Thank you Netgalley for this one! Absolutely fantastic, probably one of my favorite books this year. I was hooked from the beginning until the very end. The plot was different from most of the books I’ve read and I think that’s what kept me intrigued. I also love novels that bounce back and forth between time as they just seem to flow better. I will definitely recommend to friends and patrons.

I really enjoyed this story! I thought the writing was great and most of the characters were enjoyable. There were a few slow parts but overall I’d recommend this book.

This book really gripped my attention in the beginning, but I felt like there were too many stories going on that was a tad confusing. I did enjoy how it comes back to Liv's study of memories and how people can remember others memories or that they just have them wrong. I understood that Sarah was trying to show that through Willa, Robyn and Laika (Claudette). I definitely felt this to be a gripping story at times and Sarah does a great job of showing the grief, but also the sadness of living through abuse.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Sarah Easter Collins’ Things Don’t Break on Their Own is an exploration of human resilience and the intricate web of relationships that define our lives.

This novel, with its evocative prose and well-crafted characters, is a testament to Collins’ ability to weave a narrative that is both heart-wrenching yet still hopeful.

The story revolves around the lives of three women—Mara, a single mother struggling to make ends meet; Eliza, a successful lawyer grappling with the ghosts of her past; and Sophie, a young artist searching for her place in the world. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways, revealing the fragile yet unbreakable bonds that connect us all. As they navigate their personal struggles, they discover that sometimes, the things that seem broken are merely waiting to be mended.

Collins excels in character development, crafting individuals who are flawed, relatable, and profoundly human. Mara’s determination and vulnerability make her a compelling protagonist, while Eliza’s journey of self-discovery is both inspiring and heart-rending. Sophie’s artistic soul and quest for identity add a layer of depth to the narrative, making her story particularly resonant for readers who have ever felt lost or out of place.

The author’s writing is lyrical, drawing readers into the emotional landscapes of her characters. Collins’ use of vivid imagery and metaphor enriches the story, making the reading experience engaging and thought-provoking. Her ability to convey complex emotions with subtlety and grace is one of the novel’s standout features.

Things Don’t Break on Their Own delves into themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the power of human connection. It explores how our past shapes us, and how we have the strength to redefine our futures. The novel is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is hope and the possibility of healing.

Sarah Easter Collins has crafted a novel that is emotionally resonant and beautifully written. Things Don’t Break on Their Own is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring strength of our connections with others. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary fiction or simply looking for a story that will stay with you long after you’ have finished it, this book is well worth your time.

This is a pretty remarkable debut. The story ripples back in time and after a seemingly regular dinner party between family and friends, from the perspective of several characters. It's shocking at times, and occasionally very difficult to read, and despite its short length, it has a lot of weight. However, it's propulsive as the story is revealed.

“Things don’t break on their own” is the first book I’ve read by Sarah Easter Collins. It’s a psychological thriller about Willa and her missing sister. Overall, it was a bit predictable, but still a good read.

Delightful story of loss, and control. Fear and anger. Recommended read! Friendships are a powerful thing. Characters are well developed and I could’t put it diwn.

Thank you to #Netgalley for the ARC. If you think the cover looks sinister, you would be right. This story is told in different POV and I loved that. At times I got a little confused when go from different time frames but I could not stop reading till the end. A must read till the end, wow. Great job to Sarah Easter Collins, I am a new fan.

5 stars-Wow! Just wow! There are few authors who are able to write about trauma and physical abuse in a way that makes you understand how the character feels. This is one of them. I am not going to say this is not a hard book to read, it is emotional and maybe even triggering for some. (And a major warning for animal abuse!!!) what I like about it is that is shows that abuse is not the end, there is a life past it and there are good people out there. What a stellar debut! This is an author that I am looking forward to reading lots more of in the future. Special thanks to NetGalley for the arc. It has been a pleasure to read and review this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Crown for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

What a heart wrenching mystery this is. A book about a dysfunctional family. Heartfelt grief , queer love and blended timelines and different perspectives.

This book was very well written. It may have been my mood but it just wasn't for me. If you're looking for something different check this one out!

Thanks to NetGalley and crown publishing for this arc

Unfortunately, I think this book was not for me. The writing was very good, and the premise is fascinating. I was delighted to get the opportunity to read this book, and if we have customers at the bookstore who want to know more about it, I can definitely provide them with information to help them choose. I think I was looking for more of a twist, or a bit more urgency, based on the description of the book. I did feel that it could hold up on its own as more of a family story than as a thriller.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This book is a terrifically crafted mystery that revolves around a dysfunctional family and will keep you glued to the page from start to finish. I love a book that pulls together different character POV's and shifting timelines, and this serves both up flawlessly.

