This book was ok but I feel like it could have been better. Nothing too interesting happened until over halfway though. I don’t know what it was but I found myself to not be a fan of Becca for most of the book. The ending was completely unexpected and I wish it would have included more of what happened after June made that call.

#twentysevenminutes grabbed my attention right away but then quickly turned into a slow burn. The story is told following dual timelines and the multiple character point of views, which I like. However, I did find myself struggling to follow the multiple characters in the first half of the book. The story finished strong with a good plot twist which I really enjoyed. I look forward to seeing more from Ashley Tate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my voluntary and honest review.

Twenty-Seven Minutes starts out strong and hooks you in right away as young Phoebe lies there dying after a car accident. Flash forward to 10 years later the whole town still remembers her and her tragic death and the mystery of why no one called for help for 27 minutes remains. Three people are still impacted by the events that happened that night. Grant is Phoebe’s older brother who was driving the car that night. Becca, who was riding home with Grant and Phoebe that night. Was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time, or is there more to her relationship with Grant? June is Wyatt’s younger sister. And now you might be wondering who the heck is Wyatt? Wyatt also mysteriously went missing that night, but the town seems to have forgotten about him. Who was responsible for Phoeboe’s death? Why did they wait 27 minutes to call for help? Who is Wyatt and where did he go?
I really enjoyed how Ashley Tate chose to write this book from the perspective of each of the three people whose lives were changed drastically by that night. At the beginning it is a little confusing trying to figure out who is who and how their stories all intertwine. As time goes on, there were points where it felt like Tate was trying a little too hard to build suspense at the end of each chapter rather than letting it flow naturally. While reading, I did want to keep going to find out what really happened that night. However, I began getting annoyed with the characters, Grant and Becca in particular. Grant continued to be a selfish jerk. Becca, a pathetic, desperate girl needs to wake up and see Grant for who he really is. Overall this was a good book and kept me interested, however I was able to predict the twist at the end.

Wow, what a ride this was. I'd give this a 4.5!
I finished this book in one sitting and I really was not expecting it to go the way that it did. This was marketed as a thriller/suspense and while that is present in the book, I think I enjoyed it more because I approached it as a character study type of novel. What got me intrigued into reading this was the premise and the timeline of everything happening in the span of 3 days but what kept me reading was getting inside the heads of the various people in the town.

Our main characters are siblings Phoebe and Grant, siblings June and Wyatt, and Becca with various other townspeople included throughout.

What I liked:
- every character feeling like a real person
- it kind of gave me "Mare of Easttown" vibes with the small town setting where everyone knows each other and families being involved
- the realistic portrayal of spiraling in the book and how each character reaches their breaking point
- June's development

What I didn't click with:
- sometimes, the characters used "bloody" as a curse word the way they do in the UK but I'm pretty positive the show is set in America because of the mentions of football and jerseys (or maybe they're talking about futbol and i missed that) *but then why is a certain character using alternative means of bulking up if it's soccer? They also say mom instead of mum It was only once or twice but that threw me off
- Becca was an interesting pov. tbh I didn't hate her because she clearly had issues that I could absolutely tell from the very first chapter we got from her pov (ten years Becca?? and nothing seemed off until now? But then I can't blame her because she was manipulated)

It seemed odd to me that every single character in the book that was in high school ended up staying in the same town and all marrying each other but I'm not from a small town nor do I live in one so I won't linger on that

The ultimate reasoning for everything happening made sense but also didn't make sense and I think that was on purpose due to the state of mind the character was in. But I liked that it didn't absolve them of anything and we really got to see that even though they were suffering, it was ultimately because of the choices they continued to make. I also enjoyed that one of the other victims of that night Phoebe died got the acknowledgment that their life was taken from them.

Overall, approaching it as a character study with a thriller/suspense backbone made me really enjoy the book and I finished it in one sitting because I was so invested in the characters and was rooting for a few of them. Also, Phoebe deserved so much more.

A great debut novel from a fresh voice of suspense! Rich, complex, broken characters drive a tale full of secrets, lies and regrets. I was hooked from the first chapter. This reads somewhat YA, but in the best way. It’s like the characters are frozen in time to the night of the accident that happened when they were in high school. This is a quick read and although I guessed the twist prior to the reveal, the ending was so satisfying. I can’t wait to read more from Ashley Tate!

I was so excited to be approved for this book because the synopsis looked like it was going to be a great book,With the Mystery surrounding how Phoebe was killed 10 years ago and why it took Grant 27 minutes to call for an ambulance I was intrigued how this would play out in the book. It was a lot of switching between characters that seemed to be written in a strange way. The jumping around felt disjointed and clunky to me. Because of the the book didn’t flow and I found it hard to care about the characters.
The fact that the reason it took Grant 27 minutes to call for help isn’t revealed until the last chapter and even that was lackluster.. It was sadly very unsatisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Though this was a super fast paced thriller that kept me reading, the plot just wasn’t for me. The brother/sister relationship in the story was very odd, but the reason was never really explained? There was a twist that got me toward the end though!

This was definitely not a typical story I would read. I really did end up enjoying it though. This was a really emotional read, that circled around a lot of really important and sensitive situations. The characters drive the plot and they were extremely complicated characters. This was a well written story!

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a suspenseful tale of events that happen after the tragic death of Grants sister Phoebe which happened ten years prior. The story follows three characters: Grant, June, and Becca.

The written style of Tates is good. Her style keeps you interested the entire time. She starts the story off with a gruesome hook that draws you in right away. It’s pretty evident who killed phoebe from the start. But it’s an interesting point of view from Grant, June, and Becca ten years after the event.

