I found myself drawn to the mysterious and emotional world of Things Don't Break on Their Own. This novel explores themes of mystery, family, and sisters, With its complex characters and intricate plot it's a must read debut. I will certainly be looking out for more by this Author.

This book was beautifully written but I have no idea what category I would put it into!

I had thought the book was a thriller but I didn’t get that vibe from it at all. There were a few times where I thought of just giving up, leaving it until later to finish as I wasn’t gripped.

However, the story gripped something in me and, even though it wasn’t thrilling or exciting, I found myself wanting to know what happened.

If you don’t mind reading novels that don’t hook you and make you need to read on to solve a mystery, this one is actually good.

A very enjoyable vacation read over the summer. The story starts off in the dinner party scenario, and then moves back and forth in time and told from various perspectives. Oftentimes bleak and heartbreaking, it's well written and a good page turner. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.

This was a really clever story about a woman who is dealing with the trauma of her sister going missing when she was a teenager and how that has impacted her and those around her during her life.

I really enjoyed the way the author used the readers perspective to change the dynamic of the conversation, you start out thinking one character is saying something shocking but when the rest of the conversation is revealed you come to understand the context and it makes much more sense but was a very clever way of making you apricate that you need to know more than one perspective to get the whole picture.

My only criticism is with the blurbing of this book, going in I expected a really atmospheric dinner party with shocking twists but that is not what this book was at all, in fact the dinner party its self was probably only mentioned across 20 pages in total.

“Things don’t break on their own” is the story of how a dinner conversation among friends triggers a re-evaluation of how Willa remembers the disappearance of Laika, her 13 year old girl sister.

Sadly I DNF this book, and it is sad because I really wanted to like it. It has several really interesting elements: firstly, how fickle memories are and how things that at one point are remembered as one thing, end up not being that at all. Second, I like how the main characters have a sweet romance that transforms into friendship through the years. Both of them being women is so important as I think more queer stories are needed in literature. Third, I like how the story is told by different characters’ point of view. I really enjoy stories told by different people across different years and this book has that element too.

What I didn’t like and what led me to not finish this book is the pace of the story. In my opinion was too slow and too descriptive of details. For example, several paragraphs were dedicated to explain the process of how a vase is made from scratch (sculpting, putting it in the furnace, cooling it down, etc.). While the process might be interesting for some, I would have liked either a stronger connection to the story or a shorter explanation.

From the part I read, the only trigger warning is mentions of domestic abuse.

I think this book can be a great read for people that enjoy a slow burn and want to take their time savoring details.

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Easter Collins, and Kayla Fuller from Penguin General UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Things Don’t Break On Their Own will be published in 20 June 2024.

I adored this book, Sarah Collins is a masterful story teller and the story and characters weaved in this book are gripping. Would thoroughly recommend

This is an emotional rollercoaster of a read that is both horrifying and beautiful all at once. It tore at my heartstrings as I started to comprehend the full horror of what had transpired so many years ago. I really enjoyed the ups and downs through this book.

When Willa’s younger sister Laika goes missing on her way to school it sparks a nationwide search and means Willa has to change schools to avoid press attention. It’s at this new school that she meets Robyn and so we have the story of the lives of these 3 young women.

This is a fascinating book that took me along many different paths. Totally absorbing.

Laika Martenwood goes missing. The story picks up 22 years later with his sister Willa, attending a dinner with a large group of friends. Their conversations revolve around false memories and strained relationships. Laika was 13 years old when she went missing. The tale reverts back to Willa and her dysfunctional parents and her relationship with Robyn, a school friend. The past hangs over every conversation and the story neatly knits past events with a satisfying ending.

Twenty five years ago Willa`s sister Laika followed her to school and disappeared on the way, everyone thinks she is dead but Willa thinks she is still alive.
The present is set at a dinner party of Robin`s who is a friend of Willa with Nate Willa`s brother and his French girlfriend who looks familiar to Willa.
The past brings up Willa and Nate`s dysfunctional family.
Some good twists to keep you reading.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

This is a debut novel?
I loved this book, a cleverly drawn portrait of relationships and perspectives. The story opens with a dinner party where the guests are all siblings and their partners, with the exception of Willa. Willa is both an ex and a close family friend. The dinner party is fraught with a strange tension, and the story cuts to backstories of three of the participants via memory flashbacks. The flashbacks inexorably draw the reader forward in time to the dinner party and we begin to understand the emotional undercurrents in the room. A mystery layer is added due to the disappearance of Willa's sister, Laika, when she was a young teen and how her disappearance has impacted Willa throughout her life.
I thought this was a strong story, well written and with a good flow. It kept me engrossed and I enjoyed the satisfying ending which lets the reader fill in the blanks. I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

A superb debut novel from an author to watch out for her future books. This was so captivating that at not time did I want to put it down. The characters are so well described that it was easy to relate to them all and what a diverse range of people they were!.The story was thought provoking as to how would I have felt knowing that I had lost a sister and how I would have reacted.
The story is a mystery concerning the missing sister and information was dribbled out at a perfect pace to keep the reader intrigued.
An easy read but very well written and certainly very interesting.