Sarah Easter Collins does incredible work building a claustrophobic and intense vibe through the plot, It's atmospheric and haunting and I really enjoy a build up that leads to a really solid and satisfying conclusion.

While the build up on this one is a slow burn, it's definitely a must read for your summer reading lists.

WOW I can't believe this is Collins' debut novel! When Willa's sister Laika goes missing on her way to school, Willa devotes her next 20 years looking for her. We eventually find ourselves at a dinner party with characters from their past. This was an interesting take that felt more like a mystery than a suspense/thriller novel. The plot was complex with a lot of layers and twists, covering deep topics like grief, loss, and healing. Thanks for the ARC!

Thank you, Partner @crownpublishing for my #gifted (free) copy.

This is a character driven novel where friends and also some strangers gather together for a dinner party.

I'm not sure what I expected when I went into this book, but this was different than I thought. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did the story unfolds nicely.

This is a story about coming of age, self discovery and the importance of friends and family. Willa's sister disappeared but Willa. even as an adult, does not believe she is dead and continues to search for her even while everyone else believes all Willa needs is therapy. Revealing much more would spoil the story, but if good writing and those themes appeal to you, I recommend this one. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc without pressure for a positive review

Touching and meaningful

A number of years ago I read the book Broken for You, which had similar themes of breaking and mending. While these books are nothing alike in their plots, the imagery of things being broken and mended in a different way are mirrored in both.

Willa and Robyn meet as seventeen-year-olds at boarding school. Willa's thirteen-year-old sister, Laika, had disappeared the year before, no trace of her was ever found. Throughout their year at school, Robyn and Willa become very close and start a romantic relationship. In an escape from her melancholy, bereft parents at home, Willa joins Robyn's family for an idyllic summer vacation. The years pass, but Willa never gives up hope of finding Laika again, and she continues her search even after everyone else has given up.

This is such a nuanced story, I cannot believe that it is this author's debut novel. The layers of plot build on each other, with the exploration of grief, loss, abuse, love, rejection, regret, and healing. Yes, there's the mystery of what happened to Laika (and we do find out what happened), but this book is much more than that. It's a coming of age novel, a domestic drama, and a character study all wrapped in one.

It is a story that dug into my consciousness and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Every character, even though there are many, has a purpose and a piece in the mosaic of the tale. This book really resonated with me and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

This was a good, if difficult read. Sort of dark and not really a thriller, more of a literary domestic mystery. Twenty years ago, Willa's sister Laika disappeared on her way to school and Will never stopped searching for her. In present day, we have a dinner party with several players from the past in attendance and a psychologist specializing in false memories. Oh, what fun. Questions are asked, some are answered, and we have a lot of issues brought out into the open. I don't want to give anything away, but it was hard to put this one down. It wasn't necessarily fast-moving, but I really wanted to know what was happening. Great characterization.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Sarah Easter Collins and Crown Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will publish my review to Amazon, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication Day of July 16th.

Things Don't Break On Their Own is a family drama wrapped in a mystery/thriller. The mystery is throughout, but the thriller doesn't really get there until the last third or so. By that point it's more to set up the conclusion, and less to "thrill" the reader.

Sarah Easter Collins kept me reading THINGS DON’T BREAK ON THEIR OWN long past bedtime! This one had me hooked from start to finish!

When Willa accepts an invitation to a dinner party from her first love, she expects to white knuckle her way through the evening. Robyn started out as her ‘assigned buddy’ in a new school but became so much more. Willa was struggling with the disappearance of her sister, Laika when they met. The two girls became inseparable and Robyn was even able to come spend summers at Willa’s family home, though Willa wished she could spend more time at Robyn’s as that was what she always thought a ‘real’ family could be. While Willa always wondered if her father had something to do with Laika’s disappearance, as she was beginning to argue and fight back against his aggressive, bullying behaviour, her mother always suspected a local builder who was reportedly the last to see Laika.

Anyway, I digress. Twenty five years after Laika goes missing, Willa looks at the dinner party as a chance to see Robyn’s brother Michael again and show Cat, Robyn’s partner that there is no longer anything between them other than friendship. Also at the party is Nate and his date, Claudette and Jamie, Willa’s date, a male chauvinist whose behaviour is nothing short of embarrassing.

As the dinner progresses, we get the backstory of the relationships between the women and the details surrounding the disappearance. We see familial bonds, learn about memories and the bonds of female friendship. What happened during those 25 intervening years is what legends are made of!

This one had me hooked from the very beginning. I could feel the tension mounting as the dinner progressed. I truly felt engaged with the characters and wondered how their lives progressed beyond dessert. The writing was clear and concise and led to a very enjoyable, long read as I couldn’t put it down. This is my first Sarah Easter Collins novel, I believe, but if she writes like this, it will certainly not be my last.

Thank you too NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.