Shocking plot twist that I wasn’t expecting. The plot dragged a little. I didn’t understand the connection between Wyatt’s constant nose bleed and loss of teeth. I kept waiting for a connection as to why that was happening. I was happy with the ending. Justice for Wyatt!

This a case of terrible characters that were terrible people but also terribly uninteresting. Was a slog to get through and the “twists”…. good lord I guessed in the first 20% and this time it wasn’t a guess everything and see what sticks kind of guess. lol.
basically ten years ago Phoebe Dean was killed in a car crash, her brother was driving and her friend was in the back seat. She might not have died if they hadn’t wait to call the police for 27 minutes.
The cover sucked me in. And the story was a bit of a disappointment…

Thanks to NetGalley and Posioned Pen Press for an eARC.

I really wanted to like this, but I have mixed feelings. It starts as a slow build character study that follows multiple people 10 years after an accident. I could handle it being on the slow side and being more of an exploration of grief, but then it tries to be a thriller too, and picks up the pace considerably at the end. And it didn’t all work for me.

The high school drama was exhausting, and seeing that no one really changed or grew up in the ten years following the accident was sad. I predicted the big twist pretty early on, but somehow it still doesn’t completely make sense to me. And what was with the weird co dependent relationship between siblings Grant and Phoebe? I’ve watched GOT too many times to ever be okay with the way they acted with each other.

I think if this tried to focus more on the characters and their grief, and less about the mystery, this would’ve worked for me. All of the characters had a lot of issues, and none of them seemed to be actively trying to fix them.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting story about a small town and it's secrets regarding the death of one of it's own.

10 years ago, young Phoebe died in a car accident while her brother Grant was driving. It was 27 minutes after the crash that Grant called for help, why the wait? A memorial is being planned for the 10 year anniversary and everyone involved is becoming more and more unsettled. What happened at the party before the crash, why di d Wyatt disappear, what does Becca know? told in present and past timelines, the story slowly unfolds to a satisfying conclusion.

Phoebe Dean died in a car accident 10 years ago, on the night of a high school party. Grant, Phoebe's brother, and his friend Becca, were also in the car and survived. Becca's memory is vague about that night due to her injuries, so she can't seem to remember why it took Grant 27 minutes to call for help.

Starting off slow, but with plenty twists and turns, this book still didn't do it for me. Unfortunately I found the characters unlikeable and couldn't get into the story like I normally would. Finding out the events of that night should keep you hooked, and you never know, this book may be your new favourite.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Please send out my thank you to the publisher, I could not stress enough how thankful I was with your approval.

I would like to start by saying that I really did not enjoy this book, as much I would want to keep on going, I DNF this book at 30%. I apologize.

West Wilmer lost one of its angels ten years ago. One fateful night, teenager Phoebe Dean left a party never to be seen again alive. Suffocating under their grief and regret, her family has fractured and only continued living in theory. Her brother, Grant, in particular, has never been the same since he stood beside his sister’s broken body on the bridge all those years ago. A horrendous car crash that claimed her young life, what ifs run through his mind every hour of every day. After all, he’d been the one driving.

What the town wants to know, however, is why it took Grant a shocking twenty-seven minutes to call for help that tragic rainy night. Ever since, curious rumors and mean-spirited gossip have been whispered into ears and repeated by drunks. Was there more to the story than what Grant said occurred? It’s possible, of course, given that the only reason there was no real investigation was because of Becca. In the wrong place at the wrong time, she was in the backseat of the truck when it happened.

Little does anyone know, however, but someone else who knows what really happened is finally back in town. And the memorial service planned for the tenth anniversary of Phoebe’s death will be the perfect opportunity to settle the score. With a town full of questions and plenty of sorrow, delusion, and remorse swirling in the air, the four people at the center of the event come together to finally hash out the truth. Will the past at long last be set free? Or can those desperate to protect their lies manage to maintain their secretive web?

I am quite literally stunned into silence after finishing Twenty-Seven Minutes. A poignant tale of reverberating loss, deep grief, and unending regret, it also rang throughout with heaps of foreboding. At the same time, however, this was no psychological thriller. Despite a truly shocking twist at the end, this book was instead a superbly drawn drama. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, I wish I’d known ahead of time so that I could’ve adjusted my expectations.

From the get-go, the characters were immaculately described with *chef’s kiss* prose as they led the plot in their search for the truth. Devastated by the events of one night a decade ago, the multiple distinct voices demonstrated personas that showed the various ways a character can be unreliable. Believe me when I say, I didn’t know who to believe and what facts to trust. All of which created a storyline filled to the brim with emotion.

Speaking of that plot, told via multiple POVs in dual timelines, it drew a startlingly clear picture of what could’ve happened that heartbreaking night while also leading me by the nose with multiple red herrings. Just the same, I do have to admit that I figured out the big, huge, whopping twist well ahead of the reveal. After all, the scattered clues provided just enough of a hint that I was able to put the puzzle pieces together.

At the same time, this was most definitely not a thriller or even a very intense novel of suspense. The biggest strengths were down to the well-drawn grief and sorrow expressed within these stunning pages. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of dread alongside a bit of impending doom, but even put together the two didn’t add up to a very strong whatdunnit in the end. No, this was instead a beautiful trip into dramatic fiction that held a literary edge.

