"Hard Girls" by J. Robert Lennon is a gripping and intricately woven novel that explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships. The story centers around a group of women who are forced to confront their pasts and the choices that have shaped their lives when an unexpected event draws them back together.

Lennon's writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the nuances of the characters’ emotions and motivations with precision. The narrative flows seamlessly between the perspectives of the different women, each voice adding depth and richness to the story. This multi-layered approach allows readers to understand the intricacies of their friendships and the dynamics that have developed over time.

The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, as secrets are revealed and loyalties are tested. Lennon expertly explores the idea of "hardness" in both a physical and emotional sense, challenging readers to consider what it means to be resilient in the face of adversity. The characters are well-developed, and their struggles feel authentic and relatable, making it easy for readers to invest in their journeys.

Overall, "Hard Girls" is a powerful and thought-provoking read that resonates long after the final page. J. Robert Lennon has crafted a compelling narrative that examines the complexities of female friendship and the impact of past decisions on present lives. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in character-driven stories that delve into the intricacies of human relationships.

Hard Girls had both mystery, filled with secrets and family drama, as it tells the story of twin sisters Jane and Lila, and their long-lost mother.

I listened to the audio format, narrated by Amanda Troop, which brought the story to life.

*many thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

Could not get into it and it had problematic content right from the start, and if this is how a book is going to begin then I can only imagine what the rest of the story would hold (profanity, references to female bodies and sexual matters, etc).

Hard Girls by J Robert Lennon

Hard Girls is a family drama thriller.

I loved the cover, the art stands out and is definitely eye catching. Jane and Lila have lead an interesting life, with a father that is the typical scatterbrained professor, and their mother is distant, often disappearing for lengths at a time, supposedly visiting family. While the sisters go on a quest to find their mother, you learn more about the lives they have lived, going between the past and the present.

I loved the mystery and intrigue of both the past and the present. I liked the character development, mostly the sisters, and the lengths that they will go to for each other. This is definitely fast paced, drawing you in and making you hang on for the next surprise.

I disliked the way the book drug in some spots, especially in the descriptions. I wanted more action and not necessarily as many descriptions. While I enjoyed the story, I wish there had been more drama and thrills.

The narrator Amanda Troop was great. She quickly draws you in with her narration.

For me this is a three and a half rounded up to four.

I’m extremely surprised this book isn’t getting more attention, because it’s fantastic.

Part life on the run novel, part spy novel, part family saga, it’s an intriguing blend of plot threads that weave together to form a terrific and cohesive story.

I loved Jane and Lila, and the way their two timelines unfold is masterfully structured. You can guess fairly early on what landed Jane in prison and why the girls were on a run at such a young age, but it’s the getting there that matters to the story, along with the really interesting ways in which it all dovetails with the present-day timeline when the girls are searching for their missing mother.

The past timeline of the girls’ parents keeps you guessing longer, and is equally intriguing as it unfolds. It too melds we’ll with the action that takes place in the present timeline, and I was impressed that the author created three separate and very richly drawn timelines and brought them all together so well in the end.

The ending satisfies and leaves open the possibility of a follow-up novel. I hope we get one soon.

DNF at 62%.

I love this cover. I, generally, love books about siblings. I wanted this to be so much more along the lines of the synopsis, but instead it felt like bickering that was not getting to the point. I found myself often confused with the changing timelines and viewpoints. Ultimately, I could not connect to either sister to justify continuing the book.

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and author J. Robert Lennon for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly, I couldn't get into this book and found it terribly. I kept listening because I don't like to leave ALCs hanging, but I had a no interest at all and had to DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley and J. Robert Lennon for the advanced copy.

Intriguing cover, fantastic narrator, interesting plot.

The biggest distraction was the over written backgrounds and descriptions. We do not need to know what every leaf looks like (looking at you, Tolkien!) just tell us it's a tree.

Otherwise I was hooked on an over-the-top plot that dragged the characters with it, no matter what.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

"Hard Girls" by J. Robert Lennon, narrated by Amanda Troop, is a tale of family secrets, emotional turmoil, and the search for the truth. The protagonist, Jane Pool, is a suburban woman leading a safe and quiet life until her estranged twin, Lila, reaches out to her with information about their long-lost mother. As the sisters embark on a journey to uncover the past and unravel the mysteries surrounding their family, they find themselves facing unexpected challenges and dangers.
The audiobook is expertly narrated by Amanda Troop, who does a fantastic job bringing the characters to life with her voice acting and accents. The dual timelines and perspectives in the story add depth and complexity to the narrative, allowing listeners to see how the past influences the present. However, I found myself getting lost in the details and timelines at times, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story.
While I appreciated the strong production work and the engaging voice performance, I struggled to connect with the storyline and felt that some aspects of the plot were unnecessarily bogged down by mundane details. The relationship between the sisters, Jane and Lila, could have been further explored to add more depth and emotional resonance to the story.
Overall, "Hard Girls" is a compelling and intriguing novel that delves into themes of family, identity, and the lasting impact of the past. While the story had its moments of suspense and tension, I found myself wanting more urgency and thrills to keep me fully engaged. Fans of domestic suspense and complex family dramas may enjoy this book, particularly those who can appreciate a slow-burn mystery with a focus on emotional depth and character development.

