https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/07/13/gone-tonight-by-sarah-pekkanen-alc-audiobook-review/

Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the early listening copy of Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen! I’ve reviewed a record number of audiobooks recently and will always advocate for their accessibility and acceptance in the book world, so I’m really grateful for all of these opportunities 😍
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I hate to say that although this is a solid story, overall I am less than impressed with Gone Tonight. I don’t know if it was sheer luck or the fact that I’ve read a TON of thrillers, but I guessed the first part of the deception right away which made the already boring first 25% of the book drag. I had no idea WHY the deceptions were occuring but the initial WHAT was pretty obvious.

As far as the first 25%, I thought I had misread and picked up some kind of general fiction novel until the first “OH HELLO” moment – around 30% the book got more interesting real quick. If you start and aren’t sure about continuing, I would recommend waiting for the first big thing to happen. After that it was pretty much all surprises and things I’d never see coming.

I did like the pacing. There was a slow escalation throughout that made it a little hard to get into, but by the end it was hard to stop reading. I liked how Pekkanen revealed each layer of deception slowly and let us think about it for a bit before going crazy with more twists.

To touch on the characters, Ruth and Catherine, it’s hard not to root for a fiercely protective mom and a graduate nurse to happens to be a bit of a pyro 🥹. Ruth’s got a lot of trauma and walls to work through and it’s interesting to watch her realize how much damage she might have done to Catherine as well.

I’ve worked in nursing home/memory care settings and she did a good job describing the dementia/sundowning. That part was quite real feeling but at any place I have ever worked, it would be impossible to hide there like Catherine and Ruth were doing 🤷‍♀️ it made for a good story but with the cameras and security there’s no way?

Now to talk about the audio book specifically. I like Kate Mara’s voice and enunciation but there was hardly any differentiation between the two main characters. They had the same voice and inflection and it sometimes took a few minutes to remember who was speaking. I just want a little more variation with dual POV books and I think I would have enjoyed the book more just on page. That said, it was not bad and I’d listen to more by Mara, it was just a little monotone throughout.

TL:DR
Overall Gone Tonight is a good mystery with some terse and dangerous moments. I wasn’t feeling the wow factor though. It was a solid story and I think I’d have enjoyed it more via the physical book than the audio, but I will definitely try another book by Pekkanen

This one grabbed me from the start and didn't let me go. Told from alternating POVs, Gone Tonight follows Ruth and her daughter, Catherine. Getting both sides of the story you navigate Ruth's new illness with this mother, daughter duo. But when Catherine begins helping her mother, secrets start uncovering themselves. Do I think some of this was maybe a bit improbable? Yes. But was it an entertaining listen that had me listening non stop? Also yes. This is a great psychological thriller to grab on audio, if you can. Kate Mara narrates and does a phenomenal job! A big thank you to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for an early audio copy!

This book started off a bit slow for me, but once it picked up it I didn’t want to put it down! Loved the plot twists that kept me guessing. Will look for other books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my copy of Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen Narrated by Kate Mara in exchange for an honest review. It publishes August 1, 2023.
First off, I think Kate Mara did an excellent job narrating this book, very well done! I would definitely listen to anything by this narrator!
Secondly, this was my first book that was a solo book by Sarah Pekkanen, and she definitely holds her own! Just when I would think I was onto something, I realized that was exactly what she wanted me to do! She is a master of this genre, and I applaud her work! The characters were so interesting, I wanted to know so much more, and she delivered! You can also tell the depths of research that was done on the topics important to this story! If you like thrillers, definitely give this a go!

I love a story about a mother and daughter relationship and bonus points if the story is a thriller. The author did such a great job at examining the oftentimes fraught bond a mother and daughter can have and Catherine and Ruth have a very complex dynamic. These two are very close, basically on a dysfunctional level and the unraveling of years of secrets between them was both fascinating and sad. This is mostly a slow burn leading up to an intense conclusion with pace picking up in the last bit. The audio narration by Kate Mara was excellent and she delivered a solid performance that captured the characters emotions perfectly.

This was very clever. I listen to so many books that a lot seem derivative, but this felt fresh.


Review copy provided by publisher.

I am in LOVE with Srah Pekkanen's writing. I love when she writes with Greer Hendricks but I am also in love with her own writing. I listened to this book as I was driving and dang there were a few times I didn't realize I was gripping the steering wheel so hard! It is such a twisty ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat!!

Sarah's writing style is so engaging that you're immediately engulfed in the story she's created and the world that she's built for these characters. It is unputdownable and so incredibly good!!!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

I loved this storyline, I wish it had "fooled" us longer with the mother's secret. I also love love love Kate Mara as an actress and her voice is so easy to listen to. I do wish there had been more difference in her narration between the two main characters, though.
Thanks to Netgalley for the prerelease audiobook.

Kate Mara is a marvelous narrator in this twister thriller about a mother's secret past and the lengths she'll go to protect her daughter. My only gripe is that the chapters alternate POV and Mara narrates both female characters. So I had a hard time distinguishing who the narrator was when I began listening midchapter. Other than that, I really enjoyed it.