All in all, this raw exploration of what trauma and secrets can do to a person created a bewitching picture of suffocating sadness. Complete with fully fleshed out individuals who had thick backstories including a town rife with gossip so real that it felt like a character itself, I was utterly captivated. Still, don’t go into this one looking for a thriller, as no matter how hard you search, it’s simply not there. Rating of 4 stars.

Ultimately this book just didn’t really work for me. It was a bit anticlimactic, and I didn’t feel the characters were fully fleshed out. Maybe skip this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I received this ebook as an ARC thanks to NetGally. I was interested in this after reading the synopsis, and the cover caught my attention. I attempted to read it on and off and I just struggled to continue reading. I DNF’d this book after the first few chapters.

I'm a fan of thriller and suspense fiction. I love a great who-done-it and love a surprising ending. Although I liked this debut from Ashley Tate, I did find it a little hard to get into the story. It starts by recounting the tragic story of the town's bright star, Phoebe Dean, perishing in a car accident. The timeline then jumps back and forth between present and 10 years ago, when the accident occurred, and you begin to learn that there is always more to the story, and maybe a simple accident wasn't so simple. I don't usually have trouble skipping between persons and/or timelines, but sometimes I felt this was difficult to follow. I felt that it was a good debut and would be interested to read more from Ashley Tate. Thanks so much to Ashley Tate, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc!

hank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate will be released on January 30th, 2024.


I had such high hopes for this book and I could not wait to start it when I was finally approved. This story was so long and drawn out and it felt like the plot went in circles the entire time. The characters were dull and that ending? I hate rating books low, but this one was just….it wasn’t the book I was hoping for it to be.

I won’t lie it took my a little bit to get into the story but overall I had a great time reading it.

I really wanted to like this book...I really did. It was very slow to start and felt repetivive but I kept going thinking that the twists at the end woud be worth it. And while I did enjoy the ending it just couldn't make up for everything else.

"Twenty-Seven Minutes: A Novel" by Ashley Tate is a captivating exploration of time, relationships, and the impact of life-altering decisions. The book stands out for its unique narrative structure and thought-provoking examination of the consequences of a single, pivotal moment.

One commendable aspect of the novel is Ashley Tate's skillful handling of the concept of time. The use of twenty-seven minutes as a central theme adds a layer of intrigue, creating a sense of urgency and anticipation throughout the story. The author weaves together timelines and perspectives, offering readers a multi-faceted view of the characters and their interconnected lives.

Tate's writing style is evocative and immersive, drawing readers into the emotional depth of the characters and their experiences. The novel's structure, with its shifting timelines and perspectives, adds a dynamic quality, keeping the narrative engaging. The exploration of relationships and the ripple effects of decisions is both poignant and thought-provoking.

However, some readers may find the non-linear structure challenging to follow, and it might require careful attention to piece together the timeline of events. While the complexity adds depth to the storytelling, a more straightforward narrative could potentially make the novel more accessible to a broader audience.

In conclusion, "Twenty-Seven Minutes" is a compelling novel that delves into the intricacies of time and human connections. Ashley Tate's innovative narrative approach and rich character development make the book a thought-provoking read for those seeking a unique exploration of life-altering moments. While the non-linear structure may pose a challenge for some readers, the novel's thematic depth and emotional resonance contribute to its overall impact as a compelling literary work.

This book starts off with Pheobe Dean dying in the road after a car accident. There are suspicious events surrounding the accident and death which have you questioning what really happened. It switches than to 10 years later and follows several people from town and how their lives have been impacted by her death. Throughout the book you get flashbacks from that night in time chunks helping you to uncover exactly what happened. Pretty early in the book I had the what, where, and why figured out. The who was throwing me though. My initial instinct on this turned out to be correct in the end, it was just a matter of how to piece it together. Although I enjoyed the story of the book, I didn’t like how certain characters were portrayed in the book. I won’t say more than that as to not spoil it if you plan to read it. But that aspect was a bit of a let down for me personally.

You will really want to dig deep into this one and find out why you only have 27 minutes. This was a great book that you will not want to put down! Highly recommend

This book was enjoyable, and it really pulled me in from the beginning: the middle was kind of eh, too much fluff that we just didn’t need. I didn’t like the characters at all, but that happens! Overall a decent read.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. None of the narrators are reliable, which makes me wondering if I should even trust the ending.

Twenty-Seven Minutes was a book that held small-town secrets. Ten years ago, Phoebe Dean was killed in a horrific car accident and her brother Grant was driving. There has been a lot of mystery surrounding the accident. The town has been suspended in grief and unanswered questions about that night.

The story is told in alternating voices of those impacted by the accident. There were also flashbacks of the night the accident happened. I was invested in discovering the real story but this book dragged on and on. The end of the story was anti-climactic for me. There was a letdown after so much build-up. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Initially this book pulled me in. The first few chapters really had me wanting to know what happened and how each POV was involved. Then the pace began to slow and not one of the four main characters was enjoyable. I found them all to be one dimensional, unrelatable and annoying at times. The premise of the story was great and the writing was good and easy to follow but it just wasn’t for me. The ending was a surprise I didn’t expect but the delivery felt rushed and left me with unanswered questions.
Overall, it was not a bad book, it was just lacking depth and character development for me. The author did well expressing how different people handle grief but I wish I could’ve liked at least one character!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of Twenty Seven Minutes.