I usually love everything Kiersten Modglin writes because her twists are so unexpected and leave me reeling. This one was different and I hope it doesn’t become the norm. This one felt predictable and done before. The story didn’t draw me in, didn’t make me want to read well into the night as I usually do. I knew what was happening from the beginning. Just not up to the quality I expect from this author.

💭Thoughts:
This is a quick, easy read. The premise of the story was interesting and it grabbed my attention right away, but as it continued I started to lose interest. I didn’t like any of the characters. I found it hard to enjoy the book when all of the characters were underdeveloped and one dimensional. I don’t think the narration helped either. The narrator didn’t bring the characters to life for me. There were some unexpected twists that I didn’t see coming, but they weren’t enough to help my overall opinion of this book.

Thank you @netgalley, @dreamscape_media, and the author an advanced copy to listen to and review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Great writing and great job by the narrator. This one left me wondering throughout and guessing what was going on. I never saw that ending coming and it was a bit different but I enjoyed it. It isn’t often you get a really different ending that fits. Austin definitely found herself in a twisted family dynamic.
Narrator was pleasant to listen to and did a good job.

Austyn is engaged to Lowell Bass of the rich Bass family. The bass family sticks by their own. Austyn will find this out when she meets the family for the first time after the deaths of Lowell's parents.

I have read other Modglin books and loved them all. This one didn't grab me as quickly as some of her others; it took me a little longer to get into. It has the crazy drama that I've come to expect from the author and was thoroughly enjoyable. My favorite part is the discovery and reading of the old diary.

I listened to the audio version of the book and liked the narrators ability to portray different characters.

If your looking for a book that is a wild ride then read this one. Or really any of this authors books.

Thanks to netgalley and Dreamscape media for the arc.

Austyn and Lowell have traveled to his family’s estate after learning of his parents’ deaths. Austyn is shocked to see the changes in her fiance after he decides to live in his family home; this is a man she barely recognizes. Added to the already tense atmosphere, is the arrival of Austyn’s friend, Emily. As a rift grows between Emily and Austyn, a bond seems to be forming between Emily and Lowell. But that’s not the worst of it, as shocking secrets about Lowell’s family come to light. A moody and atmospheric domestic thriller

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I love Kiersten Modglin and usually most of her books I read in less than 24 hours. This was an audiobook and I listened to it in one sitting. However I am not sure if that would have been the case had I read it with my eyes. The dialogue was extremely juvenile for what was supposed to be 30 year old adults. The plot was also just so absurd, I usually like Modglins twists but this one was so out in left field it was unsatisfying.

I think there is still some entertainment value to this book and those who are okay with really unrealistic plots and love Modglins writing will enjoy this one, unfortunately though I do love Modglin, this book was a miss for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscapes Media and the author for the #gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review. This is my 5th by the author and my least favorite. I really enjoy that her thrillers are on the shorter side and easy to binge in a sitting. Thw twist and story just wasnt for me. Not sure if there are still issies with the NetGalley platform the audiobook kept skipping.

2.5/5 rounded up.

Austyn and Lowell are a newly engaged couple when they get the news that Lowell’s parents have died unexpectedly. They head to the family mansion to handle the funeral and will.
If you’ve ever read Modglin‘s books, then you know there’s going to be twists and secrets. There’s definitely plenty here.
I enjoyed The Family Secret by Kiersten Modglin, it was hard to put down.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

The Family Secret by Kiersten Modglin is a fast-paced psychological thriller. I am reviewing the audio book advanced copy provided through NetGalley. Release date is April 4, 2023.

This was a quick listen and featured some of Modglin’s classic characters’ types: the lovestruck gullible young woman Austyn, her handsome, too-good-to-be-true, fiancé Lowell, and his wealthy, unlikeable family with a variety of secrets waiting to be exposed by said heroine Austyn.
As in her previous thrillers, there is enough suspense and there are enough plot twists to keep me entertained and listening to the satisfying conclusion.
The narrator is Jennifer Sun Bell and she is nimble enough to give separate voices to the small, but important, cast of central characters.
I recommend this audio book for readers/listeners of fast-paced suspense with a nice touch of romance!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio book to review. This is my unbiased opinion.

Four super secret reveal stars for this new release from Kiersten Modglin. I was puttering around the house today and was able to finish it off in about 24 hours. Partly because I kept wanting to know what would happen next. Austyn is about to marry into the Bass family, but has never spent time with them until the parents suddenly pass away in an 'accident.' She is suddenly immersed in their uber-rich estate and lifestyle. Is this what she wants. Her fiance' Lowell seems like a different person. His siblings seem less than welcoming. Curiouser and curiouser. One trope I love is the introduction of an old diary. The entries provide breaks between Austyn's narration and set us up to speculate about the family secret. KMod gives us a very surprising resolution. There are some strange OTT scenes that I thought were a little out there. So, I am sticking to four stars on this one. One of my favorites from this author!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow.. I could not stop listening. I stayed up late in the night.. morning to finish this book. If I was there I would be scared and I would felt anxious and suspicious about everything and everyone. I felt it as a real pshihological thriller with all elements I need. Really a surprising twist, I was never guessingl. It was tense to read and at the same time so griping. I missed thriĺlers like this. I was also sad about stupid things, how people really think just for them. But fortunatly not all were like that. Some characters were really thinking more. All made some mistake. At the end everything was at the right place. "Blood doesn't make a family, Love does" It started really slow but more you go into the story more secrets come out, from the past an present. Perfectly builded to keep you thinking and guessing.

4.5 stars. In true K Mod fashion, this was a wild ride. It always amazes me how she can pack some much action into her short books. The twists and turns along the way caught me off guard, and this is probably the best by her since the Arrangement series. This makes a great audiobook, clocking in at around 6 hours of listening (though I listened at 2x speed, so it was the perfect daytime binge).

