A strong thriller with a few twists along the way. I like the letters from the past that you learn about on the way and have sympathy with Haillie as she fights to find her real father

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book read more like a contemporary than like a thriller. There were several moments in which I forgot this was supposed to be a thriller instead of a contemporary.

None of the characters were likeable not even the MC. The twist about her at the end wasn't even that impactful. The big reveal that Robert was not really her dad was prematurely revealed in the blurb, I agree with other readers on that front. Had it not been revealed so early to the reader that that would happen it would have been a crazy/enjoyable twist 80% of the way in.

I really appreciated the addition of all the responses all of the Robert Thompsons sent back to the MC interspersed between chapters. I thought it was a clever way to tie that aspect of the plot into the story and was a very realistic depiction of the vast variety of responses you would get by sending the same letter to a bunch of random people with the same name. That part was very creative and well done.

The way that everything was revealed by the end was very cartoon villany-like which made me take it much less seriously than I should have. I do however, appreciate the revealed identity of the one pulling the strings behind the scenes the whole time. I actually suspected it when the character was first introduced to us but then I quickly dismissed my theory for some reasons until it was revealed I got it right all along.

I do however agree with other readers in that the blurb was misleading for making it seem like the scary villains were the family she started living with/ her new dad when that wasn't really the case besides the catty selfish little sister she inherited. Another way the blurb was misleading was the way it explained the MC found out about this not being her real dad. The blurb said she got an email from Family Ties saying they made a mistake with the DNA reading and this person was not actually her father. I was highly anticipating the dread the MC would feel upon reading this and then uncovering what this man/family really wants from her. However that was a lie, the way the MC found out was her fake father insisted on calling Family Ties in front of her to confirm that they are in fact DNA relatives only to find out that the notifications they received about their DNA relation was fake. This was an extremely anti-climactic way to reveal the truth to the characters not to mention in direct contradiction with what the synopsis claimed happened. I would highly recommend that before this releases at the end of August the author/editor changes the blurb to more accurately depict what goes on in the story as many readers (like myself) will feel very misled which is never good.

All in all I was kind of bored after the exposition of the story because of the repetitive nature of the story with the only two settings in the story being the restaurant the father owns and the father's house. Some more diversity in the setting would have been greatly appreciated and would have broken up the monotony of the routine of the scenes. It felt like every day life wake up do the same thing you did yesterday then go to bed and repeat it all again tomorrow. I read books to get away from the monotonous routine of life not to have more of it. This was a big part of the reason I wasn't able to fully immerse myself into the story as well as the lack of a likeable character in the story.

When hallie searches for her biological father she didn’t really expect to find him- but the email she receives from the dna company leads her to her father Robert and a whole family. They’re living a perfect life in a wonderful house on gorgeous Lake Tahoe. Best yet her father owns a restaurant and Halle wants to be a cook. But she soon finds out that this perfect life is not so perfect… There are many secrets, and she might just end up dead. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you net galley for the digital copy.

This book was a little different from what I was expecting according to the description of it, however I was not disappointed, although slow at times, the twists at the end of the book were worth the wait. I also liked the depth of the characters, and the parts of the letters from the potential parents. Good book, and interesting story that could perfectly happen in real life, which makes it much more believable.

This had me on the edge of my seat! The blurb does give a lot away but I was still hooked and invested throughout. The characters are well developed and made real. There aren't many twists but it's still a really enjoyable story. I just loved the overall premise and couldnt wait to find out the truth and how it wad all going to play. It has such a good flow and the writing style just sucks you in and has you wanting to keep reading just one more chapter! Amazing!!

This wasn't quite what the blurb described it to be. I also felt it cheated me out of a twist in the plot, and considering there were so few of them, that was disappointing. It's a good story with interesting and believable characters but needs a different blurb.

although this book got off to a bit of a slow start, i was really liking where it appeared to be going, especially with all the different letters and emails we see from the various 'robert thompson's' throughout. i thought the characters in the thompson family were very distinct, and all had developed personalities, which made picturing them in the book very easy. one of my biggest issues with this book was that one of the biggest twists, is already revealed in the description, which just made it feel like it was something you were waiting for, rather than a shock.

thank you to netgalley and bookouture for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow ! I gotta say I was completely blown away! This book was more than what I expected after reading the snippet of information. The wrong Family by Ellery A. Kane due to be published August 30th 2023.

This story is based in Lake Tahoe where the well off Thompson’s live without a care in the world. Hallie the main character has been searching for her father and all of a sudden she gets a match on the DNA website and what do you know it is Robert Thompson. Hallie starts to see little bits and pieces that didn’t fit into what her mother has told her about her father.

This was an enjoyable read for me, and I do plan on reading more from this author in the future.
Maybe a future book with Nick and Hallie?

Thank you Netgalley , Ellery A Kane , and Bookouture for all of me to read this amazing ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of the Wrong Family. This was the first Elbert Kane book I’ve read but won’t be the last. Great thriller, sucked me in from the beginning and had me guessing til the last page. Hallie thinks her luck has changed when she finds her biological father. But has it??? Read and find out!!

