Thank you Netgalley. The description of this book did not do it justice. The storyline was greta and the characters were all crazy! The alternating time lin really helped to love this story along.

J. Robert Lennon is an excellent writer, and one of the most consistent writing today. Strong plotting, interesting narrative effects, and great pacing.

Jan’s and her daughter have a typical mother daughter relationship. Her relationship with Chance ,her husband, not so good. When Jane is contacted by her sister Lila the pair set out to find their long lost mother. Many dangerous events happen as they follow the trail. When Mom is found the truth of her leaving is told mostly at the point of a gun.
All is resolved and the book ends with perhaps another to follow as the girls restart their lives with their Dad.

Hard Girls, the new novel by J. Robert Lennon follows an estranged set of twins, Lila and Jane, while they look for their estranged mother, who disappeared when they were teenagers. The twins have not seen each other in years, and Jane is okay with that. She has made a pretty normal life for herself. She works at the university, is a mother to a preteen and a wife to her high school sweetheart. The real problems she faces are her mother-in-law and watching her father. When Lila shows up and says she thinks she has found their mother, not only does Jane travel with Lila across America to find her, but she risks losing her safe life and all of the things she had built to hide her past.

The timeline switches between past and present, and while the story unfold and the family secrets are revealed, there really is a sense that all of the characters are family. Sure there are some quirks that make them different, but all of them have the same major character trait, the one that has led them all to this point in their lives. They share a detached personality, one that is more comfortable hiding information and feelings more than expressing them. The title, Hard Girls, is really perfect, because these women are hard. They are emotionally detached, do not show any vulnerability, and quite honestly are only out for their own gains. It feels like Jane has lived with this too with the way that she interacts with her husband and daughter, but there is also a conscience in her that has grown due to having a child, something that did not happen in her mother or sister. The way that they all interact makes Hard Girls a well-written and compelling story.

J. Robert Lennon writes a variety of literary novels and short stories, and he uses the tagline “A Jane and Lila Pool Thriller” on the title page of this novel. This leads some to speculate that there are going to be more in the series, but I would not be surprised if this is the tagline so that we go into the story thinking about it in a certain way. Hard Girls is going to be a thriller, and it is in a J. Robert Lennon way. The pacing, twists, and reveals lean more toward a literary novel than a thriller novel, and those who want unpredictable danger and harrowing escapes will be disappointed. However Hard Girls is a fast-paced and engaging story. I read most of it in a day-long session without getting bored or needing a break. I have been a fan of Lennon’s work for a long time, and this does not disappoint as a Lennon book as it might disappoint some who are looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well this book surprised me in a good way. I was pleasantly impressed that is was not strictly a run of the mill thriller. It has lots of other components.
Told in past and present time lines and multiple POV’s. It moves at a good pace and the writing is engaging. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review. 4 ⭐️

I can see how this story would easily be a 5-star read for many people! There were many things I loved about the story and the writing, but also a few things that left me wanting more.

I loved how the author uses cryptic language to tease past events and how the characters came to be in the place they are (physically and emotionally). It was a slow burn in the best way and kept me on the edge of my seat. Most of the reveals paid off which was even better. I also think the author did an excellent job flipping between past and present. It was easy to follow and everything was woven together beautifully to answer that "how did we get here?"

There was a lot happening in the story, however. It was a cat/mouse thriller; it was a spy thriller; it was a story about a dysfunctional family. Mixing all of these elements was confusing at times. I'd get drawn completely in to one type of story, then the next chapter would feel like I was reading something totally different.

Ultimately, I didn't get quite as invested as I had hoped I would but I think many will find it to be a compelling story!

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. My review will post to my blog on 2/19/24. I will also promote on Instagram and post my review to Goodreads and retail sites that same week.

Review:
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but I can say that while I wasn't blown away by it, I definitely enjoyed the ride. This is largely due to the captivating characters the author has created.

The story mostly focuses on Jane Pool, a seemingly content woman living a comfortable suburban life in New York. She has a husband and a young daughter, and she hates her mother-in-law. She works a ho-hum job at a university where her aging father is a professor. From the outside, everything appears ordinary; however, beneath this facade, Jane carries the weight of her tumultuous past, largely due to a mother who was rarely present in her life and an estranged twin sister with whom she hasn't spoken in years.

