Five stars. Obsessed.

Becoming Marlow Fin is a captivating, multi-layered novel that kept me engrossed from start to finish. Ellen Won Steil masterfully weaves together multiple timelines, creating an intoxicating story rich in mystery, secrets, and family drama.

The story revolves around Marlow Fin, a famous actress with a past shrouded in secrecy. From her mysterious appearance as an abandoned child in the woods to her rise as a Hollywood star, Marlow's journey is both fascinating and heartbreaking. The multiple timelines work brilliantly, offering tantalizing glimpses into different periods of Marlow's life – much of it told through the eyes of her sister, Isla – and gradually revealing the shocking truths behind her enigmatic persona.

I was especially transfixed by the sections featuring Marlow's prime-time interview. These segments added a sense of immediacy and tension to the narrative, as we witness Marlow finally sharing her story with the world. The interview scenes are expertly crafted, building suspense and delivering revelations that had me gasping out loud.

The author's exploration of family secrets, the impact of trauma, and the lengths people go to in the name of love is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The characters are complex and well-developed, each harboring their own secrets and motivations.

Becoming Marlow Fin is a page-turner that combines the best elements of a psychological thriller with deep, character-driven drama. It's a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, leaving you pondering the nature of identity, family, and the power of truth.

If you enjoy novels with intricate plots, compelling characters, and surprising twists, I highly recommend picking up Becoming Marlow Fin. It's a riveting read that will keep you guessing until the very end!

Even though this is classified as a thriller, I did not feel like it was a thriller. But I did enjoy the story. I went back and forth between audio and ebook. I preferred the audio. With all the different perspectives and the interview it was easier to keep up with everything.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

<i>Becoming Marlow Fin</i> had all of the makings for a great mystery thriller. The book starts with Isla seeing a girl, Marlow, in the woods during a stormy night and her family takes her in. They end up giving her a home when her real family cannot be found. Spooky, intriguing and so wild. Especially because the little girl becomes the IT Girl surrounded by fame, addiction and potentially murder.
The book has multiple POVs and timeframes so that the reader gets pieces of the puzzle in random order. Marlow has famously never given an interview on her past until now.
Everything about this book was great expect for the actual storyline. While I figured out most of the mystery, the twist had me surprised but the ending was abrupt. I felt like I needed more to close things up in my mind. I finished the book with a tad bit of frustration which is probably evident in my review.

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this story and while I found it a little slow to start, it was definitely worth the time to read. Ellen Won Steil's writing was sharp and she wove together the timelines very well. The interview format worked really well to help keep everything straight as I was reading. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author.

This is a really intriguing premise, starlet Marlow Fin has a secret backstory - she was found as a non verbal child in the woods and taken in by a family who raised her as their own. When the world finds out who she really is, will all her riches come crashing down?

Sadly this didn't keep me engaged, there were some really slow sections that I struggled with and it ended up as a DNF for me.

Becoming Marlow Fin is an engaging coming-of-age story with heart, but it occasionally feels a bit predictable. The novel follows the protagonist, Marlow Fin, as they navigate personal growth, identity, and family dynamics. While the themes of self-discovery and transformation are relatable, the story doesn’t stray far from well-worn paths in this genre.

Marlow is a likable and well-developed character, and their journey is filled with moments of reflection and challenge. However, some of the supporting characters feel underutilized, and the plot moves in a fairly linear fashion, without many unexpected twists. The writing is solid, and there are moments of genuine emotional resonance, but the pacing can be slow at times, with certain plot points feeling drawn out.

For readers who enjoy character-driven stories about finding oneself, Becoming Marlow Fin offers a pleasant and introspective read. While it may not break new ground in its genre, it succeeds as a heartfelt story of personal evolution, even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression.

I enjoyed Becoming Marlow Fin. It was full of drama, intrigue, and twists.

Isla and Marlow were great main characters, they were both likable, interesting and complex.
Marlow become a lot less likable further into the story though.

I felt like it started well, lagged badly in the middle, but had a strong finish. I struggled with Marlow's reasoning for the things she did. They didn't really make sense to me.

Overall, it was a solid read.

3 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Ellen Won Steil for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Got a copy for my library since my e-reader was on the outs for a bit: This book surprised me I was expecting chick lit fiction and got a bit of mystery as well. I enjoyed where the story took me and would recommend it to any reader and mystery genre. This was a fast read that I enjoyed very much.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Becoming Marlow Fin is an atmospheric thriller that begins with a couple taking in a child 'lost" in the woods, who is initially non-communicative.

I read this story a second time and I dropped a star from my initial review, because In short this is the story of a family being selfless enough to take in a daughter who is basically Satanic spawn who grows up and destroys the life of almost everyone whose orbit she is near. A truly EVIL individual who only loves herself (she has a BOTTOMLESS love for herself) with Z-E-R-O redemptive qualities.

Until next time, dear readers, stay safe in the (truly) loving arms of your family members!