3 stars

This could have been a 4 stars but the ending was not favourite so it lost a star there.

Kiersten Modglin knows how to deliver a good, entertaining, fast reading book. The plot is pretty simple but the endings are always full of unbelievable twists and turns and this book makes no exception.

Austyn Murphy and Lowell Bass get engaged. Leave it to KM to write a book about a billionaire who is being dumped or acts like a puppy around his new love interest :). The sad news is that Lowell's parents die in an unexpected accident. So they have to go to Lowell's family home/estate and meet the rest of the siblings.

And this is where the plot thickens and all kind of secrets are starting to be revealed and come to light.

This is a fun book to read. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to Kiersten Modglin next novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this great book!

The Family Secret✨
By Kiersten Modglin🍃

Review📖

This was my first book by the author and it was a good one! Rich people having problems is one of my favorite things to read about. 🤣 A domestic mystery that will keep you guessing. I had actually no idea what the secrets were until the very end when they revealed them! Lots of twists to keep you intrigued throughout the book. A chaotic family with a crazy history that you will never see coming. Loved the characters and loved that you didn’t know who to trust. Looking forward to reading another by the author!

Twisty🌀
Suspicious death👀
Secrets 🤫
Lies🖤
Mystery❓

4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Austyn knows that her fiancée’s family money comes with strings…. but she has no idea it also comes with skeletons.

I could not put this book down, it was nearly a straight-through listen for me while I went about my daily tasks. I had to know what happened. Some of it pushed the believability boundaries, but money does crazy things to people and the Bass family is no exception.

Great plot, great pace, great narration, everything you could want in a book!

This was a fast, twist filled read which kept me on my toes as one secret after another begins to be revealed. This book was high on shocks and drama which Kiersten Modglin is known for. Secrets are the name of the game in this book, hence the title!

Austyn Murphy and Lowell Bass have gotten engaged after years of being together. They are happy in love and planning their future when Lowell receives word that his parents are both dead. He and Austyn head to the Bass estate, his family home. As Lowell and his siblings begin to put their family's affairs in order, Lowell suggests that he would like to stay on at the home. Adding to that shock, Ausyn's friend, Emily shows up needing a place to stay.

Just when you think you know someone, they throw you for a loop! There was quite the loop thrown in this book and as one reveal after another comes into play, the drama, tension, and suspense mounts.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. This proved to be a quick and entertaining read. There are some OTT moments which kept things fun and the pace moving. I enjoy Kiersten Modglin's books. They are pure escapism reading and drama filled. Of course, I did some eye rolling at some of the scenes that reminded of late night soap antics. If you don't mind an eye roll or two and want to be entertained, this book just might be for you!

3/3.5 stars

I have read all of Modglin’s book, and it’s either a hit or miss for me. Moglin’s strength is the fast pace that never lets up, making you want to continue with just one more chapter.

Plot (excerpt from the Amazon description)

When freshly engaged Austyn Murphy and Lowell Bass receive the news that Lowell’s parents have died unexpectedly, they set out for the historic Bass estate to handle their affairs and lay the former heads of the family to rest.


Late one night, Austyn overhears a whispered conversation, revealing she hasn’t been given the full truth about the world she’s marrying into. And when Emily, an old friend, calls with devastating news of her own, Lowell and Austyn invite her to join them for a visit at the estate.


Trapped inside the Bass estate under the ever-watchful eye of the staff and her soon-to-be family, Austyn makes another chilling discovery—something so terrible it changes everything.

With Modglin’s book you know you’re embarking on a trip where secrets will be revealed, and you itch to know what it will be. Austyn, our heroine, discovers a diary and you are introduced to Celine. We know something terrible has happened, but not exactly what. Modglin reveals just enough to keep you invested.

I would have loved to get to know some of the characters better, but it is a fast read so I wasn’t too bothered by it. When everything was revealed it was a bit hard to keep the facts in order for me. I was somewhat confused by some of the family connections.

Overall an enjoyable read!

Thanks for the audiobook version from netgalley and dreamscapes media

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest. I can see what she has a growing cult following. Lots of entertainment value if that's what you're looking for.

If you’ve read Kiersten Modglin then you know she’s one of the best at writing thriller/mysteries that include domestic situations. If you haven’t read Kiersten Modglin you are truly missing out!!! Her books feature excellent descriptions of scenes and allow you to visualize & place yourself in the setting.

Austyn Murphy is newly engaged to Lowell Bass. Lowell returns home along with Austyn to the Bass estate also known as “The Pond” for the funeral of both his parents. Lowell’s parents died unexpectedly in an accident or is it really an accident. Shortly after arriving at The pond Austyn finds a old journal and begins to think something is off with this family! Austyn sets out to uncover the family secrets written in this journal. One thing is evident the Bass family will protect their family at all costs!!!

Modglin filled this novel with several twists. While reading just when I thought I had it all figured out out came another twist.

Thanks Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced audio recording.

4.25 stars

The Family Secret tells the story of Austyn and Lowell, a young, newly-engaged couple on the cusp of starting their married lives together. Austyn owns a bakery in Nashville and her fiancé is an old money heir who works in his family business. When Lowell’s parents die unexpectedly, the couple must return to Lowell’s family home to settle his parents’ affairs and manage the estate. Austyn figures out quickly that things are not as they seem and dark, long-hidden secrets are lurking everywhere.

This was such a fun ride on audio. The narrator did a great job of manifesting a sense of tension from the opening chapter. The ending was somewhat predictable but it was twisty and intense enough that I didn’t really mind. This would be a great slump-buster for anyone in a reading rut and would be perfect binge-able listen during a car ride.

Thank you to the author, Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to advance listen to this book in exchange for and honest review.