Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Incredibly gripping story!! I was hooked from the very beginning and kept on my toes throughout. The character building of this novel was SO WELL DONE -- for example, Raymond's character had me intrigued the whole time.

Psychological thriller that follows a woman in her new apartment, trying to escape from recent trauma. This starts off strong and holds you until the last page!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman!

You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman is a twisted thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story follows two unrelated women, as they try to uncover a dark mystery that happened in their small town in East Henderson. This story is packed with suspense and the dual perspective offers a great view of what happened. There were tension building up and the twists kept the ending unpredictable. I quite enjoyed this journey into the exploration of secrets in an intriguing and suspenseful mystery.

You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman is a chilling, twisty thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. The novel follows two seemingly unrelated women, Angie Stewart, a sixteen-year-old girl, and Madelyn Zhao, a first-year teacher, as they uncover a dark mystery in their small town of East Henderson, Pennsylvania.

Angie begins hearing a mysterious voice in her house, a haunting occurrence that leads her to believe she might be dealing with a ghost. But as she discovers she’s the only one who can hear it, the questions start piling up—why her, and what does the voice want? Meanwhile, Madelyn, who recently moved to East Henderson, is also seeking answers—specifically, about the disappearance of her cousin, which the townspeople are eerily silent about. As the two women’s investigations begin to intersect, they find themselves entangled in a web of secrets that could destroy them both.

Thoman skillfully builds suspense as Angie and Madelyn uncover the town’s buried truths. The dual perspectives of these characters offer a rich narrative, slowly revealing how their fates are intertwined. The eerie atmosphere and the growing tension make for a compelling read, and the twists in the story are unpredictable and satisfying.

You Shouldn't Be Here is a thrilling journey into the unknown, where secrets are deadly and nothing is quite as it seems. With its mix of supernatural intrigue and suspenseful mystery, this is a book that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and paranormal fiction alike.

Thoman does a great job building initial suspense, creating an eerie atmosphere that keeps the reader engaged. The tension is palpable in the first half, and the protagonist’s growing unease is well conveyed. The writing style is accessible, making it a quick and easy read.

However, as the story progresses, the pacing becomes inconsistent, and some of the twists feel predictable or underwhelming. Certain character motivations and decisions seem questionable, making it difficult to fully invest in their arcs. The climax, while delivering some surprises, doesn’t entirely land with the impact one might hope for.

Overall, You Shouldn’t Be Here is an entertaining but somewhat uneven thriller. It offers moments of genuine suspense but doesn’t quite reach the depth or originality needed to stand out in the genre. Fans of fast-paced psychological thrillers may still find it enjoyable, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

I was going to write a longer review, but I a) waited too long after reading and b) as I tried to dig up something to say, I didn’t have a lot. The mystery was fine, and the ending was satisfying, and if you want to feel some rage and then the sweet taste of comeuppance at rich, asshole men getting what they deserve, especially in this landscape, you’ll probably enjoy it. Doug Raymond is clearly a stand-in for a certain someone (and then the text goes and removes all doubt, as the main character little calls him a second-rate You-Know-Who), so you also NOT want to read this book right now because the real world is depressing enough. There were some convenient moments and some paranormal stuff that isn’t really explained, it just is (for plot purposes), so if that bothers you, again, YMMV. I didn’t like this quite as much as Thoman’s debut novel, but I’d still be open to reading another by her.

You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman is a psychological thriller that promises suspense and mystery, but ultimately falls a bit short of delivering a truly gripping experience. While the book certainly has some intriguing elements and an atmosphere that keeps you curious, it didn’t quite meet the expectations I had set for a thriller of this caliber.

The story follows a woman named Harper, who, after a traumatic event, moves into a new apartment to start fresh. However, it doesn’t take long before she starts noticing strange occurrences that make her question her own reality. As Harper begins to investigate the oddities surrounding her new home and the people in it, she is faced with her darkest fears and secrets. The novel revolves around themes of paranoia, trust, and the unsettling feeling of not knowing who to believe.

The book does a good job at creating a tense atmosphere, and there are moments where the suspense builds effectively. Harper’s internal struggle and her descent into uncertainty are depicted well, and I appreciated the psychological depth of her character. The slow reveal of the truth behind the strange events in the apartment is engaging, and there were times when I found myself intrigued by where the plot was going.

However, while the premise is strong, the pacing of the story often felt uneven. The first half of the book is slow, with a lot of build-up but not enough action to keep me fully invested. The story takes time to develop, and as a result, I found myself a bit disconnected from the characters and the plot during those slower moments. There were sections that could have been trimmed down to tighten up the narrative and maintain a quicker pace.

The characters themselves, particularly Harper, are somewhat underdeveloped. While I could understand her motivations and struggles, I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to her as I would have liked. There’s potential for deeper character exploration, but the book doesn’t quite dive into that as fully as I had hoped. The secondary characters also felt somewhat one-dimensional, which made it harder to care about their roles in the story.

The ending, which should have been the most exciting and revealing part of the book, left me with mixed feelings. While it does provide some answers, the twists felt somewhat predictable and didn’t have the impact I anticipated. It was satisfying, but not as shocking or satisfying as a true psychological thriller should be.

In the end, You Shouldn't Be Here is a solid read for fans of suspenseful mysteries, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me as a thrilling psychological experience. It has its moments, but the slow pacing and lack of fully developed characters kept me from fully connecting with the story.

**Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You Shouldn't Be Here by Lauren Thoman is a mysterious thriller that had me hooked from the very start! It follows two people who are connected by a dark and dangerous secret. One is hearing mysterious voices while the other is in search of her cousin who disappeared.
This was my second book by Thoman, and just like the other book, I read this in one sitting! This author has a way of grasping my attention and keeping me guessing. I truly had no idea how this book was going to end, and I was so pleased.
The writing was great. It's a fast-paced, dual pov. The way the author brought both perspectives together was seamless and exciting. I loved the characters, the friendships, the twists, and secrets. I especially enjoyed reading (or rage reading) the quotes at the start of each chapter from a particular character. Absolutely recommend!!!

thrilling, mind-bending and paranormal mystery with a lot of interesting vibes. would recommend. 4 stasr. tysmfor the arc.

The story took place in East Henderson, Pennsylvania, where people vanished without a trace, yet no one dared to speak about it.

Angie had lived in the town her entire life, and things only became interesting when she began hearing a ghost. Unfortunately, nobody believed her, and she struggled to understand what the ghost wanted from her.

Madelyn had recently moved to East Henderson for a teaching position, hoping to uncover the truth behind her cousin’s mysterious disappearance. But her search led her to far more than she expected.

This was a fantastic mystery with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The characters were lovable—I genuinely enjoyed them and felt invested in their stories.

I also appreciated how each chapter opened with articles, emails, and other media that added extra depth to the plot. The alternating perspectives of Angie and Madelyn were a nice touch, allowing readers to see their individual experiences.

The story had some dark moments, and as the trigger warning suggested, it dealt with sensitive topics. However, I felt these elements were handled thoughtfully and added to the characters’ development.

Overall, I loved getting lost in this world and felt a little sad when the book ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ARC.

dnf @p100
this story just wasn't for me at all. I liked Thoman's writing and would read more from her, but I didn't really enjoy any of the characters and the supernatural plotline wasn't my thing.

Two strangers search for the truth behind bizarre occurrences no one else dares to discuss—only to discover that they’re connected by secrets that could destroy them both. A thrilling and twisty novel by the acclaimed author of the Mindy’s Book Studio pick I’ll Stop the World.

When sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her house, she’s thrilled at the possibility of a ghost. Finally, something interesting is happening in her boring hometown of East Henderson, Pennsylvania. But why is she the only one who can hear it? And what does it want from her?

Meanwhile, first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao just got the keys to her new home, which is located close to her job, within walking distance of a dog park—and, most importantly, in the town where her cousin went missing several years ago. No one in East Henderson wants to talk about what happened, but Madelyn is determined to find answers.

As the two strangers search for clues, their investigations begin to point toward the same dark place. But by the time they realize that the truth could be deadly, it’s too late to turn back. And someone out there will stop at nothing to make sure their secrets stay buried.

Loved it.

I think that perhaps if I hadn't started reading this book in the midst of a very disappointing election, I could have loved it. The parts I was able to focus on were suspenseful and kept me interested. I wanted to know what happened next. But then life got in the way and I started taking longer and longer gaps between chapters and I just lost interest. I tried going back and rereading to get back into it but I just don't think I was in the right headspace.

I don't blame the book. I think I would still recommend others read. And it's also one that I think I would like to come back to (maybe as an audio) later on.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC!

I was really excited for this book when I read the synopsis and I found it lived up to the excitement! I saw a lot of people say this book was political. However, I really enjoyed how the author incorporated these real world things into the story. Writing and story wise I found this a quick read, and it kept me flipping the pages. The twists were surprising and not what I thought at all.

All in all this book had thrill, mystery, romance, diversity and great characters!

4 stars and will be recommending to friends and family!

This was a hard read. I believe it’s YA, but the writer feels like they might actually be a young adult.
Also, this was yet another Covid book. I feel like it’s just too soon y’all. Why are we placing all of these books in the 2020 timeline? It drives me a little crazy.
That’s really all I have to say about it. Too political, and just lacking in order and direction. This book felt like it was all over the place.

*2.5, rounded up*
When sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her house, she’s excited by the possibility of a ghost in her otherwise dull town of East Henderson, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao moves to town, determined to uncover the truth behind her cousin’s disappearance years earlier. As Angie and Madelyn’s investigations begin to overlap, they find themselves drawn to a dark secret that someone will stop at nothing to keep buried. But by the time they realize the danger, it may already be too late.
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Well, there was quite a bit going on with this book... A little bit too much. There were a lot of threads and plot points to follow, and I'm not sure if it was all needed. I also think the synopsis is semi misleading - if you're looking for more of a 'ghost story', you're not going to find it here. I actually thought that plot point was the one that fell the most flat for me. The book started off strong, lagged a lot in the middle, picked up again towards the end, and then gave a so-so finish. It was just a little bit too all over the place for my liking, unfortunately.

After reading I'll Stop the World, I knew I would become an instant fan of Lauren Thoman and after reading You Shouldn't Be Here, I know I was not wrong!

This book is deliciously evil and I loved every bit of it.

In just under 400 pages, I devoured this book in one sitting. There was no time for bathroom breaks or even a snack, I had to keep going!

Dark, spooky and perfect for thriller lovers favorite "spooky season" .

This book needs to be on everyone's list!

Check out this teaser :

When sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her house, she’s thrilled at the possibility of a ghost. Finally, something interesting is happening in her boring hometown of East Henderson, Pennsylvania. But why is she the only one who can hear it? And what does it want from her?

Meanwhile, first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao just got the keys to her new home, which is located close to her job, within walking distance of a dog park—and, most importantly, in the town where her cousin went missing several years ago. No one in East Henderson wants to talk about what happened, but Madelyn is determined to find answers.

As the two strangers search for clues, their investigations begin to point toward the same dark place. But by the time they realize that the truth could be deadly, it’s too late to turn back. And someone out there will stop at nothing to make sure their secrets stay buried.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. I felt bored and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I also feel like the writing just wasn't the best.

I hope others love this one.