What Is Mine by Lyn Liao Butler is a thrilling thought-provoking story.
With a well written plot and a story line that had me engaged from the start. I enjoyed this book more than I originally expected.
I loved the well fleshed out characters and found them to be entertaining.
They were vivid and actually believable.
The story itself was decent, there was a wonderful atmospheric and suspenseful tone set.
A quick and interesting read that I enjoyed.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

What Is Mine tells the story of a little boy who goes missing, and how his family deals with the fall-out. Our main character is cooking dinner when she realizes her recently-adopted nephew has disappeared from the front yard. The police show up quickly, and in the search for the boy, our main character becomes more and more skeptical of her neighbors. We learn that one of the neighbors had a psychotic break and kidnapped him after her husband died, and the whole time the little boy thought his aunt knew where he was.

All in all, I enjoyed What Is Mine and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys abduction stories. I thought it did a good job of distracting us from the main culprit and highlighted how different people are prioritized when they go missing.

Thank you to the author Lyn Liao Butler, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of WHAT IS MINE. All views are mine.

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. This perspective is kind of harrowing. We experience these very stressful events, the disappearance of a child, through the eyes of a navel gazing individual.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Honestly, the timeline is a little hard to follow. Not because it is nonlinear, buy because she kind of tortures the narrative to hide certain details of the story from the reader, *instead of* utilizing her alternating time line to do that for her. It's one of the benefits of the form, after all.

2. This storyline stigmatizes mental illness. Such a common trope, still a story ruiner for me. Tons of space devoted to the fmc as having ptsd, only to portray her later as being violently disordered and dangerous. Mentally ill people aren't just random groupings of antisocial characteristics. Mentally ill characters shouldn't appear that way either.

3. I really don't like narrative twists that depend in some way on a mentally ill character's diagnoses or symptoms. It turns the character into a plot device, and a gimmicky one at that. In this book, the whole narrative could have played out in a nearly identical way without making the fmc a criminally psychotic person, you know, out of the blue and with such massive coincidence.

4. This book goes on for too long after the primary conflict resolves. It's boring because there is no reason to remain invested in these characters or problems anymore.

Rating: 🧌.5 / 5 crazy people tropes
Recommend? Sure, and learn from the trope!
Finished: Feb 7 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🌪 a woman's descent
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
👶🏻 children and procreation
🪦 death and grieving
👹 dangerous mentally ill person trope

3.5 stars

What Is Mine follows the lives of two women and how their lives entwine during the search for a missing boy. I went in blind, and highly recommend you do as well.

In my opinion, this book was more of a family drama than a thriller. There are some twists, but it focused more on the lives of the women. It is slower paced than a typical thriller but I actually enjoyed the pacing as it helped with the build up and trying to figure out what happened to Luca.

The book is written in three parts, and I personally liked the first part best. Hope’s story drew me in, and I was as invested as she was in finding her nephew. Lyn Liao Butler wrote this part so well, and I felt the stress and hopelessness that Hope was going through. I won’t discuss the other parts to avoid spoilers.

The characters are written well, and you’ll find yourself engrossed in their lives. I couldn’t put the book down because I needed to know what would happen next. Although I was able to figure out a lot of what was going on, I was still drawn into this story.

When nine year old Luca and his dog go missing, the search is on to find them. Luca's disappearance brings together two women - Hope and Tessa. Both want Luca. Why? And who will get him? What an addictive book this was! I was hooked from the first page with my heart breaking as I read this emotional family drama. If you feel like reading something different, this one is definitely worth it.

In What Is Mine, author Lyn Liao Butler invites readers into the intricate lives Hope Chen and her husband as they navigate the complexities of raising her nine-year-old nephew, Luca, following the untimely death of his troubled mother. When Luca and his dog mysteriously vanish, Hope's world is turned upside down, plunging her into a harrowing search for answers and redemption. Simultaneously, another woman harboring dark secrets finds herself entangled in a desperate bid to protect her marriage at any cost.

One of the strengths of What Is Mine lies in its character development and vivid storytelling. The author's prose is evocative and immersive, allowing readers to empathize deeply with the characters and their struggles. From Hope's unwavering determination to the complexities of the other woman's motives, each character is rendered with depth and layers, adding complexity to the narrative.

As a fan of family dramas, I appreciated the nuanced exploration of relationships and the dynamics within the Chen family. The themes of love, loss, and redemption are skillfully woven throughout the story, culminating in a gripping tale of resilience and hope.

However, it's worth noting that parts of the book delve into sensitive topics, including mental health issues, which may be triggering for some readers. Additionally, while the missing child storyline serves as a central plot point, the narrative delves deeper into themes of love, betrayal, and revenge, offering a multifaceted exploration of human nature.

Overall, What Is Mine is a compelling read that offers a thoughtful exploration of family, secrets, and the lengths we will go to protect those we love. While the pacing may be slow for some readers, the rich character development and intricate plotting make it a worthwhile journey for fans of the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Lyn Liao Butler for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks very much to Netgalley and Thomas Mercer for the ARC. What is Mine is a thriller that follows the story of Hope who is grappling with the disappearance of her recently adopted nephew. The book was generally a quick and engaging read, although the end lost me a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and author Lyn Liao Butler for this ARC to read and review!

