Ruth has been hiding her daughter Catherine from her past mistakes for her whole life. When Catherine wants to move to Baltimore for a nursing job at Johns Hopkins, Ruth pretends to have Alzheimer’s so that her daughter wouldn’t move because she fears whom she might encounter. Catherine works on a memory unit as an aide and quickly realizes her mother is faking her illness. When she tries to find out if her mother has lied about other things Catherine opens the Pandora’s box of the past. As usual Sarah Pekkanen provides a series of unexpected twists. The author uses alternating chapters to tell the story from both characters’ viewpoints. The narration was good. This book works well in the audio format. I enjoyed it and recommend it. Thanks to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

4-1/2 STARS ROUNDED TO 5

4-1/2 STARS ROUNDED TO 5

This exciting thriller written by the talented Sarah Pekkanen, was narrated by the equally talented, Kate Mara. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio (from St. Martin’s Press) for this advanced copy in return for my honest review. I LOVED THIS suspenseful novel!

This story features two female characters: a young woman, Catherine, who finished nursing school, and her quiet, secretive, overly-protective mom, Ruth. Catherine works for a memory care facility and Ruth is a hardworking, lower income, waitress who has recently shown signs of memory loss. They are the only family each other have. Recently Catherine has been thinking of moving to another city for a new career and doesn't understand the possible problems this may bring.

Ruth has always been very secretive about her past, her parents, where she came from, and anything about Catherine's biological father. Catherine realizes she better find out about the past before it's too late when her mom doesn't remember due to early onset Alzheimer's.

The author cleverly wrote the chapters alternating between the mom and daughter, while showcasing their very different viewpoints. It was edgy and thrilling to zip back and forth between what each woman was doing unbeknownst to the other. It worked as a great technique to build suspense and tension, and to keep you on the edge of your seat! If you're listening to this on audio, be sure to pay attention to the brief name announcement of "Catherine" or "Ruth" before each new chapter so you're aware of which woman is featured.

There were quite a few surprises along the way and as time went by, secondary characters were added, each adding dimension and interest to this novel. I highly recommend this new novel that will be out in August 2023!

Absolutely amazing, bingeworthy slow burn thriller. To say I love thrillers; especially domestic thrillers is an understatement. They are without a doubt my favorite genre. But.. it has to be done well. Gone Tonight will without a doubt be one of my favorites of the year and I will be recommending this to everyone I know. I loved the dual narration that went back and forth between mother and Daughter. Both were slightly unreliable but were also relatable which is not easy to accomplish but was done seamlessly by Pekkanen. First we have a Ruth, a young single mother who is keeping so many secrets, all in an effort to protect her daughter. Catherine is Ruth’s 24 year old daughter. She works as a nurse in a memory care unit and is tired of the secrets her mother has been keeping for years. Determined to find out what secrets her mother is hiding she sets out to uncover all the lies and ends up getting more than she bargained for. I was on the edge of my seat the entire last part of the book, wondering how in the world this was going to end. This is a must read for anyone who loves a good thriller.

All I need to say is “Wow!” The writing and narration was AMAZING! I loved the mother/daughter relationship, the tension, and the mystery. This is one of those books that you couldn’t wait to find out the mystery but you were sad for it to me over! This book is going to be a major hit this summer! This book needs to be on your TBR!

I listened to the audiobook and while Kate Mara is a new to me narrator, she did an amazing job! I highly recommend you try this book as an audiobook because you will not be disappointed!

Rating 4.5 stars but rounding up to 5 stars on Goodreads.

GONE TONIGHT by Sarah Pekkanen published august 2023. TRIGGERING ALERT. If you have aging parents who are going through Alzheimer’s. This is a hard book. Of a mother struggling with the diagnosis and the daughter who has to sacrifice her dreams

I would definitely classify this as a cat and mouse read. It was generally enjoyable but I would say an average 3 star mystery/ thriller. I didn’t love how the main gal connected with her father accidentally, I found it to be underwhelming. Especially once things started to unravel. I felt that him being able to locate them and find that connection too easy and therefore gave it 3 stars.
Thank you again netgalley!