When said sister, Lila, contacts her with information about their long-lost mother, Jane's curiosity is piqued. Desperate for answers and yearning to reconnect with someone who truly understands her, Jane agrees to join Lila on a journey that takes them across the United States and then to South America. As they dig deeper into their mother's secrets, they are confronted with deception and darkness that has always loomed over their family.

What I liked most about this book was the structure. We flip between the present as the twins search for their mother and the past when we gradually learn about their tumultuous childhood and how it affected their adult lives. The reveal is gradual, and I loved watching the pieces fall into place. Lennon crafted a narrative that is both propulsive and mysterious. With each turn of the page, the tension builds, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the next revelation.

I also liked that there were several elements in this novel. It's part mystery, part thriller, and another part family drama. This fusion worked well and kept me engaged, but I think what really makes this novel interesting is Jane and Lila Pool - the twin main characters. I think my only gripe was that the book's primary focus is on Jane, and I wanted a little more info on Lila. That said, this wasn't enough to ruin the book for me. I found them both very compelling.

As readers delve into Jane's psyche, they witness her transformation from a woman trapped in a mundane existence to a fearless and determined seeker of truth. We know that Jane did prison time, and finding out why really adds to the complexity of her character and has quite an impact on the relationship between the twins.

Lila, with her enigmatic personality and unwavering determination, brings a sense of intrigue to the story. Lila had a lot of tricks up her sleeve, and I think that is why I wanted to know more about her, though I think a lot of her charm was the secrets she held, and I wonder if I'd have been as intrigued by her if I knew all of her secrets. The complex relationship between the twins is one of the book's most captivating aspects as they navigate their shared past and the secrets that have kept them apart.

Supporting characters such as the twin's father, Henry, Chloe (Jane's daughter), Chance (Jane's husband), and Susan (Jane's mother-in-law) were also interesting and served a distinct purpose in the overall story. I think the only character that I felt distanced from was the twin's mother, but then again, so did they, so I guess that worked.

Overall, I felt this was a great blend of genres and a gripping tale of family secrets and identity. With its unforgettable characters and captivating plot, this book will appeal to anyone who likes a fast-paced and complex story.

The general plot lines for this title worked for me, but the actual plotting got convoluted and violent for my tastes. For readers who like thrillers and books with family dynamics that are littered with secrets.

Rounded from 4.5 stars

Even though his novel "The Funnies" is one of my all-time favorites, I'd forgotten just how great a writer J. Robert Lennon is. The turns of phrase, the details, the characterizations, the pacing: All spot-on, in a way that seems effortless. In "Hard Girls" he maintains the suspense—what caused the schism between the sisters? what happened to their mother?—even while unveiling and resolving new puzzles. This is a book that I managed to savor even as I raced through it—paradoxical, I know, but when you read it you'll see what I mean.

So why didn't I give it five stars? I give five stars only to books that give me a certain emotional reaction. It's tough to describe, it's unpredictable, and it doesn't happen often. I felt it with "The Funnies" but not quite with "Hard Girls." Please don't let that stop you from reading it, though!

Thank you, NetGalley and Mulholland Books, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A bit of a departure for Lennon, whom I have enjoyed through the years for his quirkiness. Did I entirely buy into this tale of high drama, spooks and omniscient players? Well, no, The mix of domestic and high octane chicanery didn’t always meld successfully. Nevertheless, I was engaged by the relationships and the smart dialogue, and the general knowingness of the proceedings. Less so some of the characters - the creepy drama director and the two implausible and flat mothers. But bravo for striking out.

This was a typical cat and mouse chase/thriller with an ending that left me slightly confused and unsatisfied.

Jane and Lila haven't seen their mother in more than twenty years, since the day she walked out on their family and never returned. They also haven't seen each other in over a decade. When Lila reaches out and tells Jane she has found their mother and wants to follow the trail, Jane upends her seemingly normal suburban life to go on the hunt with her sister.

There were a lot of characters in here, and none of them particularly likeable. The story is told alternating between current and past timelines, and we slowly put together the how the twins ended up on the run and estranged from their distant parents, and how their life growing up shaped them into the women they are today.