Interesting layers in this family drama make for an enjoyable read. The plot is a little stretched to make the story work but no cliches. Characters hold their own place with interesting dynamics.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This is story about the Martenwood family. A dysfunctional family. The father is a self made man and has used his wealth to buy himself a rich man’s lifestyle. His family are treated as trophies, his perfect model wife, his golden daughter Willa and then there is Laika! Laika doesn’t conform to her fathers ideal of the perfect child and his answer is mental and physical abuse until one day Laika goes missing on her way to school. Told in dual timeline and from the perspective of Willa, Willa’s friend Robyn and Claudette (Cat’s brothers French girlfriend) this is a compelling and well written read.

Briefly, four couple meet at at Robyn and Cat’s home for a dinner party. All the couples are family or close friends and as the evening progressed the story around Laika’s disappearance is gradually revealed. We also learn more about Willa and Robyn’s friendship, and their families.

There are a number of issues raised by this book, not just the abuse Laika received but also a side story about a vulnerable elderly lady, acceptance of your sexuality and the importance of friends and family. I loved the metaphor between Kintsugi, the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together and the broken pieces of Willa’s life after loosing her much loved sister, that needed putting back together. This was an enthralling read with a few little twists and turns and one huge twist near the end. It wasn’t what I expected after reading the blurb I felt it was more literary than thriller but I was fine with that. I found it very entertaining.

4.5⭐️

Twenty-five years ago, a young girl left home to walk to school. Her younger sister soon followed. But one of them arrived, and one didn't. Her sister's disappearance defined Willa's life. Everyone thinks her sister is dead, but Willa knows she isn't. Because there are some things only sisters know about each other - and some bonds only sisters can break.

Robyn and her wife Cat are hosting a dinner party. Four couples have been invited. Robyn's best friend, Willa's sister, Laika disappeared twenty-five years ago. Throughout the dinner, we learn of Willa's childhood and what had led to Laika's disappearance. This is a story of heartbreak, loss, and rebirth. It's also a story of child and domestic abuse, so this book won't suit every reader. It's quite an emotional read. The story is told from multiple points of view, and everyone has their own version of the story to tell. This story has been descriptively written.

Published 20th June 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinGeneralUK and the author #SarahEasterCollins for my ARC of #ThingsDontBreakOnTheorOwn in exchange for an honest review.

I must say I struggled somewhat with this book, I did finish it and sort of enjoyed it. I will certainly look out for this author in the future
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business | Viking for the early read

The story begins with several guests invited to a dinner party. When a discussion about memory begins, Willa remembers her sister Laika who mysteriously disappeared when a child.

The story is mainly told from two viewpoints and timelines, going back to when Laika disappeared and the events leading up to the mystery. The two sisters had suffered a difficult childhood with their father, who was controlling and abusive. While Willa had quietly accepted his control, Laika had spoken out making her his target. When she mysteriously disappears on the way to school, despite an intensive police search she is never found, leaving Willa imagining she sees her everywhere.

Character driven, the friendship and love between Willa and Robyn, a friend from childhood is also tenderly explored, along with families and their differences, some supportive and encouraging, others toxic and abusive.

Although the book starts slowly, it gradually gains pace as the mystery unfolds and how everything ties in at the end. I couldn’t put down this compelling story and recommend highly.

I didn't enjoy this book, unfortunately. It was more domestic drama than thriller. I didn't engage with any of the characters and found the bad language and blasphemy offensive. Just not my thing. I only read about one third and gave up. I won't post this review on any of my usual places but thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for offering the book as a read prior to publication.

I almost gave up with this 20 % in as I got a bit bored but I persevered and quite enjoyed reading it in the end. I loved the characters and the way the parents acted towards each sister . It was
quite a harrowing read at times but not a bad read in the end . 4 stars from me

Wow, well that was quite a read, a really great story that kept me up all night reading, all came together to a lovely conclusion