I thought this was fine. It had a lot of pieces of her vibes and the last thing he told me. I liked the ending and the characters were interesting enough. It just was meh.

This book! I was thinking about it all the time when I wasn't reading it. It starts out as a slow burn and reads like just about any other contemporary fiction novel...until we learn that we don't know the whole truth. From that point on, it's hard to put down and full of suspense and anticipation.

The story alternates in point of view between Ruth and Catherine, and the truth slowly begins to leak out as one actively seeks the truth and the other takes pains to hide it. This isn't your typical thriller - it can go long stretches without real action - but it's still a page turner.

I didn't love that the narrator didn't seem to change their voicing or cadence or anything when reading the two separate characters' points of view. This book would have been a great candidate for a two-person cast.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this book!

This was a FABULOUSLY narrated auto book - i really loved the narration.

They story itself was good - it didnt feel overly fresh or unique, but it was a compelling slow burn.

I found the twists rather predictable, but i still enjoyed the novel.

CONTENT - 3 STARS
NARRATION - 5 STARS

OVERALL - 4 STARS

Title: A Captivating Thriller That Leaves You Breathless

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review:

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen is an absolute triumph in the world of psychological thrillers. From the very first page, Pekkanen grabs hold of your attention and refuses to let go until the final, heart-pounding conclusion. This novel deserves nothing less than a solid five-star rating.

The story revolves around Catherine and her mother Ruth. Alternating view points bring many secrets to light.
What sets Gone Tonight apart from other thrillers is Pekkanen's ability to craft multi-dimensional characters who feel like real people with genuine emotions. Each chapter offers a glimpse into the minds and hearts of the characters, and their perspectives add layers of complexity to the story. I found myself deeply invested in their lives, anxiously turning the pages to discover what would happen next.

Pekkanen's writing style is impeccable, effortlessly blending vivid descriptions with taut dialogue that keeps the narrative flowing smoothly. Her attention to detail creates an atmosphere so palpable, I could almost feel the characters' anxiety and tension coursing through my veins. The pacing is flawless, building up the suspense with every twist and turn until it reaches a crescendo that left me breathless.

Moreover, the plot of Gone Tonight is expertly crafted, with meticulously placed clues and surprises that kept me guessing until the final revelation. Pekkanen skillfully weaves together different threads, exploring themes of trust, secrets, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. The intricate web of deception and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters make this a thought-provoking and deeply satisfying read.

Gone Tonight is a tour de force that showcases Sarah Pekkanen's exceptional talent as a writer. With its well-drawn characters, gripping storyline, and impeccable pacing, this book is an absolute gem for fans of the thriller genre. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a riveting, page-turning experience that will leave you wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC

I received an audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Catherine’s mother is showing signs of early onset dementia, and Catherine delves into Ruth’s background in order to help her stave off symptoms with memories. She discovers that neither she, nor Ruth, may really be who she’s believes they are.

Ok, I’ve read other reviews that call this a “slow burn” and I agree. It’s so slow that when it finally catches fire at the end it seems to resolve itself so fast that it feels rushed. The premise is cool, but boy, it dragged. Obviously others have really enjoyed it, but it just didn’t grab me like I had hoped it would.

I really enjoyed this book and the back and forth of mother and daughter. I wish the mom had been more honest when she became an adult. I also wasn’t sure who to believe at times.

I liked the book but it wasn't the best one I ever listened to. The narrators voice was a little monotone but the story was intriguing and had me interested the entire time.

This was just a fine book for me. There wasn’t anything that I was overly gasping at, just very middle of the road.

I LOVED this book and really enjoyed listening to it. The narrator had excellent pacing and was able to differentiate the voices of the two narrators without it feeling forced or overdone. She was good at portraying male voices as well and conveyed the internal feelings of the characters quite well.