This book definitely hits the ground running! The gripping ride begins just a page or two in … and keeps you engaged until the end! I really liked how the book was divided into 3 parts ... I thought that was nicely done and the perfect execution for this story! I was able to guess where this was going pretty early on … but I didn’t feel like that ruined anything for me! I still tore through the chapters and was pleasantly surprised with a few more twisty revelations! This is my 2nd book by this author (Someone Else’s Life was my first) and I’ve really enjoyed both of them! I like Lyn’s easy to follow writing style and she has definitely turned into a repeat author for me!

A dark secret. A deadly obsession. Two desperate women…

A book filled with secrets, lies, deceit and obsession? Sign me up, buttercup!

Lyn Liao Butler, narrates a wild ride filled with characters you will love and some you’ll love to hate. This book is dark! I was completely consumed as soon as I concluded the first chapter. There was no shortage of twists and turns and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The twist was insane and unpredictable!

I can not wait to see what Butler, comes out with next!

Teaser :

The search for a missing boy entwines the lives of two desperate women. One seeks redemption for her sister; the other will do anything for the love of her life.

Hope Chen and her husband are raising her nine-year-old nephew, Luca, in the wake of his troubled mother’s death. Luca finally has a safe home in a neighborhood where kids play in the streets and nobody locks their doors. Then one day, Luca and his dog disappear without a trace. Guilt-ridden, fearing the worst but praying for the best, Hope finds her imagination running wild.

Meanwhile, a woman with dangerous secrets to keep buried will do anything to protect her marriage. In one fleeting instant, it’s all within her reach. She can finally give her husband the one thing that will make him love her again.

Hope will do anything to get Luca back. The other woman will do anything to stop Hope. As Hope’s search grows more desperate and the other woman’s plans more twisted, their lives collide in an explosive battle of wits. With a boy caught in the middle, nothing on this deadly path of love and revenge is what it seems

Lyn Liao Butler had me enthralled throughout this engaging read. I fell in love with Luca and his kindness towards animals. I do not want to reveal any of this plot to those who have not had the pleasure of reading it but it is so well done. The topics involved can be very sensitive and Butler handles them in such a respectful but compelling way. Hope also grasped my heart with her love for Cassie, Luca, and her husband.
Although many of the twists were not surprises Butler kept the pacing so perfect that I literally could not put it down.
Many many thanks to Lyn Liao Butler for a most enjoyable curl up with a fabulous read day, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for providing me with the pleasurable opportunity to read an arc of this family drama/thriller to be published on February 6th. Don’t miss out on this read.

This book was so good!! This isn’t a book id typically read but wow was it good!! I loved the characters and the plot and being a mother myself I know I’d do anything to get my kids back. This book had my heart racing and I couldn’t stop reading! I needed to know what was going to happen!

I honestly felt like I was reading through a poorly written kidnapping drama. Flat characters, clichéd dialogue, and just too much paranoia.

In this complicated story about love and loss, two women's lives get mixed up while searching for a missing boy. Hope Chen and her husband are taking care of her nephew, Luca, after his mom passed away. They live in a safe neighborhood, but one day, Luca and his dog disappear. Hope feels really guilty and worried.

At the same time, another woman with secrets wants to protect her marriage. She sees a chance to make her husband love her again. Hope is determined to find Luca, but the other woman tries to stop her. The story gets more intense as Hope searches for Luca, and the other woman's plans get darker.

The lives of these two women collide in a battle of clever thinking. In the middle of it all is a young boy, and as they chase love and revenge, things get complicated. The story takes unexpected turns, showing how relationships can be tricky. The characters face tough choices, and the story builds up to an exciting and surprising ending where things aren't what they seem.

I just reviewed What Is Mine by Lyn Liao Butler. #WhatIsMine #NetGalley

This book had me hooked from the very first page to the very end. This book has tension, secrets and all the good things that keep you on the edge of your seat! I definitely could not put this book down.

This book had me in a chokehold from page one! I absolutely loved the writing style as well as the storyline. I could not put this book down and it easily gets 5 stars from me!

Hope and her husband are raising nine year old Luca after his troubled mother’s death. Until one day Luca disappears with no trace.

The book starts off as a missing child case, and changes up a bit halfway through. That was a surprise for me, but I enjoyed it. It got to be quite a wild ride at the end. I liked how every loose end was tied up and all my questions were answered with time. There’s also two dogs that play a big role in the story!

What is Mine comes out 2/6.

This book grabbed me from the very beginning and took me for a wild ride. Lots of twist and turns and loved the ending.

Lots of tension. Good storyline. I loved Tessa, she brought all the crazy drama. I recommend this book.

Thanks Netgalley and Lake Union.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of What Is Mine by Lyn Liao Butler. This is a twisty and compelling read that starts off with Hope's nephew disappearing from their backyard. Luca has only been living with Hope and her husband Shaun since the death of Hope's younger sister Cassidy, who overdosed in her car with nine-year-old Luca as the only witness. Hope begins to question the motives of every neighbor and some disconcerting secrets come to light.

This started off as a five star read for me but the unexpected reveal halfway through took it in a completely different direction.

I received an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book is filled with edge of your seat, heart pounding action and drama from the very beginning to the very end. Highly recommend this wild ride.