ARC REVIEW

🏠THE DAY HE NEVER CAME HOME🏠

Author: Andrew DeYoung
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
Rating: 4.5⭐️

What do you do when the man you built a life with doesn’t come home, only to then learn that the FBI is looking for him and accusing him of running a Ponzi scheme? How do you respond? What would you do in order to support your two kids? Regan Peters has to answer those questions. She thought she had a husband who was successful and worked very hard to provide the good life for her and their kids, but it turns out it was all a lie.

This was an enjoyable, quick read! The beginning seemed predictable to me, which had me worried. Then I realized, duh… setting it up that way helped to create the opportunity to develop the characters and the story. We get two POVs: Regan’s POV following the day her husband John never came home, and John’s POV leading up to the day he never came home. Regan is such a smart character, very thoughtful in how she chooses to handle the cards she has been dealt. And I was so pleased with what happens for her overall.

I loved how this was a story about reinvention and how one might choose to respond if their whole world was turned upside down. If you’re looking for a captivating, quick read, I’d definitely recommend giving this a read! 4.5 rounded to 5.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. One of my favorite authors. The writing is intense, nail biting and addictive. I was flipping through pages with anticipation needing to see where the story takes you. This book kept me up at night with heart palpitations. Strong characters, unexpected twists and fantastic ending.

I felt super locked in to this story/read, however that kind of faded when reading part two. the second half felt very repetitive, often recapping moments that were already explained in part one. i realize there were told through different perspectives but i think majority of part two could have been removed or just shortened.

regardless though i did think this was a good mysterious thriller. the beginning reminded me very much of Good Girls. the ending felt too easy to me, almost as if it wrapped up too quickly. I really liked the idea of Regan working with the FBI to get Skoval, so I was a little disappointed that as the reader we never got to see that play out.

mistaken and fake identities, secrets, family drama and murder are all themes I think excelled in this book, it’s just the execution (mostly in part two) that fell flat for me and I wish had been more sharpened.

Overall, really enjoyed this read. I did have a few complaints, but let's leave that for last. This was a slow burn, but once you get hooked it's easy to fall into the stories grip. John and Regan each have their own personal trauma they are dealing with from their pasts. Regan struggles with being a stay at home mom, and John works long hours. I did enjoy the 3 part aspect of being told from different POV's (Regan, John, then tied all together) however, i felt it was very repetitive? Like, the same things told, just a different person telling it. Didn't seem much different, honestly.

Again, overall enjoyed this one and I would recommend it to friends if asked!

This was the first book I have read by Andrew DeYoung and it will not be my last! I really enjoy his writing style, I am an avid Freida McFadden reader and it tends to be hard for me to get into a lot of other thrillers but this story was GREAT! So many twists and turns that were completely unexpected, or ones that I thought I figured out and then it ended up being a completely different way. The only reason why I don’t rate it 5 stars is because to me the ending let me down a little… just my personal preference I like to be left with my jaw on the floor completely shocked by the end of my thrillers… and this one just didn’t do that for me. I still highly recommend the read it is an amazing read!

This story was mysterious and thrilling. I loved the story line. I was definitely surprised by the things John did. I liked being able to read about John’s life in Part 2 and how he came to be in his marriage with Regan, but it did feel slightly repetitive. There are two sides to every story so that was an interesting take. I did enjoy this book.

“A powerful, cautionary thriller, a reminder that the road to hell is, indeed, a slippery slope. And DeYoung does a fine job of mapping the way.”
—William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author

To protect her family, one mother's lie of omission leads to another in this twisty, suspenseful domestic thriller, perfect for fans of Laura Dave's 

What a wonderful read! This book felt predictable in the beginning, where the reader feels like they know the rhythm of a classic thriller and believes they can predict where the plot is headed. This assumption served me wrong! The varying points of view show different perspectives of the same situation. There is rich character development: is John a jerk or is he a husband providing for his family? My moral compass felt like it shifted at points in the book, because yeah, if you have a mob boss after you, do what you have to?? I throughly enjoyed this book and loved watching the development of John, looking back on his story as well as watching his wife Reagan dominate the thriller scene. The story is unique in bringing in a male character into the narrator role, and doing it well!

Regan Peters knows there’s nothing her husband wouldn’t do for her. He works long, hard days as a financial advisor while she stays home with her two kids. That is until John doesn’t come home after her birthday celebration and the FBI comes knocking. They’re accusing John of some pretty heavy crimes and one lie from Regan ends up spiraling into a series of lies. It is then that Regan realizes there is nothing she won’t do for her family, her kids and their future. Nothing.

I really wanted to love this book but it was just OKAY for me. I feel like there was only one major plot twist in the book and it happened right around the 50% mark. The story itself keeps you engaged and wanting to see how it all pans out but it’s not super “thriller-y.” I was hoping for more twists that didn’t come and I feel like Regan’s story wasn’t wrapped up fully. I still had unanswered questions at the end. Overall, an okay read and very heavy on the domestic part of the domestic thriller genre. 3.5/5⭐️ from me! As always, thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

John and Regan each have their own personal traumas from the past as they begin their lives together. Regan struggles with the mundane day to day life as a stay at home mom to two young children, and John works long hours as a “successful” financial planner.

This was a slow burn, took awhile to get me hooked, but once I was, I couldn’t put it down. It was told in three parts: Part One from Regan’s POV, Part Two from John’s POV where we learn important information about his past, and Part Three where it’s all tied together. I really enjoyed the way it changed POVs midway through the story.

Don’t skip the epilogue!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Andrew DeYoung for the opportunity to review this book.
To be published on July 9, 2024.