The twist at the end of the book is what caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting it and I really liked it. Overall I found the book was okay. It seemed drawn out in some parts. I also don’t love multiple POV books. I find the stories slightly hard to follow.

I give this book a 3/5 stars.

I have received an arc of this book by Netgalley. Considering that there are so many POVs usually a reader will get confused but in this book, I wasn’t confused. Every guy in this book sucks which makes it realistic. This book is an amazing thriller that will keep you confused until the very end.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of “Twenty-Seven Minutes” in return for an honest review. This is a familiar, though entertaining story about the past coming back to haunt a group of damaged young adults who share a common tragedy from a decade earlier. This is a slow-burn novel that uses frequent narrative shifts from the time period leading up to the tragedy to present day events. This culminates in painful closure as the truth is finally revealed, with a twist ending that can be predicted by an attentive reader with experience in these types of stories. Three and a half stars, rounded down to three.

At first glance, Twenty Seven Minutes has such an intriguing premise. A mysterious death, small town secrets, unreliable narrators, dual timelines - the ingredients for a fun mystery thriller are all there and I was excited to dive in.

Unfortunately the book delivers very little past an intriguing prologue. None of the characters are relatable or interesting and almost nothing happens for about 90% of the book. By the time you get to the big reveal, it’s just not enough to make the book feel worth while.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty Seven Minutes started off a little slow for my taste and I felt the brother/sister dynamic was a little repetitive and slightly unrealistic. However, the last quarter of the book really picked up the pace and, I have to say, the twist was a good one. This took it from 3 to 4 stars for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance read copy.

The twenty-seven minutes of the title refers to the time that Grant Dean waits to call the police and medical help as his beloved and brilliant sister, Phoebe, lies dying on a bridge after a brutal car accident. Another person, Becca, was also in the car, and she knows all the secrets of this horrible crash. A sister and brother, June and Wyatt are also involved. The book covers three days leading to a memorial for Phoebe 10 years after her death and leads to a community vote about whether or not to demolish the bridge as if this inanimate object is to blame for Phoebe's death and Grant's mental agony . During those 10 years, Becca has been psychologically torturing Grant, and she herself is tortured by what she knows but has to keep to herself.

The relationship between June and the shade of Wyatt is a tale of adamantine and spiritual love between siblings. June, who has been living by herself in the family home, thinks that Wyatt is back home and will take care of her. The shock of the ending which involves June and Wyatt is completely unpredictable. The web of lies and tragedy that affects these five former friends and other townspeople is deep and sad and keeps the reader riveted to the page

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this compelling book.

Small town story full of secrets and rumors with a mind-blowing turn of events.

This novel was a lot of slow burn, world building that pays off towards the end of it. Loads of trauma after a life shattering accident that was felt through the entire town —lingering even 10 years later. Everybody knew Phoebe in this small claustrophobic town. Only one persistent question: Why did it take him those 27 long minutes to call for help?

I felt for all of these characters, as they all lost something even if it hurt them in different ways. Becca and her coping mechanisms and lost memories from the accident. June who’d just lost her mother, and her brother popping up out of nowhere. And then there’s Grant, the puppeteer and mastermind that just slowly became both my favorite and absolutely disliked character so fast.

The ending was absolutely devastating and in my honest opinion, came right out of left field.

Publisher note: I will post on Instagram and promote in January prior to its release.

Was incredibly excited to get picked for this book! Man, was it a good one! Sucks you in right away and doesn't really let go. The grief and pain just bled out through these pages. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with this book.

"Twenty Seven Minutes" is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that immerses readers in the heart of a small town struggling to cope with tragedy. The story revolves around the untimely death of Phoebe, a young girl, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her demise. Tate weaves a complex tapestry of grief, secrets, and human nature that captivates from the very first page.

Set in the claustrophobic town of West Wilmer, the narrative focuses on the unanswered question: Why did it take Grant Dean, Phoebe's brother, twenty-seven minutes to call for help on the night of the fatal car accident? This query becomes a haunting presence in the lives of the characters and the town as a whole. Tate masterfully builds tension as the characters grapple with their own guilt, fears, and hidden truths.

The exploration of small-town dynamics and the impact of tragedy on a closely-knit community is a strong suit of the novel. Tate skillfully delves into the lives of various residents, revealing their struggles, relationships, and the interconnectedness that defines their existence.

The character development is compelling, making you feel deeply for their pain and secrets.The writing style is evocative and immersive, transporting readers to the heart of West Wilmer's emotional landscape. Tate's ability to balance the mystery with poignant emotional moments ensures a well-rounded reading experience. The pacing keeps the suspense taut, gradually unveiling the truth behind the mystery..

"Twenty Seven Minutes" is a haunting and beautifully crafted novel that resonates with readers long after the last page. Ashley Tate's exploration of loss, guilt, and the intricacies of relationships showcases her ability to create a compelling narrative that tugs at the heartstrings. This book is a must-read for those who appreciate mystery intertwined with emotional depth and a keen understanding of human psychology.

I enjoyed this book. The story was interesting though not completely one of a kind, the characters were good. Some I enjoyed more than others and being a huge horror and mystery reader, I was not too shocked but I did enjoy the book

Didn’t expect to finish this book in one day but after the first chapter, I couldn’t stop reading. It was full of twists, interesting characters and was atmospheric, creepy and suspenseful.

All the characters are insufferable - but it’s still very gripping and an easy “one sitting” book. It’s very well written- I mean, I legitimately hated 95% of the characters.. and I did like the smaller spooky tones. Looking forward to seeing what else this author has up their sleeves! 3.5 rounded up!


Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for my review