This is my first book by this author, and I found her writing incredible. I am honestly surprised by the mixed reviews. The story was captivating with dark family secrets you can't put back in the closet. In a time of social media, this is the perfect story because behind that seemly perfect life there are flaws. We all have a story that few know about, how far would we go to keep it quiet?

Marlow is famous for her beauty, but behind that fame is mystery that not even she knows. In 1995 Isla Baek finds an abandoned girl in the woods near her family's lake cabin. With no memory of where she came from or how she got there, Marlow is soon adopted by the Baeks. From the outside world her life looks like any other young Midwest girl. But all that comes crashing down when Marlow is finally ready to tell the real story of her and how she came to be Marlow.

This story thrilling ride of family drama you will not want to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for copy of the book for my honest review.

I was really drawn to the premise with this book and this author delivered something overall pretty great. There was a lot of complexity to the story and there was a lot of back and forth between characters and time period that brought the past to life and made sense of the present. There were some pacing issues throughout that kind of held this book back at places, however they also helped develop the characters a little more acutely so I felt that it was a bit of a toss up. The script was a great element in this book and created a really interesting extra character/voice that helped move the plot along. This was really unique and interesting. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This is a well done psychological thriller with a varying timeline that captures your interest right away. The characters, with the exception of the grandmother Moni, all seem to be hiding their truth while trying to be a family. The suspicion shifts from one to another as the puzzle is gradually pieced together leading to an explosive ending that was very satisfying. A twisty enjoyable read that's hard to put down.

Really enjoyed this story and wasn't always sure how it was all going to come together but it did and I was really glad I went along for the ride!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Ellen Won Steil for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you like mysteries and family drama, I can definitely recommend this book because you'll never see the plot twists coming. "Becoming Marlow Fin" started a bit slow and only gave little bits of information here and there for about 50% of the book, but keep reading because it's worth it and it'll all make sense later.
I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives and timelines. They weren't confusing and made me want to continue reading. Marlow was an intriguing character, but be careful because she's not your typical heroine and you'll find yourself changing your opinion about her several times throughout the book. My favourite characters were Moni and Sawyer (and they made me cry my eyes out twice). Both my grandmas died when I was a toddler, so I never had a Moni in my life. Still, I was able to get to know that grandmotherly feeling through her. Sawyer was so cute and even though he and Isla had their issues, he always found his way back to her. Isla was the one who suffered most in this book and I wanted to give her a hug so often. She definitely deserved better.
The only reason for me to give 4-4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I wished the book had been 1-2 chapters longer or had an epilogue. It ended too soon for me and I would've liked Isla to get some closure after what she's been through.
All in all, this book kept me on my toes and turned out to be something I didn't expect.

A complicated family drama full of twists and turns sure to draw you in and keep your interest! This book kept me reading long past bedtime. The characters and the storyline were complex, mysterious and captivating. Not my typical read but I really enjoyed it. Thanks #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing

Becoming Marlow Fin is full of twists and suspense, so if you’re looking for that sort of beach read, it could work for you. However, I found it a bit uneven, and more and more outlandish, making it hard for me to connect to as much as I’d hoped.

Thank you Ellen Won Steil, Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Very good story, it has you trapped and wanting to read to find out what happens. I don't usually read thrillers but I enjoyed it. Highly recommended for those who want to read about family dynamics and secrets that are revealed as the story progresses.

In 1995 eight-year-old Isla Baek finds an abandoned six-year-old girl in the woods near the Baek family’s lakeside cabin in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Her name is Marlow and she has little memory of where she came from or how she got there. Eventually adopted by the Baek family, Marlow becomes a famous model and actress as well as susceptible to the many pitfalls of fame.

We join Marlow's story in 2021 as she's preparing to do a tell-all interview on prime time television and the timeline goes back and forth between the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s, told partly from Isla's point of view and partly in the form of Marlow's interview. This is quite a story and I was totally immersed in it. The writing is excellent and there are some fine characters, not all likeable of course but very realistic. I would've liked to have more depth to some of them but it probably would've made the book too long and unwieldy. It's quite a unique premise in my opinon and I recommend it highly if you enjoy family drama combined with suspense. I finished the book last night and had awarded it 5 stars in my mind but this morning I realize that the motivation for more than one incident was unexplained. Still, I was completely enthralled through most of the book so I give it 4.5 stars rounded down.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 23, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Isla, 8 years old, is vacationing at her parents lake house. In the midst of a storm, she finds an young girl ‘lost’ outside, alone. What happens next is a story filled with family drama, psychological mystery and love.

This book was so much more than I expected, in a good way. The characters were brought thru vividly by the writing. Told by Isla, thru memories and current time. Marlow’s (a famous model/actress) side is told solely in an interview format. This pace seems a little on the slow side but the backstory is so important, and before you know it, the story comes to its end. I loved the characters, all flawed but totally relatable, especially Moni, the Korean grandmother. I wasn’t sure how it would tie up, but the author did so beautifully. This family is filled with tension, anger and love in their own way. I can’t wait to read this author’s next book!

Thanks to Lake Union for this advance copy. This is my honest opinion.