Like a lot of stay at home moms, Regan is feeling the stress of raising the kids alone while her husband is working long hours.

John, is evasive about his past and working as a financial adviser working to give Regan everything she’s ever wanted. But…. Maybe things aren’t always as they seem. John surprises Regan with a beautiful new house but disappears that same night. The next day Regan is surprised to see the FBI knocking at the door…..

This is a slow burn thriller with back stories and multiple POV. Make sure not to skip over the epilogue.

Thank you Net galley and The Poisoned Pen for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Poisoned Pen Press (an AWESOME publisher with numerous talented authors and tons of fun books) publisher for this eARC.

"The Day He Never Came Home" by Andrew DeYoung is a clever, and highly entertaining psychological mystery.

DeYoung masterfully weaves a tale of deception, danger, and unexpected resilience.

Regan Peters, the protagonist, believes she knows her husband, John. His dedication as a financial advisor has provided her with a comfortable life, despite the mystery surrounding his past.

But, when the FBI shows up at their door, Regan's world shatters. John has been running a Ponzi scheme, entangled with dangerous criminals, and living under an assumed identity. The little Regan thought she knew about her husband's life before her was all based on lies.

The novel explores themes of betrayal, survival, and the lengths a person will go to protect their loved ones. Regan faces impossible choices: should she reveal the lake house John gifted her, bought with cash and in her name only? Or should she forge her own path to safety?

As Regan's lies of omission raise questions, she becomes embroiled in John's crimes. The true extent of his deception unfolds, and Regan discovers her own strength. DeYoung's writing is cinematic, and the tension builds relentlessly. Readers will find themselves nodding along, breath held, as the novel hurtles toward its thrilling conclusion.

This novel is a rollercoaster ride of suspense and secrets. Andrew DeYoung's skillful storytelling ensures that this page-turner is both entertaining and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers. 📚🔍

I loved it!❤️🌹

Yes read with fast chapters and they keep you interested! I’ll definitely be checking out more books by this author! This book will have you hooked from the first chapter.

Thank you Net Galley and @poisonedpenpress for this free arc. This book was entertaining but repetitive. The story needed to be told in both perspectives but at points It seemed verbatim. This is a story unique to me and was otherwise written well.

Regan was an unhappy girl who felt that her parents never loved her. John was an unhappy boy with a miserable childhood. When they met, both of their lives changed forever, and what a tangled web they weaved.

John wanted nothing more than to make his wife happy, even if he had to cheat and lie to do it. Regan only wanted a family of her own to love and wanted to feel love in return. She found that with John, until he disappeared and the FBI came knocking. Through it all, her love never waivered.

This book is a kaleidoscope of intrigue and subtlety. Even though John was a shifty dude, he was very likable and easy to root for. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy.

This was a great read! This was a great page-turner. I liked the switch in POV in the book and giving insights into the different characters. Great read!

Thank you to NetGalley & (Poisoned Pen Press) for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a great and fast paced read with good character development and a shocking plot twist!

This book quickly drew me in! It took me longer to finish due to life events but it was constantly on my mind. Easy to read and great suspense.

This is a fast paced and exciting thriller. I loved the duel POV that let us learn the motives of each of the characters, and the plot definitely moved along! It was hard to put down, and when I did I would think about the book all the time. The ending was a bit less exciting than I wanted but there weren't any big loose ends and overall I enjoyed this book. Thank you Poisoned Press for the digital ARC.

Regan is stuck at home raising two kids while John works late hours, providing for their family. Regan should be used to this since John doesn't reveal anything about his past, let alone the extent of his dealings with clients every day, but she can't help but feel resentful. That all changes when John gifts her with a beautiful lake house, and a whole lot of trouble when he disappears that same day.

This fun, easy to read thriller had me guessing on every page and working to connect the dots on John's mysterious past. Regan is multi-dimensional, and shows her teeth in the wake of John's mess. This would be a great read by the water, perhaps in your own mansion gifted to you by your quiet, mysterious husband...

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Day He Never Came Home By Andrew DeYoung
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 9, 2024

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚THE SYNOPSIS:

Regan Peters knows her husband John wants to give her and their children a good life. The long hours he puts in as a financial advisor prove his dedication, and despite how mysterious he is about his past, that's been enough for her to get through the hard days. Until the FBI shows up at their door looking for John, and Regan learns her husband has been running a Ponzi scheme, is mixed up with dangerous criminals, and has been living under an assumed identity all these years. Everything she thought she knew about her husband has been a lie.

That includes the outrageous birthday present John gifted her the day before he disappeared—a lake house, bought with cash, and put in her name only. With her life falling apart, Regan must make a split-second decision: does she tell the FBI about the house? Or does she buy some time to forge her own path to saving herself? When her lies of omission to the FBI agents begin to raise questions, Regan becomes inextricably embroiled in John's crimes, the true extent of which are just beginning to be revealed...Regan is learning she is capable of far more than she ever imagined. She will do anything to protect herself, her children, and their future. Anything.

📚MY REVIEW:

This is a really fun domestic thriller, with layer upon layer of truths and untruths being uncovered as the book goes on. The book is divided and each part shares a different perspective from one of its characters. The depth into each character's history left me cheering for them - despite their mistakes. For much of the book, there's a sense of an unreliable narrator, as @andrewdeyoungauthor does a fantastic job of keeping the reader in the dark as mysteries are unraveled.

Ultimately, this story was a captivating adventure of twists and turns, with an ending that felt really satisfying to me. If you are a fan of domestic thrillers, you will love this book - and I definitely recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this copy in exchange for my honest review!