The story was fast paced but not over the top action forward, which I appreciated. This thriller is more psychological in nature and while some familiar tropes were used, they were done in a new fresh manner. I enjoyed both POVs as well as the dual storyline and was surprised quite a few times. I didn’t want to stop listening and I devoured this audiobook quickly. A great listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advance listen. All opinions in this review are my own.

Ruth and Catherine, mother and daughter, have always been close. As Catherine’s career progresses and she accepts a job that would take her away from home, Ruth goes to great lengths to stop her. Catherine becomes suspicious and begins to look into Ruth’s past and uncovers what she has been hiding.

I have read a few of Sarah Pekkanen’s book that she co-wrote with Greer Hendricks, and this one is my favorite. I loved the dual POVs and was instantly interested in the backstory. When the past caught up to our mother-daughter duo I had to keep listening to find out what would happen next. I thought the ending was great, but parts were a little over the top. Overall it left me wanting more, which is never a bad thing!

I really enjoyed Kate Mara as the narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC.

I love Sarah Pekkanen's books. This one I found to be kind of weird at the beginning and took me awhile to get into. I would still recommend it to others though!

I have just finished reading the Audio version of Gone Tonight, by Author Sarah Pekkanen, Narrated by Kate Mara.

Thanks to NetGalley, the Author and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy to listen to.

I have read a couple of books before by this author, and must say I thoroughly enjoyed this new book by her.

The two main characters are a mother Ruth Sterling, and her daughter Catherine Sterling.

These two woman find out that there are a great many secrets in their lives that neither truly know about.

The story is never boring, and keeps my interest till the last page.

I highly recommend this new book.

#netgalley
#macmillan.audio
#sarahpekkanen

TW: Sexual Assault

Catherine and her mother Ruth have always had each other for support. But when Ruth starts exhibiting signs of early onset Alzheimer’s, Catherine’s hopes and plans come crashing to a halt. Ruth has always avoided discussing anything from her past, and with her memory degrading, Catherine tries to learn as much as possible about her childhood. But when she notices some inconsistencies in Ruth’s stories, Catherine begins to wonder if her mother has been telling her the truth and what exactly she is so desperate to leave in the past.

I quite liked how the author chose to tell this story. It is told from the dual POV of Catherine and her mother, Ruth. Both POVs were intriguing and in combination told an interesting and well-fleshed out story. The characterization was good between the two and there was minimal overlap between their sections, which kept the story moving at a good pace.

There were several times where I thought I knew where a subplot or hint was going to lead, but I ended up being wrong. These red herrings were skillfully incorporated and made the plot and characters feel well rounded without leaving any unfulfilling dead ends. That being said, the larger plot was relatively predictable towards the end, but I still quite enjoyed how it was executed. The author also did a great job at incorporating tension throughout the read, especially during the second half of the book. Even with the dual POVs and the portions told in the past, the story never felt slow.

What sold me on this one was how different it is from so many of the mystery/suspense books I’ve read recently. It didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, but it did keep me entertained from beginning to end. I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and I’d recommend reading it rather than listening – only one narrator is used for both POVs, which made it difficult to distinguish which narrator was which, and the narrator was generally monotone, making it less engaging than it could have been. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 1 August 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Pub date: 8/1/23
Genre: domestic thriller
Quick summary: Catherine Sterling and her mom Ruth are a team - but as Catherine plans to start her own life, her mother will do anything to keep her by her side - and keep Catherine from learning her secrets.

I've really enjoyed Sarah Pekkanen's co-written books with Greer Hendricks, and this solo project GONE TONIGHT lived up to the twistiness I've come to expect. Ruth is...not the perfect mom she appears to be, and I loved following along as Catherine discovered her secrets. This is a super fast and compelling read- you have to suspend your disbelief a bit, but I enjoyed the wild ride.

Both audio and text were enjoyable - I think I slightly preferred the text because it let me turn the pages faster. But narrator Kate Mara did a great job capturing the action, and the dual POV format was easy to follow on audio.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook in exchange for an honest review.