This is the only thriller that was able to bring me to tears more than once. I was invested in the lives of Catherine and Ruth instantly. Their complicated mother-daughter relationship propelled this emotional thriller that was filled with deception, betrayal, and breathtaking suspense. It's a slow burn that is unquestionably worth the wait. Catherine and Ruth are multi-dimensional, full of flaws, and undying love and devotion to each other. The narration beautifully portrays the intricate and intriguing dynamic between mother and daughter. The narrator also brought the characters to life with realistic emotion and complexity. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.

I received an advanced audiobook copy from NetGalley in exchange for this review.

I’ve been loyal to the Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks since The Wife Between Us, but this is my first solo Sarah title. I must say, I’m impressed! While I wouldn’t call this a thriller since the story comes together early with limited twists and surprises, it was a truly suspenseful story with well thought out characters.

I found myself excited to fold laundry or do dishes so I could have this playing! When it comes out in August, I’ll definitely look to add a copy to my personal library.

If you like suspenseful family dramas, don’t pass this one up!

This was excellent! I was hooked from the beginning and it really didn’t let up! I will also say the pacing with this novel was really nice (I’ve read a few thrillers lately where it just kind of drug on and that wasn’t a good time.) def recommend this one!

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

The story was definitely thrilling with quite a few twists. Each chapter you are going back and forth between the mother (Ruth) and daughter (Catherine) slowly piecing together the past vs. the present. Catherine lays done some serious detective skills to start piecing together Ruth current situation and her past. I can't say much else without spoiling something....

Kate Mara did an incredible job reading through this one.

4.5 stars rounded to 5.

I loved this book! It only took me two days to devour the entire book! I was captivated from the very start all the way through to the final pages. I definitely recommend this book! But there are some trigger warnings so I would look those up before you dive into this book! Definitely going to buy a copy of this book for my bookshelf! Such a fantastic read!

3.5 rounded up. It’s entertaining and the narrator does amazing. Great pace and voices. The story is a bit zig zaggy. First couple of chapters I’m wondering if the book is about Alzheimer’s and her daughter coping. Then I remember no it’s a thriller twist will come. Then we have time pov jumps. Present and past. Then dual pov from daughter and mother. At the end it’s a bit predictable.

Thank you NetGalley for this early Audiobook! I’ve enjoyed co-authored books of Sarah Pekkanen, so I was super excited to read this standalone. This book had me hooked from the start. I didn’t realize how much of the thriller aspect was in it and the darker side that came out. This entire book does a great job how showing how far a mother will go to try and keep her child safe, and how the lies and deceit of a dark past will always follow you. Enjoyed the shout out to Where The Heart Is too!

Talk about twists! Twisted family and a twisted story. I totally recommend this book if you like things a bit fucked up.

First off, how flipping awesome is it that KATE MARA is the narrator for the audiobook?! I love her acting (House of Cards or American Horror Story anyone?) and her voice is FLAWLESS for audio! So amazing!

Second, this book. Wow. Pekkanen always delivers (admittedly I'm mostly familiar with her novels co-authored with Greer Hendricks) but Gone Tonight was next level and definitely put Pekkanen on my radar as a solo author.

We've all read books where people don't really know the people they love and where people were hiding things. This was done differently and it felt fresh even if it wasn't the most original concept.

With alternating narrators - Ruth and her daughter Catherine - we learn of a story about a mother and daughter who are basically alone in the world. Fearful her time and luck are running out, Ruth starts to tell her story by writing it down to share with Catherine in the event she disappears. What unfolds is terrifying but also devastatingly sad and traumatic.

There were twists in this novel I totally didn't expect and I loved that big reveals were made early on. Nothing was dragged out but I was still kept on the edge of my seat at every turn.

This novel also makes you think - what lengths would you go to in order to protect the people you love? How deep is a mother's love?

All in all, this was a shockingly good one and a book I'll definitely recommend. My only gripe about the audio - and again I freaking loved Kate Mara - was that she was the only narrator. When a book is told from two points of view, I generally like separate narrators for each. The writing and stories were clear enough that it was easy to separate, but a second narrator would have added that final cherry on top.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for the copy.

I enjoyed this read. The pace was a little slow for my taste but the plot kept me going. Overall, I think the pace was slow to medium and a mix of character and plot driven. This is a dark, emotional, tense, mysterious read. Things seemed predictable but then the author would throw another twist in.

I enjoyed Catherine’s perspective the most and seeing the information of her mother unfold.

The narrator for the audiobook was not my favorite but also did not ruin the story.

I will be recommending this to my reading friends.

5⭐️

I had the audiobook read by Kate Mara, her voice is very interesting to listen to, but there’s not a clear distinction between the two female main characters.

There’s an intertwined seemingly overly dependent mother and daughter relationship.
The mother Ruth has made her life evolve around her daughter and keeping her safe. Catherine is ready to spread her wings, which is when the cracks start to develop in their relationship.

The characterisation is excellent, I really engaged with both of them, there’s some very moving moments too as the back story is revealed.

There’s great pace, plenty going on throughout with the different layers, different enough to really stand out. Lots of twists and turns throughout. I absolutely loved it, It made me feel emotional. That epilogue!!

I highly recommend it. It has a worthy place in my books of the year.