Lots of parts of this were high action and exciting, but between the back and forth in timelines and the lackluster conclusion, this one ended up being just so-so for me. Kind of hard to be invested in the chase when the prize at the end of the hunt isn't all that great.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. The book was labeled a crime /thriller. The cover art looked great- almost Warhol-ish in its color. The book however was a disappointment. I saw one review stated that the ending was muddled- for me the whole book was a muddle.I realize that I am in the minority here. I found the book confusing, and just not interesting. There were almost no characters that I cared about. Jane's young daughter Chloe was only one , and she was barely there in the plot. Characters would come and go and not be heard of for pages on end. Sorry, but this just was not for me.

I tried to get into this one several times. I can’t give an honest feedback at this time I am not into the story. If I go back later perhaps, but the story falls flat for me.

The premise seemed like a good idea, but getting into it and staying into it was a bit “hard” for me. The estranged twins coming together to find their mother… not very original. I wouldn’t count this out completely, others may enjoy it more than I did. Just this one was not for me. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I hate to say this, but this one just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was hard to get through, to be honest. I just feel like it was missing a lot.

I went in to this book with a total different idea of what it was about. I judge books by their covers all the time. The title and cover made me think it would be about a girl gang or something along those lines. I actually had “The Outsiders” but with girls in my mind. Hard Girls was nothing like that and I really liked it, I liked the then/now time lines in the story and how it all came together in the end. I gave this a solid 4 stars and would definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Hard Girls" by J. Robert Lennon presents an intriguing premise with two estranged twin sisters on a quest to find their elusive mother. The narrative cleverly weaves together elements of a chase novel, espionage thriller, and domestic suspense. While the story is undeniably unique and filled with unexpected twists, I found myself occasionally longing for a deeper emotional connection with the characters. Additionally, I must admit that I didn't enjoy the father's point of view as much, often finding myself skimming through those sections. The writing is sharp, and the plot is engaging, but it left me wanting more in terms of character development. Overall, a solid read for those who enjoy a blend of mystery and family drama, with a note that some perspectives may be more captivating than others.

This book was a mixed bag for me I enjoyed parts of it, finding out the secrets, exploring the relationship between the twins, though parts of it didn't make sense, that one would sacrifice for the other in that way and have it be so understated as to it's effect. The book felt too long at many points, like why were certain scenes particularly from the past necessary, i found myself wanting to skip over them. The storyline became less believable as it went on and I didn't particularly like that

Jane Pool seems to be living your average, settled life as a mom and wife. But her world is seemingly upended when Jane’s twin sister, who she is estranged from, reaches out and tells her she knows where there mother is. Their mother left them and their father years ago and is something no one could ever come to grips with. But now that Lila (Jane’s sister) seems to have located her, this might be the last chance for Jane to get the answers she’s always yearned for.

We are taken along these sisters adventure to uncovering their truth about their mother. However, there are people willing to go to unmeasured lengths to protect and keep these secrets hidden.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mullohand Books for my advanced readers copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this free arc.

This is my first book by this author, and I generally enjoyed it. The plot follows two twins, Lila and Jane, as they try to track down their elusive mother who walked out on them years ago. It's told from a past / present timeline.

What I liked:
- Jane and Lila felt like two unique, separate characters. If you took away the "said Lila" / "said Jane" you would be able to tell which character was speaking because they were written as different people. It didn't feel like you could swap their dialogue which I appreciate.
- I liked the past / present timeline and how the "reveals" in both timelines lined up with each other.

What I didn't like:
- The dad. Every time I had to read about him I found myself skimming because he was so...useless lol
- I feel like there could've been more explanation / exploration of how Jane / Lila reconciled or dealt with the fact that Jane went to prison to cover for her. Jane was the one who was traumatized by George, Lila was the one who killed George, yet Jane took the fall for her and this didn't seem to be.a big point of contention between the sisters. (Did Lila ever even say thank you??)
- The book sets up Lila to fall in the footsteps of her mother. She really hated her mother, so I thought that was an odd choice. I guess it speaks to how we inadvertently can become like our parents but I just wasn't super convinced that this was a logical path for Lila to take.

Overall I had fun and found myself wanting to find out what happened next