Thank you to NetGalley, J. Robert Lennon & Hachette Audio for an audio ARC of Hard Girls in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly, this was a big miss for me. I loved the cover art & the premise of the book, but it was terribly boring. If I had read this as a physical book instead of audio, I would have DNF’d it.

I didn’t care for any of the characters, the darkness of the book. The alternating timelines was fine, but the storyline in both was just underwhelming. This one was a struggle for sure.

I will not be recommending this one, unfortunately.

Hard girls wasn't what I expected it to be. I really liked the mystery of the girls mother and I thought it kept the story interesting. I enjoyed the narrator and felt she was easy to follow along with. I give it 3 stars though because I felt like the story was lacking with the mother and parts of the relationship between her and the girls.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

This was an intriguing thriller. I liked the sisters and was drawn in by wanting to know the secrets behind their family. I thought the character building was done well. Sometimes the plot did get slowed down by a lot of details, but it was still a good and interesting read.

First off, I loved the cover, the description, and the use of the work mercurial in the bio. I did like the story following and learning the past of Jane Pool. I really liked the overall story as a thriller, however, I felt like parts were hard for me to get through. I wanted more excitement and the feeling of needing to know what’s going to happen. I think there could have been less background details. I loved the narration!! I don’t think I would have finished the book without it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an audio copy of this book.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Hachetteaudio for the #gifted copy.

First, the cover it amazing. It is what ultimately made me pick up the book. Second, I normally am drawn to books about twins so this made it a double win just to start! Third, I really enjoyed the audio.

Overall, the author did a great job with suspense throughout the book, but sadly, I really just could not stay focused to really enjoy this one. With that said, I will still pick up book 2 because I did like the storyline!

A really interesting, twisty story that I flew through. A very enjoyable read and one I will definitely be recommending.

3.5⭐️s rounded down
**Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I received it just before the pub date.**
Jane’s seemingly normal domestic life is interrupted when she reconnects with her estranged twin Lila, in order to search for answers about their mother’s disappearance many years earlier.
-the story bounces back and forth between Jane & Lila’s childhood and Jane’s present
-the author does a good job building suspense
-Jane is a character you want to root for (even though you’re not sure if she’s “good”), or at the very least understand why she is the way she is
-side characters like Jane’s MIL and parents are nuanced and unlikeable (in a good way)
-there’s a compelling, unsettling vibe of trying to figure out what the mystery is (Actual spy craft? Undiagnosed mental health issues?)
-I’m intrigued that it’s book 1 in a series, and would be interested in picking up book 2
-the narrator does a good job, going between different adult voices and kids voices, especially between the twins’ voices (past & present)
-I enjoyed reading this as an audiobook, overall good job to the audiobook team!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ALC of "Hard Girls" by J. Robert Lennon. This was my introduction to this author. I tried to get into the book, but just couldn't. It was a soft DNF, but then it got archived. Sorry I cannot review it further. I had hoped a breaak and revisit would freshen it up.

This audiobook was really well done by the narrator and I ended up really liking this audio version way better than the actual book!

Thank you MacMillan for the review copy of Hard Girls on audio, I really wanted to like this book and I liked a lot of it, the cover... the sisters exploring a missing mother theme, a sense of cat and mouse tension. And some of the what really happened elusiveness really works but more so for the past storyline than the present. I admit, I got a bit lost in the details and timelines with this story, not a comment on the voice acting though, and found the story got bogged down by a lot of details. As a listener of a lot of audiobooks... getting lost in details and being unable to manage timelines and details and settings makes it less of a win for me.
Still, a solid rec for an excellent voice performance and strong production work as always from this publisher.

This one was a solid story, and the narration was fantastic.

I was partially reading a physical book while I listened along, and the narration is what really kept me hooked. The story was a little more spy like than I am used to, and I may have given up on the book if not for the narrator really keeping me engaged.

Two sisters who haven't seen each other in a decade reunite in an effort to track down their mother who abandoned them as teens.

This was a cat and mouse thriller that has international spy vibes. Lila and Jane team up to find their mother, who doesn't want to be found. I liked how the book flips between the girls' teen years and the present, but I felt like it could have been two separate books because there was a lot going on. You kind of need to suspend your beliefs about reality to make this one work. The girls take off on their own as teens, after a murder in their town, and are gone for quite some time. The book covers that time period, and their behavior and ability to survive on their own is a little farfetched.

There were a few points where I felt like relationships weren't fully explained or hashed out, which left me a little confused about some of the characters' behaviors. For instance, Jane's marriage and relationship with her mother-in-law were both volatile, but only lightly touched on.

There were no huge plot twists, as this was more of a chase with the story of what happened unfolding, but it was an interesting enough read.