I really felt sympathy for Hallie. She had never had a proper family being shuttled from one foster family to another. Now as an adult, she finds she has a family. She no longer has to live on her wits but is it too good to be true? A fast-paced thriller which had me gripped from beginning to end.

my first read buy this author and very much enjoyed. Hallie never knew. Her father she lost her mum.in a car accident. She was taken into care. And now she wants to find her father she knows his name. Robert Thompson and then she gets a letter from Ancestry. Service, and the day has come that she meets him. And he invites her to come and stay with him and his family. She accepts as she needs to get out of town quick. But everything is not what it seems with this family they have more secrets than her a very addictive read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this engrossing book. Hallie was orphaned at age 9 and spent many years in various foster homes. Her mother was a con artist and Hallie picked up a few tricks from her. She sent her DNA to Family Ties Registry to try to find her father who she never knew. They found a connection to a Robert Thompson. She finds many men with that name and sends them all a letter requesting that they get tested to see if there is a match. Some of the replies are hilarious. One man says he's the man she is looking for and after a brief meeting he invites her to his home to meet her siblings. She gratefully but accept but her siblings are not as welcoming as she had hoped. She agrees to work at the family restaurant claiming to have worked with a renowned chef in the past. She works with Nick who immediately knows she is lying but keeps her secret. There are many secrets, lies and betrayal including a murder and Hallie quickly becomes the main suspect. It has a satisfying conclusion, but it takes a long time to get there. However, there are some good surprises and twists along the way. I enjoyed the book and will recommend it.

Loved this book! Perfect pacing and the plot twist had me gobsmacked! I can’t wait to read more of this author

The Wrong Family
by Ellery A. Kane
Pub Date: 30 Aug 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.25/5

Ellery A. Kane's The Wrong Family's suspenseful plot, combined with unexpected twists, will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Kane's sharp writing style and intriguing characters drive the story forward and will have readers eagerly turning the pages to discover the secrets within.

There has been a lot of hardship in the life of Hallie Sherman. Through a genetic testing site called Family Ties, she has been trying to find her father after her mother passed away when she was young. Several years later, she receives an email stating she has been matched. Hallie logs into the site to discover the match is her father. Hallie finally feels closure, knowing her search was successful and she can meet her family. She meets her biological father after many years and establishes a connection with him and his current family. Hallie's dream of becoming a chef starts to become a reality with this family and they open the door for her to start pursuing that dream. Now, her journey of self-discovery is complete and Hallie is ready to take on the world. But since Hallie arrived at her dad's house weird things keep happening and she always is connected in some way. Who, then, is behind the mysterious occurrences surrounding Hallie's newfound family? Could it be someone wanting to keep her and her father apart, or is it something far more sinister? How does she always find herself in the midst of conflict?

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this mysterious book with me. In my experience, reading Kane's books always entails a thrilling adventure.

I absolutely loved this book! I was drawn in from the first page and couldn't put it down. Hallie has had a difficult life, in and out of Foster homes after her mother dies. She searches for her father and after a painfully long search, an email arrives stating that her father has been found! The rest of the book focuses on her New chapter with a new family who have a lot of secrets. So many twists and turns in this book- addictive.

This book started off a little slow for me, but I loved all the unexpected twists. There were a few that I saw coming, but little twists throughout that I wasn’t expecting. I thought it wrapped up really nicely and could definitely see a sequel.

Thanks to Bookouture for the ARC!

This was such a fast paced thriller and I loved it. I enjoyed the twist and turns of the plot. This was a must read for everyone who enjoys thrillers.

A very good fast paced thriller! Was not expecting the ending. The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star read is that I think it went on just a little bit too long. But overall it was an excellent story with great whodunit vibes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this amazing ARC story! This is my first Ellery book and I am thrilled to share that I enjoyed it!
Will the search for your own parent end up more sinister than ever ? Hallie is seeking for her lost biological father via those DNA websites and she finally meets him. Her father invites her to stay in a lavish place with his own family. Hallie is excited to start her life afresh with her dad and half-family when things just start going southward from then. The plot, characters and the plot twist - they all tied well. It was an acceptable pace with no draggy chapters. I personally enjoyed Hallie’s journey and her self realisation of what she’s seeking all this while wrapped up my read perfectly.

I received an ARC copy of The Wrong Family by Ellery Kane from Netgalley!

This book did not disappoint! Although a bit slow at times, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well-developed, and the twist was pretty wild!

How far would someone go to fit in? The book follows Hallie, a girl who has always been down on her luck, who submits her DNA to Family Ties and is ultimately given the notification that she has been matched with a family. However, are things what they really seem, or is something more sinister going on? What is the family really hiding, and what will Hallie uncover as she digs deeper into who she really is and where she came from?

Each chapter provides the reader with a little sliver of new information as Hallie begins to uncover secrets. But what has she really gotten herself mixed up in?

I enjoyed the letters from the different Robert Thompsons throughout the book because it shows how much time and effort Hallie put into finding her real family. While some of the letters provide a bit of comic relief, others share some disturbing secrets with her!

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend!