diary and was like, yep checks out, and it totally makes sense as to why he had to hold me captive! HUH????

The author completely skipped the steps where Beatrice is mentally broken down by this paranoid schizophrenic loser and succumbs to being held captive. One day she's not chill with it, and the next day she's going full Martha Stewart in the kitchen for the family. Also, she's given a car to buss around town but never thinks of driving to the police station... oh and I guess no one gives af about her disappearance because the police stop by one time to question the family (it was the last place she was seen) and then... that's it? She even goes out to a whole ass job interview and no one blinks an eyes. Ok then.

In the present, Beatrice is obvi being hunted down by someone who knows her sordid past. At one point, she's on this secluded island where she's renovating some janky ass former asylum, and she finds the exact outfit she wore to her job interview (where she unknowingly dropped off a bomb), in full display. So what does miss smarty pants do? Get off the island? Call the police? Nope. She runs into the rain, stops, and screams at full volume while "the rain washes away my tears". Literal Darwinism. The same shit happens again and again on this secluded island to the point where you're like, hoe if you die, I really don't care, you kinda deserve it.

Ok ad somewhere along the way Beatrice hires a PI who has the skills of Nobu tryna get to his bed in the dark (good luck, buddy). In fact, Beatrice has to tell this guy "did you try searching for him with his maiden name?" and he dead ass says "you think that'll help?" JFC did this man have a lobotomy or something? Later, Beatrice has to once again tell mans how to do his job to find Luke, who happens to just be a short trip away, living his best life as a gay carpenter. Because of course he is. Beatrice, I sincerely hope you asked for a refund, because this PI couldn't detect his left foot from his right.

Then we get to the end which is either 1) the world's most abrupt cliffhanger or 2) setting this up to be a series. Please not #2. We don't need any more of Beatrice's stupid ass antics. Again, nothing made sense during this scene. So homegirl has been bopping about tryna psychologically torture you, setting off bombs, and snatching innocent children but when you finally find her... she's just chillin and is like hey wanna go inside to this isolated home and talk? And Beatrice is like, le duh, I love walking into the lion's den. And to top it all off, you help homegirl ESCAPE on a boat to Canada with you??? FOR WHAT??????????????





<b> SPOILERS DONE </b>




Liv, you can actually write, but your plots are messier than I was on my 21st birthday after 10 $1 shots. Get yourself a developmental editor and sort this shit out because you're wasting your talents on this nonsensical faffing about ass plot. A big disappointment.

<b> PROS AND CONS </b>

Pros: 256 pages only, the prose is actually good

Cons: the plot made absolutely no sense, Beatrice is the world's dumbest "protagonist", the ending was ??????

The storyline was interesting as well as the characters. Thank you to Liv Andersson, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc of this book.

Thank you to Liv Andersson, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ACR of Leave the Lights On. As a young girl, Beatrice was duped into committing a heinous crime. One that would follow her throughout her entire life, leaving her constantly looking over her shoulder, She has finally let her guard down and she is living a privileged life with her husband, Josh, on the coast of the state of Maine. While Josh doesn't know about Beatrice's secrets, he is also keeping secrets of his own. Not only does Josh have a girlfriend, but they also have a young child together.

When Josh's child is kidnapped, Beatrice can't help but wonder if her past has caught up with her. Predictably, Beatrice becomes the prime suspect just for being the most likely individual who would want to hurt Josh, his girlfriend and their love child. Beatrice is faced with trying to identify the real kidnapper, determining if they are people from her past, while keeping her secret to remain free of prison.

While I enjoyed the book, I found parts of it a bit slow. I do feel that Andersson did a good job of introducing who the protagonist was. While I had a feeling of who they were, or that they had a role in the current events happening in Beatrice's life, I didn't figure out how they fit in until it was revealed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes intrigue.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

"Leave the Lights On" is an enjoyable and atmospheric read. The setting of Cape Morgan creates a nice foil for the darker themes of secrets and consequences. I would recommend this for readers of domestic suspense. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

How can I be diplomatic and not totally disparaging with my review? It will be difficult but I will try. This book is one of the worst I have ever read. Maybe not so diplomatic? The characters are horrible, dysfunctional people. Emma (Beatrice) is beyond imbecilic. Convoluted story. The only reason I finished it is because I agreed to read it and review it. I try to be responsible when accepting ARCs. Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #Netgalkley, #CrookedLaneBooks, #LeaveTheLightsOn.

Beatrice Wicker seems to have the perfect life. She is married to a wealthy architect and the couple live in beautiful Cape Morgan, Maine. Her work spearheading the development of a former insane asylum into an artists’ retreat is going well and according to plan. But Beatrice and her husband both have secrets… she is aware of his affair with a younger woman and it is only when his child from the affair disappears that everything begins to unravel. Because, Beatrice isn’t really who she says she is and somehow the kidnapping seems to be linked to her past. This was an entertaining read that had a major twist that I did not see coming. The writing dragged a little, but over all I enjoyed this novel. This was a 3.5 star read for me.

Leave the Lights On by Liv Anderson is a suspenseful novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. The story follows Beatrice Wicker, a woman living in Cape Morgan, Maine, with her architect husband, Josh. Although their life seems idyllic, with a luxurious home on the sea coast and joint bank accounts, secrets lurk beneath the surface.

As Beatrice uncovers Josh's double life, she is forced to confront her own secrets and the consequences of keeping them hidden. When a child is abducted and Josh's other son is the victim, Beatrice must choose between revealing the truth and protecting her perfect life.

The author does an excellent job of building tension throughout the story and revealing information at just the right pace to keep the reader engaged. The characters are complex, and their motivations are revealed slowly, adding depth to the narrative. The setting of Cape Morgan is vividly described, and the contrast between its beauty and the darkness that lies beneath is striking.

Overall, Leave the Lights On is a gripping and suspenseful novel that explores the consequences of secrets and the lengths to which people will go to protect their idyllic lives. Fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy this book, and it will keep readers guessing until the very end.

This is one of my favourite books that I've ever read. Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books for access to the ebook for an honest review!

I was initially intrigued by the description of this book, as I love a good mystery. However, I was sceptical that it might differ from some of the other books and TV shows that I have seen before - typical suburban family turn out to have a secret. However, the plot and characters were so refreshing, it feels like something completely new.

The characters were so well-rounded and I liked those I should like and got angry with others I should feel angry with.

The story also shows how we can be naïve to the actions and intentions of others and can stand as an example for those likely to fall into traps like our main character Beatrice.

I would recommend this book to anyone as it can apply to fans of many different genres, however this book has drama, mystery and a bit of psychological thriller.

Fantastic thriller that kept me guessing! First of all, I loved the setting for this story. There were some gasp-worthy secrets that twisted this tale. I mean, do we ever truly know the people in our daily lives? Heck no! Some great red herrings in this mystery.

Leave the lights centres around a couple whose relationship is built on lies.
One has a secret family, one is not who they say they are.
Good for fans of books with a twist.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. It was just a whole big jumbled mess. I almost DNF half way through but wanted to see how things tied together.